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[frostythehitman]

JAMES (BUCKY) BARNES

Hey, this is James. Text me if you need me. Or leave me a message if you want, but I'm probably not going to listen to it because, seriously, this is 2017 and no one uses voicemail any more.

VOICE | TEXT | VIDEO | ACTION

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[constellates]

[you're like 5 you can't be retired

regardless Anya is just going to be just as excited as when she started?? no pausing for confusion here!!]

There will be a winter show... Blue Star Live! I'll be performing, and so will some of my other friends. Some acts can't make it since they're from out of town so... there are openings? And I think it would be wonderful if James could perform too?

[frostythehitman]

[ Everything is happening so fast now ]

But--aren't all of you guys pop singers? My music doesn't exactly fit with your sound.

[constellates]

Then it would be good to have something different. [A HAPPY LITTLE NOD] Anya is being asked a lot of questions... so I guess I get to make some decisions?

And I decided I want James there! Mm... only if you want to, but I think it would be fun if you did.

[don't make these decisions on your own anya]

[frostythehitman]

[ He looks at her apprehensively for a few moments, then turns his head to stare at the lockers to the side of them. ]

I don't know. I haven't exactly been practicing lately.

[ His tone is dry and sarcastic, but it really is a nervewracking proposition. On the one hand, yes, he misses performing. On the other hand, music is still so fraught for him--he could still write and sing, but hasn't, because knowing that he's just going to hit a roadblock the second he tries to actually play anything has soured him on all of it.

But he really does miss it--enough that he's not outright dismissing the idea, outlandish as it is. ]

[constellates]

That's okay. We can practice together.

[there is zero apprehension here, meanwhile. She sounds perfectly confident about it? Look, she said way back when it actually happened that she believes that James can do anything that he puts his mind to, including continuing music.]

We have time. And maybe it'll be just like riding a bike? Won't know unless you try, right?

[frostythehitman]

[ He's still plainly conflicted. He still thinks it's a bad idea, and still finds a small part of him wanting to do it anyway.

Instead of voicing all his concerns to her directly, though, he decides to probe for more details. Maybe more information will help him make a decision either way. ]

When's it going to be? What's the lineup, would I be performing my own set as A Lyrical Assassination, or would it be me doing whatever songs you've already got lined up?

[constellates]

[The more information he asks for, the more Anya's certain that she can convince him to join in - ]

Whatever you'd like! There's some room if you want to do your own set as A Lyrical Assassination again, or you can join me on my set for the holiday songs that I'll be doing.

Either sounds fun - I think it'd be wonderful to sing together, if you want to.

[sounds like christmas to her!!]

[frostythehitman]

...How much free time is there for another set? Are you debuting anything new at this concert?

[ He could do a set of preexisting songs, play the instrumental tracks, and just sing along...it would be very strange for A Lyrical Assassination to perform without instruments, but doable. ]

[constellates]

How much free time would you need? And not really, there are some songs that I might use that I remember now but...

[she's leaving her set list up until she can accommodate as much as other people need. she reaches out to hold onto his hand, because she's anya and she can - ]

So you will?

[frostythehitman]

I don't know. I don't know what I'd use for a set. Maybe like 20 minutes? If I went with 5 songs total...

[ He's still intentionally not committing with a final, explicit answer, but he is already considering the math of it. ]

[constellates]

[a happy little hum as she's already making mental notes to accommodate - ]

Then you will have 20 minutes.

[frostythehitman]

[ ...well. He can't really come up with any compelling reasons not to do it, other than to keep stewing in his own anger. ]

Yeah, okay. 20 minutes sounds good.

[constellates]

[perfect.

Anya looks more than satisfied at that.]

Good...!! I'm so glad you agreed.

Oh - but I do have another question!

[finally gETTING TO IT A MONTH LATER]

[frostythehitman]

Yeah? What is it?

[constellates]

I saw you on Ninja Warrior! [she'd been running around because carmen sandiego is a goddess] It was so cool - I didn't know that you could do all of that.

Could you teach me? Spar with me? Wouldn't that be fun?

[frostythehitman]

[ wow this is uh. certainly a question. It's a lot to take in, and James is visibly stunned. ]

Spar with you? 'Fun'? Anya, do you even know what you're asking?

[constellates]

[Anya blinks in confusion at that - ]

Mm...? Of course I do. We're speaking Russian!

[WHICH MEANS SHE KNOWS WHAT HER WORDS MEAN]

I've been learning... but I don't have anyone to practice with? So I don't know if what I'm learning will actually help me when I need it.

[frostythehitman]

Why are you even--

[ He grunts, frustrated. ]

You shouldn't have to need it in the first place! You want to do music, right? So just, focus on the music, and don't worry about having to fight anyone, okay?

[ He knows this is all pretty hypocritical coming out of his mouth, but if anything, that just makes him all the more qualified to say it. ]

[constellates]

[ . . . . and she tilts her head at that.]

But... I want to, too? Since people are teaching me, it's fun to spend time with them doing what they like, too. Is it a bad thing to learn how to fight?

[is james... telling her no....?????]

[frostythehitman]

No! It's just--you're gonna get hurt, Anya!

[constellates]

I've already been hurt?

[what's your point here, james]

[frostythehitman]

Exactly! And you're only going to get hurt more the more you get involved in this stuff!