[Panic sets in again. Bucky has so many issues, so many fears, and paranoia is like a hound chasing him and nipping at his heels. Every possible risk plays through his head, screaming out to stay home and stop texting.
But he also doesn't want to live in fear forever.]
[as promised, he's waiting at the cafe in his warmest winter coat, a carton of eggnog in a brown paper bag tucked under his elbow, safe against his ribcage where he can't drop it. he's content to watch the city life go by, while he waits: his New York, he thinks fondly. it's good to be home.
when he spots someone who fits the description he was given, Norman raises a hand, two fingers in the air, and smiles brightly]
[Bucky nearly stayed home. Fear is a powerful motivator for him, he's wanted after all. But he also needs to have something of an identity of his own now. He can't just hide out with his friends, relying on them to do things publicly. And this? This is a good test of if he can handle life outside of the apartment without someone supervising him.
Bucky nods in response, coming closer. There's something of a nervous expression on his face, but he comes forward anyway. It feels kind of good, he decides, to make a choice for himself.] Hey. [That's all he gets out at first. And mentally, he groans at himself. His mother would be ashamed of his manners now. But she's not here, and he's been brainwashed and on ice so things are a little awkward.] You put in an order yet?
[Norman shakes his head, smiling warmly, and holds up a brown paper bag. inside is a glass half-gallon jug of Byrne Dairy eggnog: clearly someone didn't just run down to the Stop & Shop.]
[Bucky smiles as he grabs the bag, it's quick and not entirely confident but he really appreciates the gesture. Maybe, just maybe, this will be a good thing. He's so isolated right now, aside from who he shares his apartment with, he doesn't really see people often as a rule. He doesn't mean to isolate himself. But it's not like he can just casually go and make friends with people. Much less, with people who even vaguely understand him.
This could be something good for them both.] Thanks. C'mon, let's order. We can talk more after, if that's okay? [He's not sure if it is, or not. Social norms change over time, and his memory is still a mess. But Norman's warmth is soothing, the other man is a nice balm to Bucky's awkwardness.]
I wanted to. But of course we can order first: it makes sense, we can talk while we wait for it to be done. After you.
[he gestures for him to go in. covering for others' social flaws is something you learn to do when you've run a business for decades: not every member of a team is a people person, their worth lies in other things. Norman knows how to recognize that, to see that Bucky's inability to just instantly mesh and be outgoing is not a detriment. it's simply a part of who he is.
the cafe is Nice without being Snooty, a slightly vintage vibe to it. Dark wood and warm brass accents on all the furniture, and large ornate frames with only the panes of glass inside hanging over the counter. The wallpaper behind them is light, so that the menu items written in dry-erase marker can be easily read but also just as easily changed.]
(no subject)
22/1/22 03:29 (UTC)(no subject)
22/1/22 04:56 (UTC)But he also doesn't want to live in fear forever.]
Yeah, that works for me. I'll meet you then.
(no subject)
22/1/22 05:30 (UTC)(no subject)
23/1/22 13:04 (UTC)Jeans and a red shirt maybe.
Look forward to seeing you and the eggnog then.
(no subject)
25/1/22 04:33 (UTC)when he spots someone who fits the description he was given, Norman raises a hand, two fingers in the air, and smiles brightly]
Barns?
(no subject)
14/2/22 03:54 (UTC)Bucky nods in response, coming closer. There's something of a nervous expression on his face, but he comes forward anyway. It feels kind of good, he decides, to make a choice for himself.] Hey. [That's all he gets out at first. And mentally, he groans at himself. His mother would be ashamed of his manners now. But she's not here, and he's been brainwashed and on ice so things are a little awkward.] You put in an order yet?
(no subject)
16/2/22 03:53 (UTC)[Norman shakes his head, smiling warmly, and holds up a brown paper bag. inside is a glass half-gallon jug of Byrne Dairy eggnog: clearly someone didn't just run down to the Stop & Shop.]
I wanted to make sure we squared up, first.
(no subject)
8/6/22 04:04 (UTC)[Bucky smiles as he grabs the bag, it's quick and not entirely confident but he really appreciates the gesture. Maybe, just maybe, this will be a good thing. He's so isolated right now, aside from who he shares his apartment with, he doesn't really see people often as a rule. He doesn't mean to isolate himself. But it's not like he can just casually go and make friends with people. Much less, with people who even vaguely understand him.
This could be something good for them both.] Thanks. C'mon, let's order. We can talk more after, if that's okay? [He's not sure if it is, or not. Social norms change over time, and his memory is still a mess. But Norman's warmth is soothing, the other man is a nice balm to Bucky's awkwardness.]
(no subject)
12/6/22 18:32 (UTC)[he gestures for him to go in. covering for others' social flaws is something you learn to do when you've run a business for decades: not every member of a team is a people person, their worth lies in other things. Norman knows how to recognize that, to see that Bucky's inability to just instantly mesh and be outgoing is not a detriment. it's simply a part of who he is.
the cafe is Nice without being Snooty, a slightly vintage vibe to it. Dark wood and warm brass accents on all the furniture, and large ornate frames with only the panes of glass inside hanging over the counter. The wallpaper behind them is light, so that the menu items written in dry-erase marker can be easily read but also just as easily changed.]
Get whatever y'like.