Video [1]

[harrisonwells]

[When the screen blinks on, the sender—lanky, black sweater, glasses being slipped off—is already centered and ready for it, clearly very familiar with the technology already, and he starts speaking immediately, quick and terse as if this is already taking up too much of his time.]

Good evening imPorts, my name is Dr. Harrison Wells. It is a...supreme...irony that I'm asking this, but to those of you who left your worlds as ordinary humans and arrived here with new abilities.

[There's a pause, Harrison's fingers tapping lightly against his lips, as he considers the reception he'd experienced on his arrival. Not cold, not remotely, but…knowing. Everyone he's seen in Heropa seems to know what he is, and that's...new. New and unpleasant. And he's reluctantly beginning to understand what the metahumans in Central City had gone through, being watched and whispered about.

He catches sight of the tattoo on his wrist, a very faint glow under the skin, and abruptly twitches his sleeve back down to cover it.

How do you cope?] I'm curious how you mastered them.

[It's a much more dismissive tone than the beginning of that sentence, very clearly not what he'd originally intended to say. The glasses go back on and he moves to switch off the transmission, then taps his finger against the edge of the screen, speculative.]

And as I will apparently be spending my time here making science fun and accessible for kids, I anticipate needing copious amounts of coffee. And I am...taking recommendations. On the best fast food in the area. Also anyone who understands a reference to STAR Labs and/or Central City.

[He looks like he’s going to add something else, then rethinks it. The screen blinks to black without another word.]

Comments

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[garrick]

[ Great. Just what this place needs.

There's a quick internal debate on if he should use video, go for text, any of the above, but at the end of the day Harrison will know in the next hour regardless of what Hunter does.

So he'll just slap a neutral smile on his face.]

This place gave you metahuman powers?

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[harrisonwells]

[Oh, no. No, no no no. He'd just gotten away from Hunter goddamned Zolomon, and of course, of course he's here.

Harrison's expression is the diametric opposite of a neutral smile, it's a narrow-eyed line.]

Well, I don't know. Hunter. Maybe you should come find out in person.

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[girlwithout]

Depends on the powers, I guess? Some of them don't really need mastering. [like super soldier-ness! That one's pretty no-brainer.] What kinda stuff did you get?

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[harrisonwells]

Few things. One of them's...an annoyance. [Increased hearing is going to be more than an annoyance, until he can learn to shut out all the little noises that baseline humans can't usually hear.]

The others, less annoying. Could come in handy. But at least one of them, 'Gravity Manipulation,' that'll need mastering. Is there... [Vague gestures, like he could pluck the answer out of the air] ...somewhere to train, someone to train with, do I just hope for the best?

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[heliophilic]

I know of both, though probably not the ones you're thinking of. I'm guessing with your horrible taste in food, you're with Cisco's band of horrible eaters.

[Seriously, does no one in that universe have taste buds?]

As for your main point... If you ask nicely, I might just help you master whatever the porter decided to give you.

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[harrisonwells]

So Cisco's here.

[It's more of a relief than he expects to know there's at least one friendly familiar face here. He'll let the comment about horrible taste in food go, people who haven't experienced Big Belly Burger haven't really lived, but it's not their fault.]

Define 'nicely.' And, why? Just like that?

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[pobrecisco]

[ Considering his conversation with Eobard the other night, this is suddenly confusing. ]

Wait, okay, but— Hi. But what.

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[harrisonwells]

Good to know you're still. Well, you. What, 'what'?

[He's still getting used to whatever the hell is going on here, but Cisco looks more confused than seems necessary.]

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[airshow]

Oh, great, it's you again.

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[harrisonwells]

...is it.

[Squint. That's not a reaction he'd expected. It's not the first time he's been mistaken for someone awful though, and last time it hadn't gone well. At all.]

That must be...disappointing? A relief? It's who again, exactly?

[mightthinkthat]

[ Ok, he's been here before, but apparently, he doesn't remember. He doesn't feel answering the first question, so he'll go with the subtext. ] You don't need to take the job, you know.

[harrisonwells]

[Sure doesn't. And is not the best right now at being mistaken for someone else with his face, either, considering he just got back from a kidnapping adventure.]

It isn't the worst. I'll look at something else once I run out of ideas.

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[trigeminalheadache]

[ Does she look amused? It's possible. ]

You're working with children? [ It comes out a bit harsher than she intends. ] The coffee shop down by the bank in Heropa is pretty good. Not Jitters but it does the trick nicely.

video 5ever

[harrisonwells]

Snow. [Yes, the relief is palpable even through the screen.] You're here. Are you all right?

text; private

[hsalf]

Well. If it isn't my favorite nobody. Your words, not mine.

["No one of consequence." Oh how young and naive he was back then.]

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[harrisonwells]

[It was Eobard's own fault for taking the nobody at his word.]

You know, when I was younger I wanted to meet myself. I changed my mind. I thought you were supposed to be dead.

voice; network id: dr. h. gottlieb

[mathemagier]

Well depending on your definition of 'mastery'.

