[He...thinks it's time to put his phone down in lieu of a face to face conversation at this point. Not that he hasn't tried his own fair share of hacks when it comes to testing the serum, but -- also he'd been experimented on enough against his will so there are things that even if he hasn't thought to try. Drinking antifreeze had never occurred to him. And even if it wasn't recently, it's time to check and see where John's head is now.
[ No Antifreeze to be found- or alcohol. He finished a workout, so he needs protein. Fresh from a shower, dressed down, John's hands move on autopilot, phone set on the counter next to him as he dices vegetables and seasons some chicken.
Simple, easy things. He doesn't have it in him to do anything complicated tonight. ]
[Bucky watches from the kitchen entry way for a little bit. Navigating things with John is a bit more difficult in some ways because of their history. In other ways it's a bit easier. He's just never sure where they stand, entirely, even if they're miles ahead of where they'd been a few years ago. In retrospect, Bucky knows he fucked up a lot back then.]
[ After the lack of response from his last message John had shrugged and gone about his business. Bucky's got a whole team to wrangle and members of the New Avengers he actually likes readily available, it's not like he's going to do more than give John the usual amount of shit whenever they text.
So it's something of a surprise to hear Bucky enter the room and talk to him, rather than snark at him while walking through. ]
I've got this. [ It's nothing complicated, he can navigate food without imploding. ]
[ That's...oddly heavy. Out of place enough even for John to notice, brow pinching. ]
Ava was raised in a lab, Alexei's idea of a balanced meal is borscht, bacon, and vodka, Yelena's still sorting out personal autonomy and swings wildly between 'use all the spices regardless of complimentary flavors' and 'fuck it, from the can cold it is', You grew up during the great depression, and Bob-
[ A beat, and he shrugs. ]
Bob could probably cook on his good days, if he wanted. I'm not going to make him.
[He'd commented, earlier, on feeding all the super soldiers when expressing how he wanted Alexei out of the kitchen. He hadn't thought about it until now, but John is the one who's done most of the cooking so far. Bob tends to do all the dishes. He presses his lips together.]
I learned how to cook when I was hiding in Bucharest.
[He just didn't spend a ton of time on it these days. Hadn't, since he'd run for Congress and gotten swept up into politics.]
We can take turns. Unless you just want to do it all the time.
[ Anyone else he'd offer, misguided or no, to help with that. With Bucky-
He knows better. Head down, keep in line, stick to the plan, don't assume goodwill. He's not in jail and he's not actively disliked, he can live with that. ]
It's fine. We leave it up to anyone else we'll end up with Scurvy or boiled, unsalted potatoes or something equally heinous.
[He almost smiles at the mention of boiled, unsalted potatoes.]
Definitely had enough of boiled potatoes growing up. You do a good job. [It feels awkward to say, because communication isn't his strong suit in general, but it's sincere.]
[ He can't just come out and accuse Bucky of acting weird, that'd imply he pays attention enough to know this is irregular (and that's damning enough) so there's not much to do but...shrug and get back to putting everything on a sheet tray and shoving that in the oven.
The grounded normalcy of washing up afterward helps with some of his confusion. ]
[His frown deepens a little, but he studies John and...he can't pick up on anything that signals dishonesty here, even if it feels like the other man is just telling him what he wants to hear.]
Okay. If that changes, though, you'll let me know, right?
[Nothing about any of their lives is normal. They said goodbye to normal a long, long time ago.]
Everyone that got some variation of the serum had tests done up till the Flag Smashers. Even then that guy had reports of how quickly it could burn through toxins, it's why I chose what I did.
Bleach would've been more effective, but I'm not an idiot.
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branchandroot
(no subject)
Date: 2025-06-02 12:52 am (UTC)[Hopefully next time there won't be any singing.]
(no subject)
Date: 2025-06-02 01:03 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2025-06-02 01:10 am (UTC)Wonder if we can get a hold of some of that super liquor from Asgard.
(no subject)
Date: 2025-06-02 01:11 am (UTC)Also if you take a shot of antifreeze and chug a handle of vodka, you get buzzed for about fifteen minutes if you're lucky.
(no subject)
Date: 2025-06-02 01:14 am (UTC)[Now he's alarmed, but for a different reason.]
