driftfleet | ★ 2 | video, action ★

Entry tags:

★ 2 | video, action ★

Who: Bucky!Cap Barnes
Broadcast: Private to Natasha Romanoff
Action: Bishop, planetside on Lyndia
When: Shortly after the last shuffle (for video & Bishop), anytime during their stopover in the Bix system

[Video: Private to Natasha Romanoff]
Hey, so when's a good time for a fight and a drink?

[Action: Bishop]
[Bucky's new on the Bishop, but it's not like he's never been here before. Anyone who's been here for a week or two might have seen him coming and going from Steve Rogers' room. In fact, now that he's on board, that appears to be where he's headed now, with an armful of clothes and a strange, circular red, white, and blue shield tucked under one arm.

Actually, since his hands are full, he very politely(?) kicks at the hatch to Steve's cabin once he gets there.

Later, he can be found walking the ship, familiarizing himself with the bridge, bathroom, and kitchen - where he's also digging for the coffee grounds and means to make it into actual coffee, because that's really important. Seriously. Coffee is magic.]

[Action: Planetside]
[Bucky also takes the opportunity to stretch his legs on Lyndia. In fact, he takes the opportunity to spend some time outside, because no matter how much the natives of this world warn him, it seems fine to him. Not even a sniffle. So he ends up earning some extra cash, running errands and ferrying supplies from the surface, including hacking away at vines, gutting old wooden buildings, and maybe even seeing if he can't track down said reptilian beast.

Bucky spends his significant earnings largely on food and clothing, because a) he wants to eat things that are not gel and b) he wants to wear things that are not jumpsuits. He is also willing to share the riches with friends, should they run into him.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Only one - well, that's a relief.

[Bucky very, very clearly wants to ask about that. And maybe he will, although the rest sort of takes precedence just for a moment.] Yeah, I talked to - Kitty Pryde? Her world sounded pretty strange, too. I'm honestly not sure if I should feel jealous or lucky - or something else entirely.

Then again, it doesn't matter where we came from - we're all here, and I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing, either.

[It got him Steve - in more than one way. But it's still a prison, and that's certainly not ideal, either.] I think there are a lot of things about this place that worry me, and maybe most of all is the fact that there are parts of it that I like.

It doesn't have to be all one thing or the other, does it? It can be bad, but there's always people who will find space to make the most of it.

[And the most of it is pretty good, honestly.]

[Bucky huffs a little, but it's a sound of agreement.] I'm trying. Feels a little selfish, but then, sometimes a little selfish is good, you know?

It's still a little hard to get over being watched.

Can't argue with that. I could stand to get a little more privacy.

[It's frustrating, but at the same time, they have to live their lives, right. She lets her gaze wander, apparently casual, as they make their way to the bar.]

Imagine you and Steve could too?

[Pointed.]

Edited 2019-06-14 01:13 (UTC)

I feel like you might say that if you were the last person alive.

[He's teasing, though, and it's clear in his voice.

He does make a sound that's just this side of too polite to be a snort, a second later.] You know, a guy's not supposed to kiss and tell.

[A pause, but,] So yeah. We could.

[Another pause, though, before he murmurs,] Is it... okay with you? Me and him.

[Is it kind of him to ask? Natasha's not sure. How is anyone supposed to know the dating etiquette of doubles and alternate realities.

Either way, Natasha waves it off.]

I don't have any reason not to be okay with it. Not like I have a claim to either of you—except I'd like to you happy. Both of you.

[What Bucky does know is Steve is closer to Natasha - to all the Avengers, and some non-Avengers from the same world, too - than Bucky is to any of his. What they think matters, whether or not it would dictate what he does.]

It's not about claims, [he says, maybe a little dissatisfied with that reasoning, even if he's not unhappy with the response.] And you don't have to say that about me - I know you don't know me. I'm not your Bucky. Or his.

[Okay, now it just sounds like he's being argumentative.] But thanks, [he amends. It helps to hear that. It does.]

[Natasha's expression softens. It may be unfair—carry over from conversations she's had with Steve and concerns she has about the third James Buchanan Barnes in the mix, that he thinks she's been grooming him as a replacement.

But if this Bucky has concerns, she shouldn't dismiss them that easily.]

