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mcu: james buchanan barnes

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Who: Clara Oswald & You!
When: First 2 weeks of the month
Where: Various places
What: Clara's arrival month has a lot of fuzzy memories and exploring.
Warnings: None needed now, will update if needed

Closed to The Doctor:
[Clara stays a little out of sorts the day or two after arriving, but as the wooziness starts to fade and memories of familiar things start to surface she's left with a feeling of discontent. As nice as it would be to stick around their new home and make it nice for the both of them, the need to explore overwhelms her. She can't just be stationary in one place, she needs to move about.

She grabs the Doctor and ends up dragging him around, trying to find someplace that seems off limits.]

Keep looking.

[She implores, touching at panels and things along the wall. Surely there must be hidden switches somewhere, right?]

In places like this, there are always areas that shouldn't be found.

Closed to Bucky:
[She's a little surprised by how hard it is to sleep. She's tired, but a combination of death filled dreams combined with a general unease about the odd memories she has of this place keep her awake. She's starting to feel more and more like the Doctor these days. When she can't sleep at all, she doesn't want to worry the Doctor by letting him see. So she slips out of their unit and paces the hallway nearby.

Things are quiet tonight, most others already sleeping. Trying hard not to make any noise that might disturb someone, she's slipped off her shoes and is aimlessly walking back and forth. She's anxiously biting at her thumbnail as her mind works itself in circles.

The sound of a door closing nearby catches her attention, and she turns her head to glance down the hallway at him. ]

You're up awfully late.

[Pot, meet kettle.]

Open: Observation Station

[Clara will never stop loving the stars. No matter what else is happening, something about them is so calming. She spends a good amount of time up on the observation deck in those first couple of weeks, staring out at the expanse beyond where she's confined. It's not all that bad here, but it's definitely not the TARDIS. But this view? This view is just as nice as most anything the old girl can give her. ]

Are there charts of the constellations here?

[She wonders out loud, though if anyone's nearby and wants to answer her question she won't complain.]

Open: the Bar

[Drinking starts to sound like a very good choice by the time the second week in space rolls around. It's not the space that she can't deal with, it's the not having any control over being utterly stuck that gets to her. When she stumbles upon the bar, she thinks she might be in luck. If nothing else, drinking can help with her sleeping issue.

She makes her way over to sit on one of the stools, and takes a look around.]

Is there anything here worth having?

[Someone's sitting a couple of stools over. Maybe they come here enough they can fill her in on the best space drinks. Supplies seem to be in short supply so far. She's guessing that extends to the alcohol on board too.]

Wildcard

[Clara can be found all over the place in those first couple of weeks. Feel free to write a starter with a location of your choosing!]

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[There’s little reason to assume anyone would be awake in what’s become (essentially) the nighttime hours of the station. Turns out even without the sun, imitating day cycles still makes the most sense to people, even those who aren’t from Earth. Circadian rhythms maybe. The fact he finds himself in company isn’t the most surprising though. Actually, the real surprise is that the next room over has an occupant now. (Or possibly occupants?) Must be one of the new arrivals.

It’s an easy accusation to dispute, especially given how the young woman in question is also quite awake at the same time, but rather than confront her with the fact, he simply puts on that easy, old smile.]

Nonsense. It’s eight am somewhere.

[Ah, a classic.]

[His response takes her off guard and makes her dryly laugh. At least she's still able to have a decent sense of humor. That's a good sign that she hasn't completely lost it yet.]

Using that logic, it's also two am somewhere.

[Smiling, she makes her way over toward him so she can talk without calling out down the hallway. Her voice seems to carry and echo here.]

Can't sleep either?

[Chuckling at her response to his retort, his brows raise in genuine mirth. Sometimes it's okay to laugh, he finds himself reminding himself. He turns to face her properly, having initially only headed out the door and stopped right in front when she'd called out to him.]

You guessed it. [He throws a friendly wink her way before turning and looking down the hall behind him for a moment.]

Thought I’d— [he starts, then turning back,] —go for a walk or something. I could do more reading, but I don’t wanna bother my roommate with my paper shuffling.

[A dry, short laugh follows.]

A walk sounds lovely, actually.

[Clara, being Clara, just invites herself right along. Loneliness loves company, or something like that.]

You're a hell of a lot more considerate than my roommate is. He's been awake for three days straight and won't stop talking.

[She's so kind to the Doctor.]

[His brows raise in amusement, not missing that she’s decided to apparently join him. Even if he hardly knows a thing about her, he can’t say some company wouldn’t be appreciated. Company is always nice. And so is meeting new people.

