xistentia | Drifting Away

Entry tags:

Drifting Away

Characters: Bucky Barnes, Steve Rogers, and you!
Summary: Bucky gets dumped (into the ocean)
Date(s): October 10th
Warnings/Notes: Feelings

Closed to Steve

[The water is warm around him, or at least compared to where he just was it's warm. Anything is warm compared to the alps in the middle of winter time. His eyes open to the darkness around him. He nearly chokes when he tries to take a breath, but water fills his mouth. He coughs under the water, expelling air and bubbles through his mouth and nose. His first thought is damn, did I fall into the river?

No way, he'd be dead. That drop is too far and the water is far too warm for the river he saw when they were preparing the zip. His head tilts up, he can see the light shining down through the rippling water. He feels himself sink to the bottom, his hands splay out and he feels sand between his fingers. A river would have rocks or mud, but this was very fine sand like a beach. He can't think about it too long before his chest starts to burn from lack of air. He shifts so his feet are under him and he kicks up towards the sky. He counts the seconds it takes for him to rise. 5...6...7...his chest feels like it's about to cave in. His head aches from the pressure as his ears pop and finally he breaks the surface with a gasp. He spits out whatever water was left in his mouth as he stares wild eyed, catching his breath and treading the water.

This isn't the alps. This isn't the valley.

He treads the water in a daze, looking up at clear sky and a sandy beach in the distance. He doesn't notice the wave that comes over him and crashes down on top. He's pushed under the water once more, this time he kicks his feet against the water, it's difficult in clothes but he manages to swim. He feels the bottom behind his boots and he walks slowly as he figures out he can stand up and it's only waist deep. He spits out whatever salt is in his mouth as he frowns heavily, his eyes wild. How the hell did he get here?

The next thing he hears is a bark, an then a woman's voice as a large German Shepard comes bounding up to him with a caring and happy expression. He can't help but pet the thing even if he is stressed out from being dropped into the ocean. He really thought he was losing it when the dog spoke and told him her name. Even with her explanation he still mostly thought either he was dead, or this was a very crazy dream. Maybe he shouldn't read those science fiction books before bed.]

Well, Damed, gotta say this is really weird, girl. [He pets her head and scratches behind her ears. For a robot she is very dog like.]

And I gotta find my friends.

Open

[Walking around in a wet, wool, jacket is not how James Buchanan Barnes wants to spend his day. But that's how it is right now. It's rather uncomfortable, but he deals with every soggy step as he walks from the beach to the city.]

Alright, first thing is first. I need new clothes--

[He cuts himself off Damed barks and runs off to the nearest bush. He pauses mid step and waits for her to return, with a pair of pants between her teeth. He just stares at she bounces on clawed toes to come back beside him. He is silent as his eyes peer around. Did she just steal these? He waits for a yell, a scream, or some pant-less man to come running towards them. It doesn't happen and he takes them from her.]

Thanks...What about a shirt?

[He doesn't expect much as she runs back into the pack, and comes back with a red henley. Well, it's something. He starts to laugh now.]

You can find whatever, can't ya? What about someone who can help?

[She doesn't say anything. She just turns and runs. When she comes back she is dragging someone by the hem of their clothes with her teeth. Bucky turns red as he drops the clothes in his arms and pulls for her to let go of the poor person. Sorry, buddy.

What? No! I was kidding! Down dog! Let 'em go!

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[Steve wakes up with his face in the sand and a kitten two inches from his nose, wide eyes staring right through him. He blinks a few times when said kitten opens it's tiny mouth and a deep, masculine voice - entirely too large for such a small thing - informs him of its name. Dodgerd's expression is fond and pleasant, the words a timber that Steve finds soothing and comforting. He believes his daemon is telling the truth, their truth at least.

He's now in a place where the source of the end of his own world has been explained and a way to stop or save it can only be found here.

It's a lot to take in, but he handles it in stride. He can fuss over the schematics after he finds out where everyone is. He'd been with the others when Tony's plane had gone down and he needed to make sure everyone was alright. Steve stands, dusts the sand from his clothes and starts off across the beach, Dodgerd right behind him. When the map is projected, he chooses a route and is about to follow it when he sees two shapes up ahead. A person and a dog.

The closer he gets, the more confused he becomes.]

Buck? Buck, is that you?

[Even if it was possible that was here, why did he look so different?]

What happened?

[Damed's ears perk up when she heard the other voice. Bucky would have had the same reaction if his ears could do that. Instead he lifts his head and turns. A grin spreads across his face when he sees who is calling him. He stands, his heavy boots sink into the sand as he steps.]

Steve!

