NAME: RJ Boyle-Barnes
AGE: Twenty-one
FACECLAIM: Felix Mallard
ALIAS: The Winter Soldier, The Asset
POWERS/SKILLS: Master marksman, expert swordsman, master martial artists, multilingual (english, russian, german, Italian, asl), master assassin, weapons proficiency, master of stealth, super-soldier serum, superhuman strength, superhuman agility, superhuman reflexes, superhuman durability, superhuman stamina, superhuman endurance, regenerative healing, enhanced balance, enhanced longevity, and peak human senses.
↳ RJ also carries around a sword made out of vibranium. It’s his most cherished possession and will never part with it.
ALLIANCE: Solo
THREAT LEVEL (OUT OF TEN): Nine
HISTORY FILE (LINK WIKI): Dossier I.
NOTABLE CHANGES FROM 2012 TO THE TIMELINE THEY WERE PULLED FROM: There are several things to make note of when it comes to my portrayal. RJ received the super soldier serum and has all of the abilities that are associated with receiving the enhancement. He was trained to replace Bucky and they wanted him to be like their former asset but better. After the man he was modeled after gave him his freedom, RJ was adopted as his son fairly quickly and legally became a Barnes. Also, he has trigger words but doesn’t know them. His handler never used them since it was a backup plan if RJ ever became morally compromised.
LAST MEMORY BEFORE ENDING UP IN NYC, 2012: Reading Bucky’s journal on a random rooftop in Indiana and thinking about finally starting one of his own.
@rewrittenintro
questionnaire —
How are you feeling? Physically and mentally.
“Physically? I’m in the best shape of my life. Mentally? I’m still working on it.”
Where are you living? The same place you lived in 2012, or displaced to a random apartment? Explain to the best of your ability.
“It’s the cheapest motel that I could find in New York. Sometimes a bullet comes through the wall but I know that’s just because the person who fired the gun is pathetic and missed whoever they meant to shoot. I think mostly thieves and criminals stay here but there’s no other option for me right now.”
What do YOU think we should do about the situation at hand? Try to go back home? The original mission of stopping Thanos? Rewrite the entire story?
“Why is Thanos my problem? I’m not even from this universe. Find someone else to help you.”
What will you DO about the situation at hand?
“I’m started working as a mercenary since being a soldier is the only thing I’m good at.”
Is there anything that you think needs to be done?
“You don’t want to hear my list.”
If need be, would you be willing to team up with the government and SHIELD to recoup and help the situation at hand?
“Absolutely not. I grew up witnessing firsthand how many times grown men lied right to strangers faces and got away with it. I’m sure there’s good people that work for the government but I don’t trust anyone right now. Especially since the versions of Bucky and Sharon I knew aren’t here to help tell me who’s trustworthy. I’ll work on my own. It has been working just fine until now.”
What are your worries?
“I killed my handler in my world but this place is something completely new. Colt is no doubt alive somewhere and the thought of seeing him terrifies me. It’s one of only things that could possibly leave me shaken and unable to move. He won’t recognize me but I’m afraid of what will happen if I do see him again. Do I have trigger words? Why haven’t they ever used them? I’m scared.”
What do you think are the pros about this situation?
“Nobody knows me here. It’s like a fresh start and nothing from my past can hurt me.”
Anything else?
“Do you think my dad will still want to be my dad . . . ?”
‘ look … i have no idea how that got in there; the old lady over there slipped it in my purse. ’ truth be told, melissa gold had been caught … again. and this time, things weren’t looking too pretty, as the security guard manhandled the items hidden deep within the recesses of her black handbag and brought them back out chronologically – a necklace, a chanel perfume bottle, a … music box? her eyes caught onto a stranger attempting to squeeze their way past them in the doorway of the expensive store, and melissa suddenly jumped at the opportunity, piping up with a loud ‘ hey! you saw that old lady too, right? the one who tried to take the fine china? ’
His gaze glances back at the woman that’s in question. He’s subtle about it but most people never expect him to be the bad guy. Which is what his training was entirely aimed toward playing off that innocence card. Nobody ever suspected someone so young to be starting trouble. Especially in his childhood since much of his training happened in public places. All those innocent people just in the wrong place at the wrong time. RJ can’t start spiraling now, not with watchful eyes. He looks back at the stranger who spoke to him. He doesn’t really think this is any of his business, tries to glance away but that doesn’t seem to be on the list of things to happen today. What is RJ going to do here? He prepares a lie, stopping as if they knew each other even when they don’t. “My cousin would never steal anything. The old lady over there is clearly staging a distraction.” When the security goes over to question the other woman and they’re left alone he glances over at her. “Go along with it.”
