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[staring_problem]

Drop an image or two, or an idea, or even just a starter if you want, this is where all those things go, plus where I'll move things from memes when they need to be pinned down.

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[mightysmall]

Yeah, I'm going to need it. [ He shoves his bagel in his mouth to bring with him as he pops up and goes to get his phone from the couch.

When he comes back he's got the Met page open and he's looking through the listed galleries. ] Ooh, there's a new sculpture exhibit. It looks good.

[staring_problem]

[It takes about the same amount of time for Bucky to finish with the coffee refills, turning from the counter with a mug in each hand as Steve returns] Sure, start there, keep going until we get hungry, then go get some lunch.

[He sets Steve's mug down before sitting back down with his own] Sounds like an afternoon. [Despite the bland tone, he is actually interested it's just that actual emoting -besides 'total sarcasm'- is something he's still getting used to.]

[mightysmall]

[ Steve reaches for the coffee blindly and drags it over. He scrolls through his phone with one hand while taking a sip. ]

Oh, they've got a whole exhibit about Berenice Abbot's photos! [ He turns his phone so Bucky can see. ] A whole album from 1929! That's going to be great. Abbot was one of the first photographic artists. I've seen her Paris stuff but not New York.

[ Now, he's really excited, hangover pushed back to be ignored. ]

[staring_problem]

[He can't help the smile that settles into place, he likes seeing Steve excited, regardless of the circumstances, because while art and photography -and the intersections between the two- have never been Bucky's thing, they're undeniably Steve's, and that excitement is infectious] So what you're saying is that we'll be there a while so you can explain the movement to me.

[It's not a complaint, far from it, he actually enjoys it quite a bit when Steve flips over into what Bucky refers to -to himself at least- as 'professor mode' because the explanations aren't condescending, or even disbelieving that Bucky doesn't already know about the things Steve's excited about.]

[mightysmall]

It's great. I think you'll like it. She took a lot of pictures of everyday people and poor people especially. Seriously. [ Steve's a passionate guy whether it's about art or the things he believes in. This is the good kind of excitement where he won't get into a fight over things. ] And if you don't like it, I promise we can go make fun of modern art.

[ Because he wants Bucky to have fun when they go see art. He wants him to enjoy it because he knows Bucky's doing it for him. ]

[staring_problem]

[Even if it does turn into the other kind it's probably not the first time anyone's been thrown out of the Met for brawling, though Bucky's pretty sure that isn't something they'll have to worry about, at least this visit.] We can always do that afterwards anyway.

[He shakes his head, hiding a smile in his coffee again] People need to stop asking if aliens helped build the pyramids and start asking if they helped Rothko with his enormous brushstrokes. [Despite the fact that the statement is in his usual level tone, it's definitely a joke, or something like one, but likewise the kind of thing he'll say within earshot of strangers just to see what the reaction is.]

[mightysmall]

[ Steve rolls his eyes but he's smiling because Bucky remembered an artist and what they're known for. Which means he was probably listening to one of Steve's ramblings the last time they went to the Met. ] All you need is a big brush for something like a Rothko.

Besides, we know aliens didn't help with the pyramids. They're more interested in tearing them down.

[staring_problem]

[He definitely retains some things some of the time, though that particular instance was because it wasn't always large strokes but long ones, and that was something that Bucky had compared to people who did classic car detailing, who could maintain a steady hand for yards at a time, even while the rest of them was moving]

Yeah, that's... true, actually. [He shakes his head, sipping at his coffee once more] Makes me wonder what aliens have against landmarks.

[mightysmall]

It's part of the psychological aspect of warfare. It really hurts people's spirits if the things they treasure and look up to are gone. [ He shrugs like they're not talking about anything important. That's what aliens are these days. Just another bad guy. ]

But we're not going to worry about that today. We've got bagels and plans!

[staring_problem]

[He'd mostly been joking, or at least attempting to, clearly tone is something that still needs work.

Either way he nods at the follow-up, making a half-toast towards Steve with what's left of the bagel in his hand.] Which is better than we used to do, with just plans. And usually only half of one of those.

