tushanshu | 05 § video;

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05 § video;

[Tony starts out sitting in front of the console. He's a little slow to start up what he wants to say-there's an awkward pause beforehand like he's just sizing them up through the video itself.]

So, I've been busy lately. And I've gotten a little distracted by other things, but-

[Something catches in his throat and cuts him off. Tony clears his throat and tries to look casual and calm. He's distracted and maybe in need of some sleep, with his attention wandering from the feed, but he's not going to drop the flippant tone. Especially not now.]

But apparently there have been some strange disappearances lately, and those people might actually still be around.

[He seems to want to say more, but his heart isn't in it. Maybe he should be offering to try to help those semi-disappeared people. Probably. Unfortunately he can't make himself do that.]

That's not what I want to talk about. I need... [Don't finish that, Stark.]

I need someone who knows how to take care of flowers. Horticulture isn't my thing and I have some and I have to make sure they, they don't die, so if you have any advice, I could use it. That or animal counselors. I'm sure those exist out there somewhere.

[ooc: cw for mentions of child deaths and violent arguing.]

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Me? Why wouldn't I be okay? I'm great. [HE'S FINE, BUCKY. HE IS TOTALLY FINE.]

Okay. Sure. Wanna go grab lunch or somethin'? [He does not believe you but he's also not going to push to talk about things over these.]

[It's probably not a good idea, but he's just thankful that Bucky hasn't decided to start yelling too. With all the people showing up, he wouldn't have been surprised if that had changed between them.]

Sure. Might as well. [He's being selfish, but he can regret that later too.]

[Bucky's got no reason to yell at him. Really, he kind of wants to go find the person yelling at Tony and kick his sorry ass Invaders-style.]

Great, I'll be by in a few then. And then you can tell me who that "I don't know how to use my indoor voice" bozo is.

[There's something really, really ironic in being defended by Bucky over this. Tony isn't sure how he feels about it.

But he likes Bucky, so he shrugs, which is almost like agreement.]

Sure, if you want to. Don't go out of your way for it.

[Well, that's a slightly worrying response. When has Tony Stark ever said that about hanging out?]

I'm coming. We're gonna talk. [Don't you get all morose on him, you're one of his only two friends in this stupid city. But then he clicks off the video and heads out. It won't take him more than fifteen minutes to show up.]

[Talk. That is something he didn't think he'd hear from Bucky. In the past they've sidestepped that quite neatly, but it seems like Tony has crossed the line this time. He's a little concerned about what that means.

When Bucky shows up, he tries to look as normal as he can. Sure, he could use some sleep and he doesn't look as well as he could, but that could just be work wear.]

You miss me that much? Don't tell me you ended up disappearing too.

[No hello. Hellos are for the weak.]

[Yeah, he's kind of barreling into this with no idea of what he's doing, he just knows that Tony is his friend and he doesn't want him to suffer. Or to suffer alone. Whatever. He gives him a pointed look - let's go get lunch.]

Nah, still here, ain't I? I'm hard to get rid of. So who's that jackass givin' you a hard time and where does he live? I'll go kick his sorry teeth in. [Bucky-speak for "I am here for you, friend, and I wish to support you and let you know you are cared for. By punching your enemies in the face."]

[He likes Bucky. Bucky was a decent guy since Tony arrived in Keeliai, and he's been the closest thing (along with Carol and a few other choice names) to a friend Tony has had since waking up there. Part of the appeal is having the familiar face not actually wanting to break his spine, but right now everything in him is screaming that having Bucky over is the wrong thing to do.]

You sure? People don't really seem to stick.

[He shifts his weight uneasily, looking around. They're getting along because he doesn't know Tony yet. And it's only a matter of time now.]

Someone that I got into a disagreement with. That... seems to be a thing for me lately. Don't worry about it.

[Bucky is a perceptive young man. He spent his life reading people for his own survival, knowing what he can get away with and what he can't. Tony is mostly a mystery, but he can sense some of that unease, and it confuses him. If he's being honest with himself, it hurts a bit, when people might not want him around. But he's not the kind of guy to just quietly bow out, not when one of his few friends is involved. Tony was supportive when Bucky had a "disagreement" with Sharon, he's determined to return the favor.]

Maybe not, but they ain't gettin' rid of me. Been here longer than you. [He points out, shoving his hands in his pockets.]

What kinda disagreement? Why the hell are people givin' you a hard time? Who do I gotta punch?

You don't have to punch anyone, Bucky.

[Barnes. James. He almost slips up, and it's almost not on accident, but Tony has come to like Bucky too much. Like him as he is here in the city, and he finds that for once he can't attribute what he knows of the man back home to the face in front of him. He's been doing that. Whether he means to or not, Tony has been judging everyone he knows based on what he knows, and for the first time in a while he just can't think of this Bucky as that one.

He feels bad for trying to.]

They're not... It's complicated. It's not they're fault.

[He should explain. He really should. But the worst thing in the world at that moment would be seeing the betrayed look on his friend's face if he told him the truth. So he doesn't.]

[All the better, because it makes him uncomfortable, when people try to equate him to the him he's supposed to be in the future he can hardly believe he has. Bucky can't imagine someone that different, let alone as himself, because he has no idea what he goes through to get there. He is who he is now, and that's good enough.

He can't help but scowl when Tony says he doesn't have to punch anyone. Maybe he's been wanting a fight lately, to get rid of that itchy restless feeling that comes from staying in one place too long and not seeing action.] Offer's on the table.

