riverviewlogs | i'm bigger than my body [open & closed]

Entry tags:

i'm bigger than my body [open & closed]

who: John Proudtar + Shigeru Miyata, Minsu Oh, Cisco Ramon, and anyone
what: Catch-all
when: throughout march
where: various places, mainly the perimeter guard training grounds
warnings: none that I can think of! Will update if necessary

i. meditate (open to all)

[ Since putting his training offers out on the Quarantine network, John has been putting up dates and times and locations for 'classes' - he hates calling them as such, but if the shoe fits.

There's nothing special about the spot he's chosen - it's by the river, shadowed by some trees, pleasant and quiet. John's sitting straight on the ground, cross-legged, as he waits for any 'student' who might be interested in learning about meditation. He's prepared to fight stereotypes, remembering Lorna's reaction the first time she saw him practicing, how surprised she'd been, how long she'd teased him for it after.

John waits, until a few people are seated in front of him, before he says anything. ]

Before we start, if you have any questions, feel free to ask. The goal here is to get some tools for you to center yourself if you ever feel like control, or your sense of self is slipping. Meditation is what we make it out to be - contrary to popular belief, it isn't about sitting on a rock for days at a time, humming to yourself, although you're welcome to do that, if it works for you.

[ John smiles. This should be fun. ]

We're going to start much smaller, here.

ii. combat (open to all)

[ Come one, come all, whoever is interested in trying to test themselves against that mutant who can't get hurt. He'll take your punches and will try to give pointers wherever he can - he is, after all, an ex-Marine himself, and has seen combat situation more than once.

Depending on who's here to train and who's interested in helping, there are several stations set up in the Perimeter Guards training grounds - one, large and further away than the rest, for those who want to try out their powers but might struggle with control, or simply have a huge range. One for hand-to-hand combat, with dummies and training equipment strewn around. One for swordfighting - the weapons are blunt. John's walking around between the different stations, helping out wherever he can, and learning, himself - he's never held a sword before, after all.

Come and train, fight, help out, or whatever else you want to do! ]

iii. wildcard

[ Closed starters in comments! Find me at ellievolia if you want a specific starter, or just hmu with anything, I'm happy with basically anything. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ John has never, ever ever stepped in a lab like Moontech in his life. He's not the tech guy, preferring the outdoors to being confined in an enclosed space, which, obviously, doesn't make him the best person to be a researcher. It's just not in his blood, but it doesn't make the lab any less impressive as he walks in, hoping against hope that Cisco will actually remember their conversation.

He finds the man deep in his work, and waits for a while for Cisco to look up before walking over. ]

Cisco, right? I'm John - we had a talk, the night of your birthday. I just wanted to drop by and say thank you for that.

[ Cisco might not remember, but John does, very well. And their conversation led to John and Clarice talking things out, so John is very, very thankful. ]

And also, you told me I should come in and visit you at the lab any time, and I got curious what kind of facilities you got, here.

[ The door to Cisco's workshop is always open, if he's there and not working on anything particularly volatile or dangerous. He gets a lot of drop-ins: people who are new and don't come from worlds with comparable technology to the Quarantine, people from the fire or police departments or Guard whose tech is malfunctioning, or who need their body armor adjusted, etc. He's never really been someone who minds interruption; he's all about making himself, and his knowledge, and the stuff he builds, accessible to whoever might be in need.

But today, though the door is open, he's got a big pair of headphones on, and he is absolutely jamming to some music as he works. He's making adjustments on some bit of code or another, which means his hands are flying across a keyboard, eyes locked to the computer screen as he powers through. It isn't until he looks up that Cisco even notices John standing there - and he does so with an unmistakable start. Not too bad of a shock, but enough to get his heart pounding.

He pulls the headphones off, not recognizing the guy, but John's introduction solves that bit of confusion. Cisco had only spoken to him by text, but he remembers that conversation. He'd talked to a lot of folks, that night, but John had been particularly memorable. ]

Hi! Yes, John, of course! Sorry, I hope you weren't standing there for ages. I was kinda in the zone, you know.

