[ ✪ ] 𝚛𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚎𝚛

ᅟDURING THE COLD WAR, THERE WAS A THEORY ... That one agent, in the right place, in the right time with the right skills could be more effective than an army. from the world of war and espionage, [ REDACTED ] ⸺ once captain america's pal, turned hy.dra's master killing machine. AN INDEPENDENT &. STRIPPED FROM COMICS CANON PORTRAYAL OF 𝙹𝙰𝙼𝙴𝚂 ' BUCKY ' 𝙱𝚄𝙲𝙷𝙰𝙽𝙰𝙽 𝙱𝙰𝚁𝙽𝙴𝚂 , the winter soldier. as decripted by your sparklin' diamond, * 𝐒𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐄 !

A STUDY ON, ... identity, guilt, and redemption ; exploring the meaning of responsibility when someone's free will has been stolen. fragmented memories, psychological scars, and the challenge of rebuilding a self after extreme abuse. earning forgiveness, the embodiement of the long-term human consequences of warfare, VIOLENCE, political manipulation and survival versus living.

ᅟ... [ * ] PSA ! regarding my portrayal of James, as per default I shall be quite picky about what I consider canon adjecent or not; with some small changes, my primary source shall be the writing of ed brubaker for his personality and background ⸺ I do not aknowledge his cinematic universe counterpart, although respect those who are fond of it. As my portrayal is also stripped from comic canon, please be mindful that events you might consider canon for your character involving James may not be aknowledged by my part ; therefore feel free to approach me and we shall discuss the possibilities.

EXTRACTION TEAM, clint barton [ @h4wkeyed ], elektra natchios [ ♡ @decthbringer ], barbara gordon [ ♡ @datanexus ] ... loading.

because yes, he kills. no, he isn't sorry.

[ LOADING ... ] TARGET PROCESSED, @datanexus. I was good. I was really good.

NOSTALGIA EMBRACES A FAMILIARITY HARDER TO EXPRESS IN ANY SHAPE OR ANGLE, BUT THE WANDERING FOUNDNESS. Leather jacket long discarded somewhere he couldn't quite bother to recall, his focus undoubtly retained by the owner of the place ... Brown hues with a slight touch of silver glanced from the screen to her facade ; a silent study of the footage from a past facade, a version that he hadn't been graced with meeting and although respected deeply, James rather held preference for the current form bore by the female beside him. It was no brainy, perhaps the easiest conclusion he could've drawn in a while. A sense of fond memories that somehow choose the path towards the bittersweet tasted laced within the taste buds. A faint nod towards his own past, he was once just a boy in a domino mask with the longing to achieve greatness alongside the brother and father figure life bestowed him.

Barbara Gordon was a remarkable woman. And he was down bad, with no shame to his name.

Metalic digits hold the mug with precision, recently brewed coffee fumming a trail in the air ; probability of being their third refill within the last two hours of endless chatting, at some point the topic regarding their past-selves emerged ⸺ James, for once, didn't sprint away from the discussion. He rather welcomed it ... as Barbara, for as long as he'd known her [ living inside his head throughout assignments, or the local public library kind menager he foolish flirted over every thursday, three pm on the clock ] had been so easy to talk to. A COMFORT AMONG THE PHANTOMS ON HIS HEAD, rather welcomed as of late.

[ LOADING ... ] SOURCE HAS SPOKEN, @sonicanary. a redirected ask, with the purpose of following the plot.

A SUPPOSED CALM EVENING FOR ONCE, TREAT YOURSELF. Faintly, perhaps mingling in a hotel bar social's hadn't been his worst decision for the evening. He could to with some distraction, something slightly human and acceptable other than his past week fighting the eptome of cursed and evil behind the cowl of Captain America ⸺ still sureal, no matter how long he'd been wearing the star and stripes his way around the globe. His mind and sanity were at stake, alongside the current formation of New Avengers and the governament on his back as Tony freaking Stark did what he could as current director of SHIELD.

The world turned upside down, as you may wonder.

