What a shame. [It’s sarcastic, but obviously since there communications could be monitored, it’s left plain so it can be read however it wants to be read.]
[ Henry has thick enough skin that it doesn't bother him as much as it should, given the circumstances. He chalks it up to their similar brand of paranoia when it comes down to people looking over their shoulders. ]
I woke up in a vat Pretty jarring all in all Felt like I was reenacting the Matrix
[ Briefly forgets that Bucky grew up in the 20's but hey, you never know... ]
[ Being sent planet-side should've filled Henry with some apprehension, or maybe dread, but instead he feels a little giddy. Then again, that didn't seem so out of the ordinary, right? At least for him, he was always the type to throw himself into danger and enjoy the high of it, so why would this have been any different?
He waits until the sun goes down to return back to the familiar hallways of where he and Bucky rendezvous often. It feels strange being back here, like it'd been ages instead of a week, but his feet still know the way to go. Throwing a furtive glance around the hallway, he raises his hand to rap gently on the door with his knuckles. ]
[There’s no indication as to who might come at this hour, and at this point, Bucky’s grown used to the occasional intrusion, Aranean and COST alike. There are always matters to consider, bits and pieces of business, conversation, courting in every sense of the word. It’s having grown accustomed to it (and exhausted of it), that he opens the door plainly, expression control emptiness as he tries to assess what business comes tonight. Except it isn’t business. And it isn’t anyone he expects.
Door half open, he stares, stoicism gradually slipping from his face and replaced by pained relief. His eyes dart across Henry’s form, as if to make sure all the pieces are where they should be, that he’s really standing in front of him, alive, and after several moments’ pause, he pushes the door open further and wordlessly gestures the man in.]
[ He probably should've told Bucky he'd be arriving soon, maybe that would've saved Bucky the emotional turmoil or something... but in hindsight, maybe that wouldn't have made that much of a difference. On his end, he can't even begin to imagine how Bucky would feel upon seeing him. That is, he doesn't really imagine being traumatized by his own death, seeing as he barely had time to feel it or see it happen. He certainly couldn't feel the same way that a person on the outside watching him die could feel.
Eyes originally on the floor, they rise to meet and he can see the emotion flash across his face. He can feel a sort of tension that doesn't necessarily make him uneasy per se but it sure stirs something heavy in his gut. Guilt?
He steps inside, closing the door behind him. ]
Reporting.
[ With a casual nod, he offers a small grin, his voice soft. ]
[Once the door has been shut, he only stares further, in confusion, in awe, in sorrow. Bucky can’t find the words. He’d never even thought that Henry would lose, much less so brutally. He can’t even pretend, mimic Henry’s easy smile, air of indifference.
His hand finds Henry’s cheek first, a gentle touch, appraising as if the man might suddenly fade through his grasp. When he doesn’t, a shaky breath of relief slips from the soldier’s lips, and he steps in, silently drawing the man into his grasp and embracing him tightly, in hopes he might never leave again.]
[ It's discomforting a little, the silence and the look Bucky gives him. He's about to say something else maybe to try and get some sort of talk going but instead a soft touch on his cheek stops him short.
The significance of the touch isn't lost on him at all, and something strikes him in his chest like a prickly needle in his heart. His defeat in the ring, his death, affected him this much. The warmth of the hug stuns him into furthering his silence, hands resting limply against wherever is closest for them to reach. He breathes out, finally remembering his hands and lets them press against Bucky's back to properly return the hug. ]
[It’s when Henry returns the gesture, even if it’s only a little, that he actually starts to relax, gradually sinking into the other man’s loose hold, regardless of it it’s honestly welcomed or not. He doesn’t really care for once. He’s taking this for himself. Because he needs it.]
You’re really back.
[The words are barely above a whisper, the relief and joy in them interlaced with sorrow.]
[ His grip on Bucky tightens as Bucky relaxes, rubbing circles into his back as he lets out a low, drawn-out hum. ]
Hey, hey, yeah I'm back. It's me.
[ His voice matches in a gentle tone, letting the hug go as long as Bucky seems to need it. He isn't...100% sure how long is too long, and when he should hang back but, well, he'll let the guy decide. The urge to make a quip is strong, but he holds his tongue. For now. ]
[He laughs a bit, to his own surprise. Bucky isn’t really sure way. Maybe it’s just the anxiety. Either way, the fact Henry responds so plainly, as if a day hasn’t passed, brings its own comfort, and he draws back after a moment, arms at Henry’s shoulders.]
