Sound the Bugle Now

Mara || 20-26 || FC: Alicia Vikander They tried to break her instead they gave her something to which to cling. Indie Marvel OC \\ Fandom / OC Friendly

[thedisgracedsergeant-archive]

Bucky actually blushed, watching her press her lips on his hand gently, unsure if he should smile or lookaway, or even both, or neither.

He sort of stared to Mara, and when she spoke up he sort of frowned again. “I.. I don’t know..” he admitted - he was still concerned of that hand. All the innocent blood it has spilled. He could control it, sure, but it would probably always make him uneasy. “If you think it would be a good idea..” he shrugged slightly, but then forced a smile on his face, to seem more sure. To seem happier.

[soundabugle-blog]

Mara lightly held onto Bucky’s flesh hand, rolling her fingertips along his palm and the underside of his wrist to subtly test his pulse, making sure she didn’t worsen his nerves. She Lifted large dark eyes to Bucky’s light blue, trying to read him but reading his face was like reading stone. She supposed it was because he was an assassin for HYDRA, brainwashed and hurt how many times over she didn’t know. She knew the Captain was secretive about it and the other were very careful around him.

She smiled gently and tilted her head to catch Bucky’s eye when he glanced away slightly before smiling so faintly at her. “Da,” she said with a firm and sure nod, “I think it would be very good idea here,” she took his metal hand and pressed the fingertips to her lips. She listened for any signs of tension in his metal mechanics before laying the hand over her belly, feeling the warmth fill her once again. Humming gently at the fuzziness filling her she looked up at Bucky. “Baby and I do not know what you have done and we do not care,” she assured him caressing his face with a free hand, holding his metal hand to her with the other. “We do know, though, that you are good man. Little sad and very hurt but at middle is gooey center.”

[casualxwriter]

Open RP

[casualxwriter]

“Yeah, I come here on my lunch break pretty often.” He offered the seat across from him, pulling out the chair for her. “What about you? I don’t think I’ve seen you around here before.”

[soundabugle-blog]

Mara looked at the offered seat and smiled lightly with her tea. She never had a taste for coffee but since she was pregnant she had to cut caffeine from her diet, she found it easier than she thought. She tucked her hair behind her ear. “Ne, I just moved to city from overseas,” she explained vaguely. “Fresh start, I found here by um-” she tried to think of the word before looking at Henry and admitting embarrassedly, “I’m lost.”

[thedisgracedsergeant-archive]

Bucky continued to watch Mara in her slowly succeeding attempts to calm him, giving a heavy sigh as he wondered what she was thinking of. Why wasn’t she afraid of him? Sure, he was calm now, but at any moment he could snap. He was still scared of himself and what he could do to all around him, even those he cared about.

He was dragged from his deep thought as he came to realize Mara was speaking to him, staring at her and blinking a few times before what he caught on to what she said. “Thank you, Mara,” he spoke hesitantly, giving a brief smile down at her and flushing pink as she pecked his cheek. He chuckled slightly as she continued with a tease, shaking his head. “Hey, maybe I will be… Who knows?”

[soundabugle-blog]

Mara held Bucky’s hand to her abdomen a moment longer before lifting his hand to her lips, kissing his knuckles softly and reassuringly. She smiled up at him kindly and let his hand go, her body seeming aglow and humming with happiness. Bucky was tense and on some level that made her uneasy but her child seemed to be all-knowing- or maybe it took after Steve and just knew Bucky could be saved. “No need to thank us,” she said sweetly before lightly taking his metal hand in hers to show him he could be gentle, “Would you like to feel baby with this hand? Maybe it will calm you, da?”

[quicksilverblur-blog]

“What… What is this?” Pietro comes into the dining room, food smells wafting down the hallway and drawing him to the source. The common table is loaded with food, turkey, and mashed potatoes, and ham, and sweet potatoes, and bread. “I didn’t think it was a special meal today.”

[soundabugle-blog]

“Is Easter, Mr Maximoff,” Mara told him happily as she continued cooking. “My mama always told me to feed three people: your husband, your children, and your friends,” she gestured to him with a hand covered in homemade stuffing. “You are friend, I know not many celebrate Easter as religious holiday but is free food holiday da?” 

