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

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.

Is either way really that bad, though? It could be pretty funny if you think about it. Just teaching a couple of old dogs new tricks.

Are you callin' me old?

[Of course, he is older than Steve. Well - technically. Back home. Maybe not Natasha's Steve. It's complicated.]

We had most of that stuff back in the Dark Ages, y'know.

It's my right to call you old. Both of you.

[All of them. Especially considering how often they remind her of it.]

Are you saying you played around with some adult toys back in the old days, Barnes?

I'm saying they were available to play with.

A gentleman never kisses and tells.

[And he gives her an over-the-top wink, because why not. She'll probably laugh more.]

[She does smile at least, her eyebrows rising theatrically.]

It doesn't sound like kissing was all you were doing. Hypothetically. But I won't pry.

It wasn't. [So smug.]

But that's all the details you're gettin' outta me without any reciprocation. Or copious application of alcohol.

[Maybe if you buy him a couple of drinks.

(Yeah, still not likely.)]

You really want to hear more about my sex life, Barnes?

[Now that sounds awkward. And as much as she teases him, she doesn't expect any details. Not about this particular topic.]

How about we get those drinks, and try to think of some questions we actually want to know the answers too.

Okay, yeah - not really. I mean - not unless you desperately need advice or something, and even then, I'm probably not actually the guy to help you.

[And also, yeah. It sounds awkward for both of them, so.] I think that sounds like a plan.

No, I know what I'm doing. [At least where the kissing is concerned.] So what do you want to know? Burning curiosity.

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