#this is about every Barry and Zoom interaction

[angst-is-love-angst-is-life]

I really like seeing my favorite characters in situations

[tacagen]

one of the things that fascinate me about thawne: yes, he CAN be normal with kids! surprisingly normal!

((not at all times, though. his mental illness still spills through and as usual he, in trying to manipulate or hurt others, spits out at them the exact stuff that would hurt him (or have in his childhood/barry's rejection interpretation) the most in the first place lmao))

but at the same time. his like second instinct when doing his bullshit is FUCK THEM (as) KIDS

(and, well. whatever this classifies as)

[givemewallywestorgivemedeath]

I think this is genuinely such an underrated Bart and Wally moment.

There are 17 Rogues duking it out in downtown Central City and Wally is getting his ass kicked. He's near death. He isn't going to last much longer.

So Bart runs out to help Wally because Wally needs help.

"Not that he'll admit it" Bart says because Bart has an excellent understanding of their relationship. Bart and Wally don't really do honesty. Every interaction they have is slathered in about ten layers of 'bits' and 'sarcasm'. They would rather die than say "I love you" or "I need you". That's just how they are.

Bart gets there just in the nick of time and he doesn't miss a step before jumping right into the classic speedster quips. Unfortunately, they are fighting 17 guys who can hold their own against the Flash solo, so even with Bart and Wally both there, they're about 15 guys short of a fighting chance.

Bart is about to receive a fatal blast from Dr. Alchemy but Wally pushes Grodd into the beam instead. I'm pretty sure that was a murder? I think replacing all of the blood in his body with formaldehyde would definitely kill Grodd. But they don't dwell on it.

Anyway, this is such an underrated panel. It's so small but so significant.

Wally thanks Bart. Bart says "You're welcome"

That's a normal polite conversation. That's downright respectful.

And this, guys gals and nonbinary pals, marks the defining moment in Bart and Wally's relationship where they actually got over their rivalry.

Wally and Bart had matured a lot since they first met. Wally stopped seeing Bart as a reflection of all the worst parts of Wally's younger self and started seeing him as a separate person, capable and responsible in his own right. Wally was over his hang ups with Barry and himself and he didn't see Bart as a threat anymore.

And Bart wasn't the scared insecure kid he used to be. He'd lived with Max and Helen, he'd trained with Jay, he had friends. He had a stable life now and wasn't prone to blindly lashing out at authority figures like before. He had also learned not to keep grudges and to forgive people.

So this right here? Wally thanking Bart and acknowledging him? Bart responding with just "You're welcome" and no snarky comeback?? THAT HADN'T BEEN DONE BEFORE PEOPLE.

The two of em stand back to back. They're expecting to die but they're making their last stand and they're doing it side by side as family.

And I mean, honestly, the attitude shifts from here on out. They still insult each other, sure, but even later in the arc something happens and Wally says that he can "trust Bart to use his brain to do what Zoom can't".

It's a really small scene but this is when Wally stopped seeing Bart as the kid he has to babysit and Bart stopped seeing Wally as the authority figure he has to rebel against.

[zeroducks-2]

Eobard for 9 questions? 😏

*pinches u*

(Ask game here)

1: sexuality headcanon - pretty sure he prefers men but look, he's the most touch starved little thing in existence and he will take it or give it to and from anyone who's into it. He will also think about Barry for the whole time.

2: otp - Eobarry. I'm a multishipper and Eo is very shippable but Eobarry? I am CONSUMED you hear??? Consumed to the bone marrow.

3: brotp - Ehh Eobard doesn't really do friends. He'll be nice to people for a limited span of time if he has to but people are slow. Eobard's "natural" speed is ridiculously fast even for another speedster, dealing with anyone who forces him to slow down is exhausting on the long term. Beside the fact that he's not socialized and has no idea how to interact in a normal way of course.

4: notp - None at all!

5: first headcanon that pops into my head - When Barry didn't have his powers yet and Eobard would be there to mess with him, he also took advantage of the fact that Barry couldn't reject him to touch him gently, hold him and kiss him, remaining unseen and undetected because he was moving so fast. Or as I like to call it, the Guardian Demon headcanon

6: favorite line from this character - There are so many that I really like... okay how about this from The Flash Rebirth by Geoff Johns:

What if every bad thing that ever happened to you was orchestrated by one person? By an enemy you hadn't even made yet?

7: one way in which I relate to this character - something something childhood neglect redacted things unlovable motherfucker

8: thing that gives me second hand embarrassment about this character - I know that many people would say the stupid yellow banana suit, the fact that people call him "Professor Zoom", the whole "Reverse Flash" thing. The Negative Speedforce being an edgy concept, the way he's pompous, the fact that despite every horrible thing that happened to him and that he forces on other people, he's very vulnerable at his core and sometimes he just breaks down and cries. The fact that despite having died so many times, death terrifies him so much. That he's still die for him if Barry asked. The fact that he'll do anything to get Barry's attention because he's so desperate to be seen. Idk are these things people consider cringe about him? Well would you look at that, not me. I love him and his stupid yellow suit and the edgy stuff and the way he's so human. (Send help)

9: cinnamon roll or problematic fave? - hahahaha

[shrinkthisviolet]

⭐star⭐ 

I’m gonna give a commentary on all love ever does is (begin again)! Specifically some choice parts from it.

To start off:

And…and his dad. Barry chokes, thinking of the wish—the desire—to save his dad, the one he brushed aside for the sake of the timeline. The timeline that has never done a kindness for him, yet one that he’s expected to maintain nonetheless, lest he fall to madness like Thawne. Even when he’s alone, even as he watches his friends and family suffer every day…he’s expected to apologize and smile and push down his grief and carry on like nothing is wrong. It’s infuriating.

Flashpoint in general was shortchanged on the show. We only see an episode of it, then one episode of him undoing it and feeling conflicted about it…and then the episodes after that are focused on blaming Barry (which isn’t entirely unfounded, though it also kind of is, because of them blaming him for random ripple effects—but anyway, that’s a rant for a different post).

What I wanted to focus on was that second part: Barry undoing Flashpoint and feeling disoriented by the changes and also guilty about undoing it. Or maybe for doing it in the first place. Or maybe both.

It was also important for me to highlight that this choice stemmed from his grief over his dad. As much as he was going back to save his mom…he was also trying to save his dad, and that latter part is never really brought up by the show? It’s suggested, sure, but every time Flashpoint is discussed, Barry’s motives are solely tied to Nora Allen, not Henry. Which misses the point of why it happened. I wanted to highlight the Henry aspect of it, especially since this fic is all about Barry & Henry in particular.

And also…Barry carries a lot of resentment against the Speed Force in addition to his guilt. He doesn’t unleash that resentment until the Temptation arc in s6, but it’s strongly suggested (or stated? I don’t remember exactly) that he’s been carrying this for years. So here, I liked getting to mention that—the resentment would’ve been at an all-time high with the fallout of Flashpoint, I’m sure (it would’ve simmered after that for a few years, but right in the wake of it? Oh, yeah, that resentment would be high).

But then someone snatches him out of the time stream, and Barry’s heart nearly stops, because that looks like… Like his dad. But his dad’s not a speedster, and his dad doesn’t dress like the Flash, and there’s only one person he knows who that wonky helmet belongs to. “Jay Garrick?” He hopes he’s wrong. “Flash.” He’s not. “We need to talk.”

And speaking of Henry!! I don’t remember how many times after s2 it’s brought up that Jay (the real one ofc) is Henry’s doppelgänger, but iirc, it’s not mentioned in s3. I gotta believe that informed every interaction Barry had with Jay forever, ad infinitum…and certainly here, in s3, when he’s lecturing Barry. That’s gotta make Barry feel like he’s a kid being scolded by his dad again. He even basically says that here:

Jay’s words. But they feel like a scolding from his father, and the guilt burns.

And as a section break (and because this is getting pretty long), here’s a cut! The rest of the commentary is continued below:

“But why have these powers, if I can't go back and fix what I broke?” He remembers the Peter Parker line from Civil War, the essence of Spider-Man at his core: When you can do the things that I can, and you don’t, and then the bad things happen, they happen because of you.

As mentioned in the end notes…Civil War came out in April 2016, and Zoom killed Henry in May 2016. You can’t convince me Barry didn’t have this quote playing on a loop in his head in the immediate wake of Henry’s death, being locked in the Pipeline, handling Zoom…and then Flashpoint. I’m sure he did.

“I’ve handled most of the funeral arrangements,” she explains, her eyes so impossibly sad, “but you’re next of kin, and he’s your dad, you should be involved with planning it too.” She smiles sadly. “It might help, Barry.” And…well, what does Iris know about grieving a dead parent anyway? Especially in this circumstance? Earth-2 Iris lost Joe at Killer Frost’s hand, but it wasn’t personal, and Earth-1 Iris doesn’t know about that. The closest equivalent she has is Francine, and even then, the two weren’t close. She didn’t have to watch her dad killed by a vengeful speedster who only did it as a means of personality corruption. Iris has no idea how he feels, and he shouts this at her in no uncertain terms. Her eyes glisten with tears, but she drops the subject.

Ah, Barry’s patented defense mechanism: lashing out at his loved ones. Doing so at Iris is especially telling, because it speaks to just how not okay he really is :(

Also, regarding the funeral…I sorta forgot while initially writing this that they already had a funeral in 2x22 😅 I remembered a week or two later. And basically the explanation I came up with it in my own head to reconcile this is: one of the Flashpoint changes was that the funeral was postponed rather than occurring during 2x22.

They all hug him, tight and strong, all of them crying. It’s a relief, almost, to be hugged and comforted by people that knew his dad—his girlfriend, his future daughter-in-law, and his best friend. Henry didn’t know Caitlin as well, but Barry caught them gushing over medical stuff together, and Barry was glad they’d found friendship in each other, and Caitlin is Barry’s friend, and so is Tina tangentially, and Joe's family, and Iris is the love of his life. And all of that is more than he can say for anyone else here.

So, to clarify, the three people listed by epithets are: Tina (Henry’s girlfriend, they were so adorable in that one episode they got together), Iris (Henry’s future daughter-in-law), and Joe (Henry’s best friend). And I liked slipping in a moment of Caitlin & Henry’s friendship, because I gotta believe they bonded. Especially since they’re both doctors…even if neither of their specialties are ever specified by the show.

(does Caitlin even have one?? Closest I can guess is that she’s a PCP medically speaking, but then how can she perform surgery?? Then again, how can Julian and Iris perform surgery??)

Oh and also:

There’s a notable absence there, and it stings, but Barry’s anger wars with his guilt—Cisco likely doesn’t want to attend another funeral so soon after his brother’s, especially being so angry at Barry still. That doesn’t mean Barry doesn’t hate him for skipping it anyway.

Can’t forget what else is happening in early s3, now can we 😭

Vindictively, Barry’s a little pleased to see Jesse taken to task. Her powers—their powers—aren’t to be messed with lightly, and everyone seems aware of it but her, and everyone’s all too happy to tell her. In Barry’s opinion, they don’t need another speedster on the team messing everything up—he’s having a hard enough time fixing his own mistakes without worrying about someone else’s. And then Jesse helps Barry stop a meta, and Harry gives her a suit, and Barry zips around the Speed Lab��wow, that’s new, isn’t it?—until the urge to scream at Jesse dissipates. She’s a child, a naive little girl, she doesn’t deserve this, what gives her the right to get everything, while I lose everyth—?

