wow look what the cat dragged in

[lefthandfree]

WHO: James Buchanan “Bucky” Barnes
WHERE: fountain, inn
WHEN: May 13
OPEN TO: closed arrival, otherwise open to all
WARNINGS: language
STATUS: second prompt is open closed

     the fountain

When he closes his eyes, he knows it will only be a moment in his mind, even as darkness blots out his vision and swallows him whole. Regret lingers as it always does, the fact he chooses this over consciousness impossible to ignore when the last thing Steve does is insist on standing there with the wish that Bucky will change his mind written plainly on his face. But it's all the more reason he shouldn't. Yet, even as he prepares himself to wake again to the worst possible scenario, being immersed in water is definitely not something he considered.

There's air in him, enough that he knows that he hasn't been thrown in and also enough that his mind cannot decipher the circumstances. It's hardly enough reason for dawdling, however, and his focus is quickly turns toward finding the surface. Easy enough, even short an arm. Maybe not as efficient or balanced as he'd like, but there isn't time to reassess.

He gasps for fresh breath once he breaks through to air and throws his arm out to pull his body out from what seemed a well but is apparently a fountain. Curiosity after curiosity, it doesn't stop him from clambering free from the water, even if the effort comes quite clumsily without the aid of a second arm. It's then while water drips generously from him, free from the metal joint and free from his clothing, that he realizes his clothing isn't really his clothing and that this obviously isn’t Wakanda. Not even a little.

Jesus Fucking Christ. “Can’t it be Kansas? Just once?” He doesn't expect an answer.


     the inn (open)

He’s not even going to pretend he’s not new. It seems like something that should be obvious, so why bother with putting people on? Not that it means he won’t do his damned best to make sure people know he’s not incapable, especially with the blatant visible handicap. But he’s dripping a lot less now, and that’s a good time to try and figure out what all he actually needs to deal with given his clear displacement of space and possible displacement of time.

Soaked is still very much the description of his physical state though, something that’s apparently becoming a trend, but he’s far more grateful this time around since his arm isn’t trapped in a vice and, well, he clearly hasn’t gone on a murder rampage either. It’s the little things in life...

There’s a fire at one end of the establishment he wanders into, and even without the cold, it’s a welcome sight. Soggy garments are really not his style, and having a quicker way to dry off other than waiting for the world to end is a huge bonus. He plants himself nearby and takes the opportunity to dig through the pack. It’s sturdy. Effective. But everything else inside is soaked through like him.

God. Why can’t anything ever be easy?

Dragging a hand down his face, he gives a long sigh. One thing at a time, Barnes. And at the least, the water isn’t sopping out of the bag, he tells himself. So it’s not all bad. Maybe.

He wants to laugh, but instead a wry grin plasters itself to his face. Patience is a goddamn virtue, for sure. But as long as he doesn’t get kicked out for being a drowned mess, he’s glad to stay parked here for another couple hours before moving on.

Comments

[lefthandfree]

Well. That was a start. Something to take notes on was still better than nothing, at least until the issue could be properly addressed. And he had a feeling he would be needing every scrap he could get his hands on, even if mostly only for his personal records. Speaking with Sam seemed to be prudent by her description, so he made a personal note to himself to seek out the man at a later time.

To her admission, he offered a small, honest smile. He couldn't remember the last time anyone had said anything like that to him. Even such words were often lost with Steve, the expectation for Bucky to go along with everything stronger than any formalities they used to keep between them. God. Time really changed so much, hadn't it?

“I could say the same for myself.” The corners of his eyes crinkled with that small bit of care he guarded with his life. “Better to be stuck with allies than alone. And I know I’m not Steve, but I don’t plan on leaving any of his friends high and dry if I can help it.” A shrug followed, his eyes drifting back to the bowl as he stirred the contents idly. “You guys gave up a lot for him without even knowing me. So. It’s the least I can do to repay you.”

[scepterschild]

Wanda had no real answers but she wasn't the sort of person to give up either. Since losing her powers she's been standing strong, pouting a little along the way and punching inanimate objects, but she wasn't going to let the people who brought them here push them around.

"Not just Steve's friend. You're mine too." She didn't know everything about him but she knew that Bucky was trying. Sometimes trying was all that you could do. It wasn't an easy thing to keep going with the weight of so many on your shoulders.

