riverviewlogs | [closed] There is a terrible cost to dark magic, but you know what they say

[Despite his reassurances to Cisco that he wasn't worried, about something going wrong, Taako has a half decent self-preservation instinct. Also, he just kind of tells Lup everything, so it was bound to happen.]

It has its moments.

[At the end of the day, it isn't Fisher's fault, how he was used, and looking back Taako can see the ways it seemed to be trying to clue them in. The song, the way it responded to Magnus, so he can't really blame the dumb fish for making them forget in the first place, or blame its child for continuing the secret.]

Should just be a hallway on the other side of that door, but let's give it a shot.

[He gestures for Cisco to lead the way, since this is half his, as well.]

[ Going through the door had been Cisco's idea in the first place, but he is reluctant to leave that room, and its tranquility, and the voidfish. He feels strange, just walking away without saying anything, even if it's a dream. So, rather awkwardly, he says to the creature in the tank: ]

Uh, nice to... meet you.

[ After lingering just a second or two longer, he manages to tear his gaze away, take a long, deep inhale, and head for the door. He doesn't open it until Taako is close behind him, but once he does, he tries to peer through, to look before he leaps.

Except he just... can't see through it. It is a weird, frustrating sensation; it's not that whatever is on the other side is too dark, because there's enough light in this room that some should spill through. There is just a threshold, and beyond that, he can't perceive anything. It reminds him of the feeling in dreams when he is trying to read, and the words on the page just don't work the way they ought to.

Cisco looks back to Taako, who he assumes also cannot see through, gives a tiny shrug, and steps through.

It isn't a hallway. It's an alleyway he doesn't recognize, under a night sky, empty. Or, at least, that's what Cisco thinks at first. ]

Now, what are you doing here, Francisco? And who is the friend?

[ The voice comes from directly behind them, which shouldn't be possible. Except that, when Cisco whirls around, he sees the door they'd just come through has vanished, leaving just the poorly-lit alley. And there, lurking in the shadows, is whoever spoke. After Taako had talked to the voidfish and it had responded, it's clear enough that those words had been meant for them. That this is either a dream fed with information from vibes, or somehow, they've managed to mess things up so spectacularly that they're actually projecting versions of themselves into other worlds - Taako's, and whatever this one is - that real people and creatures can see, and speak to.

Cisco hadn't gotten why that voice sent the hairs on the back of his neck standing up, until he steps forward into the light. And he sees.... well, himself. Almost. A version of himself in a rather melodramatic all-leather outfit, with a generous helping of eyeliner and updo. ]

What the...?

[So... this is weird.

The weirdness potential had always been there, but walking through a door into an alley kinda kicks it up another notch, only for it to get even fucking weirder when there's suddenly two Cisco's (this has to be someone's something). One of which has a totally different vibe (pun intended) than Taako is used to seeing from Cisco,
and honestly, he's kinda digging it.

Love the hair, bubbale. [And then to the real Cisco:] You should try that sometime, it looks good.

[This is a lot less scary than the creepy basement and threatening dude in it.]

[ The other version of Cisco doesn't say anything in response to Taako's compliment, but he does smirk, slow and preening, chin held high like he believes it is only his due. Definitely rocking a different wardrobe and a different tier of self-esteem, over there. Meanwhile, Cisco leans over and hisses: ]

Seriously? You think that looks good?!

[ He had lowered his voice, but it's not like Reverb is standing all that far away, and he clearly hears it. Rather than get offended, though, he just laughs softly. ]

I thought it would be ages until you figured out how to bring someone with you. I've been watching. I know you're still so far behind the rest of us. Or... [ He narrows his eyes at Cisco, head tilting to the side. And that, combined with the sharp little grin that follows, makes this other version of Cisco seem just a tiny bit unhinged. ] ...was it an accident?