[versailleswrites-deactivated201]

“Perfect! I’m actually really glad. I can’t think of a more perfect model for any of this.” A light smile slipped onto Ethan’s features, his mind moving away for a moment and mentally jotting down all of the campaigns that he would have to start getting together. Advertising was something that was tricky, especially in the middle of winter and in New York, but it would be much easier now that he had a model that so many different brides could look up to. Even if Mara didn’t think so, being pregnant was a blessing when it came to wedding dresses. Weight was something that all brides were insecure about, but mix that in with having a baby on board and hormones tended to run absolutely crazy. If they could see that someone like Mara looked beautiful in the dress, he had no doubt that they’d actually be excited to buy the dresses. His mind tuned back in though as she spoke, and his teeth lightly bit into his bottom lip. “I’m not sure if it’s an American thing,” he admitted softly, shrugging his shoulders as he stepped back carefully to give the girl a little bit of space. His fingers ran along the glossy pages once more that held the dresses, trying to keep his mind and hands busy to avoid the slight flush that was tinting the apples of his cheeks. He wasn’t sure why he always had such a hard time when it came to talking about things like his feelings and the emotions that came with it. There wasn’t a real definition for all of it for him; he was an affectionate person. He had grown up that way, and while Mara was beautiful, he wasn’t going to push her into some form of a relationship. Work took up most of his time anyway, and he didn’t want to drag her down into that pit of hell that so many girls had frowned on and shaken their heads at before. It wasn’t fair to her, especially when she was still healing from her own scars. “It’s kind of an Ethan thing, I guess.” He finally admitted softly, blue eyes trained down at his planner but not bothering to actually read the words. They didn’t hold a meaning to him right now anyway. “And you are pretty, you know. I’m just…” Ethan ran his hand over his face before he exhaled slowly. “I’m not the type of person to get involved with, you know? Even if you’re stunning and such a genuine person. I’m sorry if I came off strong. It’s just the way I’ve grown up and it’s not fair to push that form of intimacy on you.”

[soundabugle-blog]

“I am not sure about this but I want to help,” Mara admitted with a smile at how excited Ethan seemed to be getting. His excitement was contagious, he smiled and it just pulled up along her own lips. She loved that about him, he was kind and doting and made her feel at ease about everything. She piled her thick hair up on her head before she started talking about her baby and thinking more about maternity dresses. Despite Ethan’s reassurances, she wasn’t entirely certain she could pull modeling off. She had never posed for pictures, not even engagement photographs. Where they lived engagement photographs weren’t really a thing. Instead they had small parties and would invite everyone in the village, she missed that day. Mara frowned slightly when Ethan pulled away from her and began milling about his small office. She wondered if she had said something wrong. “Did I say something?” she asked before scoffing at his words of doubt. “You think because you are kind and generous you are not good for relationship? I do not think you know good relationship if it hit you in the face,” she told him lightly reaching up to lightly smack the back of his head. “You are worried you are not good enough, you let me decide who is good for me, da?” she asked fixing him with a haughty look. She hesitated only a brief moment before hugging Ethan’s middle as he read over his schedule and dropped her head to his back, just below his shoulder blades as she was incredibly short compared to him. She gave him a light squeeze and then released him, stepping back and grabbing her coat. “Now come on, I am making dinner. Mama’s favorite recipe, you will love it. And Baklava for dessert, you need to eat.”

“Oh and Ethan?” she paused and looked over at him before tilting her head to look up thoughtfully. “Just because I ask why you do some things does not mean I want you to stop. I much rather like the way you treat me.”

[soundabugle-blog]

OOC::

So sorry it’s been forever since I’ve been online! I couldn’t find my log in information but I’m going to do replies now and maybe get a starter up!

