in the aching night under satellites i was not received

[shrinkage]

Who: Ray Palmer and friends (that means you, sorry!)
Where: Anywhere you'd like!
When: 1-Aug
Rating: PG-13
Summary: After returning from home, Ray re-adjusts to Wonderland from a "normal" perspective.
The Story:

OPEN

[ ray misjudges everything, now. descending the stairs tends to send him flying in a tumble a few floors past where he'd wanted to stop off. he keeps forgetting that he definitely can drink an entire latte. there's this ongoing issue he has with the height of doors that requires quick resolution lest his forehead bear a permanent bruise for the rest of his days…

so when he bumps into you, it may seem like it's with malicious intent or the result of willful oblivion but immediately, he jumps to apologize: ]

Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry! [ did he just say gosh? who is this guy, jimmy fallon? ] Are you OK?

Comments

[ Action ]

[widows_kiss]

[ It just so happens that one of those times he'd nearly taken a tumble down a flight of stairs, Natasha happened to be nearby, and close enough that a shift of position and a quick lunge forward allows her to grab for his arm, giving a yank backwards with enough force to hopefully re-balance him. ]

Careful!

[shrinkage]

Whoa-- [ it's really good to have ninja friends in all places. after some more guttural wordlessness, ray finds himself expecting a different face of another assassin, but the fire in natasha's hair makes him blink the canaries from his eyes. ]

Natasha, hey! Thanks, I-- wow, you're strong.

[ ...did it just get warm in here? ]

[widows_kiss]

[ It's just your imagination, Ray. ]

You're welcome. [ Her voice is wry, but she's studying him with a hint of concern. And carefully avoids the observation about her strength. ] Are you feeling alright?

[shrinkage]

Oh, I'm great. Really, I'm just feeling kind of stiff.

[ OH GOD ]

I mean big. [ RAY NO ] Not like-- that! Just-- before, when I was stuck and now I'm normal but I've never been inside the mansion at this... [ what is an acceptable non innuendo-y word for it??? ] --height.

[ someone kill him? ]

[widows_kiss]

[ She gives him an amused look at his verbal stumbling, because he somehow still manages to make it endearing rather than offensive. ]

I'm sure it's been quite the complicated adjustment for you. I hope you haven't been having too hard a time of it.

[ Ha. ]

[shrinkage]

I think I'll manage. [ oh, you. ] What about you? Anything exciting happen this week?

[widows_kiss]

Besides saving men from falling to their doom down a flight of stairs?

[ She smirks at him. ]

It's been a fairly quiet week otherwise. Thank you for livening it up for me.

[shrinkage]

I officially dub you the Hero of the Staircase! Uhh shoot, I must've left your medal back at the office, sorry.

[ he can play! ]

[widows_kiss]

Unforgivable. [ She tsk's at him, shaking her head in disapproval, although there's humor glinting in her gaze as she says it. ]

So I take it you've been home? Considering Snart was all worried about where you might have gotten lost. Is that why you're normal-sized now?

[shrinkage]

[ ray's smile widens at natasha's volley. he made a friiiiiend. ]

I have, but trust me. Snart's not worried. Just looking for a reason to make my life difficult.

[ said with ... not love, but an understanding. it's snart's language, in ray's opinion. and he's now from a time where he can attempt to meet the crook halfway. especially now that len's proven himself a real hero. ]

[widows_kiss]

[ She just gives him a knowing look. ]

What makes you think he can't do both at once?

[shrinkage]

Oh, he could.

[ ray's smile doesn't quite reach his eyes, but some sort of fondness for snart is plain. ]

I think he cares a lot more than most people, actually. It's just-- not always smart to worry about me, is all.

[widows_kiss]

[ She merely cocks her head to the side curiously. ]

And why is that?

[shrinkage]

I do what feels right. Makes me a liability.

[ something he thinks snart doesn't know ray realized awhile ago. the smile remains, apologetic even if it doesn't change anything. ]

[widows_kiss]

[ She tips her head, considering that reply, and his expression. ]

The liability part is a matter of opinion. It could also be an incredible asset.

[shrinkage]

Can is a variable that's difficult to plan for.

[ of course, just because ray can understand something doesn't mean he can execute it. maybe the part of him that clashes with snart has never been about hero vs crook. maybe it's just about heart vs head. ]

But if he considers someone a team mate, he will plan for that and everything in between. He'll just also be very vocal about how uncool it is.

[ nah raymond. that's just you, my dude. ]

[widows_kiss]

If he's giving you a hard time about it, you should take it as a sign of affection. [ Her lips twitch as she subdues a grin. ] So you keep him on his toes? It's probably good for him. Somehow the idea of Snart growing bored sounds mildly terrifying.

[shrinkage]

〈 ray's head tilts, and his nose scrunches up as he considers and tries not to dismiss natasha's words out of hand. he's not often the type to ignore people's opinions but hers seem almost irrational to him. he has his role and snart has his and that's the way love goes, isn't it? 〉

Let's just say my things go missing often.

[widows_kiss]

[ She gives a quiet scoff of laughter. ]

I suspect that's just a side-benefit of being friends with Snart in general.

[shrinkage]

[ he returns the laugh, warm and familiar. ray nods because-- oh yeah. ]

It's not even a challenge for him! I think he just enjoys the moments where I'm left patting my pockets looking for the one tool I need, and then figuring I left it somewhere, and... yeah.

[widows_kiss]

Can you blame him? [ She smirks. ] It does make for a rather amusing pastime. At least on his part.

[shrinkage]

〈 that makes ray laugh, a quiet bark of a thing. 〉

No! Not at all. I try not to give him the satisfaction, but... 〈 a shrug. he am what he am and that's all that he am. 〉

[widows_kiss]

I think he'd steal the satisfaction whether you intended to give it to him or not.

wanna wrap up?

[shrinkage]

Good point. The joke will be on him when I finally shrink everything in his room...

[ though judging by ray's tone that's a thing he'll never actually follow through on. ]

puts a bow on your head

[widows_kiss]

[ She grins at the very idea. ]

Let me know when you do. I'll bring popcorn. You think you'll be okay on your own two feet now? This is my stop. [ She adds the latter with a jerk of her thumb over her shoulder at the floor they've just reached. ]