[ Reverb makes a little tsk sound of disappointment, shakes his head with disappointment, and then eyes Cisco up and down in a way that is, to be honest, pretty inappropriate considering it's a doppelganger version of himself. Yikes. ]

[He waves away real-Cisco's hiss, because clearly Taako is the one who gets to have opinions about what looks good, out of the two (three?) of them, and anyway, his stupid comment isn't all that important, considering fucking everything that Reverb says.

Because he thought this was some weird subconscious thing, a buried version of Cisco, drawn out by the messed up combination of vibing and magic, but the way he talks, it makes it sound like he's real. It also makes him sound like a creep, which is what has Taako moving a little half-step forward, putting himself in front of Cisco.]

Hey, Eyeliner, what the fuck is that supposed to mean?

[ Reverb shifts his gaze over to Taako, the smile that had never quite reached his eyes dropping at once. He flicks his eyes up and down Taako and his expression is coldly unimpressed. ]

The name's Reverb, and if you dare speak to me like that again and I'll break to pieces you before you can blink.

[ He says it with lazy and absolute certainty, and Cisco feels a quick surge of fear, because he doesn't know if that's true, if that's even possible. Is it an empty threat? Just what the hell is even happening? The only explanation he can think of is they've stumbled their way into another timeline, another universe, and this version of himself is just... a villain. Just an evil, creepy dude. Reverb speaks up again, addressing Cisco this time: ]

It was an accident. You still have no idea all the things you're capable of. You could be a god, if you just embraced it. [ He takes a step closer, looking only at Cisco, as if Taako isn't even there anymore. He doesn't seem to blink as frequently as most people do. Cisco also notices, despite the blue haze, that he seems kinda... weirdly pale. Washed-out, maybe even sickly. ] I can show you.

[ As he is spouting his crazy villain speech, Cisco spots a door in the wall of the alley, about twenty feet past where Reverb is standing - one that looks like it would lead into the back of a restaurant or club. Or, in this case, to somewhere in this dreamscape that doesn't have a doppelganger of himself, saying bizarre shit in a menacing way. Cisco just has to figure out how to stealthily communicate to Taako somehow that they should head for it. Until he can figure out how, he replies: ]

Yeah, I'm not gonna lie, I don't really get what the hell's going on here, but... it's a no from me, dude. Hard fucking pass.

Edited 2017-08-04 13:59 (UTC)

[It's a struggle not to just laugh at that threat, but he manages to keep his mouth shut because right now, he has no idea exactly how high the stakes are and what this asshole is capable of. There's not exactly a playbook for this kind of situation, and he has a feeling Cisco isn't going to be a whole lot of help either.

But Taako's gonna check in, anyway, and it's a good thing that Reverb isn't paying any attention to him; it means Taako can make the quick little gesture required to cast telepathy, so that he can talk to Cisco without opening his mouth.]

You want me to waste this thug?

[There's a lot of spells he can cast before Reverb would have a chance to react. He's not a speedster, after all.]

[ Cisco doesn't react externally to hearing Taako's voice in his head, apart from a tiny startle that Reverb, fortunately, doesn't seem to notice. He swallows, and thinks very clearly: ]

Wait, so can you hear me? Are you reading my mind? Wow, you're reading my mind while also inside my mind, inception much? Shit, you heard that, didn't you? Shit. Okay, focus. Don't cast unless you gotta, I feel like adding more magic to the situation is not a great idea. You see that door, up there? I say we make a run for it. On my signal.

[ Reverb is still watching him, eyes just a little too wide. The hair and makeup and clothes are different, but otherwise it really is like looking in a mirror. And it's way the hell more unnerving than Cisco expected. He feels bad for all the times he's given people with doppelgangers a hard time, back at the quarantine. And Cisco thinks (without meaning to, because if he had a choice he really would rather not have Taako hear it). ]

God, am I gonna be like that?

[ But before Reverb can make any more threats, or creepy offers, Cisco says: ] Now!