At her remark regarding her own case, he chuckles, head angling to the side curiously.]

Three days? That’s...intense. I used to know a fella who’d do that too. Well. Know another fella now that does it the same, I guess. [Like father, like son.] He doesn’t really like talking while he’s working though. Unless it’s to himself.

So he's got a bit of a case of egomania then?

[She jokes about his friend, because it's easier than facing the fact that she can be the exact same way when working. She's been talking to herself for days, pacing in circles and trying to sort things out.

Sometimes it's just easier when you're the only thing you can hear. The pieces fall into place easier that way.

[He has to keep himself from snorting. Egomania is exactly the only way to describe what Howard and Tony both suffer from.] Yeah, [a laugh] more or less.

It’s true though. It can be. I guess that’s part of why I didn’t want to do more reading too, since I’ll probably end up mumbling something out loud without meaning to anyway.

One of the best parts about reading is being able to react. I always encourage my students to not be afraid to talk out loud when they're reading.

[She glances up at him, giving a tap to his arm as she points toward the upcoming observation deck.]

What is it you were reading? I heard there was a library here, but haven't had the chance to take a peek at it just yet.

Students? You’re a teacher? [He can’t even think of the last time he’s spoken with an educator. It’s actually rather cathartic.]

I, uh, yeah. Grabbed a bunch of stuff from the library. There’s no checkout system as far as I know, but. Well, I couldn’t spend all day at the library. Got other stuff to do, and the plants aren’t gonna rescue themselves.

About the history here though. And the...culture. I guess you could say I’m researching reality. [He laughs quietly.] Don’t really know this universe well, so. Hafta start somewhere.

Was. Dunno what I'll be able to be here.

[She's grateful for the change of topic though, pleased to focus on him instead of herself.]

Are we positive this isn't a universe we already know? I might need to try mapping the stars, to see if they match up to any others I've been to.

[The way she says it is an offer, to let him help if he needs ways to fill his time.]

Hard to say, really. Hear there are people that have different pasts despite being from the same place here, so. Could be a similar one to what I know, but could be different in ways I don’t know about too, even if it’s kinda the same.

[That said...] But it could very well be yours. Or not. Honestly, I don’t know how there’s a real way to be sure, even saying you map anything, but mapping ’em at all will give us a better idea of what we’re dealing with.

[Not that he’s really much of a scientist or astronomer or anything. He’s a hobbyist at best. That couldn’t even afford a proper telescope and just read all the book in at the NYPL to make up for it.]

It's impossible to make them all, I know. And we can't be in my galaxy. None of this looks familiar to the charts I've memorized and know.

[She frowns as she admits that out loud, and winds up hugging her arms around herself so she can rub her hands up and down her arms. Suddenly she feels the cold of being out here in space, on a station that doesn't seem to have any rhyme or reason as to how it pulls people in.]

It's really more of a project to stay busy more than anything. Bad things happen when I sit idle for too long.

[It's a sheepish admission, one that has her glancing up at him out of the corner of her eye with mild amusement. She probably sounds so ridiculous admitting that. ]

[ she doesn't need to tell him twice. it's only been a couple days and he's already beginning to go stir crazy. he may not be quite the tightly-wound rubber band of a man he used to be, but that doesn't mean he's not going to start clawing at the walls sooner or later; trapped somewhere, anywhere, without the tardis, is generally his definition of a nightmare scenario. he's hardly been able to stand still in their new pad, actually settling in appears to be out of the question at the moment.

so, exploration!! lots and lots of exploration.

he stares at this current panel, sunglasses buzzing dutifully. they haven't uncovered any exciting secrets thus far, but hope springs eternal. ]

What do you suppose we'll find this time? We could be inside a training simulation, or on the back of transgalactic turtle... perhaps we've been abducted by monsters made of toenail clippings.

[ he'll honestly take any of the above. it'll be something to do. ]

[Clara stops what she's doing and turns to stare at the Doctor. Her palm rests against the cool metal of the wall and she leans against it, eyebrows slowly arching.]

Toenail clippings? Honestly, Doctor. I need to draw you up new cue cards for situations like this.

[But she too is intrigued and excited by the idea of where they possibly could be, so she drops the act and winds up grinning. Her hand slips away from the wall and she steps in closer to him, laughing as she sways a little.]

My money's on the transgalactic turtle.

[Her laughter dies off and she's left looking desperate. Please let them find something exciting or useful soon.]

