Information

[sinistral]

PLAYER INFORMATION:

NAME: Cat
ARE YOU 18 OR OLDER?: yes
CONTACT: Plurk @ sometimesamuse or PM this journal. I have a Discord if we absolutely need to talk real time but I'm honestly never signed into it so if you're looking for me there even a few hours later, I likely won't see the message.

For The Revival Project

APPLICATION INFORMATION:

OOC:

OTHER CHARACTERs: n/a
DRIFT FLEET ENDGAME?: yes

IC:

CHARACTER NAME: James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes, also known as the Winter Soldier; in driftfleet canon, he gave up claim to the names James, Bucky, and Barnes and went by Soldier. He was at one point given the name family name Stark by Sansa Stark (link), but did not use it as a form of introduction or address.
CANON: the Marvel cinematic universe, in between the end of Captain America: The Winter Soldier and the beginning of Captain America: Civil War
CANON NOTES: After driftfleet endgame, Bucky chose to remain in the DF-universe, taking a ship with Loki and leaving the system to explore other worlds. OOCly (as in, we talked about it and never actually threaded it out), he had received an invitation from Wanda and Vision to stay with them; he declined but did visit them on Naviadna (as mentioned in a thread on TRP's original TDM here). That original TDM thread had been set approximately a year after DF ended; I will keep to it still being a year (though obviously the threads of that original TDM will not have occurred).
SPECIES: human, albeit enhanced/genetically modified/whatever we're calling the HYDRA knockoff of the super soldier serum, and augmented with a metal arm.
AGE: technically 97/98 but physically in his 30's due to time spent in cryogenic hibernation.
ARRIVAL CONDITION:no injuries/illnesses/etc.
PETS: n/a
PERSONAL ITEM: The Soldier had picked up a set of combat knives on Lyndia; those would be the item he'd keep.

History:

The biggest impact on the Soldier during his time in Drift Fleet was the concept of multiple timelines: the fact that one could exist in the same space as a version of one's aquaintances — or even oneself — from either earlier or later in the timeline, or from another alternate timeline entirely. Aside from the obvious discomfort of the fact that others knew things that hadn't yet happened for the Soldier, or expected him to act in a certain way or remember certain things, he also experienced difficulty with the idea of multiple people with his face and his name. Having very little of his own memory, the name was one of the few things he considered his own but he gave it up in a conversation with another Bucky Barnes, feeling he had no true claim to it compared to someone less broken. It did cause him some mental turmoil because even though he didn't know the name as his own because of his memory, but rather from the Smithsonian exhibit, it was still supposed to be his — but if most of what he remembered was HYDRA's influence and not the man he supposedly once was, could he still truly call himself Bucky Barnes? Of course, he had some support from crewmembers and friends as well, who attempted to encourage him to take the time to figure out who he wanted to be; the lesson was a work in progress, as DF ended before too much development into the figuring out stage was completed.

Personality:

The Soldier largely believes he'd been brought to the Fleet purely for his combat and combat-adjacent abilities, especially as the Fleet managed to pull in other versions of Bucky Barnes that were not, in his own words, broken. Add to that the fact that he possessed the Security augment and he feels that his only use to the Fleet was for his physcal abilities, which led to him spending much of his time training his own skills and working with his ship's crew on self defense techniques. His intentions and preferences run largely toward solidarity but he had been gradually starting to become more comfortable around others — an extension of acceptance by those he started to consider friends. He still tends to taciturn more than talkative; those who know him could bring him into more extensive conversation but around aquaintances or strangers he prefers observation of the person rather than conversation; "like pulling teeth" is not an inaccurate description of getting him to talk and interact. That being said, having his own agency and no real orders except his own whim means that he can turn his skills in whatever direction he chooses, and he's found that he enjoys exploration of new planets partly for time off the Fleet's ships and partly for the chance to do something purely because he wants to, and is more willing to work with others at least for sharing information gained therefrom. He tends to be more willing to interact with those who have practical sorts of skills — or practical viewpoints — than not.

Abilities:

Enhanced physiological abilities stemming from a version of the super soldier serum created by HYDRA scientists, including:

Enhanced strength, speed, stamina, agility and reflexes. He's stronger and faster than a normal human and can react to threats more quickly. He's demonstrated abilities on par with a professional gymnast; his reflexes are strong enough to be able to catch grenades and block bullets with his metal hand.

Bionic arm. On top of the enhancements to his body's physiology, his left arm is artificial from the hand through the shoulder; the prosthesis is shown to extend into the pectoral. The arm is strong enough to withstand forces such as punching through concrete and Bucky is shown to use the strength in that arm specifically when his body's biological strength isn't equal to the task.

