Norway - New Asgard (January 2018)

[Anduin]

The God of Mischief left his hut, Dr. Banner and Agent Romanova at his sight, to take a look at what was happening outside.
They saw a spaceship that advanced towards their place with alarming speed.
And there were other… things(?) which come nearer.
Were that things… people? It looked so. Yes, they were.
And some of them were familiar to him: Hope van Dyne and Tony Stark.
And… Thor!
"I‘ll go outside the barrier," he said more to himself than to the others next to him.
Right after speaking this out loud he put it into action.

"We need to hurry inside the barrier. It's time for those explanations." It was Hope’s voice.
"And I’m going to assist you, Miss van Dyne."
He knew that nobody saw him coming near to them.
And yes, he loved those kind of dramatic performances!
"LOKI!"
Well, that was something he didn’t really love.
But of course, he was happy to see his brother being alive.
"Hey, brother," was all he answered to him yet.

"To everybody – Welcome at New Asgard!"

[DarkSideCookie]

Together with two of the ship's passengers, Tony landed back on the ground and only a second later flipped his helmet open.

"What'd you do to my ship?!"

"Peter!"

"What did you do? It… vanished…", suddenly another voice made Tony turn around in visible surprise.

"Wait - the bear can also talk?"

"I made it fun-sized. You're welcome."

As Tony walked up closer to the others, he couldn't help stopping at the pilot's side and place a hand on his shoulder. "Don't sweat it, boy. Such things even happen to the best men.", he said, looking down at the shrunk object in his palm.

"We need to hurry inside the barrier. It's time for those explanations."

"Yeah. And maybe you‘re going to reveal how you fun-sized the ship."

It still needed getting used to watching the bear talking. Besides, why was everyone so thrilled with Hope's skills? He had just almost stopped an out-of-control ship with his own hands. Well, with the hands of his own self-build suit. But that was not the point.

"And I’m going to assist you, Miss van Dyne."

"LOKI!"

"Hey, brother,""To everybody – Welcome at New Asgard!"

[DarkSideCookie]

(tempplay by DarkSideCookie)


Drax had been landing rather ungently with the jetpack badly placed on his back. Well, he never had to use such a thing before. Once the colossus was back to his feet, he started to realize that the ship was gone. What he didn't know because he hadn't been listening to the voices around, like so often, was that this phenomenon had gotten cleared up already.

"That is very mysterious. Hey Quill, I think the ship has disappeared to somewhere.", Drax shouted in Peter's direction who was already on his way to enter through the barrier with everyone else.

[Hollywood Heidi]

Mantis held tight to Thor as they jumped from the ship and free fell to the ground. If not for the thrill of it lodging the breath in her throat, she may have woohoo'd.


"Okay, we’re save,"

Mantis clapped with joy after Thor released her. "That was fun! We must do it again sometime!"

Peter threw one of his fits and she watched him exchange a word with the lady with wings, then went to glance down at what had drawn the attention of Peter, Gamora, and Rocket.


"Don't sweat it, boy. Such things even happen to the best men."

Mantis wasn't sure of the meaning of that but judging by Peter's unamused frown sent toward the man in red and gold, she guessed it to be a joke and giggled just to feel like she was in on the joke. "That is your ship?" Mantis took Peter's frown as an affirmative.


"That is very mysterious. Hey Quill, I think the ship has disappeared to somewhere."

"Drax! It's right here! The magic fairy lady put a 'fun-sized' spell on it." Looking at it with fascination, she picked it up and flew it in a little circle with accompanied ship noises, then brought it to a landing back on Peter's palm. "Fun-sized. I understand. It is a toy now!"

"The Milano is not a toy!" Peter said defensively, carefully tucking the ship in his coat pocket before Drax could get any ideas of making a grab for it. The big oaf would probably break it.

Things turned serious as everyone began heading for the rolling hills. Mantis turned into a quiet observer.

[Hollywood Heidi]

"Yeah. And maybe you‘re going to reveal how you fun-sized the ship."

