Bucky Barnes (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
imfollowinghim) wrote2014-12-17 05:50 pm
imfollowinghim) wrote2014-12-17 05:50 pm
twenty three ✪ video & text
[Bucky's on deck, in the snow, wearing his Howling Commandos uniform and looking cold, but not miserably uncomfortable. His rifle's slung over one shoulder - you can see the strap - and he runs a hand through his hair briefly before speaking, shaking the snow out.]
You know, this is my fourth Christmas away from home. [And while there's definitely something kind of wistful in his expression and voice as he says it, he also doesn't seem especially broken up by it. This is more an observation than whining.] Three years ago I was in Africa, two years ago I was in London while we were putting together the Commandos, and last year, I was freezing my ass off in Bastogne.
[It comes out a little like a joke, but obviously it's not quite actually funny. You had to be there? Humor's the only way to really deal with some of this fucked up shit?]
Most everyone thought we'd whip the Germans in a couple weeks after D-Day, and we'd definitely be home by Christmas, but they broke out in the Ardennes on December 16th, caught everyone with their pants down. The 101st and a couple other units got cut off at this little Belgian town called Bastogne outnumbered five to one, with no supplies, no reinforcements, no way to get out. The Commandos were in the area anyway, so we snuck in to get them some stuff as an early Christmas present. Day after Christmas, the Third Army broke through the German line so more supplies could come in and the wounded could get evacuated, but the guys would've said they didn't need anyone coming to their rescue, and I kinda believe 'em.
I'd been through a lot of rough shit in the Army, but those guys were something else. Sitting in those foxholes, I was the coldest I've ever been, and I had gear that was designed to hold up to bad weather. They didn't, so they got trenchfoot and frostbite even if they were being careful. Hot food was a joke, the medics had to keep bottles of plasma shoved under their armpits to keep them from freezing...
[He trails off, expression caught somewhere between that same not-quite-amused look from before and just empty distance. It's not quite wistfulness, not by a long shot, but maybe something like it.]
It's nice to know that those guys won't be somewhere like that their next Christmas. Maybe they're even gonna get to be with their families. [And then Bucky just grimaces a little, mouth turning down in an unhappy frown.] The ones who got out anyway.
[Private to the Admiral]
Alright Admiral, I've never done this before (not even when I was a kid) so you're gonna have to bare with me.
- Steve: some really decent, high quality art supplies, stuff we'd never have been able to afford back home. One of the Cap war bond tour posters. I'd say his motorcycle, but no idea where he'd actually use it.
- Helena: Pictures of Sarah and Kira, either in a nice album or frames. Stroopwafels, and a dozen or so valomilks.
- Morgana: a dress you can go swing dancing in.
- Scott: a replica of Steve's shield and some new lacrosse balls since we've lost about a hundred of them throwing them around.
- Stiles: a combat knife and a paratrooper musette bag.
- Isaac: a new, practical scarf, gloves and a hat.
- Ben: new piano sheet music, something he's never played before.
- Lydia: a chemistry set.
- Kira: a record player and a couple swing records.
- Allison: a book about women warriors in history.
- Mason: some music from back home he'd like but doesn't have with him.
- Stephen & Mickey: books about the history of firearms. Make sure Mickey's has color photos and isn't boring as hell.
- Jean: some decent British tea.
- Babs: since it's declassified and all by now, an Enigma machine.
- Dillon: new roller skates.
- Luna: a microphone for the next time she does commentary.
- Ian: pictures of his brothers.
- Snafu: a bottle of decent bourbon and some cigarettes.
- Souji: some food he misses from back home.
And get everyone in boot camp a pack with basic medical supplies, emergency rations, stuff to start a fire and a D-Ration chocolate bar.
Oh, and get Steve a bottle of that calvados that French family gave him after we jumped into Normandy.
Thanks.
You know, this is my fourth Christmas away from home. [And while there's definitely something kind of wistful in his expression and voice as he says it, he also doesn't seem especially broken up by it. This is more an observation than whining.] Three years ago I was in Africa, two years ago I was in London while we were putting together the Commandos, and last year, I was freezing my ass off in Bastogne.
[It comes out a little like a joke, but obviously it's not quite actually funny. You had to be there? Humor's the only way to really deal with some of this fucked up shit?]
Most everyone thought we'd whip the Germans in a couple weeks after D-Day, and we'd definitely be home by Christmas, but they broke out in the Ardennes on December 16th, caught everyone with their pants down. The 101st and a couple other units got cut off at this little Belgian town called Bastogne outnumbered five to one, with no supplies, no reinforcements, no way to get out. The Commandos were in the area anyway, so we snuck in to get them some stuff as an early Christmas present. Day after Christmas, the Third Army broke through the German line so more supplies could come in and the wounded could get evacuated, but the guys would've said they didn't need anyone coming to their rescue, and I kinda believe 'em.
I'd been through a lot of rough shit in the Army, but those guys were something else. Sitting in those foxholes, I was the coldest I've ever been, and I had gear that was designed to hold up to bad weather. They didn't, so they got trenchfoot and frostbite even if they were being careful. Hot food was a joke, the medics had to keep bottles of plasma shoved under their armpits to keep them from freezing...
[He trails off, expression caught somewhere between that same not-quite-amused look from before and just empty distance. It's not quite wistfulness, not by a long shot, but maybe something like it.]
It's nice to know that those guys won't be somewhere like that their next Christmas. Maybe they're even gonna get to be with their families. [And then Bucky just grimaces a little, mouth turning down in an unhappy frown.] The ones who got out anyway.
[Private to the Admiral]
Alright Admiral, I've never done this before (not even when I was a kid) so you're gonna have to bare with me.
- Steve: some really decent, high quality art supplies, stuff we'd never have been able to afford back home. One of the Cap war bond tour posters. I'd say his motorcycle, but no idea where he'd actually use it.
- Helena: Pictures of Sarah and Kira, either in a nice album or frames. Stroopwafels, and a dozen or so valomilks.
- Morgana: a dress you can go swing dancing in.
- Scott: a replica of Steve's shield and some new lacrosse balls since we've lost about a hundred of them throwing them around.
- Stiles: a combat knife and a paratrooper musette bag.
- Isaac: a new, practical scarf, gloves and a hat.
- Ben: new piano sheet music, something he's never played before.
- Lydia: a chemistry set.
- Kira: a record player and a couple swing records.
- Allison: a book about women warriors in history.
- Mason: some music from back home he'd like but doesn't have with him.
- Stephen & Mickey: books about the history of firearms. Make sure Mickey's has color photos and isn't boring as hell.
- Jean: some decent British tea.
- Babs: since it's declassified and all by now, an Enigma machine.
- Dillon: new roller skates.
- Luna: a microphone for the next time she does commentary.
- Ian: pictures of his brothers.
- Snafu: a bottle of decent bourbon and some cigarettes.
- Souji: some food he misses from back home.
And get everyone in boot camp a pack with basic medical supplies, emergency rations, stuff to start a fire and a D-Ration chocolate bar.
Oh, and get Steve a bottle of that calvados that French family gave him after we jumped into Normandy.
Thanks.