You helped me take measurements for sandpath improvements. That help resulted in a new project. Also, you don't get a choice but to accept the gift so it's best if you just tell me where you're at.
[ He just sort of stares at her for a minute, not really sure if she's serious or if she realizes that she's talking to a man who grew up with three younger sisters. Something twitches in his face and he scrunches his nose a little. ]
why do I get the feeling this is more for you than me?
Is there a rule that thank you gifts can't benefit the gift giver too?
[It's not her fault that his hair is long and untamed and perfect and needs to be braided. She's doing him a favor showing him how to take care of long hair.]
[ There's a look of resignation as he turns around and leads her back to his room. ]
let's just do this
[ His room is indeed an actual bedroom, but it's pretty empty. There's some scavenged bedding on the floor in a corner and some neatly piled clothing items and books and tools. It doesn't look very lived in, more like he's squatting in a room he found and could have to tuck and run at any minute. There's not a single piece of furniture. ]
[He seems so easily resigned that it makes her giddy with excitement. Men never let her do their hair and one of her favorite things ever is playing with hair. She's so excited by it that she doesn't even comment on the sad unfurnished state of his room, though she makes plans to find and have a bed delivered to him later. Right now, she just manhandles him into sitting down and gets started on brushing his hair.]
Is it safe to talk in here?
[She has to lean down to whisper into his ear, but without knowing where all is soundproofed it's better not to risk it.]
[ He shakes his head quickly. It hasn't been a priority for him when it seems like there are so many public spaces that need the effort and materials more. ]
better to not risk it. I should probably fix it up so it can be.
[ Tilting his head to follow him, he sits a few feet from the wall so that she can sit behind him and lean back against it. He hasn't forgotten how to be thoughtful, at least. ]
[She's so much shorter than he is that she can't exactly sit behind him and still brush his hair. So she has to rest on her knees, but that's comfortable enough for her. At first she's just making sure to get any tangles out, but takes care to be gentle while doing it. She can't really use her device while she's doing it, so she waits a couple minutes before she finishes to respond.]
Why should you probably fix it up? Do you plan on having company in her often?
[ Okay, he'd been indulging her, but this honestly feels amazing and drives home just how little he's been touched in a nonviolent way in a very long time. He closes his eyes and lets himself honestly relax and he could almost be back in Brooklyn, indulging one of his sisters or sitting with a woman he'd been out dancing with. He can almost just feel like Bucky again.
By the time she types the message, there's a softness to his face that hadn't been there before when he smiles back at her. ]
soundproofing could be useful. I don't have many guests, no. should probably get a chair for when I have them, though, huh?
[She notices when he relaxes, and just smiles as she keeps brushing. The smile he sends her way makes her take pause, if only because it looks so good on him. He really should relax like this more often, she thinks.]
A chair could be nice. But a bed would be better. You'll get more use out of that one, trust me.
[There's a wink before she sets her device aside and starts combing her fingers through his hair. She has to make sure it's parted right down the middle, because she's definitely planning on giving him braided pigtails. Once she gets his hair parted, she starts working on the left braid.]
[ He is definitely not blushing because that would be ridiculous and he's just lucky the lighting in here isn't that great and that she's behind him. Sure, he's been getting back into the habit of flirting, but he's not expecting it to go anywhere and the floor's been fine for sleeping, but she's probably right. A bed would be a place to sit, at least. He should probably bother with things like that, because when he does, he always finds himself feeling a little more grounded.
With a silent thumbs up, he closes his eyes and lets her continue, silently hoping that Steve isn't about to walk in. ]
[It takes her about ten minutes because she has to make both braids absolutely even and perfect. Once she does though, she starts to work them up into a bun on top of his head. The ribbon is there to help secure it in place, and once she gets it to stay she pulls back enough to check her work.
No, it's not right. She'll have to start over and try something else.
So she unties the ribbon and stars to undo the braids. Maybe she's just enjoying this weird moment of silence that makes her feel like she's someplace safe instead of trapped in a crazy monster filled hellhole.
