Post by Supergirl on Jul 30, 2015 13:43:55 GMT -5
Oliver Queen sighed as he peered out to the old family home and shook his head. It'd been a long time coming, but he had procurred it once more. And yet, there were still sections of this old manor that still hadn't gone to since his return. The old Study, the trophy room, even his parents place. He'd thought about selling this place since it came into his possession, however his mother, Moira Queen, would've been disappointed. Despite here faults, she'd always tried to change this place from a mosolieum to a home. Not matter what, that took some doing. But there he was peering out to the grounds, in a pair of blue sweat pants and no shirt, revealing the differing scars that he had gotten during his time upon the island. Knife and sword wounds, burns, bullets, there was even a patch where he had gotten to close to a tree while moving and ended up getting a patch of road rash with splinters.
That'd been a fun day. Running a hand over top of his short kept hair, he turned and moved to some of the more recent additions to his personal room. The ancient samurai armor complete with Katana and glaive hidden within a glass case. Another marker and reminder to himself.
The roar of the dark emerald porche echoed as she entered the massive garage. She loved the color of this car, so dark it could be black, yet it sparkled green under the lighting. The overhead lights beamed as she passed under them and slid the car into place and killed the engine. It purred like a mountain lion and growled like the beast as well, such a beautiful sound revving it up in Star City at the red light just to attract attention. Thea climbed out and her heels clicked on the concrete before she entered the house and the sound was that of heels on wood and rugs. She made her way up the steps and noted that the television wasn’t on the news with its usual droan. Having Mother gone had made the place certainly feel different, but Thea wouldn’t admit that she might have missed her. Her mother was known for killing hundreds in the earthquake…it sort of left a gap in her heart that she didn’t bother to fill. Her mother was a murderer and a politician, nothing could make that stain worse.
Thea rounded the wooden banister and climbed the four steps that ascended to the second floor and heard something shuffling down the hall. Oliver. She hadn’t hardly spoken to him much since he’d been back, because to her, he’d left her and abandoned her. She couldn’t help but imagine he’d been sipping martinis and lounging on a chair on that island he’d been on for so long. He’d abandoned her just like their father with him. Now, he wasn’t even the same person when he’d returned? He wasn’t the same older brother she remembered adoring as a child. The one that sat with her on her bed during a storm and read her stories, the one that played hide and seek in the huge house they grew up in. He wasn’t the one that made her peanut butter sandwiches and only put jelly on them just like she liked without telling Mom and Dad. No, he didn’t exist anymore. Instead, she rounded the corner to watch the man who’d seemingly replaced him move back into his room silently. No music. No tv. Who the hell was this guy?
She crossed her arms and leaned on the doorway, “What the hell is that?” She asked, gesturing to the armor piece. “Looks like it should be a prop for a crappy fighting movie. Why would you want that in your room?” her voice was snide, full of temperament and attitude. She was a far cry from the sweet, gentle little girl who was naïve to the world around her. No, she drank, she did drugs, she sped, she didn’t tell anyone where she was at five in the morning. She was an adult doing whatever the hell she pleased. He’d learn that he wasn’t the only one that changed. And in her eyes, he was the reason she’d had to.
Oliver had heard the porche moving down the lanes and had actually managed to smirk as he moved towards the small coffee maker that he had within the portion of the room that he had sealed off as a peice of his study and went to work. By the time she pulled up and into the driveway, the thing was already brewing, compliments of a two litre bottle of water that he kept on hand and some Jamacian blend that he had mail ordered through a friend of a friend. It was then that he poured himself a cup and then heard the rushed footsteps down the hall. ~Heh. Have just enough time it seems.~ He thought to himself as he poured another cup and then added two sugars and a small bit of powdered creamer within, before he approached the door and watched as she opened it offering the cup to her with a raised eyebrow. "Seriously? I don't see you for the weekend and half the week and that's your first question? The supposedly cheap tacky rip off of Japanese Culture?"
He questioned, the tone a bit of feigned insult, but the joke had been there and the smile to confirm it. "Here. You need this." He stated simply before he looked to the armor and weapons and he just chuckled lightly. "Would you beleive me that this reminds me of a woman I met back in the day? Traditional in every sense of the word, Honorable, Had a stick up her ass the size of a elephants trunk and hated my guts right from the get go?" He questioned as he reached out to a t-shirt and slipped it on. A blue one that said 'Save the world! It's the only one with Beer!!!' A sound concept and given his party life, it was still valid. Nevertheless though, he turned his head to look towards her with a raised eyebrow. "So Haven't been around much, Speedy. Getting to old to be seen with your brother? Bit big for the Fair grounds now? Cause I remember that awful teddy bear that I had to bribe a guy five hundred dollars for to get."
Thea’s lips pressed thin. She wasn’t fooled, it was like he started to act like the old Ollie, but there was just something amiss. It was like going to Disney World and seeing Mickey Mouse…but something was slightly amiss from the Mickey you knew from the tv. She dropped her arms and headed to the end of his bed and plopped down onto it, swinging her feet slightly, ankles crossed. She was still in the dress she’d worn to the last party she’d been at, a sage green slip dress with glitter splattered from the party all over it’s beautiful material. Her legs clad in dark hosiery and feet in the sleek heels knicked up by the wild wear she’d given them. Her hair needed to be redone, its long girls looking slightly disheveled and her makeup was done, but it was from a tired version of herself in the morning.
