17640/Playing in the Park.

Playing in the Park.
Date of Scene:	13 April 2024
Location:	Cedar Hill
Synopsis:	Buck's out playing with Lili in the park. He runs across some faces he should know but doesn't quite. At the end of the day, Essix gets into his pants.
Cast of Characters:	James Barnes, J'onn J'onzz, Michael Hannigan, Essix, Ted Grant

---

James Barnes has posed:
It's mid afternoon and sunny. There's just a slight breeze blowing adding chill enough to the air to warrant a light jacket. People are taking advantage of the beautiful weather and the Cedar Hill area of Central Park has drawn a good amount of people. It's not exactly crowded - there's enough room for tossing a Frisbee back and forth.

Or, just tossing a Frisbee to have it walk back on its own two legs. Well, actually on four legs. Bucky's taking advantage of the nice afternoon and getting Lili some exercise. The German Shepherd is /loving it/ even if Bucky is cheating and throwing the disc downward on a large hill that the poor pup has to run back up to bring it back. After a long winter without weather good enough to take her out for more than short walks, she doesn't seem to mind the added effort one bit.

She's just dropped the Frisbee at Bucky's feet. He gives her a scritch behind the ears and a sing-songed, "Who's a good girl?" before stooping to pick up the Frisbee and toss it again. Lili takes off flying down the hill.

J'onn J'onzz has posed:
J'onn J'onzz is trying out a new human guise of a young college student. Several of his normla go to identities are getting long in the tooth and he is prepared to create another for 10 years from now. Its a bit mental, but the world gets more and more connected and staying out of sight gets ahrder and harder. As it is, he smiles at the dog as he walks along, imagining details of his backstory that he hasnt even created. "What's her name?" He asks curious as he stops and looks at the duo.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Amongst those taking advantage of the weather is one Michael Hannigan. Not actually booked for something today, the performer is using the newfound free time to stretch his legs. The long hair his onstage persona is known for is obscured by the knit cap. Hands in the pocket of his jacket, he is coming down one of the many paths of Central Park, idle glances giving him a general sense of what is going on around him.

When the visual of a dog comes into play, Mike's steps slow. He doesn't quite process the owner yet, instead just watching.

Doggy.

Essix has posed:
A beautiful afternoon in the park. A lovely blue jay sat in a tree above the people enjoying the sun. Children playing, some people laid out on blankets picnicking, and of course there are those with their pets on walks or playing.

It was just such days that Essix enjoyed watching humans being humans, doing the casual things that they enjoyed. The birds head turned this way and that, wings twitching, and of course she did not forget to look like she was preening her feathers from time to time.

As the frisbee flew by, her head followed it and then her eyes shift to watching the dog chasing it. She had seen many humans throwing balls for dogs, but this disc thing was new and thoroughly had her attention.

Ted Grant has posed:
Ted Grant is in New York checking in on a friend. After a pleasant lunch he heads out, swinging through the Park to get to the Hyperloop back to Gotham. He wishes he was in his track suit to do a jog through the Park. He hasn't and a jog before riding a busy Hyperloop is downright rude without a shower. That was the major advantage of being superpowered, you rarely if ever got sweaty. A small advantage but it mattered.

Ted sees the frisbee before he sees the dog and purely instinctively, make a spectacular leap into the air snagging it. When he lands on his toes. He sees the furry bullet charging.

"Uh... good doggy! Good boy? Girl. I'm not a frisbee pirate." He holds the frisbee out.

James Barnes has posed:
"Nice catch," Bucky calls out.

When someone /dares/ take her toy, the Shepherd lets out a bark. There's nothing mean or snarly about it - she's not so much like her dad as that. But she obviously wants the disc back.

Once she has it, Lili comes bounding back up the hill and - once again - settles into a sit at Bucky's feet to drop the Frisbee. Her tongue is all lolling out one side of her mouth in a pupper smile, tail wagging and she even lets out a little whine of excitement and a small bark. If anyone can translate 'dog', that is definitely - c'mon dad, throw the flat round thing, throw it, throw it, c'mon please throw it.

