{You don't have to try so hard to hurt me

[thisismadfreaky]

Who: Cisco + Various; m!Cisco + Various
Where: Physics Lab floor 4/room 052; various
When: Now
Rating: PG-13ish {language, possible vague hints at dark themes, hints/various degrees of humiliation/dehumanization/treating a person as a literal pet, drugs, various shades of violence, pushy sexual advances}
Summary: Science + metahuman powers = ?????? ; AKA: Fitz and Cisco try to break a hole through Wonderland's barriers in their attempts to reach another dimension, but the experiment has gone sideways! Mirror Cisco is on the loose in the mansion and he's determined to wreck his Real's life in the most disastrous ways possible and will be trying to fool people when and where he can. WHO will discover this slippery switch?! How much chaos will M!Cisco leave behind?!
The Story: Headers in comments, links to specific things


♥ The Beginning
If you have any need for pre-science stuff, hit me here!

♣ Honey, I think we science'd too hard [Fitz, Mason twins]
Fitz and Cisco prep for their testing and are interrupted by those meddling Mason twins!

♥ Real!Cisco in Mirror!Wonderland
What it says on the tin. If you have a mirror that's involved in the plans with him mirror side, this is where it'll go down. If you want something with your mirror and him, hmu here or on plurk @ loyalwolf to discuss logistics because things are pretty set here, for pre-planned things!

♣ Sometimes, even God doesn't know where the dice will land [m!Fitz, m!Cait]
Real!Cisco lands mirror side and is greeted by mirror!Fitz, who will take him to mirror!Caitlin. And then the real fun can begin. ;) cw: hints of humiliation/dehumanization/treating a person as a literal pet, violence
♣ And on the fourth day, master makes the puppy beg [m!Fitz]
A little training sesh with Cisco and m!Fitz. Good pets get treats. cw: humiliation/dehumanization/treating a person as a literal pet, violence
♣ Friend or Foe, is there even a difference anymore? [m!Barry/Savitar]
Cisco gets a visit by a transformer Savitar.

♠ Mirror!Cisco in Real!Wonderland
For all your mirror!Cisco needs! I'll be posting things throughout the day as I get starters written.

♣ I feel like I'm diagonally parked in a parallel universe [Fitz]
Mirror!Cisco arrives in Real!Wonderland, landing in the Physics Lab with Fitz and feigns a lot of confusion/frustration.
♣ Network Post [OTA]
m!Cisco "apologizes" for any disturbances and lets Wonderland at large know that their tests "failed".
♣ All the signs disagree because it's the nature of opposites [Caitin Snow]
Mirror!Cisco decides to pay Caitlin a visit. It doesn't go as he planned and she lands herself in some pretty big trouble. cw: violence
♣ Cause I'm livin' that free life [OTA]
m!Cisco is enjoying his new-found freedom. Please feel free to find him anywhere, including places not listed in the options! cw: various shades of violence

♦ She's just not that into you [Daisy Johnson]
Daisy has a run-in with Cisco-- or is it? She's pretty sure her friend isn't this much of a fuckboy, but he sure is acting weird. cw: pushy sexual advances
♦ How about we cut a deal? [Eobard Thawne]
m!Cisco runs into Eobard Thawne and just can't quite contain his pride. Oops? At least the speedster lets him keep his secret and have his fun~ cw: light violence
♦ Honey, are you okay, you seem a little scattered [Jesse Wells]
Jesse is pretty well convinced that the science has scrambled Cisco a bit.
♦ Can't catch me, if you get too close, I'm gone like a cool breeze [m!Mae, m!Napstablook]
Mirrors Mae and Napstablook try to apprehend m!Cisco.... and unfortunately fail at their task. cw: violence
♦ And I would have gotten away with it too, if it wasn't for those Nosy News Twins [Georgia Mason, Shaun Mason]
Georgia and Shaun catch up with m!Cisco and reveal The Truth.
♦ You tried and you tried, and still you got caught [Jesse Wells]
Jesse has had her suspicions confirmed-- double confirmed, even, now that she's caught m!Cisco in her lab, trying to tamper with Cisco's gadgets!
♦ Thread title [Jane Foster]
Jane has a rather unfortunate predisposition and she's helping m!Cisco hide out.
♦ Game Over [m!Kay]
Well, the jig is up! m!Cisco has been apprehended, it's time to go home and face the consequences of what he's done.

Comments

Real!Cisco in Mirror!Wonderland

[thisismadfreaky]

[What it says on the tin. If we had things planned for him on mirror-side, this is where it'll happen.]

{Sometimes, even God doesn't know where the dice will land | Arrival / mirror!Physics Lab

[thisismadfreaky]

With every attempt before failing, despite his hopes, some part of Cisco had kind of assumed that there was no way in hell this was going to work. The portal would send him to the roof or he'd land in the lake, find himself standing in the kitchen. That's always what happened. No matter what his intended target space was, he ended up rerouted to somewhere else in Wonderland. But perhaps it worked this time because his destination was still technically a part of Wonderland. In his own secret side-mission in all of this, Cisco had been working toward getting to the Mirror Side to save Caitlin. His stomach clenches at the thought of her, of what she must have been put through here for months now.

