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[sentielemental]

[The smile on his face is both awkward and genuine. He’s trying to keep an upbeat attitude, because he’s been here before, he knows it won’t make a difference to fight about it. Instead he’s trying to pick up on what he’s missed out on.]

Hey, man, when things change, they change, don’t they? I was hoping to find someone who’d be willing to help a fella out with catching up on everything that’s happened around here in the past few months. I’m sure there’s probably some “text” or “file” on the phones for it, but there’s nothing quite like a good sit down, if ya ask me. I’m offering up a free dinner at this swank diner I know, uh…I think you call it “retro” nowadays.

[He looks like he's debating something, then adds.] And if anybody can tell me where Bucky is--uh, Bucky Barnes--or if he's even still around, I'd really appreciate it.

Comments

[performance]

Bucky? [ wince... ] He's, uh. Kind of in jail. At the moment.

[ man there's no not awkward way to break that news, huh? ]

[sentielemental]

[Toro's eyes go wide, because jail and yet Toro's been gone for a few months shy of a year. So instead he sighs and rubs his hand across his face while letting out a laugh of both exasperation and fondness.]

Of course he is. He was due for getting himself into some kind of jam. What did he do this time?

[performance]

Oh, man. That's... kind of a big question.

[sentielemental]

[Toro doesn't like the way that sounds. What has Bucky gotten himself into now?]

Is it the kind of big that needs a face-to-face explanation?

[performance]

Probably, yeah. It wasn't his fault, if that helps at all.

[sentielemental]

...Can't say that it does. [For it to not be Bucky's fault meant it was more serious than he'd first thought. If it was Bucky's fault it was probably impulsive, youthful stupidity, but if it's not..well, Toro will definitely want to see Bucky as soon as possible.]

But he's okay, otherwise, right? He's not missing a limb or anything? [Yes that's relevant.]

[performance]

Not last time I checked...

[ That's an incredibly specific thing to ask, and Dick sounds wary. ]

Is that a major concern?

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[strictdiscipline]

[ The "communicator" still remains a mystery to her for the most part but the information provided on the screen (from a number of people across all of "Florida", so she's been told) seems important to know, enough that she thinks it might be worth skimming through once or twice per day.

Take this one, for example. ]

"Catching up"?

[ Interesting phrasing. ]

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[sentielemental]

[Tom doesn't remember this woman from before, but it's been long enough that plenty of new people to have come into the cities. He laughs and rubs at the back of his head.]

Uh, yeah. I was here for a while before. It's been months and I wanted to know everything that's happened. Nice to meet ya. I'm Toro.

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[strictdiscipline]

[ In return, she gives a brief incline of her head in greeting. ]

Riza Hawkeye. [ 'Lieutenant' she leaves off for now, uncertain over how much weight - or even relevance - it holds here. ] Were you out on vacation?

[ 'Several months' seems a rather long time. ]

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[sentielemental]

[He's not even sure if he wants to get into the complicated mess that is months here and years back home. At least...not until he gets to speak to Bucky.]

I wish. Vacation would have been nice somewhere in there. [Toro shakes his head.] I went home.

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[strictdiscipline]

[ She watches him, takes in the uncertainty on his face. There's a number of reasons that could explain it, only a very few of which she could even begin to take a stab at. ]

You don't sound particularly happy about that fact.

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[sentielemental]

[Toro realizes them how that might have sounded.] Oh, no, no. Going home was good. [Sort of. It's complicated.]

It's been a long time so I know I missed out on everything happening here. When you wake up somewhere and realize time's passed and you don't know what happened...it throws ya. I'm just trying to get my feet under me is all.

But I'm guessing it's all kinds of weird for someone who's going through it for the first time.

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[sidecars]

Gee, this is awkward...

[ Bucky is trying to look ashamed, but it's really hard when his good pal is back. Someone who knows him, the real him. ]

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[sentielemental]

[He sees that face and is hit with a wave of nostalgic fondness, because this is Bucky. The boy who had been younger than him but felt like he already knew the world--it wasn't true and Toro knew that more than well now, but they'd both been dumb kids who hadn't known better. This is the best friend who had made a wish on the cosmic cube to bring him back from the dead. So there's happiness and exasperation and he might only look a year or two older than he had before but Toro feels all his 90 odd years right for a brief moment.]

A man for understatements. I've heard I might need to send you a pie. [With a file in it, like in the movies.] What in Sam Hill have you gotten yourself into without me around?

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[sidecars]

[ Bucky shrugs. ] I gotta keep it cool, pal. [ But Toro's question sort of takes the glee out of this reunion. ]

Uhmm, I don't wanna talk about it over the network again. Come sign in as a visitor in De Chima and we can... talk.

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[sentielemental]

[Toro's face isn't smiling anymore, but he doesn't look angry or upset either. He gives a nod.] Sure, Buck. What's visiting hours?

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[sidecars]

Weekends in the morning... Seriously, don't bring a pie.

[ Ha ha ha they will destroy it and it would be so sad. All that wasted pie. ]

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[sentielemental]

Sure. 9 o'clock, don't sleep in. [And this feels so much more serious than it did before. He'd thought Bucky had just gotten himself into a bar fight, but now...]

It'll be fine.

video: Display name is Clark Kent

[andaway]

So I'm not the only one to be brought here after a couple months and wondering what did I miss. Weirdly reassuring.

Did you get to go home, at least?

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[sentielemental]

You too? [Oh great, someone else who can relate.] I did go home, for a long time. How many years were you back there?

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[andaway]

Me, too. Got back last month after nearly two years spent in here, to find out I'm missing months. [Now that he's had some time to digest it he doesn't sound as upset about it. Doesn't mean he's completely accepted it, though.]

I didn't go home, though. So you've go that going on for yourself at least.

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[sentielemental]

Yeah? I guess you could say that. I even got to experience the 21st Century. Kind of crazy, but not as bad as I was expecting.

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[andaway]

And then you walk up to here, where it's the same but not really. That must have been harsh.

Or does your world have hovercars, already? That was a new one to me.

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[sentielemental]

Waking up here was like remembering a dream from a long time ago. A really wild dream you had after getting really drunk.

[He laughs when he says it.] Unfortunately, hovercars are not in mass production back home. Electric cars are really in right now.