riverviewlogs | [open] cancel your reservations

Entry tags:

[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! ]

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Cisco might not be entirely plugged into the grapevine, but he hears enough. He finds out a few days after it happened that Clark Kent is gone, and after a few inquiries, that Jon Kent is not. Which... has got to be really hard on the kid. Cisco hadn't known Clark too well, but it was enough that he thinks he wouldn't have left unless it was very important, unless he had to. Still... absent dads are absent dads. It sucks, and Cisco knows that from experience.

So, he thinks, now would be a good time to actual follow through on a promise of his, and provide something that'll give a little bit of joy - or at the very least, distraction. He'd offered to loan Jon his copy of Epic Yarn, but realized later that getting his hands on a Nintendo in this place might actually be a little difficult. For someone like Cisco, it doesn't take very long at all, to knock a Nintendo up out of parts that he has lying around in his workshop. He keeps that one for himself - in case anything goes wrong, he can fix it easily - and carefully packs up the legit Nintendo, along with some fun classic games.

He then shows up with that box of electronics, to knock at Jon's door early one afternoon. He thinks it should be late enough that school is out, but it occurs to him that maybe he should have checked...]

[ When Cisco finds out that Lup has been here this long and still never been to an actual honest-to-god movie theatre, he feels like he has failed as a friend, and as an ambassador of Earth's pop culture. Lup and Taako had assured him that she's seen a couple of movies (a couple!!), but that's just not the same.

So yeah, he is absolutely going to make a whole production of it. There's a cinema in town playing all three of the Indiana Jones films, which means it is pretty much destiny that this needs to happen. Sure, he's not 100% sure he won't have to duck out a couple of times during Temple of Doom, but who knows. Maybe with Lup there, and the two of them having a good time, it won't even be a thing. So Cisco tells Lup when to be ready by, and he shows up in an impossibly apt and nerdy t-shirt, grinning from ear to ear. He's got a backpack full of candy and keeps shifting his weight from foot to foot, full of delight and anticipation. When she comes to the door, the first thing he asks is: ]

You ready for this?

Edited 2017-08-10 16:05 (UTC)

[ Bill's seen the flyers around the city, and though she doesn't need any help navigating a smart phone, she remembers Cisco from their conversation online, and decides going to say hi is a fine enough way to spend an afternoon.

She arrives at the door to his workshop and knocks before peeking her head in. ]

Hello? I saw your flyer... I brought candy?

[Of course it's exciting to go see a movie on a giant TV, yet alone three of them! Lup grins as she opens the door, then shoves him and herself outside so they could get going as quickly as possible.

Her outfit isn't too special, a t-shirt she got early on that says 'this bitch is lit' and a pair of comfy-looking denim shorts. Her hair is braided and her eyeliner on point as always, bright eyes foll of excitement.]

Fuck yeah, lets do this!

[Poor Cisco is about to find out that Lup talks a LOT during movies.]

[ It's been a while since Cisco put up those flyers and the response he'd gotten had been way more than he'd been anticipating. Almost all of them had been complete successes, though, and he is really riding high on this feeling of being a useful guy that people turn to for help. He's gotten used to visitors to his workshop: even has some coffee at the ready and an extra chair for visitors in need of tech tutoring.

When Bill shows up, however, he is a little surprised. It's true, that it's not always possible to tell, but he could have sworn she was a 21st century type girl. Then again, Joe lived in the 21st century back home and Cisco had personally witnessed Iris trying to explain snapchat to him for a solid two hours without much success, so... ]

Hey, Bill, what's up!?

[ He gestures her towards the empty computer chair, and then, grinning, to the small mountain of candy that has accrued in a space he'd cleared on one of his desks. ]

Thanks! Turns out a lotta people don't get the concept of a front-facing camera. Toss it on in, and also, if you want any of that, help yourself.

[ With that, Cisco helps himself to a twizzler - because he figures it will make her more comfortable taking something if she wants to. And also just because he wants one. ]

What can I help ya with?

[ She smiles when he calls her over and comes the rest of the way into the room, shutting the door behind her before lightly stepping over to the chair he's indicated. ]

Oh, em, nothing? I know how to work my phone just fine.

[ She sits down, depositing the white paper bag of sweets along with the rest and kicking her feet idly. She looks over the pile but decides not to take anything. She's more into the salty snacks over sweet. ]

I just saw your flyer and thought I'd come pay a visit. I found those at market, [ She gestures to the baggie she brought. ] they're almost like jelly babies, if you've ever had those.

[ It's honestly so gratifying, to have his enthusiasm matched for once. It's not that Cisco minds having shy or reluctant friends - quite to the contrary - but it is really nice for a change not to be dragging someone along to have a good time. He catches a glimpse at Lup's shirt, laughs for a solid half minute at it, and together the two of them set out for the movie theatre.

