[ Fuck. Does he really have to do this speech. Really. Does he have to go over it again? Then again, Caitlin should definitely not have to go through that. Barry either. And Harry just plain won't so. Looks like it's Cisco's job. ]
you could say that.
also, he's a complete psycho.
and he played us. just like eobard. you'd think we would've learned the first time. but instead of doing that, we trusted him. he was part of the team. he showed up and said he was the flash on earth-2 and we just believed him. he said he was a hero, but it turned out, not so much.
[ It's about 10 minutes before Cisco texts back, because he needs to relocate his chill first. Texting in anger is never a good idea and he's been trying to work on that, generally. Plus, he's already let poor Ray be the brunt of his misdirected anger way too many times. ]
i think it's a lot easier to make that choice from where you're standing. being betrayed like that is something that's never happened to you.
it's happened to me and caitlin and barry TWICE so please do me a favor and don't say shit like that to them. i know you, so i know you don't mean it like that, but it sounds really self-righteous.
i didn't tell you about zoom because i wanted a pep talk about the virtues of learning to trust again, ok? i just... told you because i felt bad about not telling you about dr. wells.
well then, talk about something you can talk about.
look i'm not trying to pressure you here, seriously, but you can't have it both ways. you can't accuse me of not knowing stuff about you and then refuse to tell me literally anything about you.
and i mean if i had my way i'd never talk about dr. wells or jay ever again but it's not like i have the luxury of that choice.
you're the one who's preaching the gospel of trust, but i'm the one with all my dirty laundry and shit out in the open and you just get to say 'no thanks'?
if sometime you actually honestly feel like opening up and talking to me about stuff, as a friend, you know that i'm always here, and i'll always be willing to listen.
but this right now? doesn't feel right. i don't wanna force you to talk about something you don't wanna talk about.
sorry i assumed wrong. i guess i just can't understand how someone could be as [ He types naive, thinks, erases it ] optimistic as you after going through whatever.
[ He has seriously no idea of how to deal with this. ]
It's not that I don't trust you. I don't want to make this into some messed competition on who has a better reason to be jaded.
And I'm fine, ultimately. I fuck up, I go over why I fucked up, I take steps to stop it from happening again. But when it comes to people, to trusting, I'm gonna fuck up every time. I'll risk my mission and my life and the life of my teammates on a complete stranger because I believe everyone deserves a chance.
That doesn't make me better than anyone. Hell, anyone who knows me will tell you it makes me an idiot. But I'm okay with that, I'd rather be a happy idiot than a jaded genius.
look i think we're just gonna have to accept that what works for you works for you, and what works for me works for me. you go ahead and keep on trusting people and doing your thing, and i'll do my thing. i don't need your advice, and i'm sure you don't want mine just as much.
[ Ray hadn't classify this exchange anywhere near a fight, he also hadn't thought he'd been giving advice, so he actually goes back to reread the whole combo. The closest he can find to advice is telling Cisco that trusting people isn't stupid.
He would've slotted it as a general comment, but Cisco is obviously on edge and understandably not currently down with optimism, so he figures it's easier to drop it. ]
[ Maybe he should just leave it, like Harry said. But even if Cisco doesn't understand how Ray can be so... Ray, he wants to. Cisco isn't someone who gives up easily. So a couple hours later, he shoots back with: ]
y'know we should just get really drunk sometime.
like drunk off our asses.
play never have i ever or something, that's a good way to get to know people, right?
[ It had certainly helped when he was getting to know Eddie. Though hopefully this time no one is going to burst into tears, and Cisco is definitely going to go easier on the tequila. The point would be to get to know Ray, and doing that's hard when you can barely even remember what was said. ]
[ Ray sits on the comment for a couple of hours too. Getting drunk has never been a way to get to know people for him, it's a way to let go, kick back, stop thinking. And last time he'd done it, quite recently, he was pretty sure had ended up kissing Leonard Snart. So.
Drinking is currently off the table for him.
But also he can't explain why drinking is off the table.
But he also can't be cryptic about it because that seems to be part of the problem here.
So he goes for a third option. He can trust Cisco with it. ]
[ Okay so....... that's a no on the drinks date? But whatever, he'd told Ray he could talk to him if he wanted to, and he's talking, so Cisco's gonna roll with it. ]
it was a really dope ring.
[ The fact that he's locating his engagement in relation to the whole Deathstroke thing seems.... ominous. Tentatively, Cisco sends a second text: ]
most of those treasure hunt prizes were actually pretty messed up
[ Well, now Cisco feels like a real asshole for being so tetchy. A loss like that and what Jay had done are really apples and oranges, but that doesn't mean he's unsympathetic. ]
i'm really sorry, man. that's awful.
best cure for a hangover is a cheeseburger. pretty sure that's scientifically proven.
[ Damn, Raymond, back at it again with the healthy life choices. Cisco's never let a hangover discourage him before but honestly that's probably not a good sign so he's not gonna question it.
