001; video

[readytocomply]

[It had been the right thing to do. For everyone. He wasn't safe, couldn't trust himself, and while he hadn't wanted to do it, it had been the only choice. But he's been in and out of cryostasis enough to know when coming out this time isn't the same. It's not the same room. The same doctors. The cityscape outside is far from what he'd last seen. It's not just that that's off - it's how he wakes up. Relaxed, naturally, like he'd slept the whole night through, and there's nothing normal about that.

The telepathic earplugs don't bother him. The signing up to be a Legionnaire doesn't bother him. Not knowing where his best friend or anyone else is does. So when he's cleared by the medical team he uses the network to find answers. Bucky's face is half-hidden when the feed starts, voice low, and he wouldn't be doing this if it wasn't necessary.

He was on shaky ground and he needed something to steady him.]

Name's Bucky. I'm looking for someone. Steve Rogers.

[It's risky to put it out there like that. He doesn't know these people and he's been alive long enough to know that even the brightest smiles can be hiding the worst secrets. But he needs to find someone he remembers. Everything is muddled and this place looks like something his mind has made up.]

He might go by Captain America.

[Just in case he's alone here, he adds a little more.]

If someone could tell me what the hell's going on here, I'd appreciate it.

[There's a brief pause.]

I don't wanna talk in person. Here's fine.

[ooc: Bucky's new and sworn in - he may change his mind about that later. He tends to swap to text at random.]

Comments

[unrecovered]

[Okay but why turn on video if you're going to basically hide from the feed? Someone does not look like they're doing okay.]

He's around, but Peter pretty much hit the nail on the head - between alternate dimensions and timeline bullshit, it's probably better to talk to him before you assume he's the one you know.

As for what's going on, did you get the briefing?

[Sure, this place is insane, but that doesn't mean Wash wants to explain the same thing twice.]

[readytocomply]

Where around?
You say he's not my Steve but he's still Steve. I want to see him.

I did but it's a lot to accept from complete strangers.

[unrecovered]

The ship, mostly. Your best bits are his part of the habitat deck or the training deck, or you could always just ping him here.

[If this entire callout post hasn't already. "Will Captain America please report to the observation deck; your party is waiting for you."]

[As for the "what the fuck is that briefing" response, he just shrugs.]

Yeah, it is, but you get used to it after a while. Any questions about anything in particular?

private

[readytocomply]

If he wants to see me, he'll find me.

[Bucky gets the feeling that maybe this Steve isn't his friend or doesn't like him. It's hard to imagine a universe where they aren't close but he won't push anyone to be around him who doesn't want to be.]

Will they try to make me kill anyone?

Permafilter

[unrecovered]

True, but it would probably help if he knew you were here. Unless you think he's the type to scour the records every day in case one of his friends shows up, you need to be the one to take the initiative.

[Says the person who does take a look at the records every day, given the Time Trapper's propensity towards grabbing people from his dimension.]

[Also Jesus fucking Christ that's one hell of an opener. Bucky might as well have damaged tattooed across his forehead for how obvious that question makes it.]

No. Lethal force is a last resort here, to the point where if you do kill someone on a mission, there's a full-on criminal investigation to make sure that it really was a last resort and you didn't just do it because it's easy or for funsies. The higher-ups don't want any of us killing, so they're definitely not going to make you do it.

[And the fact that that's his first concern is a little worrying.]

[readytocomply]

No, but what everyone has told me doesn't make me think I should reach out.

[He will. He won't be able to help himself.]

That's what they say. What they tell everyone. Has there ever been a situation where that's not the case?

[Bucky won't do it. He'll find a way out and lay low until forever if it is.]

[unrecovered]

I don't know him or you well enough to give you advice on that one.

[He meddles, sure, but not when he's going in completely blind.]

I've been here for eight months, and in that time, there's only been one mission that's required a kill shot. According to mission record, and given what I know of the Legionnaire in question, it was taken by someone who was both willing and able to do it.

[It's a bit of an assumption on his part, but given Widowmaker's everything, he's fairly certain that said assumption is well-founded.]

Aside from that, there haven't been any kills on missions, and there definitely haven't been any cases of a commanding officer forcing another Legionnaire to kill.

I know that doesn't mean much coming from a stranger, but I spent a few years of my life getting jerked around by a military organization that turned out to be corrupt. I tend to keep my ear to the ground for this sort of thing.