video;

[extramural]

[ There are two brown puppies eating a Christmas pudding off the floor when the camera activates, little tails wagging as they trip over paws that they have yet to grow into. Their muzzles are oddly long even now, but they're not quite as bulky as they will be -- not yet.

A quiet chuckle from behind the locket reveals, to those who may have heard it, the surprising owner of the pups -- the Outsider. The smaller of the pups looks up from the pudding at the sound and scampers over, whining and pawing at his legs until the Outsider bends down to scoop the little one up. The locket, which is floating in midair via magic, is pushed back -- just in time for any viewers to watch as the pup attempts to burrow into the Outsider's shirt. ]

You are unlike others of your kind, little one, [ the god murmurs, smoothing a hand over floppy brown ears. The other pup is still eating the pudding, though at this point it looks more like she's getting in a fight with it. ]

In my world, Wolfhounds are kept and trained by Overseers of the Abbey to hunt heretics. That I should now have a pair myself is rather ironic and more than a little amusing. But then, they are terribly intelligent creatures.

[ The small pup licks at his chin and he starts, blinking. The locket turns off just as his mouth twists up until a slight smile. ]

Comments

[wipedclean]

[His eyebrows raise, and he shrugs with his one working shoulder. The cat doesn't seem to mind, shifting with the weight and settling back down when he's stilled.]

Things change.

[extramural]

They do, [ he agrees, even as he reaches to stroke the pup in his shirt again. ] I did not, for instance, have dogs an hour ago.

[ Outsider you're the least helpful. ]

The cat on your shoulder seems rather interested in them.

[wipedclean]

[Oh, he feels like he should provide something too.]

I didn't always have a metal arm.

[He looks at the cat, who looks back at him and meows.]

I guess he is.

[extramural]

It looks well built.

[ You know. For a science thing. ]

Does it work here?

[wipedclean]

[He scowls.]

No. It's useless. Dead weight.

[extramural]

Unfortunate. Perhaps someone can enchant it for you.

Is it prosthetic only, or does it have additional functions?

[wipedclean]

Perhaps.

[He echoes it with a bit of a sigh. He should get on top of that.]

Mostly prosthetic. But it's stronger, more powerful. Bulletproof.

[extramural]

Useful, then, I imagine -- when it's working.

[ The second puppy has decided that she would also like some attention and comes up, pawing at his legs like the first had. He scoops her up, too. ]

Can you swim with it, when it is functioning?

[wipedclean]

Yes.

Don't do it much though.

[He doesn't usually have swim on his missions.]

[extramural]

There are many sailors, in my own world, who have lost limbs to the sea. I imagine they would be envious.

[wipedclean]

[He's quiet for a moment, then shakes his head.]

They shouldn't be.

[extramural]

No?

[wipedclean]

No.

They didn't give it to me out of charity.

[extramural]

And who are 'they'?

[wipedclean]

[He's quiet for a moment.]

The people who gave me the arm and took away my memories and brainwashed me and made me into an assassin.

[extramural]

That sounds like quite the story.

[ Though he supposes Bucky doesn't remember it, if they took his memories and brainwashed him. ]

[wipedclean]

It probably is.

[He doesn't remember enough of it to tell it, nor would he want to.]

[extramural]

Why not simply hire an assassin?

[ economics!! ]

[wipedclean]

Because I'm better.

[He hates it, but it's true.]

[extramural]

Than every possible assassin?

[wipedclean]

[Well. He has to think about that one. He hasn't gone up against every assassin in the world--or at least, even if he has, he can't remember.

And the man did say every possible assassin, so... he shrugs his one-shoulder shrug.]

I don't know.

[He can't even say he's never been beaten, because he can't remember that either.]

[extramural]

In your world, perhaps. In this one, or if you consider all others... that is much harder to know.

[ He knows a few assassins himself, has Marked one and gifted him with powers that few others have. Magic is free here, especially among the Unseelie; it's hard even for the Outsider to know how Daud might fare against others. ]

Do you use magic at all?

[wipedclean]

[He shakes his head.]

Didn't need to.

[He's not entirely sure why he's still talking to the man, except that there's no real reason not to, and Steve thinks conversations are good for him, so.]

They already made me stronger and faster than nearly everyone.

And it's uncommon.

[extramural]

[ You're already Interesting, Bucky. Even if you hang up now... he'll remember you. ]

Nearly everyone in your own world, at least. It is likely different, here.

[ A pause, and- ]

It is different for me, here.

[wipedclean]

[Gold star for Bucky!]

Probably. But I haven't been here long.

[Well... now he's interested.]

How is it different for you?