(And he feels a bit bad for thinking it, but it is some relief, hearing that Ray's coping mechanisms are not "just smile and shake it off" 100% of the time, that he can have a bad day and get trashed and then regret it after. That, to Cisco, is actually relatable, for once. ]
so that's a no on the invitation.
got it.
probably good for your liver anyway
[ He would offer an alternative, but like... he can't really think of anything else. And even if Ray's reasons for turning down that offer were good ones, he'd still turned it down. The ball's in his court, now. Cisco's not gonna chase after someone who doesn't meet him halfway. ]
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you could say that.
also, he's a complete psycho.
and he played us. just like eobard. you'd think we would've learned the first time. but instead of doing that, we trusted him. he was part of the team. he showed up and said he was the flash on earth-2 and we just believed him. he said he was a hero, but it turned out, not so much.
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I'd rather trust people and be wrong sometimes than not trust anyone and be right sometimes.
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i think it's a lot easier to make that choice from where you're standing. being betrayed like that is something that's never happened to you.
it's happened to me and caitlin and barry TWICE so please do me a favor and don't say shit like that to them. i know you, so i know you don't mean it like that, but it sounds really self-righteous.
i didn't tell you about zoom because i wanted a pep talk about the virtues of learning to trust again, ok? i just... told you because i felt bad about not telling you about dr. wells.
[ Right now he's regretting telling Ray at all. ]
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Look Cisco, you don't know what's happened to me so let's not make any assumptions.
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i'm all ears. or eyes. whatever. tell me about it?
[ Time to put up or shut up. And, y'know, also: if Ray has been through something similar, Cisco would actually want to offer his support. ]
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look i'm not trying to pressure you here, seriously, but you can't have it both ways. you can't accuse me of not knowing stuff about you and then refuse to tell me literally anything about you.
and i mean if i had my way i'd never talk about dr. wells or jay ever again but it's not like i have the luxury of that choice.
you're the one who's preaching the gospel of trust, but i'm the one with all my dirty laundry and shit out in the open and you just get to say 'no thanks'?
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Okay. So do you want specific instances of betrayal or are general traumatic experiences that might shake one's faith in humanity good too?
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nevermind.
i'm not gonna be a part of this.
if sometime you actually honestly feel like opening up and talking to me about stuff, as a friend, you know that i'm always here, and i'll always be willing to listen.
but this right now? doesn't feel right. i don't wanna force you to talk about something you don't wanna talk about.
sorry i assumed wrong. i guess i just can't understand how someone could be as [ He types naive, thinks, erases it ] optimistic as you after going through whatever.
must be you're just a better person than me.
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It's not that I don't trust you. I don't want to make this into some messed competition on who has a better reason to be jaded.
And I'm fine, ultimately. I fuck up, I go over why I fucked up, I take steps to stop it from happening again. But when it comes to people, to trusting, I'm gonna fuck up every time. I'll risk my mission and my life and the life of my teammates on a complete stranger because I believe everyone deserves a chance.
That doesn't make me better than anyone. Hell, anyone who knows me will tell you it makes me an idiot. But I'm okay with that, I'd rather be a happy idiot than a jaded genius.
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look i think we're just gonna have to accept that what works for you works for you, and what works for me works for me. you go ahead and keep on trusting people and doing your thing, and i'll do my thing. i don't need your advice, and i'm sure you don't want mine just as much.
deal?
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you were earlier tho and i know it was coming from a good place, man, but let's just avoid it from now on.
i don't wanna fight. 😔
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He would've slotted it as a general comment, but Cisco is obviously on edge and understandably not currently down with optimism, so he figures it's easier to drop it. ]
Sure, okay. Whatever you need.
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y'know we should just get really drunk sometime.
like drunk off our asses.
play never have i ever or something, that's a good way to get to know people, right?
[ It had certainly helped when he was getting to know Eddie. Though hopefully this time no one is going to burst into tears, and Cisco is definitely going to go easier on the tequila. The point would be to get to know Ray, and doing that's hard when you can barely even remember what was said. ]
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Drinking is currently off the table for him.
But also he can't explain why drinking is off the table.
But he also can't be cryptic about it because that seems to be part of the problem here.
So he goes for a third option. He can trust Cisco with it. ]
You got that mass text with the ring picture?
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yeah? pretty sure everyone did
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it was a really dope ring.
[ The fact that he's locating his engagement in relation to the whole Deathstroke thing seems.... ominous. Tentatively, Cisco sends a second text: ]
most of those treasure hunt prizes were actually pretty messed up
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It brought up memories, I got drunk. I feel like I'm still nursing the hangover.
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i'm really sorry, man. that's awful.
best cure for a hangover is a cheeseburger. pretty sure that's scientifically proven.
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yeah, aspirin and water and greasy food. i don't think i'll be up to doing it again soon.
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(And he feels a bit bad for thinking it, but it is some relief, hearing that Ray's coping mechanisms are not "just smile and shake it off" 100% of the time, that he can have a bad day and get trashed and then regret it after. That, to Cisco, is actually relatable, for once. ]
so that's a no on the invitation.
got it.
probably good for your liver anyway
[ He would offer an alternative, but like... he can't really think of anything else. And even if Ray's reasons for turning down that offer were good ones, he'd still turned it down. The ball's in his court, now. Cisco's not gonna chase after someone who doesn't meet him halfway. ]
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[ Ray's not up for risking drunken make-outs with another friend, but he still wants to hang out. ]
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