MOD LOG #3

[bequiet]

MOD LOG #3

Arriving in style
Content Warnings: Fighting, death, violence
Themes: Survival, plot

It's early in the day when it happens. The red dust that seems to be everywhere sweeps through the city streets, mixing with the steady patter of rain and making it hard to see and breathe. All red and leaving the taste of copper if inhaled, what could have been an easy day without any trouble quickly becomes anything but. While those in the community are heading for cover or finding ways to continue on through it, the new arrivals begin waking up in different cities all over the world. There won't be anyone to greet them, and leaving the room through the door is their choice - after doing so, they'll immediately step out into the city they were assigned. The streets are empty, houses abandoned, everything crumbling and in ruins. There will be signs noting their location, which they'll catch a glimpse of before a sharp push forward causes darkness to engulf them.

Waking up for the second time, in Reims but not in the Reset Room, they'll come to inside the red dust as it whips through the streets of the community. They won't be alone for long. Another person will be waking up beside them, and after a few moments of disorientation, try to attack. They might have weapons or use their hands, and they will not stop until they've taken a fatal blow. Their blood is dust, and they, along with their weapons, disintegrate after they've died. Can you stop them on your own? Will someone come to your aid?

The Sight of Lightning
Content Warnings: Poison, sex
Themes: Survival, plot

The day after the storm, the same red dust will find its way through Reims and come into contact with every person. Since the dust is everywhere, some might not notice that it's floating through the community and know that something is off. The effects don't begin until night fall, where everyone will feel the desire to seek out companionship of many different kinds. Though it is not always the case, the people that saw each other in color will "want" to be with that person more strongly than they might already, and will be more likely to confess or do something about it. Some might feel an intense need to be around another person, though not necessarily sexually - almost as if they need that person around them to be happy or content. For some, it might be a desire that can only be fulfilled by more than one person.

The effects wear off the next time the person gets wet. This can be a splash of water across the face or fully submerged. Or even drinking something.

OOC
From your mods:

Please be mindful of content - if something triggery comes up or if it goes up a rating to say, something sexy, mark your threads in the subject line. We're very flexible and allow any material; we just want our players to be respectful of each other. If you have questions, pp the mod account, use the faq or comment to the appropriate post below. Have fun! The OOC Plotting Post.

NAVIGATION

---

Comments

[flyguy]

[He actually surveys Bucky for several heatbeats. That kind of look where you're recognizing what you're seeing and hating life for it. It's not that he can't be entirely mean here or that Bucky isn't half doing the job for him. It's that it's entirely too easy.

And on some level? Maybe he's a little insulted. Sure they haven't discussed it, but Rogers left. For Bucky. Who remained behind to pick up the slack? It sure as hell wasn't Barton.]

Not sure whether to be more insulted you think I can't lay you out flat or the kids aren't equipped with tasers. Grab a car Barnes. Charles Ingalls you are not, sorry to burst the dream.

[lednikovyy]

[ Bucky shakes his head in disbelief. It's not that he doesn't think Stark can take him. Of course he can take Bucky. Bucky has a sense of mercy. The programming in his head has no such compunctions. If anything activates that, he really doubts that Stark could take him in close-range combat or anything else.

Of course, he's not going to tell Stark that. Teasing aside, he's not actually trying to piss the guy off.

With a smile and a nod, he starts walking over to the kids, big friendly smile plastered on his face. ]

You have to play babysitter.

[flyguy]

[“You have to play babysitter.” The words type across the lenses of Tony's glasses, a view filled with numbers, highlighted entrances, load bearing walls and more. He's already way ahead of Bucky. Safety protocols, boss? F.R.I.D.A.Y. asks only to Tony.

He shoves his hands in his pockets as he watches the man approach the kids. No. Stand down. Bucky is clearly worried about himself. Understandable. Tony's not. He hasn't forgotten in Siberia Bucky didn't once try to kill him. Which had made the whole thing sting all the more, but those are the kind of feelings you don't talk about. Pepper's the only one who knows. It's going to stay that way.]

Does this mean I get to send you to bed if you don't eat your vegetables?

[It’s a crack thrown out amongst the children's' devices syncing up with Bucky's and the floodgates letting loose. Is everyone from his world half metal, can he take control of electronics like Mr. Stark's glasses, does he have other abilities, what's the crushing power of his arm— They're no strangers to off-worlders, that's clear. In the process Bucky gets situated with two cars to choose from. A green lamborghini with a broccoli stalk painted on the side and a black monster truck with flames.]

[lednikovyy]

[ Kids. How long has it been since he's really been around them like this? It would have been before the War. He thinks of the neighborhood boys running around long after he and Steve had outgrown it, thinks of his sisters and then his smile isn't so forced. There'd been a time when he'd been really good with kids. He just has to tap into that.

He sits on the ground with the kids, answering their questions patiently with some self-censoring as he chooses the broccoli car.

No, he's the only part-metal man he knows. No, he doesn't have other powers. Yes, they can touch it if they're careful. Yes, it hurt a little at first, but that was a long time ago and he's not in pain now. ]

Does playing with a vegetable car count?

[flyguy]

[The feeling of doing the right thing and hating doing it at the same time is a weird one. He supposes it's something he has to get used to though. For a multitude of reasons, not just Bucky. Still, in this case at least, it's a very bitter pill to swallow.

All he can think is he could have his parents here instead. But those things he wishes he'd said to them before they left are going to stay unsaid it seems.]

Depends on if you win or not. Nobody gets anywhere by losing. You think you can take down my protégés?

[lednikovyy]

Your proteges? Could be a challenge.

[ He's doing this more for the kids, now, who he's obviously going to let win at anything they compete in, but he smiles up at Stark. It's getting easier to look at him, but he's not sure if that's really a good thing. He doesn't want to forget what he's done or what he's capable of. ]

I'm feeling like I might be outclassed here.

