Guy's Night Out

[run_barry]

After everything that's been going on lately, the time has come for a break. A planned visit from a friend is just the thing and with no major crisis going on at the moment, it's the perfect time to make that happen.

So, with an itinerary that includes science, food and video games, Barry is excited to bring Yamato in from Milliways for another trip to Central City.

Opening the door from the bar that's a broom closet in S.T.A.R. Labs, Barry gestures Yamato through.

"Here we are," Barry says with a smile. "Welcome back, dude."

The corridor, like most of rest of S.T.A.R. Labs that doesn't get used by Team Flash much, is usually pretty dimly lit, but today the passageway is bright in anticipation of their guest and the science that's about to commence.

Nodding down the hallway, Barry says, "Cisco and Caitlin are in her lab and we're all set up for you."

Comments

[run_barry]

"Couldn't possibly be bad parenting," Barry notes in a manner that suggests it probably is.

"I'll get a new place at some point," Barry confirms to Yamato. "Just, y'know, between work and the superhero stuff and stuff at the Labs, not really focused on an apartment hunt."

[angry_friendship_wolf]

Yamato just chuckles at Cisco, shaking his head.

"Yeah, your life's pretty damn packed already," he remarks to Barry. "No need to make it more complicated just yet."

[makes_the_toys]

"It's probably all the bad influences in Milliways," Cisco snorts. "That other porg that's been running around is corrupting GP."

[run_barry]

"Right," Barry agrees to Yamato, trying not to think about how he just sort of did that with the Bivalo fallout.

"I'm guessing when you get into the academy you'll probably be living in some dorms or something, huh?" he asks Yamato.

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"Other porg? GP has a porgbuddy?" Yamato asks.

He gives Barry a nod, moving the okonomiyaki from a pan to a plate. "If I get in, yeah, I'll be living in dorms. They look pretty nice, actually. Definitely worse places I could live."

[makes_the_toys]

"More like a porgemy," Cisco grouses. "They've gotten into it twice now, and this last time that menace wrecked my PA-DD, aka the Porg Advanced Defensive Deterrent."

[run_barry]

"It's a drone that shoots Nerf darts and blares noise," Barry informs Yamato, taking out this latest batch of balls.

"Right, 'if'," Barry says with a nod and in a tone that says he fully trusts that 'if' to be a 'when'. "Where is the academy?"

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"Like ... like a porg rival?" Yamato says. "Dude. I'm so happy for him. Everyone should have a rival, it's great."

So proud of GP right now.

He gives Barry a quick smile, because his confidence in Yamato is definitely appreciated. "Just off the coast of Urayasu, so outside Tokyo but still in the bay area. Maybe about forty-five minutes away from Odaiba, give or take?"

So he's not moving all that far.

[makes_the_toys]

"GP doesn't need a rival! He needs to stay safe, and happy. Forever," Cisco argues. "Besides, it's not fair. I've been a member of a superhero team long and I don't have a rival yet."

It's totally unfair!

"GP can't just cut in line and check off that achievement first!"

[run_barry]

"I don't think either of you need rivals," Barry notes about Cisco and GP. "You two are pretty contentious just between you."

The shrieking from the bathroom feels like proof of this.

"That's cool. That's how I did it in college. Far enough away you can say you're out on your own, but close enough to drop in when you need to."

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"You'll totally get a rival some day, kid, don't worry," Yamato says. "You can't force these things."

So happy for GP, though.

"Yeah, I can drop by and check up on Takeru. And most of the rest of the team are just moving to different parts of Tokyo, so they'll be pretty close by too."

[run_barry]

"Sounds like it's going to work out pretty well. That's good," Barry nods, cutting off the burner he's been working on.

"The takoyaki is done. With... most of them at least roundish?"

[makes_the_toys]

Cisco looks Yamato up and down, eyeing him critically.

"What if I made you my rival?"

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"Okonomiyaki are pretty much done too," Yamato says, flipping the last one onto a plate. "Let me just mix up the takoyaki sauce, and then we'll be ready."

He starts getting out ingredients for that, and a glass jug to mix them in.

"I'm flattered, kid," he laughs. "But I already have a rival. I don't think Taichi would like me rival-ing with other people."

[makes_the_toys]

"OH, I see how it is," Cisco replies, wounded to the core. "Fine, I'll get my own rival. With a diabolical laugh and everything."

[run_barry]

"Please don't start picking fights with people again," Barry requests with a sigh.

Hearing they're about ready to eat gets Barry smiling and he gives Yamato a nod.

"I'll get the table set."

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"I look forward to seeing who you find," Yamato laughs, nudging Cisco's shoulder. "Beef looks about ready too, kiddo."

He gives Barry a nod as well, and sets about mixing up the sauce. It's not a long or complicated job, and soon he's glazing the takoyaki with it, then sprinkling the bonito and pickled ginger over it.

And that's just about everything.

[makes_the_toys]

"You're going to be so jelly when you see them," Cisco promises, killing the burner and pulling the beef off. "You'll be all like, 'damn Cisco, my rival doesn't even begin to rival your rival.'"

Cisco drops his voice into a gruff register, mimicking Yamato.

[run_barry]

"Table's ready and I'm starving," Barry announces, rubbing his hands together in excited anticipation.

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"I don't know, kid, my rival's pretty great. You'd have to find a really good rival for me to say that."

He throws a smile in Barry's direction, picking up as much of the food as he can carry.

"Food's ready too," he says.

[makes_the_toys]

"Oh, the rival rivalry is on," Cisco pledges.

[run_barry]

Barry steps in to help Yamato with carrying things.

"Looks great, I'd say we all did pretty good."

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"It's so on."

Yamato flashes a smile at Barry, letting him carry half the dishes while he takes the other half through.

"Yeah, we did," he says, setting the dishes down carefully. "Thanks for helping out, both of you, I really appreciate it."

[makes_the_toys]

"I feel like posting on Craig's list would either be a terrible way, or the Perfect was to find a truly awesome rival," Cisco muses, helping himself to another Coke from the fridge before heading to the table.

[run_barry]

"Don't post that on Craig's List," Barry says, shaking his head at Cisco.

"Thank you for cooking and showing us, man," Barry replies, setting down food and then pulling a chair.

"And thanks for coming, too. It's great having you back in Central City."