[ And then he bolts towards the door, reaching out for Taako's wrist, not wanting to get separated from him. As they run, he hears a weird, distorted sort of reverberation, and a blast of bright blue energy shoots past, narrowly missing him. Cisco recognizes it as the same kind of blast he had shot at that monster that was attacking Eddie. But there's no time to think about that, because he's at the door and throwing it open, pulling himself and Taako through and slamming it shut behind them. ]

[They're in the Chug and Squeeze.

It's still blue tinted, but it doesn't feel quite the same as whatever the hell just happened with Reverb. It feels more like when he steps into the ethereal plane, watching everything through a grey filter, unable to properly interact with the material plane, with the rest of the world. He sees Carey, she looks straight at him and straight through him, and he realizes that this definitely isn't like the last few places they've visited.

And then he hears his own voice.]

Oh. I remember this? This is a memory.

[He doesn't pull away from Cisco, just turns enough to see himself, months ago, sitting next to Kravtiz. There's a few bottles of wine on the tables between them, as Taako makes some joking comment about Kravtiz's terrible attempt at a vase, and Kravtiz comes back with a smart retort.

It's been easy, to pretend he hasn't missed Kravtiz as much as he has, but this suddenly brings it all sharply back into focus.]

[ At first, when they come barreling through the door, Cisco looks around quickly, ready for a new threat. They could be anywhere, after all. But it's just a cute little room, full of people doing pottery. Cisco relaxes, then, and takes in more of the details. The people are all in pairs, a lot of them dressed up more than is wise with all that raw clay around. And there are little tables by each couple, with wine, and he gets it. One of those get-drunk-and-make-art type places, that are so trendy these days for dates (apparently, across the multiverse).

Then Taako says it's a memory, and his voice is a little bit... distant. Distracted. Cisco looks over towards him and follows his gaze, seeing another Taako, sitting in front of a pottery wheel. And Cisco is all too happy to just focus on this and not talk or think about Reverb and all of that weirdness.

Even through the blueish light, it's clear from the flush on his face that the Taako doing pottery has had a bit to drink. He looks... happy. Relaxed and joking with the guy sitting next to him, who Cisco looks at and promptly lets out a low whistle. ]

Daaamn, Taako, he's gorgeous. Is that the grim reaper guy?

[ Cisco had been picturing a little bit more scythe and hood and a little bit less well-fitted black suit and handsomeness. Suddenly, Taako asking out a guy who had once tried to kill him is starting to make a little bit more sense. ]

That's Kravtiz, yeah.

[Sometimes it's weird, what feels too vulnerable. Cisco has seen him cry, after the vibe about Lup being alive brought up a whole lot of shit Taako was trying to keep buried, and yet having him in this memory feels a too intimate, too vulnerable, like he's seeing something that he shouldn't.

It puts a few other things into perspective, suddenly. He never felt this way when he was hanging out with Cisco and Eddie at the same time, and maybe that's just because this isn't happening in real time, because the Taako here doesn't know he's being watched, but--

Gods, he can't believe he fell for the fucking grim reaper, all those months ago. He's just spent all that time burying it, because he isn't sure if he'll ever see Kravtiz again.]

We should, uh-- can we go?

[It's risky, because right now this is safe, and if they move again they might run into Reverb or worse, but Taako doesn't want to be here anymore.]

[ Cisco had turned back to be looking at Taako and Kravitz, leaning their heads close together and talking. He can't hear what they are saying over the hum of all the other conversations, but Taako says something that makes Kravitz laugh, and it's right around then that Taako - the real one - asks if they can go.

Cisco had been waiting for him to start boasting, crowing about how obviously he was here with the hottest guy in the room. He's Taako from TV, gorgeous, desirable, utterly fabulous. But instead, when Taako speaks, his voice is soft. Uncomfortable, and a little bit sad. Cisco turns away from the memory, and as soon as he sees the look on Taako's face, he nods. There's concern, in Cisco's expression, but he doesn't ask any questions for now. He just says, quietly: ]

Yeah, we can go.

