riverviewlogs | [open] try to tell the difference

[ Cisco blinks once or twice at the nickname, but doesn't otherwise comment on it, which is yet another sign that something is not quite right with him at the moment. Normally, he'd crack some kind of sassy remark about her encroaching on his turf as the king of nicknaming. Instead, he just laughs softly, and a bit unconvincingly. ]

You know how I operate; caffeine goes in, genius comes out.

[ He picks up his menu, too, but it's clear that he's not really reading it. Instead, he chews at his lower lip, staring vaguely at a list of various types of pancakes. Cisco thinks about putting it off until they have their food. But the thought of eating is actually kind of unappealing at the moment, and he also has the feeling that the longer he waits, the more likely he is to chicken out. So, clearing his throat, he forces himself to say: ]

Actually um, the coffee's 'cause I'm kind of nervous right now. I, uh- there's something I wanna tell you.

[ She's just looking at him over the top of her menu, also not really reading it, and how could she when Cisco's acting the way that he is in front of her. Her eyes narrow down and quietly, she hums in contemplation. Why's he acting this way?

At length, she slowly puts the menu down and the look on her face is equal parts suspicious and downright concerned. ]

Okay... You're really nervous, but sure. What do you wanna tell me?

[ Cisco laughs at Hana's bluntness, a tiny breathy little thing, more anxiety than amusement. He'd been so brave, when he'd texted and set this up. He'd convinced himself at one point that it was going to be easy. He'd done it a few times now, after all. It isn't like this is the first or anything. But still, it's hard to make himself say the words.

So he comes at them indirectly, looking at the table between them rather than at Hana herself. ]

You know how I told you about the particle accelerator, and how it blew up and gave people like the Flash superpowers, and how those people are called metahumans?

[ It's a very strange way to start, considering those are topics he mentions all the time, when he's discussing his life back home, rather than obscure details that came up in a single conversation, the way he seems to be implying they are. Cisco lets out a shaky breath, and there's a long, awkward pause. He just has to do it. He has to rip the bandaid of. ]

What I didn't tell you is. I'm. One of those people.

[ But still, that feels like a cowardly, sideways way of putting it. Cisco, chewing on his lower lip, Cisco adds: ]

I'm, uh. A meta.

Edited 2017-12-20 04:02 (UTC)

[ She nods along, little gestures and hums of acknowledgment to make sure he knows he's got her undivided attention and that she's taking this very seriously. There's a part of her that's completely perplexed about what Cisco could possibly have to say that he'd fret this much over, and fret in a way that he seems worried she'll, like, end her friendship with him or something after it, when she literally can't imagine him saying anything that would make her do that. Cisco is one of the nicest people she's met, like, ever, and she's so thankful to have him as a close friend here.

So when his reveal comes, Hana just... slowly tilts her head, and falls silent for a moment. Mostly, she's wondering if he's going to follow-up with something more.

Cisco... is a metahuman... which means—

Her face just lights up, eyes going as wide as her smile gets. ]

You have—

[ Oops. She claps her hands over her mouth - that came out loud. Dropping her hands again she leans in and this time, with a hushed whisper that's absolutely still tinged with utter excitement, she says: ]

You have superpowers!?

[ The few moments between saying it and when it really sinks in for Hana are pretty terrible. Cisco doesn't move, doesn't speak, just looks at her, hardly even breathing. He definitely has a moment of thinking that he'd miscalculated, messed everything up, that he should've left things as they were. It hadn't been hurting anyone, Hana not knowing. What if she was afraid of him, now? What if she pulled away from him, pretending it wasn't because of this even though it actually was...

But then she is smiling, looking excited, needs to check the volume of her voice and then is leaning close to ask a question of confirmation. And it's... weird. Not bad, they way it would have been if she'd been afraid, but still weird. Most of the people he'd told here had been fairly nonchalant about his powers, which had actually been a huge relief. The way they acted like it was no big deal had made it easier for Cisco to pretend to himself that it was no big deal.

So Hana's level of enthusiasm is something he's not used to. At least, not being on this side of it. Usually he's the one getting enthusiastic about other people's abilities, about the things that made them badass and unique and awesome. It makes perfect sense, given Hana's personality, that she would react this way.

He just isn't sure it's warranted. ]

I have powers. 'Super' is up for debate.

