1557/Is New York all you imagined

Is New York all you imagined
Date of Scene:	07 May 2020
Location:	Queen Mansion
Synopsis:	Thea recruits Oliver's help in investigating a warehouse with potential to be her new club. Because nothing is ever simple it may be the base of operations of a human trafficking ring.
Cast of Characters:	Oliver Queen, Thea Queen

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Oliver Queen has posed:
Now that Yu Phun has been taken care of there's been some measure of peace returning to the Queen Mansion. Means there aren't the armed guards at the entrance, or all the heightened security measures of before. Of course that when one speaks of 'peace' and Queen family in the same sentence that's always a rather relative thing, specially considering their night activities.

And who knew that those traffickers of last night had flashbangs? It meant he had taken a solid blow to a shoulder which had left him on a sour mood the next morning. Workout and then a good breakfast were helping but he had also been apprised on how late his sister had returned home last night. Which only brought only more questions.

Of course that he had positioned himself between breakfast and Thea, waiting patiently until she was up and ready to come downstairs. Very casual though. He was here just for breakfast, yes?

Thea Queen has posed:
Look, on a normal day, it's a miracle and a half that Thea actually gets out of bed before noon. And now? Well, there's work to be done that has to be accomplished before night fall, so...

It's a bedraggled bird that doesn't look like it's anywhere near getting a worm. Or ham.

Dragging herself down the large staircase, Thea makes the turn to head into the kitchen, head down, footfalls heavy and tired. She even makes the grand attempt to grunt at the identified roadblock and move past towards the coffee. It's.. a no passing zone?

"You're in the way." A statement, a complaint. "Don't you have somewhere else to block? Like.. over there. I don't want the roast beef. Just coffee."

Oliver Queen has posed:
Well, amazing. Oliver wasn't sure whether there would be a Thea around or not. Wishful thinking, perhaps?

Still, he had some coffee already brewing, which was mostly for him but he had made enough for more just in case he got company. He watches the approach but then, as every mobile road block he takes a step aside. "The grunt makes me see it's a serious case of lack of coffee. Good thing I have that taken care of by now." he tells her.

"But what makes me curious right now is you waking up at this hour. You only do so when you have something on your mind to get done." He says, walking towards the kitchen.

Thea Queen has posed:
Coffee.

Thea-zombie crosses the distance only to stop and stare longingly at the burbling pot as it brews the liquid life into the carafe. Nope.. no sign of a hangover from post-revels, no shaky walk that might hint that she was coming down from some high. Just.. sleepy Thea with mussy hair.

She looks directly at her brother and mutters, looking away, "You are way too awake." She pauses, reaching for the coffee mugs, ready and willing to hit that 'impatient button' that comes with coffee pots now, "Maybe I have a hair appointment I made?" Thea turns to rest her back against the counter, her sleepy-face mixed with bemusement. "You know, it's against the Geneva Convention to interrogate someone before coffee." Beat. "Besides," she waves the still empty mug in Ollie's direction, "I found two good spots. One, empty. The second, well.. it's inhabited, but it'd only benefit the area if they were evicted."

Oliver Queen has posed:
"I am always awake." Translation: Oliver he is always watching! Like a Hawk or something..., the Green Hawk, maybe that should had been his name.. He watches the mugs being taken and prepared, turning to focus on getting the coffee done. Yep, almost. Just a minute more. "Well, you need it." he says of that mussy hair, lifting a brow. "But the Thea I knows never gets an hair appointment before noon." creatures of habit!

"So you are either a clone or ...." And then the coffee is just about ready. He takes his mug and starts pouring coffee on it. A pause to wait for Thea to stop waving her mug and then pours some too. Hopefully it stays steady!

"Two spots for the club?" He mmms, thoughtful, focusing his eyes on Thea. "Tell me about this second spot." no judgement on his tone, yet.

Thea Queen has posed:
"Is that why no one has asked me out since you got back?" Thea's mug stops gesturing with her mug long enough for Oliver to pour the life-giving liquid. "Thanks," is murmured automatically.

Once gained, Thea leans against the counter once more, empty arm wrapping about her own midsection while using it to rest the coffee arm atop. Slow, tentative sips are taken before she smirks.

"Pod people. That's right. Invasion of the Body Snatchers. I'm not responsible enough to be a clone. I think it'd have a breakdown if it had to imitate me enough to pass. It'd give up.

"Toast. I think, toast."

Thea smiles tightly at the 'you need it', comment, muttering, "You need to fix your face." Just like a little sister! "But, the //first// spot, I checked out with this messenger kid named Kyani." 'Kid' is about her age! "Empty, two second floor loft sections."

She's only avoiding mentioning the second to annoy Ollie, but eventually she gets there.

The second place, well, I sorta let myself in. Turned out someone followed me in, but that was sorta okay. But, it was Bratva, which I kinda knew because I wanted to keep tracking back on the drugs from the other night.." Coffee. Thea takes a slightly longer swallow before continuing, "The guy that followed me in, his name was Logan, he was looking for their place in human trafficking." That last bit is dropped there. Thea considers her mug for a long moment before looking up again, "Is that seriously going on here?"

Oliver Queen has posed:
"They never get past the backyard. And I have Diggle helping out when I am resting my eyes." Resting eyes, not sleeping, mind you. But Oliver seems good-natured enough about it. He finishes pouring the coffee and tends to his own mug, holding it up to his lips. No sugar or other such things. Just straight black as it should be. For him at least!

"I try to fix it nightly, but they always miss for some reason." Good thing he doesn't face more people that are like Flash or someone just as fast. Those most likely wouldn't miss! But then he sets on listening, brows furrowed, thoughtful.

