[open] cast an illusion

[franciscoramon]

who: cisco + anyone!
what: memory share event & catch-all
when: october
where: anywhere
warnings: murder, torture, bullying

MEMORIES

Feel free to either have your character text Cisco (or comment on this post but indicate a text message) about having a vision / dream of his past, or to come to where he is to discuss it.

A. MURDER {third person dream OR first person vision}

[watch here

This memory is both intensely traumatic and one that Cisco has relived many many times. Have fun with it if you want, there may be small distortions - sometimes Cisco seems to remember Eobard's demeanor being gleeful, even smiling as he kills him. There may be odd gaps here and there, as well as inconsistencies. Or you can play it totally straight, just as it happened.]

B. VIBING {first person; vision}

[watch here (memory lasts up 'til 2:30)

This memory is likely to come across in jumbled pieces at first, and then more clearly as the week progresses. What's most important is that this memory captures the subjective experience of vibing from Cisco's perspective. So at one moment the memory is of looking down at a microscope slide of sand, feeling intense unease and fear, to hands reaching out and touching the sand. Once that contact is established, there is a swooping feeling, like missing a step going down stairs or plummeting on a roller coaster, and then the world goes static-y, with strange flashes of light, blurred vision, and an eerie blue tint. The warehouse that Cisco sees feels intensely present, though sounds are a bit muffled and occasionally there are jumps and starts. The end of the vision is as jarring as the start, and afterwards there is the confrontation with Stein, and a palpable feeling of panic over being interrupted and witnessed.]

C. PRISONER {first person; vision}

[watch here

This memory is clear and vivid, accompanied by feelings of hunger, exhaustion, frustration. Feel free to supplement after the cutoff at the end of the scene a moment where Cisco begs that he's already made them weapons (the heat, cold, and gold guns) and that's enough, and also Snart threatening to just out and out kill Dante, both of which are confirmed to happen but aren't shown in the clip I linked.]

D. BABY NERD PT 1 {third person; dream}

[ Cisco can't be older than nine or so, and he's adorable. We're talking a criminally cute child. His hair is cut short, which makes his ears stick out a little, and there's a tooth missing his bottom row of teeth. He's small for his age, (looks even smaller because he's wearing what are clearly hand-me-down clothes), all round-cheeked and bright-eyed. He comes bounding up to a bench in what looks like a small neighborhood park. Sitting on the bench is a pretty brunette girl with a high ponytail and big earrings, and a boy that looks a little like Cisco, around five years older. Cisco, bubbly and excited, asks: ]

Hey Val, hey Dante, do you wanna see what I made?

[ Dante, who has a hand very obviously and purposefully perched on Val's knee, glares absolute daggers at his little brother, but before he can say anything she answers with genuine interest: ]

Yeah, totally.

[ Cisco beams and pulls the lid off the shoebox. Inside is rather ugly-looking device, clearly cobbled together with materials from a bunch of different things. But Cisco pulls it out carefully as if it's the most precious thing on earth and holds it up, explaining in a delighted rush, what it is and how he made it. He has apparently cobbled together pieces from a broken cell phone, an old malfunctioning digital camera, and a half-smashed mp3 player, into a frankenstein'd device that can take pictures, make phone calls, and play music, too. Val sits up as he explains, going from indulgent to this kid with his little doodad to genuinely excited. Cisco hands it over to her and she tests it out, taking a photo of the beaming Cisco, clicking a number code onto the pad which makes 'I Could Fall In Love' by Selena play (though only loud enough that she has to hold the thing to her ear like a phone to hear it). Then, she even uses it as a phone, calling her mom, exclaiming that it really works, and hanging up again. ]

Cisco, this is so cool.

[ She jumps to her feet, saying that she's got to go get her best friend from the corner store across the street to bring her to see it, too, and goes rushing off. Cisco just stands there, holding the thing and beaming like he's never been more proud of himself in his entire life. ]

E. BABY NERD PT 2 {third person; dream}

[ (Continued from the last one, for anyone who wants an angst component)

As this scene was happening with Val, Dante was getting more and more visibly annoyed, trying to redirect attention back to himself. As soon as she leaves Dante snatches the device from Cisco, turning it over once or twice, unimpressed. Cisco's face falls, shifting from joy to trepidation, like he knows something bad is going to happen. Dante doesn't disappoint; he tosses the thing in the air and then catches it as it falls. Cisco pleads: ]

Dante, don't!

