#v; most of my sweet memories were buried in the sand. the fire and the pain will now be coming to an end. ( post crisis. )

[speedprofessor]

Edits - Condiments Forever.

[thehierophage]

April 1, 2021 æ.v. 

Dies Jovii, 

☉︎ 12° ♈︎ : ☽︎ 10° ♐︎ : ♃︎ : Ⅴⅴⅰⅰ 

  Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law. 

  The Day of Yod, the Day of the Hermit 

  Hebrew Letter: Yod 

  Numerical Value as Letter: 10 

Numerical Value as Word: 20/14 (Yod+Vav+Daleth or Yod+Daleth) 

Meaning: Hand (open, palm, side & fingers) 

  Thoth Card: The Hermit (Atu IX) 

Alternate Title: The Prophet of the Eternal, The Magus of the Voice of Power. Image:

Correspondences: 

Tree of Life Path Association: Key 20 - Tiphareth to Chesed (from Sephira 6-4) 

Astrological Sign: Virgo 

Element: Earth 

Egyptian Godforms: Isis [as Virgin], Heru-pa-Kraath 

Geomantic Figure: Conjunctio 

Gemstones: Peridot 

Perfumes: Narcissus 

Plants: Snowdrop, Lily, Narcissus, Mistletoe 

Animals: Rhinoceros 

Colors: 

King Scale – Green, yellowish 

Queen Scale – Slate grey 

Prince Scale – Green grey 

Princess Scale – Plum colour

The Secret Instruction of the Master:

Wander alone; bearing the Light and thy Staff! And be the Light so bright that no man seeth thee! Be not moved by aught without or within: keep Silence in all ways!

Mnemonic:

Most secret seed of all Life's serpent plan, Virgin, the Hermit goes, dumb Guardian.

Recommended Text for Meditation:

Liber Liberi vel Lapidis Lazuli, Cap. 5

Liber Liberi vel Lapdis Lazuli Adumbratio Kabbalae Aegyptiorum Sub Figura VII

Being the Voluntary Emancipation of a certain Exempt Adept from his Adeptship. These are the Birth-Words of a Master of the Temple. A.˙.A.˙. Publication in Class A. Imprimatur: N. Fra A.˙. A.˙.

V

1. O my beautiful God! I swim in Thy heart like a trout in the mountain torrent. 

2. I leap from pool to pool in my joy; I am goodly with brown and gold and silver. 

3. Why, I am lovelier than the russet autumn woods at the first snowfall. 

4. And the crystal cave of my thought is lovelier than I. 

5. Only one fish-hook can draw me out; it is a woman kneeling by the bank of the stream. It is she that pours the bright dew over herself, and into the sand so that the river gushes forth. 

6. There is a bird on yonder myrtle; only the song of that bird can draw me out of the pool of Thy heart, O my God! 

7. Who is this Neapolitan boy that laughs in his happiness? His lover is the mighty crater of the Mountain of Fire. I saw his charred limbs borne down the slopes in a stealthy tongue of liquid stone. 

8. And Oh! the chirp of the cicada! 

9. I remember the days when I was cacique in Mexico. 

10. O my God, wast Thou then as now my beautiful lover? 

11. Was my boyhood then as now Thy toy, Thy joy? 

12. Verily, I remember those iron days. 

13. I remember how we drenched the bitter lakes with our torrent of gold; how we sank the treasurable image in the crater of Citlaltepetl. 

14. How the good flame lifted us even unto the lowlands, setting us down in the impenetrable forest. 

15. Yea, Thou wast a strange scarlet bird with a bill of gold. I was Thy mate in the forests of the lowland; and ever we heard from afar the shrill chant of mutilated priests and the insane clamour of the Sacrifice of Maidens. 

