"One day, perhaps." Maker knew, the penchant for the dwarf getting tired of his best friend being a literal world away and taking it upon himself to find his own way here was...fairly high, Hawke figured. Though he sighed and nodded sad agreement with his companion's comments. "Indeed. Utterly senseless. And you're right, never-ending."
He was about to say something else, but suddenly stopped right in the middle of the sidewalk, head up, gaze arrested, and frowning like a thundercloud in the direction of a pitch-dark alley across the relatively empty street. Without even realizing it, Hawke placed a hand on Bucky's sleeve, saying tightly, "--a moment."
The air around them suddenly grew...tight, as if it had been abruptly sucked out of a vacuum, and the mage made a peculiar gesture with his free hand, and without any other warning a bright light suddenly flared in the alley, and the screech of several surprised felines echoed across the street, along with the crash of several overturned metal garbage cans. A bit of muffled swearing followed, then faded in the opposite direction.
The light then winked out, once more swathing the corridor in darkness. Hawke snorted, dropped his hands, and started off again, rolling his eyes.
"Apologies," he offered by way of explanation. "Thought I heard...something over there."
Bucky tenses up, shifting into full alert. Whatever goes down has his eyebrows shooting up as he watches the light in the alleyway. He doesn't always carry a gun anymore, but his hand still moves to where a holster would be.
When Rowen reacts so casually, Bucky presses his lips into a thin line, eying him for a moment, then the alley again. "What was that? Who was that?"
"That was magic," Hawke answered genially, making a sweeping gesture for Bucky to join him down the sidewalk. "I'm not particularly keen on lurkers in dark places, so I decided to shed a little light on their activities." A pause then a grin. "So to speak."
Amusement faded as he continued to answer the questions. "As to who, well, I'm not entirely sure. If I had to hazard a guess, I believe it to be some of the hoodlums that I ran afoul of shortly after arriving. Those who'd been hassling the Livingstons."
He huffed an exasperated sigh and again shook his head. Idiots were prevalent across the realms, apparently. "They didn't take too kindly to being roundly trounced by a, to them, unarmed, nonthreatening man." Hawke shrugged. "I thought I was quite charitable. I didn't break a single bone among the six of them."
But.
"But, it seems revenge is a lingering dish; I've noticed a few following me here and there. They definitely know where I'm living, but the last two who tried to break into the building...well, let's just say elemental magic is good for more than just making it rain or starting campfires."
"You could've warned me that that's what you were doing, man." He's kind of jumpy, but he tries to sound casual about it. "I'm a jump into action kinda guy and I was about to do just that."
It makes sense why Hawke would use it around here but he wonders if there isn't a better way, rather than risking exposure. "You'd think they'd get the hint by now. They don't sound real smart."
Or maybe Hawke needs to be less lenient with them, especially if they're harassing the people of the neighborhood. "Hope you don't get caught."
Hawke stared at Bucky for a long minute, then suddenly laughed. "Again, my apologies," he said with a mirthful grin. "You're absolutely right. I knew you were a soldier the moment I set eyes on you, and I should have known better. Forgive me, it's just that I've been a while on my own, and seem to have fallen out of the habit of traveling with others."
Swallowing his further chortles, the mage turned at the next intersection, indicating the large red-brick building at the far corner. "My current residence," he labeled it; it was only a short walk to his current favorite dining establishment.
"And you're entirely correct - I wish they'd get the hint." His brows furrowed as he added, "I really do dislike hurting folks, but I won't shy away from giving a yonker a trounce when it's needed."
"It's alright. I know the feeling." Out of the habit of traveling with others. Decades of it. He doesn't want to make a big thing of it though. Rowen has no idea what kind of soldier he was though, or what kind he turned into.
Bucky looks at the building and nods. "Mine looks a lot like this one. At least they kept a lot of the older buildings standing. These new skyscrapers are abysmal to look at."
