Tomorrow morning when we wake

[lasergrenades]

Characters: Pepper Potts, Marie Kreutz, Yami no Bakura and you!
Date: Throughout January
Location: Sky Sector, KPD Headquarters, and around Keeliai
Situation: Pepper is hanging out with friends and helping with storm recovery, enjoying the start of the new year
Warnings/Rating: None yet


A. Jade Dojo | Early January | Bakura

So they're still trying to figure out what exactly they are to each other and how this whole 'relationship' thing works, but Pepper is content with that situation. She'd worked with Tony to make a customized senet board for Bakura's birthday, but she'd left the pieces uncarved so he could make them himself and perhaps show her how to carve as well. Plus, she didn't really remember how to play, and Bakura had already proven to be an adept teacher. She stayed after the dojo closed, as had started to become habit, and wandered back towards his apartment.

B. House Spicy Iron Dragon | During the storm | Marie

Well, the weather is terrible. Pepper has seen the remnants of hurricanes that have petered out in New York, and a few really bad storms, but this definitely takes the cake. She probably won't admit it, but it makes her a bit uncomfortable. Between the weird weather and not being able to go outside much because of it, she needs something to do with her hands when she's not working. Marie had done some baking before she left, and Pepper asked if her returned housemate would be willing to spend time in the kitchen. It would be fun, and tasty, and hopefully give them time to get to know each other better.

C. Healer's Guild | Early January | Raine

As with Valdis' Shadow test, Pepper had been alerted to Raine's (albeit with a lot less urgency by Vee this time). She can't help but wonder what Raine saw - if it had the same sort of bone-rattling effect on her. Each test was different, wholly individualized, and Pepper is nothing if not curious. Raine might appreciate the comparison as a scientist and a mage, too. As has become something of a habit, Pepper brings treats along with her when she arrives at Raine's office, and knocks gently.

D. Around Keeliai | After the storm | Open

In the aftermath of the storm, there's a lot of repair work that needs doing, and once again Pepper's suit is perfect for the task. She can be seen wherever the worst damage is, pulling apart structures so waterlogged they would become rotten before too long, or helping with new construction. She keeps the faceplate open most of the time, even though the kedan have largely gotten used to the armor by now. Even though there's a lot of work to be done, she remains chipper and does whatever she can to help.

E. KPD Headquarters | Throughout the month | Open

Pepper continues to work diligently, though her schedule remains a bit erratic. She likes taking a variety of shifts. The early part of the month is fairly quiet, but she's preparing reports with Valdis and Gene to give to the Council as part of the push for laws and policies that has arisen.

After the storm passes, things get busier. In the wake of any disaster, there was potential for crime. When she wasn't out helping with repairs herself, Pepper was organizing patrols and doing logistics for aid parties, coordinating with other groups in the city like the Healer's Guild and the Council so they weren't reinventing the wheel.

F. Midnight Hotel | Beginning of January | Valdis

Pepper is still a bit worried about Valdis. Although she seems to have gotten her head on straight again in terms of immediate fallout from the failed Shadow test (and the fact that she survived was impressive), it must have left a mark. Pepper had passed, and it left a mark. Cookies in hand, she goes to see Valdis at the Hotel, sporting a smile but not trying to hide the fact that she's here for a specific purpose when she knocks.

(OOC: Feel free to make your own starter or let me know if you want something specific!)

Comments

B. House Spicy Iron Dragon | During the storm

[reluctantaccessory]

Marie would be lying if she said that she was entirely fine with the storm that was raging on outside, but as long as the power held and there was something to do, then she could push that particular set of anxieties away, very deep down. Internally she thanked the universe for Pepper's idea to spend the day in the kitchen.

Of course, that also meant that the house was going to eventually end up with enough sweets that even a bakery would be overstocked and even the four of them were going to find it enough to but a dent into it.

But, too late to cut down now.

And one step at time, that would be a problem for another day. Like tomorrow.

"Pepper?"

Marie had just placed the first of what she had the suspicion where going to be many more trays of cookies onto the counter top. She noticed that her housemate seemed a bit quiet.

"Are you okay?"

[lasergrenades]

"Hm?"

Pepper turned from where she was measuring out ingredients with not quite enough care. It was good to have something to to keep her busy when there wasn't much else going on. Going outside wasn't impossible, but it was unpleasant.

"Oh. Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. I'm just not super used to big storms. I mean, we get thunderstorms all the time in New York, but we're kind of too far north for actual hurricanes and this is just, you know, huge," she answered rapidly, her voice half a note higher than normal. "It makes me a little antsy."

[reluctantaccessory]

Marie listens and nods some.

"Yeah, I think I understand. That's why I was a little relieved that you asked if we could spend today in here," Then she finds herself starting to ramble but it really did help to have something to do, "Most of the places I lived never got storms quite this bad, at least not this time of year, I think... but well, I think as long as we stay in and the power holds, then we should be okay?"

Then she stops herself because none of this was helping, was it?

She pauses and begins to pull out some mugs. "How about some tea or some hot chocolate while we wait on the cookies to cool and then we can have some and then go back to baking?"

