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[socialactivillain]

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[catchacold]

Then see you at around 6.

[True to that agreement, Leonard walks into the bar he'd chosen a little before six, casing the place with a quick look before spotting Piper and walking towards him. He sits down opposite him, one foot propped up on the chair as he leans back, an arm loosely wrapped around himself. He's not big on shaking hands.]

You give Mick his gun back yet? Just curious.

[His own gun is actually openly in his holster, because literally being burned has given him a lot of reason to continue never walking out unarmed.]

[socialactivillain]

He hasn't asked for it.

[ Piper leans back in his chair, taking a sip from the drink he'd already ordered. ]

But I'm guessing that isn't why you're here.

[catchacold]

Nah. He can deal with his own stuff. We're here because they have good service and really good chips.

[As if to prove his point, his drink is served without him having had to order, more ice cubes than would be normal. Of course. He takes a sip and waits for the waitress to be gone before focusing on Piper again properly.]

So, y'know when I came here and Mick turned out to be the alternate version of my world's Mick, with a radically different relationship to your version of me? [Talking about this won't get confusing at all.] That wasn't easy.

[socialactivillain]

[ He raises an eyebrow at the ice cubes, just shy of rolling his eyes. Some things are the same no matter what universe. ]

Yeah, I remember. It was pretty weird for all of us, honestly.

[catchacold]

Figures. Weirdest for Mick, I'd guess.

[Also, his priorities are roughly Mick >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

and eventually other people. Maybe.]

How do you think I should've handled that?

[Leonard takes one of the ice cubes out of the glass after taking a sip, instead setting it down on the table and passing it between two fingers like a miniature version of ice hockey, but his eyes stay on Piper the entire time.]

[socialactivillain]

...Are you asking me for relationship advice? Is that what's happening here?

[ That can't possibly be what this is about. If there was something wrong, it certainly wouldn't be Len coming to him. He doesn't actually have the first clue who Len would talk to, if anyone, but if something was up, he's sure Mick would've mentioned something. ]

[catchacold]

Nah. I can create my own train-wrecks. [He definitely doesn't need help with that. Much as he's trying to be better about certain issues with Mick now than he's ever been before. There are upsides to not knowing your partner since childhood.]

It's all said and done now anyway, we got through that. But what d'you think I should have done about it? Cause I always got the feeling you thought I didn't handle it right.

[socialactivillain]

I don't think there is a right way to handle it. [ He sighs. ] Look, it's not you, specifically, that I've had a problem with here, believe it or not. If you knew the Leonard Snart from our world, I think you would've stayed away from Mick if you cared about him. They're not good for each other, and that's without any romantic relationship.

[ The very idea of that sends a terrible chill down his spine, and he has to take another long sip of his drink to brace himself. ]

[catchacold]

Y'know, given everyone, including Mick, judged me by that version's standards for a long time, I got a pretty good grip on what he was like.

I died saving Mick, where I'm from. Mick's been my priority for three decades. And this Mick is different and I care for him for his own sake. I ain't gonna try and put a number on what version matters most. Whether I'm good or bad for him, that's gonna depend on me, not on what some other guy with my name's done. No strings on me.

[He finishes his drink and leans back to get the waitress's attention and order another.]

[socialactivillain]

You— [ That's genuinely surprising. Piper wouldn't have guessed Len—this Len, or any Len—would willingly die for someone else, or have his priorities on anyone but himself. When the waitress comes over, Piper orders another as well. ]

I had no idea.

[catchacold]

Don't worry about it. I don't exactly advertise. Just ended up telling Mick, way back when. [He shrugs his shoulders, at least not outwardly bothered by his own sacrifice.]

I'm just saying. Not a clear cut case with these things that happen here. If it wasn't for here, I'd just be gone. But here I was and here I was confronted with a Mick who looked at me like I'm the devil. Took a while to work through that.

[socialactivillain]

Still— [ Piper's glad for the waitress coming back with their fresh drinks, not just for the alcohol, but for the brief interruption. As she leaves, he sighs and takes a long drink. ]

I've sort of been an asshole about the whole thing, since you two got together.

