reach the residents

[ximilian]

● ● ● REACH THE RESIDENTS

For any questions you want to ask Viveca or Degar and receive an IC response, please direct them here. Please indicate in the subject line who you are trying to contact.

// VIVECA

Hi, what can I help you with?

// DEGAR

Today was gonna be the day, but they'll never throw it back to you. And by now, you should've somehow realized what you're not to do.

▶ NAV

Comments

[vivecai]

Hi, Cap.

[ there's a soft touch to viveca's tone, as if she can already guess why he's here, talking to her. ]

Of course. Just look for them in the next supply drop. I'll get you the anniversary editions, they're rather pretty.

[ she isn't saying it... but she's very fond of bucky, and anything that might help him is something she's happy to provide.

her next response takes longer, and when it comes, it's quiet and filled with understanding. ]

I promise no one else on this station knows of this but me and you. I promise I've wiped all tracks of anything that refers to... well, you know what, from my database. I promise neither me or the Commander will ever use it against him.

[ her tone sincere, it's clear she means every word... just as it's clear she's not making any mention of the orbs. she'd rather leave it out than lie to him — an indication of her personality, her morals. many suspect her to lie to them in her answers, and yet, she can't bring herself to lie to sam even about something he asks her to lie about. ]

[unclesam]

[ Her voice still hurts. It soothes, too, and Sam just has to close his eyes for a moment. He doesn't confuse Viveca for Karli anymore, but the resemblance is still there. ]

You're a treasure.

[ He means that. He'll probably mean it even if she turns out more Ultron than Jarvis, in the end. And wouldn't that just suck for all of them. He's glad that he can rely on her fondness for Bucky, though. To have an ally in his mission to take care of that man come what may.

The response sits heavy on him. Sam believes her, even if that might be crazy - the fact that she omits the orbs a damning answer in itself, but a point in her favor. That she doesn't lie about that even though he gave her blanket permission to. ]

Thank you.

[ And perhaps his voice is wet for a moment, and he has to press his eyes shut. Then, a little more steadily: ]

I can't fix this for him, can I?

[vivecai]

That's a nickname I can put up with.

[ said with a lilt to her voice... though it doesn't last long. clearly she understands just why this is so hard on him. ]

... I wish I could do more. I wish you could do more. But this was Bucky's choice. If you try and fix it, you will be taking it away. [ and she hardly needs to spell out just why that is a terrible thing to do. ]

The best thing you can do is make sure nothing happens while he's here. Once you return home... I hope it can be fixed, then, like it was before.

[unclesam]

[ A chuckle. Wet and a little wobbly, but genuine. ]

Oh, so that's how it is? Treasure. Yeah, we can do that. Precious, too, if you'd like.

[ And yeah, he gets it. Had to ask, because how could he not - but the last thing Sam ever wants to do is take away Bucky's choice. Hell, he'd even resigned himself to Bucky's original regret and outcome for that very reason. But now he can't stop feeling Bucky's shuddering breath against his own neck, the burden he has agreed to help Bucky carry, held secret between the two of them.

A though, small and tentative: ]

Could it be fixed when his contract's up? When he's done here?

[vivecai]

You mean — could we fix it here before he's sent home again?

[ she's quiet for a while. ]

I don't know. It depends on a lot of things. Once your regrets are undone, you should be sent back to your worlds immediately... but there's time before that. I can try to see if there's any way I can stop that from happening — keep you both here until it's all fixed and send you back using the station tech. I promise nothing, though. The Orb doesn't like it when you try and circumvent a deal. And I can't endanger the entire team for just one member, no matter who it is.

[unclesam]

[ Sam is quiet for a moment. Deliberates on how far he's willing to go for Bucky. Decides: As far as it will not burden Bucky's guilt further. So the suggestion that comes to mind is easy. ]

From what I understand, my regret's pretty damn simple compared to others, right? I'm here for one girl, and it wasn't long ago that she died - meaning theoretically I need less power to get my shit sorted out, yeah? So how about we extend my service. Link it to Bucky's instead - I go home when he does and not a moment sooner. Free labor past my contractual obligation, and still with a vested interest in recovering those orbs.

[ A beat. He swallows hard. ]

I'll do more if I gotta - I just can't pay them a price so big it would make Bucky feel like shit. That ain't an option.