tushanshu | 001. video;

( A sleepy Steph starts up the video, yawning a little before she takes her thumb off the camera to reveal herself. She's not messy or sloppy or anything like that, just yawning. Her voice is very matter-of-fact and she nods occasionally as she speaks to confirm how right her point is. )

Y'know I think this place needs to give newbies a warmer welcome. Hotels give you like coffee and maybe a fruit basket? We need that, waiting in our suite for us. Maybe with a cute message card saying something like, "Welcome to our city, and oh, remember you're stuck here! Have a mocha on us!" It's common courtesy to give folks some kind of compensation.

( She pauses. She's forgetting something, isn't she... Oh, right! )

Oh yeah, I'm Stephanie. Or Steph. Probably not Stephie. ( Bad memories associated with that one. ) Aaaand I really want a mocha. That actually sounds really good right now. Nice to meet you and especially nice to meet you if you know about a Turtlebucks close to the Wood Sector.

( Confirm her secret identity in this place as an ordinary and hilarious college student? Check. She honestly is seriously thinking about her situation, but for now she doesn't want that to show through as Stephanie Brown. Gotta be safe and all. )

I think that's everything? Laters.

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( Her expression turns stern, tired. She's not upset, just beginning to become upset. Possibly. )

I don't know if you intended it, but what you just said sounds like you wish to use an opportunity like that specifically in order to see someone unclothed. And that you've done so before.

I guess you could be saying that this kind of accident has happened before, just coincidentally. And maybe, you're flirting and think I think it'd be hot if you walked in on me naked.

In any case, I wouldn't.

[Bucky's mouth twists a little, and he rubs the back of his neck.]

It wasn't on purpose, and it wasn't with you. But there'd been a misunderstanding, and when I showed up at a friend's suite when she'd told me to, well. She thought it'd been for the next day. She was swimming in her pool. Uh... unclothed.

Good as that occasion turned out to be, I really don't think that's something just anyone would like to find herself in.

[That much is true.]

[Though he did say underdressed. Just a reminder that... strangers showing up at random times might not be what she wants.]

So, you're warning me then?

( She wants to shrug it off, to smile again and continue flirting. But she remains colder than normal, an almost scolding tone to her voice. )

If that's it, don't worry. I'm very used to friends coming in without knocking, and I've never really found myself under-prepared.

( That's all she had thought about when she made the comment. Bruce or Tim or someone showing up without RSVPing, but instead of a secret meeting, or a call to duty, it'd just be a date for coffee. And presumably even when you surprise someone, a normal person knocks, or calls and says, "Hey, guess what?" or something like that. )

My concern is that when I make a cute suggestion about a happy coffee-related surprise in my day, your first thoughts are me in a compromising situation.

[Bucky blinks, slightly. Then he looks down.]

You're right. I'm sorry.

[He's not in a good place. Apparently, that means his usual cheerful social skills have taken a shot... but that's no excuse.]

It's fine. ( It's not fine since this kind of thought process leads to- ) Just think about what you say to people, I guess.

( She purses her lips. )

Cause your words are an indicator of what you're thinking, right? And what kind of person you are? And I'm sure you're a nice guy, so you don't wanna give off the wrong impression, right?

I think it's more... a momentary state of what I'm thinking. Not the usual one.

And I don't mean the catching people in underthings - I mean missing people who've been here and thinking of what's happened while they've been around. Not that it's any excuse.

[Deep breath.]

If I promise to try and do better. Can we still do coffee?

( A beat and she finally smiles once again. )

If you pay.

Also, I'm sure one of these coffee places is also a breakfast place so I want to go to one of those. And I want waffles with a buttload of whipped cream and strawberries and a huge plate of bacon and maybe some hash browns... Along with my coffee, of course.

[Beat. As he takes that in. And then he throws his head back and laughs.]

The only problem with that is the local substitute for bacon. It's... still fish. The rest are almost okay.

( Steph sticks her tongue out. )

Blech. I'll manage without it, I guess. Also, I'm not joking just so you know. You're paying.

Yes, ma'am, I'm payin'!

[And he only briefly thinks, do you know how long it took you and a few others to make me not automatically pay for every meal I share with a dame, now that I have the money to do so? because... that was then. This is now.]

And you get the full treatment. But mostly, the best coffee.

It better be the best coffee I've ever had. Or I'm making you eat the fish bacon. ( Steph laughs. )

Best coffee on the turtle. But I'll survive the fish bacon, since you didn't add that bit.

You are a brave soul. Oh, totally forgot, when exactly is this breakfast extravaganza happening? Like what works best for you- ( Sudden realization and her eyes go wide ) Crap, I just realized I don't even know your name. Oh my god, I'm sorry, I didn't even- Wow.

... my bad. See? Still stuck on past stuff.

Name's Bucky. Sergeant Bucky Barnes, for the most curious.

[Except for one person who's possibly not curious, but chances are that person won't take it well, anyway, so - encryption.]

Good to see you, Steph.

[Not 'good to have you here'. All things considered, it's probably not... not for her, anyway. But it's good to see her again, anyway.]

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