[ He smiles, friendly and a little apologetic. Cisco holds up one finger, a gesture to wait, and quickly saves his progress and shuts the computer down. He's about 80% that John is legit, and on the level, and just dropping by to check the place out, but it doesn't hurt to be careful. Cisco's very much a better safe than sorry kind of guy. ]

Yeah, absolutely! This is pretty much it, though.

[ Cisco gestures around him; the entire operation is contained in a single, very large room. There are long tables full of schematics, tools that need to be put away, half-built bits of tech, a few of laptops. The walls are lined with shelves and cabinets, full of even more schematics and sketches, with tech that he's built, with neatly-organized tubs full of components and raw materials. There are also sewing supplies, and some body armor full of pins that Cisco is clearly in the middle of adjusting. It is also clear, from the couch, mini-fridge, and overworked coffee pot off in one corner, that Cisco sometimes pulls very long hours in here.

All in all, the space is functional, but clearly everything is arranged for efficiency, rather than to look very impressive to a visitor. Recognizing that, Cisco explains: ]

Not a lot to look at, I know. Technically, I'm an independent contractor, I mean, this is kinda where I do my thing, no matter whose project I'm working on at the moment. Anybody who needs somethin' designed or built or researched can come to me.

[ Not a lot to look at, Cisco says like this is not the most tech John has seen in years. What he's used to is the few computers Sage collected over time, but her brain was the biggest component of it all - the Underground relayed on much more grass roots systems than what John was seeing here. ]

This is a lot more than what I'm used to. [ John replies, impressed, before leaning a hip against a table, still looking around, trying to guess what some of the things around can be. ]

I'm no tech guy - we still use flip phones with the Underground, but mainly because we have to keep using burners - but this is impressive. And you said you work with people with powers, too? You can help people who struggle with controlling theirs?

[ Cisco smiles, then, feeling bashful and a bit proud. This workshop might be nothing compared to S.T.A.R. Labs, but it's nice to know that somebody finds it impressive. Everything in here is his, after all - things he's invented, or collected painstakingly from the ruins around the city. Well, apart from the couch. ]

You want some coffee?

[ He starts strolling over towards the coffeemaker as John explains that the level of tech he's used to is less than this. It sounds as if it's about in line with Central City, though - advanced enough that John refers to flip phones with that note in his voice as if they're old and a bit shitty. ]

Yeah, I do. I mean, it's not something I've got training or certifications for, I just... was in the right place and the right time in Central City to help some folks out who needed it. See, we didn't have anybody with powers, to start off with, and then all of a sudden there were a couple thousand of us and-

[ He realizes just a half second too late what's happened. He hadn't meant it to happen, to say us instead of them. It had just sort of slipped out. Cisco hesitates, heart racing, but... maybe this is a good sign. This never would've happened, a month or two ago. His every thought would've been focused on tailoring what he said to keep his powers secret. The fact that he's become accustomed enough to speaking about being a meta that he lets it slip accidentally, is just a sign of how far he's come. Awkwardly, he picks up the half-finished sentence: ]

-and, uh, and nobody knew how they worked or how to control them, so. Yeah.

Coffee sounds good.

[ John will have every single cup of good coffee he can get while on this world, thank you very much. Anything to make him forget entirely the toxic sludge he used to force down way, way too regularly, back at the Underground.

He's surprised by Cisco's words - not the 'us' part, but the 'all of a sudden', part. He pushes his hands in his pockets, his voice gentle when he next speaks. ]

How did it happen? How can thousand of people suddenly get powers?

[ And because it probably deserves some sharing on his part, too, he continues: ]

For us, it's been going on for decades. The first few Mutant cases were reported in the 40's and 50's, and since ten it's been a gradual thing, more and more of us coming out of the shadows. Trying to be accepted by the society we live in. So control's pretty important to us, too, and that's why I specialize in training Mutants into controlling their powers.

