The Last Voyages: IC Inbox

[worthallthis]

There is no voice message here. Better hope you got the right box.

Comments

[gamjam]

Hi, is this Bucky Barnes?

[worthallthis]

[It takes almost an hour before she gets a response, and then it's via text.]

I am the Asset.

[gamjam]

Oh gosh, sorry. Never mind, then. Sorry for bothering you!

[worthallthis]

[Another text comes through maybe ten minutes later.]

who told you that name

[gamjam]

Steve Rogers. Oh, but look, you're clearly not Bucky so I'm sorry to bother you. Please don't be mad.

[worthallthis]

[Fuck, right, of course it was Rogers. Who probably had the very best of intentions and somehow had not quite realized that, that fucking name makes him freak out. Asshole.

He debates for another couple minutes whether or not to continue this conversation. Will it make Steve sad if he doesn't talk to whoever he send to talk to him? Probably. Also it might be making whoever this is sad. Christ.]

who are you

[gamjam]

My name's Gortys. I'm a robot!

[worthallthis]

[ ... he might be willing to admit maybe Rogers knows him, after all. A real actual talking robot. Wow.]

Rogers calls me that name but i don't use it

where are you

[gamjam]

Oh gosh. You're really mad, aren't you?

Look, I'm sorry, Mr. Asset, if I'd have known not to call you that name I wouldn't!

[worthallthis]

[Well shit.]

not mad just don't use these things much

talking in person is better

[gamjam]

Oh!

Oh, okay, I understand.

I'm in the cybernetic maintenance bay.

[worthallthis]

[He actually takes a moment to grind his palms into his eyes because of course she is. Of course the cool robot is on the floor he doesn't go on and in the room he doesn't go.

Asking things is hard. Asking things via text is apparently slightly easier.]

want to meet on the deck

[gamjam]

Sure thing, The!

[Gortys is under the impression that Bucky's first name is 'The'.]

Be right there!

[worthallthis]

[Ya know what? He doesn't even care. As long as it's not that goddamn name he can deal with it.

He picks himself up from the corner he'd tucked himself in at hearing it, makes sure he's not too much of a mess from the panic attack, then heads upstairs to the deck. He's not in his tac vest,
but instead in a couple layers of shirt and a jacket, so the metal arm is mostly hidden, but his hand is exposed, if she'll notice something like that.

He has no idea what he's looking for, so he's just kind of. Loitering. Looking for something that says "robot" to his limited experience.]

[gamjam]

[The Asset is in luck because Gortys is the most robot-like robot to ever grace the Barge. She's about two feet high, round and brightly colored to be friendly and accessible for the technologically inept.

She zooms out into view, looking around for anyone who might look like a stranger and who also would have called her on deck.]

[worthallthis]

[There she is. Yep, that is definitely a robot, and definitely a robot looking for somebody. Jesus Christ, she's cute, too. He's starting to feel kind of stupid for the panic attack. Well, more stupid than usual.]

Hi. Uh. Gortys?

[gamjam]

[Gortys turns at her name and brightens, coming over to wave at him]

Hiii. Yes! Are you The Asset?

[worthallthis]

Yeah. That's. That's what they called me.

[What's the proper protocol here? How does one converse with a robot that comes up to one's kneecaps? Does he crouch down? Does he stay standing? Does he fucking sit?]

[gamjam]

It's really great to meet you. Steve says that we might get along with each other. I asked him if maybe you wanted to learn a board game with me, because even though we've got a full group going now, there's always room to make more.

[worthallthis]

[Yep, Rogers' fault. At least this time he's got no real urge to punch him over it. He pauses, tries to come with a mental image of that, and fails.]

I don't know what a board game is.

[gamjam]

[Gortys nods, and comes a little closer to the stranger]

Well, uh. Let's see. It's like a game, but it's on a board, and usually there's cards and dice and things to move around. Oh! I could show you? I taught everyone I know how to play Bunkers and Badasses.

[worthallthis]

[There's another pause, mostly while his brain parses "bunkers and badasses" and tries to gauge just his utterly ridiculous that name is. But showing seems the most efficient method, here, since he's not even really sure what "dice" are (it sounds familiar, but nothing's coming to mind, goddamn sieve-brain) so he says,]

Sure. Where is it at.

[gamjam]

Over in my cabin. Oh, but maybe we should use yours - mine is kind of small...

[worthallthis]

[He's going to take that at face value: she is very small, so maybe all aspects of her cabin will be, as well. Crouching in a room with ceilings at Gortys-height would be awkward.

On the other hand, someone in his cabin. That makes him twitchy. On the other other hand, robot. That might make him less twitchy than a person.]

Okay. Third level, room fifteen.

[gamjam]

Great! Hey, uh, but you might need to be around to help me with the elevator buttons. Hope that's okay!