[versailleswrites-deactivated201]

A wide smile slipped onto Ethan’s features at how Mara seemed to light up at the prospect of modeling. He had never thought of it that way, really. He was so used to people kind of turning him down when it came to the whole modeling aspect that he hadn’t expected Mara to be so happy and excited. “For our magazine, store fronts, big posters when we go to convention centers. Maybe even an ad or two taken out in local malls and the like.” Laughing, Ethan lightly swatted at her hands and shook his head. “You are positively crazy. You’re not going to look like an elephant and elephants look perfectly good in dresses, for the record!” Pressing a quick kiss to her forehead, he gingerly set his hands over hers that rested near her stomach. He had never been really infatuated by the idea of children or anything in the like before, but even though Mara was barely showing, he still felt compelled to do it. She ws radiant and beautiful, and honestly, it was something Ethan couldn’t stay away from. “We have tons of brides who are going to be becoming mothers. They have maternity wedding dresses, and I’m sure they’d be honored to see how beautiful they could look just by looking at how gorgeous your baby bump looks in it.” Peering over her shoulder, Ethan smiled and dropped a quick kiss to her shoulder. “Absolutely. Does this mean you’re taking up the job or do I need to try and find another model?”

[soundabugle-blog]

Mara’s eyes were glittering at the idea of her being in any kind of advertisement. What would her mother say when she learned Mara was modeling the gorgeous gowns Ethan had in his store. Modeling dresses sold world wide and seen on runways? Her heart fluttered and then he was telling her about maternity dresses. It wasn’t a foreign concept but one frowned upon back home, her small town still had very traditional views- marriage then baby- but her mother had done her share of alterations to accommodate pregnant brides. “You think these other brides will see beauty in the dress and not elephant?” she asked a bit skeptically looking at her middle. She smiled as Ethan put his hands over hers as they rested near her middle, adoring the way he was so warm and gentle with her. She normally hated when people found out she was pregnant and wanted to touch her belly, she didn’t understand why and knew it would only get worse the further along she got, but when Ethan did it she liked it. It was soothing and comforted her even when she didn’t know she needed comforted. His kiss to her shoulder surprised her and she looked at him curiously. He was so affectionate with her but she had seen him flirt and charm the other ladies in the shop so she wasn’t sure what he meant by it. “For you,” she said thoughtfully before smiling, “It would be great honor to model your dresses. But only since you asked.”

She paused and looked at him, twisting in his arms to face him fully. “Why you do this?” she asked quietly, “You kiss my head and shoulder and tell me I am pretty. Is this American thing? All this- flattery or...why?”

[versailleswrites-deactivated201]

Ethan regarded the girl for a moment before loud laughter erupted from his lips. He had never heard the expression before, but that was part of Mara’s charm. He could learn so much from her, and it made a wide smile slip onto his features as he looked at her. “I’ve never heard that before, but it needs to be used more often.” He gingerly jostled her with his elbow, smiling softly. That was something about Mara that he liked; she was herself through and through – she wasn’t trying to change to fit in. And, she gave him a pretty nice confidence boost if he was honest with himself. Chewing at his lip a little, Ethan shrugged his shoulders sheepishly. “I wasn’t thinking about you selling the dresses. Well, I suppose you would inadvertently be selling the dresses but.” Ethan paused for a moment, pursing his lips before he shook his head and got back on track. “I was thinking as more of a model. Come in, try the newest styles on, take some pictures, put them in the catalogs and around the store.” His eyes were hopeful, but he wasn’t going to pressure the girl into it. “Not everyone is comfortable with that though, so I totally understand if that’s not your thing.” Ethan trailed Mara with his eyes as she moved, his brows furrowing slightly at her words. Then it began to dawn on him slowly and he let out a soft sigh, gingerly hugging her from behind. “I’m sorry, honestly. I shouldn’t have bothered you with this – you don’t need to bring up those memories for yourself.”

[soundabugle-blog]

Mara grinned as Ethan laughed, eyes glittering at the sound. She loved the sound, it warmed her heart and she couldn’t help but giggle herself as she looked over the images on the table. Her eyes widened when he asked her about modeling. She had never thought about herself as a model for anything let alonge wedding gowns. “Model?” she gasped, “You mean girl in pictures in magazines? Wear these fancy dresses for your magazine for everyone to see?” she asked staring up at him with wide dark eyes. She smiled slowly, chuckling as she shook her head and gave him a curious look, “What will you do when my belly is big and full with baby?” she asked playfully sticking her middle out and holding her shirt tight. “I’ll be elephant! Elephants do not look pretty in dresses,” she teases smiling at Ethan and then turning to look at the pictures on the table. She thought about Ilijah and all they could have had until she felt arms wrap around her middle and give her a light squeeze. She draped her arms over his arms and gave him a light squeeze too, looking up at him with her head against his shoulder. “Is okay, I have you,” she smiled and patted his hand. “If I model,” she looked at the dresses and picked up the sweetheart, “Can I wear this?”

