→ you get mistaken for strangers by your own friends

[yourbestguysgun]

[ There's a clear view of the Rogers-Barnes kitchen coming through on the feed, Bucky hunched over the counter with a pen and a pad of paper, a half bitten pen between his fingers. He scrawls for a minute before it ends up propped by a coffee mug for the whole world to see. Why, he has no idea, it just feels like a good idea at the time. ]

Dear Santa,

Sorry I told Steve y'weren't real when we were eight, okay buddy? It was a mistake, but Johnny did tell me first, so I can't be blamed for the big fuss it caused, right? Anyway, I figure as it is the season an' all, I should write.

For Christmas I kinda only want like a few things, so don't worry.

A carton of those fancy cigarettes Jones smokes, cause I kinda miss the taste.
A bagel from Marcy's Diner, that's impossible, I got it, but you don't get good cream cheese here like Marcy does.
My Johnson. I guess Santa don't know much about guns, so it's the M1941. We served well together. And I want mine, not just anyones, it's kinda important.
For the people I care about to catch a break, okay?
I want Steve to have a good Christmas. Yeah, I don't care, he's usually sick, or alone, or working, and then there's the war, and I just want him to have a good time, so you can ignore the crap I've written there if you do this one thing for me. If anyone can swing it, it'd be you.

Thanks,

J. Barnes.

[ There's a moment of silence as it all finally registers, and Bucky starts swearing. ] Oh, you've got to be fuckin' kiddin' me, what is this crap?

[ Then the pad is snatched up, Bucky's hand hovering in place holding an old silver lighter, and the whole thing goes up in smoke. ] Shit. [ Feed snapped off. ]

Comments

[punchedhitler]

[Steve comes in through the door, okay, just as the pad is going up in flames. He's bundled up in a red, white and blue scarf with tiny stars marching down the ends near the ends. He has a red nose and red cheeks, and a bundle in his hand.]

Are you burning your letter to Santa?

[yourbestguysgun]

[ Bucky's caught staring at the scarf for a minute, possessed by the urge to laugh even as the flames singe his fingertips and he's forced to blow it out. ] No. [ He's lying. ] I'm not a kid.

[punchedhitler]

Oh yeah? I mean I just saw it on the Network a minute ago...

[Smug Steve is smug]

Anyway, you got a scarf too.

[Bucky's is blue! It has tiny trees on the ends]

[yourbestguysgun]

[ ... ] You are such a punk.

[ La la la, carefully avoiding the subject of his santa letter. ] I'm not wearing a crazy scarf.

[punchedhitler]

It's not crazy. Our landlady made it.

[He takes off his own scarf and puts it down on the table.]

[waitedforyears.livejournal.com]

That would be a curse.

[yourbestguysgun]

[ ... ] Are they jus' designed to make people look like a jackass?

[waitedforyears.livejournal.com]

That's only the harmless ones.

[yourbestguysgun]

I think I'd prefer danger.

[waitedforyears.livejournal.com]

's easier to deal with sometimes.

[primrosella.livejournal.com]

...A war?

--Oh, I'm terribly sorry, I didn't mean to pry.

[yourbestguysgun]

Hey, it's okay. I'm the idiot that broadcast a whole bunch o' crazy crap.

Rosella, right? We met before, but I'm still gettin' the hang of names.

[primrosella.livejournal.com]

It happens to everyone, believe me. It's a rather unfortunate trick of these devices--and of the curses, too.

That's right! We met on the street that day, when you were listening to your music. And I think I may know your friend Steve, as well, if he's the same one I'm thinking of. Is he a captain of some sort? We spoke once about a song my lake monster was singing for me.

[yourbestguysgun]

Yeah, that was probably him. Unless there are other Captains called Steve that I don't know about.

[ ... ] Lake monster?

[primrosella.livejournal.com]

Oh, then I do so hope your wish comes true, and you both have a nice Christmas. He's wonderfully nice, and terribly polite too.

Er...yes. The one in the lake. He's something of--well, I suppose you could say I look after him now and then, and one of the things he likes to do is to sing.

[ironmanic.livejournal.com]

That is absolutely touching. I think I've got tears in my eyes.

[yourbestguysgun]

[ He is going to shoot things. :| ] Bite me, Stark.

[ironmanic.livejournal.com]

I would, but I don't know where you've been. I'm very conscious of my hygiene, you know.

[yourbestguysgun]

[ Snorting. ] Sure y'are.

[ironmanic.livejournal.com]

I'm being totally serious here. Look at me. Look at how serious I am right now.

Does he believe in Santa? Like you apparently do.

voice;

[duplicities]

Cigarettes and guns and bagels. An interesting combination.

Re: voice;

[yourbestguysgun]

I'm a New Yorker.

voice;

[duplicities]

Which means guns, cigarettes and bagels are a necessity?

voice;

[yourbestguysgun]

Y'ever been t'New York? 'Course it is.

voice;

[duplicities]

Oh, I've been. But perhaps I just wasn't visiting the right parts.