"Somebody here?" He calls out cautiously, glancing around, uncertain of exactly what to expect.

{Sometimes, even God doesn't know where the dice will land

[asphyxiaphilic]

What's here is... Not much, really. It's a lab. A drab, gray space that doesn't have much to it. But there is a figure within, standing tall and still in a well-tailored suit. Visibly, the situation is the same. He's in a lab, with a Fitz. He regards Cisco coldly, nodding once.

"Everyone's here who needs to be. I told you I'd make the transition easy for you, didn't I?"

[thisismadfreaky]

He tilts his head and frowns a little at the, well, mirror image of his friend. Which is not what he'd expected. "You're-- the one I've been talking to? Why didn't you--" He stops himself and shakes his head, "Nevermind, it doesn't matter. Where's Caitlin?"

[asphyxiaphilic]

"Caitlin couldn't be here for this part."

His face doesn't even twitch with an emotion. His figure remains cold and distant, lacking the stammers and hesitation of his real thing.

"I'll bring you to her, but I need you to keep trusting me."

[thisismadfreaky]

Fitz isn't good with people, but he's not like this and the icy vibe he gets from this one is unsettling to say the least. But he pushes that down for now, he's gotta get to Caitlin, that's the important part.

"Okay," he nods, "please just take me to her." He can't keep the emotion out of his voice.

[asphyxiaphilic]

"Of course."

He pulls a black collar from a countertop behind him and holds it out for Cisco to accept.

"Put this on. You'll need it to blend in."

[thisismadfreaky]

Cisco opens his mouth to protest, but it dies somewhere in his throat because he'd just promised to trust him. Even if every alarm bell he has is going off.

"Okay..." He reaches cautiously for the collar, putting it on. He feels awkward and ridiculous and kind of like this might be a trap at this point, but... it's too late. And he has a best friend to save.

[asphyxiaphilic]

"Thank you."

He'll hook a leash on the end, though he's courteous enough to provide a generous lead. Not that the idiot real thing deserves it.

"When we're walking out there, stay behind me, never beside me. Keep your head down, and don't make eye contact with anyone. I'll let you know when it's safe."

[thisismadfreaky]

Cisco isn't really sure what all of this is about, but-- well, he'll play along if it gets him to Caitlin. That's really all that matters right now.

Doesn't stop humiliation from sinking in as he follows him out of the lab. Even without looking at anyone else that may be passing by, he can feel eyes on him and it's the most unnerving thing.

[asphyxiaphilic]

He drags Cisco down the hall to where Caitlin's room ought to be. But as he opens the door, the leash suddenly tightens. He pulls hard on the lead, setting Cisco off-balance as he pushes the real thing into the space of the room.

"Delivered as promised, Snow. You want out? You train your replacement. Do it fast."

[thisismadfreaky]

Cisco stumbles forward when the lead is yanked on and he's shoved further into the room. He stares at the lone figure in the room, and it's definitely-- "Caitlin? Wha- what does he mean, delivered, replacement for what?"

[notuptight]

Caitlin stands alone in the room, but not for long. She looks startled as the door opens. Afraid when she spots Fitz. She drops to her knees and quickly lowers her eyes, almost flinching as if she expects to be struck.

"I-I didn't want this. Please."

Her voice is quivering as she speaks. It's a very believable performance. Award-winning, even. She's even got the marks to make it real. Her lip is split, and there's a smattering of bruises, old and fresh, around her throat, on her arms, on her cheek.

On the fourth day (Monday morning)

[asphyxiaphilic]

The charade is over. The Queen has made her decree, and the hunt for errant mirrors is afoot on the real side. The queen neglected to tell them who they were searching for, though. It's chaos. And it's beautiful. Dr. Fitz is thoroughly secure in his own safety, of course. There's no reason to imagine that he might have something to do with all that disobedience. He wouldn't dream of going to the other side.

Not when there are games to play here.

He's taking a turn with the real thing, who's been leached in a low space to keep it from getting off its knees. This morning, he's brought along a handmirror. The thing is sleeping when he arrives, the troublesome little mammal. He kicks it in the side until it stirs.

"Get up. I've got something to show you."

[thisismadfreaky]

It's been days now, was it three or four? Hard to tell. The room is empty and barren and there's not exactly a ton of light. Sleep is the only real reprieve he has from the tortures the mirrors have been putting him through. Not that the sleep is really all that restful.

Especially not when he's kicked awake.

He winces and stares up at Dr. Fitz--he's gotten in trouble for being too familiar and ignoring titles like they were only decoration and not something to be used. "What is it?" He sees the mirror in his hand, and he can't imagine that it could be good.

[asphyxiaphilic]

"You seemed homesick, Pet." The term of endearment is functional only. Names belong to mirrors and them alone. Real things don't appreciate them. They don't deserve to keep them. "It seemed only fair that we provide a chance for you to connect with the other animals in your kennel. You're homesick, aren't you?"

He holds out the mirror for a moment, but will yank it away as soon as Cisco shows signs of reaching for it.

"What do we say?"