Thea accepted the coffee but shot him a look of death, “Don’t call me that.” She said, referring to his nickname for it. She couldn’t even remember when he’d started it up, but since he’d been back, she treated it as though he weren’t the same brother before, so he didn’t get the satisfaction in pretending he was. She sipped the coffee and noted it was a hell of a lot better than the crap Mom had always drank in the morning that smelled like burnt grounds. She listened to his jab and joke, her lips actually starting to pull up in a smirk before she caught herself. No, she was still angry with him, she still distrusted him. This wasn’t the brother from before, he couldn’t just hop in and pretend and she’d play along, he hadn’t earned it and he would learn that from her.
“Yeah,” her dry humor chilled her tone. “And after you got me the bear, you told me to stay near the strawberry spinners and ran off with some redhead. And when the fair shut down and everyone had left, you’d forgotten me and had to drive back to pick me up.” Her green eyes were flat and not amused. “Good thing there was room for me and the bear in the back seat so you and she could make out up front while you sped home and begged me not to tell Mom and Dad.” Yeah, she remembered the same things…but he seemed to pick out the parts that might make him look good. Sorry, bro, not going to happen.
Oliver saw the smirk and the hateful earned gaze that he'd so rightfully earned there in her eyes, and he closed his own while sipping his coffee lightly. "In the case of the armor, beleive what you wish to." He commented as he reached to the folder that he had yet to put away, and provided her the letters of authenticity, the carbon dating reports, and the historical data of the era that the armor was put in. "It's the truth." he commented simply as he sipped his coffee again and moved forwards to the coffee maker, before he thought of something, turning and regarding her with a raised eyebrow. "You know. that's probably the first time you ever brought that up. I was actually surprised you remembered.... Wait a redhead?" He questioned, as he actually furrowed his eyes, tilted his head up and stared up at the roof for a moment, thinking. And then it clicked and he shook his head lightly snorting. "That's right. I met her before Tommy's party, and then it was the one that broke my jaw.."
He thought outloud to himself before he shook his head adn then looked towards Thea again, that grin returning. "Course though, when that thing got a rip in it, who was it that insisted we play doctor while I had a hangover and never once complained after that cup of coffee at two in the morning?" He questioned before he waved it off, refilled their cups. "You got alot of anger for me. There's no doubt about it. Actually, I think Doctor Phil could write a book about the Queen's and make a fortune. We're certainly a lively bunch... There's a person I want you to meet. And before you jump to the wrong conclusions and think your an aunt. Don't. Your not. I had to have my arm dislocated to get her number. But maybe it might be something you might want to do, or something that you might want to try at least. I don't know. "
Thea opened the folder and skimmed through the authenticity files. She shrugged, “Still doesn’t mean I believe it gives you some fond memory of some woman.” She set the folder on the bed next to her and sipped the coffee again. “You remember things by the woman you were with, but you’re not James Bond.” His memory of the after math of that girl had her eyes soften some. He was right, she’d spent hours on his bed with toilet paper and trying to paper machete his jaw piece as though it were a cast. She’s used her plastic doctor kit and taken to checking his heartbeat and knocking on his knees and elbows to get a reaction out of him. But her eyes hardened again when he admitted she’d had a lot of anger for him.
Damn straight she had anger for him, he’d abandoned her and ruined everything. He’d run off with some girl and pretended to be dead for years, then just showed up and acted like a whole different person. He’d left her with Mom, without Dad or him to referee and without anyone else in her life but that two-faced woman. He had no idea what happened while he was gone and he’d never understand. Part of her wanted him to just go get drunk and find women to bury himself into because at least he wasn’t pretending to try and be friends with her when he hadn’t earned it.
He mentioned the girl he wanted her to meet and she rolled her eyes as she shook her head. “Same old Ollie, am I the softener for the date then? ‘Hey, this is my little sister, look, I’m such a sweet big brother.’ Then you run off with her and give me money to go to the arcade alone?” She scoffed and stood from the bed, setting the coffee mug on the small table. “I’m not a decoration for you to use to get women.” She headed for the door, “And I hope she dislocates both arms,” Thea leaned against the door frame. “Maybe then you’d have the pity of a real nurse to play doctor with.”
Oliver raised an eyebrow to her and her outburst and then actually laughed, tilting his head back. Oh he didn't feel it truly, no it was true that those were wounds that would never ever really heal. " That temper of yours sure can jump the gun. That wasn't actually why I called her." He commented with a shrug of the shoulder. "You ready for some history? I'll tell you a peice of me that I swore that I'd not tell anyone else." He commented as he sipped his coffee gently once more. "You remember that time that I stole the Taxi? That'd been awesome. A really good time, and probably one of the few I told you the truth about. Yeah, turns out we ended up on a yacht and the police came and shut us down. Me and my date, we got out, and out to the street. And then the cops took off after her instead of me. Not out of any sort of decision, just a random direction. So I stole a Taxi, back it up into one of the police cars and started to laugh... Maybe that's why they were so pissed off with me...
