180/So April, You'll Never Guess Where I've Been

So April, You'll Never Guess Where I've Been
Date of Scene:	28 February 2020
Location:	Queen Mansion
Synopsis:	April comes to Starling City and Vanessa introduces her to Oliver Queen
Cast of Characters:	Vanessa Carlysle, April O'Neil, Oliver Queen

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Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
The text from April about Harley being there had gotten cautious replies from Vanessa. Clearly she was considering that Harley might read any reply she sent.

>Oh great. She's just a dear. I know how fond you always are of her when she comes up. I'm sorry I haven't gotten to talk in awhile. I can't seem to reach the four other friends either though I will keep trying.

The Turtles never did show up to save April, so apparently Vanessa didn't get through to them. Though eventually the two women were able to text in safety. Vanessa filled April in briefly. That she was in danger and had to leave the city. Staying with someone out of town. Would she want to come and she could get away for a little while as well?

Eventually, things would lead April to a rather large estate and mansion on the edge of Starling City. The Queen Mansion. As in Oliver Queen of Queen Consolidated. Just what did Vanessa get herself in to!?

April O'Neil has posed:
Harley had turned herself in to Wonder Woman yesterday and April had seen it happening on the news from her apartment in Brooklyn. Now April is left with two fairly terrifying Hyenas that are very curiously wondering where their quirky mother had vanished to. Its not ideal for the young reporter to take a trip, but at least the hyperloops are stupid fast modern technology.

The uber with April pulls up outside and lets the reporter out, she has a simple backpack on over her shoulders and her yellow leather jacket is zipped up to her mid chest with a black scarf wrapped around her neck and dark blue jeans on her lower half tucked into simple black boots. She thanks the driver and then starts up toward this giant house...

"Good god." April mutters, her thumbs hooking into the straps of her backpack and her dark auburn hair blowing gently in the winter chilly winds whilst she walks toward the home. "If this is gonna turn into a murder mystery, then I'm totally checking out of life for a while." She also mutters, as she grew up mostly an Only Child and those like to talk to themselves!

April pulls her phone up and texts to Vanessa <I'm here. Outside of your fine manor, malady.> because who needs door bells!

Oliver Queen has posed:
Queen Mansion can indeed seem a bit imposing. Specially if one considers the armed guards outside. More than would be the norm for such a fine neighborhood! Someone must be worried ...

Oliver has been busy enough himself after they returned and settled at the mansion, sometimes even spending quite a long time MIA. Admittedly, it often happens during the night as well.. Must be one of those night creatures.

But he was curious when Vanessa mentioned a friend, asking. "One of your friends then? Who exactly is it?" then his expression screwing up a little while he considers. "I could always cook lunch ..." rich billionaires knowing how to cook...? Doubtful. But at least he dressed up to the occasion, which means he ditched the boring gray suits he normally wears, just jeans, casual shirt, sleeves rolled up and he has been preparing lunch. At least it's smelling great so far.

Outside the guards look at April through squinted gazes but they don't approach. She seems harmless, apparently!

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
Vanessa had told Oliver, "Her name is April O'Neill. She's an up and coming reporter. We met awhile back and she let me crash at her place during the summer for awhile when my AC was out. And, well, she's been about as good of a friend as I've had in New York." She moves over to Oliver, reaching around from behind him to hug him with a hand on his chest. "And if you wanted to cook, that would be wonderful," she tells him.

Vanessa is herself wearing a pair of blue jeans and a nice blouse. Though she hasn't had a chance to meet Oliver's mother or sister yet, she's staying prepared for it, wanting to put her best foot forward.

Her phone chimes and Vanessa checks it. "She's here!" she say excitedly, moving over to kiss Oliver's cheek and then hurrying over to the door and going outside. "This is my friend April," Vanessa tells the guards as she hurries over, throwing her arms around April. "Oh god, I'm so glad you're safe. I didn't see your message for awhile and even then, if I had come over it was likely to be tailed by a couple of thugs looking to make trouble. Are you ok?"

