tushanshu | [Console] Video;

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[Console] Video;

[When the screen comes on there is a face just a little too close to the camera; it’s got freckles and red hair. The figure scoots back a bit, and a young woman in her late teens appears, grinning nervously.]

Uh, hiiii. I’m Pepper. Pepper Potts. I come from a city called New York which some of you have probably heard of and if you haven’t you should because its awesome. Or, it was awesome before a bunch of aliens came and tried to destroy the planet, which they might still do, I got here before we blew up the ship when I got teleported, so it might not be so awesome when you go visit. [She pauses, catching herself.] Er. If, I guess. Sorry, I talk a lot when I’m nervous, apparently, that’s what everyone always tells me. Actually they say I talk too much all the time, not just when I'm nervous. Especially Tony and Rhodey and Gene. Oh! Yeah, I'm from the same place as Tony and Gene. Well, not exactly, we came here from different places, or something, which I don't really understand yet.

[She takes a deep breath and tries to slow down the torrent of words.] Anyway. I hear there’s some big bad running around and since I’m kind of used to fighting supervillains I’m totally there if you need someone to help with butt-kicking. Probably.

[Pepper sags a little bit.]

I could use some help figuring out what to do here. I’m supposed to get a job and all I ever wanted to be is a SHIELD agent. I could help...organize...things? Unless someone needs a personal shopper, in which case I am so there.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Careful, you're in a place where the villains like to kick back.

[ He's teasing. Probably. ]

Don't they usually? Isn't that, like, the definition of a villain? Otherwise you're just beating people up and that's not cool.

Everyone has a different definition, just ask your friends.

Are you talking about Gene and Tony, or, like, asking everyone randomly that I've met here? Because that would be a weird way to start a conversation. Like this conversation. This is weird. Not bad weird, but weird.

That's milder than I usually get. Yes, Gene and Tony.

[You're confusing her now.]

Are you trying to be creepy? It's not working, you know.

Also, is it just me, or does everyone know Gene and Tony? Not that I mind, but neither is really a social butterfly, if you ask me.

No.

[ That's pretty much how he always is. ]

They're rather well known, but they've been here a while. Also, there are far less Foreigners now than there used to be, so by simple numbers, we see the same people more often now.

If you say so. And yeah, Tony and Gene might have different definitions of 'villain' when it comes to each other, or at least they did, but they could probably agree on something general now that they can stand to be in the same room with each other.

[Pepper can't really get a good read on who this person is and what his intentions are, but she's a little uneasy about him.]

Is that because of that Malicant guy? He needs a better name.

That Malicant thing, is probably a better description.

But that certainly worked, for bringing very different people to become allies, at least temporarily.

Then why does everyone seem to refer to 'it' as 'he'? Is there an issue with pronouns here or something?

I suppose it was work together or blow up, and not many other options.

[She shrugs. Pepper has experienced both such situations, although perhaps not to the degree of Malicant. The Makluans were pretty bad though, and a bunch of people who normally didn't play nice somehow managed to then as well.]

Why do people refer to ships as "she"? It's just what is.

I'm pretty sure there's an actual reason behind the whole ship thing. Saying something is a certain way just because it is seems like seriously circular logic and also like when a parent just wants you to stop talking and leave them alone.

[Boy had she had that happen a lot. Dad catered to her curiosity most of the time, but even he drew the line.]

True, but if you want to change the way things are, you should have a reason for it. Changing it just for the sake of changing it is also circular logic.

[ He can play this game. ]

Then either you've got a reason to call it a 'thing' or everyone else has a reason to call it a 'he' and are we seriously arguing about what gender to call it or he or whatever? I'm not crazy about philosophy.

You started it.

[ Because apparently three thousand years does not 100% maturity make. ]

Wow, are you, like, five years old or something? And I did not start it, you totally started it.

[Pepper isn't even sure how they got into an argument over something so silly, but she'll be darned if she's going to lose it.]

I'm quite a lot over than that. Add a few more zeroes, girl.

Okay, now you're just being ridiculous.

[Pause.]

Unless you're an elf. Are you an elf? [Pepper's tone is suddenly gleeful.]

What? No, I'm not an elf. And I'm not related to the Sages.

[ Because he's gotten that question a few times; admittedly, he does look like he could pass for that family. ]

Aw. You would make a pretty elf. Not a nice one, mind you, but a pretty one.

[Pepper isn't intentionally trying to get herself cursed, she swears.]

Okay then, Mr. Snark and Dance, how old are you and how did you manage to live so long? [She doesn't sound like she believes him.]

[ deadpan: ] Over three thousand and by being trapped in a piece of cursed gold, since you ask.

Wow, you're like Han Solo but richer. How does one get trapped in a piece of cursed gold, anyhow? It's kind of a brilliant idea, if you want to trap somebody and make sure they stick around, since gold is so valuable and everyone wants some, so they'd never just throw it away or melt it down - you didn't escape by being melted did you?

[As has been usual for Pepper over the past few days, she tends not to absorb information until after she's responded to it immediately. She does the math and feels a little bit horrified.]

Um.

That, uh, really sucks. You, ah, don't look a day over twenty! Heh heh.

[Pepper is sincerely glad there is a console and considerable distance between them.]

[ Her ramble is so artlessly thoughtless, he's not even offended. If anything, he finds her backpedaling entertainment enough. ]

No, I escaped by possessing a teenager. Want me to demonstrate?

[Pepper recoils slightly away from the console, shocked.]

Uh, no, no, definitely not. That would be, like, seriously creepy and awful.

[She recovers long enough to think about the possibility a little further, suddenly relentlessly curious.]

How would you even do that? Do you have to exorcise yourself or can you just like, go for a walk? What would happen to your body if you did that? Like, you wouldn't be in it anymore, so would you be dead? Could you go back? Ooh, ooh, can you talk to ghosts?

Yes, he thought so too.

You're quite a curious one, aren't you?

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