Some things, however, remained the same. Unfortunately so, this time around ⸺ James kept quiet for most of the evening ; third or fourth glass of whiskey on his hand while his hues focused on whatever football match on the screen, until he decided to settle his tab for the night; it was most likely when he noticed what had been happening a couple of chairs to his back, sat at the bar. He saw her back first, blonde hair up on a ponytail and the prick that didn't take no for an answer despite how much she seemed to drawn over the imaginary clouds she wasn't interested. SOME JUST COULDN'T TAKE NO FOR AN ASWER, RIGHT? Speaking frankly, he shouldn't make his presence known if things got heated. Not that he wanted it to turn out ugly, but he seemed to attract that lately so ... There was a clean, healthier approach to it. One that wouldn't raise any questions, he just asked the universe for her to play it along.

His ungloved hand laid softly on her shoulder, an warm smile slipping in like a mask, hues with a sparkle almost turning red and flush with dare towards the pity excuse of a man. ❝ There you are, darling. ❞ Descends from his tongue with an easiness that surprised him against all odds, but relief clouded his mind as she rose to her feet, playing along. ❝ Would you believe Steve couldn't shut his rambling tonight? Excuse-me, buddy. We gotta go. ❞ With his hand on the small of her back, James didn't think twice before guiding her towards the exit, fufilling his role of dotting partner beautifully.

[ LOADING ... ] TARGET PROCESSED, @decthbringer. something about you gives me a vibe that i'm not getting from any of these guys.

A REMINDER THE WORLD WAS SPINNING, AND THIS TYPE OF EVENT WAS SOMETHING OUT OF HIS LEAGUE BUT EQUALLY ENTERTAINING. Glass of wine on his gloved hand, an attempting of hidding the actual lack of skin and bones there perfectly done by the fitteted in a silver chalice colored suit with a matching black tie and shoes. James would be lying if he said this evening was completely normal for him, something he usually did with his little free time as of late ⸺ but he couldn't complain, Elektra seemed content enough he would be willing to make her company while she flawlesly acted her part during the evening. Making an effort didn't hurt him, [ One could argue that what actually hurt him were the two slightly fractured ribs of his from his fall three evenings ago, a miscalculated move that led to another and ... at least it was almost fully healed now. ] he knew how to play the part and simply sat in the assigned table, nursing his fourth glass, which didn't quite matter as he did not fall under the influence of alchool.

Brown-ish hues locked with hers, a incandescent sparkle while taking in the vision of Elektra Natchios beautifully drapped in a deeper shade of red. Some could grow quite accostumed to it, ... the lifestyle, her voice and scent ; he found it perpetually exciting, there was something he could easily get inhebriated with, and it was her. DROWN IN A SEA OF RED, WILLINGLY. His lips tugged on the corner, visually content upon her return. ❝ In what sense? ❞ Genuinly curious and having already risen to his feet, he pulls her chair and pushes softly once she's seated before returning to his seat beside hers. ❝ My lack of zero's on my public bank account, or the fact that I don't mind a woman making decisions for me? Ego's nowadays seem easily bruised. ❞ Smooth, Barnes. Really smooth. ❝ I actually like the suit, your taste is impeccable ⸺ Were you able to tend to your associates? ❞ Mindful of ears, James was well-mannered enough to imply and not reveal too much. Elektra came to this event to tend to a particular business of hers, he didn't ask about the minor details.

That's the thing that gets me with James you know? Marvel turned him into someone sad, depressing, who has no fun and has a cat now for christ sake... Yes, he's serious when he needs, he is a critical thinking character, he has values, he regrets some of his actions when he was under Hy.dra control, but he can't do anything about it.

Yes, some days the ghosts bother him more than never. But he isn't constantly plagued by the past. He has a sense of humor, he has some human fun when he's able to, he smiles genuinly and cracks jokes.

He's a good man, but unlike some "good" men, he won't force down your throat his beliefs or that you have to change somehow to be accepted. Not only romantically speaking but in general.

So you won't see him quoting the holy bible, but you'll see him respecting what someone stands for. Hence the captain america cowl, he didn't make a single kill while wearing Steve's mantle. Because it wasn't his, it was his best friend. He swore to protect it, and so he did. The moment he returned it to Steve, though?