Eh, thoughts for later." He commented with a chuckle as he nestled his butt on the edge of his desk and sipped his coffee. And then he looked towards her disbelieving face and raised his hand up. "Before you ask. I owed her one, and lets leave it at that." He commented as he sipped his coffee again, and then gestured to the chair once more. "You've gotten good at putting words in my mouth when you haven't heard the whole thing. It's not someone I want you to meet because of that. That was a whole different life. No. She actually works as a martial arts instructor now, and she's several degrees in... well... Aggressive Physiatrist Therapy I believe she worded it. The sort where you learn to give yourself a positive outlet." He stated to her sipping his coffee lightly. Before his computer came to life and showed him a shipping invoice of another set that he had ordered and he nodded his head. And then he turned the laptop away again.
"I know you don't like me and I know we've both changed... I'm not the role model you aught'a have. And there will always be questions, maybe one day, I'll tell you every answer that you want. But... I'm trying."
Thea crossed her arms and seemed to put off leaving his room to go to her own for now. Leaning her back to the door frame, she lofted a brow at him. She listened to what he said and while part of her took it in, the rest of her was distrusting and disbelieiving. She had no reason to trust him anymore and finding the will to give him a chance again was more than a weak effort. But what else did she have planned for the day? She was dirty and needed a nice, hot shower…but what really did she have to do?
His sister rolled her eyes, “Right, so she beats people up and calls it therapy, you’ve officially attracted a different level of bimbo from the usual drunk skanks.” Boy, she didn’t miss the smell of alcohol as women gripped her brother on both arms and clanked their unsteady heels through the house giggling loudly. Their dresses too revealing and their eyes wide with wonder as they spent their first few sights in the humoungous house that was the Queen Manor. But she saw the look in Oliver’s eyes, the steady one that seemed honest.
She sighed, “I need a shower. I’ll get dressed, then I’ll be ready.” She bent down to slip off her heels and hook two fingers in the black straps so that they hung from her hand as she stood at her real height, much smaller than her older brother. She hung that hand out and pointed a finger at him. “But if I wind up being a third wheel so you can get hooked up, I’ll make sure your ninja armor gets shown my anger.” Her threat was real and she turned to go take her shower and get ready, her lack of presence leaving behind the lingering scent of her perfume she’d used to cover alcohol and drugs from the parties she’d been to for that week she’d been gone.
Oliver actually choked on his coffee with a laugh and watched as it smeared the window on his wall. A pretty good distance, considering that the wall was on the other side of the room. And there he just slammed his cup down and swore, rubbing his nose. "SONOFA---! You Did that on purpose Thea!" He shouted shaking his head, before he reached out and grabbed his handkerchief and started to dab his nose. "She isn't like any Bimbo really. Considering that she's going to teach you how to hit people, damn it! You can as her for her damn PHD's and her martial arts belts as a damned reference... And you can ask for that Youtube Video she has of her putting me to the church floor. THAT BLOODY BURNED!" He swore once more, while removing the tears of pain from his eyes. A bullet he could handle, a sword through the chest? Eh, no problem. He could live through that again. But hot coffee through the nose? Not happening on a dare! When he could actually just shake his head lightly, he twitched his lips clearing it all out, before blowing his nose and sighing. "Okay. That one I deserve. You might like Dinah. You might not. But if you chip a fingernail, she's the last person that's going to give you sympathy. AND LEAVE THE DAMNED ARMOR ALONE!" He stated shaking his fist at her retreating form, before he took a seat at his desk and sighed as he began to rub the temples on the side of his head, looking to the Facebook messages and twitter tweets that had been posted about her and by her. Yeah. He was going to need to make a call eventually. Maybe this was the right one. It was then he reached out and touched the cellphone. "Felicity. Might need a hand over here soon." He texted. Him? Actually voluntarily asking for help? That had had to have been a first for her eyes.
In the middle of her Lesson 1 Kickboxing tape the phone began to buzz. Felicity took a towel after quickly sprinting to the table. She was desperate to skip her tape today. Oliver? What could he have that was so text-worthy? "Wouldn't be the first time you asked me for a hand." She sent the text immediately regretting her decision. "I mean, what do you need help with? That was what I meant to say." Her conscious was weighing on her shoulders for that mistake. Dear lord, it was bad enough that she couldn't formulate the right words. Although Oliver was not the type of person to give too much of a rat's ass for her phrasing. Anyone else would have thought different.
Oliver nodded his head as he peered down to the cellphone and typed a series of keys. 'Thea's been out and about. There's postings on it all over the internet. She's still on probation from last year... Did you want to come over and handle it while I keep her distracted?' he texted while pouring himself another cup of coffee. It was then he sent the message and then deleted it from his phone. There was no need for Thea to find out that he was worried about her like this and was taking measures to ensure that she didn't end up with a matching set of the ugly blue Pajama's. There he sipped his coffee a bit, and then looked towards the armor once more. Standing up, he walked towards another item that he had sent for. It was a traditional Japanese long bow. Taller than he was and the sort that had a decent amount of range for anything that came out of that era. There he pulled out one of the arrows, notched it, walked outside to his balcony, pulled back and let it sore, the thing notching into the golf carts tire. The same one that he had modifications made to so that way he could break the speed limit on it. When he heard the pop he just bowed his head and swore. "Fuck." He mumbled as he flipped the bow in his hand and moved towards the wall looking to hang the thing on the wall where he kept the other weapons.