[mightysmall]

You don't think we're going to make up where we're going to eat? [ Steve raises a challenging eyebrow at him. ] Because I don't have a place in mind? Just not the Met cafeteria. It's way too overpriced.

[staring_problem]

[He shakes his head, looking grim for a moment] Definitely not the cafeteria. But there's pretty much any other kind of food you could want within a block, block and a half of the place, depending which direction you go.

You been itching for anything in particular?

[mightysmall]

[ He thinks about it for a moment while chewing on his last bite of bagel. ]

Soup dumplings. Dim sum. Something different from pizza and our usual Chinese order.

[staring_problem]

Oh man actual dim sum sounds like a good idea, there's a place... [He squints ceilingward for a moment, rotating the neighborhood in his mind] a little further out than the other good lunch places, but by 'a little further' [there's finger quotes and everything] I just mean two, two and a half blocks instead of up to a block.

[There's another little flicker of a smile] Not like the walk is going to kill us.

[mightysmall]

Two whole blocks? We'll have to get a cab for that. [ He is absolutely making fun of modern people who just don't seem to walk anywhere anymore. Steve rolls his eyes a little while he gets his phone to look the place up. ]

The weather should be good too. It'll be a nice walk.

[staring_problem]

Obviously we'll have to get a cab back after, because if we're doing dim sum right we'll be too damn full even to walk to the station.

[An exaggeration to make a point, sure, but only a slight one. Besides, Bucky's been to the place fairly frequently, not enough to be a regular -in his opinion- but still often enough that most of the staff knows him on sight]

[mightysmall]

What? You're not going to carry me back? [ Steve grins because he knows he's being a little shit. ] What kinda friend are you?

[ They'll make their slow way back. Steve's almost forgotten about his hangover with the plans they're making. ] This place looks really good.

[staring_problem]

[He just snorts at that first question, which is really all the response it deserves in the long run, but he nods at the follow-up.] It is, I've been there a few times, you can do orders or just wait for them to bring the cart around, which is usually what I end up doing, gives me time to enjoy stuff one at a time.

[Which the first couple times had been about figuring out what he actually liked, though that had turned out to be 'basically everything']

[mightysmall]

The cart's better for conversation too. [ Steve likes the pauses in between visits. They can catch up though considering how they're still in each other's pocket there's not much to catch up on. ] And they keep some of the best stuff on there. Though, sometimes it's worth asking the staff for recommendations.

[ He also likes talking to people. It's nice. ] I bet there's something on the menu no one picks but is really good.

[staring_problem]

And this is why it's a good idea to bring you along, wouldn't have thought of asking about the underdog of the menu. [Though mostly that's because he doesn't think that way in general. He's asked for recommendations from the chef before, in other, smaller places where the chef is right there to talk to, but hasn't thought to at family restaurants.]

[mightysmall]

C'mon Buck, you gotta ask the staff what they like. [ Steve nudges him with his foot under the table. ] If they're a good staff they'll tell you and it won't be one of the whatever special of the month is.

[ Or maybe Steve's just so cute and charming they always give him the best suggestions. ]

[staring_problem]

[He nudges back, giving something that he'd intended as a scoff but that comes out far too amused] I'm familiar with the concept, I'm just not that much of a talker.

[The hard part about that is that he knows he was once, but that has been one of the hardest things to get back.]

[mightysmall]

You are with the right person. [ Meaning him mostly, but Steve figures Bucky will find more people to talk to in the future. Eventually. Once he gets comfortable going out more. ]

It also means the words you do say are more important. You're not just talking, you know?

[staring_problem]

[He tilts his head in a little shrug] Some people make it easier than others.

[Steve, Sam, Sarah, a handful of others, but not many even now] And that's a real optimistic way of looking at it, but it's better than the alternative, so I'll take it.

[mightysmall]

I practically read your mind. I'm cheating. [ Steve grins back even as he shrugs like it's no big deal how close they are. Because it's really not. It's just how they are. ]

I'm an optimistic guy. And from an outsider's perspective you are getting better Buck. [ The progress is slow but it's there. Steve sees it. ]