signals get crossed;

male. forty-seven. "retired".

[alessandradavies-blog]

“I hope I get the chance to meet him. He sounds amazing.”

[seanxwright]

“I hope you do too. He’s completely worth it.”

[alicebeaumont]

“Local virgin sacrifice?” she laughed, brow furrowing as she followed Sean. She was about to nod knowingly when it came to Booker. She’d seen him in passing and the man was… easy on the eyes. At the mention of Alaric she froze. It was a second or two before she regained her composure and her legs began to work again. “Well, women don’t always make the best choices when it comes to the men they keep company with. A bad guy has a certain…allure,” she said, as if speaking from experience. “So I can understand that.”

[seanxwright]

“Yeah, Lucien Abbot. He owns a bookstore I think. Definitely a virgin. He’s from England, so’s his friend and I’m sure his cousin’s French. The friend and the cousin are relatively new.” He noticed he freeze at the mention of Alaric, but pretended like he didn’t. He wanted to ask, but didn’t. He didn’t quit care what she was into or what Alaric was doing as a whole. He mostly steered clear of the guy because he had this vibe that said he’d fuck with your life if you weren’t too careful. “Men don’t really either. There’s bee a couple women I’ve dated that I knew weren’t good. Though I’ve been mostly alone these days.”

[jamesstephensons-blog]

It was almost startling, after all this time and after everything that had happened in between, to be sitting in front of Sean as he discussed Star Wars. His hair was longer than it ever was in high school for plenty of reasons - he never had time or he just forgot being the main two excuses he most often gave. He would never admit it out loud that it had a lot to do with the fact that he didn’t like the thought of letting people near his neck with sharp objects. He was a paranoid client.

“I’ve only seen parts,” he admitted, and smiled at the mention of Grainger. “No. Not technically. But they’re as good as. He just won’t admit it.”

Sean kept in touch with Grainger, so he must have known the truth, or at the very least half of it. If he knew all of it - that some time in the fourteen years since they’d last seen each other Bucky had been a prisoner of war and presumed dead by most - then he was doing a better job than most at acting normal about it. This was surprising in itself - not because Bucky expected Sean to act out of line or in any way disrespectful regarding his time in the war, but because there were days that he saw old photographs of himself and wondered how he could be the same person. There were days that he looked in the mirror and saw a stranger. To think that Sean could act normal despite that was something James wasn’t yet used to. Sean was one of the few. 

Especially now. Especially in this state. 

He knew he shouldn’t have let himself end up here. 

James pushed his mind away from the war and its consequences. In recent years, since his recovery had taken a turn for the better, that was the only time he got bad. He still had to be careful, keep his thoughts guided specifically, and sleeping medication usually helped to stop him from dreaming at night. Keeping his mind in the present was the only cure that had been remotely efficient.

“How about you?” he asked, forcing himself back on track with the conversation. “Do you have a girlfriend?”

[seanxwright]

Sean laughed a bit in agreement. “They’re cute. Probably have kids with the voices of angels or something.” He could just imagine it now tiny broadway stars. It was only a matter of time he was sure. But either way, no one could’ve picked a better match if they tried. Maybe it was too soon to tell, but he really didn’t care. Everyone who didn’t see it was just lying to themselves. It was certainly something needed around here, in some people’s lives.

It had been hard. Sean didn’t want to downplay anything Grainger went through, he especially didn’t want to downplay what James went through. But, when he’d heard James was missing, all he could do was hold out hope, then when he was suspected dead, he got to thinking about how life wasn’t fair. Maybe something about how right Billy Joel was, just in a far less cheerful tone. Scotch only kept secrets if you drank it all. And he’d felt a little guilty, reacting the way he did to the news. He wasn’t James’ brother, not his father, not his uncle. He was just the rich guy that the parents invited to parties once in a while, specifically a very important graduation party. He felt guilty for the feelings he’d felt then like they weren’t his to feel.

He smiled at the question about the girlfriend. “I’ve been more or less see someone for eight... maybe eleven years now.” He avoided the urge to turn his head and wink at Elena. “Nothing official, but I think a ‘it’s complicated’ Facebook status would be too dramatic.”

[alicebeaumont]

“The wizard of Oz?” Alice’s eyes widened slightly, fiddling with the hem of her dress. “At least they’re willing participants,” she laughed lightly. “Okay, alright. Who do I stay away from? There’s no fun in finding that out the hard way.”

[seanxwright]

“This guy named Oz that’s friends with the local virgin sacrifice.” Sean nodded at her second statement before he started for his living room area where the bar was, assuming she’d follow. “Doesn’t stop him from flirting with them though. He’s persistent.” He laughed, thought he couldn’t exactly judge in that department. “There’s a couple guys that come to mind. Booker, he’s a lumberjack and just all-around creepy, but for some reason girls seem to like him. And this guy Alaric I think is involved in something around here, there’s the tunnel, but I’ve never been so I can’t say if there’s anything illegal going on there. It’s pretty hush hush though since it’s not exactly sanctioned.”