And here’s this. It’s never suggested even in the show that Barry is jealous of Jesse in any way, but I do feel like given where his head is at in this fic, it makes sense. Jesse wants to use her powers every chance she gets (because she was rescued from Zoom and is not the main character, thus her trauma no longer exists), she’s scolded and held back at first…and then she succeeds once and is embraced as a hero.

Jesse’s getting encouragement and laurels, while Barry is still struggling with the weight of his failures. Is that fair to blame on Jesse? No. But that’s the point. Barry’s in a bad headspace right now, and deep down, he knows Jesse doesn’t deserve his anger, but he has to put it somewhere.

Really, the anger is masking concern. He says as much to Henry's grave:

“There’s a new speedster,” he whispers. “Jesse. You remember her, don’t you, Dad? Turns out she got powers from that explosion that almost killed me.” He sniffs. “So clever. So, so smart. Her dad loves her. As he should. But she’s so reckless too, you know? “I’ve spent the past few days hating her for it. For her powers. But I think that’s because no one else hates her powers anymore. They did at first—at least her dad did, because he was scared of what it meant—but not anymore. She used them to save me from a meta, and…and now… “Now everyone’s treating her like a hero. Like they treated me, after the whole Thawne mess. And I’m sore about it, because I’m trying to clean up my mistakes, and I’m watching another speedster come into her own, and…and she’s getting the hero worship—and I don’t want the hero worship, I don’t, but it’s…” But it’s easier to be praised and lauded than to face the consequences. “She has no idea,” he chokes, “how dangerous these powers are. How tempting. The power to change the past? How could anyone resist it for long? How could anyone grieve a parent and not want to bring them back?

Although that little speech comes just a short while after he lashes out at Harry for expressing concern over him:

“Don’t you have a speedster daughter to worry about? She has time travel too, you know!” Harry’s eyes widen. “You did make the same mistake. Why? That’s not like—” “Because Zoom killed my father, in case you forgot!”

And Harry, of course, isn’t having it:

Harry turns to face him head-on, and the look in his eyes—firm but not intense—nearly takes Barry aback. “I’m saying, Allen, that you act like you’re the only one grieving your father. You’re not.”

...

“You’re right, no one knows him like you do. But love isn’t as simple as that. You can be loved by a hundred different people, and they can all feel your loss like a stab to the heart, and they can all grieve in similar ways.” Harry looks away. “Believe me, Allen, that’s a lesson I’m still trying to learn. A lesson I often struggle with. Don’t make my mistakes. You’re better than that.” “Because I’m a hero?” Barry quips. “Because you’re Bartholomew Henry Allen. You carry his name. That has meaning. Be a man your father would be proud of.”

Of course, he also reiterates that this is advice he’s still learning to follow. Harry’s great at giving advice (hey, he’s been a dad for 17-18 years, he ought to have picked up some wisdom from it), not so much at following it…even when he really should.

He also reassures Barry in his own gruff way, when Barry gives way to his perpetual self-blame and guilt:

“What if I’m not strong enough? What if I hurt someone, or make the wrong choice again?” Harry’s gaze is steady as ever, unflinching. “When you got your powers, did you immediately know how to use them?” “What?” Barry frowns. “No, I—” “Did you always make the right call? Were you always the perfect hero?” “Of course not!” “Of course not,” Harry parrots, “which is why you needed a Team, at first, to help you get your bearings. And a mentor. And you needed to give yourself time, to learn how to use your powers, and the room to make mistakes. There’s no handbook for being a superhero. What makes you think grief would be any different?” “But Thawne—” “—was from the future. Maybe there’s a handbook in that time. But there isn’t one now. There are things you still don’t know, things that I don’t know. I’m terrified every day of Jesse having powers, but I can’t hold her back and pretend her powers don’t exist. Likewise, you can’t bury your grief and pretend it doesn’t exist, or it’ll explode out of you. Like with your earlier time-travel decision.” “That’s not—you have no idea—” “I’m not a speedster. But I know grief.”

Takes one grieving man to recognize another…even if one is grieving his wife and mother of his child, while the other is grieving his father (and, honestly? Probably his mom too, all over again, after having to let Thawne kill her to restore this timeline)

Of course, it ends hopefully. Or, I guess, bittersweetly:

“Come on, let’s go. Jesse’s already twice as hungry as before, now that her metabolism’s gone up.” “That’ll be fun to deal with.” “That’s my headache, Allen. Yours is gonna be training her.” Barry groans, remembering Jesse’s recklessness even before she got her powers. With the added bonus of the Speed Force… “Oh no.” “Buckle up.” Harry grins.  “I can’t wait to see this.”

Life goes on, and so must they. That grief lingers, it can never be “fixed”, but it can become easier to grow around over time. But that’s not something that can happen in such a short time. So as far as endings go…that’s the happiest one you can hope for in a fic like this.

(It’s interesting, btw, how Harry reacts to Barry’s anger vs how everyone else does. We know from canon that everyone gives Barry a wide berth when he's angry, giving him time to cool off.

Harry, though? He just barrels right in with all his bluntness, because he has no time or patience for mincing words or stepping on eggshells. And this approach should by all accounts be kindling to further ignite the fire...but it turns out to be exactly what Barry needs)

director’s cut ask game!

[ukingk24]

Flash Finale

With Twitter being an unbearable cesspool, I figure I’d use tumblr to share my unsolicited opinion on the series finale of The Flash. It was just fine, and that in and of itself is not fine. This was the series finale of a show that’s been on for 10 years and gave us what probably will be the best live-action version of Barry Allen that we’ll ever have. It was big, it was loud, it was dramatic, and flashy. But that does not equate to being a satisfying series finale. The villains were defeated, Nora was born, and Barry ran off into the sunset with a smile: the standard superhero happy ending. But it could’ve been so much better. Specifically with the villain’s and their fights.

First thing, give them their original lightning colors back. Sure, they were being powered by the the Negative Speed Force (NSF) but that doesn’t mean they all have to have red lightning, which is even more egregious with Eddie. The man names himself Cobalt Blue and every interaction he’s had with the crystal and NSF has been related with the undercurrent of the color blue, and they gave him red lightning.

Then the match-up’s. These should have been pure speedster vs speedster battles. We have enough and they would have been appropriate for their character arcs and foils. Zoom vs Jay, Nora and Bart vs Godspeed, and Wally vs Savitar. Zoom vs Jay would have let Jay gotten his closure against Hunter, especially with his new ability to steal speed which was the one ting that Hunter wanted. Bart and Nora vs Godspeed would be a good callback to the original Nora from season 5 and her origins and with Bart and Godspeed being established arch-enemies, it just adds to that. Savitar trapped Wally in the Speed Force and tried to kill his sister. Plus it’d be fitting given who they are: the self proclaimed “god of speed” vs Wally, who has been seeking enlightenment and Zen with the Speed Force. And in his battle, he gets a new suit of red and silver and grows out if his role as Kid Flash, becoming a Flash in his own right.

What about Eobard? He’s not in the battle. He’s having a nice family chat with his grandpappy Eddie. Eddie has brought in Eobard to give him a crash course on the NSF, and to Eobard’s great surprise, Eddie picks things up remarkably fast. Just as Eobard is considering Eddie to not the failure he thought, Eddie reverses the conversation they had in season 1 about who the waste of a Thawne is. Eddie reveals that the NSF showed him Eobard’s whole life. Eobard indeed was a genius among genius’ and had a family, but then he became obsessed with The Flash. The NSF exacerbated that obsession to the point where he neglected his family and when he got his powers, he was fully submerged in it. 

(This may or may not be my own personal feelings about the degradation of Eobard’s character through the series. From the layered and complex antagonist of a man we got in Season 1 who grew to love the man he hated his entire life as a pseudo-son and the team he worked with but still willing to do whatever he needed to get back to his home, to the generic, one dimensional “I Hate You because you took my spotlight” villain that we got in the later seasons. Just one of the worst character assassination's I’ve ever seen.)

Eobard tries to kill Eddie for this insult, but Eddie easily stops him and kills him instead and steals his speed. Gloating that he was always meant to be the True Avatar for the NSF, and that Eobard was just a stand-in.

“You know, Eobard. The mistake I made last time with you was I burned down the entire Thawne family tree trying to stop you. This time, I’ll just cut off your branch.” 

As he does so, the rest of the villains are defeated and Eddie takes their speed as well. And Finally, Cobalt Blue makes his move and fights The Flash. Their fight is long and brutal, but Cobalt Blue has the upper hand the entire time. Eddie taunts Barry and when he finally pushes the Iris and Nora button, Barry fights back with his full power and utterly dominates the fight.

“You think I can’t beat you, Thawne? I am the Fastest Man Alive! And I don’t want to fight you. I want to save you. Let me help you, Eddie!” Barry begs, reminding him of the man he knew Eddie to be: a good man, the Wild Card. This gets through to Eddie, and he breaks through the influence the NSF had on him and realizes the same thing Barry did last season. The forces need to coexist in balance and harmony with each other. 

The ending stays the same, Nora is born, Joe proposes to Cecile (which was surprising to me since I thought they were already married), Caitlin comes back when Khione becomes one with Nature? (Still not entirely sure what happened with that). And this time, when Barry gives his speech about coming together for a better future, in addition to Barry choosing new speedsters, we also see Eddie moving on and rebuilding his life. Maybe he saves a person or takes down a bad guy. 

[squijim]

I always think of this comment by you about if Wally did come back. And like, I always would have wanted Wally storming away from everyone else and just ending up where else but….keystone city, feeling like he’s hit rock bottom but willing to dig and just so happens to run into Hartley Rathway and Linda Park and that’s when you realize he’s always gonna have that five year gap from his old friends but that doesn’t mean…he can’t truly start over.

And Wally’s powers have always had a element of clap if you believe to them so I think a part of him needs to get away from others to come into his weird speedforce powers, maybe run into Max or something. Like he needs to fight Zoom behind a Dennies, and uncover like 10 cults in 2 months like Wally does in the comics.

Plus, like Jesus Christ in heaven all I want is for Wally and Linda (and Hartley) to be known as besties again

i just want wally and the flashfam to be taken more seriously by the young justice writers. literally every single family unit in yj has had its moments in the sun; this last season had a big emphasis on the supers and martians, the previous season with the arrows, s2 with the atlanteans... surprisingly the batfam has had little screentime but dick has always been a main character and i think the batfam's strong presence in pretty much every other dc property makes up for it.

but the flashes?? i'm racking my brain. there was "coldhearted" in s1 which featured mary and rudy eating breakfast with wally. they showed up again in the season when the adults were sent to a different dimension,, and they showed up when wally died. bart had one conversation with jay about being an outsider but that wasn't even one-on-one. the flashes appeared here and there in season 2 when bart was first introduced and then nothing really happened, nothing about the tornado twins or bart's past or anything...

the flashes are all about family but when has that ever been represented? every single episode or scene featuring them aside from the wally + wests moments has had some element of tension. bart and jay's convo, bart's interactions with barry, even wally's interactions with barry, but they're supposed to be like father and son!!

and then you add the fact that the characters are never in central, the only flash villain (aside from Grodd who never shows up) who's around is Captain Cold but he barely has any lines and is never solo. there's been no zoom, no rogues, no trickster or reverse flash or weather wizard. max mercury has never showed up. no mention of hartley or linda.

i love spitfire and i love them together and i love wally's friendships but i want the emphasis on /him/. his origins were briefly discussed in the denial episode and in a comics attachment but we never talk about wally's insecurities, or his backstory, or why he retired, or his idolization of barry— all of the things that have been historically key to understanding Wally West. I'm still upset that every other character got a good therapy session with Dinah after "Failsafe" but Wally. Why deny the audience a chance to learn more about the serious sides of him only to make a joke about him being in denial which we already know?