April O'Neil has posed:
April pauses when she gets close enough to be within a comfortable conversational distance with the guards. She smiles at them. "Hi, fellas..." She says as though she's talking to guards she's spoken to a million times over--which is entirely due to the fact that she's had quite a bit of experience talking to security guards, be it through her snooping around places or just being a Reporter now and having to deal with them. "This looks like a nice quiet gig, yeah? Sure beast working a a Bieber concert, am I right?" She cracks a lot of corny jokes, its part of her thing!

When Vanessa appears and moves to hug her, April lights up and raises her arms up to wrap them around her friend. "Heeey!" She exclaims happily before they pull back from each other and a huuuuuge smirk crosses her lips followed by a heavy exhale. "The guys are watching Harley's hyenas. And yes, Harley has two hyenas that she left at my place. Now they're guarding the Guys' place." And by Guys, April means the four ninja mutant teenage turtles that live in an abandoned station under Brooklyn.

"I didn't want to call the cops on Harley Quinn, I'm afraid she'd turn and label me a enemy. And as much as she gets away from the damn cops? Screw that, I'm not being brought into a dangerous scenario because the Gotham City PD are too inept at their jobs to keep her in-check. Plus... hell, I kind of feel bad for her too." Another heavy sigh.

April nods to the mansion. "Did you marry a rich old guy and are waiting for him to die to take over all of his stuff, and not /tell/ me about it?"

Oliver Queen has posed:
Oliver isn't the type to skip news related to heroes..., but more particularly the ones related to villains. And Harley fits that bill. Twice! Since it seems she wants to be the antihero type now. So April's name is recognized. "I have heard that name..." a furrow of her brows. "Wasn't she the one who interviewed Harley..?" that makes him go check those news again while he does the cooking. At least he has some multitasking skills too.

Oliver's family hasn't been around much, if at all. The sister busy with university while the mother is out in business. Not that Oliver has skipped telling them, which has also lead to loooong talks on the phone. As if they are afraid of his reputation and choices. They often forget he is not the same playboy of before. Which often leads to some frustration out of him.

But when Vanessa announces that April has arrived he goes out to greet her as well, slower of course.

One of the guards just lifts a brow at April, all professional, but the other quirks a bit of a smile. "You have no idea. It's a killer to the feet though." but then the other guard gives him a -look- to shut him up.

Oliver comes out just to hear that last part. Old. That hurts. But it also makes him a touch amused. "Not sure about the rich part." he offers to the conversation, a faint grin set on his expression.

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
Vanessa squeezes April tight, letting out some of the fear that she'd had about the other woman being hurt. Even if she's known since that April made it out ok? Seeing and feeling in confirmation, and the rest of that nervous energy is released into the hug.

Vanessa lets go, reaching to help take a bag if allowed, and says, "Hyenas? Wow. Glad I wasn't there for it, though, wish I'd been able to, at least to support you." Vanessa looks up the steps as Oliver is coming out. Her face lights up in a way that to the reporter will probably say all that needs to be said about Vanessa's feelings about Oliver.

"April O'Neill, Oliver Queen," she introduces. Vanessa adds in a stage whisper to April, "YOU get to know his last name right away. I had to wait like a week or two to find it out." Vanessa peers at Oliver while she says it, though her eyes are full of warmth just the same.

Vanessa starts walking April over to the house and to meet Oliver. "So, short version? Oliver and I met at a diner. That one with the blueberry pie. I was working, and the Green Arrow raided this guy's place. He is apparently a drug smuggler. And I got framed when the police arrived. Well, Oliver found out, and he paid an attorney to represent me. I agreed to testify. And the dirtbag sent a couple of goons to my place to persuade me otherwise. Oliver showed up and... and brought me back here. He's kind of been my knight in shining armor," she says, eyes shining over at the man about ten years older than she. Though so ruggedly built, he carries his years well.

April O'Neil has posed:
Between what Vanessa tells her and the arrival of Oliver allowing April to see the man in question, she realizes he like heard some of what she'd said and he confirms it with a little comment that makes her grin at him. "Well, if you saved my friend's butt then consider me a friend in-turn. And no, you're not what I was picturing. I was picturing more... Sir Patrick Stewart, less... one of the guys from a Baywatch Reboot." She's sooooo funny.

