2144/To the Arrowcave!

To the Arrowcave!
Date of Scene:	17 June 2020
Location:	Arrowcave
Synopsis:	Roy takes AJ home to visit the family, oh, and Team Arrow. Did he mention the two were one and the same? No? Surprise!
Cast of Characters:	Roy Harper, AJ Strong, Oliver Queen, Vanessa Carlysle

---

Roy Harper has posed:
So, AJ had already met Oliver at the school, when Roy told him that Ollie was his uncle, and he knows that Roy visits the Queen Mansion. He also knows that Roy works with Green Arrow, and that the Arrow wants to meet AJ because of his interest in becoming a superhero. At least, that's the story thus far. And so it is not a /huge/ surprise when Roy invites AJ to come home with him over the summer break for a bit, that they end up at Queen Mansion. Or that Roy still has a room somewhere, supposedly.

What is unusual, however, is when Roy leads AJ down beneath the mansion not into a basement filled with wine bottles or creepy spiders or even an herb cellar. Where he leads him is into a tech-filled operations center complete with practice gym and an arsenal of weapons. Roy wanders on down ahead, calling out, "Hey, I'm back.. and I brought AJ," giving a little heads-up to whoever might be down there already.

AJ Strong has posed:
No, it certainly wasn't anything AJ was expecting. All his father keeps in the bit of basement storage they have in the city is a stash of wine and the family china when it's not in use. So something that looks like a spy operation right out of a Hollywood movie has him gaping a little. Dressed in cargo shorts and a tee, he looks like any other high schooler on summer break at the moment. "Wait.. so.." He's turning in circles as he's trying to take everything in at once and still follow Roy so he's not found wandering around a place like this alone.

Oliver Queen has posed:
If there is something that Ollie doesn't skip that's the salmon ladder workout. No matter if he had an early warning that they would have visits. So he is just getting to the top of it when he hears that familiar sound of the door opening. He lets himself drop down, floor again beneath his feet and he stepping out, searching for his shirt.

"I see someone has been learning a lesson or two out of my book." Ollie, the one known to appearing unannounced. Maybe that's his superpower.

He cleans his face with a towel before slipping into his shirt and then looks towards the entrance, waiting, his arms folding together.

He had told Vanessa of AJ before, the young man who wished to become a hero and had been under Roy's wing so far.

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
On the other side of the room, Vanessa Carlysle is wearing workout attire, and is down on a mat doing pushups. Her form is perfect, muscles a heck of a lot smaller than Oliver's.

She pushes herself back up off the mat, back straight as a board, and holds it at the top as she looks to see who is coming in. "Which chapter is 'stoic, unreadable looks' in again?" Vanessa asks Oliver before moving to her knees, dusting off her hands and then rising gracefully to her feet.

She wanders over to meet the two young men with Oliver, a hand towel and bottle of water grabbed on the way. She wipes at her perspiration with the towel while flashing Roy and AJ both a bright smile. "Hey Roy, good to see you again," she says. "Welcome AJ," she adds, not having to be told his name as the memory of Oliver meeting him pulls up the name the moment she sees his face.

Roy Harper has posed:
Roy grins over his shoulder at AJ, keeping an eye on him as he spins around in circles taking everything in. As they approach, he grins at Oliver and shrugs his shoulders, "Hey, can't blame me for learning from the best." He's in a pair of comfortable jeans and a dark red t-shirt with running shoes on. "Heya, Vanessa," he grins at her when he sees her approaching. "AJ, this is Vanessa. She's pretty awesome. And you've already met Oliver." Then he grins a little crookedly, "And yeah.. this is the Arrowcave."

AJ Strong has posed:
AJ composes himself, closig a jaw that had dropped just a little from the sights around him and puzzle pieces falling together. "I mean really, it makes sense if you think about it, no rich guy is that fit without being an actor or athlete.." He mutters under his breath towards Roy, then smiles towards Vanessa and Oliver, though it's clearly a little nervous. "Thank you for trusting me with this."

"It's good to meet you both.. again.. well, one of you again." Okay, little rambling and a little nervous but maybe that's to be expected.

Oliver Queen has posed:
The look that Oliver gives Vanessa is one of those stoic ones, with perhaps just a dash of amusement due to that slightly raising brow, or how the quirk of his lips go up. But then he grunts. Perhaps in acceptance. And sure, boost his ego! He doesn't mind it too much.

"Welcome back, Roy. How was the end of school year?" he reaches to give each of the young men one of those firm handshakes.

