[ There's no hiding the way Sam's dark eyes fix on Ash's face and stay there for a solid moment, face very carefully neutral. They're not identical, of course, Steve and Ash, and Sam doesn't know if Bucky's told the man about it. But the resemblance is uncanny and there's a part of Sam that aches, despite having been forewarned. That remembers the deceptive intimacy of a motel room and the cold reality of getting ghosted by someone once trusted and treasured.
That hurt isn't on Ash though, so Sam nods soon enough and takes the offered hand with a smile of his own. His own are soft - the hands of a hard working man, but also the hands of a man who takes care of himself in what ways he can. Despite the state captivity has left him in otherwise. ]
My pet bird, in a manner of speaking. I'm surprised the white rabbit hasn't filled you in. [ A play on Bucky's distinct network handle, accompanied by mirth brightening Sam's expression for a moment. ] Sam Wilson. I'll level with you, dunno how he's sold the whole 'you're meeting these people before anything else happens' deal to you - but I'd like to make sure we both understand you ain't here to win my approval or anything of the sort.
( if he notices the gaunt pallor sam is currently sporting, he doesn't comment on it — although that would be exceeding rude and ash is, above all else, civil to the point of cavities. there's residual guilt burrowed in him anyway, the feeling of not having done enough when it counted. any violation of human rights feels like it's his responsibility to correct — but he's not going to go off spouting about politics on a coffee date. especially not when he's trying to make a good impression. )
Actually, that's exactly what I thought I was here for. ( sliding into his seat, his lips quirk again, because bucky is actually — secretly, a little bit funny. ash thinks he's earned a little teasing. ) That's a weight off my shoulders.
( he gives a gesture, lifting a shoulder. )
And anyway, like you said, it seemed important to him. ( he sounds equal parts soft and serious with his next words. ) I'd do anything that makes him feel better. I'm not just saying that.
[ A soft snort, small roll of the eyes. It could look dismissive - but truth be told, it's impossibly fond more than anything. The Bucky who found his way into the city might not be the man who's grown to become Sam's best friend and partner back home - but that doesn't change the fact that he's someone Sam cared about deeply long before Bucky ever started showing up for Sam in return. ]
I ain't Bucky's keeper, and far as I'm concerned, he don't gotta justify his choices to me. He told me this is what he wants, and frankly, that's what matters to me at the end of the day.
[ Of course, telling him as much did little to dissuade Bucky, who seems convinced Sam's going to be 'weird about it'. A gentle reminder, that one, for Sam to keep things close to his chest. ]
If it helps I can let you know that I'll kick your teeth in with prejudice if he gets hurt.
[ Again, mirth flashes across Sam's features - but there's an implication there. Sam's not giving a shovel talk here - he meant what he said about not being Bucky's keeper. But Sam's protective of his friends, so while the grandstanding is purely a joke, the truth of it isn't. If Ash doesn't do right by Bucky, it's not just Bucky himself he'll have to answer to. ]
But jokes aside, I mean, yeah. I'm glad Bucky's solid for at least the next three months, and I'm glad he got his pick. That's what matters in the end.
[ End of the day, Sam understands why Bucky needed to justify this to himself by way of pretending he needed to justify it to Peggy and Sam. But he also knows that no matter what Bucky thinks, it wouldn't be his place to be anything other than supportive of Bucky making his own choice. ]
You got a place ready for Ithemba? 'cause you gotta know that goat's part of the package.
( "hurt" here is used in the loosest of all terms. he will hurt bucky — it's been agreed upon. he might even go too far with bucky at some point, and have to handle the fallout. but he if ever does something irredeemable to him? sam won't have to go looking. ash will nail himself to the cross, and submit himself to his teeth getting throughly kicked.
he doesn't see it happening, of course. he's always been meticulous, careful, especially where other people are concerned. green eyes light up with all the humor sam issues, warm and soft, thinking that he and bucky have another thing in common. they like to surround themselves with people who smile frequently, exuberantly, maybe because the two of them find it so difficult at times. )
You know, I just met her. I'm going to have to do some research. ( if he seems somewhat giddy about it, it's only because he is. ash loves farm animals. maybe he can convince bucky to get another one. or a cow? ) But, what about you? I'm not sure if it's tactful to ask if you have a contract issued, but given this place ( he makes a loopy gesture with one pointed finger ) tact doesn't seem like a priority. Have you been here long?