[ It's a relief, that John doesn't say anything, doesn't stop him to ask a bunch of questions about that 'us'. Cisco thinks for a moment that maybe he's lucky, maybe John didn't notice... or perhaps he's just being polite for the time being. Either way, Cisco's grateful to speak about metahumans in general, and skip over himself for now. ]

There was an accident. I mean- [ He interrupts himself before he even really gets started, glad that he's pouring the coffee and has an excuse not to look at John for a few moments as he corrects: ] -it wasn't really an accident, but we didn't find that out until later. Anyway, there was an explosion, in the particle accelerator, at the lab where I was working. Ripped open an interdimensional rift right in the middle of the city, and a bunch of dark matter and exotic energies started pouring out. Everybody in Central City got hit. Some people... just died, but for about 1% of the population, it changed their DNA, and gave them abilities.

[ Looking back, Cisco can't believe he'd spent all that time thinking he must have been unaffected - when he'd been just feet away, just on the other side of a door, when the explosion happened. Right at the heart of it. Of course, he'd been changed. He'd never had a chance.

He listens, as John relates how long powers had been a part of his own world; he hands over the cup of coffee, quiet for a moment as he thinks about how different this guy's relationship with his powers must be. ]

So, um, mutants are born with their powers? Are they passed down genetically? Can mutants use them right away, or do they emerge during puberty, or get triggered in times of stress, or... how's it work?

[ There's a tentativeness, to the way Cisco asks, but... John had offered some information already, and he is careful to frame it so he's asking in general, not about John in particular. He is more curious about John, of course, but he doesn't want to dive right in with invasive questions from the get go. ]

Wow.

[ For a moment, that's all he can say. That, at least, explains it, in a way that makes sense. It's a lot to take in, for someone that's always been used to Mutants being around, in some way. He can't even begin to imagine how it must have been like, to suddenly have a wave of powered people everywhere.

He has to wonder if the fear is as pervasive as it is in John's reality. ]

You were working, when it happened? Is that how you got your powers?

[ The question is completely innocent - but Cisco had used the word 'us', so John had no reason to think he wasn't affected, too. At Cisco's questions, he nods. ]

Yeah, we're born with our powers, but they usually don't start manifesting until puberty. We've recently discovered that it can be hereditary, but it's not always. My parents don't have powers, but both my brother and I are Mutants. The way they trigger depend, but it's usually emotion, yeah. Puberty is kind of the time for these things, isn't it? Powers are usually triggered by negative emotions, like stress, anger, fear, and that's actually what I work on the most, when I'm training with people; I try to teach them to tap into their positive ones, as it's a much more stable way to channel abilities.

[ He pauses. ]

But while powers tend to trigger during puberty, some of us also have physical traits that are here from birth. I'm lucky, because I can pass for human, but a lot of us can't.

[ Ah. So he had heard. Well. No use wishing he could put the cat back in the bag. It takes Cisco a moment to respond, but then he swallows, and nods. ]

Yeah. I... helped the design the particle accelerator, and build it, so I was down there trying to - trying to stop it.

[ He still wonders if Eobard had factored that into his plans - what would have happened if Cisco and Ronnie hadn't been able to contain the explosion as well as they had. There would have been so many more fatalities... but Eobard probably knew they would do it. He'd been able to plan so meticulously, control the whole thing.

But this was no time to be thinking about all that. ]

I... actually was one of the ones who didn't realize right away. Every meta got changed that night, but for some of us it... took a little while to see any effects. I've only had my powers for a little over a year, now. My boyfriend, Eddie, his didn't show up until a few months ago.

[ He doesn't add that, in his case, his powers had first emerged because they were triggered by fear. Doesn't mention that they still get out of control, for him, when he's afraid. He likes John already, thinks that he seems like a good guy. But that was the sort of knowledge that Cisco knows can be used against him. He might have slipped up about admitting he was a meta, but he's not going to give away details of how to manipulate his powers on accident. ]

So is that really common, for mutants? Having powers triggered by negative emotions? 'Cause most metahumans aren't like that. Sure, sometimes they'll be a little more powerful if they've got adrenaline in their system, but only the same way humans are faster or stronger in times of stress. Most metas, their powers are sort of just their powers.

