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[shapedthecentury]

[ Someone doesn't know they've been here before. This is all new, and more than a little unnerving, but being in another fight for survival isn't the part he doesn't understand. That, he can go along with.

There are other questions. ]

So the docs here fixed us all up when we arrived. Anyone happen to know how thorough they are?

[ Could be relevant later. Depends on where that damn book's gotten to, if it even exists in this world. Still a pretty significant risk to the team, if unaccounted for, so first thing's first.

And second things second. He straightens, pausing slightly like he's remembering how to go about this. ]

And, uh. My name's Bucky Barnes. Guessing some of you probably heard of me already.

[ Probably not in the best of lights, or that's what that suddenly grim look on his face seems to convey. He's seen the roster, after all. At least two people on there aren't likely to be his biggest fans. ]

Comments

[walkingballpit]

Whose is? I’d need a secretary and a pair of gumshoes to keep track of mine.

[ Robbie doesn’t think anything of the humor. Everyone’s gotta banter. If you don’t have a sense of humor, you’ve got nothing. ]

Remember, reputation only, and all of it’s stuff I heard about after, when they were catching me up. But I think you’re a decent guy, maybe a little hard-nosed. Avenger…ish? I don’t know – you might want to ask Vance if it’s important to you. He might know know you. For me, anybody who’s willing to step in Steve Rogers' shoes is OK.

[ Robbie suddenly stops and looks off, trying to remember. ]

Actually, I’ve got no idea what you’ve been up to the past year or two.

[shapedthecentury]

[ Wait. Something about this isn't connecting.

His eyes squint into the camera. ]

What do you mean, 'step into his shoes'?

[ See, he mentions Captain America, and no matter the version? Bucky's gonna assume that's Steve. That's always been Steve. Who else would it be?

But the way Robbie's talking... ]

[walkingballpit]

He was temporarily... deceased. Or presumed deceased. I'm not the one to ask, I was in a secret military base in a mountain and, wow, I never thought I'd get to use that as a flippant excuse.

He got better, it's fine.

[shapedthecentury]

...the Hell's that supposed to mean?

[ 'Temporarily' deceased isn't a thing. You die, you die. Presumed deceased is another thing entirely. They've both gone through that, in their own ways. ]

[walkingballpit]

I know he got shot, and I know something went wonky where everyone thought he died but he didn't.

I have seen him since then. 100% alive. I swear.

[shapedthecentury]

[ Okay. Okay, that's something, and the tension that had been creeping up and tightening the edges of his face starts to relax again, a breath released. One hand lifts to rub against his face. ]

Christ.

[ Dead Steve is the last thing he needs on his soul right now. But slowly the rest is coming together. If Steve was gone, Cap 2.0... ]

So you're saying this other me, he was Captain America for a while?

[walkingballpit]

Yeeash.

[ Robbie looks sheepish and sorry. His brain finally caught up to his mouth. Every kid in his universe has read the comics about Captain America and Bucky Barnes. He just told the guy his bff had died. Temporary or not, he’s a dick. ]

And, yeah. That you got to play Captain America for real. Shield and everything.

[ Robbie salutes, smartass that he is. ]

[shapedthecentury]

...maybe other me did something right, then.

[ Now that smile turns self-deprecating. Maybe even a little pained. Maybe, if things had turned out differently, he'd have felt like taking up Steve's mantle in his absence was the right thing to do. Something he'd have wanted.

But hands as bloody as his shouldn't be carrying that shield. ]

Somehow, I don't think people would be so happy to see that, back home.

[walkingballpit]

Maybe you did something right, too. You can't please everyone.

[ It's said more like a platitude than personal advice. He doesn't know Bucky or who "people" are in this case. ]

It's not a great idea to read the papers about yourself either, especially polls and op eds.

[shapedthecentury]

Yeah, well. I have to keep up on who's looking for me, somehow.

[ It is definitely a platitude, but. You know, it's not the worst thing ever. It's the most anyone's tried outside of maybe Steve, so...

It's something, not being hated or feared on being recognized. ]

[walkingballpit]

Who'd want to find your old mug?

[ It's teasing, because Robbie's knowledgeable enough to know how old Cap and Bucky should be (as in, dead by now). But he's also naturally curious at hearing that. It sets off his Spidey sense, as it were. ]

[shapedthecentury]

People who know what I can do.

[ And what he's done. Something he's not going to air out so easily. ]

Or maybe just people with a thing for antiques.

[walkingballpit]

People you've pissed off, you mean.

[ Can't kid a kidder. Although, Robbie thinks they're talking more about villains and knaves. ]

My mom has a demilune that you would go great with, if you ever want to be a birthday present.

[shapedthecentury]

Not just them, no. But that's a start.

[ And he snorts softly. Been a while since he charmed anyone's mother, but... ]

Be careful what you wish for.

[walkingballpit]

[ Hrm. Enh, he's not going to prod the guy who is obviously landing fresh off Some Shit. The mental health question is basically like the Las Vegas of "You Guys Would Not Believe What Happened" signs. ]

You be careful. I am well aware of what my mother's like. And head out of the gutter.

[shapedthecentury]

Don't worry. I think my days of being handed out like a gift are behind me.

[ Telling in its own way, but not too much. And still vaguely teasing in tone. ]

[walkingballpit]

[ It's jokey, but... there's something missing. It's not really where Robbie would go with a setup like that. ]

Yeah, I'm getting this whole 'I don't do bows or bow ties' vibe.

[ He shrugs. ]

Anything else I can help you with, B- is Bucky or Barnes?

[shapedthecentury]

[ He gets to pick, doesn't he. Who he is. Sergeant Barnes, the Winter Soldier, or... ]

Bucky.

[ He nods in affirmation, smiling tightly. Doesn't quite reach his eyes, but it's genuine. ]

[walkingballpit]

[ He does indeed get to pick. Robbie is insistent on things like that, and he almost had a meltdown to get Beeny to not call him Baldwin. ]

Nice to meet you, Bucky. If you haven't figured out the comms yet, I'm Robbie. Rob's good too, or Speedball if it's a mission.

[shapedthecentury]

[ That smile ticks a little wider, and he nods. ]

Nice to meet you, Robbie. Where you from?

[walkingballpit]

Connecticut.

[ Robbie holds up an index finger and ticks it to one side. ]

I don't want to hear any jokes about the armpit of New England. I moved to Greenwich Village when I was 16.

[shapedthecentury]

Nah. I figured I'd save those for at least a couple of weeks in.

[ This is fine. This is...easy, actually. Funny how that works, old mannerisms resurfacing when he doesn't have to run for his life.

Steve'd be proud, he thinks. ]

[walkingballpit]

[ Without thinking about it, Robbie is aware what they're doing, here, because he's doing it too. He said a little too much about the bad stuff, and now he has to bury it under a trash pile of humor. ]

Ooo, something to look forward too. You can do your Milton Berle impression.

[shapedthecentury]

That was a trip. Finding all that stuff was out there.

[ On the run, he'd had time to browse the internet, to catch up. And not everything's been forgotten. His life is now 'vintage' and even trendy, in the right circles. ]

Fibber McGee and Molly on digital streaming. Used to joke about that sort of thing back in the day.

[walkingballpit]

You used to joke about it how?

[ Robbie's genuinely curious. He would have thought the idea of streaming would've been inconceivable back then. Even reruns. ]

Wait - was that a show? My great-aunt Sally used to call me Fibber McGee.