steve's luck with things that fly is nonexistent, really.

[enshields]

Who: Crew of the Bloodsport, anyone who'd drop by!
Broadcast: N/A
Action: Anywhere on the ship.
When: 12/13/15 specifically, but you can really pick and choose as much as you would like as far as dates go. Get your mingle on!

ps: as an aside, the bit of media that Steve received was a 'Star-Spangled Man' USO performance so if anyone wants to have seen that so hilarity can ensue, feel free.

Comments

[reconstitution]

[ He sees Steve's hand move, so he doesn't react, simply watches until there's pressure on his wrist. Winter's head inclines slightly to looks at him, assessing his expression.

It's sympathetic, but it doesn't rub him the wrong way- it's not pity. Not from him, and certainly not from Jim. ]

I'm glad it didn't happen to anyone else. [ There's no way he'd wish it upon anyone, either. ]

[enshields]

[Tiredly,]

It shouldn't have happened to anyone.

[Ever. Period. That human minds can conceive of such cruelties-- he wishes he could say he doesn't know where they come from. If he ever had any illusions about mankind being more good than evil, they died at Oradour-sur-Glane. And again, a million times more, at a million more atrocities. The War was just a showcase for what already existed in the human condition.

He was never naive, but once upon a time he had a hope that's since been gutted, and had the red ruin of its innards strewn out over snow. Will is what sustains him, not hope.]

But maybe we can keep it from-- ever happening again. I'd like that.

[reconstitution]

No..but there's no changing that it did. Now they pay the price.

[ It's something that happened, something normal people couldn't have possibly endured, but he did. Someone else may not be so lucky, and that's troubling. Hydra is still out there- even if some of its higher ups are dead. Cut off one head... It would be nice not to have anymore victims of it. ]

I'd like that too, Steve.

[enshields]

[I'm not gonna stop, he'd told Peggy a lifetime ago. Until all of Hydra is dead or captured. He withdraws his hand back into his own space and looks down at them, works the pad of his thumb into his opposite palm like he's trying to lessen an ache.]

Depending on-- how things go for us. Both of us. Maybe that's something we can do together.

[There's a slight hitch in his words, but his pulse is steady and strong. This is a longer conversation than any he'd dared hope for, but he doesn't mean like old time's sake. What they had, who they were, those men are gone. But it's not - and never, as far as he's concerned - to build something from the ashes.]

[reconstitution]

[ Depending on how things go for us. That's honestly as good a promise as any, considering Steve said he'd been looking for him the better part of a year with no leads. There's no telling how much longer after that it will keep up.

There's no telling how much of that he's already done, but a little help would go a long way.

Their conversation is longer than the first or even the second, so they're getting there. It's going to take time to rebuild, or even build at this point. How it eve happened, he's not sure. Winter really didn't come to have this deep, long-winded conversation- but look how it ended. He nods and the corner of his mouth ghosts upward, the barest of smiles as he stands. ]

I should go.

[enshields]

[He'd been expecting it, and nods.]

Here-- hold up. I'll throw something together, you can take it back with you. Make sure Jim eats some of it too, all right?

[His instinct is to scramble to his feet like Buck may not be there when he turns around, but he forces himself to be slow. Deliberate. Still, he keeps his hands visible and as much tension as he can manage from the set of his shoulders. He plates up a few extra servings, as well as a couple gingerly wrapped pieces of pie. He turns around and holds it out for Winter to take.]

And-- thanks. For listening. You didn't have to, but I-- appreciate the talk.

[reconstitution]

[ Their talk has helped- he doesn't feel quite so ready to flee as he had at other times they'd met. He watches as Steve gathers food for him to take- which he'll make sure Jim eats at some point. It's the least he can do, right? ]

I will.

[ He takes the items from Steve with a small nod. Winter almost says 'it's what he would have done'. Bucky. Himself, technically.. But it doesn't feel right, so Winter nods. ]

I wanted to.

[enshields]

[He stands quite still, in a way that suggests he feels too big for the space he occupies, and then smiles. It's crooked and broken and somehow still bright.]

Don't be a stranger, Winter.

[It's a colloquialism, half a request, but it couldn't have meant more if he'd said it on his knees. He's not begging, not exactly, but-- the parallel lines are there, and then he turns away to finish up in the kitchen, so he doesn't have to watch Buck leave.]