itinere | Open | Network | Now it's awkward in here

Entry tags:

the fever series: dani o'malley (jada)

Open | Network | Now it's awkward in here

[Barry's staring down at the recording device, completely unaware that it's recording video and not just audio.]

These devices are the coolest thing ever, have you all checked these out yet?? I mean - [He winces.] Obviously you've checked them out because you're seeing this but yeah, they're really cool. I just thought I would introduce myself, I'm-

[It's obvious that he's walking, although the shot is a little awkward - he's holding the device in his hand as he moves, the camera getting a shot of Barry's face from below and the sky above him. He abruptly stops talking because he glances down at the device for a second only to walk directly into a branch.]

Ow- Ow! Ow... I'm okay! I'm okay, it's okay, I'm just - damn it, [He whispers the last part to himself, his hand moving to check his forehead for blood. There is none. I just... um... I was building something and... hurt my hand... [Nope, still not aware that it's on video.]

What was I - right! I'm Barry Allen, uh, forensic scientist. So, you know, if you need a solution in that department, I can totally be your precipitate. [Another wince. That one was bad.] I just thought I-

[Barry finally looks down at the device again and he stops speaking, squints, brings it up to his face to finally get a decent shot of himself, and his eyes widen in horror.] ...Oh no, is this thing recording a video?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Yes, this is on video. [She confirms, firstly. And secondly: ]

Are you alright? [He'd just walked into a branch and mentioned a hurt hand from an apparently earlier incident.] I have some first aid equipment. [She lives in the New Avengers Facility, which was here before she arrived.]

What? [He blinks when he hears a voice and he taps something before blinking in surprise] Oh!

Yeah, I'm fine, I'm totally fine.

[Just set him on fire please.]

I'm Barry. ...But you knew that because I said that...

I'm Wanda - nice to meet you, Barry. [She nods slightly. Anyway, if he swears he's fine, she'll leave that where it is for now.]

Where did you work as a forensic scientist? [That sounds interesting.]

Uh, Central City. I've been there for a couple of years, now, I like it! It's fun.

[ He hesitates. ]

Well, not fun, but... eventful? I've wanted to do it ever since I was a kid. It's nice to meet you too, Wanda. [ He gives a polite smile. ] Where are you from?

Smooth.

[ Cisco's not laughing, you're laughing. ]

How's your hand, buddy?

Edited 2016-09-09 14:34 (UTC)

Cisco??

Dude, shut up, it's not that funny. [He grumbles it to himself as he rubs his forehead.]

You know it's fine. Thank god you're here, we both know I was doing a terrible job of making an idiot out of myself as it is.

It's a little funny.

[ A lot. It's a lot funny, Barry. ]

I know, what would you do without me? Is Caitlin with you?

[Stop it, Cisco, he's trying really hard not to smile. The urge fades at the mention of Caitlin.]

No. ...So I guess she's not here with you? Do you think this place showed itself to her? It had to, right? It did for you and me.

[ Aaaand there goes the levity in this situation. Cisco deflates, shaking his head. ]

No, she's not with me. I'm sure it did. Maybe she just...didn't want to yet?

Oh. [ He feels a tightness in his chest but Barry pushes it away, refusing to assume anything just yet. ]

Yeah, she might have just not been ready, I'm sure she'll be here soon.

Yeah, I'm sure she'll be here before we know it.

[ He hopes. Because now, all of a sudden, he misses her like crazy...]

Yeah, me too.

[ Well now he just made himself sad. ]

Hey, where are you right now? How long have you been here? I just showed up like, yesterday, and I slept for almost 12 hours. I'm already loving this.

I've been here like three or four days? I'm chillin' in my room. Which, by the way, is the sweetest bachelor pad ever. Like it blows my actual apartment out of the water. It's nice, right? I'm loving it, too.

Barry!

( This is the best thing ever to wake up to on her first attempt at the PDA. Bo's always ever so slightly wary of the tablets and PDAs and stuff that she gets in places like this, because they always seem to just be waiting to drop awful video bombs on people, but she likes this one. The only way this would be better would be if Mika got on next! )

[Oh, wow, little. This one is little. Barry offers a big smile, because come on, it's a kid. Always smile for kids.]