Ugh.

I agree with everything you said, Anon. I want Wally to figure out who he is away from the others on the team. What place does he have in the world now? How much catching up is there to do? Can he still get his degree, his dream career? How does Wally, whose pride is so easily hurt, come back from these blows?

[jiggyloveshockey]

Things NHL teams should do during the lockdown pause in their seasons:

Colorado Avalanche

Dancing is healthy, good cardio and fun. Learning a complicated choreography together might promote team bonding. Here’s my suggestion that I’m sure dance captain Gabriel Landeskog and noted ABBA fan Erik Johnson will appreciate:

Just put up a zoom call and have them practice. Once they actually get to see each other again, this will make first home game really fucking pop!

Philadelphia Flyers

Since group zoom calls end in pandemonium for these maniacs, let’s separate them and teach them some shit. How about cooking? How about we get them some teachers? Who doesn’t want to see Travis Konecny charmed into submission by Claire Saffitz making cookies? Who doesn’t want to witness King Himbo Kevin Hayes and Even Greater Emperor Himbo Brad Leone interact over grilling a steak? 

I want multiple episodes, I want to see actual improvements and I want Claude Giroux to weep with joy when his teammates FedEx him some damn cookies.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Let’s be honest, these morons can’t do anything. So how about we teach them something completely useless yet pretentious? I think wine tasting would be a good way to bring teammates like Mitch “chugging red wine from a mug” Marner and Zach “probably has a favorite winery” Hyman together. Everybody else just gets sloshed at home while listening to a French sommelier via zoom, who is polite enough to ignore that John Tavares has green juice in his glass and not Merlot.

Yes, Tyson Barrie is Donna Meagle. Of course he is.

Dallas Stars

Art class. They each get an easel and some painting supplies to do their worst. I want Jamie Benn painting a few trees while whispering “There are no mistakes, just happy little trees”, I want Tyler Seguin attempting to draw himself in the nude and emotionally scarring their painting instructor via Skype. I want Alexander Radulov coming totally out of left-field, stunning the instructor with Jackson Pollockesque chaotic paint flicking. The possibilities are endless here!

Pittsburgh Penguins

Coffee stuff. Yes, Sidney Crosby and his many men will get really fucking snooty about coffee, learning about different roasting techniques and how to pour milk onto the coffee to create “latte art”. Both Coffeeshop AUs and the Tim Horton’s commercials will get infinitely funnier after that.

also I want Kris Letang, who already looks like he could rock a man bun, to get himself a hipstery, super expensive coffee maker and then pronounce every single coffee term in a French accent.

(I only did the teams I know enough about. Feel free to add your own insane suggestions!)

[astrid-goes-for-a-spin]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: The Flash (TV 2014) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Iris West & Wally West, Barry Allen/Iris West Characters: Iris West, Wally West, Caitlin Snow, Cisco Ramon, Barry Allen, Joe West Additional Tags: Protests, 2020 protests, BLM protests, black lives matter protests, Journalist Iris West, Iris and Team Flash are out helping their community, Joe is a singer not a cop, corona pandemic 2020 Series: Part 7 of Iris Week 2020 Summary:

Iris Week 2020 Day 7: Iris in a world without superheroes. @iriswestallenweek

She’s technically a reporter for CCPN, but this is not exactly her job. In fact, it’s possible Iris could lose her job for publishing the footage she’s taking. But if it’s the end of the world, Iris wants to make sure she’s a part of making the new one a good one, entry-level salary be damned.

Iris and Team Flash at the 2020 protests.

____________________________________________

for the tumblr crowd, here’s the full text: 

.

“This is Iris West. I’m on the scene of the protests at 14th and Shultz.”

In the dim lighting from the occasional lamppost, Iris hopes her cell camera can pick up what it’s pointing at. She’s never been a videographer, but these days, she’s just having to make do.

“As you can see,” Iris narrates, both hands on her phone, “police have been lined up in front of the courthouse since I got here. Periodically protesters will get close and ask the officers to kneel with us-”

It’s quiet for a few minutes while Iris describes the situation. She’s technically a reporter for CCPN, but this is not exactly her job. In fact, it’s possible Iris could lose her job for publishing the footage she’s taking. But if it’s the end of the world, Iris wants to make sure she’s a part of making the new one a good one, entry-level salary be damned.

Iris tightens her ponytail, yanks her knit hat lower, and double-checks the mask covering her face. At her side, Wally is silent and similarly attired: all in black, wearing a beanie and a mask that serves a dual purpose – protecting his identity as well as observing virus safety.

He nods at the stairs to a small cut-through. The street is filled with chanting and prayer, but it seems like if there’s going to be a moment to rest tonight, now’s the time. Iris follows him, the eye of her camera always watching.

Once they pass off the main street, it’s like a different world. The alley is full of life: there’s some soft music playing, and two boys are showing dance moves to a small, admiring crowd. Iris makes sure to capture this on camera too – the kind of life the protests are protecting.

In front of a miniscule synagogue, a first-aid station has been set up with folding tables. Crates of water lurk on the ground for both hydration and eyewashes. This is where they find Caitlin, Cisco, and Barry.

Caitlin is gently applying alcohol and Neosporin to a little girl’s scraped arm. “I don’t have any fun band-aids,” Caitlin tells her seriously, while the girl’s father shakes his head to indicate it’s not that important. “But!” Caitlin produces a few other boxes of band-aids and holds them out. “I have every flesh-colored band-aid there is.”

The little girl’s smile grows, and Iris is so glad she caught this on camera. The beads in her hair twists clink together as she rips into a box of band-aids, selecting one that is so dark it’s almost ebony. Caitlin obligingly sticks it over the scrape and tenderly rolls her sleeve back down.

“Thank you, Dr. Snow,” the dad says, and Caitlin sends him off with a wave and a “Be careful!” Iris bookmarks the timestamp quickly, before she forgets, so she can go back later and edit out Caitlin’s name. Just because her journalistic ethics demand her transparency doesn’t mean it’s not a risk. The friends she’s filming all have covered faces and don’t use names on camera.

On the other side of the first-aid station, Cisco is taking apart someone’s phone. “If you don’t make these adjustments,” he instructs a group of college boys, wagging a screwdriver, “this phone is sending all your data – location, camera, Siri, anything not encrypted end-to-end – to anybody who wants it. That is not what we are after, fellas.”

“The first-aid station is both for medical help and tech support,” Iris informs the camera. “Fortunately, the medical side has been slow tonight, right?”

Caitlin nods. “Some scrapes and bruises. Nobody really hurt. One woman needed help adjusting her new insulin pump. We have treatments ready for tear gas and other chemical irritants, and emergency supplies for triaging more serious injuries.”

“What about you?” Iris angles the camera over to Cisco.

“These young gentlemen are woefully unprepared to fight the good fight in the age of Big Brother,” Cisco tells the camera. “That’s why I’ve got a quick setup here so if you did bring your phone tonight, we can make sure your identity is protected and your data can’t be used against you.”

Wally is sitting with a groan at this point, tucking a double-sided sign – WE’RE NOT FREE TILL WE’RE ALL FREE – WE MARCH FOR POLICE REFORM. SAY HER NAME – under the table while he peels back the foil on a granola bar.

“You see what Iris is doing?” Iris hears, and turns her phone to the sound of Barry’s voice. He’s also set up by Caitlin, with a stack of printed flyers she helped him write earlier detailing the legalities of recording in Missouri. “That’s about getting information out. But even if she recorded a crime, it wouldn’t always be considered admissible in court, even if she was an eyewitness. If there’s something they can do to discredit your evidence, they will. You should definitely record any interactions you see happening-”

“And lastly at our first-aid station we have a crash course in legal advice for how best to use phone cameras either at the protests or in your daily life…” Iris explains, zooming in on the info sheet.  

The noise from the street is starting to get lower. Wally gets up and heads to the mouth of the alley, then reports to the camera as if it’s second nature: “Looks like people are starting to head home for the night, numbers of people passing are slowing down.”

Iris knows it’s her obligation to stay until the last, and record until the streets are empty and the danger is gone. And she will. She checks the organizing info through the encrypted app Barry’s friend Felicity coded for the occasion, and it shows the same information: people are starting to trickle out.

Muting her camera for a moment, she asks her family, “Have any of you seen my dad?”

Her timing is so impeccable that she almost didn’t even need to ask. Barry smiles widely at her and Cisco points without looking. The faint music the boys were dancing to when she got here is ending, and Iris hears a familiar noise: a soundcheck. Iris hastily unmutes.  

Any minute now Iris will head back out there with Wally and record the protesters leaving for the night. But for now, Iris turns her phone toward her dad – similarly masked and beanie-d – standing on a little step with a mic and an old, cracked amp, and closes her eyes as he begins to sing.

[coldtomyflash]

Given that every time Len appeared his dynamic with Barry got more interesting, how do you think it would’ve evolved if he became a recurent character?

I think they would’ve had to back off their growing trust in late S2, or else they’d have tumbled Len into being a straight up antihero way too quickly?

Assuming all their canon interactions stay, and ignoring the existence of Legends entirely, I think if they kept up their recurring schedule to have him appear every 6 or so episodes, the next appearance (after 2x09 where he warns Barry about Weather Wizard and Trickster) would have had to put him back more squarely in the villain section.

I’m thinking something like a Rogues team-up where kids’ lives weren’t on the line? Something to remind the audience that - yes, Len has a code, and has honour, but that doesn’t make him a good guy, and he’s still an angry and complicated person whose willing to inflict violence. Something to remind Barry of that fact.

Then toward the season finale, when it came to taking down the metahuman army (end of S2, the one that Zoom brought from Earth 2), let Len and the Rogues lend a hand (off-screen or on, either way), under the vein of “this is our city, dammit! not some alternate-earth wannabes’ playground!”. 

We get this notion that Len can corral the Rogues when it comes to larger threats and the city at large, but is still very much against team Flash and the CCPD when it comes to their own interests. It’s a tenuous tightrope of a balance.

We’d see it play out in S3 to the same kind of effect, but that season was so focused on Savitar and Alchemy we didn’t see much of the Rogues. The obvious tie-in is with Mirror Master and The Top, and it would have been great to have the real Captain Cold in that episode, not a hologram. That’s a nice one-off: he works with team Flash, pisses the hell off of Mirror Master and The Top in doing so, but then - he helps them escape. Offers them an olive branch. They’re confused. “Don’t you work with the Flash?” “I work for my own interests,” he snarls in reply. “And right now, that means collecting some new rogues.” (tie in to the episode title The New Rogues).