[ He wonders, then, but isn't sure how to ask, if John had to train himself, first, before he was in a position to help others. Had his powers, at one point, been tied to anger, or sadness, or fear? Cisco looks down into his coffee, wondering how much he could ask without going too far... ]

And none of us have any sort of - visible signs, I guess you'd call 'em. We all pass. If we want to. If we're careful.

Oh, I met your boyfriend. Well, on Friendr, really. We chatted about boxing.

[ Now, Eddie talking about power dampeners, and Cisco talking about power-related tech, well... it made sense. ]

You mind me asking what you can do?

[ John can't help himself. It's one of these things - he is passionate about Mutants, and their rights, and protecting those he considers his own. It makes him interested, about powers, their range, the differences between one world to the other since he got here. He's hungry for the knowledge. ]

I mean, some might trigger their powers with a positive emotion, too. And for some people, they manifest early, while for others, they manifest late. But it usually has to be started, by something. Like, this kid that was part of our Mutant network system, his powers were triggered because he was being bullied, and his sister, her powers first appeared when she saved both herself and her mom from a car accident.

[ He pauses, thinking about how to explain it. ]

It's a response, often. But some just. They're born, looking a certain way, so they can only wait for their powers to start manifesting. Like, my friend, the girl I mentioned the other day - [ You know, the girl he likes - ] - she has these beautiful green eyes, but they don't look normal.

[ The way he says the word tells a lot about how much he disagrees with it. ]

And because of that, Mutants like her tend to not be able to find jobs, or get proper housing, and they face prejudice, and hate, every time they step out in the streets.

Edited 2018-03-10 12:50 (UTC)

Oh, nooo! Don't tell me you're as into it as he is? Did he tell you about all his little recruitment schemes and ideas about how to deal with the whole superstrength thing?

[ The words are mock-horrified, but there's a subtle shift in Cisco when John mentions speaking to Eddie; his eyes brighten, and a smile tugs at the corner of his mouth as he speaks. The words themselves, despite the sarcasm, are warm and fond. He might not care about boxing himself, but he loves how much Eddie cares about it, and it makes him happy he's got people he can talk to about his interests. ]

I, uh... get visions. [ Cisco answers John, eventually. It's not as hard as it once was, but there's still a certain stiffness in his speech; his shoulders have gone tense, and he's staring at his nails as if they're fascinating, but he does speak, and that's the main thing. ] The past, the future, other timelines and universes. Where people are, what they're doing. And... there's other stuff I can do.

[ It's not quite a lie, because he at least mentions there's more he isn't saying. But that's plenty for the time being. Considering how little he knows about John, it feels like more than enough. Cisco may be unguarded when it comes to generosity, to offers of advice and help - but he's more wary with personal information.

It sounds as if mutant experience is as varied as metahuman experience can be.]

A Mutant network system. Sounds dope. We haven't got anything like that. Then again... we don't really need it, yet. Metas hadn't even been around for two years, when I left. That's not long enough for shit to break bad. I mean, don't get it twisted, there were some people who hated metas, but there wasn't time for it to get systemic, you know?

[ But Cisco doesn't need superpowers that give him visions of the future to know that things could easily move in that direction. Sure, people love the Flash, but there were many more well-known metahuman criminals than heroes. There had already been moves in that direction. Joe's anti-metahuman task force. The new wing in Iron Heights... ]

Oh! You're talking about Clarice, aren't you?! She's the mystery girl!

[ Her eyes were very very green, and very difficult to miss. Besides, Cisco knows that she is a mutant. And suddenly, quite a few things are clicking in place. So she is the girl that John had been talking about, when he came looking for advice. The one that Cisco had encouraged him to go ahead and take on a date. Having met her, and seen for himself what a rather charming person she is, makes it all the better. Cisco grins, the amusement in his voice making it clear he remembers the gist of their earlier conversation as he asks: ]

So, did you two go on that date?

Edited 2018-03-12 17:48 (UTC)

[ John chuckles, ducking his head. ] He has mentioned some stuff, yeah. Honestly, I wouldn't mind being able to get into a fight I don't automatically win. It sounds like I'm boasting, but I worry it's going to make me complacent.

