ᴠɪᴅᴇᴏ

[shrinkage]

Raise your hand if you think it's unfair for Wonderland to yank you back in mid-event.

[ the video is framed far enough away that you can actually see ray raise his hand to his own question. vigorously. think back to that kid in your class who had to hold up their raised hand with their other arm. were you that kid? yeah, bet you were.

ray grins and shrugs. ]

I guess Wonderland doesn't really do fair, huh? Either way, I'm back! What'd I miss?

Comments

[directed]

[The answer is automatic, and even if Rip could believe the lie the truth lies too plain in Ray’s expression. The man is, in fact, far from okay, although tired Rip can certainly believe in this moment. It occurs to Rip then that while in Wonderland he has shouldered the burden of dealing with Eobard, outside of it, the responsibility doesn’t fall so squarely, and certainly not so solely, upon his shoulders.]

I realize I’ve just placed a rather strict limitation on you, Raymond. [He turns back to his targets then, once more taking up the gun because it’s easier to do that and swallow back the pang of guilt he suddenly feels.] Yet I’m not unwilling to hear some things if it might prove beneficial.

[If you need to talk.]

But I agree that Thawne is far different from Savage. In his own way, Thawne is arguably even more dangerous. [Not immortal, but powerful, brilliant, and with a cruel and twisted logic that at times can almost sound reasonable.

He'd been able to understand Rip almost from the start.]

[shrinkage]

Well. This isn't exactly a normal situation...

[ he watches rip return to the game, happy to let things unsaid settle between them. a quiet nice shot here and there comes unbidden when he can't keep his inner cheerleader at bay.

after some time passes; after he thinks maybe rip has legitimately found the game entertaining, ray thinks he's found the right words to start to explain. ]

It feels weird, doesn't it? Back home it feels like we never have enough time. Here ... it effectively ceases.

[directed]

[Strangely enough, Rip does find it enjoyable. Perhaps he wouldn't go so far as to say relaxing, but having those moments to focus in relative silence on something so simple as target practice--rooty tooty shooty style--isn't something he grants himself often. (And if he's honest, the praise of someone else for things can also be evasive.)

Odd the things one might take comfort in.

He does decently well in the end, although like Ray he doesn't quite make the list of high scores. Offering the gun to his comrade once more, he nods at Ray's observations.]

You aren't wrong. Sometimes I wonder if time even truly moves, considering that no one apparently ages. [There are signs that it should be passing: ticking clocks, the transition of day to night and back again, a record of days and months. Yet even so, Rip can't help but wonder.]

But you're also right in that we lead rather hectic lives. [From Rip's perspective, the quest to find Savage has been comprised of either a need to beat whatever danger faces them, or something akin to Wonderland: a dead stop when leads dried up and no clues seemed available to be found.] I'll assume that doesn't change in however much time has gone by for you.

[shrinkage]

[ aside from saving time and hurting bad guys, ray suspects that none of them have much in common with each other. that they aren't family, let alone friends. but that hasn't stopped him from trying, still. ]

No, though not for lack of trying... Ooh, we should try that one!

[ instead of starting another round, ray puts the controller back in its caddy and shepherds rip toward a doubles racing game. on the waverider, he'd started exploring what it meant to be ray palmer: not a time janitor, not the atom, not a rich vigilante. just ray. and he'd found that some of his old techniques had use within the team, that he didn't have to fly in and zap some baddies to be useful.

his boundless enthusiasm, for one. it worked just the same as snart's cool judgment, only in reverse. letting control go, instead of clinging desperately to it, gave his wide grin power. people felt comfortable around ray when he wasn't trying to be intimidating, or make an impression. people relaxed around a man who was inspired by luke skywalker and james t kirk. maybe it's OK to be underestimated.

sometimes he didn't have to push. sometimes he just had to skip in the other direction, and trust that he'd be followed. ]

Come on!

[directed]

[...Perhaps it isn't only the circumstances of their frantic lives as psuedo-Time Masters keeping them always going.

Rip watches as Ray moves on from one game to the next, the smile and enthusiasm almost childlike. It's quite different from spending time with Leonard or Mick, which Rip has--actually done a fair bit of lately. Yet in it's own way the glee is refreshing, as is the thought of being around someone who might not necessarily see the worst case scenario first.

And then follow it up by figuring out every other worst case scenario possible.

Because Rip has also spent a fair bit of time on his own too.

He huffs out a small breath, and if Ray looks back at just the right moment, he could even catch the grin that so briefly crosses Rip's face. When the other man beckons Rip does indeed follow.]

And just how do you suppose this one works?

[shrinkage]

Uhh...

[ ray doesn't spare it so much as a once-over before he's forcing his overlarge frame inside and turning back to give rip an exaggerated shrug. ]

It's a racing game! There can't be that much to it, right?

[ ...says the guy having trouble finding a steering wheel. ]

[directed]

[It’s hard not to wince as he watches Ray fold himself into the right shape to get into the machine. Never has he been quite so grateful for the difference his height between himself and the members of his crew.

That it’s a racing game makes Rip consider those shuttles from before. While there are no steering wheels, perhaps--]

Ah; here we go. [Outside the machine, on each side, a pair of gloves has been holstered. He pulls out Ray’s set—better that the man stay where he is—and offers them to him.]

I don’t suppose you’ve taken advantage of the spacecars available to rent here? [If not, Ray’s going to have a bit of a learning curve to deal with. Given that he’s a genius with numerous PhD’s, however, Rip’s sure the man will be fine.]

[shrinkage]

[ ray's glee at the gloves eclipses his manners. as he shuffles them on his hands, he starts down a little road of trouble. ]

Oh, yeah! Me and Nate, we took one out and...

[ oops. that story's probably going to put that scary crease in rip's forehead. ray plasters on a not even kind of convincing innocent smile. ]

Drove... it. Around.

[directed]

[Oh and for a moment it actually seemed like they were going to engage in some sort of frivolous fun; that Rip might not have something to worry about for a solid five minutes or so.

Seems that life-changing moment has been swiftly averted.]

You drove it around. [That’s the sound of Rip not believing you at all, Raymond.] Why do I get the feeling that there’s more to this little joyride of yours?

[shrinkage]

[ it's ray. worry always! ]

Hmm? Oh, no. No, no. It was fine. Kinda boring, really.

[ man these gloves are heavy and warm and is he sweating? ray squints at the vehicle choices so very intensely, now. ]

Ooh, I want the green one!

[directed]

Doctor Palmer.

[On the plus side, Ray would have plenty of opportunity to select the green one. Unfortunately for the man, Rip isn’t exactly going to let this go. He may not get exact details, but it would be good to be certain of a few things. For instance--]

Can you at least tell me that we shouldn’t expect security to start chasing you down should they catch sight of you?

[Please say yes and mean it.]

[shrinkage]

No! I mean, probably not. And if they do, the event will eventually end.

[ shruuug? ]

[directed]

...

[Why is this Rip's life again?

His head lowers for a moment, sagging as he asks himself this question. Yet there's nothing to do for it, aside from running should security decide they want to hunt down Raymond badly enough to find him here.]

I hope it was worth it. Those shuttles went bloody slow when I flew one around earlier.

[He pushes off from where he's been leaning against the machine, walking around to the other side.]