[Course Steve made it. The universe would just be cruel if they picked Bucky over him. His eyes squint as he gets a little closer. What happened? They fucked up. Steve was there, he saw it.]

What? You want a demonstration?

[He teases only because he still hasn't figured out that their little fuck up changed a lot for their future. The closer he gets the more he notices. Steve is bigger, his hair and clothes are different.]

Maybe I should be askin' you that.

[The corners of Steve's mouth pinch, a frown tugging his lips down. He's confused, sure, and frustrated because isn't this just like the universe to keep torturing them, but this is Bucky. His best friend. It doesn't matter what the problem is, they'll figure it out together.]

What's the last thing you remember, pal?

[He reaches out and grips Bucky's shoulder, close enough now that he can really get a good look at all the differences. His hair, body, the arm. If he had to guess, he'd say Bucky was the same as he was back in the war but that doesn't make any sense.]

T'Challa? Anything after that?

[Steve squeezes his shoulder to let him know it's alright.]

What're you talkin' about?

[When Steve reaches for him he instinctively reaches back. It only when they get close that he can see the age on his best friend. He looks older, like he has seen more than the War they had both been through. He might even have a wrinkle or two.]

Is that a place?

[It sounded like a name, but it didn't ring any bells to him.]

Last thing I remember is zip-lining into the jaws of death.

Zip-lining.

[Steve inhales as if he's been struck and nothing has hit him harder than the realization that Bucky, this Bucky, isn't the man he'd last been with. There are years of damage, torture, and Hydra that hasn't happened to him yet. He should be relieved, but he doesn't know how to process this.

It's not as simple as forgetting. A hole in his memory. Bucky's body is changed as well.]

Buck, I - [He steps back and turns away, hands on his hips as he tries to catch his breath.] That was a real long time ago for me, pal.

I don't know what's going on.

[Bucky isn't exactly sure what is going on. His daemon rests against him as he lies a hand on her head for support.]

What? It was like ten minutes ago!

[The thought that time travel or anything like multiple universes is something that he's only read in fiction novels.]

When did you get here?

[Ten minutes. No, for Steve it was seventy plus years or about eight realistically. Time was a funny mistress and Steve couldn't begin to understand her.]

I just got here.

[He reaches down to pick up DodgerD and hold her close. The animal like device was helpful and soothing.]

But the when that I came from back home isn't the same as yours, Buck.

[Bucky felt his stomach start to churn and drop as Steve spoke. He isn't exactly sure what this means, but it sounds impossible.]

What's your when?

[His eyes flicker to the odd cat in his arms, at the same time Damed leans her head into his hand and whines. Bucky feels the same way for a moment. He looks down at her and strokes the fur on her face ]

You know how crazy this all sounds, right?

2016.

[Steve knew how it sounded. Unbelievable probably, too much to swallow, but this was his best friend. He had to tell him the truth as he could see it.]

I do. Point is, it's what's happening pal. We've got a lot of time between us and I don't know why.

[But what he did know is that this Bucky hadn't been with Hydra. He'd tell Bucky about that eventually, but for now, Steve had that guilt lifted off his shoulders.]

There's a lot we need to talk about, but not here.

[They had to find cover. Their new companions had a map.]

That's-

[Impossible. Right?]

Thought you would look older.

[His voice is a little breathless now. He knows that Steve wouldn't lie to him about that. It just a lot to process. His hands run though his hair before he looks from Steve to the dog at his side.]

Alright, lead the way.

It's a good thing that Era has dealt with canines before, otherwise she might have been inclined to attack the dog daemon rather than indulge in its whims. Her own daemon, Emeraldd, trots after them both as Era allows herself to be dragged in the direction of the beach.

It's likely to be a newcomer, Emeraldd informs her, mind-to-mind rather than aloud. Era has already put two and two together at this point and shoots her Carbuncle daemon a dramatic roll of her eyes.

She doesn't mind helping new arrivals, but early on in her stay she realized that her non-human traits prove to be something of a... hindrance. There is nothing she can do to hide the horns on her head, but it's a simple enough matter to keep most of her tail out of sight under the skirt of her ao dai.

Era does so not a moment too soon, because they arrive at the beach almost immediately after she does so. Her worries over the health of whoever the daemon belonged to are eased when she witnesses the enthusiastic interaction between man and daemon.

"Hello," she greets quietly, amused. "Do you need help?"

When Damed comes back with the woman she lets go quickly and looks rather happy with herself as Bucky looks embarrassed.

"I found help."

She tells him in her most cheerful voice.

"Yeah, uh huh. Heel for a second, okay?"

