Whether it was forgetting to eat or sleep in the name of science, she was typically so focused on her work especially when she was close to a breakthrough. Her research in recreating a portable, more convenient Bifrost Earthside to allow for easier travel across space was getting closer to becoming more than just a theory. More than just an idea.
She'd finally found a strong enough power source, courtesy of Stark Enterprises. She triple checked her math and then went for it. One minute, she was in her lab, watching as her device powered on, and the next, there was a blinding, glowing light that enveloped all of her senses. She had a strange sensation of falling. Her stomach did a nauseous swoop, but when her vision cleared, she was standing.
She was standing in what looked like New York City. Brooklyn. Only everything didn't look right. It wasn't quite as crowded and all the hipster coffee shops and boutiques weren't there. It was the cars that she truly noticed first. They were bigger and louder, heavier too, as roared down the streets. It was the fashion next. Darcy looked sorely out of place in her fitted blue jeans and chunky purple sweater. She ducked into an alley and pressed herself against the wall. This was not good. This was very not good.
"Oh, frack," she muttered to herself. She needed a moment to recalibrate and figure out her next move when a man strolling down the sidewalk spotted her. She saw his leer a mile away.
"Your mama let you out the house dressed like that?" he called out to her as his eyes raked her over.
Bucky wasn’t the sort of Knight In Shining Armor that his buddy Steve was but he also didn’t take kindly to people disrespecting others. He especially didn’t like it when guys did it to women, so when he heard the lug head call out to the admittedly oddly dressed woman, he had to say something.
“Hey, didn’t anyone ever teach you to treat women with respect,” Bucky called out. While he wasn’t overly tall he was broad shouldered and cut an intimidating figure in his uniform. Besides, he’d grown up in Brooklyn with Steve as a friend so he knew how to handle himself and people usually picked up on that.
“Hey, sorry man, I didn’t mean anything by it,” the guy said.
“I’m not the one you need to apologize to. Tell her you’re sorry then scram,” Bucky warned him. The guy quickly sputtered out an apology before taking off.
“Sorry about that,” Bucky said, flashing the woman a smile. “Some guys can be a real asshole around a pretty girl.”
Darcy's hand went to her side where she usually kept her taser. She found nothing but air which made sense. She didn't have her bag on her in the lab. She grimaced a little because while she knew she could give this dude the verbal lashing he deserved, she hated being at a disadvantage. Before the creep could go any further, another voice intervened. To her surprise, she came face to face with Bucky Barnes. Not how she'd see him now though. This was like he'd walked right off the pages of history book with his uniform and jauntily tipped hat.
She was so taken aback that wasn't able to give the man the piece of her mine like he deserved. Soon, she was getting an apology from him before he turned tail and made himself scarce. She blinked a little because this was all happening much faster than her brilliant brain could process.
She knew that she was staring at Bucky which was rude in of itself, but she was also blatantly checking him out. His smile made his eyes twinkle with devilish mischief. She could easily see how he'd gained the reputation of being a ladies' man. But it was so different from the man she'd seen around the present. That man had long hair. He hunched his shoulders as if physically trying to make his presence less intimidating. His eyes were haunted.
This Bucky didn't have any of that. She'd sent herself right into the past. She swallowed hard as she considered her options. "Thank you," she managed out. "Mind telling me today's date? Like with the year?"
Bucky didn’t mind her staring, it wasn’t like it had never happened before. He had to say he maybe stared a little back as well because as oddly as she was dressed it was easy to tell that the woman was gorgeous. That other guy was an idiot if he thought her clothes were the most interesting thing about her.
“Are you okay? You should know that it’s 1942,” Bucky said, giving her a worried look. She didn’t look like she had bumped her head but maybe she had. “Do you need to see a doctor?”
Darcy knew her history. She knew that Sergeant James Buchanan Barnes had enlisted and been assigned to the 107th. She knew that Steve Rogers was somewhere, still trying to enlist and failing. They were both right on the cusp of world changing events. If she didn't know any better, she would have thought this was a fever dream, but that would be too easy.
Okay, so she was in the past. What did that mean now? She couldn't mess with the timeline which was tricky. "No, no doctor. I'm good-- I'm just a little lost," she said as she tried to come up with a good cover story. Her stomach grumbled, reminding her that she'd skipped a few meals in favor of work. "And uh-- hungry, I guess."