He gets it though. Progress and all. But he's still getting used to it.
"Listen, you gotta protect you and yours. Nothing wrong with that." Bucky tries not to hurt people anymore but if it's necessary, he won't hold back.
"This city does seem to have an overabundance of metal buildings," Hawke observed with raised brows. "It still amazes me how anyone finds their way about, considering how crowded the streets are." With shocking horrors like those horseless carriages, the flashing multi colored lights that served as signals to everyone, but were largely ignored. The former Champion of Kirkwall wasn't daunted by much, but New York City was decidedly out of his wheelhouse.
"Hopefully it won't come to a true rout," he remarked, tucking his hands into the pockets of his jacket. "My days of gallivanting about righting wrongs are on the fall, I hope." He'd done more than his share, honestly. Although, the commentary was truly just lip service - Hawke would never stop protecting where he could and doing his damndest to stop idiots from misusing those unable to defend themselves.
Once they'd reached the front of the building, he swung around to Bucky with a friendly smile. "Well, here we are. The invitation still stands, if you'd like to come in."
"Luckily most of Manhattan's a grid. The rest of it though- you're right. It makes sense after a while, though." Getting used to neighborhoods is a nice thing in the city. Bucky's probably one of those who ignores the lights a lot of the time. He's got places to go!
As for the neighborhood troubles..."Seems like you scare them off enough where they won't cause too many issues. At least the people around here have someone looking out for them." It's a good thing, and Bucky respects it.
This walk was nice, especially because they got to talk and share. Bucky's not big on either of those things- not at all, but it's easy to talk to Rowen. He feels like they have a lot in common somehow, and that's always helpful. He slows once they reach the building, giving Rowen a small smile.
It's tempting, because he finds he doesn't exactly want the night to end. but inviting someone inside also means something very specific, as far as he knows, and he's unsure about that. "Ah. I'd... like to. But I don't know if I should."
Hawke was hardly an idiot; he picked up the hesitation almost instantly. History definitely seemed to be repeating itself, didn't it? His smile never wavered; if anything, it became a little softer, more understanding. He spread his hands, still in the jacket pockets.
"For a drink and conversation, promise. I hold no expectations, and I give you my word that you will leave in the same state in which you entered." He withdrew one hand to place it over his heart, a solemn promise. "Swear it."
Then his smirk tilted, just roguish enough. "We'll even sit on opposite sides of the room, just in case."
That pulls a slightly bashful laugh from Bucky. Well this is embarrassing. Not in a completely terrible way, but now he's just coming off as a complete prude, isn't he. "Alright, alright."
He shakes his head, catching up to Rowen. "I'm not that bad though, am I? You can sit next to me."
Experience had taught him how to be absolutely clear in these sorts of situations. Trauma was a sneaky demon, and it took wicked delight in rearing its head at the most awkward times. So, better to be direct than be thrown through a wall; at least that was Hawke's outlook on these things.
"Of course you're not," Hawke told him, echoing the chuckle. "And I'd be delighted to do so. The divan in my quarters is very comfortable. I daresay I fall asleep on it easier than I do that giant, marshmallow bed I'm saddled with. But come on, let's get out of the night air."
Hawke's building had a doorman around the clock; he doffed his cap as both men entered the lobby, and wished them a pleasant evening. The former Champion's abode was on the fifth floor - the middle floor, better for security purposes, he explained, and though the building did have two working elevators, Hawke apologized for taking the stairs, stating that he just didn't trust a closed box that moved up and down on its own.
But his apartment was nicely furnished, comfortable, with soft blue walls and earth-toned furniture. A single bedroom, there was nevertheless an impressive view of the interior garden through the large windows, and the appliances were all top of the line and modern.
As far as personal touches went, Hawke still hadn't really accumulated much, but there were dishes in the drying rack, staples in the refrigerator (the Ferelden native once again sang the praises of the miraculous "cold-box"), and his staff, which rested in a prominent corner, glowing with a soft blue light all its own.