16. There was a weird winged God that told us of his wisdom. 

17. We attained to be starry grains of gold dust in the sands of a slow river. 

18. Yea, and that river was the river of space and time also. 

19. We parted thence; ever to the smaller, ever to the greater, until now, O sweet God, we are ourselves, the same. 

20. O God of mine, Thou art like a little white goat with lightning in his horns! 

21. I love Thee, I love Thee. 

22. Every breath, every word, every thought, every deed is an act of love with Thee. 

23. The beat of my heart is the pendulum of love. 

24. The songs of me are the soft sighs: 

25. The thoughts of me are very rapture: 

26. And my deeds are the myriads of Thy children, the stars and the atoms. 

27. Let there be nothing! 

28. Let all things drop into this ocean of love! 

29. Be this devotion a potent spell to exorcise the demons of the Five! 

30. Ah God, all is gone! Thou dost consummate Thy rapture. Falutli! Falutli! 

31. There is a solemnity of the silence. There is no more voice at all. 

32. So shall it be unto the end. We who were dust shall never fall away into the dust. 

33. So shall it be. 

34. Then, O my God, the breath of the Garden of Spices. All these have a savour averse. 

35. The cone is cut with an infinite ray; the curve of hyperbolic life springs into being. 

36. Farther and farther we float; yet we are still. It is the chain of systems that is falling away from us. 

37. First falls the silly world; the world of the old grey land. 

38. Falls it unthinkably far, with its sorrowful bearded face presiding over it; it fades to silence and woe. 

39. We to silence and bliss, and the face is the laughing face of Eros. 

40. Smiling we greet him with the secret signs. 

41. He leads us into the Inverted Palace. 

42. There is the Heart of Blood, a pyramid reaching its apex down beyond the Wrong of the Beginning. 

43. Bury me unto Thy Glory, O beloved, O princely lover of this harlot maiden, within the Secretest Chamber of the Palace! 

44. It is done quickly; yea, the seal is set upon the vault. 

45. There is one that shall avail to open it. 

46. Nor by memory, nor by imagination, nor by prayer, nor by fasting, nor by scourging, nor by drugs, nor by ritual, nor by meditation; only by passive love shall he avail. 

47. He shall await the sword of the Beloved and bare his throat for the stroke. 

48. Then shall his blood leap out and write me runes in the sky; yea, write me runes in the sky.

Love is the law, love under will.

[sufferingsoup]

Listen I’ve been fucking ~obsessed~ with @thenerdyalchemist ‘s pirate AU (I’m sure nobody could tell bc I definitely don’t reblog eVrY dAmN pOsT of it nope not me never😂😂) and I just needed to write this scene. I’ve had it in my head since I read all the HCs for this AU and I needed to put it on paper lol. I’m not great at writing whatsoever, I’m v out of practice and def didn’t edit this, but I wrote it and it exists so I might as well post it right? Lmao. Anyway here it is hope u enjoy 😩 (Also sorry in advance abt the wack ass formatting lmao. I never make posts on tumblr and I highkey wrote this in a note on my phone and then pasted it in here lol)

Runaan grinned as he practically hung over the side of his ship, watching the familiar dock inch closer and closer. It felt like years since he had been back to this town, /his/ town. He was finally in the home stretch, and his crew couldn’t dock the ship fast enough for him. Before, he could stay out at sea forever. If it weren’t for the need to restock supplies every once in a while, he probably would. The open ocean was his home town, his crew was his family, his ship was his home, he didn’t need anything else before. But now? Now he had a reason to /want/ to go back to land.

/Him./

It had been an absolutely agonizing few months. When he had first set sail, he figured it would be like every other quest. Of course he would miss Ethari dearly, but they would both be busy with their respective work, and they could write to each other in the mean time. But this time was different. The moment he left his heart had sunk, leaving a gaping hole in his chest that widened further as he watched Ethari sit on the dock and wave until he could no longer see him. The first thing he did was write a letter to him. Even though he had only just left, he felt like a huge piece of him was missing without him there by his side. He found that he could not enjoy himself as much as he normally would.

The salty smell of the sea and the rhythmic pounding of the waves that used to calm him no matter how upset he was now served only to fill his thoughts with memories of midnight walks along the beach. The sand between his toes and rough, yet gentle fingers interlacing with his own, shoulders knocking against each other every so often. Looking into those bright amber eyes reflecting the moonlight back at him, putting all of his emotions clearly on display for Runaan to see.

The beating heat of the sun that would warm him through to his bones after a stormy night now reminded him of the forge, his mind replaying all the soft, intimate conversations they had while Ethari tinkered away on whatever his current project was. That thick accent of his, and his deep voice that could command the attention of an entire town if he wanted to, clashing oh-so-beautifully with his gentle laugh and sweet words.

