Open Video Feed

[pidge_out]

Who: Pidge and YOU and YOU and YOOOOUUU
Broadcast: Yes
Action: SS Bishop
When: any time between 5/12 and NOW

[The video feed comes to life and a perhaps familiar face appears within. With a clearly practised hand, the device has been set up to give anyone watching a clear shot of Pidge's face, perfectly perched on the table and completely steady as a result. Pidge is the opposite of still or steady, though; there's constant movement, fidgeting, hands wringing together in anxiety, eyes darting every which way before finally settling on the camera.]

Okay, so-- I'm back here, I guess. In the Fleet. I don't know if the rest of my team is still here, but-- You guys know who you are, so if you're still here, just let me know. [There's a slight, thoughtful frown, and then a hand reaches up to quickly adjust Pidge's glasses before starting to make vague gestures.] I'm on the Bishop again, same room and everything. That should make finding me easier.

And to, well, everybody else- [Here Pidge straightens ever so slightly, and even offers a small, awkward smile.] Uh- Hi. I'm Pidge. What'd I miss?

Comments

[action]

[the_tailor]

[Sure, he could just respond over the communicators. That'd be convenient. But this was a matter Too Big for just a hello over the networks, so about fifteen minutes after the video goes out, Lance is barreling right into Pidge's room and tackling her down in a hug.]

You--stupid--- You had us worried sick! You can't just... I dunno, up and disappear for a week and a half!

[pidge_out]

[As it happens Pidge is in the middle of going around her room and examining every inch of it. It's strange to be back here, somehow. Her things are all gone, which makes sense, but besides that everything about the ship seems to be the same. She hasn't seen anyone just yet though, so the crew of the Bishop may be entirely different now.

And then her door has to open up and Lance has to come barging through, and before Pidge even has time to utter a word of protest she's being hugged. Wide-eyed and confused, she just blinks rapidly before returning the hug.]

Lance, it's not like I planned on-- Wait, did you say "week and a half"?

[the_tailor]

Yeah, yeah, I know, I got sent back too once, but still! Ay dios mio, at least you're back... Place just wasn't the same short a gremlin.

[He ruffles her hair.]

Yeah, week and a half. Wait... How long's it been for you?

[pidge_out]

[She pulls back slightly to look at him, eyes still wide but one eyebrow raised.]

A couple of months. At least.

[the_tailor]

What the...quiznak. That long? Wait, so you're... You're from the future?

[Stare.]

[Video]

[meowbel]

[Meanwhile, Pidge will happen to see one young Mabel Pines popping up on the network!]

I don't know but welcome back! I hope you enjoy your stay here once more and that you have a lot of fun here! I know that I'm having a blast right now!

[pidge_out]

[Pidge looks taken aback at that, eyebrows raised in surprise.]

Oh. Uh. Really? Is something fun happening right now or something?

[meowbel]

Of course! How can you not have fun when you've got so many weird things happening all at once?

It's practically impossible for you to get bored!

[pidge_out]

[Oh. Oh, she's one of those types.

Pidge just... sighs softly, reaching up to adjust the glasses.]

I'm not sure that "weird things happening" necessarily negates boredom. I mean, if something really terrifying was happening, you wouldn't call that fun.

Video > Action

[tough_love]

Good. I was beginning to worry.

[And potentially take it out on the other Paladins for letting Pidge escape without sharing how, but that's a bullet dodged they don't need to know about.

Looma shows up at the door to Pidge's bunk shortly after answering over the network. Still the same eyepatch-wearing giant, though she's certainly started collecting small bits of Starstriker merch. Armbands, and the like.]

The new system is interesting- everything is a sport. They even have gladiatorial combat!

[Which she's super thrilled with. Which probably comes as less of a surprise than the rest of her updates.]

As for everything else- Sayid Jarrah has disappeared, and we are without a First Mate. Psycho Mantis is also a child for some reason. Oh! Sokka has also proposed- he fared better than expected.

[pidge_out]

[Pidge would've been totally fine with that]

[When Looma comes in, Pidge straightens in her seat almost automatically, looking over to her with an almost stern face as she listens. ...Which slowly cracks as Looma continues, eyebrows knitting together in confusion.]

