Lightning Rod

Trying to seek out change ( but all the wrong things seek me ) IRIS WEST. Engineer. ( closed rp blog for nationalcityrp)

[wstiris]

∿ living under a rock

[wstiris]

justistrue :

The thing about catching up… you’re already behind and it’s easy to fall even further. Which is what happened to Lucy. It had been a few months now since she resurfaced and boy was she struggling to get back in touch with those she broke off from. Lucy just needed time to relearn herself, detach from National City and just focus on the DEO. Maybe she focused on it a bit too long. Still, it was up to her to prune these relationships she had…. abandoned.

The best way to show someone you respected them was to not be late, whether it be a good friendship or a new partnership. Generally Lucy preferred arriving early, but in a lot of ways, the DEO was sort of on-call. The threats never ended. Thankfully, Lucy didn’t always go on every mission so she was able to be given some free time. It helped that J’onn would cover for her when he could.

“Hey, hope I didn’t keep you waiting.” Lucy told Iris, giving a grimace as she took her seat. “It’s so good to see you again. What have you been up to all this time? I didn’t see you at the charity auction.”

Iris slid a coffee cup over to Lucy that she’d been holding onto for the brief time she was here. “I got you your go-to. I hope it’s still your go-to– But it’s still piping hot, so there’s proof that you haven’t kept me waiting at all.”

The friendly smile faded quickly however. She exhaled hard at the mention of the fundraiser. “I was out of town for that. My dad...” The recollection of his phone call to her telling her he was fine pooled in the front of her mind. Her hand rubbed at her temples to alleviate the tension. At the time she didn’t even know anything happened at the event, let alone the fact that her dad was face to face with some new villain. She swallowed her concern and returned to the conversation. “Um, yeah my dad was there and he filled me in. It’s unbelievable something like that happened.”

The mention from being out of town was supposed to segue into the reveal that she was looking for her sister, but she strayed from that path. After mentioning the danger the auction was under, her attention was now on Lucy. “So you were there too.” The upturn of her voice sounded as if she’d yet to fully process that fact. “Did you get hurt? Have you been around town all this time, and I just haven’t seen you, or did you just come back to visit CatCo?”

[wstiris]

∿ living under a rock

[ @justistrue ]

When Iris first saw Lucy again, she rushed up to her. Just after Lucy resigned from CatCo., they exchanged promises to stay in touch. Much like the words of teenagers swearing to stay in touch over summer, theirs didn’t pan out the way they wanted it either. Between being turned into drones, the attack on the president, and literally everything else, Iris was so glad to see that Lucy was okay. She didn’t have many doubts that Lucy wouldn’t be okay. When times got tough, daughters of service men usually had to become even tougher. It was easy to relate to Lucy on that level. They were both daddy’s little girls who lived under the shadow of their fathers’ over-protectiveness. Sometimes it kept them alive, other times it just got in the way.

She turned over her wrist to look at her watch. It was still early, but her focus was more on her notifications on the watch face. She knew Lucy would either come on time or text her if anything came up. The building anxiety that bubbled within her was due to the wait for hits on her algorithm. She was less of a programmer, but she knew her way around making something to pick up any news on her sister. She exhaled when nothing showed up. At this rate she didn’t know if it was better for her to stay clueless, or to actually find something. But she told herself to focus on her lunch date with her friend instead. It had been too long since they’ve caught up. Maybe if Lucy was willing... Iris could tell her that Lucy wasn’t the only one between them who had a sister now.

[wstiris]

cockymagi:

Zach rolled his eyes. God, the world of magical performers to choose from and she picks Angel? “Please, I can, and have performed circles around that guy and it irks him to no end.” he finished lightly, “I’ve got my fortune already.” Enough to be comfortable for the rest of his days even without the profits from his club. “Oh it exists, and then it doesn’t. I don’t really see the point in investing in something for such little return. It’s a suckers bet.” he elaborated easily. “And as someone who knows quite a bit a souls,” in several ghoulish capacities that would churn the stomachs of lesser folks, “They’re finite. They don’t pass on without intervention, and no one ever intervenes.” Successfully anyway.