The sea shanties the crew would sing in celebration of a successful mission, the dancing that accompanied them, the merriment he once found endearing and joyous and hilarious now dragged Ethari’s ethereal voice through his mind, reminding him of the many dances they shared during the festivals Ethari would drag him to when he visited. The brightest, purest of grins gracing that magnificent face as they held each other close, moving together to the beat and singing along with the familiar lyrics.

Everywhere he looked he only saw Ethari. All the sounds he heard, the scents he smelled, the touches he felt, the flavors he tasted, everything came back to him. /Oh, Ethari would love these jewels, he would make the prettiest necklace out of them!/ ... /The fire smells just like his workshop tonight, I wonder what he’s working on right now/ ... /Ethari so adores the sound of the seagulls calling out over the beach, I’ll have to tell him how many have followed us!/ All of his thoughts were consumed by /him/. It was driving him mad not being able to see him, hear him, touch him for himself.

But today was the day. /Finally/ he would be able to hold him again, and this time he would not let him go.

Ethari hummed softly as he carefully shined thin wires around the glittering stone. He wanted to make a unique little ring as a returning gift for Runaan. The shiny silver wires braided together and held a small, elegant opal in the center. Runaan’s last letter had informed him that he was almost back again, he was expecting him any day now. He had made sure to clear his schedule for a few days so he could welcome him back properly. He had so many things to tell him and show him, and Runaan always brought him lots of sparkly things when he returned from his quests.

He has been terribly lonely while Runaan was away. He was always a bit uneasy when he left, always worrying for his safety and missing his presence. Working on his projects was much more fun when his heart was safe and sound right next him to tell him stories and laugh at his awful jokes. But this time was much harder.

He was gone for a long time, and even though they wrote each other frequently, nothing could quite fill the hole in his heart. He decided he hated sleeping alone ever since Runaan had begun to stay with him when he would return. Every morning he would awaken to find himself disappointed at the empty silence that met him. Runaan would always be up bright and early, practicing his sword-fighting in the living room or getting chores done for him before the sun even had the chance to peak over the horizon. He would have tea and breakfast ready for him every morning, and Ethari was convinced that there was no better sight than a messy, early-morning Runaan bustling away in the kitchen with his hair down.

No, he didn’t like having breakfast without Runaan at all. Just like he hated walking the market without their arms linked together, Runaan haggling over everything Ethari tried to buy. Just like he hated wandering the beaches alone, without his hard-ass, pirate-king lover to playfully kick sand at and push into the water. Just like he hated coming across a new merchant with fun new foods and goods he had never seen before without Runaan to explain what they were and eagerly buy the lot for him. Life was utterly dull without Runaan by his side.

But soon he would be back. Soon he would be back in his arms.

Runaan pulled his hair out of its messy bun as they approached the dock, allowing it to flow in the breeze as freely and lightly as he felt. The moment the ship was close enough to the dock, he leaped over the side and climbed down.

“Make sure she’s tied down good, lads! I’ll be back in a bit to help with the unloading!” He called to his crew as he ran towards the street.

His heart fluttered as he felt the little ring hidden in his coin purse bounce against his leg. Today was the day. He sped through the market on the familiar route he had taken hundreds of times before. People jumped out of his way as they saw the tattoos on his face, gazing after him questioningly. It wasn’t very usual to see the dreaded pirate king running through town like a giddy schoolgirl. He didn’t care, though. He was on a mission of utmost importance. His body was leading him to his heart as fast as it could carry him. Before he knew it, he could see the familiar old door with the splintering old sign dangling above it, swaying in the light breeze. His grin widened as he picked up his pace for the final few strides. He skidded to a halt in front of the workshop door and kicked it in.

“Ethari!” He shouted, ready to combust from the pure excitement and the slight nerves zipping around throughout his body. The tinker gasped in surprise from his position at his worktable, whipping around to see the most beautiful man he had ever laid eyes on grinning in the wide-open doorway. He gasped again and slapped a hand over his mouth as hot tears began to sting at the corners of his eyes.

