[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

[desperate_times]

Well, try to keep your chin up. A person's past doesn't make their future.

[She winks at him.]

We've all got things we'd rather forget.

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[He does his one-shoulder shrug and shakes his head.]

But not everything.

[desperate_times]

Awwww. Don't look so glum.

You'll get it back. With all the monarchs and magic, more is possible here than a lot of places.

[wipedclean]

["Don't look so glum?" Wow, that's easy for her to say.

...she's trying to help. Probably. He sighs and nods.]

[desperate_times]

[Yeah it's easy for her to say! She's not the icicle assassin. She means well, though. Sometimes meaning well also means poking fun at you a bit. That's just her way.]

So what are you going to do now? Catch up on old times? [She images he and Steve could talk about quite a lot.]

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[He frowns.]

Would if I could remember them.

[desperate_times]

I meant more like he would catch you up on old times.

[wipedclean]

[Oh.]

I guess.

[desperate_times]

We're going to keep working on your social skills.

[wipedclean]

[He sighs. If "working on social skills" means doing more things like this post... well. He's not looking forward to that.]

Fine.

[desperate_times]

Oh! I nearly forgot.

Did you ask about the...

[Her voice lowers to a whisper.]

Cupcake?

[He's going to hang up on her again, isn't he.]

[wipedclean]

[He raises his eyebrows and rolls his eyes a little.]

No.

[Not yet.]

[desperate_times]

Oh. Waiting for the right time?

Got it. Good thinking.

[wipedclean]

[Oh for...]

Is there anything else?

[desperate_times]

Not right now, gorgeous, but I'll let you know if I think of anything.

[wipedclean]

[He almost wants to ask about why she keeps calling him that, but he decides he'd rather not know right now and just takes the end of the conversation when it's offered.]

Okay.

[And he hangs up.]