1859/Fred's Diner (Revisited)

Fred's Diner (Revisited)
Date of Scene:	26 May 2020
Location:	Fred's Diner
Synopsis:	The circle closes when Vanessa and Oliver return to the place they met and are actually able to finish their pie and dance. They talk some more about Vanessa's past.
Cast of Characters:	Oliver Queen, Vanessa Carlysle

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Oliver Queen has posed:
They had planned to be here during their Coney Island 'adventure', but certain bear troubles had stopped that idea short. But if anything they were tenacious and eventually a night was found for them to be present.

It brought back memories to Oliver being here. The first time they had met. They were both different then, perhaps with less hope than they had now. Or maybe just less happy. They were both changing and tonight was of celebration for what the time they had been together so far. He was dressed a lot more casual than back then. No tie, no tuxedo. Just a pair of jeans, a button-up shirt, a blazer. Sure, he ain't no slob while dressing but no need to overdo it.

Oliver was driving, no more need for the SUVs to protect them now that Yu Phun had been condemned and once they arrive he steps out of the car, looking over to the entrance while going around to open the door for Vanessa. "Doesn't look too crowded tonight." though honestly it didn't seem the type to get crowded. One of those little unknown gems out here in Brooklyn.

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
Vanessa Carlysle dressed casual as well, not that she had looked nearly as formal as Oliver had. A pair of shorts and a nice blouse, and a little extra time spent on her hair and makeup for the special occasion. She glances out through the car's window towards the diner, "Yep, we kind of caught it between crowds," she agrees.

Once they are out of the car, Vanessa slips her hand into Oliver's, lacing fingers with him. "I hope you're hungry. Last time you didn't manage a full meal," she says. "What do you normally order at a place like this, anyway?" she asks.

It looks like Sally is working today, and there's a second waitress though she's sitting in a booth herself during the slow moment, looking at her phone and drinking coffee. A few other customers are in there as well, but not many at all.

Oliver Queen has posed:
Oliver's fingers easily lace with Vanessa's in a natural, comfortable manner, remaining close to the woman while they make their way towards the front entrance. "And Sally." he nods towards the counter where the woman is. He still remembered. That memory had remained engraved in him. It was a night he had revisited often when he was thinking about Vanessa, that mysterious woman he had met by chance out in what was supposed to be just a random getaway diner from the business meeting he had been earlier. "Almost as good as I remember it. We just need the drunkard sleeping in the corner." his expression turning up into an easy, playful grin.

Yes, he was happy. And regardless of whatever trials were still ahead of them, both with the rebirth of the Justice League and also Vanessa discovering more about her own powers, they were able to still have these moments.

"It all depends if I trust the cook or not. Either go with the house special or what the waitress suggests." A moment to consider and then he grins. "In this case I feel I should trust the waitress."

"And of course. Blueberry pie. Now -that- was a sin not finishing. Certainly not the biggest regret I had that night though." He squeezes Vanessa's hand and opens the door for them.

Sally looks up. "Look what the wind blew in." a grin towards Vanessa.

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
"Well I don't know that Mel is any kind of culinary genius, but he does a fine job with a flat grill," Vanessa says as they pass inside. "The fried dishes are pretty good too. Good comfort food when you need it. I like the chicken. Never been a bit chicken fried steak person," she tells Oliver.

She glances over to see the sleeping drunk isn't there today. "Still pretty nice out today, but when it gets hotter he'll be back in here in the evenings. Air conditioning," she says, glancing around the place.

The greeting from Sally gets a big smile from Vanessa. "Hey Sally. You remember Oliver?" Vanessa asks.

Sally looks towards Oliver and says, "Do I ever. You stayed here until closing waiting for him to come back. I guess you managed to meet back up then?" she asks, noting the held hands.

Oliver Queen has posed:
It's not as if Oliver was one of those people that counted calories on everything they ate, but there had to be some kind of care to be in the kind of shape he was. Still, tonight it wasn't a time for it so comfort food it was. "Think I will go with the fried chicken then, with fries because why not." it would also mean a lot of salmon ladder usage in the next few nights. But well, they could handle it!

"Smart guy." He mentions about the air conditioning. But he knew a thing or two about surviving so he could relate. People needed to do what they had to survive. Some just couldn't get out of the hole they were in...

But his attention is soon on Sally, his smile there, "Life took a few turns but .., eventually yes." he letting out a brief laugh. "Not that I am a believer, but call it fate maybe." his shoulders rising in a shrug then a nod towards the seats. "So we thought about coming back and -actually- finishing a meal for once. What's the worse that could happen?"