[ His voice is not quite a whisper, but he is speaking low, quietly enough that they can't possibly be overheard. Sensing what will probably be her next question, Cisco further explains. ]

I get visions. Of the past, and where people are if I'm touching something of theirs, and of other timelines, and universes, and sometimes the future. [ He rattles off the list, keeps going before Hana can respond, wanting to just get through it: ] I can also... blast stuff, you know, with my hands. Only had to whip that one out a couple of times. And- and I've never done it but, apparently someday I'm gonna be able to, um. Open breaches. Between universes. Kind of like the portal.

[ One of the things that's made Hana so invaluable as a member of the MEKA flight squadron over the last few years is the fact that she always, always believes in her teammates. And one of the things that made her career in pro-gaming so successful has been her innate ability to recognize people's (like her opponents') strengths and weaknesses - and the same applies to her friends, too. She always wants to build them up and see their strengths grow. So honestly, hearing that Cisco has powers is, like, super awesome.

She's practically halfway across the table with how far in she leans over, chin resting on her hands and there may as well be stars in her eyes as she dutifully listens to every single word Cisco has to say in describing his powers, already imagining in her head what that's like. She's careful, at least, to maintain their volume (or lowness thereof) when she responds. ]

I don't know about you, man, but those powers sound pretty super to me. You're literally talking about opening portals to other universes? Hello?

I guess it is kind of cool.

[ More than any of the rest of his powers, the idea that he'll be able to open portals between worlds frightens him. Visions were, at least for the most part, passive. They happened to him, and then he could choose from there how to use any information he gleaned. The vibe blasts are more worrisome - at times, when he thought about them, it felt like his body was a weapon, like his hands themselves had been turned into something deadly - but nothing compared to the interdimensional stuff. The possibility that he could just open a door to anywhere in the multiverse? Terrifying. It's too much power, too easy to imagine how it could be abused. ]

I guess I should like, explain - I don't really wanna get into it 'cause it's a whole depressing mess but, uh, the way I found out about the powers stuff was... not super great. So if I seem less than hype about them, that's why. But- one of the reasons I'm telling you is I'm trying to like... get hype about them. Or at least, you know, okay.

[ That seems to Cisco to be a good compromise - acknowledging that there are reasons for why he had been so nervous, for why he isn't his usual sunny enthusiastic self about his powers - without getting into the gory details, or discouraging Hana's own enthusiasm. If he's ever going to have hope of disassociating his powers from Dr. Wells, and his own PTSD, and all that shittiness, he's going to have to start making new associations rather than dredging it all up any time he talks about them. ]

And 'cause I trust you, and I didn't wanna keep it from you any longer. And I thought... if there was anybody I wanted to tell, it was totes you.

[ Hana tends to wear her heart on her sleeve, which makes her easy to get along with and to read, but she's also a compassionate, sympathetic person, so when she notices that Cisco still doesn't seem quite as excited about his powers even after her reaction to the reveal, she dials back. Goes back to listening to him attentively and making sure she understands him. Understanding, too, that he has a goal and wants to work toward being better with his powers - and that, Hana can respect greatly. In fact, there's a warmth that blossoms in her chest at what Cisco says, not just because it's nice to feel such a close, trusting friendship with someone, especially someone as kind as Cisco, but because - she's so proud of him. For telling her this and especially for wanting to move forward. The smile she gives him is warm and sincere. ]

Hey... thank you, Cisco. For telling me. That's super brave of you. [ This she emphasizes, because she knows Cisco doesn't think himself brave. But hey, he rode on a toboggan with her and now he's telling her what he thinks of as a deep, dark secret. ] I'm really happy you told me! And I understand why you're kind of unsure about them. But - hey, if there's anyone who can help you think about using your powers for good, I'm definitely one of them.

Yeah, yeah - I'm really happy I told you, too.

[ And then Cisco smiles - not at bright and as beaming as usual, but it is soft and genuine. It had been a hard call, but he's sure now, the right one. Cisco has had such a hard time, since everything went down with Dr. Wells, knowing who to trust, figuring out how to trust anyone at all. It didn't matter so much, when he was forming shallower friendships. But with Hana, things had moved beyond that. Probably since that moment he had shared that dream with her, had seen how much she'd gone through, and yet she still managed to be so cheerful and hopeful.