We see some tension throughout the subsequent appearances and some in-fighting between Mirror Master and Cold in the next time or two they appear, tensions which cause issues for the rest of the city, property damage and collateral damage which forces The Flash to get involved. Of course by late season, Len is willing to help Barry steal shit from ARGUS to save Iris, but maybe only after Barry does him a solid and drops Mirror Master into Iron Heights to cool down (so that Len can save him later and thereby put Mirror Master in his debt).

Season 4 we see Amunet Black (Blacksmith) and her faction at odds with Len’s Rogues, and we see Team Flash torn up and in between that. We’ve got Frost and her relationship with Amunet and all the stuff going on with The Thinker, and it makes for some great intrigue when we realize that Amunet is kind of fighting a war on two fronts here with Team Flash and with Len’s Rogues (Mirror Master now back in the fold). It’s all a goddamn headache for Barry, except that The Thinker definitely discounts Amunet and Len and the possibility that they might ever work together. So of course Team Flash has to get Amunet and Len in the same room without them trying to kill each other. Imagine the snark. Barry believes in Len’s ability to help them, to help save the city, and Len’s all about not letting the city be destroyed but if he has to work with Blacksmith? Yeah, let it burn. (”fine fine, for fuck’s sake Barry, it’s always the same song and dance with you. i’ll save your sorry ass but - “ “I don’t need saving - “ “Psshhh you’re working with me again, what’d’you think it’s called when you’re this desperate?” “I hate you sometimes” “that’s the spirit”).

Season 5 sees Amunet temporarily run out of town, or at least laying low in Keystone. Things seem a bit more settled with the Rogues and all their territory battles and in-fighting. Then Weather Wizard’s freaking daughter shows up and suddenly Len has a new headache. Barry goes to Mark for information again, Cold is name-dropped. This ties in to later in the season when Len appears and acts as a pseudo voice of reason / voice of disdain for how Barry is playing fast and loose with time by letting his daughter stick around. This would come after the episode where Barry and Ralph go undercover, which would of course have Len in it, because it simply has to. 

By that point their relationship has long-since evolved past cold guns and lightning. They work almost seamlessly together and fall into that routine when it comes to duping a mutual enemy. But they’re still at odds whenever their interests are divided, and though they don’t go full-tilt against one another, Len doesn’t mind giving Barry a warning from time to time when he feels Barry needs to back off and butt-out. For his part, Barry thinks of calling on the Rogues as a last resort, but always enjoys working with Len. And Len will never forget just how much he’s in Barry’s debt for saving Lisa from his father, and privately relishes his time with Barry (including the few opportunities he gets to corrupt him just a little, while still keeping him on the straight and narrow that is hero-hood).

[lockdownuk]

Lockdown Diary Part 4

A personal account during the lockdown in the UK due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

23/03/2020 8:30pm Boris Johnson, UK Prime Minister, gives a live address to the nation to, effectively, put the country on lockdown to stem the spread of the deadly coronavirus strain, Covid-19.

Many of us have been self-isolating for days but this latest development within the UK in reaction to the pandemic feels very serious and very scary. I decided to keep a simple diary and where better but online.

Day91: I can’t post photos to the sister photo diary and it’s fucking me off. Using this as a place holder- last successful pic was 21/06/2020.

Day 92: Still awaiting Tumblr re: day 91′s entry. Meanwhile looking at other blog/diary sites. Very warm today, like it was throughout May. Boris announced a further relaxation in lockdown measures which includes reducing the 2m distancing instruction which paves the way for pubs, restaurants and other places to open on 4th  . It looks like the Ship will open 6th July, George on the 4th. I await to see the measures put in place before deciding whther it’s a goer.

Day93: Typing on day 94 - I received an email from Deryn from RCI HR concerning placement online module attendance, thanking me for my participation. I was somewhat confused. Was this a mistake or was I erroneously not icluded in the initial communications? I fired off an email to HR and WhatsApp’d Jim. He replied that I should take it up with HR.

I am worried by this. Furlough ends this week and I know not what the fuck is going on.

Day 94: Had a few beers last night, ‘cos I was feeling deflated over work. Finished Homecoming S2, which was very good, and cancelled Amazon Prime before the free trial ends tomorrow. Got up @midday but haven’t done jack shit today as my right ankle is playing up - it was twinging last night - apart from press ups. No word back from RCI but there was a notification that the email from Deryn was attempted to be recalled. Had a spat in Co-Op wth two lads who were ignoring the one way system and social-distancing. It makes my blood boil and I had to say something which ended up making my blood boil even more…especially as one of them asked me to ‘crack on’. It’s a pretty cool response actually, since I had them bang to rights but, at the time, I thought I was going to bust a blood vessel. I walked away having told him to not speak to me like that again and that he was a fucking arsehole! Didn’t make me feel any better though. Fog’s chatting later so I’m going to have a few beers right now (just gone 8pm) - I feel like throwing caution to the wind for some reason (probably work more than anything else).

Day 95: Typing on Day 96. I had a lot of beers with Fog the night before last and felt like shit all day yesterday. Still managed to drag myself up to Foggy’s and have socially distanced beers in his garden with Noel and Lord Irish of Michael.

Day 96: Feeling like shit. Third day of no walking ‘cos my ankle is a little sore although I did walk back from Foggy’s last night.

Day 97: Two walks and my usual stair climb today. Felt good to get back to routine. Plus, no booze yesterday, even tho’ it was a Saturday, feel better for it. I heard from Sue Cockings from HR on Friday, btw, still furloughed until further notice.

Day 98: I discovered, yesterday, that today is actually day 99 of lockdown since it actually begun on the Sunday evening that Boris Johnson announced the measures being in place - I mistakenly thought it began on the Monday. Tumblr still haven’t got back to me regarding reviewing why this blog is deemed ‘sensitive’ and I can’t add any more pics. While I am typing, Northampton are beating Exeter 0-2 at Wembley in the L2 play-off final. It’s funny that their fans can’t be there to see it. Football, in general, on its return after lockdown, without fans in attendance, is shit - like watching women’s football - too many empty seats.

Day 100: I have decided to number the days correctly (See prev’ entry). It’s a good time as I had to export , delete and recreate this blog on Tumblr since they have been non-forthcoming in my request for info as to why they deemed it ‘sensitive’. So, this is a restart, altrough seemless to the reader. On top of all that, I am writing this on Day 101! After restarting the blog diary I forgot to add the day’s entry! Bumped into Roger on my second walk, at the top of Basset Ford Place. We chatted for an hour or so. It was really good to see him and talk. We’ve made a promise to interact more...it seems both he and I allow ourselves to get down in the dumps (easy in self-isolation) and, as such, we shall try to reach out as and when. He suggested a walk together every now and then.

Day 101: I heard back from a charitable services company that Barry Haddon (who, coincidentally, I spoke with today) told me about (Auriga)and answered their email questions. BNarry rates them and told me they got him some decent results like he no longer has to pay Council Tax. I tweeted Chris Hawkes on Radio 6 this morning...he was asking for examples of sames names (’cos he had Dave Gorman on) so I told him about The Redlion and the ad the ‘other’ Tim put in the ET. He read it out! I created a photo album of 101 pics I’ve taken in lockdown and put it on FB including the Oundle Chatter group. The comments were great. My right eyesight is worrying, I cannot make out close up detail i.e. reading is blurred. I am going to start doing 10 press ups after each exercise i.e. three times a day. I decided that during my second walk so today I’ve done 20. Lastly, I have new neighbours I do believe. Hmmm.

Day 102: Emailed dad and Rita to have a rant about what dad thought of the Leicester lockdown and to share a link to my 101 photo album. Had a long Messenger chat with Rog.

Day 103: Typing this on day 104. Dad called when I was out ona  walk so we skyped when I got back. He looks really well! Advided me on how to cutt some branches that are hanging low (I asked him in the email yesterday). I then borrowed a saw, secateurs and green bin from Karen. I walked a long way today. My second walk was 9km.I then had loads of beers! The Co-Op car park seems to be the venue for youngsters to hang out. I was gone 2am before they finished partying. I (re)watched Steve Jobs. Wow....just wow. What a film and what a man!

Day 104: It was gone 1:30pm when I got up feeling the worse for wear. A chilli, chorizo and cheese omelette really sorted me out but no beer tonight. How my Saturday frame of mind has changed from just a few years ago. Elliot and Camilla dropped off a jar of japaenos (that Mil had WhatsApp’d me about) and, among other things, we chatted about a photo Tracie Garrett circulated featuring Ell, me her and a few others who met up to have a drink at The Haycock for Ron Gambling. In it was Cath and someone called Ross (who I don’t remember) who have both passed since the pic (July ‘99). I feel strangely saddened by it all. The pic itself is such a reminder of days past - it conjours up shit loads of different feelings.

Day 105: A few beers again last night so another late one (5ish) but up before noon. Finished watching a series called Condor. Pretty good - bit of a messy ending that is the norm with telly nowadays in that it is a little bit of a cliffhanger.

Day 106: The Ship reopened today. I left a nice message on the Virtual Pub group page wishing them the best plus said thanks to Rach. I think it will be the end of the laugh we’ve had on the virtual site now. I expect to go through a bit of a miserabel time with people now venturing out down the pubs.We were once all united in lockdown - that will no longer be the case. Met Rog for a walk - did over 7km oncluding through Barnwell Picnic Park - I don’t remember it being that pretty. defo going to go there again. Got an email from RCI asking for all furlough workers to join a Zoom meeting tomorrow with Paul (MD) and Deryn (HR). Ominous! Went shopping in Asda and Farm Foods. £100 with NO BOOZE!

Day 107: The zoom call today didn’t tell me much other than we are being furloughed still, until further notice. It was susggested that we have a zoom meeting every 2 weeks and that RCI recognise we’ve be left out in the cold somewhat. I appreciate that very much.There were 30 of us on the call plus Paul and Deryn were in the office since they had to make peopel redundant today. Mark was in the office earlier to take receivership of the IT kits from those that left.

Day 108: I am well on the way to doing 1,000,000 steps in theree months (July, August & September) but at what cost. I’ve done well over 11,000 steps each day in July (actually, a lot of days in June as well) apart from one (8k) and I am feeling it. My right leg/ankle is sore! Day 109: I had another mention by Chris Hawkins on Radio 6. He asked for Brian May moments - apparently when he met Brian May he was so starstruck that all he could say was ‘thank you for the music’. I tweeted my story of telling Felicity Kendall to have a good life. Today, both my walks have resulted in me getting fucking soaked. Hanna S2 is on Amazon Prime. Time for yet another free trial (number 4 or 5).

Day 110: I have walked 144,448 steps in 10 days, well on the way to a million steps in three months. The Heist of the Century - an Argentinian film based on true events - watched it last night (well, over two nights, actually). A real life Ocean’s Eleven (but with 6). Brilliant film, brilliat story. I had issues signing up to another Amazon Prime free trial last night so I set up another gmail a/c just now and I think I’m in. I used Danny’s Gmail (which I created over 15 years ago!) and it didn’t like it - I think I must have used it before. I reckon I have probably had loads more free trials than I care to remember. Anyway, off to watch me some Hanna!