The bathroom filled with the hot steam, making the room humid and aiding in clearing her pores. The shower was hot and relaxing and so needed. Her long time spent out had made her tired and wore her muscles out without her realizing it. She washed away the makeup she’d had to reapply over and over, waking up in different places with raccoon eyes. She washed the glitter and dust from her hair and the smells of people and drugs and alcohol from her skin. It was just what she needed and while her ipod sat in its dock, it sang to her and she hummed along.
When she’d finished, Thea wrapped a towel around her and stepped onto the plush, white rug at the sink as she smeared the fog from the mirror and stared back at her reflection. Her lashes were thick and dark, rimming her eyes with direct definition. Her cheekbones were high, like her mother’s and her hair was the same line of her fathers, flat yet hinting at a widow’s peak. The dark strands of her mane she couldn’t attribute to either father or mother, but assumed that her hair was dark because of a recessive gene on her father’s side. Her eyes were a brilliant green and looked far better now than they had in the tattered restroom of the parties she’d been at, hair amess and people getting it on in the stall behind her.
So much had changed from the small girl she’d been, from the good girl she’d been. Wouldn’t her father be upset that she’d turned down this path? Thea shoved the thought away and averted her eyes from the reflection and gathered her towel before heading to her room through the connecting door to pick an outfit, then she’d face her reflection to do her makeup. She barefooted across the thin carpet and opened the massive closet to flip through the hangars and find what she felt like presenting herself in.
Was he asking her to babysit? Felicity was okay with kids, but Thea was a different story. "Oliver, I don't think she needs a babysitter, but if you're worried I'll head over there asap." Sweat dripped onto her phone. She would head there after a quick shower. After about twenty minutes the blonde was ready to go. She packed cards, snacks, her tablet, her phone, and candy. There was no way to tell what she was dealing with. She had seen Thea before on the news, but there was no way to tell if she would actually get along with her. Felicity didn't understand what it was like to be a teen until college.
Oliver turned his head to look at the Golf Cart with the arrow in it and he just shook his head. Taking that to a Robbery? That would have been embarrassing. Or somewhat awesome. He could imagine the headlines now. Sinister plotters beaten by Golf Cart Rider. That'd be the day. No, there he picked up his padded gloves, and moved down the hallway where he nodded his head to one of the grounds keepers. "Could I get you to lay out those matts in the Front Lawn please... And make sure to wheel out the barbeque after they arrive." He stated as he reached into his blue sweat pant pocket and placed a folded note in the man's hand to which he nodded his head. There he walked down the hallways and moving towards the others. There he rubbed his chin thinking a bit, before he looked down to his gloves, and then nodded his head, Moving to the trophy room for a moment, and then walked back out as quickly as he came, a second set in hand as he walked outside to see the large blue matts having been laid out before them.
Thea stood in front of the mirror, she’d chosen her attire and now for the makeup. The dark blue jeans she’d chosen clung to her form like a second skin, the skinny jeans helping to elongate her legs a bit. Her top was a black undershirt with a deep v-neck green shirt over it. A golden chain necklace hung down to almost her sternum and matched the slight golden sheen of glitter she applied over her dark eyeshadow now. When she dabbed on a bit of darker lipstick, she slipped on a set of black flats and checked her hair in the mirror. Curled in long rivulets down her back, she nodded with acceptance to the look and made her way to Oliver’s room but found it empty.
Her eyes curiously took in the half-boxes that he was putting things away from and then looked out the balcony doors to find his figure walking across the lawn. Why was it he hadn’t even dressed nicer if he was going to meet up with a friend? Sweatpants and a t-shirt were hardly her idea of looking decent for going out. She rolled her eyes and made her way outside, frowning in confusion as the help set up the mats outside. She approached Oliver, “What….are they doing?”
Felicity parked herself about a half a block away from the house attempting to conceal her very janky-looking car. By janky she meant that there was no gloss and the car was bought more than five years ago. "Why did you agree to this? Oh yeah because Ollie could blackmail you and send you to prison for hacking. Nice going. Her heels clacked against the pavement as she walked. Felicity had to look presentable for the family. There was't any way to make her life comparable to the celebrity lifestyle, but she was glad Oliver could still manage to be a great friend.
Oliver turned his head to look towards Thea with a raised eyebrow as she approached and he waved out to her as she questioned on what they were doing. That made him look down to the squishy matts that they were laying out, and he removed his sandals and stepped ontop of one, shaking his head. "Hmm. I really can't say for certain. Could possibly be for the playtime of children. Could quite possibly, something for my own personal pleasure. Could possibly be that these are here to not only break my fall, but your fall." He stated poking her in the chest lightly before he looked towards the rest of the matts that were being locked into place, and there he looked towards his sister again, only to hear the clanking of heels down the drive way. Now that was different. Looking to Thea, he shrugged his shoulders to her. "Felicity. When I asked you to come, you could have come casual. There's not really a great big need to wear heels when you’re a friend of the family." He pointed out before he looked towards Thea, and saw that disapproving glint in her eye and he sighed, grabbing her arm and dragging her out and into the middle of the matt. "Dinah's running a bit late it seems. So, good news. You get to hit me instead... If I'll let you." He replied with a chuckle, staring her down with a raised eyebrow. "I'm sure you've both met at some point right? Felicity, we were to have a forth person, so that way we could have partners switching in and out. And Thea, The answer to that question that is undoubtedly running through your mind is No. it's not happening." He stated as he walked around and just stood there for a moment. "Well?"