[quickism-deleted-deactivated202]

It was strange, a GOOD kind of strange , to see her again after what they had both been through. Some days with HYDRA, he FEARED he wouldn’t hear her singing for the worse had happened. But she survived, she was one of the strong ones. Of all of the places she could have ended up after HYDRA and the battle, it was the same building in the same city and country as the twins too. 

“That is good.” He nodded, glad that both her and the baby were alright. They deserved this life; a somewhat quiet and safe one. Pietro raised an eyebrow at her next words, his smile widening slightly. “Really?? You can tell already??”

[soundabugle-blog]

Mara watched Pietro and smiled warmly at him as he excitedly asked if she could really tell if the baby liked him. She took his hand and settled it where hers had been over her lower middle, a warm hum radiating through her and supposedly through him. SHe had been told her baby could influence mood, cause visions and power surges even. Something along the lines of Wanda’s talents. Mara knew what her baby thought of people and it usually influenced the way she felt about people. Right now, she was warm and relaxed, her baby radiating a warm tingling sensation that resembled a summer sun on bare skin. 

“Do you feel that?” she asked curiously looking between his hand and his face, guaging him with a hopeful smile. “I know,” she assured him. “Baby is warm and happy when you or your sister are around, baby also likes Mr Rogers and Mr Barton, not so much Mr Stark but there is time,” she giggled and held her hand over Pietro’s for a minute or so longer, her thumb running along the back of his knuckles as she began to hum the song again.

[soundabugle-blog]

Mischa Himmler || 23-27 || Caitlin Stasey People say you're a survivor because you make it out...

NEW MUSE ALERT!

I’ve gone and done it again, this is another muse of mine refurbished from a multimuse account I can no longer access so I fleshed her out rewrote her and gave her a fresh name. If you’d like to RP with Mischa and I over here I’d love to plot with you guys! Come on and IM or message me and we’ll plot, I can’t post anything in the tags on there yet but I’m ready to RP with you guys!

[thedisgracedsergeant-archive]

Bucky stared at Mara again, unamused slightly but giving a gentle sigh. ‘Maybe I’m not part of HYDRA any longer, but I’m still unstable,’ he thought with slight anger, her face contorting to an awkward frown before he noticed what she was doing. He watched her trace the lines of his palm, breathing in deeply as her hand now begin to trace up his arm.

He listened to her soothing singing, feeling his breathing slow and feeling himself grow incredibly calm. He was slightly unnerved by how at peace he suddenly felt, but of course he didn’t care. He couldn’t, he couldn’t be bothered by how concerning his sudden bliss was because he was too busy being blissed. He stared at Mara confused but happy, letting a small smile spread on his face as he looked down at her. “……Thank you.”

[soundabugle-blog]

Mara traced the lines along Bucky’s arm, wrist, and palm in soothing patterns as she continued to try and lull him, feeling the calm settling within her as well. Just hearing the familiar song brought her back to being a little girl frustrated at her kid brother for “ruining everything” and her mother doing as she did now to relax her. Mara lifted her dark eyes to Bucky as he visibly relaxed, it made her smile softly seeing as what seemed a heavy boulder was lifted off his shoulders.

“You are too hard on youself Bucky Barnes,” she said softly as she continued to drawn before lightly placing her hand over his palm and held it in her other. “You did not know the things you did, you cannot blame youself for it. HYDRA made us all monsters, but we are getting better, you especially,” she leaned up on her toes to kiss his cheek chastely before leaning back on her feet. “You will get there, soon I think. You might even be happy,” she teased.

[thedisgracedsergeant-archive]

Bucky watched her settle in front of him, worried. He was afraid he would hurt Mara, and her baby- And that is the absolute last thing he would ever want to do.