[thisismadfreaky]

Homesick doesn't exactly describe it, but it's close enough. He doesn't really have time to feel everything he should be, he's kept too occupied by his captors for that.

This? Well, this feels like a trap. But it doesn't stop the desperation to get some much as a 'Help me' out to the other side from driving him to reach for the mirror when it's held out to him. There's almost instantly a rush of--is it shame? maybe disappointment is more apt--when it's jerked away out of his reach.

"Please." It's said through grit teeth because even in the small handful of days he's been here, he's come to hate this guy and everything he stands for. Acting superior and going out of his way to ensure every interaction is laced with humiliation in one way or another.

[asphyxiaphilic]

The plea is almost immediately met with pain. The shock collar had been liberally utilized since the first day. (And my, how eager the young thing had been to enslave himself. Clearly, this is what real things secretly crave above all else) Now, his free hand smashes the trigger, leaving jolts of electricity to spark against the thing's spinal column.

"Please what?"

It will learn or it will suffer.

[thisismadfreaky]

A shout of pain escapes him as soon as that button is pressed and the now-familiar shock of electricity makes him curl in on himself in a futile effort to stop the pain.

It takes him a few minutes to be able to think through pain and he looks up at the thing with his friend's face--god, he's tired of doppelgangers--and grinds out the words, "Please, sir." He wanted to show him, didn't he, what good is making him beg for it doing him?

[asphyxiaphilic]

The reason is just part of the lesson. They both know that the gifts will hurt differently. But when this real thing is properly trained, it will bed for pleasure and punishment both. It will seek out sensations, the line too blurred to make out arbitrary judgments. It will lose its perspective about everything that doesn't involve being a good Thing that does what it's told.

"Good pet. You may have it now."

He passes over the mirror, giving Cisco a glimpse into the real side. The perspective is of the center of a table facing up, but there's the occasional flash of motion. There's a sharp object, and a scuffle. Blood splatters into the mirror, obscuring Cisco's view. If he focuses long enough to tune into thw sound, there's only screaming.

[thisismadfreaky]

Cisco contains the urge to cringe at the words of encouragement. It's disgusting, the way he's being treated, but he doesn't honestly have anyone but himself to blame. This is what he gets for trusting a mirror. Well as soon as this is all over--it does have to end eventually, right? someone will notice, he'll get sent back--he'll make sure to never make that mistake again.

He takes the mirror when Dr. Fitz hands it over and he watches in horror with one hand over his mouth as the pieces of the scene that are visible unfold. He even jumps a little when the mirror is splattered with blood.

"This is my fault," his voice is choked, eyes shining too bright from tears welling up in them. Every single thing happening right now is on his hands.

[asphyxiaphilic]

"Well of course it is."

There's no inherent judgment in the condemnation though. It's a simple statement of fact.

"This is what you wanted. You worked so hard to create exactly this."

He reaches down, stroking a hand along Cisco's hair as one might rub a puppy.

"You real things truly lack discipline, don't you? That's why you came to me. You understand that we're improvements. We're better. Your place is to serve us."

[thisismadfreaky]

"No," he shakes his head, "no, this isn't what I wanted, I-I didn't want anybody to get hurt, I--" The words die on his lips. "I just wanted to save my best friend..." His voice is hollow, the words empty, because none of it was real. She was never here, it was just all a lie to get him to do what they wanted, and he bought it. Despite everything he's heard about them, he ate out of the palm of their hands and now...

[asphyxiaphilic]

"You're just confused, pet. That's all right. You just have that miniscule real thing brain. It's a lot to take in."

He reaches into his pocket and pulls out only a dozen or so m&ms. It isn't much, but they also haven't been feeding Cisco fairly regularly to help place more urgency on the presence of food.

"You've done a very good job coming as far as you have. You may beg for treats."

The offer is made: Cisco could progress to literally eating from the Mirror's palms.

[thisismadfreaky]

Some part of him wants to argue that point, insist he is not confused, and he doesn't appreciate being belittled. But there's a part of him that's too tired to argue. Too weak, too hungry to have a lot of fight in him. The sedatives and other things Caitlin-- no, not Caitlin, she's not because she's not real, she isn't-- has kept him pumped full of since she changed her game and started playing with her toy. It does make him confused, but not for the reasons Dr. Fitz is implying.

A syllable or two escapes almost immediately before the shame sinks in. This is where he is now? Literally begging, like a dog for a bone? He's hungry, they've made sure of it, and this isn't the first time they've tried this tactic. He's resisted, defiant and unwilling to give in to the game. But... it's been four days and he's been deprived, other than the little offers they've made like this. Logically, he knows a handful of candy? Not going to sustain him much, if at all. But...it's been four days. Maybe he could have been fine if it wasn't right there, he could ignore those stabs of hunger, think about something else, but...

He grimaces, eyes on the floor. This is beyond humiliation, it's indignity and he'd rather the floor open up and swallow him whole. Finally, once he's steeled himself as much as he can, he cants his head to look up at him, his voice is quiet and a little shaky, "Ca- May I please have a treat?" He barely gets the words out, the whole thing is sick. There's a beat. Belatedly, he adds: "Sir."