OPEN POST

[semistableman]

Come tag away! I don't mind at all.

Comments

[semistableman]

Yeah. I can imagine. You can't relax like that, when everyone knows your face.

[Doesn't he know everything about that, being the Winter Soldier.

He gives a good-natured laugh at the comment.]

You'd be surprised, it's a lot of bad days. But I try not to let it control me. If I do, I sink into a bad place very rapidly.

[hydric]

I hope today is at least a better day. [Wanda offered a sheepish grin before raising her glass up to him.]

[semistableman]

[Bucky nods, raising his own glass up.]

Believe me, today is one of the good ones.

[hydric]

[She brightens at that, glad to at least be able to call it a good day. Taking another sip, she gives a nod.]

Good. I am glad. We deserve it.

[semistableman]

[He smiles, an honest, cheerful grin.]

We do.

[hydric]

[She’s pretty proud of herself, cupping the glass with both hands.]

So what are you doing now?

[semistableman]

Helping out the Wakandans, mostly.

As wealthy as the country is, they've still got to do their fair share of farming. It's not easy work, but I like doing it.

[hydric]

A lot of physical work. [She can understand it. When she was able to practice more with the Avengers, it was easier for her.]

Do you miss your home at all?

[semistableman]

[Bucky nods.]

Yeah. All the time.

I can't go back, you know? Nothing looks the same. My old home, the place where Steve and I lived, it's a Walmart now.

[hydric]

[That is so very American it almost makes her laugh.]

My home is rubble. [Wanda can relate. It's apparent in the half smile. All of Sokovia is gone now..]

[semistableman]

...I'm sorry about Sokovia.

[He didn't have anything to do with it, but just the very idea of it is beyond terrible.]

[hydric]

[She attempts a smile, but it still hurts, blaming herself for losing her brother and her country. If they hadn't been manipulated by Ultron maybe she would still have both. Wanda isn't sure what to say back to him, but it means a lot he's said something.]

I lost my brother that day, too. He was my twin.

[semistableman]

[His expression goes cold and sad.]

I had a sister, a younger sister. Becca. When I... was myself again, I went looking for her, to see if she was still alive.

[Bucky sighs.]

She died seven years ago.

[hydric]

[She exhales slowly out through her nose and gives him a sympathizing look, knowing how hard it is to lose family.]

I am sorry for your loss, too. It is never easy to lose family. [And it seems they have even more in common than previously guessed.]

I try and think that Pietro would want me smiling. He would say-- [She lowers her voice to mimic her brother's.] Wanda, there are more important things to do.

He did not like to see me upset.

[semistableman]

[Bucky smiles at her. It's a sad smile, one of understanding.]

They'd both want us to be happy, I know that much. I don't have to have met your brother to know that.

[Especially considering how close the two of them must have been, much closer than Bucky and Becca could have been, considering Becca had gone to live with her grandparents after the death of their parents.]

Figuring out what to do with yourself is always something of an uphill struggle.

[hydric]

He would have liked you. [Pietro wasn't exactly an Avenger at least ideologically. He wanted to help, but it isn't exactly from a moral place. But she thinks he would have related to Bucky like she does.]

I am not sure where to go now.

[semistableman]

That's up to you, isn't it?

[He sounds thoughtful.]

There's gotta be a nice place out there. I wouldn't mind a place where I can do some good, something that doesn't involve fighting.

[hydric]

[She takes another drink thoughtfully before trying to pick at some of the finger food. She hasn’t thought much of it, just surviving now that the Avengers have disbanded.]

I’ve always been fighting.

[semistableman]

Yeah. Me too. It's all I've known for a very long time.

I'll be honest, I don't know what to do with myself most of the time.

[hydric]

And here I thought you had it all together. [She half teases. He has more of his shit together than her at present-- if that's even saying anything.]

[semistableman]

[Bucky laughs.]

I appreciate the confidence you have in me.

[hydric]

I think you have come a long way. [She lifts her cup to him.]

[semistableman]

[He raises his own cup.]

To getting better a little each day.

[hydric]

[Wanda's cup clinks against his before she takes another drink, not minding that their conversation had gone so deep, but appreciating that it's gotten lighter again. They both have come a long way.]

I can drink to that.

[semistableman]

[Bucky flashes a smile.]

Good. We both deserve it.