8681/Going Back

Going Back
Date of Scene:	07 August 2019
Location:	Triskelion
Synopsis:	Lana returns to the Triskelion, catching up with Bucky and meeting Samantha.
Cast of Characters:	Winter Soldier, Svetlana Kuznetsov, Nyx

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Winter Soldier has posed:
He's a resident now, having claimed one of the suites on the level meant for longer-term stays. And thus he often takes dinner here, when he's not in the mood to cook. AT the moment, he's sitting at a table by himself, eating rather absent-mindedly, as he reads a book propped up against the napkin dispenser. There's a pirate on the cover, and the title 'Captain Blood'.

He looks much the same as he ever has - the serum does a good deal to stop any sign of aging. But at his feet lies a big German Shepherd dog, with fur of black and golden brown. She's currently gnawing on some sort of chewbone, looking utterly contented.

Svetlana Kuznetsov has posed:
Svetlana is no longer a resident, having left the protection (and observation) of SHIELD. But even though she is now technically freelance, Lana still has access to the public areas of the Triskelion. And after all she's been through, it's the closest thing the girl has to 'home'.

Lana is dressed in street clothes, not the typical 'duty uniform' she wore for so long during her stay. Looking around the food court, there are many faces. But one face in particular catches her attention. Greeting a few others on her way into the room, she makes her way over to the table where the long-haired man sits with the German Shepherd. Stopping directly in front of him, she greets him in Russian.

"Privet, James Barnes."

Winter Soldier has posed:
He looks up at that greeting, blinks at her. It takes a moment, but the blank expression relaxes into a little smile. "Kuznetsov," he says, pleasantly. "Hello. It's been a while." Close up....there are a few more lines on the pale face, a bit more of that weary air. But it's still him....and he has enough memory to recognize her. "How've you been?"

Svetlana Kuznetsov has posed:
Svetlana shrugs lightly, taking a chair and sitting down next to him. "I have been well, thank you." she replies, switching to English. Looking him over carefully, she pauses in silence for a moment. Then she looks down to the dog, who is busy with the chew bone. "You have a new friend, I see."

Winter Soldier has posed:
A beat, and he drops into Russian, himself, as if he'd realized that might seem a little rude. <<That's Lili, my service dog. Captain Rogers got her for me. She helps with....>> He doesn't actually know the Russian word for PTSD, so he returns to English for those few syllables, looking a hair sheepish. Another pause, and he notes, <<My old masters had me again for a while this last winter. So there are....new holes in my memory. Please don't be surprised if there are things we may have done or said that I don't remember.>> At least he remembers her enough to know that he knows her, knows her name.

Svetlana Kuznetsov has posed:
Svetlana's expression starts off as professional; a trained soldier. But as he explains, her demeanor shifts. Rapidly. It takes just a few moments for the 18-year old to come out. It's likely a side that he hasn't seen. Something that Lana herself has only been discovering since leaving the Triskelion. She keeps the conversation in Russian. <<I remember you from my training, back when I was in the Program. And I remember you were at my beside when I woke up.>> She pauses, biting her lower lip only briefly. <<You were kind to me.>>

Winter Soldier has posed:
There's another moment of silent thought, where he doesn't seem to be looking at any one thing in particular. The pale eyes go vague. Trying to dredge through memory, it seems. Then, finally, he refocusses. <<I remember,>> he says, if still hesitantly. <<The training. The.....they'd put you on ice, too. You....you were somewhere between me and the Widows.>>

Svetlana Kuznetsov has posed:
Svetlana nods slowly to that, shifting to sit sideways in her chair. Like a teenager. <<Yes, I received a serum and programming. I cannot really call it 'training'. But I then I was frozen.>> She tilts her head, regarding him. <<They let me read a little about you and about some of the other programs, after I asked. You have been through much more than I have...>> Then something occurs to her. Brows knit. <<Your old masters found you? How did this happen?>>

Winter Soldier has posed:
<<HYDRA still exists. They....I don't know how they and the Red Room intersect. But....there are ties. The Room was....they created the Soldier. But HYDRA ran me as an agent. There were code words they could use...>> His affect goes flatter and flatter and flatter, as if any show of emotion, of visceral response might open the floodgates.

But that's when the dog looks up from her bone, gets up, lays her head on Buck's leg, and nudges her nose into his belly. It's precisely the jolt needed, because he looks down at her, startled, and the awful coldness dissolves into rueful laughter. <<They had me. But Captain Rogers and others found me and brought me here and.....the programming is finally broken.>> There's a very suspicious brightness in the pale eyes, as the Shepherd sighs and puts a paw on his leg. No having a flashback.

Nyx has posed:
Sam is out for dinner really, a ritual she steadfastly continues to persist in doing even if it doesn't matter as much these days. Eating and breaking bread with other people and the agents continues to ground the teenager and make her feel more human really.

