bakerstreet | rain, rain, go away

rain, rain, go away

the rain meme

Ah, rain—the precipitation that the whole world has a love/hate affair with. It waters the garden for free and ruins baseball games. It cools you off in the summer and it causes more ice and sleet to appear in the winter. Sometimes it is lovely and falls at a decent pace for a few hours, other times, it blasts the whole eastern seaboard away.

Poems and songs have been written about it, people have danced in it, others have cursed its entire existence, and still more refuse to go out and drive in it.

Now it’s time to roll some dice and see what the weather will have in store for you today.

directions

1. Comment with your character, series, preferences, etc in the subject.
2. Roll a number between 1-5 with the RGN for an intensity.
3. Roll 1-15 with the RGN for a situation.
4. Reply to other comments and play the scenario out!
5. Don’t catch a cold!

intensity

1. DRIZZLE ☂ It’s not too heavy or too light of a downpour, just enough to wash away stuff in the air, water the ground, and clean up the streets.

2. MONSOON ☂ It’s horrible and awful! Rain is coming down in buckets, no one can get anywhere, the wind is whipping everything about, and now the cable is out.

3. SHOWER ☂ Reminds you of early spring, doesn’t it? A nice shower to make everything all green and smell fresh again. Lovely.

4. FLOOD ☂ While rain is good, it can sometimes be bad. Grab a boat!

5. CATS & DOGS ☂ You’re lucky with this one. It’s not the worst storm in the world, but it’s still pretty heavy. Be careful when driving!

prompts

1. A DARK, STORMY NIGHT ☂ You know all those stories that start off with a stormy night before something goes wrong: a murder, an attack by ninjas, a crime. It is one of the best known clichés in the world, and you’re stuck in the middle of it.

2. HUMIDITY ☂ It’s that time of the year again when the humidity rises and the rain has two options: make it worse or make it go away. Good luck getting the latter.

3. GRAY RAIN OF DEPRESSION ☂ We all know this one. Stuck in the middle of no where, or right after an argument, or something that leads to angst, the rain decides to express someone’s feelings in a physical form, serious or over the top.

4. QUIET MORNING ☂ Nothing to do, nowhere to be… sometimes the rain is a welcomed addition to a quiet day. Gives you an excuse to stay in, curl up in a warm blanket and a book, maybe a loved one or a cup of hot chocolate. With sprinkles.

5. PUDDLES ☂ After it rains, what is the number one thing you have to do? Go put on some rubber boots and splash around of course!

6. SUDDEN STORM ☂ It might have been predicted, but sometimes storms just sweep in and do their thing with little to no warning. Hope you’re not outside.

7. THUNDER & LIGHTNING ☂ Loud, surprising, scary, ominous, comforting, fantastic to watch or listen to… some like thunder and lightning, others not so much. Of course, if this happens before a big confrontation, the universe is telling you something.

8. CAN’T GET WORSE ☂ You did not say that. You did not just say that. How many times does this need to be seen in movies and books before anyone learns?

9. STUCK ☂ No, no, no, no. This cannot be happening. What happened to the ten percent chance of rain? You forgot your umbrella and now you’re stuck in it!

10. RUINED PLANS ☂ You had all these wonderful plans to go outside, have some fun in the sunshine, do some errands, maybe a date… and the weather goes against them.

11. DANCING ☂ Sometimes rain is a cause for celebration, or you just feel like doing something spontaneous. Grab someone to join you and get wet!

12. RAIN BATTLE ☂ The most intense, important battles happen in the rain. Verbal spars, punching someone in the guts; it’s all dramatic and climatic. And no one slips.

13. DATE ☂ Aww, don’t let the weather ruin your date! It can be really romantic, being out in the rain, and it’s always fun to go with the flow.

14. A DAY INSIDE ☂ Sometimes, it’s just better to stay inside and enjoy something simple and easy like board games or catching up on TV shows, or maybe the bills.

15. WILD CARD ☂ Was there something I missed? Did you want to roll again or choose your own adventure? Go for it!

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[Tea? Despite himself, Steve can't help but add a mental "ugh" to the thought. Tea. He never got the hang of tea. Bucky never did, either. A few soldiers swore by it, but Steve always preferred coffee - even if mostly for the taste, since caffeine really didn't do much for him after the serum.

But...people change. Tastes change. That's okay, Steve reminds himself. Surprising, but okay.] I don't right now. Sorry. [And his smile is apologetic, even as he adds:] But I can get you some, if it helps. [Especially if it helps him sleep. Sleeping instead of passing out has to help at least a little, right?]