[ When Cisco talks about his powers, John looks back up, just listening, nodding. ] Premonitions. I have some of them, too. Just the very near future, though. Limited range.

[ It feels right to tell Cisco something about himself right back. He's not shy or ashamed of his abilities, but it's obvious that Cisco isn't entirely certain of them, or whether John can be trusted with the knowledge, which is fair. They've just met, and here, John is not the leader of a group of misfit Mutants. ]

There was a group of very well known Mutants, called the X-Men. They were like - superheroes, basically. But they've gone AWOL. And before they did, they asked me, and a bunch of other people throughout the US, to build this network, and take care of any Mutant who should need it. So that's what I've been doing.

[ When he allows himself some time to think about it, there's anger that flares up, through his sense of duty, and his desire to protect every single Mutant out there. He's angry that the X-Men abandoned them. Because he still doesn't why, or if they ever plan on coming back, and he's not sure the Underground can stand on its own anymore. ]

But there's also a group of humans, they call themselves the Purifiers, that are basically... well, the KKK, but against Mutants. There was an incident, a few years ago - a Mutant lost control during a peaceful protest. Lots of casualties. So now we're on the fringes of society, trying to survive.

[ He doesn't mention the fact that he and his were sent ahead during military operations, deemed more expendable than any human. He doesn't mention the casual, every day hate, pervasive and poisonous, especially for kids. And he especially doesn't mention the Brotherhood.

There's no reason to mention it. ]

Oh - yes. You've met her?

[ Well, here it goes. John should have known. He flushes, running a hand through his hair again, a nervous tic. ]

We did, actually. We went to the zoo.

You do?

[ Cisco's head snaps up when John mentions he gets premonitions. The surprise on his face is all too obvious. Cisco knows plenty of people who have powers, in this place, but they are mostly very different from his. He hasn't ever met anyone else who could see the future, even if from the sound of it there are some differences. ]

How often? What causes them? Is it a deliberate thing? Can you control what you see, at all?

[ The barrage of questions - rapid though they are - is far from accusatory or aggressive. It's only too obvious that Cisco is eager to speak to someone else with similar powers, to find out how much there is in common between the two of them. He's glad, then, that he'd decided to tell the truth.

Cisco listens to John's description of his world with an uncharacteristically serious expression. It sounds quite a bit like Cisco's own world, but... gone sour. Superheroes had been around, but they'd vanished. People with powers did exist, but they were the target of hate groups and persecution. It was a harder world, that John came from, and Cisco makes a mental note not to forget it. He doesn't want to inadvertently say or do anything that might alarm the guy, or bring up bad memories.

Better, then, to redirect his focus back to the present, and away from the crises on his own world, that he cannot help with right now. That was what they'd talked about on Cisco's birthday, after all. John needing to learn to allow himself to relax, to live in the present rather than fretting over things he cannot fix or change. ]

Yeah, I met her at that tech expo. She's awesome, I totally get why you're into her.

[ John's nervousness is clear, and Cisco tries not to smile too much, amused by the guy's bashfulness. ]

And!? How'd it go?

Yeah, it's - basically when I'm tracking someone, I can get a few flashes of where they are, what they're about to do. It's pretty limited, a few seconds of greyscale images, but it gives me an indication of what's going on, and if they're alone, if there's immediate danger, that kind of thing. Only happens when I focus on someone and tracking them, but I can't pick what I see. It's just what's going to happen in the next few seconds.

[ John is happy to talk about how his powers work, considering how invested Cisco looks and sounds. He knows how difficult it is, for some people, not to know what to do with the set of powers they were given, and finding someone with similar abilities can help.

And John keeps on wanting to help, so here he is, babbling away about what he can do. Until, that is, Cisco asks about his date with Clarice, and John chuckles, a little sheepish about it. ]

I think it went well. Like, really well. We're both used to having to look over our shoulder all the time, and it's good to be able to take our time, for once.