[lasergrenades]

"That sounds like a good really good idea," Pepper replies with a nod, and after mixing the last of the dry ingredients a little more carefully, goes to fill up the tea kettle.

"I'm not, like, worried the house is going to fall down or anything - Gene did a really good job building it - and the Metalworkers know what they're doing when it comes to the electricity," she adds. "But it's totally a good excuse to bake. Tony'll be thrilled, I bet; he eats like he has four stomachs."

[reluctantaccessory]

"You think so?" Some thought follows, "Hey! Maybe if we still have time to spare we can add to that pillow fort in the living room too?"

Marie listens again, "Yeah, I wasn't too worried about the house falling down in this, just the electricity, but the few times I've lost it - it took a long time to get it back up. I guess that's why it makes me nervous."

As she begins to scourge around for tea and hot chocolate "Um, where do we keep the tea and hot chocolate?"

[lasergrenades]

"Ooh, a pillow fort sounds like a great idea," Pepper replies cheerfully. Tony could probably be convinced to join them in it; Gene would be a bit trickier to lure.

While she's filling the kettle, she points to one of the cabinets where there are several containers of loose leaf tea and a tin of their preciously rationed hot chocolate are located - the pseudo chocolate was a little expensive but now seemed like a good time to use some.

"Our stop in Hatal last year helped a lot with tech advancements and materials, but if we do lose power Tony or Gene could probably get it back on. We might even be able to power some things off of the armor, and it can at least be a light," Pepper adds as she turns on the stove. "I used it as a disco ball for my birthday party before."

[reluctantaccessory]

"I was thinking it would be nice to put up something really cool. Not just a fort. More like a pillow mansion or something, so far all I managed on my own was...um, that mess of blankets and pillows that didn't hold well," Marie grabs one container of tea and the tin with the pseudo hot chocolate and seems to be debating about which one of the two to choose, both would be comforting, "Um, which one do you want?"

Marie would love if they both joined, but she supposes just leaving an open invitation to anyone who wanted to come in was all that could be done.

"Wow, so it sounds like we might be set even if that happens," Marie decides on hot chocolate for herself, but then pauses and turns to look at her housemate, "Uh, you used the armor as a disco ball?"

Then she can't help but picture it hanging from the ceiling and slowly rotating clockwise in a dim room. And she might be trying really hard to not laugh at the image because it does amuse her more than it probably should. She might even hunch over slightly in an attempt to not laugh.

Once she is able to compose herself, she tries to smile a little more softly, "I suppose I got lucky if there was going to be storm, huh? Man, I don't know how much good I would be at anything like that. Could probably get the flashlights or something..."

[lasergrenades]

"I think I'll do tea," Pepper answers. "And we can totally take over the entire living room. When Tony gets home he can help with the structural engineering."

She can't help but giggle a little, too, when Marie tries to cover her laughter. "Sort of. It can project images so I made it project light all over the dojo. I didn't actually hang the armor off the ceiling, but that would definitely be a talking point of the party if I had."

Taking over the kitchen for the day had definitely been a good idea. Pepper is already feeling less tense, and with the smell of cookies in the air, it's hard to be too anxious. "I have basically zero idea how the armor is made; I just know how to use it. If the power starts acting up we can find the flashlights and I'll make Tony or Gene get here ASAP."

[reluctantaccessory]

"Tea?" Marie frowns, "Maybe I should make tea for myself too. Chocolate's expensive, right? And we're using more than enough of it for baking..."

Then she glances back over and she would be lying if she said she was not at least a little bit disappointed by that, "D'awwww. Why did you tell me that? I was having a good time thinking of it hanging off of the ceiling."

She takes a breath and lets herself relax somewhat. "But using it is enough if it's an emergency," she then pauses, "But grabbing flashlights would make me feel better, at least."

[lasergrenades]

"Yeah, it's a bit expensive. Worth using for all the treats for sure. If you want hot chocolate though, now totally seems like the right time for it," Pepper replies, shrugging.

She grins despite the mild disappointment. It was a funny image, the armor spinning around from the ceiling.

"We can go look for them. I'm pretty sure I know where they are, but we probably shouldn't take tea down into the lab. Safety and all that jazz."

[reluctantaccessory]

Marie shakes her head and places the container back, "No, I think the treats would be a better use. Even if it seems like a good time to have some of it." Then she pauses and looks surprised, "Ugh, when did I start to sound like an old lady?"

Don't tell her that all this world hopping has made her more mature, adult-like, or something among those lines. She almost looks horrified now.

Then she frowns more at the grin and pretends to be miffed, but only for a brief second.

"Oh, right." And that probably brought back for than a fair share of memories of her last years at school. Before she ran away and more or less unofficially dropped out.

[lasergrenades]

"Practical doesn't always mean old," Pepper points out with a shrug. "The chocolate will be put to good use, just in a different format. Not exactly old lady qualifications."

She goes to sit at the table while the water boils. "We can go after tea," she suggests. "It probably won't get that much worse in a half hour or less, unless you'd feel more comfortable with having them up here."