[Why are you being so kind to me? The soldier lowers his gaze, What do you want?! but ... he has not had anyone do anything like that for him in a long, long time. And the thought of it is making the pain in his head go away.]

Ye...es it does help? [You do not ask. You have no demands. You are nothing. He waits to be hit and after a moment nods.] I'm sorry, I'm imposing.

No, you're not. [Bucky will wait a moment in vain. Honestly, Steve is pretty sure that if anyone's imposing, it's him. It's not like he enjoys having to drag even small details out of his friend like this...but at least it seems to be working again. At least it is helping.

And he does want to help.

So, with that, Steve gets to his feet and moves over to the laundry hamper where he'd tossed his wet clothes from earlier. Might as well not compound the problem. He adds over his shoulder as he gets changed:] You can borrow my book if you get bored while I'm gone. [Not that he should be gone long. A jog over, a job back, a stop by the front desk to see if they can actually do anything with a packet of tea. With a pause in the middle of all of that to give Sam a call.

He grabs his wallet where he'd left it on the table and adds:] I shouldn't be gone long, but are you going to be okay by yourself for a bit? [Though he finally does feel safe in assuming that Bucky will at least stick around.]

Okay. [He shakes his head] I mean. Safe. I mean...Yes.

[Oh he'll stay, that doesn't mean he won't (try) and raid the knife drawer while Steve is gone, go through all the rooms and try and leave no trace looking for information. Changing out of the trousers he stows them in a military fashion before checking each one of the windows, noting the local buildings before placing a phone call to the front desk - identifying himself as Detective Kirby asking for the names and recent comings and goings of the two neighbors on the either side of Steve.

Thankfully the guy's a bit of a gossip so Bucky's able to commit all the items to memory before hanging up. It's only then that his heart stops pounding.

Taking a position at the window in the living room, he'll sit there watching the street until Steve returns - whereupon he'll slink out of site before determining it's the same man. And he's not a direct threat. Not right now.]

[The knife drawer won't turn up anything more dangerous than a couple of butter knives, standard issue by the hotel, and Bucky's own knife. Steve got rid of the gun on the way here. Going through the rooms won't produce much in the way of information - they barely look lived in. Steve and Sam are soldiers, too, and they don't need much. The most telling thing is probably the notepad discarded on the counter by the sink, containing notes on leads and plans on where to go next. All irrelevant now.

Although Bucky might see Steve's approach through the window, he doesn't return to the room right away. Instead, he makes a detour to the front desk to ask if they can actually do anything with some of the boxed teas he bought. He explains, sheepishly but sincerely, that his friend isn't feeling well but that Steve doesn't have a lot of practice making tea. He'd done some research on his phone, standing outside the convenience store, but that was about it.

Sam was, to say the least, alarmed to hear about his morning. However, upon hearing that Bucky was mostly coherent and at least a little communicative, he said that he should probably stay out of things a little while longer, so as to avoid potentially upsetting whatever balance they were working out between themselves. He advised Steve to just try and work on keeping him calm and seeing how he felt about traveling, and Sam promised to at least stop by the front desk in the morning so they could hash things out. That, and he wished Steve all the luck. Steve hated to think that he'd need it, but knew that every little bit helped.

Fortunately, one of the counter girls proves to be something of an aficionado. It takes a while, longer than Steve would like, but she assures him that it's worth it - especially if his friend's sleep depends on it - as she passes over a cup from the employee break room, covered with some plastic wrap to keep off the rain while he gets it back to the room. She trusts him to bring it back later. Steve thanks her wholeheartedly and heads back up to the third floor, keeping to the protection of the awnings and overhangs as much as he can. His clothes can't really get much wetter, at this point.

Remembering just who was (hopefully) still inside, Steve knocked on the door and called "It's me" inside, before swiping his key card and opening the door.]

[Bucky doesn't jump out and attack him. He does however keep himself in the corner of the room curled up like an animal, the notepad is in his hands. He stares at him impassively.]

Your neighbor on your left has been working his way through a prostitution ring.

["The guy brings different ladies over every night and I know that there were at least two working girls. Y'know?"]

Your neighbor on the right is a drunk.

["We've filled the mini-bar three times! All Whiskey." and then he looks away]

I can't secure your phone.

[He still feels bad about that.]

