[ 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

[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?

[ironmanic]

I don't think he's even gone down and dirty on himself if we're being honest here.

[latenightfondue]

How'd you go about that? Take some manoeuvring that, but he is kinda flexible.

When this thing ends, we gotta take Cap out, get the fella laid.

[ironmanic]

I think the trusty hand's a good replacement.

[Snick-- oh wait god he is not discussing this with-- but he's-- oh my god.]

Barnes might have a thing or two to say about that plan.

[latenightfondue]

Gets kinda old after a while, though, huh?

[ He's trying not to laugh, really, but it's not working. ]

What's with the shadow act? Cap's his own man, and if he wants to get laid then I say we help a fella out.

[ironmanic]

The whole bromance thing they've got going on. Or maybe he's just jealous.

[latenightfondue]

He's got a lot to be jealous about. Can't help being proud when I think on the part I played in creating those muscles, he could have any woman he wanted. [ Hang on. ] Bromance?

[ironmanic]

Yes, but there's a lot to say about an experiment that can't be recreated.

[Oh wait did he use slang again.]

Bromance-- you know. An unromantic but incredibly deep relationship between two guys.

[latenightfondue]

Shame that. Still, we got Cap outta it, and he ain't got any parts he shouldn't've. Not unless I forgot to mention it. Should probably check that. Erskine was a good guy, though, and y'should'a seen him paint the town red.

[ He raises an eyebrow, snorts out a laugh. ] They got labels for everything, don't they? They sure do get intense.

[ironmanic]

If the day he ran around naked on the Network didn't show anything, I'm hoping he doesn't have anything extra.

[Also amused.]

Very, very intense. It's romantic. Thus-- bromance.

[latenightfondue]

Good to know I weren't the only one taking a cheeky look or ten. Saw nothing outta the ordinary.

Y'think there's something going on there, huh? Wouldn't surprise me.

[ironmanic]

Hard not to look.

There's just a whole lot of tension between them. Not that I'm an expert at tension.

[latenightfondue]

Y'got that right, buddy, too much'a him not to spot.

Thinking we should get both of 'em laid, might clear some'a it up.

[ironmanic]

Get them drunk enough and we may have a plan going.

[latenightfondue]

We should see 'bout this, don't you think? A guys night out on the town.

[ironmanic]

Usually don't care for sausagefests, but sure. Why not- couldn't hurt, anyway.

[latenightfondue]

Y'got some interesting terminology in the future, I gotta say, but there ain't no need for no funny business.

[ironmanic]

Real challenge is getting them to agree.