“Runaan!” He replied, getting up from his stool and running toward his lover, “I didn’t know you’d be back so-“

He stopped hard in his tracks a few paces away from him when Runaan suddenly dropped to one knee, staring up into his eyes with the softest look he had ever seen on his hard features. Ethari watched silently with wide eyes as Runaan dug in his coin purse and retrieved a shiny golden band adorned with tiny, glittering aventurine crystals around the middle, holding it up to him.

“Marry me, Ethari.” He breathed. The tears were flowing freely down Ethari’s cheeks now.

“Are you sure?” He asked, voice small and quivering. Runaan nodded hastily, grabbing Ethari’s hands tightly.

“I don’t want to be without you for another second, my darling heart. I want to travel the world with you by my side. I want to show you all the amazing things I get to see. I want you to sing to me while we lay together in our hammock and let the waves rock us to sleep. I want to make you tea every morning for the rest of my life, just so I can see that beautiful, sleepy, lopsided grin of yours first thing every day. You are all I need in this life. Please, my love, my /heart/, be my forever.”

Ethari fell to his knees in front of him, sobbing into his hands. Runaan pulled him into a tight embrace, tangling a hand into his messy hair as Ethari buried his face in the crook of his neck. They stayed that way for a moment, Ethari crying onto his shoulder as Runaan comforted him gently. When Ethari had calmed down enough to think, Runaan chuckled softly.

“Is that a yes?” He teased.

Ethari pulled back, cupping Runaan’s face in his hands and staring deeply into his eyes.

“What else could it possibly be, my shade?” He sniffed before crashing their lips together desperately.

After a moment of passionate kissing, Runaan pulled back and took Ethari’s hand gently in his own, sliding the sparkling ring onto his finger. Ethari lifted his hand to admire it. The gems were the color of Runaan’s eyes, and they sparkled beautifully no matter which way the light hit them. Suddenly, he remember the little ring he had dropped on his table when his door had been busted in. He gasped and ran over to grab it. Runaan followed him curiously, trying to peek over his shoulder before Ethari turned and held it up to him.

“It was just supposed to be a ‘welcome back’ gift, but it seems it might be a bit more than that now.” He giggled as Runaan stared at it in awe.

“It’s beautiful...” he said as Ethari took his hand and gently placed it on his finger. He turned his hand over and over again, taking in every bit of the artistry and craftsmanship that went into the tiny piece of jewelry before grinning up at his newly betrothed. He fell into Ethari’s strong arms and kissed him again - more gently this time - before resting their foreheads together.

“So,” Ethari started with a mischievous grin, “does this mean I finally get to watch you swab the poop-deck now? I was never on the ship long enough to see it.” He teased. Runaan groaned, but he couldn’t mask the laugh that bubbled up from his belly.

“No,” he sassed back, “it means /I/ get to watch /you/ do it. The /king/ never does hard manual labor.” He grinned, pinching Ethari’s sides. Ethari snorted and grabbed his hands, wrapping his arms around him again and pinning them behind his back firmly. He smirked at him and brushed his nose lightly against Runaan’s.

“We’ll see about that later tonight now won’t we, my /king/.”

[amerileste-cressderqueen]

I’d Do It For You: A ThinkFast Mix

for @yoursaltness :)

i. Turn by The Wombats

I like the way your brain works, I like the way you try To run with the wolf pack when your legs are tired I like the way you turn me inside and out I like the way you turn

ii. Trust Issues by Olivia O’Brien

I'm just letting you know I'm emotionally unavailable I'd love to reciprocate your love but I'm incapable I know that you don't get it, but I'm just so unstable

iii. From Eden by Hozier

Honey you're familiar like my mirror years ago Idealism sits in prison, chivalry fell on it's sword Innocents died screaming, honey ask me I should know

iv. Coffee Breath by Neoflesh

Said you can trust me, I said it’s fine Because im not happy till I tell a lie Now my bedsheets smells like your cologne

v. Northern Boy by The Academic

Don't be afraid to love And this ain't a game of love And don't be afraid to love

vi. Light of My Life by Cvmel

You lift me up when I’m feeling low You kept me sane when I had no control I can’t believe this has happened to me But I, I feel alive because of you

vii. Fuck Feelings by Olivia O’Brien

I can't help myself when you're around Baby, I'm just tryna figure you out I don't wanna watch you turn me down So I'm just gonna turn back and go now (go now)

viii. Wasteland by Woodkid

Most of my sweet memories were buried in the sand The fire and the pain will now be coming to an end How did you get to save me from this desolate wasteland In your eyes I see the dawn of brighter days again.

