z_jay | Luceti | Appointments

[Lucky for Bucky, Eugene's humor is anything but normal]

Let's just make sure no one loses any fingers or limbs, you know my luck with that.

Also, I'm sure we could arrange something with Tasha... on account of she'd probably encourage some sort of training in self defense.

Alright, so am I shaving you or you shaving me? Best way to learn is through demonstration, am I right?

[He took up the razor and took a look at his reflection, speculating he was in need of a shave, and that Bucky wasn't...]

Or d'you prefer to stand aside and give tips?

[Bucky snorts. He wants to say he's still got a sterling record as far as limbs go, but then he remembers it's only a matter of time before he loses his damn arm, so he thinks maybe he won't tempt fate.]

I'm sure she'd be up for that. She likes you. We could probably handle you together if you want - similar fighting styles.

[He gestures for Eugene to follow him, heading for the bathroom.]

I'll shave you, show you how it's done, and then you can take over. How's that?

I--... It's probably a good idea, actually. Now that I'm back to being whole again.

[To decline would be a waste of a good opportunity, though he was a little self conscious-- starting from the bottom like this by two... trained professional types, it was a little intimidating. Still, no one started off brilliant, and even raw talent needed to be honed with skill.

He followed easily, moved to stand in front of the sink, eyeing himself and then Bucky in the mirror.]

Sounds good. Here you go.

[Turning halfway, he gave Bucky the razor and took a deep breath, forcing himself to relax]

Want me to sit or...?

Then we'll get together and talk it over, the three of us.

[Tasha isn't the only one who likes him, and Bucky is wholly in favor of his friends standing the best possible chance of survival when things get dicey.

He takes the razor from Eugene and folds it shut again, setting it down on the edge of the sink for now.] Yeah, sit if you can still see alright... You okay, Gene?

Maybe discuss it after work, hm? And I'm fine. Haven't had this done before so I'm trying to play it cool and casual.

[It was a true statement, one he gave Bucky a reassuring smile to accompany it with. Normally he had the luxury of an electric razor prior to the outbreak that doing it by hand seemed too much effort. After the grey plague, the sterility of sharp, bladed objects was questionable at best, and best avoided. He'd been surviving on scissors and Jack's assistance to keep trim as he could.

Sitting was easy, his coordination a fair amount better than it had been a few months back.]

Starting point is really up to the person shaving, right? Any preferences you have?

Sounds good to me.

[He notices how much more easily Eugene moves - dancing the other night, sitting down. It's the little things. It's good to see someone recover like that. He pats Eugene on the shoulder as he passes to fetch a clean towel.

It's hard to blame the guy for being nervous - about training, or about someone going at his neck with a razor.

When he comes back a moment later, he drapes the towel over the neck of Eugene's shirt. He'd picked up some other stuff on the way to show Eugene what else he needed, if he didn't know already, so he digs a small container of shaving soap and a brush out of his pocket and sets them by the sink. He hadn't planned on using them on the guy, but here they are.]

Red hair, green eyes, but I make exceptions. [He catches Eugene's eye in the mirror, trying to lighten the mood.] So, straight razors 101. Stop me if I start talkin' about anything you've already heard, alright?

[He moves to stand beside the sink so he can get to everything without reaching over Eugene.]

Use shaving soap, first of all. [He picks up the container so he can open the lid - inside, it looks just like any other soap.] There's a couple different ones in the item shop if you don't like this. The instant stuff is no good for this kinda blade- [He thumbs a tiny scar on his chin.] -or your face.

I could've guessed that one, what was I thinking? Absolutely agree on the redheads bit, though.

[Most of the beginning stuff he knew, but where to get the materials-- well that was good information to know so he wasn't floundering at the item shop looking like a hobo. His eyes fixated on the soap before Bucky gestured to a scar on his chin, and damn if that didn't look good on him. He wasn't about to say such a thing out loud, but his grin did seem to imply that a few scars here and there to be a bad thing at all.

Sitting up straighter, he kept up a gentle grin.] I don't have quite the same baby face as Jack, but it is nice to keep it smoother than not. So, go against the direction of the follicle and all that? Or is that asking for major razor burn?

[He rolls up his sleeves while he talks, quick and neat.]

And blondes. Gotta love a bombshell.

[He gives Eugene a grin, turning to the sink because the one he got in reply is... Charming is a weird thing to think, isn't it?

He focuses on turning on the warm water on, plugs up the sink, and gets to work lathering the soap up. He'd normally use another bowl, but since they don't have one handy, he just cups his left hand and moves the brush against it brusquely to create foam.]

That's probably asking to get cut. You wanna do three passes; with the grain first, then across, then against. It takes time but that's the kinda luxury we've got plenty of around here, so - chin up.

[He raises the brush so he can paint the lather across and under Eugene's jaw. It's been a hell of a long time since he did this for someone else, but it's not too strange.] You can show off for Jack once you get the hang of it. Some of the girls I dated liked this kinda thing.

