riverviewlogs | [open] try to tell the difference

[ So here’s the thing about getting stranded on some alien planet that happened to act as a nexus for, like, a billion different cultures, including Earth:

It means Peter has a lot of catching up to do.

The weird thing is, he hadn’t really cared, back when he was in his own world. He was happy with his Walkman and his two mix tapes, happy with the little trinkets he had picked up from junkers around the galaxy, happy with the few childhood belongings he had carried with him for twenty-six years while he was dealing with the bullshit the Ravagers threw at him, day in, day out. He didn’t need more, he figured, and considering how rare anything Terran had been in his neck of the galaxy, he gave it up.

But now that he basically has nothing but time, he’s diving into new music, watching new TV shows and movies.

And currently, he’s checking out something that looks suspiciously like whatever the Quarantine-appropriate version of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull might be.

Except there’s clearly a noise of disapproval, and Peter lifts his head to see the guy grimacing at him. Peter blinks, looking between the dude and the DVD case, then— ]

...Uh.

[ The guy must be mistaken. Peter’s, like, pretty sure Indy is awesome. Like, why would they make a fourth one unless it was gonna be really cool? ]

Why? What’s wrong with it?

Uh, where do I even start. Bad CGI? Inconsistent characterization? Terrible acting? Too many boring car chases - and this is coming from a guy who watches the Fast and Furious movies like it's my religion. I could go on, seriously. It's a bad, bad movie. Not like, so bad it's good. Just bad. A soulless cash grab that doesn't respect the legacy of the original trilogy at all.

[ Cisco comes a little closer, looking at the options on the screen at the moment. This is a totally normal interaction to have with a stranger, right? He's doing a public service. He'd wasted his time and money on that movie, and no one else should have to. He considers the options, then points to Terminator 2 and asks: ]

You seen this one yet?

[ ... Alright, that all sounds really bad, admittedly, and Peter frowns uncertainly at the screen. He loved Indiana Jones as a kid, so it’s seriously disappointing to hear all of that. A part of him wants to call bullshit on that tirade, though, and he nearly just goes through with renting the disc anyway, but—

Oh, okay, cool. It’s not like Peter has a personal bubble or anything, dude. He rocks back a little as the other guy takes a look at the screen, giving him one of those incredulous stares that screams, What the hell is happening right now? When the guy points out the movie – something hiding on the edge – Peter peers at it skeptically.

What was that about personal space? Because it’s Peter’s turn to crowd in, gawking at the screen. Then, quietly, but with feeling, ]

What the hell?

When did they make a second one?

[ It's not like Cisco's entirely unaware that Peter seems weirded out by this whole exchange, but Cisco's kind of used to weirding people out. It happens a little less, here in the Quarantin, where people's threshold for social weirdness tends to be higher just based on the sheer diversity of social customs and etiquettes all colliding together in a small city. So Cisco just keeps doing what he's doing; he's being a good samaritan, after all! ]

1991, dude.

[ Peter's answer does give Cisco some context; he's from a world where the first Terminator film existed, then, but he's either been living under a rock since then, or he's from a year between 1984 and 1991. And it also confirms to him that he'd made the right call, intervening like this. This was fate, him being here at the right place and the right time. ]

Judgment Day is like... one of the few movies where the sequel's even better than the original. Seriously. I don't even wanna tell you why and spoil it man, but trust me. It will blow your goddamn mind.

[ Okay, well. That’s all super encouraging and good to hear, considering Peter’s already in the process of checking the film out.

The glances over at the guy again, considering. He seems to know what he’s talking about, and considering Peter has basically been picking at random, lately, and ending up with some serious stinkers, maybe now’s a good time to switch it up? ]

I don’t usually do this, but—

[ He rocks back, giving Cisco space at the kiosk. ]

You wanna pick, like, two more for me?

[ Cisco lays a hand against his chest, as if his name had just been called as the winner of some big contest. ]

For real? Me?

