[Video | Open to Both Courts]

[wipedclean]

[He looks slightly nervous. He still... doesn't do this talking thing well, and he doesn't really see the point of introducing himself to everyone. Making himself known to the entire network... showing his face on a recorded device... he's not supposed to, and it's just a bad idea for an assassin but...

But Steve said he should, so... well. He is.]

...hello.

[He swallows, his gaze flickering off to the side, where, unseen to the camera, Steve is nodding and giving him a thumbs up.]

I'm... Bucky.

[He hesitates when he says it, because... it's the first time he's said it. That he can remember.]

I was told I've been here before, but I don't remember.

[He frowns.]

So I'm sorry. If you knew me before. I don't remember you.

[He glances over to the side again, shifts, shakes his head. He's done, he doesn't want to do this anymore.]

That's it.

Comments

video;

[boutant]

[ He doesn't remember. That's fine. She can do this -- she doesn't know all the details but she knows enough, and her smile is gentle, kind. ]

Hi Bucky. I'm Ariadne. I knew you when you were here last, but it's fine that you don't remember. That happens sometimes here.

video;

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[Oh that's Ariadne. He blinks.]

Steve told me about you.

[A little. Not a lot.]

We're at your house.

video;

[boutant]

Right. [ Good to know they're still there; she should be back soon. ]

You hadn't been there before -- how do you like it?

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[He nods.]

It's fine.

[...that's probably not enough is it. It's a house, what's he supposed to say about it?]

It's... comfortable.

[boutant]

Good.

[ She means it, too.

Also, 'safe' works, Bucky. ]

You can stay for as long as you'd like. I'll be back- soon, or I should be back soon, but it's not like I don't have the space.

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[He nods, but then his brow furrows.]

Steve said he can't stay long.

[boutant]

[ Now she frowns. ]

Did he say why?

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No.

[And he said it like he expects him to stay there when he leaves, which is definitely not happening.]

[boutant]

He's probably being an idiot.

[ Matter-of-fact. ]

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[He snorts.]

Probably.

[Steve being an idiot is definitely familiar.]

[boutant]

If it's about his court allegiance [ the most long-suffering sigh ] then tell him to shove it.

[ Or, you know, if he's eavesdropping. ]

[starspangled]

It's not like that.

[And he wasn't eavesdropping. He just has really good hearing. The serum...eardrums...something.]

I just don't want to risk bringing any trouble to your doorstep. You know that.

[boutant]

And what happens if trouble shows up at my doorstep and you're not there?

[ she's js. ]

[starspangled]

[Well that is a good question. Steve's immediately frowning.]

Has someone been giving you trouble?

[Is it that lacrosse guy?]

[boutant]

The forest has gotten- worse, [ she admits, frowning as well. ]

[starspangled]

[Well that doesn't sound good.]

I'll suit up, take a look around. Anything specific that I should be on the lookout for?

[boutant]

No.

[ She practically blurts the word out, sharp and panicked. ]

It's- spirits. There's someone there who wants to take the forest for himself and I don't know if it's him and his or if it's the forest reacting to it, but it's- Steve, he just gets back up if you rip him apart.

And if it is just the forest reacting to him, then it might try to lash out at the manor. You can help there. [ Where it's safer. ]

[starspangled]

[You know who else gets back up? Steve Rogers. And he's not liking the sound of this one bit.]

Ari, there are people who travel through that forest - Bucky met a girl out there, a teenager. But it sounds like whatever's going on will stop with him.

[boutant]

I don't know if he's actually doing it; there are rumors about some angry spirit roaming the forest. And if it is him -- he can crystallize any blood of his that gets on you, Steve. It hurts.

[ ... okay maybe she's just revealed a little too much. Her voice will just get louder, then. ]

Bucky, don't let him go out there. Not until I'm back, at least. Even if you can stand up against him, Steve, you don't know the forest like I do.

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[...Oh he hears that. He straightens in his seat and nods.

From the sounds of things, he doesn't want Steve doing something stupid either.

He won't let him out there.]

I won't.

[boutant]

[ Just like that, she slumps, breathing a genuine sigh of relief. ]

Thank you. [ One hand rubs over her face. ]

[starspangled]

Oh, so you know that much from experience?

[Yeeep, forget the suit, his shield will do just fine for when he shoves it down this guy's throat.

But then she plays the Bucky card. And he looks at him with an arched brow.]

You're kidding me.

[wipedclean]

[He looks right back at him.]

No.

Going out is a bad plan.

[starspangled]

Fine.

[And not a compromise, which is something that he's never been good at. It's not agreement or surrender either.

It's a tight-lipped smile and a 'I still fully intend to do the thing but you've bought yourself some time' sort of thing.]

[boutant]

It was- a very weird day, [ she says, well aware of how lame it sounds and rubbing the back of her neck. ]

Look, going after him? That will definitely bring trouble right to my doorstep. Just- do some research about spirits and getting rid of them or something until I get there, okay?