[He looks ever so slightly bewildered as he follows Martin into the breakroom. Isn't this for staff only? Won't he get into trouble for inviting Bucky in here from his strange grey-eyed boss?
And why does everyone seem to assume he's not eating properly?
Nevertheless, he perches on the edge of one of the chairs and takes a biscuit out of the tin, though he just holds it in his gloved hand rather than eat it yet.]
Uh, I've eaten. I just don't go to the store.
[That's normal behaviour.
He takes the tape out of his pocket and sets it on the table, just in plain view for when Martin stops making tea and turns around.]
Do you have access to a shower or bath? Somewhere safe to sleep? Just looks like things might be a bit rough right now.
I have extra camping equipment. A little one-man tent and thing you can hang up and use as a shower. It's pretty cold, though. You might want to think about somewhere inside...
I have some extra clothes, too. Maybe so you have something to wear when you're washing things.
[Martin busies himself pulling down teas, picking out something he thinks should be soothing.]
[This kindness baffles him. It's not that he hasn't experienced kindness, more in the last few months than in decades, but it's so much.]
I don't have anything to give you for them.
[Nothing is for free.
He does want a tent, though. It would make things a hell of a lot easier, make him more mobile. Even though he can sleep rough, is used to bad conditions, it doesn't mean he actively seeks them out.]
Maybe-- I can work for them.
[He's good at manual labour, it might be nice to have an objective that isn't 'kill someone'.]
[Martin can recognize the need to balance the scales and isn't going to try to put Bucky off of it. If he wants to work for it, he can work.]
I've been wanting to fortify the barricades around the house and maybe at the entrances of a few of the apartment complexes here for the next attack. I could use a hand with that. I can provide the supplies if you're willing to help with getting boards in place.
What would be the easiest way to do that for you? Leave the supplies somewhere nearby and tell you a few places that need fortifying? I don't want to pin you down to a specific time or place.
[Actually, he would, but that probably won't go over as well.]
[It's easier when Martin agrees so readily. Having a set price to pay makes it better, stops him from looking for the hidden costs that might stack up, stops him from feeling indebted. He's grateful, too, that accommodations are being made for his desire not to be tracked, though he is at least self aware enough to realise most people wouldn't need those accommodations.]
Thank you.
[Again. Feels like he's saying that a lot recently.]
Not the apartment complexes. [Steve lives in one of them.] But I can help you fortify your house, I'm good at defences.
[One of the benefits of what he used to do, means he's got a lot of experience with defences.]
[Martin raises a brow and glances over his shoulder at Bucky, but unlike some people in the Archives, he has some measure of tact. Bucky doesn't elaborate, Martin doesn't ask. They don't know each other that well, yet.
He does, however, note the tape on the table, wondering if maybe one of them had been damaged or-
There is a speck of yellow on it from what was once a colored sticker. One that seems to have been mostly ripped off by accident. Martin freezes, his face going scarlet.]
[He feels just a little bad. This man has been nothing but nice to him so far, seemingly without ulterior motive, and now all Bucky has offered him in return is a fake name, some awkward behaviour, and prying into his personal poetry.
It might have been a kindness to pretend he hadn't listened to it, but that ship has sailed. But maybe he can lessen the mortification a little with some reassurance.]
I wouldn't have listened if I knew it was private, sorry.
[Let's stay on the subject of poetry, because he has no idea what kind of tea he likes.]
[This isn't helping Martin's embarrassment. Is the other man just being nice? He's probably just being nice. But hearing someone else likes his poetry... K had liked it, hadn't he? Martin picks a tea at random and gets down some mugs to finish fixing the tea.]
That's really nice of you to say. You don't have to. I-It was stupid. I labeled all of them with stickers. But Big Boy Cat got into my tapes and I didn't find him and I thought I'd got them all sorted out, but- S-sorry.
[Geez. Bucky isn't a particularly emotionally demonstrative person, and all of this blatant embarrassment is making him feel a little awkward. The problem is, he has no idea what to say that will make things better, and what might make things worse.]
Quit apologising.
[It may come out a bit gruff and blunt, but it's mostly kindly meant.]
I said I liked it, and I don't say things I don't mean. Besides, pretty sure poetry is meant to be listened to, ain't that the point of writing it?
[This is maybe the most he's said in one sentence, but he just wants Martin to stop flapping.]
[Martin just manages to cut himself off as he fills the mugs and sets the bags in them. He brings one over to Bucky and sits at the table with his own staring down at it.]
It can be meant to just-just get feelings out. When regular words aren't enough. The ones I've written here aren't really-
[What is this "get feelings out"? But seriously, Bucky hasn't exactly heard of a lot of sensible coping techniques for emotions, so this is a new one for him.
He cups his hands around the mug, the leather of his gloves warming quickly.