Day 111: Very tired as I type. Bed at around 5am, up at 13:30, normal exercises, cleaning kitchen cupbaords and I’m done in. It’s 10:30pm now, just cracked open a beer and about to watch a new Netflix film “The Old Guard”. I would continue with Hanna but Amazon Prime keeps fucking erroring. I will try to go to bed before it gets light (which seems to be my w/e norm nowadays!

Day 112: I have got into the habit of eating dinner far too late. It’s 10:30pm as I type and I am just about to have something eat. I’m not sure why I feel it’s wrong to eat so late but I do, I shall be trying to address it. Late night again last night (gone 4:30am) so today was a lazy day. Only on ewalk but it was 10km and I get up the above 11,000 steps needed for the 1m challenge. My stair climb, at around 9pm, fucking killed.

Day 113: Boring Monday.

Finished watching The Old Guard on Netflix. A Highlander-esque affair with Charlize Theron kicking ass like she did in Atomic Blonde. It was OK. Haven’t manage to lick the late night eating. It’s 10:05pm and tea’s still cooking.

Day 114: I have been looking at planning persmissions on the ENDC site for questions posed on the Oundle Chatter group on FB. There’s going to be two sites with 130 new houses on each and it’s causing concern. And so it should - the planning docs are very revealing. Objections are dismissed in such an off-hand way. It’s really quite insulting. I was awfully down today, during my first walk. I mean, really despondant (too difficult to describe here), which is a lower version of the norm - it’s been a good couple of weeks since anyone’s even asked how I am! A week since that post on my main blog. But, I powered through and am back to the usual depth! I ate at @9:30 pm tonight. Told ya!

Day 115: I am typing this on Day 116 - I ended up hainga  couple of beers last night and forgot to post. I had the most ridiculous toing and froing on FB and Messenger with Rachel (Harris) - it was piss funny. She is the first person in days, actually weeks, who has asked how I am! I watched ep3 of Hanna S2. Absolutely superb. She kills Marissa! Did not see that fucker coming...mind blown! Day 116: I have finally finished the thorough clean of the kitchen. Fucking drama. I am typing at just gone 10pm, about to eat (curry I made yesterday). It’s been a strange day, timings wise, last night’s drinking meant I wasn’t up until just gone noon which obviously didn’t help. I had a call from DSM group - I applied for an IT tech role, they want to see me tomorrow (Friday) for an interview (in Sibson). Interesting! (Although the contact, Helen, hasn’t sent the promised email!)

Day 117: Despite not getting a confirmation email, I attended the interview at DSM. It went OK (I was there for 90 mins). I went booze shopping in Tesco’s afterwards. Spoke to dad today also - he and Rita are well, as usual! I am feeling really knackered and achy today. I do hope it’s not anything to worry about.

Day 118: Up at 1pm. 9.79 km walk. Cooking meatballs, drinking beer, listening to The Blaze about to watch Deepwater Horizon. All good today!

Day 119: Similar to yesterday, up late, bloody long walk, watching Saving Private Ryan (which I started last night).

Day 120: Typing on day 121. Received an email from someone that works at the BBC for Shaun Keaveny’s show - they want me to do small claims court on August 5th. I’m becoming obsessed with getting my steps in - my second walk was extended to round Barnwell Country Park - over 17.5k steps - not the most I’ve done in one day but, for example, most in one day last month (June) was 14.7k. More importantly, I am finding that I can walk further (and for longer) and not have a hypo; not a great deal further, but over an hour.

[angst-is-love-angst-is-life]

I’m thinking about Jay and Jesse in Zoom’s lair.

Each of them being stolen from their lives by the same blue lightning. After weeks or maybe months of solitude, Jay feeling this most horrible sense of relief(?) when someone else is brought there too, when he’s finally not alone anymore. He’s so incredibly guilty for it because Jesse’s just a kid. Yet it’s still so isolating for both of them. Each there technically but with no way to effectively communicate. Maybe they find ways. Jesse asks yes or no questions that Jay can tap an answer to. But that can only do so much, as it’s their only social interaction.

Jesse knows her purpose there; a hostage so her dad will do whatever Zoom wants. Zoom even questioned her about things she didn’t know. Questioned; tortured— it’s the same either way. There’s also this conflict. Everyone else Zoom came into contact with had been killed, but not her. Shouldn’t she feel some sense of relief? Wasn’t she the lucky one? At least she had a chance so many others didn’t… but sometimes dying felt more merciful than this. She feels this perhaps naive sense of hope. Hope that her dad would come find her, that everything would be ok, that would be able to go home. Then Zoom reveals her fate. That he’d kill her in front of her dad. And she grapples with that (I mean, she’d have to right?). Is that really all she’s worth? Does her life really revolve completely around her dad— in that he’s the reason she lives and the reason she’ll die? No. It can’t. She’d get back to her own life. She would. Everything would be fine. Right? - then even when her dad does find and save her; she still doesn’t get her life back. Not in the same way at least.

Jay also knows his purpose; a trophy for Zoom’s sick amusement. He has to live every day knowing Zoom’s using his identity, his name, to manipulate and further hurt so many people. And as a hero, he carries that guilt. Guilt that he can’t help anyone— especially Jesse. Zoom keeping him here was one thing, but kidnapping an innocent girl was a new level of evil. He’s made to wear a mask day and night, helpless to talk to or comfort her with those scraps of poorly welded metal completely blocking his voice. Zoom hurts her, he also hurts Jay but that doesn’t matter. Not in comparison. (But enough for them both to cower at Zoom’s arrival). Even before Jesse arrives, Zoom tells him of another Flash, one who can get him what Jay couldn’t. Zoom tells him a lot about the other Flash —Barry— and his team. He can only hope they’ll see through Zoom’s ruse, that his identity won’t be used to hurt these people too. But they don’t, and it is. And he can’t do anything about it. The day he meets Barry is the day Jesse gets away. The Flash stands outside his cell, free from his own because Zoom let him keep his powers (Zoom would likely later tell him this was all apart of his plan), and swears he’ll come back. He’s happy for Jesse of course, she’s been here so long and again, she’s just a kid— but he can’t help but feel an awful sense of longing as a trail of yellow lighting, so like his own, takes them both far away from this place; once again leaving him alone.

[jade4813]

Sparks Fly, Chapter 3

Title: Sparks Fly

Rating: NC-17

Synopsis: Everybody knows sparks fly whenever Barry Allen and Iris West are together. Their mutual animosity is legendary. But when Iris returns to Central City to investigate recent sightings of a mysterious red streak, she discovers a hero she just can’t resist…and Barry struggles to hide the unrequited feelings he can’t deny.

Chapters: 3/?

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Barry was so surprised by Iris’s words that he didn’t realize he’d stopped vibrating until her eyes widened and she took a step forward. Alarmed she might have discovered is secret, he sped a few feet away, moving deeper into the shadows. By the time she turned to face him, he had his vibration under control once more.

Though he still was nervous about what her words had meant. “W-what do you mean?” he asked. “It’s me?”

She smiled, and once again, he almost forgot to continue vibrating. “The Streak. You are the Streak, right? The one people have reported seeing around the city?”

Relieved, he laughed, his shoulders sagging. “Oh. Yeah. That’s me.” Realizing he probably sounded like a dork, he could only hope that his mask would cover his blush. Clearing his throat, he attempted superhero gravitas when he added more firmly, “I mean, I’m the Streak.”

Her grin grew wider. “Wow.” Then she shook her head. “So how do you know my name?”

Her question almost gave him a heart attack, and he cursed himself silently for the slip. He wracked his brain for an explanation and grasped the first one that came to mind. “There’s a billboard outside of CCPN advertising the star investigative reporter that just joined their team. I saw it earlier tonight when I was running around on patrol.”

Iris cocked her head to the side. “On patrol, huh? I guess I should be grateful you were running by when you were. Certainly could have ended a lot differently for me if you hadn’t been, but you’re definitely not what I expected.”

Barry frowned slightly, unsure how to take that remark. “Oh. Um, that’s…is that a good thing?”

He watched as she bit the corner of her lip and took a step towards him. “That depends,” she replied in a soft voice. “Will you give me an interview?”

Though he supposed he should have expected the request, her suggestion surprised a laugh out of him. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea. I do have a secret identity to protect…” he began, but she cut him off.

“I’m not trying to put your secret identity in jeopardy. I promise. But you’re the hero of Central City. Knowing that you’re out there…it’ll give people hope.”

She had moved closer, her eyes narrowed as she tried to get a better look at his face, and Barry’s nerve failed him. Speeding behind her, he stepped in close. Then he bowed his head so he could murmur in her ear. “I’m not trying to be a hero, Miss West.”

Iris turned her head to look at him. Their faces were inches apart; if he leaned forward slightly he could brush his lips against hers. He didn’t dare move, but he had to clench his hands into fists at his sides to resist the urge. “If not a hero, then what are you?” she asked in a voice barely above a whisper. “One wrong move, and you could have died tonight, saving my life. If you’re not trying to be a hero, then why do you do it?”

Knowing it was a risk, Barry stopped vibrating his face and for just a moment, let himself be Barry Allen and not the faceless Streak. Still, he spoke in a low voice to disguise his voice as he murmured, “Because I’m the only one who can.”

Iris made a soft sound in the back of her throat and half-turned, wrapping one hand around his wrist. In an insistent, almost desperate, tone, she asked, “How long have you had your powers? When did you get them?”

He frowned, momentarily confused by the intensity of her question. “Uh – about a year. A little over a year, I mean.”

“Since the night of the particle accelerator explosion?” she pressed.

When he nodded, she threw an arm around his neck. Barry wasn’t expecting the kiss, so he froze when their mouths met. He couldn’t entirely process what was happening. Iris West was kissing him. She had hated him since almost the day they met, and she was kissing him.

Iris West was kissing him!

He reached for her, intending to draw her in closer, but he was a second too late. Police sirens passed by a few blocks away, shattering the moment, and Iris released him with a soft moan. Dropping the arm around his neck, she stepped back. “Um…if you change your mind about that interview, come by my place.” She quickly blurted the address. Flushing, she added quickly, “And, um, about the kiss. That wasn’t…I didn’t…um…I just wanted to say thank you. For saving my life.”

Barry blinked a few times. He wanted to say something cool. Something smooth. Something that would sweep her off her feet and make her realize that maybe the guy she’d hated for years wasn’t so bad, after all. But the only words that came to mind before he sped away were, “Any time, Miss West.”

A half hour later, Iris let herself into her apartment and grimaced at the sight of boxes piled up against the wall – a testament to the fact she hadn’t yet finished getting settled in to her new place. She’d been lucky to find it, and although she wasn’t entirely settled in yet, she loved it already. Besides, situated on the top floor of the high-rise, her large balcony gave her a spectacular view of the city that simply couldn’t be beat.

