43rd Teddy Bear [Video/Action]

[asobouyo]

[Nami went home. It's another tally on her list of people she dearly misses now—she marks them down and can count them off on her fingers. Mom... dad... Mr. Luffy... Nami left... Archie... J-Jilly.... Pao-Lin and Miss Lightning... Noel and Mr. Ling... Ace.... Lots of people are gone. She's been so afraid of being left alone, but she never considered maybe it wouldn't just stop at her mama and papa. She never considered that she herself were capable of leaving, either.

Maybe—someday... she'll be all alone.

And every time it hurts. It hurts! She counts off the names and it still makes her want to hide in her covers and cry. She's too young to appreciate that they're in their own worlds, where they belong. Lucky for her, not to know some were going to their deaths. Did she even have any pictures of some of them? She's got a few, but—they're not enough. Some people don't have any at all to hang up. It's awful, to sit there and see blank places on your wall where you could have so easily had more images... of loved ones you might not see again.

She spends the next few days collecting up as much as she can from the item shop, whenever Winry or Ed is willing to take her (well, one more willing than the other, all things considered). She has her pink camera, and if she can just get even more film for photos, she can get lots and lots of pictures. This is what her father did, right? He's the reason she has a picture of her and Nami together.

Thank you, papa. Thank you for giving her pictures to remember.

While she's at school, she'll call out to familiar faces, surprisingly eager.]

Let's take a picture together!!

[Out in her front yard, she excuses herself from her play time with her action figures and dolls to usher her friends over, if they visit, if they happen by. There are some she knows who take the trail often; she may or may not be betting on that.]

Can you take a picture with me??

[She's out of breath, just having caught someone she knows in the corner of her eye; what if they vanish in the next few moments, and she never catches them, and she grows up and forgets their faces? She calls out down the road, close to the smithy where Winry works (she likes to visit, sometimes; it's nice to stay there):]

Wait! Can we have a picture? Just one!

[Sometimes she just calls out to two people out on a stroll, friends, clearly friends or relatives or lovers, people who probably love each other like she loved her friends. She smiles and looks hopeful, and holds up her camera that hangs off her neck.]

Do you want a picture of you two??

[Eventually, a click. No flash. No film. She's all out.]

[Video]



[The feed is just of her laying on her bed sideways, holding her camera close to her. With all her thoughts circling her head, she's been trading out the camera for her stuffed plushies when bed time comes around. She turns on video, because it's also a good way to see people sometimes. Even if it gets harder and harder to find their... pages... She can't find some of her papa's old pages. She was sure she could remember where they were.

Her lips are pursed, and her camera is held against her heart.]

People go away... How do you make it stop hurting? ... I wish my memories were so good, I could remember like a movie. I wanna remember every little thing, but it's hard to remember so many little things... [Her eyes well up with tears. They drip into the small crease between her eye and nose, pools there as her voice goes low.] I don't wanna grow up and forget.

I don't wanna forget. What should I do?

[.....]

.... I need more film... for pictures.

Comments

[alloys]

[GODDAMMIT.]

Hey, hey now, I didn't lose - you were the one who failed to specify some frame of time. You didn't say when I had to do it.

[Arguing with seven-year-olds. A+, Tony.]

[handing]

[If only Pepper had some popcorn for this show.

Seriously though, she's already amused.]

I don't know. That sounds like a pretty weak excuse to me.

[asobouyo]

[AIN'T GONNA WORK, TONY.]

Then you're gonna shave it today? You gotta shave it soon! There's a shave clock, and if you don't hurry, it'll go off and then Pepper'll get the trophy!

[alloys]

[He rues the day he ever decided it was a good idea to agree to a seven-year-old's dare.

He glances at Pepper. Look, he loves you, but that trophy is GONNA BE HIS DAMMIT.]

Today? Don't I get a 24-hour grace period?

[handing]

[If you say so, honey. But you're going to have to earn it.]

Twenty-four hours? It's already been a month and a half. I think she's being generous by giving you to the end of the day.

[asobouyo]

Mhm, mhm. You gotta go on the journals and say you're the truth or dare champion with your new beard shaved, and then I'll give you your special title and trophy.

[alloys]

[AND HE HAS TO DO IT ON THE JOURNAL of course.]

F...fine. I'll do it.

[That's right. He really wants that special title and trophy.]

[handing]

[See what happens when you keep a lady waiting, Tony?
 
But never let it be said Pepper isn’t supportive; she’ll even go so far as to run a hand over Tony’s shoulders while she tries very hard not to laugh at him giving in.]
 
I’m sure everyone will be very impressed.

[asobouyo]

I'll be super impressed!

I'll even find you a special Truth or Dare King Crown, just for you.

[BECAUSE I AM SUPER SUPPORTIVE TOO]

[alloys]

[This is the most distressing thing that has ever happened.]

You'd better. This shave doesn't come cheap.

[handing]

[You'll survive somehow.]

If it's too much for you, you can just admit defeat.

[Pepper shrugs a shoulder, and yeah, she's laughing now. There's no helping it.]

[asobouyo]

[GASP

TONY ADMITTING DEFEAT?!

She looks at Tony with bated breath, because would you ever, Stark.]

[alloys]

[Oh hell no. Especially not after being baited like that. DAMMIT PEPPER.]

Not a chance. I'm in. No turning back now.

[handing]

[She loves you too, Tony.]

We'd expect nothing less from our favorite superhero. Right Elicia?

[asobouyo]

Right!!

[Before Tony can fix his expression, Elicia takes another picture. c:

Don't worry Pepper, you still look awesome in it.]

You're a hero, Mr. Tony! Lemme see a heroic pose!!

[alloys]

[:|

What has his life become, WHAT ARE HIS LIFE CHOICES.

But at least he can pull off a hero pose at the drop of the hat. He has a lot of practice being in front of the camera, after all. Both in and out of the suit.]

This better be going on the front page.

[handing]

[Pepper's been wondering that for years.

Oh, and there's the pose. Pepper very kindly steps back, leaving this particular moment in the limelight for Tony to enjoy alone.]

The front page of what, exactly?

[asobouyo]

The front page of the Luceti newspaper!! Mr. Tony Wins at Truth and Dare, made Truth and Dare Champion!! Isn't that a good paper to read?

[alloys]

It sounds like the best damn newspaper someone could ask for, Short Stack.

[Let's be real. EVERYONE would want to read that.]

[handing]

I'd buy one.

[Hey, Pepper will always encourage positive press of Tony. Not that it's going to keep her from teasing him.]

We could even hang it on the refrigerator.

[asobouyo]

Yeah! People can't put you on papers like home for being a hero, so maybe I can help with that here.

[alloys]

Sounds perfect. [ Yes, he'll even take the hanging-on-the-fridge bit. ] I'll even be your patron. Investor. Whatever.

[handing]

[Oh god. Pepper’s heard Tony make that promise often enough that it pings her business sense regardless of the fact that they’re worlds away from Stark Industries or any money at all.]

Should I draw up a contract for you to sign? We can put it all in there. Even the part about you shaving your beard.

[asobouyo]

I dunno what a patron is, but let's have a contract!

I'll be your news writer.

[alloys]

[ Whoa now. Contracts are serious business.

...But what the hell, he was already signed on for this. ]

We give you the official green light, Pepper. Contract away to your heart's content.