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
As little as they have talked about Vanessa's previous profession, she too had to put a lot of stock into keeping herself in appropriate appearance for her work. But now that she's working out like a superhero, literally, there's a freedom towards eating that she never had before!

Vanessa lets go of Oliver's hand to slip an arm about his waist. "Yes, seemed we were just kind of meant to meet up," she agrees. The smile she has and the way she's looking at Oliver will spell really all that Sally will need to know to catch up on the subject.

Sally says, "Well I'm happy for you both. So is that what's kept you away, Nessa? I haven't seen you about at all lately." Vanessa gives a little nod of her head. "Not working as I did. And, we're living down in Starling City," she explains. "I'm trying to figure out what to do with myself. Like a real career somewhere, maybe," she says.

Oliver Queen has posed:
With Vanessa's hand slipping about his waist it's only natural for Oliver to wrap one arm about her shoulders, closer so that he can place a brief, affectionate kiss on the side of her head, the look Vanessa gives her seemingly mirrored on his own. "And nothing like returning to the place where it started." the man smiles then, glancing over towards Sally. "You can already set aside a couple of blueberry pies for us as dessert for later." he calls out, his smile widening.

Sally lets out a small laugh. "Sure, will do just that. And well, while you are looking for what to do feel free to come down and visit, yes? Don't be a stranger, Nessa." the woman stepping over to start getting those blueberry pie slices aside.

Ollie then nods towards one of the booths, rather close to the counter, "Lets have a sit, and then we can continue our talk from last time. Or would you prefer to dance?" he questions, blue eyes now back on Vanessa.

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
Vanessa smiles and leans gently against Oliver as he orders the slices of pie. She tells Sally, "I'll definitely be by. I'm back up here more now than I have been," she promises. Vanessa turns towards Oliver then, looking to him and just sharing a moment of their eyes meeting. Her large, sloe brown eyes are filled with warm that just grows for being back where they first met.

"The booth sounds great," she confirms, moving over with him. "Dancing, for later. After the pie. Need to make sure you eat it this time before you dash out," she teases him as she moves over to the booth to take a seat.

Sally brings the pie over, and also two glasses of raspberry lemonade. "There you go, drinks on the house," she tells them with a quick wink before heading back behind the counter.

Oliver Queen has posed:
"And with the loop, well, best invention ever. Almost as if there was no distance to get anywhere anymore." Oliver says. Which for him, that can't fly or teleport or none of such shenanigans is quite the blessing! Such a global world they live in now. But then he is lost on those brown eyes for a time, watching her until he finally blinks out of his reverie, moving along to the booth.

Yes, being here with her did bring quite the memories. And it did make him happy. When they settle down he can't help but laugh at the tease. "You make it sound as if I am always dashing out. But who knows, there is always the possibility of a damsel needing rescue, mm?" he teases back, reaching over to squeeze her hand. When the pie and drinks come by he grins up at Sally.

"Thank you, Sally." a nod of appreciation up to her before her attention is back on Vanessa. "Is it today that you are going to tell me more about yourself and your past?" he then asks.

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
A smile is given to Sally as she brings the dessert and beverages. Vanessa looks back to Oliver then and she taps her head. "Remember, I know what you know. You /are/ always dashing out," she teases across the table, keeping her voice down though there are a few empty booths between them and any other customers.

Vanessa picks up her fork and pokes at the front corner of her pie but doesn't cut into it yet. "My past," she says with a sigh that doesn't sound anxious for the topic. But she nods in agreement despite that.

A tiny bit of the pie is taken on her fork and brought to her lips. Just the tiniest taste for the moment. "So I don't have any memories of my parents. Or... well, nothing I'm sure is them, anyway," Vanessa says. "I grew up with my uncle. We lived in a rural area just outside of Cleveland. He had a catfish farm. Lots of pools of water. Nice and murky how they like it. Covered up in winter with those solar bubble wrap like stuff they have for pools, to keep them alive and growing even in winter," she starts.

Oliver Queen has posed:
"I can't help myself." Which is true enough, Ollie was the type that was always looking out to protect others, having finally found his calling. It had taken him a while though, but noone really wanted to remember the dark arrow Ollie of the past. It weren't good memories. "But you know that well by now." with or without access to his memories!

Ollie starts digging onto his own pie slice too, slow to begin with. No need to be a glutton right now. Just appreciating a small bite for the moment. Yet his attention is fully on Vanessa when she begins talking about her own past. Yes, not a topic she might be anxious about, but it was something he'd like to learn more of.