[ Which, of course, only seems to encourage the older boy. Dante throws it into the air, higher this time, and catches it, but Cisco winces, clearly terrified that he'll drop it. He tries to grab it away from his older brother, but Dante gets to his feet, holding it above his head. ]

Come on, don't be such a fucking girl, I'm not gonna drop it.

[ He tosses it into the air with enough momentum to it goes behind him and he has to spin to catch it. Cisco keeps pleading with him to quit it, trying to wrestle it away from Dante, who only laughs. It's inevitable, what happens eventually. Dante hurls the thing much too high, and it's hard to say, whether he was really trying to catch it or not. Either way, it slips between his hands and crashes onto the asphalt, shattering into about a dozen pieces. Cisco scrambles to pick up all the pieces, but the lens from the camera has shattered and the casing is cracked. ]

Oops.

[ Dante shrugs, sounds absolutely unapologetic. Cisco starts sniffling, fighting back tears as he tries to fit the thing back together. He starts putting the pieces back into the shoebox, wiping tears from his cheeks as they start to fall but saying nothing, not even looking at his brother. Dante, for his part, says scornfully: ]

Seriously, Cisco, it was an accident. You gotta stop being such a sissy all the time. It doesn't look good.

[ Then he walks off in the direction that Val had gone without another word, leaving Cisco to clean up the rest of the mess. ]

OR hit me up on plurk to plot something else!

Comments

[causational]

[Eddie laughs softly at that, shaking his head a bit.]

I might take you up on that. This guy has a bit of an undercut, doesn't he? If you can rock a set of electric shears, maybe I could do that with my hair till I have a chance to go to the barber?

[After all, getting a nice fancy haircut at one of those places where they give you a shave and a head massage has been one of Eddie's little self-care rituals for a long time, but one he hasn't particularly mentioned to Cisco in any specific terms before. Still, he's more than willing to let Cisco have a go at his head with the shears for the sake of the costume and go in later.]

That sounds like...a really great time. I've owed you a dance for a while now, haven't I? I think I promised you in the blackout, just before everything happened, that we were going to go dancing. This is gonna be great. Not that it's going to stop me from taking you out dancing sometime at a club where they have that colourful powder and stuff, like at the Flower Festival.

[A little grin, and he leans in quick to press a kiss against Cisco's forehead while he takes a keen look at the costume, checks out Eddie's ass. And Eddie makes a show of it, leaning over a bit and stretching to touch his toes so Cisco can get the full effect.]

Nice smooth full range of motion. Easy to move in.

[Eddie smirks over his shoulder at Cisco, but the expression softens when he suddenly hears Cisco's voice go light and flippant and hesitant as he brings up the next bit. Turning to look at his boyfriend, Eddie hooks his hands on his hips and listens to him, nodding a bit, and when Cisco says 'eyeshadow' and explains about the space makeup and Eddie realizes that Cisco is talking about wearing eye makeup, it clicks why Cisco's voice went that way. Why he sounds so hesitant.

For a moment, Eddie's quiet, wrapping his mind around it. He tilts his head, eyes skimming up and down Cisco's body and then over his face, imagining how it would look, the colourful eyeshadow against Cisco's tan skin. Then he smiles, his expression warm and fond.]

That sounds like a great idea. Only problem is that I have no idea how to do makeup. Unless you do, we'll have to look up a tutorial.

[franciscoramon]

[ Cisco nods - shears aren't an issue, and he definitely thinks Eddie would look hot with a bit of an undercut. Really, really hot, actually. He makes a mental note of it, alongside the toy gun drying downstairs. He chuckles when Eddie mentions owing him a dance. Cisco had remembered that conversation, but not the context - though it makes sense, when Eddie mentions it. Quietly, but with great fondness, Cisco says: ]

Yeah, you sure did. You were really driving me crazy that night.

[ There was a time when the memory of it would've stung, a little. Some uncertainty had lingered after for a while, about how things had gone that night. The messiness of it, and of the morning after. But now, he's been with Eddie long enough, is certain enough of Eddie's affection for him, that Cisco can look back at it and chuckle at how deftly Eddie had been pressing all his buttons, getting him all riled up and confused and in the right state of mind to do something really stupid. ]

Tease.

[ He says that, laughingly, when Eddie makes a big show of bending over and showing off how well the pants fit. Not that Cisco minds one bit.

