4381/Field Trip

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Field Trip
Date of Scene: 06 May 2018
Location: Washington D.C.
Synopsis: Steve and Bucky visit the museum exhibit -- about their past.
Cast of Characters: Captain America, Winter Soldier




Captain America has posed:
    The road between New York and Washington DC is long, four hours and some change almost a straight shot on I-95 South. There's very little to break it up, just the occasional sign proclaiming some tourist trap or another, a few scenic haunted houses, a ton of flea markets, and a mess of restaurants that are likely not very good considering their proximity to the highway. But all in all, it is a leisurely drive, relaxing and all usually. But one thing it does have... is long periods of boredom.
    The miles are eaten up by the black SUV, the A/C running at a high level considering the abrupt heat wave that's decided to torment the Northeast, and the radio isn't being hugely cooperative considering that the two men in that car are from a different time altogether. So the man driving settles in leaving it on some talk radio and just hunkers down to kill some miles.
    Occasionally some attempts at small talk were made. Steve didn't offer the insight into the past so much since last time it didn't help too much with James' recollection. So for a time the discussion was on cars.
    "Those Mustangs are kind of neat looking."
    And perhaps even on about sports, "I used to be able to rattle off all the players the Yankees had and their prospects, but nowadays no way."
    But then as they're driving down the road, silence having filled the last five minutes or so, Steve glances aside and says out of the blue, "You want to know one of the weirder things that bugged me when I came back out of the ice?"

Winter Soldier has posed:
    There's a lot of epic staring out the window from Bucky. But that doesn't mean he's an entirely absent conversationalist. There was a whole attempt at trying to find out of there were any women in Steve's life, which is just one of those conversations set up to crash and burn in awkwardness, and dropped after a bit. Sports is a far safer. Cars similarly so, including some comments about the vehicles at the Avenger's mansion. And that Bucky went and got his bike back from the Triskelion.

    And then there's the time of fiddling around with the automatic passenger seat. Some of that is happening again when the new question about what bugs Steve comes up. Bucky has put it in excessive recline, to crane behind them into the stash of food and snacks, digging in it. He is acting a little restless, which indicates his higher level of being present. It's the vacant staring that's the dead feeling.

    "What?" Bucky prompts. "The traffic?" It is a reasonable guess, looking at the people zooming around them and trying to cut them off currently.

Captain America has posed:
    At the difficult attempt to broach the topic Steve did pipe up with, "I did go out to dinner that one night," Of course the person who he went out to dinner with was perhaps more thinking about if she'd like to kill him than date him. But such is the life of a superhero.
    When that topic failed, however, it sparked Steve's current gambit with the mentioning of his time in the ice and now free of it what had the most impact on him. So even as that chair whirs and hums as it shifts back and forth from Bucky's attentions, Steve elaborates while gesturing to the side with one hand, though attentive to the road of course.
    "Not exactly." Is the first answer, then he gestures out the window and nods as they pass the black and white sign that proclaims prominently, 'Speed Limit 65 MPH' in the shield-shaped chevron. "You remember the fastest we could go during the war was 35? And now." He's given some thought to it, "Even before the war it was like, what 40 upstate?"
    It's enough to have Cap shaking his head, "Just one of those things." So very interesting, Steve.

Winter Soldier has posed:
    There's another whirr of the seat Bucky's sitting in, in answer. And also the rustle of snack plastic and cellophane. "I think that was mostly because if you hit anything going faster than that, you'd die in your moving deathtrap of a car," Bucky comments, with a slight edge of familiar sarcasm. "Now... you can die after going much faster, and far angrier."

    Trail mix is procured, and then set between them in one of the cup holders. It only took hours to get Bucky to give more than monosyballic answers. "I didn't really notice. Everything is sped up, though. Communication, travel. America's forgotten how to be patient."

Captain America has posed:
    "Oh c'mon, that's not fair." Cap says sidelong, "The beasts we used to drive? Kevin Green's big ole Ford Coupe in Jersey seemed like it was what... like ten tons of metal compared to these plastic things we drive around in these days." The smile is wry on Steve's lips as he looks to the side and he keeps the car driving on down the middle lane, 65 mph of course. Sure he's exaggerating a bit, but the warmth of the feeling is there.
    "But," He adds as he looks back at the road, "You're right about the whole being patient thing." He looks to the side at a few cars that are roaring past him even as he keeps that steady pace. He looks askance back at Bucky and adds, "Then again..." His smile twists up a little further, "We're probably just getting old."
    He reaches over and digs into the trail mix, grabbing some and popping it into his mouth. Chewing for a time he finally says, "In a few years going to be sitting on my porch and yelling at kids to get outta my yard."