Hope was still fascinated by a raccoon that could talk but she didn't let it show. Something about his tough demeanor made him seem quick to become defensive. She guessed even off-Earth, he had to put up with reactions. "Pym particles." Her answer was short and sweet, no time for big ol' science-y explanations in this moment and besides, it wasn't a secret she could divulge. Hope looked back at the raccoon and added in a stage whisper, "Family secret."

The raccoon spoke quietly with the tree creature, giving her the impression he accepted her answer and had moved on to a different conversation.


"What is this place?"

Unsure how general or specific the green skinned lady's question, Hope broke it down. "Earth." She gestured her arms in a wide arch. "Norway." She put her arms palm down to indicate the general area where they stood, then pointed ahead of them to the village that currently appeared to be rolling hills, but was interrupted by a reunion that ended with Loki introduction the specific place they were headed.


"LOKI!"


"Hey, brother," "To everybody – Welcome at New Asgard!"


They stepped through the barrier and the image of rolling hills was replaced by the reality of a small, makeshift village. It was more of a camp, newly formed, people still settling into life in a new place. It would take some time for things to progress to structures.

Hope and the rest headed for the mostly private spot they'd been conversing in before the ship had arrived. They'd have to make quick work of catching up the new arrivals. She was sure all hell would be breaking loose at any moment.

[Ariel]

(Temp-play by Ariel)


"Earth." "Norway."  
"To everybody – Welcome at New Asgard!"



After a small reunion with who seemed to be Thor's brother, Gamora followed as the group of Avengers lead the Milano crew to their destination. Her eyes surveyed the camps they walked through as the people in the place they had arrived to appeared to be seeking refuge. "What happened to them? Their home?" Gamora asked aloud to anyone who would be willing to spare an answer, "Was there a war on their planet?" Gamora's demeanor grew solemn, as she could only hope and pray that this wasn't her father's doing. Yet, would she be so surprised if it were?

[DarkSideCookie]

Bruce sent a silent look at the new arrivals once they had been entering through the barrier; and although he had seen a lot of different creatures in a lot of different colors in his years away from Earth, these guys sent him into a silent astonishment once again. This motley crew, to say the least, seemed, despite all discrepancies they might have, like a great team, maybe even a family. They let him remember the good old times when all Avengers had been a team like this... maybe a family as well. After all, the only family he'd had.

[Kristi Lynne]

Peter was still processing a lot of emotions after their near-crash landing until the sight and feel of a miniature Milano in his hand snapped him into the present. "The Milano is not a toy!" he snapped at Mantis, snatching it back from her and placing it in his coat pocket. His poor ship had been through enough lately between Rocket pulling off parts of it and Thor breaking pieces of it with his stupid muscle-y arms. "Your magical shrink ray better be reversible, lady!" 

But the mysterious woman in the fancy winged suit was already walking away. He hastened his steps to catch up with the man in an equally fancy red and gold suit. "Look, I appreciate the assist, Threepio," he offered, "but I had it under control." Well, he actually didn't, but there was no need for this stranger to know that. No need to be humble about his superior piloting skills in this new and uncertain situation.

"Earth...Norway."
"To everybody – Welcome at New Asgard!"

"Earth?" Peter was struck speechless at Hope's confirmation that they were standing on his home world. He looked down at his feet as if he were seeing the green blades of grass for the first time. And this was Norway? He'd barely seen any of the planet outside of Missouri. So this was where the Vikings came from, and hot chicks with blonde hair and blue eyes who offered you really tall pitchers of beer. Or maybe that was Germany....? 

"LOKI!"
"Hey, brother."

"Oh, family reunion. Yay," Peter remarked with mock enthusiasm, since those always went so well for himself and for Gamora and her sister. "To be honest, I do not see the resemblance," he muttered to Gamora, who had grown serious as she observed the village they'd been escorted into.

[Anduin]

"Oh, family reunion. Yay,"
"Yes, my little brother!," he hollered at Peter. "Didn’t I tell you about him? Hah, guess I forgot it cause of all your strange stories, Star-Man." 

