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[jumpthegun]

1201 Sugar Plum Grove

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December 20th

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[It's a little bit early, but Bucky wants to get this over with before the actual season properly begins, when there might be a lot more people about. It's pretty late at night when he shows up at John's door, knocking just loudly enough to hopefully only rouse him and not his flatmate.

When John answers, Bucky will mutely hold out a very long and quite heavy box, wrapped with military precision.]

[jumpthegun]

[John's awake, just reading in bed, when he hears the knock. He doesn't particularly like answering the door after 7 PM, but Sherlock's sure as hell not going to answer it, and it might be someone in need of medical attention. Still, he can't help grabbing his switchblade knife and stuffing it into the pocket of his dressing gown before heading for the door. One of the new kittens, Molly--he thinks--seems to have taken interest in the entryway, and he has to nudge her away with his foot before opening the door a crack, and then wider.]

Bucky, what's-

[And there's a large, wrapped box being thrust at him.]

Uh... thanks.

[He stares at Bucky for a long moment, just holding the box. Then, clears his throat.]

D'you want to come in for a nightcap?

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[He glances down just in time to grab a tiny kitten from escaping, holding it up to John with bemusement.]

Sure, it might help to stop your cats from escaping. When did you get cats?

[Doesn't he already have enough pets?]

You can open it if you want.

[It's an arctic warfare magnum sniper rifle, British made, one of the best ones that exists in the modern world.

A totally normal Christmas present.]

[jumpthegun]

Sherlock got cats. At some point when I wasn't looking. I think he's raising them so he can test thing against Berit. Or he just thinks he needs to add to his bloody menagerie.

[He's grateful to the other man catching the kitten and closes the door once Bucky's inside. John motions for the man to take a seat in the sitting room before grabbing a couple of glasses and pouring them each a few fingers of whiskey. He brings one in for Bucky and sets his down before fetching the present. John sits down on the sofa and places it on the coffee table to open it. When he does, his eyes light up with wonder and delight.]

Bucky, this is... Oh, my god, this is so cool! I've only seen pictures. Did you just wish for this? Thank you! I haven't got something for you, yet. But thanks, mate! Thank you so much.

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[Seeing his gift so well received is... nice, really nice, and it puts a rare genuine smile on his face.]

No problem, figured if you had the proper kit then you could show me what you were really made of one day.

[One sniper to another.]

You don't need ammo, it'll never run out, I specified that.

[jumpthegun]

[John's going over the different mechanisms.]

You wanna go out and try it?

[A pause.]

In... the morning. It's the middle of the night. Right.

[He does look about ready to hug the gun to his chest, though.]

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What? You can't shoot in the dark?

[It's a light challenge, mostly because he can see how excited John is to try it out and that's something he wants to see as well.]

Pretty big handicap for a sniper.

[jumpthegun]

[Oh, is that a challenge? That's definitely a challenge. John looks down at his new gun and worries his lip for a moment. Going out after dark always makes him uneasy, but he's got better about it over the many months he's been stuck here. The doors won't lock, a blizzard won't suddenly drop on them. It's probably fine.]

Let me just get dressed. I'll be right back.

[He sets the gun down carefully and hurries to his room to get changed into some warm clothes. Really, this is stupid and they should just wait for morning, but it's a chance to test out the night scope on this thing, and he hasn't gone hunting at all. A part of him still can't help grabbing his pack as he heads out. It's pre-packed. It's just a precaution. There's nothing wrong with taking it.]

Should we head to the lake? Should be open enough, and I want to make sure we're well away from Aletheia's place.

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[He notices the hesitation, but he's not going to embarrass John by retracting his offer now. He's spent most of his nights out in the open, even now the snow is thick on the ground, so he's got over his fear of lockdown a long time since.

It's probably time that John did the same.]

Sure, do you hunt often around the lake?

[He doesn't go there that often himself, he's not sure what game there is to hunt at the water's edge.]

[jumpthegun]

Yeah, it's one of my usual spots. Elk come down around there along with the boar.

[He shoulders his pack and then the rifle before motioning for Bucky to follow. The frigid night air takes the breath out of his lungs for a moment as John locks the door behind them and pulls out a torch to start heading toward the forest.]

Any particular reason you came by in the middle of the night, by the by? Trouble sleeping?

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[He shrugs, wondering if there's any answer that he could give which won't earn him a disapproving doctor stare. Probably not, and he's not the best at lying anyway.]

