riverviewlogs | [open] don't know where i am, don't know where i've been

Entry tags:

[open] don't know where i am, don't know where i've been

who: cisco + anyone!
what: catch-all; tdm prompts
when: the rest of june
where: anywhere; if you want a separate starter, please hit me up!
warnings: will add as necessary

i. monster plants

Cisco isn't a member of the Perimeter Guard for a reason. He's just not a front-lines kind of guy. He'd get in the way, put himself and the people around him in unnecessary danger. But when Killer Vines From Hell™ start coming over the wall and mayhem breaks out, he has to help somehow. Back home he'd do that from the safety of S.T.A.R. Labs, over the coms, with Barry facing down the real danger. Here, he has to improvise.

He gets close enough to the fighting to pull aside one of the Guard members who is resting and to ask what weapons have been working. And when one of the answers he's given is fire, Cisco knows what he has to do. He rushes back to his workshop, and to a few stores, comes running back as close as he dares to the fighting, and starts to whip up as many fast-and-dirty flamethrowers as he possibly can. The more he can make, the more he can give to people to help defend themselves and defend the Quarantine.

ii. attraction

After the whole Little Shop of Horrors mess at the wall, Cisco heads home for a very needed shower. He doesn't know, yet, that some of those very same experimental chemicals that had brought the plants over the wall had seeped into the ground, into the water supply.

And because he is such a naturally friendly, extroverted person, Cisco doesn't realize that anything is off for quite some time. All he knows, after he gets dressed and heads out for a celebratory meal, is that he's feeling acutely lonely, that he just needs to see a familiar face, or strike up a conversation with a stranger if he has to. He sends out over-affectionate texts of appreciation and jokes and fondness to his friends, but that isn't nearly enough.

iii. repellant

They do their best to clean up the area of the spill as quickly as possible, and Cisco does his bit. But a few days after the worst of it, as he's walking past, he can still smell it lingering in the air. And this time, unlike when it had gotten into his system via the water, it has quite the opposite effect. Without quite realizing it, the stuff puts Cisco on edge.

How could they have been so careless with such a dangerous project? Did they not realize what would happen? What if those plants had killed people? There are children living here, and civilians, and people who never hurt anyone in their lives. Was it criminal negligence, or did the scientists involved just not care about collateral damage? (The way Dr. Wells had not cared, when he set off the particle accelerator explosion, just to further his own ends).

The idiocy and injustice of it keep churning away in Cisco's mind, putting him in an uncharacteristically foul mood. Better not bump into him, while he's like this, or you're likely to get a piece of his mind.

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I mean, they might've.

[ Cisco absolutely wouldn't put it past some people. He'd heard about all the shit that had gone down with Grodd, before he joined S.T.A.R. Labs. He has no illusions about scientists having any kind morals by default. ]

But I think what happened is they just made monster catnip instead of monster repellent and the things came over to get at it. There's people with shovels all over frantically digging, and I think it's 'cause they're not gonna stop coming til they get it out of the soil.

[ It's a relief when Garrus turns, seeming as calm as ever, to deal with the vines that had been trying to flank him. Cisco keeps watching for a little while, and he sees Garrus make real progress. Fiery, fiery progress. But the flamethrower isn't unlimited, and Cisco starts to see the jet of flame coming out a little weaker, eventually, and then a little weaker still, and he knows the thing has got to be running out of fuel.

Fortunately, he has the solution, and darts away, back to his supplies. There are still a few of the smaller improvised bug spray flamethrowers sitting there for people to take, and about four have been snatched up while he was with Garrus. Cisco rummages around for the gasoline, and when he finds the can he runs back with it towards where Garrus had been. ]

I got a refill for ya!

You're going to have to rephrase that. I have no idea what this 'catnip' stuff is.

[Human phrases... Rather, Earth ones might be more appropriate. Garrus can understand easily enough that the stuff must be an attractant. "Catnip" though? Maybe it has something to do with cats, though Garrus hasn't really seen one of those either. Whatever the case, right now he is also thrilled to be making progress. If they keep this up then they have a good shot at beating this thing back.

He turns, firing upon another set of vines. Even he can see that the fire grows weaker each passing moment. Thankfully Cisco seems to have kept that in mind. So when he comes up with that fuel tank, Garrus shrugs off the weapon to hand back to Cisco. If the other designed the weapon, then he clearly knows how to refuel it.]

I can hold them off while you fill her up. Just don't take too long, okay?

[Which means Garrus takes back up his personal weapon. He launches a few proximity mines. That will buy them both a little time.]

How'd you know to bring a flamethrower anyway?

Just- something they can smell that attracts them.