[ And he grins, then, a bit lopsided. He likes this guy. ]

This is such an honor.

[ He turns to the screen once more, scrolling through the options and considering carefully. What were the two most important movies after around 1990 for him to recommend to this guy? While he's looking, he extends a hand for Peter to shake, saying without taking his eyes from the screen: ]

Cisco, by the way. Cisco Ramon. You won't regret this.

[ He settles on The Matrix and Jurassic Park, naturally. ]

[ Peter can't help but snort out a laugh – apparently he's a little more comfortable with his decision, given the act. He watches as the guy – Cisco, apparently – scrolls through the available selections, and he's wrapped up in it that he nearly doesn't notice the proffered hand.

Thankfully, though, he notices and doesn't leave the guy hanging, shaking his hand. ]

Peter Quill. Folks call me Star-Lord.

[ What folks? Why would they possibly do that? Does this make him royalty, somehow, or just a douche?

These questions and more! ]

And I hope not, man. Like, no pressure or anything, but my next night or two are definitely riding on your selections, so I'm hoping you took this privilege seriously.

[ Cisco looks up, at that, surprised enough that he takes his eyes away from the list of potential movie choices. He at least has the tact not to immediately say that that alias makes him sound like a real jackass... but he definitely thinks it. Cisco is very serious about names. ]

That a superhero nickname?

[ He just assumes that, based on his personal experiences. Most of the heroes he's known don't just admit to it so openly, but there are exceptions to every rule. Tony. Ray, back home. Some guys don't take the secret identity thing all that seriously. ]

Listen. Listen. The next night or two are gonna be completely baller, or your money back. That's a guarantee. In fact - know what?

[ And Cisco reaches right into his pocket, pulling out his wallet and paying for the movies with a quick swipe of his card before Peter has a chance to say otherwise. ]

That's how confident I am you're gonna love these movies.

[ The explanation comes easily enough: ] Call-sign.

[ But he doesn’t look surprised by the “super hero” question. He is kind of a hero, these days. He wouldn’t characterize himself as “super,” but maybe someone else might call him that.

Cisco’s confidence is reassuring, but once the dude takes out his card, Peter’s too startled to protest. Usually his reflexes are faster than that, but it’s too late – the card’s been read, and Peter frowns. ]

You didn’t have to do that.

[ On the bright side, though? Free movies. (And lucky for Cisco’s wallet, Peter won’t be dick enough to just take the movies without returning them to the kiosk.) ]

What, like a military thing?

[ Peter doesn't really look like a military dude (and that's a compliment), but Cisco supposes you can't always tell just by looking at a guy. ]

I know! I wanted to, man.

[ Cisco's always kind of enjoyed random acts of generosity, and making people happy - and what better way to do it than this? ]

You should totally text me and tell me how you like 'em once you watch. I haven't got nearly enough people to talk to about pop culture stuff around here. Just no appreciation for the classics.

[ The fact that he's referring to these movies as 'classics' is kind of an indication that he's from a point in time further along than when they came out. ]

Not exactly. [ Well, in reality, it used to be an "outlaw name," but considering he's trying to stick to the straight and narrow, these days (with a few stumbles here and there), he can't exactly call it that anymore.

"Call sign" just seemed the next best explanation. ] I guess it can be a pilot thing, if you want.

[ Like "Maverick" or "Iceman."

The machine spits out the movies, and Peter collects them up, inspecting the discs through the slightly opaque boxes. He huffs out a quiet sort of laugh. ]

I'm just tryin' to play catch-up. [ Like, over two decades' worth of catch-up. ]

What, like in Top Gun? Sweet.

[ Yes, Cisco's brain went there, as well. Peter's answer is a little vague, which Cisco just finds fascinating, but he's not going to pry any more. Not when the next thing Peter says sparks his curiosity just as much. ]

Catch-up? Something make you get behind?

