[ open ] call it your 2.0, your rebirth, whatever

[franciscoramon]

who: cisco + anyone!
what: catch-all + tdm prompts + fajro prompts
when: february
where: various places!
warnings: will add as needed

I. DREAM A LITTLE DREAM

[ Cisco thought that the crystal caves sounded exactly like something from a fantasy series he had loved as a child, so of course, he dragged Eddie to go and see them with him. There had been nothing ominous about the place, at the time. It isn't until a few days later that Cisco's dreams start to show the sign of outside influence. They become vivid, surreal, and most importantly, he starts having guests. A few times he'll have a passing thought about a friend before falling asleep, only to run into them in his dream. He's no stranger to unusual dreams, and - after what had happened in October - not even a stranger to encountering other people in them.

But it's still pretty damn weird. ]

You see that, right? It's not just me?

[ Cisco asks the question to whoever is standing next to him, pointing down an empty city street at the looming figure of what is, unmistakably, a Godzilla-sized robotic panda. ]

II. CLEANING HOUSE

[ Cisco had rolled his eyes at first at the idea of a whole holiday based around cleaning. What could be less fun? He's always been somewhat inclined to keep stuff. After all, you never know what use it could be later. He spends plenty of his time scavenging the things other people left behind in the abandoned parts of the city, for materials and parts for his work.

But once he and Eddie decide to share the same room, he realizes he is going to have to get rid of at least some of his stuff, to make room. So he reluctantly starts, only to find himself getting more and more into the task. He can be seen either having a cute little yard sale to get rid of various items (clothing, books, etc.), or else taking what remains after the sale down to the bonfires by the river. ]

III. CLEARING THE AIR

[ Along with everyone else in the Quarantine, as the month progresses, he finds himself dwelling on resentments from his past. Unfortunately for Cisco, most of those resentments pertain to people who aren't even here. Once the 15th rolls around, he finds that his sense of taste has vanished completely. A few conversations with others tell him that this is probably something to do with the holiday, that he needs to clear the air.

But what is he supposed to do, when the people he's feeling resentful towards aren't even here?

So Cisco can be found all that week making his way around town, sitting in a park or perhaps at a bar, slump-shouldered and wan and uncomfortable, needing (but not knowing it) someone to talk to. A good heart-to-heart will put things right, but he's not aware of that yet.

He is also, despite his distraction, more than happy to listen to others' woes, or any resentments held against him. ]

Comments

🌱 eddie

[franciscoramon]

[ Cisco ends up so distracted thinking about rearranging their apartment that he isn't getting any work done. The idea of permanently, officially sharing a bedroom with Eddie is an exciting one, after all. So he leaves early, gets to their apartment around 3:30 and heads directly up to his room, taking a good hard look at it. He's going to have to get rid of at least some stuff, to make room for Eddie's things.

Over the next hour he goes around and around the room, choosing what can be discarded, wanting to open up some space before Eddie even gets home. When he comes in the apartment he will find several boxes of stuff sitting on the couch and Cisco up in his (their) room, hair up in a little messy bun, contemplating how to make more room in the closet. ]

[causational]

[It isn't like Eddie had exactly predicted a negative response to asking if Cisco wanted to share a room - he'd had the suspicion that Cisco would be okay with it, probably even excited. But it had still been a bit of going out on a limb, and Eddie's pretty sure that's never not going to make him nervous. He might be good at reading people, but he's not clairvoyant or anything, so it isn't as if he'd known, when he asked, that Cisco would say yes.

But it's a huge, huge relief that he did.

So Eddie's feeling almost weightless as he walks in from the carpark, heads up the stairs to the apartment and lets himself inside. Toeing off his shoes, he heads up the stairs right away after dropping off his leather work messenger bag, and peeks his head into the bedroom, still wearing his suit, loosening his tie. Cisco is there, bent over some boxes, his hair tied up with little tendrils hanging around his face and neck in that way Eddie loves.]

Oh wow, you really made a dent in here already, huh?

