Well, that was new. Bucky had always been a little defeatist, a little quick to accept their situation and all that came along with it as just the way things worked around here. Not that Scott blamed him - Bucky knew as well as anybody the way this life could chew you up and spit you out. There was value to be had in falling in line and keeping your head down, least of all because you didn't have the energy to do anything but. So to hear dissent from him, however mild, was an Event.
And it made Scott.. he wasn't sure. Grateful for the agreement, yes, but also curious. If Bucky was of the opinion that these Capitol slights were piling up, could that mean he might also be open to the idea of upsetting the status quo? It was a decently-sized leap, to go from disgruntled to revolutionary, but something to keep in mind. Bucky's role as a conversation piece-for-hire had likely made him privy to some interesting personal information over the years, and that could come in handy in a place where perception was everything.
He resolved to approach Bucky about it later, someplace it wouldn't be so dangerous to reciprocate the other man's sentiments. Anything other than downtrodden acceptance was sure to catch someone's eye. Everyone aware of Cassie's involvement in tonight's performance was probably expecting some amount of wear on Scott, but frustration would tread alarmingly close to being out of line. Stane had made it very clear, in those first few years Cassie was in the Capitol, that he wasn't allowed to get angry. Dispirited, sure - that could easily be passed off as displeasure about how she was growing up so fast or the way he missed her while she was away at school - but anger was a little more difficult to excuse. He steered away from Bucky's quiet agreement, instead focusing on their easy rapport and the attempt his friend was making at reassurance.
Scott smiled at the silent show of support. And then he caught sight of the photographer that had appeared over Bucky's shoulder, seemingly intent on catching their quiet moment - which was theirs, and definitely not for Capitol consumption. The smile twisted, just slightly, into a too-wide, open-mouthed parody of itself as he slung an arm over Bucky's shoulders and threw up a thumb in an exaggeratedly earnest pose. The photographer snapped the photo, and Scott straightened, pointing at the woman almost playfully. "Ah, almost got me that time." He turned his attention back to Bucky, unfurling himself, as the photographer left. "They get sneakier every year."