these are the times that try

[deadthenred]

WHO: Bucky Barnes + various
WHERE: Red Wings, the safehouse, ???
WHEN: Late March.
WHAT: Catch-all log for March, with some open prompts.
NOTES OR WARNINGS: N/A, will update if it changes.

[ Prompts are in the comments below. PM or message me at lightfellows if you'd like a closed starter. ]

Comments

ota

[deadthenred]

001. RED WINGS

[ Bucky always plans on drinking alone, which is just about the least complicated activity left to him on this earth. Even this earth.

When they're on one of the screens, he tries to watch the baseball games, because he still can't get the hang of watching on the implant. ("When did they all start using the Designated Hitter?" he might ask, after having a few.)

He's a mostly indiscriminate drinker, but one time he takes the house special and almost has to spit it out. ]

What did they put in this?

[ Probably bugs. ]

002. SAFEHOUSE

[ Bucky still lives here.

The safehouse is one of the few places he doesn't need to bother with gloves, so he mostly doesn't. He does, apparently, need to bother with cleaning up after at least three people, because it seems like not everyone learned how. Bucky makes his own cot and dresses some of the rest, folding sheets. He does a stack of dishes left all sticky in the sticky.

He thinks— ]

Man, I have got to move out of here.

[ But it's the kind of thinking you do out loud. ]

001. RED WINGS

[kgbs]

You had better hope it is not poisoned.

( illya's sitting nearby, a glass of something amber at his elbow. it's mostly full because he is here on business tonight and he has to pay attention. drinking alcohol and getting drunk would not do anything but make him sloppy. )

If it is, you have just doomed yourself.

[deadthenred]

It wouldn't be the first time.

[ That he's doomed himself, anyway. Poison would be a change of pace. He stares at the drink again, and then takes another sip from it, wincing. ]

If I die, you can probably sue.

[kgbs]

Do you really think legalities work the same in this city than they do wherever you have come from?

( he glances around and shakes his head. )

I am sure they are heavily protected considering the amount of lives lost in this place, the city not this bar, that tends to happen.

002

[unlucky7]

[Ginia doesn't live in the safehouse anymore. Moved out weeks ago into a stable apartment or two. But circumstances change on a fly. She's still not living at the safehouse, but the showers are convenient and she's been bringing over more clothes and supplies in preparation for the next round of arrivals. It's a way to stay busy, to stay useful.

She's in the process of checking the food in the kitchen to make sure nothing's gone bad when she hears Bucky speak. It's clearly not directed at her, the kind of musing someone does. An understandable sentiment.

But the thing is she recognizes that voice. They didn't exchange too many words, but they exchanged enough that evening the voice sticks out in her mind. Ah. Yes. Of course the other person is another Displaced. She could keep to herself, ignore the words since they aren't directed at her. But there aren't that many that sign overall in New Amsterdam, especially at her height. Especially among the Displaced.

Hell with it. Time to face things head on. Ginia moves so she can wave a hand at Bucky to get his attention, signing once he's looking her way.]

I've been helping people find housing. I can throw some options your way.

[deadthenred]

[ He raises an eyebrow— not so much at Ginia's statement, but at Ginia, standing here, in the kitchen. Going out of her way to talk to him.

It's the only sign that he might recognize her, but really, how could he not? ]

Sorry. I didn't know you were there. [ It's generally hard to sneak up on him, but maybe not when the faucet's running. ]

That would be nice. I swear, the mess isn't all mine.

[ None of it is his. He's just cleaning it up. ]

[unlucky7]

I've seen how others are in the safehouse. I don't blame you.

It's a good thing they don't have to deal with ants. Or maybe they will if people keep leaving crumbs around.]

What kind of place are you looking for? Cheap and communal with more privacy? Completely private?

002.

[sestra]

[ helena also still lives here. she is not, however, as conscientious as bucky at looking after the place. her bed has been the same one since she arrived, the sheets constantly a mess, and there's usually a small stack of food or empty plates at the floor beside it. ]

[ she is for once in her life bringing a large pile of dishes towards the kitchen, but only because she stepped on one and broke it. oops. ]

[ also she is hungry, so she's going in for more food. she pauses with her arms full of mess, not sure if the man is speaking to her, then decides to answer him anyway. ]

Why? Is very convenient place to stay.

[deadthenred]

'Cause I am gonna be doing dishes all day, at this rate.

[ But even if Helena didn't mean to hand over the dishes she's carrying, he's reaching for them anyway. There's a system to how he's got them all stacked. ]

[sestra]

No one says you need to be doing this.

[ it was not her intention to pass them over to him, but she certainly doesn't fight it when he reaches out and takes them sorting them quickly. he can clean if he wants to! just like she can reuse the same plates repeatedly without washing them! hers are particularly filthy, if he caught sight of it. ]

1

[rehandle]

[ Little does Bucky know that what did they put in this? is the exact selection of words required to summon the manager.

It's only incidentally that he overhears, fresh from spending too many hours in the back room dealing with stock and needing the relative break of a stroll around the bar in search of empties. Bucky isn't talking to anyone in particular, but that doesn't mean he can resist an opportunity when it lines itself up for him. ]

Can I help you, sir?

[ Wry, he stands there with two empty pitchers and awaits a reply. How bold are you feeling, Mr. Barnes? ]

[deadthenred]

Not sir.

[ That is almost a reflex. He waves off the honorific with one hand. ]

You can tell me what they put in this. [ Not any alcohol he's familiar with, and he's been to a couple bars that aren't even on Earth. ] I'd like to know if I'm being poisoned.

[ His tone is more conversational than offended. Poison would be novel, at least. Most of the time it's just stabbing. ]

[rehandle]

[ Oh, that bold.

