[ Any other day of the week, Harrison would probably make a remark about the very slim odds of him ever actually taking him up on that. Technology intrigued him and he was always looking for ways to innovate; game design was another story entirely. But tonight, settled in next to him with the two of them peering over at the gamepad while their cat and capybara are all curled up together in a corner of the room, there's something oddly . . . comforting about it all.
So instead, he takes it somewhat seriously — as seriously as one can when conveyor belts are on the table. ]
If you're a sadist, I suppose. [ A beat. ] Put a couple hidden blocks right there. Between the two belts, over the gap.
[ But Cisco puts in the hidden blocks, right where Harry has suggested, and adds a baby Bowser at the end of the conveyor belt, just to make things a little more interesting. As he does it, he glances up at Harry, grinning, hoping that the cruelty of that choice will earn some reaction from him - a smile, or an eyeroll which is almost as good as one. ]
You've gotta be able to beat it in order to upload it, so it can't be too impossible.
[ Which means that really, the only person Cisco is hurting is himself when he moves on to the next area and starts to lay out a series of springs that are much too far apart to jump between conveniently, but just close enough that it should be possible. ]
[ He gives him a smirk at that, settling in to watch and rolling his eyes at the baby Bowser. He doesn't know much about Mario, but he does know that that thing? Is awful. A light chuckle escapes his lips. ]
Are you saying you can't do this?
[ It's a challenge, really, one he knows that Cisco will accept in a heartbeat. So he leans over to make a few more suggestions — a pirrahna plant here, a mid-air blooper there, and a few other traps scattered about the level. Once they're done, he gives a nod over at the screen. ]
[ Cisco makes a big show of rolling his shoulders, cracking each knuckle in turn, shifting and sitting up with better posture before he picks up the gamepad and switches their level over to the play mode. Knowing where the various traps and tricky sections are doesn't mean Cisco has the muscle memory to get through them just yet. He dies within about twenty seconds on his first run, looking up to meet Harry's eyes, knowing he's going to look smug and gloating.
But he'd much rather smug and gloating than that unfocused, lost look he'd seen when he first came in.
On his second attempt Cisco gets much further, until he forgets about the hidden blocks and crashes straight into them, plummeting down to the lava with a drawn out groan of disappointment. ]
Dammit!
[ The third time he makes a stupid mistake early on and gets creamed by a thwomp. The fourth time he's lost his rhythm and dies the same place he did on his first attempt. ]
I don't wanna hear a word!
[ He's just pre-empting any commentary that Harry might have to offer. The next three times he gets really close. Finally, after another two, he makes it to the end of the level, throwing his arms up in triumph. ]
[ He's smug and gloating, but there's more life in his eyes than there was when he first came in. There's still much to be done, with getting Barry his speed back and taking on Hunter Zolomon and rescuing Snow, but it isn't weighing as heavily on his shoulders as it had been. Harrison lets out a chuckle the third time he dies and on the fourth time, he just turns his head over towards Cisco and smiles widely at him, not saying anything else.
When he finally clears the level, Harrison rolls his eyes — but he also reaches over to give him a less-than-enthusiastic pat on the shoulder. ]
Congratulations, Ramon, for beating the level you made.
[ The sarcasm practically oozes from his voice, but he gives him a smirk at that before settling back in and pressing the pack back to his forehead. A companionable silence hangs between the two of them as the level posts, allowing them to go back and scroll through some others. Harrison tilts his head to the side after a moment and holds out a hand for the gamepad. When he speaks, it's softer — his attempt at being casual. ]
You don't care if I stay here for a night or two, do you.
[ Even since they have been on better terms, it is still a rare thing, for Harry to ask for something from Cisco. He can slap a nonchalant tone of voice on it all he wants - Cisco can still recognize a request when he hears one. And there's a lot implied by asking it. That Harry doesn't want to be on his own, enough that he would actually admit it. That being kidnapped had rattled him enough to put aside his pride.
The answer is so obvious to Cisco - he responds easily, quickly. ]
'Course I don't mind. Harry, you don't mind if Harry stays, do you?
[ The cat, curled up close to Pythagoras's side, seems to recognize from his tone that Cisco is speaking to her. She lifts her head, ears forward, and blinks slowly at the two of them a few times before laying her head back down again. And it's impossible for Cisco not to think that those two animals, settled close to one another, are a bit like him and Harry sitting side by side.
Tomorrow no doubt Harry will want to go to his workshop and throw himself into something he sees as productive, and Cisco will come with him, and help. But for right now, it's Cisco's job as his friend to do what he can to distract Harry from his own thoughts. Fortunately for Harry, Cisco can be very distracting. ]
Long as you're willing to watch some X-Files with me. That's the price of admission. [ Cisco makes an exaggerated face of consideration and adds, generously: ] Though I'm willing to substitute in Battlestar Galactica if persuaded.
[ Harrison makes a face as he tries to play it off like he doesn't care and to a degree, he doesn't. Cisco could put on the worst television show known to man (currently: that abomination the other Allen was describing not too long ago) and Harrison would still stick around, complaining the entire time. He can't help but follow that up with the smallest of smiles as he dips his head and pushes the gamepad aside, letting Cisco take care of everything so they can settle in with a show and a bowl of popcorn.