the last few days have been a lot for everyone she thought, which was why she had decided to to enjoy herself and discover this different world the best that she could. donna had walked through many streets until she found herself in a bakery, she looked at the options in front of her. not making her decision she turned to the person next to her “ what you reckon is the best choice here ? what you suggest ? i’m open to try anything. ” @rewrittenstart
//
The bakery is somewhere that RJ hasn’t spent much time in. He feels out of place anywhere in the city but it’s a good idea to start learning how to be somewhat normal. He can mimic the feeling but worries about never fully understanding it. He never got the chance to visit, always meant to look from the outside looking in. He’s here and ready to try eating one of everything. Maybe just not all in one day. Someone speaks next him and looks up at her with a smile, trying to be friendly. “I’ve never been here before. I was just trying to decide what to get . . . . I want some of their cupcakes . . . they seem to have some interesting flavors.”
( @penancing ) ‘ you’re just like me - ’ statement comes from her lips , she’ll blink in surprise that she even said such a thing . ‘ wanna go get some root beer floats ? ’
“What does that mean? We’re both young people in New York?” RJ looks around to make sure that the stranger is talking to him after all. He adjusts the baseball cap on his head, alright maybe he stole it from his dad! Who might have known the whole time he left the apartment with it and didn’t stop him. Nobody knew his secret and RJ hopes that it stays that way with the way everything is in this universe. It’s very different from the one he came from. “I don’t know what a root beer float is . . . why do you want to get one with me?” It seems suspicious.
gamora was hardly an expert herself. she wished dying and coming back had provided her with more wisdom, some way to better understand what was going on here, but it hadn’t. “i’m not either, but if that’s the case, we have no idea what might happen next, or what is possible in this world. and more importantly, we have no idea how this might effect our regular worlds.”
“I’m not exactly from here. I don’t know what’s going on in this universe.” RJ doesn’t like feeling out of the loop. He has concerns that aren’t focused on whoever Thanos is. He can’t really bring himself to care about it, believing it isn’t his problem. “I think it’s safe to say nothing will be the same when we go back to our regular worlds . . . if we can go back.
‘ you shoulda visited , woulda prepared you for new york . ’ but she shrugs , because NO WORRIES , there’s no time like the past’s present to get used to things . ‘ that’s a sad , boring , childhood . i’d wish it on no one . ’ and it’s probably the maternal instinct in her that makes her realize it was … off . ‘ his name is peter , and it wouldn’t be a bother . ’ she holds out her hand . ‘ may . ’
“I wasn’t really allowed to go anywhere on my own. There were strict rules.” He doesn’t really want to go into too many details. This isn’t his universe so it’s not like those ghosts could harm him but it’s not was to express. He never really got to be a child, learning how to hold his first weapon at five years old. He remembers how heavy it felt in his hand and didn’t get to put it down until all the shots hit their mark. Children are supposed to be outside playing but not RJ. “Thank you for being so kind. I think more people should be like you.” His lips quirk into a smile, reaching out to shake May’s hand gently. “RJ.”