Iris drew in a long breath. Her lips pursed with unsaid words filling the crack in between. “Sometimes,” she chose her words carefully since she was trying to tread lightly around her temper. Although she wasn’t getting mad, per se. Disappointment and concern were more fitting for her situation. “The things you can’t see, or quantify as tangible profits, but choose to believe in anyway have a way to fulfill you in ways that mean more to you than you can imagine. That’s what I choose to believe in.” Her shoulders slumped when the heavy breath she held in was released. “Anyway, I appreciate the tit-for-tat. Do you still need me to help rewire the sound system? Or was getting everything back in working condition enough?”

[wstiris]

cockymagi:

Zach couldn’t help but laugh, if only because deep down he understood exactly what she meant. Sure all that stuff did exist in the world, it may have been priceless, but it also wasn’t everlasting. And the pain it left behind outweighed the joy of having it… Or at least it seemed that way to him for the past year. “Oh people make money out of hapless saps chasing it to be certain, but honestly, it’s a load of old rubbish. That magic you’re on about is found only in film and TV.” he chuckled, “At least with my magic I get the profit guaranteed each performance. And my audiences are left astounded and amazed.” he raised an eyebrow, “Nothing is eternal. All that have form in thought or in body, must one day decay.” he threw out, just as grandly. 

Oh, he was laughing now, but Iris knew he wasn’t laughing with her-- Especially when her laughter was directed at his insistence. “Guaranteed,” she nodded with skepticism surrounding the motion. “If sleight of hand tricks are that profitable, Criss Angel would be more relevant nowadays, wouldn’t he?” There was a pattern to his logic though. All the pieces lined up, and the realization struck her like electricity passing through circuits. “That’s a bit morbid. Just because we don’t live long enough to see the longevity of our love and faith, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. Those things pass on from one soul to the next whether the other person, or you, or me happen to stop existing one day.”

[wstiris]

cockymagi:

Zach scoffed, “Well, those are all boring answers.” Even if one was hitting a little too close to home. “What you’re talking about is what someone would cal, mundane magic and that, my dead lady, can be found throughout the world. Granted, it’s still pretty rare but it can be found. And even with aliens, though that’s more technological advancement than anything.” he shook his head, “No, I’m talking about the real deal. The good stuff, the kind of thing that people will pay hundreds of dollars a ticker for.” he chuckled, “People who can talk to the universe and have it listen. Now that,” Zach smirked, nodding a few times, “That is magic.” Or it was as well as he understood it, “All the rest if just… A rarity.” 

Iris’ blinks fell in a flurry of disbelief. Boring, he said. Her slender fingers pushed the bridge of her glasses up her nose. “Real deal?” She shook her head as if she was shaking away a couple of comebacks that initially came to mind. They’d be more befitting between closer friends. “No, no, no. Listen. You’re talking about some hundreds of dollars for tickets. The pursuit of love and happiness is a multi-million, billion, trillion dollar business. And when you obtain, even just a sliver of it, it’s priceless. That’s magic. The ticket sellers are just show business and knowing how to perform. Shows end. The other stuff?” She brought her voice to a whisper for dramatic flair. “They’re eternal.”

[wstiris]

Zatanna: Do you believe in magic?

A soft chuckle. “Magic.” The word hangs around her breath of amusement and her mind as well. “I believe in the magic of when a mother holds their child for the first time. The magic of waking up next to your partner, seeing their nasty hair, eye crusties, and smelling their morning breath, and still adoring them. And above all there’s magic in hope and faith, but that’s never the type of magic people like to ask about. Before all the invasions and refuges, if you asked if I believe in transmutation, telepathy, and all the other types of alien abilities were magic... I’d say yes. But I’ve come to accept that what’s magic to us is natural to them, so I think that’s all that kind of magic is. It’s just something we’ve yet to understand.” 

[wstiris]

Justice League Asks

Aquaman: If you could be King of a domain, what would you be King of? (or Ruler, if you prefer a less gendered term)

Atom: How tall are you?

