[Talking is the hard part. But hey, that's what the road to redemption is supposed to be, right? And Scott has, so far, been totally non-judgmental, so.]
That file's probably going to tell you more about Caitlin Snow. She's a biochemist, medical doctor, all-around good person and a total sucker. It's sickening, sometimes.
Anyway, there was a particle accelerator explosion, tons of people got their powers, your boyfriend probably told you all about that, already. Other people died, when that happened, but it's not like you'll hear a lot about that from anyone who wasn't there. So now Caity works with the Flash -- you know, one of the high and mighty, theoretically altruistic "good guys."
Except that "good guy" went back in time, changed everything to suit his own needs, and fucked it all up for everyone else. Caitlin got the powers that she wasn't supposed to have on that Earth, her best friend lost his brother, tons of other shit changed, and no one gave a damn about that -- not that I really expected them to -- so here I am.
Oh, and they all want to kill me so they can get her back. They all think she's supposed to be in control, here. [She gestures to herself with a sweep of her hand over her torso.] But I can't imagine why, since none of them actually like her.
[ Talking is definitely the hard part - and it's the hard part for Scott, too. The good news is, that listening is pretty damned easy.
What isn't so easy is putting that information into context with things she's told him - and that Cold has casually mentioned, because nothing Cold ever says comes with any actual information. ]
No.
[ That's the easy part. Reading her file will help with a lot of it, but things she's told him actually answers a few questions - like her problems with tenses and pronouns - already. And he's certainly heard (and lived) some damned weird shit.
Then a pause, while he organizes his thoughts, a bit. ]
Three things. One: Not my boyfriend. Two: Never, ever assume he tells me anything. Three: Doesn't this theoretically good guy also run a private prison?
[ There is only so far he's going to wade into her stuff before he does read the file, but seriously. His impression of Flash is terrible. ]
[Her eyes light up at that; she's actually thrilled to know that his opinion of Barry is so low. That makes things a hell of a lot easier for her.]
You know, he does. He even put me in there. And he only came by to let me out when he had a medical problem that needed solving.
[He'd talked her out of herself, too; convinced Caitlin to rise to the surface with talk about friendship and honesty and what he thought she was supposed to be like.]
But there's no due process. If the Flash decides that you're a threat then it's down into the pipeline for you, pal. Only reason he hasn't been arrested for it is he's got an in with the cops.
[Slight backtracking:] ... So he's a friend with benefits?
Private prisons.... [ He trails off, because of all the words he can use none of them are quite what he wants and most of them have for letters, and....
He starts again.]
I realize this is ironic coming from me, but private prisons are never a good idea, or meant to do anything but act as either a warehouse or death trap. They're meant to make people disappear into.
And, yeah, friends with benefits seems like a pretty safe label to slap on it. [ If you feel the need to label it. He does, but mostly he pretends otherwise because Cold's ridiculous. ]
[She does laugh at that, wry and dry; he's not wrong.] Especially if you say you're not buying into his game. You obviously still are, respect or not, otherwise we wouldn't be here.
[ That is more than fair. ] I wish I was one of the wardens on-board who see the system he's running as broken, but stay to help people and refuse payment.
I'm not. ...Not only am I not, I don't trust those people.
I miss... the luxury of being able to believe that right is right, wrong is wrong, and to believe there is no situation in which I would sacrifice my morals for getting shit done.
[ He is going to be honest with her, if it kills them both. It's only fair; she has her file. ]
My original deal, when I was Clark's warden, was to repower a bunch of people in my own world. That deal's been accomplished. My second deal isn't as important, but the Admiral still has what I need to make the most of the opportunity the first one gave me.
Good. [ She shifts in her seat, leaning forward a little more. This guy is really a warden? Frost grins at him, dark and knowing. ] I can't stand people who can't admit that they're even a little bit in it for themselves. Nobody is that fucking altruistic. And black and white morality gets everyone killed in the end - one way or another.
[ Scott tries to think of an answer that doesn't involve his history with another version of the man, because that wouldn't be fair.
He also doesn't think there is enough time to go through the entire list of things Steve has done to make Scott insane over their shared years on-board.
He needs a synopsis.
That isn't a list of immature insults or venting his spleen.]
He refuses to learn. [ that narrowly, narrowly missed being 'he's stupid'. ]
Well, I wouldn't be surprised if his stupidity eventually gets him killed.
[ It sounds complicated, but it's on a level with some other things she's dealt with. She doesn't bat an eye at it. ] Seems kind of wasteful if it's something that hasn't even happened yet. Couldn't you just ask for, I don't know, a better son?
Better the idiot I already know and love than the one I don't? [ His tone is wry, because he'll acknowledge that he could, and he is kind of passive aggressively refusing to let Cable and slink off at die out of annoyance as much as love, but the love is there.
That's fair. [ He might make some changes, or try to. Though his presence here, really doesn't hinge on his deal anymore. It hinges on getting people he wants - and needs - the hell off this ship. It's probably time to stop using the barge as an escape, at least, and go back to working toward fixing shit instead of... treading water. Somehow.
The rest, though....
He smiles, faintly. ]
Probably not full power at once, but I'll see what the Admiral can do about bringing it back in stages. After I read your file and figure out exactly what they are.
[She rolls her eyes; it's not really the answer she wanted, but it's better than nothing.]