[ The only door is on the far side of the room, and they make their way over, weaving between the seated customers. There are people here of races Cisco's never seen before - orc ladies and lizard-ish ladies and maybe that person is a gnome? - but he doesn't let his gaze linger. When he gets to the door he opens it, letting Taako step through first. ]

[Taako had spent the twenty minutes of this particularly evening drinking wine alone and desperately trying to distract himself from the fact Kravtiz hadn't arrived yet, so he knows exactly who's here, even if he can't quite put names to every single face.

It's nostalgic, this quiet moment at the Bureau of Balance, before Wonderland, before Barry, before everything went so spectacularly to shit.

He tries to ignore those particular thoughts as he pushes the door open, one hand raised in case there's anything potentially dangerous on the other side. But there's only empty moonbase courtyard on the other side.

It's a respite, at least.]

Quick question, any idea what happens if we like, die in here?

[ It's the same process again: they come through the door, and Cisco looks around quickly for anything that might pose a threat. But even though the surroundings are unfamiliar, they are empty: really empty, this time. Just a quiet courtyard, with that very faint hum he recognizes from the voidfish's chamber.

There's a little bench, nearby, and Cisco makes his way to it, sitting down for a moment to get his bearings. The plan of finding a way out by wandering around hasn't worked so far, but no other ideas are coming to him, and waiting seems just as unappealing as it had in the first place. ]

I don't know for sure, what with the magic and all. Usually, when I die in a vibe, I just wake up. But usually it's just memories of getting killed, you know? [ It's not exactly how Cisco had thought it would play out, him admitting to Taako that he's died before, but that's just how things go sometimes. ] But that stuff, with like... evil me, that wasn't a memory. And it wasn't the future, either. He saw both of us. We were like... there.

[ Cisco looks down at his hands, thinks about how close that blast had come to hitting them both. What if it had hurt them? Killed them? Cisco swallows against a rising lump in his throat, says: ]

God, this was such a stupid idea. I'm sorry I dragged you into this, Taako.

We're gonna file that one away for later.

[The memories of dying, because for all Taako's curiosity, it doesn't seem like a pressing matter right now compared to the evil AU Cisco and the fact they're stuck in a creepy memory/vibe/dream fun house. They need to figure a way out, before something catches up to them and they have to find out exactly what happens if they die.]

Fucking-- don't, okay? I agreed, we knew it could get messy and here we are. There's gotta be a way out. [They just have to figure it out.] What if we trigger another vibe?

[ Cisco just nods; much as he might wish it were, it's not the kind of thing he can just ask Taako to ignore. He's been putting it off for way too long, anyway. Some stupid worry about what Taako would think, how he would react. But even if later isn't as good as never, it's certainly a hell of a lot better than right now. They're in a crisis situation, after all.

Taako's confidence that there must be a way out bolsters Cisco, and he sits up a little straighter. Trying to trigger another vibe had never even occurred to Cisco. He narrows his eyes, thinking. ]

I mean... maybe? Who the hell knows. Not like I've got any better ideas.

[ He gets to his feet once more, rubbing his hands over his face and thinking. Taako's magical ability to change the details of the dream had been compromised, once the vision had started, so they can't use that to trigger a vibe. They're just going to have to do it the old fashioned way. He looks at Taako and says: ]

Scare me.

[ Cisco doesn't sound happy about the situation, but his expression is resolute. ]

You should probably be holding onto me, too. Just in case. I vibe stuff about people when I'm touching them, so contact matters, somehow. Don't... don't hurt me too bad, but. Whatever it takes. Just... scare me.

[Casting in this place (if it is a place) feels strange, but his telepathy spell went fine, so hopefully nothing goes horribly wrong.]

Sorry about this one, pumpkin.

[Taako grabs Cisco by the wrist, fingers digging in hard, as he casts eyebite, not wanting to risk messing with the shape of the dream in case it's something he can't undo, especially because there's a risk of either of them taking damage, if that goes badly.

