video;

[priceoffreedom]

[There's a moment where Steve is turning on his device; it still takes him a bit, because he's not quite used to it yet. But now it's video. He's not quite smiling, but there is something lighter about his face.]

I found a dog in the Oxygen Gardens. He seems really friendly, like he's used to people, and he followed me right back out. I gave him some food and some water, but I'm not his owner.

[The camera moves and shows a stately chocolate lab, looking adorable, up at Steve. He is sitting in a "good sit" position, practically vibrating with I'm a good dog, love me rays.]

Does he belong to anyone? I'd like to find him his owner.

Comments

[dissociable]

[ he could just not say anything. he could ignore this and pretend. buddy is dead and buddy is a weakness and yet, it's undeniably buddy sitting there and ward wants, so badly, to bury his hands in buddy's fur and hug the dog and it's a weakness.

hill and fitz both saw him with the dog; they might recognise buddy and wonder why ward didn't step forward if he doesn't. it's a good reason to do it, and yet he can't help but wonder if he's just trying to find some justification because he wants it so badly. can't help but wonder what garrett would have to say about this.

and still — ]

His name's Buddy.

[ none of his thought process shows on his face, expression neutral with just a hint of warmth to it, because the grant ward everyone knows here would not show much, but he's not 100% tin man, either. ]

[priceoffreedom]

[Buddy hears his voice and immediately his tail wags and he noses around, like he's looking for someone, like he's looking for Ward. Steve just looks down.]

Sounds like you two are friends.

[dissociable]

[ buddy has always loved ward unconditionally, and — he shouldn't have gotten attached, but he'd loved buddy just as much. ]

He's not mine, but he stayed with me for a while when I was a kid.

[priceoffreedom]

[Now Buddy is barking, and pawing up towards where Ward's voice is coming from. Steve knows the signs of a dog who has picked his owner.]

Do you want to take care of him now?

video.

[sleuthtastic]

[ Almost immediately: ]

Who's a good puppy? Who's a good puppy?

[ Animals > People with Issues, clearly. ]

video.

[priceoffreedom]

[Buddy barks and turns in a circle]

You like dogs, then?

video.

[sleuthtastic]

Love 'em. Backup followed me all the way into space, so you know what they say about a man's best friend is true.

video.

[priceoffreedom]

I'd offer you this guy but I think he's following someone else into space.

video.

[sleuthtastic]

Yeah. I figured.

[ She thinks about saying something like that'll be good for whoever it is, knowing how rough it was last time around, before the jump. But all she knows about Steve Rogers, really, is that he's got shoulders the size of a barn and a chiseled jaw. That is to say: well, why should she say anything at all? Everybody's already thinking it. ]

Do you have a special animal friend out here in the big black void?

video.

[priceoffreedom]

Sure. His name is Bucky.

[NOT SORRY.]

video.

[sleuthtastic]

[ HGLJAHLSJHA ]

Let me guess. Hamster? Tiny plastic ball?

[ Because making fun of Bucky is something Veronica can totally get on okay. ]

video.

[priceoffreedom]

Rabbit, maybe. Popular with the ladies.

video.

[sleuthtastic]

You think rabbits are popular with ladies?

[ ??? ]

[dissociable]

[ with buddy acting like that — how could he possibly not? ]

Yeah.

[ and, a moment later: ] He was just in the Oxygen Gardens? [ buddy is dead, it doesn't make any sense. ]

video.

[priceoffreedom]

Bunnies? Cute? No?

[priceoffreedom]

Running around. He came right for me when he saw me.

[dissociable]

Yeah, he's friendly like that.

[ ward would know. ]

[priceoffreedom]

He's a good dog.

[dissociable]

[ ward unwinds enough for a smile. he's glad, stupidly so, to see buddy, and he thinks maybe it's not a bad thing to let that show.

tactically speaking. ]

Yeah. He is.

[ a beat. ] Where are you? I can come get him.

[priceoffreedom]

I can meet you at the Oxygen Gardens. Would that work for you?

[dissociable]

Sure. I'll be there in five.

[priceoffreedom]

Then I'll see you there.

[kutte]

Jesus Christ, forget everything else people are saying we need, we might as well start up a kennel.

[priceoffreedom]

I think a surplus of dogs in space is probably the best outcome we could hope for.

[kutte]

I'd be a lot more inclined to agree if I hadn't just been baby-sitting a pack of 'em.