[ 003 ] ★ [ Video ]

[latenightfondue]

[ The image that pops onto the screen is shaking from the moment Howard switches it on, shuffling back clumsily on the masses of sand beneath his feet, and then it lifts up to focus on a giant sand worm in the distance, teeth on show as it starts to make its way towards him. It’s a terrifying creature, bigger than anything he’s ever seen before, and it looks as if it’s out for blood.

But he doesn’t consider the danger, not when there’s a thing of beauty to capture in the name of science. He’s using his professional showmanship voice, like he’s doing nothing more than showing off a piece of technology that’s passed all safety checks and needs an audience.. ]

Would you look at that, ladies and gentleman, it ain’t something you see every day. What I wouldn’t give to get it to a lab and have someone take a look at it.

[ It disappears for a moment, burrowing deep into the ground, sand sifting through the gap it had originally appeared from. There’s nothing on the landscape for a long minute, when suddenly it bursts free from the sand. It’s too close this time, opening its great maw as though it’s seconds away from launching itself down and swallowing him whole.

Which is when the burst of gunfire sounds through the air, the worm giving an inhuman sort of noise, flinging itself back and into the sand again. The reprieve is short lived, it’s simply moving away to resurface, launch an attack from another vantage point. ]

Get the fuck out of the way... [ Bucky scrambles across the top of a dune, slides down on his feet like he can’t find purchase but moves anyway. He’s beckoning Howard towards him then. ] Stark!

[ Howard looks stunned, as if this is the last thing he thought would possibly occur, but he shakes himself out of it in time to scramble across the heated grains of sand and towards Bucky. Everything is going too fast, and even his genius mind is struggling to keep up. Action’s never been his strong front. ] What the hell’d you do to that thing?

[ He’s feeling oddly sympathetic towards it, the inhuman noises it makes as it cries out in pain making his insides squirm unnaturally, but it doesn’t last long, not when the thing takes another lunge in their direction, mouth open so wide it makes itself vulnerable in order to expose its unnervingly dangerous teeth.

Shouting out over the racket, the sand falling away beneath their feet and taking them down with it, lower and lower, and he doesn’t know how much longer it’s going to hold them with the creature unsettling it. ] You’re a soldier. Can’t you do something?

[ Bucky’s tone is dry. ] Oh hell yeah, I’ll do something.

[ Fishing something out of his pocket, he uses his teeth to pull the pin on a grenade, taking aim and lobbing it over and in to the creature’s mouth. He then has enough time to grab Howard by the shirt collar, haul him up and over the dune and shove him down. The boom from beneath (the sand worm having buried itself back in) is enough to unsettle the hill, sand falling down on them both. Howard’s device ends up a few feet away from them. There’s silence, until the surface moves, Bucky’s arm wrapped around Howard’s back as he pulls him up. He’s coughing as he wipes the sand from his eyes. ]

Fuckin’ ugh. [ Shoving the other man a little bit. ] Next time, don’t stop to take pictures of the goddamn thing trying to eat you, okay?

[ Howard scoops up the device, stands and smirks at him, the camera getting a good shot of the both of them, as if for proof. ] Y’just saved my life.

Comments

[video]

[charring]

Howard! Bucky! I've been worried about you two!

[Hi, guys! It's Charlie looking sunburned, stressed but otherwise so excited to see you guys.]

Are you guys headed to the Safe Zone?

[video]

[latenightfondue]

Lena, sweetheart, would'a look at you. [ Which means that Howard is as pleased to see her as she seems to be them.

He's got sand stuck in his hair, eyebrows, littering his face and clothes, and he's slightly shaken from the excitement, but he acts as though nothing happened. ] Think it might be time to find a ride outta here, yeah, could be going better.

[video]

[charring]

If you guys are headed here, find me. I want to see for myself you two are played.

[video]

[latenightfondue]

'Course, it's the first thing I'd wanna do as soon as I touch down over there. [ He peers at the background behind her. ] Y'having fun?