April offers a hand to Oliver and a grin over to Vanessa. "You really know how to get yourself in to trouble when I'm not around, huh?" AS if she's one to talk. "Then again, I just fed barbecue to two hyenas that I think might have eaten a person the night before. So Harley claimed anyway." Thats likely weird for Oliver (and the guards) to hear, but hey!

"I love your place, its very... Clue-esque? Candlesticks in the library and all that jazz."

Oliver Queen has posed:
"Baywatch reboot?" That makes Oliver turn a brow up. "And I am the guy that transitioned from the original series?" but his grin is pleasant enough at the jokes shared, making his approach with a confident step and extending one hand over and taking April's for a handshake. "She does have a penchant for getting herself in trouble. But luckily it turned out just fine." And by the look that Oliver gives Vanessa more than fine, a shared cumplicity between them.

"But well met, Ms. O'Neill. The manor has been in the family for .., a few years now. I am glad you like it, there have been renovations but I have always appreciated this older look." then his blue eyes settle on Vanessa.

"Names didn't really matter at the time, did they? I liked the other name you gave me too." He says with some amusement but then gestures inside. "Shall we go in? Since Vanessa mentioned receiving her best friend I decided it was a good occasion to cook." the talk about hyenas and Harley makes him lift his brow and he asks casually, "Is Harley still hanging with you?"

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
Vanessa slides an arm around April after the reporter and Oliver have shaken hands. "I'm just glad you are ok. But, maybe not pet-sitting for her would be best if you can manage that down the road?" she suggests, her wry tone removing any illusion Vanessa thought April had any say in the matter.

"You would look good running across a beach," Vanessa tells Oliver, flashing a smile his way. "Yes. Well. I'm really hoping to avoid any trouble for... at least the rest of my life, now. I just want to get through this trial and put this guy away and... then hide for the rest of my life, right?" she says.

Vanessa joins as they start to walk up towards the house. She reaches over and slips her hand into Oliver's. "No, names didn't really matter," she agrees with a smile for Oliver. Vanessa looks back to April. "So the guards are kind of to help keep me safe. Those guys saw him and I don't know if they recognized him, but they might think to look here. And, they mentioned knowing about my reporter friend too, April. I don't imagine they'll do anything unless they saw me at your place, but..." she trails off. She hadn't really thought about whether April would be in any danger. Vanessa looks to Oliver with concern showing.

April O'Neil has posed:
April takes a second to put her head over on to Vanessa's shoulder. "I'm just glad you're okay." She tells her friend before her eyes go back to Oli and she grins at him. "I don't think you're David Hasselhoff, no. Maybe in 20 or so years, and if you really get into German rock ballads." She's teasing him of course, just to break the ice of meeting someone new and make it hopefully a little more fun.

As Vanessa moves to walk with Oli, April proceeds up on the other side of her friend into the house. "Dealing with Harley Quinn is an experience, to say the least. I really do feel bad for her. Though I think she's made a number of terrible choices in life, I think she's the byproduct of a broken system in Gotham City that is doing the opposite of trying to reform its criminals. Its actually going out of its way to 'grow them' and make them far far more worse... or stuck, if nothing else." There's a heavy sigh then and April takes a second to look around the interior of the home once they're all inside. Its impressive!

"The last I saw her though, she said she was going to go see a friend. Turns out that friend was Wonder Woman, and well, now I guess she's back in Arkham? I'm not sure." April unzips her jacket then and pulls her scarf from around her neck. She looks between Oliver and Vanessa. "So there's guys 'maybe' gunning for you two, and maybe me too? Guys I don't even know?" She grins at them both. "Awesome. Totally cool!" She's kidding of course. "Another stresser to throw on the pile, I guess. Hyenas and all."

Oliver Queen has posed:
Taking Vanessa's hand seems like a natural thing for Oliver, fingers lacing with hers while he continues his way back inside along with the two women. But he can't hide a small frown that comes to his expression when Vanessa mentions that the two men spoke about April. "Some precautions wouldn't hurt." he agrees. Perhaps already pondering on what precautions could be taken. Maybe he will have to move up the time table on when he is considering making a move against that particular drug-dealing group.