Winter Soldier has posed:
    "Point. That was more like driving a tank. About the same turning radius. Only needed treads on it. What was the max speed on that thing?" Bucky asks, with a snort. He stretches out his legs a little, since he's moved his chair back. "Our porch window is now. We're missing it. But I think that's just something we've lost." Along with so many other things that they've lost, being disconnected from time, their natural life spans.

    The trip computer suddenly pipes up, and Bucky quiets as it speaks and suggests they get off on the next exit. Nav computer, such a help. "I feel like I'm not needed as a copilot," Bucky says to the Nav computer dryly. "I've been replaced."

Captain America has posed:
    A small chortles comes from him, "Well... it started to shimmy at fifty." Steve says sidelong but keeps his attention on the road for now. He does make free with another handful of trail mix as he drives, the radio in the car and the talk show turned down low enough that the two of them can likely only hear the faint sibilants of the speaker and naught else.
    But then the GPS pipes up and gives them those directions and Steve follows them properly, turning on his blinker and checking over his shoulder as he changes lanes towards the exit. "Don't get all down on yourself. Who would be around to get snacks and drinks and make sure I don't fall asleep on the trip back?"
    He grins as they make the turn and onto the beltway, coming around towards the South and aiming for the Potomac exit. A few minutes yet but not too long. "Figure we'll stow the vehicle at the national parks building and hoof it across the mall."

Winter Soldier has posed:
    "I'll drive on the way back," Bucky determines. "Then you can be snack-dispenser for a change. I never fall asleep." That might be more eerie than intended, that last statement, but Bucky just leaves it alone, as is. Despite the GPS explaining it, Bucky does start to pay rapt attention to where they are: the signs, the movement of traffic, and everything else. That automatic awareness for the soldier woke up.
    It is particularly the case after they're done parking and Bucky climbs out of the car, scanning around them with a sharp eye. He stops there outside of the car, stretching legs only briefly (super soldier serum is great for not having leg cramps), and pulling a zipper hoodie on, gloves, as long sleeves is a requirement for him in public areas, even if it's hot outside.

Captain America has posed:
    "You sure you're up to it?" Cap says to Bucky as he gets out of the car. There's that sharp 'chirp-churp' of the car alarm, "Last time we were in a jeep you wrecked the heck out of it." Of course that might have had more something to do with the 88mm shell from the Tiger tank that was gunning for them, but still. He was driving.
    With that, however, they start to set foot on the sidewalk. The needed disguise is in place for Steve. Black baseball hat, sunglasses. Perfect and unrecognizable. He stuffs his hands in his jacket pockets and makes a cursory visual sweep of the area, gaze likely lingering on the Park Commission shack where some of the rangers serve their shifts. But beyond that it's a quiet stroll to the mall and a decent walk towards the Air and Space.
    "Still want to go through with this?" He gestures with a nod down the way, "Lots of tourists this time of year."

Winter Soldier has posed:
    "Yes. I /can/ handle driving back," Bucky deadpans, with a rueful smirk. "But if it's that important to you, you can do it, and I will pretend to sleep," Bucky says smoothly, lifting both hands in a slight surrender motion. That isn't something he's going to fight over.

    "You still look a lot like you," Bucky observes of Steve, as he puts on his 'disguise' to blend in, taking in the hat and sunglasses and everything. "To me, though." Other people aren't as familiar with Steve as he is. Even with the lack of memory thing. He knows Steve when he's looking at him. "Have you come to this other times?" he asks, and clearly inclines hand and head to show that he's fine with going, continuing on the plan. "And I didn't sit that long in the car to just go back."

Captain America has posed:
    "Once, a while ago." Steve says as he steps onto the cement path that wends its way away from the parking lot and onto the mall proper, cutting across the grassy fields and allowing the to get to the other side of that large park. "Widow told me she wanted to get my point of view about some of the old equipment they had on display. She took her time, showed me the ME-262, then sort of smirked her head off when she led me to the whole..." He lifts his hands and flares them to the sides as if miming an explosion. "Thing."
    A small 'heh' comes from him as he shakes his head and continues walking. "She still sometimes likes to remind me about it. But I think that's how she shows..." He stops there and seems to pause upon the word 'affection' and instead changes it to, "Amusement."
    That said he then attempts to change the subject as they move, "You want to grab a bite to eat before or after this?"

