( 002 | voice; backdated to a few hours after the jump )

[petitehands]

[ For someone who often prefers to address the network by video feeds, it's rather odd for Pepper to instead to choose voice, this time around. She sounds a little weary, like she's been awake for days at a time, but it's only a side effect of the monthly routine, and the in part just the mere thought that she's spent so much time back home just in the space of one jump. One jump. It feels like she should have missed months of being here, but she hasn't missed a thing. ]

It's been a bit of a while for me, now, but at least these aren't quite as bad as I remember anymore. [ To clarify: ] I don't really know how or why, but during the last jump I went home - or something like that. It's been... a while, let's say, but I'm sure I'll ease back into it. [ She pauses, a little uncomfortably. ] I don't think that anyone has stated this officially yet, but it looks like Bruce Banner and Betty Ross are gone. I can't find or contact them. I'm sorry, to those of you who know them. They were a really wonderful pair, and they'll be missed, but at least one of them hasn't left the other behind here, and we can be thankful for that.

[ The next pause she makes is heavier, highly indicative of her concern even though she desperately wants to sound casual. Her words are just too flat, too stiff, to pass as normal. ]

Lastly, if anyone sees Tony Stark, please ask him to give me a call- or whatever it is you do with these things. Thank you.

[ And with that, she ends the feed, abruptly. ]

( ooc: AND WITH THAT tony stark is officially missing! feel free to join pepper in her unpleasant levels of concern :c )

Comments

voice; OSCORP-level encryptions 50%

[introuble]

[ thIS IS SO DISTRESSING WHAT THE ]

Betty and Bruce?

And Tony.

[ D: ... DDDDDDDD:]

Well, I did just try sending Tony a message and it went through. So he's here, but just not- here? [ she can't figure out which is worse ] I'm sure you've checked the science labs already, but I'm headed that way anyway, and I'll double check for you.

-- I'm Gwen, by the way, Gwen Stacy. I'm not sure we've met. But yes, Tony and I work together in the labs. [ rather, they did, before she apparently left. ehhhh. time is weird here. ]

voice; OSCORP-level encryptions 50%

[petitehands]

I spoke to Tony just after the jump, he told me he wasn't feeling great after the jump, so I thought I'd just let him go sleep it off, but- [ she stops herself, because her voice is getting a little too quick, calming down ] -he isn't in his room, he isn't in his workshop, he isn't anywhere that I can think of. Like you said, he's still here but not here.

[ Pausing, she continues on a little more pleasantly. ]

It's nice to meet you, Gwen, even if it's not under great circumstances. Pepper Potts.

voice; OSCORP-level encryptions 50%

[introuble]

Nice to meet you, too. We'll find him, I'm sure of it. Or he'll come back on his own.

[ now she's grinning a little bit, even if maybe she shouldn't be ]

For some reason I can't believe Tony would be one that's easily taken. If something did happen, something we'd need to worry about, I'm sure he would have put up a fight, left some clues. Something to follow, you know?

[majestyofthethrone]

Tony's gone?

[petitehands]

Not gone - he's still on the ship, I just don't know where.

[majestyofthethrone]

Why would he disappear?

video;

[goldshirt]

[if Pepper is looking for Tony, that isn't a good sign.]

Where was the last place you saw him?

video;

[petitehands]

[ She switches to video a little reluctantly, because she knows how tired she looks and how the creases of concern are digging into her expression right now - it's one thing for Tony to take some alone time back home, it's another thing on this spaceship. ]

He came by my room just after the jump, he told me he had an awful headache, so I thought I'd give him a few hours to recover on his own, but- now I can't find him.

video;

[goldshirt]

I'm guessing it isn't that he's just being avoidant?

[he doubts it, otherwise she wouldn't bring it up]

voice » awesome auggie provided lock forever

[unparental]

...but you saw him, after the jump?

voice » an excellent lock!!

[petitehands]

Just for a minute. He's definitely here, just... somewhere else.

/does AWAY with subject lines though

[unparental]

So-- when you kill him with a shoe for being such an idiot, can I watch and tell him he deserves it?

[ pepper, your man is a stupidhead. lovely in certain lights, but an utter stupidhead. ]

text; SHIELD ENCRYPTIONS.

[aimlessness]

well shit.

text; SHIELD ENCRYPTIONS.

[petitehands]

Thank you for putting more or less how I'm feeling so succinctly.

text; SHIELD ENCRYPTIONS.

[aimlessness]

i do my best.

want me to talk a walk, see if i can scare him up?

video;

[inebriety]

[Raises a hand and awkwardly waves at the camera.

Okay, sorry he'll play nice.]

If his arc reactor is anything like the ones I'm familiar with, you can track him from the energy output.

video;

[petitehands]

[ Forgive her moment of staring, it's just- well. Yes. Still, she sounds moderately hopeful. ]

You'll have to elaborate; I'm not completely familiar with how these things work.

video;

[onlysaneone]

...Ma'am, is Tony okay?

[ he's been avoiding the Tonys, that doesn't mean he isn't suddenly extremely worried by her tone of voice. Neither of them may actually be his dad, but... ]

video;

[petitehands]

I really don't know. I hope so. [ A pause. ] Please, call me Pepper.

video;

[coffeeking]

[....Shit. This is all bad news, and he feels a pang for Betty. But Pepper's right, at least she and Bruce are together. But Tony...]

When did you last see him?

video;

[petitehands]

Just after the jump. [ She exhales, a little heavily. ] I keep wishing someone would tell me I'm just being paranoid, but I'm starting to think that's not going to happen.

[andblockbuster]

Wait. Okay, so... Tony's wandering around the ship? After what happened to Neal?

[WHY IS HE DUMB?]

And he thinks I don't think?

[petitehands]

I know it seems ridiculous just thinking about it, and I'd like to think he's not that stupid but-

[ She stops, mostly because she just doesn't have anything to add to that "but". That would be the sound of Pepper dropping her head in her head in her hands with frustration. ]

video;

[stimulations]

[He's frowning slightly, three names in there that he isn't happy to hear about, but perhaps Bruce Banner and Betty returning home should be taken as good news.]

It seems to be disappearing off into parts unknown is the popular activity recently. Though you'd think he'd have more sense, after we've seen the apparent effects.

[buttmad]

[HEY, PEPPER. IT'S YOUR FAVORITE PERSON EVER.]

Wait. Waitwaitwait. You mean to tell me you've somehow misplaced Tony?