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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

...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.

You don't seem to be managing well now, and I doubt that will change. You seem too independent to ask for help.

Thank you for your assessment, as unsolicited as it may be. I have some leads on help with this. Leads that aren't the other you.

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