Winter Soldier has posed:
    "I've been one other time. A long while ago, by myself. I didn't stay, though. It was ... disconnecting. Like being told things you've forgotten in dreams were real somehow. Hard to explain it," Bucky says, though he's giving it a good try to explain. To keep that communication open, to not shut that door.
    "Eat? Yeah. That trail mix was nowhere near enough," Bucky says, keying in more on the mall as they enter it. He's unfamiliar with the location, but there's maps everywhere, and he has excellent spacial awareness. Finding a foot court is a simple task. He looks at a few women that pass by them, their eyes lingering a little long on the pair of strongly built men. Bucky's smile is subtle, and a side glance slides to Steve to see if he saw. There's something naggy in his memory, or lack thereof, about it that he can't quite define. Like many things.

Captain America has posed:
    As Cap walks along it's not that he doesn't notice the attention, it's more that he shifts his eyes away and looks off to the side and distant so as to not draw further attention or scrutiny, since really all it would take is one kid pointing and squealing and then their trip will be all for naught. Or possibly could be. So he doesn't see the way the two young women sort of giggle and turn around slightly to look after them. And if James makes eye contact they'll laugh and one might even wave.
    But Steve keeps on keepin' on, not entirely oblivious... but not open to approach either. "There's a place just down P street, Marrakech. Good food, great chicken tagine." So there, that's a possible plan, unless Bucky doesn't care for Moroccan.
    There's a pause, just long enough that it might seem he's done speaking, but then he adds. "They also have belly dancing," He mentions, then adds with a half smile, "So that's kinda fun." No, he didn't miss the gals.

Winter Soldier has posed:
    A quick little laugh eases out of Bucky at the 'admission' that he didn't miss the gals. There's just a hair too much pause, as if it felt alien for a second, which makes the shove at his friend's shoulder just slightly 'off.' Or is it? The motive is in the right place. And maybe it's natural enough. And it was the 'real' arm, so there's no strangeness to the metal arm that sometimes comes across.
     "So that's for /after/, then. After we're extremely depressed over what's gone, and you've gotten recognized and I watch you sign autographs for an hour," Bucky says. There's a kindness there that doesn't always surface, but it's real if Steve checks for it in Bucky's expression. No jealousy, it's never been that.

Captain America has posed:
    His shoulder jostles and he laughs at that, shaking his head while they continue to walk. The smile that's given back to James is rueful as Steve says, "C'mon, Buck." He says warmly as he looks down at his shoe and scrunches up one eye, then looks back at his partner, "I don't always get mobbed and end up signing autographs for an hour." He waits but that smile already belies that attempt at comedic timing.
    "Sometimes it only takes forty minutes." But he shakes his head again while grinning and sighs. "Hopefully we won't cause a ruckus." Or a ruckus won't break out from something else. It's not exactly rare for when one of the Avengers goes out to visit somewhere that the weirdness follows them.
    "And heck, if we have time we can go by the American History. See all the wild west artifacts."

Winter Soldier has posed:
    "Just too inspiring, I guess," Bucky chuckles back, with a look up and down over Steve as if assessing inspiration amount. But he doesn't poke at Steve further, sensing the dismay over attracting a lot of attention. "Just stay behind me. I'm best 'hidden' in plain sight. And better looking, besides." Bucky slides his hand back through his hair in an overly casual manner, slanting lidded eyes sideways across at Steve.
    It's comfortable, and joking fun. And a relief, that some of this can still exist, though in what form it will be after the museum's blasts of history is another question.

Captain America has posed:
    "Always good to have you draw the attention of the less discerning." Steve half-grins as he continues on walking.
    It doesn't take long to move along the sidewalk, strolling around the wandering tourists and the busloads of school children on their 8th grade trip to the nation's capital. First they'll wander past the Smithsonian's official building, looking curiously like an out of place 1800s mansion square between all the many museums. But then they're heading further up and towards the Air and Space where the exhibit resides.
    It's only once they get to the steps, moving past the dancing water fountains that Cap tilts his head to the side, "I'll handle the donations, you want to... actually look at the other exhibits, or just go straight to the finale?"

Winter Soldier has posed:
    "Well, we did come all this way - I'm up for the other exhibits first if you want to see them," Bucky says, conversational. And then continues, voice lowering, tone modifying to that other 'place' he sometimes goes. "End on a high note." He lifts his hand and presses fingers slowly over a jawline that could have taken a shave, but Bucky wasn't in the mood that morning to bother with it. Sometimes it seems so inconsequential.
    "I'd like to promise I'll be fine after. But I don't know that. It wasn't so great on my other visit, a while ago. What gets stirred up. Skeletons rattling around." Bucky looks around them slowly, taking in the place as if casing it for good exits or sniper positions. And finally returns the look to Steve as they approach past those fountains. "But I'm not on my own this time. I'll fend off the living, you can shield from the ghosts."
    Bucky adds a calmed smile to it.