Then the mood of the room grows a little more tense, expectant, as Cisco waits for what Eddie will say. At first, his boyfriend's silence is alarming. Cisco doesn't quite dare to look at him, but it can't be a good sign, that he's taking this long to answer, can it? It had been a stupid idea. He'd never been that sort of guy - sure, he wore colorful clothes sometimes, had his hair long, but this is a step too far...

...but then Eddie is saying it's a great idea, and Cisco can hear the smile in his voice even before he turns to see it, his own expression hopeful, and fretful, and vulnerable. ]

They got tutorials for everything under the sun.

[ He gnaws at his lower lip, pausing after he does the last button of his shirt. Cisco looks Eddie right in the face and asks, voice soft: ]

Do you really mean that, or are you just being nice?

[causational]

I promise, I didn't mean to. But I don't really regret it either. It led to this.

[Eddie smiles a bit, fondly, shrugging his shoulders and glancing off to the side.]

Anyway, you did the same thing. You do it a lot, driving me crazy in the good way. It's even worse because most of the time you don't even know you're doing it. You're just hanging around being Cisco and it blows my mind.

[And when Cisco calls him a tease, Eddie gives him a smug look. But all of that pales in importance compared to how Cisco is reacting to his comment. Eddie'd thought he made it pretty clear he was comfortable with it, but judging by the expression on Cisco's face, a sort of fragile, vulnerable, worried thing, with his brows twisted up and his teeth closing on his lower lip, he hadn't been clear enough.]

I'm not just being nice.

[Brows furrowing a little bit, Eddie thinks for a moment, then speaks, his voice calm and even.]

I was a little surprised, because I've never seen you do that kind of thing before. It took me a minute to imagine how it would look on you, and to figure out if I thought it would look weird or good. But after I pictured it, I thought it would look great on you, and I think it's an awesome idea for the costume, and the femininity of eyeshadow would be a really neat contrast with the suit being so masculine. You know?

[A pause, and he inhales, then lets it out slowly.]

It's not the kind of thing I'd have thought of, but like, because I'm not creative, not because there's anything wrong with it. I mean. If guys in eyeliner and dresses or whatever bothered me, I wouldn't have dated Taako.

[franciscoramon]

[ It's hard to imagine that he could drive anyone crazy, especially without meaning to, but... Eddie isn't the kind of guy to lie about that sort of thing, and he had said that Cisco is apparently unaware of it. He thinks it must be some special quality about Eddie - that he is able to see what is beautiful and desirable even in the mundane moments.

Cisco shifts his weight from foot to foot, nervous as Eddie finds the words that he wants to say. It's a fuller explanation than he'd expected - he'd been bracing himself for a brush off at best, or a reluctant confession that he didn't like the thought at worst. But instead Eddie is explaining why he'd been silent, and why he thinks it will look good.

The comment about how if Eddie were bothered by the idea of makeup on a guy then he wouldn't have dated Taako, is enough to make Cisco laugh, breaking the tension a little. He tucks his hair back, giving a little shrug and looking down at his feet as he admits: ]

Okay... good point.

[ Cisco manages a very small smile, though he can't keep his eyes on Eddie for long. He really hadn't meant for this to be a Thing, but there's an awkwardness that lingers in the air, and Cisco knows he's going to obsess about it all night if he doesn't explain. ]

I know there's nothing wrong with it. Like, in the abstract. It's weird, because I'd never think twice about it if any other dude wore eyeshadow, but when it's me, I get all...

[ He trails off, shrugging. Cisco likes to think that he's climbed out from under a lot of toxic beliefs about what men need to be, and feel, and want, and look like. And he has. He doesn't put stock in the sorts of ideas he was raised around. But in some ways, it's still a work in progress. He slips into his slacks, doing them up and threading his belt neatly through the loops as he admits, a little haltingly: ]

...I guess I just got called girly a lot, by a lot of people, for a lot of years, like it was the worst thing I could possibly be. Like- my brother was always calling me his sister and that kinda thing, to be a dick. So when I think about... you know, trying things like this, it- stirs stuff up, I guess.

[ It's hardly the emotionally mature, eloquent, thoughtful explanation he'd been planning on, but... it's something, at least. Cisco slips on his shoes and then starts work on tying the galaxy-print bowtie, fingers careful, though it's clear he doesn't have much practice at it. ]

And besides, just because Taako can pull something off doesn't mean I can, you know?

