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Hey! Buddy!
Stop sitting silent in your room!
Come watch cinema with me!

[ And if Alec doesn't respond, Bucky will smack the wall to get his attention. ]

[He had contemplated not responding. But almost as if the other man was reading his thoughts, a loud rapping sound comes from the other side of the wall.]

If I'm so silent how do you even know if I'm in my room?

[He could just do as asked and accept the thoughtful invite. But this is him and Bucky. Both stubborn to the end.]

Your brooding vibes travel through the walls.
Duh.

Come on!
Come over.

Are you sure you're not confusing my vibes for your own desperation?
...
Do you have popcorn?

[That's the general movie watching custom, right?]

Edited 2020-07-16 05:25 (UTC)

Excuse you, I'm not the desperate type!
I have plenty of pals here!
This is about you, not me!
Now let's get back to you.

You bet your butt I got popcorn
Got some booze, too!

I'm not the one extending a desperate invitation to some guy I barely know.
Why don't you ask one of your pals?

[Popcorn alone probably would have been enough to get him to come over after he lost interest in verbally sparring through text. But alcohol...he has a very love-hate relationship with alcohol. However, a month in this place is making getting blissfully wasted look majorly appealing.

That is to say, he's standing in front of Bucky's door about three minutes later, rapping the door with the back of his knuckles.]

[ Bucky is furiously texting back his response when he hears the knock on the door. ]

Oh thank God... [ He had NOTHING witty to whip back at Alec. Thankfully Buck has enough wherewithal not to jump directly for the door. He gives it a good fifteen seconds before opening up. ]

Because I'm asking you! [ Ha ha! Take that, asshole! Anyway, he gets out of the way and wanders back into his kitchen. ]

You a beer or liquor man?

[Alec slow blinks, his brain taking a moment to process that Bucky is continuing their text conversation. This guy.]

Well...I'm here. [Although he's now definitely re-thinking his decision. Still, the thought of returning to the quiet of his room is enough to force him over the threshold and follow the other man inside.]

A beer is fine. [To start with. He can more or less tolerate its taste, making it a good starting point before attempting anything harder. He's not trying to embarrass himself here.]

Aces. Take a load off, I'll grab you a beer.

[ The television set is already on, playing a shrieking tone of women fighting with each other at a table. Inevitably the table is cleared when one of them splashes wine all over another woman. Back in the kitchen two beers are cracked open and hustled back into the main room. ]

Popcorn's comin'. Here. [ He hands a cold bottle over to Alec. ] Cheers, pal!

[Alec wanders over towards the TV, taking a seat on one end of the couch. He's got no clue what is playing, but after watching silently for several moments he finds that he can't look away. It doesn't really matter what the women are arguing over, the voyeuristic pull of watching people being idiots in public is in full force.

He only manages to pull his eyes away when Bucky appears at his side, offering the bottle. He accepts it, pulling the edge of his t-shirt up over the bottle cap and twisting it off.]

What is this? [He nods towards the television.]

Real Housewives of New England. I have no idea what the story is—doesn't seem like there is one. I've been watching it for the last hour and... I.. [ Frankly, there aren't words for how dumb yet hypnotic this show is. Bucky simply trails off with a shrug. ]

Oh, that one! That's Lydia. She's always the instigator in these fights.

Maybe the title is supposed to be the story. [Though he can't say why people would be particularly interested in following the lives of a bunch of housewives. Although maybe the fact that he can't seem to look away says it all.]

Do they argue like this a lot? [One of the women empties a glass of wine on the other and things escalate to another level as Alec takes a long pull on his bottle.]

Their nails look lethal.

Yeah, they've yet to run out of stuff to complain about. [ It's actually impressive how much they have to bitch about. ] I guess when all you do is sit around a house... Oh! Popcorn!

[ The microwave goes off, and Bucky's up stomping into the kitchen to rescue the bag. There comes a string of curses shortly after as he pulls the steaming bag out. Then he returns with a big bowl to share between them. ]

[He can't help but mentally critique the women as they begin to claw at each other and pull hair. Flinching with one sharp and pointy nail flies too close to comfort to someone's eye.]

Imagine what they could do if they had actual training.

[A shudder inducing thought, to be sure. But one that is easily swept aside by the presence of warm, buttery popcorn being set down between them. One of his hands immediately dives into the bowl, scooping up a handful.]

Hoo ho ho yeah. [ Oh sorry, Alec, does that not turn you on the way it does him? Older women putting you in your place? No? ]

Must be nice living in a time when you can afford to waste good wine, huh?