[franciscoramon]

[ As soon as he hears Eddie's voice, Cisco straightens up and turns around to look at him. He pushes those wisps of hair from his face, beaming as he greets: ]

Eddie! I wanted to get a start, at least. Figured I could make some room before you got here so we could bring your stuff up together.

[ And then he crosses the room, stepping over two more half-full boxes to give Eddie a kiss, arms draped on either side of his neck, hands running through his hair in a playful way, messing up his neat work hairdo. ]

Why don't you change and then we can start bringing up your clothes?

🌱 eddie [forward dated: feb 20th]

[franciscoramon]

[ Cisco is not having a great day.

It's his fifth not great day in a row, in fact. It feels a hell of a lot longer than that, since his sense of taste had vanished. For the first day and a half, he'd been grateful it hadn't been worse. Other people had had afflictions much more externally visible, and much more embarrassing, than his own. So what, if everything he ate was utterly tasteless? It wasn't going to be like that forever, and even if it was a bit gross, it made kale salads a lot easier to stomach.

Except that sensation of eating completely tasteless food started to get to him, and so he started avoiding meals more and more, which led to him being hungry, which led to him being irritable and noticeably light-headed. After a few days he'd tried solving it, had bared his soul to more than a few folks about some of the grudges he was still carrying over stuff that had happened back home. He'd been sure that would do the trick, and it had helped a little, restored a faint echo of his sense temporarily. But then it was back to nothing.

He is sitting on the couch that evening while Eddie cooks dinner, smelling it (a stir fry with ginger that has got to be amazing, not that he's going to be able to appreciate it) and feeling thoroughly sorry for himself. Not for the first time, he complains: ]

I just don't even know what to do that this point. I've tried everything. I've bitched about every little petty thing, and still, just-

[ He stops, sighs sharply, dropping his head to rest against the back of the couch. There was no need to ask if Eddie had had any more lucky, himself. It's fairly obvious he hadn't, based on the fact that he's still sporting two very curly very prominent horns. Cisco's almost getting used to the look of them.

Eddie adds some garlic to the stir-fry and Cisco groans, half in appreciation and half in annoyance. He'd thought taste was supposed to be mostly smell, so how come he can smell how good this food should be, but he already knows once he puts it in his mouth it will be like chewing on wet cardboard? ]

[causational]

[Eddie's definitely not unaware of Cisco's issue - he's tried to work around it as much as he can, to try to make extremely flavourful things in hopes that they'll make it through to Cisco's dormant sense of taste. No luck, though, and he suspects it's for the same reason his horns are still there, heavy and giving him a headache even as he cooks...Cisco hasn't released his resentments yet, not to the person he resents.

Eddie has kind of resigned himself to it. From what he knows about this particular month, the effects go away eventually, and he knows where some of his resentment lies, and also that he's not going to rock the boat by talking about it with the person involved. Not when that person is still such a close friend to the man he loves. So he'll deal with the horns until this is over. But he still wants to help Cisco in some way.

So when Cisco gripes about it, he blinks a bit, and turns off the burner for the stir-fry (it's mostly done, and it can wait for a few minutes while he talks to Cisco). Walking over to the couch, he puts one leg over the back of it, then follows it with the other leg, sitting on the back of the couch and looking down at him.]

Did you talk to the people you're upset at? I mean...

[A pause, and he licks his lips a bit, avoiding eye contact.]

You haven't told me any of the ways I've messed up.

🌱 rey

[franciscoramon]

[ Since she got the canister (though Cisco, of course, doesn't know that's what happened), Rey has been almost non-existent. When Cisco has texted her about good times to go scavenging, she's made excuses. When he's texted gentle questions enquiring how she's doing, she's been evasive. He tried letting her have her space for a little while, but enough is enough. He's worried, and cares about her.

So Cisco turns up at the door to Rey's new place (he's never been there, only got the address from here for his records) with a picnic basket stuffed full of food - some of Eddie's delicious salad in tupperware, a fresh loaf of bread from the best bakery in town, and lots of gummy bears. He knocks, calling out: ]

Rey? You in there?