Iris moved towards her large glass balcony doors and stared out at the city with unseeing eyes. Had she actually kissed the Streak? She had, hadn’t she? It wasn’t a dream or a hallucination brought on by an excess of “certainty of impending death” adrenaline. She’d actually kissed the Streak. At least a hundred times, she’d imagined what she might say or ask the Streak if she managed to track him down. She’d never imagined she would do that.

But, then, he wasn’t what she’d expected. At the thought, she turned and looked over at the stack of folders and loose papers scattered across her dining room table. He hadn’t been what she’d expected at all. He was a lot younger than she’d anticipated, for one thing. What did it mean?

Her steps quick and purposeful, Iris walked over to her table and began to sift through her research. When she’d first heard about sighting of a red streak zooming around Central City, she’d taken to the Internet in a request for people to submit any sightings of or interactions with the mysterious hero. She’d received hundreds of responses that had taken weeks to sift through.

Of course, as a reporter, she’d known that any story that came without proof had to be taken with a grain of salt. She knew people would sometimes lie for a chance at glory, at being a part of something that was bigger than themselves. To see their name in the news or their picture on television. For others, there was no malicious or self-serving intent – merely the desire to attribute greater meaning to random circumstance. Trip and fall seconds before a cement block falls where you would have been standing, you might attribute that to a simple twist of fate…or to the intervention of a mysterious, unseen hero.

Iris had gone through the numerous submissions she’d received over the past few months and pulled out any that seemed to be either improbable or clearly fictitious. Now she went through the stack again, pulling out only those submissions that dated since the night of the particle accelerator explosion. Stacking the rest atop a leather-bound book in the corner of the table, she re-sorted the stories of possible Streak sightings, putting them in date order. Then she laid them out on the table in front of her, creating a visual timeline of his activities.

Of course, even now, she knew she still couldn’t take every story at face value. The majority of these anecdotes came without any form of proof – not even an iPhone photo of a red blur racing by. And many could be attributing a simple coincidence to an outside force. For example, the earliest submission – dated only two days after the explosion – was from a woman who swore her unknown would-be assailant had been knocked down by an unseen force when giving chase her through the park. If the anecdote could be taken at face value, it certainly could be the first recorded act of the city’s self-appointed guardian. Or the details could be exaggerated and the victim’s narrow escape was the product of gravity and perhaps an errant tree branch. It was impossible to know for sure.

Iris paused and ran a fingertip along her lower lip as she pondered the timeline in front of her. Then she grabbed a notebook and started to jot down questions. If she was going to get an interview with the masked superhero one day, she needed to be prepared.

One thing was for sure. He was going to need a better name than the Streak.

“Iris? God, it’s so good to see you! When did you get back?” Dr. Caitlin Snow cried happily as she raced forward to give her a hug. They had been close friends in college, but they hadn’t kept in touch as much as they’d intended after graduation. They occasionally exchanged social media messages over the years, but it had been ages since they’d last seen each other.

“Oh, I haven’t been back for long. I’m still getting settled in,” she admitted as they grabbed their coffee and walked together to a nearby table. “How have you been?”

“I’ve been good!” Caitlin replied. They chatted for a few minutes, and then she asked, “So, what's up? Not it’s not great to catch up, but I suspect you didn’t call me to hear my thoughts on the new sushirito place that opened down the block from my apartment.”

Iris laughed. “Not quite. And whoever came up with that idea needs to really re-evaluate their life choices. But I was actually hoping to get your professional opinion on something.” Clutching her cup of coffee between her palms, she leaned in. “The thing is, I’m investigating some of the strange events around the city lately. You know, with the metahumans? There have been a couple of strange deaths that I think could be meta activity. I have some coroner reports, but I wanted to get a second opinion. Since I can hardly get that from the coroner’s office, I’m looking for someone who can provide an independent review. I thought, with your background…any chance I could talk you into it?”

Caitlin grimaced. “Oh. I mean, I’d love to help, but my career has gone on a different path since college. It’s been a long time since I’ve done anything like that. I don’t know how much I’d be able to help you.” Before Iris could tell her not to worry about it, she perked up. “But you know who you should talk to? Barry Allen. I know he works with the CCPD, but he’s helped investigate every metahuman attack in Central City. Nobody knows more about the strange events in the city over the past year than he does.”

Iris choked on a sip of coffee. “Barry? Oh. No. No, no. No, no, no. That’s not necessary. I’m sure he’s very good at what he does. Not no. No. Absolutely not. No.”

Caitlin laughed. “So that’s a maybe?” she joked. “Seriously, though. What is your deal? The two of you have never been able to go for ten minutes without picking a fight.”

She shrugged. “It’s complicated. Or, I don’t know. Maybe it’s not. We just don’t get along. There doesn’t have to be some sort of deeper meaning to it.”

“Yeah, well. If you can believe it, there was a time Linda and I thought we might set the two of you up.”

Iris snorted. “Yeah. I know. You weren’t exactly subtle with those blind dates. Though why you’d think I would go on a date with Barry when I knew you had a huge crush on him, I have no idea. I mean, why would you even do that?”

“Well, he was my friend! I really wanted him to be happy, even if it wasn’t with me. And, anyway, it wasn’t that big of a crush!” Caitlin protested. When Iris just rolled her eyes in return, she added meekly, “Okay, so maybe it was. But since he clearly never saw me as anything other than a friend, I got over it.” After a second’s pause, she added suspiciously, “Wait…that’s not why you’ve never gotten along with him, is it? This wasn’t all some misguided attempt at friendship solidarity?”

Iris laughed. “No, of course not. I mean, maybe I initially teased him to get back at him a bit for being a blind idiot and breaking your heart all the time, even if he didn’t mean to do it. And the Houdini thing came after he flaked on you so often. But honestly, no. Come on. That was a long time ago.”

“Which brings us back to the original question. What’s the deal with you and Barry? If you weren’t trying to protect my feelings…I mean, you never even gave him a chance.”

Iris dropped her gaze to her coffee cup. “Oh, I gave him a chance,” she mumbled. She almost told Caitlin the whole story, everything that had happened in the past with Barry. But that was as long time ago. What did it matter now? So rather than go into the whole story, she made a joke to deflect the conversation, “Anyway, your lamentable taste in men in college really doesn’t have anything to do with my problems with Barry now. We’ve just never gotten along. That’s all.”

Caitlin still looked a little dubious. “If you say so. Still, I think the two of you could have been really cute together. Maybe you should give him a second chance.”

Iris rolled her eyes. “Me and Barry Allen? That was never gonna happen in college, and it’s not going to happen now.”

“Hey, I wanted to talk to you about your blind date. I know it took forever to get you to agree to it, but –”

“Actually, that’s why I was calling,” Iris interrupted Caitlin before she could continue. “Um…I hate to do this, but can we cancel? The thing is, I met this guy a few nights ago, and I think…well…I can’t really explain it, but I think we could have something special. If I can find him again.”

That took her friend by surprise. “If you can find him again? Didn’t you get his number?”

Iris sighed. “I didn’t even get his name. Everything was going great, but then the cops showed up and…well, there was a lot of alcohol at that party and we weren’t exactly legal drinking age. Everyone scrambled to get away before we could get caught, and I kind of lost him in the crowd. But they’re throwing another party in a few days. I’m hoping he’ll be there. At any rate, that’s the night of the blind date, so…”

“I understand. And, anyway, Barry – my friend, the one I was going to set you up with – he asked if we could cancel, too. I guess he met someone too. He wouldn’t really tell me much about her. Just that he knew the minute he saw her that he was going to marry her someday.”

Caitlin sounded a little bit miserable as she said the words, and Iris replied softly, “Oh, Cait. I’m so sorry. You know, this is probably for the best. He probably wouldn’t even be turn out to be my type. He’s an idiot, and I don’t usually fall for idiots.”

With a laugh that was just a shade sad, Caitlin protested, “He’s really not. But I appreciate the support. Anyway, I still think the two of you should meet. I think the two of you would really hit it off. As friends, I mean.”

“Sure, that sounds great!” Iris agreed. “Why don’t we grab some coffee together? I’m free this afternoon…”

A few nights later, Iris had grabbed a large glass of wine and was headed for the couch when she heard a soft sound out on her balcony. Almost absently, she glanced out the open door only to find the familiar red-clad superhero, his hand lifted uncertainly as he prepared to knock on the glass to get her attention.

“I-I wasn’t sure if I should just drop by, but I didn’t have your number,” he admitted, his voice echoing strangely as it had before. She wondered if she’d ever get used to the way he used his speed to blur his features. “I’ve thought about it, and…I trust that you won’t print anything that would risk my secret identity. I’ll give you that interview, if you’re still interested.”

“What? I’m interested! I’m definitely interested! I’m…um, I’m not exactly dressed for the occasion,” she added, blushing when she realized she was dressed for bed, wearing nothing but an oversized t-shirt that fell to her thighs. “Just…stay right there, okay? Don’t move. Give me…give me two minutes.” Racing to the dining room table, she swept the paperwork she’d been studying into a messy pile and carried it with her into her bedroom, where she scrambled to get ready in record time.

A few minutes later, Iris raced out of her room to find the Flash still standing on the balcony, staring out at the city. She’d exchanged her t-shirt for a simple summer dress and pulled her hair out of its messy pony tail. And although she’d been worried he would disappear on her, she’d ducked into the restroom to freshen up her makeup. It wasn’t every day that she got the chance at a one-on-one interview with a superhero, after all.

“Hey,” she said warmly, smoothing down the skirt of her dress as she stepped onto the balcony. “Sorry to keep you waiting. At least I’m a little more presentable now.”

He looked over at her. “Something tells me you always look incredible.”

She blushed and waved a finger at him. “Pretty smooth, Flash. But flattery won’t make me go easy on you.”

“I’ll bear that in mind,” he replied, sounding amused. “And thanks for the new name, by the way.”

“So, speaking of the interview,” she said pointedly. “Let’s talk about your abilities. I know you run fast. You can even run up the side of buildings – thanks again for that, by the way. What else can you do?”

“I’m still figuring that out for myself,” he admitted.

She nodded. “All right. So how fast can you go?” As she talked, she walked over to her patio table and took a seat so she could jot down some notes in the small notebook she’d brought outside with her.

Flash followed. “I’m not sure I’ve found my top speed, to be honest.”

Iris threw him a disgruntled look. “You’re pretty light on the detail. You know that?”

Though his features were blurred, she could make out the traces of a smile. “I don’t mean to be. I promise.”

Sitting back in her seat, she tapped her pen against the table and regarded him thoughtfully. “All right. Let’s talk about something you can tell me. What’s it like to run that fast? I know you ran with me the other night but...I was a little preoccupied at the time.”

He held out a hand to her. “In that case, let me show you.” When she hesitated, he asked, “Don’t you trust me?”

“It’s not that,” she admitted. “It’s just…are you sure it’s safe? For me to move that fast, that is. I mean, I don’t have your abilities, and –”

“I would never let anything bad happen to you, Iris.”

His words were spoken with such quiet conviction, she couldn’t doubt his sincerity. Without a second thought, she placed her hand in his. “I trust you, Flash.”

Without another word, he swept her into his arms, carrying her down the side of the building and through the city streets. They were moving at such incredible speeds that Iris found herself holding her breath, at first. Taking it all in. Then she relaxed against him and allowed herself to enjoy the ride.