"Well, we can't have that," Bucky said, flashing her a smile as he offered her his arm. "Allow me to show you around and feed you. I'm James Barnes but you can call me Bucky."
He still wasn't sure that she wouldn't need a doctor at some point so he wanted to be around just in case she did. Well, that and he wasn't about to let a woman wander around lost and hungry when he could do something about it, that sort of thing just wasn't done. The fact that she was gorgeous was just a bonus.
She knew all of that. She knew her history. She'd seen that smile from textbooks. When she'd seen him around the tower, he was more sullen with a perpetual frown and a haunted gaze. He was a far cry from the man that he was going to become, and that made her heart ache a little. She knew she probably shouldn't get too close to him. Darcy should just walk away and figure it out on her own.
She doesn't.
Instead, she quirked a grin at him. "I'm Darcy. Darcy Lewis. Thanks for being my knight in shining armor," she teased him. She sipped her hand into the crook of his elbow and chuckled up at him. "You must be a hit with all the ladies," she added mischievously.
“Just the pretty ones that are hungry and lost,” he said, giving her a wink. She wasn’t entirely wrong but Bucky wasn’t the type to kiss (or do anything else) and tell. Besides, it was his experience that the guys who bragged the most did the least.
“But that’s mostly because I know my way around the city and a great diner that’s open all hours. We’ll get you a strong cup of coffee or a strong drink with some good and you’ll be feeling a lot better for sure. Have you been in town long?”
His charm was so bold and shameless that she let out a bark of laughter that wasn't the least bit ladylike. His wink on top of it all had her grinning and shaking her head. No wonder Sergeant Barnes had such a reputation. He was very good. She had to remind herself that she needed to keep history in tact. She couldn't do anything to change it, and she was fairly sure that Sergeant Barnes had never romanced an out of time Darcy Lewis.
"God, coffee, yes. I need some," she said with a sigh. She was running on fumes. She hasn't slept in probably close to twenty four hours now. Science stopped for no one. His question made her squirm a little. Her fingers fidgeted with a stray curl. "Open ended I think. I should probably find a place to crash. Know any cheap hotels around?" she asked.
Shit. She didn't have money. Or any identification. She needed for figure that out too.
“I know a few boarding houses,” he said with a nod. A cheap motel was not the sort of place that a lady wanted to stay. Even if they weren’t doing anything society might look down on society would still look down on them. Bucky knew of a few women’s boarding shelters though that she could get a temporary room at.
“What brings you into town? Let me guess… a smile like yours you’re going to get into acting? Either that or looking for work at one of the factories? A lot of women are coming into town for that. They’re hiring like crazy,” Bucky said. With the war effort ramping up a lot of girls came looking for work, either because their family needed the money, they had no family, or they wanted to start out on their own. He couldn’t deny that she had some… assets though that would suit her well on screen or stage.
Boarding houses. Right. That was a thing back then for single women. She had a pretty strong feeling they'd turn her away given her bright red lipstick and unusual choice of dress. Plus, she had no credentials. Her personal items were in the lab stashed away. The only thing she had was her cellphone in her back pocket which was of no used to her. It was sensitive technology that she couldn't just show off. Her mind was turning over and trying to work out a decent plan, but Bucky's charm surprised her. It earned a bark of amused laughter out of her. The way he easily complimented her smile made her grin at him unexpectedly, the smile reaching her eyes.
"I--," she began as she wondered how to proceed further. "I'm not supposed to be here. I'm kind of on my own with no money and nothing to my name."
She cringed a little because that sounded awful. Darcy knew that he had a lot of questions surely. As she studied this version of New York, an idea struck her. "Hold on. Does Stark-- Howard Stark have his company based here?" she wondered. If anyone could understand her plight, it had to be him. Besides, he went on to form SHIELD, surely she could turn to him.
Bucky tried to keep his question casual but he wasn't an idiot, he knew
that there weren't a lot of good reasons a woman would be in that sort of
situation. She didn't have any visible signs of abuse but he knew that
didn't necessarily mean something. Unfortunately, since it was war time, he
also had to consider something else. She could be a spy. Bucky was willing
to entertain the idea of that being possible but highly unlikely.
"Look, whatever the reason, don't worry about it. I know some people who
help women in situations like yours. I don't know if I can get in touch
with them until tomorrow but I have a very comfy couch I don't mind
sleeping on so you can have my bed if you'd like."
