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]

[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?

[extramural]

[ yaaaay ]

I am- lessened. I cannot see things as I once did; now all choices someone might make are unknown -- though I can often guess based on experience. My magic is weaker, cut off from its source.

[wipedclean]

[Well that's... strange.]

...you were very powerful?

[extramural]

Yes. I am a god, in my own world.

[wipedclean]

Oh.

[That's a very strange thing. He missed out on the whole Thor and Loki fiasco, so he doesn't know much about that, and he's certainly never talked to one before in his life, not face to face.]

What is that like?

[extramural]

[ 'Lonely'. The thought comes unbidden, and the Outsider blinks, surprised at himself. ]

I have seen the events of lifetimes unfold. After a while, you crave for the unexpected.

[wipedclean]

[Yeah that doesn't sound like a position he'd like to be in.]

Do you like it here? Despite being... lessened?

[extramural]

It is more interesting, though perhaps that is because I cannot see as clearly. I certainly speak to more people.

[ So. Yes. Yes, he does like it here. ]

[wipedclean]

Why didn't you speak to more people where you're from?

[There's no doubt he had the ability, so if he wanted to, why didn't he?]

[extramural]

They were boring. Predictable. I could anticipate what almost all of them would say to me, would think and do.

[ Beat. ]

I'm also hunted by the Abbey for existing as a being of magic, and as almost everyone across the Empire follows their teachings...

[ Well. You can follow, he's sure, being an assassin and all. ]

[wipedclean]

[He can follow. It's easy enough.]

They have the means to kill you?