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

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?

[deadthenred]

The more private, the better, probably. [ Or maybe that's the dishes talking. ] I don't need a bunch of questions.

[ None of them do, probably. He couldn't really hide his left arm when he first got dragged to the safehouse, so he doesn't bother. It'd be nice to have another place where he didn't need to wear gloves all the time. ]

[unlucky7]

[Ginia holds up a finger and begins to look through some of the listings for open apartments. She's quiet for a few minutes, expression drawn as she focuses. Finally, she throws a few overlays out into the public space so he can look at them.

One is a fairly minimal private room with shared common areas for the bathrooms and kitchen, though there's on-site cleaning. Three others are various studios or one bedroom apartments, in the lower end of price and space.]

I'm not sure what your money situation is so I skewed for a lower end.

[deadthenred]

Thanks. It's a start.

[ It's a start, anyway. He'll have some money when he auctions off the artifact took from Everest. Probably enough for a few months rent, if his ambitions are modest enough. ]

I haven't seen you around the safehouse.

[ He says that mildly, even-keel. But if she's listening close, it's also an admission that he's been looking. ]

[unlucky7]

I moved out awhile ago.

[Ginia signs with a smile, hands even. She picks up the hint and, strangely, it bothers her less than it should. Maybe it's the fact he let her leave without a fuss. Maybe it's because reporting her to the police brings as much trouble onto him.]

I don't think we've met before. I'm Angela.

[She lies without missing a beat. Her smile doesn't change. Ginia knows she stands out too much between her signing and her height, but if anyone is going to bring up that night, it won't be her.]

[deadthenred]

[ So that's how this is going to go, huh? Honestly, it never occurred to him to report her. Maybe that's because of his own lifetimes spent with masks, or maybe he's just not a snitch.

He grabs a nearby dishtowel and dries his hands. ]

Bucky Barnes.

[ He offers her his left hand, to shake. Normally he wears gloves, but not when he's scrubbing dishes. But even without gloves, there's no danger of triggering the empathy bond with his left hand. ]

[unlucky7]

[Ginia's opinion on the empathy bond swings more into neutral indifference than negative these days, but she still recognizes most people don't like it. Can't blame them. It's a deeply personal and invasive thing, especially when unexpected. She returns the handshake, noting with light curiosity the metal hand, though not remarking on it.]

Do you prefer Bucky or Barnes?

[deadthenred]

[ Bucky's thoughts on hand holding are that no one deserves to feel what he does, so. ]

Don't care much. [ It's more about what other people want to call him, what they're comfortable with, or so he figures. ] My Christian name is James, but no one ever bothers with that.

[ But it is his name on the network, so he feels he oughta mention. He isn't trying to hide. ]

[unlucky7]

Barnes then.

[First name, last name, Ginia rolls with it all the same. Going with a first name isn't overly familiar with her as it might be for others. She's not sure she could call someone Bucky without cracking a smile each time though. No fault to him though.]

Been here long?

[She's pretty sure he didn't show up in her cycle, would have been hard to miss. There have been a few more since then though. Or maybe he's been around longer and moved back in.]

[deadthenred]

[ Bucky is a perfectly cromulent name. ]

No. I was with the group before this last one.

[ That's probably the easiest way to keep track, until enough groups come and go by that loses count. He hasn't, yet. ]

You must've gotten here before me.

[unlucky7]

Beginning of February, dreadful masquerade party.

[Ginia pulls a bit of a sour expression. Even with all the time since her arrival, there's still a degree of bitterness around the method and timing. Personally, she wouldn't have minded a hoodie instead of a ball gown.]

Guess that means I have seniority over you.

[deadthenred]

[ Yeah, fancy dress parties aren't really his thing, either. Masks, though… ]

I didn't realize there was a chain of command.