#atomarrow

im gonna be vulnerable and admit something. i did not like ray palmer when we were first introduced to that man on arrow. i thought he was pushy and arrogant and treated felicity creepy. especially given the fact that felicity's mentioned having a stalker during her college years, him tracking her phone and following her around to pressure her into accepting his job offer was... YUP i wanted him dead. he was very unlike the golden retriever boy i came to adore on legends of tomorrow. by then, he and felicity were already donezo. BUT in lot, there's an ep where we get a flashback from before ray left for the waverider, where felicity visits him in her wheelchair... she calls herself hot wheels and they're so soft and endearing... and the scene in arrow where she's fixing him up after he gets that scar on his cheek... they could be v cute. ray's characterization on legends of tomorrow really made me rethink his personality on arrow. he was still undeniably creepy and pushy, but it recontextualized it in a more overexcited way instead of a selfish way.

all this to say: i DO fuck with raylicity !! i think the relationship served its purpose for their individual character development and that break-up was always enevitable. the canonical arrowverse isn't a polyamorous narrative. i'm not sure if polyamory is ever mentioned in the arrowverse after supergirl went to the cw, actually?

but the polycule au isn't canon arrowverse >:3c

currently, within polycule au canon, they are a v-trio! felicity's their original hinge, ofc. ollie and ray are friends, moreso than previously, especially when ray becomes a legend. both oliver and ray can be pretty pushy as people, but for reasons that makes me think of autism to autism clashing. i just think oliver would find it easier to have the energy needed for ray, if ray isn't a constant part of everyday life in star city. recharge them social batteries, y'know.

on the idea of atomarrow themselves in a relationship, though... i don't personally ship it that much, but, yeah, it would totally work logistics-wise !! oliver has a thing for badass nerds. he likes 'em smart and it doesn't matter to him much if it's street smarts or book smarts. ray fits into the category. ray just like 'em powerful, though he can get swept in making himself the more powerful one between them, ever-so subconsciously, and that is simply a reality that would never ever never happen in a relationship with fucking oliver queen. ollie asserts himself to a fault. they would be so dumb together ilove it

Red!Ray Palmer Moodboard requested by @jimalim

The ring sat neatly on top of the new laptop that Oliver had designed. With much help from Felicity and Curtis might he had, this was something special, something that he’s sure that no one else had thought about doing before and even though he was sure that Ray knew that he wasn’t exactly the tech type and things like laptops and phones and whatever else didn’t interest him but they interested Ray and in turn that made Oliver interested. He would sit and listen to Ray ramble on and on about the newest invention that he’s created and it was those moments that Oliver had heard from Felicity and Thea that Ray treasured, those moments that he was glad that he found Oliver and that Oliver found him. He didn’t know what he would do if he didn’t have him. The ring, once again thanks to Felicity and a little help from Curtis this time managed to blend into the laptop and with a press of a button it would reveal itself. Unique and wonderful. Just like Ray.

Oliver sat the laptop on top of the table where they would be eating the Cordon Bleu that he had prepared. It sat to the side, next to the wine. It was their two year anniversary, all of this was–he hoped would go perfectly.

Five minutes. Ray would be home in five minutes. He was out with Sara, discussing Legends business at least that’s what she told him. In truth Sara was keeping him busy while Oliver prepped everything so there wouldn’t be any unexpected surprises.

Oliver looked at the clock, loving as it trickled down until it was time. The front door opened. The familiar and subtle scent that Oliver loved wafted through the air. Ray’s loud and bustling voice came through the door. The sounds of bags dropping on the ground and the door closing softly. Then, at last, meeting him in the small dining room he saw the face of the man that would soon be his husband. Hopefully.

“Something smells good.” Ray smiled walking to Oliver and placing a kiss on his lips. “Your Cordon Bleu?”

Oliver nodded, taking his hand and sitting him in the chair. Oliver then took his seat across from him.

“I know how much you love it. Plus it’s the only thing I know how to make. And plus, you know, Happy Anniversary sweetheart.”

“Happy Anniversary. And for your gift, you’re going to have to wait until—” the words trailed off as Ray’s eyes caught something shiny. The laptop. “What’s this?”  His hands hovered of the computer, itching to open it.

“Don’t you think that we should eat first?” Oliver asked.

“I want to see this. I’ve never seen this before. Who made it?”

Oliver smiled. “I did, actually. With help from Felicity and Curtis. It’s unique. Only opens to your retina scan, has everything that you need for Legends business and whatever else, I don’t actually know but Felicity does..”

Ray took it, placing it in front of him. “It’s beautiful.”

Ray began to open it, turning it on and with a loud noise, Oliver knew what it was.  Ray’s eyes widened. The ring sitting on top of the keyboard.

“Will you marry me Ray?”