mach two. video. id reads the flash. backdated to late on the 22nd.

[tardily]

[ what the video feed shows. is well. a rather tall individual dressed in well, a crimson suit with a mask that has a pretty cool lightning bolt on the chest. when he speaks there's a slight distortion that's caused by vibrating. originally he had planned on vibrating his face as well, but vocal cords will do for the identity hiding for now. besides, this is something you need to see- the general outline of his face for. ]

I don't need to underline how serious this virus is since some others have already done this. And you already know to quarantine yourself though medical areas are more equipped to handle that then whatever makeshift quarantine you make in your bedroom. If you're really scared about infecting anyone else while trying to get there. I'd be willing to take you to one myself and I'm probably about as immune as they come and I move pretty fast so you won't be breathing on anyone but me. All you have to do is just message the Flash.

[ which brings him to a much better points. ]

I know those of you who are getting sick or who have friends who are sick are concerned. And viruses that are airborne tend to make people panic. But that's exactly what's bad to do when it comes to this. It'll just make things worse for all of us and I know none of us want that. [ which actually brings him to the original reason he actually made this. ] If you're Immune, even if you just think you are because of your biology from home and you're not already doing something. Helping with keeping everyone calm beyond the quarantine that we've tried to put in place would be a good idea. It's what I'm trying to do and I know none of us want this to progress any more than it already is.

Comments

[shuckit]

Back home, that's what they did. The immune guarded the Cran-- the infected, in, I guess, whatever they called quarantine.

[ crank palaces, teresa called it. she'd showed him, too, through their telepathy. it was sick. ]

If people start going past the Gone here... we're gonna need people to keep the green zone quarantine safe.

[ because they'll come for them, like they had in the dorm, screaming and thrashing and trying to get through the windows. he hates that he's saying this, that he's thinking of any of them like this already, but... it's the truth of it. ]

[tardily]

I don't blame them for doing it. It's not that much of a quarantine if the people who are infected are running around.

[ if he wasn't wearing his mask and if he was more pessimistic, he'd probably comment on how that didn't work, but it seems a little tactless ]

Everyone wouldn't go past the Gone at the same time would they?

[ if there's a hint of confusion at the phrase the Gone it's not something he feels the need to really figure out. ] Or does that tend to act a domino effect once someone does that?

[shuckit]

It'll be a lot harder to round up the infected than keep the healthy safe, at this point. It's already spread to Maurtia Falls.

[ it doesn't contain. it never does. ]

Depends. If the all got it at the same time, maybe. Brain activity accelerates it. If they're under a lot of stress or something, it'll degenerate them faster. [ his lips press tight, and thomas swallows, remembering the Cranks in the Underneath. ]

It can be just weeks between when you still get moments of sanity, and when you're totally gone.

[ Gone. Past the Gone - that's what they call it. When there's no more humanity left in them. ]

[tardily]

Not if you've got superspeed, but I understand what you're saying.

[ but stubbornly he really does want to hope that they can do both. ]

And since it's something none of us are familiar with except you and your friends, stress is already there and gets made worse like an endless circle. [ a horrifying disease cycle. of all the diseases in all the universes it had to be this one. ]

But not dead. Just weeks is better than just a week or days. It gives us more time to actually help.

[Audio]

[hands4healing]

[There's a young woman's voice, vibrating too, but with controlled (well, somewhat, at least) anger.]

I'm looking for a place to go. I can't stay here - it's a home. There are other people living here besides me. I don't want to infect them!

[permavideo]

[tardily]

[ It's a little weird hearing a vibration in someone else's voice but Barry quickly pushes past the weird feeling to focus on the matter at had. ]

I don't think anyone wants that. Which city is the house you're in right now? [ He wants to optimistically assume Heropa, but he knows that it might not be the case. ] I can take you to one of the quarantine areas.

[perma-audio]

[hands4healing]

Heropa. Number thirty-five. My boyfriend's working at the quarantine unit for Heropa. The one where everyone's safe.

[tardily]

At least you know he's somewhere safe. I'm not that far from there, but I'm not going to break down any doors, so you'll have to open the door if you're wanting me to come and get you.

