[ 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

[franciscoramon]

Oh, for real?

[ He knows about the canisters; he's had plenty of friends who have gotten them, who have gone through the process of dealing with new memories of times from back home. At first, the idea had been strange to him. Then he'd wondered if he would ever get one, and what it meant that he continued not to. After a while, though, he figured that it must have to do with his decision to stay here. How could he have new memories from back on Earth if he never intended to return?

But most of the time, when his friends have dealt with these sort of interdimensional updates, the fallout has been unpleasant, emotionally speaking. Fights have been started, plans ruined, belief systems shattered. But Wally seems ... happy. Happier than Cisco is used to seeing him, actually. ]

Hey, that's awesome! Eddie's from there, you know, you two should talk, see if it's in a neighborhood he knows.

[ It might not seem to matter on this moon, that Wally got his own place to live back home, but Cisco thinks it probably contributes. It matters to Wally, and he knows it's going to happen. That'll improve his quality of life here, even if he isn't living in that apartment at the moment. ]

So they were... good? The memories, I mean? How's that feel anyway? Just sort of... getting hit by all that new stuff?

[otherflash]

[ The possible ramifications of what the canister held is definitely something Wally wrestled with. He hasn't been around here as long as Cisco has, but he's seen enough to know the results haven't always left people in the best of places mentally, and on a few occasions, even physically.

And while he would never admit it, the uncertainly of his future back home is something that scared him, and has left him often wondering if there was any point to him returning from the Speed Force in the first place. He even considered if the reason behind the canister was to play on those feelings and provide him more of an incentive to stay in this place.

But the overwhelming need to know ultimately won out in the end. A lot of the questions he has are still left unanswered, and he still isn't sure where he fits in back home, but for the first time since he emerged from the Speed Force, it finally feels like he's moving forward. ]

Some good, some bad. You know how interesting the Flash-life can be.

[ He isn't quite ready to talk about some of the bad things such as the time-traveling ordeal with Deathstroke ending with Damian damaging his heart back in the his Kid Flash days to stop the villain. The heart condition led to Wally kinda dying for a moment later on, but his younger cousin was able to give him the jump start he needed to fix everything.

The whole situation is awkward because the current Robin also happens to be here. Wally doesn't know what, if anything, he should say to Damian considering everything sort of worked out in the end and the boy had only meant to momentarily stop his heart rather than damage it. He still doesn't appreciate how it went down, though. ]

It honestly felt similar to when I regained some of my memories while I was stuck in the Speed Force. Without the whole getting lost outside of time and reality aspect. I'm still adjusting to everything, but I ended up in a good place.

[franciscoramon]

Boy, do I ever. I bet you've got a dozen wild new stories to share, and then some.

[ It's not as direct as asking Wally to tell him what happened - especially not right now - but it's an open invitation, that in the future at any point, Cisco is willing to listen. And him listening comes with the added bonus that Wally won't have to justify that any of it is really true. Cisco knows already that if it sounds fantastical and impossible, it's probably true.

With a slightly lopsided smile, he asks: ]

Hey didja hear anything about the me in your universe? Guy going by the name of Vibe- or... or maybe Reverb? I'm like, dying to know what the me from that world is like. Really hoping I'm not dead, or, like, a villain.

[ When Wally says he ended up in a good place, Cisco doesn't just smile - he beams. ]

That's awesome, Wally. I'm really glad. You deserve a little good luck, for once.

[otherflash]

[ Wally runs the hand not holding the DVDs through his hair. ]

You'd be right. Things were even crazier than usual.

[ He might have ended up in a good place, but it was a rocky road to get there with him finding out Iris killed Thawne, that Barry was keeping it a secret from him, Linda understandably telling him she needed space, the Titans being forced to disband by the Justice League, and a rather eventful encounter with an ex-girlfriend who remembered him.

