( 001 | video. )

[petitehands]

[ The video feed clicks on to show a now relatively calm Pepper, even if her mouth is set in a fairly thin line of mild discontent. Her hair is scraped back and tied in a neat bun, with her fringe still plastered a little wetly to her forehead, but at least she's clean now. She's been making regular use of the showers since arriving, just to make sure that every last bit of blue hideousness is washed away from her. For now, at least. ]

Now that everyone's had at least a bit of time to recover- [ herself very much included, even if "recover" is something of an overstatement ] -I might as well introduce myself, though from what I've been told, it appears some of you may already know who I am.

I'm Pepper Potts, an associate and coworker- [ this is still new, Tony, don't complain] -of Tony Stark's. [ The next words are a little practised, ones she's gone over in her mind and made sure that they're absolutely clear before speaking them. ] Not the same one from before, though. I have absolutely no memory of having been on this ship before, even though apparently I was, and I'm sorry to anyone that I might have met previously.

[ She pauses, briefly, before going on. ]

I just wanted to clear that up before any confusion took place. I think some of us have more than enough of that already, what with being on a spaceship and everything. [ The thought still makes her want to shudder a little. ] Thank you for your time, and I hope everyone's successfully washed off all of that awful blue stuff.

[ With a good natured, mild smile, Pepper shuts off the feed. She realises it's a rather mundane sort of addition to the network, but she'll leave revelations and interesting matters to Tony. She still isn't sure if she has the entire picture here - Tony has a curious understanding of what he should and shouldn't tell her, she knows this from experience - but god knows she will have it, one way or another. ]

Comments

[petitehands]

Excuse me?




[ Pepper is smiling in a very normal fashion, albeit with a very pointed blankness and a slight arch in her brows that - to anyone who knows her - would be considered a somewhat dangerous sign. ]

[northerner]

[ this will absolutely not end well. ]

Did this device not deliver my words?

[petitehands]

I really hope not.

[ She must have misheard that. She must have. ]

Did you say wife?

[northerner]

I did. Is that not the term in your land?

[petitehands]

Oh, it is, except it only applies to people who're married, last time I checked.

[ Please let this be some other worldly mix up of terminology. ]

[northerner]

Are you not? You are his partner, aren't you? His partner in all things?

[ IS TONY DISHONORING THE FAMILY. ]

[petitehands]

[ Oh god. ]

No, we- I'm his partner in business, and we're, uh, seeing each other as well- [ Pepper didn't realise she'd have to put whatever it was she and Tony were doing into words for other people quite so soon ] -but we're definitely not married.

[ WHY IS THIS A CONVERSATION THAT IS HAPPENING ]

[northerner]

[ southern starks clearly do things differently. ]

He's made you no offers?

[petitehands]

No. [ She's losing her cool. Just a little bit. It's translating into a certain pinkness in her cheeks. ] It hasn't exactly been a long-term thing.

[northerner]

[ uh oh. danger robb stark, danger. ]

You and he are newly courted?

[ thank god he decides it's wise not to follow that up with, are you not a bit young for such? ]