That'd been a fun day. Running a hand over top of his short kept hair, he turned and moved to some of the more recent additions to his personal room. The ancient samurai armor complete with Katana and glaive hidden within a glass case. Another marker and reminder to himself.
The roar of the dark emerald porche echoed as she entered the massive garage. She loved the color of this car, so dark it could be black, yet it sparkled green under the lighting. The overhead lights beamed as she passed under them and slid the car into place and killed the engine. It purred like a mountain lion and growled like the beast as well, such a beautiful sound revving it up in Star City at the red light just to attract attention. Thea climbed out and her heels clicked on the concrete before she entered the house and the sound was that of heels on wood and rugs. She made her way up the steps and noted that the television wasn’t on the news with its usual droan. Having Mother gone had made the place certainly feel different, but Thea wouldn’t admit that she might have missed her. Her mother was known for killing hundreds in the earthquake…it sort of left a gap in her heart that she didn’t bother to fill. Her mother was a murderer and a politician, nothing could make that stain worse.
Thea rounded the wooden banister and climbed the four steps that ascended to the second floor and heard something shuffling down the hall. Oliver. She hadn’t hardly spoken to him much since he’d been back, because to her, he’d left her and abandoned her. She couldn’t help but imagine he’d been sipping martinis and lounging on a chair on that island he’d been on for so long. He’d abandoned her just like their father with him. Now, he wasn’t even the same person when he’d returned? He wasn’t the same older brother she remembered adoring as a child. The one that sat with her on her bed during a storm and read her stories, the one that played hide and seek in the huge house they grew up in. He wasn’t the one that made her peanut butter sandwiches and only put jelly on them just like she liked without telling Mom and Dad. No, he didn’t exist anymore. Instead, she rounded the corner to watch the man who’d seemingly replaced him move back into his room silently. No music. No tv. Who the hell was this guy?
She crossed her arms and leaned on the doorway, “What the hell is that?” She asked, gesturing to the armor piece. “Looks like it should be a prop for a crappy fighting movie. Why would you want that in your room?” her voice was snide, full of temperament and attitude. She was a far cry from the sweet, gentle little girl who was naïve to the world around her. No, she drank, she did drugs, she sped, she didn’t tell anyone where she was at five in the morning. She was an adult doing whatever the hell she pleased. He’d learn that he wasn’t the only one that changed. And in her eyes, he was the reason she’d had to.
Oliver had heard the porche moving down the lanes and had actually managed to smirk as he moved towards the small coffee maker that he had within the portion of the room that he had sealed off as a peice of his study and went to work. By the time she pulled up and into the driveway, the thing was already brewing, compliments of a two litre bottle of water that he kept on hand and some Jamacian blend that he had mail ordered through a friend of a friend. It was then that he poured himself a cup and then heard the rushed footsteps down the hall. ~Heh. Have just enough time it seems.~ He thought to himself as he poured another cup and then added two sugars and a small bit of powdered creamer within, before he approached the door and watched as she opened it offering the cup to her with a raised eyebrow. "Seriously? I don't see you for the weekend and half the week and that's your first question? The supposedly cheap tacky rip off of Japanese Culture?"
He questioned, the tone a bit of feigned insult, but the joke had been there and the smile to confirm it. "Here. You need this." He stated simply before he looked to the armor and weapons and he just chuckled lightly. "Would you beleive me that this reminds me of a woman I met back in the day? Traditional in every sense of the word, Honorable, Had a stick up her ass the size of a elephants trunk and hated my guts right from the get go?" He questioned as he reached out to a t-shirt and slipped it on. A blue one that said 'Save the world! It's the only one with Beer!!!' A sound concept and given his party life, it was still valid. Nevertheless though, he turned his head to look towards her with a raised eyebrow. "So Haven't been around much, Speedy. Getting to old to be seen with your brother? Bit big for the Fair grounds now? Cause I remember that awful teddy bear that I had to bribe a guy five hundred dollars for to get."
Thea’s lips pressed thin. She wasn’t fooled, it was like he started to act like the old Ollie, but there was just something amiss. It was like going to Disney World and seeing Mickey Mouse…but something was slightly amiss from the Mickey you knew from the tv. She dropped her arms and headed to the end of his bed and plopped down onto it, swinging her feet slightly, ankles crossed. She was still in the dress she’d worn to the last party she’d been at, a sage green slip dress with glitter splattered from the party all over it’s beautiful material. Her legs clad in dark hosiery and feet in the sleek heels knicked up by the wild wear she’d given them. Her hair needed to be redone, its long girls looking slightly disheveled and her makeup was done, but it was from a tired version of herself in the morning.