Then, in a low voice, he begins to recite this poem word for word, thanks to the eidetic memory the serum gives him. It was this one, Martin.]
[If Bucky had been trying to reduce the mortification, this really isn't the way to do it. Instead, the blush returns full-force, and he thinks it might be nice, really, to be able to fade away into the Lonely now. Maybe forever. Or make this man forget they ever met. Just... just a few things to think about if he had those powers again.
He doesn't, though, which means he sits there and tries not to expire as he hears someone recite his poetry.]
Right. I'm, um... I think I figured out a better payment. Could you dig a hole and bury me alive?
[He genuinely doesn't understand the embarrassment, it's not as though Martin recorded his secrets for Bucky to hear. It was just... poetry. Just words, seemingly not connected to anything that he can see.]
No.
[Well, technically he could absolutely do that. But he's not going to. There's a tiny hint of a smile playing at the corner of his lips, this is possibly the most relaxed interaction he's had. It makes a small piece of who he used to be peek through, a slice of humour even though his voice doesn't alter much to show it.]
Guess I could agree not to broadcast it, but that's my best offer.
Y-yeah. The person that was- um. I'd just rather it not get out. I really am- I should have been more careful about what I was giving you. I'll pay extra close attention to it next time.
[Alright, he's not cruel enough to keep tugging on this string. The smile at his lips slips away again, giving way to his customary neutral expression.]
Yeah. It was really helpful, thank you.
[It made about as much sense as information from a dreaming world could.]
You're not gonna get into trouble for giving it to me, are you? Your boss didn't seem pleased someone was looking for you.
[The number of people Martin knows well enough for them to claim they're his boss is vanishingly small.]
Wait. Was he short with dark skin and little pockmark scars everywhere? [There's fond exasperation in his tone.] If he was, that's not my boss, he's my boyfriend. He can get protective.
[Also, what sort of boyfriend would pretend to be someone's boss? That doesn't seem entirely healthy.]
He looked middle aged, maybe. Light skin, grey eyes. He looked at me like--
[--like he was trying to see in Bucky's head. But he doesn't say that, it sounds absurd. Instead he just finishes that sentences with an awkward half shrug.]
I appreciate that, but he can probably work it out. [More like potentially read this man's mind, but Martin isn't going to immediately spook him. He's paranoid enough as it is.]
He was the head of the Institute I worked at back home. I quit before I came here, though, so... not my boss anymore. [He shrugs a shoulder and finally picks up one of the biscuits from the tin he'd brought down.] Was he being weird and creepy at you? If yes, that's just the way he is. It's nothing personal.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
rosecarmine
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-16 07:39 pm (UTC)And why does everyone seem to assume he's not eating properly?
Nevertheless, he perches on the edge of one of the chairs and takes a biscuit out of the tin, though he just holds it in his gloved hand rather than eat it yet.]
Uh, I've eaten. I just don't go to the store.
[That's normal behaviour.
He takes the tape out of his pocket and sets it on the table, just in plain view for when Martin stops making tea and turns around.]
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-16 07:43 pm (UTC)I have extra camping equipment. A little one-man tent and thing you can hang up and use as a shower. It's pretty cold, though. You might want to think about somewhere inside...
I have some extra clothes, too. Maybe so you have something to wear when you're washing things.
[Martin busies himself pulling down teas, picking out something he thinks should be soothing.]
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-16 07:50 pm (UTC)I don't have anything to give you for them.
[Nothing is for free.
He does want a tent, though. It would make things a hell of a lot easier, make him more mobile. Even though he can sleep rough, is used to bad conditions, it doesn't mean he actively seeks them out.]
Maybe-- I can work for them.
[He's good at manual labour, it might be nice to have an objective that isn't 'kill someone'.]
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-16 07:57 pm (UTC)[Martin can recognize the need to balance the scales and isn't going to try to put Bucky off of it. If he wants to work for it, he can work.]
I've been wanting to fortify the barricades around the house and maybe at the entrances of a few of the apartment complexes here for the next attack. I could use a hand with that. I can provide the supplies if you're willing to help with getting boards in place.
What would be the easiest way to do that for you? Leave the supplies somewhere nearby and tell you a few places that need fortifying? I don't want to pin you down to a specific time or place.
[Actually, he would, but that probably won't go over as well.]
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-16 08:05 pm (UTC)Thank you.
[Again. Feels like he's saying that a lot recently.]
Not the apartment complexes. [Steve lives in one of them.] But I can help you fortify your house, I'm good at defences.
[One of the benefits of what he used to do, means he's got a lot of experience with defences.]
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-16 08:13 pm (UTC)He does, however, note the tape on the table, wondering if maybe one of them had been damaged or-
There is a speck of yellow on it from what was once a colored sticker. One that seems to have been mostly ripped off by accident. Martin freezes, his face going scarlet.]