Bucky truly does appreciate that. He's just not used to it. It's why he's still smiling though- it's actually very refreshing.
"I never sleep on my mattress either. That's what it is. A big damn marshmallow."
He follows Hawke into the building, shoving his hands in his pockets as he eyes the place. The doorman gets a nod, but mostly Bucky is sizing him up. He also absolutely doesn't mind the stairs, and agrees with Hawke about what floor to live on. He did the same in Bucharest when he was in hiding. He does the same now in his apartment in Brooklyn.
"Nice place," he says sincerely as Hawke lets him inside, and he wanders a little. Hawke has more than he does, but that doesn't say much. He has a couch, a TV, a lamp and a chair. He likely won't be inviting Hawke back to his place any time soon, because he is actually embarrassed by it. He knows it's pathetic to live the way he does.
He does meander over to the staff. It reminds him of Loki's scepter, lit up by the tesseract. He has to remind himself that that particular problem is gone now. It's all gone. Maybe he stares at it a little too long, though.
"It was my father's," Hawke said quietly, coming over with two open beer bottles in hand. He handed one to Bucky, then indicated the staff with the other. "'Malcolm's Honor', we called it. The golden figurine at the crest symbolizes Andraste, the Bride of the Maker, and the inverted symbol behind her is supposed to be the Circle's Crest, but I can't be fully sure."
He took a long swallow of the dark brew, gazing at the staff. Which, he'd later swear, gave a luminescent twinkle to be the object of such rapt attention.
"All mages have one, but their properties and attributes differ depending on the wielder. My magic is more elementally based, so the staff channels it and makes it nearly twice as powerful. And it possesses its own enchantments, which are thereby passed to me the moment my hand closes around it."
He snaps out of it when Hawke comes over and takes the beer from him with a soft thank you.
"It's interesting. Reminds me of something from my past." It's really all he wants to say about that, and he's more interested in Hawke's explanation of his magic. "Elemental- so the light in the alleyway- what else can you do? I mean- you still don't have to tell me if you don't want to, I'm just curious about you. Being a mage is pretty big stuff around here."
"Mmhm." Hawke gestured to the couch, plopping down at one end after shrugging out of his jacket.
"Physical manifestations of the elements," was his clinical explanation. Then he chuckled. "I can't really explain it better than that, I was never a Circle mage. But I can show you..."
Putting down the bottle on the coffee table, Hawke held out his hands, palms open and facing upwards. A moment later, the same curious rush of air swept by and a small ball of fire danced on the mage's left hand. Another whoosh, and a delicate snowflake slowly spun in his other hand, accompanied by its own small snow flurry.
It seemed effortless, but Hawke's eyebrows were furrowed with the force directing his will, and as always, the magic happily followed his guidance. "Lightning is...a bit tricky, especially indoors, but..." He closed his hands, both the fire and snow vanishing without a trace (no burned flesh or frostbitten fingertips, either), then turned towards the large bay windows, again drawing in his will.
A few seconds later, a sharp crack of bright light flared right outside, the lightning flash leaving shimmering heat wavering in the air for half a moment before it faded.
He moves to sit on the couch- which really is comfortable. He even sits next to Hawke instead of on the other end. He takes a sip of his beer, then turns a little more toward him, watching his hands.
His eyebrows lift slightly as he watches the magic take form. He can see how Hawke is concentrating, but it really does look effortless....and quite pretty. The lightning has him tense a little, but it passes quickly.
"Well now you're just showing off," he teases, looking at Hawke once again. "That's pretty incredible, though. I liked the snow."
Hawke laughed, settling back against the couch. "But of course. Showing off is only one of the things I happen to do quite well." Picking up his bottle, he lifted an eyebrow at Bucky's comment about the frost magic.
