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

[circlejerked]

_{[He laughs--an actual honest, unexpected laugh--which settles into a mirthful smile.]}

Excited by a little spellwork? That's a pleasant change. I wish my world had more people like you in it. _{[Enthusiasm is much preferred over... throwing rocks and screaming about demons and dangerous apostates and all that fun stuff.]} Well, it would be my pleasure to work some magic for you. If I create an electric field, it might be enough to magnetize anything metallic in the area. Hypothetically.

_{[He rubs his hands together as he looks out at the grass, going over the threads of the spell he'll have to weave together. He doesn't know a single thing about electrons or electromagnets, but he does know how to harness lightning and the energy therein.]}

All right, let's see what we can do!

<sub>[Hand out, Anders spreads his fingers, a summoning gesture. He doesn't use an incantation--he's practiced enough with storm magic not to need it--but a tingle like static electricity starts to noticeably build in the air once he starts letting loose a trickle of mana. He skips over himself and Ray--no point in magnetizing anything on their bodies. That's not what they're looking for.

The unseen ripple extends outward past them, into the field beyond. There. A little gentle tugging and anything small, light, and metallic in range should start to gather at their feet. Eat your heart out, Magneto.]</sub>

[shrinkage]

〈 the hair on ray's arms reacts to the static and he shivers with the sudden and unnatural presence of ozone-- but it's a rush that brings a wide and manic grin to his face. this is the actual coolest. for all the magic of wonderland, he's still never seen it in quite this manner. he's rapt; and not paying attention to all the tiny pieces of his own invention hopping along to the rhythm of the laws of nature. which anders is commanding. 〉

This is amazing. How-- what-- wow...

[circlejerked]

<sub>[Anders' attention is on the carefully balanced electrical field he's trying to maintain without letting it crumble under too much power or too little, but he can hear the surprise in Ray's voice. It's charming that a little finesse work can earn such an awestruck reaction.

You science guys are adorable.]</sub>

It's all in the wrists, really. Lightning isn't that... hard to channel... _{[Gently, gently... It'd be super lame if he slipped up now.]} There! I think that's everything. close by.

_{[When the last of the debris settles on the ground, Anders eases off the spell, letting the magnetic effect fade.]}

The range isn't that great, though. We'd have a better shot if we could narrow down the location.

[shrinkage]

[ adorable? well gosh. but seriously!!! from the perspective of a physicist who has traveled through time and thought maybe nothing would surprise him ever again, ray retains a childlike glee and curiosity for things of the new. ]

Well-- maybe we could amplify it. Can you adjust for a specific frequency? Or is that more in the elbows?

[ raymond pls don't tease the dude that is helping you!!! ]

[circlejerked]

You mean feel my way around like a bat? Become one with the metal? The secret is it's all in the hips.

<sub>[#themoreyouknow

But back to theorizing, those things could be possible, though the difference in their backgrounds is showing through with their different terminology.]</sub>

Working in tandem with another mage could do the trick to reach a wider area... _{[Thoughtfully, Anders steps up to the small pile of metallic goodies, curious to see what the magnetic tooth fairy has brought them. He picks up a piece of bent metal about the size of a sovereign. It looks like something that fell off a piece of IKEA furniture.]} I hope this wasn't part of your suit. It'd be in rough shape if this is all that's left.

[shrinkage]

No, actually the suit grew with me-- that is a uhh, grounding plate?

[ considering their verbiage differences, ray lilts upward in hopes that his common is on point. he chuckles, reaching to point at the darkened edges. ]

Yeah, see it's singed around the edges. Definitely didn't do its job!

[circlejerked]

So does that mean this manifold thing is in a few big pieces or a lot of tiny ones?

_{[Anders gives the hunk of broken metal between his thumb and forefinger a curious look. It just looks like broken metal to him.]}

Is any of this still... usable?

[shrinkage]

[ his shrug is the most exaggerated of shrugs, and then ray holds his hand out, palm up. ]

Hmm. I'll have to get it back to my room and shrink down to examine it all. It might just be better to dispose of it. [ hang on. ray's eyes pop wide. ] Wait where does all the garbage go? Nevermind, it's-- I just wouldn't feel comfortable leaving it all out here like this.

[circlejerked]

_{[Anders sets the bit of debris back down on the pile and sighs.]}

That's too bad if your quantum manifold super suit-y thing is beyond salvaging, but... you know, maybe you ought to avoid any more spontaneous shrinking or growing.

_{[Or the next thing Anders might be combing through blades of grass for is a tiny Ray all over again.]}

I always assumed the trash disappears to wherever our dignity and personal freedom went. On the bright side, picking up litter probably counts as community service? Saving the environment and all. Karmic brownie points right there.

wrap up soon?

[shrinkage]

No, it's all right, really. I don't have much use for one anymore, and it's good incentive to do some theory work before diving back into practical application, anyway.

[ ever cheerful, ray's smile is genuine. the challenge of trying again is always just an opportunity to do it better next time. or address the network again to see if anyone has newly arrived with more answers than last he checked! ]

sure thing! :3

[circlejerked]

_{[Someone is adorably positive.]}

I see you've come back to us with a fresh perspective.

_{[Anders shrugs and smiles. If his magic has done the man some good in all of this, that's good enough for him.]}

Shall we get something to gather this up with, or do you want to keep looking? Me and my magnetic field will be here all day.