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

[shrinkage]

Well, at least we're even now. [ and at least he's smiling again, though it's more rueful than joyful. and like the dude he is, ray immediately starts thinking about how to fix it... ] Did the kid who caused it have any solutions for the dreams?

[blackbirdsing]

Nope. At least, not that I heard. His mom came on after him and said something about it, but there was no solution. The fire in the room is very real, by the way, and it does actually burn real skin. The woman called it the 'Netherworld?'

[ A nice and comforting title. ]

I think drinking definitely helps, though, so cheers to that.

[shrinkage]

[ ray's eyes pop wide at that particular revelation. then his face darkens, eyebrows pushing downward in anger, supposedly on sarah's behalf. but when it comes to anger, the reasoning isn't always so simple. ]

That's ... really not OK. Who lets their kid mess around with curses?

[ as if ray has any idea what it's like to have a child let alone raise one in a world of magic. something about sarah's lack of her own anger sparks some of ray's own, because he doesn't understand how she's being so calm right now. ]

[blackbirdsing]

To be fair to the mom, I don't think she let him do anything. Kids are dumb. Said as a parent to a nine-year-old.

[ Sarah takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly, rubbing at the back of her neck, playing with her straw with her other hand. ]

And if her message to him which was public and I don't think she meant for it to be is any indication, he's grounded forever, or something. I think everyone knows how serious it was, and how bad it could have been. Luckily, this placed reversed the actual sleeping portion pretty fast.

[shrinkage]

[ a good listener, ray sits back to take in sarah's words and with them her perspective. he certainly doesn't have that frame of reference to apply to the situation and once she's done speaking it seems his frustration has mostly dissipated-- transfigured, even, to admiration. ]

Huh. I didn't think of it that way. I guess I should be more angry with Wonderland for bringing a child here in the first place, huh?

[blackbirdsing]

I think I'd be really angry if this place brought my kid here, so yeah, for sure.

[ Sarah finishes her drink and gets another, changing topics, smiling at him. ]

So, now that you're back and all normal-sized, how do you plan on spending your time?

[shrinkage]

[ he notices that shift, miss. but ray will not push the matter further-- she must miss her kid, and who's to say that talking about him or her wouldn't just hurt more? ]

Well! First was a little rest and relaxation. [ his hand gestures to the bar: item 1 complete! ] After that? I'm ... not really sure. Back home I had a specific goal and here I can't help but feel a little directionless, you know?

[blackbirdsing]

[ She's really glad when he goes along with the change in subject. Sometimes missing Sawyer after being all about just her kid for nine years feels like a hole in her chest, and right now, she wants to keep with the good vibes. ]

I get that, definitely. I think it's how my brother feels, too. He's a big bad FBI agent at home and every case is...someone blowing something up, a chase or a heist. I'm pretty used to boring, but even I don't always know what to do around here. Which is why I'm just gonna give people free massages.

[ Yep. That's a thing she's doing. Because why not? ]

[shrinkage]

[ bzuh? ]

Oh, wow!

[ that's super weird but also creative he guesses. and kind of random. ray's face lifts and twists as he hops through these thoughts. ]

You just-- decided on massages, huh?

[blackbirdsing]

[ Sharing is...caring? Or something? Excuse her, she's bad at conversations that aren't with nine-year-olds or her brother who communicates by grunts, arm crossing, and different levels of squinting to show his level of engagement. ]

I'm actually a physical therapist back home, so I'm taking what I know and just applying it a different way. I thought it was better than not doing anything, I guess. Plus, helping people is good for the soul. So I've read.

[ Sarah smiles just a little; she's trying to do something nice just because she wants to, it was her first instinct when she was coming up with how to occupy her time in Wonderland. ]

[shrinkage]

[ no apologies! besides, a lot of people would compare ray to a 9 year old, sooooo. yeah. ray just chuckles, and nods-- the understanding becomes clear. ]

That's what you meant about different science. I got distracted when we were talking and I kept forgetting to ask you about it again.