He's told Lup what to expect, a little, in terms of the theatre itself, but he hasn't said a whole lot about the actual movies. He'd been saving all that hyping for right now, as they walk the few blocks to get there. ]

Okay so these movies aren't exactly new, I mean, they all came out before I was born, but they're total classics. Like... Raiders of the Lost Ark was just totally revolutionary - it's this mashup of all these different genres, plus there's young Harrison Ford at like, peak hotness, and the music! Oh, man... you're gonna love 'em, just trust me!

[ He is trying to walk that perfect knife edge between getting Lup properly excited and not wanting to get her expectations so ridiculously high that the movies won't live up to them. ]

There's gonna be breaks between the movies, so we can get up and walk around and get real food if you get sick of popcorn. It's a marathon, not a sprint.

Oh! Awesome.

[ His smile widens, then, because if she doesn't actually need tech help... that means she had come by just to see him and hang out. That the bag of sweets wasn't an (albeit optional) bribe, but just a gift.

(With certain things missing from his mind, it doesn't occur to Cisco, really, to be suspicious that she might have ulterior motives - his delight is untouched by doubt or suspicion). ]

I actually haven't! I've read about them in, like, British books and stuff, but I've never had one.

[ That curiosity is enough to prompt Cisco to set down the twizzler, roll his chair closer, pluck up the bag, and reach in for one of the candies. He takes a moment deciding on a color before popping one of the green ones into his mouth. ]

So how are classes going? You're at the university, right?

Edited 2017-08-11 01:29 (UTC)

[It's nice to just be excited and free for a while, putting down the family issues to just let loose (in healthier ways than getting smashed and yell about pandas).

Lup listens as Cisco talks about the movies they're about to watch, and his hype is definitely getting hers up as well.]

Wait, so what three genres? Like... I know your world is kinda 'superheroes' and mine is 'fantasy' so I know what to expect when watching a superhero movie, y'know? [Logic.]

...also there's no fucking way Lup gets sick of popcorn, my dude. I even brought my special spice mix!

[She picks a little package out of her pocket.]

I found fuckin' powdered cheese, I love this place.

[ Cisco laughs at that categorization of their respective worlds, but... well, Lup's not wrong. Even in this case, she's being led astray slightly in her expectations. ]

See, but this isn't a superhero movie. And anyway, superheroes are a pretty new thing in my world. They've only been around for like, three years, max.

[ It would be easy to just say that superheroes had first started to be a real thing when Barry started operating as the Flash, but even Cisco has to admit that Oliver was doing some good, before that. Even if his brand of good sometimes edged a little bit too close to vigilantism and torture and murder and stuff Cisco is definitely not down with. ]

I'd say these movies are, uh, maybe halfway in between. There's some kinda fantasy stuff, but there's also car chases and explosions and gunfights. But there's also romance, and adventure, and history. Just wait and see.

[ They get to the theatre, and he hands over the tickets to a bored-looking teen (some things are really the same everywhere you go), and they walk into the movie theatre, with its loudly-patterned carpets and the sound of popcorn popping. Cisco leans in close to Lup and says, low under his breath: ]

Okay, so technically you're not supposed to bring food in from outside, but... well long story short I've got a lot of candy lying around in my lab right now so my bad is, like, FULL of candy. So we don't need to buy any more. Just don't tell anybody.

[ Jon's had a fair amount of adults come by so he's looking slightly better. Less pale around the edges. He doesn't look any happier though, just muted and quiet, which is unlike the boisterous happy child he usually is. He blinks in surprise, looking over Cisco. ]

Mr. Cisco?

[ Cisco had taken some time that he needed to assemble the materials necessary to build not just a robot, but a goddamn awesome one. It ends up being almost a week before he texts Peter and tells him that it's all set up, and he should stop by the next day after school for roboextravaganza 2k whatever year it is in this place.

As he is waiting for Peter to arrive, looking out at all the tools and various potential components he's assembled, it occurs to Cisco that maybe he has gone just a little bit overboard. Building robots is great fun, but that doesn't really account for the faint nervousness he feels waiting for the kid to show up. Probably something to do with the fact that it is a kid, and Cisco's so used to being the youngest in any given group, not any kind of role model or person in a position of even slight authority.

And he knows, too, that when he was in high school he would have absolutely killed to have someone he could do build things with - for him, his projects and experiments were always conducted alone. His parents thought his tinkering was a messy, silly waste of time, and he didn't exactly have many friends in school (or... any). Only his brother Dante would barge in occasionally, to make fun of him, or else demand something: wanting Cisco to lend him money, or make excuses to their parents, or do Dante's homework for him.