"Oh? Well..." Then he reached out, touched his fingertips to Bucky's bottle, and a moment later it sported a light sheen of silver, bitingly cold to the touch. "Not a bad trick, particularly in the summer months."
A cheeky grin, and he clinked the rim of his own bottle to his guest's before taking another long swallow.
"It does look pretty damn good on you," Bucky agrees with a warm smile that turns into a laugh when Hawke uses his magic to make his beer cold. "Oh, that's good. Very useful."
And then he's not really sure why he asks, but it just comes tumbling out of his mouth anyway. "Does it work like that on people's skin?" Not that any of Bucky's is showing, what with his gloves on.
"Why, thank you, serah," Hawke teased right back. "Such a lovely compliment." It was quite nice, seeing his guest relaxing and smiling. Hawke had no idea what this poor man had suffered in his past years, but he knew it had to be absolutely horrible. And the kind nature he tried so often to keep stifled was just thrilled all to pieces at Bucky's responses.
Even more so at the next question. Which had Hawke pausing with both eyebrows lifted, but only for the smallest fraction of time. "Oh," he replied, casually resting an arm on the back of the couch, bottle in that hand, "skin is actually even better."
To explain, he added, "Flesh is a natural conduit of magical property, so any sort of magical sensation, be it heat, cold, or electricity, is absorbed almost instantly. Used offensively, elemental magic is dangerously deadly, but in skilled hands, it can be...more of a survival tool than most realize."
Hawke held out his empty hand. "Shall I show you?"
Which meant that, yes, Bucky was going to have to take off at least one glove.
He's relieved Hawke doesn't know about his past. He's relieved that the other man doesn't look at him a certain way. The way all people who know who and what we was look at him.
Being with Hawke is a relief, he thinks to himself, time and time again.
Even as his face grows slightly hot when Hawke answers his question, he still doesn't squirm. He does hesitate though- but only for a small moment this time, before he pulls his right glove off to reveal a very real hand- and places it in Hawke's. "Sure."
In all truth, Hawke's metaphorical hands weren't exactly the cleanest in all the universe, either. He and his friends had left their share of chaos all across Thedas, and not everyone had survived their passing. And those who'd paid the ultimate price weren't criminals, slavers, or ne'er-do-wells who'd deserved such a fate.
The former Champion knew a thing or two about guilt.
But now wasn't for dwelling on the past; it was for watching his guest fidget a little - only increasing his attractiveness, Maker's breath - and closing his fingers around Bucky's hand that, to Hawke's absolute surprise, ended up in his.
"All right."
For a moment, nothing seemed to happen, but the air around them did that disappearing thing again, and little by little Hawke's palm began to grow incrementally colder. Colder, and colder, and colder. It became bone-chilling, flesh-numbing, bordering in painful, but before the other man could yank away, it stopped, then began to warm, melting that killing cold with gentle, blessed heat.
Heat that seeped from the mage's skin into the soldier's, flowing from Bucky's fingers to his palms, from his palm to his wrist, then began to feather from his wrist upwards along the skin of his arm, until finally Hawke gently let go, pulling away almost...reluctantly.
To take a slow deep breath, then say with a smile, "...see?"
Heavy topics for a different time, possibly. It takes a lot for Bucky to trust someone, and even then it's only ever really been Steve. Maybe Sam.
But those thoughts are far away now, as his hand settles in Hawke's. Bucky doesn't feel very attractive right now, but that's his own issue. He's still figuring out how to fit back into his own skin, his own mind. Experiences like tonight truly help, though.
He watches Hawke for a long moment, until he can feel the shift in temperature from Hawke's hand to hid palm. It grows colder and colder and for a moment it almost reminds him of something he doesn't want to remember. Trauma from the past, that makes his other hand curl into a fist at his side. But he concentrates hard on staying grounded in the here and now, and knowing that these surroundings are different from the ones he had to endure before. It's a good thing he sticks it out too, because once the almost painful cold wraps around his hand, it slowly starts warming in the other direction, surrounding his arm, moving up his wrist. It feels nice, it feels gentle.