ix. Truth Is A Beautiful Thing by London Grammar

To hold your heart, to hold your hand Would be to me, the greatest thing To hold your heart, hold your hand Would be to me, the bravest thing

x. Hardest of Hearts by Florence + the Machine

There is love in your body but you can't hold it in It pours from your eyes and spills from your skin Tenderest touch leaves the darkest of marks And the kindest of kisses break the hardest of hearts

[speedprofessor]

Did you find what you were looking for?

It's a loaded question; funny and strange all at once-- Though he doubted she truly knew the weight of her line of inquiry. It was one that had so long eluded him, one he ran towards aimlessly, never quite finding the answer, only feeling its faint edges.

" Hm." A sharp exhale is what he first gives her in response, the faint hint of a smile in the corner of his mouth as his gaze wandered off to the Central City skyline.

Who was he, now, having ran off the pages of his book? The museum display that had once sealed his fate was now dedicated to an Unknown Foe, the name Reverse Flash but a half-remembered memory. He had desperately wanted to be the hero, only to find himself the enemy. But now...Now, who was he going to be?

" I thought I did, once. Thought that I knew the answer." It's a quiet admission, half-spoken like a thought being mused aloud, " I don't think I do anymore."

[speedprofessor]

The Flash and Professor Zoom. a.k.a. The Condiments. ft. @legacyshaped

[speedprofessor]

❛ A hero? Like you? ❜

Superhero Sentence Starters

     Hero, the word gives him pause. For so long he was the furthest thing from it. An enemy to be hated, an opponent to be fought, a reverse of everything the Flash had stood for. Yet here he was, here they were, celebrating their accomplishments. Shared, united, sins of the past seemingly forgotten. 

     He could see the discomfort in her body language, there was a part of him that felt the same. Did they deserve to be here? To be counted as among friends? To celebrate? Were they imposters playing pretend, trying so hard to make things right that they believed their own lie of goodness? 

     “ Hero would not be a title many in this room would use for me, Dr. Dhawan.” He replies, simply, smallest of smiles at the corner of his mouth, “ I have made my fair share of mistakes, same as you.” Head cants to the side in thought, gaze briefly moving over to the rest of the party before turning to her, “ But if there is one thing I’ve learned, amongst these-- Heroes, legends, stories-- You cannot change the past, you have to move forward, or run forward, if you will, towards a better tomorrow. Whatever that may mean for you.”

      Reverse Flash, Professor Zoom. Did the name change the person, or was it a different coat of paint on the same wall? True change, was it in an instant, in a flash, or something more imperceptible? Doctor, Godspeed, Scientist, Villain -- Who would she decide to become, next?

[speedprofessor]

Tag drop: tumblr has cursed me for my hubris and my work is never finished edition

[speedprofessor]

Random Post Crisis Factoids:

In the New Timeline, Eobard spent years teaching as a professor of physics and later became the Curator for the Flash Museum of the 25th Century. He continued to teach, so that’s where the Professor Zoom nickname originated.

Upon regaining his powers and memories, he runs back to the 21st Century because he’s a hipster who loves to live in the past.

Eobard continues to use the Wells facade. He likes who he became whilst looking like that rather than who he used to be, so he is fond of the look. Plus: Handsome.

He can shift between his real face and Eowells at will, because why not.

While he uses his real identity among ‘friends’ and peers, should anyone ask why he looks like Harrison Wells, he’ll just say he’s his twin brother, Harry.

Because Harrison Wells did exist in this timeline-- But he died years ago. Because twist-- Tess Morgan is the creator of S.T.A.R. Labs in this timeline, not Harrison.

So we’re fridging OG Wells instead of Tess. It’s what she deserves.

Tess is alive, she is not a fond of Eobard parading around with Harrison’s face.