[talentedscavenger]

[Rey has finally finished unpacking, putting everything away in a place that she deemed proper. She knows she's been distant with Cisco, but she has been distant with everyone. There were so many things that she learned. So many things that were confusing and hard to grasp--mainly her feelings about Ben. How he was so close to coming back to the Light, but he chose power. He chose to willingly follow the dark...

And having Snoke play both of them...it messed with her more than she wanted to admit. Coupled with their interactions here--it made her want to reexamine things again, and again, and again. There was no point in contacting Ben, not with how upset she was with him. There wasn't a point to talking to Finn or Poe about this, because that would make them further upset with her or more distant...

Really, there wasn't anyone she could talk to about what happened--not in full detail. Perhaps it was for the best. No need to drag anyone else into this. She could meditate, let the Force guide her now that she knew what she was doing--more than before. She was sorting through things in her head again when she heard a knock on the door. Rey stilled, debating if she should stay quiet, but she couldn't do that, not to Cisco.

He'd hear some shuffling on the other side of the door until the locks turned and the door opened to reveal Rey. Her hair wasn't in it's usual style, only half up and half down. The color choice of her outfit is darker--with blacks and grey-blue hues. A faint smile comes across her face, but it doesn't reach her eyes.]

Hey...I wasn't expecting to see you today.

[She hasn't seen him in some time, making excuses here and there. She gave vague answers about her well being...trying to mask her feelings.]

[antietam]

[ There are always weird things happening here, but usually they go away. This weird thing has lasted a month, and he's yet to see it affect anyone else.

He's mentioned it to Ronan, but his boyfriend can't quite grasp the weirdness of it, maybe because he's too used to that sort of thing. There's no one else he would trust to talk about his confusion with except...

He sends Cisco a quick message asking to meet him in a park, and promises coffee in exchange for his time.

He's settled himself on a bench near the entrance so Cisco will be able to spot him easily. Instead of watching for him, though, Adam is looking over the back of the bench, hand outstretched like he's trying to grab a fistful of grass. ]

[franciscoramon]

[ When Cisco sees an unexpected message from Adam, his first worry is that something has gone wrong with the defense system, that Ivar had gotten in and set their house on fire or had attacked Ronan, something of the sort. But the fact that Adam just arranges to meet with him at the park and promises coffee assuages some of Cisco's fears. It can't be anything too urgent or too dreadful, then, can it?

So he agrees, of course, and shows up at the arranged meeting spot on time. Adam is easy to pick out, even with his back turned. Cisco can't quite see what it is he's trying to do, but he doesn't want to startle him, so he calls out, voice casual: ]

Whatcha got there?

III

[bythehand]

[ Dwelling on resentments strongly relating to people who aren't even here: that's a very definite mood. Finn's been having a rough run of it himself. He's never been good at the whole... deep sharing, air-clearing thing in the first place, if he's honest. He's better at pushing things down and finding something else to dwell on.

Which, to be fair, was at least mildly successful until this holiday rolled around.

The problem is, he has a lot more resentments that fall outside of the Quarantine than anything. To say nothing for the fact that he'd sooner die than pretend he does want to have a talk with the sources about it. Especially not after opening his canister, the sting of anger all the sharper for being recent experience. Finn keeps a tight lid on it, lets thoughts force their way up until he can force them back down, through no small amount of effort.

(Poe's eyes start to change color, he notices, because he's doing the same thing. They start to give away his moods no matter how good his poker face is. Finn thinks something like oh, great, even more unfortunate magic that gets pushed onto people here.)

Finn cuts his hand on duty with the Perimeter Guard and doesn't feel it, doesn't even notice it until he looks down. Touch is important to him. Not just in working or training, but as a person. He spent long enough with a full set of armor between himself and everything around him. It's important. There isn't really anything he can do about it, though.