Bucky breathes out slow and deep when Hawke pulls away as well, his gaze flickering back up to his face. "That felt incredible." Not a word he'd use lightly.
Perhaps one day they'd be able to sit down and talk about their history. Perhaps they'd find shared understanding and camaraderie in bringing the pain of the past to light. But not tonight. No, not tonight.
Hawke couldn't help the tilt of his smile at Bucky's breathed admission. "Liked that, hm?" Perhaps not the cold, but definitely the heat. He hadn't missed the small, very subtle flush to those high cheekbones in the last few moments of that little trick.
The mage took a slow sip of his beer, a little mischief twinkling in his look-alike blue eyes. "And that was only on your hand. Imagine what that warmth might feel like...hmmm...elsewhere."
It would be a whole different kind of thing, talking to Hawke about it, as opposed to anyone else. Bucky can already feel that. But no, not tonight.
"Yeah," he says simply. He did like it. The heat, anyway. He can feel the heat lingering on his skin, even as he pulls his glove back on. He takes another sip of his icy cold beer, unable to help the smile that forms around the rim. At that, he takes an even longer sip.
"Oh, I'm imagining. It's hard not to." Honesty, at least. He isn't shying away from it this time. It really did feel nice.
Hawke watched Bucky pull the glove back on, truly curious as to why he even wore them, but opted not to ask, not just yet. Everyone had their proclivities, after all. He did, however, give a light chuckle to Bucky's confession, even more delighted to see him opening up, if only a small fraction.
Progress, that.
"Are you, now?" He almost asked for elaboration on that, but miraculously refrained; small steps, small steps. Hawke couldn't help but quip, though, "Lightning and earth magic are a little more generalized, but believe me when I tell you that I can make the earth move in more ways than one." Which was, of course, followed by an absolutely saucy little wink.
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Date: 2024-05-03 12:54 am (UTC)He was about to say something else, but suddenly stopped right in the middle of the sidewalk, head up, gaze arrested, and frowning like a thundercloud in the direction of a pitch-dark alley across the relatively empty street. Without even realizing it, Hawke placed a hand on Bucky's sleeve, saying tightly, "--a moment."
The air around them suddenly grew...tight, as if it had been abruptly sucked out of a vacuum, and the mage made a peculiar gesture with his free hand, and without any other warning a bright light suddenly flared in the alley, and the screech of several surprised felines echoed across the street, along with the crash of several overturned metal garbage cans. A bit of muffled swearing followed, then faded in the opposite direction.
The light then winked out, once more swathing the corridor in darkness. Hawke snorted, dropped his hands, and started off again, rolling his eyes.
"Apologies," he offered by way of explanation. "Thought I heard...something over there."
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Date: 2024-05-03 02:17 am (UTC)When Rowen reacts so casually, Bucky presses his lips into a thin line, eying him for a moment, then the alley again. "What was that? Who was that?"
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Date: 2024-05-03 02:29 am (UTC)Amusement faded as he continued to answer the questions. "As to who, well, I'm not entirely sure. If I had to hazard a guess, I believe it to be some of the hoodlums that I ran afoul of shortly after arriving. Those who'd been hassling the Livingstons."
He huffed an exasperated sigh and again shook his head. Idiots were prevalent across the realms, apparently. "They didn't take too kindly to being roundly trounced by a, to them, unarmed, nonthreatening man." Hawke shrugged. "I thought I was quite charitable. I didn't break a single bone among the six of them."
But.
"But, it seems revenge is a lingering dish; I've noticed a few following me here and there. They definitely know where I'm living, but the last two who tried to break into the building...well, let's just say elemental magic is good for more than just making it rain or starting campfires."
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Date: 2024-05-03 04:53 am (UTC)It makes sense why Hawke would use it around here but he wonders if there isn't a better way, rather than risking exposure. "You'd think they'd get the hint by now. They don't sound real smart."