[ Cisco listens intently, nodding slowly as John explains. Some elements sound similar - the distortion of the images, the inability to pick what he sees, the fact that the information comes in flashes. But the idea that it is traced to tracking someone is very different to his own powers. And... since John was open about the limitations, perhaps it wouldn't do too much harm, to mention a few of the limitations of his own visions. ]

Mine aren't tracking related. I mean, I guess I could use them that way if I wanted. If I touch something that belongs to somebody, these days I can make myself have a vision of, like, where they are right at that moment, and what they're doing. Which I guess is kinda like your thing. But I also just get them out of nowhere, and when that happens I can't pick what I see, or stop them or anything, which...

[ Cisco laughs uncomfortably, rubbing at his arm, aiming for casual and missing the mark by quite a bit. He gives a tiny shrug, in lieu of actually finishing that sentence. Clearly, though, it was nothing good.

Aaaaand that's enough about that, for now. Why not talk about John's cute date? John's cute date is way better than thinking about his complicated relationship to his powers. ]

It's definitely an adjustment. I mean, I know it's not really the same thing, but the first couple weeks I was here, it was really weird never getting a text saying I had to drop whatever I was doing and run off to help stop some metahuman criminal from destroying the city with a tornado or whatever.

[ He says all of that as if it were the most routine thing in the world. But if anyone is likely to understand all that, John seems like he would. He had been a leader of this Mutant Underground, after all. They must have had various crises to face. And he is familiar with the concept of superheroes, at the very least... ]

Have you made plans for a second date, yet? 'Cause I've got some great places to recommend where you could take her...

[ John just listens as Cisco talks, nodding in places, understanding all too well where the discomfort is coming from. ]

One of the things I do, these days, is help other Mutants learn how to get better control of their powers. I've kinda fallen into it, but it's very rewarding. So while you're not exactly a Mutant, if you wanted to try things out to try and control these unwanted flashes, I could try and help.

[ An open offer, without pressure. John's not one to make people do what they don't want to, even if Clarice would probably scoff at that. It'd been an emergency - even if he refused to admit it at the time, he was already way too deep in with her.

A train of thought that fits well with where Cisco switches the conversation to. ]

No, we haven't yet. I'm all ears - I haven't done the whole dating thing in a very long time. There hadn't exactly been time for that.

Thanks, um. I've got a friend who's teaching me some meditation stuff to help, um, stop the accidental vibes. from happening.

[ It's not the same as saying they get triggered by negative emotions, but considering all the pointed questions he'd asked about that sort of thing before, and the fact that it's meditation he's learning... the leap isn't a big one. Still, despite the fact that Cisco's still a little unsure about him, there's probably things John could help with that Genji just couldn't. Teaching him how to deal with uncontrollable fear is one thing. But learning how to use his powers - how to make them into tools - that's a whole other matter. ]

But... I'm kinda on my own for the rest of it. I've just sort of been trying to learn on my own. Not a whole lot he or anybody else can do to help with visions when they've never had them, you know? So, um. Yeah. Maybe. If you really don't mind?

[ It makes it easier to ask for that help, knowing that he can provide some of his own - even if it only comes in the form of date ideas. ]

Well, some of it depends on what sort of stuff she's into. You can try a bunch of new stuff together, you know? Kind of experimenting, seeing what you like and what you don't.

[ From the sound of what John and Clarice had both told him, neither of them had had a lot of leisure time, a lot of time to themselves feeling safe and able to go out and about without being bothered. It's possible neither of them have any clue the sort of things they would enjoy, if they gave it a chance. ]

Stargazing's good. Picnics, on a day when the weather is good. There's a couple of great hot springs and spas in town - but if you do that, you gotta go too, and don't get all macho and scared of getting into it along with her.

[ Cisco says all of that with a gentle tone of teasing - he doesn't know if John's the sort of guy who would balk at that kind of thing, but it's worth giving the warning just in case. ]

You could come up with a whole bracket system for the restaurants around town, like do a whole March Madness thing but for grub, decide on your favorite place together.

[ John smiles. ]

Meditation helps. Well, it definitely helps me, anyway. [ Coming out as a new age hippie, once more, for the Quarantine. ]

I really don't mind, Cisco. It's what - I like doing this stuff. I like helping.