Bucky obliges. He picks the Frisbee up as he answers J'onn's question, "Lili," then he lets the thing sail again. It's shouldn't come as a surprise that Bucky Barnes can really make a Frisbee /fly/.

Bluebirds aren't on his radar, but people are certainly always being watched in his peripheral vision. He's come a long way, but he's still careful in public. It's not being paranoid when they're really out to get you. He notes Mike - a little 'seen him before' pings in his brain but not much more.

J'onn J'onzz has posed:
J'onn J'onzz says, "I'm Jonn" He isnt changing his voice, so James might recognize that voice and Jonn wasnt expecting to meet someone he knew, but doesnt want to cause a scene, "Last time you saw me I was a bit Greener..." he smiles and looks Ted and smiles widely and nods to Essix as she approaches. "Good name.""

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Mike's head turns, watching the dog go after the frisbee only to see Ted leap up to catch the disk. Blinking, Mike tilts his head. But as he watches Ted try to reason with the dog, he cracks a slight smile. It is amusing at least. Once the dog has the disc again, he watches the dog make its way towards it's owner. But, as he sees who picks up the disc, the smile falters.

When there is some semblance of the man glancing his way, he gives a slight tilt of the head in acknowledgement. But, he remains where he is. Neither approaching nor leaving.

He goes back to watching the dog.

It'd probably be nice to have a dog. Well, If his job allowed for him to take care of one.

Essix has posed:
The disc seems to fly further than a ball, the aerodynamics being so much better for throwing. Watching it fly through the way for a second time, Essix now spots the dog going after it. A beautiful shepherd, determined to get the disc and take it back to her person. One thing the little alien didn't understand what why dogs enjoyed this game, but she had seen many times that most of them do... well the larger dogs do. The little yippy ones prefer to sit in their person's lap, or in a bag, though a few did chase balls.

Taking to the air she flies past the humans toward the location the dog and disc went, glancing back to see just how clearly they might be able to see where the disc lands. She notices the other man who caught the disc and gave it back, takes a trip around his head, then begins a flight back toward the dogs person and those gathering around him.

Ted Grant has posed:
Ted Grant acks and ducks. fighting ther Ultra Humanite is one thing, blue jays be crazy. The bird doesn't attack. Was it a jay? "Hey knock it off, you guys don't fly around my head till 6th round or later!" he approaches the dog and owner to offer apologies, sticks out a really big hand and follows it with a bigger smile as recognition dawns. "Sarge! It's Ted Grant, from the Captain's to do on the Intrepid? I brought the girl dressed like nose art! that's a smart piece a' dog you have there."

James Barnes has posed:
J'onn comes under the scrutiny of Bucky's intense stare for a moment or three. Just be glad it isn't longer - man could win a staring contest with a statue. Finally a little something flickers, a bit of recognition behind those intense baby blues, but it's hard to say how /much/ he remembers of the Martian. His brow furrows just a little bit before he takes a breath just slightly on the heavy side of normal.

There's something there for sure. Those dreaded words booming out from a loud speaker, he remembers that.

Eventually he offers a nod and, "She's a good dog." To go along with her good name.

Mike, on the other hand, gets a slightly longer bit of time under that scrutinizing gaze. "You know Nettie," is the conclusion he comes to in the end. It's not much of a thing that but it's a thing.

He doesn't extend his gloved left hand, but his right still gives a firm shake. "Ted," he greets - maybe a little with a little familiarity. "Nice to see you again." - maybe.

He glances up to the bird, then around at the trees. "It's a male," he notes based on the bright blue plumage. Females are more 'gray' than blue. "Maybe a little too early for them to be nesting? So I think we're safe. Unless it shits on us."