[causational]

[It isn't any special gift Eddie has - it's just that he sees Cisco for what he is, a beautiful person with a lot of amazing qualities that he can't get enough of. Physically and mentally and emotionally, he's everything Eddie wants in a partner, and Eddie thinks he's beautiful every moment of every day. Everything about him, from the way he smiles to the way he brushes his hair back from his face to the way the nape of his neck smells to how he looks in the morning with pressure marks from the pillow on his cheek to the way he laughs when Eddie tells a bad joke is beautiful.

So he's focused on Cisco, watching his beautiful uncertainty and vulnerability as he admits that he knows there's nothing wrong with it in the abstract, but that when it's him, he gets flashbacks to being called girly, or Dante's sister. That's something Eddie understands completely, and he smiles a bit sadly, reaching out to touch Cisco's cheek, cupping his palm against it.]

I get that. It's like how it doesn't make me think twice when you eat candy all the time or I see a guy get a massive froyo, but when I do it, I start beating myself thinking I'm gonna get fat.

[Smile widening just a little, he lifts his palm from Cisco's cheek and tucks his fingers into Cisco's hair, pushing it back behind Cisco's ear.]

But Cisco, you're a guy. A handsome, sexy guy with a gorgeous mouth and beautiful eyelashes. I'm glad you keep your hair long, because it's totally irresistible, I can't help sticking my hands in it whenever I can. You have these sexy broad shoulders and a curvy butt and great collarbones, and I could just go on and on. Some of that is masculine. Some of it is feminine. It's all you, though. And you're gonna look sexy in your galaxy eyeshadow.

[And, dipping his chin, he catches Cisco's eyes with his, taking a step in to face him head-on, holding eye contact while he speaks.]

And don't worry. Taako is gorgeous, don't get me wrong, but I think you're a thousand times hotter. Taako's kinda like a runway model, and that's great and all, but you? You're so perfectly my type, in every way. Okay?

[franciscoramon]

[ Cisco feels a twinge of guilt and sadness, when Eddie talks about how he worries about gaining weight whenever he eats candy or other indulgences. Still, whether or not it is right, he is a little glad, that Eddie can understand where he's coming from. That he's experienced that same kind of dissonance, when it comes to the rules he has for himself versus the rules he has for other people.

He listens, swallowing hard but staying silent as Eddie insists that he is a guy, even if he has long hair, even if he decides to wear makeup to a party. That there are elements to him that are somewhat feminine, and others that are masculine. That all of it adds up to coherent whole, and that that whole is just the way Eddie likes him. Embarrassingly, Cisco feels his eyes going hot and stinging with tears, and he can only nod, not trusting to his voice right at that moment. He meets Eddie's gaze, thinking (but not quite knowing how to say it) that he's never known anyone quite like him.

The comparison to Taako has Cisco rolling his eyes, half-scoffing half-laughing at the idea of him being hotter, much less a thousand times so. But it cheers him up, breaks through the momentary intense vulnerability enough for him to say: ]

Okay.

[ Cisco reaches out, hooking his hand together behind Eddie's neck and pulling him down for a kiss - sudden, passionate, and intense, putting everything he doesn't know how to say in words into it. How much he appreciates Eddie, how much he feels comforted and supported by him. How attractive he finds Eddie and his way of being in the world. When Cisco pulls away, he touches the tips of their noses together and then says, quietly: ]

In that case, I was thinking maybe- maybe I'll do my nails, too? I know how to make them starry-looking, and I think... no, I know... I want to.

[ He lets go of Eddie, reaching for the jacket on the bed and slipping it onto his shoulders. He'd adjusted the fit on it, as well, so it hugs his shoulders and sides nicely. Eddie's words - these sexy broad shoulders - echo in Cisco's head, and he can't seem to stop smiling all of a sudden. ]

This party isn't gonna know what hit it, when we walk in the door.

[causational]

Good.

[Eddie's smile widens, his eyes crinkling, his mouth curving wide as he watches the vulnerability dissipate, sees Cisco listening to what he has to say and internalizing it, just a little. Enough for him to start smiling and then reach up to hook Eddie's neck and pull him down into a kiss. Looping his arms around Cisco's waist, he pulls his body in close, fits their chests and hips and bellies together and kisses back, his mouth opening, kissing back. He can feel all of that emotion in Cisco's kiss and even if he couldn't figure out the words behind it, he understands the feeling behind it. That Cisco likes him the way he is, that Cisco feels happier and better and stronger because of what Eddie said. And Eddie is grateful for that, pleased, it's exactly what he'd wanted - to bolster Cisco up, to make him feel confident and sexy and strong.

