This is new for me. OK?

[thestaremaster]

WHO: Bucky Barnes, OTA
WHERE: Fountain, Network, The Deep End
WHAT: Arrival
WHEN: Early June
WARNINGS: TBD




Arrival
Bucky was still reeling from having that information forcibly shoved into his mind, and he took a half step back, eyes narrowing at the data point as he tried to push down the memories it evoked.

He had to focus.

Aliens. It just had to be aliens. Sam was never going to give it a rest now. The damn 'Big Three'.

He rubbed a hand over his brow and sighed, lifting it again to spot a figure in the distance.

"Hey- wait up-" he called, not sure if they were a fellow 'He Row' or one of the jerks that had brought him here, but either way- he wanted a word.

Network

[Bucky looks a bit uncomfortable on camera, offering a stiff smile for a moment, before quickly abandoning it.]

Hey- uh...

[He frowns and tries to wave an insistent mothkitten away, but the gleam of his arm keeps drawing it back.]

Someone wanna catch me up on this place?

The Deep End

His fingers drummed on the countertop, frowning in thought. Of course when he'd finally reached a place where he was ready to explore opening up he got pulled away to fight someone else's fight.

It didn't feel right to be so bitter, he's put a lot of bad out into the universe, if some force out there wanted to make him to continue to make amends for that could he really object?...Definitely. But it didn't do much to help the conflict in his mind.
He tried to think about what the doc might say. She'd never dealt with anything quite like this, but that was true for most everything they talked about, and she did all right.

"...How long have you been here?" he asked, breaking that long silence with a sudden turn of his head to acknowledge he wasn't alone, taking a long sip of his drink.

Comments

[sinistral]

He waited, patient. It was unsettling for him to see his own face so animated. But at least he'd experienced it before, for all the good it did him.

He couldn't punch the Agrii nearly hard enough to make up for this, he decided. Assholes.

"I have no name," he replied, because he'd given up everything that he'd tried to keep as a name. "You can use the designation Soldier. Soldat, if the Russian doesn't turn your stomach."

[thestaremaster]

Bucky's brow dropped, lips formed into a thin line, and that had a definite affect on him, fingers clenching on his left hand. His jaw shifted, giving a faint shake of his head.

"...Soldat. Really? How- nnn-" He breathed out a huff, and nodded, despite obviously disagreeing personally with the choice of designation. It took a beat or two for that expression to soften. "You really want that?"

[sinistral]

"It is what I am." He will not allow himself to forget that, even as he struggles to remember anything from his life, who he once was. It's all still largely a mystery. His missions, his kills, those are clear to him and while he hates it, he'll not allow himself to forget.

The memories are horrible but they belong to him.

"I want," he starts, finally letting his eyes travel away from the other man's face and up to the sky; if anyone should understand it, it should be himself. "The chance to decide for myself."

[thestaremaster]

"..." Bucky sighed, looking off as well. It was a sentiment he understood well. So much of his life had been lost to others choosing for him, and who was he to try and do the same.

They might share a face and a history, but that didn't make them the same person... "Soldat, then," he agreed reluctantly.

[sinistral]

"For now." Until he could decide, until he could remember. Nothing would speed the process, as far as he knew, and he had no desire to allow anyone to touch his mind to help it along.

What else could be put there, as payment or as penalty?

"When I make a decision, I will tell you." Because this man might understand, better than anyone else.

[thestaremaster]

Huh. Well that was...something. Bucky's features softened a little, and he gave another nod.

"So you're...from after-..." He didn't need to say it, right? They both knew. "I'm uh- maybe...seven years after?" he guessed, not entirely sure where they deviated.

[sinistral]

"Washington, DC. A swim in the river." Mission failure; HYDRA compromised. Mission failure; target not eliminated. Mission failure; handlers eliminated.

Mission failure; primary asset missing.

He nodded, pushing his thoughts to the back of his mind. "I know that I... lose this arm. In my future. I don't want to know how. I don't want to know what happens." Wanted to make his own future. Wanted to be his own person.

[thestaremaster]

He could practically see the gears turning in that silence, knowing how his mind worked, his own echoing almost the same running commentary.

Bucky glanced to his own arm. He couldn't exactly shield that confirmation if he wanted to, but he nodded.

"I won't tell you anything you don't wanna know," he promised. He couldn't say he'd be too eager to find out what came next if some future version of him plopped down out of nowhere either.

[sinistral]

"Thank you." It was as sincere as he could make it, though the two words fell a little flat. The facsimile of a person, not yet made real. A shadow, but slowly gaining his own form.

[thestaremaster]

Bucky shrugged off thanks, still a little awkward, letting silence pass between them for a moment before nodding back to the Deep End.

"You drink?" he offered, looking doubtful that his offer would be accepted, but wanting to make it just the same.

[sinistral]

"I don't." It was wasted on his metabolism, and he preferred to stay clear of the social aspect of it. The invitation didn't seem like it was for the purpose of either one — well, perhaps something of the second, but likely it was offered out of the habit of being polite.

"I won't keep you," he said instead. No need to crowd each other. No need to field the questions from any who might see them together.

[thestaremaster]

Hey, try hard enough and it sort of works. The wonder of determination.

"...Mm," Bucky nodded, and took a few steps before looking back, a little uncertain. "Hey uh...don't be a stranger?" he offered.

[sinistral]

And then one ends up impaired on an alien planet? For all that it seems safe enough, the Soldier doesn't trust it. Has the Agrii just stolen Billy out from under their noses? Then claimed to be attempting rescue?

Not that this man would know that. The Soldier wasn't too inclined to share something so personal.

He met that question with a flat stare. Really? He knew he was poor company, and didn't enjoy being around people besides. "I will be where I am needed."