Captain America has posed:
    "I got your back, Bucky." Steve says as he continues walking, though he does take a moment to pull off his cap /and break cover!/ for a split second, just to push his hand through his hair and then pop it back onto his head while they stroll.
    Distantly there are families, classes, tourists all over the place in various states of Summer garb. The day is pretty warm to be fair, but it'll just get worse in the coming months. Though some people have even taken the time to playing some peewee baseball at several of the public diamonds. It's all rather hectic but staggeringly... normal and at peace.
    Those crowds had only gotten worse as they reached the stairs leading up to the museum. Once there he holds the door open and nods the other man on through while he digs into a pocket and produces a few folded bills to drop into the large plastic donation box that sits upon a small pedastel.
    So it's there, underneath an Apollo capsule and the pieces of a Titan rocket, that Steve gestures to the side towards a quartet of escalators. "It's up there, second floor." He smiles a little, sheepish. Then he adds, "Orrr..." He makes a slow forward chopping motion at another angle as if signalling the advance of the platoon, "Over there are some of the birds we used to see flying around when we were busting our humps in boot."

Winter Soldier has posed:
    "I didn't realize I'd get my own personal tour guide. Do you take squads of kids through here now and then? I would believe it," Bucky asks, as Steve gestures and points things out to him. They get up to the front, and there's the security stations. Bleh.

    "I won't climb around them this time, but let's split up, I'll probably pull a lot of attention that /you/ don't need on you," Bucky says dryly. "I'll just text you when I'm loose of it," he decides. The look on Bucky's face -- or in his eyes, as he scans the security suggests he's more than a little tempted to just slip on through it in his own particular way, but he's being a normal person today. Or trying, anyhow. He moves to get in line for the security check, and hunts for his identification that will, hopefully, reduce the questions about his metal components.

Captain America has posed:
    For a moment he can see the trepidation in Steve's eyes as he tilts his head to the side and seems about to say something, but then he seems to think better of it and just gives a nod. Bucky's probably right, "Alright then," He gives a small grin, "See you on the other side." He steps to the side into one of the other lines and gets settled and ready for the sweep. He's already taking off his watch and removing his phone from his jacket pocket.
    As luck would have it, Steve's line moves a bit faster so he's already stepped out and past, moving towards the information booth where he smiles to the attendant and then takes up a spot leaning there as he peruses one of the many many pamphlets there offering insight into the events and other museums inthe area.

Winter Soldier has posed:
    Steve doesn't want to leave Bucky to the security checkpoint? Possibly worth that hesitation. Bucky doesn't generally like being prodded at, and that's what this will be. If Steve lingers and keeps an eye on things, he'll see the big discussion and the call of the supervisor and the inspection of the materials. And the slow deterioration of Bucky's mood from being calm into being lethally irritable, which doesn't make security all that much happier with him. There's quite a bit of interest in the arm, but finally he's allowed out, with a warpath stalk that clears the way in front of him like a natural parting of the sea of tourists.

    Bucky puts his materials back away as he pulls his hoodie back on and flips the hood up. Bucky looks for Steve manually, first, kind of expecting the other man to probably have hung around nearby.

Captain America has posed:
    He wasn't too terribly far, considering. Just along the natural flow of the crowd and near that rather attentive customer service representative. But as soon as Bucky rounded the corner, Steve set his pamphlet to the Sculpture Garden back down on the stack from whence it came and he gives a nod to his partner of old. "Deep breaths, Buck. Deep breaths." He's smiling a little, but there is a touch of concern. "Folks just doing their jobs."
    But Steve does look back in the direction of the security station and the guards there are likely still eyeballing them from afar. He turns and claps James on the shoulder, "C'mon, can go to the exhibit or downstairs there's a decent cafeteria. Maybe some food'll make things seem better."
    Either way he starts to walk to those elaborate banks of escalators, shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans.

Winter Soldier has posed:
    "This is going to sound strange, but it bothered me more to deliberately get caught, than to actually be asked things about it," Bucky says, in a low tone. He proves he's fine with a smile that does reach into his eyes. He didn't let it ruin their visit. He did glance back and around, because there's no way he can avoid keeping tabs on his surroundings at all times. Always knowing those exits, where the cameras do and don't point. Habits that he isn't trying to break, those.

