first jive ⚛ video ⚛ open to both courts

[stickseller]

(For those who are online, if you will, the video feed of both courts will flicker on to the picture of a man who looks surprisingly calm all things considered. His hair is neatly combed back and parted, his clothing well put together, and there’s a borderline arrogant smile that plays at his lips. If it had taken him a half dozen times to get the locket to work correctly for him, it didn’t show on his face, but for him it was practically like magic.

It was technology that was still years away from where he was, he had only recently managed to install a telephone in his car (and promptly sold the idea for a handsome profit), but even it had been quite an ordeal, there were a dozen wires, it needed a long and thick antennae to work, and if you weren’t careful it could drain your battery in a heartbeat if you weren’t careful, but it was technology that he felt had promise. Adding the ability to view the person on the other end of the line was something he hadn’t even thought about trying, let alone making it so small and portable. Sure, he had managed to miniaturise a camera lens for a pen, but that was just for still photos. He was intrigued by it, though, a fascinating idea (one he wished he had been the one to come up with), and he didn’t hide his impression. He didn’t dare attempt to pop it open, however, lest he not be able to put it back together. While the imps had been kind to him thus far, he hadn't argued much when he'd been dragged away, he wasn’t sure how well they’d take to him breaking one of the gifts that he had been given.

For the time being he would leave it as it was, but eventually he might ask if someone knew just how they worked. Just for the sake of curiosity.)

So I take it this place doesn’t take too kindly to technology of any kind, huh? Even one as simple as a battery. (He raises his wrist to show the watch on his arm, it had stopped when he had arrived, and though it was currently useless, he couldn’t take it off. He was too used to wearing it and would feel naked without it.) Is there anywhere around here where they sell watches you wind? Or parts so I can convert this one?

(There’s a pause, he takes his hand down again and shrugs his shoulders lightly.)

Anyway. Good morning. My name is Howard Stark, and back home I was an inventor of sorts, so I’m not entirely sure why they’ve brought me here, unless it’s to update this place somehow. My company’s goal was to build a better and brighter tomorrow, and it looks like this place could use a bit of that. It’ll be like going back in time with what I have to work with, but I’m sure I can manage if that’s what’s wanted.

So, tell me a little bit about yourself, mysterious person on the other side of the magical locket. What makes you special?

Unseelie Locked

Who’s in charge of your weapons division? Back home, right before I was brought here, we had a war that ended, and I worked in weapons on the winning side. I can’t imagine that’s a coincidence.

Comments

video

[stickseller]

(Between imps, ancient weaponry, and the lack of basic technology, you'd have thought that seeing a ghost wouldn't catch Howard as off guard as it does. But maybe it was because the "ghost" was on a video, speaking to him that is the issue. If he had seen him gliding through a wall it would be a lot easier to accept than it, him, speaking to him.

They might not have been too close personally, but Howard recognised him instantly. He remembered how much he meant to Steve, too. James Barnes had been one of the Commandos, and Howard had had more to do with that lot than most. Specialised weapons, debriefing, all that.

So forgive him if he stares just a moment, he just needs to pull it together, to get his smile back on, he didn't want anyone else to notice the shock.)

Don't they have hair dressers here, Barnes?

[wipedclean]

[He frowns. That was a joke, wasn't it.]

Probably.

[Not that he'd let anyone, even people he knows, near his head with a sharp object. But he huffs. If the man's going to make a fuss about it...

...he picks up a string and pulls his hair back, tying it back into a ponytail.

And it should be noted that his left arm is very visible, and very metal.

When he's done, he lets out another soft huff.]

Better?

[stickseller]

(Alright, Howard wasn't exactly expecting Barnes to do what he did, but it helps him relax a little, to bark out a laughter. It was just that he remembered loaning him pomade back in the day.

Of course, the relax state is until he notices the arm, he wasn't looking for something like that at first, after all, and his eyes widen again a smidge. But maybe that's not the right thing to bring up right away.)

Not really. (Still joking, grinning, that's good, isn't it.)

It's been a while, sergeant. How've you been? (What happened to you?)

[wipedclean]

[He still doesn't remember him, but... he should keep talking, if only to see if at some point he does.

Still, Howard's attempt at light conversation is not going to go over well, if only because nothing that's happened to him is appropriate for light conversation.]

Not good.

[He hesitates. This is the first time he's had to tell someone who apparently knew him, and will likely know what he's talking about. He doesn't know how to go about doing this. Does he just say it?

