tushanshu_logs | [EVENT] ONCE MORE TO THE OPEN SEA

Characters: ALL
Date: Throughout August
Location: Hatal from 1st-16th, Keeliai all month
Situation: With Tu Vishan once more awake, hurried preparations are made for the departure from the continent.
Warnings/Rating: Add warnings in subject headers as needed.

August starts much the same way as July ended, cold and stuck, but within a day or so a change is evident: at night, the bioluminescence of Tu Vishan's shell begins pulsing, in a bright, specific pattern.

Deciphered, the pattern counts down, pointing to the 16th. The citizens of Keeliai have that long to prepare, to finish their business and make any farewells they need to, before Tu Vishan resumes the itinerant lifestyle to which he was so long accustomed.

The waking of the turtle means, broadly, joy in the city, and also a bustling sense of busyness, as people who had grown comfortable in the patterns of Tavimbi-and-Keeliai find it's time to go their separate ways and rush to get affairs in order. For all that it's a departure, it's hopeful, coming as it does at a time when the state of the city is shifting as well, toward something perhaps more unified.

Tu Vishan is awake. The turtle moves.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

The call to lift the anchors is one that Steve can and will answer. He comes to the shoreline when it's time, standing tall and taking one last look at everything they're about to leave behind. But he's ready, and he feels strangely better now that Tu Vishan is awake again.

He takes a deep breath, shoulder and arm muscles already loosened up before he gets ready to pull, but not before shooting his fellow volunteer by his side a grin.

"What do you think? Slow and steady, or should we race?"

Since when have we ever gone slow and steady?

[ Bucky counters, because that is just not a thing that happens, pal. He smirks at him and pulls with great strength, already starting to haul up the anchor. ]

Better keep up, pal, or I'll win this one, too.

The only way you won is by cheating. And don't get me started on that.

[Steve nods pointedly at Bucky's arm before he starts pulling too, fist over fist, making the muscles in his arm strain. Bucky does make a good point though; restraint has never been his strong point.]

Let's make sure we don't hurt him.

[But chances are even they can't do too much damage to a giant turtle with entire cities on his back.]

Okay then, what should our next contest be? Maybe something a little more public.

Didn't this turtle lay eggs?

[ Because he's very sure this is a girl turtle. He helps him with it, adjusting to the weight and moving in sync with Steve without even trying. ]

Something a little more public? Like what?

[Steve doesn't stop, but he does slow down. Come to think of it, he did hear about eggs. And yet he's pretty sure that he's heard Tu Vishan referred to as male too.]

You're distracting me. [Steve accuses playfully, doubling his efforts to catch up.] And I don't know, I think enough people have seen us race. [They just can't seem to stop.] Maybe a boxing match?

[ Heh. Hell yes he's definitely distracting him. Bucky cracks a little smile at that, not letting up on whatever tiny headstart he's had. ]

We are not boxing. [ He says simply -- he doesn't want another reminder of the time he had almost killed Steve, violence and rage and horror raging in his veins, and Steve accepting all of it. ]

How about who can do the most pull-ups?

[Bucky rejects his idea outright, stern enough that it makes Steve wonder. It would be a little bit different this time, and not just because Bucky wouldn't actually be trying to kill him. Steve would have his guard up too, he'd punch back.]

You think you can beat me?

[Some might argue that Bucky has something of an advantage there, but Steve has enough faith in his own biceps to not be worried about it.]

Alright, you're on. Now we just have to decide on your punishment. You know, for when you lose.

[ Different or not, Bucky will not entertain the thought. Not when it comes to Steve, when the memories are so vivid in his mind, and his worst nightmares consist of Steve smiling, his face battered and bloodied beyond recognition as his last breath leaves him.

He doesn't answer that -- he doesn't want to. ]

I promise to be nice to your stupid bird. [ That's not much of a punishment; this is Bucky deciding to be a little shit, and to move as far and quickly away from the entire fight topic as possible. ] Besides, it's more likely that you'll lose. Shouldn't you be proposing your punishments to me?

[Steve considers that as he keeps working on hauling up the anchors. They can't shake on it with their hands full, but he trusts Bucky at his word.]

If that includes calling him by his name instead of 'stupid bird', you've got a deal. [He smiles a little before pondering his end of the bargain.] If I lose, I have to shine your shoes every day for a month.

[It's a starter. He's open to negotiations.]

[ Bucky will always keep his word, he could never break it, especially not to Steve, who matters more than anything in the world to him. Even if he loses, he'd lose with grace. ]

My shoes don't need shinin'. [ Nice try, buddy. ] How about buying me breakfast every day for a month?

[ The implication, of course, that he'll see him every morning for a month. ]

How about I make you breakfast every morning for a month.

[Steve doesn't mean that in the suggestive way that it sounds. But come on, buddy, buying breakfast every morning gets expensive, and he's not made out of money.

But the seeing each other every morning stays the same.]

[ Bucky thinks about that for a moment, then starts pulling harder. He's not losing this match, you punk. ]

Sounds good. [ Besides, he doesn't have to get out there every morning even on days he doesn't want to, so that's good too. He purses his lips for a moment, a thought occurring to him that he probably shouldn't ask. No, not at this time. ]

You know I'm going to win this, right?

I know you're gonna try.

[And Steve knows he's going to give it his all. He puts his focus on the anchor, hand over hand until the muscles in his arms start to ache. And when he feels that? He pulls harder.

Steve braces himself for the last tug, feet firmly planted as he hauls it up. He takes one deep breath, even if it still leaves him panting like a racehorse.]

Done.

[He looks back over at Bucky to see where his is at.]

[ Bucky's only accomplished his task scant seconds before Steve, and it's only because he's made full use of his bionic arm, which is pretty damn efficient if you asked him.

He's smirking, even if he's breathing a little heavier. ] You didn't say I couldn't use my arm. I like my eggs scrambled, and mushrooms fried with onions.

[Steve sighs before hanging his head forward. But there's a faint smile on his lips too. For once, losing isn't such a bitter pill.]

I didn't say that you couldn't use your arm. [It's true, and so Bucky won fair and square. The smile is still there when he looks up again.] 6 am?

What, and sleep in?

[ Because he knows Steve wakes much earlier than that. ] Your stupid bird wakes me at three thirty am every day.

Well, you wouldn't wanna run on a full stomach.

[Oh, Steve still plans on waking much earlier, with Sambird's help. Bucky can join him for breakfast at 6 after a casual jog first.

"Casual".]

No, I wouldn't. I still need to beat you.

[ Bucky comments -- so maybe Sambird's not such an awful critter after all. Maybe. ]

[EVENT] ONCE MORE TO THE OPEN SEA

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