Then Thor turned back to Loki.
He still felt like he couldn’t believe his own eyes – it was Loki!
Of course, during all the time in space he hoped that his brother was still alive.
And Loki feigned his death more than just one time in the recent past.
But that seemed to be nothing in comparison to Thanos.
"Loki – what’s with the others? Are our people alive? Where are…" 
He stopped besieging his little brother with one question after another when they suddenly passed the barrier and stood at the outskirts of New Asgard.
"Oh! Wow, brother… Did you built it? I mean… Well, not alone, of course. But… It looks great!" 
He pattet Loki on his shoulder.
"I always said at the bottom you're not a bad fellow, dear brother, remember?!" 
More and more Asgardians surrounded or followed them and step-by-step they recognized the God of Thunder.
    "Is that Thor?" "He’s alive!" "Look, it is our King!" 
Thor waved at some of the people, a broad grin on his face.
"Boy, that’s a bit like homecoming." 

[Anduin]

Why could his stupid brother just shut up until they have reached the hut?
At the moment Hope van Dyne and Agent Romanova were the only ones who really tried to be sober.
And instead of following their example Thor just went on to spout baloney.
Suddenly some Asgardians recognized their former king and started to call out his name.
Well,… He should have known that this day would come!
So nothing left than making the best of it… somehow.
The current king of New Asgard led them all to his hut again.
"It is time to post up everybody. Again. I hope we are now complete." 

[DarkSideCookie]

***


Every now and then, while Loki and Bruce were posting up everyone, Tony threw a sideglance over at Lord Star-Boy, thinking it was funny to hand out nicknames to Tony Stark. Handing out nicknames was his thing. Besides, you had to be good at it to reserve the right to make use of that. But this guy over there didn't quite look like the brightest bulb in the box. Actually, none of these guys did. But well, you gotta work with what you get, even if among what you get there was a gambling-addicted tree and a talking build-a-bear. Gosh, this might never sound like anything but the crew of a roaming circus to him.

"Okay, okay", Tony threw in at some point during this on-going monologue that wasn't led by himself. "So, this Thanos guy..."

Suddenly he stopped in the middle of his sentence, one that anyway was supposed to become no more than a repetition of what had been said already anyway, just in his own words.

Set back from outside the barrier there was a noise coming closer. A noise that didn't bode well. The blaring of alarms.

[Hollywood Heidi]

She and Tony had quickly gone through the update of what had occurred on Earth. Explaining the Sakovia Accords, a brief recap of how they'd come to be and what it meant for all of them, that was the easy part. Standard, government issue diplomacy on a global scale. They weren't left fielding very many questions on that one. However, when it came to the turn of the visitors, that was a whole other ball of crazy.

Loki fully understood, but he wasn't from here. If it weren't for Bruce not only believing, but pitching in with information on the side of the visitors', she wasn't sure she'd have been buying all of this. Magical stones forged by cosmic entities, each with the power to fully control something that, in the minds of scientists such as herself and Tony, were mostly uncontrollable. But wait, there's more!

Hope and Tony started talking in unison, their science-y brains unable to stop them from hypothesizing and formulating, breaking down the science of it.


"Okay, okay" "So, this Thanos guy..."

"So if this wackadoo collects the whole set, he can just..." she raised her hand to snap but froze and turned toward the sound of incoming military in unison with Tony.

"Great," she muttered sarcastically under her breath. "The fun police have arrived." Looking around the village, she could see that everyone was frozen in place, just as herself. As if standing very still and remaining very quiet would keep them safe under the invisible dome that cloaked them from anything outside of it.

A military jet flew by overhead, then another and another, the sound of their engines slightly muffled by the dome. Thinking they'd passed them by to search other areas, Hope breathed a sigh of relief, but then held her breath again as the three jets branched off, something lowering from their bellies. She squinted, trying to make out the equipment.

In random repetition, the three jets fired off what looked to be invisible waves of energy. Hope steadied herself as the ground shook beneath her with each impact. "Are those... sonic wave cannons?" she guessed. They started to sweep the area, sending out the sonic waves in intervals and when one came closer and fired its next shot, she could see the invisible dome vibrate like stone disturbing the reflective glass sheen of a still pond. A collective gasp sounded from the villagers around them. She wasn't sure, but she may have contributed a gasp of her own.

"Well, we're screwed," she said in a dry, cheery tone. Hope turned an accusatory glare at Tony. "Your tech, I take it?" The jets were too far for her to make out any writing on the weapons protruding from their bellies but she was pretty sure she knew what logo she'd have seen on them.

