[Video]

[nodavinci]

[The camera's pointed away from Tony, showing a vacant lot filled with cracked piping and crumbling timbers, like a construction graveyard. On the edge of the screen, the fieldstone wall leading up to a brightly painted exhaust stack suggests he's somewhere in the industrial district - and those who've had occasion to visit his workshop might recognize the glasswork building across the street from where he'd set up.]

Is it just me, or was there a building here this morning?

[The answer here is 'yes, a thriving warehouse' - or, if not that morning, as recent as anyone's last visit to the area.]

Comments

[pepperspray]

It would explain a few other disappearances if that were the case. I almost feel like I should be flattered if it's true. Should I come by and compare notes?

[The network, no matter how they can secure it between the two of them is, after all, someone else's technology in the end.]

[nodavinci]

I'll put on some coffee. And fire up the graphing software.

[And undoubtedly start distractedly planning further security measures on all of their holdings, just in case.]

[pepperspray]

Mmm, sounds like the start of a wonderful evening. I'll bring extra dry erase markers.

[Pepper's got some contingencies half-sketched herself, despite the playful purr she permits herself. She pauses, and the purr is gone in favour of something almost mildly sheepish about her next request.]

Could you check with Salvation on something for me, when you get the chance?

[nodavinci]

Sure. She likes questions. Shoot.

[pepperspray]

I don't know whether these disappearances are intentional or accidental. If they're intentional, I'd actually worry less, because this isn't exactly world-changing, but I don't know... and I'm babbling. Sorry.

[Pepper pinks slightly (and likely adorably) before actually explaining what her question is.]

Ask her if she's equipped to keep animals other than than ones from her own storage systems aboard. I... want to make sure Pixel's safe. And the mammoths.

[nodavinci]

[Tony's grin is a clear response to that sheer quantity of adorable - but fortunately (mostly for him) it's a concern that fetches up against the functional portions of his empathy center.]

I'm pretty sure her gardens were intended to function as an ark for fauna as well as flora, but I'll check in.

[pepperspray]

[Pepper crinkles her nose at that grin, but smiles in return for it (and with a touch of relief) as well.]

Oh good. If the answer's positive, I'll come up with some plausible excuse for an ancient arctic elephant march and go from there. Just... until this is all smoothed out.