worthallthis | The Last Voyages: IC Inbox

"Don't be stupid and think your reflection is someone else," B says dryly, though he's pretty sure that's not the actual moral of that story. He moves another pawn, putting it temptingly in that pawn's line of fire.

He doesn't move his pawn, instead sliding his queen over to take it. Still blocking his rook, but taking that pawn away for the moment.

"Don't be greedy," he laughs. "But also, yes. Be thoughtful before making decisions. I'll find a book for you and you can read them all for yourself."

"Thanks." Whether or not he winds up internalizing the morality of the tales, it'll be helpful to at least know what it's supposed to be... find out just how off whatever HYDRA programmed him with actually is. (It's pretty off. Just thankfully being mitigated by examples around him and what's left of the actual Bucky Barnes in there.) "I'll add it to the collection."

He glances over his shoulder at his books, and frowns a bit. "Is there a limit? To how long I can keep them? Steve didn't know."

"I can't imagine there is," he tells him softly. "Unless someone else goes looking for them. But your collection is unique."

He follows his gaze to the bookshelf anyway. "I think you're alright keeping them for as long as you need."

It's true that there probably isn't a lot of call for kids books around the barge, there's no real... kids here. Entrapta, maybe, but he can't see her reading Stand back, said the Elephant, really. (Maybe she should, it might do her some good.)

He focuses back on the board and moves another pawn to threaten the queen instead of moving his bishop. "I don't need all of them. Can I just leave some outside the library?" He still can't go in. He's working on it, but for some reason all those shelves with all those books seriously freaks him out.

"I can take them back with me when I go," he tells him. "If you want to leave them in my cabin instead." Which is always unlocked.

He doesn't know why B would be afraid of the library, but if he doesn't want to go in, then there has to be some reason for it. And Godric is frequently there, so it just makes it easier.

He considers his next move, sliding his queen to take the pawn.

Now B takes the protective pawn, and now Godric's king is in danger again. "Thank you. I'll do that." His own best guess is that there's too much choice, but it seems harder to get over than the wardrobe issue, so far. It's kind of frustrating, to be honest, but he's still prodding at it every couple of days. He'll get there. "Especially since Steve wants to get me new books."

Back in check.

"I'm glad that you two are friends," he says, bringing his queen back. It's too late but, again, he's playing until the end. "Or, whatever you wish to call yourselves."

"We're friends," B says, shaking his head a little, chasing the queen with the bishop, though not able to take it this time. "I'm. Reconciled to having them. I guess."

"Reconciled doesn't seem very enthusiastic," he reminds him, switching the Queen out of the bishop's path. It's a fun game of chase.

"And are we friends?" he asks.

"I regularly let you into my cabin. And then beat you at chess, apparently." He keeps chasing. Go run and hide, queen. Or else take the bishop already. "Yes, Godric. We're friends."

Then, after a pause, he explains quietly, "Friends weren't a thing I ever had. It was scary. Seemed important, and like it shouldn't be allowed."

"You beat me at chess because I don't mind losing," he says, moving his Queen into check on his King. Not nearly enough for checkmate, but at least he's pushing.

"And I'm glad that we are friends, B. You know I have thought of you as a friend for a while. Friends are important. And they are, of course, allowed."

The Last Voyages: IC Inbox

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AHHHH, how did I miss this?!

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