This spell is just designed to terrify someone; Taako's eyes go black and inky, and Cisco will feel a wave of absolute panic wash over him, along with the desire to get the hell away from Taako (that's why he's holding on tight).]

[ Cisco's biggest fear, just a few seconds before, was that he would be beyond scaring, because scaring someone on command is actually pretty tricky, especially if they know an attempt to scare them is coming. He'd thought whatever Taako might try, it would be less effective, since he would know deep down that Taako isn't really going to hurt him.

But he'd been absolutely wrong. Taako grabs his wrist, hard, and then his eyes are going black. Cisco ought to be cracking some kind of joke about the X-Files film, but instead, wave after wave of intense fear is crashing over him. The change is instantaneous: one moment he's looking at his friend, and the next he is trying to jerk his arm away, pulling hard to get free, forgetting all about the plan, the importance of remaining in contact. ]

Jesus-!

[ All Cisco can think is that Taako is wrong, that he needs to get the hell away, that if he doesn't...

The surge of fear is powerful enough that it happens fairly quickly. Taako's only just cast the spell when Cisco (and this time, probably Taako, too) feels a sudden falling sensation in his gut, and the courtyard around them flickers and distorts and disappears. They are somewhere else: outside, and that humming is gone. Cisco is standing on some kind of giant circle made of glass, and there's another Taako nearby, who seems to be focusing on some kind of magic. Around them, some sort of battle is being waged, between two ghosts and an army of shadows. And yet despite all these rather spooky and apocalyptic occurrences, Cisco's eyes are still fixed on Taako, and he's twisting his wrist, anchoring his feet to try to pull free and shouting: ]

Lemme go! Fuck, please, j-just get the hell away from me, please-

[This is a pretty fucking shitty feeling and as soon as he's sure they're through the vibe, Taako drops the spell, releasing Cisco and stepping away from him, wanting to give him space. Eyebite isn't a spell he's used before; he's made things afraid with other spells, but that was enemies, things that were hurting him and that he's been trying to hurt in return, but he doesn't think he's going to forgot the look on Cisco's face any time soon.

He opens his mouth to apologise, to try something like a reassurance, but he hears Barry shout, the sound cutting through, and he turns to see Lup and Barry, suddenly overwhelmed by the Hunger.]

Lup!

[He isn't thinking about the fact this is a vibe, that it's not something he can interact with, he's just running towards her, not stopping when the sky goes dark overhada and something comes crashing to the ground.

It isn't until he sees what came crashing to the ground that he stops, mostly because he's so shocked he isn't sure what to do.]

What the fuck?!

[Why is Upsy here?]

[ When Taako drops the spell and his eyes goes back to normal, the worst of that suffocating weight of fear is lifted from Cisco's chest. That, in turn, frees up enough of his brain to rationally grasp what had happened - Taako had done what he'd asked, cast some sort of spell to make himself utterly fucking terrifying, and Cisco had dragged them both into another vibe.

But even knowing all that, it's a hell of a whiplash. Cisco shudders, bringing up a hand to rub at his wrist and trying to banish the image of Taako with those all-black eyes from his memory. He's still grappling with that when Taako goes pelting off towards one of the spectral figures, shouting his sister's name. And... that much be Lup, as a lich. Before Cisco even really has time to process that, however, something comes crashing down from the heavens. And then it stands up, and... it is a creature. Sort of. Some sort of hybrid of machine and organic material, with giant arms and legs sprouting off from what, honestly, looks like some kind of elevator with a giant face on it. ]

Wh.............. what?!

Edited 2017-08-05 04:32 (UTC)

[Taako is trying his best to take everything in; he sees himself turn to look at the scene, following his own gaze (weird, still) back to Upsy, who's doors are opening to reveal Lucas, in some kind of contraption within Upsy.

He hears his other self shout My dude! relieved to see Lucas coming to the fucking rescue (also weird) and then finally Upsy does enough damage that Lup and Barry get back to their feet, back to fighting the Hunger.]

