video.

[langsyne]

[For someone who's just found himself the winner of a cheap turtle cruise, Scott looks pretty calm sitting in his suite with his chin propped on the palm of his hand. He's skimmed the console posts and wheedled tiny bits of information from the kedan. He knows something is up with the turtle. ]

God only knows I deserve a vacation on a tropical turtle paradise right about now, but usually when I take my days off I like them sunny, not sickly. [Here he straightens, features losing some of their humor.] I know I'm the new guy around here, but if there's anything I can do to help, let me know.

[Admittedly, this might not be his best move considering he still has no idea why or by whom he was brought here, but no one's killed him (yet) so Scott's taking that as a good sign.]

Oh, and.

[The levity's back in his voice now but it's harder, more forced, and anyone paying attention can hear the undercurrent of worry slowly rising to the surface. He's already asked Tea but she'd only been one person and this turtle place is massive. Can't hurt to ask around more.]

If anyone's seen a group of nine kids - including two fish kids and a head in a jar - I'd also like to know, thanks. You can't miss 'em. Really.

Comments

[langsyne]

Well, you know what they say about addiction...

[There's no bite or warning in his words though. Actually, they're almost mocking in nature, because there are worse things than addiction in the world, and addiction to superpowers, no less.]

What is your power anyway? Or powers, plural, I guess.

[backinakidflash]

That the DSM-IV lists it and other compulsive disorders as a disease?

[Bart didn't actually mean that he was addicted, only that he was so accustomed to them as to miss them like hell.]

Heh. That's becoming part of the standard introduction around here. I should just start greeting people with "Bart Allen. Speedster." Watch - first person I try that on won't know with that means.

[langsyne]

Close enough. And what, speedster? Who doesn't know what that means?

[Shut up, Scott, not everyone gets to spend their adult years as part of a superhero team.]

But that's pretty cool. You have a fancy code name and everything too?

[backinakidflash]

No idea. But maybe there's someone? Somewhere out there. Who's never heard of one. I haven't met them yet though.

[Okay, even he knows not to answer such a direct question like that.]

Nope.

[langsyne]

[Fair enough. Scott's kind of given up on secret IDs considering who he hangs out with but this kid still has life in front of him, and probably lots of family and friends.]

So the next time I see a kid who looks remarkably like you wearing a jazzed up set of pajamas, I should avert my eyes and pretend like it's not actually you?

[backinakidflash]

[Bart is snickering at this, because, well. Teenaged Wally is here.]

I legit turned up in my pajamas. Went to bed. Woke up here. But if I had a 'jazzy' set, I think it's safe to say you'd never see me.

[langsyne]

[Bart can be amused when Scott accidentally calls Wally Bart one day.]

They really weren't kidding when they said life, death, or dreaming, huh? [That's actually kind of funny, though he's glad he himself didn't wake up in his PJs.] And wouldn't I technically not see you now if you ran fast enough?

[backinakidflash]

[Oh, he will be.]

Nope. 100% honest. I'm hoping everyone's just asleep somewhere.

Technically. But I can't run right now.

[langsyne]

Right, the power thing. But if it weren't here, how fast could you run? [Tiny eyebrow lift.] Or is that classified info?

[backinakidflash]

I think... right now, it's around light speed, the last time I was checked out. I've been faster. There were weird circumstances.

> threadjack; video; 50% encryption

[sciencewhizard]

What speed?!

[ Did Wally seriously just hear that his little future-cousin is faster than him? ]

video; 50% encryption

[backinakidflash]

[Bart is not little! They're around the same age. Just because you were born a millennium before him does not mean you're always older, Wally!]

Light? More than that and it's not safe for me right now. I can feel myself getting pulled in.

video; 50% encryption

[sciencewhizard]

[ Ffff. Don't rub it in more, Bart. ]

Light. Great. So what, I'm the slowest speedster in the bu-

[ Wait. ]

What do you mean, "pulled in?" Pulled in to what?

video; 50% encryption

[backinakidflash]

Wha? No way. You're as fast as me. Faster usually -

[Bart stops talking over him when Wally switches subjects and blinks.]

Into the Speed Force. I'm not getting stuck in there again.

video; 50% encryption

[sciencewhizard]

... Uh-huh. Not now. [ He's not happy about saying it, but he's otherwise used to it with Barry. ] My limit's speed of sound.

Speed Force. Should I even ask what that is? [ Is this going to break the spacetime continuum? ]

video; 50% encryption

[backinakidflash]

[To hell with preserving the continuum. Bart's visibly scared by this.]

No. That's not right. Shit. Tell me you're not still sick. Please? Idon'tknowhowyoufixedthat.

[The question just makes it worse. Bart's actually has to wring his hands before he can address it.]

What do you mean you don't know what the Speed Force is? You're Wally West, right? Your parents are Rudy and Mary West.

video; 50% encryption

[sciencewhizard]

...Sick? That's always been my limit. [ Unfortunately. ] Ever since I recreated the accident that gave Barry his powers, I've only been able to go up to sound.

I mean, it's better than nothing, obviously, but that's it. [ He's eyeing the way Bart's taking all this with a looooot of concern. ]

I just don't, dude. Yes, I'm Wally West. [ Seriously? ] And yeah, my parents are Rudy and Mary.

video; 50% encryption

[backinakidflash]

But that's seriously screwed up. I know that's not your limit. If the speed isn't aging you, I don't know what's wrong.

The experiment didn't make you run fast. It hooked you up to the Speed Force. That's how you do it. High metabolism or not - there's not enough time in the day to eat enough to let us do what we do. Even for us. I don't get it. I - oh. You. You're like Uncle Jay. That's what this is. Before he figured out how to tap it.

[langsyne]

[Consider Scott duly impressed.]

Wow. Not bad. [He has no idea how fast Quicksilver runs, but for a kid that's pretty damn good.] Wish I could run that fast. You ever tried racing the sun while it's rising or anything?

[backinakidflash]

Thanks. I'm not the fastest. Yet. I'm gonna get there.

Maaaybe. The sun cheats, man. It doesn't have to fight with terrain.

[langsyne]

[Dryly:] Maybe that just means you need to train more once whatever this is is over.

[backinakidflash]

I do not need to train more!

[The clue-anvil hits him on the head pretty hard.]

I mean. That's a snazzy pajamas thing. Don't really need to.

[Flash fact: that's what we call a false start.]

[langsyne]

[Scott likes this kid already.]

Uh-huh. So what you're saying is that next time the sun rises, I should be betting on the sun.

[backinakidflash]

[All Bart can hear is Cyborg in his head going "Oh hell no."]

If you want to go broke. Don't you know? The house always wins.

[langsyne]

Kid, I'm always broke.

[Technically a lie since he's pretty sure Reed has an emergency fund for the FF tucked away he can dip into in case all else fails, but on his own? He is one dirt poor man.]

But I'll take your word for it. Your parents know you go running around doing the whole jazzy pajamas thing?