[Audio | 004: Back in the Saddle] Thursday, Week 11

[pepperspray]

This is an open broadcast, so I'm not going into too many specifics, but I'm taking a trip back to the port town to make some shipping arrangements. This will be a much lighter and faster trip than the last one, as we'll be going on horseback.

Assuming that I don't doom us all with my equestrian skills, I could use a couple people interested in coming along as outriders -- you should be able to ride and capable of defending yourself and, um, me, if it comes down to it. Bring small goods if you're interested in trading for goods or supplies in a more varied market -- like the Old City, the port town functions on a barter economy rather than a currency-based one.

[SO HEY, Pepper's going to try and make arrangements to get a grain shipment for the Old City, since the crops aren't too awesome right now. This isn't a full-on plot like last time, just a little thing what can be done. Bruce-mun's already on board with this, but I could use one more person if you're interested! Got my second person! But Pepper's likely to be making a lot more trips, so if not this time for people, then certainly future. (Or she can set you up to go in your own group too!)]

Comments

[text, locked to Pepper]

[tiptoeing]

If you're in need of protection, I can join you. When are you leaving?

[text, perma-filtered]

[pepperspray]

In the next few days. I'm... let's say that I'm recovering from the crash course in riding lessons I just got before I throw myself on a horse again for a full day.

We'll have to be leaving very early in the morning to reach the town by nightfall, assuming I don't slow us down too badly, so I really appreciate the offer of help.

[tiptoeing]

That sounds painful. Is anything broken, or are you just bruised? [He's asking purely for medical reasons, not because he's concerned. Really.]

Just contact me again when you're ready, and I'll be there.

[audio]

[yankeedoodle]

Count me in, Ms. Potts.

[You don't need video to know who that earnest voice belongs to, do you, Pepper?]

[audio]

[pepperspray]

Gladly, Captain Rogers.

[No, you really don't. An aura of apple pie, baseball and genuine good guy pretty much just radiates from the voice alone. Pepper grins to herself.]

I don't know if we can find you a shiny white horse, but I'm definitely going to try, just for the look of the thing.

[audio]

[yankeedoodle]

[Steve looks at his feet and counts himself lucky that Pepper can't see him.]

I don't know if you need to go through some kind of trouble like that. I'd be fine with any horse as long as it's somewhat well behaved. I don't think I'm ready for animal taming just yet.

[Audio, reply comes in the evening]

[professorwolf]

[As tempting as it is to potentially get away from the city for a while and see the rest of the local area here, Lyall knows better than to travel with a mounted horseman. Or woman.]

I would offer my assistance, Miss Potts, but horses and I do not get along. So unless you wish to be trailed well behind or well ahead, I'll merely hold down the fort here, shall I?

[Audio:]

[pepperspray]

Holding down the fort is absolutely appreciated, Professor. I'm halfway dreading what will happen when I leave this time, so knowing that the hospital's recordkeeping will be in good hands is a relief.

Especially since I felt very close to needing its services after the crash-course in horses I somehow agreed to...

[Audio]

[professorwolf]

I hear it gets better with time, like any exercise. Though you can at least this time you won't be gone as long.

[Since it was something like a week last time, right? He is a bit fuzzy on what day the caravan left.]

Is there anything in particular you'd like me to focus my attention on here, while you're gone?

[Text, Locked to Pepper]

[myresponsibility]

What's the town like?

[Text, Perma-Filtered]

[pepperspray]

Small -- only a couple hundred people. The main economic value is that they're the closest available port town to the Old City, so you have a wider range of goods available, as well as ship's captains you can negotiate with.

There's a certain amount of goods production here -- textiles, alcohol, some weaponry -- but the really big ticket items are technology, either salvaged or re-invented. What industrial base this part of the world had once is shattered now.

[myresponsibility]

What kind of technology?

Audio

[golden_retriever]

Still want me along? [ This was of course because of the incident where the mare nearly threw her because she got scared of Eliot's scent. However, Eliot ended calming her down too, both of them, so his guilt in the incident was debatable. ]

Audio -- Filtered to Eliot

[pepperspray]

[Pepper answers with a soft laugh, her bruised... dignity aving ease enough to see the humour in it all.]

I think Blackbird and I have forgiven you, but I've actually had two people I know from back home speak up. I'd take a third person, but one of them is a little, um... skittish, around new people. He's a good man, though.

If you can keep things from blowing up while I'm gone, though, I'll owe you a bottle of that alcohol you were so interested in.

Audio || Locked

[golden_retriever]

[ A soft friendly chuckle. ] I'll try.

Alright. Gonna take the time to move outta the hospital then. You know how to reach me on phone if y'need me.

Tell the captain I said hello.

[ A pause followed by a light chuckle. ] And I expect you'll join me for dinner to share that alcohol.

[audio]

[springs_eternal]

"Ms. Potts?"

[It's phrased like a question because this is the only name he has heard her referred to as; the voice is quite polite, though, gentle to the point of sounding like soft music.]

I'm seeking a good way to put my skills to use, and you are requesting aid in this mission - perhaps we can talk?~

[audio, filtered]

[pepperspray]

That's me -- Pepper Potts, if you're more comfortable without the title.

[There's not a lot of restful in Pepper's day. She can practically feel her shoulders unknotting at the soothing gentleness.]

I've got my outriders for this trip, but the port town is our closest potential port, so I see myself and others making fairly frequent trips there. If not this time, certainly in future, and you can always put your skills to use without my having to be along. What would you like to know?

[Text]

[catchingflies]

oh oh oh can i come????

[Todd's not... entirely serious. Or is he?!]

Re: [Text]

[pepperspray]

Give me a solution for the bandit problem on the road and wait for it to be applied, and sure.

Right now, this trip? Unfortunately, no.

[Pepper is experiencing the strangest sense of deja-vu. Fortunately, it's much harder to stow away on a horse.]

[seasidesex]

Sounds like quite the adventure. You do this sort of thing often?

[pepperspray]

I've been here less than a month and this is the second trip I've had to make, so I suppose the answer would be that one more time and it's a habit.

I'm not really adventurous so much as the town keeps needing things like medical supplies and food.

[Audio | Private]

[relicrebellion]

It sounds as though you already have your outriders. However, if you would like to learn to defend yourself a little better in such a place as this, please let me know once you've returned.

[Audio | Private]

[pepperspray]

I'd like that very much.

[There's a soft laugh that transmits.]

It's funny. My company was a weapons manufacturer until very recently. And yet I never felt the need to handle a gun until now.

[video]

[knightoflight]

I could come. I can't 'ride' but I can defend a small party.

[Filtered video]

[pepperspray]

It's a very short distance between the City and the town if you're travelling at any rate faster than animal-based transport. From the air...

I've got my riders, but if we run into trouble, could I call on you then? Otherwise, there's no reason to pull yet another person from the City, not when there's still so much to be cleared and rebuilt.