Or maybe Hawke needs to be less lenient with them, especially if they're harassing the people of the neighborhood. "Hope you don't get caught."
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Date: 2024-05-03 10:24 pm (UTC)Swallowing his further chortles, the mage turned at the next intersection, indicating the large red-brick building at the far corner. "My current residence," he labeled it; it was only a short walk to his current favorite dining establishment.
"And you're entirely correct - I wish they'd get the hint." His brows furrowed as he added, "I really do dislike hurting folks, but I won't shy away from giving a yonker a trounce when it's needed."
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Date: 2024-05-04 04:00 pm (UTC)Bucky looks at the building and nods. "Mine looks a lot like this one. At least they kept a lot of the older buildings standing. These new skyscrapers are abysmal to look at."
He gets it though. Progress and all. But he's still getting used to it.
"Listen, you gotta protect you and yours. Nothing wrong with that." Bucky tries not to hurt people anymore but if it's necessary, he won't hold back.
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Date: 2024-05-06 12:13 am (UTC)"Hopefully it won't come to a true rout," he remarked, tucking his hands into the pockets of his jacket. "My days of gallivanting about righting wrongs are on the fall, I hope." He'd done more than his share, honestly. Although, the commentary was truly just lip service - Hawke would never stop protecting where he could and doing his damndest to stop idiots from misusing those unable to defend themselves.
Once they'd reached the front of the building, he swung around to Bucky with a friendly smile. "Well, here we are. The invitation still stands, if you'd like to come in."
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Date: 2024-05-06 01:14 am (UTC)As for the neighborhood troubles..."Seems like you scare them off enough where they won't cause too many issues. At least the people around here have someone looking out for them." It's a good thing, and Bucky respects it.
This walk was nice, especially because they got to talk and share. Bucky's not big on either of those things- not at all, but it's easy to talk to Rowen. He feels like they have a lot in common somehow, and that's always helpful. He slows once they reach the building, giving Rowen a small smile.
It's tempting, because he finds he doesn't exactly want the night to end. but inviting someone inside also means something very specific, as far as he knows, and he's unsure about that. "Ah. I'd... like to. But I don't know if I should."
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Date: 2024-05-06 01:19 am (UTC)"For a drink and conversation, promise. I hold no expectations, and I give you my word that you will leave in the same state in which you entered." He withdrew one hand to place it over his heart, a solemn promise. "Swear it."
Then his smirk tilted, just roguish enough. "We'll even sit on opposite sides of the room, just in case."
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Date: 2024-05-06 01:24 am (UTC)He shakes his head, catching up to Rowen. "I'm not that bad though, am I? You can sit next to me."
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Date: 2024-05-06 01:38 am (UTC)"Of course you're not," Hawke told him, echoing the chuckle. "And I'd be delighted to do so. The divan in my quarters is very comfortable. I daresay I fall asleep on it easier than I do that giant, marshmallow bed I'm saddled with. But come on, let's get out of the night air."
Hawke's building had a doorman around the clock; he doffed his cap as both men entered the lobby, and wished them a pleasant evening. The former Champion's abode was on the fifth floor - the middle floor, better for security purposes, he explained, and though the building did have two working elevators, Hawke apologized for taking the stairs, stating that he just didn't trust a closed box that moved up and down on its own.
But his apartment was nicely furnished, comfortable, with soft blue walls and earth-toned furniture. A single bedroom, there was nevertheless an impressive view of the interior garden through the large windows, and the appliances were all top of the line and modern.
As far as personal touches went, Hawke still hadn't really accumulated much, but there were dishes in the drying rack, staples in the refrigerator (the Ferelden native once again sang the praises of the miraculous "cold-box"), and his staff, which rested in a prominent corner, glowing with a soft blue light all its own.
