riverviewlogs | [open] cancel your reservations

who: cisco + anyone!
what: catch-all, amnesia event
when: august
where: anywhere; if you want a starter, please hit me up!
warnings: discussion of murder, use of alcohol to cope, will add more as needed

i. pre-amnesia (august 5-10)

[ Cisco knows that he is probably opening himself up to a world of headaches and unnecessary trouble, but there have been plenty of new arrivals, and more and more he is noticing that people who show up from non-technologically advanced worlds simply have no support system to really teach them all the cool things they can do even with their phones, not to mention other machines and devices. So, one day when there's a lull between projects for the RPD and other emergency services, he goes to a print shop and has flyers made:

TECHNOLOGICAL CULTURE SHOCK??? NEED LESSONS ON HOW TO USE YOUR PHONE, LAPTOP, OR OTHER ELECTRONIC GADGET??? STOP BY THE ADDRESS BELOW FOR A FREE INFORMAL LESSON!!!

Normally it's the kind of announcement he would make over the network, but what if someone is really struggling and can't even get on there? No, flyers seem like the way to go for this crowd. Cisco adds some fine print at the bottom, below the address for his workshop, but all it says is:

*NO HIDDEN AGENDA JUST A HELPFUL DUDE WANTING TO SHARE THE WONDERS OF TECHNOLOGY, LESSONS ARE FREE BUT TRIBUTE PAID IN CANDY IS ALWAYS ACCEPTED]

ii. amnesia (august 12-19)

[ The changes in Cisco are not, at first, as obvious as they may be in other people. He remembers Riverview, and everyone he has met here, and all the details of his life in this place. He remembers his name, all the movies and video games that he loves, all the technical skills and scientific know-how necessary for his job. He even remembers most stuff about his own past - that he worked at S.T.A.R. Labs, that he's a member of Team Flash and friend to Barry Allen. That he is a metahuman, with various abilities tied to manipulating multidimensional energy.

The only thing that has been carved away from his memory is, in fact, Eobard Thawne. Cisco doesn't remember his mentor's betrayal, or being murdered, or the circumstances that surrounded him discovering his powers. All of the shame and dread he's been carrying about his powers, because of Eobard and the things he'd said and done, has just vanished. In addition, Cisco's trauma over that whole experience is, for the moment, covered over. To anyone who knows him even a little he will seem inexplicably younger. Quicker to smile and laugh, volumes more trusting, and also a lot more inclined to talk about some guy named Dr. Wells in a positive, even devoted manner.

Cisco will spend this week doing what he usually does - working at his workshop (still offering those lessons), trying out new restaurants, shopping for graphic tees and games and movies, exploring the safe parts of the city a little - but with an extra spring in his step. If you've wanted your character to find out about him being a metahuman, now would be a good time for it! ]

iii. post-amnesia (august 20-31)

[ The not-remembering? Had been good. But when that's done, and all of Cisco's memories are restored to him, the transition is... rough. Putting it mildly. Back when all of it had happened, there had been so much going on - one life-or-death situation after the other - that he hadn't had time to linger too much on how he was changing, being shaped into an older, sadder, more broken version of himself.

Now, though, there is no big crisis, no distraction to divert his attention. One minute he is the old, sunny Cisco - the one he still thinks of as the person he was supposed to be - and the next, it all comes rushing back. The contrast is stark, and it's kind of fucking him up a little. Or, rather, a lot.

He goes back to having nightmares almost as often as he did in those first weeks after his death, which means he isn't getting a whole lot of sleep, and it shows in the dark circles under his eyes. Cisco withdraws somewhat - not enough to worry that he's abandoning anyone, but he takes longer to answer texts, doesn't reach out to people first, doesn't go out and about in the evenings. He is quieter, with considerably more strain behind his smiles. He throws himself into his work, staying in his workshop long hours, sometimes falling asleep there, for a few fitful hours. When he can't work any more, he spends a little more time than he should in some nearby bars, drinking a little more than he ought to, trying not to think about the person he is now compared to the person he was the week before. ]

iv. misc

[ Come plot something! ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

He's our dog. We live on a farm, so having dogs is kind of a given. We have another animals too, but Krypto is my dad's dog so he's part of the family.

[ Technically not his father's dog but that's weird alternate world hijinks no one needs to discuss. Jon shoves his hands in his pockets, watching Cisco attentively. He usually sets up his game systems, so it was the first time seeing someone older do it. His father certainly didn't play. ]

I dunno if I should. I mean, I don't know who they are.

[ Ah, yes. That would explain the tears. A pet that he missed... a piece of home that hadn't come with him... and his father's dog. Hell of an emotional whammy, there.

His wariness doesn't meet with any resistance from Cisco, who just glances up with a quick small smile and says:]

That's okay, too.