    "Let's do the exhibit. Don't feel like you have to kid-glove me, Steve," Bucky says, with a sudden firmness, working to catch his friend's eye to push that point home. "At least not about this."

Captain America has posed:
    There's a brief moment where Steve's brow furrows, but it's gone as he answers with a nod, knowing he should trust the man before him. "Alright, but there's a condition." He starts to step back as they finish the distance to the escalators and then he gets onto one heading upwards. He rests his hand on the railing and then says over his shoulder towards Bucky, "No giving me guff about all of it." He lifts a finger as if imparting the word of law, but then he's leaning back against the side of the escalator and riding it up leisurely.
    But as soon as they reach the top of the escalator it lets out on one side to the right leading off towards the NASA exhibit, and to the left... there it is. 'Welcome back, Cap.' is proclaimed as a quote by the president. Just white letters upon a black background above an image of the American flag, and beneath that image is a brief bio of the man he's there to see the museum with today. The door itself that leads into the exhibit shows an artistic rendering of Cap's silhouette as it proclaims in text, 'Captain America. A living legend.' And people seem to be walking through happily chatting and laughing.

Winter Soldier has posed:
    "You should have brought up that condition before we got in the car," Bucky answers, with a mixed amused dismay. "I would have gotten it out of the way on the ride here." Ah, the sarcasm. But then there's the exhibit, indeed. It's perhaps more Bucky keeping an eye on Steve now, suddenly, as the front is all about Steve, less about their mutual shared past. No guff for now. There's actually more of a proud expression on Bucky's face. There's enough memory and tie to his friend to feel the genuine emotion of the pride of what Steve did, and is doing.

    "Are you blushing?" Bucky asks him, as a mild tease, but then leads the way into it. Into the slice of time and story that feels awkward, like a dream he wants to remember, but wonders how much of it is really from the dream, and how much he created just out of attempts to recall.

Captain America has posed:
    With the sunglasses on, Bucky can't really see his eyes easily as he looks to the side. He's pointedly avoiding the other soldier's gaze as he shakes his head and answers easily enough with a reflexive, "You're crazy." Then he looks back at the man, pointing again but just for a moment as falls into a step beside and a single stride behind, letting Bucky set the pace for now.
    Though, to be fair, Steve does seem a little flush of colour though he'd likely push it off as that brisk walk they just took getting the old heart pumping. Though it doesn't help that now they're walking past a wall-sized mural of Captain America saluting as he looks off into the distance, an American Flag snapping in the wind behind the figure. It adorns the first part of the hallway that leads him towards the larger exhibit filled room, the first stop of which being a set of panels displaying young Steve before the serum, and then the silhouette of him afterwards.

Winter Soldier has posed:
    Bucky stops watching Steve, though, so he can blush (or not) in peace. "Can you see anything?" Bucky does ask, but then the exhibit itself, and the purpose of coming here in the first place, takes front and center. Bucky pauses behind two young teenagers debating about if they are or or not taller than the young Captain America. He watches them attempt to measure which of them is taller (and fail) back to back, and then takes over the railing as they move away, to look at the oldest of the pictures. Bucky looks at the environments just as much as the boy in them, the backgrounds of places he knows he has been, and yet?

    "Where was this one taken?" Bucky asks of one of the young Steve panels. A woman to his left orients as if unsure if Bucky asked her, but then realizes he didn't, and turns away.

Captain America has posed:
    For a moment, Cap furrows his brow and there's a quiet between them, though a narrator speaks from the speakers mounted in the ceiling above. But then Steve steps up beside him and he says, "That..." He starts out a little louder than he'd like and then he lowers his voice, "That was Camp Lehigh, up in Jersey." There's another pause, then he adds with a slightly rueful smile, "Lots of PT. Lots of egos."
    Beyond them there are displays filled with artifacts, old weapons, shrapnel. There are images upon the walls of old photos displaying their old comrades who had been part of the greatest generation like themselves. Images of German tanks, jeeps, a few planes that had wrecked at an Austrian airfield. All coming together to tell something of a story about their experiences, explaining the significance of the displays and explaining the different phases of their lives.
    There's a video compilation of the first time Cap took action, securing a flight to drop himself behind enemy lines to save captured soldiers. 163 lives had been saved that day, and was the first of many victories for the hero.