He knows these are things he could talk about with Cisco if he wanted to. But he needs to figure out just how he feels about them first. ]

Vibe...? [ His eyebrows knit together as he thinks about it. ] I actually think Roy mentioned someone by that name working on a team that Green Arrow was on at some point.

[ It isn't much, but it presents the possibility that Cisco is around doing the hero thing somewhere in Wally's universe. ]

Thanks, pal. It finally feels like I'm moving forward after everything.

[franciscoramon]

You wanna get a beer sometime and tell me about it?

[ It's an offer, as casual has Cisco can make it; just because Wally and he are friends doesn't mean he's able to - or willing to - tell all those stories. There could be any number of reasons why he would choose not to. Or maybe all he needs is an invitation, and the knowledge that Cisco wants to listen.

Wally's answer might be vague, but it both delights Cisco and comes as something of a relief. He's been increasingly worried (because apparently sometimes his brain has nothing better to do than concoct potential embarrassing and unpleasant scenarios, thanks anxiety!) that he would meet someone on this moon who came from a world where they'd encountered his evil doppelganger. But there had been no sign of recognition in Wally's face when he said 'Reverb'. ]

Roy? As in Roy Harper? I know him. And Ol- and the Green Arrow, too.

[ It's strange to imagine a universe where he is on Oliver's team, more than Barry's, but it's not all that much of a stretch. Cisco had worked with them before, made weapons for them, improved their suits, redesigned their lair. Not that much of a leap, really. ]

Guess the me in your universe is getting out there and doin' some good, after all.

[ When Wally says he feels like he's finally moving forward after his life got torn apart, Cisco feels a surge of relief, and pride, and happiness. He can't help grinning, bright and joyful. ]

Well, I'm glad. And I'm glad you're back. I know we're from different worlds and everything, but it'd be kind of a bummer if you left for good.

[otherflash]

[ A brilliant smile breaks out on Wally's face when Cisco offers to talk about things over beers. It really is nice to know he has someone he can rely on if he needs to in this place. ]

We can do that. Maybe you can even bring Eddie along and we can swap some stories. I have a few Barry ones that I think you guys might like.

[ He knows that isn't quite what Cisco meant, but a fun night out exchanging stories is something he could get behind. He only knows Eddie in passing, but if he's going to be friends with Cisco, then he figures he should probably make an effort to get to know the other guy a little better.

He gives a confirming nod at the mention of Roy Harper, and when Cisco catches himself from spoiling Green Arrow's secret identity, he raises an eyebrow in amusement because it's a secret he already knows. ]

Roy and I go way back. We were part of the original Teen Titans. He's one of the best friends I got back home. I think I used to know Oliver pretty well before time got messed up, too.

[ But his memories of the previous timeline are still hit-or-miss these days. He knows they did serve on the Justice League together at some point during that time. ]

You sound almost surprised to hear that. Were you expecting something else?

[ Perhaps Cisco is just happy to know he exists in the other universe, something Wally can certainly understand himself, but it appears there may be something more to it. He's certainly not going to pry anymore than he already has, though. ]

That's good. 'Cause I don't think you'll be getting rid of me anytime soon. [ He gently claps Cisco on the shoulder for the sentiment. ] Things might be better back home, but it still doesn't feel like home yet if you know what I mean.

[franciscoramon]

[ It hadn't been what Cisco was imagining, but he thinks Wally's version sounds even better. His smile widens when Wally mentions bringing Eddie; it's a delightful idea, and one that wouldn't have crossed his mind. For all that he's charming and kind, Eddie's a lot more shy than most people realize. It will be good, to have an excuse to drag him out to socialize, to coax him into showing Wally just what a fun and likable guy he really is. ]

Oh, thank god, you already know who he is.

[ Cisco rests a hand against his chest, sighing in exaggerated relief. It's not the sort of slip he would have made back home, but here, it just seems to matter less. And besides, it's Wally. He's a Flash, a hero himself. Keeping identities secret from him just feels silly. ]

I didn't know Roy all that well. Just met him in Starling City, worked with him to take down Captan Boomerang. Good times.