[flyguy]

[Completely unlike him Tony crosses his arms and leans back against the building behind him.]

Win and I'll give you what you really want.

[Annnd of course he has to ruin this. Why? Because in some ways knowing Bucky is here is like having an open wound that can never close until he manufacturers an end.

He knows Bucky must crave forgiveness. So here he is offering it up on a silver platter. What's it going to be: that forgiveness or the kids?]

[lednikovyy]

[ The smile drops off of Bucky's face, but he forces it quickly before the kids can really take notice. He can't tell if this is some kind of test or a sick joke, but he's not going to upset a bunch of kids for something selfish, especially something he knows he doesn't really deserve.

Instead of answering, he throws himself into playing with the kids and when it comes down to it, he lets them win, because that's what you do with kids where he's from. You try just enough to let them think they won and then you congratulate them and send them to play with the other kids.

Once the kids have run off, the smile drops from Bucky's face for real and he turns back to Stark. ]

You're a real piece of work, you know that?

[flyguy]

If I am it's only because you made me one.

[He's not one to give credit where it isn't due, but— Bucky will never understand just what he did. The passing of the man Tony both chased after and feared. His mother, who was his staunchest protector from his father's abuse. And young him, suddenly head of a multi billion dollar company with the world set to devour.

He doesn't want to think about this. It just reminds him the only person he had to help him through those hellish times, Obadiah, had tried to murder him. He passes an hand over his face, eyes glassy with unshed tears. If Bucky notices he can fuck right off. Tony won't break down. Crying never helped anything.

His father taught him that.]

You should go.

[He'd like to say it's because Bucky has those rabbits to take care of. But honestly Tony has reached his limit for today.]

[lednikovyy]

[ Bucky's training doesn't let him miss much, but he's not going to comment on the look on Stark's face right now. He did that. Howard's blood is on his hands, brainwashing or not, and he remembers it all more vividly than anyone can imagine. Stark doesn't have to forgive Bucky. In fact, he shouldn't. Bucky still hasn't forgiven himself.

That's not why Bucky's pissed off right now, though. ]

Don't drag children into this. You want to rake me over the coals, you do it yourself.

[ He stands up and stares Stark down. With the smile gone, Bucky looks much more the part of a capable killer. It's not something he wants to be, but it's something he is and something he's very good at. He has to work to look approachable and ordinary these days. This is his default. ]

[flyguy]

[The look would bother him if he hadn't seen the consequences that come after such looks. He's bearing those scars already. He doesn't fear looks anymore. It is the fuel he's craving for a confrontation though. Kind of hard to fight a guy who mopes 24/7.

He returns it with an hard face.]

You know that's the least of what I want to do to you.

[Is there a day he's going to look at Bucky and not see the man choking the life out of his mother? He has to have hope and assume so, but it's not today. His hands flex and—]

But you're right. I lost my cool. [A pause.] I'm working on it. Not hating your guts isn't as easy as turning off a light. There's no switch to flip. I can't snap my fingers and just make it happen.

[lednikovyy]

[ If there was a switch like that, Bucky would have found it by now. It might quiet the voice in the back of his head that reminds him that he's a monster whenever he tries to forget. This is just his life now. He's easy to hate and he deserves it. Hell, he'd told Steve he probably wasn't worth all of this. ]

No kidding. You want to hit me? Do it. Don't pull innocent people into it.

[flyguy]

[Tony looks away struggling to keep his own anger back. The urge to do something is strong. Idly he holds up his hand, off hand wrapping around the wrist. Around the watch there.]

If I hit you I’m not going to be able to stop.

[It’s an admittance that pulls all the wind out of him. Because that’s not him. He’s killed people, but they’ve always been in his way, wouldn’t stay down. The last time he was angry like this he was rushing off to the Middle East left and right to destroy weapons that were his.

... He looks back at Bucky.]

They’re kids, not soufflés. I promise losing a race won’t damage their fragile egos. They lose five a day to me.

[Let children win? Please, psh. But anyway... He rolls his shoulders and drops his hands, shoving them into his pockets where the tech on his wrist can’t hurt anyone.]

But message received. You’ll beat me like Sunday school if I take any more digs at your surprisingly chaste emotions. Anything else?

[lednikovyy]

[ Bucky almost snorts, barely catches himself. There's nothing chaste about him. There hasn't been in a long time. He hadn't even wanted to play with the kids. He'd done it because Stark had goaded him into it and sure, he'd enjoyed it. Kids remind him of who he was before the War, not just before he was the Winter Soldier. In some ways, he'd been just as naive as Steve had been back then and he'd give a lot to have his worries boiled back down to his sisters and mother and Steve and making sure they were all fed and warm. Those worries seem simple compared to what he has to contend with now.

He starts to type something, deletes it, bends to pick up his rabbits and shakes his head. What does he say to that? There's nothing he can do to fix any of this. He can't even fix himself, so he just turns to go.

Stark knows where to find him if he changes his mind. It's not like Bucky can't take a few dozen punches. It's the very least he could do. ]

[flyguy]

[It’s not until Bucky’s been out of sight for a bit that Tony turns and throws a punch at the wall, stopping a few inches before contact. The rage that covers his face isn’t close to what Bucky saw. So much for keeping his feelings to himself. Using children? Really? This isn’t working. He won’t say he can’t do this, he dislikes saying he can’t do anything. But, like everything else here, he needs to be able to tolerate Barnes by yesterday.

It’s hard to make sure a man makes it home in one piece when you want to pulverize the life out of him every time you see his face. New plan: he’s calling Kara.

Also he probably should have mentioned now that the kids have played with Bucky they’ll seek him out. So. Welcome to his hell Barnes.]