smoke signal 15: video

[charring]

This was the last thing I expected when I woke up this morning.

[There is a girl about 11 years old staring into the video with an annoyed look on her face. For anyone that's known Charlie long enough, they might recognize the big blue eyes or at least think they were familiar.

Anyway, the child speaking is outside somewhere. Possibly wandering Xanadu like she's searching for something important. And she looks worried.]

I really hope this is just a physical change and not a mental one. [It is just a bit, but not the way she's thinking.] Otherwise, oh man is this going to be interesting.

[A pause.]...I almost wish my dad was here. This is kinda scary.

Comments

[yourbestguysgun]

Uh - kid? [ Crap. He hasn't dealt with children in a while. ] You okay? Where's your mom?

[charring]

[She's hoping her mom is in Heaven, Bucky. And she's smirking just a tiny bit.]

I'm cursed. This is the wrong age, I think.

[She's not entirely sure at the moment.]

I'm Charlie.

[Please, for the love of God, don't freak out too much.]

[yourbestguysgun]

[ ... Sorry. Sorry. He just dropped the device. And you're getting a close up of his shoe and a lot of muffled, unidentifiable cursing.

After a moment.

Back to his face. ] Charlie?

[charring]

[The child part of her immediately went wide-eyed at the swearing. Oh, Bucky. Don't corrupt the child. That's not fair at all.]

Yeah. Hi.

[yourbestguysgun]

What?

How?

-- What?

[charring]

It's a curse. I think. [That look on her face? That's masked worry. God, she hated being this age.]

It better be a curse.

[yourbestguysgun]

Okay. Uh - okay.

[ Breathe, Barnes. Breathe. ] Where are you? Y'want me to come help figure this sh- stuff out?

[charring]

[And again, that wide eyed look of a kid who almost heard an adult swear.]

I'm in Xanadu, on my way to the grocery store.

[yourbestguysgun]

Xana- [ Maybe he should have listened to Steve. ] Should y'be going to the grocery store by yourself?

[charring]

The big gardens. [And as for his last question? Did we mention she's always been stubborn?] I think I'm okay to pick up a couple items.

[yourbestguysgun]

You're a kid, you shouldn't be wandering.

[charring]

I'm fine. [Indignation and stubborn-ness is go, Bucky! Have fun with that. And her voice is small when she speaks again, almost like she's talking to herself.]

...survived much worse and at this age, too.

[yourbestguysgun]

Well, I don't know about that, do I sweetheart.

[ Yes, he heard you. :| ] So let me come meet y'any way so you can put this old soldier at ease, huh?