Chapter 36: I LOVE a Parade!
Several wranglers started shooing everyone into place, then the gates swung open and the first float departed the backstage area into the Magic Kingdom. "Hang on everyone! And remember to smile and wave!" Mark shouted as the floats moved past him.
The float Loki, Thor, and Tony had been sent to was about midway through the parade. As they rolled past Mark, Loki made sure to wave and smile at the parade organizer, although his smile was more of a smirk. Mark frowned, causing Loki to chuckle.
"Loki," Thor was with a warning, recognizing that his brother was tempted to cause some mischief. "Not here. This is Disney World."
"So?" Loki replied, although he had been distracted enough to not cause any trouble. He glanced at the throngs of people lining the sides of the street. Children and adults were shouting and waving at them.
The guest float containing the Mirkwood party was the last one in the parade, and when it finally passed Mark he nodded in approval. "Someone make sure to meet those newbies at the end and see they get to their next appearance on time!"
"Smile and wave!" the woman standing next to Thranduil hissed.
Thranduil blinked once, affronted at her order. "No," he replied, tilting his head up slightly as he surveyed the pandemonium that their float was causing.
"You're supposed to smile and wave," she repeated. "They expect that from us."
"Why?"
She rolled her eyes. "Honestly? Where on earth did they find you? You act like you're some royalty or something. Trust me, we've had real stars up here. You're just… just… an actor, right?"
Thranduil did not bother to reply, instead he stared serenely over her head, enjoying the adulation of the crowd.
The woman darted a glance at Legolas. "Can you talk some sense into him? We'll all be fired before this parade is over if he doesn't smile and wave."
"I do not believe my father is concerned about that."
She sighed heavily. "Great. Just my luck to get stuck with the likes of you guys. Who do you think you are?"
"I am Legolas of the woodland realm of Mirkwood, and that is my father, Thranduil, King of Mirkwood."
"No, really. Who are you?"
"I said, I am Legolas of the…"
"I know who you said you are, but who are you really? Never mind," she said, shaking her head. "Just… look royal. Okay? Seems to be working."
The parade wandered through the streets of the Magic Kingdom, finally traveling down Main Street, USA before exiting the park through another set of gates. As each float came to a halt, people jumped down and began laughing and talking.
Loki and the others finally met back up again.
"Now what?" Thor asked. "Where will we be sent to next?"
Loki shrugged. "Who knows. We could be here for several days, or several minutes. It all depends."
"I don't know about you guys, but I'm hungry," Tony stated as he joined them. "Let's go find some food."
Nodding, they all fell into step with him, heading back towards the gates they had just come through.
"Hey! You can't go out there dressed like that! It's Main Street!" Someone shouted, trying to stop them from exiting.
"So?"
"Well, those costumes aren't allowed on Main Street. Seriously! Didn't they teach you anything during training?"
"Obviously not. What are we allowed to wear?" Stark asked.
"Well, you're okay. You look more like a visitor than a worker, but the rest of you need to go change. What's your next assignment?"
"Ah," Loki grinned. "We are not certain. We are awaiting word."
"What? They sent you out here without a schedule? Come on, follow me and we'll see where you're supposed to go next." He turned away, fully expecting them to follow him.
Taking advantage of his lack of attention, they all quickly slipped through the gates and into the crowds.
"He is right, we do rather stand out," Thor said.
"Really?" Thranduil asked as he pointed to a family coming through the entrance. The three children were all dressed in various costumes while the father and mother each wore a pair of Mickey Mouse ears on their heads with balloons clutched in their fists.
Stark laughed. "He's right. We don't look any worse than them. Come on, I've been here a few times. We should be able to out this way…"
"MOM! Look! That's Thor! Can I get my picture with him?"
"Will you sign my autograph book?"
Suddenly they were surrounded by children clamoring for autographs and photos. Several security guards appeared and soon there was a short, but orderly line formed.
"How'd you guys get out here without your handlers?" One asked.
"Handlers?"
Tony laughed. "All the characters have handlers, to keep the crowds in line. Clearly you two are being considered characters!"
Loki's eyes narrowed.
"Hey!" Tony held his hands up. "Don't blame me, you're the ones all dressed up. If you looked like me…" he grinned and backed away.
Snow White appeared from a nearby doorway. The kids that were lined up by Thor and Loki took off, leaving the two gods alone.
"Let's go while we can," Loki grabbed his brother's arm and pulled him towards the exit. Eventually they were all standing outside the theme park near the monorail station.
"That was a lot of fun!" Kat said excitedly. "Where are we going now? We could take the monorail and go over to the Contemporary."
"The what?" Sif asked.
"The Contemporary," Kat pointed to the white resort hotel.
"Sounds like a plan. I can get us some rooms until Pepper can get a plane down here," Tony said.
"Why do we require a plain?" Tauriel asked. "There is an open meadow right over there."
"No, airplane. To fly us back to New York."
"I don't think that will be…"
Tony and Kat were suddenly standing all alone, the others had disappeared.
"What the heck?" Kat exclaimed. "Where'd they go?"
Tony shrugged. "Beats me, but I'm sure I'll find out soon enough."
"How?" Kat asked.
"Whenever Loki uses my credit card again."