He takes to a little bit of wandering, if only because being in motion is moderately better than sitting in a quiet room while his brain refuses to let anything go, thinking about a fresh resentment towards this moon itself for doing this to people.

He catches sight of Cisco in a nearby park during one of these walks, sitting still, face pinched and shoulders slumped, and frustration switches tracks to concern in the blink of an eye.

Finn doesn't try to make his approach stealthy or subtle: just kind of twists on a heel mid-stride and keeps his momentum up until he's dropping onto the bench next to Cisco. He doesn't slump to match- his stiff posture is a habit so long-ingrained that it's not likely to break anytime soon- but he does lean forward, the better to fix his eyes on Cisco's face. ]

You okay?

[franciscoramon]

[ Cisco hadn't realized quite how obvious his discomfort was to all the passers by. In his mind, he thought he must look like he's merely stopped for a moment to enjoy the day. But it's clear he's not taking in the scenery, or enjoying the weather, or even paying attention to anything around him. There's something shuttered about his eyes, that makes it clear he's deep in his own thoughts.

So he doesn't notice when Finn changes direction abruptly, or notice Finn at all until he sits down. By then, it's too late to convincingly play it off. Cisco does still try. He finds his way to a smile - wan and unconvincing - and his response is as automatic as a physical reflex. ]

Yeah! Yeah, I'm great. Just, uh... zoned out. You know how it is.

[ It's vague, nonspecific, and just this side of a lie. But there's no reason Finn should need to know the truth - that he'd been sitting there stewing over old wounds that he should've stitched up and moved on from ages ago. Cisco's not like Eddie, or any of the other folks who have manifested external signs they need to deal with their baggage. His affliction is invisible, and he intends to keep it that way.

Which makes him a hypocrite, no doubt, because when he catches a look at Finn's face he immediately asks: ]

Everything good with you?

III

[mysophobic]

[ Cisco is not alone in his own dwellings. Shigeru...has a few that he never thought he'd ever have. And as it progresses further and further that feeling of being unclean gets worse and worse for him. He knows he has to talk about it, knows that's what he's supposed to do after eavesdropping on people to hear of it.

But talking about it is just not something Shigeru has in him at the moment, especially when the person he has to talk to is missing. But it's been rough on him as his gloves are a clear indicator of this. He can't...seem to feel or get clean and it's driving him up a wall.

He might find Cisco one day in the park it's nice here, calm, not a lot of people venture here and Shigeru could use it after having another episode of rubbing his hands raw. He looks exhausted as he takes a seat next to the other. He doesn't bother taking out his phone because the ring on his finger underneath his bloodied glove is enough now to speak. ]

Cisco? Are you alright?

[franciscoramon]

[ Five days have passed since Cisco lost his sense of taste, and it's starting to wear on him. It isn't that the actual sensation of eating entirely tasteless food bothers him (though it isn't great), but rather, the knowledge that something has been taken from him, just like that. It makes him feel helpless, in a way that makes his skin crawl. He hadn't been able to bring himself to force down anything all morning, and it's left him feeling weak, shaky, and emotionally raw.

When he hears someone approaching, he looks over, recognizes Shigeru and smiles in greeting. It's a rather dim smile, but it's the best he can manage. He waits for Shigeru to pull out his phone, type something out, the way he always does... but he doesn't. Instead, he speaks and Cisco spends several moments just blinking at him, disbelieving. ]

Wait, you...?

[ He just blinks, flabbergasted. What should he even say? He's never heard Shigeru speak before, and the surprise of it wipes away all other thoughts. ]

iii

[scholiast]

(Lucretia's been feeling similarly lately. She's got resentments of her own to deal with, naturally; these have manifested in her hands aching. Not enough for her to be in pain, but just enough to make holding a pencil pretty uncomfortable, so she's been fairly unhappy with the way this week has been progressing, and openly so.

When she spots Cisco all but sulking on a bench in the park, his arms crossed, she relates to the air of resentment surrounding him like a dark cloud and picks her way over.)

