somewhere back there I left my worries all behind

[handycapable]

WHO: RAY GILLETTE and YOU.
WHERE: Heropa and Maurtia Falls
WHEN: Throughout October.
WHAT: Catch-all! Ray indulges in some #Chill, goes shopping for household and Halloween decorations and also a wheelchair, enjoys himself a pumpkin spice latte, and is blindsided by one of his new powers.
WARNINGS: Some implied ableism, pot smoking, Ray being lowkey weeb-ish, and the potential for canon-typical offensiveness (feel free to ask if you have questions/concerns). Will ETA if/as necessary!


▸ at HEROPA #10 | HEROPA ( open )

ｏｐｅｎ ｔｏ ＨＯＵＳＥＭＡＴＥＳ ⤵

[ Ray hasn't been the most attentive housemate, but it's nothing personal-- he just hasn't been spending a ton of time at home, hitting the ground running after his arrival here with trying to stay busy, trying to do his assigned job while also shopping around other, more suitable career options, and trying to get the lay of the land both here in Heropa and of Maurtia Falls.

On the other hand, his housemates are also two young women, so maybe on a tiny level it's somewhat personal. They're no doubt lovely, but Ray's a 43-year old gay men with no idea how he's supposed to relate to two teenage girls. Yeesh. So, yes, more reason he's been a little distant, but after about a month of that he decides it's time he start putting in some effort, at least until he makes a decision about whether or not he's going to move.

"Effort" in this case meaning that while he still won't chase them down for conversation or one-on-one time -- because that would just be weird, right? -- he will be spending more time hanging around the house when he's not at work or busy with other things, whether it be housework like vacuuming or moving furniture or cooking enough for three, reading a book or magazine at the kitchen table or watching something on TV; just making his presence unobtrusively known so he doesn't taken either of them by surprise. ]

ｏｐｅｎ ｔｏ ＡＮＹＯＮＥ ( cw: mild drug use )⤵

[ Another reason to be at home a bit more regularly is the fact that Ray has actually met people in this world by now, people who might occasionally expect to be able to find him at home. People who might have reason to drop by and visit for one reason or another, whether spontaneously, because they made plans, or because Ray might have asked them to.

If Ray's expecting company, they'll probably find him either outside stubbing out a cigarette or still inside getting ready (getting dressed, getting his ass out of bed, whatever fits); if he's not expecting company, he'll be sitting on a lawn chair he's set up out in the side yard, wearing sunglasses and listening to the radio in his head while he smokes a marijuana cigarette and methodically eats his way through the plate of cheesecake he has balanced on one folded leg.

But listen, if they needed him for something important then they really should have called ahead. ]

▸ POWER HOUR(S) | MAURTIA FALLS ( open )
( cw: very mild emetophobia mention )

[ Ah, Maurtia Falls. Seedy though it may be, Ray can certainly admit it's not without its charm, even without the unfair advantage it has against the other cities by merit of not being in the South. The city has a lively and cultured atmosphere of its own, plus it vaguely reminds him -- in small but significant ways -- of being back in New York, a city which he still can't help but miss.

And with that in mind, he really can sort of appreciate even the sordid reputation it has, too; sometimes a guy doesn't mind a little unwholesomeness to his evening. No wonder Ray's debating moving up here, really. He's been up semi-frequently, sizing the place up by way of "nights on the town"-- sometimes he'll hit up one of the many BARS, CLUBS, GAY BARS, or sometimes he'll be in the mood for something more tasteful and attend a showing of a PLAY OR MUSICAL at one of the local theatres.

However, throughout these visits -- any of them, though not all of them -- sometimes Ray finds his power activating inconveniently; he already isn't entirely able to control when he receives radio signals in his head, let alone what kind or at what volume, although with practice he's gotten better at it compared to when he first arrived. But sometimes-- ]

AAAUGH!! Owwww, ow! Oh, sh-- ow, God dammit!

[ He'll clap his hands to his ears as if that'll help; it sounds to him like the excruciating shriek of microphone feedback, or perhaps just painfully loud music or news that only he can hear. Never mind that it's also often unexpected. If he's in a bar at the time he might jump from his seat and knock a drink (or two) over, if in the theatre he might get escorted forcefully back out into the lobby by an usher, or simply remain out there doubled over in pain after intermission's ended. Wherever he is, he may lose his balance, falling to the floor or against somebody nearby... hopefully he at least won't vomit, but it's also possibility. Damn those pesky powers! ]

Jesus Christ somebody make it stop already!

▸ HALL-O'(N)-WHEELS | HEROPA or MAURTIA FALLS ( open )

[ Shopping is just kind of one those things. People do it constantly, sometimes even daily, yet all too frequently forget to pick up absolute necessities until the very last minute, or even after they already need them. During September, Ray's arrival month, he did a decent amount of first-stage shopping for common daily essentials; he got a decent selection of clothing, toiletries, a few books and movies to occupy time, cigarettes, and of course groceries, but now here he is a month later needing an entirely different array of essentials. Not quite as common ones, no, but certainly ones he wants to have on hand.

From EARLY- TO MID-MONTH, he's in and out of small furniture shops, boutiques, art galleries, and other similar locations, coming out with some enlarged Japanese art prints (but please, no kinkshaming!!) for his walls, or more simple decorations such as vases, or even strings of jack-o-lantern lights and cute ghost and cauldron decorations.

The cauldrons come in pretty handy, in fact, for when he has to make his more personal purchases, just dropping the packs of cigarettes and condoms inside it so that they're somewhat less conspicuous. Because-- oh, right. All of his purchases have to be held in his lap incredibly conspicuously, because he's doing his shopping sitting in his first purchase of the month; an electric wheelchair.

Does he actually need it? Well, no, not yet, but given his track record, he wants to prepared. Which is, incidentally, also why he's using it. He wants to make sure it's comfortable and easy to maneuver ahead of time. In fact, he's just now discovering a problem.]

Oh, for the--! [ As Ray is suddenly forced to reckon with having to hold his pumpkin spice latte in one hand and the cauldron and art prints on his lap with the other, leaving him no free hands to actually steer the chair. ] Why the hell would they make this thing without a damn cupholder?!

▸ WILDCARD

[ Choose your own adventure! In case we've already made plans that won't work with the other prompts, or if you'd just rather make up your own, hit me up with a starter or feel free to PM / hit me up at reggiemantle to discuss. ]