InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "smack that!"

Bucky Barnes (assignment) wrote in somerealityrpg,
@ 2021-02-14 20:24:00

Entry tags:

active: bucky barnes, active: wanda maximoff

Who: Bucky Barnes & Wanda Maximoff
What: Talking
When: Mondayish
Where: The apartment
Warnings: Minimal; will update if necessary

All things considered, Bucky figured that the rebuilding process was going as well as it could have. There was still a lot to do, but most were pitching in where and how they could. He'd checked in at his own studio a couple of times, but so far hadn't made any additional updates after the first couple of days. Other areas needed the help more. He didn't stay in any one area but mostly helped where there was an obvious need or if someone asked for additional help. It kept him busy and kept his mind occupied and distracted from going places it probably shouldn't.

Nearly two weeks of operating on night hours, and Bucky had started readjusting to a normal, day schedule. It was only half working because he found himself wide awake early in the morning and unable to go to sleep. An hour of tossing and turning, and he finally decided to throw in the towel. Out of bed and dressed, he headed into the kitchen to start a pot of coffee. It wouldn't do any good with getting some sleep, but that was a lost cause at this point anyway.

Once the coffee maker was loaded up and flipped on, he leaned against the counter watching as the dark drips of liquid fell into the glass pot. Slowly at first but then faster until a steady stream flowed. He was just about to reach up for a mug from one of the cabinets when he felt someone behind him. The room was only illuminated by the street lights from outside, but he could still see her standing in the kitchen doorway.

"I didn't wake you, did I?"

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controlmyown
2021-02-15 03:47 am UTC (link)

Whenever Wanda was stressed, she coped by cooking or baking because sleep was so rarely attainable, but in the days since the creatures had been somehow banished or destroyed, she had done less of the first because she'd been focusing on rebuilding the town. Her powers overall were so destructive that she liked when she could use them to genuinely help, and she had exhausted herself every day as she helped to lift and move rubble, restore roofs and walls, and hold things in place so others could repair them as well. Even tonight, after returning to the apartment very late and showering, she managed only a few hours of sleep before waking up. Since things were starting to get back to normal, she considered baking something before she went out, and slipped out of her bed to pull an oversized shirt and a pair of leggings on. After pulling her hair back, the Sokovian made her way to the kitchen, only to slow when she heard the sound of the coffee maker. It was easy to tell which of the men she lived with was in there, and fighting down her own cowardice, Wanda moved into the doorway and stopped when he spoke.

She shook her head. "No...I couldn't sleep, really. I thought I might bake something. Bread or muffins," she said quietly as her gaze shifted to the open cabinet above him. "Would you mind pulling a mug out for me, too?" Tea was often her drink of choice, but this time of day most certainly called for coffee, and with that thought in mind she stepped into the kitchen.

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assignment
2021-02-15 09:36 pm UTC (link)

"I was the same," Bucky admitted. "It's harder to readjust to new schedules more than it used to be." As a soldier or being on the run, his life constantly changed, and he was always adjusting one way or another. But now, being here, he'd developed more or less a normal routine. That is, until the monsters showed up and forced him back into battle mode. High alert, minimal sleep, odd hours, always on edge. It was almost strange how odd the come down felt after the fact.

He gave a nod and fished out two mugs, one for each of them, and poured the coffee. Sliding Wanda's over to her, he left his black and leaned against the counter before taking a small sip.

"I wouldn't object to either one of those," he remarked with a small smile. "The bread or the muffins." His appetite was no secret, neither his or Steve's were really, so who was he to argue if the best cook in the apartment wanted to curb her insomnia with baking?

Bucky took another sip of his coffee. "I hadn't decided yet if I was going to just mill around here for a couple hours or head out really early."

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controlmyown
2021-02-17 02:41 pm UTC (link)

Wanda nodded her understanding. She had heard the same from him before, and even if this wasn't the same Bucky, the same man had gone through the same thing in his past. Crossing the room to pick up her coffee, she took a sip while turning to the pantry to open it and study the contents.

"Somehow I didn't think you would," she replied in amusement, and opted to go with both. She could start the bread dough and let it rise while she made the muffins. Letting go of her coffee, the mug hung in the air obediently beside her, supported by a tendril of her power as she pulled out flour, sugar, and yeast, and moved the ingredients to the counter. After a moment, the coffee settled to one side and she reached out to turn on a light so she could better see what she was doing, though in truth? It wasn't fully necessary.

"If you wait here long enough, you'll be able to have both fresh out of the oven," she told him with a brief glance and a smile sent in his direction. It wasn't hard to look at him anymore, after living with him for so long, and in fact she liked having his company. "You'll want to fuel up before going out there, anyway."

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assignment
2021-02-18 02:48 am UTC (link)

While he could get by cooking a meal or few, Bucky wasn't a baker, so he leaned against the counter and watched as she worked. He was feeling wide awake but somehow tired at the same time, so keeping up and taking note of the ingredients, measurings, and methods was at least a way to be engaged but not engaged -- a perfect place for his current state.

His expression gave the appearance that he was half considering his options, but they both knew he'd stick around for at least one of the options. "And here I thought that this was going to be my super fuel," he said, raising up the mug of coffee before taking another sip. It was sure strong enough to fuel most anyone, but she wasn't wrong. Having something to eat would help once he was out there and got going.

