( 003 | video )

[petitehands]

Long time no see, Tranquility. [ Smiling ruefully, Pepper offers the camera a little wave. ] Looks like I've missed a couple of months, if my numbers are anything to go by, which - of course - they are. I don't think I would have even noticed otherwise, to be honest. One more thing to the list of everything else I'm sure people wish we had some say over, though I'm still not sure if I'd rather have here than in whatever limbo that was.

[ She makes a brief, dismissive gesture as if to wave away the thought from floating around her own head. ]

In any case, it's not quite good to be back, but I guess it's not completely awful either. Welcome to space, for the new faces, and as for the old, I'm sure some of us have some catching up to do.

[ And this she finished on a bright note, because positivity!! is something that Pepper is into right now. It's better than moping or complaining, and besides, she thinks that some people could probably do with seeing more people who aren't pontificating, mourning losses or bemoaning the ship - it may not be great, but it's what they've got. ]

Comments

[majestyofthethrone]

Pepper!

I'm so glad- I mean, that's terrible, I'm sorry, I shouldn't be glad, but well.

I'm glad to see you again.

[petitehands]

No, no, don't apologize! There's no shame in being happy to see someone, even if the circumstances aren't ideal.

I'm glad to see you again too, Sera. How have you been?

[majestyofthethrone]

More awake, I think.

Did someone fill you in? On things here, I mean.

[petitehands]

Bits and pieces from Tony, but I wasn't exactly going to grill him for details without letting him have a shower and sorting himself out first. That would be a bit mean, post-jump.

[majestyofthethrone]

A lot of people have...died.

video;

[executiveassistant]

[hello soul sister from another 'verse--

that is. she's smiling a bit.]

Well, you're refreshingly positive for having been thrown back into Space Hell. Neat trick, by the way, coming back.

[petitehands]

[ Not the answer she was hoping to hear, but also an answer that doesn't surprise her, and she can't tell which is worse. ]

How many is a lot?

[majestyofthethrone]

At least two in the past month.

video;

[petitehands]

When at least ninety percent of the people on this ship are going to start by telling people this place is indeed Space Hell, as you so aptly put it, I thought it might be nice change to try and ease people into it.

[ Her expression is wry. ]

Congratulate the ship on the trick; I'm just the magician's assistant, in this case.

[petitehands]

In just a month? That's... terrible.

What happened?

[majestyofthethrone]

They went into the ship.

[petitehands]

As if we haven't all heard about what a great idea that is.

[ Which sounds a little terse, given the subject matter, but going around the ship (especially alone) is not something Pepper ever plans to advocate. ]

Encrypted;

[majestyofthethrone]

Do you remember Chase?

Encrypted;

[petitehands]

We only spoke once, briefly, but yes, I've heard about her.

Encrypted;

[majestyofthethrone]

Well...Chase was one.

[buttmad]

Oh, good. You're back.

[This is the tightest smile ever conceived by mortal men with very large grudges hovering over their head like Pooh's stormcloud.]

[endeavors]

I don't think I got the chance to thank you earlier.

t e x t »

[became]

Stark's errant better half-- welcome back.

video;

[executiveassistant]

You are a good soul, looking out for strangers who are busy freaking out. I take it you've been here for awhile--that, or you've got a good head on your shoulders.

Or both, I'm willing to keep my options open.

Encrypted;

[petitehands]

Oh, god. [ Pepper knows that Chase was quite a complicated individual - but she still seemed so young, and the thought of her dying on this ship was . ] Were you friends?

[petitehands]

Oh no, you're still here.

[ Funnily enough, Pepper's isn't the easiest of smiles either. ]

[petitehands]

You did? What for?

Encrypted;

[majestyofthethrone]

Yes.

t e x t »

[petitehands]

Not willingly errant, but certainly the better half. Thank you, Mr. Caffrey.

video;

[petitehands]

Normally I'd be more modest, but if I look back on my life and career for the past decade, I sincerely hope that I do have a reasonably good head on my shoulders.

Besides a month's interlude, though, I originally arrived here at the eighth jump - so it's been a little while, yes.