[That is...quite the news to come back to, to say the least. For a moment, Steve finds that he can only stare blankly back at his friend, caught off guard and trying to think just what he should say in reply.

He finally settles for:] Good to know. [Followed shortly by:] Any particular reason you wanted to check?

[He had his suspicions about the guy on the left, given some of the noises they keep hearing through the walls. The guy on the right, though, that's surprising. Steve doesn't often come across quiet drunks.

Steve also tries not to feel anxious at the sight of Bucky holding his notepad - it's not like there was anything secret on it. The fact that they've been looking for him is, by now, probably pretty obvious.

It's at that point that Steve remembers just why he's here, and adds, holding up the cup for inspection:] Tea's up, by the way. It's not much - I don't really know a lot about tea - but I hope it helps. At least we managed to keep the rain out.

[He moves carefully over to Bucky's corner, the better to take a seat next to him and offer the cup.] And don't worry about the phone. Nice of you to try, though. [At least, it sounds like his intentions were good. Steve thought his phone habits were pretty secure, but apparently his friend disagreed. He thought with a wry smile that Natasha would be very disappointed in him.]

[Really Steve? You have to ask why he'd want to be sure? Why he'd want to know who was sleeping where and with whom? He sets the notepad down before accepting the tea and taking a sip.

Spending 70 years in a Russian military facility however - you gain certain habits. That's where drinking tea came from, tea that's been brewed a very specific way. When he tastes the stuff from Steve the corner of his mouth twitches. It could almost be the beginning of a smile.

It's good. It's bland as hell but it's good.] I'll have to show you how to brew it the right way.

[He breathes deep, silent for ten, fifteen minutes.] Where's your partner?

[He has to ask. Probably a silly question, given who he's talking to and the sort of training he's had, but even Steve has never seen the need to get that protective of himself. But these are different times. He should probably learn. It's easy to be trusting, when you're him.

Steve can't help it - he grins. The almost smile would have gone totally missed by anyone who wasn't looking for it, but he just happened to be looking for it.] I look forward to it. You can show me what all the fuss is about.

[After that, he goes quiet as Bucky does, giving him time to do...whatever mental gymnastics he needs to calm down and level off. Steve finds that he really is just content to sit there next to him, processing the events of the day, as long as Bucky's content to have him there. This is nice. It's too quiet, for the two of them, but compared to everything else, it's nice.]

Visiting some family in town.

I told him you were here. He said he'd be back in the morning. We...didn't want to overload you, or anything like that. [Which has more than once seemed like a real risk, so Steve is thinking they made the right call.

After a beat, he adds:] His name is Sam. You two have met. [When you ripped his wings off and tossed him off a helicarrier, for one.]

[Sam. Bucky sips his tea and considers the man across from him.]

He's not Hydra.

[It's almost a question. Almost.]

[Steve's answer is adamant and given without hesitation anyway:] He's not HYDRA. [He hasn't known Sam that long, not comparatively, but Steve trusts him. There are certain situations where it's just impossible not to come out trusting someone, as he learned quite forcibly with Natasha and Fury as well.

Hesitantly, like a man treading over thin ice, Steve presses on.] He's a good friend. I hope the two of you have a chance to talk. [Because he still thought Sam had a better chance than Steve of even beginning to unravel whatever had been done to Bucky.]

Why? [Now he sounds questioning for real. Who would want to talk to me? ] What does he want from me?

[He drinks deep of the tea, calming down.]

Mostly, the chance to get to know you in slightly more peaceful circumstances. [Basically true. You have to know someone before you know how to talk to them, after all. How to reach them. But he's not sure he wants to get into explaining that Bucky even needs "help" just yet. Steve is already getting the impression that he's going to need to work a bit to fit that in.]

...beyond that? If we want anything, we'd like you to come with us, at least as far as that friend I mentioned who can probably fix up your arm.

[he stares at him, stares, trying to put it together. Get to know him under more peaceful circumstances? The only other person who was helping him.]

The Para Rescue.

[the bird man.] I ripped his wings off. If he wants a fight over it-

[No. He doesn't.] he's SHIELD too?

No, he doesn't. [Steve says insistently, probably at the same time Bucky is thinking it. Sam hadn't exactly been happy about the suit getting torn to pieces, but...] He knows you were just...following orders.

[And was right with Steve in wanting to make sure that that particular arrangement did not continue.

As for that question...well, that was not an easy question.] We're not SHIELD, either. If there even is a SHIELD anymore. We're just us. I decided that I wanted to find you, and Sam decided that he wanted to help.

