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

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?

It's...freeing? [And kind of lonely sometimes, but that feels maybe touch too honest. Instead she stretches her hand out and wiggles her fingers directly through his drink as if it weren't there.]

Totally sanitary, I promise.

[He's frowning, but not because of the thought of being sanitary. Bucky curves his hand around his glass again, feeling the solidity of its material and how the temperature of the fluid inside appears not to have changed.]

It doesn't hurt you, does it?

[It's not quite concern, but there is a note of caution in his voice.]

If it did I probably wouldn't use it for parlor tricks. [She tilts her head thoughtfully.] Or, I might. It is a pretty cool trick.

Do you...want to try it?

You'd be surprised what people will do even though it hurts.

[Is that a touch of honesty there? He's not admitting it if it is. But he's not quite sure what to make of that offer.]

I don't know what I could offer you in return.

[She nods, looking a touch more serious for a moment.] I know. [She's done things that hurt physically and emotionally and known people who used powers that hurt them. Logan felt his claws ripping out of his hands every single time he extended them but it never stopped him. Never even slowed him down. She's pretty sure Shiro was in constant pain from his powers too. At least after Apocalypse's scientists augmented him. But she doesn't linger on these thoughts.]

It's never occurred to me to ask for anything in return. Maybe I should monetize it. [She's not going to monetize it.] But since you had the idea, I guess you could still get it for free if you want. It's not like there are no risks.

[She knows. He knows. There's little enough need to dwell on it, save to file that bit of information away. Information is valuable, if only because Bucky never knows how long he'll be allowed to hold it.]

You could. [He has a feeling she won't.] I could owe you a favor.

[She won't.] Okay. You can owe me a favor. [But only since he seems so intent on giving something in trade. She feels like she already gets something out of it when someone else enjoys her power instead of being afraid of it and her. Though it's always a risk to make the offer at all in that way.]

It comes with hand holding. [She offers her hand to him from across the bar top.] And a rule. Don't let go until I say so or let you go first. That way lies bad things. [She'll wait to phase them until he decides for sure if all that sounds okay to him.]

Deal. [He doesn't think she'll take ill advantage of him with the offer; it's not the impression she seems like she's trying to make. But it feels too weird to accept her offer without making one of his own.]

Scary! [But he appreciates the heads up and the warning both, taking the latter with all the seriousness she gives it. Bucky puts his hand in hers, the grip firm, and meets her eyes. He won't let go until she does.]

[The real surprise will be if she ever calls in the favor at all.]

Hey, I have my moments. [Most of them more squarely in the past and with people who deserved it.]

Okay, you're phased. I'm the only thing that should feel solid to you other than yourself of course. [And as long as he doesn't think about it too hard he'll just remain positioned as he is. He can't sit on a chair or stand on the ground exactly, but he can interact with the molecules enough to hold him in place. It's like air walking, but without being up in the air. And it's what keeps her from just constantly sinking into the earth or through the hull when she's phased.] Give it a try.

[She waves her non-joined hand through the bar top itself as an example of a thing he can try doing. There isn't much to feel when you're phased as long as something isn't especially dense there's no pain moving through it. In fact, with your eyes closed if you were unaware it was happening you probably wouldn't be at all aware of it. But with your eyes open sometimes the mind tries to insert a sensation to help explain the breaking of physics. The most common thing people have mentioned to her is feeling a tingle. She's familiar enough with the process that she is aware of it at least enough to know when she's out of everything solid so she can resolidify herself. But it's a hard thing to explain, so all the better that she can simply share it.]

[She could always call it in for silly reasons, like getting that thing on the top shelf even though she's perfectly capable herself.]

Don't we all. [Which is to say, he's not going to ask.

He had been expecting something more— grandiose, he supposes. Not so simple as just taking her hand, because he really doesn't feel any different. He watches her hand sink through the top of the bar and tries it himself, a little bit of disbelief on his face as it sinks right into the wood. He laughs then and, with a glance at her, shifts forward to pass through the bar to her side of it.

Hey, go big or go home, right?] Neat trick.

[Definitely the more likely course of action.]

Trick? [Faux insulted.] You make it sound like I just guessed which card you were holding.

As you can see it's good for getting into places you're not supposed to be. [Not that Bucky getting behind the bar if he wanted to would be a difficult thing, but the ability doesn't stop there. She also doesn't actually mind him being behind the bar.]

[Or, you know, piggyback rides. Because that's a visual.]

Well, I guess the trick would be magically having cards that I don't possess. So I guess this round goes to you. [He clearly doesn't mind.]

Are you telling me I'm not supposed to be here? [There's a hint of a lopsided smile on his face, an expression that's a little less guarded than he has been. It helps that she's not treating him as someone he should be, but rather as who he is.

And, getting into places they're not supposed to be — without orders to kill — actually sounds like fun.]

Gambit's the card carrying mutant of the bunch, but I wouldn't ask to see his card tricks if I were you. They tend to be inflammatory. [But she's happy to win a round.]

I am, but I don't seem to be kicking you out either. [At this point are they just holding hands behind the bar? Totally normal. Nothing to see here.

And it's definitely better without orders to kill. Although she's had it both ways.]

Anything else you want to try while you're at it before I send you back to a boring, ordinary solid existence?

Yeah? I'll keep that in mind. [Because of course they're inflammatory. Of course they are.]

You're such a troublemaker. So what kind of trouble are we going to cause? [Still, here they are holding hands behind a bar that he's not supposed to be behind. Technically. The audience is probably loving this.]

Are you calling me boring? [That's not answering the question, Bucky. But he is serious in the next reply.] No, I won't impose. You've been generous as it is.

01. | You're as cold—

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