Open event log!

[godwins]

Who: Bucky Barnes (godwins) & open!
What: Event log, Bucky is sick, &c.
When: The week or so after the bombing.
Where: Around Olympia, and in the clinic.
Warning(s): Illness?



I.

[ Bucky was right up close to the bomb, when it went off. He dove behind a cart of oranges, or something that looked like oranges, shoving someone else . He hadn't seen it coming, of course, but he wasn't surprised either— at least, his reflexes weren't. He'd been in London, during the Blitz, and most of him still wasn't used to peacetime. After his ears stopped ringing and his fingers stopped shaking, it was a sense of duty that filled him up. He was a member of the guard. He was gonna go catch whoever did this.

And so, he's spent the better part of an afternoon running across the city, chasing rumor to rumor. If his hands feel a little more clammy than usual, he ignores that like the soreness in his limbs. Bucky is sure he's got one of the Shady Man's associates cornered at the end of this alleyway, and he's about to move in when he hears someone behind him. He turns his head around, to see who's standing there.

It makes him a bit dizzy. ]


II.

[ The fevers give him bright dreams, all in technicolor— an ferris wheel at an Indiana county fair, a fire in the Bavarian woods, hands reaching out to him, covered with ash. They leave a taste in his mouth when he wakes up, like cotton balls, but he doesn't remember them otherwise. Bucky's never been sick before, not that he can remember, and he decides he doesn't like it.

He might be in bed in his apartment or in bed at the clinic. It all runs together. If someone comes to visit Bucky during his convalescence, he'll be doodling in a notebook, mapping out the dimensions of the clinic so that he can make an escape. What he says, though, is always the same. ]

Cripes, this is boring.

Comments

II

[poolhall_killer]

[Most of Venom's investigating hasn't been fruitful. He was a master in his home world, though he hasn't done much since his final mission. What he has learned is that a few of his new friends have fallen ill, including Bucky. Perhaps he should pay a visit, just to make sure he has what he needs.

After doing more digging, he finds out which clinic is housing Bucky, making sure to bring a few items to make the stay a little easier. It's something he did for his injured associates, but this is the first time he's been made to wear a face mask before entering.

He hears Bucky lament about boredom, so he follows the voice.]

I can try to make it less boring.

[With books! Seriously he has like five books under his arm.]

[godwins]

With those?

[ Enjoy a skeptical glance, Venom, although there's not much menace in it. As you might guess, Bucky's not much of a reader. Dropped out of high school to join the army and everything.]

[poolhall_killer]

[Venom knows that look, and it earns Bucky a frown behind that mask and hair.]

Yes, with these. They pass the time and you can keep your mind sharp.

[He never had any formal schooling, but the Guild's extensive library was his favorite place growing up.]

[godwins]

I'm a regular tack, thank you very much. [ As in, sharp as a. And he appreciates the gesture, really. He looks at the books again, trying to be more appraising. ]

What kinda books do they got around here, anyway? Probably not the Hardy Boys.

[poolhall_killer]

[A regular tack? Sadly, Venom's not up on his slang, but he thinks he understands. He turns the books on their sides, looking at the titles.]

I haven't seen any of their work, but here I have Taking the Long Way Home, Pocket Galaxies, and The Lake Monster Ate my Term Paper. I'm sure this last one is meant for younger readers, but it seemed entertaining.

[godwins]

It's supposed to be The Dog Ate My Homework. [ He frowns. ] But I guess here they might actually have a lake monster.

ii-ish

[quivers]

[ Kate may not be the most prime cook, but at the very least, her conviction in all that she does has to count for something, right? It's not like she can't very well read a recipe and get the gist of how to put it all together, so it's what she does, picking up an assortment of vegetables from the market with the very little money she has (Kate, get a real job) and borrowing a large pot from a neighbor before taking it to Bucky's apartment.

She practically invites herself in and makes a home out of his kitchen, mostly mumbling to herself as she starts to chop and mix ingredients, trying to stay focused until she's confident with what she has.

It's when it all sits together in the pot, the heat brought to a low boil, when she finally places the cover on it, clapping her hands in satisfaction before pacing her way to Bucky in his bed. ] Alright, give it like thirty minutes to an hour and you'll be slurping the most kickass soup you've eaten in any dimension.

