riverviewlogs | [open] it's time to tip it off

Entry tags:

[open] it's time to tip it off

who: cisco + anyone!
what: catch-all
when: july
where: anywhere; if you want a starter, please hit me up!
warnings: discussion of sex & drinking

i. tech testing

[ Most of Cisco's work is done within the privacy of his workshop, but there comes a time when he has to leave and find a nice quiet place to actually test some of the tech that he's made. The one time he'd done so outside the wall, things had gone very very badly. So he makes a compromise, finds an alleyway that is within the city but deserted. Sure, he might blow up a dumpster or two and make quite a racket, but he is less likely to get attacked by monsters here, and if anyone disturbs him he can just tell them to clear out.

That's the theory, anyway. But some of the stuff he brought with him might be a bit more powerful than he'd intended... ]

ii. nesting

[ Cisco had been very tentative about his new living situation, at first. He didn't want to get too comfortable, in case Yuri changed his mind, or Eddie got sick of him. But after a few weeks, with no signs that they want him to leave, Cisco starts to think about maybe settling in to his new room. It's fairly stark, still - just a bed, some sheets, and an old couch. All his clothes are still in bags, but the first thing on his list is some dark curtains for the windows. He was never meant to be a morning person.

He can be seen in various shops in the quarantine, looking at furniture, rugs, curtains, etcetera. Cisco's not above asking random strangers for their opinion, either. ]

What do you think, this one or this one?

iii. misc

[ Come plot something! ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[If there's one thing Chloe relishes in, it's routine. Getting up every morning and having a set schedule makes her days easier, especially when she's got a daughter at home. Which is why she holds on to that notion in Trixie's absence, now that she's no longer in LA. It gives her a sense of normalcy, magic portals and the Devil notwithstanding.

So she's at the station bright and early when Cisco arrives to get a head-start on her work. She's nowhere near in charge, but she's knowledgable enough to know the basics of the tech he's brought in. There'd been a brief meeting about the inclusion of these so-called 'sonic stun devices', which seemed useful enough in Chloe's opinion. She's never hesitated in taking someone down when she absolutely had to, but she's not opposed to causing less damage if possible.

Hearing the weariness in his voice as he called out, Chloe's blue-uniformed figure emerges from the back of the station to assist him.]

Hey, yeah, sorry. They told us you were coming today. The sonic stun gun, right? If you need me to sign for anything, I can do that for you.

[ Cisco is visibly grateful when someone steps up and comes out to greet him. It's a woman he's never spoken to before, and Cisco might have stopped to check her credentials or something (he can be a little paranoid about his tech getting into the wrong hands) if it weren't for the fact that he's seen her around here before. He might not know her name, but he recognizes her face, and considering how worn out he is, that's good enough. ]

Nah nah nah, the gun was like, five versions back. These ones are throwable, see.

[ And he slings a backpack from off his shoulder, reaching into it and pulling out a black sphere roughly the size of a tangerine. It doesn't look like much - there is a seam running along the circumference, and a button at the top. Cisco holds it out for her to take, explaining. ]

I haven't got anything to sign, I just need to run the design by somebody before I start cranking out more of 'em. I don't want to get all set up to fabricate a bunch only to get a memo saying "Actually..."

[ He looks up at Chloe, smiling - it's a little tired around the edges, but enthusiastic nonetheless. ]

So, what d'you say? You okay with stepping outside and testing this bad boy with me real fast? I'll let you get back to your paperwork after that. I know cops loooove paperwork.

[Chloe automatically recognizes him. While she's not a detective here (yet), she's still good at remembering faces, and she's definitely spotted him around before. For a guy that's been up all night working on the latest gadgets, he still seems to have retained his enthusiasm. It's actually kind of impressive; his friendly and cheerful demeanor makes her think of Ella, fleetingly. She misses her, quirky behavior and ill-timed hugs and all.

She takes the strange device from him and carefully examines it, rolling it around in her hand and feeling the weight of it. Being careful not to press that button at the top, of course. Though his crack about paperwork drags out a small upward quirk of her lips.]

Sure, I can do that -- hey, Greg. I've got to step out for a moment, alright? If you get a word on our guy while I'm out, radio me.

[Spoken to a fellow officer passing them by, who gives his assent before going back about his business. Chloe turns back to Cisco, still holding and eying the device.]

It's so light. What's this even made out of, anyhow?