Thea accepted the coffee but shot him a look of death, “Don’t call me that.” She said, referring to his nickname for it. She couldn’t even remember when he’d started it up, but since he’d been back, she treated it as though he weren’t the same brother before, so he didn’t get the satisfaction in pretending he was. She sipped the coffee and noted it was a hell of a lot better than the crap Mom had always drank in the morning that smelled like burnt grounds. She listened to his jab and joke, her lips actually starting to pull up in a smirk before she caught herself. No, she was still angry with him, she still distrusted him. This wasn’t the brother from before, he couldn’t just hop in and pretend and she’d play along, he hadn’t earned it and he would learn that from her.
“Yeah,” her dry humor chilled her tone. “And after you got me the bear, you told me to stay near the strawberry spinners and ran off with some redhead. And when the fair shut down and everyone had left, you’d forgotten me and had to drive back to pick me up.” Her green eyes were flat and not amused. “Good thing there was room for me and the bear in the back seat so you and she could make out up front while you sped home and begged me not to tell Mom and Dad.” Yeah, she remembered the same things…but he seemed to pick out the parts that might make him look good. Sorry, bro, not going to happen.
Oliver saw the smirk and the hateful earned gaze that he'd so rightfully earned there in her eyes, and he closed his own while sipping his coffee lightly. "In the case of the armor, beleive what you wish to." He commented as he reached to the folder that he had yet to put away, and provided her the letters of authenticity, the carbon dating reports, and the historical data of the era that the armor was put in. "It's the truth." he commented simply as he sipped his coffee again and moved forwards to the coffee maker, before he thought of something, turning and regarding her with a raised eyebrow. "You know. that's probably the first time you ever brought that up. I was actually surprised you remembered.... Wait a redhead?" He questioned, as he actually furrowed his eyes, tilted his head up and stared up at the roof for a moment, thinking. And then it clicked and he shook his head lightly snorting. "That's right. I met her before Tommy's party, and then it was the one that broke my jaw.."
He thought outloud to himself before he shook his head adn then looked towards Thea again, that grin returning. "Course though, when that thing got a rip in it, who was it that insisted we play doctor while I had a hangover and never once complained after that cup of coffee at two in the morning?" He questioned before he waved it off, refilled their cups. "You got alot of anger for me. There's no doubt about it. Actually, I think Doctor Phil could write a book about the Queen's and make a fortune. We're certainly a lively bunch... There's a person I want you to meet. And before you jump to the wrong conclusions and think your an aunt. Don't. Your not. I had to have my arm dislocated to get her number. But maybe it might be something you might want to do, or something that you might want to try at least. I don't know. "
Thea opened the folder and skimmed through the authenticity files. She shrugged, “Still doesn’t mean I believe it gives you some fond memory of some woman.” She set the folder on the bed next to her and sipped the coffee again. “You remember things by the woman you were with, but you’re not James Bond.” His memory of the after math of that girl had her eyes soften some. He was right, she’d spent hours on his bed with toilet paper and trying to paper machete his jaw piece as though it were a cast. She’s used her plastic doctor kit and taken to checking his heartbeat and knocking on his knees and elbows to get a reaction out of him. But her eyes hardened again when he admitted she’d had a lot of anger for him.
Damn straight she had anger for him, he’d abandoned her and ruined everything. He’d run off with some girl and pretended to be dead for years, then just showed up and acted like a whole different person. He’d left her with Mom, without Dad or him to referee and without anyone else in her life but that two-faced woman. He had no idea what happened while he was gone and he’d never understand. Part of her wanted him to just go get drunk and find women to bury himself into because at least he wasn’t pretending to try and be friends with her when he hadn’t earned it.
He mentioned the girl he wanted her to meet and she rolled her eyes as she shook her head. “Same old Ollie, am I the softener for the date then? ‘Hey, this is my little sister, look, I’m such a sweet big brother.’ Then you run off with her and give me money to go to the arcade alone?” She scoffed and stood from the bed, setting the coffee mug on the small table. “I’m not a decoration for you to use to get women.” She headed for the door, “And I hope she dislocates both arms,” Thea leaned against the door frame. “Maybe then you’d have the pity of a real nurse to play doctor with.”
Oliver raised an eyebrow to her and her outburst and then actually laughed, tilting his head back. Oh he didn't feel it truly, no it was true that those were wounds that would never ever really heal. " That temper of yours sure can jump the gun. That wasn't actually why I called her." He commented with a shrug of the shoulder. "You ready for some history? I'll tell you a peice of me that I swore that I'd not tell anyone else." He commented as he sipped his coffee gently once more. "You remember that time that I stole the Taxi? That'd been awesome. A really good time, and probably one of the few I told you the truth about. Yeah, turns out we ended up on a yacht and the police came and shut us down. Me and my date, we got out, and out to the street. And then the cops took off after her instead of me. Not out of any sort of decision, just a random direction. So I stole a Taxi, back it up into one of the police cars and started to laugh... Maybe that's why they were so pissed off with me...
Eh, thoughts for later." He commented with a chuckle as he nestled his butt on the edge of his desk and sipped his coffee. And then he looked towards her disbelieving face and raised his hand up. "Before you ask. I owed her one, and lets leave it at that." He commented as he sipped his coffee again, and then gestured to the chair once more. "You've gotten good at putting words in my mouth when you haven't heard the whole thing. It's not someone I want you to meet because of that. That was a whole different life. No. She actually works as a martial arts instructor now, and she's several degrees in... well... Aggressive Physiatrist Therapy I believe she worded it. The sort where you learn to give yourself a positive outlet." He stated to her sipping his coffee lightly. Before his computer came to life and showed him a shipping invoice of another set that he had ordered and he nodded his head. And then he turned the laptop away again.