Batman: What's your sleep schedule like?

Black Canary: Are you louder or soft-spoken?

Cyborg: On a scale of 1-10, how good are you at tech?

Flash: Do you tend to show up late, early, or on time?

Green Arrow: How's your aim?

Green Lantern: Tell me about a time you used the sheer force of willpower to overcome something.

Hawkgirl: If you were to be reincarnated what would you want to come back as? (what kind of person, animal, etc.)

Martian Manhunter: If you could become anyone else, who would you become?

Shazam: Do you act your age? More maturely? Less?

Superman: What is your Kryptonite?

Vixen: What are your favorite animals?

Wonder Woman: The Lasso of Truth Compels you! How honest are you?

Zatanna: Do you believe in magic?

[wstiris]

∿ coffee run

[wstiris]

jonn-jonzz-deo :

J’onn smiled up at Iris and took her hand. “I am Jon – not a worker, I came to visit my friend, but I believe she’s a little busy at the moment. In any case, thank you for the coffee.” He took the espresso shot and enjoyed the taste of it. “You work in IT here?” he questioned, he always enjoyed talking to people and figured he might as well get something out of his visit.

She shook his hand, firm and with resolute, the way her father taught her. There was an empty seat nearby and she gestured towards it for him to rest his legs. “Make yourself at home, Jon. We don’t have a waiting room, but we do have good coffee. No need to thank me. A little good goes a long ways, I’ve always been told.” She quickly reached over and stole a chair from someone’s cubicle.

“Yes, sir, that’s me. At this point I’m a glorified cable connector and modem fixer, but it’s all good work. Who’s the lucky person you’re visiting?”

[wstiris]

∿ coffee run

[wstiris]

jonn-jonzz-deo :

J’onn had come to CatCo to visit Kara, something that he didn’t do very often. Thankfully, when he had gotten there he had been offered some coffee, something that he had really come to love on Earth. “Thank you, ms –” he frowned slightly, “I’m sorry I don’t know your name?” 

“West. Iris West.” She offered a handshake to the fresh face in the office. It wasn’t uncommon for departments to be downsized within a blink. He seemed well versed enough to get this far but his face didn’t read ‘new employee.’ “I’m afraid I don’t know your name either. But I do know you’re a double expresso drinker. You must be a diligent worker.”

[wstiris]

∿ coffee run

[ OPEN STARTER | LOCATION: CatCo. ]

“Now. Now. Don’t get too comfortable with this,” Iris wagged a teasing finger. “I’m IT, not the coffee runner, but the city’s been through one type of hell after the next. So I decided to pay it forward, as they say.” She rotated each up around and read the markings on the sides. Once upon a time she was on the other side of the counter, marking up these paper cups and hating life all the same. She plucks one from the tray and places down in front of her co-worker. “I doubt I got your order wrong, but just to be safe, you should check it anyway.”

[wstiris]

IRIS’ WORKSPACE

template (x)

[wstiris]

IRIS WEST (Earth 38) MOODBOARD

someone who will default to coffee and telling you she’s fine when she’s stressed (which is often)

someone who finds joy in intellect

someone, wise beyond her years, who sticks to her morals and personal oath to be kind

[wstiris]

∿ FIVE QUOTES

Post five quotes that encapsulate your character. This can be things they’ve said or things that relate to them, inspire them, might be said about them.

I am practicing being kind instead of right. — Matthew Quick

Right is right, even if everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it. — William Penn

What if I end up just like my mom? Gone without making a mark. Without leaving anything behind. — Iris West

Do yourself a favor. Look deep inside that big, beautiful heart of yours. You'll find the answer you're looking for. — Joe West

You have people that sit up at night worried sick about you, and they're not going to stop worrying about you. That's what a family does. They put up with each other and they put up each other first, before ourselves  — Joe West

[wnq-writers]

I think people forget you can change your life dramatically in a matter of seconds if you really wanted to.

everythingsdistorted (via wnq-writers)

[incorrectcwflashquotes]