[Kristi Lynne]

"Okay, okay" "So, this Thanos guy..."

"So if this wackadoo collects the whole set, he can just..."

"Yeah, big purple dude," Peter added. "Likes to carry out random genocides to 'balance the universe'." He made air quotes with his fingers to emphasize the point, even though Gamora had already done so quite eloquently. After all, no one knew the Mad Titan or his plans as well as his own daughter. He picked up one of the pebbles they had placed in a circle on the ground to illustrate the Infinity Stones and began carelessly tossing it from one hand to another as he approached the winged lady who had shrunk his ship. 

"But, lucky for you, I've saved the universe before. Coupla' times, actually," Peter boasted with a sly grin to Hope. But he felt pressured to amend his statement when he caught a glare from Gamora, Rocket, and Drax. Groot and Mantis didn't seem to mind the slight. "Okay, actually we saved the universe a couple times, so...it's a good thing for you guys that we got here when we did."  

"Are those... sonic wave cannons? Well, we're screwed. Your tech, I take it?"

"Gee, sure would be nice if we had a ship to escape in, huh?" Peter taunted, still smarting from the fact that his sweet ride was not only banged up but now the size of a matchbox car in his pocket.

[Anduin]

"Okay, okay" "So, this Thanos guy..."
"So if this wackadoo collects the whole set, he can just..."
"Yeah, big purple dude," "Likes to carry out random genocides to 'balance the universe'."
Rocket just gave a snorting. Nothing more to add.

"But, lucky for you, I've saved the universe before. Coupla' times, actually,"
What?! Would that poser ever stop talking such bullshit which he claimed to be the truth? 
"Okay, actually we saved the universe a couple times, so...it's a good thing for you guys that we got here when we did."
"Hey, Quill, perhaps you should have mentioned that you stole one of the stones and tried to sell it on the black market," the Racoon exclaimed spiteful.

Suddenly there was noise from outside that sounded like cannons or something similar.
"Are those... sonic wave cannons? Well, we're screwed. Your tech, I take it?"
"Yah, that’s the sound of some fiery babies!" Rocket couldn’t stand to comment this because he was well used to many kinds of cannons.
But he also took a look at that guy named Tony – by the way: such a braggart like Quill. "Well, thanks?," he addressed him sarcastic.
"Gee, sure would be nice if we had a ship to escape in, huh?"
Okay, that was enough. Someones trying to blast them all and this stupid little man from Earth thought there was nothing better to do than cracking his dorky jokes!
"Quill, stop sniveling like a newborn! She said she could size it up again." 
After he gave vent to his anger Rocket stepped closer to Peter and lowered his voice. "She had interesting techs – maybe we could 'borrow' it from her… got it?"
He also blinked his eyes to made sure that Quill would understand his real intention.
Unfortunately, not for the first time and surely not for the last time, he used the one everybody could see.

[Anduin]

That were many information in short order.
But the God of Thunder got it – well, maybe the most and important information, he thought.
He was glad to see some old friends but also regretted that Cap wasn’t with them any longer.

But before he could state his thoughts the situation intensified.
The sound of that strange weapons worried them all.
"Are those... sonic wave cannons? Well, we're screwed. Your tech, I take it?"
"Hey, Tony – if taht are yours we could just go outside and tell them to stop, right?," Thor tried to soothe everyone.
"Gee, sure would be nice if we had a ship to escape in, huh?"
"Quill, stop sniveling like a newborn! She said she could size it up again." 
Of course, he had to laugh out loud when Quill and Rocket had one of their funny argy-bargy.
"Like a newborn – that one was good, rabbit!" 

[Anduin]

The God of Mischief and (dethroned?) king of New Asgard already knew most of the information they chared (again). And he wasn’t as astonished as most of the others concerning Thor’s new friends from space.
He was at Sakaar alongside that odd man who called himself the Grandmaster!