Bucky pinches the bridge of his nose as his daemon does as she is told and sits by his leg. He sighs but smiles at her efforts even if they were a bit odd. He then turns his attention to the one she dragged over. It's a woman, a pretty one at that, with.....horns....on her head.

Alright.

"Sorry, I didn't mean for her to do that."

"It's of no concern." Era waves her hand in dismissal of the issue and casts another quick eye over the new arrival to check for injuries. Her own daemon causes her more than a few problems, forcing her to be very particular with how she phrases her requests unless it isn't something of great import.

"I'm Era," she offers. "If you have any injuries I can heal them for you."

"You're a nurse?"

Healer didn't really carry the same meaning in his world. He knew very little of magic, only that it is something in fairy tales.

"Glad to hear that, but besides being sore and wet, I think I'm good." He says with a smile before he extends his hand out to her. "Bucky Barnes, I like your uh.....head piece."

Horns, but he isn't sure if that is exactly what they are.

A thoughtful frown appears on her face; brows furrowed, pulling the crest of scales taut beneath her bangs. Given the context Era is sure he doesn't mean a wet nurse, but something pertaining to healing. Regardless of the definition she's fairly sure she isn't one and so she shakes her head.

"A healer," Era reiterates. "Similar to a chirurgeon... Or a doctor?" Whatever the 'modern' terminology is - she hasn't learned all of it yet. "One who heals wounds with magic."

Though she does know how to treat wounds without magic as well. Magic can make a fatal wound into a lesser wound, but it will still require aid from a trained chirurgeon to recover from it; stitches, splints, amputations... They're all still common even in a world with an abundance of magic.

"If you're certain." The man looks well enough that Era fully believes him. She shakes the proffered hand after the slightest hesitation, but Bucky has shown no indication of distress over her scales so far and the scales on her hand are only on the back of it -

"Horns," Era corrects - perhaps a bit sharply, though it's unintentional. Bucky is not the first to assume such a thing, and while Era knows full well that most people have never seen an Au Ra before it still stings. She spent enough time in her life hiding her horns out of discomfort despite her pride in them that it's a sensitive issue even now. "I'm Era Ra. An Au Ra from the world of Hydaelyn. You are of Earth, correct?"

"Horns." He nods with a questionable tone in his voice still. That....well that is very different. When she starts talk about magic, and saying odd words and phrases he holds his hand up lightly. He can tell that she is somewhat annoyed by his ignorance. He didn't mean to be rude by it.

"I-yeah I'm from Brooklynn." As if she knows where that is. "Earth I mean. Yes." He is curious, he wants to know more, but he can tell from her sharp tone that she might want to speak of it. "Sorry, I didn't mean to be rude or nothing. We don't have magic or anything like that where I'm from."

Or well-- as far as he knows. Steve and the HYDRA....well he isn't exactly sure if that whole thing was science or magic yet.

"It's fine. Ignorance is not malice," she reassures. "And you are not the first nor the last to make such an assumption."

Era isn't exactly sure what Bucky's daemon has actually told him of Xistentia so far, thus isn't exactly sure what she can assist with. If he was injured it would be a different story, but he isn't and so...

"Most people you find here will be from some version of Earth. Frequently there is at least one other from the same version of Earth, and usually from the same time period as well. It is more than likely that you'll encounter someone you know here."

[ As a woman with eight dogs already, what's one more? She's actually a little excited to a new canine running around. So is her pack who snuffle curiously at this newcomer with tails wagging. New friend? The blond wonders if it has an owner or is an unfortunately misplaced animal of the multiverse convergence that is Xistentia. If people can be pulled from other worlds, who's to say that dogs can't either?

The pup seems friendly enough though! Maybe too much? Oh, jeez, it's- ]

What is it, girl? Is Timmy stuck in the well? [ Even though she's being dragged along, Rose is laughing all the while over it. What else can she do? This is one determined dog. And she's glad it is once she lays eyes on who she presumes to be the canine's owner. Oh. ]

I'm guessing she's yours? I didn't know dogs could learn to fetch people instead of sticks...

Sorry-

[He kneels down to pull his arms around Damed's neck so that she lets go of the other's clothes. At least she brought a pretty lady. But then again he wasn't looking his finest right now. He ran a hand through his still damp hair as Damed gives a happy doggy smile. She seems so proud of herself.]

I asked her to find me some help and uh- I guess that's you.

[He smiles before he stands back up, a hand now extended.] Bucky Barnes, you are?

Oh, don't be! Goodness knows my boys tend to have minds of their own...