Yeah, that's right! Hey there, what's your name?

( Her expression drops immediately. He doesn't know her name. He doesn't know her at all. She probably would've sensed that except that she was so excited to see him that it hadn't really registered. Now it is. )

I'm Bo.

( This is one thing, she guesses, that might never get easier: seeing people she knows...who haven't met her yet. )

Oh...

[His own smile fades at her noticeable change. How did he already mess up??]

Well it's really nice to meet you, Bo. How long have you been here?

( This totally sucks. He'll never take her running again if he doesn't even know her. Maybe this Barry doesn't even like kids. Maybe he's just being nice so that all the girls — Lydia, she thinks by reflex — will see him being nice to a kid. )

A few days, is all. ( She shrugs. ) I should let you go talk to the other grown ups. ( Because it's not like most people have a whole lot to say to a little kid if they don't already know the kid or have a parental kind of general vibe to them. There's exceptions to the rule, but she doesn't know if this Barry will be one of them. ) I hope you feel better. ( She gives a quick little gesture to his head where he hit the branch and follows it with a sympathetic smile. )

Hey, hey, hey, wait!

[ He says it quickly, his hand rising to move into view with his palm out to gesture for her to stop. He doesn't know what he did but this girl looks upset now, and a sad kid is something that Barry really can't deal with. ]

First of all, I am not a grown up. [ Ain't that the truth. He gives her a hesitant smile. ] Second, if you go now how am I supposed to know all the fun stuff to do around here? Grown ups can't help with that. They're probably doing... I don't know. Taxes, or something.

[ Bo's heart flutters when he tries to get her attention, as if he isn't ready to stop talking to her and, while she's sure that he's only doing it because he's intuitive and she's sad and that makes him feel guilty, she still feels her stomach doing that excited little flip flop it does whenever Barry's talking to her.

Her smile returns tentatively when he tries to say he isn't a grown up and she rolls her eyes playfully at that. ]

I don't know all the fun stuff to do. Me and my dad only got here like a few days ago or maybe a week-ish. I haven't seen the fun things yet. We were settling in.

[ She smirks a little bit. Taxes. Right. She can't help laughing a little. ]

Or forensics and fashion. Weddings and babies. Grownups talk about lots of stuff besides taxes.

[ She seems to cheer up a little and Barry can't help but grin. This place doesn't seem too fun for a kid, not because there's nothing to do but because she's the only one he's seen so far. It's good to know that he can at least provide amusement. ]

Oh, you're here with your dad? That's good. [ He keeps his smile, but he doesn't want to think about that right now. At all. ]

Ew. [ Barry wrinkles his nose in distaste. ] Who talks about weddings and babies? That's gross, you're lying. That's boring stuff, nobody wants to waste their time on that. Kids talk about fashion too, you know, and forensics... alright. You've got me there. But that's only one.

Well, he's kinda my dad, anyways, he might as well be. Like Joe.

[ ...too much, Bo. That's too much. The only thing worse maybe would be spouting off that they have innocent dads who both didn't time in prison for crimes they didn't commit, geez.

Bo smirks a little, but she bites back the urge to retort that he probably does. The Barry she knows, anyway. ]

I know lots of grownups that talk about weddings and probably babies. And definitely forensics is grown-up stuff.

( Lydia actually cringes for the poor guy when he walks into that tree branch. Her hand is settled slightly over her mouth to keep from laughing, fingertips pushed to her lips and dimples cutting into her cheeks which is clearly giving it away. Poor guy. She'd probably not be responding so that maybe he could keep a little bit more of his pride in tact, except... )

You're a forensic scientist?

( A good looking, young forensic scientist. That's very interesting...

She's intentionally not asking if he's all right because that draws more attention to the embarrassing part of this whole thing and, besides, she's way more interested in the science part, anyway. )

Uh, yeah! I work for the Central City Police Department.

[Great. Another pretty girl who just watched him eat a branch, and this one is laughing at him, although she has the decency to at least try to hide it. He glances around to try and find a hole he can bury himself in.]