Now he knows this boy is free from Hydra. Any sort of emotion is prohibited, especially tears. Despite the boy trying to hide them and wipe them away, Bucky can still see them. There was many things Hydra would do to get back to Bucky, but they would never resort to something like tears to prove their point. It’s a weakness to Hydra, so… Bucky believes him. With everything going on in the world, it’s not really that big of a surprise that someone’s landed here from another universe, not just thrown back in time. Besides, this whole bringing in a child who was a victim of Hydra didn’t sound too far off from something he’d actually do. It tugs on his heartstrings, while he wasn’t a child when Hydra took him he still was young. A young man dragged off a mountain side to play puppet. He supposes Hydra likes them young then, trading in a battle worn soldier for a child. And here he thought that they couldn’t get any lower. Bucky’s mistake. “Hey – hey. You did nothing wrong. Nothing you did warranted what they did you. It took me a long time to realize that.. so don’t you start thinking like that now alright? It doesn’t lead to good places.” Bucky looks down at the journal for a moment, before finally offering it back to the boy. “Keep this, it’s from your world. You deserve to have a connection to it.. I’ve got my own back home.” But now it’s time to circle back to a few things that his boy said previously. He wasn’t raised in cryochambers and Siberian hideouts, so at least he’ll be a little more accustomed to real life but that’s not his concern here. If RJ was here, that handler of his could be as well. “Do you remember your handlers name? If you don’t want to say it, write it down for me.” Names have power, especially names that haunt someone’s every waking hour. Bucky’s got a list full of names that he’s not sure he could speak out loud to even Sam or Steve. “I’ll help you get a handle on the serum but I need to know the name so I can keep an ear out for it.” No doubt will send to Natasha to see what she can dig up on this handler and see what he’s up to during this time.
Innocent lost in an instant when his foster parents decided to willingly give him to Hydra. RJ never heard from them again but wonders if they also worked for the organization. Any kindness shown to him had been a lie with intentions for gaining his trust. He doesn’t know what true honesty is but that wasn’t supposed to be his concern growing up. His handler made sure that one of the first lessons learned is that he’s only meant to speak when spoken to and even then RJ needed to choose his words carefully. There was always a look of disapproval that’s always followed up with punishment for going against his programming. The mistake was made once by asking what the target did to deserve being killed and RJ ate off the floor without a fork for the rest of the week. He can’t eat bacon anymore as a result but the Bucky that took him in as his own didn’t seem to mind keeping it off his plate. He knows that crying is prohibited, maybe that’s why for many it had been difficult allowing himself to show any emotion after gaining his freedom. He didn’t know how to feel. The tears staining his cheeks are a sign of not being under their control anymore. Hydra might see it as a weakness but RJ always thought it was more of a strength getting to himself again. “I don’t really remember the day it happened but maybe that’s what they wanted.” He wasn’t like other children, that’s for sure. RJ would see others his age playing outside and wonder what makes him so different? Why wasn’t he allowed to play too?
His hands grab the journal when it’s passed back to him. He slides it into his bag for safe keeping. “Thank you for letting me keep it. I will protect it with my life.” These secrets also belong to this version of his father too, so they’ll be protected best as he could do. His hand holds onto the strap of his bag, knuckles going white while thinking about saying his handler’s name. RJ never thought about it until now that Colt could be alive in this universe. The thought frightens him. Any possibility of being snatched up again makes him feel like running but he trusts Bucky. He might be the only one right now. “Colt.” He says it finally, voice a little shaky but it comes out loud enough for the older man to hear it. “He’s blonde, tall, and wears all white. He never left the house without put on on a pair of gloves. I remember him being important in their ranks . . . if that helps . . .” He looks down at his feet for a moment, kicking a rock back and forth with his foot for a moment before looking back up at his father. It’s hard to talk about his handler. He can’t help himself from rushing forward and hugging the other tightly. “Thank you for helping me.”
‘ and isn’t that close to chicago ? have you never been to chicago , either ? ’ small town boys , not matter the age , never fail to amuse her . it’s just … off to her , to never really have been in the city . ‘ well , i have a nephew . he could show you around . ’
“It’s a few hours if you drive. I’ve only been a couple times.” RJ doesn’t have pleasant memories since that was during a very different phase of his life. “My foster dad at the time didn’t let me see much of the city.” Which could be said about anywhere that they traveled. He was meant to be seen and not heard until spoken to. Luckily all of those memories are in the past now. “Really? I don’t want to be a bother but that would be really nice.” He can’t explain the reason for the feeling, but he feels like she’s trustworthy. “My name’s RJ.”
now, gamora wasn’t on earth in the original timeline that lead to them traveling back to 2012. in fact, she hadn’t ever gone to earth, even if several of her friends had. but from what she gathered, an earthquake wasn’t part of the original 2012. at least, not in new york city. “shouldn’t we be concerned that this world is already changing? or, worse, that someone did this?” @rewrittenstart
This wasn’t his timeline, stranded in a world that looks similar to his own but is still so foreign. RJ doesn’t know what originally happened and what was new. He felt lost most of his days but is making the best of his circumstances. “I’m not an expert on time travel but what if it’s too late to stop these changes from happening since they’ve already started?”