Um... th-that tape. You said it was... mine?
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-16 08:15 pm (UTC)Yeah.
[And then, just in case there were multiple tapes like this one, he decides to clarify.]
It was poetry, I don't think you meant to give it to me.
[Which means that, yes, he listened to it.]
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-16 08:24 pm (UTC)Ah.
[His voice is practically a squeak.]
No.
[Martin snatches the tape from the table and shoves it into the pocket of his coat.]
S-sorry, that's- I-I thought I- um!
What type of tea do you like?!
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-16 08:31 pm (UTC)It might have been a kindness to pretend he hadn't listened to it, but that ship has sailed. But maybe he can lessen the mortification a little with some reassurance.]
I wouldn't have listened if I knew it was private, sorry.
[Let's stay on the subject of poetry, because he has no idea what kind of tea he likes.]
But I liked it.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-16 09:40 pm (UTC)That's really nice of you to say. You don't have to. I-It was stupid. I labeled all of them with stickers. But Big Boy Cat got into my tapes and I didn't find him and I thought I'd got them all sorted out, but- S-sorry.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-16 09:53 pm (UTC)Quit apologising.
[It may come out a bit gruff and blunt, but it's mostly kindly meant.]
I said I liked it, and I don't say things I don't mean. Besides, pretty sure poetry is meant to be listened to, ain't that the point of writing it?
[This is maybe the most he's said in one sentence, but he just wants Martin to stop flapping.]
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-16 10:21 pm (UTC)[Martin just manages to cut himself off as he fills the mugs and sets the bags in them. He brings one over to Bucky and sits at the table with his own staring down at it.]
It can be meant to just-just get feelings out. When regular words aren't enough. The ones I've written here aren't really-
Which one was it?
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-17 06:29 pm (UTC)He cups his hands around the mug, the leather of his gloves warming quickly.
Then, in a low voice, he begins to recite this poem word for word, thanks to the eidetic memory the serum gives him. It was this one, Martin.]
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-18 04:58 pm (UTC)He doesn't, though, which means he sits there and tries not to expire as he hears someone recite his poetry.]
Right. I'm, um... I think I figured out a better payment. Could you dig a hole and bury me alive?
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-18 07:03 pm (UTC)No.
[Well, technically he could absolutely do that. But he's not going to. There's a tiny hint of a smile playing at the corner of his lips, this is possibly the most relaxed interaction he's had. It makes a small piece of who he used to be peek through, a slice of humour even though his voice doesn't alter much to show it.]
Guess I could agree not to broadcast it, but that's my best offer.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-19 06:19 am (UTC)Y-yeah. The person that was- um. I'd just rather it not get out. I really am- I should have been more careful about what I was giving you. I'll pay extra close attention to it next time.
You- everything else made sense, right?
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-19 07:35 pm (UTC)Yeah. It was really helpful, thank you.
[It made about as much sense as information from a dreaming world could.]
You're not gonna get into trouble for giving it to me, are you? Your boss didn't seem pleased someone was looking for you.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-19 08:26 pm (UTC)[Why would they be upset about a patron asking after someone specific? Or that Martin was offering out information for that matter?]
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-19 08:38 pm (UTC)[The man hadn't mentioned a specific position, just that Martin was his employee.]
He was here the other day when I was looking for you, wanted to know why.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-19 09:31 pm (UTC)[The number of people Martin knows well enough for them to claim they're his boss is vanishingly small.]
Wait. Was he short with dark skin and little pockmark scars everywhere? [There's fond exasperation in his tone.] If he was, that's not my boss, he's my boyfriend. He can get protective.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-19 09:42 pm (UTC)[Also, what sort of boyfriend would pretend to be someone's boss? That doesn't seem entirely healthy.]
He looked middle aged, maybe. Light skin, grey eyes. He looked at me like--
[--like he was trying to see in Bucky's head. But he doesn't say that, it sounds absurd. Instead he just finishes that sentences with an awkward half shrug.]
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-19 09:58 pm (UTC)Oh. Him. Yeah, his name is Elias, and he's not my boss. He's not anyone's boss anymore, actually. He's just nosy and likes to pretend at it.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-19 10:07 pm (UTC)I didn't tell him why I wanted to find you.
[Apparently his
paranoiacaution has worked out for the best this time.]He seemed concerned about you. [Sort of.]
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-19 10:14 pm (UTC)He was the head of the Institute I worked at back home. I quit before I came here, though, so... not my boss anymore. [He shrugs a shoulder and finally picks up one of the biscuits from the tin he'd brought down.] Was he being weird and creepy at you? If yes, that's just the way he is. It's nothing personal.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-20 04:52 pm (UTC)I think he just wanted to make sure you were safe, that I wasn't a danger to you.
[At least that was the impression he got.]
(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From: