14479/Can you smeeeeellllllll what the Nick is cookin

Can you smeeeeellllllll what the Nick is cookin
Date of Scene:	18 July 2022
Location:	Suite G1 Guest, The Triskelion
Synopsis:	Bucky and Yaozu swing by Nick's guest quarters to enjoy home cooking. Bucky indicates that Nick's current troubles with Hydra might be nearing a close and Yaozu offers up a chance to train with him
Cast of Characters:	Phantasm (Drago), Winter Soldier, Yaozu Lin
Tinyplot:	Fortunate Son

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Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
As the day grows later and the cafeteria starts to fill with people. Others have found ways around going into the line. In one particular guest sweet, the savory smells of a crockpot pot roast fills the room.

The table is pretty clean and tugged away from the wall to allow for about four different seats.

The guest area seems a lot less cluttered than before. Most of Nick's instruments that were once in the office area seem a bit lacking in presence. But it still looks a little lived in. The dog hair on the sofa is a bit telling to the types of person who reside inside.

Nick is quiet. Tugging out plates from one of the cabinets. "There's Beer and water in the fridge."

Winter Soldier has posed:
Alongside breakfast and lunch, dinner is the most important meal of the day. This is a truism for anyone who has ever spent any time out in the field surviving on rations or, more often, whatever they can manage to steal, scrounge, or kill. And so when invited for dinner, Bucky has yet to decline an invitation.

Given his philosphy that being on time means being at least ten minutes early, the Winter Soldier had arrived some time ago, and is now busy getting the beers out of the fridge. Not the ones he just put into the fridge, mind... those he'll leave to cool off a bit first. As usual, he has taken a glance around the place, and noted the absence of some of the musical detritus that used to reside here, and the slight increase in dog hair. "Keeping yourself busy, Nick?"

With his left thumb, he pops the caps off the bottles and hands them around.

Yaozu Lin has posed:
Though Lin Yaozu should be accustomed to the American food that's served in the cafeteria at the majority of times, he doesn't generally eat there. It's still a strange thing, and he's more likely to cook for himself than eat the food from the cafeteria -- not that there's anything wrong with it, he just has certain cultural sensitivities. And so it's not a strange thing that he's bypassed the food there.

The talons of his feet snick-click on the floor as he makes his way along the corridor of quarters until he reaches the doorway of the one that he knows is occupied by Nick. He's dressed comfortable enough for his own liking -- a pair of black slacks, and a long-sleeved blue button-up shirt with a Mandarin collar. His long hair has been drawn to his back and neatly braided, though the length of it rests forward over his left shoulder.

Once he's reached the doorway, Yaozu pauses for a moment, and then he lifts his right hand to knock twice. His sensitive hearing can pick up the noises from within, the voices and what they say, and even the beating of their hearts. Not that he tends to tell people just how much he hears, since that might be a bit creepy.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Nick uses the side of the spoon to break the meat into smaller serving size portions. The task having the added effect of making it easier to get to the bed of vegetables soaking below. Bucky's question doesn't go unnoticed but there is a pause in the response as he taps the spoon to the side of the pot and then sets it on the nearby rest. He moves to the side to allow for others to get ahold of their food.

"Well, I wasn't going to just spend eight months sitting in here." He finally allows. He looks over to Bucky, frowning. "Are you sure there's anything left to clean up by now?"

The glance is short lived as the knocks draw Nick's attention to the door. He takes a few steps away from Bucky, looking to the door. "Who is it?" He calls out.

Winter Soldier has posed:
"You'd think that after eight months they'd have destroyed the evidence, broke cover, and scuttled back into the shadows?" Bucky asks with a raised eyebrow, giving half a smile and then shaking his head. "They lost their leadership, but they have a philosphy that they stick to. Cut off one head, two more grow back. They're not giving up on something like this just because two operatives got themselves killed."

The knock gets Bucky looking in the direction of the door as well, but he relaxes almost instantly. In fact, he even sets a bottle of beer by the third plate.

Yaozu Lin has posed:
There's a slight tilt of his head to one side as Yaozu listens to the sounds from within. It is half intentional and half instinct for him to do. A faint smile barely parts his beak at part of what he overhears, yet the expression lingers only briefly to his features. His right hand slips to the small of his back, hidden away beneath the feathery folds of his wings there, the loops of Buddhist prayer beads making a soft sound as he does so.

"It is Lin Yaozu," he says, in a voice loud enough to be heard through the door yet still soft-spoken. Habit is a hard thing to break, and Yaozu has never been one to speak louder than he had to even before his hearing became as sensitive as it is.

Black feathered ear tufts lift, and Yaozu moves his left hand to faintly brush aside an invisible piece of lint from his shirt. He waits, patiently, talons silenced by the stillness that he stands with.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Nick turns his head back to look to Bucky, "Right now I don't know what to think, Bucky." Except he's not about to correct Bucky on his math on the operative kill count. That's not really something he wants to revisit.

The response through the door, though soft-spoken is still audible. The audible portion is enough. Nick finishes his steps towards the door, unlocking it open the door for the newcomer. "Hey." Nick greets, "Come on in. We're about to have dinner." He makes a gesture over to the crockpot, "You're welcome to join."

Winter Soldier has posed:
A hand is raised in greeting to the visitor, and Bucky motions with his own beer towards the crockpot and the open beer bottle. "Help yourself. It's good stuff."

Moving away from the food, he crosses over towards Nick, dropping the volume of his voice a bit. "Look, nobody wants these people in the ground more than me an' Steve, but trust me when I say that they work to a schedule. Last thing we want to do is hit them too soon and then have to do it all over again next year, or in another decade. When we deal with it, it needs to be the end of it. And that's for your benefit as much as anyone else's."

Yaozu Lin has posed:
If he's surprised at all by the door having been locked then it doesn't show at all. Once the door has been pulled open, he bows to Nick, his gaze lowering for a brief moment. "Thank you," Yaozu says softly, a small smile parting his beak. "I hope that I am not intruding at all. The offer is most generous, and your invitation is appreciated. I have not eaten yet this evening... I will join you," he answers, casting a glance towards the crockpot as he speaks. There is a bit of a Chinese accent to touch his words.

His attention turns to Bucky, further within the room, and he gives a nod to the fellow. "I look forward to trying it," he says, a bit of curiosity to his voice. The pot roast will be something new for him to try. He steps inside the quarters, and the lack of music instruments is noticed yet not mentioned. "It smells very good," he adds.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Nick tilts his head, listening to the lowered voice explaining the innerworkings of a group of sadistic assholes. Which. If one wants to overthink things, could be concerning in itself. "...Fine. But I got my limits."

Nick looks over to Yaozu as he mentions how well the food smells. "The power of slow cooking things." The musician responds, giving a small smile. "Learned that one early. And as Bucky said, help yourself. I will likely be sending you two home with leftovers afterwards." In other words. EAT.

Winter Soldier has posed:
"Just remember to tell your guest to eat, or he's likely to forget." Bucky continues in that lowered volume before he returns to the present and a normal speaking voice. "In my experience, you can never go wrong by putting things in a pot, adding heat, and let nature do its thing."

Spoken like someone who has spent a long time cooking things over an open fire somewhere. So he queues up behind Yaozu to let him help himself first, before getting his own portion.

Yaozu Lin has posed:
"We all have limits, in every thing," Yaozu says softly, his owlish gaze turning to Nick as he gives a small nod. "Perhaps I will have to invest in a slow cooker, if I enjoy it," he muses. New foods are sometimes hit and miss with him, but he's willing to try them either way. "Thank you," he adds, inclining his head to Nick as he's bid to help himself. When leftovers are mentioned, he tilts his head a touch to one side, and then he gives a soft chuckle. "We will see," he comments.

His beak snicks in a soft sound as he looks over to Bucky, and he inclines his head towards him. "It may have happened a time or two before," he comments. He tries not to forget about eating since it can get him into trouble sometimes -- especially given the nutrition degree he has. He steps over to the table in order to pick up a plate, and he dishes himself up food -- a little bit of everything that's in the pot, meat and vegetables alike.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Nick turns his head, looking over to Bucky to the reminder. Yaozu's comment about forgetting to eat once or twice before does give him a bit of pause but he leaves it be.

"I'll go take him back a plate." He assures the eldest agent in the room. He lets Bucky and Yaozu go first.

Nick is longer with his food prep. After getting a plate ready, he steps out of the kitchen and ends up turning to head to one of the back bedrooms. The sound of a knock and the eventual opening of a door betrays the presence of another in the quarters.

After a few minutes, Nick returns to the kitchen to fix himself a plate.

Winter Soldier has posed:
When Yaozu has helped himself, Bucky scoots up to the food and heaps it onto his plate. Shamelessly. The agent is hungry, he usually is, because his metabolism is about as crazy as it gets. And then, surprisingly, like a civilised being, he takes a seat at the table to begin eating properly.

Can't be long now before he uses a napkin. And then, possibly, the world may end.

He tracks Nick going to the other room, and nods seemingly to himself, before striking up a conversation with the other agent in the room. "How are you holding Yaozu? Settling in well?"

Yaozu Lin has posed:
With his plate in hand, Yaozu steps over to the table in order to take a seat there. A glance is cast towards Nick when the fellow heads for a back bedroom, but he says nothing of it. For his part, he served himself a decent sized meal without anything being too large of a portion. It's only after Bucky has started to eat that he chooses to do so as well. He tastes bits of everything, and he seems pleased with the flavours of all of it.

"I have been well. There are still many things I find to be different between Beijing and here, but I am adjusting to it, with time. I have found a vendor in Chinatown who sells tea which is like the kind my *laoshi* would have, and there is a market which sells many of the foods that I knew there. Small things of home that help to miss it less," he says softly, his tone thoughtful. He has become adjusted to the physical differences that happened after he arrived here as well. "How have you been?" he asks, studying him for an unblinking moment of time.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
His own portion sized out, Nick soon joins the pair at the table. A glance to the open beer waiting for him gets a nod of thanks to Bucky as he sits down. He turns his head to his plate, pausing for a moment to close his eyes. After a few moments, his eyes open and he takes up his fork, using the side of it to split apart the meat.

As the others speak, Nick works on catching on his dinner, listening to the discussion quietly.

Winter Soldier has posed:
"Tolerably." is the reply, and even that took a moment to come. Bucky glances first at the other bedroom door and then back to Yaozu before spearing more meat and using the mouthful to create some time in which to order his thoughts.

"Actually, that's a lie. Because in a few days, a week tops, I'm going to have to throw the dice and deal with an issue that has needed dealing with for years. And if I get it wrong, my friends are going to suffer. I wish that got easier with time, but it doesn't."

Yaozu Lin has posed:
Yaozu tilts his head slightly to one side at the answer his question earns, and he studies James for a long moment. With his fork, he cuts a bit of the meat, and he waits to hear what else the man has to add to that single word answer. He gives a small nod, then. "It is perhaps better to face things than to leave them lurking," he says in a soft tone. He is quiet for a lingering moment, eating the bite of meat and looking down at his plate before lifting his gaze to the other man. "If my skills might be useful to you in your endeavour, then feel free to call on me," he offers in a quiet voice. He doesn't presume that he would be helpful, but he extends the offer.

His attention turns to Nick, and he gives a nod to the musician. "The food is very good. I am enjoying it," he says softly, a smile parting his beak. He considers for a moment, and then he tilts his head a touch to one side. "I understand that you underwent some testing by Agent Barton, a couple of months ago," he says softly.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Nick's chewing slows as Bucky brings up dealing with an issue. Is it his issue? Maybe. Maybe not. Yet another thing where he's not really certain about anything anymore. He looks over to Bucky questionably. But the presence of food in the mouth causes for him to chew again.

Pale eyes shift over to look to Yaozu as he brings up the food. He gives a soft smile, nodding slightly in acknowledgement of the kind words. "So, leftovers will be in your future." He decides from that. There's a slight chuckle as he forks another bit of food.

It doesn't raise from the plate as the question regarding Barton comes into play. "Clint?" Nick repeats, "You mean the one with the paintball guns?"

Winter Soldier has posed:
"That is much appreciated. I'll take you up on that." Bucky mentions to Yaozu, even going so far as to give the man a wink, before he joins in on the praise. "This really is good, Nick. If I were you, I'd sell the recipe to the cafeteria, for the greater good and all that."

It's likely he was talking about Nick's issue earlier. More than likely, even. But he goes silent now, just enjoying his food, listening to the conversation as it moves on.

