[Video; un: Snowpiercer]

[peacemongering]

[Pierce doesn't normally make announcements, except when it comes to internal company memos and the like. He keeps things strictly business most of the time, but he is making this addition to the network from his communal housing room. He looks grave and upset, but he is clearly wanting those who might wish to know the information that he has obtained.]

To anyone who knew and was friends with Miss Ava Orlova, I regret to have you inform you all that she has returned back through the portal. While we had only begun to build a relationship, she was the closest person to having one of my daughters back, and I will miss her.

[He sighs heavily and folds his hands together, managing a grief-stricken smile.]

If anyone has any stories of her exploits, I would very much value hearing about them.

Comments

text: scavenger.rey

[talentedscavenger]

I didn't know her, but I am sorry for your loss, Alexander.

[peacemongering]

Thank you for your kind words. It is a shame you hadn't met her. I think you two would have gotten on well.

[talentedscavenger]

You're welcome. A shame I wont' meet her, but you never know. You may see her again.

Are you doing okay?

video | @minsu

[foxtrots]

[oh. it's one of his roommates. minsu has seen him, but they haven't really spoken before.

but he looks sad, and minsu feel sad, and maybe that's as good an opportunity to make a new friend as any.]

I didn't know her, but...would you like me to bring you some tea?

[he makes that where he works too, and he's seen this man make it, smelled it coming from his cup.]

[peacemongering]

[Ah yes, his roommate. They had not had formal introduction as of yet, but he had smiled at the young man in passing.

He nods his head, appreciating the gesture.]

That would be very kind of you. We should be formally introduced as well.

[foxtrots]

[it's these little acceptances that please minsu more than he can put into words. being able to do something nice for someone feels good. earning their approval feels good. it feels a little bit like forgiveness, even though he knows it's not that simple.

he smiles faintly, knowing too that tea can only do so much. he ate for days after he first arrived, it barely took the edge off of missing someone.]

My shift's about to be over. [no, it was over two hours ago. minsu lingered.] I'll come straight back.

[an introduction. his smile warms a little more.]

I'm Minsu. Hi.

private video; un: goaskalice

[royalpassport]

[ Jefferson didn't know Ava, but he does know what it's like to be separated from your children. For that reason, he's responding without his usual mask, but rather, with raw sincerity. ]

Did you get a chance to say goodbye?

private

[peacemongering]

[There was something distinctly different from the man he had met in the park. This was clearly a subject that hit close to home. He kept his expression schooled to that of continued grieving.]

Unfortunately, no. That would have made this a bit easier but not much. You... have suffered a similar loss?

private

[royalpassport]

Yeah. Pretty similar. [ Jefferson hesitates for a moment, then elaborates: ] Only I was the one who was sent through a portal.

[ Well, the one who chose to go through a portal, and then was trapped. ]

Video. un: ilikehorses

[shoplifter]

[She's not about to tell the guy about her own terrible luck with her father, having lost him after only just getting him — it's too raw and terrible a topic, some days — but she does feel a small thump of sympathy, that sympathy that had been nearly squashed by scientists and soldiers and an unfair lack of hugs and braids and storybooks.]

Is she going to be safe there? At home?

[That's always her biggest concern, when someone goes missing.]

[peacemongering]

[He'd seen this one on the network a few times, and she seemed all too young to be without some sort of parental guidance. At the same time, she seemed... hardened, like she had seen more than most children her age.]

I like to think so, little Miss. She has a lot to endure, I suspect, but she's strong so she will do alright.

[shoplifter]

... That is good. That she's strong. It's dangerous out in the world.

[Dangerous anywhere, really.]

This place, it is... safer than most, I think.

private video; un: ren

[killthepast]

Is it really so tragic?

private video

[peacemongering]

[He sits back in his chair and folds his arms over his chest, and the aura of grief that he has been displaying evaporates like smoke.]

No, not particularly. However, to test the waters of the public network is sometimes necessary to see where people's sympathies lay.

private video

[killthepast]

[ Ren's expression shifts to one of greater interest as he watches Pierce drop the act. ]

You're wise to do it. People are too free with their sentimentality. [ THEY GIVE EVERYTHING AWAY IN A HEARTBEAT.

Unlike him.

He definitely never does.

Ever. ]

Video @the.boneless

[ragnarsson]

[Oh look, it's the old dude with the good advice.]

I didn't know her well, but she once made sure I didn't die in a fire.

[He says this very blithely like his life being in danger of being snuffed out is a pretty regular thing, which really, it is.]

Not that I was in any danger anyway. [Lies. He would have either burned to death or died of smoke inhalation.]

[peacemongering]

[That earns a small smile, and he tried to offer a laugh but it comes out strained.]

So you were one of the people caught up in that unfortunate apartment building fire, were you? I've seen some of the old footage of it.

[He's certain Ivar would have just pitched himself out of a window if it came down to it back then.]

[ragnarsson]

She was definitely stubborn. Almost as much as me.

[She'd dragged him down quite a few flights of stairs, no easy feat considering that Ivar was not a small person.]

That was one of the many reasons I decided to move out.

video; @cphantom

[sweetlies]

I was not familiar with her but you have my condolences.

[Comes the small Victorian Englishman's voice. He does at least look sympathetic, even if his tone comes off a bit flat.]

[peacemongering]

[An interesting but not altogether unexpected sight.]

Thank you very much, young man.

[sweetlies]

I haven't had family depart yet but I can imagine it feels dreadful. Funtom Cafe is, of course, open to you if you'd like a good cup of tea. Or coffee, as I suppose many prefer here.

[Ew, coffee.]

text; stark

[inebriety]

Is it wise to let a Widow get so close to you?

[peacemongering]

I wasn't concerned for my safety. Are all the Widows where you are from that untrustworthy?

action;

[advanced]

[No.

No. Fuck, no. He doesn't trust at all that Ava has gone home and isn't buried in a shallow grave somewhere, especially not with Pierce being the one to announce it and the faux concern just rolling off him.

It's what drives him back into the city finally. He heads for the place he knows Pierce works, right up to his office, and if the man isn't there when he arrives then he'll wait for him until he does arrive.]

action;

[peacemongering]

[In the time between the announcement and any travel to where he currently worked, he'd moved on to a debriefing meeting to new proposed projects and those currently in development within Prometheus Labs. It was a meeting over the lunch hour, which might have been the only reason he attended personally. He had too much work to step away at this time.

He returned to his office once the meeting had concluded, a portfolio of papers tucked under his arm as he opened the door and stepped inside. He took a few steps towards his desk and stopped, the hairs on the back of his neck seeming to rise.

He knew that feeling well. Interesting.]