#ColdFlash

[tiacat11]

Random idle thought that came to me on the bus - it's a little bit tropey, but one aspect of Coldflash that I really like seeing in fics is the dicotomy of A) Len being extremely protective and possessive and B) Barry really digging that.

I think between his years and years of pining after Iris and his going above and beyond to try and impress Linda, not to mention my hc about him having a crush on Tony Woodward in high school, it kinda feels from Barry's perspective like he's always trying to prove himself, to be worthy of someone else's attention. I like Iris, but it does feel like after years of either being oblivious or politely ignoring Barry's pining, he would start to see himself as the backup guy, the one you'll go out with if your first date doesn't pan out.

So for Len to actively see Barry as a treasure, obsess over him, want to claim him and show him off as 'his', I think it honestly might do something for Barry. The idea of being a treasure or arm candy can definitely be objectifying and it's not for everyone, but I think for Barry in particular, having someone that dedicated to him might be a refreshing change of pace from his former relationships.

[coldflash-corner]

Genuinely so obsessed with this concept that Barry and Snart are totally playing up their Only Working Together Out Of Necessity/Getting Something Out Of It thing when Joe is around, so that he can continue being in denial that his son is in love with that felon

And it works, for Joe, he's denying like his life depends on it and eating that cover story UP

But everyone else just suffers, seeing that this itself has turned into even more elaborate flirting

[blessyouhawkeye]

the thing that would be so so good about coldflash is that joe west had to deal with his daughter dating his cop partner and was like surely there can't be anything worse than this. so imagine if his son came to him and was like dad i'm in love. with a criminal well over a decade older than me who has blackmailed me personally semi recently. but daddy i love him.

[kacchanot-fucking-deal-with-this]

So you know when you're writing a scene where the hero is carrying an injured person and you realize you've never been in this situation and have no idea how accurate the method of transportation actually is?

Oh boy, do I have a valuable resource for you!

Here is a PDF of the best ways to carry people depending on the situation and how conscious the injured person needs to be for the carrying position.

Literally a life saver.

(No pun intended.)

[herobrain900]

Btw I've definitely read two coldflash fics like this if you want more. I can't remember what they're called right now one of them Barry breaks his leg and they end up cuddling for warmth in a building with no heating and another one where Leonard jumps after Barry after he falls into a freezing lake. If anyone knows what I'm talking about feel free to add.

(Also I just remembered two fics where Leonard's powers caused him to freeze and Barry had to warm him up hehe.)

ColdFlash prompt: you know what the fandom needs and which is horribly lacking? A hypothermia fic. Snuggling together for warmth because they have to. (Details up to you but like, yeah, I cant believe we dont have one yet :p)

The Weather Wizard’s latest attempt on Central City involved an ice storm in the First National Bank. Of course Barry was there. It had nothing to do with crime fighting and everything to do with getting a certified check for his new landlord before noon. That wasn’t looking like it was going to happen on time. 

Barry was never on time. It looks like he’d spend another month apartment hunting. The small saving grace is the bank wasn’t busy. Aside from the tellers and the manager, there was only six civilians. 

The deep freeze that enveloped the bank made him groggy and slow. Too slow to speed away before the temperature dropped and the rest of Weather Wizard’s crew entered the bank. 

A team lead by Captain Cold. Barry suppressed a shiver that vibrated though his whole body. Since when was Cold teaming up with Mark Mardon? Barry was just about to give super speed another try before the heist escalated when Cold’s mirrored goggles zeroed in on him. Like a deer caught in headlights, Barry froze.

That instant of indecision sparked Cold’s team to hustle the bank patrons and employees together while Cold strode purposely towards Barry.

“Well, well, well, Scarlet, we really must stop meeting like this,” Cold drawled, holding his cold gun directly at Barry’s chest with a smirk.

“Yeah, well, you’re in my city,” said Barry with as much might as he could muster when he was sure his lips were turning blue as his teeth chattered. 

Whatever Cold was going to say seemed to have changed because he was frowning at Barry. Not the usual dastardly sinister expression Barry was used to seeing. If he wasn’t so cold, he could have mistaken it for concern. Clearly the cold was hitting him harder than he thought. 

“Mardon, cool it on the deep freeze,” ordered Cold and suddenly Barry was enveloped in warmth. It took a half second to realize it was because Cold had his free arm around him while the cold gun was aloft.