If he could be like that - be a little more like her, Cisco thinks, that wouldn't be the worst thing. ]

Oh, and- I forgot to say. Since I'm a meta and all... usually it's my job, but I couldn't name myself, so Eddie picked a code name for me. [ He lifts up a hand, giving a tiny wave. ] Hey, D.Va, I'm Vibe.

[ He pretends to check his watch and says: ] You have exactly 3 minutes, to make all the jokes about that, and then I'm cutting you off.

[ Hana has always, always been this way - her spirit is immovable, that cheerfulness and hopefulness taking her through even in her early days as a pro-gamer. But maybe that's what made her so perfect for the job when the military sent for her. It's entirely likely that they weren't expecting to get a hero out of the teenaged girl they drafted to pilot their mechs for them, but that's what they got out of D.Va.

Some days are harder than others, as far as maintaining that disposition. But Hana's grown used to it because it's what she knows people need, expect of her. And she knows that's what would help Cisco at the moment, too. So she waits with that expectant, excited look in her eyes to hear what Cisco's cool superhero name is— ]

Vibe.

[ She actually has to blink a few times at that before her lips just break into a grin and she laughs. Like, a lot. ]

Wait, like— Vibe? Really? Like— [ she puts on a very grandiose, 'brave hero' kind of voice ] "Never fear, it's me! The Vibrator! But please, call me Vibe for short." Or like— "Stop right there. I'm here... to harsh your vibe."

Wow!

[ Of all the issues he has with his powers, worrying that they'll be laughed at is definitely not one of them. He'd been far more afraid that Hana would be frightened of him, would take him too seriously, after she learned the truth. So when she laughs, he gets sucked in, too, giggling hard, even wiping tears from the corners of his eyes. Part of the intensity of that laughter comes from the relief he feels, that things had gone so well.

There's the obligatory vibrator joke, obviously. Who could resist? But he also feels like he should speak up, explain that Eddie hadn't just had his mind in the gutter. ]

More like— "Stop right there, or I'll manipulate the vibrational frequency of the energy that binds together the multiverse, specifically to tear you a new one."

[ He mimics a hero voice right along with her, but then shakes his head, saying normally: ]

Just hasn't got the same ring to it, does it?

[ She's laughing even harder when Cisco adds his piece, playing along, and in her heart she's all the more thankful for getting to be friends with such an amazing human being. Being here has taken a lot from her; it's taken a large part of her identity by taking 'D.Va' away from Hana Song, it's taken her most important duty and her family away - but at the very least, it's given her friends like Cisco.

She hadn't realized how much she was hurting for friends like him, how lonely she was - until she was sent here.

Eventually the laughter slows, dissipates, and it leaves her shaking her head, too, although she can't seem to stop smiling. ]

It's probably a good thing you aren't a superhero yourself, then, with a call-sign like that.

[ Her laughing-smile softens back into one of sincere admiration. ]

Honestly, though. I can't believe how badass you are, dude. You're going to do great. I just know it!

Hey, come on, it's not all that bad. Better than 'Reverb' anyway. That's what the douchey doppelganger of mine called himself. And, I mean, the most famous hero we've got in my world's called "The Flash". Not like that one's exactly innuendo-free either, know what I mean?

[ Cisco feels no remorse whatsoever for dragging Barry like that. At least he hadn't mentioned the fact that before things had settled and the media all agreed on what to call him, Iris had been referring to him on her blog as "The Streak". ]

Thanks. And... thanks for coming today and you know. Being cool about it. [ Cisco huffs a very small laugh and admits: ] I was actually a little worried you were gonna be scared of me. Pretty stupid, right?

[ Hana actually looks thoughtful at first, wondering how 'The Flash' could be an innuendo; it takes her a second, but after that, she gets it and it shows on her face. ]

Okay, true!

[ She's still smiling as Cisco thanks her, and she waves a hand dismissively as though to say, no big deal. She lived in a world, too, that's a bit extraordinary, with some people who have extraordinary abilities (like a certain cyborg ninja, for example, and also: a hyperintelligent space gorilla) and being in the Quarantine certainly meant being surrounded by more people like that (now a certain wizard comes to mind). ]

That is pretty silly. I fight big scary giant robots of destruction, remember? Plus, you've been such a good friend to me, Cisco. There's no way I would turn on you like that. Okay?

GG! Now, let's order some food! I'm sooo hungry.

[open] try to tell the difference

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