wow look what the cat dragged in

[lefthandfree]

WHO: James Buchanan “Bucky” Barnes
WHERE: fountain, inn
WHEN: May 13
OPEN TO: closed arrival, otherwise open to all
WARNINGS: language
STATUS: second prompt is open closed

     the fountain

When he closes his eyes, he knows it will only be a moment in his mind, even as darkness blots out his vision and swallows him whole. Regret lingers as it always does, the fact he chooses this over consciousness impossible to ignore when the last thing Steve does is insist on standing there with the wish that Bucky will change his mind written plainly on his face. But it's all the more reason he shouldn't. Yet, even as he prepares himself to wake again to the worst possible scenario, being immersed in water is definitely not something he considered.

There's air in him, enough that he knows that he hasn't been thrown in and also enough that his mind cannot decipher the circumstances. It's hardly enough reason for dawdling, however, and his focus is quickly turns toward finding the surface. Easy enough, even short an arm. Maybe not as efficient or balanced as he'd like, but there isn't time to reassess.

He gasps for fresh breath once he breaks through to air and throws his arm out to pull his body out from what seemed a well but is apparently a fountain. Curiosity after curiosity, it doesn't stop him from clambering free from the water, even if the effort comes quite clumsily without the aid of a second arm. It's then while water drips generously from him, free from the metal joint and free from his clothing, that he realizes his clothing isn't really his clothing and that this obviously isn’t Wakanda. Not even a little.

Jesus Fucking Christ. “Can’t it be Kansas? Just once?” He doesn't expect an answer.


     the inn (open)

He’s not even going to pretend he’s not new. It seems like something that should be obvious, so why bother with putting people on? Not that it means he won’t do his damned best to make sure people know he’s not incapable, especially with the blatant visible handicap. But he’s dripping a lot less now, and that’s a good time to try and figure out what all he actually needs to deal with given his clear displacement of space and possible displacement of time.

Soaked is still very much the description of his physical state though, something that’s apparently becoming a trend, but he’s far more grateful this time around since his arm isn’t trapped in a vice and, well, he clearly hasn’t gone on a murder rampage either. It’s the little things in life...

There’s a fire at one end of the establishment he wanders into, and even without the cold, it’s a welcome sight. Soggy garments are really not his style, and having a quicker way to dry off other than waiting for the world to end is a huge bonus. He plants himself nearby and takes the opportunity to dig through the pack. It’s sturdy. Effective. But everything else inside is soaked through like him.

God. Why can’t anything ever be easy?

Dragging a hand down his face, he gives a long sigh. One thing at a time, Barnes. And at the least, the water isn’t sopping out of the bag, he tells himself. So it’s not all bad. Maybe.

He wants to laugh, but instead a wry grin plasters itself to his face. Patience is a goddamn virtue, for sure. But as long as he doesn’t get kicked out for being a drowned mess, he’s glad to stay parked here for another couple hours before moving on.

Comments

INN

[goldsteins]

Tina had the mind to stay inside when the hail started. Then a day had passed and the itch to do something else returned and it was when there seemed to be somewhat of a lull she had left to try to help cover some of the plants. Unfortunately, that ended in needing to retreat inside the Inn halfway home with a good wallop to the head from a piece of hail. If she was smarter she'd have stayed in, but doing nothing was never her strong suit-- And besides, if she had not stayed in she would not have seen the manner as he made his way into the inn.

From the manner he carried himself there was no doubt in her that he would deny any pity or coddling but it was also certain he was new just the same. Sighing from her position of clearing away some dishes for lack of anything else to do, Tina moved to where she knew some of the blankets were and pulled a few out. Without any other further to-do she made her way to the man and placed them on the arm rest of the chair.

"I'm guessing your other clothes got drenched," she offered, glancing towards the man, "you should still strip out and let 'em dry by the fire before you get sick. These should do for covering you for now." And keep him warm and dry from the rest of it, but staying in wet clothes while it was hailing was a rather bad idea.

[lefthandfree]

He could tell from the way she’d approached that she only meant respect by the the suggestion, concern clear in her voice, and though he had no plans of stripping in front others, not with the scarring along his shoulder, Bucky could not help but smile at the genuine consideration from a stranger, the act itself so foreign that he almost felt human for a moment. It also helped that he caught the familiar accent in her voice, even as much as it maybe didn’t matter so much anymore. New York City was hardly a home for him any longer.

