catchacold | ICy Inbox for Entranceway

Ah--

[ ray feels it coming but doesn't dodge. he dodged once ever. learned that only makes it worse. ]

I'm sorry, OK?

Just don't tell him about the coat. Or the gun. Or that really bad impression you did.

[the one where you kept straddling the wall and almost falling over.]

He's gonna think I tried to replace him!

Look at me.

[ not the person who would even remotely come close to replacing leonard! ]

You were grieving, Mick. It was part of the process.

Oh God.

[Mick groans and gets up because God, no, this was becoming an after school special full of FEELINGS and he wants out.

He holds up a warning hand to show, no, he does not want a hug.]

I wasn't grieving, there ain't no process!

Whoa, hey--

[ he doesn't back down, but his hands lift in surrender. no hugs, buddy. don't freak out. ]

You were doing what you could with what you had. I was barely keeping it together, remember?

[As unceremoniously as he's left, Leonard comes back, throwing a bottle of beer at Mick and holding a froyo out to Ray as he approaches his bed again. He's eating his own froyo, once he sits down.]

So.

[A pause, so he can lick the spoon.]

You can't fix your girlfriend's life for her. She is who she is because of that life. Let her know you like her as she is. Be there for her.

That's about it.

[Mick eyes everything like it's a trap. The beer, the froyo, Leonard himself.

When will the retribution come.]

I guess you just gotta let people know you care about them. [No, Ray, that was not an invitation to tell them. Go tell your girlfriend.]

[ ray didn't spare his froyo a second glance. being stressed usually leads to a sweet tooth anyway, and so he dove right in. he's pretty sure this is a clemency treat or something. everything's cool. ]

It just doesn't seem like enough. I have no experience to pull from when it comes to a parent so bad she can't talk about it still.

[ oh, mick's eyeing up his froyo. ray holds it to the side toward mick as an offer. ]

You ain't ever gonna be able to fix that for her. Maybe it will help her to talk one day. Maybe not.

[There's a shrug and he turns the froyo in his hand to get more of it on his spoon.]

You can't protect people from what's inside them. You can just be there too.

[Mick moves away from the froyo like it's evil. Nope, too cold, probably some kind of Snart trap. He isn't falling for it.]

Usually I'd say just follow your instincts and do what feels right but I know you and you really shouldn't do any of that.

[Do the opposite, actually. Way safer.]

Just be someone to talk to, dumbass. Don't be a fixer.

It's pistachio...

[ it's not a fruit or a vegetable, jeez. ]

OK, so. Listen and be there and don't fix. Don't pretend to be anyone else, and maybe make a casserole. [ no sweat! ] Anything else?

Never ever pretend to be me.

[He does not miss a beat.]

Even if she's into that.

He didn't pretend to be you.

[There's a beat.]

I mean, yeah, no, he did kind of but he was trying a thing. He wasn't trying to be you. He can't be you. There's only one you.

[Only one Leonard. Only one Leonard who was gone. And now Mick was alone. Mick was alone and stuck with Ray and he was going to die alone, being nagged to death over a chore wheel and he was only maybe getting a casserole out of it? Yeah, no, Mick is just going to quietly spiral over here.

Aka sip his beer and look everywhere but them while he suppresses these feelings.]

It was my fault. [ ray clears his throat. they told him to not try to fix and to listen and he can't exactly make any casseroles right now. ] You know how I am. I got an inch...

It's fine. I get it. [As much as he's reluctant to, because this is thinking about a life that doesn't include him, that just kept going for these two. That will keep going, while all he has is whatever this is.

But that's not on them.

He looks over at Mick and pats himself down, pulling out a candy bar and throwing it his way.]

Got something for you too.

[It's no casserole, but.]

[Mick catches the candy bar before huffing in amusement and trying his best to get his head out of that awful space he doesn't want it to be in.]

Well, you know, it makes sense I'd give him your gun and let him do a trial run.

[Mick smirks a little, prepared to take all their minds off where this one was going.] After all, you're both aloof weirdos. The only difference is, he's a dog and you're a cat.

Edited 2017-05-25 22:23 (UTC)

[ ray nearly chokes on what's nearly his last spoonful of froyo ]

I'm not a dog!

Sure you are. Goddamn puppy.

[He's not even gonna debate the cat comment by now. They've been over that.]

Such a dog.

You even play fetch. [True story.]

[ he WAS going to lick his bowl clean and now he's having second thoughts. ]

What does that even mean? Is this some kind of hazing thing? Because it makes no sense.

Just a character evaluation. Mick has them for just about anyone.

[Mostly he's surprised no one else has ever told Ray Palmer, the actual living giant puppy, that he's a dog.]

You already made it through the hazing.

Nothing wrong with being a dog. I'm a dog. We're different kinds but we're dogs.

[Most people were either cats or dogs. Some were specific things - like Cisco, he was a hamster.]

We hazed you ages ago, dingus. You're already post-hazed.

[ a scowl forms, because ray just really doesn't get this dog thing. allergies sort of kept him away from these pets and so he's overly literal about it. ]

But I'm not messy. I don't drool. And I'm--

[ woop no shut that line of thought down. ray's mouth snaps shut and he glances at mick instinctively. ]

Relax, Raymond. Ain't anybody sending you to the vet.

[Although it's not the worst idea ever. He glances at Mick as well, smirking readily.]

Mick's a horndog. In case you were wondering.

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