Video: 004 Calling all children!

[did_i_say_percy]

[Armand waves at the camera, then shrugs.]

I, uh, have seem a few extra children around lately. If you have unexpected children on your hands, I could watch them. Sometimes anyway.

It's Armand, if you remember me. If you don't, I just woke up again about a week or so ago. I'm good with children.

[Another embarrassed shrug, then he switches off.]

[private to Todd]

[Armand is less nervous for this message.]

Todd, I hear you still have one of those huge beasts. I've been wanting to say 'hello' again. Do you have time to come by? I'm staying above Callahan's for now. Until I get my bearings again.

I hear a lot has happened, and I'd love to hear what you think about it all.

[He gives a sudden smile before turning the device off.]

Comments

[Video]

[did_i_say_percy]

That's likely true.

...

Most of the time.

I am serious, Miss--I am afraid I don't know your name.

Have you seen any other children, ones that aren't local people?

Re: [Video]

[bruiserprincess]

Molly Hayes. Or you can call me Princess Powerful.

[Because they let her pick her own code name. At age eleven.]

I've seen a lot of people acting weird, but no extra kids.

Re: [Video]

[did_i_say_percy]

[Acting weird? That's something Mr. Stark would want to know as well.]

Who was that, uh, Princess Powerful? Acting strange, I mean. There's a man here who's trying to fix things again. You might know him.

[Audio]

[nodavinci]

Just keep them from getting eaten by anything. I have no idea what'll happen if they're injured or killed before we can get them back to normal.

Re: [Audio]

[did_i_say_percy]

Yes, sir. That was part of my idea. The other was that people who aren't used to having children around still need to work. I don't have anything better to do with my time yet.

Unless Miss Potts needs a dishwasher.

[Audio]

[nodavinci]

No, it's the bartenders she keeps losing.

Keep me updated. If I find any stray anklebiters, I'll drop them on your doorstep.

[Because he is very definitely one of those people who isn't used to having children around.]

[Video]

[bruiserprincess]

Half the people in my house don't even remember living in my house. Pietro keeps saying he's an Avenger and Kurt keeps saying he's Brotherhood and that's all wrong.

[It's pretty annoying actually]

[Video]

[did_i_say_percy]

[Oh God, he's going to have to ask her. It wouldn't be right otherwise.]

May I tell Mr. Stark about your friends?

[catchingflies]

Well, I got two jobs and I gotta keep this big guy fed.

[Todd thumps Thing One on the side fondly, and Thing One grunts, sniffing in Armand's direction. Then he gets up and trots over to stick his huge head and long, toothy muzzle in Armand's face. Todd doesn't bother to stop him, looking rather like he does this all the time.]

He's friendly. Friendlier than last time, too.

[did_i_say_percy]

Two jobs? What are you doing? I would assume one is looking after mammoths, from what you said earlier. What's the other?

[Armand stumbles back from the friendly overture from Thing One. Then he tentative reaches up to scratch his muzzle.]

You have changed, old Thing. [He grins and chuckles.]

[Video]

[bruiserprincess]

He's not from my Avengers, but he's an Avenger, and that counts for something.

[Armand cannot know just how strange that is coming from Molly]

[Video]

[did_i_say_percy]

Thank you.

If you do want to help with the children--and I'm certain there are more out there than there were--you can come help me tomorrow. If you're too busy, I will understand.

[Audio] [possibly after a very long delay even another day]

[did_i_say_percy]

Mr. Stark, I have names for you, and a little more.

Two of the children are Wes and Randolph. I don't know who else knows about them. They looked on their own to me. And a... Princess Powerful, who says she's an X-Man, says her older friends are acting as if they don't recognize where they are.

I think I may have spoken to one of them the other day. I thought he was new and just confused. He said he was called Quicksilver.

I hope that can help you.

[nodavinci]

I knew about Pietro. He's been here almost as long as I have.

[There's a sigh and a muffled rasp.]

Whatever this is, it doesn't seem to be spreading too quickly yet.

[catchingflies]

Workin' for Edmund running errands. I had that job before the mammoths showed up, but he said he'd share me with Pepper so I could help out there. Cuz I figured, if anybody's gonna hang out with mammoths, it's gonna be me, yo.

[Because Todd likes the idea of being the resident large-animal-associated person. Even if he's not really that great with them. Thing One was kind of luck, and the mammoths are almost as smart as he is, so he gets by.]

[did_i_say_percy]

I hope not. What do you think is happening to them all?

[did_i_say_percy]

They all seem like happy animals. I remember Edmund. Tis good to know he's still around.

Are-have you been safe through the trouble there's been lately? I don't like what I've heard. [This really was just hoping Todd had not been in any danger. He obviously was alive and seemingly-well just now.]

[nodavinci]

If I had to guess, I'd say it's a more controlled variation on whatever anomaly propelled us through time the last time. There's nothing on the sensor logs, but half the ship's sensors are still down.

[And they have reason to suspect sabotage, though he's not about to reveal that over an open network.]

[did_i_say_percy]

That sounds serious. [Again, he wishes he could do more to help.]

Don't forget to drop off any more stray children with me for the next few days. Tis the little I can do to help.

[nodavinci]

It is.

Just...keep an eye out for anything weird. Not just the kids, either. Last time something like this happened, we brought back a few hitchhikers that tried to kill everyone.

[did_i_say_percy]

All the more reason to keep an eye on the children.

I will look for anything that seems out of place, although I am still not the best at knowing what that will be since I haven't seen much of Poseidon.

Thank you, Mr. Stark.

[nodavinci]

If you see any walking skeletons, run. And then call for help. After you're behind a fire door.

[did_i_say_percy]

Right.

I'll remember that, too. [Probably when he's trying to get to sleep.]

[catchingflies]

Oh, yeah, I'm fine. I just, y'know, keep outa the way when there's trouble happenin'.

[It's smart to do that. Not cowardly. Smart.]

Unlike some people who keep... runnin' into trouble and gettin' themselves smashed up.

[Video]

[bruiserprincess]

I'm never too busy to help!