You sure took your time. [His words are still quiet as his eyes wander appraisingly again. Even though it probably shouldn’t be so hard to believe, it still manages to be.]
[ Seeing Bucky relax puts Henry a little more at ease, too, and as the embrace soon falls way so does his own. His hands rest along Bucky's elbows, holding him for a brief moment to emphasize a quip that he just couldn't hold back.
He tries very hard not to preen at the gaze, though. That, at least, he manages. ]
Oh, you missed me that much, eh? I tried my best, you know.
[ While true, Henry understood the gravity of the situation and how much it affected Bucky, he can't help but try to alleviate any heaviness in the atmosphere. At least after a respectable amount of time, anyway.
He gives Bucky a final pat before dropping his hands, letting them rest on his own hips as he recalls his trip. ]
Not long. Got teleported from Base straight away, so yeah. That was that. Mostly the recovery that was holdin' me back, it was.
[He hadn’t had the details of course, the original conversation very much disguised and clean cut. Asking too much likely would have drawn attention if their messages had been intercepted after all.]
[ Oh right, yeah, he didn't get a chance to go into all the lovely, icky detail. He sighs, chuckling a bit at the recollection of his memories upon his revival. ]
Ach, you know, the time between resurrection and right now. There was a lot of throwing up, black stuff all over the place. Sweat, vomit, tears if there were any... that sort of thing. My eyes were all black too for a bit... and let me tell you, that scared the shite out of me the first time I checked the mirror.
[ Sometimes, he forgets that the vague but plainly put explanations only work when there's other things to distract them. It also doesn't help that Bucky is honestly invested in his well-being and he realizes this painfully so, especially in this moment. He rubs his neck, huffing out a laugh. ]
Right, so. I wake up in some vat, a la Matrix, as mentioned earlier. There's a lot of pink fluid and I assume that's what was also sustaining me or something, I don't know. After I was released from it, any body fluids I excreted were...black in color. It was rather unpleasant to look at. Turned my sclera black too. They wouldn't send me back down until I was recovered from all that.
[Even with the huff of laughter, Bucky can’t help but feel his skin crawl from the description. He can’t really imagine bodily fluids being shifted in color like that. After all, blood is red because of what it’s comprised of, isn’t it? So if things come out black, then...
Well. Thank God Henry is better now anyway.]
Your spit too, I guess? [He withholds a shudder.] I mean. Guess I can’t really blame them. It’d...not reflect on us well. If people came back all...
Yeah, spit too. [ He can totally understand someone being grossed out by the imagery. He certainly didn't like experiencing it himself either, even if the taste was the same as regular ol' spit. ]
Disgusting? Yeah, can't imagine that going over well with the good spider people.
[ Goes to the bed, sitting down on it and almost deflating as the soft material gives under his weight. It's still weird to him how soft a bed can be after dealing with the constant discomfort of sitting up and getting up to constantly dab off any black fluids. ]
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winterfish
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Date: 5/24/18 09:26 pm (UTC)What happened after?
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Date: 5/24/18 11:19 pm (UTC)I woke up in a vat
Pretty jarring all in all
Felt like I was reenacting the Matrix
[ Briefly forgets that Bucky grew up in the 20's but hey, you never know... ]
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Date: 5/25/18 03:17 am (UTC)So everything that happened before you took the pill was good? Or bad?
[He’s not fishing for anything. This is totally just normal chatter about nothing important at all.]
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Date: 5/25/18 07:21 pm (UTC)I'd even say some parts were very good.
[ He's also glad Bucky understood that reference. ]
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Date: 5/25/18 07:29 pm (UTC)[Definitely. Not. Fishing.]
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Date: 5/25/18 07:44 pm (UTC)[ He thinks Bucky is pretty obvious, anyway... ]
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Date: 5/25/18 07:58 pm (UTC)Report to me as soon as you’re back. I’ll be waiting.
[And he does. For days. But for good reason.]
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Date: 5/26/18 02:00 am (UTC)[ And he'll think about this. For days. Even as he's puking up inky black stuff. ]
time skiiiiiip
Date: 5/26/18 02:43 am (UTC)He waits until the sun goes down to return back to the familiar hallways of where he and Bucky rendezvous often. It feels strange being back here, like it'd been ages instead of a week, but his feet still know the way to go. Throwing a furtive glance around the hallway, he raises his hand to rap gently on the door with his knuckles. ]
no subject
Date: 5/26/18 03:08 am (UTC)Door half open, he stares, stoicism gradually slipping from his face and replaced by pained relief. His eyes dart across Henry’s form, as if to make sure all the pieces are where they should be, that he’s really standing in front of him, alive, and after several moments’ pause, he pushes the door open further and wordlessly gestures the man in.]
no subject
Date: 5/26/18 03:38 am (UTC)Eyes originally on the floor, they rise to meet and he can see the emotion flash across his face. He can feel a sort of tension that doesn't necessarily make him uneasy per se but it sure stirs something heavy in his gut. Guilt?
