★ 2 ★

[stillgotmyleftarm]

WHO: Adult!Bucky!Cap and you?
WHERE: Around this snowy planet they're on.
WHAT: It's tough to be an adult when your best-friend-slash-boyfriend is not. Or, come to think of it, most of the people you know...
WHEN: Anytime during the Us Make For They event~
WARNINGS: Just Bucky-appropriate swearing, I think?

Bucky knew better than to just shove the first - or fifth - thing he came across in the village into his mouth. And once he saw the effect it was having on others... well, he doubly knew better. Which means, of course, now he is one of only a few adults in a sea of super-powered and/or hyperactive children. It... kinda feels like old times, except during actual old times, Steve was a lot easier to keep up with.

Either way - Bucky's got experience. He can be found doing his best to chase down kids and make sure they're dressed warmly enough, not getting into too much trouble, and getting enough non-candy items to eat. Once the candles appear and start multiplying, he might start hoarding the ones he can get his hands on - some of which turn out to be power crystals, so hey. There's that. His bunk on the Bloodsport - which is where he goes to catch catnaps, few and far between though they might be (thank God for being a super soldier) - has started to accumulate what looks like a year's worth of candles and power crystals on, around, and underneath it. Look, you can never have too many supplies.

After a day or two, he decides he's calling in reinforcements over the network:

Adults, sound off. We should each try taking a couple of kids apiece, based on who's got the resources to manage which powers or abilities or whatever. If we split up the responsibility, I think we've got the best chance at keeping everything under control.

I call Steve. And anyone else no one wants to handle, I guess.

He also shoots his beardy, metal-armed counterpart a text after he discovers the sweaters their hosts left for them: Hey. I think we're supposed to share. You want first dibs?

Comments

[Network]

[thrawnsaide]

Hello, I'm able to help out and watch over the kids as well.

[Network]

[stillgotmyleftarm]

[Relived Bucky looks relieved. He will take any and all help he can get.] Okay, good.

I think first, we gotta figure out who all's kids. And maybe just... spread 'em around.

[Network]

[thrawnsaide]

I'll admit some of them are hard to recognize who they are. I'll list any names that come to mind. How many were you able to figure out?

text

[outstandingbalance]

You call Steve, huh? Guess I can't blame you if you can't handle more than just the one kid if that's who you've already got on your hands.

Re: text

[stillgotmyleftarm]

I mean, if you want to try wrangling Steve...

Your boy's still over the drinking age, right?

[ Network ]

[myinspiration]

I'll be happy to help with watching over the children. Splitting up the responsibility sounds good. I might be able to help the ones with abilities. I have a means to defend myself if it gets too out of hand.

[ Network ]

[stillgotmyleftarm]

I figure if it all falls on one person, we're gonna have problems, you know?

What kinda means, can I ask?

network

[waywardking]

Are we talking 's'posed to be adults' or 'are currently adults'?

[That is a kid's voice. But shh, that's not important at the moment.]

Re: network

[stillgotmyleftarm]

Currently adults, pal.

But what I really mean is able to help take care of each other. So, if you wanna tell me your name, you might be on that list.

[There's that thing about honey and flies, after all.]

[ Network ]

[bossofspace]

[Carol looks to be somewhere between 9 and 12, and she folds her arms defiantly.]

I don't need to be handled.

Re: [ Network ]

[stillgotmyleftarm]

Nah, that's just Steve.

[And you. Definitely you.]

You seen him?

text

[theladyofwinterfell]

Captain Barnes, are you worn out by a few children? I would be delighted to help, even with Steve. I can imagine even you have to sleep at some point.

Re: text

[stillgotmyleftarm]

Hey, I've got plenty of practice keeping kids in line.

But if you're looking to get in some practice...

Steve counts as, like, ten kids. At least. I'm warning you now.

[network]

[tiedonastring]

[Have a challenging glare from a young Hux.]

I don't need any help. I watch over my own army kids. Why should we trust you?

Re: [network]

[stillgotmyleftarm]

[Huh. Well, you're either being a brat, or you're actually responsible. A guy can hope for the latter.]

Well, you don't have to trust me. But maybe you could try giving me a chance?

If you're used to being in charge, that's good. We could use someone like you.

Network

[wearingthestars]

Sounding off. I can handle Tommy, not sure anyone else will be able to keep up with him.

Re: Network

[stillgotmyleftarm]

Honestly? That would be great.

[He is A Handful even when he's not... however old he is, now.]

You let me know if you need a hand, though.

text;;

[reconstitution]

Go ahead, I'm probably more tolerant to cold than you are.

You get a count of all the kids running around?

Re: text;;

[stillgotmyleftarm]

Yeah, but do you like it? I do already have a coat.

[But he doesn't blame you if you don't want this weird-ass sweater. He'll... probably use it as an extra blanket. For Steve.]

I think so. As long as no one else decided to eat the chocolate for fun or profit... Nat says she can watch Steve for a bit sometime, you might want to document that.

[brooklyn_boy]

Steve just about waits for Bucky to be finished with that text when he jumps onto the other's back and tosses fistfuls of snow down the front of his shirt. He laughs, all of seven years old and giddy at the chance to play with Bucky again. Even if he's weird and big and sometimes not all that fun. Boring adult.

"C'mon, Buck! Snow! There's snow outside! Can we make a snowman?" Nevermind the four he already tried to build before losing interest. "Or can we get hot cocoa? Or more of the candies? Something!"

[stillgotmyleftarm]

Excuse you, Steve. Bucky is a very fun adult.

He just also knows you, and wants to make sure you don't, you know, break something important. Yourself included. Even if you do have powers you didn't have the first time you were seven.

But there is something weirdly endearing to be said for being forced to play in the snow with your best-friend-slash-boyfriend. Bucky doesn't entirely feel like a kid again, but... he maybe can't help wanting to play along a little, either.

He does yelp - admittedly, some of that is for show - and grabs at Steve's hands, holding him onto Bucky's back while he spins around a couple of times, leaving Steve's legs swinging. "How about some cocoa?" he decides, because that seems safe - no one has suffered adverse effects from that (that he knows of) - and while he's all for adding another snowman to the pack, he isn't sure how long that will keep Steve entertained. "And maybe we could... uh, color?" He's got some of Steve's old art supplies - thank you SANTA? - and maybe those will keep him occupied for a couple more minutes than playing in the snow.

[tempredmental]

who sasy we need handling

[stillgotmyleftarm]

I do, kid.

I know most of you can take care of yourselves, but someone should keep track of everyone. We're in a strange place, right?

Video - Typing is a thing that baffles her

[tingmoonshadowpowers]

I guess I could babysit if you really feel overwhelmed.

[Was she kidding? Hard to tell. Also, she was young. Had she been reverted or not?]

Video - he totally gets it!

[stillgotmyleftarm]

[It is... hard to tell, but Bucky also knows that just because someone is young doesn't mean they're irresponsible. Plenty of kids - including himself - looked after younger ones.]

Yeah? That'd be a help. I just figure one or even two people shouldn't look after everybody. That keeps it more manageable.