But extensive testing in controlled environments was the answer as far as mine were concerned. Through progressive testing, I've come to understand the use and limitations of each, so that how I've come to be rather comfortable with them, personally.

But each set of abilities is unique, and even similar ones tend to vary in functionality to some extent. And of course, some are more difficult to test than others.

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[harrisonwells]

[Now this is encouraging. Harrison can absolutely get behind progressive testing in a controlled environment.]

That proposal has the most merit of any I've encountered. You wouldn't have any suggestions about tracking down a controlled environment for testing purposes.

[Which is when Harrison discovers the hissing of graphite against paper is very unpleasant to his enhanced hearing and quiet muttering can be heard as he chucks the pencil away and hunts down a pen instead.]

[inmyothertights]

Which city are you in?

[harrisonwells]

[Right. There's more than one, isn't there?]

Heropa. ...maybe I should have asked for seafood recommendations.

video. private.

[tardily]

Hi.

[ Barry is just done with this week and while under most normal circumstances he'd be quite pleased to see Harrison— Harry here, this is just another thing he'd prefer to not have to deal with right now. But he has to because what's another fire he has to deal with. ]

Should I just assume Caitlin and Cisco have caught up to what you missed here in this universe?

[ He's not pissed at Harry, but he's pissed because of all the people can he just maybe get Iris or Joe here in addition to this mess. That would be nice. This, not nearly as nice. ]

video. private.

[harrisonwells]

[Wow. Okay. Clearly the Barry Allen here is just as done with everything as the last Barry Allen he's talked to.]

Hi. Getting there. Need an update on what's happening where we're from, or did Caitlin fill you in already? Of course she wasn't there for all of it.

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[flowerette]

[ Raina remains uncertain about whether this is her Dr. Wells. He didn't mention being here once before. And since they largely pretended they weren't working together, she approaches this carefully. ]

It really depends on the abilities you have. Some powers come naturally to people, even if they have been ordinary humans beforehand. Some take a bit to get used to, like superstrength for instance. Are your abilities things you have to access or things that are in effect automatically?

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[harrisonwells]

[She might find out quickly that this isn't her Dr. Wells at all. There isn't a trace of recognition, just polite interest in her answer, and her question. Although, yes, there's a little side-glance at the mention of 'ordinary humans beforehand.']

Both, actually. Couple of each. Nothing...too drastic. Increased hearing is going to take getting used to. But gravity manipulation will take. A little work.

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[tactile_telekinesis]

Had powers my whole life so, coping wasn't an issue. Can't help out there.

But I do know STAR Labs and Central City.

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[harrisonwells]

Yeah?

[Squint. The kid doesn't look familiar. But he's much too old to have been affected by the particle accelerator explosion when he was born. At least, oh god, please tell him there isn't another rapidly-aging meta here. Griffin Grey and his aging every time he used his powers had shaken Harrison more than he wants to admit.]

Know anyone who works at STAR Labs where you're from?

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[foreshadower]

[ Oh Oh it's his buddy.

Dr. Harrison Wells.

AKA Eobard Thawne.

Right? ]

My friend, your job is worse this time than it was last time. How are you going to manage this?

[ Someone probably...needs to sit down and tell Shade all about CW Flash world already. ]

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[harrisonwells]

[Oh dear.

This isn't going to be a fun day for you, Shade.

This Dr. Harrison Wells is frowning at you like you've spoken a language he isn't familiar with.]

'This time.' As far as I know, this time is the only time, but what was it last time?

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[wifeonmars]

Oh! More people from Central City! Welcome!

[M'gann gives a wave; she is very noticeably green and possibly floating? Camera angle makes it difficult to tell.]

If you know STAR Labs, that means we're from similar universes. Probably.

[There are way too many to keep track of, honestly.]

Uh, anyways! To answer your other question, I've had what humans would call powers since I was born, but I had to practice at things like phase shifting and advanced telepathy.

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[harrisonwells]

[Okay. Well. That's certainly a green woman. He's dealt with a lot of metahumans, but he can't quite remember anyone changing color that drastically before. A little absently, with a noticeable frown, he raises a hand to return the greeting.]

I founded STAR Labs. On my Earth, at least. I'll need to practice one or two of mine—are you actually floating, or is that the camera angle?

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[khajidont]

I know both of them -- STAR Labs and Central City, I mean. But...

[This is always a fun conversation!]

Has anyone told you you might've been here before...?

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[harrisonwells]

Uh huh. Look.

[The glasses come off again, and he scrubs his face with a hand before addressing the screen, quick and terse, a summary. This will clear everything up, right?]

No. I haven't been here before. He looks like me because he stole my doppelganger's face and name. He's not Wells, I'm Wells. It's not complicated.

[Speak for yourself, Harrison, it's pretty complicated. Tone that down before you start writing about science for children.]

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[quickgenius]

Dad.