He steps inside, closing the door behind him. ]
Reporting.
[ With a casual nod, he offers a small grin, his voice soft. ]
no subject
Date: 5/26/18 03:45 am (UTC)His hand finds Henry’s cheek first, a gentle touch, appraising as if the man might suddenly fade through his grasp. When he doesn’t, a shaky breath of relief slips from the soldier’s lips, and he steps in, silently drawing the man into his grasp and embracing him tightly, in hopes he might never leave again.]
no subject
Date: 5/26/18 06:01 am (UTC)The significance of the touch isn't lost on him at all, and something strikes him in his chest like a prickly needle in his heart. His defeat in the ring, his death, affected him this much. The warmth of the hug stuns him into furthering his silence, hands resting limply against wherever is closest for them to reach. He breathes out, finally remembering his hands and lets them press against Bucky's back to properly return the hug. ]
no subject
Date: 5/27/18 06:31 am (UTC)You’re really back.
[The words are barely above a whisper, the relief and joy in them interlaced with sorrow.]
God. Henry.
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Date: 5/27/18 07:18 am (UTC)Hey, hey, yeah I'm back. It's me.
[ His voice matches in a gentle tone, letting the hug go as long as Bucky seems to need it. He isn't...100% sure how long is too long, and when he should hang back but, well, he'll let the guy decide. The urge to make a quip is strong, but he holds his tongue. For now. ]
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Date: 5/27/18 07:25 am (UTC)You sure took your time. [His words are still quiet as his eyes wander appraisingly again. Even though it probably shouldn’t be so hard to believe, it still manages to be.]
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Date: 5/27/18 07:28 am (UTC)He tries very hard not to preen at the gaze, though. That, at least, he manages. ]
Oh, you missed me that much, eh? I tried my best, you know.
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Date: 5/27/18 07:34 am (UTC)This ain’t a joke— [it’s at normal volume this time, but despite the words, a short laugh slips out at the end.]
How long does it take to get here from the ship? We all ported pretty quick that first time.
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Date: 5/27/18 07:42 am (UTC)He gives Bucky a final pat before dropping his hands, letting them rest on his own hips as he recalls his trip. ]
Not long. Got teleported from Base straight away, so yeah. That was that. Mostly the recovery that was holdin' me back, it was.
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Date: 5/27/18 07:53 am (UTC)Recovery? What do you mean?
[He hadn’t had the details of course, the original conversation very much disguised and clean cut. Asking too much likely would have drawn attention if their messages had been intercepted after all.]
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Date: 5/27/18 07:59 am (UTC)Ach, you know, the time between resurrection and right now. There was a lot of throwing up, black stuff all over the place. Sweat, vomit, tears if there were any... that sort of thing. My eyes were all black too for a bit... and let me tell you, that scared the shite out of me the first time I checked the mirror.
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Date: 5/27/18 08:03 am (UTC)[That’s... A helluva explanation, Henry. Especially so plainly put.]
Black stuff? I’m. Hm. You’ve lost me.
What...happened after you died?
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Date: 5/27/18 07:05 pm (UTC)Right, so. I wake up in some vat, a la Matrix, as mentioned earlier. There's a lot of pink fluid and I assume that's what was also sustaining me or something, I don't know. After I was released from it, any body fluids I excreted were...black in color. It was rather unpleasant to look at. Turned my sclera black too. They wouldn't send me back down until I was recovered from all that.
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Date: 5/29/18 06:27 pm (UTC)Well. Thank God Henry is better now anyway.]
Your spit too, I guess? [He withholds a shudder.] I mean. Guess I can’t really blame them. It’d...not reflect on us well. If people came back all...
Y’know.
no subject
Date: 5/29/18 08:57 pm (UTC)Disgusting? Yeah, can't imagine that going over well with the good spider people.
[ Goes to the bed, sitting down on it and almost deflating as the soft material gives under his weight. It's still weird to him how soft a bed can be after dealing with the constant discomfort of sitting up and getting up to constantly dab off any black fluids. ]
How's it been down here, then?
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