J'onn J'onzz has posed:
J'onn J'onzz nods and looks at the others.. He knew Nettie as well, and recognizes Michael, but then again, everyone regoznies him. He also waves to Ted and introduces himself with a quick hello in his normal voice. He smiles, and then looks at the bird with fascination.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Getting the sense he's being looked at again, Mike glances back over to Bucky. The musician stills looking right back at Bucky as the soldier comes to his conclusion. Well. He's not wrong.

"Yes." Mike confirms with a nod. "She's a friend. We've worked together on some things." There's no further expansion to that. For those who KNEW Nettie, it's not too far a jump to go from 'worked together' to 'magicked up some stuff'.

In a change of behavior, Mike doesn't watch Lily this go around. Instead, he seems more interested in Bucky's response if there is any.

Essix has posed:
Flitting by the collection of humans, the bird takes a moment to look at each. Essix can hear the conversation going on, and when Nettie's name comes up a very loud chirp sounds before she lands on the branch of a tree very near where they are. She knew Nettie, met her in the park when she was practicing magic with an young apprentice.

Now that she was still, she could watch the men below more easily, no longer bothering to fake at being a bird beyond actually being one. No more preening, no more head twitches, just sitting there... watching.

Ted Grant has posed:
Ted Grant Doesn't respond to the talk of Nettie. He knows she's gone, another friend lost. He decides to look over the dog instead. "Who's a good girl?" He ventures, holding a fist out for her to sniff or nose bump. Fists are harder to bite than extended fingers.

James Barnes has posed:
Lili returns again with the Frisbee, but seems she's had enough. She sniffs at Grant's hand. Instead of any bitey behavior, she actually gives the extended hand a little lick.

But her attention shifts to her human. She settles on the ground at Bucky's feet and lets out the faintest of whines. It causes him to squat down to rub her head. He stays that way, just rubbing her head, her ears, under her chin, around her neck for the next few minutes. Whatever memory J'onn's presence stirred up is calmed quickly by the dog's presence - she's such a good dog.

Before Bucky straightens back up, he pulls one of those collapsible dog bowls and a bottle of water from the leather backpack he has tossed over one shoulder and gives the pooped out pooch a little drink.

Bucky is nothing if not /extremely/ observant. Suddenly that bird has his attention and has his hackles a little bit raised. He spent enough time on battlefields were watching the birds and listening to them sing during lulls in the fighting was something that helped keep him sane - mostly. That's not normal behavior for a bird. "Shoo," he barks at the little thing, a long with a stomp of his foot. Any normal bird would certainly 'shoo'.

J'onn J'onzz has posed:
J'onn J'onzz smiles at the dog, neve rtiring of looking at or ntereacting with the fbulous creatures but then stops and notices the bird that is most defintiely not a bird and uses his vision to attempt to discern if it is a technological construct, a shifter, an illusion or something else. "Who are you?" To the bird, subtly but anyone here can defintiely see him do it.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Being that Mike was watching for a reaction, it does make it easier for him to spot the one Bucky directs towards the bird. Well. Better the bird than him at least. Pale eyes set upon the bird. Mike admittedly had been a bit distracted by the elephant in the room.

Soldier in the park?

Either way, he had been distracted, so he had only slighty seen the flighty antics of the creature. Was there anything really off about the bird to merit the reaction?

...NAAAAH... probably not.

Essix has posed:
Essix tilts her little bird head, noting now that one of them has picked up on something. She has no idea how he managed to ascertain she wasn't a bird, everything about her looks like a bird, smells like a bird, her heart beats like a bird and yes, she does have a heart. She is a perfect copy in every way, but not a shape shifter, not a mutant, nothing that anyone on Earth could even begin to fathom... yet that one, knew.

Through the Bats and other observations she had learned that there were in fact tons of non-humans on this planet, and any one of them might have the abilityt o detect a difference in her. In fact, there might be some mutants who could, but she had never before come across one.

Lifting herself back up into the air, she catches the wind beneath her wings and lets it carry her a distance off from the group. Flying was one of the most special things she'd learned to do, it felt wonder and free, but still she had been detected. If she followed Nightwing's lessons, she shouldn't reveal herself, but at the same time... new people!

