[Console/Video]

[lasergrenades]

[Following up on a conversation with Tu Yunxu at the truth party, Pepper appears on the video looking a little pensive. She's totally not just doing this for Yunxu, but with all the things they've had going on recently it's no wonder there haven't been any big, new developments.]

So, uh, now that we've gotten ourselves anchored and aren't sinking anymore, does anyone have ideas on next steps to waking Tu Vishan up? I know I'm not really much help in that area, but I'm betting everyone would be happier if he was awake. Just after some brainstorming here.

Comments

[lasergrenades]

Oh. Wow.

[Things apparently changed a lot in 200 years; Colony 190 sounds almost ominous.]

Something big must have happened between my time and yours. Do they still grow lavender in the Loire valley?

[unetrustworthy]

I...dont know, actually. I've never been that far north.

But I'm guessing your world has yet to Colonize any of the Lagrange points surrounding Earth's Orbit?

[Because that's where the After Colony came from; less of an ominous calendar and more...literal.]

[lasergrenades]

I've never even been to France, so you've got one up on me.

Nope; we're still trying to get back to the Moon. Now that Tony's got the single-person space armor down, though, who knows. Why'd you have to colonize the Lagrange points?

[She can think of a lot of reasons, so perhaps it's best just to let Midii explain.]

[unetrustworthy]

[At the question, Midii sent the girl a strange look.]

Why not? [No, really. Like they needed an excuse for future space exploration and colonization.] I mean, I don't know for certain. I wasn't born yet. It's just always been something I've known about. That living in Space is better than Earth, especially with the War going on.

[...of course, she didn't know about the Space Colony complications involving women...but that's because she'd never had reason to learn, and nobody ever had reason to tell her. Not at such a young age.]

[lasergrenades]

Point. [She sighs - yet another war. Would they ever be a thing of the past?] Well. Uh. Yeah, that sounds like a pretty good reason to move off-planet.

Still... home is home. I'd rather stick around and fight for New York than watch it - or anywhere else for that matter - get pummeled from orbit.

[unetrustworthy]

[There was a saying from Midii's world. One she had yet to hear--probably never would--spoken by a girl she may or may not ever see in her lifetime. History is like an Endless Waltz. The three beats of war, peace, and revolution continue on forever.]

[Nothing in her life had ever managed to convince her otherwise.]

So home for you is a...place, then. New York.

[lasergrenades]

Yeah. I've lived there my whole life.

[And foresees staying there. Greatest city in the world and all that.]

Being here though, home is more just... the whole thing. The whole world, I mean. But sometimes Keeliai is starting to feel like home, too.

[unetrustworthy]

[She smiled faintly at that.]

I know what you mean.

[Home for her...well, back in her world, it was her family. Here in Keelai, once upon a time, it was her friends. The people she had allowed herself to grow close to.]

It's definitely...better here. Safer.

[lasergrenades]

[Pepper looks at her curiously, tilting her head to the side.]

I guess it is, some of the time. But Keeliai is still... missing too many people to be my only home.

[unetrustworthy]

[The same. In her case, it was moreso people who had once been here and gone, rather than...anybody from "home". With a few noted exceptions.]

It...would have been nice to see my family again. Papa and Michel and the twins.

I saw them in my Dreams, but I don't even know if they're still alive back in my world or not.

[lasergrenades]

[Pepper can sympathize. Were it not for Tony being from a few days after her own departure from home, she wouldn't know if her dad survived the crash of the alien ship.]

I bet you'll see them again. But it's hard, not knowing. Really hard. [How could it not be?] If you ever want to come over and talk or just hang out, we've got a lot of ice cream in the freezer that needs eating. And boys that need outnumbering.

[unetrustworthy]

[Actually, she was far more used to being outnumbered by boys. First, her brothers. Then the soldiers. Even in Keelai, most of her "close" friends had been boys. Give or take a few older sister figures.]

I'm....not really the hanging out kind.

But I do appreciate the offer. Thank you.

[lasergrenades]

Well, door's open if you change your mind.

[At least when they're not harboring a 'dead' woman.]