riverviewlogs | [open] try to tell the difference

[ 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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