Shifting her wings she turned in the wind and flew back toward the group. When she was within ten feet of them her entire tiny firm changed from feathers to an aqua colored viscus liquid. Seconds later that liquid was expanding and spreading out to form a human female which she then solidifies... a perfect match.

"Firstly, I do not shoo," she says cheerfully then looks to J'onn. "And I am Essix." and a bow is offered.

Ted Grant has posed:
Ted Grant is not as good at reading nature. THat's Blue's department. He is good at reading people. It's one reason he's a good fighter. He can often tell what punch will be thrown before the opponent realizes it, So... shell shock or is he onto something or just against birds in general?

Then again... this it real life. People can use birds for evil. The Golden Wasp used -wasps! Birds are even bigger than wasps! "Sarge?" he asks softly.

Then the bird is a gummi and then a girl. He stares a bit. He's somewhat prepared having dated a shape shifter but this is really amazing.

James Barnes has posed:
Okay, that's just... Bucky takes a step or two back. His left hand flexes ... reflexively. Lili scrambles to her feet and starts with the barking. It's not quite ferocious barking, but the intent is clear enough - stay away from /my/ human.

Has Bucky come across 'weird' before, he certainly has. Does that make it any less unsettling when he comes across 'new weird'? No it does not.

Every bit of him is coiled up like a spring ready to bounce (out) or pounce.

"What the fuck..." he states rather than asks." The edge to his voice matches the tenseness of his muscles - that is to say the words are growled out. Before to Ted, "Got no clue." - the 'but be ready' doesn't need to be spoken aloud. Lili stops the barking, but she's still standing half next to/half in front of Bucky with her own hackles raised and a slight snarl baring her teeth.

Lili is a good dog, however she often underestimates her human's ability to protect himself.

J'onn J'onzz has posed:
J'onn J'onzz says, "Hello Essix, I'm Jonn....I am also a shapeshifer and telepath whic is how I knew to speak to you. Welcome and an excellent immitation of the species." He looks at James, nods to Ted respectfully and makes sure that the two of them are OK and then looks at Micahel. He expected words of calming from Michael and cocks his head at the weather. Even now humans sometimes confuse him until he gets and then nods."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
In the group of surprise and concern, Mike is oddly pretty calm about a bird flying towards them and turning into a person. That the person is female, does get a slight blink.

"Hi Essix." Mike greets, using the arrival of the shape shifter to step a bit closer to the others. Although, when he arrives, he does seem to position himself where he's technically between Bucky's collective group and Essix. "Enjoying the good weather I take it?" He asks of the likely most innocent one of the group. His tone is relaxed, no hint of concern for the woman formally known as birb.

Essix has posed:
Essix tilts her head, studying J'onn pretty intently before she looks to the others standing there. A smile spreads across her face before she starts to talk forward, extending her hand toward them, the human greeting of 'shaking hands'.

"It is nice to meet all of you!" she chirps out happily. "I have mastered a great many forms, but I am not a shapeshifter. Most would call me a changeling, or an alien, but I prefer just Essix."

James Barnes has posed:
There likely isn't anyone present that's less innocent than James Buchanan Barnes. Although people always tell him it 'wasn't him', he knows that he did it. So, yes, Essix is very likely much more innocent than the Winter Soldier.

He might not even be the least weird of the two, all things considered. But still, handshakes are - for the moment - declined in the form of one more step backwards. He certainly doesn't need to add 'shook the hand of goo girl and got sucked into a pile of goo to be smothered or - worse, absorbed' to his already long list of nightmares.

Lili whines - utterly confused by the seemingly kind nature of the new arrival and her human's odd reaction to the girl.

Those intense blue eyes shift between Michael and J'onn, but never quite leaving Essix completely. They seem okay with it. He uncurls his fist of a left hand. "Name's James," he offers with still just a hint of 'fuck around and find out' warning in his tone. Yes, James. Essixes that go from girl to goo don't get to call him Bucky, at least not yet.