[ He's grateful that his paperwork joke seems to land; hating paperwork is one thing almost all cops seem to have in common. And if there's one thing Cisco can do, no matter how many hours he's been awake, is talk about his tech. In fact, the trick is not over explaining it. As they turn and walk towards the doors of the station, he explains: ]

The shell's a blend of different polymers, I can list 'em off for you but basically what you need to know is it's pretty much polyurethane that I tweaked just a lil' to make it resonate better with sound waves so these puppies can be extra loud. And it's pretty cheap to fabricate, too, so if you lose one or it gets trampled on by a giant monster, not a super big deal to replace.

[ Another thing that he suspects is just the same, between the CCPD and the RPD - department budgets are always complicated and stressful. They exit into the sunlight and Cisco lifts a hand to shade his eyes, looking around: ]

Now, I guess we just should find an alley or something, somewhere we're not gonna bother anybody... Oh, and, um, probably should've said this before but, uh, I'm Cisco, what's your name?

So it's less like a taser and more like a sound grenade. Wouldn't that damage their hearing? Or the officer using it, even? Assuming we're chasing down a human perp and not some hellbeast, anyhow.

[He's obviously extremely intelligent if he can manufacture these so easily, so she's not attempting to disparage him. And yet she can't help but question the logistics, because the last thing they need is the department bearing the brunt of a lawsuit for police brutality or injuring suspects. She'd be interested in if he's taken that into consideration of his design.

At his question, though, she smiles politely as she follows him outside. Right, introductions were important.]

Chloe. Chloe Decker. Nice to meet you, Cisco. Is back here alright?

[She motions towards one of the little side alleys next to the department building.] It leads out into the parking lot, but I don't think there are a lot of cars or people around yet, since it's so early.

[ Cisco, it is all too clear, is not offended in the least - he almost never minds when people want to know more about his tech, and considering that Chloe seems worried that the devices will be too harmful, he's even inclined to like her for it. One of the things that had made him so willing to take this job and help provide tech for the RPD was the knowledge that it would give him some say, that he could use his engineering skills to make gear that will keep the officers safe without causing undue injury or death. ]

It absolutely would, if they were exposed to it for a long period of time. Since it's just a burst of sound, and because of the way it's modulated, it should be enough to stun, but not actually do any lasting damage. Of course, you're right and the anatomy of the person you're using them on is gonna be a factor. I've calibrated these ones for human hearing, but I'm going to make a few that are a lot stronger, for your hellbeasts and whatnot. I'll make 'em bright red, I think, so there's no confusing the two before you throw. And you might wanna be careful using the human ones on elves or like, aliens that look like they might have enhanced hearing.

[ Not a perfect system, by any means. But then, nothing ever is. And it certainly beats using a gun or, on the other hand, letting someone truly dangerous get away. ]

You're right about the risk to officers in the area, too - you won't wanna just blast one of these guys at a perp who is five feet away, the whole idea is to use them when somebody's getting away and you know you can't catch up, or if a bad guy is sniping at you from the next building.

[ He grins when Chloe introduces herself, seeming genuinely happy to meet her. Cisco looks around at the side alley, nods once decisively, and then gestures at it with a sweep of his arm. ]

So, to arm it, you twist the top and bottom in opposite directions, doesn't matter which way, and you should feel it activate - it'll buzz a little bit in your hand. You can twist back to deactivate 'em, or you can press the button and throw. The delay is three or four seconds. Supposed to be four, but sometimes it's been running a touch fast.

[ It was the best system Cisco had found, to make them quick and simple to arm, but also secure enough not to go off if they, and the button, get jostled a little mid-pursuit. ]

[Ah, so not a reckless one then. Good. It's one thing to design a weapon or technology because the concept is there -- stunning a target all comes with the territory at times, after all, as does using lethal force if necessary -- but it's another to put a lot of thought into how that technology may cause harm and take active measures to ensure the least likelihood of that possible. His explanation seems to placate her, though, as she nods along to what he's saying.]

That'd probably be a good idea. Cops tend to like pretty colors anyhow.

[A small joke on par with his paperwork crack, but she means it. She carries on.]

I think it's great as a potential alternative to using lethal force if we could stun them long enough to bring them into custody, especially for the longer range ones. I'm assuming each one of these things would be a one time use only deal, right? If an officer were to miss a target and then they grabbed it and threw it back at us, for example.

[Not that it's a risk they wouldn't necessarily take. After all, a similar risk is presented when carrying guns and getting them lost in a tussle. But these things are actual projectiles, and she can imagine someone desperate to get away flinging the thing back at them.

His explanation about the delay being three to four seconds mitigates that slightly, though. Far less likely to have something like that lobbed back at them with only mere seconds to do so. She turns in the direction of the alley, walking into the small space as she listens to him about how to use it. She does as instructed, twisting the thing and feeling that small buzz in her palms and fingers. And then she twists it back, just to get a sense about how to deactivate the thing.]