Hey. (She takes a seat next to him, taking turns at gripping her thumbs, trying to stretch out the soreness,) you okay? You look about as grouchy as I feel right now.

[franciscoramon]

[ Cisco had been trying to get work done all morning, with very little success. Hard to focus on designing better firefighter helmets when all he can seem to think of is how little Barry had ever thanked him for all the work he put into perfecting the Flash suit. Which is so silly, so petty, so unimportant. What should it matter? He didn't design the suit, or improve it, or constantly spend extra hours repairing it for thanks. He did it to help, no strings attached.

But still, he couldn't help feeling the sting of it. How little he'd been appreciated.

He'd needed a break, so he'd come out here, to this park, ostensibly to eat his lunch. Except he isn't eating, when Lucretia wanders over to join him. He doesn't even bother pretending to be alright; instead, he holds out the brown paper bag in her direction, offering: ]

I passed grouchy two days ago. I'm straight-up cantankerous, now. You hungry? I'm just gonna pitch it in the trash otherwise.

ii.

[hylights]

[Zelda is curious about the signs pointing to a 'yard sale' in the street she was walking down, so she decides to investigate. When she sees the table set up and Cisco stacking items on it, understanding dawns on her. It must be a manner of selling goods within the bounds of your own property.

She approaches the table with a friendly smile.]

Hello. Is this your yard sale?

[franciscoramon]

[ Cisco is still setting up when Zelda comes up, and she catches him off-guard. He hadn't expected anyone to stop by so soon, and he is a little flustered, but also happy. His main fear had been setting this up and no one bothering to even glance twice, that he would have to pack it all up and take it down to the bonfires. After all, a lot of this stuff isn't junk. Just because he doesn't have room for it doesn't mean it deserves to be burned. ]

Yes! Hi, hello, it is, welcome. I'm Cisco.

[ He reaches across the table to shake her hand, saying as he does: ]

Although 'sale' is kinda a misnomer since I'm pretty much giving this stuff away. It's sort of a pay-what-you-want setup, so if you see anything you like but you haven't got any money, that's okay. I'd just rather somebody be using it, you know? Plus I need the space.

[ Cisco's full of nervous energy, and for him that translates into chattiness. ]

🌱 beverly

[franciscoramon]

[ Cisco is used to perceiving some pretty weird shit. He's had shared dreams, has experienced other people's memories as visions and dreams, has seen ghosts and magic-induced hallucinations and of course, there were the vibes.

But what had happened to him just a moment ago felt different from all of that. He'd been walking down the stairs of his apartment when all at once, he was somewhere else. A room he'd never seen before. There was a weight in his hand - a hairbrush? And he'd turned his face, had seen his reflection in the mirror.

Only that reflection hadn't been his. It had been... Beverly Crusher?

When he blinks and is back in the stairway, he doesn't wait. He sits down right where he is, pulling out his phone and dialing up Beverly's number. This is a serious enough situation that he doesn't even try texting, first. After a few rings, the call connects, and before she can say anything he asks: ]

Hey did anything weird just happen for you?

[dancingmd]

Define weird.

[It's weird that Cisco is calling her at this hour, with no hello or anything, but she presumes he doesn't mean that. The morning has been quiet so far: making breakfast, getting dressed, doing her hair and make-up. Nothing strange. Yet, anyway.]

ii

[otherflash]

[ It has been a few days since Wally has last spoken to Cisco. Though in a strange way it feels like it has been longer than that thanks to his head having been recently flooded with new memories from home. He had been hesitant when he received the canister, but he's glad he went through with it even if the memories were a mixed bag themselves.

But his new memories are neither here or there as his decision to swing by Cisco's place is all about checking in with his friend. With Dick having left a few weeks ago, Wally meant it when he told Cisco he was probably the best one he had left here in the Quarantine.

He finds Cisco sorting through boxes outside of his home, and after a quick glance around, he gathers some sort of yard sale had gone on by the items still laid out on the tables. He waits a moment to see if the other man recognizes he's there, but when it becomes clear Cisco is engrossed in his task, he gently clears his throat to alert him of his presence. ]

Don't tell me you caught the cleaning craze that's been going around here.

