01. | You're as cold—

[sinistral]

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.

Comments

starduck

[theladyofwinterfell]

( Sansa tries to spend less time on the ship when they're in a system but she always manages to be around when the new arrivals show and it's hard to miss this one. He's only a bit older than she is and yet looks older still - he has the weary look Jon has sometimes. Sansa doesn't know if that means he's a soldier or merely someone who's had a rough go of it in arriving but as communications officer, she wants to try and greet him and help him acclimate. )

I see you've been assigned to us, then? I'm Lady Sansa Stark and it's my great pleasure to meet you.

[sinistral]

Lady Stark.

[The name and title both throw him, and for different reasons. But Bucky forces both away; he's awkward enough without the weight of something that might be entirely coincidence.]

Thank you. [A beat.] You can call me Bucky.

[theladyofwinterfell]

Bucky, then. It's a pleasure to meet you.

( Protocol in the Fleet is so different from Westeros but Sansa cannot help but try and keep some of her own customs. To that end, she dips her head a bit in deference to him and in greeting. )

Is there anything I might explain? Some people come here knowing all about ships that sail through the sky and the magic of electric lights but for me, it wasn't so simple when I arrived. None of it made sense.

ice caves;;

[postocular]

[ Even though it's insanely cold, it's good to get off the ship once in a while, and there is a lot to look at on this particular planet. Being outside is always better, and even though he has no real idea what he's doing or what he's looking for, it's still exploring. He doesn't really expect to run into anyone else, so when he hears a voice, he moves to the side. ]

Sure. [ Oh. That's a face he definitely recognizes, even if it was secondhand. ]

Oh- hey. Didn't know you were back.

[sinistral]

[Surprise shows on his face at that, the expression quickly shuttered away almost as soon as it's formed. A pleasure isn't how Bucky would think to describe meeting himself at all. She must just be polite.]

The lights are fine, but I'm still getting used to the space travel thing. Not that I think this would make a whole lot of sense even if I did understand it all.

[sinistral]

[The cold and ice are bothersome, but he's experienced worse. There's no HYDRA here after all; this isn't the Siberia of his training. That fact alone makes the wintry weather entirely bearable. And though it surprises him a little that others are out in it, Bucky figures that he's likely not the only one with a tendency to prefer outdoors to in.]

Thank you.

[A simple politeness and nothing more; Bucky will be on his way in the hike as soon as he's stepped the other man. And he's almost dismissed the brief encounter and resumed his hike when the follow up comes. There's confusion on his face as he stops though, the words registering late.]

Excuse me?

[postocular]

[ Oh. The confusion on his face and the question make Carl realize too late that he made a misstep. This isn't a situation he's been in multiple times, and when it happened with Daryl, there were other things to worry about at the time.

He tilts his head, watching Bucky. ]

Do you.. remember being here before? Not everybody does. It's okay.

[sinistral]

I have no idea what you're talking about.

[He gives the other man a once-over, but there's no obvious source of distress, at least not that Bucky can see. Because surely this is a case of mistaken identity, though he finds it hard to believe that a metal arm could be somehow mistaken.]

[postocular]

My mistake, sorry. That happens, too. People who look the same, but aren't.

[ He holds out his hand. ]

I'm Carl.

gym

[outstandingbalance]

No surprise this is where she runs into Barnes the first time. It's not planned; maybe that's for the best, no room to over think it, no opportunity to try to control all the little variables and details. Natasha came for a workout. She's dressed for it, her hands wrapped, carrying a water bottle and a towel. Not unarmed, but less armed than she might have been otherwise. Yeah, she can work with that...

She'll wait while he works over the heavy bag, watching his technique for signs which Barnes she's dealing with—the man or the weapon. She's seen the difference between how he fights when he's in control and when he's not.

"Don't stop on my account." There is a catch in her voice she doesn't intend to be there, a little thread of emotion that she thought she would be ready to keep compartmentalized. Her face, in contrast, is carefully neutral.