"You had told me a bit about your uncle." He says with a small nod, leaning forward on his elbow, watching, learning. "Did you like living there. Sounds like a calm place." he notes, his expression studying hers.

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
Vanessa gets a little more pie on her fork, but doesn't eat it yet. She gives a shrug. "It was alright. Tried to avoid my uncle mostly. He didn't want me there but not so badly as to find somewhere else to send me, I guess. We were poor. Most people in our area were," she says.

The suspended forkful of pie is finally brought to her lips and tasted. After, she says, "You know the stereotype of what kids turn out like without a 'positive parental figure'," Vanessa says, making air quotes with her fingers. "And that's pretty much what I was like. Didn't care about school, had a bit of an attitude. Turned into one of those teens that... well, I didn't seek out trouble. But I never really avoided it either," she says.

Vanessa takes a sip of her raspberry lemonade, glancing out the window. "So, Eddie, was this older guy in the area. Came on to me and, well he was older, had a car, could buy beer. You get the picture. Anyway, after sweeping dumb old me off my feet, after I got a little older, he started making money off me. And that was the life I ended up in. Moved out and in with him," she says. Vanessa's eyes are watching Oliver's reaction to her admitting her prior employment, which she knows he knew, but she'd never really said it before him.

Oliver Queen has posed:
Listening on to Vanessa's story makes Ollie's brows furrow, again that hand reaching out to give Vanessa's a squeeze. Talking about one's past was never easy. But he wanted to learn about hers. At the mention that her uncle didn't really want her there it makes him say. "His loss. No idea why anyone wouldn't want you around."

Then when Eddie comes to scene it makes Ollie nod. Yes, he knew the type. He had been something similar... Well, at least in -some- ways. But he knew that playboy type, older, making use of their confidence to get what they wanted. Not that it stops him from frowning, and deeply, when Vanessa mentions the guy making money off her. Not at Vanessa herself but at how it all happened. Not that here is a good way for it to happen. "You haven't had an easy life."

Maybe an understatement, but soon enough a small smile blooms up on his expression. "But you have never been the type to let it take you down, have you? There is this .., glow to you." he says, reaching up to brush a strand of hair out of the young woman's face. "That chapter of your life is over though, now we only have the future to look towards."

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
Vanessa stirs at her plate with the fork. "Maybe now. Then I was really just a stupid kid," she admits with a little sigh of exasperation directed at herself. "Eddie... well, he was stupid too. Just older. He dreamed of being big time. Used to be what he'd always talk about. Get out of BFE and to a big city. Make his moves. A big score," Vanessa tells Oliver.

She pauses, getting another bite of pie. Sally waves over to her and Vanessa smiles and waves back, the expression not letting on the nature of the discussion they are having. "Well, he moved us to New York eventually, in search of that. Had a line on something. I never did find out what it was. Whatever it was, we ended up down in Gotham. That's where they ended him," she says. "I identified him down in the morgue," she says, eyes distant with the memory. Her voice doesn't have much emotion as she recounts. "Met a really nice policeman. Tried to help me out. I ended up back at the apartment in New York. And after that, worked for myself. And... that was pretty much life when you found me. Took care of some of the other girls in the neighborhood. Tried to keep them away from the bad sorts, you know?" she says, looking over to Oliver again.

Oliver Queen has posed:
"Well, join the club. We were all stupid back then." Because really, young Ollie could be the worst type of man possible. But one learns after harrowing times! Yet he takes another bite of the pie, along with a bit of juice. Nothing like some sweetening to the conversation. Though when the conversation stirs towards them having ended in Gotham it makes him open his mouth but then he shuts it. Yes, he imagined something of the sort.

He watches her in a solemn manner as he often does when it's something that concerns him, or troubles him but eventually he offers her a nod. He focuses on the positive. "So you were already a sort of hero by then. Helping out the other girls." he states, "Thank you for sharing this with me, Vanessa." his tone gentle, a caring to it.

He eyes the pie for a small moment and then glances across to Vanessa, "Come, let's dance." he offers, holding out his hand to her. It was something they had needed to share, but it doesn't mean he wanted it to linger too much on her memory. It was time to create new, better memories.

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
Vanessa rises from the booth. She moves with a grace and has a poise that it could be a surprise to see come out of such humble beginnings. She takes Oliver's hand but doesn't move towards the jukebox. Instead she takes his hand in both of hers, bringing it up to where she can brush her lips to the backs of his fingers.

