01 | INTRODUCTION | BUCKY BARNES | ACTION

[not_without_you]

 [ACTION]

Bucky isn't a fan of whatever is going on here. Last he knew he was setting things up in Budapest and now? Now he's here. Wherever 'here' is. 

He looks at his new items with distrust. The necklace is hideous and he shoves it into a pocket instead of putting it on. He shoves the phone and pamphlet in there, along with this weird red money. Monopoly money. Where is Steve to get a kick out of that? 

Steve. Shit, he is probably still looking for him. Bucky didn't plan on staying away forever. He'd just needed time. And now he is God knows  where with... Monopoly money, costume jewelry, and a phone. Yeah. This is great.

He leaves the cave thing and stumbles out, looking for anyone at all who can talk to him. He slips the necklace on, finally, deciding it was better to not test that rule yet. Maybe it will help bring him to someone that can help him...

Comments

[skillset]

Having figured out there are different entrances to what the natives call the Bay, Steve has been tracking down each one over the last few days, looking for the newsstand and the hologram. He wants to know if each explanation is exactly the same, or if there are some variations. So far, he's listened to two of them, and it's the same. Word for word.

Today he's paying attention to the third such spiel when noises behind him indicate someone else has been kidnapped. Poor sap. Well, as much as he's only been here a little while, maybe seeing a friendly non-holographic face might help the latest newcomer. So he turns around, schooling his expression into something less scowl-y and,

"... Bucky?" What the hell? Just. What the hell?

[not_without_you]

Bucky sees the person ahead and before he even turns around, Bucky knows. Steve. Of all the people here, it's Steve. And now he knows that Bucky is here, too.

His instincts say to run. They say for him to get away and hide out somewhere because having Steve around is too much too soon for him to cope with. But where is he going to go? Back to the cave? Off to who knew where in this strange land?

Bucky doesn't move. He just stares, hands curling out of the fists they instinctually made.

"Steve... They got you too?"

[skillset]

"Someone did."

He's not convinced that the rulers of this realm had much to do with the actual kidnappings, but he hasn't had much time to start an investigation. There's a job to secure and housing to find first.

He's also careful to keep his hands up and non-threatening. Because there's no knowing what kind of state his friend is in.

"Hi."

[not_without_you]

Bucky looks around them and then back at place he'd stumbled out of. There'd been some sort of hologram he'd ignored. Maybe he should have paid more attention to it.

Steve greets him and Bucky's attention redirects. He isn't prepared for this conversation, now. He'd gone all the way to Budapest to avoid having to deal with everything Steve's face and voice boils up inside of him. But that seems to be over, now.

"Hey," he says back, not smiling or moving closer but at least looking a little less likely to rabbit off. He stares between them, searching for something to say. Something to move them off their standoff into something more productive. Unfortunately, all his small talk was left in the 1940's and he's left with this:

"These necklaces are really ugly."

[skillset]

"They are, yeah." And identification for non-natives. Steve is wearing his only because it hasn't done anything threatening yet. And if other kidnappees have to wear them, he'll suffer the consequences alongside them until he figures out what's going on. And, you know, gets into trouble.

For now, though, he's paying very close attention to Bucky's body language and backs up at the long pause, putting another half-foot of space between them. Even if Bucky doesn't look like he'll run, the last thing Steve wants to do is upset him. Any more than he already has.

"Haven't found the complaint department yet."

[not_without_you]

Bucky chortles out a laugh despite himself. He can't help it. The complaint department? Of course Steve would say something like that. His friend was still the same. It should make things easier. Or harder, maybe. But it does neither; this is just a fact of nature.

Steve Rogers will always be a little shit.

"I didn't...really listen to the hologram," he admits. And as a peace offering, he steps a little bit closer. "How long have you been here? You know what's going on?"

[skillset]

Yeah, he probably will always be a little shit, no matter his actual size. Until his dying breath. Steve straightens up at the question, less trying to be casual and more serious. Because this is serious and it's now involved Bucky.

"A few weeks. Most of the people who live here don't know why strangers keep showing up, or at least that's what I keep hearing. I can show you where temporary housing is? If you want. The rulers give you thirty days free lodgings, but expect us guests to find other homes -- and jobs, by the way -- before the month is up."