[sinistral]

[That does nothing at all to clear up any of Bucky's confusion. Sadly though, he's getting used to that.

He takes the outstretched hand but the contact is kept brief, and Bucky's hand tucked into his pocket immediately after.]

Bucky.

[theladyofwinterfell]

The easiest way for me to think of it is as a ship that goes over water, except through sky. We have nothing even remotely like this in Westeros - it is a very primitive place compared to the Fleet.

( Sansa, luckily, has had time to get used to the changes and embrace them. She rather likes it here, even if she feels there must be a Stark in Winterfell and she's neglecting her duties the longer she tarries. )

I have been here long enough to adjust, at the least. Some take it harder than others.

[postocular]

Nice to meet you, Bucky. Have you been in the Fleet long?

[sinistral]

The technique is simply described as: Hit bag with fists. Repeat. There's a little bit of remembered fluidity, muscle memory that hasn't been entirely stamped out. There's a lot more of HYDRA's training, the absolute command over the body and singular focus on the goal. But it's tempered by awareness and choice both; there is no need to push the body to its absolute physical limits, no need to ignore pain for the completion of a mission. There's no team of scientists and engineers waiting to put back together whatever he's broken — or to break again what shreds of his mind he's managed to regain.

"I was finished." Untrue, but close enough to being finished that he doesn't mind truncating the workout. Bucky steadies the bag before stepping away, hands tracing the leather to make sure he hasn't strained or split it. He's not sure where the habit originates, only that it feels natural to do this small, potentially preventative task before turning around to fully acknowledge the other person.

He stops when he does, because he does recognize her. Target confirmed, part of his brain reminds him, but he pushes it aside. He doesn't do that anymore and HYDRA, he has been informed, does not exist here. And of course he can't miss that little catch of her voice, but Bucky isn't entirely sure how to process it. "It's all yours."

[sinistral]

I suppose that's not a bad comparison. Did you do much sailing in your home?

[He's never heard of Westeros. But that apparently doesn't mean a thing, with how aliens and different realities really do exist.]

I imagine. It's an uncomfortable thought, the idea of just being kidnapped to this place. That alone is enough to put anyone on edge.

[sinistral]

Not long at all. About a week by my figuring, unless this place has messed with my internal clock.

[Which...he wouldn't put it past them, actually.]

[postocular]

It's not bad once you get used to it. Everyone is pretty friendly.

[sinistral]

Still working on the getting used to it part of things.

[postocular]

It took me a while, too. It's not like anything I'd ever seen before.

[sinistral]

You've been here some time, then?

[postocular]

A couple years, yeah. It's about as close to home as I can get.

[outstandingbalance]

She sets her things down, keeping him in the corner of her eye but not staring on him. Non-confrontational. They don't need to fight, not here or now, though she's well aware of the potential. That awareness raises every hair on the back of her neck.

"Didn't take you long to find your way here," she observes, the words smoother. She doesn't start her workout immediately. "Did you find it yourself, or did someone give you the tour?"

[sinistral]

Years?

[He's not sure how to feel about that statement. It's been strange enough dealing with less than a month. He's definitely not sure about something on a scale of years.]

[postocular]

Yeah. Honestly, it's not as bad as I'm making it sound. If it makes you feel better, time doesn't move back home while you're gone?

[ Or at least that's what the general rumor is. ]

[sinistral]

Neither of them are staring, but Bucky's quite sure that his companion is as aware of him as he of her. There's observation happening here, a noticing of how weight is held and balanced, of the economy of movement. He's not sure if her being here is entirely coincidental or not.

"Didn't realize it should." He's not even really sure what her statement means. Long is relative he supposes, and he's already been recognized. It stands to reason that recognition could extend to more than one person. And right now there's a tension in the air, something that's not a fight but still seems somehow volatile.

"Alone," he answers eventually. It answers both the spoken question and the unspoken inquiry: is he here alone?