( His forehead creases, his lips draw into a thin line and he nods once, knowing he will. He also knows it's more complicated than that and he wonders if Bucky can read into it.
There's worse than this and also better. It could go either way, he knows. )
Has it been a full year since they were here? Steve?
( He listens, piercing two pieces of broccoli. )
Magnus... you'll meet Magnus. He wants to ward the house.
Most of them disappeared... I guess a good eight months ago? Steve went about four months back. He showed up again a month later with no memories of this place and then disappeared again before we could get contracts signed or anything. So now it's just me and Peg. I know I've seen some of Steve's other friends around the city, but I don't really know them.
[ He takes a bite of his own food, smiling like it's his first bite of good food in ages. that's just how he is now, though. Everything good gets savored just a little more. ]
Okay. If it'll make it safer, that's fine with me. Is it a problem that my friend Thomas is a wizard? If he were to visit, I mean. He's one of the few people here I really trust.
( That's tough. He doesn't know what he'd do if Is or Jace showed up one month and disappeared. Or, if they were here for months and disappeared and came without memories. His eyes lower with more concern, taking a bite. )
We can ask. I don't know the difference.
( He thinks they're wards of protection. Basic. Maybe well-being? He should fucking ask. )
( His laughter is met with a grin on Alec's side, glass paused at his lips, eyes over the top of the glass. Is this Bucky opening up? Loosening up? Is this Alec doing the same? )
[ Bucky leans in to bump his shoulder into Alec's. ]
You just did.
[ There's a warm smile on his face as he settles back again and moves to shovel more food into his mouth. Alec's more serious than Bucky is, but Bucky's been there. He had to relearn how to make jokes. ]
( He keeps eating, having taken his break, but making sure to listen to Bucky. His smile doesn't go anywhere, liking the time he spends with his roommate. His sub. )
Guy's taking a swing at monogamy in a place like this? Brave.
[ Bucky figures maybe it does work for some people. Hell, before this place, he'd been pretty interested in exactly one person since the war, but he can't help the fact that he's let a few more people into whatever's left of his heart now and he's slept with at least a few more. ]
I don't know. I think there's a lot of room to hurt or disappoint someone with it.
[ Bucky pauses for a moment, gathering thoughts. He's not much of a sharing guy these days, but with some things, he's started wearing his heart on his sleeve a little bit again. ]
I came here over a year ago with feelings for someone who wasn't here and when he eventually showed up, he didn't remember even meeting me. Before that, things kind of started up with Steve, too, and we had to have a talk about... everything. I told him that I was coming home to him every night, but I wasn't going to stop sleeping with the other people I care about. He's had other people, too. A few times, we've both cared about the same people, like with Peggy. So... I don't know. I think we were making it all work pretty well, to be honest, but if someone tried to make me choose between Steve and Thomas and Peggy, I'd probably punch them out.
He understands. He doesn't like that arrangement but he does understand this city. And what it makes you do. But, it doesn't make you propose to someone. )
[ Ah. That gives Bucky a lot more of the picture. He's been prepared to get out of Steve and Peggy's way a few times, but he can't say it wouldn't hurt if they actually took him up on it. ]
He doesn't need to. We don't know each other. We never did. Maybe. Maybe we could've. Maybe we could be closer. I could love someone. But, I don't. And he's getting married.
I want - I want it in general. I don't know Magnus to want it with him.
I get that. This stuff's complicated enough when you aren't living in Fuck City.
[ Bucky remembers those first months on El Nysa when he hadn't thought he'd ever want romance or sex with anyone again. He'd been content living as Steve and Peggy's third wheel before he'd met Thomas. ]
You'll find that with someone, though. You're a nice guy. Cute. Maybe a little uptight, but that can be teased out.
( Not for Alec. It's not complicated because being drawn to someone doesn't mean he'd break up their wedding. Or, play side piece as Izzy might put it.
He sets the beer down, stretching one leg out under the table to get comfortable. )
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There's worse than this and also better. It could go either way, he knows. )
Has it been a full year since they were here? Steve?