Huffing a breath that might be a laugh, Stephen reaches down with absolutely no concern for correct customer etiquette or any hygiene practice he's learned in his careers as doctor or bar owner to pick up the offending beverage and take a sip.

His brow very swiftly creases. Ew. A glance back over to the bar presents him with a relatively easy theory. ]

Did you get this from the woman with the red hair?

002

[championofsnark]

Tell me about it.

[Hawke says from a few feet away, having rounded the corner to hear that and immediately popped in to the conversation whether welcome or not. She really can't help herself. She likes the safehouse enough; it's got showers and she's still learning about the technology. It'll be some time before she can really make enough to leave, and she's technically in no rush, but sometimes she gets grumpy. She's not used to living in such close quarters anymore.

Her black bangs are still hanging over vivid blue eyes, her hair always short so it suits her fairly well, and she is stretching her arms up over her head to loosen up. Her arms are extremely well-muscled, marking her as a warrior to anyone who knows what to look for.]

I haven't done this type of living since being in the sodding army.

[deadthenred]

Nah.

[ His tone is casual, unbothered. More banter than real disagreement. Bucky won't deny the similarities, and maybe if he hadn't grown up on base he'd be more uncomfortable here then he already was. Bucky liked his privacy, sure, but he'd done without it before. There was, however, one major difference. ]

Even in the army I didn't have all the KP duty.

[ And Bucky isn't one to brag, but he had a lot of KP duty. ]

[championofsnark]

[Hawke smiles at him, folding arms across her chest after the stretch.]

I suppose this goes without saying, but no one's making you. Leave it long enough and someone else will have to be the one.

[She's not the one who has been leaving things around. It's not the army that put her in the habit of cleaning up but rather living on the streets lately. She keeps all of her gear close to her and washes her dishes right away. Hawke's already preparing to cut and run once she has the coin. ]

I never was on kitchen duty but I was definitely on floor scrubbing duty more than once.

[The worst kind. Literally on her hands and knees. Hawke's always been mouthy.]

1

[ishotyouuu]

[Bucky probably wasn't expecting a response to that question, but one appears all the same. Despite his good looks, the well-built man approaching his table probably looks more like a bouncer than a member of the wait staff, which wouldn't be all that inaccurate an assessment. But barring a few altercations when someone's too deep into their cups, Red Wings isn't really a bar with a pressing need for high security, and so Wade oftentimes finds himself picking up the slack when the evening rush comes in.

He makes his way over to the disgruntled patron with an easy smile on his face, but if Bucky is at all perceptive he might see a spark of mischief in those brown eyes of his.]

Somethin' the matter, pal?

[deadthenred]

[ Of course, Bucky doesn't recognize Wade, even though he's heard his voice a few times before. Bucky also wouldn't recognize Ryan Reynolds.

So he just looks up at the approaching bouncer, unsure what to make of that glint in his eye. ]

You try it. [ He gestures at the offending drink. ]

[ishotyouuu]

[Wade arches an incredulous eyebrow at that request.]

Uhh... I'll pass. Pretty sure even a place like this has some rules against drinking on the j-- wait.

[He peers more closely at the proffered drink, picking it up to examine it more carefully before his eyes widen in shock and the beginnings of horror.]

Oh shit. Oh shit.

for mason

[deadthenred]

[ It's past an honest hour when Bucky leaves the bar, taking one can of beer with him, for the road. Cheap stuff. It'd be a lot better if it was cold.

And then Bucky remembers that he could make the can a lot colder, if he wanted to, because apparently he didn't drink enough to forget. Toro used to use his powers all the time, showing off by lighting Bucky's cigarettes with his fingers and that kinda thing. Cheap stuff, again.

Bucky doesn't want powers. Why is he thinking about doing this? Why is he thinking about doing this enough that he doesn't notice the kid hanging suspiciously near the bar this late at night? ]

Re: for mason

[overrate]

[ jason has no problem drinking fast enough to keep things cold, at least. and he's smart enough to leave before he gets wasted. he almost bumps into the guy in front of him, who looks like he's thinking way too hard about... something.

he might be drunk.

guess he'll know if he says something to him. at least he recognizes him, vaguely knows a name in passing from all the times he's stolen beer from the safehouse. so, that's something. ]

Yo, gonna block the exit forever or what?

[deadthenred]

[ Bucky isn't drunk. He has closed that chapter of his life, thanks for asking. ]

You're a little young to—

[ That's what he starts to say, before realizing that he recognizes the kid, through the dingy midnight light. ]

You're Jason.

for daisy

[deadthenred]

[ Bucky shows up to outside Daisy's sparring location with gloves on and a jacket that feels like leather, but isn't. His hair's gotten longer— enough that it falls onto his forehead, not long enough that he can pull it back. He isn't sure if he'll cut it or not. He knows he doesn't really want to be here.

But Daisy's right. It's probably a good idea.

For now, though, he's just gotta figure out how to get in. Should he knock? ]

[evite]

[ he could knock. he doesn't have to, though. her cheap security set-up's not great for much, but the proximity alert comes in handy on occasion, and today, it lets her know she needs to get off her ass and open the door. ]

Nice jacket.

[ her hair is growing back, but it's still short and choppy, so she's sporting a wig that's nice enough it's hard to tell it's a wig and a hat that hides most of the evidence. if you didn't know her head had been shaved clean in the last few months, you wouldn't have reason to guess. ]

Come on in. I wasn't sure where you were at, practice wise, so I didn't set anything up.

[deadthenred]

[ #lottieapproved ]

I'm not sure where I'm at, either.

[ He stuffs his hands into his pockets as he walks through the threshold, used to keeping himself to himself. ]

I really don't need powers, you know.

[ One last time, for the record. ]