[catchacold]

So I hear. As long as Mick's not swayed, I can't be bothered to care that much. I was closer to my partner than I ever was to anyone else since I was in juvie with thirteen. That was in the Eighties. I ain't exactly used to people approving of who I'm with.

[He shrugs his shoulders, looking down at his drink.]

Sure you can relate.

[socialactivillain]

No kidding. I was still actively a Rogue in the 80s, and I was barely out of the closet. I had to deal with all sorts of shit from the other guys. [ He rolls his eyes. ] Mostly Boomerang and Weather Wizard. [ A snort. ] Please, like anyone who likes Mark Twain that much is heterosexual.

[catchacold]

I barely believe anyone's straight. Just look at Mick. Anyone I can fluster that much never had a very convincing act.

[There's a moment.]

Like James.

[socialactivillain]

I gotta admit, I didn't see that coming. Mick always clocked as pretty straight to me.

[ He laughs briefly into his drink as he takes another sip. ]

James, on the other hand... I mean, he lived in West Hollywood in the 80s. I'm amazed he's only just admitting he's bisexual.

[catchacold]

Reckon he's had some time coming to terms with it. Been here a while, hasn't he?

[He wonders how far he can push that while still vaguely fitting into this 'subtle' category.

Eh. Whatever.]

Longer than you.

[socialactivillain]

Yeah, I think he said like a year or so before the rest of us got here? Maybe a year and a half? And there's plenty here that's weirder and harder to get used to than a crisis of sexuality.

[catchacold]

Oh yeah. Like versions of people you know, from other times or other worlds. Or even exactly the same, after you've been here for that long.

[So...

Subtlety. Right.]

Ever ran into something like that?

[socialactivillain]

Oh, yeah. You don't happen to know a David Singh, do you? He's with the CCPD in at least one version of our worlds.

[ He takes another drink. ]

Apparently, in his version, he's my boyfriend. He sprung this on me by kissing me at the swear-in, and I... sort of punched him in the face.

[catchacold]

David Singh? Yes, I do. Captain of the CCPD where I'm from. But last I checked he was married. Not to you. I can't remember his husband's name right now, but I'd know if it was yours.

[Which doesn't mean that he couldn't also have a boyfriend, sure, but it still sounds like that isn't his world's version.]

I can meet him some time, see if he thinks I'm less ugly than usual. [The ultimate test.]

You talk it out with him?

[socialactivillain]

Captain? Huh. Must not be the same one. He said he's the director of the crime lab.

[ He toys with his mostly empty glass, letting the ice cubes clink at the bottom and spinning them around idly. Maybe he should order another one, or maybe that's a bad idea. He laughs at Len's comment, though. ]

Sorry that's our test, but you are kind of an anomaly. Anyway, I think so, but who knows. It seemed like he had a hard time reconciling the idea.

[catchacold]

It ain't an easy thing to adjust to. Trust me.

[He'd know, after everything. It's a small miracle that it ultimately worked out the way it did and it had taken a lot to get to that point.]

Y'think James ever had to deal with it? Since he's been here a while.

[socialactivillain]

Yeah, I'm kind of getting that.

[ He does genuinely feel bad to an extent for being such an asshole about Len and Mick's relationship. He may not think it's the greatest idea either of them has either had, but knowing that Len—Leonard Snart, Captain goddamn Cold—had actually sacrificed himself for someone else? Out of what definitely sounds like genuine love? He's not above admitting he might have been wrong about this Len. He is, however, still not about to go about admitting it out loud and to his face.

At the comment about James, he can't help a short laugh. ]

What, meeting someone from another version of home that he's romantically involved with, or vice versa? That would require any James in any universe having the attention span for a long term relationship.

[ He feels a weird twist in his stomach and finishes his drink quickly. ]

[catchacold]

Could have had a relationship here, I guess.

[He doesn't comment at the speed at which Piper finishes his drink, just leisurely sips his own and gets the attention of the waitress. Seems like they definitely need another round.]

Tell me what he says if you ever ask him.

[Subtlety, nailed.]