I've been doing it for a few years now. [Be cool, Barry. He gives her a smile.] So, you know, if you need to cover anything up, I'm your guy. [The smile quickly fades.] Not that I think you would do that, I'm just... you know, a joke. And I'd probably have to report you because... police.

[Where is that hole??]

I don't know where Central City is, but that's cool. I'm studying biochemical and biomedical engineering.

( Or, you know, she would be...in the fall...if she was home to be heading to Harvard right now... Which, clearly, she isn't. It's just a little white lie, though, he'll never know. It's semantics, anyway, she totally will be; she's been accepted, at least.

Her eyebrows lift and those dimples cut into her cheeks again for a second before she straightens her expression out. Wow. It's like watching an adult version of Stiles from freshman year of high school. She can't decide if that's endearing or hilarious. )

I'll keep that in mind, Barry. I'm Lydia, it's nice to meet you.

You're studying biomed and biochem?

[He doesn't mean to sound as surprised as he does, but he is. His eyes light up a little with excitement.]

That's awesome. Biochem was my favorite, I took a couple of levels. I was only required to go up to three but I had some electives so...

[He gives a sheepish shrug that matches his smile, and it grows into something more genuine when she looks like she wants to laugh at him again.]

I'm not good at this, you might have noticed. It's nice to meet you too, Lydia. ...Hey, what do you mean you've never heard of Central City? It's the third most populated city in the country, unless you're from [sometime else] somewhere else?

( She'd be offended by that except that she's used to it, by now. Looking the way she does, people just assume she's dumb or average, at best. )

Mmhmm, I love science. I've been like obsessed with it since I was a kid.

( This time, Lydia does laugh. )

I might have noticed that. ...I'm from Beacon Hills, California. I don't know, I'm not awesome with geography ( yes, she is. ) but I've definitely never heard of Central City, sorry...

Yeah, me too. [ Although probably for different reasons. Still, it's nice to hear that he and Cisco aren't the only ones. ] What made you go for biomed and biochem engineering? Out of everything, I mean? I did it because they were the most reasonable choices when it came to forensics, that and criminology but that was easy. Boring, but easy.

Ah. [ Barry nods, giving a little facial shrug, and he seems much less bothered by the idea of her not being familiar with a major city than he really should be. ]

It has to be interdimensional, then, that would make sense, considering this place seems to be some sort of... dimensional pocket, or something. Beacon Hills? [ He says it questioningly for a moment to make sure he remembers the name correctly. ] It might not even exist where I'm from.

( Lydia ponders that for a moment, because she's never really given it as much thought as most people probably assume she has, what with the confidence she always presents and the fact that she's not only gotten into Harvard to study it, but she's gotten approved for a double major at Harvard to study it. )

You know, I don't know, I think I was just always drawn to biology in general, but I excel at chemistry, so it seemed like I might as well see what I could do with the best of both worlds, I guess?

( Her eyebrows lift a little at the mention of interdimensional travel. That sounds like something out of one of Stiles's comic books or something and Barry's saying it like it's a real thing that doesn't freak him out. Obviously, she thinks, she must be from another dimension because if Central City is a major city and she doesn't know it, then it doesn't exist where she comes from, but she's not able to be quite as flippant about the reasons or potential reasons behind that as he is being right now. Which...is weird, right? )

Must be...

( She huffs a little laugh. )

Yeah, well, then consider yourself lucky.

[ Well, first of all there's a red-headed girl laughing her butt off on screen. She's all freckles and smiles, with long flaming red hair and a laugh that begs anyone to try not to laugh with her.

Then, there's the accent, a thick Irish brogue that's almost difficult to understand unless one is accustomed to such things. ] You fell on your face, Barry Allen! Holy feck, that was hilarious! Best intro I've seen yet. A fifteen if I was gradin' on a scale o' one to ten.

[ She laughs again, shaking her head. ] Feck. I'm Dani. Good to meet ya, Barry Allen.

