3896/Super Soldiers Don't Need Arm Floaties

Super Soldiers Don't Need Arm Floaties
Date of Scene:	22 October 2020
Location:	Olympic Pool: Triskelion
Synopsis:	No description
Cast of Characters:	James Barnes, Steve Rogers

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James Barnes has posed:
They were sparring, earlier. Running through training, with that ease and unconscious synchronization that comes from all the years they fought by each other's side....and fought against each other. Enough to make the eyes of the watching SHIELD trainees pop.

Now, though, it's well-earned relaxation. Buck's in board shorts and rashguard (no desire to display the seam of scarring where the arm joins the body)....and one of the deadliest assassins in the world is losing a fight with a glittery inflatable unicorn. Its vapid grin never wavers as it rolls over and dumps Bucky into the deep end *again*.

Steve Rogers has posed:
And this time, in this particular bout, there was no destruction of wall material. This time.

Steve, in his druthers, has a pair of pool noodles to his name and he's slung his arms over them to float in place doing a lazy tread in the deeper water. He's in the middle of trying not to slip from them and red to his ears with restrained laughter barely kept behind a hand. His blond hair is a damp crow's nest from its latest shake-out.

"You - you - you tell that unicorn what for, Buck," he manages before dissolving into another helpless round of laughter. It's about as undignified as a cat with socks on, the sight of Barnes yet again failing to wrangle the mythical confection of inflatable pool material.

James Barnes has posed:
Buck shoots him a glare past the rainbow tail, as he treads water hard enough to try and rise up a little more and grab it by its vinyl mane. Like nothing so much as a wet cat, the way his features are pinched. There's a ridiculous squeaking of metal against it. "Like you could do better," he retorts. "C'mon, Captain America. Come on over here and prove you can ride the unicorn."

Steve Rogers has posed:
"Oh, no, no, I don't wanna deprive you of your fun," the Captain says, waving a hand dismissively even as he frets his lip against more laughter. "You're doing a great job showing Sparkles there what for. Maybe see about grabbing an ear, it might not flip on you next time."

Spoiler: physics will pan out as the floatie flipping Bucky yet again into the water if he tries this.

"Where'd you find this thing anyways?" Kicking as he leans his weight onto his folded arms across the pool noodles, the blond meanders in the direction of the floatie fiasco, still smirking.

James Barnes has posed:
He takes Steve's advice. Of course he does. And of course, it turns out badly for him. His immediate reply is muffled by water.

When James gets his head above the surface, there's sputtering before he answers....and then there's that old, sheepish grin. "Closet full of water workout gear over there," he says, nodding at an anonymous door in the wall of the pool room. "Uninflated, but it didn't take me long to get Sparkles back in action." Apparently it has a name, now.

Steve Rogers has posed:
Ah, the dimples: proof that he's appreciative of his own successful prank. Knowing Barnes won't drown keeps him from reaching for him after the repeated dumping from the floatie and he again treads water nearby like some delightfully-muscled, patriotic jellyfish.

A glance over at the door and back at Sparkles, brows lifted. "What'n the hell's anybody doing stashing that there? Can't think of anybody who'd want to use it for a drill." A beat. "'mean, unless it was a balance drill. Maybe you could help run it." Lifting a flared hand out of the water, Steve grins at his oldest friend.

James Barnes has posed:
He promptly gets a faceful of water. Once upon a time, when Steve was reedy and frail, Bucky was protective, even solicitous, of his scrawny little friend. Steve was only allowed to swim in the hottest part of summer, lest he take a chill.

Now, of course, that Steve's a roaming slab of beefcake, Buck has no such consideration. "I got no idea," he admits. "Not a clue. Maybe a joke? Maybe a test for phobia of water unicorns. I dunno. Pool sure is nice here, isn't it?" A glance around. "It's really nice to be able to wear clothes in the pool."

Steve Rogers has posed:
Spluttering and running his hand down his face, the Captain then slicks back his hair, giving his fellow friendly cyborg an amused scowl.

"Phobia of water unicorns," he mutters, entertained by the idea. Habitually, he follows the sergeant's gaze, marking the lack of fellow agents. The Triskelion is never really quiet, not at heart, but this late at night, not many opt to dabble about in the olympic-sized pool.

"Sure is nice," the man agrees. He's in a t-shirt with his board shorts as is, a slightly oversized affair that wrinkles on his torso. "Makes me think of trying to swim off the beach. It was fun 'til the waves tumbled me. Never did like the taste of saltwater. Y'know the taffy they make with salt? 'nd the salted caramel? Just...why, Buck." Steve wrinkles his nose. It's an old, undying gripe of his.

James Barnes has posed:
There's that smirky little grin. "It's a thing," he informs Steve, eyes dancing. "I'm sure it is. Even if you and I never had to fight 'em." Sparkles' head bobs, as if in agreement, as the unicorn floatie rocks on the ripples they've stirred up.

"Yeah, it got you every time. I like salt caramel, though. Starbucks makes a drink with it, it's great." Because Buck follows the menu changes there with close attention. Though he's firmly rejected pumpkin spice lattes.

Steve Rogers has posed:
Steve gives Bucky a flat look. "'m not gonna fight your pool unicorn. It's mocking you though. Look at it smile," the man notes, pointing at it. Sparkles indeed continues to wear its vapid grin, large eyes full of shine and undying menace -- er, charm.

"You tried those pumpkin spice lattes yet? They're not half-bad. Didn't really know what I was getting into, the idea of using a squash to flavor a hot drink, but the spices make it tolerable." Nothing the brunet's expression, the Captain outright belts a laugh. "No? That bad?"