"Are those... sonic wave cannons? Well, we're screwed. Your tech, I take it?"
Unlike some others Loki didn’t care whose cannons were firing at the barrier.
The point was that they would recognize it.
Just as he wanted to rise to speak to made a prudent proposal his brother was on his best behavior. Stupid one!
"Hey, Tony – if that are yours we could just go outside and tell them to stop, right?" 
"Did you get the issue? They wanted to control everything from outer space. They won’t say 'It’s okay, you can do whatever you want'. Forget it, brother! They will catch and imprison you…" 
The Trickster stopped for a moment.
He turned their capabilities over in his mind.

"Wait. For me the most important thing is to protect my – I’m sorry, brother, I meant our – people. So maybe you are not that wrong at all. If some of us go outside and surrender themselves, they could get the chance to explain them everything they had to know. And hopefully they won’t try to find out if there are more people behind the barrier. Of course, I should stay here. It is my magic that keeps New Asgard from being found…" 

[DarkSideCookie]

Tony frowned in silence. He was surrounded by idiots.

"Are those... sonic wave cannons? Well, we're screwed. Your tech, I take it?"

"You're welcome.", he said with sarcasm before the sight of two big eyes within a mask of plush were confusing him all of a sudden. He looked straight back at Rocket, saying nothing.

"Well, thanks?,"

"Gee, sure would be nice if we had a ship to escape in, huh?"

"Quill, stop sniveling like a newborn! She said she could size it up again."

"I like the bear.", Tony threw in jokingly yet without a grin. But seriously, fluffy might be the brain of this group of... well, however they were calling themselves.

"Hey, Tony – if that are yours we could just go outside and tell them to stop, right?"

"Did you get the issue? They wanted to control everything from outer space. They won’t say 'It’s okay, you can do whatever you want'. Forget it, brother! They will catch and imprison you…"

At that, Tony's head turned towards Thor - thinking. That might not be the dumbest of an idea actually, although it was sounding like just that at first. Before he could have said something in return though, it was Loki who was speaking up again and speaking out his very thoughts.

"Wait. For me the most important thing is to protect my – I’m sorry, brother, I meant our – people. So maybe you are not that wrong at all. If some of us go outside and surrender themselves, they could get the chance to explain them everything they had to know. And hopefully they won’t try to find out if there are more people behind the barrier. Of course, I should stay here. It is my magic that keeps New Asgard from being found…"

"And who'd be better for that job than the Avengers?", Tony jumped in with a smug, tapping one hand on Thor's beefy arm while he walked past him to place himself in front of everyone. "Team Tony at your service. I hope you guys can appreciate this self-sacrifice. We need another team though." His eyes were wandering around before finally stopping at one person. "Team Hope. Wow, how does that sound? I need some of you to escape before everything here is breaking down." Hope was the right person to head the escape team; not only because Tony actually granted her the right to continue her searching for her mother, but also because she was not part of the Avengers in the first place.

And as if on cue, the military outside seemed to concentrate on exactly the area of the barrier for they might have realized there was some kind of retarding force.

[Hollywood Heidi]

Hope merely rolled her eyes at Tony's 'You're welcome' as the visitors from the ship bantered.

"Gee, sure would be nice if we had a ship to escape in, huh?"

Subtle as a brick, this one was. "There's no way you'd be able to escape in something that big right now. The military would shoot your precious little ship right out of the air." Hope emphasized the word 'little' to poke at his sore spot about shrinking his ship.


"Quill, stop sniveling like a newborn! She said she could size it up again." 

"I like the bear.",

"Like a newborn – that one was good, rabbit!" 

Hope resisted another eye roll and watched the invisible barrier vibrate in waves as the hits increased. "Too bad we can't fight Thanos with snark and sarcasm 'cause we all seem to be well equipped and skilled in that area," she added with her own healthy dose of sarcasm.


"She had interesting techs – maybe we could 'borrow' it from her… got it?"

The wink she could clearly see combined with what could, at best, be described as a stage whisper had her smirking. "Not a chance, Meeko," she tossed over her shoulder as she turned toward a Tony who'd looked deep in thought before moving to stand in front of the group.


"Team Tony at your service. I hope you guys can appreciate this self-sacrifice. We need another team though." "Team Hope. Wow, how does that sound?

