[Brooklyn] What are you doing New Year's, New Year's eve?

[from_the_outside]

Her parents had been in full party-prep mode when she and Bucky rolled up to the house, Alpine in his brand-new soft-sided carrier. They'd dodged the caterers and florists and the cater-waiters and found Harrison and Amanda deep in a discussion of which champagne glasses to use. Sharon, recognizing the signs, had given them both a hug and a kiss and promised she and Bucky would be in attendance, then brought Bucky and Alpine up the stairs to her room.

The early sunset had been gorgeous, glowing off the snow-coated woods, but full dark has fallen now. She can hear cars pulling into the drive and the strains of music drifting up from the big room where her parents are greeting their guests. 

She's not quite ready yet, blinking at herself in the bathroom mirror as she applies mascara, her hair in curlers. "How's it going in there, baby?" she calls towards the room. "Does that suit fit okay?"

Comments

[from_the_outside]

"I think you're right."

She lifts a flute from a passing server, who offers another one to Bucky, then sips at the fresh champagne, noting as she does how many pairs of curious eyes are watching her and Bucky. "We certainly seem to be getting a lot of attention."

[nerves_of_ice]

“Hm.” He raises his glass to her before taking a sip. “Do you usually bring a date to this party?”

[from_the_outside]

"I have once or twice," she says, thoughtful. "Although it's been a while, I guess."

[nerves_of_ice]

“Just another reason.” Bucky grins at her. “I can take it. Come on, let’s go see that clump of older people. I think I recognize one of them from town.”

[from_the_outside]

"I'll go anywhere with you," she teases him, cheerful, and strolls by his side as he leads her over toward the cluster of folks standing near an enormous Christmas tree bedecked with white lights and clear glass and crystal ornaments.

[nerves_of_ice]

“Happy New Year,” he greets them all as he and Sharon reach them.

“Why, it’s James - or is it Bucky, I hear?” asks a woman he remembers seeing in the center of town once or twice.

“Both,” he says, cheerfully. “But I usually go by Bucky. And you know Sharon, I know.”

[from_the_outside]

"Most of us," says a genial man nearby, the girl with the multi-colored hair from the bakery smiling on his arm. "I don't think we've met."

"Sharon Carter," she says, holding out her right hand to shake. "Nice to meet you...?"

"Patrick," he tells her, and reaches to shake Bucky's hand as well. "It's my first winter down here."

[nerves_of_ice]

“Mine too,” Bucky tells him, returning the handshake. “Bucky, as you just heard. Barnes. Nice to meet you.”

[from_the_outside]

"You too," Patrick says. He seems nice, if a little nervous, and Sharon smiles, trying to put him at ease. "I'm from New Hampshire. I keep expecting snow."

"We get some now and again," Sharon tells him. "Just wait until January."

[nerves_of_ice]

“Which isn’t all that far away,” he observes. “New York, here. Snow’s messy but fun there.”

[from_the_outside]

“It’s nice to go tromping around the snow and then come back to curl up with a movie or a book,” Sharon says, smiling. “I haven’t had any snow in the winter for years.”

[nerves_of_ice]

He idly makes a mental note to be sure to take Sharon out in the next big snow and make hot chocolate for after, but just nods.

“Not me,” laughs the bakery’s proprietor, whose name he really needs to learn. “Snow means it’s time to stay inside and stay warm.”

[from_the_outside]

"Or skiing?" Patrick asks, hopefully. She gives him a dubious glance and he sighs, crestfallen, as the group laughs.

"So are you down for a while?" the girl asks Sharon and Bucky. "Or heading back to New York after the party?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“A few days,” he says, easily, leaving the exact departure date vague. There’s the possibility they might stay longer than overnight, but it’s not entirely decided yet, and he wants Sharon to have all the time with her parents that she wants. “So we might see you around town.”

[from_the_outside]

"Be sure to swing by the shop," the girl says, smiling. "I've got some new recipes out."

"We definitely will," Sharon promises, grinning back at her. "And if you've got a lead on some good coffee, Bucky would probably appreciate that."

[nerves_of_ice]

“I would definitely appreciate that,” he assures her, letting it be fervent enough to draw a laugh from the group.

[from_the_outside]

Sharon smiles as the group laughs, and sips her champagne. “So we’ll definitely be there,” she promises, and turns to one of the other guests. “How’s the gallery doing, Emily?”

[nerves_of_ice]

“Well, thanks,” Emily tells her. “We just took on a couple of new artists for January, even.”

“Oh?” Bucky asks. “What kind?”

“A mixed-media painter and a ceramic artist,” she says. “Really fascinating work. Are you a collector?”

“I wouldn’t say that,” Bucky replies, ignoring all thoughts of the painting and the egg at the back of their closet. “But I appreciate art, if that counts.”

[from_the_outside]

Sharon tries not to think about the gallery that had burned so completely to the ground and smiles. "We'll have to stop by," she says. "We're still looking for some things for the apartment walls."

[nerves_of_ice]

“Any time,” Emily welcomes. “What do you have up now?”

“Some art from my travels,” Bucky says, omitting mention of Wakanda. “And some framed photos.”

[from_the_outside]

"Bucky's," Sharon says, proudly. "He takes beautiful photos."

[nerves_of_ice]

“Is that so?” Emily appraises him with new interest, and Bucky does his best not to shift uncomfortably under the little group’s curious scrutiny.

“I’m not trained or anything,” he says. “I just like seeing how they turn out.”

[from_the_outside]

She squeezes his arm, encouraging. "You don't have to be trained to have a good eye," she points out. "And it makes them that much more special to have."

[nerves_of_ice]

He smiles down at Sharon, warm, then around at the rest of them. "Well, I trust her eye for this kind of thing more than my own," he says, lightly.

[from_the_outside]

"You two are so sweet," Emily says, smiling, and Sharon laughs. "He is," she says, amused. "Me, not always."

"Oh, Bucky – " Amanda Carter comes bustling up. "Can I borrow you for a minute? There's some guests who have arrived that I'd like you to meet."