How is it not their fault? I just see people yellin' at a perfectly decent guy like he's some kinda scum of the earth, and y'know what? That's shit.

[They really aren't the same person. Tony has a hard time separating what he knows from something new sometimes, but that much he is aware of. Bucky, this Bucky, is his friend.

Tony smiles thinly. How does he explain why they don't like him without losing his friend's trust?]

You don't have to. They aren't the only ones who were upset.

[Granted, a lot of them were apparently over it, but he can't depend on everyone to move at the same speed.]

They have their reasons. To them, I probably do come close to the scum they've dealt with. I made a call a while back that- I'm going to say didn't go as planned. I can't remember what that plan was, but I had one. I kind of deleted it after that. Along with some other memories...

[Wow, this turned out more awkward than he thought it would. Tony clears his throat.]

Yeah. So that's that.

[Bucky frowns as he listens to him, trying to process what he's saying. He's not pissed that he's getting screamed at? There's no way he can deserve this, absolutely no way. He's not sure what to think about Tony having 'deleted' memories, he's not sure if that's possible, but...]

So, they're pissed at you for things you don't even remember? What even happened? If you made a mistake, then why are they so fuckin' riled up over it? Everybody makes bad calls sometimes.

[Tony can see that Bucky's confused at his lack of initiative, but he doesn't want to explain. Explaining means telling his friend the truth, and in this case the truth is very likely going to earn him the hatred of Cap's partner all over again. It's better to play it safe. Try to come up with something else...]

This bad call got people hurt. Good people. That's not necessarily why he's mad, but... He's not exactly wrong. He's an idiot, but his point's still valid.

[He doesn't want to believe the worst of his friend. He doesn't have a whole lot of those, especially here. The Invaders became his family, the closest thing he had to one, and here, the closest thing to family he's got is Toro and Tony and Nita. Maybe it's selfish that he's trying to rationalize things so he doesn't have to lose that.]

He's an idiot, that doesn't make it a valid point. It's- You can't always make the right call. Not even Cap always- [But he doesn't want to talk about that time he and Steve were the only soldiers left alive to walk out of the Black Forest.] You didn't mean to hurt anybody.

[And then they hit a place that was only regret.]

Cap... [He didn't really mean to make Bucky recall anything hard Cap-related. Bucky is the person Steve always wanted to protect. He's Steve's partner and he's going to be Captain America. Hearing that from him reminds Tony of that fact.]

No, I didn't. But it happened. And I don't think what I tried to do matters very much to him and his friends.

[He smiles at Bucky. Almost like there's some secret meaning in what he says next. There is, but it's something Bucky can't know about.] Sometimes I wonder what Cap would do.

Yeah, well, his feelings don't matter to my fist. [He's a young man who is easily riled up, especially when he hasn't had a reason to be riled up in a while. Things are too boring and quiet here, maybe he's jumping at the chance for a fight. Still, if Tony says no... it's his business, ultimately.]

Doesn't matter, does it? No one else can be Cap. Not really. The rest of us just have to do what we can.

[That answer surprises a brief laugh out of Tony, but it sounds hoarse. He's struck at how some things are so similar while being different. Bucky's brash violence is comforting in a way, despite reminding Tony of other things.]

I... I guess you're right. We can't be him. But that doesn't mean I can't try to get a little closer.

[He smiles. It's still strained, but there's real appreciation there.]

Thank you. If I need you to beat the hell out of anyone, I'll be sure to let you know.

[This is the only way he knows how to show friendship, really. By jumping to his defense and offering to punch the offenders. But he thinks Tony gets it, hopefully he does anyway, because he can pick out the little bit of strain still in him and it just makes him want to go hit someone more.]

Nothing wrong with "Tony Stark", world would be pretty boring if we were all just like Steve.

I'm gonna hold you to that. I miss punching out jerks.

[Tony knows Bucky is trying to help. He's being a friend, a better friend than Tony is right now by withholding information from him. Bucky's just trying to help and Tony... Well, Tony's just a selfish bastard. He smiles, resting a hand briefly on Bucky's shoulder as a gesture of thanks and hopefully to convince the younger man that this is all okay.]

We still have time. Maybe one day you'll get your chance.

[He is trying to help, even though it's a fairly awkward attempt. It's not really something he's got much experience with, that and showing affection through any other way but 'offering to punch people for the person'.

Bucky claps him on the shoulder in return.]

I'll get his nose broke before this whole turtle adventure is over.

[Tony appreciates the help. He may not always act like it--Hell, he may not always realize it, but having Bucky actually stand as an advocate for him means more than Tony could ever really tell him.

Getting the much heartier clap on the shoulder surprises him into smiling. Somehow he can't seem to stay upset with Bucky around.]

Okay, just don't bring the authorities to me when things go bad. I don't want to have to be your alibi.

[Mission accomplished. He doesn't look quite so gloomy now, and that's good enough. Apparently his awkward fumbling violent attempts at friendship work on occasion.]

Sure thing. Will you bail me out if I get arrested at least?

Every time. What else are friends for?

[He's very slowly starting to allow himself to say things like that again. It comes out as a joke, of course, but even that he's been conservative about--particularly for any familiar faces. Bucky's brash, unrepentant nature just prompts it out of him.]

You don't have to, though. I'm not that sensitive. Really.

[Or he is, but he doesn't want to acknowledge it. That's just embarrassing.]

05 § video;

video; 45% encrypted

video; 45% encrypted

video; 45% encrypted

video; 45% encrypted

video; 45% encrypted

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