He stared blankly at her, mouth sightly agape in a ‘What the hell are you doing’ manner as she pryed the busted phone from his hand, and as she did he took a single, small step backwards as he stared. “I wouldn’t want to,” he murmured, now keeping his hands far from Mara as he stared at her even more curiously.

When she set the broken phone off to the side and now extended her hand, he looked at her like she was crazy. But when she spoke, he was slightly less tense about it, and when she added the after thought, he couldn’t help but give a small smile. He reached to his face and rubbed his mouth worriedly, then he reluctantly and delicately took her hand.

[soundabugle-blog]

“See? Then you won’t,” she reasoned easily as she pulled the broken phone pieces from his hand before he recoiled and took a step back. She looked at him curiously and canted her head. She looked at him simply, “What?” she asked perplexed by his look of uncertainty and nervousness. “If you do not want to hurt me, you will not, you are not HYDRA weapon any longer so-” she wiggled her fingers to get his hand. 

She smiled as she mentioned what she wanted to do and he smiled lightly at her bitch comment. She smiled, too, and gestured him forward when he slowly put his hand in hers. She began humming lightly and turned his hand over to trace the lines of his palm and the soft veins along his wrist and up his arm, singing a soothing song and just allowing her song, soothing touch, and her baby to relax Bucky.

[cantgetdrunk]

“You’re asking the wrong man about waffle makers, Miss.” He smiled at her as came in to sit down. “You’re making breakfast again. We didn’t bring you here to work for us you know…”Steve watched her as she puttered around. “How are you feeling?”

He had been the one to find her, and he’d been watching out after her to see how she adjusted. Steve knew what it was like to be alone, and he didn’t want her to feel that way. 

[soundabugle-blog]

Mara sighed softly and continued to fiddle with the waffle maker until F.R.I.D.A.Y took over with a gentle,

“Allow Miss Dragovic.” Mara blinked as the AI unit began effortlessly working the waffle maker to make her waffles and little robotic arms poured the batter. She blinked and thanked FRIDAY before turning to the rest of the breakfast. “Is not work,” she assured the captain, “I like cooking, remind me of home,” she shrugged and then glanced him through his next question. She didn’t really know how to answer. She was exhausted, sore, mentally drained, still a nervous wreck, annoyed, but some days she was content, comfortable- it depended really. She looked back at what she was doing and replied honestly in Croatian, then as if clarifying she said, “I am feeling better, Mr Rogers,” she put three waffles and some eggs and sausage on a plate for him. “Please, call me Mara.”

[versailleswrites-deactivated201]

Ethan’s eyes lingered as Mara took the pieces of paper and began to hold them up to her body. It was no surprise to him that his mind instantly went to her in a gown; she had the perfect body for them as far as he was concerned, and part of him thought that maybe he needed to convince her to actually come and model for the shop photos sometime. But that was a conversation for a different time, and he pushed it away in favor of trying to imagine the sweetheart verses the a-line. Biting at his lip a little, he let out a slow breath and cleared his throat awkwardly when he realized he was staring a little too much. The last thing he wanted was to make Mara uncomfortable, and he silently reprimanded himself. “I think I like the sweetheart – it’s pretty classic and it’s kind of my favorite cut on a dress.” Humming a bit, he reached out gently and took the piece of paper, studying it once more before nodding. “I think sweetheart. A-line just seems a bit flat compared to this one at least. And we’re pretty low on stock with sweethearts too so it’d be a good decision.” Rubbing at his temple, he gave the girl a soft, appreciative smile. “Thank you, seriously. I thought my head was going to explode from that. It’s a lot easier when I have your help.” Jutting out his bottom lip, he allowed himself to pout for a moment and look up under his lashes at her. “Are you sure you don’t want a job at the shop? You’re fantastic at this.”

