IC Contact

[peacemongering]

[Open to text, voice, video.]

Comments

[armoured]

Goodbye, Mr. Pierce!

[And with that, he's gone.]

@robertsmith; text; day 207; evening

[advanced]

Why?

text

[peacemongering]

I require more clarification on exactly what you are asking 'why' about.

[advanced]

[There's actually a number of 'why' questions, so he'll take them one at a time.]

You let me go. Why?

[peacemongering]

To what point and purpose would there have been to keeping you? I wouldn't have forced you anywhere if you hadn't made your intention to maim or kill me clear.

[advanced]

I thought you wanted the Soldier?

[Keeping him as the tool and weapon that he had been painstakingly created as had always been a high priority in HYDRA, so why would Pierce let him go after he had achieved the obedient follower again? He doesn't understand.]

[peacemongering]

And now you need to reorganize your opinion on the matter.

[advanced]

You took care of me!

[That's almost an angry accusation. It feels almost worse, somehow, to have been treated so well.]

[peacemongering]

Is that the actual root of your issue? You assumed I wouldn't; you assumed that I would drive you and hurt you and strip you of everything.

And I didn't, so now you're angry.

[advanced]

You did strip me of everything.

[It's a good job this is text and Pierce can't see how desperate that response is. He's not exactly wrong, but Bucky isn't angry, he's terrified, confused, and distraught.]

[peacemongering]

I hardly consider months of grime, sleep deprivation and nutritional deficits everything.

[advanced]

[His hand tightens on his tablet.]

Free will, memories, identity.

[peacemongering]

Of which you have back, don't you?

[advanced]

I don't understand!

[The emphasis on the final word probably is a clue that Bucky's using voice to text, and that bit was shouted.]

[peacemongering]

Then what is it you need from me for clarification on this matter.

[advanced]

Why did you trigger me? Why did you take care of me? Why did you let me go? Why?!

[peacemongering]

1) I triggered you because I was given no choice. I asked and ordered you to stop before I was put in a position to escalate with the only defense I had left. Do you deny that?

2) Because it's my job.

3) There was no reason to keep you. At the rate you're going, you'll self-destruct in no time. I wanted to show you that things between us could be different; I am not Colonel Karpov.

[advanced]

[All of that sounds so reasonable when put like that, and that's what makes it so much worse. It digs under his skin like filth, but he doesn't know how to put that into words.]

I won't come after you again.

[At least he's learned that much.]

But I will kill you if you come near me.

[peacemongering]

[Pierce had no doubt about that. The Soldier would be scarce and avoid any contact in future, which left him open to move on with his own foundation building in peace and relative quiet.]

Of the two of us, who has a track record of hunting the other down? You needn't worry about my approach on anything other than completely incidental.

@LELRIC; audio; night 210

[armoured]

[He's finally getting to a stage where he feels up to properly talking to people again, and he's a bit ashamed it's taken so long. Which is why he sounds a little hesitant when he sends in the message.]

Excuse me, Mr. Pierce? It's Alphonse Elric, I just wanted to check in and see how you were doing since I haven't heard from you in a while.

audio;

[peacemongering]

[Again, Alphonse is actually the only person that he is willing to engage in with an audio conversation. Everyone else staunchly receives text, but this young man has his attention and at least maybe a little of his trust.

For his part, he sounds wearied, maybe even a bit thin of voice. There is a single cough as he settles himself into actually engaging instead of simply gathering information.]

I meant to contact you, but matters have been more pressing as of late. How are you, Alphonse? Your voice still sounds so hollow; are you eating quite enough?

[He doesn't mean to father at Al, but there are few people he might consider potential allies here. He wants to keep them healthy. He also hasn't figured out why Al's voice sounds the way it does.]

[armoured]

[The sound of his voice makes Al feel a pang of guilt. He should have checked in earlier, he should have made himself stop thinking only about his own pain and focus on other people.]

Yeah, I've got plenty of supplies, please don't worry about me. I'm-- I'm okay.

[Better than he was, at least.]

But you don't sound so good, are you getting sick?

[peacemongering]

[Pierce is more than aware that communication is a two-way street, and he has not reached out to Alphonse either. He decides that will change in future now that he has been contacted twice without an obvious need for it.]

Are you certain there isn't anything you would like to say? You sound... off, if I do say so myself.

[He could identify it if he takes the time to, but instead, he decides to be honest with Alphonse.]

Perhaps? I've had a developing cough the last few days, but it's nothing too concerning. Comes and goes. [He sighs audibly.] I've again been having some issues with a medical person, but otherwise, I will heal.

[advanced]

[Even if he sees this man incidentally, it might not end well for either one of them. He should hang up here, but he has some more caveats.]

I'll kill you if you go near the people I care about too.

[peacemongering]

[Now you've opened a door you might not want to.]

Very well. Give me a list of names and I will avoid contact. Also, the threat is moot if I am invited.