He'll relax, maybe, at least a little, eventually - once he wraps his brain around what he just saw and finally figures out that this one isn't actually out to get him.

But he's /not/ paranoid, because the other ones are out to get him.

J'onn J'onzz has posed:
J'onn J'onzz says, "Nice to meet you Essix, I was impressed at how well you did it." He watches the dog, and almost telepathically calms it but...its not his dog so instead he nods, "We met once James...." He isnt sure James remembers him."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Mike looks over to Essix for a few moments before giving a bit of a chuckle. "Well Essix. Considering what I've heard about changelings, I suppose it's very much in your nature to just zoot from form to form. But as you can see, there are some people who tend to be jumpy around that sort of thing. Just, something you should take into consideration in the future."

The smile fades, "Even if you have the best intentions...they might not realize it."

...

Oh Goddammit.

Mike looks over to Bucky for a moment, then to J'onn. There's a momentary temptation to just leave but...

Mike looks to Essix again.

Essix has posed:
For a moment Essix studies James, her head tilting first left and then right. Finally she nods to herself, but a motion everyone can see.

"Allow me to apologize to you James," she says softly. "I did not mean to startle or upset you. I often forget that humans are not accustomed to beings such as myself, and I in no way meant to make you uncomfortable. Is there anything I can do to make it better?"

She continues to watch James, taking her hand back and keeping her distance from him, but her attention then shifts between J'onn and Mike. "I do forget a lot of the time that humans simply cannot handle change, well many cannot. I should not lump them all together like that," she offers a bright smile, her mood improving.

"My people are known for their ability to change forms. It is not like most mutants shapeshifters, who assume a form... for us, we literally /become/ that thing. Birds, dogs, trees, a couch.. we can be anything."

James Barnes has posed:
Now might not be the absolute best time to go poking and prodding at /that/ memory. Bucky reaches down with his right hand to stroke Lili's fur and scratch her head. In that moment, it can be seen for what it is - not just affection for the dog (of which he has much), but also an effort to calm his own nerves. His gaze flickers to J'onn and away again.

"Yeah, I remember," nostrils flaring slightly when he speaks. It may just be random flashes of memories but those random flashes are enough to tell him that it wasn't exactly a 'good time' for him.

Lili licks her human's hand.

Bucky rubs Lili's neck.

Some of the teeth-cracking tenseness in his jaw lessens.

He can almost hear Sam in his ear, 'Dude, she's one of the Big Three but not a bad one.' "S'okay," Bucky offers, right hand still just connecting with the soft warmth of Lili's fur. "...Essix." He's still not re-extending his hand for that handshake, not just yet. But things are getting a little better.

"Just a little warning next time."

In his last move that says things are going to be okay, he picks up the Frisbee and throws it for Lili again. Her tail wags, she offers a soft 'chuff' of a sound and bounds off after it.

J'onn J'onzz has posed:
J'onn J'onzz nods and lets the subject drop. He isnt reading Bucky's thoughts but the body language speaks volumes and Jonn is as good at reading that as he is thoughts. He isnt immediately sure what to say next but enjoys the simpicity of the frisbee and his dog. Not that the dog is owned by the frisbe.

He nods to Essix,"As a shapeshifter, I can asses that your skill is excellent."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Mike lets the shape shifting comment slide. Having a conversation about the various types of form changing would probably not help contribute to calming down the guy who got startled. Instead, he leaves that topic to the others, and instead drifts to watching Lili play fetch again.

The musician is tight lipped for a few moments before he finally gives in.

"Beautiful dog." He allows to Bucky.

Essix has posed:
Aqua eyes return to James when he speaks, but Essix can still read his body language as if he were a book. He's not entirely comfortable, that is obvious, but it also seemed that not all of it was entirely due to her. For now, she took him at his work that it was 's'okay'.

"In whatever form I take, I can speak," she offers. "Would it have been better to stay a Blue Jay and speak?" She asks James, attempting to find the comfortable spot. Of course if her words were true, that meant if she was a bench she could talk and that most likely would also be a problem.