[soundabugle-blog]

Mara continued to pose playfully, tilting her chin up and batting her lashes or straightening her features in a harsh stoic expression like the models on the runway. She felt a genuine albeit nervous smile creep up on her when she noted the way Ethan was looking at her, so gentle and yet so intensely, like he was actually visualizing her in a gown. She looked at the drawings when Ethan began voicing his opinion, she had thought she would have always worn a mermaid sweetheart, or a trumpet, something that would make her seem taller and accentuate the soft contours of her slender frame. But these were much fancier than the gowns she and her fiance had been looking at. Mara could have never afforded such gowns no matter how much she dreamed. “Sweetheart then, see you know all along,” she concluded looking at him with a smile. She stepped up beside him to put the drawings back on the table and perused what else lay there. Laughing softly at his request for her to work there, she shook her head, “Nu, nu. I am bad at sellperson, I cannot sell snow to camel,” she said not even sure if that was a phrase in America or not. She may have made it up. Either case it suited her purposes, she couldn’t have sold a cabin to the homeless let alone a fifteen-thousand dollar gown. “I am fine working under table and helping you pick pretty things for beautiful girls to wear,” she smiled brightly at him, “You make big day even better with these dresses,” she looked at the sweetheart again and her smile fell into a somber one. “I would have liked to shop here,” she mumbled unaware Ethan could probably hear her.

[sputnxkk-deactivated20170524]

bucky was slightly wounded by her words but managed to keep his expression stoic. he bit his lip before turning his gaze downwards. ❝ they took my sanity and my memories away. they made me kill my best friend without me knowing who it was. maybe it isn’t as bad as you. but i have my own battles too, ❞ he said quietly, trying not to huff. he didn’t know why he bothered sometimes.

[soundabugle-blog]

Mara felt a pang of guilt run through her when the man spoke. She guessed he had met HYDRA as well as only HYDRA would think of something so cruel to do to another human being. And she snapped at him. She was just scared and alone and- angry. She didn’t know what was going to happen to her and her baby now that HYDRA lost their base in Sokovia. Guessing that staying where she was would be both a blessing and a curse, she just didn’t know what she wanted.

“I am sorry,” she said in a small voice, “I am just-” she sighed and ran a hand through her hair. “Those things- that happened to you, they are terrible and I am sorry for yapping at you.”

[quickism-deleted-deactivated202]

She made it out alive. He felt relieved, she didn’t deserve any of the horrors they put her through. The twins didn’t either. There was one point where Pietro did stop to think, after they escaped, if she was alright. If she survived. Her singing was almost a solace to him when he was trapped in that cell. Sometimes he didn’t hear, he was more focused on trying to slow himself down. When he learned more control, that’s when he heard her. In such a harsh and painful place, she managed to shine some light.

“Is nice to…properly meet you, Mara.” She had a baby. He didn’t know why exactly she sang before but now it made sense. She was stuck in such a horrifying place with a baby. He didn’t think he could h a t e HYDRA anymore than he already did. The speedster was slightly surprised that she remembered his name. “Yes. She, uh, she is here too.”

Pietro nodded and moved to sit by her, smiling at her offer. “Your baby, it is alright — healthy??” After everything HYDRA had done, god knows what could have happened. 

[soundabugle-blog]

Mara watched Pietro curiously as he seemed to study her. She remembered him, mostly after he and his sister were given more freedom around the base. It was shortly before the Avengers took her. He sometimes spoke to her in their cells, mumbling that she sounded nice or if she was crying he would tell her to stay strong. She knew he had a sister, he cried her name when they were first there, and she would cry his. When Mara and Ilijah were being experimented on, the scientists would compare them to “The Twins” a lot and Mara just put two and two together.

She smiled lightly at the pale haired man, nodding her agreement, “Nice to meet you, too,” she assured him before patting the spot beside her. 

Mara looked at him curiously as he sat down and asked about her baby. She flattened her hand against her flat middle, she was underweight thanks to HYDRA but not far enough along to show yet either way. “The doctor here, Cho? She says baby is fine so far, but is small, won’t know any real damage until further along,” she looked at Pietro, “Baby likes you, though, I can feel it.”

[xmusexempirex-archive-deactivat]

Bucky looked up at the sound of the other person’s voice. It not being one that he recognized save for maybe a familiar accent. “What are you now, some poet?” He snapped, face unreadable.

[soundabugle-blog]

“Does common sense make poetry now?” she asked smartly, “Do I sound poetic because I know it is not who we are going to be but who we are that matter?” she gave him an even but slightly smart look. “You are the one talking to yourself, I just thought I’d answer so you did not look-” she fumbled for the word and settled for twirling her fingers around her head.