(open) there's got to be a morning after;

[hypoxic]

Who: Leo Fitz and anyone else who really needs a beer right now
Where: The bar
When: August 9th, during that very still period between the end of the event and the return of everyone's powers.
Rating: PG-13, will note if anything escalates
Summary: Everyone got to live different lives and be different people! And then they woke up with the realization that they might have said or done some things that maybe shouldn't have happened. Beer is the solution to this problem. Come commiserate.
The Story:


[People talked about it, of course. They mentioned that events could change more than just parts of the mansion. But this was the first time Fitz had the chance to experience it. He'd lived an entirely different life, and it was... Pathetic. He'd become a person so steeped in published dogma that he lost track of common sense and self-awareness. He let people perform atrocities on him, all because he "knew" he was adhering to science.

And ever since waking up with his true memories restored, he's felt absolutely sick about it.

He settles down at the bar at just before noon, nursing a beer and brooding. He's not an expert drinker, and lets the beverage sit long enough for condensation to bead along the exterior of the glass between sips. But the sips do come eventually. How else is he going to wash away an alternate lifetime's worth of horrible choices?

Occasionally, he'll glance to whomever's settled down nearby, seeking comfort in shared misery.]

If I never hear the word "mutant" again it'll be too soon, yeah?

[This might be the most social he's been in the four months since his arrival.]

Comments

[catchacold]

That's what my friend says.

[Or, more accurately, Ray seems to have felt sheepish over not having found it, while also admitting that others than him have tried and failed.]

So, let me guess, you're still a scientist, at least that much was true?

[hypoxic]

My focus is in physical engineering, yes. [The "I used to build things" part might also still apply.]

The trouble is that "physics" isn't quite the same in this world as it is on my own. It's been troublesome to unpack.

[catchacold]

It's Wonderland, whatever that's supposed to mean. If it's anything like in the books, there might just not be a way out. At least not one that makes any sense. Certainly doesn't make any that we ended up here. Makes you wonder if there's some purpose, apart from reenacting disturbing dystopia.

[With that he lifts his glass again, a wordless "Cheers." as he catches Fitz's eyes.]

[hypoxic]

I had some ideas I've been working with. I just... I think I might want to put them on hold for a bit.

[He nods, taking the opportunity to have another. He's got some good warmth, but it's not making him feel less terrible yet.]

[catchacold]

Fair enough.

[Silent for a while, because Leonard is good at being quiet at the right times, especially when he has something to drink. However, eventually he figures he might as well...]

I'm going to check in on Caitlin. You're coming.

[hypoxic]

[It's quiet for long enough that Fits settles. His body works through the shots and the lighter beers he's had already, and the edges soften out of the world.

It's all ruined as soon as Len mentions Caitlin. He recoils, eyes wide.]

Right now??

[catchacold]

Best while you're too drunk to protest much. If you're lucky, you won't even remember in the morning.

[That said, he pours them another two shots first, simply thrusting the glass into Fitz's hand.]

For courage.

[hypoxic]

[He takes the shot without disputing it, but shakes his head at Len.]

I don't wanna -- not like this. We need to have a real talk.

[catchacold]

In vino veritas, Fitz. Fitzgerald? What the hell's your name, anyway?

[Not that he seems very concerned with getting an answer, merely rising to his feet and waiting for Fitz to join him.]

Grab the bottle. She can use some too.

[hypoxic]

[He'll follow, but with a solid attempt at feet-dragging to slow down the process. He grabs the bottle, grumbling.]

First name's Leopold.

[And that is why people don't use his first name.]

[catchacold]

Sorry about that.

[About the name, obviously, not about making him tag along on this expedition.]

Leonard Snart. I know. It's worse.

[hypoxic]

S'pose I'm just as sorry about that.

[He's starting to mumble, syllables lazily dragging together into one another.]

It doesn't bother me much though. Used to think mum had it in for me, but I guess you just kind of grow into these things after long enough.

[catchacold]

My father did have it in for me. Though his name was Lewis, so maybe that's the root for it.

[Which reaffirms why he never got children of his own. It occurs to Leonard that he's not strictly speaking sure where Caitlin lives, but maybe he can just text and ask. No need to inform Fitz.]

I went by Leo when I was little.

[hypoxic]

That's what my best friend calls me when she's cross with me. [His mouth pulls into half a smile, until a wave of guilt comes crashing behind it.]

Can't believe I let a bloody event make me forget about her.

[catchacold]

Don't think we get a choice in this. This event made all of us all kinds of crazy.

[He's still unsure what to make of having ended up - once more - kind of a good guy, essentially. It's bewildering, frankly.

But at least he wasn't Caitlin's human slave, so there's that.]

[hypoxic]

I've always believed there's a choice. That... It's possible to stop yourself from doing something terrible if you just fight hard enough.

I did a lot of things I shouldn't have.

[catchacold]

I believe that for the most part too, but circumstances are different from choices. You can stay in when it rains and keep from getting wet, but you can't keep the water from falling.

[Leonard shrugs, thinking on how to translate this.]

This is Wonderland. We'll never know what way the rain's coming and what shape the drops have.

[hypoxic]

No, but you can do your best to make sure you've got a big enough umbrella. These are problems I ought to be able to solve.

[catchacold]

You've solved a lot of reality bending problems before?

[He raises his eyebrows and then reaches for the bottle with a shake of his head.]

I sure hooked up with the right genius. Good for me.

[hypoxic]

Somewhat.

[The opportunity to reaffirm his sense of self-worth by boasting a bit? Yes, please and thank you.]

When we were talking back there, I mentioned some theories regarding power-nullification technology. That's something I have already developed on my world. "Powers," "magic" and all that... It all comes down to learning new forms of energy production and understanding new rulesets.

[catchacold]

Where I'm from, those powers can have pretty different origins.

[Although a lot of it seems to lead back to experiments gone wrong, which should maybe make people think.]

But what's the practical application beyond your theory there? Gonna nullify everyone's powers?

[hypoxic]

[He recoils then, as if Len has just accused him of being a mustache-twirling supervillain.]

What? Of course not! But when powered people first come into their own, they struggle to learn control -- having their powers cut off gives them a break from it.

[And then sometimes people are evil and need to be easier to kill, but that's a stickier issue.]

[catchacold]

And what about the people with powers who don't consent to something like that?

[Free will. People inevitably being assholes on both sides.]

Tricky, stuff like that. How do you regulate it, where do you draw the lines?

[hypoxic]

[He draws himself up straighter.]

We draw the line at being good people. We help them, until they don't need our help anymore.

[catchacold]

And what about those that are dangerous? Who do you help there?

[The road to hell and all that.]