—in the service of the Queen; I belong [closed]

[sinistral]

Who: Bucky Barnes (sinistral) and Queen Fayura
When: during the Tangled Webs event; in response to the Queen's summons and the web she weaves
Where: in the queen's Residence
What: on hearing what happened to the young girl, Bucky seeks an audience with the Queen
Warnings: mention of past torture (mental and physical)

---

It's not a comfortable thing, the summons in his head. Bucky understands now that it's just the way of things here, these mental communications, but he doesn't have to like it. Still he hastens to the Residence as quickly as possible. He hasn't had much in terms of direct contact with Draega's ruler, but that doesn't mean he's going to ignore the mental summons.

It may have been uncomfortable but what follows is even more so.

He's quiet through the explanations — not unusual for him of course, and that standoffish air is one he'll attempt to keep. While it seems to him that the Queen clearly isn't giving all the details she knows or suspects, he doesn't blame her for it. It unsettles him to hear of it, violence done to the mind; it had been his hope to escape such a thing simply by being here, but apparently that isn't to be.

It's after the meeting has dispersed that he sends a message to the Queen. He's not sure at all what she knows of him, or how much of the dream-that-may-not-have-been-a-dream that brought him here is actually true. Still he's a little surprised when she grants him an audience, mostly out of the assumption that she would have other, more important things to do.

"Queen Fayura." The greeting is simple, and simply given; casual conversation isn't his strong suit. "Thank you for seeing me."

Comments

[sinistral]

He's upset her.

He's too trained not to notice the tension in her body, in how she holds herself, the way she swallows, even her breathing. He hasn't just struck a nerve; he's pulled at all those strings, struck them into a discordant cacophony. He does feel somewhat bad about it, and mostly because of how she seems to be reacting: not with horrified disbelief. It says that parts of his story are all too familiar to her, and he hates that anyone has had to suffer so. Her words only confirm it.

"I cannot even say if it's a mercy that it was quick." Mercy would have been not experiencing it at all; mercy would have been no one ever seeking to break another person in such a way, or in any way at all. Mercy seems almost a myth to Bucky sometimes, an idea more fantastic than realistic. "I will think on your offer. I have spoken briefly to Allairavar about my— situation. Not to the detail I have given you, but enough to make him aware that I could be dangerous, should those who know how to trigger me appear here. He too advised me to seek Verim or yourself. The current situation simply made me do so sooner than I would have anticipated."

Fayura goes on though, and there's a lot to read between the lines of what she says. He doesn't understand all of it; probably natural, considering that he is not of this world. But it's the way she says it more than anything else that has him leaning forward, just enough to put his flesh-and-blood hand atop hers for a moment of contact. "It's a generous offer," he starts, ordering his words carefully, "and one I have to consider. But my own struggle is not as important to me as what was done to that girl, especially if those who did it can still be brought to justice. My monsters, as you call them, made me into an assassin. And I will use everything that I know, that I am, to hunt these monsters now and bring them to you."

Bucky takes his hand back to himself, straightening back up in the chair. "And I will make myself available to this girl, if you think it might help her."

[agentlenpc]

Fayura doesn't think his butchers will come here. Her web has behaved strangely due to her own lack of forethought, but she asked for heroes. Surely the web will be able to read through someone's delusions of grandeur and self-deceit to recognize a monster. Surely.

Except she's not sure and that's one more thing to add to her to-do list.

Tucking that thought aside, she manages a faint smile for the male across from her. "Your triggers could likely be removed with time and effort with the help of a well-trained Black Widow. And it speaks well of you that your thoughts are for the young witch." One of her hands slips out from under his and folds lightly over it. A gentle touch, barely there. She withdraws as soon as he does, not wanting to overstay her welcome. "I think talking with her will help you both. Be kind and gentle." She's sure he will, but it bears speaking the words aloud. "All broken witches wander the Twisted Kingdom at first, and she's not yet ready for someone to help her find her way out. She'll see the world differently than you do and will need your patience."

[sinistral]

"I will consider it. I admit, I'm loathe to let anyone near my mind, even with the intent to help." Given what he's told her, he has a feeling that she'll understand. Besides that, he doesn't consider his own issue to be any sort of priority; from what he's been told, from what he understands, he and the other Strangers were brought here to help this place. He'll make that his priority, not seeking for answers to his own issues.

"I promise it." Gentle isn't a term he'd normally apply to himself, but treating the child with kindness and with basic respect? That's certainly a given. More than a given; it's how she always should have been treated, and not like some throwaway doll for monsters to toss back and forth until it broke. The thought still angers him. "I just wish something could have been done to prevent it."

Hindsight is a dangerous trap though. Misfortune happens, either naturally or with assistance, and while it's important to learn from it, the only direction to go is forward. "She will have whatever assistance I can provide. As will you, should you need my skills." A generous offer to make perhaps, but surely no more generous than her own. He may not like what he's become, but he won't deny its use.

[agentlenpc]

Fay slides off her invisible stool. As her feet touch the floor, the shields around the room release. Her book reappears on her desk, open to a bookmarked page, and she turns the corner of her desk. The chair behind it pulls out with a thought, but she pauses with her fingers braced against the surface of her desk before she sits down.

"Please keep my offer in mind. Please also know that no one in this house will touch your mind without your permission." She gives him a faint smile. "If there's nothing else?"

[sinistral]

It's interesting to watch these simple little things happen with that must be Craft. It's clear that it's an ingrained part of her life, natural and effortless. While Bucky doubts he'll ever feel the same about it, it still does provide an insight into the culture of this place — and that could be useful.

"I will. And thank you." He appreciates both the offer and the assurance that those of her household will respect those personal boundaries. Not everyone in Draega is of her household however; recent events show that clearly enough. He stands in a fluid motion, inclining his head toward her. "Nothing save the hunt for these witches and their webs. But I will report to you should I find anything unusual."