"I know you don't like me and I know we've both changed... I'm not the role model you aught'a have. And there will always be questions, maybe one day, I'll tell you every answer that you want. But... I'm trying."
Thea crossed her arms and seemed to put off leaving his room to go to her own for now. Leaning her back to the door frame, she lofted a brow at him. She listened to what he said and while part of her took it in, the rest of her was distrusting and disbelieiving. She had no reason to trust him anymore and finding the will to give him a chance again was more than a weak effort. But what else did she have planned for the day? She was dirty and needed a nice, hot shower…but what really did she have to do?
His sister rolled her eyes, “Right, so she beats people up and calls it therapy, you’ve officially attracted a different level of bimbo from the usual drunk skanks.” Boy, she didn’t miss the smell of alcohol as women gripped her brother on both arms and clanked their unsteady heels through the house giggling loudly. Their dresses too revealing and their eyes wide with wonder as they spent their first few sights in the humoungous house that was the Queen Manor. But she saw the look in Oliver’s eyes, the steady one that seemed honest.
She sighed, “I need a shower. I’ll get dressed, then I’ll be ready.” She bent down to slip off her heels and hook two fingers in the black straps so that they hung from her hand as she stood at her real height, much smaller than her older brother. She hung that hand out and pointed a finger at him. “But if I wind up being a third wheel so you can get hooked up, I’ll make sure your ninja armor gets shown my anger.” Her threat was real and she turned to go take her shower and get ready, her lack of presence leaving behind the lingering scent of her perfume she’d used to cover alcohol and drugs from the parties she’d been to for that week she’d been gone.
Oliver actually choked on his coffee with a laugh and watched as it smeared the window on his wall. A pretty good distance, considering that the wall was on the other side of the room. And there he just slammed his cup down and swore, rubbing his nose. "SONOFA---! You Did that on purpose Thea!" He shouted shaking his head, before he reached out and grabbed his handkerchief and started to dab his nose. "She isn't like any Bimbo really. Considering that she's going to teach you how to hit people, damn it! You can as her for her damn PHD's and her martial arts belts as a damned reference... And you can ask for that Youtube Video she has of her putting me to the church floor. THAT BLOODY BURNED!" He swore once more, while removing the tears of pain from his eyes. A bullet he could handle, a sword through the chest? Eh, no problem. He could live through that again. But hot coffee through the nose? Not happening on a dare! When he could actually just shake his head lightly, he twitched his lips clearing it all out, before blowing his nose and sighing. "Okay. That one I deserve. You might like Dinah. You might not. But if you chip a fingernail, she's the last person that's going to give you sympathy. AND LEAVE THE DAMNED ARMOR ALONE!" He stated shaking his fist at her retreating form, before he took a seat at his desk and sighed as he began to rub the temples on the side of his head, looking to the Facebook messages and twitter tweets that had been posted about her and by her. Yeah. He was going to need to make a call eventually. Maybe this was the right one. It was then he reached out and touched the cellphone. "Felicity. Might need a hand over here soon." He texted. Him? Actually voluntarily asking for help? That had had to have been a first for her eyes.
In the middle of her Lesson 1 Kickboxing tape the phone began to buzz. Felicity took a towel after quickly sprinting to the table. She was desperate to skip her tape today. Oliver? What could he have that was so text-worthy? "Wouldn't be the first time you asked me for a hand." She sent the text immediately regretting her decision. "I mean, what do you need help with? That was what I meant to say." Her conscious was weighing on her shoulders for that mistake. Dear lord, it was bad enough that she couldn't formulate the right words. Although Oliver was not the type of person to give too much of a rat's ass for her phrasing. Anyone else would have thought different.
Oliver nodded his head as he peered down to the cellphone and typed a series of keys. 'Thea's been out and about. There's postings on it all over the internet. She's still on probation from last year... Did you want to come over and handle it while I keep her distracted?' he texted while pouring himself another cup of coffee. It was then he sent the message and then deleted it from his phone. There was no need for Thea to find out that he was worried about her like this and was taking measures to ensure that she didn't end up with a matching set of the ugly blue Pajama's. There he sipped his coffee a bit, and then looked towards the armor once more. Standing up, he walked towards another item that he had sent for. It was a traditional Japanese long bow. Taller than he was and the sort that had a decent amount of range for anything that came out of that era. There he pulled out one of the arrows, notched it, walked outside to his balcony, pulled back and let it sore, the thing notching into the golf carts tire. The same one that he had modifications made to so that way he could break the speed limit on it. When he heard the pop he just bowed his head and swore. "Fuck." He mumbled as he flipped the bow in his hand and moved towards the wall looking to hang the thing on the wall where he kept the other weapons.
The bathroom filled with the hot steam, making the room humid and aiding in clearing her pores. The shower was hot and relaxing and so needed. Her long time spent out had made her tired and wore her muscles out without her realizing it. She washed away the makeup she’d had to reapply over and over, waking up in different places with raccoon eyes. She washed the glitter and dust from her hair and the smells of people and drugs and alcohol from her skin. It was just what she needed and while her ipod sat in its dock, it sang to her and she hummed along.