Yaozu Lin has posed:
"I would enjoy them. They will make a very good lunch tomorrow, with noodles," Yaozu says, giving a nod to Nick. Homemade noodles, he means, rather than the prepackaged variety. His beak makes a soft snicking sound, and he gives a small nod. "Yes. Clint. I could not say what his testing of you involved. The details were not in the reports. It was in April, if I recall the date correctly," he says in a thoughtful tone. "I read the report, earlier today. There was a suggestion there for additional testing to be done while you are in your altered state. It made me curious. I would like to have Agent Barton redo the test with your altered state so that I might see if there is anything that is audible while you are in it. Your heartbeat, perhaps. I hear it, now," he says softly. And Bucky's, and that of whomever is in the back room.

His attention shifts to Bucky, and he inclines his head towards him. "It is the least I can offer. I will help in any way my skills or abilities might benefit you. I can make my file available to you, if you wish," he offers, giving a small nod. Even if he ends up not being tapped to go along, he won't be offended by it. He'll simply take it as meaning that he wasn't needed. He doesn't ask for any details about whatever the 'issue' might be that needs to be tended. If he needs to know then he'll be told.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
"They can have the recipe if you think they don't know it already." Nick responds back to Bucky, "The recipe's so simple a ten year old can pull it off. Besides, It's not like I've got any big family dinners I need to save them for."

Yaozu's explanation to what he knows about the testing causes for Nick's brow to arch. Unlike Yaozu, he is not an agent. "...Wait, this was an actual report?" He pauses, thinking back to the disagreement in the cafeteria when he and Skye came across Clint doing some type of digital paperwork. And apparently that guy rarely does paperwork.

Son of a-

"That'd probably be it." Nick allows. "Or it better be. The only other test I was asked to take part in the one he led." He tilts his head towards Bucky in indication.

Winter Soldier has posed:
"Which also generated a bit of paperwork." Bucky allows, with a shrug. "Turns out you can't just burn down the live fire test shed without having to explain why. Could have been the cut outs of the vampires and the goat people too. Don't know, one or the other." Wait, what? He's remarkably nonplussed about this.

"Anyway, paperwork. In quintuplicate, which I didn't even know was a thing."

Yaozu Lin has posed:
The man from China tilts his head a touch to one side as he studies Nick, and his beak makes a soft snicking sound. "If you would not mind to share it... what is the recipe?" he asks. Though some of his senses were enhanced by what it is that he's become, his sense of taste was not one of them.

He gives a nod at the question from Nick, a bit of a smile parting his beak. "Yes. There was an actual report. I expect it has been read by many of the other agents who have the clearance to view it," he says softly, a thoughtful tone to his voice. "It is a useful thing to know the skills and abilities of one that is within one's protection," he adds, his wings shifting slightly at his back.

"I could not say if what I have suggested will be all that will be tested. The tests are in an effort to determine your strengths, your vulnerabilities, to best keep you safe," he says, tilting his head a touch to one side. He looks to Bucky, and then he gives a soft chuckle. "All things require paperwork. Even spending an hour at the range and using ammunition. Each bullet is to be accounted for. It is a thing. The reports go to many departments," he adds, giving a small nod.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Nick arcs an eyebrow at Bucky, "You know, you didn't HAVE to make them turn those cutouts into vampires and goat people. For one thing, one of the designs you picked goes completely against testing how well we can aim metal projectiles."

Yaozu's request for the recipe gets a nod from Nick, "Alright, I'll write it down for you after we finish." He takes in another bite of food. Quietly listening as he chews, Nick looks to the more avian of the agents.

Yaozu's mention of even using ammunition requiring paperwork causes for him to look over to Bucky. He swallows what's left of his food. "How much paperwork did you have to go through for THAT one?" A lot of bullets were used on those days.

Winter Soldier has posed:
For a moment, there is silence. Then, after finishing his mouthful, Bucky looks first to Yaozu, then to Nick, and back again.

"They tried to make me do paperwork for ammunition. Tried. So I told them that I'd fill out a form for every shot fired, and then put about a thousand rounds through the one mile target at the marksmanship course. They never asked me again." Which, of course, might have something to do with the hole he'd made through the steel target...

Yaozu Lin has posed:
"It does not hurt anything to have the cutouts be shaped in any particular way. To have them shaped as goat men and vampires perhaps grants more incentive to strike them down. They could have been shaped as pandas and still been effective targets," Yaozu muses, a smile parting his beak. "I suspect that it would be useful to have good aim regardless of whether the projectile is metal or wood or another substance," he comments. "What type of weapon do you favour?" he asks, a touch of curiosity to his voice. He eats a bit more of the food, and given his avian nature, there isn't really chewing that can be done. He gives a nod to Nick. "Thank you. That would be appreciated. I enjoy to cook," he adds.

Yaozu sets his fork down and reaches for the bottle of beer, taking a drink of it as he listens. "It has been a while since I have done the marksmanship course. I should visit it again," he muses, a thoughtful tone to his voice. He doesn't done the course since he was human -- he should practice with his firearms more. Yet he often finds himself preferring melee type weapons. "I understand the need for the paperwork. To keep supplies and inventory refreshed and to keep everything in working order. But it is, sometimes, a trial to fill out the reports," he muses, a thoughtful tone to his voice.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
"I still prefer sticks." Nick admits, "Easier to get ahold of in a pinch" Moreso for a drummer who seems to buy drumsticks in bulk at times.

It's a good thing Nick swallowed the bit of food in his mouth before asking. When Bucky explained what he did in reaction to the ammunition paperwork request,Nick burst into laughter. Had food been in the mouth at the time, it would have either flown across the table or gotten stuck in in his throat somehow. Considering his luck, he'd probably have choked. But he's still breathing, eyes crinkling from the amused laugh. Considering the time spent here, it's a mildly foreign sound.

Winter Soldier has posed:
"It used to be easier, back in the day." Bucky continues, encouraged by the laughter of his friend, and he looks at Yaozu with a friendly smile. "Back then you could just check out a bike from the motor pool and drive solo into an enemy base to rescue fifty or so POW's. And as long as you came back with the people you set out to rescue, nobody cared what happened to the bike."

Those were the days...

"I can see why they want to know where everything is these days, because you can't just crash a plane now and go ask the quartermaster for another one. That gets expensive quickly. But I miss it, sometimes. When it was just Steve and the Howling Commandos."

Thoughtful. Pause.

"You're lucky the world you knew is only far away. Gets weirder when it's close by but a century ago. You can travel to somewhere far away, can't travel back in time."