[ Though there's absolutely no shortage of affection in her tone as she says it. Speaking of, all her 'boys' come trundling up now. There's eight of them - ranging in size and breed, one that looks more like a tiger than a dog - and they're friendly as can be. ]

Rosalina Nurumi, [ she says, extending her own hand to grab his and shake it. ] But most people here call me Rosie.

[ She smiles just as bright in response. ] I'm guessing you're new around here, huh?

Nice to meet you-ah

[Dogs. A lot of dogs. He holds his hands up for a moment, as the dogs surround him. He only hesistates for a second before he places his hands down and lets one of them sniff him before giving them each a good pet on the head.]

Are....they all like Damed?

[In that they are robots and can talk.]

Yeah. Just dropped in.

[Literally.]

Well, welcome to Xistentia. We're pretty friendly here.

[ Yeeeessssss. All their tags start wagging just a little faster, content with the attention. The husky triplets especially almost fight over it, nudging each other and at Bucky's legs to get in for more pets. ]

No, just Apollod. [ At the mention, the Golden Retriever gives a bark and follows with, ] Hello.

[ Rose smiles at the canine before turning her attention back to Bucky. ]

The others are all ones I either adopted or inherited from other people.

Edited (thx c/p for missing my first sentence) 2017-10-29 10:21 (UTC)

[Life was easier earlier in the apocalypse, which seems like a weird thing to say, but it was. All the new kids would fall on to the beach at the exact same time of month as regular as, a woman's menses regulated by oral contraceptives if she were to take them on time, or lunar cycles, circadian rhythms, clockwork, the reliably mechanical things that Tony Stark likes so much in part (probably) because he is not now and never will be a particularly reliable person himself.

But these days, the influx of newcomers happens nearly at random. Sometimes the pirate and the fairy woman who live in the light house will catch it, send out a call, but other times you'll be wandering around with your tools and your android daemon, minding your own fucking business, and then a robot dog will jump out of the bushes and grab you by your pants.]

Okay, [says Tony.] Okay okay, whoever's down the well-- can probably— wait a--

[And then he claps eyes on him. The Winter Soldier.]

[Not exactly. Take about 70 years off, minus a metal arm and a lot of tragic events, and add a still hopeful look at this eyes. This wasn't the Winter Soldier, not yet at least. He even offers Tony a smile as he pulls Damed off of his pants leg. He does notice a sort of physical resemblance to his old friend Howard, but this man is too old. Maybe a long distance cousin?]

Sorry, I told her to find help and she just starts dragging people across the street.

[Not exactly the best way to make friends.]

[Definitely not the best way to make friends.]

What's your name, stranger?

[The question emerges at kind of a normal speaking volume and tone, but Tony's facial expression still looks... poleaxed. Not hard to tell something is wrong. His hands open and close at his sides. You'll all be happy to know, that long months of time, the note from Captain "we were friends, too" America, and the end of the universe that Tony knew it, he's a little less trigger-happy. Not about to instantly jump Bucky Barnes on the street. More cognizant of the fact that, you know

yeah the guy has two flesh arms right now and appears a touch younger, with shorter hair, his voice less creepily toneless and robotic. His words more apologetic, frankly. He takes a step closer, staring hard.] Fridayd, why don't we make a digital record of what we can do to help this fella out. His daemon seems to think he's in trouble.

[<______>]

[Bucky notices that look. He wonders for a moment if maybe he knows this man, but he doesn't look familiar.]

Bucky Barnes.

[He answers as he extends a hand out in greeting. If only he knew what in the world was going on in the other man's head. He might be a little worried. He called Damed back with a small pat at his thigh and she sits beside him, his hand rests on her head.]

I think my daemon is just a little enthusiastic. I'm new here. Can't really make heads or tails of this place yet.

[Tony looks at the dog, which seems very trusting, but that's the dog's job. How's a robot pooch supposed to know what Bucky has done in his past?

Yeah, Tony's a little stuck. He assumes: the past, even though his monstrous intellect, genius-level intelligence, is grappling with all signs that point otherwise and a vague understanding of timelines. Bucky Barnes. James Bucchanan Barnes. He spent countless nights reviewing every scrap of information that the military had on this man, but somehow that doesn't properly put into context his frank brown-eyed stare and the old-fashioned lilt to his voice, dated for Tony's contemporary Brooklyn. He's completely ignoring the offered hand, which is

only half intentional. Mostly, Tony's distracted. Bucky looks young. Younger even than Steve, in some way, but maybe that's more about old souls than a hydrated complexion and bone structure.]

Ever been to Germany?

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Drifting Away

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KICKS DOWN DOOR I'M HERE fyi lmk if you particularly want/don't want to be attacked, etc. :3

lets start this white boy drama

mmm white boy drama, my favorite breakfast cereal

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