[ He sounds like he means that genuinely, too. It had been a fucked up trip, in some ways. He knows, for instance, that there had been a hell of a blow out between Oliver and Barry, over Oliver's methods. But they'd reconciled in the end, and Cisco had gotten to help save the day and make a bunch of new friends while he was at it. To him, it is a good memory: one of the times he cherishes, thinking back on his life on Earth.

Wally's next question surprises him; he hadn't realized quite how obvious his reaction was. He tucks his hair back with a slightly nervous laugh, shaking his head. He really is hopeless at hiding things. No two ways about it. ]

Not expecting, exactly. It's just... the only doppelganger of mine I've ever met is, uh. Not one of the good guys. So I figured... I mean I hoped that he is kinda the exception to the rule. 'Cause I'd hate to think there were versions of me all over the multiverse wearing stupid amounts of eye makeup and spewing speeches about conquering the world.

[ But that momentary cloud of worry dissolves when Wally puts a hand on his shoulder; Cisco beams up at him. ]

I get you.

[otherflash]

[ Wally wouldn't be surprised to hear that Barry and Oliver were at odds over something at some point. While Oliver's methods has never been the source to his knowledge, the Barry and Oliver he knows frequently find themselves bickering with one another which is saying something given how amiable Barry is with almost everyone else.

When Cisco brings up Captain Boomerang, Wally lets out a snort, a playful thing, and shakes his head a bit. ]

Captain Boomerang and good times are words I never thought I'd hear together.

[ Not even the Rogues could really tolerate the man known as George Harkness. He was rude, a bit of a coward, and cruel even by their standards. The last he heard of Harkness he was sent to Belle Reve after Barry busted him for the numerous time.

He fights off a smile (the line about eye makeup is funny) as Cisco goes on about his experience with his doppelganger, because while stuff like that may be par for the course for Wally and his friends back home, it's not for Cisco and is clearly something that has weighed on his mind. ]

I actually think the evil doppelganger or counterpart is a rite of passage that most heroes go through at one point or another. One of my friends back home went through something like that. She ended up punching her other self back where she came from. You just got to remember it's not you, and it never has to be.

[ He doesn't mention how Donna is still dealing with the fallout of finding out a future version of herself had gone crazy from watching her friends die one after the other while she survived due to her being essentially immortal. It was a little bit more than your ordinary doppelganger experience.

After Cisco beams up at him, Wally removes his hand from the other man's shoulder so he can gesture to the boxes and items lying around. ]

So... are you sure you want to toss whatever is left in the bonfire? I mean, you might be able to find a pawn shop or community center that might take these things off your hands. I could go around and check if you want.

sorry this took a million years

[franciscoramon]

Wellllll I did say taking him down was good times. Not exactly the same thing.

[ Cisco likes it when they catch the metas who are real scumbags, unquestionably. With people like Shawna Baez, they had to be stopped, but it felt weird to rejoice over it. But there was no worrying about moral quandaries when it came to Captain Boomerang. He'd had bombs ready to go off all over the city: he'd thought he had it all figured out, and Cisco and his friends had outwitted and outplayed him. ]

Seriously?

[ He doesn't even make an effort to hide how grateful he is to hear that. Cisco searches Wally's face, waiting for the naw, just kidding, but it doesn't come. Instead he is talking about a friend of his who had fought with her evil doppelganger, and Cisco can't help but laugh softly. Because, the truth is, he has worried about it. Quite a lot. He's wondered what it was about him that made him so close to being evil that all it would take is a tiny nudge. He'd spent hours and sleepless nights afraid that it might be his fate, inevitably. ]

Okay. Shit. I'm really glad to hear that, man. I thought I was the only one.

[ Wally's offer reminds Cisco so much of how Barry would offer to go run to Coast City to get them pizzas, or other ridiculous tasks made easier by his speed, and Cisco can't help feeling a rush of fondness for Wally, too. ]

I mean, I'm not gonna say no...