So he has a somewhat overinflated idea of how much this might actually mean to Peter and is actually pretty worried about messing it up. The knock on the door of his workshop startles him, and he jumps up from his chair to let Peter in, grinning broadly through the nerves. ]

Hey, you must be Peter, right?

Edited 2017-08-11 23:06 (UTC)

[ It's almost worse, in a way, the fact that Jon doesn't look like a complete mess. It's good that he's managing to keep it together enough to look as composed as he does, but he's too young to be putting on a brave face. The fact that that responsibility and maturity are being forced on him is a little heartbreaking. Still, Cisco smiles, because that's what Cisco does. He might not be able to do much to fix the situation, but hopefully he can help some small bit. ]

Oh- oh, no. Just Cisco is good, no 'mister' needed. [ He shifts the box in his arms, laughing softly at his own awkwardness. ] I know I seem a million years old to you but I'm really not in the 'mister' zone, yet.

[ He really has just... no practice, interacting with kids. None whatsoever. He's probably making a complete fool of himself, but then again, he does that with his own peers just as often. ]

I said I was gonna loan you Epic Yarn ages ago, so I finally brought it over. Figured we could play a couple levels, if you haven't got too much homework. Oh! Uh, and a Nintendo, too. 'Cause I know how much trouble I had finding one, figured you might not have one of your own.

[ Jon hesitates before opening the door. No one else had gotten him games so the opportunity to play something new and forget about . . . well, everything that's happening in his life right now was overwhelming. Still, he had to keep his guard up. ]

You didn't have to do this. I can wait until . . . [ Jon stops, floundering. Until he's better? Until he knew what to do? He bites his lips instead. ]

[ Cisco waits, not wanting to interrupt the kid. Once it is clear that he's not going to say anything more, though, Cisco gently sets down the box and looks Jon right in the eye. His usual shit - joking, pretending everything's okay - that's not gonna fly in this case. Not when it's a kid whose dad has left, and who is young enough that acting like it's no big deal is more likely to hurt and confuse him than to comfort him. ]

I know I didn't have to. But... I wanted to. Believe it or not, I've been meaning to get you this for ages. It's been sitting in a corner of my workshop, and I happened to have some free time this week. Okay?

[ So he picks up the box again and heads inside, looking around for where he should set it up. ]

Oh, and I shoulda said, but the Nintendo's yours. I built myself a replica, so you can totally keep this one.

[ Jon rubs his neck, unsure of what to do before coming to some kind of decision. He opens the door properly, giving room for Cisco to step inside. Annie croons from her spot on the couch, her wings neatly folded on her back. Absently, Jon scratches the top of her head before smiling faintly at Cisco. ]

The TV's over there. I can help set up too.

[ His continued silence is worrying, but in Cisco's case, it's worry that doesn't come with any solid idea of what is the best way to actually help. He doesn't know enough about kids, doesn't know enough about Jon. Maybe the right thing to do would be to get totally real with him, talk about his own dad or something, offer to listen if he wants to talk it out. But Cisco just... isn't really prepared for any of that. So this is the best he can do. He will try to make Jon smile, and laugh, and forget for a little bit that everything isn't normal right now.

He gets an unintentional head-start on that, perhaps, when he sees the winged animal lounging on the couch. Cisco had been momentarily distracted by his own uncertainties, hadn't realized there was anything living in the room - much less something so startlingly odd-looking. He jumps, fumbles the box, almost dropping it but catching it at the last moment. ]

What- is that your pet?!

[ Cisco stares at the creature, torn between wariness and total fascination. He walks over to the TV, sets down the box, but then comes a few steps back towards the couch, cautious but also very curious. ]

[It's hardly unusual for Taako to show up (relatively) unannounced to Cisco's workshop; sometimes he sends a text to give Cisco a few minutes warning, but mostly he just knocks on the door when he's bored and nearby. Or bored and has decided to go visit Cisco at some ungodly hour past midnight, since a quick locate person had revealed was Cisco up and about.

It's late (or early, depending on the definition) enough that he couldn't buy any actual coffee, since everywhere was closed, but he can magic some up, based on coffees he's bought before, both of them about 50/50 on the sugar to coffee ratio.

Which means that he uses mage hand to knock, but it's not like Cisco is gonna care.]

[ Cisco opens the door, already smiling before he sees Taako on the other side. Who else would it be, at this time of night? Sure, he's gotten a lot of visitors the last week or so, since he put up his flyers, but they'd all shown up during regular business hours, perhaps out of some misguided belief that he was a responsible adult with a semi-respectable sleep schedule. But Taako, of course, knows better.