[ Honestly, it's probably a good thing that Jon isn't just accepting random invitations from people. A little hesitation and suspicion is very healthy and wise, in a kid his age, especially now that his guardian has disappeared.

It's quick work, hooking everything up and booting the system. Cisco takes a couple steps back so he can see the TV, make sure everything is displaying properly. When everything seems to be working correctly, he looks into the box for the disk of the promised Kirby game. He holds up the case, asks: ]

Wanna play a couple of rounds of co-op? We don't have to, I just thought it might be fun.

Yeah, that'd be great.

And . . . thanks.

[ His tone is painfully sincere. ]

I know everyone's been trying hard, but they really don't know much about kids.

Are you kidding? It's my pleasure, dude, I haven't had anyone to do co-op with in ages. I mean, sometimes I can convince Eddie to play, but he's like. Nooooot very good yet.

[ Cisco grins; there is an easy implied camaraderie in it. He gets the game all set up, pulls two controllers from the box, switches on the TV, and comes over to join Jon on the portion of the couch that Annie has left them. He hands one of the controllers over, falling back onto the couch, his tone and his movements casual and easy. Cisco is just guessing that maybe what Jon needs right now isn't hovering, and fussing, but some semblance of normalcy.

It would seem, from that last comment, that maybe he is right. ]

Oh yeah?

[ It's a gentle sort of prompting - the kind of question Jon could answer with a simple 'yeah' if he doesn't want to get into it, but that invites further explanation if he's inclined to give it. ]

Edited 2017-08-20 02:21 (UTC)

Yeah.

[ Jon sits down, crossing his legs. He picks up the controller, turning it over in his hands a few times. He's played with a few people in Riverview already, but Jon is always cautious. Careful about who he allows back home. The rules still apply and the scars from Manchester Black are still fresh. His father leaving hasn't helped matters either. ]

I mean, they don't know what to do. They're trying but I think they're also not sure who is going to be responsible for me. So I just kind of feel like . . . I'm unnecessary. Like I can't make those decisions.

[ Cisco had set certain guidelines for himself before he came over here, and one of them had been that he can't let himself get so caught up in his own emotions that it becomes a problem. Jon is going through enough right now; Cisco doesn't want him thinking that he is making people sad, or even worse, that he should try to be comforting the person who had come here to comfort him. Normally, Cisco is pretty open about his emotions - happiness, sadness, whatever. He doesn't buy into that machismo repression crap. It's just that the specific circumstances of this situation make a little bit of a stiff upper lip necessary,

But it's harder than he'd anticipated, keeping that up, when Jon says that a bunch of adults are not sure who is responsible for him and that it makes him feel unnecessary. He blinks a couple times, jaw going tight, but he manages to not look too much like his heart is breaking for this boy, even though it is. Cisco starts up the game, letting the bright colors and sounds of the intro screens play for a few moments while he gathers his composure. It was the right call, too, because when he speaks his voice is soft, sympathetic, but not weepy. ]

That's super unfair. You should have a say, it's your life.

[ Cisco looks over at Jon, gives him a very soft smile, and then turns back towards the game. They start in on a level, and as they are playing, he asks: ]

What would you choose? Or... who, I guess.

Yeah, but . . .

[ He shrugs. It's complicated, being a Kryptonian and that's a secret Jon can't share with others. Most of Jon's woes, at least, seem to melt away. They aren't truly gone, but Jon has never been one to wallow or linger on his sorrows. He can pick himself up. ]

I like Prince Fluff. You can be Kirby if you want.

[ Cisco doesn't push, when Jon tails off, doesn't finish explaining what his objection is, or explain what is making the situation complicated. Instead, he turns Cisco's attention back to the game. They both select their characters and spend about ten minutes pleasantly playing through the game, working together. Cisco chatters a little about the bright colors, how excited he had been when he first got his hands on a copy of the game, how he had played all night and regretted it in the morning when he needed to pretend to be a responsible adult.

There's a bit of a lull, a quiet moment, and Cisco blurts: ]

Look, I know we're not real close or anything, but I just want you to know I've got your back, alright?

[ He's sure Jon has gotten promises like this from plenty of people - but just in case he hasn't, or in case this is the one that will make a difference, Cisco has to say it. He tries his best to make it sound friendly, rather than patronizing. Saying it the way he thinks he would say it to Barry or someone his own age. ]

If you ever need anything - copy of Super Mario Galaxy or help on homework or whatever - I'm around, and... I'm not going anywhere. This place is my home now.

[ Jon blinks, caught off guard by the sentiment before he relaxes with a bright but genuine grin. He is empathetic enough to know when an offer like that is real or simply made to soothe a lonely child. Jon is young, but he's never been wrong when it came to feelings. ]

I've got your back too! Don't worry. Things will work out.

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