I don't mean it like that. I just know better than to saddle someone with the wrong expectations. It doesn't work out well for anyone. [Which doesn't walk back her answer, exactly, but she hopes puts in a better light.] What were you asking about?

[Bucky just shakes his head, sighing softly.] No, it's -

[Not something he really wants to talk about, but,] I meant me, specifically. Because I'm not - his Bucky.

Depends what you mean by his. [Considering the situation, that could taken a lot of different ways.] If you talk to Steve, his Bucky isn't really his Bucky either.

It's not as straight forward as who's from who's timeline.

I dunno, maybe it is that straightforward, [Bucky points out.] After all, if we get sent back home... I'm sure not gonna see any of you ever again, no matter what happens.

If we get sent back home, the other version of you is dead. There's only one of him, and none of us remember any of this.

[So, you know. That might be a distinction without a difference.]

Sounds pretty bleak, no matter how you look at it.

[Not that that's a concept he's overly unfamiliar with. None of them are.]

I just don't wanna make things worse for Steve. [He cares about him too much to do that.] But that doesn't mean I wanna watch him be unhappy here when I can do something about it. [Like be with him.

Not that Bucky doesn't have selfish reasons to want that, too. He wants Steve just as badly as Steve seems to want him. He just... tries to think about the consequences a little more than Steve, maybe.

He waves a hand, though,] Anyway, I didn't mean to dump on you. This whole situation is just - weird on top of weird. I don't really have to tell you that. [He laughs a little.] Guess I just need to get it out before we get drunk and I turn all morose.

It's all right. We all need to vent sometimes. Not like you're wrong either—it's weird.

[It's weird, and it's bleak, and the truly amazing thing about Steve Rogers is that somehow, he still acts like it can be better. It's not just optimism or hope, though that's a part of it, but determination.

If he just never accepts what's wrong, maybe eventually the world will realize it was the one making the mistake.

Natasha respects that about him, even if she can't do the same.]

Get it all out of your system, because if you wait until you're drunk and start crying about it, I'm making you pay for drinks even if you did win the sparring match.

[Bucky laughs at that, waving a hand.] If you want the guy who cries when he's drunk, call Steve. I'm the fun drunk - and I am gettin' my free drink, come hell or high water.

[Still, he looks grateful. He doesn't have an answer, but maybe he just needed to say it to someone - who's not Steve.]

I'd ask if you've been handling your stuff all right, but I'm not sure you want to talk about it.

[But: This is him subtly asking.]

I'm not against talking about it. Just... not sure there's that much to talk about.

[That's not an outright lie, but it would be more true if she said it wasn' something she'd talked about much. It's not something she's thought about much, either.

She knows she and James are going to have to discuss the possibilities soon, but... not now.]

Maybe that falls under "no news is good news," [Bucky offers with a smile; part of him doesn't want to pry, knows it's none of her business. He also knows that it's not like he's got some insider view on things, given how different the other versions of himself are from him. But it's nice to know Natasha has someone she can trust, if she wants that. She deserves it.]

I don't wanna push my luck, [he admits.] You don't owe me anything, but if it's going well, which I hope it is - then I'm glad for you.

It's going well. [For now, at least. Natasha isn't sure that can last. Not when eventually she might have to chose between James and going home. But until that time came, she intended to enjoy it.] I'm lucky. And I know it.

[Bucky nods.] Good. [She deserves for something to go well - hell, they all do.

Though he does grin a little and ask,] Any weird sponsor drops yet?

No—why? Should I be expecting something? [Natasha hasn't often been the target of sponsors. Too boring, maybe? She doesn't usually think about it too closely.] Or did you get one?

I dunno about expecting something, but - yeah. We got one or two. They were... overkill, might be the right word, honestly.

Now I'm jealous. [She is not, and she smiles crookedly when she says it. Then she says:] And curious.

[That part is true.]

[Bucky laughs a little.] All of it was very patriotic. At least - patriotically themed.

I guess that's to be expected.

[He glances at her.] I could offer to share, but it's one of those questions where even if you don't answer, you've kinda already answered, you know?

[Now it's basically impossible not to laugh at that. Strange how some things can remain so consistent when others are wildly different.]

I have the feeling I can guess.

[Bucky just lets her laugh. It is ridiculous.]

You probably can. You're a smart lady.

In any case, I'm not sure whether the Atroma think they're being helpful... or know they're not. Either seems just as bad.

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