(no subject)
Date: 2025-06-02 01:20 am (UTC)Which I don't recommend.
(no subject)
Date: 2025-06-02 01:26 am (UTC)Off to the kitchen he goes, searching.]
(no subject)
Date: 2025-06-02 01:35 am (UTC)Simple, easy things. He doesn't have it in him to do anything complicated tonight. ]
(no subject)
Date: 2025-06-02 03:35 pm (UTC)Want some help?
(no subject)
Date: 2025-06-03 12:56 am (UTC)So it's something of a surprise to hear Bucky enter the room and talk to him, rather than snark at him while walking through. ]
I've got this. [ It's nothing complicated, he can navigate food without imploding. ]
(no subject)
Date: 2025-06-03 01:03 am (UTC)You don't always have to be the one to cook. [His voice is hushed.]
(no subject)
Date: 2025-06-03 01:09 am (UTC)Ava was raised in a lab, Alexei's idea of a balanced meal is borscht, bacon, and vodka, Yelena's still sorting out personal autonomy and swings wildly between 'use all the spices regardless of complimentary flavors' and 'fuck it, from the can cold it is', You grew up during the great depression, and Bob-
[ A beat, and he shrugs. ]
Bob could probably cook on his good days, if he wanted. I'm not going to make him.
(no subject)
Date: 2025-06-03 01:14 am (UTC)I learned how to cook when I was hiding in Bucharest.
[He just didn't spend a ton of time on it these days. Hadn't, since he'd run for Congress and gotten swept up into politics.]
We can take turns. Unless you just want to do it all the time.
(no subject)
Date: 2025-06-03 01:19 am (UTC)[ Anyone else he'd offer, misguided or no, to help with that. With Bucky-
He knows better. Head down, keep in line, stick to the plan, don't assume goodwill. He's not in jail and he's not actively disliked, he can live with that. ]
It's fine. We leave it up to anyone else we'll end up with Scurvy or boiled, unsalted potatoes or something equally heinous.
(no subject)
Date: 2025-06-03 01:38 am (UTC)Definitely had enough of boiled potatoes growing up. You do a good job. [It feels awkward to say, because communication isn't his strong suit in general, but it's sincere.]
(no subject)
Date: 2025-06-03 01:40 am (UTC)[ Two for two on deeply irregular things. John puts the knife down and sets the cutting board aside, frown deepening. ]
...Are you okay?
(no subject)
Date: 2025-06-03 01:42 am (UTC)...yes?
(no subject)
Date: 2025-06-03 01:45 am (UTC)[ He can't just come out and accuse Bucky of acting weird, that'd imply he pays attention enough to know this is irregular (and that's damning enough) so there's not much to do but...shrug and get back to putting everything on a sheet tray and shoving that in the oven.
The grounded normalcy of washing up afterward helps with some of his confusion. ]
(no subject)
Date: 2025-06-03 01:47 am (UTC)Are you okay?
(no subject)
Date: 2025-06-03 01:49 am (UTC)[ As fine as anyone else in this tower, even if they're all trying to be a little more honest about how very much not fine they are and- it's.
Fine. ]
Is there a reason for the check in, or...?
(no subject)
Date: 2025-06-03 01:50 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2025-06-03 01:53 am (UTC)[ The knee jerk response is safer than paying any attention to the part of him that perks up at Bucky being concerned over him.
We leave those feelings in a box and ignore them. ]
Now I know about the Space booze and won't have to. Easy.
[ Maybe if he keeps saying these things like they're normal, they'll become normal. ]
(no subject)
Date: 2025-06-03 01:56 am (UTC)[His frown deepens a little, but he studies John and...he can't pick up on anything that signals dishonesty here, even if it feels like the other man is just telling him what he wants to hear.]
Okay. If that changes, though, you'll let me know, right?
[Nothing about any of their lives is normal. They said goodbye to normal a long, long time ago.]
(no subject)
Date: 2025-06-03 01:59 am (UTC)Bleach would've been more effective, but I'm not an idiot.
[ He says, like a liar. ]
...yeah, I'll let you know.
(no subject)
Date: 2025-06-03 10:10 pm (UTC)I'm glad you didn't try the bleach thing. Not a good time. Tastes like shit, burns all the way down. Doesn't really make you drunk, just super sick.
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