Yaozu Lin has posed:
"Sticks are a good weapon. They can be improvised easily. A table or chair leg, a pool cue... many things will serve the purpose, if they must," Yaozu says softly, a thoughtful tone to his voice. "We should, perhaps, have a practice session with them at some point," he adds, inclining his head towards Nick. The practice might well be good for them both.

"Results mattered more than balancing the books. Now there is an equal desire for both to occur. Equipments costs are considerable, unfortunately," he says in a soft tone. "I have to report whenever I lose any of my *kunai* on a mission," he comments, lifting one of his shoulders in a slight shrug. "I can only imagine how much simpler and easier things must have been, in those days," he muses. He takes another sip of his beer, then settles the bottle back to the table before picking up his fork. He nudges the food, and then tilts his head a touch to one side. "Perhaps the perspective of 'lucky' is a relative one. I cannot return home through any mundane or normal means," he adds in a quiet tone, then gives a small shake of his head.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Nick's laughter dies down after a few more chuckles. Glancing down to his plate he gets another forkful ready while Bucky informs Yaozu of his good fortune comparitively speaking.

The fork's path upwards pauses as Bucky comments about what one can't do.

Nick takes a bite, silently chewing. He sets the fork down.

Chew. Chew. Chew.

Swallow.

Nick looks over to Yaozu. "I wouldn't mind a practice session. I can't train with my usual training partner anymore."

Winter Soldier has posed:
Do those eyes rest on Nick a bit longer than absolutely necessary? After a few moments, Bucky goes back to his food as well, although there is the hint of a smile around the corners of his mouth. The questions isn't usually how much he knows, but how the hell he managed to find out.

"We're not big on normal and mundane, 'case you hadn't noticed. Talk to the egg heads. If it doesn't totally break the laws of physics, they'll probably find a way. One advantage of all the paperwork, I s'pose... They tend to know what we need before we do."

He does raise an eyebrow at the mention of a practice session. He's seen Yaozu in action before, could get interesting.

Yaozu Lin has posed:
At Nick's agreement about a practice session, Yaozu looks to him and gives a nod. "I would welcome the practice session. There is only so much that one can do against a stationary opponent. Perhaps within the next few days, the time might be made for such," he says softly. A training dummy is what he often practices against. "Perhaps we will prove to be good training for one another," he suggests, giving a small nod to the fellow. It's something to look forward to.

He is quiet for a moment then, poking a piece of carrot briefly on his plate before he stabs it and then eats it. "When my family saw me last, I was human. Given the nature of Hydra and other nefarious agencies, it would not surprise me for their agents to be positioned at key points to have knowledge of incoming and outgoing travellers... or other noteworthy documentation. My family is safer in believing me to still be human, safer to not see me as I am. I have a suspicion that some of those agencies would be quite for capturing me, for various reasons," he says in a thoughtful tone. For a battery of tests, at the very least. "Such is my predicament," he adds, giving a small shake of his head.

He looks to Bucky, studying him for a moment and tilting his head a bit to one side. "Would you wish to practice, as well? I suspect that there is much I could learn from you," he asks softly.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
"That should be fine." Nick agrees to the time for practicing, getting up a piece of potato for his next piece. "Might need to start slow initially. It's beeh awhile."

Save for the subway. But that was a liiiiiitle different.

There's a side glance to Bucky out of curiousity.

Winter Soldier has posed:
"If you're serious, then absolutely." It's not every day that Bucky gets asked as a sparring partner. There is, in fact, only one person that spars with him frequently, and that only because he's the only person around the facility that can match the Winter Soldier for speed and strength. It's refreshing to have new agents that aren't automatically terrified of him. "And I'm certain there's a few things you can teach me too."

At long last, he finishes his plate, and squares up his knife and fork on the plate. "HYDRA has a lot to answer for, and a lot of reckoning coming their way. Soon. Very soon. I'll get your briefed on the details."

Then a brief pause, after which Bucky once again looks over to Nick. Only this time, it's with a mischievous smile. "There probably won't be any trees or standing lamps around, you sure you're gonna be okay sparring unarmed?"

Yaozu Lin has posed:
"I will send you a message within the next couple of days, to advise you of the free time that I have available for a practice session. Perhaps there will be an overlap of available time," Yaozu says softly, giving a small nod to him. "We can start slow. I do not mind," he adds in a sincere tone, a touch of a smile parting his beak.

His owlish gaze turns to Bucky, and he studies the man for a long moment before giving a nod. "Yes. I am serious," he affirms. Training and practice are things he takes seriously, and he wouldn't have offered if he hadn't meant it. He doesn't think he's anywhere near the Winter Soldier's equal, but he doesn't seem to be afraid of the man at all. "It will be mutually beneficial," he says, a smile parting his beak. "It will be interesting," he adds.

"Yes. Hydra has much to answer for. A many headed beast that lurks in the shadows. Unfortunately, it is difficult to belive that there will ever come a time when the world will be free of their scheming," he muses in a quiet tone. There always seems to be another to come up where one has fallen, after all. "I look forward to learning of the details," he affirms, giving a nod.

He chuckles softly at the comment towards the availability of weapons, and his beak parts with more of a smile. "There will be weapons to choose from, for the sparring. Including sticks. I have been trained in them, and other weapons. My shixiong has given me some help with my martials arts since I have become as I am," he says with a touch of amusement. His balance has improved, with his shixiong's help. Then he tilts his head as he looks to Nick. "Though if you wish to fight empty ended, then you are welcome to do so. I will gladly take the practice in whatever form it is available," he adds.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Nick looks to Bucky more directly as he feels the elder man's glance upon him. The items referenced leads to the musician narrowing his eyes in response. "I wasn't using sticks growing up." It just wasn't all that disciplined either. EFFECTIVE. But not disciplined.

There is a defiant bite of the potato. Which, considering how long the vegetables in that pot cooked, wasn't really much resistance. But he's committed now to chewing. But the plate is now empty. Alas, no more topic avoidance. By that means at least.

"How soon?" Nick asks, not really expecting an answer so promptly.

Yaozu's comment about the availability of weapons and the option to do empty handed, Nick shakes his head. "I should work on the stick work first. But I am probably overdue for a switch. Just...shit happened."

Winter Soldier has posed:
"Just remember, if he's reaching for drumsticks, run. He's dangerous with drum sticks." And rolled up newspapers, but some things are easier to explain than others. And it's a whole lot more fun to let people find out about certain things the hard way.

And when Nick asks the question Bucky has been avoiding all evening, he leans back in his seat, taking a breath. "Once I get confirmation from the egg heads that the genetic results are accurate, we'll finalise the list and hit the site. A week, two weeks tops. And then, god willing, that's an end to it, and you can get back to your life."

