action | party mingle

[seeingscarlet]

Who: Wanda, Bucky, and you!
Broadcast: No
Action: Iskaulit
When: March 10

[It's a double birthday party! There's pizza with slightly strange cheese and cake. And probably shenanigans.

...definitely shenanigans.]

Comments

[outstandingbalance]

No. Figured I'd let the big eaters at it first, make sure none of you don't get enough.

[She smiles pointedly. She's known these boys long enough to know how they put away food.]

Besides, I got some ice cream.

[stillgotmyleftarm]

Yeah, that's a surefire way to make sure you get none at all. Steve's kinda oblivious.

[And Bucky might have surreptitiously trained him to eat everything on his plate, which generally meant all the stuff Bucky was sneaking onto Steve's plate from his own.]

Although ice cream does make pretty much anything better. Are you a chocolate or a vanilla kinda girl?

[outstandingbalance]

[She arches an eyebrow, tipping her head slightly. He's right, and she does know it. But she'll live with that somehow.]

He wants it more than I do.

[And she likes seeing him happy.]

And most ice cream is good ice cream.

[stillgotmyleftarm]

[Bucky laughs softly.] Maybe he does. You just never seemed like the kinda gal to go down without a fight.

[But then, she's likely very good at conceding without people ever knowing she's conceding. So that's more of a tease than an actual observation.]

It's true, although I've gotta admit, I'm not really sure about that hot pink option the Vision brought.

It's nice to see you here, though. Glad you came.

[outstandingbalance]

But I the kind who picks her battles. [Confirming his line of thought. The fact is, it's not always true. If it were, she'd never have joined SHIELD.

But here she is.]

I'm glad I came too, suspicious ice cream aside.

Not like I had anything better to do.

[stillgotmyleftarm]

Which is a highly redeeming quality, when a guy's used to Steve-I'll-fight-anything-that-moves-Rogers.

[He does chuckle.] That sure makes this special day special. Nothing better to do, what a compliment.

What does a gal like you do around here? Aside from keep ships ship-shape.

[outstandingbalance]

Maybe more of a compliment than you realize. We don't celebrate all that many birthdays around here.

[At least, Natasha never celebrates her own. She's not the only one either.]

As for what there is to do... depends what you want to do. Workout. Drink. Try karaoke?

[stillgotmyleftarm]

Well, that's a shame, then.

I mean, Steve's is only a couple months away. If we start now, I bet we can plan something extra embarrassing.

[He feels like Natasha might be inclined to help him out with that one.]

You sing karaoke.

[Skeptical Bucky sounds skeptical. But maybe kind of hopefully impressed.]

[outstandingbalance]

[He's not wrong that she'd be able and willing to help him throw a birthday party for Steve. If the opportunity arises.]

You think I'd embarrass one of my best friends?

[Yes. The answer is yes.]

And I wouldn't say I sing karaoke. I'd say there's been times when people have engaged in it for fun.

And when that happened, I may have let myself be talked into it.

But it's not a hobby.

[Important distinction.]

[stillgotmyleftarm]

I think it'd be an insult to us both for me to say no.

[So - yes. Yes, he thinks she would.]

Not everything has to be a hobby.

[But that does not change the fact that he would absolutely 100% like to see her sing karaoke.]

Besides, working out isn't a hobby, either. [It's pretty much her job.]

[outstandingbalance]

Well... you're not wrong.

[But only in good humor. Not really embarrassing.

She's always sure Steve is laughing with her.]

And working out is a hobby if you enjoy it. Especially around here.

How often does a girl get the opportunity to spar with super soldiers and aliens?

[She says it flippantly; that still sounds like her job, doesn't it?]

[stillgotmyleftarm]

[Bucky's on board with that. There's a line between embarrassing someone in a good way and a bad way. He will never be the kind of person who does the latter.

Of course, he snorts at that, because,] I'm pretty sure the answer to that question is more often than it really should be, Romanoff.

Speaking of which. My schedule's wide open if you ever wanna give it a go.

[Color him curious, okay.]

[outstandingbalance]

As long as you think you'd be able to keep up. [The answer is a wry, soft deadpan. She has a pretty good idea how things would stack up between them in a fair fight.

She's not intimidated by that.]

I'd be more than happy to give it a go.

[stillgotmyleftarm]

[Bucky's grin is small, but lopsided.]

I think I might stand a good chance. And there's only one way to find out.

You just tell me where to be, and I'll be there. Not like there's a whole lot of other duties that need my attention. I've got wrangling Steve down to a couple hours a day, max - although it's harder from a different ship.

[outstandingbalance]

I'll message you sometime when I'm free. Or you can just hang out around the gym enough. I show up there on the regular, so.

[So it's an easy place to run into each other.]

[stillgotmyleftarm]

[Bucky chuckles a little.] It probably says something about me that I'm probably planning to hang around the gym plenty, too.

[But he'll keep both options in mind, really.]

I look forward to it. Winner buys the other a drink?

[It's more fun with a little motivation involved, he thinks.]

[outstandingbalance]

See, now I believe you think I'll win.

[Amusement warms her voice and shades her smile, for a moment looking less tired than she has recently.]

It's a deal.

[stillgotmyleftarm]

That's how it's supposed to work, right? Assume you'll kick my ass until proven otherwise?

[He grins.]

[outstandingbalance]

Could be. Not the tactic most people take, but...

[It's probably for the best to have a healthy respect for Agent Romanoff, all things considered.]

It doesn't mean I'll go easy on you.

[stillgotmyleftarm]

[That is definitely a thing Bucky has learned.]

You'd better not. I want that drink to be worth it.

[outstandingbalance]

You sound like you already know what you want. [Teasing, still.] Should I guess? A beer? Or more of a whiskey man?

[stillgotmyleftarm]

I mean, who am I to potentially turn down a free drink?

It depends on the day. And the workout. But I'm thinking whiskey.

What about you? Vodka, or is that too obvious?

[outstandingbalance]

I'd say that's a stereotype, but I have too much vodka on Vanquish right now to say it with a straight face.

That said... depends on the day.

[stillgotmyleftarm]

[Bucky shrugs good-naturedly.] Sometimes you've gotta take the stereotype and run with it.

Hopefully it'll be a good day, either way. Honestly, I'd usually much rather spar against someone than hit a bag, anyway. Way more engaging.

[The only times he really prefers hitting the bag are the times he wants to break something.]

[outstandingbalance]

A lot more likely to hit back. Given the chance.

[Her tone is light, half teasing. Maybe more than half.]

Though I probably shouldn't pick on you, since its your birthday and all.