franciscoramon | riverview ∆ ic inbox ∆ @ciscodelamancha

Wow, that's awesome.

[ If the answer had been different Cisco might have asked for more details, but as a general rule of thumb he knows that across the multiverse, parents can be a pretty sensitive topic to broach. After all, for all he knows, Poe's mom was a badass fighter pilot who got horribly killed fighting that First Order or whatever. Cisco doesn't wanna unearth any traumas, while he's trying to make a good impression. So instead he says: ]

I don't know how much Rey told you about me but our worlds are pretty different. Where I come from would probably seem pretty primitive to you. The furthest we've gotten in space is our own moon, and only for a couple hours at a time. We haven't got contact with any other planets or people out there in the universe. We've barely invented holograms.

[ Fortunately for Cisco's curiosity, Poe is more than willing to praise his mom. ]

Bronze Nova for Conspicuous Gallantry and her triple ace within a week of each other. She was one of the best in the Alliance.

[ It doesn't occur to him that Cisco might not know the difference between the Alliance and the Resistance--it's one of those things, like droids, that are such a natural presence in his life that it takes someone pointing it out for him to explain.

He's nodding as Cisco explains his universe. ]

My friend Karen is from the same sort of world. Must be an adjustment, coming to a place like this.

I've got no clue what either of those things are, but they sound pretty damn cool.

[ Cisco might not know what a Bronze Nova is, but he recognizes the past tense when he sees it. Of course, hard to say if Poe's mom 'was' one of the best because she's retired or because she was killed or who knows why. He also doesn't know the difference between the Alliance and the Resistance, so he assumes (naively) that they are different names for the same thing. ]

Definitely an adjustment. But a good one. It's awesome meeting people from so many different worlds. Seeing what overlaps, what doesn't. Learning about all different kinds of cultures. The tech here's incredible, but... it's the people that really make it a great place to be.

[ Apparently he's got quite an earnest streak, too, because he sounds like he means that without a trace of irony. ]

[ A chuckle. ]

Triple ace means she took down fifteen or more aerial combatants in a single engagement. The Bronze Nova--it's a big deal, let's just leave it at that.

[ He stays quiet for a little while after Cisco finishes talking, almost nauseous with homesickness. ]

So you're going to stay? [ Okay, even Poe realizes that's probably too personal a question. ] Sorry, never mind.

Fifteen?! Daaamn.

[ Cisco doesn't know the first thing about aerial combat, but fifteen in a single fight has got to be a whole lot, right? He wonders then what the scale is for a typical engagement, and those sorts of specifics, but... this probably isn't the time or place. Maybe once he knows Poe a little better. ]

Gotcha.

[ It's... actually really cool, how proud Poe is of his mother. Cisco's known far too many guys in his life who love their moms, but don't look up to them, don't think of them as fully-rounded people, much less accomplished and impressive ones. His own relationship with his mom, well... that's an entirely different matter. One that he's more than happy not to think or talk about. ]

It's cool, dude. I don't mind answering questions. And yeah, I'm staying. This is home, now.

[ And then, because Cisco's come to expect certain questions when he tells people that, he preemptively explains: ]

I like living somewhere with so many different types of people. Makes Earth seem kinda narrow, by comparison. Only humans, only people from one planet, one time, you know? And the work I'm doing here is important. I'm making more of a difference than I was back home. Plus... there's people that need me here and... not really anybody to miss me there.

[ The reality is more complicated than that, of course. Barry and Caitlin would miss him, at least, at first. His family was bound to notice eventually. But none of them really needed him around. Barry and Caitlin had made that quite clear, in the months after the singularity. He's still planning on sending a message back, explaining the circumstances and his choice - but he's not leaving this moon, and Eddie, and the life he's building here. ]

[ As far as Poe is concerned, his parents gave him all the best parts of himself. Their legacy is something to live up to, to safeguard, to fight for. He has a uniquely healthy relationship with his parents, really, if you ignore the part where he feels like he failed them for not stopping the First Order before the destruction of the New Republic. ]

I understand that. [ He can't imagine it, frankly, living on one tiny planet with one single species. ] I'm glad, then. I'm glad this place found you.

[ He sounds puzzled by his own feelings, which admittedly, he is. It's the first time he's actually considered that this place is somewhere people would want to stay. ]

I'm glad it did, too.

[ Sure, this place isn't perfect. But Earth hadn't been perfect, either. And Cisco's been here long enough that he barely ever feels homesick, anymore. More and more, this is starting to be not just a place that he wants to be, but a place where he belongs. He feels like if he says that to Poe, though, and belabors the point, it might start sounding a bit too "everybody's happy here", and swing a little bit towards creepiness, so Cisco will just keep that to himself. ]

Listen... if you ever need help settling in, I mean, I know you got Rey and everything, but if she's busy, or it's something she doesn't know the answer to, feel free to just hit me up, alright? I've been here more than half a year, I know the place pretty well by now.

[ People keep offering that. To help him settle in. It's kind, he knows it's kind, but he doesn't want to settle in. He doesn't want to act like this is some colony planet he chose to come to. He's starting to realize he can be glad for the people that like it here, sure, but the thought of being stuck, the thought of having to settle in--

He's been quiet for too long, probably. ]

Thank you, Cisco. [ A pause. ] I'm really, really glad you and Rey found each other, too. She deserves to know good people.

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