[ The idea of being useless, of not having anyone to help, or save, a mission after the next, doesn't sit well with John. He's been doing all of this for way too long, and as much as he enjoys the relative quiet and acceptance of the Quarantine, he can't bear the thought of sitting idle, and not being helpful.

John takes the rest of what Cisco says, eyes intent and very much taking internal notes on said ideas. That's the thing - they've both dated, they both have pasts,
but Clarice's is tainted with the world's fearing her, just because of how she looks, while John's is marred with the ever present, cold knowledge that nothing could last, because he was going back to the war.

And then there was the Underground, for both of them. Not exactly the most romantic place, even if it was where he'd started falling for her. ]

I don't know if I'm cut out for a spa, but a hot spring... she's been going on and on about how much she wants to take a million baths, now that she doesn't have to stick with 2 minutes army showers.

[ Unsure if it's a second date kind of idea, but it's definitely something to consider. The March Madness thing, though, that's what makes John laugh, face open and bright with it. ]

Now, food - we've both been living on MREs for months.

[ Cisco nods. John probably doesn't realize it, but he'd picked just the right phrase to convince Cisco it really is okay. After all, Cisco likes helping, too. He understands the need to feel useful, and the need to be a positive influence on other people's lives. It's one of the reasons he'd ended up in this place, after all. He'd lost that feeling, in Central City, after Barry disbanded Team Flash. He'd tried to find substitutes - helping out with the CCPD, reaching out to Caitlin in her grief, befriending Iris, but in the end it hadn't been the same. Here he could make a real difference. ]

Okay. Sweet. Thanks, dude.

[ It's taking some adjusting, getting used to being the one who is helped; to letting people support him, take care of him. But Cisco's better at it now than he was when he first arrived in this place. And John seems a trustworthy enough sort... for now, anyway. ]

Definitely go with the hot spring, then. I actually used to be roommates with the guy who owns one of 'em. Maybe I can blackmail him into giving you some free passes.

[ Cisco is delighted to hear John laugh; he's got kind of a serious face, but when he laughs, it's clear that he means it. It makes him look younger, less care-worn. Seems like a guy who could use a few good laughs. And that is something Cisco is pretty good at providing. ]

MREs? I'm guessing that's some kinda survival rations? Sounds nasty.

[ John gives Cisco a smile, almost reaching out to clap his shoulder before refraining. Let's not, they are still practically strangers, after. He's grown so used to the familiarity of the Underground, hanging out with Marcos and always having him on his left. He's got to start from scratch, here. ]

Yeah? I mean, I don't mind paying for stuff. Gotta be a contributing member of society, right?

[ John is a pretty serious guy, it's true. He's had to, in recent years, taking care of so many people, their numbers only growing as Turner started his manhunt (Mutanthunt). He'd had to make some hard choices, and he's had to keep control of himself, and the situation, as much as he could. There hadn't been time for fun. ]

Meal-Ready-to-Eat, yeah. Usually used in the military. They come with water-activated no-flame heating packs, so you don't need anything to warm up your food while out in the wild on missions. But since they're made to be very nutritious and easy to use, we've been using them a lot in the Underground. We had a lot of kids to feed.

Right.

[ Cisco doesn't push with his offer - he doesn't see the harm in a discount, personally, but incorrectly assumes that John's simply not comfortable accepting gifts or bargains from a near-stranger. Maybe, Cisco thinks, John's worried there will be some catch. Strings attached. Which is fair. If their positions were reversed, he'd definitely be wary. ]

I get why those'd be a total lifesaver and all, but I'm not gonna front with you, they sound nasty as hell.

[ There are plenty of places he could recommend; he doesn't waste any time, picking up a stray bit of scrap paper from one of the desks and starting to jot down the names of a few places, with little notes by them like CHEAP! and GOOD SPICY STUFF! and ROMANTIC ATMOSPHERE ;D ]

They can be. But also incredibly useful.

[ John can't knock them. Some of them are even not as disgusting as they sound.

John grins at the notes Cisco hands over after a moment. ]

You are a lifesaver. Thank you so much!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

i'm bigger than my body [open & closed]

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/happy for this to be a last tag!