[ Normally Cisco is delighted to explain pop culture references and concepts and all manner of things that people from different worlds haven't heard of, but right now there are ravenous plants attacking them and the finer points of cultural translation don't feel super important, just at the moment.

Garrus swings the flamethrower back at him to refill and Cisco grabs it a little clumsily, sinking down onto a knee right where he is so he can refill it. The thing is still warm from use and he lets himself glance up quickly to see how Garrus plans to hold them off, just in time to watch him throwing something that looks an awful lot like a grenade.

Then Cisco's attention is back on the flamethrower, on opening the gas can and pouring it carefully into the fuel tank. ]

I don't know, I just figured, you know, plants... fire... doesn't usually end up so good for the plants, does it?

[ He spills a little gasoline on his hands, which are shaking pretty damn badly, but most of it goes into the tank and then Cisco is sealing it up again. When he stands up and holds out the gun for Garrus to take again, and says: ]

Thanks for saving my ass from being plant food.

[He's pretty sure plants don't have anything to smell with, but whatever. Garrus isn't a scientist. As long as people are safe and no one gets eaten in this situation, he'll come out of it pretty content and likely never ask why did it happen, but rather how can they make sure it won't happen again.

Cisco is right about the "looking like a grenade thing." As soon as one of those leafy tentacles attempts to slide forward, there is a quick beeping followed by an explosion. Maybe that will cause those things to pause before advancing for a minute or two.]

Weed killer doesn't usually end up so good for them either.

[His sense of humor is horrible. It really is. Garrus takes the weapon, but had seen those shaking hands. Poor guy's probably terrified. So he puts a quick hand on Cisco's shoulder.]

Did you think I'd let the guy who gave me a flamethrower be eaten? That's not a very nice way to thank someone for giving you a present.

[ It might not be the greatest joke, but stressful situations have a way of enhancing humor. Cisco laughs, shaky but genuine, and his heart feels a bit lighter after. He fires back, as he is twisting the cap onto the fuel tank: ]

You're totes right, but we ain't got time for that kind of long game today.

[ Garrus' hand on his shoulder surprises him, and Cisco starts a little, but then he laughs again at his own jumpiness. The words of reassurance are welcome, and he smiles, taking a few steps back to get out of the way as Garrus goes back to lighting up the vines. He lingers for a few moments more and then, with a little regret, goes to check on the other fighters, to see what more help he can give.

The battle to fight back the plants starts to wind down soon after, however. More and more of them are retreating, and after another twenty or so minutes, the last of them is gone. Cisco joins in with those who are checking the charred vines left behind, making sure none of them are still moving. While he is doing that, he sees Garrus once more and waves, abandoning his task temporarily to go over to him. ]

Hey, you're still here!

Too bad there was no way to take a sample and make a repellent from it.

[That's probably what Mordin would have done. Possibly Miranda as well. They were sciency types. Though with Miranda one never could tell. Garrus is confident in his assessment of Mordin's actions though. ~~Bless his soul.~~

He doesn't say much when Cisco runs off. The Turian is fairly confident that he can handle this from here on out. It proves to be true, and just in time. As the vines begin to recede, Garrus is out of concussive rounds and down to one proximity mine. The amazing gift of the flamethrower is barely sputtering out a twinkle of a flame.

In fact, Garrus is also of the mindset to make sure that there are no more left to take down, edging closer to where the source of all this mess had been. But then he catches a glimpse of the human that he had encountered before and nods.]

Clean up is the worst part, but it does come with the job. I'd rather not have any more nasty surprises waiting for someone. What about you?

Yeah, I don't really know much about "the job", I just think I'll definitely sleep better tonight if I don't feel like I oughta keep a weed whacker under my pillow just in case.

[ He falls into step alongside Garrus, the two of them walking around and sometimes through the charred remains of the vines. Everything seems so quiet now that the battle is over, but Cisco is still running on adrenaline. It'll run out soon enough, and he's sure he'll crash hard after that, but for now he is going strong. After a few moments of walking together quietly, he says: ]

I'm Cisco, by the way. Didn't really get a chance to introduce myself earlier what with all the fire and the chaos.

Apparently I was allowed to join Search and Rescue when I arrived. So I'm just going to say that I'm searching for a confirmed kill and rescuing people from the mess.

[See? Isn't he witty? Garrus seems to think so, since he's chuckling about it. Honestly the silence isn't so bad. It's definitely helping him unwind a little. His visor is giving a little bit of a read out from Cisco - accelerated heart rate. Given the situation, Garrus isn't surprised at all.]

I'd like to say that it'd be nicer to meet under better circumstances, but I've met most of my close friends in tense situations. Garrus Vakarian. That'd be me.

