Building Bridges aka Glasnost in broken time

[havingprecision]

1978 Soviet Russia. It's a bit of a difference from his visit to Russia, but it's also eerily similar. Trade is done in barter versus money, strength is a resouce and his status as a Bratva Captian still means something to the men populating the area. As the video snaps on he's got a heavy jacket on, complete with the epaulets of a Soviet Captain, a couple of bottles of vodka and a bag filled with food.

"До Свидания, друзья!" A salute as he leaves, a call that is echoed by the other Russians in the camp, clearly entertained by the archer.

"Well I'll say one thing - not all of the locals are hostile if you know how to talk to them."

Comments

[chosenbylightning]

You made metahumans, but you were never there to teach them either, to help them figure out their powers or how they impact their lives.

.. and when did you start telling people your name was Sam?

[vivifier]

I have. Maybe not in Central City. But I have.

After I was badgered into adopting a 'normal alias that doesn't sound like a serial killer'.

...why?

[chosenbylightning]

He may not be from our Earth but getting him riled won't help. You know that.

[And speaking of Sam.. the raptor bumps Barry with a chirp. He sighs and pets the creature.] Because now this dope needs a new name.

[vivifier]

Whatever, Flash.

[ Oh the expression on Savitar's face is not...pleased. ]

I'm sorry?

[chosenbylightning]

[Yeah, this is going to go swimmingly, isn't it? He didn't do it on purpose, but Barry isn't one to hope that Savitar-slash-Sam is going to buy it.]

Hey, I'm all for you going for a name change, but I didn't know when I settled on that name for him. I didn't.

[vivifier]

[ Really, it's just a question of 'in which direction will he take this badly', isn't it? At least at this current point in his life, there's barely any chance it will go fine. Maybe .23%. ]

...you're all for me going for a name change?

[chosenbylightning]

[Slim odds, but Barry will take that over fury any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

He blinks at the question.]

Yeah. Yeah, why wouldn't I be? Sam Garrick has a nice ring to it. [He almost, almost mentions that Dad would have liked it too, but wisely holds his tongue.]

[vivifier]

[ Oh, this isn't good at all. He wants to be angry, he is angry. But he honestly doesn't know where to direct his anger or what he's even angry about. ]

Does it.

[chosenbylightning]

[If he ever gets home he's going to buy the best bottle of whiskey he can afford and some ridiculously old vinyl for Joe for putting up with him as an angry teenager.] Yeah. I mean, it suits you.

[OH LOOK. Change of subject.] Want to go for a run? See if any other time slips are happening out there?

[vivifier]

Savitar suits me too. [ Does it? Really? ]

...fine. Sure. [ Maybe he can get Barry to take this cast off of him. ]

[chosenbylightning]

[Nope. Not touching that one. No way.] I'll meet you over by Big Ben.

Maybe you can help me come up with a better name for the raptor while we're at it.

[vivifier]

Maybe. Yeah. Maybe.

[ And he's off towards Big Ben. TO ACTION? ]

[chosenbylightning]

[Hey, it's not a no so he'll take it. Barry heads off to meet him there, waiting at a corner of the large clock tower.]

So I found a couple good places to eat we can hit up after a run. There's a diner over in the fifties that makes some amazing breakfast and if Oliver's been stress cooking again we can raid his kitchen.

[vivifier]

[ Savitar hopes Barry is prepared for some awkward running, with this cast of his. ]

I'd rather not piss off Oliver Queen. [ Arrows to the back are so not cool. ] The fifties place sounds like that restaurant from Midway.

[chosenbylightning]

[Barry has every intention of letting Savitar set both the pace and direction. He's still got his arm in a cast and there's no telling how badly Gideon messed with his ties to the Speed Force.

A grin when he mentions the restaurant.] I may have made sure they had things like gravy fries too.

Go on. You take the lead. Let's go.

[vivifier]

[ As long as he doesn't burst into flames Johnny Storm style when he runs, he figures he'll be fine. He's certainly no going to be trying top-speeds here, that's for sure. ]

Well. They are the best kind of fries.

[ But first, running. And he will, indeed, start. ]

[chosenbylightning]

[Running with another speedster like this - running for the simple joy of being able to run is like nothing else in the world. Feeling lightning dance along his skin and the wind rushing along his face and in his hair and the crackle of Savitar's lightning as he runs with him.

They don't have to run at top speed - this isn't a race after all.

It's running because that's what speedsters do.

Barry laughs as they run. Free. Open. Easy.

Where they're stuck isn't easy, and it'll be hard, but he has moments like this too.]

[vivifier]

It's been a long time since he's run without purpose, run for the sake of just going somewhere or just running. Certainly not at speeds that aren't high enough to hurt him.

He's surprised at how much he missed it.

[chosenbylightning]

Barry is all smiles as he skids to a stop just outside the diner they had mentioned. That was.. fun. "Want to stop in for a bite or cut over through the rainforest and circle back?"

[vivifier]

How long has it been since he's done anything just for fun? Long enough that he can't even actually remember it. Even his little drinking spree hadn't been about fun. "We can stop." They probably should refuel, right?