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Eh?

[Manabu's eyebrows raise. with a tilt of his head:] The...man you were being forced to kill? [s q u i n t] The man you said was going to kill you? OR me, if I crossed paths and mentioned you?

I never said that.

[He frowns, as if Manabu has personally insulted him by suggesting that Steve might have hurt either of them.]

You basically did! [he unfolds his arms and makes a gesture.] You said he'd mow me over!

I said he'd never leave you alone, and that he'd tear the town apart to find me.

[He's not relenting on the glower.]

None of that means he'd hurt you. He's just-- a persistent punk, he'd bug you for information on me.

[he scowls back for a beat, like a petulant little brother (lifetime of practice).

then, hands up:] Okay, okay, fine! That's off the table, and that's a good thing! I'll be glad for that.

Where's this guy at, anyway?

123 David Cliff Apartments.

[He probably shouldn't be giving out Steve's address without clearing it with him first, but he does anyway.]

I don't know how long I'm gonna stay with him, but I'm there now.

[Manabu pushes off the counter, walking over to another where a notebook lay. he flips a page and pencils it down at the bottom of a mostly-used page.]

Okay.

I guess if anything real bad comes up, I can go there. [he sets the pencil down, looking over.] But I won't bother anyone if I can avoid it.

I didn't give you the damn address so that you could avoid bothering me.

[Idiot. Just as much of an idiot as Steve.]

...Twenty minutes ago, you were telling me you weren't going to interact with me again.

[what is the truth.gif]

See how well that worked out.

[It's dry and flat. Obviously he's already failed at the not interacting part of things.]

[he squints, making a soft, drawn-out sound of suspicion.

after a beat:] ...So then, if I do go there, you're not going to open the door and yell at me to scram? Just to balance things out?

[his mouth is curving on one side, almost a smirk.]

No.

[He might be tempted, but no.]

I wasn't gonna see you again because of what I did, that-- it's kind of moot now.

[Since they've discussed it, Manabu has taken his revenge, and now the man knows more than he did before. The fact that Manabu has agreed to shoot him if it happens again is a big part of why he's comfortable enough to resume their-- whatever the hell this is.]

[Manabu lets out a soft laugh.]

Yeah, yeah it is! Glad we're on the same page, James. It's...probably easier to get through all this weird stuff without worrying about avoiding folks in the process. [he nods, plainly more certain than "probably."]

And if this Steve guy isn't actually gonna throw down, [LIKE YOU SAID. BUCKY.] I'll be glad to meet him, too.

[He never said that! His scowl when Manabu brings it up again says that he's considering throwing down, if Manabu doesn't stop acting like that's what he said.]

I don't think that's a good idea.

[If this were anyone else, that tone of voice might be called petulant.]

Eh? [squint. frown. is he just being contrarian for the sake of it, or...?]

Why not? [and which part? the not-avoiding people or the meeting-Steve part.]

Neither of you need that sort of influence.

[Meaning, he's pretty sure they'll make each other worse with their stupid idealistic need to help out even when it's dangerous for themselves.]

[head tilt, blink. he's not sure what that could refer to. this guy...really is a mess, huh?

but he won't prod any further. instead, Manabu sighs, his shoulders drooping with the exhale.]

...Right. What the hell am I supposed to do now...?

You're supposed to get some rest.

[He manages to look both concerned and forbidding at the same time, arms folded.]

At least until you know whatever that was-- that confusion-- has definitely passed.

I feel fine, you know! [he scowls briefly.] Whatever that...that situation was, it's not like it's lingering on me or anything.

[a beat, looking down and to the side as the hamster wheel in his brain spins on.]

...A chemical agent, maybe? A nerve gas? It's not impossible...

It would've got me too.

[They were in pretty close proximity, after all. He's fairly sure any chemical agent in the air would have been much more generalised, not just targeted at Manabu.]

I think it might have something to do with the way the 'locals' are acting.

[...okay, fair. damn. it might be better if it's more isolated, anyway; not good to have more people wrapped up in problems.

but mention of the townsfolk makes Manabu's eyes wince. the glitching and twitching and general...nothingness they seem to be caught up in? he wants no part of that, not a bit.]

I try to stay out of their way...as long as they're not hurting themselves too much. Then I, you know. Move them a bit. But maybe if it's a matter of too much contact with them...?

I don't know.

[He avoids the townsfolk as much as possible, they stir up uncomfortably familiar feelings with their dead-eyed stares and general blank faces.]

Have you heard anyone else mention anything like this on the-- Fluid?

[That was what it was called, right?]

Y'know-- [the pained look grows more weary than anything.] The way people use that thing...it's more like...diary stuff than...useful broadcasts. I mean--some are useful. Like, maybe way more information than anyone could use in a situation, but still good. But a lot of it is...weird...

[he looks askance, troubled.]

I think this place has...a lot of the people stuck here kind of...messed up. Like they're just used to it.

I don't want that to happen to anyone else.

I don't think it's something you can stop.

[It's probably not what Manabu wants to hear, but Bucky doesn't sugar coat what he thinks the truth is. His tone is gentle, though, he knows what it is to want to help.]

People have to find a way to cope, I've seen it before.

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