Altered metabolism. He heals faster than a normal human and without much physical evidence of scarring. It's probably also safe to assume that he has greater caloric needs than a normal person just to maintain such metabolism.

His training as an assassin under HYDRA has given him several abilities that extend beyond just being really strong. They include:

Marksmanship. Even before his capture and training, Bucky was considered to be an expert marksman and sniper. The enhancement of his physical abilities has only added to that proficiency and he has demonstrated the ability to bullseye a target at long range without the aid of a scope or other optics. He has demonstrated proficiency with a variety of automatic and semiautomatic rifles and handguns.

Martial arts. Bucky has demonstrated an ability to be deadly in close quarters combat, and his fighting style combines elements of Kali knife fighting, boxing, tae kwon do, and krav maga (according to wiki). In close quarters fighting he is shown to choose to wield a combat knife in his right hand while using his left for support/as a weapon in and of itself.

Piloting skills. Bucky has been shown as having the ability to fly both a Quinjet and a helicopter, both of which he hijacked; presumably his HYDRA training would have given him enough of a proficiency as a pilot to be able to get into a cockpit and pilot a vehicle with little trouble.

Multilingualism. the MCU shows Bucky to be fluent in English, Romanian and Russian; he's also able to understand German though he does not speak it. He does mention that the other Winter Soldiers are fluent in over thirty languages, and it can be extrapolated from that statement that his own training is likely inclusive of more languages than those mentioned.

For Metaheroes

APPLICATION INFORMATION:

Character:

Character Name: James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes, a.k.a. The Winter Soldier, Fist of Hydra, etc.
Character Canon: Marvel's Cinematic Universe
Character Age: born in March 10th, 1917, with CW taking place in the MCU timeline in 2016, Bucky is technically around 98/99 years old. Physically he's in his 30s due to the HYDRA version of the super soldier serum and cryogenic storage.
Canon Point: near the beginning of Captain America: Civil War. Specifically, right after his apartment has been invaded and the rooftop fight with the Black Panther; when Bucky jumps off the buildings and runs into the tunnel, he will emerge in the metaheroes world
Link to History: please refer to the MCU wiki, and know that it obviously contains spoilers
Inventory: Bucky will come to the game with:

1. the metal arm (special ability: its strength and resiliency; also detailed in Superpowers section below)
2. his "bug out backpack" containing:

a. his memory journals (2)
b. a gun (Sig Sauer P226, 9mm, two magazines of ammo)
c. a pair of combat knives in sheaths (Gerber Yari II Tanto knives)
d. a "superior, total anonymity guaranteed, will fool everyone disguise" consisting of a baseball cap and sunglasses
e. possibly also an ancient granola bar or something that he forgot he had in there and is all hard and stale now

Powers:

Skills: His training as an assassin under HYDRA has given him several abilities that extend beyond just being really strong. They include:

Marksmanship. Even before his capture and training, Bucky was considered to be an expert marksman and sniper. The enhancement of his physical abilities has only added to that proficiency and he has demonstrated the ability to bullseye a target at long range without the aid of a scope or other optics. He has demonstrated proficiency with a variety of automatic and semiautomatic rifles and handguns.

Martial arts. Bucky has demonstrated an ability to be deadly in close quarters combat, and his fighting style combines elements of Kali knife fighting, boxing, tae kwon do, and krav maga (according to wiki). In close quarters fighting he is shown to choose to wield a combat knife in his right hand while using his left for support/as a weapon in and of itself.

Piloting skills. Bucky has been shown as having the ability to fly both a Quinjet and a helicopter, both of which he hijacked; presumably his HYDRA training would have given him enough of a proficiency as a pilot to be able to get into a cockpit and pilot a vehicle with little trouble.

Multilingualism. the MCU shows Bucky to be fluent in English, Romanian and Russian; he's also able to understand German though he does not speak it on screen. He does mention that the other Winter Soldiers are fluent in over thirty languages, and it can be extrapolated from that statement that his own training is likely inclusive of more languages than those mentioned.

Superpowers: Enhanced physiological abilities stemming from a version of the super soldier serum created by HYDRA scientists, including:

1. Enhanced strength, speed, stamina, agility, reflexes and metabolism. He's stronger and faster than a normal human and can react to threats more quickly. He's demonstrated abilities on par with a professional gymnast; his reflexes are strong enough to be able to catch grenades and block bullets with his metal hand. He heals faster than a normal human and without much physical evidence of scarring (notable exception: the scarring on his chest/back around where the prosthesis joins to skin). It's probably also safe to assume that he has greater caloric needs than a normal person just to maintain such metabolism.
2. Bionic arm. On top of the enhancements to his body's physiology, his left arm is artificial from the hand through the shoulder; the prosthesis is shown to extend into the pectoral. The arm is strong enough to withstand forces such as punching through concrete and Bucky is shown to use the strength in that arm specifically when his body's biological strength isn't equal to the task.