Hope crossed her arms and gave the kind of snort that one does when the same type of joke involving the verb counterpart of their name is made for the millionth time. 'And what are your plans for "Team Hope" while you make your 'self-sacrifice',' she wondered dryly.


I need some of you to escape before everything here is breaking down."

With surprise, she uncrossed her arms and sent him a grateful look.  Every now and again, Tony surprised her with proof that he did have a heart buried under that self-centered, snarky exterior.  He knew how important finding her mother was to her. It was one of the few personal things she'd ever divulged to him in her frustration at her sentencing of being on-call to the Avengers.  If it were up to her, she'd be working 24/7 with her father on trying to get her mother back from the Quantum Realm.  Okay, so perhaps a bit of that 24/7 went to worrying, wondering, and tracking Scott, hence her reason for being here in the first place.

Hope quickly pieced together what Tony was thinking, then moved to stand beside him.  Seeing the barrier weaken with the increased attacks, she spoke quickly.  "I can sneak a team out.  We'll need an equal amount of knowledge on this Thanos guy on the inside as well as on the outside."  She turned to Tony but continued speaking to everyone.  "We'll be prepping on the outside in case you guys can't get through to them then past all their bureaucracy before he arrives."  Turning back to everyone and gesturing to them, she added, "You guys decide who stays and who goes.  I'll go get our ride."

In a flash and with a simple thought, her helmet snapped shut, her wings released from their casing, and she shrank to wasp size, zipping off toward the supplies in the storage compartment of the motorcycle Nat had ridden in on.

[Anduin]

The flying bug-lady smirked at him. "Not a chance, Meeko,"
"Huh?," Rocket replied with a blanky mien. He once again turned to Quill. "What’s a Meeko? Is that something similar to your annoying nicknames?" 
Quill often gave Rocket stupid nicknames. Most times he didn’t even know what he was called. Probably some of Quill’s odd Earth-stuff.


But then he got serious again. Well, as serious as he could be. Like always.
The situation around became more and more dangerous. But some of them started to make a plan.
It was Hope who got his full attention when she mentioned a unpleasant 'acquaintance'. 
"I can sneak a team out. We'll need an equal amount of knowledge on this Thanos guy on the inside as well as on the outside."
The Racoon hoped inwardly that neither Drax nor Quill would try to say something stupid that they all would regret. But when he was true to himself he didn’t want to be catched.
Not that he wouldn’t find a way out – it wouldn’t be the first and surely not the last time.
So he raised his voice before one of his so-called family could do so.
"I’ll join the Lady. Don’t wanna know what stupid thoughts would come to these human’s little brains…" 
He didn’t want to end up as a guinea pig.
"And don't worry: If your great plan won’t work, I can work out another one to get you out of prison!" 
His words were underlined by… some strange noises: BLIEP. BLING. BIEP.
"Groot! Stop playin‘ your stupid game. We have to hurry now!" 
"You guys decide who stays and who goes. I'll go get our ride."
He wondered what kind of ride it would be…

[Anduin]

"And who'd be better for that job than the Avengers?"
Pathetic. But typical for Tony.
"Well, now that you have learned to team up you maybe right," he said to Tony. There was only a little sarcasm left. 
"Team Tony at your service. I hope you guys can appreciate this self-sacrifice. We need another team though." "Team Hope. Wow, how does that sound? I need some of you to escape before everything here is breaking down."
"Of course, I will accompany Miss van Dyne. I am sure we will need her techniques and my magic to get away from here."
Suddenly Loki stopped for a moment and turned to Thor. "Brother, you should stay at your Avengers' side and get sure that our people won't be harmed by these humans outside. I count on you!" 
He also gave Thor a backslapping.

"You guys decide who stays and who goes. I'll go get our ride."
The Trickster also stepped to the door after Hope has shrinked herself again. 
"She is right. You concern yourselves with the details, I am going outside and tell the folk what is and maybe will going on." 