Why is communication so hard?]

Hydra had me.

[stickseller]

Oh.

(Well, maybe light conversation wasn't what was going to do the trick here, but it had always been easier for Howard to joke around, even when it came to more serious issues. It was just a lot easier when the person he was pitching to would try to take a swing at the balls.

But then there are three words, three simple little words and they hit him like a freight train (pun unintentional entirely.).

Just give him a moment, there are a lot of things that are going through his mind. A minute, though, maybe two, and:)

We should have looked harder.

(But the snow, the terrain, not knowing exactly where along the path he had fallen. There'd been an attempt to recover the body after the war was over, but obviously it had come out fruitless.)

They give you that arm?

[wipedclean]

[He nods.

It's not the only thing they did to him. But he's not going to go into that, in part because he has no way to explain properly, in part because the conversation hasn't lead there yet, and partly because he just doesn't want to right now.

The arm, though. He can talk about that.]

It didn't work here at first. But I asked, and they made it work.

[stickseller]

(This is worse than awkward pillow talk, and he can't really just run away like he normally would either. Most of the time, though, he doesn't have to deal with this kind of stuff. Conversation usually comes more naturally to him.)

So it's not just for show then, huh? (Smile? give him something, here.)

What does it do?

[wipedclean]

[Sorry Howard, but this isn't the Bucky Barnes you knew. He doesn't smile.

He shrugs.]

It's strong. Fast. Durable.

[stickseller]

(Alas, he'll keep trying. He doesn't have anything to drink, so humour, even bad, is his second escape from dealing with feelings.)

Do you know what it's made out of?

[wipedclean]

No.

[They didn't see fit to let him have that kind of information. But...]

The smith here had to gut it to make it work.

[stickseller]

(Well that is interesting at least? Howard is going to perk up a little.) Do you think he kept what he took out? I'd like to take a look at it. If you don't mind. (Is that an invasion of privacy?)

[wipedclean]

[He shrugs.]

I don't know. You could ask. His name is Gendry Waters.

[stickseller]

I'll have to find him, then.

If they managed to find more vibranium, that's the stuff Steve's shield is made of. That'd be...(interesting? How would he explain that? But they had tried to kill him over it, so he's always curious to if they managed to get it from another source.)

Where are you? (Which court?)

[wipedclean]

Unseelie. A manor in La Llorona. Belongs to Ariadne.

[stickseller]

Oh. Oh! Good. Great, actually. (Hey look, a real smile is going to light up Howard's face now, a little of the worry from earlier fading away, at least for a little bit. That makes things a lot easier.) We're on the same side.

[wipedclean]

[He tilts his head, considering.]

Steve's not.

[Things could be better.]

[stickseller]

(wOW JAMES. wtg. The little brightness he had is gone like a blown out candle.)

Rogers is here?

[wipedclean]

[Wow he's good at that. Sorry.]

Yes. Seelie.

[He scowls a little when he says it because it's just made things even more complicated than they already are.]

[stickseller]

(There's a lot that goes through Howard's mind at that moment. Rogers is alive, (that's almost a bigger shock than Barnes. HYDRA getting ahold of him, it's almost understandable. They never went after the body. They should have. But Steve was at the bottom of an ocean and he was searching for him, he would have known if someone had snuck in under his nose and grabbed him.

But more so just what this whole war means. He hadn't thought that maybe he was on...a less favourable side? How would that be said.)

Oh. That's...interesting.

(Bad interesting. Definitely bad interesting.) Anyone else?

[wipedclean]

[He frowns, then shakes his head.]

No one you know.

[stickseller]

No man by the name Edwin Jarvis? (:c)

I suppose that might be a relief. I kind of wish we had some of the Commandos. They were good guys.

[wipedclean]

[He tilts his head. That name is not familiar to him at all.

And the Commandos... he can't remember them either. Not really. Vague shapes of men in battle, joking and laughing in camp... but their faces aren't at all clear and neither are their names.]

I don't remember.

[stickseller]

(In a way relieving, at least, if James doesn't know him, maybe he's not here. Howard hadn't seen him at the shindig, and he would have thought/hoped his butler would ask for him if he was at the other court.

Ah, well. Howard's head tilts slightly, before giving a gentle nod.)

That's alright. In the past, anyway. Not going to help much in the here and now.

[wipedclean]

[He sighs, shrugging a little.]

Don't remember most things.

[stickseller]

They took your memories?