“Wouldn’t want you to get any heroic ideas, Scarlet,” declared Cold as it took all of Barry’s strength not to lean into the goose down parka that radiated heat. 

[coldflasher]

okay but re. that post about elseworlds!barry realizing that oliver woke up in bed with iris... if we coldflashed this, i feel that crossover event would have gone VERY differently because you're not telling me that leonard snart wouldn't have realized there was something wrong the second he woke up in bed with oliver queen

like picture this: you're leonard snart. you have years of trauma, hypervigilance, and experience surviving dangerous men (and, ultimately, being one). and you fall asleep next to barry, the man you love---who, don't get me wrong, IS dangerous, but is in most situations seemingly unaware of it; who appears nonthreatening and harmless unless riled, who, most of the time, just seems like a sweet and normal guy---and you wake up next to... something else. something that looks like barry, and sounds like barry... if you aren't paying attention.

this is a thing that walks without making a sound, like it has years of experience sneaking around and moves that way by default (like len does); it turns into a statue at the slightest sound and doesn't even seem to breathe. barry is always crackling with frenetic, fidgety energy, even when he sleeps; he has nightmares and thrashes until the covers are bunched up around him, but this thing slept stiff as a board, flat on its back without moving a muscle and barely wrinkled the sheets. this thing is wary, and quiet, and it moves like a killer, with a killer's instincts. and it's looking around their bedroom like it's never seen this room in its life

and len would KNOW.

[kathrahender]

Repeat after me: Villain x Hero 👏 or 👏 Enemies to lovers 👏 ships 👏 aren't 👏 toxic 👏 because 👏 they 👏 hurt 👏 each 👏 other 👏 when 👏 they 👏 were 👏 E-N-E-M-I-E-S 👏 not 👏 when 👏 they 👏 were 👏 L-O-V-E-R-S. 👏

[tiger-in-the-flightdeck]

Every single sweet, romantic Incorrect Coldflash Quote is immediately ten times funnier when you imagine Mick or Cisco on the other end of the comms having to listen to these two idiots.

[nytephox]

Oooooo the fandoms this could work on seem endless. 🤣

[whenyouandmedance]

we do not talk enough about barry’s bigfoot/cryptid blog. i need him to have been into urbex. i need him to have been trespassing and breaking into abandoned buildings looking for ghosts and grimblies for years! i need len to find this out and make fun of him for not having a record because (he assumes) of his cop foster dad and for barry to go ???? i didn’t get CAUGHT. i was an aspiring FORENSIC SCIENTIST

[coldinpantsreboot]

I want a fanfic where Leonard joins the Legends and after a while discovers he has more power and influence over Gideon than Rip. If Rip and Leonard argue, then Gideon just takes Snart's side, yoking direct orders from the ship's captain. When Leonard asks for something to find/cover for him in front of Rip/get information, the AI does it. And when already everyone on the crew starts to realize this, they ask Gideon the obvious question: why? And she simply answers: he's kind of my stepfather.

[lukas-dusk]

Barry texting Iris

Barry : Bad news—Cisco locked himself outside of his own house.

Barry : Good news—we didn’t have to wait around for a locksmith.

Barry : Bad news—Cisco finds it very concerning that I know how to pick locks, and tried to unlock my Tragic Backstory(TM). I was too embarrassed to admit that the reason I learned it was because, at thirteen, I figured that was the kind of skill that would impress cute guys/girls/enbies.

Barry : Good news—a cute guy/girl/enby saw me do it.

Barry : Bad news—it was Snart, and since he's already seen me fall out of several trees, cry because I saw a fawn that was just too damn small, and knows I can ride a unicycle, he'll never think I’m cool no matter what I do. It’s too late. He know.

[coldflash-corner]

Please consider Barry Allen fully knowing Leonard "I've Never Willingly Felt A Feeling" Snart has a thing for him, and wants to pursue that, but Snart is too scared of fucking up or getting Barry hurt to say something

So it's the opposite of that meme I've seen a lot of Barry saying Snart doesn't have a crush on him and everyone, Snart included, says he does

It's:

Snart: I don't have a crush on Barry Allen

Lisa: Yes you do

Mick: Yes You Do.