[Cue third attractive woman to see him embarrass himself, and this time she isn't even trying to hide her laughter. Barry can't help but grin, though, the sound a little contagious, and he looks down in embarrassment as he scratches the back of his head.]

Yeah, uh... what can I say, cat like reflexes, you know?

Good to meet you too, Dani. I'm glad I can at least be amusing. Wasn't my goal, but, hey.

Hey, of all the things you could be, why not be entertainin', eh? Better than bein' a lot of other things, ain't it?

[ Dani's exuberance can even be felt through a communication device. And speaking of comm devices, Dani is now sideways, upside down, diagonal, as she studies her own, turning it every which way. ]

And you're right about these things. They're feckin' awesome! Plus, people can bug you all the time. I like bein' bugged. You just get here, Barry Allen?

I guess, doesn't really help with the whole pride thing but you're not wrong.

[ Barry smiles as the screen starts to turn and he can't help but laugh a little, waiting patiently for her to figure her device out before he gives an approving nod. ]

What's the point of being on vacation if you don't want people to bug you, right? Yeah, I just got here yesterday. Which is why I obviously don't know that there are trees where people should be able to walk. Figured it out, though! Just took me a bit.

Oh I run into things all the time. Sometimes I fall too. But mostly, splat into all things vertical... or I used to, not so much anymore, but sometimes still.

[ Which could be on account of her clumsiness, which is sometimes a thing. But also, Dani is quite the speedster, and sometimes people, cars, light poles or buildings get in the way. Not so much now as they used to, but still, shite happens, right?

Dani smiles brightly and shakes her head. ] I've never had a cellphone before now. It's feckin' cool, yeah? So you can bug me anytime, Barry Allen. Also, welcome to Itinere.

[ Gracie covers her mouth, laughing a little. ] I'm sorry. Honest, I'm not laughing at you.

Okay, I'm not laughing at you in a mean way. Swear.

[ She tilts her head a little at him. ] Careful when you're building those forests. Anyway, I'm Gracie and the devices are pretty cool.

No, no, it's alright. [He sighs.] This is what I get for trying to be sociable.

It's nice to meet you Gracie. I promise I'm not nearly as clumsy normally- [He stops short.] ...No, I am. I was just about to lie to you. But I am.

[ She sobers a little at that. ] Hey. No. Sociable is good and it really is nice to meet you. I haven't been here long so making friends is sort of a thing that I'm trying to do. Badly maybe.

[ She smiles at that. ] It's okay. I'm pretty awkward myself.

Not as badly as I am, apparently. [ He touches his forehead once again to make sure that he's not bleeding but when he sees that he's not he offers her a sheepish smile. ]

Let's start over. Hi, Gracie, I'm Barry. You didn't see me walk into a tree and I don't think that you're awkward at all.

We're talking. We've exchanged named. I think if we were keeping a check list, we're both doing okay. [ She winces a little when he touches his forehead] I can get you some aspirin for that if you like.

It's nice to meet you, Barry and I saw nothing of the sort. [ That gets a big smile out of her.] Where are you from?

A smartphone with a video option. [Kate smirks at the camera, tilting her sunglasses down to the edge of her noise to better look at the screen. Amusement flickers in her eyes.] What a concept.

Hi Barry Allen. I'm Kate Bishop. [She's still looking amused by the whole unintended recording.] Your ego holding in there alright?

[ He blinks when he hears her voice, and it takes him a second to respond so that he can move through other people to finally pull up her face before he winces at himself. How many people just saw him humiliate himself with a tree branch? Answer: A lot. ]

Nope, it's pretty shattered right now, but don't worry. I bounce back quickly.[ He offers a smile, free hand moving back to rub the back of his neck awkwardly. ] It's nice to meet you, Kate. On a scale of one to ten, what are my chances of you forgetting that you saw that happen?

[It's okay. They all have their moments. Kate ~~works~~ used to work with Clint Barton, after all. Trust her when she says that she's seen worse.

She smiles back at him, chuckling a little as she does.] Probably an eleven.

Hey, at least it's a memorable first entrance?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Open | Network | Now it's awkward in here

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

[video]

[video]

[video]