Seems simple enough. I'm guessing these would be strapped to our belts, then?

[ Chole's crack about cops liking pretty colors startles a laugh from Cisco, loud and delighted. He likes people who don't take themselves too seriously, who can poke a little fun at themselves or their profession. Cisco is the first one to laugh at jokes about mechanical engineers, or nerds, as long as they're not extremely mean-spirited. It would seem Chloe is the same way. ]

Yep, single use only. They've only got a tiny bit of charge in there, so after they sound off once, kaput. So that's not an issue. I mean- [ And here, Cisco's sleep deprivation actually starts to show a bit, because there is something distinctly rambly about his next words: ] -it's possible, if you were chasing after a robber, who had gone after a sports supply store for some reason, if they've even got a sports supply store in this city, and he had stolen a tennis racket, and he was holding it, and he had good aim and he saw the grenade coming.... well you could have a pretty bad time if that happened. But I feel like that's a contingency we don't need to spend too much time planning for.

[ He grins, clearly amused by his own little story. ]

I'm actually more worried about a fleeing criminal picking one up and taking it off to replicate the tech, but that's prrrrobably just my ego talking. I feel like most people wouldn't be thinking about intellectual property theft when they're on the lam from the law.

[ There are reasons, of course, why that is the thing Cisco worries about; how much damage had Snart and Rory done, with their stolen guns? But it would take a good deal of doing, crafting anything really dangerous from one of these grenades. He at least learns from his mistakes. ]

Yeah, if this design goes through I'll make the cases, too, clip-on, leather, metal snap, probably fit two in there, one human strength one 'oh shit, is that a giant crocodile' strength.

[Chloe is nothing if not patient, choosing not to interrupt him and his slightly rambling thought process but unable to stop the tiny smile of amusement rising to her lips. The poor guy could probably really use a long, long nap. He gets his point across well enough, though.]

Right. The likelihood of a tennis racket criminal outbreak is probably slim to none. But if I get word of such a dastardly plot, I'll be sure to give you a call.

[Cisco may soon find that while Chloe is usually pretty serious and staunchly professional when it comes to her job, her humor comes out in dry little comments and banter. It helps that Cisco seems so capable and prepared; not everybody takes into account such small details and has an answer upon first being questioned, and she appreciates him letting her do so when he's obviously already been up for hours.

The mention of replicated tech has her raising a brow, though.]

Sounds like you've got experience with that. [Or it's just his ego like he said.] I don't think it's outside the realm of possibility, but I will say that most of what we deal with are homicide cases or petty theft. The homicides usually involve crimes of passion or some sort of revenge scheme, and in either case, they're far more likely to use a kitchen knife or gun. Something more easily accessible than one of these things. As for petty thefts... well, a stun device for tennis racket thieves seems like overkill.

[She nods, looking satisfied.]

You ever think about manufacturing these for the perimeter guard? They'd probably appreciate the stronger ones. If only because they're more likely to run into the giant mutant crocodiles than we are. On a typical day.

Please do. I always like to be informed of dastardly plots as soon as possible.

[ Cisco is surprised, when she says it sounds like he has experience with having his tech stolen. He shouldn't be, and he knows it. He keeps befriending law enforcement types - detectives, police officers - and then being shocked when they use the skills that make them good at their jobs and read him like a book. Which also means she will probably take any evasion as a 'yes', and will doubtless see through any kind of lie he might try to tell (though it doesn't take a particularly astute individual for that - Cisco is an atrocious liar). ]

Back in my own world, some criminals got their hands on a couple guns I made. A heat gun, and a cold gun. Used 'em to cause a lot of trouble.

[ He nods, in total agreement with her that these devices are overkill for most common criminals. It's always good, to meet an officer who understands that escalation is not always the best solution. ]

Oh, sure. My relationship with the Riverview PD isn't exclusive. I'm sorry, I thought you knew - I've been seeing the firefighters and the Perimeter Guard on the side this whole time. If I get the go ahead, I'm gonna make these bad boys for both teams.

[ He jerks his head to the side in the direction of the empty alley, smile going a little lopsided as he looks at the device in Chloe's hand and encourages: ]

Go ahead, give it a whirl.

[He gets a small quirk of her lips at that comment, but doesn't respond. He would be correct in his assessment, about her taking his lack of response as a yes. Not that this is an interrogation; he has the right to his privacy, but she can't help but be intrigued at this concept of there being so many other worlds, other realities where something like stealing a heat gun is a common occurrence for him but something out of a comic book for her.]