[ And then, because it seems only fair if he's going to keep asking questions, Cisco fishes into the plastic bag draped over his arm from his own bit of shopping, pulls out a big bag of twizzlers which he opens, taking one himself before offering it over to Peter. This is the best way to make friends, right? Recommending movies and sharing candy? ]

[ Twizzlers and a Top Gun reference?

Hello, new buddy.

He takes the proffered piece of candy, because apparently all the lessons about stranger danger and never accepting sweets from random folks on the street are lost on Peter. He chews on the end thoughtfully, nodding them to one side so they don’t crowd the machine. ]

Before I ended up here, I hadn’t been on Earth in a while.

[ The easiest answer, and the one without all the loaded emotional baggage. ]

Never really found a chance, so while I’m stuck here, might as well spend my downtime usefully, right?

[ Cisco, for his part, accepts that explanation like it's perfectly ordinary. After all, he's met a few people here who traveled between planets, between plans and universes and dimensions, even before coming through the portal here. Being from a planet without any of that, or contact with extraterrestrials, or any people who weren't humans, puts Cisco in the minority, in this place.

So he just nods, thinking that Peter's decision of how to spend his time while he's here is perfectly valid. ]

And does that catch-up include video games, too? 'Cause between me and Hana, we've got pretty much anything you'd ever wanna try out.

[ It occurs to Cisco that, perhaps, Peter might be from a world with movies but no video games (which would be horrifying), or that video games might not have really taken off by whatever time it was Peter left Earth. Still, worth offering. ]

[ He perks up at that. ]

Hana Song? Super perky pro gamer? About yea high? [ And he gestures to her approximate height. ] Apparently owns a souped-up Power Loader and never told me about it?

[ Is Peter bitter about that? No.

But he is strongly considering throwing together the Great Mech Heist of Quarantine. ]

Yep, that's her.

[ The description of Hana is unmistakeable, though Cisco is making no comment on the whole height thing - Hana's only a couple inches shorter than he is, after all. Not everybody can be a giant, Peter. But he squints in confusion, and asks: ]

Power Loader? That another word for a mech?

[ Yes, he does know about the mech. He is, in fact, in charge of keeping the mech in working order. ]

Not like she keeps it a secret.

[ She'd made a huge post on the network about it, when it arrived, after all - though maybe Peter hadn't been around back then. ]

[ He shrugs a little. ]

Sort of? Power Loader, like the thing forklift suit thing in Aliens. Big mech suit that Ripley uses to chuck the queen out of the airlock.

[ ... where the hell was your spoiler warning, Quill?

Also, what was Peter doing seeing a rated R movie at such a young age? It's probably safe to blame his grandpa, who brought him into scary movies with the solemn promise, "I won't tell your mom if you don't." ]

But, yeah, video games can be on the docket, too. [ Even if he played plenty, out in the big wide galaxy. ]

[ Cisco slaps a hand to his forehead, groaning and laughing. ]

Dude, I can't be-lieve I forgot what that thing was called! Eight year old me would be so ashamed right now!

[ So much for his nerd cred. Maybe some of it will be restored when Peter watches the awesome movies he recommended, at least. ]

Then again, eight year old me had never met actual aliens and people from all over the multiverse and tried to memorize the names of all their worlds and all their tech and a bajillion different other things, so I think he'd probably cut me some slack.

[ He rubs at the back of his neck, smiling a little lopsidedly. ]

I, uh, better head out before I embarrass myself even further, but seriously, hit me back and lemme know what you think of those movies? 'Cause you're gonna love 'em. I just bet you are.

[ Well, Peter can definitely relate to that, which is why he huffs out a quick laugh. ]

And to be fair, eight-year-old you would probably be freaking the hell out if he had to deal with—

[ A vague wave of his hand, meant to encompass everything around them and the sky overhead, where the Capitol World is visible. ]

—all of this.

But— yeah. I'll let you know. And I might hit you up for more more recommendations if I like these.

[open] try to tell the difference

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