video

[handing]

[In its own way, this month has been harder on Pepper than usual; she hears talk of what's happening on the planet, but she can't at all go down there herself, either to help or even see with her own eyes the things that are going on, and the creatures so many want to save. She doesn't do well just standing idly by, unable to affect any sort of positive change.

So she focuses on what she can do: her job. More easily thought about than accomplished, sure, but she can move around the ship, search through closets, try and find what inventories might be hidden away that they can make use of. And of course, there's the network. The crew had been incredibly helpful before, and the distraction might do them all good.

Pepper smiles when she turns on the video, the polite and practiced expression of someone used to making public announcements. At least she isn't broadcasting the mass destruction of anything involving Iron Man, so hey. That's already a plus in her mind.]

Good morning, everyone. For those whom I haven't met, my name is Pepper Potts, and I am the Chief Morale Officer on board. Quite understandably, there has been a great deal of stress among the crew lately, and my job is to help all of us find ways to alieviate that. So in that vein, I'd like to ask for any suggestions you all might have for "morale boosters." Things you want to see happen that might help make people feel better or relax. Please note that this is in no way a promise to put every suggestion I get into practice; we're working with limited resources, and some suggestions simply may not be feasible.

[Not to mention that what some people find relaxing, others could well find distasteful or even abhorent. This ship hosts a large variety of different personalities.]

Still, don't hesitate to contribute. You never know what we might be able to put together.

I'd also like to put a call out to anyone with a morale-related assignment on board the Moira. It would be good for all of us to get in touch, so we know what manpower we've got. I'd also like to be able to refer people to the right person should they have an issue that's a bit more...troublesome than this office is designed to handle.

[Read: she's not the one running the therapy practice here.]

Thank you as always for your time and input.

Comments

Private video

[notpatsy]

[ Trish probably counts as part of the morale crew with her radio show, but that isn't why she's getting in touch. ]

Don't forget to tell those of us who care about you what you need to keep your spirits up too.

[ Yeah, she has noticed your sleeping issues, Pep. ]

Re: Private video

[handing]

[Whoops, caught. Although Pepper doesn't yet know to what extent, so she laughs with the intention of playing it off.]

I'll be fine once I'm not cooped up. This ship may be massive, but it's also smaller than you might think.

Private video

[notpatsy]

[ Pretty much just as expected. ]

Will getting off the ship make you sleep better?

Re: Private video

[handing]

Oh, you noticed that. [Crap.] I'm sorry; I haven't been waking you, have I?

[Hello this is Pepper avoiding the question.]

video

[knaval]

I think we should have a grenade tag tournament in the Observation Deck.

[a beat.]

I'm kidding! I'm kidding. How about a little friendly competition? I'm sure we can think of something that wouldn't end in everyone trying to murder each other. Maybe.

Re: video

[handing]

...Excuse m--

[Oh. He's joking. Okay then.]

Kidding, right. Ha ha. [That's not a laugh. She actually says that, because wow Mr. Giant Robot, you've got an interesting sense of humor.

Moving on to the serious portion of his answer.]

Competition of what kind? Given the varied nature of the crew, I'm afraid most traditional contests, at least as I know them, would be difficult to pull off. So I'll admit to being a little stumped in that regard.

Re: video

[knaval]

[riptide's cheeks puff up and he slowly exhales. he clearly hasn't thought about this much beyond his stupid joke.]

...Art challenge?

Re: video

[handing]

[How do robotic cheeks puff anyway?]

An art challenge.

[Ah, now she gets it. Cue the grin.]

And how would that work, exactly?

⎊ [Private Video]

[narcissistictendencies]

[Squints. You look exhausted, honey. He notices, and that's either a testament to how restless she is or how much he cares about her to notice. Probably both.]

The Chief Morale Officer looks like her morale needs a bit of a boost and I know just the thing for it--it's not a giant bunny, by the way.

Morale-boosting dinner date followed by morale-boosting... dessert? [Eyebrow waggle for added implication and comedic effect. He's aiming for at least a smile.] Dessert might have to take place in a damn broom closet at this rate--what are we, in high school again? Maybe we can requisition an intimate rec room. [Tony, no... Cramped rooms are cramped, though.]

Re: ⎊ [Private Video]

[handing]

[She may not be sleeping all that well these days--but since they aren't sharing a bed at the moment, Tony hasn't had as much opportunity to see that for himself. So yes, it says a lot that he does notice, on both their parts.]

I hope not; we'd have nowhere to put it. [Among all the other reasons why it shouldn't be a giant bunny like, oh, she doesn't know, Pepper doesn't want one.

His suggestions aren't all that bad though. He even gets that smile he's after a laugh to boot.] That was horrible. I hope you realize that.

[And she does appreciate it, even if he's unfortunately right about almost everything else he says.]

We are not having dessert in a broom closet. Although the ship definitely isn't couple-friendly. [Pepper may also miss having sex, but privacy is a massive problem.]

Well, you have until dinner to figure something out. [Hey, it was his idea! Although maybe it isn't all that smart to leave this to Tony...]

[narcissistictendencies]

Fair enough. [He's grinning, sweetheart. That laugh is music.]

Of course it was. I suggested it. [It almost sounds like a boast. He has to keep that smile on her face and if that involves taking a little flack at his own expense?] It's not, but we'll make something work. There's always the shower if we're quiet. [A playful wink. Okay, he'll behave now, Pepp. He promises.]

Yes, ma'am. [Small salute.] You think we can put in a request for a room change? I can head up the details.

video;

[takeitslow]

I'd suggest a Ping-Pong tournament but we'd need a table. Maybe something else sports related.

[He pauses, expression growing a little more serious.]