[godwins]

[ Bucky grew up on base with a single father, and after that he had to fend mostly for himself, at the tail-end of the Great Depression, when a lot of the vegetables came in the form of cans. After that, it was all K-Rations, food that came close-packed in tins. All of which is to say: he ain't picky.

But he's still grumpy. ]

Does this actually work?

[ He means the soup— will the soup make him feel better? He knows that when you're sick you get spooned soup, but he doesn't have a lot of firsthand experience. ]

[quivers]

[ Kate spent the better part of her life living in luxury with hired help to cook and serve dinner. Despite her proclamations that she wasn't like the rest of her family, relying on wealth, she did have a lot more advantages than she initially realized.

When it came time to disown her father and live independently, making some adjustments took a little bit of getting used to. But hey! She's making soup! That's progress. ]

Of course it works. Soup is big cure-all for all illnesses, from migraines to yuck aches. [ Probably. She makes herself a seat at the edge of his bed, looking him over. ] I mean, you're totally looking better already. Pleasant company is the number two best cure, after all.

[godwins]

Well, lemme know when you find some, will ya? [ He smiles, to show he's joking, and laughs too, but breaks into a hacking cough. He recovers with a grimace. ]

I guess I deserved that. [ Bucky'd always had a bit of a mean streak, but he'd worked the past several years on keeping it in check. ] I'm sure the soup is just swell.

II

[inaurare]

I'm sure it must be.

[it's kind of awkward, trying to be comforting, or to brighten the moods of the patients with this mask over his mouth - but it was insisted on, and he trusts the doctors' judgement. The regular hand-washing is making them feel dry and unpleasant, but he was told in no uncertain terms to keep up with that, too - and really, it's a small discomfort in comparison.]

I've some food here, if you'd appetite enough?

[food was one of the few real punctuations in the patients' day, he was learning. It's real food at least, though the bowl of soup does seem to dominate the tray, the way it has been laid out. Fruit and bread, a few slices of meats and cheeses and a salad, giving one the opportunity to pick and choose, take and leave if they would like]

And I can find you something to drink as well - within reason, that is.

[no coffee, no black tea, no caffeine: most of the teas on offer are herbal. But Linneus counts himself pretty good at brewing things]

[godwins]

[ He picks over the food, taking some of the meat and cheese to make a sandwich. ]

You probably can't get me beer, can you? [ He's not even thirsty, really, but he figures he's got to try. ]

[inaurare]

[a little chuckle at that, his hand rising to cover-- but the mask is already there.]

Sadly, no. I don't think the doctors would approve, if I did. But perhaps once you're well, I can try?

[godwins]

I'm older than I look, you know. [ But still not old enough to drink, at least where he's from. Then he starts coughing, covering his mouth with a balled up fist. When he stops, his tone is a bit more defeated. ]

I guess water's just fine.

[inaurare]

It isn't a question of age...

[legal drinking age is totally not a thing where Linneus is from.]

I'll get you some water. And perhaps something a little more soothing? That is a nasty cough you have...

[He duly returns with a glass of water, and a little shot-sized dose of cough syrup. It might not help anything that much, but at least he can feel like he's doing himself some good?]

You needn't take this right away - it will probably interfere with the taste of your food - but it should help?

[godwins]

[ Bucky doesn't listen— he's not terrifically hungry, anyway, and will probably pick at the sandwich over the next couple hours. He downs the cough syrup in one go. It takes a while to slide down his throat. ]

Tastes funny, doesn't it? Like licorice that's caught a cold.

I

[vacuum]

[ Ah, this guy. He's pretty sure he's seen him way back -- in the VR, perhaps? Who can remember. Somehow, fate seems to have brought them together again though. They happen to be tracking down the same associate. Whether this is a good thing or a bad thing depends entirely on the situation. Chuuya isn't the type to share his bounty, though, so how things turn out really depends on Bucky's willingness to give up his. ]

... You aren't looking too great. [ First thing he notices. There are plenty of sick people about right now, and the symptoms are all too apparent. Chuuya himself has swiped a mask from the clinic and is wearing it for his own protection. ]

[godwins]

[ For the record, Bucky isn't doing this for the money, but he's not the type to turn down a reward out of kindness and generosity. He's not in any condition to put up a fight right now, but on the other hand, that's never stopped him before.

