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[ The feed opens up to a young woman sitting behind the counter of a flower shop. Several flower arrangements are lined up behind her, some more artfully arranged - and frankly, more gorgeous - than others.

(They're works in progress, okay?) On the bright side, she's sticking to safe combinations or single-flower bouquets, rather than branching out. ]

Hey, everyone. [ She beams into the camera; first impressions matter, after all. ] I've gotta ask, especially if you've been here a while: what's one thing you wish you'd known when you first got here?

I'm no stranger to parallel universes - trust me, living in Central City will do that to you - but it's still kind of surreal, you know? This doesn't have to be anything life-changing. It can be something small like, oh... I don't know, your new favorite coffee place?

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[ For starters, she last remembers him being torn up about his dad - about Dr. Allen, about his sudden and tragic passing - but Iris doesn't want to push it now. If he's not feeling the burden of Central City on his shoulders, he deserves to stay that light and carefree.

God, she missed seeing that smile. (Is it weird, saying she missed that about him when she'd only seen him 48 hours ago?)

So she returns it right back at him, positively beaming and tucking some stray hairs out of her face. She'll question it later, once they've settled down. Maybe. ]

I could say the same thing. [ She laughs, ] So... if you're up to it, tell me more about this strange, magical other-Florida. How've you been adjusting?

[ Well, from the looks of it, but it could also be the Best Friend Effect. ]

[ this is where it gets a little awkward, isn't it? like how he'd been spending his time in the new, alternate universe he'd created, he hasn't been paying too much attention to things. it isn't because he's oblivious — it doesn't suit a man who combs through evidence fifty times, who memorises the shape of a particular sized shoe so he can spot it the second he walks onto a crime scene. ]

[ his hand goes up behind his neck. ]

I've been okay. [ he doesn't sound entirely convincing, not to his ears and least of all iris'. ] The Flash has been around ... I've been a P.A. for a video game, and ... [ he's left the barry allen of central city, of the timeline thawne created, behind. ] Been eating a lot.

[ hand falling down, he admits, ] It's kind of been like a holiday. There's other superheroes here to take care of the bad guys, so I've been able to put my feet up.

[ Now that doesn't sound like Barry. Letting some other superpowered person swoop in and save the day? (Even if there are a ton, thanks to the Porters?) Then again, he did just lose his dad... and that's not something a guy easily bounces back from. Iris furrows her brow in concern. ]

For two whole months? [ She laughs, trying to wrap her head around it. It's strange, but if it helps him cope... it helps him cope. ] You haven't even thought about going back to being a CSI? I know they usually require a degree, but imPorts could probably get an exception...

Uh.

[ he'd thought about it, and then he'd decided to pass. he'd never been a personal assistant before, no less for a video game! there was something different in it, a chance to try something new, and most importantly, escape. being a csi meant he'd have to go back to how it was before — in the original timeline, and then the paradise timeline. a part of barry was afraid the third time the clock struck that he'd be turned into a pumpkin and not a carriage. ]

[ his hand scratches at his chin in an attempt to hide his face. he scrunches it up, and his voice pitches high. ] Not really?

[ his hands clasp together quickly. ] I don't mind being a P.A. I still get to run around and do things, and it's something different. And I'm always a CSI. Earth-1, Earth-2 ... [ his face scrunches up, and his words start to feel like they're normal. he's on a roll. it's not the best kind of roll, but it's one nonetheless. ] Does my Earth-3 need me to do the same job I'm pretty much destined to be in?

[ When he puts it like that, Iris doesn't have the heart to question his new career change. He isn't Earth-2 Barry and he sure isn't Earth-3 Barry; no, he's finding his own path, and if that involves running errands for some arrogant video game producer, then so be it. ]

No, of course not. [ Does it challenge you? she wants to ask, but honestly, she's not nerdy enough to tell. For all she knows, he could be learning how to program things or design them or whatever a guy needs to get a game up and running. ] What kind of game is it? Anything you played back home?

[ it isn't challenging at all. being an assistant doesn't mean he's running any faster, learning any programming, doing anything that'll eventually lead him to becoming the barry who creates "gideon". if anything, it's allowing him to be stagnant. ]

[ he misses being challenged, he misses helping people. but ... barry couldn't help his father, his mother, eddie, the first wells ... the alternate universe he had created had stolen all the reminders of his failures from him, and so does this job. ]

No. [ he shakes his head. ] It's "Ronnie the Aardvark: Better Be Quick: The Quickening." [ he says it with a grin. ] I have a feeling the people who gave me my file suggested me for the job. A little irony never killed anyone.

