[Video] After Luke Siths out

[wrench_and_ruffles]

[Kaylee's trying very hard to stay calm. Stress is bad for the baby. Which really makes all this lousy timing.

So she's trying to deal with this entire situation by the method she's learned from many of her nearest and dearest.]

You know. My favourite thing about Verdana is all the stuff that happened in Mayfield that doesn't happen here. You could count on people to actually stay the same person from day to day. I promise, I am plenty grateful already, I didn't need the reminder.

[She keeps reminding herself that Luke and everybody else will be back to normal sooner or later. But it's not terribly comforting right now.]

I am too hormonal to deal with this.

[She nearly ends the transmission there, but then she remembers one more thing. Luke was supposed to pick things up on his way home from work. And now she's feeling even worse than before.]

Could... somebody pick me up some ginger and crackers? Please?

Comments

[wrench_and_ruffles]

There was a big fire there 'bout two months ago.

[During which Luke had done predictable Luke things like run into burning buildings. She would never complain about that again.]

Was real tricky to put out and it ain't livable right now. Everyone's okay though.

[From that]

Could do with some soup.

[Her dinner plans got thrown off. ANd Pietro took care of her initial request right quick.]

[pepperspray]

Virginia looks rapidly thoughtful, the expression a younger mirror of one so often seen on the adult Potts when she's problem-solving. (Granted, her problems are generally of more import than soup.)]

I bet the restaurant here has soup. They said I can have whatever I want, so I can bring you some, I'm pretty sure.

[The feed shifts to show the ceiling of Callahan's for a few minutes and there's the sounds of youthful scampering and indistinct conversation in the background before Virginia pops back in again.]

There's ginger pear soup, which sounds weird, and it's a cold soup, which is even more weird, but I got to try a spoonful and it's actually pretty OK.

[wrench_and_ruffles]

Long as it ain't protein mash, should be okay.

[Being from space does things to your standards. Though after the baby is born she might never eat ginger again.]

[pepperspray]

Protein mash?

[Virginia is horrified in the fascinated way that children do best. She's also a product of all the 70s and early 80s SF she can sneak in.]

Is that like Soylent Green? I saw that movie.

[wrench_and_ruffles]

Don't think that one made it into space. Protein mash... it's got everythin' ya need to live. Travels real well. But ain't much in the way of taste.

[pepperspray]

[Pepper looks around cautiously, checking her immediate area for adults with Opinions about appropriate movies for children before she leans in a little and confesses.]

It turns out that they make Soylent Green out of people. I hope yours isn't like that.

[wrench_and_ruffles]

[Not the sort of thing she really wants to think about when she's already feeling sick, really.]

The Alliance's got issues, but they ain't that bad. They do somethin' downright frightenin' to beans.

[pepperspray]

Maybe they just need better recipes? My friend's mom makes really good beans and rice, I could--

[But no, Pepper can't ask, not this separated from her home and her people. The young girl looks like she's hovering on the edge of sniffles, but holds them back with a willful nods of her head.[]

Oh look. it looks like your soup is ready. I'll go... get that now. Yeah.

[wrench_and_ruffles]

Thanks.

You hang in there, ya hear?

[She's not so wrapped up in her own misery as to miss that it's rough being a kid alone here]

[pepperspray]

[Pressing her lips firmly together, Pepper nods again, the tears pushed back for the moment with the beginnings of what will be the adult Potts' fearsome ability to compartmentalize.]

I'll try my best. Um... what's your name? I probably should have asked that first, maybe.

[wrench_and_ruffles]

I'm Kaylee... Skywalker.

[Even if the person she got the name from wasn't acknowledging that right now]

[pepperspray]

[Virginia doesn't have her adult self's ability to read someone's tone and body language quite as down pat, but the pause between the names is enough to catch her ear. She looks considering for a moment, and then brightens as she comes to a decision.]

I'll be right over with your soup then, Miss Kaylee!

[And so, off of the cameras and a quarter hour later, she does.]