Following orders. [Bucky breathes deep. He's calm. Calmer even. He even relaxes that tense cat on a hot tin roof posture before it hits him]

You went off the grid to find me?

[He can't really comprehend that. Staring at Steve with new eyes.] Have you read my file? All of it?

[Steve realizes a bit too late that this might have been an unfortunate choice of words - they're working on trying to get Bucky to stop obsessively following orders - but it is the truth.

His friend's apparent alarm takes Steve quite aback. Bucky looks at him with new eyes, and an expression Steve finds that, in its own way, is just as difficult to read as his killing rage.] Not all of it. [When in doubt, as is often the case, he goes for honesty.] My Russian is still pretty shaky. [Was the intention to read all of his file? Heck yes.]

And I wouldn't really call it "off the grid". [Except it kind of is, because even if SHIELD did still exist, there is absolutely no way they would have been okay with this.] I mean, heck, you saw how good a job I'm doing with that with my phone.

Edited 2014-04-17 08:00 (UTC)

Not too good with that are you? [It feels right to say that. right, so right that he nearly staggers. What does he do here, smile? wrap an arm around the guy? There's real warmth in his tone. He's teasing just like he used to.

But he knows that he'd take care of it until the moment that he runs - that something hits him. But he's able to hold that in. Maybe this'll work.]

S'all right. It takes some getting used to.

[Steve can't help but laugh, at that. There's a self-depricating edge to it, as there often is, but mostly good humor.] Guess not. Good thing I've got you around to watch my back, isn't it?

[This feels right. For a moment, it's like nothing has changed. Like they both weren't lost for far longer than anyone should ever have to be, weren't changed and hurt by what's been done to them.

That couldn't be further from the truth, of course...but for a moment, it's nice to think otherwise. There's real warmth in Steve's voice as well, when he replies:] I guess you'll have to show me the ropes there, too. [Which is nothing new for them. On some level, it seems like Bucky might almost be starting to remember as much.

A touch more seriously, he adds:] So...that was our plan for the immediate future. What do you think?

[What do I think? What do I think?! that's when the hollow stare comes back. Don't think just follow orders. Don't think just follow orders. Don't think just follow orders.

His heart beats faster. What does he think? He has a right to think doesn't he? And the man can't tell him, Steve- his name is Steven Rogers, Captain America. He doesn't restrict freedom.

The silence hangs around him for a good five minutes.]

...You're not too good at being clandestine. [but. but.]

It's passable. For now.

[Steve waits patiently for Bucky to work through this latest mental block. He'd been more or less expecting it, this time. It's still the sort of question that Bucky is going to have to get used to, because Steve plans on asking it whenever he thinks he can get away with it. Because Bucky does have a right to think, and for all that "Captain" might be just a title, now, he is Captain America, and freedom is something he would fight and die for, where anyone is concerned.

Then the bad moment seems to pass. Steve smiles in relief, and, after a moment's hesitation, he does reach out to at least pat Bucky on the shoulder. A silent well done for getting this far. He can only guess how not easy it is.]

I'll take "passable". For now.

[He flinches. It's a noticeable flinch but he nods quickly trying to cover it up.

And nods]

what's your next move.

Get your arm fixed, if we can. [Steve motions at the arm in question with the hand he'd just been using to touch Bucky, almost as though trying to make them look like one movement. It's a clumsy effort, but well-intentioned.

And, since Bucky seems to be doing pretty well with names thus far:] His name's Tony Stark. You might have heard of him. [Everyone seemed to.] Does that sound okay?

[Bucky stares at him, nodding, right until that name. Tony Stark.

"Maria I'm going out, just going to get something for dinner."

"Well I'll come."

"...A beautiful seaside drive dear?"

He had listened for hours. To the whole damn house, to Tony, to all of them.

He's crying even if he doesn't sound like it. In fact he sounds normal.]

He's willing to help?

Yeah. He'll help. [Or at least, Steve is reasonably sure that he will, and reasonably sure he can talk Tony into it otherwise. Mostly, he's trusting that Tony's curiosity to get a look at whatever machinery is powering Bucky's arm will outweigh any hesitations he might have. If Tony even knows who the "Winter Soldier" is, of course.]

...if you don't mind my asking, how'd you get hurt, anyway? [He can't have been lugging that thing around at 50% capacity since their fight on the helicarrier...can he?]

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