[ Why, yes, Bucky will be judging them for their excess. Women in his time would kill for a new pair of hosiery. ]

[That reaction garners a glance and eyebrow raise from Alec, but he doesn't comment. Needless to say the thought of any woman putting him in his place doesn't turn him on in the least.]

I don't think it's just the time. These women are clearly wealthy. [But that does raise another question.] What time are you from exactly?

Still! Who wastes perfectly good w— [ You know what? Buck isn't going to finish that sentence. For ever bar brawl he's started, plenty of liquor likely hit the floor by the time the police would drag him out the doors.

Thank Christ Alec changes the subject. ]

Forty-five. You?

Forty-five...[He repeats, deadpan, as it slowly sinks in.] What? Like nineteen forty-five?

[As separate as Shadowhunters tried to keep from mundane society, there are some things just too large to escape their notice. Like a World War. So the date isn't lost on him.]

...Wow. No wonder you sound like a grumpy old man sometimes. Are you going to start telling people to get off your lawn?

Yeah. Nineteen forty-five. [ Did he STUTTER, BRO?? He doesn't break the side-eye he has glued to Alec when he puts a hand in the bowl for another mouthful of popcorn. ]

... I don't have a lawn. [ The joke goes sailing over his head. ]

[He doesn't care about the side-eye because he's dead on staring at Bucky.]

It's terrifying to think that in the future of your world you're probably someone's grandpa right now.

[He makes an amused sounding hum as the joke sails over Bucky's head.]

Sorry, the reference must be too new for you.

Mm. [ Bucky's attention turns to the popcorn bowl between them. ] Probably not, actually.

[ He's been counting down the days for two years, waiting for an inevitability that's been forewarned. But instead of wallowing in pity, Bucky lobs a piece of popcorn at Alex. ]

Or maybe your jokes just ain't funny.

Why's that? You don't like kids or something?

[He ducks his head, laughing, narrowly avoiding the piece of popcorn that sails over his shoulders and lands on the couch on the other side of him.]

Or maybe it's because you resemble a child too much yourself?

[He's going to ignore that last bit. His jokes are clearly hilarious.]

[ Wow. How offensive. Bucky is so offended. ]

Does this look like a child to you?!

[ He rolls up a sleeve and flashes his guns. He's a twink, but his arms are still well-defined. There's hardly a scrap of fat on him. Mainly due to malnourishment, but still! You gotta be cut to keep up with Cap! ]

Yeah, lookit these guns, baby! Ka-pooow! [ He flexes as he makes gunfire noises. Don't make him pull his shirt off to prove his point further!! HE'LL DO IT! ]

[Alec glances between Bucky's revealed bicep and his face, a smile curling his lips.]

Really? Your answer is to show off your muscles? That's why I say you're like a kid.

Besides...[He reaches in the bowl for some popcorn and pops some kernels in his mouth before continuing.] I've seen bigger.

[ His eyes almost pop out of their sockets with that eye roll. ] Well we can't all be blessed with a Herculean figure. That would be too swell...

[ Bitter? OH A TAD. ]

My partner's built like a damn Greek statue. Lucky bastard...

Are you in your room?
Calling a truce for right now.
Come over.
Bring water.

[Alec doesn't bother responding via text. Considering all the havoc that has been going on this month, and the fact that he hasn't heard from his neighbor since a certain broadcast, it doesn't take much for him to conclude that something happened.

And if he'd felt a rush of relief once he set eyes on Bucky's username, he's never going to admit as much.

Instead, he grabs one of his clean glasses, fills it up with two ice cubes and water, and leaves his own apartment. About four minutes after he sent the text Bucky will hear a knock on his door.]

[ Sorry, bub. He's gonna faint if he tries getting up on his feet. All he can do is text the man back with: ]

Come in.
Door's unlocked.

[He reads the text, brows furrowing, and then reaches for the door knob. Pushing the door open, he slips inside, eyes scanning the room.]

Bucky?

In here!

[ His voice cracks immediately, making him sound like a deflated frog. He can't even tell if Alec will hear it, but he's done the best he can after being recently deceased.

Once Alec darkens his doorway, he reaches out a hand for the water. He's never been so parched in his life. ]

[on golden-trimmed stationery in Magnus's curly slanted writing is an envelope addressed to Alec.

Not many words on the inside, but a small note:

Yours truly,
Tis the season.

Expertly wrapped in thick paper is a leather quiver. Black and purple, some of Magnus's signature colors, with gold filigree that reflects Alec's Nephilim blood.

The glove and quiver are both charmed to replenish arrows and to deal certain damages. fire, electric, explosive, and sedative.]

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