driftfleet | ★ 1 | ACTION ★

Entry tags:

★ 1 | ACTION ★

Who: Bucky!Cap Barnes
Action: Throughout the Marsiva holding area
When: Feb 15-17-ish

[Bucky is new. He's new, and confused, and he figures the best way to get answers is to go find them. For better or worse, there's not a whole lot of space in which to find them, since he's limited to the same holding area as the rest of the passengers, but on the plus side, given that everyone else is confined to the same area, he's more likely to run into said passengers. When he spots someone who looks like they might be amenable to talking, he's very likely to approach.

For the most part, the faces are not familiar; he wanders the living area and the kitchen (where he's likely to stop and get some coffee, thank God that seems to exist here). He pokes his head into the bathroom and gym, too, and of course actually makes use of the former to take a shower on a regular basis. The gym he doesn't so much use as inspect and note; he's still too wary of where he is for anything resembling recreation, and thanks to the serum, he doesn't actually need to do much in the way of regular training to keep himself up. Maybe later.

Mostly, what will strike people is the fact that his face looks like the Bucky Barnes already on board, if you've managed to get a good look at that, but his hair is cropped short and his face is clean-shaven and his left arm is definitely not metal. All he's got to wear is the dark blue STRIKE uniform (sans helmet and shield) that looks - to some people, probably - like it should belong on Steve Rogers instead.]

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Well - that being said, [he points out, wryly,] Not that I know of, actually. Is it too much to hope maybe I got spared, being the new guy and all?

I guess that's a better alternative than everyone seeing everything, and me forgetting about it.

Guess I'll just have to wait and see. [Which he's not a big fan of, but he is also much more capable of as a plan of attack than, say, Steve.]

But this is a... not-normal thing, right? Like, it's not like this all the time?

No, no not a normal thing. As far as I know, it's the third time it's happened. Second since I've been here. So it happens...

[A little shake of her head. That's still more often than she'd like, and it's never good.]

But it's not really an every day thing. Once every... year and a half or so.

I guess that's better than the alternative.

[By which he means, okay, it could be worse, but it's still shitty.

He lets out a breath, and then looks at her a little more seriously.] Sounds like there's other stuff that happens a lot more often than that, though. And I know you don't know me, but - whatever happens around here. You can count me on your side. As much or as little as you're comfortable with it.

If that means you don't call me in for help... I get that, too.

It's a weird situation. [Natasha meets his gaze, her eye contact steady, holding it just a little too long.] I get that. And I get that we need allies—all of us.

[Which isn't to say she doesn't appreciate his consideration. The distance and respect he shows for her boundaries, however hypothetical, makes this easier.]

All things considered, I didn't know Steve all that much longer before we were fighting aliens together. If you want to consider me an ally... we can go from there.

[There is something in his demeanor that shifts - relaxes, pleased - at that. His smile echoes that, a moment later.]

I would like to do that, [he admits.] I think it's a good place to start.

Where can I find you, normally? [When they're not all crammed into a single space.]

I'm stationed on the Vanquish, though I spend a fair amount of time on the Iskaulit and visiting other ships.

[Possibly his, once she finds out where he's assigned. Depends on her relationship with the current crew more than anything.]

And I'm pretty much always available on the network.

[Bucky nods.] All right. I guess I can give you a better idea of where I'll be when I know.

[Although,] Seems like most of the Avengers are spread out.

[He can see that being a good thing, really. He's wondering how intentional it is. If she even knows.]

Figured you would. [If he didn't, she had ways of finding out.]

We are. [And she gets the questions that raises. She's thought of them herself.] It wasn't always that way. The Steve here before, he and Peggy and Sam, they were all on Starstruck. Vision and Tony, and me before I was here, were all on a ship together too.

Personally, I thought it was good to keep spread out. Decided to stay where they put me.

[That, and the accords, and the fact she'd wanted her space. That was more than anyone needed to have put on them in one conversation.]

It's come in handy before, when the Fleet's been attacked. Good to know who you can work with on other ships.

I think it's a good idea, [he agrees, maybe not surprised they feel the same way. It's still fucking weird, to hear about different versions of people that have come and gone, but that's just how things are here, so he's working on getting over it and concentrating on what really matters - which is the idea of threats.

An idea that just got more concrete.] That's why you travel in a fleet, isn't it? Seemed to work for the Navy. [Sometimes.]

I don't know the fucking first thing about fighting in space.

[And that's unnerving and unpleasant. He's gonna have to learn, it sounds like. Hopefully not through failure.] Does it happen often?

You might surprise yourself on that, depending on what your augment is.

[Pilot or security would both be real useful if it came down to an attack.]

In the past when we've been attacked, ships have been boarded. Even if you can't fight in space, you'd still be real fucking useful.

[Playing with his word choice.]