Winter Soldier has posed:
    Bucky watches the video, though part of the way through, he turns away from it, his expression is masklike. It isn't a vacant mask, though: more one of holding things inward. But those things are still felt, they aren't falling on deadened nerves. "I came here not too long after... After." A pause. "But none of it really registered," Bucky says, eyes panning over the relics. He doesn't explain whether or not some of it is registering now, but the tone reads that there's something to it. Coming is worth it, in some manner.

    The video gets his attention back, since it's started to go into the captured soldiers that Captain America rescued that day. The pictures and faces get an urgent, frustrated stare from Bucky. "I don't -- have the names. But it's something." He palms a stanchion pole, and the metal complains a little bit at his squeeze.

Captain America has posed:
    "It's alright, Buck. All things in time." Steve says quietly, just being there. Standing at his side and supportive. It's all he can offer the other man right now, just the memories he can protect him from. He doesn't move until James chooses to go on, and he'll follow in his wake as they wander into the next room.
    Raised up on a small platform, Cap's old motorcycle rests there in a place of prominence on the side of the room as another video compilation continues to play in the background upon a canvas screen with a mock up of a battle scene rendered all around it. Two teens are standing there and one lightly touches the handlebar, grinning at his friend and shrugging as they both step away.
    But it's the next exhibit that might capture James' attention, for there alone on that side of the room stands the display of Captain America's uniform, as well as the uniforms of the Howling Commandos. The clothes and equipment are carefully maintained, resting on faceless mannequins, but behind that display is a sweeping mural of the seven soldiers, the stripes of the American Flag seeming to spring to life behind them as if they were the source of all that is given through liberty. To the left of the Captain America Mannequin is Dum Dum Dugan's uniform, complete with his bowler cap. And to the right... is Bucky's. The blue jacket. The mauser pistol in its holster. The utility belt. It's all there, all articles they had worn and used during the war.

Winter Soldier has posed:
    Bucky is fine, until they get to those more personal things. He reacts. Which is far better than no reaction at all. He crosses his arms over his chest abruptly. One doesn't have to be a psychologist to read what that physical gesture is: putting up a barrier between himself and what's in front of him. The metallic whine that betrays a sudden assault of power out of the metal arm screeeeeees softly in the room, though nobody turns to look: it sounds very similar to somebody's flash for a camera charging back up.

    "Dum Dum Dugan," Bucky says aloud, of the left mannequin. He isn't a loud guy, so it doesn't carry very far, but there's a personal quality to the WAY it's said. "Think they'd have an issue if I touched things?" Bucky jokes. There's a smile there, though. He asides, "Wouldn't fit anymore." In more than one way.

Captain America has posed:
    "Well," Steve stands there at his side then takes the single step needed to draw level with him. He tilts his head to the side, "While they may be technically our things." He rubs the back of his neck for a moment and then offers a small smile to the man beside him, "I think they're their things, too." Cap's tone is calm, at ease about things. But he can tell it's that cultivated at ease way he always had of saying things were fine even when he wasn't sure or when he was worried.
    His smile shifts a little sad as he looks over at James and then adds, "Though maybe I can make some calls when we get back." Since really... it might be nice for Buck to have the option to connect with some of those old memories directly.
    But it's only when the former Winter Soldier turns away from that display of the Howling Commandos that he'll reach the part of the exhibit that had been the source of Steve's apprehension. It's there around the corner in the next room. A single glass tablet standing tall upon its base with the image of James Buchanan Barnes there looking off to the distance as if seeing the future.
    It's him, with the story of his passing. Him with those features and that youth. Him with the finality of his life's tale summed up in three paragraphs. The lost soldier. The fallen friend.

Winter Soldier has posed:
    Bucky still has his arms crossed, keeping things out, maybe. Or feeling like there's some control yet to be had with deciding which things to let in. But that's all an illusion. He has no control at all, not over what he can actually remember, how he feels about it, or what does feed through into the lowest places of memory. He didn't breeze past this last time he was here, but he also felt no connection, other than to pick up some names from it. Things to remember, dates he might need to use, if that was his old identity. It was very professional before. Missing pieces in a readout like he'd had any number of times on targets.
    Is it different now? Yes, but the why, or what about it, nags. It is a strange thing to stare at a tombstone. And this feels like that. Bucky does step up to it and unfolds his arms to set a hand against the barrier in front of it. He doesn't make any kind of scene, at least not yet. "I did die. To everyone. To you," Bucky says, expressionless and emotionless.