[ It's the greatest trick Sam's ever learned - the smiles, the air of being well adjusted, of being just fine. It allows people to enjoy having him around, to think they got him figured out as a person, and in many cases to think they're close to Sam. The metaphorical hand on their shoulder invites an idea of companionable proximity without clueing people in to the fact they're being kept at arm's length with it.
The greatest trick - to make sure people know enough about him to miss the fact that they don't know him. Speaking of... ]
'bout hree months now. [ Has it only been that little? Has it already been that long? Sam tried not to think about it. About time lost. That hits too close to home on several levels. ] 'course they roughly feel like 75 years, give or take. [ Levity while he lets half the question slide away. Makes eye contact with someone over Ash's shoulder - a waitress. Sam flirts - she has a similar accent to his, and his Louisiana drawl becomes a little more pronounced as a result for a moment. But there's no intent to the interaction. It's casual and friendly more than serious. They exchange a few words - she's been coming to the Red Emerald for some self defense classes. Shares that black line on her throat with Sam. He passes on his regards to a few more people. Promises he'll be back to teach the class real soon. She leaves with their order, and Sam glances back to Ash. ] I take it you only just arrived? Must be a mindfuck, if you don't mind me saying. Going from the oval office to this.
( there's something observant in his gaze — ash doesn't pry, but he does note, like any other student in a lecture. it's mostly his suave sidestep of the actual question ash was asking, which he has plenty of time to think about while sam flirts. ash is more or less the type one would describe as tall, dark, and handsome — he isn't loud or vocal, and thus is happy to let sam gab, watching him while he does it. he figures the answer can only be no, he doesn't have one. or maybe — yes, and he isn't pleased about it. either way he seems disinclined to share with what is essentially a stranger sitting before him, and ash can't exactly fault him for that.
he orders a coffee, black, because he's a health nut and he and caffeine are old comrades. his expression is kept carefully neutral, even if the conversation now feels more akin to a game of chess, where ash has no intention of winning or losing. he has nothing to hide, really, except what he imagines bucky would be hesitant to reveal in the intricacies of their relationship. beyond that? )
It's definitely a change of pace. ( he nods in agreement. ) The lack of press conferences and CIA agents and meetings. I probably would've enjoyed the quiet if it didn't involve all the violations of human rights. ( he pointedly keeps the pity out of his voice in talking with sam — it's obvious he got the shorter end of the duplicity stick, and they both know it. ) But before I was President or a soldier in the army, I had a very normal life in middle class, rural Missouri. I don't mind revisiting that simpler time, not that this ( a general gesture around. ) reminds me of Missouri. At all. Where are you from?
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That hurt isn't on Ash though, so Sam nods soon enough and takes the offered hand with a smile of his own. His own are soft - the hands of a hard working man, but also the hands of a man who takes care of himself in what ways he can. Despite the state captivity has left him in otherwise. ]
My pet bird, in a manner of speaking. I'm surprised the white rabbit hasn't filled you in. [ A play on Bucky's distinct network handle, accompanied by mirth brightening Sam's expression for a moment. ] Sam Wilson. I'll level with you, dunno how he's sold the whole 'you're meeting these people before anything else happens' deal to you - but I'd like to make sure we both understand you ain't here to win my approval or anything of the sort.
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Actually, that's exactly what I thought I was here for. ( sliding into his seat, his lips quirk again, because bucky is actually — secretly, a little bit funny. ash thinks he's earned a little teasing. ) That's a weight off my shoulders.