In terms of non-canon powers for game purposes (and to make him wig out honestly), I would like to add:

3. Healing touch. Similar to 80's cartoon She-Ra, Bucky can heal another's wounds by placing his hand over the injury and concentrating. He will never be able to heal anything that would be fatal, and attempting to heal anything very serious will reduce its severity but not heal it completely, and the attempt will exhaust him. If he tries to "keep going", he'll fall unconscious. While there is some merit to the adage "practice makes perfect" in that he'll get stronger the more he uses the ability, frequent use will tire him and even cause headaches. This power can totally be capped off at mod discretion; my thoughts behind this were that 1, it would force him to face the idea that the hands he used to commit violence can now heal; 2, it can help facilitate interactions and "get involved" for a character that can be taciturn and withdrawn; and 3, he would hate it and I'm mean like that.

Limitations: Bucky's biggest limitation is that he still has the HYDRA programming intact and the trigger words to activate the Winter Soldier will still work. Such activation means:

Absolute obedience. The Winter Soldier programming suppresses Bucky's own personality and free will; the Winter Soldier is absolutely emotionless and will carry out orders given by his handler without remorse, even if those orders go against the choices that Bucky himself would make. He is the perfect killing machine and canon has shown that no obstacle, including pain or damage to his own body, will stop him from completing his mission.

No concern for self. I touched on this point above, but it needs to be emphasized: the Winter Soldier's primary concern is the completion of his mission/objective/orders. If his body is damaged, he will keep going. If his prosthetic is damaged, he will keep going. He can be shot/stabbed/seriously wounded and will get back to his feet and keep going. To stop him he will either need to be ordered to stand down by his handler, or incapacitated/knocked unconscious/killed.

He has a metal arm. No really, he has a metal arm. Canon doesn't go into exactly how it works (and thank goodness because my brain would break on the MCU-style science), but it is shown to have mechanical components (wires, etc.). It is vulnerable to electric shocks, which appear to overload its systems and cause it to lock up. It is susceptible to physical damage that could bend or even break the interlocking metal plates, though it would take someone with super strength (and possibly a vibranium shield) to affect such damage. It can stop bullets, but I imagine that excessive gunfire could cause it to wear out (just like a steel shooting target eventually wears down from repeated use). Considering how effectively metal can conduct heat and cold, it would also be vulnerable to extreme temperature effects, likely with detrimental effect on where the arm joins into the body.

Personality:

The following traits are key aspects of Bucky's personality and offer a view into his motivations and why he is the way he is:

Ruthlessness: as the Winter Soldier, Bucky displayed a complete ruthlessness and efficiency in carrying out his missions. While he is no longer fully in that headspace, there does remain in him the absolute focus on a goal and ability to achieve it no matter the cost. While he is no longer a HYDRA assassin, that training remains with him and has given him the focus to try to shape his own life and existence now. He can still be triggered by someone who knows the sequence of command words and if so, he would revert back to that emotionless assassin who would carry out whatever orders he was given.

Seriousness: the Bucky Barnes of the 1940s projected a carefree and positive attitude; that attitude was dimmed somewhat by his imprisonment in a Nazi war camp and all but stamped out by his time with HYDRA. Bucky now projects a more serious manner over a dry sense of humor and a sarcastic streak. At times he seems almost uncomfortable in his skin, as if he doesn't want to allow himself to relax.

Determination: above all, Bucky is determined. It's not the cold, blank exterior he demonstrates as the Soldier but something rooted a little deeper in the man he was before his imprisonment. He sets goals for himself and he works toward achieving them, whether it is the boxing championship of his youth or the evasion of discovery by both HYDRA and SHIELD agents. Currently that determination takes its shape in his keeping of notebooks chronicling the memories he has managed to regain.

Remorseful: he has stated that despite the HYDRA memory wipes, he clearly remembers every mission, every assassination. Not only does he remember them, but as he starts to break out of HYDRA's programming, he shows remorse for them and it's a big motivator for him in choosing a transitory way of life, away from those who would use him; he's more comfortable as an anonymous drifter than as having an identity. He carries a lot of guilt over the assassinations he performed because even though he was not in control of himself, he is still the one who committed those killings. He believes that he's a danger to people because he knows what's locked in his head and what his destructive potential can be should he be triggered.

Defensiveness: tying directly into Bucky's memory issues, he's become somewhat defensive. He will strongly insist that he doesn't know people or events from his past, and it's because he's still working out where and how those incomplete memories fall within the framework of who he is. Bucky doesn't really know who he is, not anymore, and the struggle is not a comfortable one for him.