Wait... Wha-- How?? Proposed?? He was dating someone??

[tough_love]

...not that I have been made aware of.

[Filing that away to investigate later though. Good job Pidge, now she's going to be suspicious of everyone.]

We battled not long after arriving in this system- he even scouted for the most advantageous field of battle he could find! He may even win next time, if he continues to prepare so well.

[pidge_out]

[Please hold. Pidge is still processing this information.]

Wait. So he... both proposed to someone and battled you... [How are these two things connected...]

Video

[tempredmental]

Pidge!

[Keith looked surprised, relieved, and happy to see his fellow introverted Paladin again.]

It's good to have you back.

[pidge_out]

[Because it's Keith, he gets a huge, extremely genuine grin from Pidge.]

Hey Keith.

Sorry for being gone so long.

[tempredmental]

Everything okay?

[It had been a pretty good scare this time. All her stuff had disappeared, which hadn't happened for the last time when they'd all gone missing.]

[pidge_out]

[She has just the tiniest little frown for a second, something more thoughtful than anything else, glancing somewhere off camera.]

I... Yeah. It's just been a while. So I guess I'm kind of just... readjusting.

[And then she smiles again, shrugging a shoulder.] It's nothing I can't handle, though.

Video

[alwayscomeback]

Oh hey, welcome back. Pretty sure your whole team is accounted for. You weren't gone for long.

[pidge_out]

Yeah, I- I kind of heard. [There's a weird mix of both relief and disappointment in her tone, even as she nods to herself.]

It was a while for me, though.

[alwayscomeback]

Uh oh. How long is a while? Are we talking months or...years?

[pidge_out]

Ohmygosh-- Months. Definitely months and not years.

[She probably answers that a little too quickly. She can't even imagine what she would do if multiple years had passed.]

[wallcrawler]

Man am I glad you're back. Just, uh... it's safe to delete any voicemails. Really.

[Not that there was anything particularly damning, really- he just wasn't used to people straight up ghosting him, and he got worried. Kind of the first time he'd encountered the Atroma's habit of making people vanish or go into comas for extended periods. They probably wouldn't even offer up anything in entertainment value.]

You haven't missed much- new system, and it's basically gym class all over again. Or, well, slightly better I guess. Everyone's really obsessed with team rivalries and all, but most everyone's pretty chill about it. Less of an arrogant jock vibe and more like a bunch of friendly enthusiasts, really.

Though I gotta say, I've never really seen people this riled up over every game. I mean with contact sports it makes sense, but I'm pretty sure I watched a competitive board game at least once. Full stadium and everything!

[pidge_out]

You realize that by telling me that, I'm even more inclined to go back and listen to them, right?

[There's a smirk in her voice as she says it, since she's primarily teasing him. ...But she's also definitely going to go back and listen to them before doing anything else.]

Ugh, Lance said something about sports competitions. I'm staying put on the Bishop just to make sure everything's exactly the way I left it. It's bad enough that all my stuff disappeared and now I have to recreate my equipment from scratch.

And to be fair, chess can get pretty exciting. Have you ever seen a Speed Chess Tournament? The different gambits that the players come up with can be pretty impressive.

[wallcrawler]

Let's say I'm appealing to your better nature.

[In vain.]

And I can't say that I have, but hey, ten credits says that's a thing here.

[Look he watched a high stakes- somehow- game of what he can only assume was Space Monopoly alright, nothing would surprise him. Including the more traditionally nerdy pursuits getting their time in the spotlight.]

You need any help rebuilding? I mean, I'm no mad scientist, but playing assistant's definitely my speed. Pluuuuuus there's only so much team spirit I can take, and we've definitely got a Waves fan on the Huntress. I figure we're two days from blue body paint, at the most.

[pidge_out]

That's assuming I have one.

[:3]

The Huntress? [Pidge is pretty sure she can guess who this Waves fan might be. She lets out a weary sigh, shaking her head.] You must be talking about Lance. Which means you can definitely come over and help me out.

I need two laptops, three additional monitors to hook them up to, at least one should be a holodeck, a lot of wiring and cables, some wireless receivers and scanners, at least two sets of precision tools and like, five huge cups of coffee.