[Audio: Filtered] Tying Loose Ends: (Friday, Week 19)

[pepperspray]

[Filtered to Tosh, Lyall and the three Avengers still above ground and breathing:]

I'm a little concerned with how the second stage is hitting me. I don't want to worry people generally, but I know all of you can keep on top of things.

[Pepper honestly sounds more dead level than concerned, voice a colourless murmur and the video kept off.]

Just in case I'm too out of it: if we get samples, or a dose of vaccine. Anything. Let people know to talk to Captain Silene. She has a communicator, she's a contact at the port town. Knows me. She might know where manufacturing facilities are.

[Filtered to Tony:]

I... Tony. I would really like you here right now.

[This, spoken privately, is where the concern has gotten to. Beyond that, there's a thread of naked fear that's been missing from Pepper's previous determined sulking her way through Stage One.]

Comments

Re: [audio]

[pepperspray]

God. This is not how I want to share the news, but--

[But there may be no time to share it later, and better her to tell it than other options available.]

Tosh... he didn't make it. The second stage-- Tony and I got a call, but it was limited audience, and we didn't have time to--

I'm sorry.

[audio]

[sadandsingle]

[...even more silence. This time, she sounds a little choked up when she speaks again.]

No, I- I understand. [She's trying to tell herself that she and Bruce weren't that close, not close enough to warrant something as personal as a deathbed visit. On the other hand, he's probably her closest friend on Verdana.] Thanks for telling me, Pepper.

[audio]

[pepperspray]

Please know that if there had been any time, I would've made sure you were there. As it was...

[Pepper knows those silences well, and lingers in one for a long moment.]

We were almost too late ourselves. But he's in the pods now, and I already know of one person who came back, healed from this-- and that sounds so empty right now.

Tony-- I'll tell Tony he should come see you. Yes.

[It's not that Pepper's voice is any firmer: she's getting even threadier in point of objective fact. But she does sound a little more sure of herself with the decision reached.]

[audio]

[sadandsingle]

Professor Lyall told me about it, too. I just hope it's the same with Bruce. I'll have to ask Tony how he thinks it might work - it can't be cloning, not if people are the proper age and have all their memories.

[Yep, Tosh can even nerd out while she's crying.]

I know you don't exactly have any choice in the matter, but do try not to die. Even with the possibility of resurrection, it's still stressful for all parties involved.

[What she means is something along the lines of "please don't die, you're my friend". Way to develop feelings in the middle of the black death, Tosh.]

[audio]

[pepperspray]

I can't die. [Pepper's assurance would be more reassuring if she sounded better, and if there wasn't a faint thump transmitted across the audio link.] I have too much to do, and Tony shouldn't be left--

[The joke, old and familiar, isn't so funny now. Pepper doesn't finish it.]

I think I need to rest. Be OK, all right?

[audio]

[sadandsingle]

Yeah, you too.