Cryokinetic. We've been over this, right? All I can do now is make a couple flurries. Chill some drinks. [She gestures as she speaks, leaving tiny trails of snowflakes and ice crystals hanging in the air.] I'm not even 'Mildly Inconveniencing Frost' at this level. I should at least be able to get them to close school.
I know. I also know that one of my oldest friends is a guy who has a similar power set, and that he's fully capable of ending life on earth. I need to get a better idea of what full power looks like.
Then we'll work out a plan to get you back to it.
[ He's gained some... practical sense, over the course of working with Clark. ]
Let me actually read your file, then we'll get a plan together. Though not being able to freeze the planet solid is a good sign for getting them back sooner rather than later.
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That file's probably going to tell you more about Caitlin Snow. She's a biochemist, medical doctor, all-around good person and a total sucker. It's sickening, sometimes.
Anyway, there was a particle accelerator explosion, tons of people got their powers, your boyfriend probably told you all about that, already. Other people died, when that happened, but it's not like you'll hear a lot about that from anyone who wasn't there. So now Caity works with the Flash -- you know, one of the high and mighty, theoretically altruistic "good guys."
Except that "good guy" went back in time, changed everything to suit his own needs, and fucked it all up for everyone else. Caitlin got the powers that she wasn't supposed to have on that Earth, her best friend lost his brother, tons of other shit changed, and no one gave a damn about that -- not that I really expected them to -- so here I am.
Oh, and they all want to kill me so they can get her back. They all think she's supposed to be in control, here. [She gestures to herself with a sweep of her hand over her torso.] But I can't imagine why, since none of them actually like her.
Too much?
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What isn't so easy is putting that information into context with things she's told him - and that Cold has casually mentioned, because nothing Cold ever says comes with any actual information. ]
No.
[ That's the easy part. Reading her file will help with a lot of it, but things she's told him actually answers a few questions - like her problems with tenses and pronouns - already. And he's certainly heard (and lived) some damned weird shit.
Then a pause, while he organizes his thoughts, a bit. ]
Three things. One: Not my boyfriend. Two: Never, ever assume he tells me anything. Three: Doesn't this theoretically good guy also run a private prison?
[ There is only so far he's going to wade into her stuff before he does read the file, but seriously. His impression of Flash is terrible. ]
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You know, he does. He even put me in there. And he only came by to let me out when he had a medical problem that needed solving.
[He'd talked her out of herself, too; convinced Caitlin to rise to the surface with talk about friendship and honesty and what he thought she was supposed to be like.]
But there's no due process. If the Flash decides that you're a threat then it's down into the pipeline for you, pal. Only reason he hasn't been arrested for it is he's got an in with the cops.
[Slight backtracking:] ... So he's a friend with benefits?
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He starts again.]
I realize this is ironic coming from me, but private prisons are never a good idea, or meant to do anything but act as either a warehouse or death trap. They're meant to make people disappear into.
And, yeah, friends with benefits seems like a pretty safe label to slap on it. [ If you feel the need to label it. He does, but mostly he pretends otherwise because Cold's ridiculous. ]
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Which I didn't think existed, but I mean, how else do you explain how so many of us are dead?
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There is some amusement in the deal with the devil aspect, though.
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I'm not. ...Not only am I not, I don't trust those people.
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[ Except it's not. She knows it's not. What she wouldn't give to be blissfully ignorant, sometimes. ]
Why are you here, then?
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[ He is going to be honest with her, if it kills them both. It's only fair; she has her file. ]
My original deal, when I was Clark's warden, was to repower a bunch of people in my own world. That deal's been accomplished. My second deal isn't as important, but the Admiral still has what I need to make the most of the opportunity the first one gave me.
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What's your deal now?
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My deal right now is to keep my son from dying. [ Maybe, and there's some confusion there. It's mostly an excuse, anyway. ]
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[But this is interesting.] What's wrong with him?
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He also doesn't think there is enough time to go through the entire list of things Steve has done to make Scott insane over their shared years on-board.
He needs a synopsis.
That isn't a list of immature insults or venting his spleen.]
He refuses to learn. [ that narrowly, narrowly missed being 'he's stupid'. ]
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I'm not entirely sure with my son. He's not exactly communicative. I only know about the possibility of his death because his daughter is here.
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[ It sounds complicated, but it's on a level with some other things she's dealt with. She doesn't bat an eye at it. ] Seems kind of wasteful if it's something that hasn't even happened yet. Couldn't you just ask for, I don't know, a better son?
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Plus, you know, her suggestion bemuses him. ]
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I was just hoping if I was going to have to change for something, it'd be something that's really good. Like your last one.
[A slow grin.] Speaking of ... how would you feel about cranking me back up to full power? I hear permanent wardens can do that, for their inmates.
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The rest, though....
He smiles, faintly. ]
Probably not full power at once, but I'll see what the Admiral can do about bringing it back in stages. After I read your file and figure out exactly what they are.
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Cryokinetic. We've been over this, right? All I can do now is make a couple flurries. Chill some drinks. [She gestures as she speaks, leaving tiny trails of snowflakes and ice crystals hanging in the air.] I'm not even 'Mildly Inconveniencing Frost' at this level. I should at least be able to get them to close school.
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Then we'll work out a plan to get you back to it.
[ He's gained some... practical sense, over the course of working with Clark. ]
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[Finger gun, wink.]
So tell me about this friend of yours ... besides the potential to usher in a new ice age, what else can he do? Is he cute?
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