That's uh, that's Upsy your lifting friend. Our world's first elevator. I think Lucas's granddad had a vore thing.

[ Cisco is still fighting off the lingering terror from that spell, and it helps for him to focus on logic, on what few things he does understand about this fucking horrorshow. First, there's what kind of vision they're in. It's not a memory, because Taako didn't react with calm recognition, the way he had the other memories of his. It's not whatever had happened with that Reverb guy, because no one is reacting to their sudden presence. It's clearly something from Taako's own life. So... the future. Only possibility left.

Those spectral forms must be Lup and Barry - easy enough to put that together, too. And the things they're fighting are the Hunger. Taako had told him about it, but seeing it is a whole other matter. Cisco hadn't realized that it was darkness, in quite such a literal sense. Awful, terrifying, but at least comprehensible.

But then Taako is explaining that that weird machine monstrosity is his world's first elevator, and that it's got a name and somehow it's a vore thing (Cisco's really not loving the fact that he knows what that means, thanks internet). And the doors open to show a guy with a beard piloting it... piloting Upsy, and the inside doesn't look like an elevator or a cockpit. It's... gooey, and that's the moment Cisco throws up his hands and says: ]

Nope. Naw, man. Just no. That is way too gross and weird. Why can't it ever just be a vision of a sweet little old lady feeding some birds or-

[ Cisco had just been ranting, hadn't even been trying. But the moment he says that, the scene around them blurs and moves to the side (just as Upsy was landing a few devastating stomps on the Hunger's forces), and sure enough, they're in a blue-tinted version of a part that Cisco recognizes from Central City, down by the water. And there, sure enough, is a little old lady, scattering oatmeal for a small crowd of eager mallards.

The scene is shockingly quiet, after the fray of the battlefield. Cisco turns to star at Taako, mouth open. He doesn't want to jinx it by saying it, but... ]

[He wants to remember as much of this as he can, since it's clearly not that long into his future, after what he saw from the canister but there's really not that much that's all that new. It does confirm his guess about what Lup wanted to do with the glass circle, but not much else.

And then they're moving again, through another vibe.]

Holy shit, you did it!

[Unlike Cisco, Taako is willing to jinx it out of sheer excitement, giving Cisco a little shove as he realises what's happened.]

[ Cisco doesn't quite flinch away from that shove, but he also doesn't not flinch, either; it's just a reflex, and he hopes Taako somehow doesn't notice. Swallowing, Cisco tamps down on the rising happiness and hopefulness in his chest. Just because he'd somehow gotten them here doesn't mean he's in control. Cautiously, he thinks Barry, show me where Barry is right now.

And it happens again. A sudden twist of movement, and they're in the forensics lab at the CCPD. Barry is there, at his desk. He peers at the door, and when he sees nobody nearby, begins doing paperwork so fast that his hands and arms are a mere blur. It surprises Cisco, just how much it hurts seeing him. He's one of the few things Cisco misses about his world.

But he doesn't have time to dwell on that now. He has to make the most of this control, while he can. Shutting his eyes, Cisco tries not to lose that feeling of control. He wants to memorize how it feels, so he can find his way back to it again. Then, deliberately, he thinks about waking up.

In that little hospital room, connected to about two dozen machines, Cisco sits bolt upright, breathing hard. He looks down to the floor, where Taako is, asks in a voice that's half-hope half-worry: ]

Taako? Taako, you there?

[He's too excited to notice, relief from the fact that a) Lup and Barry are still okay back home and b) this weird fucking experiment in combining their power has actually resulted in something productive.

When they shift to the forensics lab, he does a little fist pump in victory, but before he can say anything he's suddenly back on the floor, startled more by this change in environment than any of the other shifts, for some reason.]

Cha boy's here. [He lets out a shaky breath, not quite trusting himself to get up yet.] That was fucking wild.

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