To J'onn she asks almost excitedly, bouncing a little where she is standing, "Would you be willing to show me your shape shifting abilities some time? I have seen Beast Boy shifting forms, but he is the only other I have seen."

Now to Mike, to study him a moment she asks, "Have I seen you some place before?"

J'onn J'onzz has posed:
J'onn J'onzz smiles, "Yes. Of course. I might even be able to teach you a few small pointers and we can see if its possible to give you thought in animal form." He hands her a phone number on a card and says, "An honor seeing all of you, but duty calls." He jogs off.

James Barnes has posed:
"Yeah, she is," Bucky replies and his scowl actually softens into a bit of a smile - just a little one. It wouldn't do to have anyone know that he's actually capable of making such a face as that on a regular basis.

But his fondness for Lili shines through in spades. She's his rock steady ally in his fight against the cold and dark of Winter.

The question from Essix leaves him a little perplexed. Would a talking bird be /better/? He's really not sure! "I dunno, maybe?" he settles on being vague and indecisive on that one.

But his attention is drawn, once more, to J'onn as the Martian departs. It lingers there until the man's out of sight.

By that time, Lili has returned with the Frisbee. She stares up at Bucky expectantly, tail wagging. Just the routine of picking up the disc and throwing it again helps him shake off that little bit of 'unnerved' J'onn caused.

Suddenly he finds himself really interested in hearing Mike's answer to Essix's question. He's watching the musician closely as he waits. Why is it important to him? More he finds out about this odd girl that goes from bird to goo to girl in a blink, the better.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
"Must be nice having her around." Mike comments, "Sometimes I wonder what it'd be like to get one but... life hasn't quite worked out that way." He watches Lili come back, and his smile brightens as he watches the excited dog run off again.

To the question, Mike looks over to her, pausing in thought. "In passing mostly...It's funny. Someone introduced us at some point. But-" Mike's frown deepens. "For the life of me I can't remember who it was."

Mike squints at Lili before bringing a palm up to rub at the side of his eye. Then the other.

Dammit. Why are his eyes watering up now?

Does he have allergies?

Essix has posed:
Now Essix takes a moment, staring a Mike, almost through him really then suddenly she blurts out very loudly, "OH! OH! I remember now! Yes! Mannigan, Mike Hannigan! We met once before a while ago! Very nice to see you again."

To go along with with sudden realization she bounces around in a circle then seems to calm herself to look at James. "If there is a next time, I will be certain to let you know that I am there before I change forms," she offers to him with a smile. "And also, Lily is a beautiful Shepherd, who clearly loves you a great deal."

James Barnes has posed:
"Never pictured myself with a pet before," Bucky offers quietly. Never pictured himself being settled enough to even be safe around a living thing that relied almost entirely on him for their care is the truth of it.

He watches the interaction between Mike and Essix, putting things to memory. He knows how fleeting a thing like memories can be, but that doesn't mean he doesn't try to make and hold on to new ones.

The smile from before returns, a little bigger, as he watches the dog get distracted by the grasshopper she's chasing now. It just keeps on jumping right out of her grasp.

It's been said before, Bucky is /extremely/ aware of his surroundings at all times, perceptive even. He doesn't miss Mike's eye wipes, doesn't think it's allergy related at all and doesn't comment on it - not one word. He knows how he'd feel if someone pointed such a thing out after he'd done it.

Finally, he extends his hand to Essix. "Sargent James Barnes. It's nice to meet you." Still not Bucky - no, but a little better than the better that came before.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
As Essix places the name to the face, Mike blinks, giving a nod. "Yeah." He confims, a small smile forming, "That's me." He glances to his hand for a moment before looking up once more, shoving the hand into his jacket pocket.

Quietly he watches Essix's small dance before Bucky offers a hand over to Essix. Well...handshakes are a good sign probably.

"I take it that means you two have an understanding then?" Mike queries to both Bucky and Essix.

