[ This is better than asking if she remembers who he is, especially when the answer might be no. People are starting to lose themselves left and right, seems like. ]
The forest seems to have some kind of magic. My money's on that magic being part of what's happening to people, but I haven't been able to get close enough to figure out anything definite.
[She doesn't say I'm okay, because she's not, not really, not since she realized what it was doing to people. But it hasn't hit her, at least. She knows who he is. And she's not sprouted a tail or any other odd traits.]
[She's trying to not dip into that subject too deeply, but it's right there. Almost hard to avoid, really, even as she pulls back from the edge of it. She doesn't doubt him on the bit about magic and nazis, though.]
[Going back could get bad fast, but she's not the sort to sit something out just because it makes her uncomfortable. There were people in trouble and unless they figured out what was causing it--]
Going straight in has been a mess, but I'm thinking of maybe trying to come at it from the side, try for higher ground and see if that gives us anything.
[ You know how when you don't know the answer to a question on a test, you skip it and come back to it later? Bucky dropped out of school by the time he was fifteen, but this is like that. ]
I don't think it's just one place. I think it could happen anywhere in the forest. I made it stop by getting out.
Good. If you hear anything let me know. I'm heading to Olympia.
[Part of her had wanted to ask him not to go back, but she trusted him. That he'd at least tell her if he was going to do something that stupid. She almost leave it there, but-]
Meet me?
[Because this all cut a little too close. Just on the idea of what was happening, but knowing it had maybe almost happened to him? She was trying to ignore the chill.]
[Not that she's nervous about going back on her own. But she wants to see him, likes the idea of making sure that he's alright, seeing it with her own eyes. She can't read him over text like she can in person. And there's something about contact, something tangible.]
[ It takes him longer than he wants to arrive, not because of the voice that lassos him, but because of the more mundane dangers of the forest. The way back is thick with branches, green, shadow and heat. He has a cut on his face now, not deep, like he nicked himself shaving. But he's here. Almost here. Close. ]
[She's sitting in the branch of a tree, preferring the vantage point, the angle that it gives her to just standing around waiting. And well, she's not particularly thrilled with this place right about now. But as much as she wants to leave, she likes the idea of leaving with him better.
So when he finally calls out to her, she jumps down to the ground, landing light on her feet.]
[ He isn't exactly surprised to see her pop out from someplace unseen, but he still steps back, reflexively. ]
I'm— [ He doesn't know what to say. Something inside him is bursting. ] I'm here, too.
[ Bucky reaches out a hand— his right hand, the one that can feel— to touch her on the shoulder. It occurs to him that if the forest really wanted to make him feel like he belonged, it would show him Natasha. ]
[He steps back, and she doesn't reach for him, just stays where she'd landed, a twitch of her mouth as she takes in the sight of him. He's not okay, but he's here, and that's something. Means they can get out of here, talk in he wants to, not if he doesn't, and find their way back to someplace that makes some kind of sense.
Olympia might not be entirely comfortable just yet, even if it was getting there, but this forest was uncomfortable. It was a sort of discomfort she'd experienced before, but that didn't make it better.
She sighs softly, looking up at him as he places his hand on her shoulder and she reaches up, briefly covering his hand with her own.]
[Does he want to get out of here? The tendrils of the forest that are still clinging to him don't let go, either. He hesitates. His hand doesn't move. ]
Yes. [ There's a sudden force in the syllable. His fingers tighten, then release. ]
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@flashgordon
[ This is better than asking if she remembers who he is, especially when the answer might be no. People are starting to lose themselves left and right, seems like. ]
no subject
The forest seems to have some kind of magic. My money's on that magic being part of what's happening to people, but I haven't been able to get close enough to figure out anything definite.
[She doesn't say I'm okay, because she's not, not really, not since she realized what it was doing to people. But it hasn't hit her, at least. She knows who he is. And she's not sprouted a tail or any other odd traits.]
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[ True facts. Look it up.
After a minute, though, he types something else. ]
But I'm glad that you're still you.
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Especially when it's things like this.
[She's trying to not dip into that subject too deeply, but it's right there. Almost hard to avoid, really, even as she pulls back from the edge of it. She doesn't doubt him on the bit about magic and nazis, though.]
I'm glad you're still you, too.
no subject
[ Is there a play? Bucky doesn't know, but he trusts Natasha's instincts, and he wants to do something. ]
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[Going back could get bad fast, but she's not the sort to sit something out just because it makes her uncomfortable. There were people in trouble and unless they figured out what was causing it--]
Going straight in has been a mess, but I'm thinking of maybe trying to come at it from the side, try for higher ground and see if that gives us anything.
no subject
[ There's another pause in his typing. ]
A voice. I heard a voice.
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[A pause.]
You're okay?
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[A pause.]
What did it say to you?
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She said she had a place for me, that I didn't need to feel lost
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[The question is probably not fair, but she asks before she can think better of it.
But she offers him a way out, if he needs one.]
Any idea where that place was? Anything you picked up on?
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I don't think it's just one place. I think it could happen anywhere in the forest. I made it stop by getting out.
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I'm heading home. I need to regroup, see if I can come up with a better angle for this.
You coming back soon?
[Read: she'd like to see him.]
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[ Though he hasn't made it all the way back to Olympia, yet. ]
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I'm heading to Olympia.
[Part of her had wanted to ask him not to go back, but she trusted him. That he'd at least tell her if he was going to do something that stupid. She almost leave it there, but-]
Meet me?
[Because this all cut a little too close. Just on the idea of what was happening, but knowing it had maybe almost happened to him? She was trying to ignore the chill.]
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I can wait if you wont be long. Or I'll meet you back home.
[As if she's not uncomfortable with the whole situation.]
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[ He's a little bit further out than she is, but he doesn't want her alone in the forest, either. ]
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[Not that she's nervous about going back on her own. But she wants to see him, likes the idea of making sure that he's alright, seeing it with her own eyes. She can't read him over text like she can in person. And there's something about contact, something tangible.]
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Natasha? Nat?
[ He doesn't see her. ]
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So when he finally calls out to her, she jumps down to the ground, landing light on her feet.]
I'm here.
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I'm— [ He doesn't know what to say. Something inside him is bursting. ] I'm here, too.
[ Bucky reaches out a hand— his right hand, the one that can feel— to touch her on the shoulder. It occurs to him that if the forest really wanted to make him feel like he belonged, it would show him Natasha. ]
no subject
Olympia might not be entirely comfortable just yet, even if it was getting there, but this forest was uncomfortable. It was a sort of discomfort she'd experienced before, but that didn't make it better.
She sighs softly, looking up at him as he places his hand on her shoulder and she reaches up, briefly covering his hand with her own.]
You want to get out of here?
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Yes. [ There's a sudden force in the syllable. His fingers tighten, then release. ]
I really do, Nat.