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

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?

[Okay, now she's getting a little bit angry. He actually did that to someone?]

Yeah, and snow is white. You seem to have a thing for stating the obvious. And if you're going to keep on being needlessly creepy you might as well tell me your name.

Bakura. Who said anything about needlessly? You'll need thicker skin to survive here.

Nice to meet you, Bakura.

[She doesn't sound like it's all that nice, really.]

You really know how to make a girl feel wanted around here, don't you?

[ He can play along when he wants to. ]

Nice to meet you too, Pepper.

I'm sorry, did you need the ego boost? I can try again, if you'd like.

[He seems to be having a lot of fun needling her, she's starting to notice. Not that that doesn't just make her more irritated.]

I'll settle for a conversation that's a little more small talk and a little less 'excuse me while I mess with your head, it's a hobby of mine'.

That's a lovely pressed collar you're wearing, Pepper.

I- Uh. Thanks? That's... nice of you to say, although it's not one I've ever heard before.

[Her tone has softened considerably. Pepper is going to have to ask Tony and maybe Gene about Bakura. Specifically, what is his deal?]

You are really strange, you know that, right?

[Not bad strange and not good strange. Just strange.]

So I've been told. It's fine.

Riiiiiight then.

[This hasn't become awkward, not at all.]

So, besides being strange and possessing people, what do you do around here?

I run the Jade Dojo in the Wood Sector.

[ It's said with a shrug, as though it's about the least impressive thing he could announce. ]

Oh! Gene said he works at a dojo, does he work at your dojo? He didn't mention which one, maybe because I'm still angry at him, but he said he's teaching. Did you actually hire him to teach?

[She's still a little uncertain on that point - from her perspective having Gene as a teacher would be a deathwish.]

Edited 2015-07-08 04:05 (UTC)

Aa, it's the same one. I needed people who were willing to instruct so they'd stop hassling me about it, and he knows what he's doing.

Why are you angry at him?

[Pepper takes a moment to think about how she wants to express the fine nuances of Gene's betrayal.]

Because he's- he was a lying, thieving, conniving jerk.

[Eloquent.]

He pretended to be- he was our friend and then he betrayed us all. Oh, and then he tried to take over the world and nearly caused an alien apocalypse because he's a big, dumb jerk.

[ Pepper, don't ever ask what Bakura's rap sheet is...

Still, he seems kind of amused by the vehemence, and waits until she's evidently done her rant before replying with a surprisingly understanding smile. ]

Yeah. But for all that, he's not so bad. He's been growing up, while he's been here.

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