Brushing a few clumped strands of wet hair to the side, he nodded appreciatively while taking up the blankets placed along the chair arm.

“Thanks. Yeah, wasn’t really my choice, but what can you do?” he laughs easily, lighthearted excuse following. “Ain’t so sure I should be taking anything off though. Not when I haven’t the faintest idea what people think of missing limbs. Not the prettiest thing to look at, miss.”

[goldsteins]

"I would say not nearly drown in a fountain," Tina offered, "but I'm well aware that is an inevitability." Her shoulders remained set, but the faint smile on her lips was friendly enough. Tina wasn't the best with friendly conversation, but neither was she going to allow someone to remain dripping on the floor if she can help it. Her eyes darted to his missing limb for a moment before she shook her head.

There's at least no pity in her eyes when they flicker back up to the man. "Perhaps not, but a missing limb is the least of anyone's worries," She answered, frowning only just slightly, "there's a bathroom you can slip out of your clothes from, but people should be more worried about you getting ill than seeing something that wasn't pretty."

[lefthandfree]

Well. She wasn’t wrong. A short, surprised laugh at the frankness of it slipped out after the remark, and Bucky dismissed the sudden outburst with a quick shake of his head, amusement clear on his face. Technically he didn’t drown, so that was at least one good thing to take away.

Taking in her words, the soldier nodded idly. Were there stronger imperative for him to truly remove his clothes, say a lack of experience in having been drenched before in his childhood and having survived under far cooler temperatures with a significantly less fit body, he would have thought on the idea more thoroughly. But here, now, his clothing, even wet, held enough of his body heat that stripping would likely only force his temperature to drop more quickly. That and nothing could quite prepare anyone for the metal bound to his flesh.

Smiling politely, he started draping a blanket across his shoulders. “Think I’ll be okay at this point. A lot warmer in here already. With decent company to pass the time with.” His eyes caught hers in a brief glance, and he offered a more genuine smile, surely grateful for her help. “Where are my manners though? Name’s James. Or Bucky, if you’d prefer.”

[goldsteins]

The woman folded her arms across her chest with a huff of something that could almost be taken for a laugh in turn with his. Her shield she seemed to wear in most situations slackening further as dark eyes continued to survey him. He certainly appeared to be odd, but not in a bad way, and the stubbornness was all too evident.

She can't help the way her brow shoots up at the mention of decent company. It's hardly a phrase she hears about herself and she dismisses it rather quickly; Only an action through common courtesy. "We don't do manners around here," She offered mildly, the attempt of humor still there before she continued, "Porpentina, but I only go by Tina." It's the same offering she had once given Sonny. She may not use her full first name, but if other people were going to address themselves with it she felt it only proper.

"Did you find this place on your own or has anyone shown you around yet?"

[lefthandfree]

Wow. That was. Definitely a name. Suddenly all the times people made a stink about him going by Bucky seem to pale in comparison. Though at least she had something short and cute to change it to. Not that he didn’t think Porpentina was relatively cute, but he definitely knew what it was like for people to poke fun at one’s name for no reason. Well, a little anyway. “Nice to make your acquaintance, Miss Tina. Manners or not.”

“Can’t say I got a proper tour, but I figured, what with the hail and all, it could probably wait a bit. It’s getting pretty bad out there.” He nodded toward the door to emphasize his point. “Figured I’d stay in here and warm up until Mother Nature decides it’s okay for me to go out and play again.” A wink was tagged on to indicate his good natured humor.

[goldsteins]

It's not like she hates her name, but it has always earned more than a few strange looks. That was the bothersome part of it, Porpentina wasn't even a common name. What her parents were think she'd never know, but it's not something she lets bother here. Even now when giving it and expecting any resulting mentioning of it. Thankfully either she got better at being pointed about it or people understood her more.

She nodded her agreement when he speaks of their acquaintance, but can't help the way her nose crinkled at the mention of the hail outside. Tina liked rain-- real rain-- not drizzle and certainly not the miserableness of hail. "Fair enough," She answered in a sigh, "I was meaning more if someone showed you to here, though, or you just got lucky. Most newcomers end up here, one way or another."

It's almost teasing before she shifted her weight and moved to balance on the arm rest of the unoccupied chair in front of the fair. "This is probably the place you'll find of most use anywhere in the village, though, any information people have seems to wind up here."