Business dinners are quite awkward.

He is allowed back at STAR Labs, so he splits his time between that and Hall of Justice.

He acts as the Bookie for the League, keeping track of the books, the budget, what’s required etc.

This partially stems from the fact that he is an extremely savvy businessman and planner, but also because he knows the rest of the League aren’t his biggest fans so he keeps to himself this way.

He’s happy to stick to the sidelines, but he will suit up if it’s absolutely necessary.

He’s not entirely used to the ‘No longer a bad guy’ thing yet, give him time.

He’s still disgustingly rich and bought back his season one house.

[speedprofessor]

THE SUIT - POST CRISIS VERSION.  

The original Reverse Flash suit is torn apart during the events of Crisis on Infinite Earths.

Upon the restoration of his memories and powers, Eobard uses the Speed Force to construct a new suit from the remnants of the old.

In terms of overall style, the suit is similar in design to the original; maintaining the fading to black aspect and the same siluette. The biggest stylistic difference is the bigger logo, covering more of the chest cavity and sporting a more vibrant red.

There is no visible zipper as Eobard either phases into the suit or it simply forms around him.

The fabric is not leather, instead it is a multi-layered mesh of nano-particles that are heat and cold resistant and able to self-repair in the event of a tear.

It is still housed within the Ring.

His shoulders and chest are thicker in material to offer more protection.

Due to the nature of the suit, it has a ‘soft’ and ‘tangible’ state, meaning parts of the armor can be both retracted at will but also taken off as if a regular piece of clothing.

So we can still have dramatic cowl removals don’t worry about it.

As for the cowl, it is largely the same, however it has a chinstrap-less version for variety. (Because unlike Barry, he can actually make the chin-less look work.)

Gideon and other assorted future technologies are still present within the suit.

[speedprofessor]

Random Post Crisis Factoids:

-Eobard once again assumes the identity of Harrison Wells in public. Since Nora Allen is not longer dead (again. yet), he is not known as a murderer. -Part of his reasoning for continuing to operate as Wells is due to the fact that Harrison Wells is a notable figure in history, another part is that he simply enjoys being him. -He knows it’s awkward for him to be back at Star Labs, so he tends to split his time mostly between the Hall of Justice and Flash Museum. -He buys a sizable stake in the Flash Museum, but doesn’t let anyone know it.He’s just there as a back up financier should the Museum ever falter on funding.  -Occasionally on weekends he holds a free to attend conference on Totally Hypothetical And Not At All First Hand Experience About The Flash’s Abilities. -As for League Business, he tends to act as the Chief Financial Officer of the organization, as it were. Whatever funding the League needs, whatever books need to be looked over, he’s the go to guy for it. -This stems partially from the fact that he is an extremely savvy businessman, another reason is because he knows most of the Leaguers aren’t really fond of him so he tends to take a step back from the On Field Heroics side of it.  -Also because he feels uncomfortable about the thought of being The Most Visible Speedster Hero during Barry’s absence. -When he does go on the field, usually on Oliver’s insistence, he uses the name Professor Zoom, since the name Reverse Flash doesn’t really fit him in this new world anymore. 

[speedprofessor]

together again — heh. sort of…

     He stands at the edge of the waterfront, hands resting on the metal railings as he looks across the bay to National City– the city that didn’t use to be there before. A New World, a new history, could he become a new man, he couldn’t help but wonder. The Legacy of the Reverse Flash was no more, the Museum held the monument of his sins no longer. 

     A fresh start— Gift of the Monitor, he supposed. 

     The sound of her voice pulls him away from his thoughts, head turning to look at the rapidly approaching woman. Starting over– But not entirely, he hoped. ‘‘ What, you don’t save the Multiverse from an all-consuming wave of anti-matter often? ’’ Mouth curls to a smile, laughter softly spilling from his lips. It was the strangest thing to find joy easier to come by, to feel the weight on his shoulders lighter than they’d ever been. It was the most welcome sensation. ‘‘ So– Did the Manhunter catch you up on–’’ He looks back towards the distant city, nodding in its direction, ‘‘–All this? It’s quite a lot, I should imagine. ’’

[speedprofessor]

‘ you know, we usually work as a team here. ’

     Team, the word causes him to straighten up, leaning back as he quirks an eyebrow in the other’s direction, ‘‘ Team. Is that what they think?’’ A nod of the head is given at the currently unoccupied table, lips pursed in thought. ‘‘ Tell me, Barry, just how many of them actually vouched for my place in this– team of ours?’’ He didn’t really need to know the answer, he knew it already– he wouldn’t have vouched for himself either. 