[ but it sure did bore barry. ]

[ She stares, half-wondering if he's kidding at the name, but also just half-wondering what kind of nerds would give an Aardvark super-speed. Was he also gonna wear a red and yellow supersuit? Would it have that giant lightning bolt across his chest??

These are Important Questions, and yet Iris suspects that this world lacks her sense of humor. ]

But it sure could slow someone down. [ hint hint. ] Though you know, for extra irony.... I probably would've chosen a turtle.

[ he smiles, brows furrowing together. his voice pitches high, like it usually does when barry's questioning something that could, possibly, become an opinion of him. ] You don't think the Flash could be an aardvark if he was an animal? I was hoping for Spongebob but I don't have the laugh he does.

[ a turtle suited barry allen better than the flash. the flash, after all, always won each race, with skill and speed. people believe in the hare to win each race he enters, especially when faced against a slower opponent. barry allen had always been viewed as the turtle, skills and capabilities unacknowledged, and with very little faith attached to him. ]

[ sometimes, though, the flash and barry allen intertwined. barry doesn't like to think so right now. the flash never would've put the city at jeopardy by erasing the timeline, growing comfortable in an alternate universe, and not once thinking to gear up in his suit. ]

[ Turtles are cute!! They also happen to be pretty awesome creatures. They may be slow, but they're steady on their feet, and they always finish whatever they started. They defend people with their giant shells, and they're loyal to their friends and - and this metaphor is getting away from her, but Iris sees so much good in Barry. Even if he is languishing away on a two month long vacation (with an aardvark.)

Iris's expression softens. How can she best tell him that she'd meant it in the best of light...? ]

I think the Flash could be any animal he wanted to be. [ . . . ] Even if it is Spongebob.

[ Just don't make her the squirrel, okay? ]

Is Spongebob really an animal? He's more like a kitchen sponge.

[ barry allen, destroying kid cartoons one sponge at a time with logic. ]

[ if the flash was an animal, it'd be one that's quick, a cheetah, perhaps, or even a dragon, ancient and old but so very powerful. but barry knows he'd prefer to be a dragon than anything else, because they're mystical — they're the animal you'd hope to be when you crack open your egg and step forth into the world. it's how he's always wanted to be, large, formidable, an intimidating enemy. ]

[ he should be the dragon from shrek. ]

[ he smiles, big and goofy. he's about to say it. he's about to say which bikini bottom animal she should be ... ]

You can always be Patrick!

[ There he goes again, using science and reason to defy the fun and whimsy that so often goes along with one of her favorite cartoons. Then again, isn't that what she loves about him?

Iris rolls her eyes at him, fighting the temptation to smile. She likes the idea well enough - that wherever Barry goes, she'd be there too - but Patrick? Really...? ]

Oh, come on. I'd rather - [ She pauses, as if just realizing something, ] Wait. Does Spongebob even exist in this world?

[ remember that conversation where barry tried to solve the unsolvable mystery of how catdog went to the bathroom? the universe wishes it could forget. he cannot help himself, needing to bring his forensic eye into everything. ]

[ barry's face scrunches up in offense, hand slapping against his chest. he recoils for good measure. ] Does Spongebob — [ he shakes his head, much like an overdramatic fangirl. ] I'm going to pretend you did not just imply Mr Krabs was not real. Of course Spongebob is real. [ his hand presses harder against his chest as he says with conviction, ] He's ready.

[ for the love of god, shove a flower in his mouth, please. ]

[ Barry. . . sweetheart. . . Iris stares blankly for a couple of seconds, before deciding to just roll with the overdramatics and go with it. Especially since she started this nerd train. She might as well steer it to its final destination. ]

Uh-huh. [ . . . ] Someone's gotta collect all those Dragon Balls, and it isn't him.

[ She knows exactly what she deserves for that slight against his favorite Japanese cartoon (or multiple?? She never kept up with 'em), so she rushes behind the counter, as if expecting (playful) retaliation for "confusing" two vastly different stories.

