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

Re: Private video

[handing]

[There's a pretty lengthy pause then, not because Pepper gets the feeling that Trish isn't going to let this drop or even so that Pepper can think of a decent lie. No, instead she's debating, weighing the risks of telling Trish what really does keep her up at night, why she startles awake every time her dreams turn to fire or falling.

Or both.

Maybe if she doesn't tell the whole truth, but enough of it. Kind of like dipping her toe into the pool to see how cold the water is.]

I don't suppose you remember that time the President got kidnapped by the Mandarin?

Private video

[notpatsy]

The president getting kidnapped was a pretty big deal so yeah, not really something I'd forget.

[ That's her way of saying "go on". ]

Re: Private video

[handing]

Well, I meant in more of a "has it happened for you yet sort of way." Timelines, and--

[And she's veering. Pepper lets out a breath, her lips briefly shaped into a O as she refocuses.]

And that's not really the point. The person actually behind the kidnapping, and the Mandarin himself, was a man named Aldrich Killian. The short version of the story is that he wanted to get Tony to do something for him, and he thought kidnapping me was the best way to force Tony's hand.

Private video

[notpatsy]

[ Trish can't seem to find the words to express all the sympathy she feels for Pepper right now, so instead she just prompts her to continue with a gentle question. ]

Did it work?

Re: Private video

[handing]

[She draws in a slow breath, her eyes shifting away from the camera at the question; it puts her situation in terms she's never really thought about.]

In a way, yes. [After all, Pepper herself is now a stabilized Extremis-enhanced individual. When she considers it in the terms Trish used, as Killian's success, it makes her cringe.]

But he's dead now. Killian. [And that is just as important, just as vital for Pepper to remember, regardless of how haunted she might feel.]