Pepper gives a wistful little smile at that, nodding a bit but remaining silent, gazing out across the surf lapping along the beach. Movement off the corner of her eye gets her to turn her head back, in time to watch Steve face her. Her expression softens at the apology.
"I can understand that. Really," she says quietly, inhaling deeply and sighing. "I know that whole reality was fake and not something I signed up for voluntarily, but it was still me, doing those things. Lying to so many people, not just you. And I hate it, you know? I hate it that this place made me into someone I'm not. Made me hurt someone I'd started to consider a friend." Her lips tighten into a hapless, mirthless smile, eyes shining a little from the emotion bubbling up again thinking about that whole mess.