It takes her about another five minutes to undo his hair and brush it back out, but eventually she gets his hair tied into a half ponytail with the red ribbon. ]
[ Bucky lets her keep going and he lets himself imagine a world where he came home after the war and he's in Brooklyn, a little older and a little war-torn, but hardly the mess he is now. He's in Brooklyn and his sisters and Steve are all safe. Everything is safe and simple. He's still got people who love him and he's on his way to a white picket fence sort of life like what he'd always pictured for himself eventually.
It's broken when he opens his eyes and he's back here in this silence wasteland with all the things he's done in his life since. Still, he feels a little lighter for it, like some of the weight's shifted and he can breath again.
Smile back on his face, he lifts his hand and signs. ]
[Her hand touches at his for a second, and she feels like maybe they're friends now. Or at least she's going to think of him as a friend. It's the natural course of progression after bossing him around twice now.]
Anytime.
[She signs back, and moves to sit next to him on the edge of his makeshift bed. She reaches into the pocket of her jacket and pulls out something. His actual thank you present. It's a kit kat bar she got from Tetora. It's held out for him to take.]
[ The look on his face. His eyes light up and he shakes his head in disbelief. Is this what being his friend is like? Because it is both great and terrible. Yeah, he definitely likes her.
He takes the offered candy with a smile. ]
thanks. let me know when you're ready for me to help with round 2
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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kidding
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hi
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I'm here to help you with your hair.
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why do I get the feeling this is more for you than me?
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[It's not her fault that his hair is long and untamed and perfect and needs to be braided. She's doing him a favor showing him how to take care of long hair.]
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let's just do this
[ His room is indeed an actual bedroom, but it's pretty empty. There's some scavenged bedding on the floor in a corner and some neatly piled clothing items and books and tools. It doesn't look very lived in, more like he's squatting in a room he found and could have to tuck and run at any minute. There's not a single piece of furniture. ]
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Is it safe to talk in here?
[She has to lean down to whisper into his ear, but without knowing where all is soundproofed it's better not to risk it.]
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better to not risk it. I should probably fix it up so it can be.
[ Tilting his head to follow him, he sits a few feet from the wall so that she can sit behind him and lean back against it. He hasn't forgotten how to be thoughtful, at least. ]
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Why should you probably fix it up? Do you plan on having company in her often?
[He walked right into that one.]
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By the time she types the message, there's a softness to his face that hadn't been there before when he smiles back at her. ]
soundproofing could be useful. I don't have many guests, no. should probably get a chair for when I have them, though, huh?
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A chair could be nice. But a bed would be better. You'll get more use out of that one, trust me.
[There's a wink before she sets her device aside and starts combing her fingers through his hair. She has to make sure it's parted right down the middle, because she's definitely planning on giving him braided pigtails. Once she gets his hair parted, she starts working on the left braid.]
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With a silent thumbs up, he closes his eyes and lets her continue, silently hoping that Steve isn't about to walk in. ]
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No, it's not right. She'll have to start over and try something else.
So she unties the ribbon and stars to undo the braids. Maybe she's just enjoying this weird moment of silence that makes her feel like she's someplace safe instead of trapped in a crazy monster filled hellhole.
It takes her about another five minutes to undo his hair and brush it back out, but eventually she gets his hair tied into a half ponytail with the red ribbon. ]
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It's broken when he opens his eyes and he's back here in this silence wasteland with all the things he's done in his life since. Still, he feels a little lighter for it, like some of the weight's shifted and he can breath again.
Smile back on his face, he lifts his hand and signs. ]
thanks.
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Anytime.
[She signs back, and moves to sit next to him on the edge of his makeshift bed. She reaches into the pocket of her jacket and pulls out something. His actual thank you present. It's a kit kat bar she got from Tetora. It's held out for him to take.]
That's your actual thank you present.
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He takes the offered candy with a smile. ]
thanks. let me know when you're ready for me to help with round 2