maskormenace | video; road not taken

There's been some talk, I've noticed, over the network for the past few days. Mainly about how people have changed and aren't acting as "themselves." I investigated into this and uncovered past messages I've posted onto this server, under my name, and yet not with my face.

Another version of myself, from a different timeline, and I have taken his place. He seemed to know far more than I do as well, likely due to being ahead of his timeline in comparison to my own. I've only time traveled a couple times, but he seems to be something of a veteran.

[And, what Eobard Thawne won't mention, is that this version of him was plagued with certain particularities that he doesn't have. Things he doesn't know if he quite wants.]

Timelines have been mismatched. I'm not the man from those past feeds, despite the matching of names, and I am sure I will never be him. And yet... I wonder if there are some who would prefer things the way they are now. To not "go back" to what seems to be "normal".

It may seem foolish to some of you, but I wonder what will happen to me should things be fixed. Will I vanish away, a remnant destroyed? Will I be sent back to where I belong, while my counterpart is restored? It's the kind of question that might be hard for people to ponder if they see time through a linear lens.

I think those of us who were affected by whatever caused this should take this into consideration. Do you even want to go back to who you used to be? To be changed into another version of yourself that may be completely... wrong, the way you see it? I can't say I'm fond of the idea.

[ooc: for RNT, Eobard's change is that he never came to hate the Flash. Still a sociopath, but his obsessive need for revenge never manifested.]

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[ She knows that face, and even though she'd only seen it the one time, she would never forget it. After they sent him back to his time, she thought she'd never see this face again.

That she wouldn't have to see it ever again. ]

And what about those of us who know how things are supposed to be?

What about you? [He repeats the question back to her, no recognition toward her in his tone.] What value does your opinion have?

No, you're right. That was a silly question to ask you. Though I'd say the man you were would have valued my opinion. [ At least, this is what she's going to let herself believe right now. ] But can you say with any sort of certainty that these mismatched timelines aren't doing irreparable damage to the fabric of time itself? That the only way to prevent some catastrophic event from occurring, like a singularity, is to right things? What good is continued existence if that existence only lasts a handful of days.

Changing things back could just magnify that damage. Changing time in any regard upsets the balance. I would argue that changing things again may make matters even worse.

You would argue that because leaving things as they currently are benefits you. You wouldn't want to be unmade from existence.

[ She very narrowly includes again to the end of that. ]

Can you blame me? I don't want to be erased from existence as much as the next person does.

[Which, ironically, he has no idea actually happens.]

I can't blame you. But I would hope, if I was the one who was affected, that someone who knows me would be arguing for things to go back.

A fair point. I'm sure my alternate would like to come back too. But, he isn't here. And I am.

[So, yeah, fuck him.]

Yeah, well, the only thing I ever saw your sense of self-preservation come in second to was wanting to hurt Barry.

[He furrows his brow a little.]

...Who's Barry? Someone my alternate self knew of?

[ ...is it possible there's some version of Eobard Thawne that has dedicated his existence to ending the Flash's? She pinches the bridge of her nose. ]

You could say that. Yeah.

[It is most certainly possible.]

Well, I don't know him. I can't really say I want to hurt him, unless he's done something to deserve it. Something directly to me that is.

[Emphasis on directly. He doesn't give a damn about his alternate selves.]

I can't say that's outside the realm of possibility right now.

[ Considering Barry is currently Zoom, and Eobard is still a speedster. With Harrison and Jesse now speedsters too, this place is becoming a veritable Speed Force buffet. ]

I suppose he's been changed as well? No wonder you seem so frustrated.

[ Her eyes narrow, fixing him with a glare through the video. ]

Seeing someone I care about, that I love be turned into the polar opposite of who and what he is? No, I'm not frustrated.

[Ah. Well then.]

So that's your motive for seeking a change back. I suppose it must be an inconvenience for such a change to occur then. Yet, that person your friend is now... it's just another version of him. One you simply weren't aware of until now.

Nearly everyone I know has been changed. And it's not just that — there is so much turmoil among others who are in the same situation as I am, I live in a constant state of having a headache, even just a small one. So this is more than just inconvenient.

[ In her current distress, she might have just said something she shouldn't have. ]

Migraines are a sign of stress. But, as I said, it's really not your problem. And you shouldn't treat it as such. May improve your headache problems.

No, but you see, it is my problem. The minute someone gets within fifteen feet of me, it literally becomes my problem. And seeing as how I can't exactly disappear off into nowhere and become a hermit, it is always going to be my problem.

[ Honestly, right now? If he was anywhere nearby, she'd consider finding him. ]

...Is that what your power is? I understand this places gives them to those who have none before. What exactly do you mean it just "becomes" your problem?

[Now he's more interested in hearing her woes, if they come from a place of ability and less from a place of whining.]

[ And now she realizes what she's exactly said. It's certainly nothing she wanted to put out publicly, but it's been done. Now she can just try to do some damage control.

Which includes making the rest of this private. ]

I'm an empath. Right now, it's pretty much all input, all the time. So whatever someone else is feeling, I end up being at that emotion's mercy.

I see. Then I can see why you're in turmoil. Is there no way to control it?

I'm ... learning. Which can be slow going, considering mental abilities aren't my group's forte. It's actually something the other you offered to help with.

...He must like you then. To some degree.

[Because he wouldn't ever help someone out of pure empathy for their situation. He can't fathom another version of himself would be so far different in that regard.]

I, however, won't be extending that offer to a complete stranger.

I couldn't really say.

[ She hasn't been able to really place where her relationship with Eobard falls. But that's a thought for another time. ]

I wouldn't dream of asking you. I can manage in the interim.

video; private.

hsalf - 2016-06-24 18:59 (UTC) - Expand

trigeminalheadache - 2016-06-24 20:29 (UTC) - Expand