[OPEN] shattered glass and black holes

[anotheroldsoldier]

who: Bucky Barnes and YOU
what: Open catch-all for the rest of the month
when: Any time after the 20th
where: Around
warnings: Fighting atm, possible description of acid rain effects.


[I. Acid Rain]
[Bucky is on his way back to the housing complex when the stormclouds gather ominous in the sky. He pauses in the street to look up, frowning, noting the strange green tinge - and then the sky opens up and lets loose. Storms are one thing, but when he feels the exposed skin of his hand and cheeks starts to blister, he scowls harder, moving the shield off his back to use as a makeshift umbrella. It's wide enough to keep him mostly covered.

At least until he spots someone uncovered in the street. If you're trying to get to shelter, Bucky will tug you under the shield and start ushering you both to hide under the nearest concrete awning.] You don't want to let this shit touch your skin.

[II. Just Another Day at the Office]
[Bucky has been serving as a Squad Captain of Search and Rescue for over a month by now, and he's an obvious choice to head up one of the protection teams heading out into the woods to keep the payloads and their deliverymen safe. The hazmat suits they've been provided with are unattractive, but protective enough for the moment. Bucky is fully geared up, wearing his Cap suit underneath that and the extra layer of his Perimeter Guard jacket. The cowl is down for visibility's sake, but he's not exactly stealthy, carrying a large red, white and blue shield.

Thank god the rain seems to have no effect on metals. The vibranium of the shield is holding up perfectly.

The vehicle carrying the other team and their canisters of compound trundles ahead at a slow pace due to the fallen trees in the path. Bucky clicks on his radio headset, following on a cherry red Indian motorcycle that thankfully also seems fine in the rain, even if he might have to replace the leather of his seat later.] Spread out a bit but keep the truck in sight. We want to intercept these things before they become an issue for the payload carriers.

[III. Floor 5, Blackouts]
[Several months into living in Riverview, something Bucky's roommates might have noticed about him is that he's never seemed quite settled. His bed, desk, and general area are all immaculately clean and mostly devoid of personal items. Whatever he's accrued here besides clothes, he keeps in a locked box under his bed. Maybe it makes sense, then, that he's at the kitchen table one evening with a takeout container of cold fried rice, browsing classified ads on his phone. Buildings for sale and rent, different types of housing. Nothing is set in stone, but he's casting out feelers.

Of course, in the middle of his late dinner is about when the power flickers off with a crackle, and Bucky throws his chopsticks down on the table, cursing out loud.] Fuck. Again? [He huffs out a breath and gets up from the table to go dig in one of the kitchen drawers. If he hears one of his floormates come in, he'll say,] Hey, do we have any candles?

[IV. Gym, Blackouts]
[Bucky's gym of choice near the housing building is small, and generally does whatever it can to attract people to pay to use it. During a particularly long blackout, someone had the bright idea to fill it with battery-powered LED lamps (in safe places, not too close to the equipment or where they might be knocked down) and make a whole 'rustic' thing out of it. Apparently at least one person is fine working out in low lighting.

Bucky's on the pommel horse, running through a difficult acrobatics routine. Strength training is important, but as he gets older (and as he's gotten heavier), so is maintaining his flexibility. The shield is leaning against the wall nearby, lit by a steady LED lamp; he'll add it to the routine later, practice his return angles and throws.

The mats are open, though, if you'd like to invite him to spar in the poor light conditions. It could be good training.]

[V. Wildcard]
[Either toss a prompt at me or hit me up on plurk at nekky for a custom prompt!]

Comments

i

[worldsaway]

[It takes Thor a moment to realise that the rain is beginning to burn his skin, given that it takes more than a few drops for him to feel the skin. For the moment, he'd been eager to enjoy feeling of the rain on his skin while walking the streets, but now he's having second thoughts.

With a whim, the rain begins to divert around him, as if an invisible barrier has formed around him. From a distance, however, it's hard to see that he's not being rained on. Now, he takes it upon himself to search the streets for less fortunate people who might be trapped under inconvenient shelter.

He hears Bucky call out and turns when he recognizes his voice. At this point, Bucky is probably aware of the barrier when his hand sticks into it. Thor is able to increase it enough for the both of them, which he does with a smile.]

I assure you this has nothing to do with me.

[anotheroldsoldier]

[Asgardians and their barriers. They're having an easy time of it, meanwhile, Bucky is looking a bit tenderized already despite the heavy layers of his Guard uniform (which he is positively baking in). It's a small relief to come up alongside Thor and share a bit of that barrier; he's less twitchy about the whole magic aspect when it's someone who has proven themselves. He can trust Thor, he figures. The man's been nothing but nice.

He shakes droplets off the shield outside the barrier with his left hand before he draws it back in.]

Didn't figure acid raining from the sky was one of your tricks. Thunder and lightning, maybe, but this seems more like a really bad supervillain plot.

[worldsaway]

[Thor isn't particularly subtle at the best of times, so don't mind the fact that he's looking over Bucky's wounds with a mix of concern and confusion.

It looks painful, but he's not about to point that out for Bucky.]

Whatever it is, I've no control of it. I cannot dilute it, nor stop it. [Which is frustrating.] Do you have any idea who the source may be?

[anotheroldsoldier]

[Bucky is not entirely sure what to do with that concern. He's not used to being fussed over. He cringes slightly and scrubs the metal palm over his face to try and slough off some of the water. He says a little awkwardly,] It's not that bad. I've had worse.

[He blows out a breath, probably just as frustrated by the fact that there isn't a lot that can be done about the rain.] The portal, I think. I heard around the barracks that when it switched worlds, this mist started seepin' in. Polluted the atmosphere, probably.

[worldsaway]

Ah yes, the portal. The source and solution for all of our problems. [Though it really seems to cause more problems than it solves.]

Mm, and I suppose we cannot just send it back- though I'm not sure how well waiting it out will go.

[anotheroldsoldier]

Well, it keeps things interesting around here. What would we do with ourselves if all we had goin' on was a bunch of different parties? [He smiles wryly at that, finding a bit of humor in it. Honestly Bucky is more at ease dealing with the disasters than the socialization.]

Hey, if you got ideas to send back an intangible green mist, we're all ears.

[worldsaway]

Yes, of course. Restless minds are not preoccupied with revelries. [He pauses.] Not for long, at least.

[Thor glances upward, a wry look on his face when he looks back down at Bucky.] A gust of wind, perhaps?

[anotheroldsoldier]

I think it'd drive me clinically insane. I dunno how to function like that. [Like a normal person who goes to parties and has fun and doesn't worry about things like alien invasions and supervillains and acid rain.]

Think it's a little late for that, but they could have used you when it was seeping through.

[worldsaway]

Let it not be said that I did not try. [Thor shrugs.] Perhaps we can wait it out, as you do with the onslaught of parties. It may depart of its own accord, given some time.

[anotheroldsoldier]

Waiting it out's about our only option right now, besides getting people to safety and trying to minimize the damage. Maybe the eggheads in R&D can come up with something to neutralize it.