[lefthandfree]

In truth, he’d noticed the building even when Peggy had herded him away to her own home, but clarifying on that point seemed rather redundant overall, so Bucky decided to keep mum. Ultimately, it was as Tina said anyway, that most end up here, and he certainly numbered into that at present.

Considering the location of the building, he wasn't surprised at the information she provided. This was common in all places, city centers forming simply due to the nature of convenience. Nevertheless, the affirmation was useful. He liked being well informed, and so his decision to return here seemed the best choice, even if Peggy had offered him the couch.

“Yeah? What kinda information is that, lately?” Since he’d just arrived, it was obviously useful to ask at this point, especially with Tina here able to be asked.

[goldsteins]

"Charted maps mostly," She offered with a roll of her shoulders. Her fingers twisted absently together in her lap as she turned her attention to the doorway that led to it. "There's a list of people, but I'm none too sure how updated it is, and what animals are here," She heaved a breath, "but I've been told the maps are about a year or so's worth of work and illuminate on found locations such as caves."

She hadn't yet had much to offer there herself, not from a lack of laziness but from a lack of knowledge of traveling in the woods. Maybe if she talked to Newt that would get easier. He could teach her, she supposed, but she put the thought to the side for a moment.

"I believe there's board games and cards around here somewhere now."

[lefthandfree]

He glanced toward the door as Tina looked to it and nodded mildly. Seemed like information, even often finding a home here, came at the price of limited by location and involved persons. While it was a good place to start from, it likely would prove cumbersome as time continued here. Accessibility had always been important toward advancement of society, and here too it would hardly be different.

A printing press could prove useful. Not that it was an endeavor he was particularly interested in undertaking, but duplication of materials would be handy, without a doubt.

At the mention of entertainment, his brows raised and a chuckle slipped free. “Games, huh? Guessing that’s how you guys keep from tearing each other’s heads off, huh,” he jested, lopsided smile on his face.

[goldsteins]

There was a lot that could make this place easier and more well equipped, but she's long since realized if they can't accomplish it with their own two hands it wouldn't happen. That had turned into her drive here even if with most things she stumbled with the No-Maj way.

She looked at the man, brows furrowed, and shook her head promptly. "There's really not all that much to do around here," She equipped with something of a grimace, "someone made a good point that once planting is done there's not much more you can do short of walk around with your thoughts or find somethin' else to occupy your mind."

"I've never really been a person to play games myself, but I hear they can cause a mess between friends sometimes," She added, mild amusement etched on her features. Tina Goldstein and break, or more especially vacation, would hardly ever be in the same sentence.

[lefthandfree]

“Planting?” That was new information. He could only assume it meant that there was some sort of collective effort in maintaining a farm. Which made sense with all the open land here. And that having a food source was generally a good thing. But farm life was also not Bucky’s idea of passing time either. “That seems pretty boring, if you ask me. Or troubling. Guess it depends on how stir crazy people will get without much to do but be stuck in their head.”

At least, he knew he would go looney without an outlet. Maybe it wasn’t so bad for others.

“Games can be fun though. And, yeah, sure, sometimes it ain’t gonna end with the best outcome, but,” he shrugs, “I feel like that’s only if you let it get away from you. Cause games shouldn’t ever be harmful. As soon as they are, it’s probably just bullying instead of a game, y'know?” Or maybe she wouldn’t. She just admitted to not really playing games, Barnes. “I mean, there’s also the strategy that's needed to win, so I think it can be beneficial too, if you've got the right mentality going in.”

[goldsteins]

"Yeah," Tina grimaced at the reminder, tilting her head to the window, "there was a big thing recently about planting everything, luckily most of it should be okay with this mess going on." She means, of course, the hail. They were going to have to do some serious looking after once this was over, but she almost wonders what's next. "Well, as far as I've seen, no one's done anything much too crazy. Yet."

Tina's just gladdened that she has the journals she does have. It leaves for places to write notes and the occasional sketch, though she too often refuses to do that. Most of the time she's glad she has her sister and Newt to speak to. Those are the real saving graces. Smiling mildly, the woman shook her head. "You can find someone to play them with if you want," She half teased, brushing back her hair, "but I looked at the games they have and I've never heard of them before. If it weren't for the weather outside I'd more likely be in the woods right now."