"Put your bowl in the sink in the kitchen. I'll wash it later if you don't." She didn't really care and she'd be back anyway. "I don't think anyone should be alone. That's why I helped." Not just because Steve asked but because Wanda was looking for something, a way to find herself and do something good. She didn't have to know the people that she helped.

[lefthandfree]

The claim to friendship came as a surprise, the events he had endured prior to arriving still lingering in his mind. From that alone, he would never have anticipated such a quick sense of alliance, especially given how he had not truly interacted much with any of Steve’s other friends beyond his mild mocking ribbing of Sam. Wanda had little reason to lie to that regard, however, and so the admission must have been genuine, despite Bucky’s own comprehension of the details. His smile grew sheepish then, and he polished off the last bit of the soup.

“Don’t think anyone should be alone either, but... Just surprising. Considering what they said about me. Even Steve thought—” his words cut off as he realized the fact was irrelevant to the conversation, and he shook his head to dismiss it. That matter was between him and Steve. “I’m grateful. Not so good at showing it these days, but I am. So you’ve a friend in my too, if you ever need it.”

[scepterschild]

Wanda knew what it felt like not to be trusted or accepted by those around you. Even the people who claimed you as a friend would look at you as if you might one day turn and destroy the world. There were a few people in Wanda's life who didn't do that. Vision was one but Wanda didn't think that Vision knew better. He was like a child in some ways and one of those ways was with human interaction. Another was Clint who had adopted her after her brothers death and even went so far as to invite her to his home from time to time. It was a little strange but when she was there she felt like she was apart of a family. It was awkward but it was still a feeling that she enjoyed. The last person had been Steve but ever since her house arrest she hasn't been so sure anymore.

Bucky could understand and while they hadn't talked a lot, Wanda knew that he could understand. For the world to see you as a weapon, as what you are, and not who you are. No one can live like that and really survive.

"I'm not Steve." Wanda spoke coolly, not at all bothered by his surprise. "You don't have to show it." She knew that if she called and he could make it, he would. Wanda didn't trust people easily and how Bucky earned that trust was a little complicated in it's origin but it was there all the same.

[lefthandfree]

The reassurance that he needn’t have to make up for it in show, as he would often need to for Steve regardless of whatever Steve insisted, was comforting to say the least, and so he nodded solemnly in response, losing his words for a moment.

While he didn’t know the full details of her circumstances, he did understand the basics of how she had been drawn into the affair with that machine of Tony's. Official news sources hadn’t quite detailed the events properly, Romania included, and he knew better than to assume without context, though trawling on the Internet had turned up more than he’d anticipated. He knew she hadn’t always been affiliated with the Avengers; there was more than enough footage to indicate such being the case, even as much as there had never been a formal statement released by Tony with regard to her having eventually joined. It said enough, however, for Bucky to know that she wasn’t much like the others, and even that alone brought its own sense of comfort.

He knew she would not view him quite the same, even if she believed the fear mongering that Zemo had tactically executed, and something about that was far more pleasant than he knew how to describe. Maybe in that way that he wasn’t being forgotten as the soldier he had once been and was...simply a foreigner; it made the sting of being a lost fragment of the past less apparent.

After several moments of thought, he looked toward her again and offered another smile, this time just the simple one he usually wore when he didn’t know what else to do with his face.

“Thank you for the food. I don’t mind doing the dishes though. Used to it. Well, when it needs to be done. Didn’t really get in the habit of using ’em at the safe house since... Well, safe houses aren’t really meant for comfort.” He smiled wryly at that and gave a shrug.

[scepterschild]

Wanda wouldn't be surprised if Bucky knew everything about her past. The tests that her and her brother under went were recorded by Hydra and most of their actions ended up on youtube or other public forms. With the reach of the internet very few things remained a secret, more so once the Avengers got involved.

American's always complicated shit.

A soft smiled tugged at Wanda's lips as she rose her hand in a quick goodbye gesture. She knew a thing for two about safe houses. She knew what it felt like to move from place to place in order to survive. Her brother and her had endured a lot before they were propositioned by Hydra.

"I'll rely on you then." For the dishes.

With that Wanda turned and left the inn, returning back home.