22 - Regrouping (video: action for Bucky. Backdated to post weeping angel BS)

[charring]

[The feed kicks on, the device clearly on a table but not the one in Charlie's apartment. This would be a diner table and Charlie's very half heartedly looking through a menu. She still looks a bit tired and a bit stressed. She should be fine soon, though. There's the sound of a door opening and Charlie turns, watching whoever it is that enters the place a bit anxiously. And then, she frowns.

She's waiting for someone and that wasn't them. Oh, well. At least this time when she's waiting for someone at a restaurant, the npc waitress is nicer. The one at Hymns had been kind of obnoxious.

There was also a big bag next to her, the name of a local video game store on the side. Apparently, she'd been shopping. Impulse buys were the perfect post-curse therapy, okay?]

Comments

[yourbestguysgun]

[ The bell goes over the door as Bucky turns up, gaze drifting to find Charlie in her booth, giving a warm, happy smile when he finally does spot her. Crossing the floor. ] Hey there, kiddo.

[charring]

[And Charlie decides talking is irrelevant nonsense at the moment. She stands and gives Bucky the promised hug before saying anything.] We really need to talk about your obsession with calling me 'kiddo'.

[Yes, that was her way of saying hello.]

[yourbestguysgun]

[ He hugs her back, arms tight around her waist, breathing out because no matter how much he knew she was all right, it’s still better to prove it himself. ] Yeah, yeah.

[charring]

[She was fine with being held for a moment, forehead resting on his shoulder a moment.] You okay now?

[Because it was very weird to have someone this worried about her, let alone several someones, and she has no clue what to make of it.]

[yourbestguysgun]

Yeah, sweetheart, I'm fine. I jus' want to make sure you are too, y'know? [ Laughing a little. ] Now, coffee. We need all the coffee.

[charring]

God, yes. I didn't sleep at all last night.

[Charlie heads back to her booth and her game store bags, sitting down again and signaling for the waitress.]

I don't even like coffee but it feels very vital to my survival today.

[yourbestguysgun]

[ He nods. ] I'm a caffiene guy, but I'm even feeling the need for a double boost today.

[charring]

Did you sleep after we got off the phone?

[Oh, hello, awesome waitress. Charlie will have the epic pancake stack, a giant coffee and...that's all she wants.]

[yourbestguysgun]

Uh, kinda. I don't sleep much anyway, so it's not like that's new.

[ Pancakes and coffee for him too. Slumping into a booth across from her, kicking his feet into the space beside her like he owns it, Bucky gives her a knowing look. ] Right, now you can stop pretending you're all well and good and tell me what's wrong, can't you?

[charring]

[These two are probably awful to go out to eat with, namely because Charlie does the same thing with her feet. Right up on the booth next to Bucky. It's how they roll, yo.]

You know what? The fact that you know me well enough to call me out on my bullshit isn't fair.

[But she relents. Clearly.] When the Angel grabbed me, every second of my life flashed before my eyes. I spent all of last night remembering....things that I didn't want to remember. Rainbird. The Shop. Just all of it. It doesn't exactly make sleeping easy.

[How's that, Bucky?] Plus, this time of year naturally just sucks for me, anyway, so I was already in a weird mood.

[yourbestguysgun]

I'm good with people, hate to tell you, doll.

[ Trauma, right. Bucky's seen enough guy's fall to that in his life-time, can't help but feel worried for her. ] You're alive, no matter what, y'gotta hold on to that.

[charring]

Yeah. I guess I kinda love that about you, anyway.[Coffee arrives and Charlie sets to work adding stuff to it.] I just hate this time of year. My parents are gone. The Manders are gone. Not only do I seriously dislike the Holidays now, but tomorrow is my birthday...and I didn't just say that. Pretend I didn't say that.

[How screwed is she, Bucky? On a scale of one to ten.]

[yourbestguysgun]

Okay, so holiday's are kinda shitty for you. I get that, but that doesn't mean they gotta be from here on in, kiddo. You got me an' Steve, and a birthday ain't nothin' to turn your nose up at.

[charring]

I'm not turning my nose up at it. I'm just not making plans to celebrate it. I haven't for years.

[It works for her, Bucky,]

[yourbestguysgun]

But it's your birthday, doll.

[charring]

Exactly my point. It's my birthday. I kind of like the non-traditional tradition I've set up for myself. [The pancakes arrive and Charlie thanks the waitress, grinning briefly.]

It's not a bad tradition.

[yourbestguysgun]

[ Mmm. Pancakes. ] All right, whatever y'say.

[charring]

You're not buying it, are you?


[That's usually what 'whatever you say' means.]

[yourbestguysgun]

Kinda know a lot of kids who push everythin' aside like that.

[charring]

Yeah? [picking at her pancakes.]

[yourbestguysgun]

I grew up in a lonely world, I know what it's like. You forget the normal parts that everyone else gets 'cause y'don't wanna examine how much it might hurt. But y'got friends who wanna make you happy here.

[charring]

[She's just going to stop arguing and change the subject because if she doesn't, she's going to do that ridiculous girly thing and tear up.]

So...Tony flew me home last night.

[yourbestguysgun]

[ ... ] Flew?

[charring]

Yeah. [ She's happily eating the pancakes now.] He owed me a flight from a week ago. After he'd got the suit running, he said he'd take me flying. So I asked him last night.

[yourbestguysgun]

Uh - does he have a jet or somethin'?