driftfleet | 01. | You're as cold

Entry tags:

01. | You're as cold—

Who: Bucky Barnes (

sinistral) and YOU!
Broadcast: No
Action: Yes; SS Starduck, SS Iskaulit, planetside
When: from Bucky's arrival through what's left of December

SS STARDUCK
→ Acclimating;

If waking up on the Marsiva had been unexpected, doubly so is the teleportation to a new ship entirely. On the plus side, there are at least more people here than had been aboard the host ship. On the negative, Bucky still isn't entirely comfortable around people, and he's already on edge from the circumstances as it is. He's not outwardly unfriendly, but he is wary of everyone and everything.

But he's here in the capacity of a security officer and that means— Well, he's not entirely sure what it means. Oh, he knows what his duties are, just like he knows where he is and why, but the strangeness of it still nags at his brain. He figures at the very least that he should spend some time in exploration, in assessment of the ship that's now his home. As such he's attempting to explore every inch of it and to learn the names, responsibilities, and routines of those with whom he's now living.

SS ISKAULIT
→ Exploration;

It's strange, he thinks, the way this ship is laid out. It's much different from his assigned vehicle, and nowhere near as sterile as the Marsiva. For all that he's been told what it is, seeing it is another thing entirely. So the exploration he does is part curiosity and part reconnaissance, learning the layout of the hallways and establishments as much as he's still trying to wrap his head around the existence of the space fleet in the first place. Movement helps at least, the steady cadence of footfalls on the floor interrupted here and there when he pauses to examine the outside of an establishment that catches his eye.

Though he's not one to make the first move to seek out conversation or company, he doesn't steer away or try to avoid it if he's approached.

→ Gym;

It'd taken him a few days to get used to the whole spaceship thing, including the idea of intership travel via shuttle, but Bucky's just firmly putting it in terms with which he's more familiar: the ships are buildings, the shuttles cars. And there's a certain freedom of movement in the allowance of taking a shuttle to visit another ship. For him it's exclusively to the Iskaulit, and minus the exploration of his first visit, is exclusively for the purpose of utilizing the gym facilities. Working out is the closest thing he has to any sort of regular routine, at least right now, and it's something to which he's going to remain faithful.

It's gratifying to find that the facility has been constructed in such a way that some of the equipment caters toward the physically enhanced; it means he doesn't have to pull his punches and that he can work out to his full abilities. And that settles the mind a little as well, just thanks to the pushing of the body to its limits. He'll still step aside quietly though, in order to offer the equipment to anyone who looks like they might be waiting for it.

PLANETSIDE
→ Working;

A search for laborers attracts Bucky for two reasons: it's physical activity, something to engage both the mind and the muscles, and there's the hope that working alongside people will give him a chance to learn a little more about where they are and why. While there's been plenty of the first, it's the second that's got him a little frustrated. Everything he finds out slots in so seamlessly with what he just knows, but he has no idea how he knows it. But he's so certain about it, while at the same time so uncertain of who he is. He feels like he can't fully trust his own brain and that's not a comfortable thought at all.

But physical labor? That's easy enough, even though the work itself is hard. It keeps him moving and earns him money, and he can't complain about either of those things — especially when it offers a chance to be out of doors. The ships are nice but they're enclosed spaces, and he doesn't have the best experiences with closed spaces. He much prefers being outside like this, even with the cold, and when he sees the signal from the group leader to start packing it up, he'll pass that signal onto the person closest to him. "Looks like it's time to go."

→ Ice Caves;

The problem with being strung so tight for so long is that when there's a moment to relax, Bucky finds it hard to do so. Idleness isn't welcome, and he's not sure if it's the unease of being suddenly drafted into the Fleet or if it's the fog that he can still feel clinging stubbornly to his brain. But whatever the case, he'd rather spend his free time doing something. Fortunately, this place seems to offer plenty to satisfy that urge.

The castle tour is a little disappointing only because, while history and architecture are momentarily interesting, it still doesn't mean anything to him. Hiking is better, dressing against the cold to explore the surrounding landscape and the caves. Sure, the ice makes the footing a little treacherous, but it's nothing he can't handle. And apparently, he's not the only one. "Excuse me, just passing through—"

WILDCARD
→ Elsewhere;

Want something else? Have an idea? Hit me up at

sometimesamuse. Open to wherever, whatever, and though I write starters in prose I'm more than happy to switch to brackets if it's your preference.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He appreciates the apparent lack of judgement!]

I can't recall having lemonade so why not? I'm sure I'll be impressed.

[The comment about tiny umbrellas makes him laugh though. Apparently even in space the things are a mystery.]

Ever? I admit I'm not the best at history, but I thought we invented the lemon awhile ago. [Still not judging, but a little surprised at this one. She's working on getting the drink together, pulling down a glass and giving the pitcher a shake to make sure it's all well mixed.]

[Bucky just shrugs.]

I have memory problems. [It's the easiest way to explain things.] It's not a big deal.

[She tops the glass off with a tiny umbrella as promised and slides it to him with a nod.] Gotcha. [She won't make him talk about it further.]

So what do you think of the fleet so far?

[The discretion is appreciated, and probably shows in his expression.]

It's. Interesting. [Understatement of the year there, and he plucks the umbrella from the drink just to play with it.] I don't trust anything about this place, but I'm sure that sentiment is neither surprising nor original.

It's much more surprising, rare, and mildly alarming when people just embrace it fully at face value with no problems. This is my second ride on the mysterious overlord abduction train and if I'm very honest there's still a little part of me that thinks it's possible none of you are real. [She decides to go ahead and pour herself a lemonade too.]