That... sounds like something straight out of one of those superhero movies, if I'm being honest.

[It's not outside the realm of possibility, though, she thinks, glancing back down at the device in her hand. At his encouragement, she takes a deep breath and activates it once more, feeling it buzz in her hands before she tosses it down the alley as instructed. Just as he described, it goes off after a few seconds, a loud sound puncturing the silence.]

Whoa.

Well, that makes a lotta sense, since my job was working with superheroes.

[ It's just one of the quirks of this place, that sometimes Cisco comes across people whose daily lives are the stuff of fiction from his perspective... and sometimes, the equation is flipped, and he's the one whose life sounds fantastical and impossible. Chances are, there are one or two things about the place Chloe comes from that would blow Cisco's mind. But he kind of likes when he gets to brag about how weird and awesome his home was. ]

Mostly just one superhero, actually. Called the Flash. But I helped a handful of others now and then if they need costumes or tech. That's, uh, kinda my thing.

[ There's just a touch of pride in it; Cisco still can't believe that he'd somehow become the guy that all these awesome, heroic people came to, when they needed help. It's the one thing he misses most, about Central City, and the life he'd had there. But he's still helping, in his way... just in a slightly different way.

He walks a ways down the alley, retrieving he spent grenade, sticking it into his backpack. ]

In fact, I adapted these from a sonic weapon I made for a woman called Black Canary. She's not here to fight off the bad guys, so I figured she wouldn't mind. Hopefully.

Seriously? Superheroes? As in, actually wearing a cape and tights?

[Forgive her, Cisco. No matter how long she stays in this place, she still can't quite come to terms that things like superheroes and magic are actually real, much less a normal part of someone's life.]

So you're an engineer for superhero gadgets. That's... kind of incredible, actually. [A beat.] Let me guess. The 'Flash' is super fast.

[She watches Cisco collect his device, shifting her weight from foot to foot. A small nervous gesture she's never been able to break entirely, though there's also obvious interest there.]

Don't suppose you got paid for all your amazing inventions. Or maybe that's your day job. At this point, I wouldn't rule anything out.

No, no tights or capes, it's not a performance of Shakespeare.

[ He actually seems just the tiniest bit offended for a moment, but he can't sustain that for long. Cisco is weak to anything that even slightly resembles praise, and the moment she says what he does is incredible he's all broad grins. He ducks his head, face going hot as he fusses with his hair and looks embarrassed and very pleased.

And she seems interested, so he explains: ]

By costumes I meant, like, suits. Like stylized body armor, different styles for different heroes, based on their needs. The Flash - who, you're totally right, is super fast - has a suit I designed to deal with the huge amounts of stuff like static charge and friction that can become a serious problem when you're running north of 2,000 miles per hour. If he runs too fast in, like, a t-shirt, it'll literally burst into flames, so. Not a good idea. And yeah, they're sort of colorful and over the top and supposed to ensure anonymity. Plus, good for people to be able to recognize it's him, to know that help's arrived. Or, if they're a criminal, that they're completely boned.

[ He starts to head back in the direction of the precinct with Chloe, still chattering away. ]

It was my day job, actually. I mean, nobody knew it was my day job, 'cause of the whole, try to keep your identity secret or criminals will kidnap your loved ones and hold them hostage thing. Pretty much everybody thought I was just doing unspecified science stuff for S.T.A.R. Labs. Which was a pretty flimsy cover, honestly. Guess I was actually kinda lucky I didn't have a lot of my friends and my family wouldn't notice if I dropped off the face of the Earth.

[ He realizes a moment too late, with a little wince, what he's said. The sleep deprivation again, making him too honest. It's the truth, of course, but normally he tries to hide it a bit for other people's comfort, or at least package it up as a joke, so it's more palatable. ]

[She listens intently as he speaks, walking with him back towards the precinct while occasionally tilting her head in his direction.]

So you literally engineered suits of armor to withstand the laws of physics and nature. I know someone back home who would be ecstatic about that. She's not an engineer, but I can picture her bouncing around and asking a million questions about the science of it. And just thinking it's cool that you're part of a team of superheroes.

[To be fair, Ella got excited about a lot of things. But combining superheroes and science? Yeah. That seemed completely like her thing. The mention of his friends and family is abrupt, though, enough to turn her attention to it. Maybe a hint of something somber crosses her features before it disappears again.]

It sounds like you had a lot of people who cared about you. Or at least a lot of people who depended on you, super powers or not.

You sure she's not some kinda alternate universe version of me?