Sounds legit to me. [ Cisco has a somewhat limited knowledge of the Perimeter Guard and it's various units, but he knows that generally speaking, Search and Rescue is the more dangerous and badass ones. The ones who went out and helped people in a crisis, or went looking if anyone got lost. ]

Technically, I'm supposed to be doing research and development, designing tech for the emergency services y'know? Which sometimes includes you Perimeter Guard folks, though I've been mostly outfitting the firefighters and cops first because they needed the help a lot more.

[ As they get closer to the wall, the amount of charred, chopped, and otherwise wasted vines increases, and Cisco carefully kicks at a few of the tangles of them, checking that they're not moving at all. ]

I guess whipping up a few fast and dirty flamethrowers is kind of r&d, in action...

[ He looks over at Garrus; he does look like the sort of person who finds himself in tense situations a lot of the time. Cisco remembers how calmly he'd handled himself, and the fact that he'd stepped in and saved him without a blink. He remembers, too, Garrus telling him it was all going to come out okay. And it had. ]

Hey, Garrus, can I buy you a drink, when we're done with this? I feel like this is the sort of thing we should celebrate, and I also feel like pretty soon I'm gonna want some alcohol up in me.

So you're a science guy. Hey, I'm not going to complain. Your "fast and dirty" flamethrowers probably helped save a lot of people and property damage.

[So kudos to you, Cisco. That's enough to merit respect from Garrus. Cisco even gets a few extra points for sticking around even though he had clearly been frightened or rattled. Courage to stick close by to help out is will always be like a gold star in Garrus' books.]

It really did help us out. So thanks. Seriously.

[It's ironic, really. The moment that Cisco asks about a drink, Garrus laughs. He had just thought to suggest the same thing. For the same reason. Cisco definitely looks like he needs a shot or two in him to calm down and Garrus isn't going to turn down a free drink.]

Sure. Just do me a favor and let me order it. I promise to make sure you leave capable of standing on your own two feet.

Yep. That's me. Definitely a science guy.

[ Cisco's not a hard person to read, and it's clear that Garrus' praise is almost distractingly impactful to him. He keeps walking and looking for signs of straggling vines or other lingering dangers, but he is also grinning and ducking his head forward trying to hide it, tucking his hair back with bashful happiness.

Him! Saving people! Sure, he helped Barry to save people back home, but a lot of the time that was in a much more indirect way, and since they worked in secret, it wasn't like he ever really got thanked for it. It's an odd and rather wonderful feeling. ]

Hey, man, you were the one doing all the hard work. I just helped get you the tools you needed to be a total badass.

[ To Cisco's mind, the two things are in no way comparable. One involved significantly more risk, and that makes all the difference. ]

Sure, I'm down. But I gotta say, I think you're making some assumptions about needing to babysit my alcohol tolerance that miiight be untrue.

[ Cisco might be short, but he isn't a lightweight, thanks very much. ]

I'm a total badass with or without the tools, but don't sell yourself short. People to support the ones doing "all the hard work" [Yes, this comes with quotation gestures in the air.] are just as important. We wouldn't be able to get anywhere without them, so take the thanks and credit when it is due.

[No, seriously. Garrus doesn't think those sorts of people get the credit they deserve. It's pretty easy to point and shoot, but not always so easy to figure out the best method or means to take out the unknown or undiscovered.]

Oh no, I don't think you understand. [Here, Garrus is grinning.] It's a shot at your humanity.

[Honestly, Garrus doesn't look down on humans. Not in the slightest. But he can't help but poke fun at their squishiness.]

[ It actually catches Cisco a little off-guard, just how firmly Garrus refuses to let him diminish his own contributions. He looks surprised and just a little confused what to say, but then he beams, bright and unrestrained. Garrus tells him to take the credit and thanks, so he gives a shrug and doesn't argue it any further. Clearly, Garrus is used to working on some kind of team, not all lone-wolf style. And clearly whoever he'd been working with up until now had really impressed upon him the importance of working together. ]

Oh, is that how it is, huh?

[ Cisco sounds far less insulted by a jab against humanity's alcohol tolerance than if it was one directed at him, personally. Hell, for all he knows, Garrus could drink a keg of moonshine and feel nothing at all. Actually, this is a pretty good opportunity to ask: ]

So, uh. The universe I come from hasn't got anything but humans, and I've been trying to think of a way to ask "what are you" without sounding, you know, totally awful and ignorant. But I haven't really thought of-

[ He breaks off suddenly, spotting movement amongst the vines on the ground. Cisco catches Garrus's gaze and gestures over towards it. ]

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[open] don't know where i am, don't know where i've been

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