“It’s amazing,” she breathed – then wondered how she could even do so, with the air rushing by so fast. Or how she could hear his words when he replied.

“There’s nothing like it,” he admitted. “Running so fast the rest of the world stand still.” His smile was soft when he met her eyes. “That’s how I felt the first time I saw you.”

Iris felt her heart skip a beat. “Flatterer,” she breathed, resting her head on his shoulder.

Barry’s heart was still racing when he returned Iris to her balcony, putting her carefully back on her feet. “You okay?”

“That was…that was incredible,” she breathed. “I can see why there have been so many sighting of a red streak around the city since you got your powers. If I could run like that, I’m not sure I could convince myself to ever stop.”

“Sometimes it’s hard,” he admitted. “Sometimes I feel like there’s something greater than myself drawing me in. The source of my speed, maybe. I have to remind myself not to give in because I think sometimes that I might lose myself to it.” He grimaced and looked down. “That probably sounded ridiculous.”

Iris shook her head. “Not at all. I mean, I can’t pretend I entirely understand what you mean. But it doesn’t sound ridiculous.”

Her hands were still braced upon his chest, her mouth close enough to kiss if he just leaned forward slightly. She cleared her throat and asked softly, “But there’s something I need to ask you. And I…I really need you to be honest with me. Okay?”

“Of course, Iris,” he promised. He wanted to tell her everything, though of course he knew he couldn’t. She might like running with the Flash, but he had no illusions that she’d be so happy to be held by Barry Allen.

He watched her suck in a deep breath, and then she asked, “Are there others like you? Speedsters, I mean?”

He wasn’t so much surprised by the question – with the number of metahumans that had been seen around the city in the past year, it was only reasonable to ask – as he was thrown by the fervency in her tone. Barry frowned and shook his head. “No,” he admitted. “Not that I’ve ever found.”

Iris flicked her tongue across her lower lip, her gaze dropping to the lightening logo on his chest. “That’s what I thought you’d say,” she admitted. “So tell me. Who’s the man in the yellow suit? The one with the red lightning? He was first spotted in Central City years ago, long before the particle accelerator explosion.”

He frowned, confused by the question. “The who?”

[pinkletterday]

Okay so the Flash tag was very misleading. This wasn't the best 100th episode they could have done but it was the sweetest.

Don't get me wrong, none of that painfully contrived plot made a lick of sense, starting with being so blasé about going back in time when its pretty much the golden rule for them to not do that anymore (and er. Did Hunter Solomon just get Time Wraithed five episodes too early? What?) Nora not knowing Eobard killed her grandmother what in fuck and the whole thing about popping up the same day S2 Barry did (I know it was supposed to be all tense and menacing but I was giggling so hard. Someone should write a fic about various Barry Allens interrupting Thawne's work day to heckle him into fixing more and more shit. "Hi. My name is Barry Allen. You killed my mother. How do I fix the plumbing in STAR Labs? Bitch.")

AND FOR GOD'S SAKE WHY DID THEY KEEP VOLUNTEERING THAWNE INFORMATION.

After all that, the plan didn't even work.

BUT OH MY GOD I LOVED KILLER FROST. She is the most badass bitch and I can tell DP has a blast playing her. Train her up and send her against Cicada for real, cause that fight I would watch.

I loved seeing Eowells with Cisco and Caitlin, I loved revisiting all those milestone moments through Nora's eyes, and my God this episode was 75 % the tour de force that is Tom Cavanaugh. He nailled every scene - the suave menace of pre-series Eowells, the barely contained malice of S1 Eowells, the frenetic single-minded, almost callous version of Harry we first met and (sigh) Sherloque. Who somehow managed to be so distinct from the other personas that I didn't even think to compare his absurdity to the groundedness of Harry and Eowells. Cavanaugh's direction was also beautiful and seamless, even with all the recycled shots.

I didn't even mind missing Iris as much as I would have - she was always there somehow, maybe because of Nora. Mama Flash trying her hardest not to be the closed off woman who holds her daughter back, encouraging her husband to do the same. And then stepping back and letting them do their thing, trusting them to come back home to her.

Seeing her shooting Savitar to save Barry, seeing her be the one to hold and comfort him before they were ever together and then watching them so young and innocent waiting in the crowd during the pilot really encapsulated their journey together (thank god Eddie wasn't in this. Nothing against the character, I just hate that he existed at all). Iris has always been Barry's secret hope through his whole life. During the Zoom episode they were still tentatively trying to find a new footing between feelings that could not yet be spoken and the entirety of S3 was spent in terror that fate would still rip her away. Now they're rock solid and their daughter is right there next to Barry, the promise and realization of everything he had ever hoped for him and Iris.

I love Iris and Westallen, but The Flash has always been Barry Allen's story first. Taking his daughter through the journey of all his mistakes and defeats instead of his victories was such an aching, vulnerable choice. I'm not perfect, I've never been the man you think I was, I have made so many mistakes and been hurt so badly and all I have learned from it is how much I cannot change, no matter how powerful I become, no matter how much I love. It was the moment when he went from "father" to "Barry Allen" in Nora's eyes; when she started to see him as a person first. I understand and I still want to know you. Still love you. It was the most heartaching moment. And such a shock for Nora to realize that they both know the trauma of losing a parent, such a terrible connection to share.

Nora visiting her grandparents killed me. The Allens so young and happy and whole, not knowing their lives are about to be ripped apart in moments. Barry simply turning up at her side, almost casually, guessing she'd go there because he does the same thing. The quiet, sad resignation in his eyes when he says "every day." He has had to experience and accept Nora's own nightmare, that nothing she does will change her family's fate. How many times has he time travelled just to see his parents like this, knowing he could change it but also knowing the price of doing so is too great? His family in front of him, flesh and blood and alive, but still only ghosts he can never touch nor save?

But then Nora's there, again the living reminder of all that he stands to gain, all that of himself and his loves that will continue. Nora carries Barry's mother and father in her blood, Iris and Joe, and the legacy of his own life. And she's there, smiling at him, pulling him out of the past into the future.

Barry is still young, but he's aged beyond his years. The non-linear confusion of his life doesn't help him advance in stages. He's twenty-five and shaped by a vendetta ten years into the future, he's twenty seven and faced with himself a thousand years old and warped, he's watched every timeline unfold in the Speed Force till his mind broke apart, and now he's the father of a young woman he's never yet held as a baby and still loves with all his heart because she is his. It's such a surreal dissonance of age and identity when Nora calls him "old man". For a moment, he remembers that he's still young, and young enough to be hilariously offended by it.

I'm not going to touch on the Nora-working-with-Thawne "reveal" because we've seen that coming from the first. Instead I want to gush about Jessica Parker Kennedy. You guys, this woman is incredible. She was the sweetest, most precious thing this episode, the perfect audience surrogate. She has killed every scene she's in so far this season, so much so that her calling Barry and Iris "Mom and Dad" has never seemed weird, her love and connection to them has never seemed untrue, keeping her character so emotionally balanced right where she needs to sell it that we don't think overmuch about her bizarre age situation (2049? Really?). I don't know why this fandom doesn't appreciate her more, especially the Westallen fandom. Nora is literally the legacy of the show and of Barry and Iris's love. I cannot imagine anyone other than Jessica doing it so much justice.

Special notes:

- I wish we had more Golden Trio moments. Barry, Cait and Cisco's friendship was the lynchpin of the first two seasons and its disintegration in the third season is something that still hasn't been healed. SHOW ME BARRY'S CARE AND LOVE FOR CAITLIN SNOW. SHOW ME BARRY'S LOVE FOR CISCO.

- I am always torn between appreciating what this show wants to tell me and frustration of how badly it's usually told. Nora seeing Iris being Barry's comfort and support during one of his worst moments before they were ever together should have been heartwarming. But instead of showing a sweet, silent moment where Barry is allowed to curl up in her lap while she holds him in the aftermath of a traumatic experience, we see her pushing him to get up again before he even changes out of his suit. It made the scene seem so forced and contrived. Sometimes it's like the writers only know the theory of how humans work.

- It stood out to me again how embedded Cisco is in the emotional narrative of this show. It's Barry's story but Cisco's universe, his presence is vital, ubiquitous, pervasive. Seeing him innocent and sweet and vulnerable with Eowells, craving his approval, and then seeing him face down Cicada as a confident full-fledged superhero (are my baby's hands healed now?) was so satisfying. His character arc has been so amazing and consistent through four seasons of shoddy and uneven writing. He is literally the Samwise to Barry's Frodo and the fact that we havent heard stories of Uncle Cisco from Nora is a farce.

- I know fandom jumped on "at least you still have one" as a reference to Donovan's existence but I'm wondering if it's a reference to Thawne's own daughter Melonie. Did she still marry Don in his future or was she erased?

- I like that Eowells touched on the fact that Savitar was actually Barry. It gets persistently glossed over, that while Barry can't be held responsible for his future self, it was very much still him. I hate that Savitar was our Barry because the fact that any version of him could ever kill Iris is such a fundamental betrayal of his character, but jeez, if you're going to put it out there at least explore the ramfications of that concept in full.

- I missed Jesse L. Martin so much. I had really hoped we could have at least gotten five minutes of recycled footage of him.

- Also missed my cinnabun Cecile, and I want to see Iris interacting with her new sister! I need her to hold Jenna trying to imagine what Nora will feel like in her arms. I want Wally to be delighted at having a sibling he can watch grow up. GIVE ME MY WEST FAMILY DAMN IT.

- I still want my vow renewal (will literally kill someone for it at this point, preferably Guggy. No one will miss him) but that last iconic porch scene with the Allens is a compromise I can live with.

All in all, not the best 100th episode we could have gotten but very far from the worst.

[diannaphantomfiction]

Karivarry LifeSwap AU Writing Prompts. Prompt 8/15: First Meetings

THERE IS NOW A LIST OF CHARACTERS: HERE

Prompt requested by an anonymous @mewwitch. Here’s the Prompt:

If you are still taking prompts for the lifeswapAU, how about their first meetings with each other? Or maybe the first time they introduced each other as romantic partners?

I actually ended up splitting  this into two stories, so their introductions as romantic partners will come next!

Kara huffed as she waited for the detective in front of her to uncuff her hands. This, sadly wasn’t exactly an unusual experience. Ever since she had gotten home, Lieutenant Maggie Sawyer had it out for her. As an ex-girlfriend of Alex’s, Kara had sort of assumed it was a way for her to grieve. But it wasn’t that, not anymore. It had gotten insane. Whenever something happened near Kara, Maggie found a reason to bring her in, especially if she thought the Arrow was involved. Now, Maggie wasn’t wrong per say. Kara was the Arrow, but she didn’t have any proof. Kara had made sure of that.

Kara leaned back in the interview room chair, crossed her arms, and glared at the two way glass. “Is this just going to be another time you hold me for 48 hours and hope you get the evidence you need to put me in jail, Lieutenant Sawyer? Because if so I’d like to make some calls.”