[ Cisco doesn't actually think that's the case - it's not impossible, of course, but the chances of this random police officer knowing a doppelganger of his back home seem astronomically small. ]

I mean, was a part of a team of superheroes, there. I'm here, now. Doing a lot of the same stuff, just... for you guys, instead.

[ He's grateful that she doesn't bring up the thing about his family directly, but what she says next is clearly an oblique reference to it. Cisco smiles, waving a hand in the air as if he could dismiss the whole topic just with a gesture. ]

Oh, yeah, totally. Absolutely. I wasn't- I didn't mean... And anyway, it doesn't matter 'cause most of us are never going home, right?

At this point? I wouldn't discount the possibility.

[Astronomically small chance, yes, but what were the chances of any of this being possible in the first place? Or that the Devil himself just so happened to be her partner. Stranger things, Cisco. Stranger things.]

I don't know. I'm no hero, but you never know who else in the department is, or where they came from. I met a guy on top of the communal housing building who had a time machine once. Maybe someone here used to fight bad guys back home.

[Which would imply vigilante justice, and she didn't really support that, but oh well. The mention of never going home automatically has her demeanor changing somewhat, her ease morphing into something more somber and serious.]

Not if I can help it.

A time machine?

[ That stops Cisco in his tracks, momentarily, looking at Chloe, not smiling for perhaps the first time since he'd walked into the precinct and asked to see somebody. There's no way... it can't be... and even if it was him, he wouldn't just tell some woman... ]

What did he look like?

[ There are superheroes here, of course, and he could tell Chloe that, but right now that's not what is at the forefront of his mind. He's more worried about the bad guys from back home showing up, themselves.

Her reaction to that last comment surprises him, too. ]

You're one of the ones who wants to go back?

[ Which... makes it pretty clear that Cisco isn't, despite the fondness with which he had talked about Team Flash. ]

[She knows the idea of time machines aren't exactly salient ones, but she picks up on Cisco's discomfort and the way his body language changes. The edge of something serious creeping along his face to replace the previous good cheer. She regards him for a moment, quirking a brow, but answers him truthfully, her tone blunt as if reading off a report.]

Tall, British, middle-aged Caucasian male. Grey hair. Wore a suit. I never got his name, though he did seem... eccentric, to say the least. Called himself a magnet for trouble. You know him?

[She never got the sense that there was anything dangerous about him, though she knew intuition alone was never evidence for a clean character. The fact that Cisco seems concerned is enough to warrant vigilance; if not about this person in particular, than for future possible arrivals.]

I have a daughter back home.

[She says it as if that's explanation enough. To her, it is.]

Oh! [ The moment she's gotten through a couple of the traits that she lists aloud, the tension that has crept into Cisco's shoulders vanishes. It is fairly obvious that he was thinking the time traveler might be a particular person, and that the description she gives doesn't match. It should only get more obvious when he shakes his head - he doesn't know any middle-aged British men, in suits or otherwise. ]

Nope, never met him. You get all types in this place, though. I'd bet there are a few people on the police force who were superheroes or worked with them back in their own worlds.

[ Chloe had been right; as explanations go, being separated from her kid is simple and self-explanatory. It surprises Cisco, a little. He hasn't met many parents in this place: probably because people who were had strong enough attachments to their world that the portal did not pull them through in the first place. There must have been some kind of error, in Chloe's case. ]

How old?

You know, I'm getting to the point where something like that? Wouldn't even surprise me anymore.

[In fact, it's probably a safe bet. Superheroes in law enforcement? Why not? But Cisco seems to have calmed down at her description, whatever nerves or worries he had melting away from his features. So not who he was thinking about, then. Good. Most likely for the best.

The question has a lighter look falling over her face, an almost sad kind of smile touching her lips.]

Eight. The biggest cake monster you'll ever meet.

For what it's worth, I hope you get back to her soon.

[ Cisco doesn't really know the system for getting people back home who want to go. He's known a few people who had come through the portal and decided this place wasn't for them. It doesn't seem like they've been returned home in any kind of systematic way. There ought to be some sort of list, organized by need. Like for organ donations. Surely being separated from her child would put Chloe near the top of that list...

He's going to have to look into this whole thing, even if he has no interest in returning home himself, just so he knows how the whole thing works. ]

Okay... so if we're all set here, I'm gonna head back and get to work on whipping up a whole lot more of these for y'all.

[ Cisco smiles, a little lopsided, and amends: ]

Well, technically I'm gonna sleep about twenty hours, and then I'm gonna get to work fabricating a whole mess of grenades. It was nice meeting you, Chloe. I'm sure I'll see you around the station.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[open] it's time to tip it off

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sorry for the delay!

That's okay! I am also sorry for how ridiculously late this is.

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