We got a lot of kids on board. And I don't know about you, but this place would be a lot more freaky if I was in the single digits. Maybe find something they can do. You know, kid stuff to keep them out of trouble. [Because he's still under the belief that a kid like Chara would be less destructive if they had something appropriately childish to do instead of murder.]

Re: video;

[handing]

Tournaments are difficult to arrange because of the variety of superhuman abilities involved--but at this point, I do think some sort of casual sports thing would be a good idea. You aren't the first to suggest something of that kind.

[And with the geniuses she knows, it shouldn't be that hard to get a ping pong table built.

She's a little surprised by what he points out next, however--and also a bit impressed. Pepper's smile turns warm at Peter's concern.] That'd be a good idea. One of my current roommates is assigned to work with children, I believe. Maybe I can talk with her about it.

video;

[takeitslow]

We could always do a special superhuman tournament. See who's got the best skills to go with the spandex.

[He supposes it's his own fault for always acting like a dumbass teenager that people pause when he actually shows some humanity. The smile he gives in return is a little rueful.]

Who is it? I can pass along a few ideas. I think I'm still childish enough to remember what kids like.

private

[realitywarped]

Sadly, I doubt the traditional Asgardian pastimes would apply, as you'd prefer not to have drunken idiots rampaging through the ship, we're low on barmaids- although I suspect J might not mind that particular diversion- and there isn't much up here in the way of indiginous fauna to slay mightily. And I'd prefer people not start the no doubt fun for everyone else game of Loki football.

[He gestures, off-hand. People expect all Asgardians to be Thor, and really... they are, in some ways. Thor as he was, a bully.

Not that anyone would believe that, most likely, and besides, he quite likes his brother these days. Enough to not smear his reputation unnecessarily.]

If you tell people you twisted my arm, I might be able to provide you cake for cake and chatting morning. That is a mortal thing, yes?

Re: private

[handing]

I could actually find bartenders if I needed to, but you are absolutely right about the rest of it--especially while we're still tethered to volatile planets. [Drunken angry masses next to a ball of combustible gas and fragile framework? Not a good mix.] But I'm hoping that no one would play "football" with you or anyone else as the ball.

[At least not on general principle. While the idea of this being Loki is still one Pepper's getting used to, he hasn't tried to take over the ship or enslave the crew, so it's not so difficult to show sympathy as it might be.]

Not one I'm familiar with, but the concept seems clear enough. [Snacks and light social conversation. It's not a bad idea, provided--] The cakes won't contain any mind-altering properties, will they?

private

[realitywarped]

Ah, yes. They're always maids in Asgard- until they meet Thor, usually. [He waves a hand, looking un-regretful.] I'm not sure alcohol and confined spaces is a terribly good idea, either, though.

[A shrug. He's used to people being not terribly concerned for his personal safety. Sympathy isn't something he's good at accepting, without any practice.]

Well, now you mention it... [He grins, sharply, fingers under his chin for a moment.] Most likely not, however. It would be a little obvious who tampered, yes?

text

[a_shadow]

I received a deck of cards in the last mail drop. It's a beefcake deck, so it's obviously not meant for the gin rummy crowd to play with, but I'm definitely willing to offer it up for poker night.

Re: text

[handing]

You know, that isn't a bad idea. [Especially if they put the resources together to have a true gambling night; it might just be the one tournament where she doesn't have to worry so much about supernatural abilities.] Especially if we come up with something for the younger set to do at the same time.

text

[a_shadow]

I'm sure there's plenty. Library books to look at, if nothing else.

voice;

[bloodbinds]

I dunno, I'd really like some music around this place. It gets eerily quiet sometimes and it'd be nice if there were a few rooms that had music playing or...I don't know. Galactic television? Is that a thing?

[ It's not a very large piece for 'morale', she supposes, but it'd be nice for her. ]

We could do some kind of...friendly competition or something? Or cook something for each other that's more than just what we have in the mess hall.

[ Not that she can have any of it anyway. ]

Re: voice;

[handing]

You should talk to Trish Walker; she's the one in charge of the radio onboard, and she might be able to help you with the music idea. I can put you in touch if you'd like. [Especially since Pepper does understand how heavy the silence of a room can be.]

I've never heard of "Galactic" television, but there's a large plasma tv in the lounge? You could find something you'd like to watch there.

And a lot of people have suggested competition, so it's definitely something to look into. The problem comes in when you consider the assortment of powers people onboard possess, but there could be contests where they don't come into play--like a cook off?

voice only

[armoured]

I didn't even know there was a morale officer on board, but that's amazing!

[The voice that replies sounds pre-puberty and a little tinny, but also full of warmth and genuine enthusiasm.]

I've already got a few volunteer positions as well as my actual job, but I'd love it if you'd let me help out? I think keeping everyone's spirits up and making sure everyone knows we're going through this together so they have someone to lean on, is a really important thing.

Re: voice only

[handing]

There's more than one of us, in fact. [And because Pepper's current fellows are a skeleton, a child, and a nymph, she's pretty undaunted by the fact that this new volunteer also sounds you. He's got the same eagerness of the others, the same zeal and genuine desire to help. For that reason Pepper isn't inclined to say no, although she does have another concern.]

Are you sure you have time? I'll agree it's important, but it's also important not to overextend yourself. [So says the workaholic.] Granted, I can't say exactly what kind of schedule I'll end up having you work, but you should also take time for yourself too.

[armoured]

It's okay, really, you don't have to worry about that.

[He chuckles a little awkwardly. Honestly, the more jobs he can get, the better he will feel about his time here. The nights are the worst and he needs things to fill his hours, distract him from his inability to sleep.]

I have plenty of time even with my other jobs, I swear I won't let you down! Oh... I'm Al, by the way, Alphonse Elric.