I couldn't imagine getting used to this. Or wanting to get used to this. [Or the idea of "second rides" but that seems rude to mention.]

You got me. [He says it carefully, and with half a smile, so that she'll know he's joking. Whether it's reassurance to her or himself, he's not sure.] I don't actually exist.

Ah ha, I knew it. [She smiles at him, amused that he's playing along.] Well, still better than talking to myself I guess.

And I could tell you that you'd be surprised what you can get used to, but I'm guessing that's not a lesson that's new to you.

I don't know. Sometimes talking to yourself is the best way to get an intelligent conversation.

[Or screaming inside your head because you're trapped in your own brain, but there's no need to go there, right?]

Mm-hm. [He nods.] Maybe I'm just crazy too.

Hey, I didn't call anyone crazy. Least of all me. [She smirks a little before looking more compassionate.] You'll get the hang of this. Not that you want to or will feel great about it once you have, but that's kind of how it goes.

Mmm, but we've established that I exist only in your imagination, so there's got to be some kind of crazy happening here, even if it's all just me.

[He does appreciate that she's making this as easy as possible though; it does help.] At least there's that to look forward to. And drinks with tiny umbrellas I guess.

Well, I guess if it's crazy to have an imagination this good then call me crazy. [She smiles at him.]

The tiny umbrellas are definitely the biggest help. They've gotten me through some really...small rain showers? [She tilts her head with a look that says she knows she made a lame joke.]

Have you talked to the others from you world? At least, what I'm going to boldly assume is your world. [Based on the last Bucky at least.] Vision, Wanda, Thor, Natasha? [She wonders how Natasha is doing with all this. And she knows that probably isn't a comprehensive list of who is around now, but they are some of the names that come to her first at least.]

Lame joke or not he chuckles; the effort is appreciated at least. And really, the tiny umbrellas are kind of silly.

[What's not as simple is her next line of questioning, and the names she mentions. Bucky frowns, playing with the umbrella in his drink as a way of buying time.] I know who Natasha is. Vision introduced himself. I don't know these others. [A beat.] I'm sorry.

Don't be sorry. I mean, there are at least two people on my Earth that I never met. [You see the understatement, yes?] Thor's not even really from your Earth, so it's really more like one.

Vision and Wanda are on my ship [and she's supposed to be a mutant and that's still confusing every single day to Kitty] and Thor is...hard to miss. [Hot. He's hot.] You'll probably run into them. And the rest of our mangy group of misfits.

I guess it's a regular thing around here then.

[Which might be comforting. Maybe. Bucky still doesn't trust it, and the frustrating part is he knows that mistrust isn't likely to leave any time soon. At least he's had some practice in non existing, and in faking an existence in order to not be noticed.]

Vision seems helpful. I guess I should say that I'm glad they have good company. [The implication about Thor pretty much goes right over his head; sorry Kitty, he's a lost cause.] I guess I'll have to meet them at some point.

Good company, huh? Was that a compliment in there for me? [She smiles.]

And Vision's the best. He was my captain pretty early on in my time in the fleet. [And then he was sent home for awhile and after a bit she ended up the captain of a different, combined ship and then he came back with memories and it was a whole complicated thing.] And he's just always there for the people he cares about.

Might have been. [It can be their secret.]

He offered me help when we met. Even though I had no idea who he was. [To Bucky, that's a strange thing to offer indeed; it's not at all the sort of thing he'd do. He thinks.] So I suppose you have good company too.

[Compliment accepted!] I do. On my ship, and present company's not so bad. Which ship did you end up on?

[He's not expecting the compliment to be turned back on him, and it shows as a moment of surprise — one that's brushed aside in favor of moving the conversation on. Nothing to see here, nothing to see.] The Starduck.

[It's nice enough, he supposes. Small crew, which is preferable for him.]

[She laughs lightly.] You know, until fairly recently that was two ships and one of them had a better name. Also that's a thing here. Ships can just suddenly fly into each other and combine to form a new ship. Happened to mine. Not a super fun experience in the moment.

That is mildly horrifying.

[He makes a show of looking into his lemonade suspiciously, but he's pretty sure she's neither lying nor messing with him. At least, not seriously so.]

I thought the ships had pilots though? Wouldn't they want to, I don't know, avoid a collision with another ship?

I'm pretty sure mildly horrifying is my tagline.

[She smiles.] Okay, mister, I was one of those pilots when it happened. I've switched to engineering since then, but when it happened the controls all locked up. You couldn't get it to change course. I was even going to try phasing the whole thing through but the next thing I knew we were just on a brand new combined ship. [Just dropping phasing in like that makes perfect sense. It would have to the last Bucky?]

Should I capitalize it in that case? Mildly Horrifying?

[There is in fact a bit of exaggerated emphasis in his words, but the act drops soon enough to be replaced with a frown. This goes beyond the idea of mildly horrifying, actually, and he’s definitely not comfortable with it.]

So no matter what you tried, it was just out of your control? [That sounds like something of a theme with what people have mentioned about the Atroma. He doesn’t like it.] What do you mean about phasing though?

Yes, I would appreciate you saying it with more vocal capitalization. Thank you.

And, yeah, I assume the Atroma overrode the controls. [It's a pretty terrible theme. She would much prefer 80's party or enchantment under the sea. Now, those are solid themes.]

Oh, right. [This Bucky wouldn't know.] That's my power. I can be intangible at will. I'm a mutant.

I'll be sure to keep that in mind for all future conversations.

Good to know they can do that. [Not comforting to know, but good to know.

The next bit definitely catches his attention though. Just what even?!?] That's— I've never heard of something like that. Either the ability or the name. Is it too forward to ask what it's like?

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