Captain America has posed:
    'Barnes, the only Howling Commando to give his life, in the service to his country.' The Narrator speaks his monologue through those speakers even while the two of them look at that monument to him and his life. A small video screen is upon the wall and a touch behind the crystal tablet, displaying a steady stream of images of the him that was. Showing black and white images of the two of them laughing, reading a map and pointing at it, riding in a jeep and having a discussion in almost the same way they had been less than an hour ago. There are even some small flowers bound together that had been left at the base of the display, some visitor's tribute gifted.
    Steve steps up beside him and says quietly, "We searched for you. I pushed on the brass." He shakes his head and looks to the side, then he looks back faster than his head had turned at first. "By the time we got back there was no sign. Nothing from our intel assets. I just wanted to..." He frowns and looks at his feet. "Bring you home to your family."
    He then takes a breath and straightens then says quietly, "I'm sorry I failed you, Buck. I'm sorry."

Winter Soldier has posed:
    Bucky stands there, head somewhat inclined down, listening to Steve without really looking at him. Other people give them some room, sensing the serious tone between the muscular pair, likely. The heavy, heavy apologies are heard, but how to even answer them? Bucky gives up on trying to articulate it for the moment, but doesn't turn into a zombie either. He shakes his head and draws a hand up and onto the back of his friend's neck and head, a rough comraderie to the pull and scuff of hair. It has the oldest of sensations to it, of the larger Barnes interacting with young Rogers. Just meant to pull his friend off-balance, bump shoulder. "I'm the one that died. I get some blame here too," Bucky finally says. "So. You stop blaming /you/, and I'll stop blaming /me/."

    He looks at the tablet once more. "A part of me wants to rip this tablet apart. And the other part just doesn't care." Bucky pulls his hands back and inserts them into the pockets of his hoodie, as if to make it easier to not throw the funeral marker through the wall. "It-- doesn't feel good to care." Caring about it hurts. Apathy is familiar and easier. "But I don't like being a closed, finished story."

    How long can Steve and Bucky stand around in front of giant pictures of themselves acting like they're upset and not be recognized? They might be getting towards that limit, but Bucky doesn't care about that at the moment.

Captain America has posed:
    For a moment Bucky's holding onto him alone, just the arm on his shoulder and the hand upon his neck. But he'll feel the deep inhale of breath as Steve draws in, focuses. Then he brings his own arm up mirroring the gesture and giving a pat on the back at first... then resting his hand on his arm. "Alright." He says, though to which of his statements? To his desire to rip the tablet apart, to the dislike of his tale already having been written?
    It becomes clear when he adds with a faint smile, hinting at just a little bit of guff being given, "We'll tell Nat it's all her fault? Alright? Alright."
    At that he quirks an eyebrow as if gauging the reaction the other man might have to the attempt at levity. But before the tension can fully break he pulls the other man into a brief embrace side-on. And then he steps away, turning to hide his features as he says, "The rest of it is just... like a movie and some other things. Can probably skip it..."

Winter Soldier has posed:
    The levity is allowed. "It obviously is," Bucky answers. The soft laugh is a little forced, but good enough to pass muster. Yeah, it can be Nat's fault. Bucky isn't going to force anything. Well, other than that laugh. The embrace is accepted, and includes a masculine shoulder squeeze as Steve steps away from it. It's a little firm, because Bucky is tense and that mechanical arm is fired up, but it's no problem for a super soldier.

    Bucky didn't catch Steve hiding at all at first, his gaze drifted back to his funeral plaque, but then awareness suddenly screamed in. Something is wrong. And instead of shoving the urge away, he obeys it: and quickly turns to look sharply at Steve. "Steve. I meant it. I don't blame you. And I don't want you suffering over my death. I'm /not/ dead."

    Yeah, there's probably some audience now, but it doesn't matter.

Captain America has posed:
    A small smile is there on Steve's features as he turns to meet Bucky's gaze, trying to hold him up as he lifts a hand as if to stay him. "Yeah, I know, Buck. And I thank God for it every day." He gives a nod and extends a hand to rest on his partner's shoulder, fingers digging in as he seems to hover on the moment between hugging him or not.
    Perhaps those nearby might have some insight that... something is happening. The deep murmur of the tall men's voices. The rumbling responses and then Bucky's outburst. But it's perhaps not entirely clear what is passing between who. People continue on through the exhibit, giving them a bit of space.
    But then, amongst the steady drone of the narrator and the light murmuring of the crowd, a four year old kid in blue shorts and an American flag t-shirt points with his Power Ranger in hand as he says loudly, "It's Cap'n Merica!"
    And that small break in decorum, that piercing of the veil of manners that is held vaguely over the conduct of society is broken and it allows the curious to voice their thoughts.
    "Hey... he does kinda look like him."
    "My uncle saw him once before, I... think that's him.
    "Hey buddy, are you Cap?"
    "Ohmigod my sister loves you!"
    It proceeds to grow louder until perhaps a grudging glance is caught by Bucky just a moment before Steve pulls off his hat and his sunglasses, holding his hat in his hands as if he had been caught sneaking a hand in the cookie jar. But his smile is apologetic yet earnest as he tells them, "Afternoon."