When Cisco nudges their noses together, Eddie shifts forward to rest his forehead against Cisco's, making a soft hum low in his throat, his fingers curling against the small of Cisco's back, just above the swell of his ass.]

Mmm, you're gonna look so great babe. You already do. That suit leaves nothing to the imagination and that's exactly how I like it. You've got such a great body. And I love this bowtie, by the way. So talented.

[A little grin, and he pulls back, kisses Cisco's forehead and then the tip of his nose, his lower lip.]

It's not. Everyone's gonna wanna be us or be with us. But I'm only gonna have eyes for you.

[Lifting his hand, he punctuates that last word with a gentle press of his fingertip against the end of Cisco's nose, grinning so bright he feels like his face will split in half.]

[franciscoramon]

[ When Eddie says the suit leaves little to the imagination, Cisco's grin becomes something of a smirk. After their little moment of seriousness he feels happy and light - as if he could float into the air with a tiny push. He takes this opportunity to strike a pose - just a silly little thing, hand pressed to his jutting hip, giving Eddie an over-the-shoulder smolder. ]

Mmm, likewise. Hope you don't mind if I monopolize you, 'cause that's what I have every intention of doing.

[ Cisco will mingle a little, if he sees people that he knows, but he's going to this party with Eddie, and with every intention of spending a lot of it glued to his side.

Together, the two of them head to the bathroom, and Cisco looks up the eyeshadow tutorial on his phone. He follows the steps carefully, examining the results in the bathroom mirror as he adds color after color, in a gradient, and then small white dots to stand for stars. It takes a while, and he asks Eddie about work as he does it, the two of them slipping into something surprisingly easy and domestic.

Cisco pauses after he's done, examining the results in the mirror. He has a few moments of anxious, awful uncertainty, thinks about wiping away all his hard work. But then he looks over at Eddie, sitting quietly nearby and looking at him with a smile that is so warm. So Cisco holds his chin high, nods, and says: ]

I look awesome.

[ Next, Cisco gives Eddie's hair the promised quick trim, careful not to get any of the buzzed hair on his costume. He just gives a tiny touch up - enough to evoke fictional cowboy's hair, but not enough that Eddie can't go to the barber and have them do whatever with it, in the next week or so.

Last come the nails, and they are an easier leap emotionally than the eyeshadow, though they require more technical skill to apply. Cisco enlists Eddie's help at one point, opening bottles, handing him various tiny implements. But after a few minutes, they are finished, and drying, and Cisco asks: ]

Is it dusk yet?

[causational]

I don't mind even a little bit...

[Eddie gives Cisco a little grin and then happily settles into the calm domestic back and forth of watching Cisco put on eyeshadow. This is something that Eddie's always really enjoyed watching - he enjoys the intimate domesticity of watching someone he cares about get themselves ready for a night out, or a day at work. Whether it's makeup or hairstyling or shaving or anything else, he just enjoys watching the process, and this is no different. He sits quietly, smiling and giving Cisco feedback, his expression warm and fond and unmistakably positive as Cisco applies the eyeshadow, and then the nail polish.

And he looks good, when it's done, in his bright suit and his bright eyes and his bright makeup and those bright nails, and Eddie thinks anyone who didn't recognize what Cisco's costume was would be an idiot. He looks like the beautiful, awesome expanse of space in human form and Eddie can't help leaning in to kiss him.]

Mmm, you look amazing.

[A step back and Eddie glances in the mirror, running his fingertips through the short buzzed hair at the sides and back of his head.]

And so do I. This is really stylish, actually, maybe I won't go back to my old cut. What do you think?

[Eyes twinkling, he leans over to glance out the window as Cisco asks if it's dusk yet.]

I think so? That's like twilight right?

[franciscoramon]

Honestly? [ Cisco reaches up, his own fingers following the same path as Eddie's through the freshly-buzzed hair. He grins, because it's fuzzy and fun to play with, and he loves any excuse to touch Eddie that he can get. ] It looks really really fucking good on you. Like... you should probably get a real barber to touch it up a bit, but I am absolutely digging the undercut on you. Super sexy.

[ He steals another quick kiss from Eddie and then, unable to help himself, gives him a rather firm pat on the ass as he crosses out of the bathroom, gathering up his keys and phone, slipping them into his pockets. Not much he needs to bring, to a party like this one. ]

Yep. That means the party's started. Shall we?