Upon seeing Chuuya, he blinks once in bleary recognition. ]

Well, I'm feeling better than that guy's about to. [ He jerks his head, indicating the sucker at the other end of the alley. He figures Chuuya's tracking him too. ]

I

[nanamari]

[ Ana has been similarly occupied for the afternoon, sifting through rumors and gossip, careful not to show to keen of an interest. A few alternations to her normal body armor leave her looking like a scavenger, and for the most part people leave her alone.

She hadn't meant to confront anyone directly. Even Jack and Jesse couldn't get the terrorists to talk, and Ana has no interest in more violent methods. She had only meant to follow them and see where they might lead. It just so happened that this one led to an alley way, and was now facing off against a very unsteady young man.

She has no choice but to intervene. She steps up behind him, her sidearm already raised and pointed at the terrorist, in case he's getting any ideas about running or attacking. It's not lethal, but he doesn't know that. ]

James Barnes. [ She says calmly, when Bucky turns to look at her. ] What do you think you're doing?

[godwins]

[ He doesn't recognize the get-up. He recognizes the voice— it isn't one he expected. The inside of him is wavering, but he can still spit out a sentence pretty steady. ]

I'm hunting down a traitor.

[ The word "terrorist" isn't in his vocabulary and doesn't occur to Bucky. He'd heard the enemy confession that named her as an accomplice. Everyone had. But she wasn't aiming the gun at him, and that was enough to make him hesitate, standing still for just an instant between a dangerous criminal and an old lady in battle armor. Not the greatest idea, to be honest. ]

[nanamari]

You look like hell. Don't you think it's time to pack it up for the day?

[ He's doing a pretty good job of keeping on his feet, all things considered. Some of the people she's seen are barely able to stagger out of bed. ]

[godwins]

[ He felt like hell, too, but was angry that it showed. He mutters something mean under his breath. ]

Oh yeah, now seems like a great idea to turn around and take a nap. [ Deep down, of course, he knew he ought to be in bed, resting, but stubbornness had got him this far, and stubbornness could get him a few inches further. Probably.

The poor terrorist, caught in the middle of this little scolding, decides to make a break for it, but Bucky shoots him in the leg before can do anything much. That would have solved the problem, but the guy starts lifting himself clear off the ground. Apparently, he can fly. ]

Aw, shit.

[ Bucky quickly covers his mouth with his free hand. He didn't mean to swear. ]

[nanamari]

[ Ana is momentarily taken aback by the fact that the man can fly.

She raises her gun a little higher, and her dart finds its mark in the meat of his shoulder. He should drop instantly, but instead he only falls a few feet before jerking himself awake.

He escapes with all the grace of a drunken bumblebee. He'll probably crash before he gets very far, but Bucky is in no shape to pursue him and Ana isn't certain a shot from her rifle wouldn't actually kill him at this point. So, priorities.

She glances down at Bucky. ]

Well, you were grounded anyway. Are you going to walk or make me carry you back to bed?

i;

[offthatpath]

[Alec had been patrolling the Residential District when the bomb had gone off, and then he had spent several hours afterwards helping to evacuate the area and get any injured off the street and into the clinic. It had been tiring and grueling work, but he can't say he would have done it any differently and taken off to catch the criminals immediately like he knows several others had. He'd wanted to make sure none of his loved ones were among those hurt.

That's not to say that he has no plans in joining the man-hunt, but it appears to come to him first. He's heading in the direction of his apartment for a quick change of clothes when he notices Bucky approaching the entrance to an alley way. It could be nothing...but something in his gut tells him to move in.]

Bucky. What are you doin-[The other man turns, but he seems a little shaky and off balance.] Are you okay?

[godwins]

I'm fine. [ Universal stubborn idiot for I'm not fine at all, thanks for asking. Bucky straightens himself out, and tries to ignore the twisting in his stomach, and looks at Alec as directly as he can manage. ]

Are you gonna help me catch this guy, or not?

[ He tilts his head in the direction of the bad guy, who is looking to make a break for it. Time is sorta of the essence, here. ]