[video]

[charring]

Oh, it could be so much better. Watch out for ladies with snakes for hair. They can turn you into stone. I experienced that one first hand. [Behind Charlie? The giant buildings that serve as housing. More sand. Crowds of people.] You guys just hurry and get here, okay?

[video]

[latenightfondue]

[ He looks around, eyes slightly wider than usual, as if one of the snake women are going to creep up behind him. ] Not sure that'd be a relationship that'd end too good.

[ It look lively over there, comfortable, and what he wouldn't give for a decent up of coffee. ] Be there as soon as I can, wouldn't want to disappoint.

[video]

[charring]

It didn't for the one that got me. There was fire. It was trying to get to my friends. [Charlie, you just called Ed a friend. Are you thinking clearly here?]

I'll be waiting by the main entrance, Howard. Can't wait to see you. And tell Bucky I said hi.

[video]

[latenightfondue]

Y'got friends here? [ Ignore him for sounding so surprised. ] Yeah, if there's one thing I've learned, it's that fire ain't never a good thing.

Barney's muttering to himself, think he's regretting something, no idea what. [ But he'll pass it on anyway. ] Be there as soon as possible, sweetheart, y'got a guarantee.

[video]

[charring]

I wouldn't call Ed a friend, really. More...well, it's kind of hard to dislike someone as much as I should when they were instrumental in me surviving the desert to get here. It's complicated. I'll tell you when things aren't as crazy.

[She smiles, shaking her head slightly.] He'll get over it.

[punchedhitler]

Howard!

[Someone just got up from his nap, which he was taking while Bucky patrolled. Good job, Cap.]

[latenightfondue]

Would you look who it is.

[ He adjusts the screen, puts it straight, and grins lopsidedly. ] Y'comfortable, are you, buddy, huh?

[punchedhitler]

I haven't been comfortable all month. Are you all right?

[latenightfondue]

Sand kinda gets in-- [ No, he shouldn't be vulgar around Captain America. ] Sure, sure, ain't I always? Been in explosions worse than this.

[punchedhitler]

Can we just say everywhere?

You're not exactly a soldier, Howard. Bucky got you?

[latenightfondue]

The stuff definitely wedges itself everywhere.

Barnsey Boy came to the rescue. Y'ever notice he's kinda sexy when he does his thing? It's like I'm seeing him in a whole new light.

[punchedhitler]

Howard-

[He has but he's not gonna say that]

If he shoots you, I can't save you, you know.

[latenightfondue]

C'mon, Cap, he ain't gonna shoot me. The guy just saved my life. He loves me.

[ He turns away from the camera to flash a grin at Bucky to wind him up, it's not like it's hard. ]

'Sides, I can take care'a myself.

[ironmanic]

See, and people think I'm reckless. Clearly they've never met you.

[DAD WHAT ARE YOU DOING STOP.]

[latenightfondue]

You can't've got that reputation for no reason.

[ He eyes him suspiciously before adding defensively. ] Did y'see that thing? Everyone'd wanna capture that thing on this.

[ironmanic]

I suppose you'll see soon enough.

[~ominous~]

I don't know, I feel like I can see the inside of sandworm on a documentary somewhere.

[latenightfondue]

Do I wanna ask? I feel like I want to.

They make those now, huh? You've got way too many channels on the TV. Back in my day, kid, y'were lucky if you had one at all.

[ironmanic]

Ask all you want, but I hear actions speak louder than words anyway.

And in my day, you have more than a thousand depending on your cable or satellite package. Though most of it is weird obscure porn channels and sports.

[latenightfondue]

Yeah, I heard that one too. Gotta say I'm kinda intrigued over here.

[ And now he looks really interested. ] They got porn on the old box? I gotta sign me up for some'a that.

[ironmanic]

As you should be.

[Tony doesn't want to admit that they're a lot more alike than he thought. He's definitely not admitting that.]

Just don't let Cap walk in while you're watching.

[latenightfondue]

[ If only Howard knew the truth. ]

Yeah, that's actually a good - the guy'd be bright red. [ Curiously pondering aloud. ] Y'think he's ever got down and dirty with anyone?