[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.
I'm sure that's what he made it seem like. [Martin sighs.] Just... maybe avoid him, if you can? He'll probably leave you alone if he doesn't think you're going to be useful to him in some way.
Perpetually. It's... fine, though. I can deal with him. I just want to make sure he doesn't bother you. Being his focus usually doesn't work out great for people.
[His tone shoots for casual, but it's spoiled by the intensity in his eyes. He definitely wants to learn of anyone who could potentially be a threat here, who has been an issue for others in the past.]
[Martin considers how much to say. After Elias' little stunt on the network, he's almost inclined to be completely honest. Almost.]
He's manipulative and more concerned with sating his curiosity than any kind of morals. There's a little grass boy here named Fern. Elias convinced him to do something he shouldn't have and that hurt someone very badly. I don't know that it was even to any purpose. Just Elias wanting to see what would happen given people come back from the dead in Deerington.
[Manipulative and obviously without a lot conscience, if his idea of a good time was just to get people hurt for no other purpose than curiosity. That's a combination that Bucky definitely has no interest in getting further involved with. He's met Fern, the kid seemed mostly good, if a bit naïve.]
I'll make sure to keep a close watch for him.
[Hard, cold.]
Didn't anyone do anything? I've seen the abandoned police station, but isn't there any kind of authority here?
It's nothing you could go to them about, anyway. He's very good at covering his tracks with that sort of thing. He never told Fern to do anything, just... wound up a toy soldier and pointed it in the direction he wanted.
[He's seen the cats, but he hadn't realised they were the police. This town gets weirder and weirder with every moment.
That phrasing bites at him a bit, and he makes a very firm internal resolution to go nowhere near Elias again if he can help it.]
Right.
[So, not good then. He pushes back from the table, leaving the majority of his drink untouched. Now that he knows a little more about Elias, he kind of wants to be out of the library if possible.]
I should go, I just thought you might want your tape back.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
rosecarmine
(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)
Date: 2021-02-22 06:22 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-23 12:53 pm (UTC)Don't worry about me, I can handle myself. [A beat.] Is he causing problems for you?
[It certainly sounds that way.]
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-24 04:02 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-24 11:45 am (UTC)[His tone shoots for casual, but it's spoiled by the intensity in his eyes. He definitely wants to learn of anyone who could potentially be a threat here, who has been an issue for others in the past.]
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-26 05:01 pm (UTC)He's manipulative and more concerned with sating his curiosity than any kind of morals. There's a little grass boy here named Fern. Elias convinced him to do something he shouldn't have and that hurt someone very badly. I don't know that it was even to any purpose. Just Elias wanting to see what would happen given people come back from the dead in Deerington.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-26 05:30 pm (UTC)I'll make sure to keep a close watch for him.
[Hard, cold.]
Didn't anyone do anything? I've seen the abandoned police station, but isn't there any kind of authority here?
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-28 05:11 am (UTC)[So, yeah. That's a thing.]
It's nothing you could go to them about, anyway. He's very good at covering his tracks with that sort of thing. He never told Fern to do anything, just... wound up a toy soldier and pointed it in the direction he wanted.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-28 12:39 pm (UTC)That phrasing bites at him a bit, and he makes a very firm internal resolution to go nowhere near Elias again if he can help it.]
Right.
[So, not good then. He pushes back from the table, leaving the majority of his drink untouched. Now that he knows a little more about Elias, he kind of wants to be out of the library if possible.]
I should go, I just thought you might want your tape back.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-03-01 04:54 pm (UTC)Oh. Y-yeah. Sor- Thanks again for returning it. Be careful out there.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-03-01 05:02 pm (UTC)You too.
[And then he's turning and slipping out of the room.]