This almost too insane for Bucky to handle. Talking about them having a home in Indiana… how would this kid even know Bucky was from there? Most everything that has recorded about him says he’s from Brooklyn – even Hydra assumed it. So that alone makes Bucky have to wonder if he does somehow have a connection to this kid. There were only a few people alive now that knew of his real origins. “I don’t know what hell you think you can show me in there that is so groundbreaking I wrote it. I don’t know how…” Bucky’s words trail off just as fast as they began. He sees the boy’s name written in his own handwriting. Big cursive letters filling up the page. This has to be a trick – but how can it be? The man reaches out and takes the journal from the boy, gentle rather than snatching it like he almost did a few moments before. His eyes eagerly scan over the page. Words detail his relationship with RJ. How Hydra used this boy was a weapon, took him from childhood and carved him into something far more sinister. He reads about saving the boy, trying to wash away that blood that stains his clothing and give him what he lost all those years forged in fire. Fingers run over the page, it’s worn. There was no way this could have been written between the time Bucky left the house and now. He flips back to other entries. The dates line up as do the words. He’s written this. This is his journal and well now? This is his child. “You were Hydra?” Bucky has to ask despite knowing it must be a touchy subject, it is for all survivors of Hydra for a good reason. Bucky needs to know this is real, that this isn’t some sick and twisted way to get him back into Hydra’s steel trap. “They took you as a child?” While Bucky was young when he was taken, he was still an adult. This was a child who’s innocence was tainted, Hydra was bad – but he didn’t realize that they’d go this low to take him out for good.
Nerves are ready to burst at the seams, tears forming at his eyes thinking about being rejected by his father. It’s difficult to let anyone in but RJ has the decency to allow Bucky to adjust. This kind of news doesn’t come easy but they have a connection that can’t be denied. The boy waits patiently while the other is reading over the pages, knowing that all the details written on them isn’t something most could stomach. His gaze looks down at his hands, preferring to wear sweaters no matter what the weather is like outside. His fingers tug at a frayed string coming off his left sleeve, pulling on it until he can twist the thread around one of his fingers. It keeps him busy, a mindless task until hearing that question. It’s a touchy subject and so he stood up from his seat at the table. His bag filled slung over his shoulders now. The rest of his things are at his motel room but doesn’t like to go anywhere unprepared. “I used to be. I’m not anymore because the other version of you from my universe rescued me from my handler. You adopted me as your own which is why I have your name added onto mine.” He’s tearing up already, hating himself for always doing this during serious conversations about his trauma. “My foster parents gave me to Hydra when I was five years old, sir. I was given to my handler who took me home and raised me in his house. He raised me to be just like you. I have the serum in my veins but I don’t know what to do with it . . .” He was given it before that last mission with the organization. Maybe that was all part of his test too. He failed it miserably but in hindsight that’s a good thing. Failing meant getting his freedom back. RJ takes a step closer to Bucky, a few inches shorter than him. “I know you’re probably worried it’s a trick but I promise that it’s not.” Some tears flow down his cheeks and uses the palms of his hands to try wiping them up. “I don’t know why my foster parents did that to me. What did I do that was so wrong to deserve what happened to me?”
( @penancing ) ‘ you look a bit lost , kid . something of the matter ? i heard talking to strangers help . ’ yep , she’s gonna adopt you too , rj .
Maybe most people would probably raise their children with important life lessons. One of them being never to talk with strangers. RJ wasn’t taught anything like that so he doesn’t mind the question. “I’m just not used to New York yet. It’s a lot bigger than where I was living in Indiana.”