Liked a clean-shaven face or-- [Obediently he raised his chin and tries his best to keep from marring the lathering of soap with a grin. Ah, this would be harder than he thought] -- doing this for a guy? You're right. I should train Jack to do this for me.

[Would make it easier so Jack couldn't complain about his scruff. But he did take note of the instructions, a three swipe process and a method that he could get used to.]

A blonde bombshell, huh? She's not a blonde, but for a while, I had such a thing for Pepper-- don't worry, I'm over it now. That Valentine's event really threw me for a loop, though. How about you?

Handling a straight edge. They're going outta fashion in my time, so a lot of guys just use safety razors.

[He picks up the razor and opens it with a precise flick of the wrist so he can wash both the blade and his hands clean. He lets the flat of the blade rest against his palm for a moment, warming it up.]

If you train Jack, just make sure you don't get on his bad side.

[He uses a light touch to indicate the way Eugene should tilt his head.] You want a twenty-degree angle on the blade. Don't use a lot of pressure. I'll do the first pass for you, and then you can take over the rest, huh?

[When he gets to work, he's careful to keep the movement of the razor smooth and regular, the touch of his fingers indicating both which way he wants Eugene to move and where the blade will fall next.]

Pepper is one hell of a lady. I must've hit on her a whole five minutes after I got here. She shot me down, but we ended up being good friends so I can't say I've got any regrets there, either.

So, what happened on Valentines? I'll swear to take it to my grave if you want.

[He lifts the blade away from Eugene's neck so he can talk, and raises an eyebrow at him in the mirror.]

Keeping that in mind, though I doubt he'd actually, y'know... cut seriously. Oh!

[He shifted as Bucky nudged, eyes following the razor when he could. It was... simple looking enough, though that could be totally different once he was the one holding onto the razor. After the first pass he made a soft sound of assent, ready to give it a go himself. It was nice to have someone else scrape away at your scruff, but Eugene knew better than to get too comfortable.

Suppressing a grin, he cleared his throat when Bucky asked about Pepper]

Hey, at least I wasn't the only one. I'm sure she's got plenty of guys just... well, spell-bound. I think you and I are in the same boat with the being shot do-- well. Sort of shot down. The Valentine's event was... eventful. But a true gentleman doesn't kiss and tell, now does he?

[Except with that grin, he sort of did tell.]

It made everyone a bit weird. She had it in for Canadians, and gosh-- guilty as charged, eh? Though honestly, Tasha. Now she's one of the most capable women I've ever met. And I've met a lot of capable women in my life. Way more capable than I a-- was. Am?

[They would probably be thrilled to see him bipedal and his mirth faltered for a moment.]

...To the grave, do you hear me? I hear you've spoken a word of it and that's exactly where you'll be going.

It was a joke, Gene.

[Bucky cleans the blade off and holds it out to him, handle first.]

A girl like that... Tony had better know what a lucky bastard he is. But the way she talks about him, I get the feeling he does.

[He grins back and shakes his head, leaning back against the wall to watch Eugene. He even holds up his hands at the threat.]

Valentines was eventful for everyone. If it makes you feel any better, I was a girl at the time - so now that we've both got loaded guns, let's not pull the triggers.

[He pauses a beat, unsure of what Natasha has told Eugene. She's not exactly one for keeping her profession a secret, but she only really talks about it when it comes up - and he's not the person who should be telling anyone.] Don't feel bad. Tasha is more capable than half the people in here, super powers included. You should see her before her first cup of coffee in the morning. It's a magical combination of adorable and utterly terrifying.

I've never actually met Tony, heard lots about the man. Not all of it flattering, and from a very reliable source.

[Jack's first encounter with him hadn't been pleasant-- but considering the world they had just been plucked from, Eugene couldn't blame Jack for reacting as he had from the comment. Not when those statements had meant something very threatening and real back home. On the other hand, it was unfair to expect everyone else to curtail themselves on account of their past terrors.

With a smirk, he took the blade and then turned his attention to the mirror, to form and being cautious. Even if he wasn't entirely perfect at following from example, he wasn't going to let that stop him. Bucky being a girl-- now that... he hadn't expected and his brows rose a considerable about when he viewed him in the mirror, trying to place it.]

No triggers pulled here, my friend. Still-- can't imagine you as a lady. And Tasha carries herself with a confidence I've never seen anyone for that matter. She's got the Major beat. Kind of like Pepper only... it comes from a different place? How did you two manage to hit it off in the first place? Don't tell me you fell over her.

I don't doubt that. He doesn't seem like the kinda guy who makes a whole lot of friends.

[He doesn't know what happened, but Tony pissing someone off doesn't exactly surprise him.]

Good. Do us both a favor and don't imagine me as a lady. [He humms and nods his agreement about Natasha. She is confident, but it came at cost, and he admires her all the more for what she's made of herself and her life.

Eugene is pretty perceptive, too. There's something like guarded interest in Bucky's gaze, but his laugh is light and carefree.] Hey, give me a little credit. She... [Knows me from the future where I'm a hitman with a cybernetic arm, and that's the simple part. Bucky grins.] We got in a bar fight.