Essix has posed:
The hand, James offered his hand!

Essix takes the few steps of distances between them to take the hand and shake. Not a firm grip, nor was it some weak thing... it seemed like the perfect handshake, as if practices many, many, MANY times.

"Sargent... you are military," she states, not a question at all. "It is an extreme pleasure to meet you, Sargent Barnes. You may feel free to ask me questions about myself, anything you would like."

Releasing his hand she looks back to Mike for a moment, then between them, "In fact you both may. I have nothing to hide, and I do not lie. I will not reveal the secrets of others, no matter how much someone asks. If you tell me a secret, no one will learn it from me. This level of security is a part of my peoples very being, who we are as a species." She nods in a sagely manner, as if just saying it was all she needed to do and everyone would just believe her.

"I certainly hope that we have an understanding," she adds at the end, another bright, broad smile spreading across her face. "I do love meeting new people. Humans are so unique, so many different personalities and appearances, all within one species."

James Barnes has posed:
Probably. He's come a long long way in what is probably a short amount of time considering, but Bucky's still gets spooked a little easily. Unfortunately, he's a fight not a flight kind of guy and that makes a spooked Bucky a dangerous Bucky.

"Yeah, we're okay." He's still a man of few words most of the time.

Essix, however, seems to be a woman of many many many words. Words that are stored away for later, but right now he can't even begin to consider what to ask first.

He puts his fingers to his lips and lets out a whistle. Immediately Lili stops chasing the grasshopper she still hasn't caught, retrieves the Frisbee and comes trotting back.

"I really should get her home and feed her something," he explains to both of them. His gaze lingers a little longer on Mike than might be rightly comfortable. There's a niggle there, but he can't grab onto it to figure it out. Finally he gives a nod of a 'see ya' along with, "Mike."

Finally he does think of one question for Essix, "Really? Anything, you can turn into anything?" The sudden image of her turning into Sam's shoes and then sticking to the floor when he puts them on is intriguing to say the least.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
When the pair both confirm some type of understanding is in place, Mike nods. "Good." He responds to Bucky's few words with even fewer before looking to Essix with her words a plenty. "I'll keep that in mind. Perhaps the next time we run into each other, I'll have questions to ask."

When attention is brought over to the dog, Mike is more than willing to comply, looking over to the pretty girl as she trots on back. But then there's that feeling again. Pale eyes glancing up, he looks over to the soldier staring back at him. There's a slight uptilt of the chin, looking to the taller man. There's a slight shift to the expression. Not scared. Not annoyed. But more-

Determined?

When Bucky nods to him, he mirrors the expression. "Barnes." He responds back.

Farewells given, Mike turns to continue on his way.

Essix has posed:
For some reason, probably because she can't carry her phone right now, Essix just blurts out here phone number. Once she's done that, whether either man will remember it, she nods enthusiastically to James. "Absolutely anything, though I cannot divide myself into many items," she sighs softly, as if not being able to do so is a major problem.

"I can however, be two things at a distance, connected by a strand of myself," she then nods and get bubbly again, springing a little on the balls of her feet. "Perhaps some time, if you would like, I can show you, Sargent Barnes? Not now of course, your animal requires nutrition."

Now it is time for the overly excited waves of good-bye as Mike turns and heads away, "Take care, Mike. I look forward to seeing you again! Call me if you would like." The waving shifts then to James, "Take care! Have a good day!"

With that she turns and also heads off toward the trees at a slight jog, most like skipping really. Once she reaches the trees and goes behind one, her form melts in on itself. When the transformation is complete, she has turned herself into an American burying beetle. Inch and half big, she flies out from behind the tree, gets a bead on Sargent James Barnes, then buzzes toward him.

Why it was that this man fascinated her, she couldn't put her finger on, but there was something about him that drove her curiosity toward her next actions. When she got in close enough, after all who notices a bug flying around (even a large one) she landed on the back of his leg, crawled up his pant leg and oozed into his pocket.