Loyalty: Bucky has demonstrated a strong sense of loyalty through his youth, most especially through his friendship to Steve Rogers. Despite being the more able bodied and popular of the two of them, he always made sure that he included Steve in his plans and promised to always be with him "to the end of the line." This strong tie is what helped Steve break through the Winter Soldier's programming to reach the man underneath, though Bucky initially responded violently. He's still working though what that loyalty and those memories mean to him and what place it all has in his life now.

Gameplay:

Areas of Interest / Brainstorming: the whole idea of personhood is one I would like to explore: not only Bucky rediscovering his memories of the person he used to be, but also deciding what kind of person he wants to be. The acts he committed under HYDRA control weigh heavily on him and the idea of exploring what it means to choose his own actions and take responsibility for them is both very huge and relatively new for him after having escaped from HYDRA. Largely his few years between the events of Captain America: The Winter Soldier and his current canon point have been spent in maintaining a low profile and remaining largely anonymous; he is hiding not only from the "bad guys", but also the "good guys". Coming to this new world would give him the chance to decide what kind of a person he wants to be and what kind of life he wants to have, without the pressure of avoiding those two entities. Of course, he now has to deal with the idea of superheroes being celebrity-adjacent in this world and the decision around who and how he wants to be: can he embrace the Winter Soldier moniker and turn it into something he chooses?

Also, ridiculous superhero shenanigans. All the ridiculous comic-book style things.

Samples: TDM link with several threads

For Memes & PSLs

CHARACTER INFORMATION:

General:

CHARACTER NAME: James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes. Also known as the Winter Soldier.
CANON: the Marvel Cinematic Universe
CANON POINT: I typically play Bucky from anywhere between the end of The Winter Soldier to the end of Civil War; I do also play pre-HYDRA Bucky with an alternate journal. I am typically 2 months behind new theatrical releases (read: I see it when it comes to streaming) and typically a week behind new episodes of the TV/streaming shows, and am usually flexible with setting interactions up to those points; if you're unsure on recent canon, just shoot me a message. My only unfamiliarity is with all of the Netflix series so if you play from them please be patient with me and help me fill in the blanks on events, etc.
CHARACTER AGE: technically 101 at his oldest point in the MCU, but physically in his 30's due to time spent in cryogenic hibernation
CANON HISTORY: please refer to the MCU wiki, and know that it obviously contains spoilers

Personality:

I play Bucky in any range from the cold, emotionless HYDRA operative to the unsure of his memories, still searching for himself transient drifter, to the at peace with himself and moving on with his life in Wakanda. Each of these points in his life reflect in different ways on his personality and I'm happy to discuss or plot around what sort of scene you'd like to write together.

Abilities:

Enhanced physiological abilities stemming from a version of the super soldier serum created by HYDRA scientists, including:

Enhanced strength, speed, stamina, agility and reflexes. He's stronger and faster than a normal human and can react to threats more quickly. He's demonstrated abilities on par with a professional gymnast; his reflexes are strong enough to be able to catch grenades and block bullets with his metal hand.

Bionic arm. On top of the enhancements to his body's physiology, his left arm is artificial from the hand through the shoulder; the prosthesis is shown to extend into the pectoral. The arm is strong enough to withstand forces such as punching through concrete and Bucky is shown to use the strength in that arm specifically when his body's biological strength isn't equal to the task.

Altered metabolism. He heals faster than a normal human and without much physical evidence of scarring. It's probably also safe to assume that he has greater caloric needs than a normal person just to maintain such metabolism.

His training as an assassin under HYDRA has given him several abilities that extend beyond just being really strong. They include:

Marksmanship. Even before his capture and training, Bucky was considered to be an expert marksman and sniper. The enhancement of his physical abilities has only added to that proficiency and he has demonstrated the ability to bullseye a target at long range without the aid of a scope or other optics. He has demonstrated proficiency with a variety of automatic and semiautomatic rifles and handguns.

Martial arts. Bucky has demonstrated an ability to be deadly in close quarters combat, and his fighting style combines elements of Kali knife fighting, boxing, tae kwon do, and krav maga (according to wiki). In close quarters fighting he is shown to choose to wield a combat knife in his right hand while using his left for support/as a weapon in and of itself.

Piloting skills. Bucky has been shown as having the ability to fly both a Quinjet and a helicopter, both of which he hijacked; presumably his HYDRA training would have given him enough of a proficiency as a pilot to be able to get into a cockpit and pilot a vehicle with little trouble.

Multilingualism. the MCU shows Bucky to be fluent in English, Romanian and Russian; he's also able to understand German though he does not speak it on screen. He does mention that the other Winter Soldiers are fluent in over thirty languages, and it can be extrapolated from that statement that his own training is likely inclusive of more languages than those mentioned.