( He listens, piercing two pieces of broccoli. )
Magnus... you'll meet Magnus. He wants to ward the house.
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[ He takes a bite of his own food, smiling like it's his first bite of good food in ages. that's just how he is now, though. Everything good gets savored just a little more. ]
Okay. If it'll make it safer, that's fine with me. Is it a problem that my friend Thomas is a wizard? If he were to visit, I mean. He's one of the few people here I really trust.
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We can ask. I don't know the difference.
( He thinks they're wards of protection. Basic. Maybe well-being? He should fucking ask. )
Good food?
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Magic's kind of over my head, to be honest. I've seen plenty of it around here, but it's not really my wheelhouse, you know?
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( With his tongue firmly planted in his cheek, he smirks, sitting back from his meal. )
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[ He manages a grin for all of two seconds before it breaks off into a laugh. ]
I'm sorry. That was a terrible joke, even for me.
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( His laughter is met with a grin on Alec's side, glass paused at his lips, eyes over the top of the glass. Is this Bucky opening up? Loosening up? Is this Alec doing the same? )
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[ Maybe it wasn't a good one, but it was a joke. ]
Hard not to make jokes when things are so casual here.
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( He likes them. He also ignores them, too. )
That warlock. ( He can contribute. ) Magic's been inside of me, too.
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You just did.
[ There's a warm smile on his face as he settles back again and moves to shovel more food into his mouth. Alec's more serious than Bucky is, but Bucky's been there. He had to relearn how to make jokes. ]
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( He keeps eating, having taken his break, but making sure to listen to Bucky. His smile doesn't go anywhere, liking the time he spends with his roommate. His sub. )
I'm going to cut things off. With Magnus.
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You're going to cut things off with the guy who's going to ward the house for us? What happened there?
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( He didn't think this through. Warding and backing off from whatever arrangement they'd been making. )
He'll still ward the house.
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[ Bucky figures maybe it does work for some people. Hell, before this place, he'd been pretty interested in exactly one person since the war, but he can't help the fact that he's let a few more people into whatever's left of his heart now and he's slept with at least a few more. ]
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( There's monogamy and there's romance. He's not built for whatever he has with Magnus and what Magnus has with Lucy. )
You don't think it's possible for monogamy here?
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[ Bucky pauses for a moment, gathering thoughts. He's not much of a sharing guy these days, but with some things, he's started wearing his heart on his sleeve a little bit again. ]
I came here over a year ago with feelings for someone who wasn't here and when he eventually showed up, he didn't remember even meeting me. Before that, things kind of started up with Steve, too, and we had to have a talk about... everything. I told him that I was coming home to him every night, but I wasn't going to stop sleeping with the other people I care about. He's had other people, too. A few times, we've both cared about the same people, like with Peggy. So... I don't know. I think we were making it all work pretty well, to be honest, but if someone tried to make me choose between Steve and Thomas and Peggy, I'd probably punch them out.
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He understands. He doesn't like that arrangement but he does understand this city. And what it makes you do. But, it doesn't make you propose to someone. )
I would want to be the man he comes home to.
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Does he know that?
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I want - I want it in general. I don't know Magnus to want it with him.
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[ Bucky remembers those first months on El Nysa when he hadn't thought he'd ever want romance or sex with anyone again. He'd been content living as Steve and Peggy's third wheel before he'd met Thomas. ]
You'll find that with someone, though. You're a nice guy. Cute. Maybe a little uptight, but that can be teased out.
[ A sly little grin. ]
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He sets the beer down, stretching one leg out under the table to get comfortable. )
You think I'm cute?
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[ Not that the fake humble thing isn't also cute. Bucky wonders if he knows anyone he should be introducing Alec to. ]
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( He will 20% do the fake humble thing, bruh.
Please make introductions, though. )
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I've created a monster already.
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( Another sip, another smirk. Yeah. This is a dynamic he can get behind. )