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Date: 2024-05-06 02:17 am (UTC)"I never sleep on my mattress either. That's what it is. A big damn marshmallow."
He follows Hawke into the building, shoving his hands in his pockets as he eyes the place. The doorman gets a nod, but mostly Bucky is sizing him up. He also absolutely doesn't mind the stairs, and agrees with Hawke about what floor to live on. He did the same in Bucharest when he was in hiding. He does the same now in his apartment in Brooklyn.
"Nice place," he says sincerely as Hawke lets him inside, and he wanders a little. Hawke has more than he does, but that doesn't say much. He has a couch, a TV, a lamp and a chair. He likely won't be inviting Hawke back to his place any time soon, because he is actually embarrassed by it. He knows it's pathetic to live the way he does.
He does meander over to the staff. It reminds him of Loki's scepter, lit up by the tesseract. He has to remind himself that that particular problem is gone now. It's all gone. Maybe he stares at it a little too long, though.
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Date: 2024-05-06 02:26 am (UTC)He took a long swallow of the dark brew, gazing at the staff. Which, he'd later swear, gave a luminescent twinkle to be the object of such rapt attention.
"All mages have one, but their properties and attributes differ depending on the wielder. My magic is more elementally based, so the staff channels it and makes it nearly twice as powerful. And it possesses its own enchantments, which are thereby passed to me the moment my hand closes around it."
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Date: 2024-05-06 02:35 am (UTC)"It's interesting. Reminds me of something from my past." It's really all he wants to say about that, and he's more interested in Hawke's explanation of his magic. "Elemental- so the light in the alleyway- what else can you do? I mean- you still don't have to tell me if you don't want to, I'm just curious about you. Being a mage is pretty big stuff around here."
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Date: 2024-05-06 02:42 am (UTC)"Physical manifestations of the elements," was his clinical explanation. Then he chuckled. "I can't really explain it better than that, I was never a Circle mage. But I can show you..."
Putting down the bottle on the coffee table, Hawke held out his hands, palms open and facing upwards. A moment later, the same curious rush of air swept by and a small ball of fire danced on the mage's left hand. Another whoosh, and a delicate snowflake slowly spun in his other hand, accompanied by its own small snow flurry.
It seemed effortless, but Hawke's eyebrows were furrowed with the force directing his will, and as always, the magic happily followed his guidance. "Lightning is...a bit tricky, especially indoors, but..." He closed his hands, both the fire and snow vanishing without a trace (no burned flesh or frostbitten fingertips, either), then turned towards the large bay windows, again drawing in his will.
A few seconds later, a sharp crack of bright light flared right outside, the lightning flash leaving shimmering heat wavering in the air for half a moment before it faded.
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Date: 2024-05-06 03:00 am (UTC)His eyebrows lift slightly as he watches the magic take form. He can see how Hawke is concentrating, but it really does look effortless....and quite pretty. The lightning has him tense a little, but it passes quickly.
"Well now you're just showing off," he teases, looking at Hawke once again. "That's pretty incredible, though. I liked the snow."
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Date: 2024-05-06 03:05 am (UTC)"Oh? Well..." Then he reached out, touched his fingertips to Bucky's bottle, and a moment later it sported a light sheen of silver, bitingly cold to the touch. "Not a bad trick, particularly in the summer months."
A cheeky grin, and he clinked the rim of his own bottle to his guest's before taking another long swallow.
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Date: 2024-05-06 03:22 am (UTC)And then he's not really sure why he asks, but it just comes tumbling out of his mouth anyway. "Does it work like that on people's skin?" Not that any of Bucky's is showing, what with his gloves on.
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Date: 2024-05-06 03:30 am (UTC)Even more so at the next question. Which had Hawke pausing with both eyebrows lifted, but only for the smallest fraction of time. "Oh," he replied, casually resting an arm on the back of the couch, bottle in that hand, "skin is actually even better."