If it comes up. I'd say not often, but then... this doesn't happen often either.

[Not often is still often enough.]

Maybe, [Having the augment is weird enough. He's pretty sure it's gonna get ten times weirder when he has to actually use it; it's just hasn't been the case, yet.

Still, he laughs, softly.] Somehow that's as not reassuring as it is reassuring.

[But he gets her point. And he nods, because it's a good one.

And so is the next one.] Sounds like no one really has much of an idea what's coming until it's here, huh?

That's probably the right reaction. [Far be it from Natasha to be too reassuring about the situation. There are plenty of people who like the Fleet better than their homes, but most of the time it's a reflection on what they face where they're from.] That's how it usually works, yeah. Sometimes we get warnings about the things that happen...

Most of the time, just enough to give us a fighting chance.

[Honestly, he'd prefer the truth over reassurance, anyway. At least, in a situation like this.

He grins, tight and lopsided.] Sounds exactly like home, then.

I guess being on TV ain't a vacation.

[He maybe still wishes he had a weapon on him, but he'll make due. Steve said something about getting things from home, or having someone make something, so it's not impossible, after all.]

Edited 2019-03-04 16:23 (UTC)

Since when do we ever get a vacation? [If there's one thing Natasha would lay good money on doesn't change between worlds, it's that. There's always something else, another reason they have to jet off.]

Honestly, this might be a little bit of a vacation. Some people don't hate it.

Look, a guy can dream, okay. [Yeah, it doesn't really sound like he's done much dreaming. But still.

She's right. There are no vacations, because there's always something that needs competent people to handle.]

I could see that, [Bucky admits.] I mean... I guess it's like the ultimate form of escapism. Hell, some people probably love it.

I just don't think I can, y'know, be one of 'em.

[He definitely doesn't think she falls in that category, either.]

I guess I'll just stay on my toes, instead.

[That will make two of them. Even as bad as things get back home, she can't give up on it.

Her smile might say as much.]

You didn't get that advice from me.

[The smile falls and she glances away, her look inclusive of the ship around him.]

If you're here long enough, it's hard not to relax somewhat.

Don't. Not if you can avoid it.

'Course not, [he agrees genially as she smiles, like they're sharing a little secret.

But it doesn't take long for his mood to change, either.] I could see that, [he agrees. Spend long enough anywhere, even when it's someplace extreme, and at least certain aspects of it start to feel normal. Okay.

See: his experience in the future.]

I don't plan to, [he promises. Then, eyes on hers,] Let me know if it looks like I'm doing a bad job of it?

[It's hopefully a show of trust, as much as it is a genuine request.]

[The offer isn't entirely lost on her. It's interesting, in a way. Different from the Barnes she knew—quicker to extend that trust. At the same time it still seems like him.

She does wonder how much it comes down to his experience with his Natasha.]

I'll keep an eye out.

[All right. A little trust.]

[Bucky's known his Natasha now for almost as long as he'd known any of the Commandos. He certainly hasn't worked with her all that time, and the situations are certainly different, but you trust your team because what the hell else are you supposed to do.

This isn't his Natasha, but she seems worth taking that leap of faith on. He thinks Steve would. And if it bites him in the ass, it's his own damn fault and he'll deal with it then.

His smile is tight, but genuine.] Thanks.

[He blows out a breath, glances around.] Guess I'd better keep looking around. Might as well see what I've got to work with, even if it's temporary. [This is still where he's at, until they're sorted back onto smaller ships.]

I'll catch up with you later?

[He still wants to know more, but she'd said not here, and he respects that.]

You can count on it.

[Sometime when there's some small hope there's no one listening in. They have to assume that they're always monitored. She doesn't mind having the extra time to get used to the idea of two of Barnes showing up, either.]

If you come up with any questions, you'll know where to find me.

Guess I do, [he says, and there's something grateful in his voice. She's at least familiar, and she's at least a friendly. That means a lot, on top of what he knows she's capable of.

And he'll definitely take what he can get.] Be careful what you offer, I might come back with a list as long as my arm.

You really think I don't know what I'm getting myself into?

[Who knows, maybe she is? But really, Barnes, as though Natasha ever makes an offer she's not confident she's up to filling.]

The only problem I'll have with a list that long is if they're bad questions.

[He's pretty sure she'll be fine.]

You've been hanging around Steve too long. His questions might be shitty, but mine'll be good. One of us is a lot better at advance planning than the other.

[It feels weird - so weird - to just joke about shit like this again, after two years. After seventy years. But if Bucky's learned anything, it's that you adapt to weird-ass situations by making them normal, and that means making fun of Steve.]

[Honestly, this makes sense to Natasha. It does seem to come naturally to him, so who's she to question it.]

You'll have to prove that one to me. So far, I haven't seen any evidence leading me to believe you're not both suspect.