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Sure.

[It's so strange to be openly discussing these things, but Manabu knows enough about his past now that he can talk about the changes made in seventy years.]

There were planes even back in the war, but they weren't anything like what exists now. And they sent men to the moon while I was--- gone. I don't think anyone's been to space since, though.

[he lets out another drawn-out, soft sound of wonder. he can't really imagine his life without the chance to get to space; even when he'd been stuck on Tabito growing up, he always watched the trains leave, always knew there was a chance. to not have it seems...really strange to him. limiting.]

Man. [his mouth quirks.] If you had to wind up in old memories anyway, I kinda wish it was a more fun space one... [and not...y'know.

anyway. he puts a card aside and draws another, barely thinking on strategy or the game at large at all; it's just a thing to do with his hands at this juncture.]

It's really something out there. Impossibly big and empty...but also kinda...full? In a way. If that makes sense.

[He gives a noncommittal shrug. He half understands, knows how somewhere can feel both impossibly empty and yet full at the same time, but he has a feeling that it's nothing compared to the vastness of space. It's something he can't truly comprehend, and his small time on the train with Manabu hadn't exactly given him much more insight into it.]

I think I'd like to see it someday.

[He doesn't often express preferences or desires for the future, but space-- that would be something else. He doesn't take another card of his own, just thinks for a moment before laying them out - two pair, Jacks over threes.]

I don't think I will, but it'd still be nice.

Considering where we're stuck, I don't know what the odds of anything are right now...

[he almost doesn't want to push his luck; who knows if they'll wind up somewhere worse before something better crops up?

anyway, cards. crap, uh...well. he's got a couple tens and...nothing else? he makes a face, dropping them.] Told you I'm not good at this one. [take your coins, then!]

[As he pulls the coins in towards him, that small smile becomes a full cocky grin, showing some of the man he used to be peeking through.]

And here I thought you were a military man.

[What kind of soldier doesn't play poker?]

[Manabu goes red.] I, I am! Card games aren't, like, part of basic training, you know...!

[of course, the indignation passes quickly, as any jab like that does, and Manabu lets himself laugh a little before realizing something rather key here.]

Uaa, you're having fun, aren't you? [he points.] Even if it's just making fun of me, that still counts. [smiling:] They don't teach that in basic, either!

[There's a moment where the smile fades completely, as if he's just realised that he is having fun and he needs to hide it behind a blank neutrality, but it comes back again after just a few seconds, albeit a bit smaller and more tentative than before.]

I guess I am.

[And isn't that something.]

[it is something!! wow, a good thing in this hellscape, who'da thunk it? Manabu's impressed to his own degree -- of course, he can't understand the whole scope of what makes James the man he is now, and certainly doesn't know the value of a peaceful moment and letting it happen in his regard, but there is an unconscious resonance that comes when two people in a harrowing situation can find some relief. the tangled wire of tension around people's throats and hearts eases up a bit, makes breathing easier. makes trust easier.

not that Manabu needs much help with trusting folks, but, maybe in James' case...]

Lemme guess: Don't tell anyone, or else?

[Luckily, the allusion to him being dangerous doesn't make the smile disappear again, it just makes a hollow sounding huff escape his lips.]

Pretty sure there's nobody would be interested even if you did tell them.

[Except Steve, and he highly doubts that Manabu is going running to Steve to tattle about Bucky making friends and smiling.]

[he makes a thoughtful sound at that, pushing his cards back toward James to be reshuffled.]

Does that mean you've not been talking to many other Sleepers here?

[He obediently starts to shuffle them again, not looking particularly abashed as he answers.]

In case you ain't noticed, I'm not really the social type.

[yeah, no arguments there. but.] I kinda figured that'd make you more of a target. [head tilt.] Like how...people who don't like cats or dogs wind up finding themselves being followed by them? Is that a thing where you're from?

[He raises an eyebrow, unimpressed.]

Are you calling me a cat, or the people who might try and talk with me?

I, uh-- [beat. blink.]

...I guess...either or? I don't know a lot about cats, honestly.

[He deals the cards again with a slight shake of his head at Manabu's idiocy.]

Either way, no, people don't tend to talk to me.

[he makes a faint noise through his nose, feeling the little beat of sheepishness...and letting it go.]

And I guess...you don't really feel up for it in turn, huh. [whether that's part-in-part with the hell he's been through, or just disposition is...hard to know for sure. Manabu sure as hell isn't a psychologist! he can only assume unless told otherwise, and even then.]

...Then what kept you from decking me the first time I chatted you up? I mean, you looked about to, I guess, but.

I don't hit people just for talking to me.

[He sounds just the tiniest bit offended at that. He might be dangerous, but he's better than that, at least most of the time.]

I just don't encourage people to get close, it's safer that way.

[because of the arm. and the whole...

...yeah. in hindsight, kind of obvious, isn't it? jeez. Manabu's learned a lot in a short amount of time, but it's just only gradually sinking in outside of dire moments.

Manabu falls into a thoughtful silence, staring at the cards he's been dealt for a moment before just scooting the last single coin available to him.]

[He waits for some sort of snappy comeback, or for some of Manabu's irritating optimism about teamwork or making friends, when it doesn't come... it's a little bittersweet. Good to know the other man believes him, sad to know he thinks it's true too.

He pushes one of his own coins in to match Manabu's bet and switches out two of his own cards.]

...if you don't want me to come round any more, I won't.

[If he's just now realising that it would be safer if Bucky stayed away.]

Ha, no way.

[he doesn't even look up to retort with that, mouth tugging on one side. when he does look up, he smirks.]

It's too late for you now, James. You even gave me an address to poke at if I don't hear from you, so you may as well accept this bit of fate for what it is. [the smirk is more of a grin, now:] So as long as I don't wind up becoming a threat, you can call me a friend.

[There's a very long moment of silence as Bucky just watches Manabu, fingers frozen over the cards he'd be about to pass over to the other man.]

I haven't had a friend for-- since before.

[Seventy years without a friend, without even being human. It's stupid to be hesitating over this, he's given the other man an address and they've saved each other, they're-- they must be. But it feels like another forbidden boundary to cross, and it's strangely hard to acknowledge aloud.]

I don't think I remember how.

Eheh... [he shakes his head a little, doing a card swap and wincing a bit. these cards are crap.] I think you can get a handle on it. Either way, you're getting a couple thousand Ables out of it, apparently... [he sighs, setting the cards on the table face-up.] I fold.

Idiot.

[It's not said with any vehemence, more tired fondness than anything else. The lightness with which Manabu is treating this, as if it's no big deal to make a friend for the first time in decades, helps a lot. It finally loosens him enough to put his own cards face up. He didn't have much, just a pair, but since Manabu has folded he still wins.]

But okay. Friends.

[What a strange moment this is. He pushes most of the coins back at Manabu, even if he won them, only keeping one that he slips into his pocket.]

[that gets a pleased sound from Manabu, who doesn't bother to argue when coins are pushed back his way; he sees one is missing, and that seems fair. just means he has something to play with next time.

he pushes his crap-cards away and pockets his money, slumping back in his seat. that killed...what, an hour? maybe? of...however long he's being advised to sit tight here? how long is he supposed to sit tight here, actually?

instead of whining about that, though, a stray thought drops into his head, makes his eyebrows lift.] Hey-- If some stuff on your time and planet are the same as what I learned about...Does that mean you guys had baseball?

Yeah.

[That was a weird change in subject, but at least it's something he knows the answer to. He even has some very vague memories of going to a Dodger's game, sneaking past the turnstile because he didn't have the fare to get inside.]

You mean baseball survived all these centuries and made it out into space?

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