[oom] training ground

[nerves_of_ice]

He'd made a promise, and he intends to deliver. He just also intends to make sure it's not the sort of thing that draws an audience - especially not any of the kids.

It takes a little while to find a clearing further out but within reasonable distance of the hut, then a little bit longer to set it up with a waterproof chest and some basic equipment. But eventually it's ready, or good enough as.

Once the goats are taken care of for the morning, he takes up position under the usual shade tree to scratch out a few notes in his latest journal and to wait for Sharon to drop by. If she's got time this afternoon, if she's not busy with Shuri or Ayo, well, then they'll see.

Comments

[nerves_of_ice]

"That's probably a better idea anyway." He likes it better than trying to explain the whole thing to the elders himself, that's for sure. Bucky takes a long swallow of coffee, savoring the taste.

[from_the_outside]

"Of course, we won't be able to get costumes as good as Bar's," she muses, and reaches up to pat the top of his head where that hat had been.

[nerves_of_ice]

He rolls his eyes at her and clutches his coffee a little tighter. "I just remember all the tea that came along with that one."

After a considered pause, he muses, "But your ears were cute."

[from_the_outside]

"I liked the ears," she chuckles. "And the tail."

She tugs lightly at a lock of his hair. "And I liked your costume, too."

[nerves_of_ice]

He tips his head a little towards her, quietly amused. "Is that so?"

[from_the_outside]

"Uh-huh."

His hair is still a little damp; she flicks the tip of his nose with the end of the lock she has a hold of. "And drink up your coffee. Otherwise, I'm sending you off to the lab before you get a chance to finish it."

[nerves_of_ice]

He wrinkles his nose at her. "Oh, yeah? I guess if you're in a hurry to get rid of me..."

[from_the_outside]

"I'm not falling for that," she laughs, and ruffles her fingers through his damp hair. "Bottoms up, Barnes."

[nerves_of_ice]

He chuckles and, humoring her, tips up his coffee cup to finish off the last of it, then gets to his feet.

"Okay, okay, I'm going."

[from_the_outside]

She puts up her hand for him to help her up, imperious except for the way her eyes are dancing. "Say hi to everyone for me."

[nerves_of_ice]

He lifts her to her feet with thoughtless ease, then leans in to give her a quick kiss.

"Will do," he promises. "See you later. In, uh, an hour or two?"

[from_the_outside]

She does some quick mental calculation – that should put them just past sunset. "Perfect," she agrees, and kisses him back.

"See you then."

[nerves_of_ice]

He gives her an amused grin and sets off in the direction of the Citadel, swinging by the hut on the way to drop off the mug.

[from_the_outside]

She waits until he's over the edge of the little hill before she heads towards the hut – not to take a shower, like he might be thinking, but to open the door to the Bar.

There are some things there she needs to retrieve.

[nerves_of_ice]

Shuri has the music cranked up loud when he pokes his head around the entrance from the curving hallway and is dancing from one foot to another at her workbench. Bucky stays where he is until she turns enough to see him, at which point she drops what she's working on and bounds over to him.

"Yesss!" she cries, seizing him by the right hand and dragging him after her. "You are exactly who I need!"

"Yes, ma'am," he capitulates, and prepares for the unexpected.

[from_the_outside]

First things first; she collects the bag of items she'd stored with Bar, then puts in a few more orders. After all, what's a date night without a little something to nibble on and a few drinks?

Laden down with her supplies, she heads back to the hut by the lake and sets everything down, then goes scouting around to find the best place to set up.

[nerves_of_ice]

He's definitely not going to have any problem occupying himself for an hour or so. The bigger challenge might be extricating himself when the time comes.

Bucky listens to Shuri's rapid-fire explanation of her new theory for kinesthetic modification of something-or-other based on geotemporal-and-spatial recognition of... something..., and nods along as best he can whenever she pauses for breath. Following the instructions for testing's a lot easier. He balances as she says, places pressure with his left hand as she indicates on the test points and lets her scan everything she can think of to scan and then some.

[from_the_outside]

She finds a spot back behind the hut that's larges enough for what she has in mind, then starts unloading things from the bag. It'll take her the better part of the time she has just to set up, but she wasn't planning on getting ready here at the hut, anyway.

So she hums to herself as she lays out all the pieces and brings out the small table, then erects a few stakes around the perimeter, which should serve her purpose nicely.

[nerves_of_ice]

It's when he's doing the third handstand, shifting his weight back and forth so she can compare the biological to the vibranium, that Shuri finally thinks to ask, "Why did you come by, anyway?"

Bucky peers up at her from his upside-down position. "Partly to say hi, partly to see about checking in with Steve, and --" Might as well ask, he decides. "--partly to see what you think of Halloween? As a thing for the kids here, if you think they'd like it?"

The enthusiastic shriek the princess lets out threatens to deafen him, and he starts laughing.

[from_the_outside]

By the time she's finished setting up, she's hot and sweaty again, even as the sun starts setting and the air cools.

That's fine. She gives everything a last once over, then opens the door to the Bar one more time, heading up to Bucky's room with a sense of relief to use his shower – and, more importantly the bathroom mirror and counter.

Maybe it's a ridiculous use of the Bar's time dilation effect, but, honestly, who hasn't wanted to have as much time as they needed to get ready for a date that's happening in... probably less than half an hour back home?

[nerves_of_ice]

Shuri peppers him with questions and ideas and a running stream of commentary on the ridiculousness of various "colonizer traditions," all of which he keeps up with as best he can. Bucky explains the background behind the entire pumpkin thing, talks about seeing kids with carved turnips wandering the streets when he was little, and agrees with her that it should be a lot of fun to try no matter what. He throws Sharon to Shuri's mercies when it comes to planning, suggesting that she might already have some ideas, and leaves the princess plotting merriment and mayhem as he escapes, deciding to come back and call Steve and Natasha tomorrow.

Is it too early to head back? Probably not, it's got to have been an hour and a half by now, easy. Bucky makes his way to the platform and takes the train back, then circles around and starts along the familiar grassy hill toward the distant hut.

[from_the_outside]

Before he can enter the hut, a familiar voice calls from the slightly open door. "Close your eyes!"

She sounds like she's laughing. "I'll come get you."

[nerves_of_ice]

"What the-- okay, okay," he acquiesces, amused. Bucky closes his eyes and stays where he is.

"Ready when you are."

[from_the_outside]

She comes out of the hut and takes his hand, double-checking to make sure he has, in fact, closed his eyes, and isn't peeking. "This way," she tells him, and guides him back around the hut, making sure to take a smooth path so he doesn't lose his footing.

[nerves_of_ice]

A faint, familiar scent floats around her. He's pretty sure she's wearing perfume, and whatever else she's wearing is making a soft rustling sound, but he can't quite tell what it is. Bucky twines his fingers with hers and lets her lead him, enchanted with the mystery.

"Where are we going?"