[001; video]

[earpiece]

[When the video feed clicks on, anyone paying attention will be treated to the image of a man who looks wildly uncomfortable. He's dressed in local clothes—his options were change into the garb generously offered or sit in the bloody, wet suit that just happened to be his favorite and is now instead draped across the back of his chair and probably ruined forever along with most of his other stuff—and is wearing an expression that's a curious mix of frustrated and tired and dazed. Like he knows what's going on, but can't quite believe it.

He rubs his face before speaking, shoulders rising and falling with an inaudible sigh. Without fully raising his gaze to meet the camera, he says:]

My name is Phil Coulson. I just—

[He hesitates, thinking. How is he supposed to approach this? "Hi, I just died, it's nice to meet you all here in this afterlife I wasn't expecting?" Bright blue eyes flicker toward the keyboard, then dart back up, this time focusing directly on the lens.]

I arrived here a little while ago.

[And there it is, the versatile, thin-lipped little smile that those who know him already know so well. This time, it's meant to convey something akin to appreciation toward those who helped him, but it looks a bit pained. He's not sure he can help that.

Because, you know, his back is killing him. Pun completely intended.]

Just thought I would say hello.

Comments

[tendnottoweep]

[ She nods, almost wearily despite the fact that it's been weeks since the battle. ] We did. A few close calls, especially with Stark [ go figure ], but we all made it out.

[ Pause. Grimace. ]

Speaking of Stark, there's something you should probably know before he contacts you. He's... significantly behind the rest of us.

[earpiece]

[Oh, was that an eyeroll? Maybe. Phil resists the urge to make a tired crack about Tony and instead nods.]

Understood.

[...he thinks.]

How far behind?

[tendnottoweep]

[ He doesn't need to make a crack about Tony. They were both thinking it. ]

About a year, not long after the events at the expo.

[earpiece]

I see.

[Huh.

That makes things interesting.

...not that he needed them to be more interesting right now, but.]

So, does he know about... everything?

[tendnottoweep]

I told him a little. He's met the others, though he's not exactly... on board with the team. [ It's shocking, we know. Can you see how shocked she is? :| ]

[earpiece]

[He is JUST AS SHOCKED.]

H'm.

Has he caused any trouble?

[tendnottoweep]

Surprisingly, no. Maybe that just means the eventual explosions will be that much more dramatic, but I'm keeping an eye on him.

[earpiece]

That's good to know, at least.

Thank you.

[tendnottoweep]

[ Tiny nod. ] Of course.

[ She pauses, staring at the screen for a long moment before she says quietly: ] I'm glad you're here.