At least this time, she's got a shield of purple and white Irises. ]

Edited 2017-09-19 19:10 (UTC)

[ it happens in a flash: barry's expression shifts, mouth dropping open, a gasp beginning to form its sound … but then he stops. shaking his head, barry raises his hands. ] I can't do this. [ he looks to the ground, turns half away from her, then back to her. all within a manner of seconds, barry's gone through the surprise, hurt, distrust, anger, and grieving all over social media. ]

You are so lucky we're best friends because I — [ raising his hand, he gestures between the two of them, almost too quick for his hand to be properly seen. ] — cannot be seen with someone who purposefully disrespects not only one epic anime, but two. [ hand pressing against his chest, he takes a few steps forward with long strides towards where she hides. ] In two. Ow, it hurts.

[ He's equally lucky that she loves him, as she turns her head so she can laugh at his over-exaggerated hurt. He's gonna blast this all over social media, she can already tell.

In this unexpected battle, she's the loser - but oh, she can't say she really minds. ]

Um, excuse me? If I'm so bad at knowing your anime, then we'll just have to watch them all over again. [ She says, like it'll stick after the nth time. How many times has she watched both shows again?? ] And if I manage to figure out the whole Dragonball thing...

[ She pauses, for big dramatic effect, ] Not only will you have to be seen with me? But you're also gonna dive back into the wonderful world of science.

Dragonball Z.

[ barry fakes a wince. there's no hope for iris west when she can't get one simple anime title right! and it's the easiest. ]

Seen with you? [ his face scrunches up as he feigns pain. ] That's the last thing I want. [ he spins on his feet and leans back against the counter, acting as though he's gone completely boneless at the thought. the dramatics feel like him, but a barry allen who hasn't surfaced in a while. the spinning, the lounging on any surface he can find, the whining ... it all belongs to the barry of old, the one who couldn't move at super speed. ]

[ there's no excuse as to why it can't belong to the barry of now again. ]

[ quickly, he jumps up and sits on the counter, fingers wrapped around the edge of it. he smiles, no longer feigning being in any sort of pain. swinging his legs, he smiles, boyishly, ] I'm glad you're here.

Z, GT, Evolution... Yo-Kai?

[ She means Yo-Kai Watch. There truly is no hope (bless her), and the world of animation will keep on spinning without her.

Iris shrugs, with the feigned nonchalance of someone who understood nothing and yet everything. Note to future Iris: hit up a manga store and try not to cringe when leafing through 50-something volumes. It never ends. Even when it does!! It never ends!!!

But when Barry jumps up, she can't quite help following, leaning her head on his shoulder. ]

I'm glad you're here too. [ No matter the world, they're Barry and Iris, right? ] Makes this place much more like home.

[ swinging his legs, his feet hit the side of the counter — one, two, three times before he stops. staying still has never been barry's forte, always needing to fidget. leaning on his arms with his body tilted in her direction, barry seems at peace. ]

[ quiet for a long moment — it's almost peaceful, the companionable silence and sort of stillness to follow — before barry's fingers tap lightly against the counter. ]

[ one mississippi, two mississippi, three … ]

It's Yo-Kai Watch. [ face scrunched up, voice gentle despite his words, barry cannot even be silent for too long. he can't help himself, the nerd in him is strong, and he's still a very loyal member to the anime club of his high school. ] You really need to get these things right if you're going to call yourself an investigative reporter.

[ She buries her head in his shoulder, feigning a groan so loud that the building next door heard it. Iris West may not usually be one for theatrics, but she can't help it! Her best friend's behavior is contagious. ]

So educate me. [ She might actually be serious. ] We've got all the time in the world 'til we get back to our Earth, right?

Might as well teach me all you know, and in turn... [ She laughs, ] I can finally give you all the coffee you could ever want.

[ with his hand leaning against the countertop, he lifts the other from the surface to wrap around her waist. his fingers fiddle with her clothing, as he's never been one to sit completely still. ]

I guess we do. [ as light as his voice is, it isn't absent, haunted by the responsibility he often carries on his back. for the first time since being ported into here, he actually wants to stay. central city will be safe with the gang, with perhaps oliver visiting to look after it for him. there's joe and wally, teaming up together as father and son, and there's caitlin and always harry and jay. he doesn't need to worry. ]

[ resting his head on the top of hers, he smiles. ] I hope there's not a limit to your coffee power. [ because you know he's going to need a lot of coffee to keep him going. ]

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