itinere | 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?

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( 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.

Open | Network | Now it's awkward in here

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