It was supposed to be a quick walk through the city. A trip down to the local grocery store to get things he could throw in the freezer since Sam was tired of him throwing all the groceries he buys into it. It’s a funny sort of habit that somehow kicked back into full swing, living the depression had them freezing any food they have. Now there’s not need to but it’s a familiar habit that Bucky seems to fall right back into. He guesses after not living in a home for over 70 years, being in one again brings out all sorts of funny habits he didn’t realize he had. Bucky scans his surroundings as he walks, another habit he has. However this one it’s from childhood. This one is new, and for protection. Hydra can’t be happy that their favorite asset has disappeared into thin air. He’s got to be extra careful in New York, with SHIELD once again being Hydra, agents could be anywhere. Though a Hydra agent isn’t what makes Bucky stop dead in his tracks in the middle of a busy New York sidewalk – it’s his journal. He’d know it anywhere. In fact it’s tucked in a drawer in his bedroom right now. Or so he thought. But now it’s sitting in the hands of some kid in an cheap outdoor dining chair. While Bucky could be mistaken, as he stalks closer – he’s not. He sees his own damn handwriting and words written across the front cover. He’ll call Sam once he deals with this kid – given that it’s clear someone has broken into that apartment. “Where the hell did you get that?” Bucky’s voice is low but nothing short of venomous. He elects to ignore the strange boy calling him dad. Could be some strange slang kids have or a jab at his age – either way that isn’t the important thing here.
It was in this moment that RJ needed to remind himself that this world is very different from his own. There’s similarities but it’s apparent that he didn’t exist before now. The thought could have brought forth an existential crisis in anyone but not for the boy. He thought it was nice getting the chance to have a clean slate. He knows that not everyone is so lucky and doesn’t want to waste it. There’s obvious concerns about not knowing his trigger words. While it might be difficult for anyone to string together the right sequence . . . he remains concerned over it happening someday. RJ isn’t aware of what the status of Hydra is in this world but doesn’t dare go poking around for information. He wouldn’t like what he will find. It was torture enough knowing that his former handler could still be alive here somewhere. This starts to put him into distress and tries to stop letting it dwell on his mind. He wasn’t their asset anymore. He was just like anyone else living in New York. Mindlessly moving through crowds trying tor each their next destination. It would do RJ some good keeping all of this mind. This isn’t the Bucky that he knew. This wasn’t the man who adopted him and helped free him from a lifetime of brainwashing. His heart ached to be close to his father but this isn’t the best first impression. His hands close the journal but hug it close to his chest. His gaze looking up at Bucky nervously but doesn’t sit up yet. He isn’t new to that venomous tone but has never heard it from Bucky before, not directed toward him anyway. “Our house in Indiana? I accidentally took it . . . I don’t remember how it ended up in my bag.” He looks around at the other people around them, a public setting is probably wise at least. They can’t make a scene here but his intentions are all civil here. “I’m RJ Boyle-Barnes.” The wind blows some strands of his hair into his face. “I don’t know how I got here . . . “ He decides to take a chance and opens up the journal to the entries about himself in the other’s handwriting. He holds the opened pages out to Bucky. “Please look.”
Four long months of being in New York. It has been peaceful, nothing is expected of him for the first time in his life. RJ doesn’t know what to do with his time. Which contributed to the decision of becoming a mercenary as a means of affording his motel room. The bed is uncomfortable but still far better than anything that they gave him growing up. It’s obvious that this isn’t like Indiana but that doesn’t have to be a bad thing. He’s sitting outside at one of the tables of this local cafe with a journal in his hands. The cover a shade of red with torn edges and his adoptive father’s handwriting across the front. He didn’t mean to take it but reading the pages makes him feel close to Bucky even without him being here. RJ has never missed someone before but he does miss the older man. The pages are filled with many personal stories and he hangs onto every word, no matter how many times the journal is opened. He wants to return it but doesn’t know where to begin looking for his father. Only to look up from the entry, journal still in his hands. RJ is suddenly looking at the man on his mind, who’s staring right back at him. “Dad?”
