#raylicity

8. Olicity (Oliver Queen and Felicity Smoak)

Worst: While Olicity had its moments and a dedicated fanbase, it also became one of the most divisive ships in the Arrowverse. The relationship often overshadowed other aspects of the series, leading to debates over character focus, plot, and the handling of other relationships or character development. The fan reaction was intense, both in support and opposition, contributing to a polarizing community atmosphere.

7. Laurel Lance and Tommy Merlyn

Their relationship was cut short due to Tommy's death, but it had potential. It was one of the more relatable and less drama-filled romances in the early seasons, showing a glimpse of what could have been in a world where the characters weren't constantly at war with their pasts.

6. Oliver Queen and Laurel Lance (Earth-2)

This relationship from an alternate Earth was intriguing but didn't have the same depth or development as other main storylines. It was more of a plot device to explore different dynamics but didn't resonate as deeply.

5. Ray Palmer and Felicity Smoak

Raylicity was a brief but significant relationship that highlighted different aspects of Felicity's character. It was appreciated for its lighter tone and for showing Felicity's life outside of her relationship with Oliver. However, it felt somewhat rushed in its development but is my personal favorite Felicity ship

4. Thea Queen and Roy Harper

Thyroy had a passionate, tumultuous relationship that mirrored the chaotic lives they led. Their connection was genuine, and they shared some of the show's most heartfelt scenes. The tragedy of Roy leaving to protect Thea added depth to their storyline, leading to Roy proposing to Thea in the series finale.

3. Oliver Queen and Laurel Lance (Earth-1)

Lauriver was the original love story set up in the series' early days. Despite the relationship's challenges and eventual dissolution, it had strong chemistry and was integral to the show's initial narrative. Their history provided a solid foundation for character development.

2. John Diggle and Lyla Michaels

Diggle and Lyla's relationship was one of the most stable and supportive in the series. Their love story was grounded, showing that even amidst all the chaos, partnerships could thrive. Their marriage and family life added a layer of normalcy and depth to Diggle's character.

1. Nyssa al Ghul and Sara Lance

Best: Nyssara's relationship was compelling due to the intensity of their connection and the drama of their circumstances. Despite ending due to Sara marrying Ava, their relationship was filled with passion and sacrifice, resonating with fans for its emotional depth to this day

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

Which of these two highest ships for Ray is your favourite?

My newest addition to my ongoing series of AtomicSmoak ficlets that you can read over on AO3! In this one we go back to the beginnings of their relationship to the morning after they first sleep together. This one... yeah this one got a bit spicy. I partly wrote it just to see if my ace ass even *could* write spice for this pairing. Anyway I expect like one person to read this but hopefully you enjoy it random Tumblr user!

Felicity wakes up slowly—feeling more well rested than she has in years. She can feel herself blush as she remembers the events of last night that led to her being so exhausted in the first place to have slept so well. Events that she would very much like to repeat—except a certain someone is conspicuously absent from the bed—having left only warm sheets behind.

She rolls over and stretches before swinging her legs over the side of the bed. She grabs a gray t-shirt off the floor and slips it over her head. It comes down to her knees when she stands up.

She's lured into the kitchen by the smell of bacon frying and fresh coffee brewing and finds Ray standing over the stove cooking breakfast. Smiling to herself, she creeps up behind him—wrapping her arms around him and burying her face between his shoulder blades.

His hand comes up to grab hers and kiss it. “Morning,” he says.

She kisses his back and mumbles, “Morning,” voice muffled.

“I uh, I forgot to ask if you keep kosher or not.”

She snorts. “Give me all the bacon, please and thank you.”

He turns around to face her—hands snaking around her waist to pull her close. “Sleep okay?”

She nods and buries her face in his chest—being in his arms is enough to almost lull her back to sleep.

“Are you falling asleep on me?” he teases.

“Maybe,” she says coyly, before rolling up on her toes to kiss him. He leans down so she doesn't have to strain her neck but she stills mutters, “Why must you be so friggin' tall?”

He chuckles and hoists her up onto the counter. She squeaks at the sudden movement and clings to his neck. “Better?” he asks.

She nuzzles her nose into his neck. “Much better.”

She realizes she's being extremely clingy right now but she can't find it in her to care. She doesn't think Ray minds either. She can't help it—she's never felt so cared for, so at peace before.

He kisses her temple and rubs her back soothingly. “So... I take it you're not regretting anything from last night?”

“Nope,” she says, popping the P. While it's true she didn't intend to sleep with him that quickly—it was only their third date after all—she doesn't regret a single second of it.

She's not gonna lie to herself and say she doesn't still have feelings for Oliver—she does. But the more time she spends with Ray the weaker those feelings get. Oliver Queen is the last person she wants to be thinking about right now though.

She smiles against Ray's neck and then bites him—gently. His breath hitches. “Whoa, not so sleepy now, are we?”

She digs her teeth in harder and then soothes the sting with her tongue. “Not exactly.”

His grip on her hips tightens as she trails kisses up his neck and along his jawline, ending with a kiss on his lips.

He kisses back immediately, one hand trailing up her thigh—under the hem of his shirt that she'd borrowed—and the other gripping the back of her neck. She moans softly as he starts trailing kisses down the length of her throat craning her neck to give him better access—and his hand is so close to where she needs it to be.

And then her stomach chooses to interrupt the moment by growling loudly.

Truthfully, she is pretty hungry, but she still whines when Ray pulls back—hand sliding down to her knee. “Breakfast first?”

She reluctantly agrees and hops down from the counter so he can finish cooking. As he cracks a couple eggs into a pan he leans down and whispers in her ear what he wants to do with her after breakfast.

The cutest couple of the Arrow

Raylicity

3×05

“I thought it would be nice if it was quiet so I bought up the entire restaurant.  ... Too much?”

“Just a tad.”

(What  do you mean this is not an acurrate titel for this moment? Are you telling me Iris and Eddie were not dating Barry at this point of the season?! Why would the doubledate with Ray and Felicity and have Barry along then? Yeah, see I told you.)