"I'm just-- lost, I guess. I ended up here with nothing but the clothes on my back," she admitted reluctantly. She kept close to the truth as much as she could, but there was just too much that he'd likely think she was nuts. Or she'd ruin some kind of space-time continuity. There was a knee jerk response that made her realize she could maybe stop Bucky from falling off the train. He could listen to her, and he'd avoid decades of torment. The thought made her stomach twist as she came face to face with that dilemma.
For now, she had to concede to his offer. She had nowhere else to go. At least she knew Bucky was a good guy. He wouldn't try and take advantage of her. "Thank you," she relented, her relief and gratitude shining on her expression. "I know you don't know me at all, but thank you. Also I totally don't mind taking the couch. I don't want to put you out."
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
baggyeyes
@breaksruletwo
Date: 2022-08-17 12:41 pm (UTC)Whether it was forgetting to eat or sleep in the name of science, she was typically so focused on her work especially when she was close to a breakthrough. Her research in recreating a portable, more convenient Bifrost Earthside to allow for easier travel across space was getting closer to becoming more than just a theory. More than just an idea.
She'd finally found a strong enough power source, courtesy of Stark Enterprises. She triple checked her math and then went for it. One minute, she was in her lab, watching as her device powered on, and the next, there was a blinding, glowing light that enveloped all of her senses. She had a strange sensation of falling. Her stomach did a nauseous swoop, but when her vision cleared, she was standing.
She was standing in what looked like New York City. Brooklyn. Only everything didn't look right. It wasn't quite as crowded and all the hipster coffee shops and boutiques weren't there. It was the cars that she truly noticed first. They were bigger and louder, heavier too, as roared down the streets. It was the fashion next. Darcy looked sorely out of place in her fitted blue jeans and chunky purple sweater. She ducked into an alley and pressed herself against the wall. This was not good. This was very not good.
"Oh, frack," she muttered to herself. She needed a moment to recalibrate and figure out her next move when a man strolling down the sidewalk spotted her. She saw his leer a mile away.
"Your mama let you out the house dressed like that?" he called out to her as his eyes raked her over.
Re: @breaksruletwo
Date: 2022-08-21 06:13 pm (UTC)“Hey, didn’t anyone ever teach you to treat women with respect,” Bucky called out. While he wasn’t overly tall he was broad shouldered and cut an intimidating figure in his uniform. Besides, he’d grown up in Brooklyn with Steve as a friend so he knew how to handle himself and people usually picked up on that.
“Hey, sorry man, I didn’t mean anything by it,” the guy said.
“I’m not the one you need to apologize to. Tell her you’re sorry then scram,” Bucky warned him. The guy quickly sputtered out an apology before taking off.
“Sorry about that,” Bucky said, flashing the woman a smile. “Some guys can be a real asshole around a pretty girl.”
(no subject)
Date: 2022-08-21 07:35 pm (UTC)She was so taken aback that wasn't able to give the man the piece of her mine like he deserved. Soon, she was getting an apology from him before he turned tail and made himself scarce. She blinked a little because this was all happening much faster than her brilliant brain could process.
She knew that she was staring at Bucky which was rude in of itself, but she was also blatantly checking him out. His smile made his eyes twinkle with devilish mischief. She could easily see how he'd gained the reputation of being a ladies' man. But it was so different from the man she'd seen around the present. That man had long hair. He hunched his shoulders as if physically trying to make his presence less intimidating. His eyes were haunted.
This Bucky didn't have any of that. She'd sent herself right into the past. She swallowed hard as she considered her options. "Thank you," she managed out. "Mind telling me today's date? Like with the year?"
(no subject)
Date: 2022-08-26 01:55 pm (UTC)Bucky didn’t mind her staring, it wasn’t like it had never happened before. He had to say he maybe stared a little back as well because as oddly as she was dressed it was easy to tell that the woman was gorgeous. That other guy was an idiot if he thought her clothes were the most interesting thing about her.
“Are you okay? You should know that it’s 1942,” Bucky said, giving her a worried look. She didn’t look like she had bumped her head but maybe she had. “Do you need to see a doctor?”
(no subject)
Date: 2022-08-26 02:42 pm (UTC)Darcy knew her history. She knew that Sergeant James Buchanan Barnes had enlisted and been assigned to the 107th. She knew that Steve Rogers was somewhere, still trying to enlist and failing. They were both right on the cusp of world changing events. If she didn't know any better, she would have thought this was a fever dream, but that would be too easy.