[franciscoramon]

[ When Cisco hears Wally's voice he straightens up, already smiling; he laughs, a little embarrassed, and gives a happy shrug: ]

Guilty as charged. Okay, but, in my defense, it was totally Eddie's idea. We're doing some rearranging, changing his old bedroom into a like, shared office slash workshop deal, and that means we gotta clear out some space. So, y'know...

[ Cisco gestures at the table, which is covered in an array of posters, fidget toys, books, DVDs, some clothes, a few odds and ends. It's a humorous medley of items - and exactly what Wally would probably expect from Cisco. ]

You can just take anything you want. No charge. Anything that doesn't get claimed is going to the bonfire anyway, so go nuts.

it is time

[spellslots]

[There's a hangover lurking at the edge of his perception when Taako wakes and maybe that's why he doesn't immediately know that something's amiss. It isn't until after he's gotten ready and eaten breakfast that he realizes shit is, as it were, fucked up. Because they're out of milk and he plans on a quick dimension door to the store and what happens instead is a swirling blue vortex.

Rather than panic, Taako steadies his breathing and focuses on the feeling of letting go of a spell, even if this is a different kind of situation. He's relieved when it works although it immediately opens up another problem, which is what the fuck?

Luckily he's familiar with this exact shade of blue.]

Cisco, darling, what does one of your portal things look like? Asking for a friend

[franciscoramon]

one of my what now?

[ Cisco has been awake for a little while, but ever since he woke up something is off. He can feel it, but he doesn't know where it comes from. He's not hungry, not sick, not tired. The sensation doesn't feel like anxiety. It's as if gravity has shifted, or the amount of atmospheric pressure. Something he is so accustomed to that he didn't even think about it before this moment.

So it takes him a moment to get what Taako might be talking about, that he's not bringing up a video game or something like that, but perhaps... ]

wait do you mean a BREACH?!

🌱 jim

[franciscoramon]

[ Technically speaking, it's not his job, to do repairs for the Perimeter Guard. He's supposed to design new tech for them, weapons and communication devices and armor, not to act like an all-purpose IT guy and mechanic. And yet, because a lot of them know him as 'the tech guy', he ends up setting aside his real work and helping, not infrequently.

So he ends up at the headquarters for the Aerial unit, working to fix a badly damaged sensor. He doesn't know what kind of a fix the pilot had gotten themselves into, that had resulted in so much acid (at least it was probably acid) burning away at the tech, but now here he is, trying salvage what functionality he can. Part of him is tempted to scrap the whole thing and just build a new one, but resources here aren't so plentiful where he can make that sort of choice without at least trying to get this thing up and running again.

He is trying to focus, but he looks up and time someone new enters the room. This isn't a unit of the Guard that he is familiar with. He's never been in this building before, despite being friends with a few of the pilots - Hana, and Beverly. He keeps hoping one of them will wander by so he can say hello, but so far it's all been strangers. ]

[winscenario]

[ For what it's worth, Jim tries not to be much of a headache, and he does manage to do a lot of the maintenance work on his own. Still, he's not an actual mechanic or engineer, and some repairs are more than what he can handle, so. Looking for someone more knowledgeable and capable seems like the best option he has, if not only.

He still can't help feeling just a little bit bad about unloading more work on the guy. He could've asked Tony, actually. He'd shown interest on the shuttle, after all. But he also is up to his neck with projects and the like, so his options seem a little slim at the moment.

Stepping out onto the shuttle bay, he makes his way straight to the shuttle, wearing the standard Perimeter Guard uniform rather than the flight suit. It's not like he's counting on taking the Intrepid up for a spin anytime soon anyway. He stops right where the guy's working on the sensor, offering a smile when he does finally look up. ]

Hey. Cisco Ramon, right? Sorry— about all the work. [ He gestures to the damage, then offers a hand for a shake. ] I'm James Kirk.