(Bored brew trouble, even in good boys like Eddie Kaspbrak. Trouble wasn't something he normally sought, but at times, it certainly sought him in the shape of curiosity. Eddie spent most of his time playing with Laura, but there were gaps in between where he wandered the station endlessly. Exploring every nook and cranny because what else was there to do? He no longer had school (which, by the way, was awesome) and he didn't have his mom breathing down his neck, waiting up for him to get home at a certain time.

So he explored. He explored a lot. Eddie had biked past the bar a handful of times now, and each time he did, he got more and more curious.

It wasn't like Eddie had this huge interest in drinking. It was just that...well.

Adults made such a big deal about it that maybe he was a little curious.

If worse came to worse, he knew that alcohol was good for
A) Sanitizing wounds (or so he read)
B) Starting fires/causing explosions (useful stuff for a bored boy).

Problem was Eddie wasn't really the trouble-maker in his group so he didn't have a knack for sneaking around. Which meant he was huddled up at the opposite end of the bar, trying to blend in (horribly) and attempting to sneeeak his hand just over...to get...the nearest bottle...When a woman's voice sounds out and his arm shrinks back instantly. His head whips around and God if he didn't look like the personification of guilt. Maybe- maybe she doesn't notice him.

So he goes back in for the kill. Gets a hold of the bottle- yes! - but it was a bottle that had apparently been holding up an entire thing of toothpicks and yup.

There they all go.

Scattering all over the floor in a very obvious, very loud fashion. Like a waterfall of wood and shame. Eddie's shame, in particular, and he sort of just shuts his eyes as it happens because this is it. This is the day he dies.)

[Clara's eyebrow arches, and she just watches him for a few moments. The physical comedy he's providing her with makes her grin, and she doesn't bother hiding it. He looks so guilty and pitiful, that she can't help but laugh.]

Do you come here often?

[She teases him, and slides from stool to stool until she's sitting next to him. The mess can sit there for a little while, they'll get around to picking it up eventually. She's a teacher and is used to looking for things that are teachable moments, but in a place like this she figures that a child needs someone they can talk to. Not an adult that talks at them and lectures.]

You know, I feel the need to tell you that whiskey's the eleventh most disgusting thing in the entire universe. I'd know, cos I've been just about all across it. Best make sure that what you're reaching for isn't that.

[He looks about the same age as her students, give or take. A little on the small side, but definitely the right age for being curious about drinking and things that are forbidden. She can't blame him for being here, especially not if he's here all alone.]

(There were few things in the known universe that were redder than Eddie Kaspbrak was in that moment. His only saving grace was that he wasn't shaking with impending fear of an adult's wrath- and Clara could be thanked for that. Eddie had gotten in trouble with adults enough time to know when he was gonna get it good.

She's smiling, but that doesn't take away the fact that he was caught red handed. It was stupid, really. Alcohol caused liver failure. He knew that.)

Um.

(An intelligent response to mark the ages. Eddie slowly, sloooowly sets the bottle back down, as if it would somehow change the fact that he had picked it up at all.)

What's the first most disgusting thing in the universe?

(He has a running book of 'most disgusting things' and alcohol wasn't even in the top twenty. Call him intrigued.)

Are you an astronaut or something?

(A beat.)

I...I wasn't - I thought it was water. (No he did not.)

No.

[She quickly corrected him, giving a wry smile.]

You knew what it was. You look too smart to play that stupid.

[Sliding off the stool, she crouched down and started to pick up what he had dropped. It was a big mess, but nothing that wouldn't be taken care of easily. ]

I'm a teacher, not an astronaut. I just travel around the galaxy in my spare time.

[She knew the curiosity of kids would probably have him asking questions, so she didn't give him too much information right away. Instead, she kept cleaning up, glancing at him with a look that invited him to help. She wouldn't ask or tell him to do it, she wanted him to feel like it was his choice and he was taking responsibility for what he'd done.]

I look smart?

(Now that was a marvelous thing to wonder about. Eddie had pretty good grades, but hey, it never hurt to have additional encouragement.

She doesn't have to wait long to see if he'd help, doesn't really even have to look at him. Eddie was practically engineered by his mom to be neat and organized, to help out, and honestly, even if he wasn't, he was too nice to make someone else clean up his own mess. Now that the moment of worry had passed, he was moving. He hesitates a second because how dirty was a bar floor exactly? After a second of consideration, he grabs a napkin and gets down with her to help pick up, using the napkin instead of his bare hand.

He squats too instead of kneeling, not wanting to risk getting his knees dirty.)