[ he grins, less amused and more impressed now. ]

I think it's a great idea, Sarah.

[blackbirdsing]

[ She smiles a little at him, glad that he thinks so. ]

Thanks. And hey, bonus: if you ever need some knots worked out, you know who to come to.

[shrinkage]

Oh my god that would be amazing.

[ ...was that too strong of a reaction? probably. are ray's cheeks pink? yes. is he floundering a bit now, with his eyes scrunched shut and hands around his glass? you can sure bet. ]

I mean-- in an overall sense. A general ... situation of, you know. [ cough. ] Platonic massaging. [ cough! ] I think I'm a little drunk.

[blackbirdsing]

[ Sarah can't help but smile at that. It's cute. HE'S CUTE, OKAY. ]

Absolutely. Platonic massage. And there's nothing wrong with being a little drunk. I wouldn't even mind being a lot drunk. [ Which has her politely asking the bartender this evening for another drink. ]

[shrinkage]

It does seem like everyone's favorite pastime. Truth be told, I'm not usually a big bar-goer.

[ shocked, ray. everyone looking at your giant luau wannabe drink is just shocked. ]

But around here, sometimes it's just nice to be near people, you know?

[blackbirdsing]

[ Sarah's face softens a little, glad that based on his invitation, she's one of the people he wanted to be near. ]

Yeah, I know. Having people helps a lot. And drinking with someone is much better than hanging out at the bar alone, so I'm really glad you sent me that message. Even if we weren't drinking, just...hanging out is good. And I'm really glad you're back. Which is weird to say because I don't feel like most people would be glad to get pulled here again, but...

[ But when he disappeared she was really disappointed and sad face, is what she's trying to say. ]

[shrinkage]

No, I get it, though. I think Wonderland really drives home the power of the connections we make with people, you know?

[ he reaches out to place a hand on sarah's, and gives a little squeeze. ]

Coming back was pretty disorienting, but that was one of the first things that shook out; the friends I've made here. Especially people who try to find the good among all the chaos.

[blackbirdsing]

[ Sarah's just...gonna keep her hand in his for now, okay? Okay. And she's going to voice that earlier thought, now. ]

Thanks. For counting me in the people you wanted to find again when you got here.

[shrinkage]

[ that makes ray smile, wide and open. he nods, eyes lingering on hers-- are they green? blue? he can't quite tell in this light, but definitely something lighter. ]

Are you kidding? I love talking to you! You're positive, but you're realistic too. It's really inspiring.

[blackbirdsing]

I've been called a lot of things in my life. 'Inspiring' isn't one of them. But...I like it.

[ Her gaze moves over his face, and she's...yeah, she's glad she's right here with him. That smile is something else. It sticks with her, so much so that in a few days, she'll be turning down an offer from the Devil.

Oh, and her eyes are blue-ish/green-ish. Sometimes they lean further one way, but she wouldn't assume anyone would want to really know that about her. ]

So. A toast? To liking each other's company.

[shrinkage]

〈 ray nods, lifting his ridiculously large and overcomplicated drink into the air eagerly. 〉

Oh yeah. And to enjoying it more frequently. Like, say, dinner and dancing some time?

〈 ray palmer are you trying to be smooth right now??? 〉

[blackbirdsing]

[ A slow smile spreads on Sarah's face and she nods, surprised for some reason, but very pleased. ]

You know, I think that can and should be arranged. I can't promise to be a great dance, but I do promise I'm fun.

[shrinkage]

Why don't we learn something new together, then? I bet the closet will give us some instructional videos, and the ballroom's almost never in use...

〈 that way they'll both be terrible and it'll be extra fun! 〉

[blackbirdsing]

[ Sarah can't help but laugh. ]

How about something fun like, how to tango?

[shrinkage]

〈 ray grimaces and then nods eagerly because oh hell yeah 〉

That's perfect! We should dress for the occasion, too.