Okay, so she was in the past. What did that mean now? She couldn't mess with the timeline which was tricky. "No, no doctor. I'm good-- I'm just a little lost," she said as she tried to come up with a good cover story. Her stomach grumbled, reminding her that she'd skipped a few meals in favor of work. "And uh-- hungry, I guess."
(no subject)
Date: 2022-08-27 10:04 pm (UTC)"Well, we can't have that," Bucky said, flashing her a smile as he offered her his arm. "Allow me to show you around and feed you. I'm James Barnes but you can call me Bucky."
He still wasn't sure that she wouldn't need a doctor at some point so he wanted to be around just in case she did. Well, that and he wasn't about to let a woman wander around lost and hungry when he could do something about it, that sort of thing just wasn't done. The fact that she was gorgeous was just a bonus.
(no subject)
Date: 2022-08-27 10:08 pm (UTC)She doesn't.
Instead, she quirked a grin at him. "I'm Darcy. Darcy Lewis. Thanks for being my knight in shining armor," she teased him. She sipped her hand into the crook of his elbow and chuckled up at him. "You must be a hit with all the ladies," she added mischievously.
(no subject)
Date: 2022-08-28 04:03 am (UTC)“Just the pretty ones that are hungry and lost,” he said, giving her a wink. She wasn’t entirely wrong but Bucky wasn’t the type to kiss (or do anything else) and tell. Besides, it was his experience that the guys who bragged the most did the least.
“But that’s mostly because I know my way around the city and a great diner that’s open all hours. We’ll get you a strong cup of coffee or a strong drink with some good and you’ll be feeling a lot better for sure. Have you been in town long?”
(no subject)
Date: 2022-08-28 04:35 am (UTC)"God, coffee, yes. I need some," she said with a sigh. She was running on fumes. She hasn't slept in probably close to twenty four hours now. Science stopped for no one. His question made her squirm a little. Her fingers fidgeted with a stray curl. "Open ended I think. I should probably find a place to crash. Know any cheap hotels around?" she asked.
Shit. She didn't have money. Or any identification. She needed for figure that out too.
(no subject)
Date: 2022-09-06 10:49 pm (UTC)“I know a few boarding houses,” he said with a nod. A cheap motel was not the sort of place that a lady wanted to stay. Even if they weren’t doing anything society might look down on society would still look down on them. Bucky knew of a few women’s boarding shelters though that she could get a temporary room at.
“What brings you into town? Let me guess… a smile like yours you’re going to get into acting? Either that or looking for work at one of the factories? A lot of women are coming into town for that. They’re hiring like crazy,” Bucky said. With the war effort ramping up a lot of girls came looking for work, either because their family needed the money, they had no family, or they wanted to start out on their own. He couldn’t deny that she had some… assets though that would suit her well on screen or stage.
(no subject)
Date: 2022-09-09 01:52 am (UTC)"I--," she began as she wondered how to proceed further. "I'm not supposed to be here. I'm kind of on my own with no money and nothing to my name."
She cringed a little because that sounded awful. Darcy knew that he had a lot of questions surely. As she studied this version of New York, an idea struck her. "Hold on. Does Stark-- Howard Stark have his company based here?" she wondered. If anyone could understand her plight, it had to be him. Besides, he went on to form SHIELD, surely she could turn to him.
(no subject)
Date: 2022-09-15 05:26 pm (UTC)"Are you in some kind of trouble?"
Bucky tried to keep his question casual but he wasn't an idiot, he knew that there weren't a lot of good reasons a woman would be in that sort of situation. She didn't have any visible signs of abuse but he knew that didn't necessarily mean something. Unfortunately, since it was war time, he also had to consider something else. She could be a spy. Bucky was willing to entertain the idea of that being possible but highly unlikely.
"Look, whatever the reason, don't worry about it. I know some people who help women in situations like yours. I don't know if I can get in touch with them until tomorrow but I have a very comfy couch I don't mind sleeping on so you can have my bed if you'd like."
(no subject)
Date: 2022-09-15 06:02 pm (UTC)For now, she had to concede to his offer. She had nowhere else to go. At least she knew Bucky was a good guy. He wouldn't try and take advantage of her. "Thank you," she relented, her relief and gratitude shining on her expression. "I know you don't know me at all, but thank you. Also I totally don't mind taking the couch. I don't want to put you out."