Nick Drago has posed:
As the day grows later and the cafeteria starts to fill with people. Others have found ways around going into the line. In one particular guest sweet, the savory smells of a crockpot pot roast fills the room.

The table is pretty clean and tugged away from the wall to allow for about four different seats.

The guest area seems a lot less cluttered than before. Most of Nick's instruments that were once in the office area seem a bit lacking in presence. But it still looks a little lived in. The dog hair on the sofa is a bit telling to the types of person who reside inside.

Nick is quiet. Tugging out plates from one of the cabinets. "There's Beer and water in the fridge."

James Barnes has posed:
Alongside breakfast and lunch, dinner is the most important meal of the day. This is a truism for anyone who has ever spent any time out in the field surviving on rations or, more often, whatever they can manage to steal, scrounge, or kill. And so when invited for dinner, Bucky has yet to decline an invitation.

Given his philosphy that being on time means being at least ten minutes early, the Winter Soldier had arrived some time ago, and is now busy getting the beers out of the fridge. Not the ones he just put into the fridge, mind... those he'll leave to cool off a bit first. As usual, he has taken a glance around the place, and noted the absence of some of the musical detritus that used to reside here, and the slight increase in dog hair. "Keeping yourself busy, Nick?"

With his left thumb, he pops the caps off the bottles and hands them around.

Yaozu Lin has posed:
Though Lin Yaozu should be accustomed to the American food that's served in the cafeteria at the majority of times, he doesn't generally eat there. It's still a strange thing, and he's more likely to cook for himself than eat the food from the cafeteria -- not that there's anything wrong with it, he just has certain cultural sensitivities. And so it's not a strange thing that he's bypassed the food there.

The talons of his feet snick-click on the floor as he makes his way along the corridor of quarters until he reaches the doorway of the one that he knows is occupied by Nick. He's dressed comfortable enough for his own liking -- a pair of black slacks, and a long-sleeved blue button-up shirt with a Mandarin collar. His long hair has been drawn to his back and neatly braided, though the length of it rests forward over his left shoulder.

Once he's reached the doorway, Yaozu pauses for a moment, and then he lifts his right hand to knock twice. His sensitive hearing can pick up the noises from within, the voices and what they say, and even the beating of their hearts. Not that he tends to tell people just how much he hears, since that might be a bit creepy.

Nick Drago has posed:
Nick uses the side of the spoon to break the meat into smaller serving size portions. The task having the added effect of making it easier to get to the bed of vegetables soaking below. Bucky's question doesn't go unnoticed but there is a pause in the response as he taps the spoon to the side of the pot and then sets it on the nearby rest. He moves to the side to allow for others to get ahold of their food.

"Well, I wasn't going to just spend eight months sitting in here." He finally allows. He looks over to Bucky, frowning. "Are you sure there's anything left to clean up by now?"

The glance is short lived as the knocks draw Nick's attention to the door. He takes a few steps away from Bucky, looking to the door. "Who is it?" He calls out.

James Barnes has posed:
"You'd think that after eight months they'd have destroyed the evidence, broke cover, and scuttled back into the shadows?" Bucky asks with a raised eyebrow, giving half a smile and then shaking his head. "They lost their leadership, but they have a philosphy that they stick to. Cut off one head, two more grow back. They're not giving up on something like this just because two operatives got themselves killed."

The knock gets Bucky looking in the direction of the door as well, but he relaxes almost instantly. In fact, he even sets a bottle of beer by the third plate.

Yaozu Lin has posed:
There's a slight tilt of his head to one side as Yaozu listens to the sounds from within. It is half intentional and half instinct for him to do. A faint smile barely parts his beak at part of what he overhears, yet the expression lingers only briefly to his features. His right hand slips to the small of his back, hidden away beneath the feathery folds of his wings there, the loops of Buddhist prayer beads making a soft sound as he does so.

"It is Lin Yaozu," he says, in a voice loud enough to be heard through the door yet still soft-spoken. Habit is a hard thing to break, and Yaozu has never been one to speak louder than he had to even before his hearing became as sensitive as it is.

Black feathered ear tufts lift, and Yaozu moves his left hand to faintly brush aside an invisible piece of lint from his shirt. He waits, patiently, talons silenced by the stillness that he stands with.

Nick Drago has posed:
Nick turns his head back to look to Bucky, "Right now I don't know what to think, Bucky." Except he's not about to correct Bucky on his math on the operative kill count. That's not really something he wants to revisit.

The response through the door, though soft-spoken is still audible. The audible portion is enough. Nick finishes his steps towards the door, unlocking it open the door for the newcomer. "Hey." Nick greets, "Come on in. We're about to have dinner." He makes a gesture over to the crockpot, "You're welcome to join."

James Barnes has posed:
A hand is raised in greeting to the visitor, and Bucky motions with his own beer towards the crockpot and the open beer bottle. "Help yourself. It's good stuff."

Moving away from the food, he crosses over towards Nick, dropping the volume of his voice a bit. "Look, nobody wants these people in the ground more than me an' Steve, but trust me when I say that they work to a schedule. Last thing we want to do is hit them too soon and then have to do it all over again next year, or in another decade. When we deal with it, it needs to be the end of it. And that's for your benefit as much as anyone else's."

Yaozu Lin has posed:
If he's surprised at all by the door having been locked then it doesn't show at all. Once the door has been pulled open, he bows to Nick, his gaze lowering for a brief moment. "Thank you," Yaozu says softly, a small smile parting his beak. "I hope that I am not intruding at all. The offer is most generous, and your invitation is appreciated. I have not eaten yet this evening... I will join you," he answers, casting a glance towards the crockpot as he speaks. There is a bit of a Chinese accent to touch his words.

His attention turns to Bucky, further within the room, and he gives a nod to the fellow. "I look forward to trying it," he says, a bit of curiosity to his voice. The pot roast will be something new for him to try. He steps inside the quarters, and the lack of music instruments is noticed yet not mentioned. "It smells very good," he adds.

Nick Drago has posed:
Nick tilts his head, listening to the lowered voice explaining the innerworkings of a group of sadistic assholes. Which. If one wants to overthink things, could be concerning in itself. "...Fine. But I got my limits."

Nick looks over to Yaozu as he mentions how well the food smells. "The power of slow cooking things." The musician responds, giving a small smile. "Learned that one early. And as Bucky said, help yourself. I will likely be sending you two home with leftovers afterwards." In other words. EAT.