[alicebeaumont]

“I’m from Manhattan, so… weird is pretty normal for me,” she replied shaking her head slightly. “Except socks and sandals. That’ll never be normal. But alright let’s see… who should I be worried around my car? And… who’s doing the dirty? Those are always good places to start.”

[seanxwright]

“That maybe be true, but I’m originally from Chicago and Aldyria... is it’s own kind of weird. Especially with socks and sandals.” He laughed. “Well, David Long stole his uncle’s car to go to a show in Denver once. But the guy’s now a doctor with a sports car, so I wouldn’t worry. Dr. Peabody’s been spotted with someone at least six years younger than him. Which good for her, and him.” He laughed a little. “I think the director at the theatre is dating someone who just got here too. Elizabeth. But they knew each other a long time ago or something? The Wizard of Oz has sex with everyone who breathes and says yes. There’s a ton more, but it depends on what you have time for. ”

[alicebeaumont]

“Wow. You’d get less for murder,” she smiled. “I bet you have all the gossip around here too. You’ll have to fill in the new girl.”

[seanxwright]

“Depends on how premeditated it was,” he said with a joking laugh. “I know some, but half the fun’s finding your own. There’s a lot of weird people here.” Said one of the weird people. “But I can get you started. What kind do you like? Who stole who’s car? Who wears socks with sandals? Who’s doing who?”

[jamesstephensons-blog]

James couldn’t believe he’d landed himself in here despite the fact that it was exactly what he’d been trying to avoid. Truthfully, he’d have loved for Kyle to pay for what he’d done - and if he wasn’t dating Toni, that’s exactly what he would have let happen. But Kyle was dating Toni, and despite what had happened, the likelihood of Kyle getting arrested for any length of time was slim, and if he wasn’t arrested, he’d have the chance to take it out on Toni. Bucky couldn’t let that happen. This had already gone too far.

And he felt bad. Elena Stone wanted to help and she genuinely cared. She must have known more about him than she was letting on – he was sure he probably had a file somewhere in their records with the words ‘prisoner of war’ and ‘compassionate discharge’, one after another. When people knew that their tone and demeanor around them tended to lean towards pity, sympathy, empathy, or all three. Sometimes it was too much, other times he took it to heart, appreciated the effort of understanding. With Elena it made him feel guilty, because the more he refused to tell her what had happened, the more dejected she seemed to look. “I just want to help you, James.” He believed her. She was a natural mother.

“I’m sorry,” he said honestly, his voice hoarse. His right hand gently touched the bruise on his neck before falling back in his lap. He looked down, unable to handle the sincerity in her eyes. “I can’t tell you anything. I didn’t see them.”

Elena looked as though she were going to continue when the door swung open and a man walked in carrying coffee, talking casually - until he caught sight of James. He could almost see the cogs working on Sean’s head as he tried to put a finger on how he knew the man in front of him. James recognized Sean immediately, if not from the previous times they’d met, from his graduation party. He remembered everything about that day in vivid, sharp detail. 

Elena must have sensed some sort of discomfort, because she stood up straight and said, “Sean,” as if expecting him to leave - but her demeanor changed immediately when she realized there was recognition between them. Her features softened once again.

It wasn’t surprising that it would have taken Sean time to recognize him. Not only had the war aged him and changed his once relaxed and happy demeanor, but he was currently in the worst shape he’d been in since the war. In fact, he was surprised Sean recognized him at all past the cuts, bruises, and stitches. 

When Sean called him Obi Wan, he felt that familiar itch in the back of his head that happened every time someone brought up a happy memory from the past. There was before the war and there was after the war, and when he was reminded of the before, he never knew whether he should be happy or sad, so he settled for an in-between. The nickname made a lump form in his throat, and he tried to swallow it down. James smiled as sincerely as he could, painfully aware of the feeling of dried blood on his left cheek and his inability to do much with his left arm or hand other than move it ever so slightly. He hoped he could live up to Sean’s memory of him.

“Sean,” he greeted, and did something that he’d only recently found the hear to do since before the war. “Last time I saw you you were in a peach and baby blue plaid suit.”

[seanxwright]

Sean glanced over at Elena when she said his name, but as much as he wanted to respect her wishes for him not to be there, he was worried about James and he wouldn’t feel right just leaving the guy after not having seen him for so long. Besides, he didn’t seem to mind. If he minded, he would’ve left, but noticed the smile despite it being a little bit more for Sean’s benefit instead of his. His smile widened to add a bit more warmth of his own to the room.

“Yuck, it was amazing, Kenny, my pride and joy,” he said with a smirk. He finally entered the room then, casually setting the coffee tray on the desk in front of Elena before he turned to face James again. He noticed all the injuries and he wondered if it was from protecting someone like he knows he used to do, but he figured it’d be inappropriate to ask.