[Anduin]

"And who'd be better for that job than the Avengers?"
"Yeah, count me in!", the God of Thunder yelled out.
"Team Tony at your service. I hope you guys can appreciate this self-sacrifice. We need another team though."
"Um, Team… Tony? Okay, it’s your choice. But don’t forget – it was my idea." 
Honestly it was the idea of all of them because one thought came after another until it sounded like a god idea.
"Team Hope. Wow, how does that sound? I need some of you to escape before everything here is breaking down."
"Good idea. She’s the right woman I think," Thor commented Tony’s choice.
"Brother, you should stay at your Avengers' side and get sure that our people won't be harmed by these humans outside. I count on you!"
Loki’s voice next to him and his backslipping made Odinsson a bit sentimental.
"Brother,… I… I promise I will!" 

Then Hope switched to her bug-size and wanted to find a way out while his brother also went outside to talk to their people.
Thor rubbed his hands and grinned. "Okay, feels a bit like the good old days, don’t you think? Only Cap is missing…" 

[Kristi Lynne]

"Okay, feels a bit like the good old days, don’t you think? Only Cap is missing…"

"Cap? Who's Cap?" Peter wondered aloud. Irked by Thor's optimism and assertive attitude, Quill felt like he was missing out on the whole plan-making thing, which was usually his forte. Even though he was standing on his home planet, he was adrift in strange waters. The only certainty was that they needed to move quickly in the opposite direction of those armed ships above.

While Rocket tried to wrangle a distracted Groot, Peter rushed to Gamora's side. "Hey, so...totally not the way I wanted to introduce you to Earth," he said. "My way would have been a lot more romantic, lot less crashing and strange crowds of people who may or may not want to kill us. So we'll just have to take a raincheck on that."

His face took on an unusually serious expression as he took hold of her shoulders and studied her face, wondering if he could predict her next move and then talk her out of it. "Gamora, I know what you're thinking. You think you can talk to them," he guessed, pointing at the jets above, "convince them about the danger that's coming, but...that's not how humans work. I've seen how this movie ends. A bunch o' creepy government dudes in hazmat suits lock ET in a freezer and they don't even let Elliott say goodbye to him when his heart gets all red and glow-y...."

He shook his head as random pop culture memories carried him away from his point while Gamora looked at him with confusion. "Anyway, point is, you're an alien," Peter stated. "You look different, and that scares them. And there's no way I'm letting them lock you in a freezer. So we need to follow the nice winged lady now."  

[DarkSideCookie]

Tony replied to Hope's sudden grateful look with no more than a barely noticeable nod. When it came to emotions this was the best way to handle with, for both of them.

While she spoke up to everyone to make a decision about which team to join, Tony was getting rid of his suit with only one button press. Hope was not the only one who was continuously advancing her assistive technologies. For their plan to have a word with the military, it might be better to approach them not in his combat dress, although the Iron Man suit had become so much more than just a combat dress to him.

"Of course, I will accompany Miss van Dyne. ...", he heard Loki saying in the background.

Tony would be lying if he said that his short exhaled sigh was not of relief.

"... Okay, feels a bit like the good old days, don’t you think? Only Cap is missing…"

"Cap? Who's Cap?"

Tony tried to not let it show, but for a moment there could be seen the tensed movement of his teeth grinding in his jaw. He had successfully suppressed this part of his past for so long... or maybe not as successful as he had thought. Almost as to leave this memory behind at the place where it had come up, Tony made some steps around, catching scraps of conversation here and there when suddenly some were setting him on pause, turning his facial features into something that was not to describe.

"Anyway, point is, you're an alien,""You look different, and that scares them. And there's no way I'm letting them lock you in a freezer. So we need to follow the nice winged lady now."

"There's nothing more romantic than being called an alien.", Tony couldn't help commenting on that as he casually walked by.

[DarkSideCookie]

The last thing Bruce was looking forward to was actually to end up imprisoned again, or however his future would look like if he joined the team of Tony, but for some reason, it was Tony's presence that gave him back this old and rare feeling of safety. Tony Stark always had a plan and if that included confronting the military without any hiding, Bruce would be the first to follow his friend.

Probably soon to regret, Bruce stepped at his side as Tony walked by. "You can count me in, Tony."

[Ariel]

(Gamora - Temp by Ariel)

"Anyway, point is, you're an alien,""You look different, and that scares them. And there's no way I'm letting them lock you in a freezer. So we need to follow the nice winged lady now."