To explain, he added, "Flesh is a natural conduit of magical property, so any sort of magical sensation, be it heat, cold, or electricity, is absorbed almost instantly. Used offensively, elemental magic is dangerously deadly, but in skilled hands, it can be...more of a survival tool than most realize."
Hawke held out his empty hand. "Shall I show you?"
Which meant that, yes, Bucky was going to have to take off at least one glove.
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Date: 2024-05-06 04:17 am (UTC)Being with Hawke is a relief, he thinks to himself, time and time again.
Even as his face grows slightly hot when Hawke answers his question, he still doesn't squirm. He does hesitate though- but only for a small moment this time, before he pulls his right glove off to reveal a very real hand- and places it in Hawke's. "Sure."
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Date: 2024-05-06 05:39 pm (UTC)The former Champion knew a thing or two about guilt.
But now wasn't for dwelling on the past; it was for watching his guest fidget a little - only increasing his attractiveness, Maker's breath - and closing his fingers around Bucky's hand that, to Hawke's absolute surprise, ended up in his.
"All right."
For a moment, nothing seemed to happen, but the air around them did that disappearing thing again, and little by little Hawke's palm began to grow incrementally colder. Colder, and colder, and colder. It became bone-chilling, flesh-numbing, bordering in painful, but before the other man could yank away, it stopped, then began to warm, melting that killing cold with gentle, blessed heat.
Heat that seeped from the mage's skin into the soldier's, flowing from Bucky's fingers to his palms, from his palm to his wrist, then began to feather from his wrist upwards along the skin of his arm, until finally Hawke gently let go, pulling away almost...reluctantly.
To take a slow deep breath, then say with a smile, "...see?"
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Date: 2024-05-06 11:35 pm (UTC)But those thoughts are far away now, as his hand settles in Hawke's. Bucky doesn't feel very attractive right now, but that's his own issue. He's still figuring out how to fit back into his own skin, his own mind. Experiences like tonight truly help, though.
He watches Hawke for a long moment, until he can feel the shift in temperature from Hawke's hand to hid palm. It grows colder and colder and for a moment it almost reminds him of something he doesn't want to remember. Trauma from the past, that makes his other hand curl into a fist at his side. But he concentrates hard on staying grounded in the here and now, and knowing that these surroundings are different from the ones he had to endure before. It's a good thing he sticks it out too, because once the almost painful cold wraps around his hand, it slowly starts warming in the other direction, surrounding his arm, moving up his wrist. It feels nice, it feels gentle.
Bucky breathes out slow and deep when Hawke pulls away as well, his gaze flickering back up to his face. "That felt incredible." Not a word he'd use lightly.
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Date: 2024-05-06 11:59 pm (UTC)Hawke couldn't help the tilt of his smile at Bucky's breathed admission. "Liked that, hm?" Perhaps not the cold, but definitely the heat. He hadn't missed the small, very subtle flush to those high cheekbones in the last few moments of that little trick.
The mage took a slow sip of his beer, a little mischief twinkling in his look-alike blue eyes. "And that was only on your hand. Imagine what that warmth might feel like...hmmm...elsewhere."
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Date: 2024-05-07 12:04 am (UTC)"Yeah," he says simply. He did like it. The heat, anyway. He can feel the heat lingering on his skin, even as he pulls his glove back on. He takes another sip of his icy cold beer, unable to help the smile that forms around the rim. At that, he takes an even longer sip.
"Oh, I'm imagining. It's hard not to." Honesty, at least. He isn't shying away from it this time. It really did feel nice.
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Date: 2024-05-07 12:08 am (UTC)Progress, that.
"Are you, now?" He almost asked for elaboration on that, but miraculously refrained; small steps, small steps. Hawke couldn't help but quip, though, "Lightning and earth magic are a little more generalized, but believe me when I tell you that I can make the earth move in more ways than one." Which was, of course, followed by an absolutely saucy little wink.
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