And there he is, like some kind of caffeine angel, turning up right when he was needed. Cisco steps aside to let him in, beaming. The workshop looks much as it usually does, though with the new addition of a small mountain of candy that's been stacking up on one of the tables. Cisco shuts the door and nods over to it, grin going a bit lopsided. ]

Tributes from the technologically troubled. I've had a whole horde of 'em up in here, asking how to take selfies and everything else under the sun.

[ The changes in Cisco are subtle enough that it's very doubtful Taako will notice a change for some time - he merely appears to be in a very, very good mood. He points between the two coffees, eyebrows raised as if to ask which is for him. ]

You've got the patience of a saint, my fella.

[Taako had taken to technology pretty quickly, and he's been fine explaining it to Lup and Lucretia whenever they had any issues, but they're both smart ladies and quick on the uptake. He can't imagine trying to explain it to some stranger.

And when Cisco points between the coffees, Taako grins.]

Choose your fighter.

[Blame Hana.]

[ (continued from here)

It's an odd feeling, waiting in his apartment for Magnus to arrive. Cisco had felt it when Lup first arrived, and he realized that he knew some things about her future that she did not. But now, as incomplete as his knowledge is, he knows things about Magnus's past and his future that the man doesn't know. And that's just... an awful lot of pressure, trying to pretend he has no idea about any of it. Still, he's going to do his best, because he knows it's a whole complicated mess, and not even close to being his business.

And yet a part of him is excited to meet Magnus properly. He sits by the door, playing with Shadow, making the soot-black kitten chase back and forth after a ribbon, until he hears a knock and goes to answer the door. ]

Hey! Magnus, right? Come on in!

Edited 2017-08-14 02:48 (UTC)

[ Magnus is feeling similar, actually. He considered Cisco a friend at this point, although this is the first time they're meeting in person. He's never had an experience quite like this before (what with the Lack of Internet-Like System in where he's from), so he's actually a little nervous. And being nervous about meeting someone is a new feeling for him. But, when Cisco answers the door, Magnus beams. ]

Hey, Cisco! It's nice to finally meet you!

[ He'd actually forgotten about any mention of a kitten, so when he steps inside, he raises his hands to his face upon seeing Shadow. ]

And it's nice to finally meet you, too!

[ He kneels down next to Shadow and tries to pet him, but much like one would pet a dog. He lacks cat experience. ]

Nawww, I don't know about that. There were a couple of people who definitely had me wanting to bash my head against a wall.

[ Cisco does a quick little recitation of eeny meeny (how else did people choose between two options?) and ends up plucking the coffee cup from Taako's left hand, taking a quick sip. He makes a loud mmm of enjoyment before flopping back into his chair, sending it rolling back and spinning a little, which doesn't seem to perturb Cisco in the slightest. ]

So, what's the latest from Taako Central?

[ He smiles against the rim of the coffee cup as he says it, borrowing a phrase he seems to remember hearing Taako use at one point or another. ]

You seen all these people freaking out? [ And Cisco pulls his phone from his pocket and gives it a little wave, as if to indicate he's talking about people's posts on the shared social network. ] I mean, more than usual anyway.

[ Cisco closes the door behind Magnus, grinning at the way he makes a beeline for the cute animal. Honestly, it's not a bad metric of what sort of person someone is, how they treat animals. Dr. Wells had always been particularly dismissive of animals, and entirely unamused by the few cute animal videos that Cisco had attempted to share with him, in the quieter moments when they were helping to train Barry. He should've known the bastard was evil all along.

Despite Magnus's rather enthusiastic approach, the kitten does not seem to mind. He is still small enough that is balance is a little wobbly, and Magnus knocks him off his feet for a moment, but he's quick to get back to them, mewling in his very tiny voice. ]

He might try to-

[ Before Cisco has even finished the sentence, Shadow makes his way to Magnus' legs and starts attempting to scale his pants, hooking his claws into the fabric and rather awkwardly attempting to scramble up. ]

-yep, there he goes.

[ Cisco stands back, smiling and shaking his head. He had warned Magnus about this, but he hadn't expected it to happen so quickly. ]

So how's, um, how are you settling in? I remember my first few weeks here were like, super weird and confusing...

Gimme a call next time and I'll banish 'em for you.

[He's joking, probably, hopefully? Maybe Cisco will just not call and they'll never need to find out whether he's actually joking or not.

And he nearly answers Cisco's first question, before the next one comes, which kinda kills two birds with one stone.]

Uh, well, that's about the update from Taako central. Been having some minor fucking issues with that mess, but it's not too bad.

[Namely: Lup. But he doesn't want to spill that outright, not when Cisco and Lup aren't as close as he and Cisco are. It doesn't seem right.]

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Page 1 of 15

[open] cancel your reservations

for jon

for lup

amnesia, 8/19

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for peter

no subject

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ii

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caffeine angel is his superhero name

for magnus

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my new favorite hero

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#mood