"Are you planning to go back out later?" He asked her but was pretty sure of her answer already. When sleep didn't come easily, and idle hands were dangerous to the state of mind, you took advantage of the moments to stay busy. Especially in a time like this when the outside needed busy hands over idle ones.

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controlmyown
2021-02-18 03:44 pm UTC (link)

Her soft chuckle was accompanied by a faint snort as she took another sip of the coffee herself, then stepped to the sink to wash her hands before she began making the bread dough. "Super fuel it may be, but even you need more than coffee."

Having something to keep her hands busy helped to keep her mind busy often as well, but she could talk to him as she worked - even if she was suddenly reminded of having taught him once to make bread. With that thought in mind, she angled herself slightly so he could have a better idea of what she was doing, since Wanda could easily see was focused on each step she took.

At the question, Wanda nodded. "Da. Yes. There's a community center on the other side of Goodland that needs help, and I wasn't able to get over there yesterday. Where will you be working?"

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assignment
2021-02-25 04:13 am UTC (link)

"Coffee, bread, and muffins. The meal of a champion." Bucky smiled a little behind his next sip of coffee. She wasn't wrong. A part of him could go by longer without a sufficient meal, but at the same time, he needed more than the average person to keep him going. It hadn't always been easy to meet that goal, but he'd been more or less spoiled by either being able to order in food or Wanda's cooking since he'd come back to Goodland.

"I'm not sure. Yesterday, I stopped by the area where we helped out when the building fell and helped with clearing the area. I considered staying within a couple blocks of the villa to see what can be done there." Either that or finding out if any specific businesses needed immediate help. Many had taken serious damage, and some were destroyed.

His eyes were still watching her work when he sighed. "One would think that we'd have some help now that this is over." Whether or not the Entity was responsible for the monsters didn't much matter at this point. What was done was done, but it had already been a couple of days and they'd heard nothing.

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controlmyown
2021-03-04 08:06 pm UTC (link)

"You know, when you were here before - that last version of you, I mean - I taught you how to bake bread. I can do that again, if you wish," Wanda offered as she mixed in the water and flour, added the yeast, and other ingredients, along with some dried fruit to add flavor. Within a few minutes, she had the mixture in a bowl attached to the mixer, and she cut it on, then turned away from the quiet hum to work on the muffin mix, which could easily be done by hand.

"In the past the entity has stepped in to help rebuild, but...I think maybe it is tired? That last display of power that killed the creatures and stopped more from coming may have taken a lot out of it. Once, we saw two figures battling high above the city when it was being attacked, but it's never communicated to tell us what that was about." She paused in the act of pouring milk into the bowl and looked over at Bucky again. "It may not have its energy back yet to help," she suggested, before emptying the measuring cup and picking up a whisk to begin rapidly mixing things.

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assignment
2021-03-12 04:15 am UTC (link)

"You did?" Bucky wasn't really surprised that she'd taught previous him but maybe more so that it sort of sounded as if she might have learned to make something edible. "But sure. That could be nice sometime, but maybe just not right now since I'm not sure if I'll remember half of it later this morning." He smiled a little. He was watching, but thanks to how mentally tired he felt at times, he doubted he could retain anything.

You'd think that would mean he'd be able to get some sleep, but that wasn't in the cards either. At that thought, he saw his cup of coffee was low, so he reached over to the pot for a refill. Maybe that would help spark his mind a bit.

Bucky thought about what Wanda was saying but wasn't sure if he believed the Entity's energy had been depleted or not. He wasn't apt to give it the benefit of the doubt under most circumstances. Maybe it could forgo the random shift in scenery in order to stockpile a little extra energy for instances like this. But that was wishful thinking.

"Could be. There's so much we don't know about it, and I'm not sure if we ever will.

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controlmyown
2021-03-15 02:50 pm UTC (link)

Wanda sent him a smile at the question and nodded. "I did. It was good bread, if a little...misshapen, for the first loaf or two." But it was a treasured memory and she'd enjoyed teaching him the act. When Bucky agreed that it would be nice sometime, her smile grew a little and she continued to mix the muffins, then turned to a pan to line with cups so she could pour it in.

"Neither am I. I wish that we had more answers than questions, but that never seems to be the case," Wanda agreed quietly as the oven signaled that it was heated. "But at least for now those monsters are gone and the rebuilding has been going well."

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assignment
2021-03-16 04:37 am UTC (link)

"Misshapen I can handle," Bucky said. Dry, tasteless, or burned were the mistakes he would hope to avoid. If other him could make bread then so could he, right? Usually when he put his mind to something, it stuck, and he would complete the task. But somehow he wondered if baked goods might end up being his downfall.

"I'm not sure if we'll ever have that -- more answers than questions." Never in his life, all of his lives, had he had the fortunate circumstances of having too many answers. Some periods were more confusing than others, but that was a pretty big constant over the years. Taking a stab in the dark for the right outcome or only having the exact pieces of the puzzle he was meant to have, no questions asked.

As much as Bucky was very thankful that the monsters were gone, and he'd never wish them back again, a part of him had felt a natural release while he was out fighting. Pent up stress, tension, and other emotion that he could let out without worrying he was going to hurt someone because hurting was the point with the monsters. He could let loose without holding back.

"Everyone's doing what they can with rebuilding, and I think that's all we can really do right now. We'll get the city back the way it's meant to be one way or another."

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