     ‘‘ Queen, yes, who else? Let’s see– Mr. Diggle flinches every time I do so much as move a muscle; Ms. Lance has had bad experiences with speedsters wearing my face in the past; Ms. Luthor’s attachment to this team only extends as far as where Ms. Danvers is concerned, and she, in turn, only tolerates me in the most generous sense of the word. ’’ He finds bitterness creeping into his voice, an old habit from times now well past, ‘‘ And Cisco– I don’t believe I need to explain that one, do you?’’ Eyes close for a moment, a soft exhale leaving him as he regains his composure, ‘‘ Do not get me wrong, I am humbled by the offer and my place in this team, but let us not fool ourselves in thinking they count me as one of them. ’’

[speedprofessor]

— i’d hate to be in your shoes.

     ‘‘ That was the problem– You didn’t even try to.’’ How could he? The Flash he had met that day already hated him for the things that were done to him, for the things that were not yet done by him. That was the thing about time travel, cause and effect became irrelevant after a while.

     It was, still, the strangest sensation. To look at Barry and no longer feel the sharp pang of hate that pierced his soul. Oh, the ache was still there, it wasn’t something that would just disappear overnight, but it was a duller sort of sensation. Like a wound that was starting to scab over. This was the point of their little get together, he figured. To allow himself, to allow the both of them, to talk, to understand, to move on. And if they were really lucky, perhaps even to begin to heal. 

     A reminiscing, almost melancholic, smile plays upon his lips, eyes focused on the swirling amber colored liquid in his glass. Not that either of them could get drunk, but he appreciated the taste nonetheless.‘‘ The ability to time travel, Barry–’’ He chews on his bottom lip, finding himself struggling to find the right words, ‘‘–You’re not the only person who suffered from it. ’’ 

[speedprofessor]

@oliverqxeen​ gets a post crisis starter because pain

     Grief. It was tangible in the air, hanging heavy over the heads of everyone in the city. The very weather seemed to echo the sentiment of the people below with its dark grey, oppressive clouds. It should not be like this. It should be the reverse, a celebration, not only over the protection of the Earth, but of infinite earths. Ah, but protection did not come without a cost, did it ever? 

     Across the bay, people lamented the death of their Hope. Putting to rest the fallen warrior who had spent all her strength in one final strike, one that could have shattered the heavens had she so desired. A bay that had not existed prior to the Reset. One of many changes in this new reality of theirs, he supposed. But that was not a matter for today. 

     For today, National City wasn’t the only city that mourned.

     Funny thing, long ago he would have loved to witness this. The death of the Flash, casualty of the Crisis. For so long he had looked at the newspaper of his disappearance as a guiding light to the future. ( a future that now, definitively, had ceased to be. ) For so long the impending fate of the Scarlet Speedster instilled him with a sense of hope. But now, standing where he stood, after experiencing what he, what they, had all experienced... He couldn’t help but share in the grief. 

     He waits for the ceremony to end, watching from a far flung corner, away from the crowd. He didn’t deserve to be among the people, among those who had truly loved their hero. How could he, when he had just stopped hating him?  

     His eyes remained ever focused on the main speaker of the ceremony, the man who had the unfortunate ‘ honor ’ of attending not one memorial, but two. That was the problem with having a public identity, it would not allow Oliver Queen to mourn in private. 

     ‘‘ They buried an empty coffin, didn’t they?’’ He comments after approaching him, long after the crowd has dispersed, ‘‘ I suppose it helps them feel a sense of... normalcy, after all that has happened. ’’ Brows furrow, gaze lingering on the memorial for a moment too long before turning to the man beside him, ‘‘ How are you holding up, Queen?’’ 

[speedprofessor]

Small crisis related tag drop aka will I ever stop making tags after woodkid songs the answer is No.