So he is silent for a time, maybe even distracted at the conversation going on almost as if he hadn't listened but then he speaks up again, "Everyone deserves a second chance." he agrees. "But it's when those second chances are squandered and not taken advantage of that a firmer hand must be had. Admittedly, not everyone gets that second chance though." he keeps it neutral enough, he doesn't know enough about Harley to opine further.

"At least the hyenas should protect you." he says perhaps a bit lamely, but then adds, "Though more seriously, if you notice anything let us know. I will make my best to not let this affect any of you." a nod that seems to say that a friend of Vanessa's is a friend of his as well. Within the smell of a stew can already be scented and he gestures. "Let's get moving to the dinner room. Lunch is close to being ready. Which reminds me I should go tend to it." he leans over to place a brief kiss on Vanessa's forehead and then walks out through a doorway, leaving the two at ease and in private to speak with each other.

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
Vanessa nods her agreement to something Oliver said. "I don't know that man-eating hyenas are something I'd have thought of for protection, before this week. But, you know, maybe having them downstairs? Plus your neighborhood patrol could come in handy, let them know," Vanessa says with a meaningful look to April.

The way Vanessa glances briefly around the interior, she's still adjusting to the change in settings it seems, but she quickly focuses on the stew that Oliver has prepared. "Didn't realize you were a cook, too," she tells him with a warm smile as he kisses her forehead and then heads for the kitchen.

Vanessa turns to April and lets out a swooning sigh. "I... am falling... so hard," she whispers to April. "It's not... this, either," she says, motioning around the mansion. "I couldn't get him out of my head after we met at the diner. I'm giving up my... job. And... well, whatever I have to do to not ruin this, you know?"

Vanessa moves over and hugs April. "God I'm glad you're safe. I didn't see your text until hours later, or I'd have tried to do more."

April O'Neil has posed:
April smirks at both of them. "Yeah, Bud and Lou my new hyena man-eating defenders. I mean, maybe it is a blessing in some regard. They've been staying in the stairwell, leaving presents for me to clean up..." She mutters about that before she glances to Vanessa and her admission of giving up her previous employment endeavor. "Hey, I'm all for that then." She smiles at the rest to Van. "I think you've struck gold here." She whispers back to her, bumping shoulders as they walk toward wherever the dining area is in this castle.

"I'm totally about people getting second chances, too, and if they screw those up then they should learn to cope with that. But the 'problem' I have is putting them into a facility like Arkham Asylum, in that it doesn't seem to be doing any good what so ever to rehab its inmates and actually help them change. There's something... unsettling about that place, now that I've seen it from the inside. I don't know. Maybe it was all just in my head, I mean its the first building I've ever been inside of that had the word 'Asylum' in its title."

Oliver Queen has posed:
"I have this group of friends..." Oliver states to Vanessa when she mentions him knowing how to cook. "That they really only let me into their circle once I bribed my way in with food. Sometimes I feel they only value me because of that. Or well, valued." he squints his eyes but it's clear that he was joking. Though that seems to bring back memories of perhaps better times with a broody bat, an imposing blue and red man of steel or even a certain lasso-wielding princess.

But then he is truly gone, getting the last part of the lunch ready to go. He already made sure to get the plates set and so it's only those last finishing touches left on the food. Mmmm, the beef stew seems right on point, some carrots and onions, then a nice bed of mashed potatoes atop. Why, he seems quite pleased with the result! And of course, just a dash of that famous spicy touch to give that extra oomph to his food. It's always been one of his hobbies, and one of those things he truly enjoys doing. Besides shooting arrows. He can be very single-minded sometimes.

A few moments after they get into the dining room Oliver comes along and carrying the stew to put on the center of the table. He didn't forget what April said though and says to her, "True. I have never heard of a success story out of Arkham Asylum. But supposedly only the worst kind of criminals get put there. What do you think could be a solution though?" the last question apparently directed to the two of them.

He gestures, "Go ahead and sit, and serve yourselves from the stew. What can I get you to drink?"