( he gives a gesture, lifting a shoulder. )
And anyway, like you said, it seemed important to him. ( he sounds equal parts soft and serious with his next words. ) I'd do anything that makes him feel better. I'm not just saying that.
no subject
I ain't Bucky's keeper, and far as I'm concerned, he don't gotta justify his choices to me. He told me this is what he wants, and frankly, that's what matters to me at the end of the day.
[ Of course, telling him as much did little to dissuade Bucky, who seems convinced Sam's going to be 'weird about it'. A gentle reminder, that one, for Sam to keep things close to his chest. ]
If it helps I can let you know that I'll kick your teeth in with prejudice if he gets hurt.
[ Again, mirth flashes across Sam's features - but there's an implication there. Sam's not giving a shovel talk here - he meant what he said about not being Bucky's keeper. But Sam's protective of his friends, so while the grandstanding is purely a joke, the truth of it isn't. If Ash doesn't do right by Bucky, it's not just Bucky himself he'll have to answer to. ]
But jokes aside, I mean, yeah. I'm glad Bucky's solid for at least the next three months, and I'm glad he got his pick. That's what matters in the end.
[ End of the day, Sam understands why Bucky needed to justify this to himself by way of pretending he needed to justify it to Peggy and Sam. But he also knows that no matter what Bucky thinks, it wouldn't be his place to be anything other than supportive of Bucky making his own choice. ]
You got a place ready for Ithemba? 'cause you gotta know that goat's part of the package.
no subject
( "hurt" here is used in the loosest of all terms. he will hurt bucky — it's been agreed upon. he might even go too far with bucky at some point, and have to handle the fallout. but he if ever does something irredeemable to him? sam won't have to go looking. ash will nail himself to the cross, and submit himself to his teeth getting throughly kicked.
he doesn't see it happening, of course. he's always been meticulous, careful, especially where other people are concerned. green eyes light up with all the humor sam issues, warm and soft, thinking that he and bucky have another thing in common. they like to surround themselves with people who smile frequently, exuberantly, maybe because the two of them find it so difficult at times. )
You know, I just met her. I'm going to have to do some research. ( if he seems somewhat giddy about it, it's only because he is. ash loves farm animals. maybe he can convince bucky to get another one. or a cow? ) But, what about you? I'm not sure if it's tactful to ask if you have a contract issued, but given this place ( he makes a loopy gesture with one pointed finger ) tact doesn't seem like a priority. Have you been here long?
no subject
The greatest trick - to make sure people know enough about him to miss the fact that they don't know him. Speaking of... ]
'bout hree months now. [ Has it only been that little? Has it already been that long? Sam tried not to think about it. About time lost. That hits too close to home on several levels. ] 'course they roughly feel like 75 years, give or take. [ Levity while he lets half the question slide away. Makes eye contact with someone over Ash's shoulder - a waitress. Sam flirts - she has a similar accent to his, and his Louisiana drawl becomes a little more pronounced as a result for a moment. But there's no intent to the interaction. It's casual and friendly more than serious. They exchange a few words - she's been coming to the Red Emerald for some self defense classes. Shares that black line on her throat with Sam. He passes on his regards to a few more people. Promises he'll be back to teach the class real soon. She leaves with their order, and Sam glances back to Ash. ] I take it you only just arrived? Must be a mindfuck, if you don't mind me saying. Going from the oval office to this.
no subject
he orders a coffee, black, because he's a health nut and he and caffeine are old comrades. his expression is kept carefully neutral, even if the conversation now feels more akin to a game of chess, where ash has no intention of winning or losing. he has nothing to hide, really, except what he imagines bucky would be hesitant to reveal in the intricacies of their relationship. beyond that? )
It's definitely a change of pace. ( he nods in agreement. ) The lack of press conferences and CIA agents and meetings. I probably would've enjoyed the quiet if it didn't involve all the violations of human rights. ( he pointedly keeps the pity out of his voice in talking with sam — it's obvious he got the shorter end of the duplicity stick, and they both know it. ) But before I was President or a soldier in the army, I had a very normal life in middle class, rural Missouri. I don't mind revisiting that simpler time, not that this ( a general gesture around. ) reminds me of Missouri. At all. Where are you from?