It's not safe to sleep more than a couple of hours at a time in this weather, I needed to get moving for a while.

[jumpthegun]

[Disapproving doctor stare is incoming.]

Bucky, you really should be sleeping inside, or at least in the jungle. That's a bit warmer.

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[He will pretend not to notice the disapproving doctor stare.]

I'll bear that in mind.

[Bear it in mind and completely ignore it. He has his reasons for where he chooses to sleep, most of which he'd rather not go into or argue about.]

You use one of these before? Or was it a different model when you were in the army?

[jumpthegun]

[Bucky... John decides not to press for the moment. Maybe he can get Bucky to sleep over if he drops it for now.]

Different model. Same principle, I reckon, unless you've got any particular tips on it. How's the recoil?

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Better than the previous model, it's a good one for a small tripod and really long range.

[He thinks that John will be more than capable of handling it, he's sort of looking forward to getting a proper read on the other man's skills. Not just out of friendship, but for that niggling whisper of paranoia that's always there that wants to know just how dangerous the people around him are.]

[jumpthegun]

Mmm... I'll aim across the ice, then. Decent distance we can go, nice and open. I'll have to try it out on the beach, too.

[There they can go for miles. John's looking forward to this, massively.]

So, you got me the gun. What d'you want for Christmas, Buck?

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[He's quiet for a moment as he thinks, just the sound of their feet crunching in the snow carrying all around.]

A photo.

[He's aware this might be a weird request, but it is what it is.]

Of you.

[jumpthegun]

[John's brow furrows at the odd request. He can't help sounding a little awkward. It's flattering to have that be asked for as a gift, but at the same time, it makes him feel intensely self-conscious. Does he have any good photos off-hand? Is Bucky asking him to be a model for something?]

Um... okay. Like, framed, or something? Or did you want to take the picture?

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[It's either going to become more of less awkward when he explains, but he's made his choice and he's not backing down.]

Not framed, just-- a photo. You have your book of cases, right? I have a book too, started making it back home and I had it in Norfinbury, not that I added much there, and I've got it here. It's got pictures and memories in it, pieces as I got them back. But I also have stuff in there in case I forget again, to remind me, and I don't have a picture of you.

[jumpthegun]

[It's still very awkward, but it's also incredibly heartwarming, too. John ducks his head, glancing away. He wants to wrap the other man in a hug for that, but he's got a pack and a giant gun in his hands. Not ideal. His voice is softer, touched.]

Oh... right. Right.

[John licks his lips and clears his throat, trying to regain his metaphorical footing in the conversation.]

Yeah, I can get you a photo for that. You sure you don't want it with you in it, too?

[Do you want a friend selfie for your scrapbook, Bucky?]

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[At least John doesn't seem to think that he's creepy for wanting something like that. He's just scared of forgetting again, he wants reminders of everything that matters.]

I'm not very photogenic.

[He's trying to lighten the mood from awkward again.]

Just you is fine. You don't have any already?

[jumpthegun]

[John gives him a long, sideways look.]

You are unfairly handsome. You've got that tall, dark, and handsome thing, which is, I assure you, extremely photogenic.

[Just saying. The doctor huffs lightly, trying to shake himself out of it.]

I have got photos. That one with one of the Sisters from my colors write-up. Or other things from back home. If you want something from here, I'll have to get back to you. Maybe I could do one with the gun?

[He glances down at the rifle speculatively as they move through the trees, along the path.]

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[That's... awkward. But not quite as awkward as having to explain to John that he doesn't want a picture of them together, in case he ever looks at it and sees the Soldier standing at his handler's shoulder. It's why he doesn't want a picture of John with the gun either.

He's not about to explain all of that, so he just shrugs easily.]

Any of the ones from home are probably fine, I doubt you look much different from back then?

[Bit thinner and scruffier, perhaps.]

[jumpthegun]

Well, no... [Not really. John's kept the same 'look' for a while now.] All right. I can have you take a look at the ones on my laptop when we get back or tomorrow, if you'd like. Have a couple of nice ones from when I was visiting one of my mates in New Zealand.

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[He suddenly gets an image in his head of a photo of John in dumb swimwear on holiday stuck in his book of generally serious things, and it makes him smile very abruptly.]

Whatever, any picture is good. Don't overthink it, long as it shows your face, it's fine.