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

[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.