James Barnes has posed:
"Just remember to tell your guest to eat, or he's likely to forget." Bucky continues in that lowered volume before he returns to the present and a normal speaking voice. "In my experience, you can never go wrong by putting things in a pot, adding heat, and let nature do its thing."

Spoken like someone who has spent a long time cooking things over an open fire somewhere. So he queues up behind Yaozu to let him help himself first, before getting his own portion.

Yaozu Lin has posed:
"We all have limits, in every thing," Yaozu says softly, his owlish gaze turning to Nick as he gives a small nod. "Perhaps I will have to invest in a slow cooker, if I enjoy it," he muses. New foods are sometimes hit and miss with him, but he's willing to try them either way. "Thank you," he adds, inclining his head to Nick as he's bid to help himself. When leftovers are mentioned, he tilts his head a touch to one side, and then he gives a soft chuckle. "We will see," he comments.

His beak snicks in a soft sound as he looks over to Bucky, and he inclines his head towards him. "It may have happened a time or two before," he comments. He tries not to forget about eating since it can get him into trouble sometimes -- especially given the nutrition degree he has. He steps over to the table in order to pick up a plate, and he dishes himself up food -- a little bit of everything that's in the pot, meat and vegetables alike.

Nick Drago has posed:
Nick turns his head, looking over to Bucky to the reminder. Yaozu's comment about forgetting to eat once or twice before does give him a bit of pause but he leaves it be.

"I'll go take him back a plate." He assures the eldest agent in the room. He lets Bucky and Yaozu go first.

Nick is longer with his food prep. After getting a plate ready, he steps out of the kitchen and ends up turning to head to one of the back bedrooms. The sound of a knock and the eventual opening of a door betrays the presence of another in the quarters.

After a few minutes, Nick returns to the kitchen to fix himself a plate.

James Barnes has posed:
When Yaozu has helped himself, Bucky scoots up to the food and heaps it onto his plate. Shamelessly. The agent is hungry, he usually is, because his metabolism is about as crazy as it gets. And then, surprisingly, like a civilised being, he takes a seat at the table to begin eating properly.

Can't be long now before he uses a napkin. And then, possibly, the world may end.

He tracks Nick going to the other room, and nods seemingly to himself, before striking up a conversation with the other agent in the room. "How are you holding Yaozu? Settling in well?"

Yaozu Lin has posed:
With his plate in hand, Yaozu steps over to the table in order to take a seat there. A glance is cast towards Nick when the fellow heads for a back bedroom, but he says nothing of it. For his part, he served himself a decent sized meal without anything being too large of a portion. It's only after Bucky has started to eat that he chooses to do so as well. He tastes bits of everything, and he seems pleased with the flavours of all of it.

"I have been well. There are still many things I find to be different between Beijing and here, but I am adjusting to it, with time. I have found a vendor in Chinatown who sells tea which is like the kind my *laoshi* would have, and there is a market which sells many of the foods that I knew there. Small things of home that help to miss it less," he says softly, his tone thoughtful. He has become adjusted to the physical differences that happened after he arrived here as well. "How have you been?" he asks, studying him for an unblinking moment of time.

Nick Drago has posed:
His own portion sized out, Nick soon joins the pair at the table. A glance to the open beer waiting for him gets a nod of thanks to Bucky as he sits down. He turns his head to his plate, pausing for a moment to close his eyes. After a few moments, his eyes open and he takes up his fork, using the side of it to split apart the meat.

As the others speak, Nick works on catching on his dinner, listening to the discussion quietly.

James Barnes has posed:
"Tolerably." is the reply, and even that took a moment to come. Bucky glances first at the other bedroom door and then back to Yaozu before spearing more meat and using the mouthful to create some time in which to order his thoughts.

"Actually, that's a lie. Because in a few days, a week tops, I'm going to have to throw the dice and deal with an issue that has needed dealing with for years. And if I get it wrong, my friends are going to suffer. I wish that got easier with time, but it doesn't."

Yaozu Lin has posed:
Yaozu tilts his head slightly to one side at the answer his question earns, and he studies James for a long moment. With his fork, he cuts a bit of the meat, and he waits to hear what else the man has to add to that single word answer. He gives a small nod, then. "It is perhaps better to face things than to leave them lurking," he says in a soft tone. He is quiet for a lingering moment, eating the bite of meat and looking down at his plate before lifting his gaze to the other man. "If my skills might be useful to you in your endeavour, then feel free to call on me," he offers in a quiet voice. He doesn't presume that he would be helpful, but he extends the offer.

His attention turns to Nick, and he gives a nod to the musician. "The food is very good. I am enjoying it," he says softly, a smile parting his beak. He considers for a moment, and then he tilts his head a touch to one side. "I understand that you underwent some testing by Agent Barton, a couple of months ago," he says softly.

Nick Drago has posed:
Nick's chewing slows as Bucky brings up dealing with an issue. Is it his issue? Maybe. Maybe not. Yet another thing where he's not really certain about anything anymore. He looks over to Bucky questionably. But the presence of food in the mouth causes for him to chew again.

Pale eyes shift over to look to Yaozu as he brings up the food. He gives a soft smile, nodding slightly in acknowledgement of the kind words. "So, leftovers will be in your future." He decides from that. There's a slight chuckle as he forks another bit of food.

It doesn't raise from the plate as the question regarding Barton comes into play. "Clint?" Nick repeats, "You mean the one with the paintball guns?"

James Barnes has posed:
"That is much appreciated. I'll take you up on that." Bucky mentions to Yaozu, even going so far as to give the man a wink, before he joins in on the praise. "This really is good, Nick. If I were you, I'd sell the recipe to the cafeteria, for the greater good and all that."

It's likely he was talking about Nick's issue earlier. More than likely, even. But he goes silent now, just enjoying his food, listening to the conversation as it moves on.

Yaozu Lin has posed:
"I would enjoy them. They will make a very good lunch tomorrow, with noodles," Yaozu says, giving a nod to Nick. Homemade noodles, he means, rather than the prepackaged variety. His beak makes a soft snicking sound, and he gives a small nod. "Yes. Clint. I could not say what his testing of you involved. The details were not in the reports. It was in April, if I recall the date correctly," he says in a thoughtful tone. "I read the report, earlier today. There was a suggestion there for additional testing to be done while you are in your altered state. It made me curious. I would like to have Agent Barton redo the test with your altered state so that I might see if there is anything that is audible while you are in it. Your heartbeat, perhaps. I hear it, now," he says softly. And Bucky's, and that of whomever is in the back room.