[hands4healing]

Don't break down doors. My dog's in here. I don't want her getting out.

[A pause.]

How are you immune?

video; ID reads Superman

[andaway]

Are you completely sure you're immune? I've been working on the assumption that all of us- all of the metahumans, that is- could also get infected just in case. This virus, it’s… unlike anything I’ve ever seen.

video;

[tardily]

As sure as I can be, my doctor cleared me to do it. [ That is not the entire truth, but there's a part of Barry that doesn't want to admit just because it feels almost like a failure if he does. ] The virus isn't like anything any of us have seen, but I live in Heropa, Superman.

If I was going to get sick I'd have showed the symptoms already and I've seen nothing. And even if it's a very delayed onset, I'm willing to take the risk.

video;

[andaway]

[He nods. He's still not sure they won't also be infecting other people even if they don't get infected themselves, but it's not like they can just sit on their hands and do nothing while people need them.]

Alright then. If you need help carrying people you should give me a call, I'm trying to keep an ear out but it's hard in the middle of this panic.

video;

[tardily]

[ There's the unfortunate risk they both have to take, isn't it? It's a little worrisome that they can't know for sure, but if they waited then who knows what could happen. Barry manages a nod of his own. ]

I'll definitely call. Especially if I can't lift them with just my upper body strength. [ The one definite downside to not being the Barry Allen or Flash some of them may know is the different body type. ] And I'll try and act as your second set of ears. Since two sets are better than one in a panic.

[ There's this millisecond of a pause before: ] If you need anything that's not carrying people or listening, you can call me too.

[illuminescent]

You are immune?

Will you be trying to assist people?

Please, I hope that to mean you are the manner of soul who would help any in need.

[tardily]

Yeah, I'm immune and trying to help people. It'd be a waste of my immunity if I didn't.

[ As for the rest though. ]

As long as I can get to them, I usually try and help everyone. This is what I do at home, without the virus element.

[illuminescent]

Can you carry a person? I am not so heavy, and I do wish to help, for I think my healing gift may assist those who are burdened with this illness.

[tardily]

I can definitely carry a person as long as they're not heavier than me. It's what I was mostly offering, I didn't think about trying to take uninfected to infected even with healing factors. If you tell me where you are I could be there in a flash.

video;

[truesight]

[ Rachel doesn't look particularly sick, but like. her eyes are kind of glowing, and her head's buzzing ( not that he can hear it, but it's probably obvious she's distracted by something ). and she thought it was her power trying to do its thing, but. mmmaybe not. she's also wandering around the city, although part of her knows she's not supposed to be. it's like she just woke up out here and can't remember how to get home. but then this feed pops up and o h ]

I think I need help. Can you help me?

video;

[tardily]

[ the glowing part is what gets Barry first. he's getting used to things being weird ( impossible, different, whatever you'd like to call it ) here and even Hal does his glowing thing with his powers. but seeing Rachel's eyes kind of glowing still catches him off guard. ]

If that glow from your eyes isn't all natural, I think you do too. [ but right. ] Wouldn't have told the general population I could help if I couldn't, so yeah, I can.

video;

[truesight]

It's part of my power.

[ somebody sounds a bit spaced out, yep. she blinks her eyes a few times, deliberate and slow, but it doesn't stop it. she can't focus ]

I'm- outside. [ YES good we all know that ] I think that's the library. [ but it's kind of like trying to see through a fog, so she turns her communicator around, showing him the buildings she's closest to ] I can't tell if I'm getting sick or if this virus is just screwing with my power, but I need to get to the hospital. I don't want to get anyone sick.

video;

[tardily]

That's a new one.

[ he tries to not make it sound mocking but he knows the vibration probably makes it sound that way anyway. thankfully ( well not thankfully but still ) rachel's focus seems shot enough that she doesn't appear to notice. ]

It's the library, unless they've suddenly changed it. And it could be both. Considering it's not from this world, I wouldn't put anything past it when it comes to screwing with things. [ and that kids is about as pessimistic as barry allen gets. ] Give me a minute and I'll be there. Just don't move, okay? Because if you move I won't be able to find you as easily.