[not_without_you]

Bucky's whole face scrunches as though to ask 'or else what?' But in his first day, maybe it wasn't the best thing to push against. Of course he'll need shelter. If one was provided for then it made sense to take advantage.

"Do you have a house?"

[skillset]

"Not yet. I'm looking for work first."

And if he hasn't found and when his lodging time is up, well. He's slept in worse places than in a park somewhere. Not that he'll admit this out loud to a guy who has just arrived.

[not_without_you]

"What kind of work? Kidnapping assistance?"

He relaxes just a little, feeling pretty confident that Steve is alone and taking this just as cautiously as he is. Bucky could always run. But where to, here? Where would he go when he doesn't even know the landscape? It's a poor tactical move to leave an ally.

[skillset]

"No! I don't know." He frowns at that. Maybe helping other people who have been kidnapped, if that's what Bucky meant, but not actually kidnapping people. He wouldn't do that unless HYDRA was somehow involved. "I'll figure it out."

[not_without_you]

Bucky nods and then, at a lack of anything else stands still. He's not sure what to do. His original plan of distance while he recovers is thwarted by his kidnapping. And, now, in a strange place, Steve is the only ally he has. He can't just toss that away. Not for either of them.

"...I could join you?"

[skillset]

"If you'd like, sure." Steve won't turn away any help in the form of his best friend. Even if said best friend has been keeping his distance and/or doesn't remember much of their friendship.

"Look, I've got a little money. Wanna get something to drink?"

[not_without_you]

Bucky frowned, not sure what to do with that invitation. But what else did he have to do? It wasn't like he was going to go to the cave again.

"Yeah. Yeah, that...I could do to rehydrate. I don't know how long I was unconscious for."

[skillset]

"Okay. Okay, good." His hand twitches, like Steve wants to toss an arm around Bucky's shoulders like old times. Instead he gestures in the direction of some of the cafes.

"Lets get you some food and something to drink and go from there."

[not_without_you]

Bucky watches Steve carefully and then walks over toward him and the cafes. He could use some food, actually. He could use a lot of food.

He looks down at the red paper he was given and frowns.

"How much is this?"

[skillset]

Steve purses his lips, debating on how to phrase a response, since he's not entirely sure the amount directly corresponds to American dollars.

"Enough to get by for a little while if you're frugal. This one is on me, though. Okay?"

[not_without_you]

He nods, fine with that since he's not even sure where they're going. What else will he do?

His head spins all around as they walk, like the paranoid ex-spy he is.

"No artist jobs for you to take?"

He's not sure where that comes from but he goes with it.

[skillset]

His jaw tightens briefly.

"I haven't looked."

Nor has he planned on it. Drawing seems frivolous in the face of all this.

[not_without_you]

"What sort of jobs are there, then?"

Bucky watches Steve carefully, noting the muscles on his face going hard. He won't comment on it. Not yet with the peace between them so tenuous. But it is marked for later thought.

[skillset]

"Everything. Sweeping floors, working in shops, bodyguards. You can even be a celebrity here, if that's what you're interested in."

Steve isn't, at least right now, for the record. He leads the way into one of the little cafes and orders a couple of drinks - iced tea for himself, and whatever Bucky wants, and a plate of fries to split between them. Or, rather, for Bucky to eat and Steve to occasionally steal a fry from.

[priceofmagic]

New Guardian Satou had been patrolling Genessia. Fortunately, The Bay in particular was on her radar. As she spots someone exiting the cave, necklace only now being slipped on, she quickly pieces the situation together.

With a neutral expression, unsure of his mental state, she approaches and waves.

"Pardon me, sir, but are you new here?" At only five feet, the young brunette holds her own necklace up for him to see. Hopefully it'll explain that she's in the same kidnapping situation. "Did you get wet coming out of the pod? You'll catch cold."

[not_without_you]

Bucky looks down at the at the small girl and raises his eyebrow a little. She looks small and young and usually people like this stay away from him. But she doesn't seem to be all that concerned and has a necklace like his. So...she's in the same boat. He blinks and looks down at himself.

"Yeah. I guess I got a little wet." It doesn't bother him. He's had much worse. He looks back at her and tries to make his face look less...like him.

"I just woke up in that...cave thing. So. Yeah, I guess I am new. My name is..." He pauses, wondering what he wants to go with. James? Bucky? Neither seem right. "Barnes."