When she comes in and spots Bucky and Svetlana but most importantly puppy she veers that way. She knows the doggo may be working and all but the urge to fuzzle ears is ridiculously high at the best of times. "Who has a bone. Who is the best doggo.. you are!" then looks to Bucky for permission to pet, not seeming thrown by the Russian she walked up on.

Svetlana Kuznetsov has posed:
Svetlana sits and watches as Bucky describes what happened, and while he talks the 18-year old girl fades slowly into the demeanor of a soldier once more. Her game face returns, posture shifting to sit more properly in the chair once more. Unconsciously professional.

<<If HYDRA still exists, as you say, then there is also a chance that they could find me...>>

But her thoughts are interrupted by Sam's arrival. It's a new face for Lana, but then again it's been some time since she left the Triskelion. Her expression brightens and she offers a smile.

Winter Soldier has posed:
Back to English, for Sam's sake. Buck looks up, human hand coming to rest lightly on the dog's neck. "Sorry," he says, gently. "She's working." And he needs it, by his pallor.

A quick glance back to Svetlana, "It's possible," he says, still in his mother tongue. "Uh, have you guys met? Sam, this is Svetlana Kuznetsov. Svetlana, this is Samantha."

Nyx has posed:
Sam nods, easy going to Bucky "No problem" which is why she always asks to find out and never assumes, polite kid really. To the doggo "Next time" chipperly.

The probably 18 y/o turns to smile to Sventalana and "Agent Samantha Twinning, but call me Sam... I guess if I had a codename it would be Nyx but god things are way.. way more complicated than that." she offers her hand out to Svetlana "Thought I was the youngest one in here." which is fair, most SHIELD employees and agents have been to college, and law enforceent or the military before joining SHIELD... Sam looks like she somehow maybe graduated High School. Odd.

Svetlana Kuznetsov has posed:
Svetlana smiles back to Sam, accepting the offered hand. "Call me Lana, please." she replies, in accented English. "I am not with SHIELD. Not really. My story is also complicated." If Sam looks to be 18, then she and Lana could be in the same class.

There's a pause, as if she's thinking of where to begin. "I am Russian, and I was born in 1930."

Winter Soldier has posed:
There's that wry little quirk of his lips. No one here looks their real age, do they? He doesn't add any explanation to Lana's. Everyone arrives at the Island of Misfit Toys in their own weird way.

The Shepherd's still gazing up into his face, attentively, and he's neglecting the remains of his dinner in favor of stroking the velvet fur of her ears.

Nyx has posed:
Honestly Samantha doesn't seem too phased by this news, then again she has been on missions with Bucky and Peggy recently. The young woman just nods. "I see. That is pretty complicated..."

Sam gestures vaguely at herself. "I've got a super advanced alien AI that took residence symbiotically in my body and made me a super agent.... mostly a cautionary tale about not being stupid and touching stuff while high..."

Svetlana Kuznetsov has posed:
Svetlana smiles wryly at Sam's explanation, looking over at Bucky as well. "It would seem that you are in good company then, Samantha." she offers. "There are many here who were trained and altered to become weapons. In one form or another."

Lana pauses again, looking to Bucky again. "Some of us have been able to move on. Some are still on their journey. I am here for you, James Barnes."

Winter Soldier has posed:
"Thank you," Buck says, very gently. There's another paw on his leg from the dog. As if Lili were holding him together. But it seems to be working, even if his human fingers are buried in the thick fur of her ruff.

A rueful look for Sam. "Have you ever talked to STark about it?"

Nyx has posed:
Sam leans against the table now. "Thanks Svetlana and yeah so far everyone here has been very nice, supportive, and it beats working at Big Belly Burger for sure." if slightly more dangerous than being a fry cook.

To Bucky. "Well the Avengers marched me to Stark's place after I got in trouble robbing an ATM." pause "Long story." pause "Anyhow... he called SHIELD on me... a Coulian Alien Android tazed me .. and I woke up here in medical which began my couple month quarantine... but no I haven't talked to him since."

Svetlana Kuznetsov has posed:
Svetlana's cell phone chimes, then, distracting her. She takes it out of her pocket, glances at the display, and purses her lips. "I am afraid that I must go, now." she declares, rising. "It was nice meeting you, Samantha. We should talk again."

Then she steps over to Bucky, bending to kiss him formally on each cheek. "Do svidaniya, James Barnes. Call me anytime." And then she makes her way out.

Winter Soldier has posed:
The kissses startle him...and he actually turns pink. Oh, he's savvy enough when it comes to Russian culture to know what it means, but.....he's probably still partially a figure of horror to her. "Take care, Lana," he says, gently. "I will."

To Nyx, he says, once he's over that bemusement, "Might be a good idea. I don't think anyone surpasses him on that front."

Nyx has posed:
There is a not to Svetlana "Sounds like a plan."

Then to Bucky Sam shifts her focus. "I imagine he read all the studies on me.. I mean even that Forge guy came out and did a report I think. All above my clearance to read. I can inquire if he would like to meet me again now that things are better understood though sure." amused "As long as no one tries to taze me again... last time I wasn't nearly as reinforced as I am now."