[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;

[wipedclean]

[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?

video;

[desperate_times]

Bucky? Really?

I wouldn't have guessed.

[He didn't have a name when they last spoke, and now the one he has is so... well, it doesn't really match the exterior.]

[wipedclean]

[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.

video;

[wipedclean]

[He does his one-shouldered shrug.]

James Buchanan Barnes.

Bucky.

[It feels unfamiliar in his mouth. He's still not sure he likes it.]

video;

[desperate_times]

James is a handsome name.

Bucky is... cute.

[She's not sure cute fits him, but maybe sometimes when he's got that lost look on his face.]

But you say both of them like they taste funny. Are you not convinced it's who you are?

action

[starspangled]

[BELIEVE IN CAPTAIN AMERICA WHO BELIEVES IN YOU.

Steve's just leaning in the doorway, wondering how many times Bucky wanted to just do things for him when he was skinnier, sicker. Because that's how he's feeling right now.]

visual;

[snipers]

[ so people come back — and apparently there's a chance they won't remember. yukari's logging that information away for later in case she'll need it. ]

Hey, I'd say you did a pretty good job, Bucky. [ she offers him a smile. ] Looking to make friends?

[wipedclean]

It's who I was.

[But there's such a disconnect from who he is and who he was that he's still not sure he can bridge the gap.]

action

[wipedclean]

[He sits silently for a moment, taking deep breaths. Finally he looks up at Steve.]

Was that enough?

[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.

visual;

[wipedclean]

[It's her again. He tilts his head at her question.]

I suppose.

[wipedclean]

[He nods, but then his brow furrows.]

Steve said he can't stay long.

[boutant]

[ Now she frowns. ]

Did he say why?

[wipedclean]

No.

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

[desperate_times]

Are you trying to be who you were, again?

[wipedclean]

[He's quiet for a long moment, looking away. Because that's a question he's been asking himself a lot. There's a bigger problem in the way of that though.]

I'm trying to remember.

[boutant]

He's probably being an idiot.

[ Matter-of-fact. ]

action

[starspangled]

It was fine.

[He smiles at him before coming into the room to sit down.]

More importantly, how's it feel?

[wipedclean]

[He snorts.]

Probably.

[Steve being an idiot is definitely familiar.]

[desperate_times]

Did you find Steve? Could he jog your memory?

[That was the only person Bucky knew here, so that's probably Bucky's best bet.]

[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. ]

[wipedclean]

[He thinks about it, but there's not a word that comes to mind that describes how he feels kind of simultaneously like he's maybe taken a step but also done something incredibly wrong.]

I don't know.

[He's supposed to be a ghost. And he's just done the complete opposite of that.]

[wipedclean]

Yes.

[To both, but he realizes that's unclear.]

He... yes. He helps.