His attention shifts to Bucky, and he inclines his head towards him. "It is the least I can offer. I will help in any way my skills or abilities might benefit you. I can make my file available to you, if you wish," he offers, giving a small nod. Even if he ends up not being tapped to go along, he won't be offended by it. He'll simply take it as meaning that he wasn't needed. He doesn't ask for any details about whatever the 'issue' might be that needs to be tended. If he needs to know then he'll be told.

Nick Drago has posed:
"They can have the recipe if you think they don't know it already." Nick responds back to Bucky, "The recipe's so simple a ten year old can pull it off. Besides, It's not like I've got any big family dinners I need to save them for."

Yaozu's explanation to what he knows about the testing causes for Nick's brow to arch. Unlike Yaozu, he is not an agent. "...Wait, this was an actual report?" He pauses, thinking back to the disagreement in the cafeteria when he and Skye came across Clint doing some type of digital paperwork. And apparently that guy rarely does paperwork.

Son of a-

"That'd probably be it." Nick allows. "Or it better be. The only other test I was asked to take part in the one he led." He tilts his head towards Bucky in indication.

James Barnes has posed:
"Which also generated a bit of paperwork." Bucky allows, with a shrug. "Turns out you can't just burn down the live fire test shed without having to explain why. Could have been the cut outs of the vampires and the goat people too. Don't know, one or the other." Wait, what? He's remarkably nonplussed about this.

"Anyway, paperwork. In quintuplicate, which I didn't even know was a thing."

Yaozu Lin has posed:
The man from China tilts his head a touch to one side as he studies Nick, and his beak makes a soft snicking sound. "If you would not mind to share it... what is the recipe?" he asks. Though some of his senses were enhanced by what it is that he's become, his sense of taste was not one of them.

He gives a nod at the question from Nick, a bit of a smile parting his beak. "Yes. There was an actual report. I expect it has been read by many of the other agents who have the clearance to view it," he says softly, a thoughtful tone to his voice. "It is a useful thing to know the skills and abilities of one that is within one's protection," he adds, his wings shifting slightly at his back.

"I could not say if what I have suggested will be all that will be tested. The tests are in an effort to determine your strengths, your vulnerabilities, to best keep you safe," he says, tilting his head a touch to one side. He looks to Bucky, and then he gives a soft chuckle. "All things require paperwork. Even spending an hour at the range and using ammunition. Each bullet is to be accounted for. It is a thing. The reports go to many departments," he adds, giving a small nod.

Nick Drago has posed:
Nick arcs an eyebrow at Bucky, "You know, you didn't HAVE to make them turn those cutouts into vampires and goat people. For one thing, one of the designs you picked goes completely against testing how well we can aim metal projectiles."

Yaozu's request for the recipe gets a nod from Nick, "Alright, I'll write it down for you after we finish." He takes in another bite of food. Quietly listening as he chews, Nick looks to the more avian of the agents.

Yaozu's mention of even using ammunition requiring paperwork causes for him to look over to Bucky. He swallows what's left of his food. "How much paperwork did you have to go through for THAT one?" A lot of bullets were used on those days.

James Barnes has posed:
For a moment, there is silence. Then, after finishing his mouthful, Bucky looks first to Yaozu, then to Nick, and back again.

"They tried to make me do paperwork for ammunition. Tried. So I told them that I'd fill out a form for every shot fired, and then put about a thousand rounds through the one mile target at the marksmanship course. They never asked me again." Which, of course, might have something to do with the hole he'd made through the steel target...

Yaozu Lin has posed:
"It does not hurt anything to have the cutouts be shaped in any particular way. To have them shaped as goat men and vampires perhaps grants more incentive to strike them down. They could have been shaped as pandas and still been effective targets," Yaozu muses, a smile parting his beak. "I suspect that it would be useful to have good aim regardless of whether the projectile is metal or wood or another substance," he comments. "What type of weapon do you favour?" he asks, a touch of curiosity to his voice. He eats a bit more of the food, and given his avian nature, there isn't really chewing that can be done. He gives a nod to Nick. "Thank you. That would be appreciated. I enjoy to cook," he adds.

Yaozu sets his fork down and reaches for the bottle of beer, taking a drink of it as he listens. "It has been a while since I have done the marksmanship course. I should visit it again," he muses, a thoughtful tone to his voice. He doesn't done the course since he was human -- he should practice with his firearms more. Yet he often finds himself preferring melee type weapons. "I understand the need for the paperwork. To keep supplies and inventory refreshed and to keep everything in working order. But it is, sometimes, a trial to fill out the reports," he muses, a thoughtful tone to his voice.

Nick Drago has posed:
"I still prefer sticks." Nick admits, "Easier to get ahold of in a pinch" Moreso for a drummer who seems to buy drumsticks in bulk at times.

It's a good thing Nick swallowed the bit of food in his mouth before asking. When Bucky explained what he did in reaction to the ammunition paperwork request,Nick burst into laughter. Had food been in the mouth at the time, it would have either flown across the table or gotten stuck in in his throat somehow. Considering his luck, he'd probably have choked. But he's still breathing, eyes crinkling from the amused laugh. Considering the time spent here, it's a mildly foreign sound.

James Barnes has posed:
"It used to be easier, back in the day." Bucky continues, encouraged by the laughter of his friend, and he looks at Yaozu with a friendly smile. "Back then you could just check out a bike from the motor pool and drive solo into an enemy base to rescue fifty or so POW's. And as long as you came back with the people you set out to rescue, nobody cared what happened to the bike."

Those were the days...

"I can see why they want to know where everything is these days, because you can't just crash a plane now and go ask the quartermaster for another one. That gets expensive quickly. But I miss it, sometimes. When it was just Steve and the Howling Commandos."

Thoughtful. Pause.

"You're lucky the world you knew is only far away. Gets weirder when it's close by but a century ago. You can travel to somewhere far away, can't travel back in time."

Yaozu Lin has posed:
"Sticks are a good weapon. They can be improvised easily. A table or chair leg, a pool cue... many things will serve the purpose, if they must," Yaozu says softly, a thoughtful tone to his voice. "We should, perhaps, have a practice session with them at some point," he adds, inclining his head towards Nick. The practice might well be good for them both.