If there's an attempt to annoy him it doesn't register on his face, the epitome of patience this one. So he listens on, brow starting to arch at the mention of Bratva. "I haven't heard of recent activity here." this related to human trafficking. "But I am not naive enough to believe they are gone. But you were where? New York?"

Thea Queen has posed:
Thea makes a *tsk* sound, followed by an "I knew it. I knew he couldn't be trusted." Dammit. Nothing worse than having //both// of them watching!

"Starling City. And, Logan? He's.. different. Like, steel claws coming out of his hands different. He sliced open the safe in the office like it was butter. "I.. I have the papers from there, but I was looking for drug information, not trafficking." She exhales in a sigh, "He said he didn't find anything, but maybe he wasn't looking in the right place? I mean, he followed me in." She chuckles, "Pretty desperate, huh."

Oliver Queen has posed:
Human trafficking in Starling? That makes Oliver's expression turn to a deep frown, clearly unable to contain the rising fury. But then he speaks through gritted teeth, "Maybe we should take a look down there soon." soon most likely means tonight. "Even if it's -only- drugs, we will have to check it out. With Yu Phun being taken away there is a void left in the city related to drugs, so it may be another group trying to rear up their heads and claim a stake here. They will find out soon why they should stay out of this city."

The mention of Logan makes Oliver consider the man's description. "Doesn't ring a bell, but do you think you can trust that guy?"

Thea Queen has posed:
"He was pretty set on that trafficking thing. East European women, but.. I dunno. You know how you get a feeling that someone isn't being totally honest with you?" Thea looks at Ollie and smirks, "Of course not."

"But, he was there to send a message, too. Trashed the office. Not what I would have done, personally." Thea takes a swallow of the cooling coffee, and looks at her brother. Her words come a little slower, and a lopsided shrug lifts a shoulder.

"As for trusting him? Heck, I don't trust Diggle right now." She's //kidding//, and continues. "He thinks I'm cute. Apparently he really doesn't know me. But, if I go to him? He might accept some help and not stab me in the back."

Oliver Queen has posed:
"Maybe his motives there were due to something else but .., did you find any evidence of drug trafficking or anything else?" Oliver then asks, is gaze continuing to scrutinize Thea while he takes a long drink out of his coffee. Yep, it's a good one to wake up.. "Because it could had simply be that man being there on a revenge rampage and just thrashing it for his own reasons." Oliver, always thinking the worse out of people. Specially about those that think his sister is cute.

"If you want to reach out to him, sure, we can try to figure out what he knows and go from there. I assume you met him as Speedy, right?" she asks, looking his sister up and down slowly. "And not as Thea Queen."

Thea Queen has posed:
"I have the papers from the place," Thea offers. "And, um.. when I came home, I crashed. So, I was gonna look at them today. But, if you want to?" She shakes her head and bites at her bottom lip before setting her mug behind her. "I don't think it was some alpha male thing trying to impress me. He really was upset about it."

Here, though, Thea looks away, her expression reddening a touch. "Uh.. no. It was stupid ol' me. So, depending on how bad they want me or want to not alert the police. And honestly, it was probably better that it was just me and not Speedy."

Pushing off the counter, Thea grabs her mug and looks ready to start her day, though not without refilling her mug. "I can do a search and see if I can't find where he is. I'll put his description in, do a search, and who knows what I'll find?"

Oliver Queen has posed:
Oliver listens then, and again no judgement there. He is trying ok? Watching Thea as she speaks about what happened. Not that he can hide a brief grimace when she reveals having been there as Thea. But that can't be helped now. Though he also comes to a decision. "Think of this as your own investigation." he says, ".. maybe it will help you understand whether you want to return to this life or not. And besides, this is your search for the club, right? I will not interfere until you want me to."

"Since I know you wanted to make this your project, not to have me hovering about all the time. That search is a good start though." At least that much he advises her!

Thea Queen has posed:
"Yeah, yeah.. I know.." Thea waves her head and bobs her head, "Dumb. But at least I can learn from it." She's still alive, right?

When Oliver says he's going to stand back from it, Thea's eyes widen a little and her head starts shaking, "Uh.. Ollie, no. I mean, it's great and all, but if this is going to be my project..?" She has to give this some serious consideration, with all its ramifications. She chews on her lower lip again, and asks tentatively, "I can get your help? I mean, this isn't what I wanted. I sorta wanted to do this with you. You know, like a family affair? You? Me?" And having Vanessa along for the ride?

Oliver Queen has posed:
Now that his coffee mug is finally drained Ollie sets it aside on the counter, his broad arms folding together and about his chest, gaze on Thea, lips pressed to a neutral line, "You can always count on my help." he says in a reassuring manner. "But I won't step and lead on what is supposed to be your own project. But very well, we can make it a family business type of investigation." a smirk cropping up to his expression.

"Maybe I just wanted to hear you say you wanted my help." How devious! But that's Oliver...

Thea Queen has posed:
There it is, that reassuring tone that he uses to actually lull her into that 'everything will be okay' feeling, and then *wham*. Thea stares at her brother for a long moment before reaching out to swat at him, at his arm.

"You're such a jerk. But," Thea smiles and laughs softly, "You're my jerk, my big brother." Taking a step forward, she reaches out to give Ollie a hug. "I don't want to do this without you. There. I said it."

Soon after, she has to go.. "I need to figure out who this Logan guy is, and look at those papers. Then, maybe suit up and see if I can't do a hostile takeover of that warehouse. It's got potential."