you don't like the time honored tradition of naked newbies????? it was mostly leopard print and hammer pants i don't know if it would really be an improvement.
fine i guess we could try that. though i've got a feeling if this place wanted them to have clothes, they'd have clothes. anything we put there'll probably disappear the moment we're out the door.
[ It actually takes a few minutes for Cisco to answer: he keeps entering 'no' and almost hitting send, then changing it to 'yes', then back to 'no', and so forth. finally: ]
not really, no. can't say i blame him.
he's starting to admit he's not okay at least. that's progress, i guess.
seems pretty dark ages. monarchy, creep-ass cults, no idea of science. like, trebuchets are probably cutting edge technology, is the vibe i was getting. not that kind of vibe.
though i did get one of those kinds of vibes and it was of her dad being executed, so that was real fun.
[ A few minutes pass before Cisco's reply comes along, because he debates whether he should tell Barry just how bad it was. But the whole kid with dead parent thing is kind of touchy territory, so he decides to keep the gory details to himself. ]
we can't all have cool powers like you. i just hate seeing things people probably don't want me to see, y'know? private stuff.
[ Sometimes private stuff was funny, like Barry and Eddie making out had been. But sometimes it is dads being decapitated or daughters being kidnapped and that is much much less funny. ]
[ Even over text, he knows Cisco well enough to guess that he's treading carefully. Barry appreciates it, though he wouldn't hold it against him if he didn't — not when it's something that's impacting him. ]
i know. but it isn't your fault.
we'll keep practicing, help you get better at controlling it. maybe the correlation between adrenaline and vibing is what's making you see things that are kind of intense?
[ When it comes from Barry, Cisco can almost believe that's true. ]
i'm not sure i'm gonna be able to. i mean, not control it like that. practicing with you helped me figure out some stuff and i'm getting better at triggering the vibes now but any time i try to stop one that's already started, it feels like an axe right to the frontal lobe.
i guess. this time it wasn't even a fear thing like usual? i was having a good time.
[ The mention of pain earns a spike of concern. Barry's had issues with his abilities, but they've never hurt him — they're predictable, something he can control. The idea of having that taken away isn't a nice one. ]
have you tried using barriers? gloves?
[ Sounds a bit weird, but they deal with full body leather on the daily. He doubts Cisco will care. ]
no, i haven't. i guess i probably should. at least maybe that'll tell me if it's a skin contact thing or if that doesn't matter. not really sure at the moment.
[ The idea of going around in gloves all the time, of not being able to just touch another person casually without worrying about his powers...it's so damn depressing. ]
anyway look, don't worry about it. i got it under control.
[ Except Cisco really doesn't have it under control. He wouldn't have mentioned it if he did, but Barry's not going to push it when the signals are saying back off. ]
not gonna stop worrying, but i will shut up about it. if you want some company to run some more tests now that we've got the lab, hit me up.
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have we tried leaving clothes in the field for newbies?
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it was mostly leopard print and hammer pants i don't know if it would really be an improvement.
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i saw a guy wearing a pink beekeeping suit
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[ Science!! And while Miami Vice and nudity is all well and good— ]
is harry ok?
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[ Because boy oh boy are those different answers ]
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[ He isn't 100% sure Cisco's got a good answer for this, but they've been spending enough time together. May as well try. ]
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not really, no. can't say i blame him.
he's starting to admit he's not okay at least. that's progress, i guess.
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yeah.
he wasn't really okay back home, either.
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i've been trying to help. but maybe you should talk to him, too. you're good at this kind of thing.
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[ Try being the operative word. ]
so arya, right? what's the deal with her world?
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seems pretty dark ages. monarchy, creep-ass cults, no idea of science. like, trebuchets are probably cutting edge technology, is the vibe i was getting. not that kind of vibe.
though i did get one of those kinds of vibes and it was of her dad being executed, so that was real fun.
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how young is she?
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[ Text doesn't really capture the appropriate amount of horror, here. And then there's Cisco, which— ]
i'm sorry. i know it's rough seeing that kind of thing.
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we can't all have cool powers like you. i just hate seeing things people probably don't want me to see, y'know? private stuff.
[ Sometimes private stuff was funny, like Barry and Eddie making out had been. But sometimes it is dads being decapitated or daughters being kidnapped and that is much much less funny. ]
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i know. but it isn't your fault.
we'll keep practicing, help you get better at controlling it. maybe the correlation between adrenaline and vibing is what's making you see things that are kind of intense?
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i'm not sure i'm gonna be able to. i mean, not control it like that. practicing with you helped me figure out some stuff and i'm getting better at triggering the vibes now but any time i try to stop one that's already started, it feels like an axe right to the frontal lobe.
i guess. this time it wasn't even a fear thing like usual? i was having a good time.
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have you tried using barriers? gloves?
[ Sounds a bit weird, but they deal with full body leather on the daily. He doubts Cisco will care. ]
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[ The idea of going around in gloves all the time, of not being able to just touch another person casually without worrying about his powers...it's so damn depressing. ]
anyway look, don't worry about it. i got it under control.
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not gonna stop worrying, but i will shut up about it. if you want some company to run some more tests now that we've got the lab, hit me up.
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thanks man 🖖
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