They didn’t answer and they made Kara wait, she wasn’t sure how long (she hadn’t gotten a look at a clock as they pushed her through the station to count the time) but she was quickly getting restless. Being locked in a small room wasn’t exactly helping. As she paced the room, pulling her hair out of it’s ponytail and twisting it into a braid as she considered picking up one of the chair and throwing through the two-way mirror. That wouldn’t help her though. In fact, it would be a reason to really arrest her.

Then, the door opened and Kara shifted her stance, moving her arms and widening her eyes to make herself appear more innocent and open. She didn’t recognize the man that stepped inside. He was tall, dressed in a well fitted three piece suit, and clearly conveying openness with his body language.

“Hello Ms. Danvers-Grant. My name is Oliver Queen. I’m a psychologist who often works with the police.”

“You’re here to prove I’m crazy I take it?”

Queen shook his head and gestured to the chair. “I’m just here to listen.”

Kara gave him a flat look. “I know Lieutenant Sawyer is watching on the other side of the glass. I haven’t done anything wrong.”

“Then let’s prove her wrong.”

Kara glared at the glass as he sat down, but wiped her face back to the innocent face before sitting down. Queen asked her a lot of questions. About the island. About her family. About how she was re-accumulating. About her sleep cycles and her relationships. If she was making new friends. If she’d connected with old ones. How and if she relaxed. If she had nightmares. Kara gave away just enough to satisfy him, tearing up at the appropriate times, clenching her jaw and refusing to answer what she thought normal people would refuse to ask. Queen was kind, open, and understanding, not judging her or pushing too much.

He thanked her for her time and left the room as she wiped away fake tears. There. That should fool them.

“Well?” Maggie Sawyer asked as soon as Oliver closed the door.

Oliver raised an eyebrow at the Lieutenant. He was doing this as a favor to Lance and because he had a personal interest in the vigilante. But, he did not like Maggie Sawyer’s approach to finding out who the Arrow is. She’d gotten one thing in her mind and was harassing one person because she was ‘too different now.’ After five years of struggling to survive, torture, and being cut off from the world.

“Well, she’s a social chameleon with extreme PTSD that she is somehow functioning with and highly conditioned violent tendencies.”  

“So, it’s her?”

Oliver snarled. “So, you’re attacking a woman because of completely understandable survival techniques and PTSD and I will be reporting you to your Captain and telling Ms. Danvers-Grant to take of a restraining order on you.”

He starts to walk away but she grabs his arm. “She fits your profile.”

“And I’m sure she’s not the only one, but I fully believe that if Ms. Danvers-Grant was the Arrow, with all the harassment she’s been undergoing at your hands, she would have snapped and attacked you as your tried to arrest her by now. I did my job. I gave you a profile as a favor for my father. Now do yours, Lieutenant.”

Oliver doubled over, breathing heavily as he tried to look around. The device Felicity and Mac had thrown together to speed him up in a last ditch effort to stop Zoom felt heavy against his chest and he was pretty sure the grass under his feet was smoking. Well, it had worked, because he was pretty sure he wasn’t in Central and it had only been about five minutes.

He was in the middle of a park, one in a city most likely judging by the amount of people in it, looking at him.

“Is that the Flash?”

“What is he doing here?”

“I’m sure Super… will be here soon.”

Wait, which Super? Had he run all the way to Metropolis? What the fuck? There was no way he’d gone that fast. Was that even possible? Seriously, that seemed like the type of thing that should rip even his body apart.

“Hey, Flash!” A man came running up and held a bottle of water out. Oliver just stared at the man in confusion. “You look like you need this.”

Oliver just blinked at him.

“What they don’t take care of you in Star?”

Aside from occasionally pulling him out of the way when he was injured, the citizens stayed out of his way. He didn’t mind, it was a safety thing. If he slowed down long enough for them to interact with him, there was a high chance he was about to get attack. When he was just on patrol, he just moved to fast to interact with. There were the kids that left drawings outside the lab and Felicity always brought the drawings inside to tac on the walls, but that was the most interaction he really got.

Oliver slowly took the water. “...Thanks.”

People started to point up at the sky, parents lifting their kids so they could get a better look, and Oliver saw a red and blue shape. Superman? No, there wasn’t a cape. Superboy. Central City. Okay, that actually made some sense. Central wasn’t on the other side of the country at least, just 600 miles away. ...no, it wasn’t any better. It was still way to fast.

Superboy landed gently and with more grace than Oliver had ever come to a stop with in his life. He was... gorgeous, with wide, green eyes that sort of sparkled and nice looking light brown hair. His body was proportioned just right, thin and tall, but not lanky or awkward. He moved like he had complete control over every cell.

“Flash, welcome to Central City! Sorry it took me some time to get to you. I heard you coming, but I didn’t know you could move that fast.”

And then he smiled at Oliver; a bright, wide smile that reached his eyes and shined like the sun. Oliver felt his heart drop to his stomach and a warmth spread through his chest and arms. He found himself smiling back, the idea of doing anything else seemed wrong. He recognized this feeling. It was the exact feeling he’d had the first time he’d seen Kara take down a thug in five seconds and then turn all her attention to him to make sure he was alright.

Shit.

Barry was probably more excited about this than he should be. He was a grown adult. He really should be this excited about being invited for a training exercise in Star City, but he didn’t really have superhero friends of his own. Diana and Bruce were Kal-El’s friends, and while Diana had always treated him like a beloved nephew, they didn’t exactly consider him an equal.

No, outside his team, Barry only had Oliver, the Flash. And Oliver had been nothing but kind and welcoming, often running to Central just to give Barry a hand or to get lunch with him. Barry reciprocated in turn, and he enjoyed their friendship. He wanted more than friendship, but he was willing to settle, because a life without Oliver sounded impossible. Oliver talked about the mysterious Arrow as much as he did everything else in his life put together. Barry knew love when he saw it. He’d seen it in Clark’s eyes when he spoke about Lois, and Diana’s when she spoke about Steve or Bruce and Oliver got that same look in his eyes when he spoke about the Arrow.

Oliver’s base was bursting at the seams. The teenagers had managed to huddle in one corner, masks off and phones out as they exchanged numbers and social media and funny pictures with their masks and hoods off. Felicity and Winn had grabbed Cisco and pulled him off to the tech and the three of them seemed to be having a grand time. The Black Canary and Siren were talking to Caitlin, all three of them still in their masks and seemed to be having some sort of subtle badass off. Diggle and John were standing next to each other and pretending they weren’t wearing the same exasperated expression.

Finally, Barry saw Oliver, standing off to the side with his domino mask hanging around his neck and suit unzipped just enough to make it a little more comfortable. He was smiling and laughing and Barry had to stop himself from happy floating. Nope. Not here in front of everyone. Not while Caitlin could see him and she would tell everyone. Iris would never let it go. Oh Rao, Len would never let it go. No happy flying.

“Hey, Barry!” Oliver smiled when he caught Barry’s eye and waved him over.

Barry headed over as slowly as he thought he could, wishing his suit had pockets so he’d have something to do with his hands. Then he saw who Oliver was talking to. She had to be the Arrow and yes, it turned out she was as gorgeous as Oliver implied. Her green suit was somehow both practical and completely feminine at the same time. Her long blonde hair fell down between her shoulder blades in a tight braid. Her eyes were so blue and just full of intelligence and determination.

“...warrior goddess…” Barry whispered.

Then the Arrow turned to look at him and Barry promptly tripped and cracked the concrete under him.

[downandoutinliverpoolandlondon]

Correspondence Club: Part 12 – Chester Racing

It’s not yet midday and Eric is in the bin. His motives are unclear and I don’t believe my colleagues when they first tell me, but as I stare out of the window, there is a Biffa bin on its side and Eric is inside it. Unbeknown to Eric, the slip of paper he is digging around for is actually in the pocket of the barman stood next to him. By the time Eric finds this out, it will be too late. He will have already foraged.

Today I am working my second day at Chester Races in the shareholder’s restaurant and Eric is my manager. Eric has the aura and ethos of David Brent and the mannerisms and grace of Barry from Eastenders. He is a regular on the racing hospitality circuit and he knows every individual that will pass through the restaurant today. Eric has dedicated his life to serving rich people and a lot of the awkwardly-lengthy stories he tells during the downtime of the shift have a punchline or resonating theme of “the customer is always right.” Whilst we set up the restaurant I hear him telling a man who runs a horse portraiture business about his time teaching. A hospitality course at a vocational college in Bolton. Disappointingly, he reveals the student’s hearts were not in it. For most of the day Eric will have curry around his mouth, but there never seems to be a right time to tell him.

Chester Racecourse is like a model from Legoland. It is the smallest racecourse in the country and has no jumps. It is well-kept and picturesque, with whitewashed wooden stands, sleek chalets, bars around the paddocks and a viaduct running along one side, with train passengers treated to a full panoramic view of the course as they zoom by. 

The restaurant I am working in is exclusively for shareholders and my job for the day is host. Shareholders are picky, often have titles like ‘Lady’ and have Eric firmly under their thumbs. He lives to please them and they live to bust his balls. The shareholders begin to trickle in at around noon and although I’m supposed to take them to their table, most of them just walk straight past me as if my name were Casper. The shift is full pelt from then onwards.

The shareholder’s guzzle champagne by the bottle and eat their buffet or their specially ordered meals, nipping out now and again to go bet and watch the horses run. A man without a member’s badge is given permission by Eric to sit on one of the sofas. 

The uncomfortable forced interactions between him and his female partner suggest that she is an escort. Later in the day, he will be seen by the staff with his hand up her dress. An hour or two later he will simply walk off, leaving the woman alone drinking champagne and looking for somebody else to hang out with. 

We break for lunch and sit on the steps near the bins, eating crappy pack-up and trying not be seen. I sit on the top of the stairs, admiring the view. A member of security staff barks at me to get down, telling me that punters can see me. I give him some shit and he threatens to send me home. I consider the unbridled feeling of power that a walkie-talkie can instil in a man. I sit there, resenting the races and its policy of hiding the proles.

My favourite table is the Diggles near the bar and my least favourite is Lady Downton-Abbey’s table in the middle. She looks like a cast member from her namesake’s drama and enjoys the class hierarchy that comes with the restaurant. At one point she scolds me for separating her party when I politely ask people going up for the buffet to form an orderly queue. She says “good boy” to one of the waiters who pours her table’s wine and then sarcastically mimics the shaky pouring of another waiter in front of her guests. 

She is the worst of her kind. Prime guillotine material. The Diggles are equally bourgeois, but are loose and friendly. They dress in eccentric tweed, drink like fish and say “yah” without any form of sarcasm. They tip well and end the day by clambering onto sofas for a group selfie.

Winners come and go. A man wins 72k in one corner, whilst the discarded tickets littering tables suggest everyone is comfortably up. Eric spends the day moving swiftly around the restaurant, saying yes to every request and turning paler every hour. As the last hours of the shift slip by, he is a shell. His face is white and his eyes are glazed, questions from staff are met with stuttering and at times he looks as if he is going to have a seizure. He repeats sentences multiple times and stares into the distance before speeding off to fulfil an errand. 

The shift comes to an end and as we wait for the bar to cash out, Eric just stands there looking broken. Somebody points out to him that he has curry around his mouth as we leave for the bus home.