There's something comforting in sitting there, casually leaning against one another and letting the banter flow as the screen flickers. No matter how bad things get, Ramon's been there. He may not acknowledge it much, but it's not something that Harrison takes lightly. He's not going to coddle him or lie and say everything will be fine; he's an active partner in finding a solution. And it's strange, how Harrison finds himself starting to feel a similar instinct to what he feels around Jesse at times — wanting to be a better person, someone actually worthy of their time and energy. He shakes his head briefly at the thought before snatching the popcorn from him, monopolizing the bowl for however long he'll let him. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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So instead, he takes it somewhat seriously — as seriously as one can when conveyor belts are on the table. ]
If you're a sadist, I suppose. [ A beat. ] Put a couple hidden blocks right there. Between the two belts, over the gap.
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[ But Cisco puts in the hidden blocks, right where Harry has suggested, and adds a baby Bowser at the end of the conveyor belt, just to make things a little more interesting. As he does it, he glances up at Harry, grinning, hoping that the cruelty of that choice will earn some reaction from him - a smile, or an eyeroll which is almost as good as one. ]
You've gotta be able to beat it in order to upload it, so it can't be too impossible.
[ Which means that really, the only person Cisco is hurting is himself when he moves on to the next area and starts to lay out a series of springs that are much too far apart to jump between conveniently, but just close enough that it should be possible. ]
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[ He gives him a smirk at that, settling in to watch and rolling his eyes at the baby Bowser. He doesn't know much about Mario, but he does know that that thing? Is awful. A light chuckle escapes his lips. ]
Are you saying you can't do this?
[ It's a challenge, really, one he knows that Cisco will accept in a heartbeat. So he leans over to make a few more suggestions — a pirrahna plant here, a mid-air blooper there, and a few other traps scattered about the level. Once they're done, he gives a nod over at the screen. ]
Alright, Cisco. Show me what you can do.
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But he'd much rather smug and gloating than that unfocused, lost look he'd seen when he first came in.
On his second attempt Cisco gets much further, until he forgets about the hidden blocks and crashes straight into them, plummeting down to the lava with a drawn out groan of disappointment. ]
Dammit!
[ The third time he makes a stupid mistake early on and gets creamed by a thwomp. The fourth time he's lost his rhythm and dies the same place he did on his first attempt. ]
I don't wanna hear a word!
[ He's just pre-empting any commentary that Harry might have to offer. The next three times he gets really close. Finally, after another two, he makes it to the end of the level, throwing his arms up in triumph. ]
Not too shabby, huh!
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When he finally clears the level, Harrison rolls his eyes — but he also reaches over to give him a less-than-enthusiastic pat on the shoulder. ]
Congratulations, Ramon, for beating the level you made.
[ The sarcasm practically oozes from his voice, but he gives him a smirk at that before settling back in and pressing the pack back to his forehead. A companionable silence hangs between the two of them as the level posts, allowing them to go back and scroll through some others. Harrison tilts his head to the side after a moment and holds out a hand for the gamepad. When he speaks, it's softer — his attempt at being casual. ]
You don't care if I stay here for a night or two, do you.
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The answer is so obvious to Cisco - he responds easily, quickly. ]
'Course I don't mind. Harry, you don't mind if Harry stays, do you?
[ The cat, curled up close to Pythagoras's side, seems to recognize from his tone that Cisco is speaking to her. She lifts her head, ears forward, and blinks slowly at the two of them a few times before laying her head back down again. And it's impossible for Cisco not to think that those two animals, settled close to one another, are a bit like him and Harry sitting side by side.
Tomorrow no doubt Harry will want to go to his workshop and throw himself into something he sees as productive, and Cisco will come with him, and help. But for right now, it's Cisco's job as his friend to do what he can to distract Harry from his own thoughts. Fortunately for Harry, Cisco can be very distracting. ]
Long as you're willing to watch some X-Files with me. That's the price of admission. [ Cisco makes an exaggerated face of consideration and adds, generously: ] Though I'm willing to substitute in Battlestar Galactica if persuaded.
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[ Harrison makes a face as he tries to play it off like he doesn't care and to a degree, he doesn't. Cisco could put on the worst television show known to man (currently: that abomination the other Allen was describing not too long ago) and Harrison would still stick around, complaining the entire time. He can't help but follow that up with the smallest of smiles as he dips his head and pushes the gamepad aside, letting Cisco take care of everything so they can settle in with a show and a bowl of popcorn.
There's something comforting in sitting there, casually leaning against one another and letting the banter flow as the screen flickers. No matter how bad things get, Ramon's been there. He may not acknowledge it much, but it's not something that Harrison takes lightly. He's not going to coddle him or lie and say everything will be fine; he's an active partner in finding a solution. And it's strange, how Harrison finds himself starting to feel a similar instinct to what he feels around Jesse at times — wanting to be a better person, someone actually worthy of their time and energy. He shakes his head briefly at the thought before snatching the popcorn from him, monopolizing the bowl for however long he'll let him. ]