[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]

He smiles at that and starts building a plate for her, taking a little of everything with the goal of making absolutely sure that she has enough.

"I don't hold a candle to you, though."

[from_the_outside]

"Oh yeah?"

Sharon puts a napkin over the cork and works it carefully out until it releases with a pop!

She grins as she carefully pours some of the fizzing champagne into the flutes she'd brought. "I thought I'd try out a new look... for me. It works, huh?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"You better believe it," he tells her, fervently. "You look like you stepped right out of Hollywood, back - back before. Back then."

[from_the_outside]

If she's being honest, she hadn't been a hundred percent sure this part of her plan was going to go all that well, but she can't argue with the light in his eyes or the sincerity in his voice. She sets the bottle down and lets the champagne in the flutes settle for a moment, then smiles at him.

"I thought it might be nice," she admits. "For you. Something you might have liked back then, too."

[nerves_of_ice]

"I would have liked you in any time," Bucky says, soft, clear, and completely sincere. "I do. The way you look now, the way you look usually, whether you're dressed up or not -- but yeah, you look amazing."

[from_the_outside]

She smiles at him, warm and happy, and tops off the flutes before moving over to the blanket she'd spread over the grass. "Come over here," she invites him, as she carefully sits, making sure not to spill any of the champagne.

"Let's have our supper."

[nerves_of_ice]

He picks up the plates he's filled and carries them over to join her, going down on one knee at the edge of the blanket to hold hers out to her first before taking his own seat.

[from_the_outside]

She takes one look at the piled plate he offers her and starts laughing, then sets one of the flutes carefully aside so she can accept it. "Worried I'll waste away to nothing?"

The plate gets set on the blanket near her; she reaches back for the abandoned flute and offers it to him. "Here."

[nerves_of_ice]

“I didn’t want you to be hungry.” He takes the flute and holds it up to her for a toast, smiling.

[from_the_outside]

"You're sweet."

She lifts her own flute and taps it against his, sending a clear chime through the air around them.

[nerves_of_ice]

“Look who’s talking.” He takes a sip of the champagne, then lowers the glass a little and just looks at her, drinking her in.

[from_the_outside]

She sips at her own champagne, letting the bubbles burst against her tongue, and smiles at him over the lip of her flute as he watches her.

"What?"

[nerves_of_ice]

He shakes his head, just a little. “Trying to make sure I always remember this.”

[from_the_outside]

She smiles at that, and sets her champagne down to pick up her plate. "I hope you do."

If she could preserve this night in amber, record it so she could close her eyes and live it all over again, she would. "I like making new memories with you."

[nerves_of_ice]

“So do I,” he tells her, softly. “Both things.”

Bucky takes another sip of champagne, then carefully sets the flute down and turns his attention to his own plate. “This is great, baby. All of it.”

[from_the_outside]

"We haven't had a date night in a while," she points out, forking up a few bites. As much as she teases him, he's right: she is starving. It's been a busy day.

"And I figured: no need to wait until we're in Brooklyn."

[nerves_of_ice]

He smiles a little wryly at that. "True. There's no reason to wait." Especially since there's no telling when it'll be possible for any of them to go there.

"Oh, you're going to get your Halloween, too."

[from_the_outside]

"How did this become my Halloween?" she asks, laughing.

"It was your idea."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Was it?" he says, keeping his tone bland. "I might have suggested to Shuri that you'd have some thoughts about how to do it."

[from_the_outside]

"Uh-huh."

She takes another bite and gives him a fondly exasperated glance. "Guess I'd better come up with a few, then."

[nerves_of_ice]

He widens his eyes at her, innocently. “I knew you could do it.”

[from_the_outside]

"Don't think you're getting out of this," she informs him, pointing at him with her fork, then laughs.

"Too bad the goats are too small to give hayrides."

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky grins. “I know, I know,”
he promises. “I’ll help.”

He looks thoughtful. “Wonder if that rhino’d be an option. Okoye would know.”

[from_the_outside]

She allows herself a moment to imagine a cartload of children drawn by the enormous rhinoceros and can't help a laugh.

"If not, I'm sure someone has an ox or two they can loan to the cause."

[nerves_of_ice]

"We'll figure something out." He finishes up with his food and swaps the plate for the glass.

"It'll be fun. But right now, this is better."