Different crew. [He says it off-hand, almost dismissively and pointedly adds:] The criminal one.
[His gaze drops for a second but he makes sure to look at Maya when he admits the next part. She needs to see the honesty and sincerity he's speaking with for herself.] They forced me...and I didn't have a choice, because if I didn't...they were going to kill my brother.
[He waits for a long moment to let the weight of that statement sink in before he continues.] I'm not telling you this to twist you around, but damn girl, you are stubborn. [He shakes his head slightly.] Me and Leonard aren't friends. [At least, they're not back home. He isn't entirely sure what they are here. It's not exactly a friendship so far but there's, maybe, an understanding? It's complicated, Cisco doesn't try to think much about the way things with Leonard have shifted for him here.]
I didn't even make this one just because he asked, Maya. In my first couple days here, he dragged me to his room under threats. It was more subtle and he did--technically--ask nicer this time. But I can honestly say I don't really know what he would have done if I refused. [He leans forward slightly.] I'm not trying to scare you, I genuinely don't think you have anything to worry about, but...maybe next time someone tells you they really aren't just being a sexist jerk, take their words for what they're worth.
[Being this heavy-handed and serious isn't something Cisco does often, and because of that, those moments when he is come across very clearly.] I know you're at the very specific age to rebound against anything authority or adult shaped and you're quick to wanna ignore the practical stuff, but Maya, I don't want you or your friends getting hurt. This gun that Leonard carries around with him is not a toy. It's a weapon. Plus, tech goes faulty, Wonderland is literally insane and you never know what it might make you do that would normally be entirely out of your depths to even consider. You'd never forgive yourself if you accidentally encased one of your friends in ice.
I'm not saying no because I'm a jerk or because I'm being sexist. I'm being a responsible adult and not giving teenager something on par with military grade weaponry. And I think if you put the haughty, put-out teenager thing aside, you can probably understand that it's not personal.
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[His gaze drops for a second but he makes sure to look at Maya when he admits the next part. She needs to see the honesty and sincerity he's speaking with for herself.] They forced me...and I didn't have a choice, because if I didn't...they were going to kill my brother.
[He waits for a long moment to let the weight of that statement sink in before he continues.] I'm not telling you this to twist you around, but damn girl, you are stubborn. [He shakes his head slightly.] Me and Leonard aren't friends. [At least, they're not back home. He isn't entirely sure what they are here. It's not exactly a friendship so far but there's, maybe, an understanding? It's complicated, Cisco doesn't try to think much about the way things with Leonard have shifted for him here.]
I didn't even make this one just because he asked, Maya. In my first couple days here, he dragged me to his room under threats. It was more subtle and he did--technically--ask nicer this time. But I can honestly say I don't really know what he would have done if I refused. [He leans forward slightly.] I'm not trying to scare you, I genuinely don't think you have anything to worry about, but...maybe next time someone tells you they really aren't just being a sexist jerk, take their words for what they're worth.
[Being this heavy-handed and serious isn't something Cisco does often, and because of that, those moments when he is come across very clearly.] I know you're at the very specific age to rebound against anything authority or adult shaped and you're quick to wanna ignore the practical stuff, but Maya, I don't want you or your friends getting hurt. This gun that Leonard carries around with him is not a toy. It's a weapon. Plus, tech goes faulty, Wonderland is literally insane and you never know what it might make you do that would normally be entirely out of your depths to even consider. You'd never forgive yourself if you accidentally encased one of your friends in ice.
I'm not saying no because I'm a jerk or because I'm being sexist. I'm being a responsible adult and not giving teenager something on par with military grade weaponry. And I think if you put the haughty, put-out teenager thing aside, you can probably understand that it's not personal.