Winter Soldier has posed:
    Bucky reads that almost-hug, the meet of gaze and mutual awareness there between them is an old, comfortable thing for that instant. Which passes due to the shout of a child.

    Most of the interested people now are positioned behind Bucky from where he was standing, and he sends a quick glance over his shoulder before Bucky partially ... blocks. It's something of a bodyguard move, really, and no doubt reads exactly like that to those who are curious and interested in Steve. Bucky is unused to the 'fan' situation, and while he isn't hostile, his attitude requires some space be given to Steve. He's not going to let Steve get mobbed, if he can help it. And being a physical blocker does that. The vibe off Winter Soldier promotes personal space.
    Bucky doesn't look much like his own picture, even if it's just feet away, between the shadow of beard, long hair, size difference, and, more than anything else, lack of serene smile that picture sported. This will be all about Steve.
    Bucky does flash a check-in gesture to his friend: a 'do you need assistance' question. His instinct is not to allow this crowd to build. He does, regardless of the check in, scan for employees, and raises a hand to gesture a member of security at him. Which takes a second, because the employee is looking at Steve.

Captain America has posed:
    Steve holds up a hand in the direction of Bucky giving the small nod and lowering that hand a touch giving the 'stand down' gesture. But he smiles to the crowd and steps forwards, "Just thought I'd come by and see what all the hub bub is about." He looks between everyone and gestures, "I'm just happy to see so many people out and about and taking in the sights of our capital." He's got that tone of voice, that warm one where he's talking to the crowd and 'performing', the one where he'd had it up on stage.
    He gestures to the side even as cameras are now out and filming him. "I figure I'll meet you all at the end and if you like can answer some of your questions about how things were back then?" Steve is looking back and forth, then gives a nod as the first few people start to move forward. Photos are taken, videos as well, a few students come running up.
    "Cap, can you pose for a pic with my friend? She /loves/ you."
    But he's holding the off in some ways just with that presence. "I'll catch up with everyone at the end."

Winter Soldier has posed:
    Bucky spots the 'stand down' and moves aside partially, giving the crowd mostly shoulder and back, while finally getting the security member to come talk to him. The security guard is already calling in what's going on over his radio, which is what Bucky wanted in the first place. "Captain America may want some crowd control assistance," Bucky says in a firm, assertive tone to the security. He confers with the man a little bit, staying to the side but not at all leaving Steve to the photo-wolves. Still, Bucky doesn't really want to be IN some random fan videos.
    "Got it," the arriving security assistance says, and steps in to interfere and allow Bucky to aim Steve back out of the exhibit through the 'staff only' door. "I forgot about that for a minute. You and your fame," Bucky says, a little flat, but there's some apology in there too, once they're out of immediate view of the public. He didn't intend for a scene to happen. But there's no anger at that fame: Bucky's aware of what his friend means to people. Even if it's overwhelming.
    But it is only a shade better, now that the museum knows Steve's there, and their trip will rapidly become the museum being so thrilled with his visit and patronage and --- wanting to use it for PR, and so forth. An hour will move to Captain America's guest appearance at a special table they want to set up for him, with line management, and so forth. Bucky, though, requires it be after lunch. They'll get that meal they kept talking about one way or another!

Captain America has posed:
    Bucky can finally witness it first hand, how his partner is carried along with the tide of sentiment, the crowd being manageable but as word gets out. First to the museum and the people there, but then phone calls are made and other folks start to show up. And then there's the film crew that comes in just as they're setting up that table and suddenly the chance of them getting to that Merrakech restaurant seems to be less and less likely.
    But, to Cap's credit, he makes sure he gives out a ton of autographs, and he tries to answer all the questions... until eventually he stands up at that table, and announces. "Alright everyone, thanks for everything. I just need to get along and get some lunch. Then gotta get back on the road." For a lot of celebrities they'd be lying through their teeth just to get out of there. But for Cap... the truth's always worked.