Pepper wouldn't hang around a guy who wasn't worth it. So he must have some redeemable qualities that we've gotten off on the wrong foot with.

[With a wink he set back to the task at hand, carefully shaving along the underside of his chin.]

It's not impossible to imagine, but I think I'd prefer you as you are. Nice and chiseled and less... curvy. But-- A bar fight sounds precisely 100% more interesting than what I had imagined. Here I was picturing you meeting during the christmas party we had last year over cocktails and chit-chat. But I'm assuming she slugged first? You don't seem the type to hit a lady.

[Any guarded interest is missed in favor of not cutting himself, and he shakes some of the shaving cream off into the sink]

Unless I've misjudged you?

I will say this for him: he put everything on the line trying to bust people out of here. It wasn't the first time, and I doubt it'll be the last. He's a good man, when you get past the... bravado.

[Bucky watches him, but Eugene seems to be a natural at this.

He arches an eyebrow at the 'nice and chiseled' comment.] Glad to have your approval, Sir. [It's said in a slow drawl that's obviously meant to be teasing.]

Nah, it was more like us against the rest of the bar. We stole every Tommy Gun in the place and a beautiful Studebaker after. Most fun I've had in ages.

... Looking for a way home, then? [Which, if Eugene were confronted with that option, he wasn't sure he'd take up that offer. Still, it was a noble sentiment, he could respect and admire it. The drawl drew a soft laugh out of him-- followed by a short hiss, because really, razors and laughing weren't a natural combination. It wasn't bad, however, after a short examination and he carried on.]

Oh, so that kind of bar fight. Cooperative effort. Not too shabby. What started the fight in the bar?

[Bucky nods.] For people who want to go.

[His fingers twitch against his arm when Eugene nicks himself, but he looks okay, and Bucky can almost hear Steve grumbling at him not to fret about everyone so much.]

Well... It was a Shift that turned Luceti into, among other things, part 1920s America. Everyone except us Luceti guys were a... Simulation? That's the word, right? We killed one of these simulation things and got caught on the way out. You can imagine how his friends felt about it.

[He inclines his head.]

So what about you and Jack? How'd you meet? I thought you guys were practically old n' married already, but then you started wearing a matching set. [He taps his earlobe.]

Probably not too great, really. [And then he was flicking some of the shaving cream into the sink, following up along the line of his jaw carefully. The skin left behind was a little red, but only from such a close shave.]

But I guess simulations can't account for the real deal? And from then it was true love at first sight, right?

[He offered Bucky a joking grin before clearing his throat at the next question[

Hey, just because we're old and married doesn't mean we've done all the crazy and memorable things old and married couples have in their closets. I, uh. I tripped over him. Running from some zoms.

Something like that. [Not exactly, but he doesn't want to explain Amelia, or Valentines' Day, or everything that came after. So he gives Eugene an amiable shrug instead.

Besides, he wants to hear this. He thumbs the corner of his mouth when a smirk tugs at his lips.] So how many times have you heard 'you fell for him' by now?

Oh, my god plenty. It's not where we began to get all up close and personal and married, but suffice to say, I held on and wouldn't let go. I even used a cheesy pick up line on him.

[He stopped so he could grin, unable to help it and looked at Bucky with half his face smooth and the other half looking covered with shaving cream and a little unevenness.]

I was at least the responsible party. Jack was at a party. Of questionable legality, I might add. So I had to be the adult of the two of us.

[Bucky laughs, partly because this is hilarious and partly because Eugene, admittedly, looks kinda endearingly goofy half-slathered in shaving cream.] Well look at you, Casanova.

Wait wait, he was at a party during the zombie apocalypse?

It's a skill [he answered easily, turning back to look in the mirror as he continued the story]

It was before it actually happened. Day 0 was... I can't even remember when it was now, it's been so long. Definitely in the summer. My car broke down, I was making my way north to get away from it. And let me tell you, rental cars seriously need bigger gas tanks.

Anyway, I went on foot soon as I realized I was out of gas and headed into the woods with my backpack. Needless to say, I almost brained him with a steel pipe.

How do you even survive telling people this story? It's a minefield of bad puns.

[Not exactly your typical get-together story, but teasing Eugene is a better option than really thinking about living in a world where this kinda thing is relatively normal.] Then what, you decided to try your odds with two?

Usually it's Jack telling it and me groaning in the corner with retrospect embarrassment. But we managed to live somehow...

[And now for the other side, his eyes flicking to Bucky briefly, before back to his reflection. Normally he didn't divulge this information so freely, but people usually just took him and Jack for granted instead of wondering about what had been before.]

...He wouldn't have lived long if I'd left him behind. I figured... I... well, yeah. Two were better than one. One could be the bait.

[It had been far more complex than that, but he didn't want to bore Bucky with that]

And then we just... stuck it out together. And haven't stopped since.

Luceti | Appointments

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I'm sorry Reina I thought I already sent this!

As you can see, it's no big D B)

<333

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