vaccination | TLV

I know him from back home. I think everything will go fine this month, but if you need help, I can maybe answer questions he can't. If it's okay with him.

Otherwise, I just wanted to say that he's my friend, even though he doesn't remember me well. I think he feels okay around you, so I'm glad. I'd like to get to know people he likes.

I guess that sounds kind of weird.

[Huh. Ellie has to check the pairings, look at the names again. Barnes. This guy is talking like she knows him. She hasn't made contact with her temps yet.

But then it hits her like a train (ha), that conversation during the last breach. The guy she's been calling Buddy is actually named James. James Barnes?]

Shit, I just realized who he is. I've been calling him Buddy since Asset is pretty fucked up and he doesn't seem to take well to James, the one time I tried. He's mentioned you. Which I guess is a good thing for both of us.

I guess my question would be what's his story? He's told me some stuff but his perception seems pretty skewed. No offense.

Yeah - gosh, I'm sorry, I'm Steve Rogers. I maybe should've opened with that.

He definitely doesn't like James, no - and probably not Barnes either. He said to tell you that you could try calling him Buck. No 'y.' Maybe try it in person, though. I don't think he'd want everyone on the network to pick it up and start using it.

[There is a slight, few-minute pause, while he maybe tries to figure out the best, briefest way to phrase it.]

Highest overview I can give you is: He was captured as a soldier and held as a prisoner of war for 70 years. In that time, the people who had him figured out a way to wipe his memories and his personality so they could make him a blank slate and use him as a weapon. They treated him like a thing, not a person, until they made the mistake of sending him after me.

He eventually recognized me and I think that's what let him get away from them, but he doesn't really remember me well, or remember who he was or how to be a person really well yet.

Does that make any sense?

It's cool. I'm glad he's got someone looking out for him.

[Buck. Ellie takes note of it, willing to give it a go. Guy should probably at least be called something close to his actual name--though Buddy isn't that far off, is it?]

Yeah. He told me about the assassination stuff. And the arm. So, why did they send him after you?

Honestly? They probably did it because they thought it'd be satisfying to see what happened when I found out, right before I died.

Joke's on them, I guess.

[Or something.]

I know he's not violent, and I don't think he will be. But if something happens -

Would you call me? If it's an emergency, I mean.

Can you handle a pissed off dude with a metal arm? Not that I'm planning on doing that. He's pretty obvious when he's reaching a limit.

Yes. We're pretty evenly matched. And I can take him down without hurting him more than necessary. I don't know if anyone else would.

But like I said. I don't think he wants to hurt anyone, or that he'll go violent.

Yeah. I'll let you know if I think he's gonna go off, but I think we'll be fine.

You got any questions for me? I don't want you worrying about your friend.

[That makes Steve smile, even if she can't see it.]

I'm probably gonna worry anyway.

But in general, I mean. Not about you. Is he your first inmate?

I don't always check the network so I'm a little out of the loop.

I've only been here a few months. I had Dancy as a temp. I don't think she hated it. Pretty sure I'm on the younger end of wardens.

That's okay. Some of my best friends here were still in high school.

Age isn't what makes you a good warden.

Doubling up has got to be hard, though.

You're like the first person here to tell me that.

At least I already kind of know him. The worst part's over with. I hate introductions.

Yeah, I have... different opinions from most of the people here, I guess.

[Which might not inspire confidence, but.]

I still don't think I'm wrong about that, though.

Introductions can be a little awkward. Some people think I'm just a guy from a comic book. That's always been really weird.

I don't know the other guy. You think he'll give you any trouble?

... why do they think you're a guy from a comic book?

Don't know the other guy. So, by default, Buck or Buddy or whatever is the easiest thus far.

I guess in some universes, that's all I am? I mean, there's a comic book where I'm from, but it was just dumb propaganda. Seems like that's not the case for some people's homes.

Well, I hope the other guy follows suit. You let someone know if he doesn't, or - get help if you need it. Not that you're helpless, but don't let anyone make you feel that way.

I can usually handle myself.

But tell me more about this comic stuff. You don't run around in like a full body suit and save the world and shit, right?

I guess you could say I pretty much did, yeah. I was made to fight Nazis, but there have also been aliens and robots and everything in between.

And the Nazis never do seem to go away.

But I'm retired now.

Kind of.

Whoa. No fucking way.

That's so cool.

Are YOU a robot?

Oh, no - sorry. I guess that kind of made it sound that way. No, I'm just a guy. There was this serum that makes people stronger. They gave it to me as part of an Army project, during the war.

Bucky got a version of it, too. From different people, against his will. I volunteered.

But that's why I say we're evenly matched. He's got the arm, but my serum's a little better.

You know, every time I type all this out, it really does sound like the plot of some comic book or pulp.

You sound straight off a trading card game I used to collect. I already thought that about him, but damn.

Yeah, you know - there were trading cards, too.

I'd say I hope your world is pretty mundane in comparison, but that's not how people end up here.

Did you have a name? A superhero name?

I'm beginning to see that, yeah. I guess my world would be considered part of the "post-apocalyptic" genre. An infection turned people into monsters, and you can guess how it went from there.

Yeah. Captain America.

I didn't choose it. It just kind of stuck.

Yeah, I guess I can. Like zombies?

Don't tell me you wear red, white, and blue.

Guess so. It happened nearly thirty years ago, now. So I guess my world is mundane in the sense that it's been stripped down of a lot of luxuries.

I mean, I don't have to tell you, apparently.

That's what happens, when people are just trying to survive. I've seen it, but - not after that long.

Some things about this place must be pretty nice, then.

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