He stood a little off to the side and enough out of the way to not be standing in front of Elena, but still leaned against the desk a little. “Your hair’s longer. Looks like you’re ready for a clone attack.” He laughed a bit at the joke. “Please tell me you’ve still kept up with them. If not I have them and my home theater. If yes, I have them and the original- and I mean original not the edited Han shot second bullshit- trilogy and my home theater. Oh and popcorn and beer. And I suppose you could drag Grainger with if you wanted. Does he have a girlfriend now? I saw him with Christine the other day and then another day and then another day. The two of them?”

He looked up and off to the side for a second with a smile like he was thinking about how cute they were, except that was what he was thinking. But then he looked back at James. “And it’s crazy that they’re making a new series too. We have a really long ass wait though. A whole ‘nother year. But it’ll be worth it. No Jar Jar.”

[seanxwright]

Honestly, it was evening, but he had an inkling- which actually meant he walked in, saw the chaos then turned back around- that anyone at the police station was in for a long night. So he made a b-line for the Brew, picked up what he’d learned was Elena’s favorite and his favorite, and then headed right back for the station. He’d been told once or twice or three thousand nine hundred and eighty-four times that he really shouldn’t come in and bother Elena unless he actually broke a law. He didn’t have time to call Rey and have her catch him j-walking tonight, so he’ll just be arrested for an impromptu visit.

He weaved his way around rowdy arrestees and frustrated arrestors with absolutely no effort and with a ton of grace. Childhood dance lessons paid off no matter if his mother had been annoying about it at the time. Not a drop of coffee was spilled, he touched no one, and he was unnoticed until he got to the door to the office.

An officer way in the back opposite where he was and he’d seen once or twice noticed him and only got half his name out before he winked at them, turned the handle with one hand, and pushed the door open with his back.

“Okay so it looks like hell here and I know I’m not supposed to bother you because of stupid codes or something,” he began like he’d never ignored them before. He turned inside to look at her. “But I got cof-” However his eyes landed on the roughed up guy in the room sitting across from her. “-fee.” He was familiar. Why was he familiar?

He stared at him blankly for a moment, but was still vaguely aware that it was awkward. And then, shockingly, he remembered an eighteen year old who had sucky ass parents and chose his way out as joining the army. He’d heard an array of things. James was captured, James died, and James came back. But the one thing so perfectly clear in this moment was that James wasn’t the James he saw fourteen years ago.

“Hey if it isn’t Obi Wan.”

[alicebeaumont]

“Why thank you.” She smiled sweetly and stepped in and looked around. “Oh my, you have a lovely home. Have you been here long?”

[seanxwright]

Sean glanced around himself. The place was big, but he still managed to make it feel homey. It was probably the fireplace. “About... twenty... one years? Wow, yeah twenty-one years.”

[elizabeththorne-blog]

“Now that sounds like a deal. As long as you don’t call me Hermione again. And no Queen Elizabeth jokes. And I won’t get snappy - I promise.”

[seanxwright]

“Okay, then I promise I’ll keep the pop culture nicknames in my head. Unless you like James Bond.”

He stepped to the side to let her in. “You’re free to come in, get comfortable and all that. I don’t really have a coat check or anything, but there’s hooks right inside.”

[elizabeththorne-blog]

“A half-apology for the time we met. I say half because in my own defense you were not making my mood any easier, and - well, anyway. Just - just take it, okay?”

[seanxwright]

“Okay, fair. You brought cookies, maybe my half-apology could be open bar? It’s gotta be five o’clock in England by now.”

[alicebeaumont]

“Noted.”

“Oh no I only came by to-… milk?” Her brow raised. “I’ll take the whiskey, thanks.”

[seanxwright]

“Good choice,” he said, stepping off to the side to let her in. “Welcome in.”

[alessandradavies-blog]

“Oh, did he? He must be quite a legend, then.”

[seanxwright]

“He is. People are whispering about him all over. He’s a legend.”

[alessandradavies-blog]

   “Oh, is there? How frightening.”

[seanxwright]

“Yeah, very frightening. He’s even scared himself.”

[margedicarlo]

“An old lady can’t share her cookies with her neighbors?”

[seanxwright]

“I mean yeah, but I didn’t expect it. I was just wondering if I missed my birthday again.”

[alicebeaumont]

“Just take them before I change my mind.”

“-But if you must know, I made a lot more than I’d planned and they’ll only end up going to waste.”

[seanxwright]

“Alright, alright. Next time I question food, slap me.”

He took the container from her. “Well, is it bad of me to be glad you did?” He looked back into his house. “Do you want anything? Coffee? Tea? Milk? Whiskey?”

[seanxwright]

“I mean I’m never apposed to baked goods, but why are you giving me some?”