"Results mattered more than balancing the books. Now there is an equal desire for both to occur. Equipments costs are considerable, unfortunately," he says in a soft tone. "I have to report whenever I lose any of my *kunai* on a mission," he comments, lifting one of his shoulders in a slight shrug. "I can only imagine how much simpler and easier things must have been, in those days," he muses. He takes another sip of his beer, then settles the bottle back to the table before picking up his fork. He nudges the food, and then tilts his head a touch to one side. "Perhaps the perspective of 'lucky' is a relative one. I cannot return home through any mundane or normal means," he adds in a quiet tone, then gives a small shake of his head.

Nick Drago has posed:
Nick's laughter dies down after a few more chuckles. Glancing down to his plate he gets another forkful ready while Bucky informs Yaozu of his good fortune comparitively speaking.

The fork's path upwards pauses as Bucky comments about what one can't do.

Nick takes a bite, silently chewing. He sets the fork down.

Chew. Chew. Chew.

Swallow.

Nick looks over to Yaozu. "I wouldn't mind a practice session. I can't train with my usual training partner anymore."

James Barnes has posed:
Do those eyes rest on Nick a bit longer than absolutely necessary? After a few moments, Bucky goes back to his food as well, although there is the hint of a smile around the corners of his mouth. The questions isn't usually how much he knows, but how the hell he managed to find out.

"We're not big on normal and mundane, 'case you hadn't noticed. Talk to the egg heads. If it doesn't totally break the laws of physics, they'll probably find a way. One advantage of all the paperwork, I s'pose... They tend to know what we need before we do."

He does raise an eyebrow at the mention of a practice session. He's seen Yaozu in action before, could get interesting.

Yaozu Lin has posed:
At Nick's agreement about a practice session, Yaozu looks to him and gives a nod. "I would welcome the practice session. There is only so much that one can do against a stationary opponent. Perhaps within the next few days, the time might be made for such," he says softly. A training dummy is what he often practices against. "Perhaps we will prove to be good training for one another," he suggests, giving a small nod to the fellow. It's something to look forward to.

He is quiet for a moment then, poking a piece of carrot briefly on his plate before he stabs it and then eats it. "When my family saw me last, I was human. Given the nature of Hydra and other nefarious agencies, it would not surprise me for their agents to be positioned at key points to have knowledge of incoming and outgoing travellers... or other noteworthy documentation. My family is safer in believing me to still be human, safer to not see me as I am. I have a suspicion that some of those agencies would be quite for capturing me, for various reasons," he says in a thoughtful tone. For a battery of tests, at the very least. "Such is my predicament," he adds, giving a small shake of his head.

He looks to Bucky, studying him for a moment and tilting his head a bit to one side. "Would you wish to practice, as well? I suspect that there is much I could learn from you," he asks softly.

Nick Drago has posed:
"That should be fine." Nick agrees to the time for practicing, getting up a piece of potato for his next piece. "Might need to start slow initially. It's beeh awhile."

Save for the subway. But that was a liiiiiitle different.

There's a side glance to Bucky out of curiousity.

James Barnes has posed:
"If you're serious, then absolutely." It's not every day that Bucky gets asked as a sparring partner. There is, in fact, only one person that spars with him frequently, and that only because he's the only person around the facility that can match the Winter Soldier for speed and strength. It's refreshing to have new agents that aren't automatically terrified of him. "And I'm certain there's a few things you can teach me too."

At long last, he finishes his plate, and squares up his knife and fork on the plate. "HYDRA has a lot to answer for, and a lot of reckoning coming their way. Soon. Very soon. I'll get your briefed on the details."

Then a brief pause, after which Bucky once again looks over to Nick. Only this time, it's with a mischievous smile. "There probably won't be any trees or standing lamps around, you sure you're gonna be okay sparring unarmed?"

Yaozu Lin has posed:
"I will send you a message within the next couple of days, to advise you of the free time that I have available for a practice session. Perhaps there will be an overlap of available time," Yaozu says softly, giving a small nod to him. "We can start slow. I do not mind," he adds in a sincere tone, a touch of a smile parting his beak.

His owlish gaze turns to Bucky, and he studies the man for a long moment before giving a nod. "Yes. I am serious," he affirms. Training and practice are things he takes seriously, and he wouldn't have offered if he hadn't meant it. He doesn't think he's anywhere near the Winter Soldier's equal, but he doesn't seem to be afraid of the man at all. "It will be mutually beneficial," he says, a smile parting his beak. "It will be interesting," he adds.

"Yes. Hydra has much to answer for. A many headed beast that lurks in the shadows. Unfortunately, it is difficult to belive that there will ever come a time when the world will be free of their scheming," he muses in a quiet tone. There always seems to be another to come up where one has fallen, after all. "I look forward to learning of the details," he affirms, giving a nod.

He chuckles softly at the comment towards the availability of weapons, and his beak parts with more of a smile. "There will be weapons to choose from, for the sparring. Including sticks. I have been trained in them, and other weapons. My shixiong has given me some help with my martials arts since I have become as I am," he says with a touch of amusement. His balance has improved, with his shixiong's help. Then he tilts his head as he looks to Nick. "Though if you wish to fight empty ended, then you are welcome to do so. I will gladly take the practice in whatever form it is available," he adds.

Nick Drago has posed:
Nick looks to Bucky more directly as he feels the elder man's glance upon him. The items referenced leads to the musician narrowing his eyes in response. "I wasn't using sticks growing up." It just wasn't all that disciplined either. EFFECTIVE. But not disciplined.

There is a defiant bite of the potato. Which, considering how long the vegetables in that pot cooked, wasn't really much resistance. But he's committed now to chewing. But the plate is now empty. Alas, no more topic avoidance. By that means at least.

"How soon?" Nick asks, not really expecting an answer so promptly.

Yaozu's comment about the availability of weapons and the option to do empty handed, Nick shakes his head. "I should work on the stick work first. But I am probably overdue for a switch. Just...shit happened."

James Barnes has posed:
"Just remember, if he's reaching for drumsticks, run. He's dangerous with drum sticks." And rolled up newspapers, but some things are easier to explain than others. And it's a whole lot more fun to let people find out about certain things the hard way.

And when Nick asks the question Bucky has been avoiding all evening, he leans back in his seat, taking a breath. "Once I get confirmation from the egg heads that the genetic results are accurate, we'll finalise the list and hit the site. A week, two weeks tops. And then, god willing, that's an end to it, and you can get back to your life."