"Peter, I don't care if saving the universe gets me locked in a freezer. They need to know the real threat that's coming here at any moment," Gamora took a step forward towards Peter as she spoke with frustration. She knew that he loved her and only wanted what was best for her safety. But now was not the time to be selfish, not when the fate of everyone who existed was in their hands, "Thanos could wipe out half the universe with just one snap of his fingertips," Gamora snapped her fingers together in her agitated state, trying to prove her point, "If I can just, tell them about what my father is capable of, about the stones - I at least have to try. Because if I don't..." Gamora softened slightly with sadness as her gaze peered down to her fingertips, gently grabbing for Peter's hands, "We lose. Everything."

[Hollywood Heidi]

Hope fast walked her way back to the group, shifting her gaze from her footing to the two items in her hands on the last few steps. "How many are going with me?" she asked, attention cast downward. She didn't expect everyone to have already worked out their decisions but asked anyway to stress that they had to make their final decisions soon. The barriers were weakening. If they didn't get a move on, none of them would be getting away.

While everyone finalized, Hope rested the plastic Mattel Hot Wheels case in the mold of a wheel on one arm, flipped the three latches, then swung the lid open. She placed the now shrunken motorcycle into the one empty slot and started to peruse their options. A little over twenty of them neatly tucked into their own little slots. Boat, cement truck, convertible, dump truck, semi... those were easily checked off the list of viable options in this scenario. The Jeep would be ideal for off roading but like the convertible, couldn't be resized at will unless all persons within were wearing a Pym Particle suit that allowed them to change size along with the car. Strike that one off the list as well.

[Anduin]

Quill went closer to Gamora for a little Ugh!-chitchat.
That was their funeral!
The racoon wasn’t impatient of romances.
They were always going to hurt you!
He had to think of Lylla* for a short moment but he thrusted aside that memory.
However, he didn’t disturb Quill and his bitterseet moment. By the way – Gamora seemed to do that.

Then Hope came back.
"How many are going with me?"
Rocket raised his hand. "Count me in – you know, in your team, I meant. I’m sure we two will make a perfect team." 



*[I'm referring to a character from the GotG TellTale-Game. (And also from some Comics, if I've heard it Right.)]

[Anduin]

Hem, whas everything okay with Tony?
Not that Thor was much empathetic but he had the feeling that something wasn’t okay.
But better not ask Mr. Stark – not when they got business to do.
"You can count me in, Tony."
"Hey, Bruce, that’s good – then we two are in the same team!", he yelled out in Bruces direction. 
Hope came back having some tiny cars with her.
"How many are going with me?"
"Nope, dearie. I’m going with Team Avengers!" 
Of course, Tony called it Team Tony before but the God of Thunder thought Team Avengers fitted better to it.
He walked right beside Tony and Bruce and crossed his arms.
"Okay. Avengers," he burst out, "are you ready?" 

[Kristi Lynne]

"Thanos could wipe out half the universe with just one snap of his fingertips. If I can just, tell them about what my father is capable of, about the stones - I at least have to try. Because if I don't...We lose. Everything."


"Yeah, your dad's an enormous a-hole, so was mine!" Peter shot back. He huffed in frustration but followed her gaze down to her hands, taking them in his. "I don't want to lose you," he stated, "but what these people can do will make the Kyln look like a cakewalk. And I really don't want to get locked up with that guy," he added, pointing a contemptuous finger at Tony.

Peter then laid a hand aside her face and pulled her closer. He needed her to know that the whole universe didn't matter, as long as she was safe, with him. "You made me promise to keep you away from Thanos so that he couldn't use you," he reminded her. "I can't do that if I'm not with you."  

[Anduin]

Loki told his people what was happening outside of the barrier.
And he also told them what they were planning to do.
Of course, most of the Asgardians were scared but some of them were not.
Some of them were warriors.
But the God of Mischief hoped that their fighting skills won’t be necessary.


He entered the hut again.
It seemed that most of them had decided which team they want to join.
He turned directly to Hope. "Miss vanDyne, is there anything we need to know before you are going to do your little trick?" 
The Trickster accentuated the word little. It was a jocular statement not a contemptuous one.