And I don't want anything bad to happen to because of moving.

Breaking hiatus for this.

[hartleylittleworkingsong]

[ Comm name reads "Hartley Rathaway". ]

What the flute...

[ He should not be so taken aback by this. There are people here who are looking pretty good for the dead.

It's just a little insulting that he's so young.

Hartley knows all four Flashes - five if the temporary stint of Jesse is counted - and he thinks he has this narrowed down to two, because the other two are here, in some alternate form, and he can't imagine having to deal with two Wally Wests or Bart Allens.

... equally terrifying ideas, really. ]

New uniform?

[ It's a placid, casual question. He's hoping for Jay, personally. But also, not. He'd have to admit that he missed the helmet. ]

i can think of no better way to break a hiatus.

[tardily]

What the flute. Seriously? [ If it makes Hartley feel any better, he's not the only one taken aback by things. Of course, it's for entirely different reasons, but there's still that element that makes Barry honestly stare.

Because all the people who know him that he's met here are all— people from his world or they're people he's never met. Hartley on the other hand is someone he's met recently ( well, recently at home ). There's a second where Barry swears he can still feel the ringing in his ears and the pain in his body from what Hartley did before he realizes that's not possible and this isn't the same Hartley.

Still, for as good as Barry likes to be or tries to be, he has to bite down on his desire to say something surprisingly vicious at Hartley because that whole altercation is not one he'd like to relive in his life time. He goes for a much safer answer in the end. ]

Captain Cold and Heat Wave might have messed up one recently. But it's still pretty close to my usual. [ Usual. The only one he's ever had, same difference.

This has officially reached a level of weird that no one else in this place can top, to be honest. ]

Making Barry Allen miserable used to be the highlight of his day.

[hartleylittleworkingsong]

I was going to go with "shut the french horn," but I think I used that one. It's hard to keep track.

[ The staring is mutual, and Hartley doesn't try to cover it. Why should he? He's assuming they've met, assuming that all sorts of assumptions are being made behind the blur of features. He's okay with it.

That doesn't mean he's about to do anything to provoke a response from the man. No sonic booms in his apartment, please and thank you. Hartley even went to the trouble of removing all tech and instruments from view before responding to this. He'd argue that he needs them for protection, but he's not sure this Flash would care. ]

Len and Mick are here?

[ Hartley half-cringes at the idea. He doesn't have to assume he's on their shit list: he is. ]

I haven't seen anything about them on the Network.

[ They'd have thermally wrecked something upon arrival. It wouldn't have taken long, or would it? Len's gone straight before. Then again... ]

For the record, it's not so close. The red's all wrong. You're normally more stop sign.

and now look at it. little baby flash taking the joy out of it.

[tardily]

If this is how you act after a few years, I don't think anyone is going to handle it well. Music whatever that is, who does that? For the record, Hartley, you haven't used it or the flute one. Or an instrument in general one to me.

[ It's taking all of Barry's self control to not just rip off his mask or at the very least stop vibrating enough to show his face. He's— parts him the parts of his head that are very much the norm for a twenty-five year old dude are a little annoyed. Barry is capable of forgiveness but Hartley had tried to kill him at home right before he got here and honestly, he was a massive dick while doing it. Come to think of it, maybe he could see Hartley doing this as he aged. If only because it seems enough of a douche move.

It's a good thing Hartley hid the tech and instruments, Barry Allen being Barry Allen aside, he's probably would have gone straight to Hartley's door. ]

If they are I'm hoping they wait until this blows over to say hello.

[ Because he is not exactly prepared to deal with them and this and apparently Hartley Rathaway only not his Hartley, as much as that idea makes him cringe a little. ]

I meant at home. Central City? I'm not explaining that fight to you beyond them going to jail after wrecking my suit.

[ Which is entirely not the point when Hartley's describing his outfit as not close and stop sign. ]

The closest I got to stop sign was the time we were doing tests. And that was spandex. I've never been stop sign. Crimson or scarlet or red, but not stop sign. [ Stop sign. Really? ] I may become stop sign, but not today. This is my usual.