Cisco [hiding behind Lisa for protection]: Yes you do

Caitlin: Yes you do

Joe, who hates this but can't stop it: Yes you do

Iris, who equally hates this but surviving: Yes you do

Barry, crying with how much he wants to love this man: Yes you do

[hautecoldture]

never underestimate the power of a hug

(especially from a speedster)

[tiny-pun]

You’ve heard of cute aggression now get ready for love aggression

I love you so much I want to break your bones with this hug. This kiss should draw blood without teeth touching your lips. I want to tear you open and crawl inside your ribs cause it feels like home now.

[a-sky-full-of-ideas]

Why do you even ship them?

In the past couple of months I’ve seen a lot of people genuinely confused about one or the other ship existing, so I wanted to explain some common reasons characters might get shipped.

But before we get into it: The point is usually just good, plain old fun! The entertainment of them being together !

And for entertainment and fun, it doesn’t matter whether they’ve even been in the same room or not! Hell, it doesn’t even matter if they’ve been in the same universe or not! Basically: It’s all not that serious and the ppl harassing creators/actors/fans about said ships are usually the minority and frowned upon!

First of all, there are different ways in which people enjoy that ship:

In canon, aka it either is canon or they want it to be canon

Half canon, this means either post canon or if a very specific thing would have happened differently within canon

Canon divergent, aka it’s only enjoyable in theory or alternative universes and they don’t actually want it to happen within canon

In other words, there are different ways in which people support this type of relationship

It is the perfect relationship and everyone should strive to find and be this kind of love

While they have their flaws, this is a realistic way a healthy(ish) relationship can come out on the other end of all the horrors tm

This is (somewhat) toxic but in the universe/story line it makes sense and is the best possible outcome for them

This is the truly worst thing that could come out of it for the both of them but that’s why it is so interesting

Usually it boils down to these emotions:

It would be funny if they go together.

It would shift the impact of all that angst and trauma

It would be super cute. Plain old romcom vibes. Specially if the of story is not that at all and you just want something good for them.

Some basic reasons, that are more about the concept of them than actually them: :

They are fan favourites

They are both hot

Everyone else in the group is coupled up

They fit a certain stereotype/common trope

They resemble another popular ship juuuuust enough

The actors have played a couple/ship in another show

Spite! To annoy the author/other fans

Some personal reasons of the individual fan:

Reminds fan of their own crush

Fan relates to some aspects of their story

Fan relates to some aspects of the characteristics

Character looks like them/ like their crush

Based on the characters/stories design

They claim to hate/dislike/annoy each other but are somehow always found in each others business (willingly or not)

Opposites attract: They have opposing color schemes, personalities and/or views. The more differences the better.

Parallels: They have the same color schemes, personalities and/or views. The more similarities the better.

Based on their relations

You just want something good for this character and they (other character(s)) ARE that something good.

You just want something annoying for this character and they (other character(s)) ARE that something annoying.

Them being together would annoy this other character to noooo end

Even tho they don’t interact on screen (often), there is evidence that they did so off screen: they keep up a certain level of relationship (good or bad) despite everything else going on

Purely about the characters

They don’t pay attention to anything or anyone else nearly as much as they do about each other, especially ppl they should objectively care more about.

They’re the only ones who survived/left to deal with the aftermath. Even if they didn’t talk much prior to this, this is something to bond over. To keep the memory alive.

The expectations set on them are/were the same. And despite the different support systems and coping mechanisms… the other is truly the only one who could even find a glimpse of understanding of what they’re going through.

Yin and yang: a perfect mixture of parallels and opposites: They’ve gone through the same thing but deal with it widely differently. OR They come from widely different backgrounds and reasoning but end up at the same conclusion.

BECAUSE they’re so codependent they just wouldn’t make sense with anyone else, regardless of wether they themselves make sense

BECAUSE it is unhealthy and toxic and it’s interesting to explore such a relationship

BECAUSE if they’d be in literally any other genre/time they’d be fine. Nothing this bad would’ve ever happened if they’d just lived in another universe.

Why not ? It’s fiction.

These are all the reasons I can come up with at the top of my head but feel free to add!

Alas I want to encourage everyone to be open minded! Either to genuinely try to understand why a ship exists or, if you don’t want to waste your time on sth. you’re sure you don’t like, just filter and block the ship and their fans!

None of us can afford to waste our very limited free time on arguing with and harassing others about something FICTIONAL …that we don’t even like. Instead, please focus on making and/or supporting art about YOUR ship! This is not only much nicer to the fans you don’t support but also to yourself! Positive interactions will result in more positive interactions after all! Mostly.