"Oliver," she says softly, looking into his eyes. "You see me like no one ever has. I think I needed that. I needed you, to show me how to see myself as something different than I'd been. You've always just accepted me, right from the start," she tells him quietly. She slowly shakes her head. "I... am a different woman because of you. And I don't even mean the... you know," she says, managing a small laugh, though she reaches up to rub the back of one of her hands across an eye that is glistening heavily.

"Thank you," she whispers to him, and then leans in to kiss him. Softly, but a hand going to rest on the back of his neck to hold herself there.

Over behind the counter, Sally doesn't know what's being said. But she can see the change that has come over the one-time prostitute who used to shelter from the cold late at night. She smiles and goes to fill someone's coffee cup.

Oliver Queen has posed:
Oliver rises at the same time that Vanessa does. No, he won't gain grace contests anytime soon, but at least he is smooth enough. He steps out of the booth but pauses when Vanessa doesn't move along with him to the jukebox, smiling tenderly at her when she brings his fingers up to her lips.

The words shared makes him step forward, close and intimate to Vanessa, looking down at her eyes, one thumb coming up to brush over under that damp eye once she brushes her hand over it. For a man with the kind of calloused, large hands that he has he can certainly be gentle in his touch, his fingers but briefly felt on the woman's skin. He exhales slowly. "The same way I needed you. We see each other in ways that no other can. You make me feel a better man, Vanessa."

But then their lips are joining together in a slow, heartful kiss, his eyes closing a moment, hand resting upon a hip, feeling the woman's warmth against him. A feeling he very much cherishes. But eventually the kiss does break up and he looks down at her again, his voice low, just for her.

"As I have told you before, you don't have to thank me, Vanessa." his arm going about her and holding her close to him for a time. "You only need to be who you are. I love you." a moment further with her close to him and then he begins to lead them towards the jukebox.

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
The young woman willfully lets herself be drawn in against the brawny form of the older man. One that she has come to find as a comfort when held against him. She nestles in close for a few seconds, their embrace imparting as many emotions as their words did.

She gently detaches, though staying close as they go over to the juke box. Vanessa pulls out her phone and waves it over the scanner to buy a few songs. She punches in a number for one of the songs they danced to the night they met. "You pick the rest," she tells him, leaning against the man's side, her hand brushing softly back and forth over his back.

Oliver Queen has posed:
Give it to Ollie to know a few good romantic songs to dance to. That's all those playboy skills coming to the fore when Vanessa asks for him to pick up the rest of their songs. "Prepare to have your heart melted then." he teases, his manner now more at ease. He felt good that they were able to share what their life was in the past, along with the present. Once the songs are turned in and ready to go his attention is then fully on Vanessa.

"Let me know when you need to go to the bathroom so I can start preparing my dashing out." He teases, the first tunes of the song Vanessa picked starting to come up on the jukebox. His hands slide to the woman's waist, resting there, keeping her close and intimate, the dance starting slow.

"I am glad we were able to find some time to come here."

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
Vanessa simply melts in against Oliver's form. The softness of her curves resting against the firmness of his well-muscled physique. Smaller with larger, softer with harder. Yin with Yang. She fits in his life, and he in hers, in ways she'd never believed were really possible.

Vanessa lets out a soft laugh as she rests her cheek against Oliver's body, and she gives him a tiny swat before her arms go up to circle about those broad shoulders of his. "Don't you even think of it. If so I'm going with you," she reminds him.

She closes her eyes, sighing happily and just enjoying the feeling of being with the man she loves, in the place they first met. "Treasured moments," she says, smiling. Her hand brushes slowly back and forth over his shoulder as they dance.

Oliver Queen has posed:
Oliver had never been the type to believe in fate, or in those 'meant to be' kind of moments, or people. But now here he was, unsure on what to believe anymore. Maybe there -was- something about the universe making sure people got what they deserved. And he couldn't find himself to be more lucky than right now, back in the diner where it had all began. In a way it felt to him as if they were closing that bond, strengthening it, confirming what they had been living these past few months.

He moves slowly to the music, intimate, close, his chin resting against the side of Vanessa's head when she relaxes against his form. "I still remember when we were here, talking about places to go if we could.." he murmurs. "You mentioned Italy then." his arms squeezing further about Vanessa's form, continuing to lead on through the song.

"Lets make a trip soon." He suggests, "Once we have figured more about your powers. Maybe we could go and visit all those hidden villas on the coast of Italy." a grin, then his head turning to place a kiss on Vanessa's forehead.