Teachers don't travel the galaxy. (But then Eddie remembers he's not from his home anymore and maybe some teachers do. So that's curious. He looks up at her dubiously from under his bangs.)

...What do you travel around space for?

For fun, mostly. You think teachers enjoy being there with you lot every day?

[She teases him, laughing a little. Between the two of them, they get the mess cleaned up in no time, and Clara offers him a hand in standing back up. He may not taking it, judging by how he's using a napkin to pick things up off the ground. But it's there if he wants it.]

I taught seventh year in London. My students were about your age, I wager.

[Establishing a reason she can be trusted feels important. He's old enough to know how to do the basics of self-care, and he needs to learn some independence. But she wants to be able to check in on him and ensure he's safe. And she has a feeling he might benefit from getting to know the Doctor, as well.]

(Eddie blinked in surprise at a teacher saying something like that. Then after a second, his mouth twitched up into a smile.)

Probably not. (Children were a menace. Even the good ones. His eyes go to her hand and then back to the floor and he itched at the urge to refuse it. But Eddie ignored it and reached a small hand out to grab hers and pull himself up to his feet. He couldn't help wiping his hand off on his shorts right after though, trying to be subtle about it at least.)

Yeah, I would be starting the seventh grade this year.

(She seemed calmer than normal teachers. Not that Eddie could really remember any of his teachers any more, but something about her was...Nicer. More patient. She didn't have those beady hawk-eyes of a teacher always looking for a kid doing something wrong.)

I didn't think teachers drank.

[The laughter she made after he said that was probably undignified, but she couldn't help herself.]

Teachers drink more than anyone.

[She doesn't lie to him about that, but also makes it sound like a joke. There's no need for a seventh grader to know that his teacher is likely an alcoholic due to the day to day stress of teaching a classroom full of rowdy kids. ]

Thing is, it doesn't even look like there's anything left here. 'Fraid you're just gonna have to wait and see what the big deal is.

[Now that everything was cleaned up, she started to head out of the bar, motioning with a nod of her head for him to follow.]

I'm Clara Oswald, by the way. Who are you, hm?

I don't know about that. My mom says politicians drink a lot. That and homeless people.

(But his voice abruptly stops at the end of 'people', his eyes widening fractionally. His expression twists into discomfort, but then it's gone, and he's rolling his shoulders, not too sure why he had just felt so immensely uncomfortable. Maybe it was because the bar's stench was starting to get to him.

Eddie didn't have too much faith in adults as is so it wasn't like Clara was ruining anyone's image for him.)

I guess it's for the best. I'd probably die of alcohol poisoning.

(Eddie sighs with utter woe at this.)

I'm Eddie Kaspbrak. (Does he shake her hand? That was the polite thing to do and most adults seemed to like it- especially teachers. So he awkwardly holds his hand out.) I'm sorry you had to clean up some of my mess.

Haven't you heard? Kids are supposed to make messes.

[She leaned in to whisper it, like it was a secret kids weren't supposed to know. He seems a little uptight, and wants him to know that despite her being a teacher it's not like she's his mum. She doesn't want to discipline him or anything.]

Come on then, Eddie Kaspbrak. I'll show you where you can get actual water.

[She assumes he already knows, but figures that the short walk will give them a little more time to chat.]

[ Tony likes the occupy corners of the bar when camping out in the labs has gotten old - usually due to over-crowding. He'd gotten spoiled on Thisavrou, there's no doubt about that. A sudden return to Moira-style living has been more jarring than anticipated.

Reminders of the Moira seem to be popping up in than just cramped living quarters, though. It seems to be happening in the form of familiar faces, too. ]

Well, well, well, Seashells. [ He swivels on his stool, both eyebrows raised. Clara may not even remember her last jaunt in this universe, might not even be the same Clara, but the nickname tumbles out regardless. ] Fancy meeting you here.

The short answer is "no," but the long answer is "how desperate are you right now?"

[Her memories are a little touch and go at the moment. Mostly fuzzy, but occasionally something strong comes through. His voice and the nickname are strong enough to trigger a memory of a beach. It makes her eyes go wide right before they narrow slightly, and a confused look takes over her face as she stares over at him. ]

Not desperate enough to leap into the unknown without a clue first, Tony Stark.

[A little gasp comes from her the second after she says his name. It just came to her without any bidding, further cementing her belief that she's been in a place like this before. Maybe not here exactly, but someplace like it. Has the Doctor or someone else tampered with her memories? She intends on finding out as soon as possible.

Until then, she forces an uneasy smile and tries to act like this all is a joke.]

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The Bar

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