When she’d finished, Thea wrapped a towel around her and stepped onto the plush, white rug at the sink as she smeared the fog from the mirror and stared back at her reflection. Her lashes were thick and dark, rimming her eyes with direct definition. Her cheekbones were high, like her mother’s and her hair was the same line of her fathers, flat yet hinting at a widow’s peak. The dark strands of her mane she couldn’t attribute to either father or mother, but assumed that her hair was dark because of a recessive gene on her father’s side. Her eyes were a brilliant green and looked far better now than they had in the tattered restroom of the parties she’d been at, hair amess and people getting it on in the stall behind her.
So much had changed from the small girl she’d been, from the good girl she’d been. Wouldn’t her father be upset that she’d turned down this path? Thea shoved the thought away and averted her eyes from the reflection and gathered her towel before heading to her room through the connecting door to pick an outfit, then she’d face her reflection to do her makeup. She barefooted across the thin carpet and opened the massive closet to flip through the hangars and find what she felt like presenting herself in.
Was he asking her to babysit? Felicity was okay with kids, but Thea was a different story. "Oliver, I don't think she needs a babysitter, but if you're worried I'll head over there asap." Sweat dripped onto her phone. She would head there after a quick shower. After about twenty minutes the blonde was ready to go. She packed cards, snacks, her tablet, her phone, and candy. There was no way to tell what she was dealing with. She had seen Thea before on the news, but there was no way to tell if she would actually get along with her. Felicity didn't understand what it was like to be a teen until college.
Oliver turned his head to look at the Golf Cart with the arrow in it and he just shook his head. Taking that to a Robbery? That would have been embarrassing. Or somewhat awesome. He could imagine the headlines now. Sinister plotters beaten by Golf Cart Rider. That'd be the day. No, there he picked up his padded gloves, and moved down the hallway where he nodded his head to one of the grounds keepers. "Could I get you to lay out those matts in the Front Lawn please... And make sure to wheel out the barbeque after they arrive." He stated as he reached into his blue sweat pant pocket and placed a folded note in the man's hand to which he nodded his head. There he walked down the hallways and moving towards the others. There he rubbed his chin thinking a bit, before he looked down to his gloves, and then nodded his head, Moving to the trophy room for a moment, and then walked back out as quickly as he came, a second set in hand as he walked outside to see the large blue matts having been laid out before them.
Thea stood in front of the mirror, she’d chosen her attire and now for the makeup. The dark blue jeans she’d chosen clung to her form like a second skin, the skinny jeans helping to elongate her legs a bit. Her top was a black undershirt with a deep v-neck green shirt over it. A golden chain necklace hung down to almost her sternum and matched the slight golden sheen of glitter she applied over her dark eyeshadow now. When she dabbed on a bit of darker lipstick, she slipped on a set of black flats and checked her hair in the mirror. Curled in long rivulets down her back, she nodded with acceptance to the look and made her way to Oliver’s room but found it empty.
Her eyes curiously took in the half-boxes that he was putting things away from and then looked out the balcony doors to find his figure walking across the lawn. Why was it he hadn’t even dressed nicer if he was going to meet up with a friend? Sweatpants and a t-shirt were hardly her idea of looking decent for going out. She rolled her eyes and made her way outside, frowning in confusion as the help set up the mats outside. She approached Oliver, “What….are they doing?”
Felicity parked herself about a half a block away from the house attempting to conceal her very janky-looking car. By janky she meant that there was no gloss and the car was bought more than five years ago. "Why did you agree to this? Oh yeah because Ollie could blackmail you and send you to prison for hacking. Nice going. Her heels clacked against the pavement as she walked. Felicity had to look presentable for the family. There was't any way to make her life comparable to the celebrity lifestyle, but she was glad Oliver could still manage to be a great friend.
Oliver turned his head to look towards Thea with a raised eyebrow as she approached and he waved out to her as she questioned on what they were doing. That made him look down to the squishy matts that they were laying out, and he removed his sandals and stepped ontop of one, shaking his head. "Hmm. I really can't say for certain. Could possibly be for the playtime of children. Could quite possibly, something for my own personal pleasure. Could possibly be that these are here to not only break my fall, but your fall." He stated poking her in the chest lightly before he looked towards the rest of the matts that were being locked into place, and there he looked towards his sister again, only to hear the clanking of heels down the drive way. Now that was different. Looking to Thea, he shrugged his shoulders to her. "Felicity. When I asked you to come, you could have come casual. There's not really a great big need to wear heels when you’re a friend of the family." He pointed out before he looked towards Thea, and saw that disapproving glint in her eye and he sighed, grabbing her arm and dragging her out and into the middle of the matt. "Dinah's running a bit late it seems. So, good news. You get to hit me instead... If I'll let you." He replied with a chuckle, staring her down with a raised eyebrow. "I'm sure you've both met at some point right? Felicity, we were to have a forth person, so that way we could have partners switching in and out. And Thea, The answer to that question that is undoubtedly running through your mind is No. it's not happening." He stated as he walked around and just stood there for a moment. "Well?"
