[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

[boutant]

He's probably being an idiot.

[ Matter-of-fact. ]

[wipedclean]

[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.

[wipedclean]

[...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.]

[wipedclean]

[...he knows that face. He knows that goddamn face.]

And going alone is a worse plan.

[If Steve's going anywhere, he's going with him.]

[starspangled]

Funny, I think I've heard that before.

[And Bucky's the one who told him. The familiarity is bittersweet, because right now he wouldn't dream of asking Bucky to come with him, couldn't allow it. Everything is still too uncertain to risk it.

Steve sighs.]

I wonder if Yukari saw anything.

[wipedclean]

[Steve might not dream of asking, but that doesn't mean he won't follow anyway.

And since pursuing a line of questioning isn't going out guns blazing, he doesn't mind the comment.]

She might have.

not here.

[snipers]

[ well....... ]

[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?

[starspangled]

This guy - this thing is still out there.

[And that just doesn't sit well with him. And while having a plan is great, he's certainly not above going into a fight without one, especially when it's solo.

Except that it's not entirely, not when Ariadne, Bucky, and anyone else in the house could get caught in the crossfire. Steve takes a deep breath. He's still itching to get out there, but at least he's not rushing out half-cocked.]

I'll wait until you get back.

[boutant]

Again. We don't know if the two are related.

[ She sighs again, runs a hand through her hair. ]

I mean, I'm guessing they are, at least indirectly. But I don't know if the spirit roaming the forests is under his control, and if it isn't, then I'd rather deal with it without getting entangled with him. Does that at least make sense?

[starspangled]

It does. But if he's trying to take over the forest, he's gonna have to be dealt with eventually. And the more time you give him, the worse it could get.

[boutant]

Running in shouting isn't going to help anything either.