[There is a lot in that one little word. Shock. Joy. Relief. So much relief. And it’s plain to see on her face, in her eyes. She’d only just gotten him back, after Griffin Grey had kidnapped him. And then she’d ended up HERE, with wings, and she thinks she’s stronger than she was back on the other earth. Back home. Not drastically, but enough that she’s aware. And who knows what else is different about her, been changed.

She hasn’t had time to find out.

She’d panicked, when she first arrived. Still is a little panicked. Determined to adapt, as much because that’s who she is, as because she has no other choice. But she HAS WINGS.

God she’s really happy to see her dad.]

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[harrisonwells]

Jesse.

[And just for a moment, every ounce of tension bleeds out of him and it's just pure relief beaming back at her.]

You're here. Hi sweetie. You're here. I'm...really glad to see you. Where are you?

[Which is when he notices the shadows over her shoulders. And squints and looks closer.]

...sweetie, what are...what is that?

[liverletdie]

Well, powers aren't that hard to master. [ Says the guy who gave himself powers. ]

But I've heard of Star Labs. I hired someone from there.

[harrisonwells]

Oh, well then. Problem solved. [Snappy sarcasm right back. Powers were easy to master for you? How nice, for you.

But that's interesting.] Really. Who's that? And hired for what?

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[hawkfire]

Central City and STAR Labs are both familiar to me? One, like, more vaguely than the other, though.

[Hawkfire shrugs a little.]

I'm still getting used to having powers, honestly. Haven't really brought them out all that much.

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[harrisonwells]

[Well, that's a start.]

Which one is the vague one? And I'm guessing yours are the kind of powers that have an on/off switch?

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[infomodder]

[So this is happening. At first Will assumes it's That Thing. The Thing where people are around for a while, vanish, and come back with no memories of ever being here. The Thing where appropriate reactions tend to become blurred but the least that can be done is not making things overwhelming as fuck and awkward. Usually he'd read other reactions first. Not this time. (He may learn a lesson from this later, stay tuned for more.)]

Sometimes you don't have to master them. They kick in whether you want them to or not. For the more difficult ones, I asked people who had more knowledge about the issue. [People like Dr. Wells because who the hell is Eobard.]
The Lucky Cat Café is pretty good.

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[harrisonwells]

[Yes, this time a review of other reactions might have been...wise. Because this isn't that Thing. It's the Thing where someone shows up brand-new and already tired of being mistaken, again, for someone who stole his face, and name. From a different world. It's complicated and annoying and so is the real Harrison Wells, accept no substitutes.]

So far the verdict is practice for one, adapting for the others. It's a start. Lucky Cat Café, sounds interesting. Does it involve actual cats?

[Because at this point nothing would surprise him, but it's better to know going in. He wears a lot of black.]

[systemize]

[ Cadel is an adorable thirteen year old who even looks young for his age, but his expression is serious and thoughtful, and his Australian-accented words are clipped and precise. ]

I've been practicing by myself in an isolated area in case something goes wrong. You know you don't have to do your assigned job, right?

[harrisonwells]

But I'm thinking of the children.

[So dry, Harrison. Besides, if he was really thinking of the children, he would try to find another job. But who knows, maybe his particular brand of sarcasm will appeal.

Speaking of the children, is this one of them? He's almost certainly the youngest person who's answered so far, but after encountering the artificially-aging metahuman, Harrison doesn't trust himself to guess ages.]

I don't think anything I can do is going to permanently ruin someone's day. But... [He taps the pad of paper.] I have a few ideas.

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[quaerit]

The import school helped me. Xavier's. I don't know how I'd have managed it without them, in fact.

[ He'd been so uncertain of them at first. Being in a place where it was normal to feel strange and learn how to deal with that had helped immeasurably. It's why Gansey always recommends them to new people.

Speaking of which: ]

I've not heard of Central City, I'm sorry. My hometown, Henrietta, doesn't exist in this world. You might find that's the case for yours as well, and I'm sorry if so. It doesn't make things any easier to accept.

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[harrisonwells]

Xavier's, right.

[Writing that down, starting page three of the notes he's taken so far during these conversations. They've proven surprisingly useful.

As he writes, he shakes his head, quick and terse.]

It's fine. This is the third world I've spent time in. I'll adapt. At least we're on the coast here, I've always been partial to seafood. What did the porter give you?

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[doubleblind]

What's your specialty? I'm guessing if they've got you teaching science, you actually know some science.

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[harrisonwells]

I started in particle physics a few decades ago, but I'm branched out into bioengineering and metahuman research, plus quantum mechanics on the side. I'll be writing about it, apparently. For kids.

[Piece of cake. Right?]

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[attainment]

My work often keeps me busy, and so I don't always have time to cook. These are some healthier alternatives I've found in the area. [He's already sent a list of pings.]

As for powers, I've had mine since I was two, so I can't say from personal experience. My partner currently coaches people who need help mastering their abilities, though, if that sounds at all useful to you.

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[harrisonwells]

Got it. [Efficiency is always appreciated. And yes, he acknowledges that no one can live on fast food forever.]

That might be useful to me. So far they don't seem to be interfering much, but I prefer to know what I'm doing. Your partner?