❝ 003 ❞ v i d e o ( forward dated to the 31st )

[animosus]

[Hal's recording this from Barry's place and he looks uncharacteristically hesitant.]

I think Barry's gone. My ring can't find him and I know it couldn't find people when everyone did that ghost trick a while back, but he also left his-- [He belatedly realises he can't say Flash ring.] --wedding ring behind and he'd never forget it.

[He falls silent again as he figures out what else to say.]

It's like I just got him back and now he's gone again. [He hasn't worked it out, but it feels like in all the years he's known him, Barry was dead longer than he was alive.]

I never really paid attention to what people did in this situation, but I guess I should tell Bart to get over here. Anything else I should do?

Comments

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[definingfuture]

That seems to be the way things go here. Just when you think you've got something good... For what it's worth, I'm sorry.

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[animosus]

[The implication is going to go over his head until he sees the other replies.]

I know I have to split my time normally, but I really thought it'd end differently this time.

video;

[andaway]

He wouldn't leave his ring behind any more than I would. [It's Clark who replies to the feed, because he was openly friends with Barry. And both Superman and Clark knowing him wouldn't get past someone like Sharon, who had gotten to know them both well during the investigations.]

Do you... need company, Hal? Will you be alright?

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[animosus]

We've already been through this once. [he smiles sadly.] I'll be fine.. it's not like last time.

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[shorttempered]

I'm so sorry, Hal. Your husband was a good man.

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[backinakidflash]

[Bart looks absolutely stricken. He's still in shock from hearing that Barry is gone, but this needs addressing. He took a sip of water and cleared his throat. Unfortunately, he was in such a rush to correct the statement that he did both at the same time and choked all over the place.]

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[animosus]

[he just stares for the longest time.]

What?

I CAN COMMENT ON MY OWN DROP POST

[langsyne]

Might wanna clean out his stuff, if he had any, but if the two of you were living together that's probably not needed.

[Look, he saw Mark's comment and assumed, okay. Don't judge. It's not like he's ever met the man.]

Sorry though. [It's never easy losing someone close.] Maybe he'll be back.

I'M CRYING AT EVERYTHING

[animosus]

[since people stay with their friends all the time... and hoping Mark was a one off thing.]

I have my own place. Maybe I should of insisted otherwise because it'd make cleaning easier.

video

[looksfine]

[Not AU!Papa, no. :(]

[Aya was ready to fully express her condolences on his loss, when something else stated gave her pause. She was confused, if only for a moment, before recalling what Kyle and others had explained about universes differing.]

You did not mention you were married.

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[animosus]

[et tu, aya?]

Because I'm not. I'd rather face Darkseid without my ring than get married.

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[iguanasolution]

[Frank is fully aware it's not the same, but... hey, if he has something in common and an excuse to talk with an actual superhero he isn't going to let it pass.] I'm sorry, my girlfriend left this place after being here as well, a while ago.

I know a weeks-old-relationship is not the same than being married, but...

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[animosus]

[where is this all coming from? He raises his hand.]

This is not a wedding ring. I'm not even wearing it on the right finger!

video; 8DDDD

[corage]

[Your counterpart is so judging you right now.]

Wait, you're gay? [...] Not that it's a bad thing, I guess.

[Wait does that mean he has no Carol?? Wow man how do you even survive without her, he wants to know.]

video; B((((

[animosus]

[Don't be a homophobe dude.]

Oh my god, I'm not gay and I'm not married to Barry Allen!

[strategisch]

...Do you mean Barry Allen?

[Armin doesn't know this person, though they seem rather upset...]

[animosus]

[Thank you for not consoling him on the loss of his 'husband' like everyone else is.]

Yeah. There's probably better ways of getting it out there than this. [He winces as he thinks about all the other replies.] But I'm not exactly familiar with everyone he talked to.

permavideo;

[mythically]

It's a cruel twist of fate.

Will you be alright?

[animosus]

[By the time he gets to Diana, he's less upset and more indignant at the number of people who think he's married to Barry. He's gripping the console and attempting to shake it.]

No! Everyone thinks I'm married!

action;

[backinakidflash]

[Hal is at Barry's, which means that the kedan haven't started cleaning it out yet. Once his initial shock passes, Bart doesn't waste a nanosecond in getting there. He entered through the door and appeared by the couch. Then the table. Then over in the corner. Then sounds would have indicated him being upstairs. Things are flying all over the place as this happens, because Bart is under the impression that Barry's wedding ring is sitting somewhere and, oh god, they can't let him lose that. As he flits from one spot to the next, he manages to string together a sentence.]

What.

Do.

You.

Mean.

He.

Left.

His.

[Bart blurs to a stop in front of Hal.]

Wedding ring?!? That went through the Speed Force with him! He'd NEVER lose it. That'sjustnotright. Oh shit. What if something's wrong? What if he's not gone? The kedan aren't cleaning the joint out, Hal! What if Thawne showed up and whacked him?

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[animosus]

[Hal knows that he's not going to be able to get a word in when a speedster is doing his thing and just stands there awkwardly trying to figure out what to say. At least Barry's real wedding ring doesn't appear to be here. While he wanted nothing to do with that kind of stability, he could appreciate it in others and it would of been just wrong if it had been left behind as well.

When Bart finally stops moving, Hal still takes too long to say something. Actions speak louder than words right? Hal opens his palm and reveals Barry's Flash ring.]

He's gone, not dead. [What does it say when Bart expects him to be dead rather than gone? He's looking into conspiracies when the best option would have been to believe that people get returned to their worlds when they go missing from here.]

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[asoothingvoice]

[Bianca's seen Hal flirt with a few of the kedan nurses at the clinic far too many times to even think he's gay. And if there's anyone who's marriage-phobic that she's ever seen, it's probably Hal. So the thought of Hal being married to Barry doesn't even cross her mind.]

If there's a next time, try to tell any family members present in private instead of letting them find out the same time as everyone else. I'm sure Bart really appreciates finding out his dad's gone like this.

[At least, she thinks that's their relationship, at any rate?]

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[animosus]

[THANK THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T QUESTION HIS HETEROSEXUALITY AND HIS LACK OF ABILITY TO COMMIT.]

Granddad.

[And the the rest of what she says catches up to him and he groans and buries his head in his hands.]

Why didn't I think of that.

video; encrypted 100%

[everylittlegirl]

I'm guessing Bart's already there?

Were you, uh.. close? To the Allens?

video; encrypted 100%

[animosus]

[He doesn't even notice the encryption in his agitated state.]

Yeah, Bart's here.

I'd never really talked to him before we ended up here, I wasn't around when he first arrived. But me and Barry go way back. I'm probably the first person people think of when you bring him up.

[...]

Other than his wife, of course.

[How has it become necessary to state that Barry has a wife now...]