His clear blue gaze then settles on AJ, faint smile to his lips. "You should thank Roy, he was the one trusting you." a nod then given to his former protege, perhaps a silent statement that he is starting to trust him in return. Or more than before at least. Always hard to say where it comes to Ollie and trusting.

His eyes then go to Vanessa. "AJ is just discovering about his powers and he wants to do something with them." he says in way of explanation.

As for the cave, it's as one would expect from a billionaire that has money to spend on his 'toys'. Technological gadgets, gym area, large server and computer area along with various types of bows, arrows and other armament. And on the walls are, of course, many of the suits used by those that used to belong, or still do, to Team Arrow.

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
Vanessa continues the bright smile as the introduction is made. "You've made a good impression, AJ," she says of the trusting him part. She turns to glance around the place. "And it can be a bit of a rush seeing it first time, can't it? Second and third time too," she says with a soft laugh as she looks back to the young men.

Oliver's comment about AJ's powers gets a small nod from her. "Can kind of be a nervous thing to feel one's way through, especially while getting a handle on them at first, I imagine," she says. Vanessa takes a sip from her water bottle. "And nice that you're looking to help people with them. Plenty of people don't have that kind of moral compass, I'm afraid," she says, followed up by a wry sigh.

Roy Harper has posed:
Roy Harper grins over at AJ, catching what he mutters under his breath, almost laughing but managing to contain it. He shrugs his shoulders though and his grin goes a bit crooked when Oliver says it's Roy that he should be thanking about trust. "Trust's earned. If you've got it, you probably did something to deserve it." He gives a little nod of his head, perhaps acknowledging that maybe he's earned just a tiny bit back for himself over the past six or seven months. Even if it's just trusting himself. "Hey, I passed all my finals. And I'm uh, good to go for next year, so.. you know.. better than I've done in a long time." He glances over at AJ and says, "No small thanks to AJ helping me keep on track with studying and stuff." He doesn't speak for AJ but he nods in agreement about him wanting to get into the heroing business. "Figure we can use the help, and I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have made it on my own without the training I got." He looks to Oliver then, fully acknowledging what he'd jokingly claimed earlier.

AJ Strong has posed:
Aj takes the had offered by Oliver, giving it a shake and maybe flexing his fingers a little afterwards. "I've figured out most of the basics of them.. I think. But I think I'm also at the point where I'm.." He scrunches his brows to think of the word. "I guess I'm just not going to figure things out wuickly on my own anymore." He turns his attention on Roy for a moment. "Roy's been helping me with that."

He rolls his shoulders as Roy sends credit for getting through the school year on to him. "Studying with others always makes it easier. Not like I taught you anything, I just.. suffered there with you. Actually, if anythign you helped me pass biology." He rubs the back of his neck, eyes unable to stay still in the Arrowcave though, right ow scanning that wall of costumes along the wall.

Oliver Queen has posed:
Once the pleasantries are done with Oliver reaches for a water bottle of his own, taking a long drink. He was needing that. And after he takes a deep breath he finally speaks up again, nodding his head in agreement about Vanessa's comment on moral compass. "It's not an easy step to take though. Good intentions are good but without making sure that's really what you want to do and be....." he shakes his head, then adds in a pragmatic manner, ".... many have died going down that path." and maybe something he has felt closer than he wished to.

Regardless he then continues on. "Training is a good start. But you will also need commitment. What makes you want to step into this world?"

Typical Ollie, going right to the point. But then he gestures to the cave, for them to step further in.

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
Vanessa falls mostly quiet after the introduction, except for a, "Good job," given to both young men as they mention making it through the school year. She takes another sip from her water bottle. and gives her shoulders a few quick dabs with the towel after her exertion.

As Oliver gets into commitment, Vanessa moves behind him, giving Roy and AJ a soft grin as she rests a hand on Oliver's shoulder a moment to squeeze it. She continues past, setting down the water bottle and heading over to... the salmon ladder? First time she's tried it, that anyone has seen at least. As they talk she gets a little powder on her hands to help her grip and then jumps up to grab the pole where it rests in the bottom slot.

Roy Harper has posed:
Roy Harper leans over and bumps shoulders with AJ when AJ mentions that he helped him pass Bio. In truth, they've probably been good for each other in different ways. But then Oliver is getting down to the business of why he'd wanted to talk to AJ in the first place, and Roy falls quiet, because this is something that AJ and Ollie have to discuss. He follows Oliver's lead further in, following wherever he intends to go, finding himself a place to lean up against the wall, arms folded. Among the suits on the wall is probably Roy's original suit from when he was Speedy before he became Arsenal, the suit that he wears now that he keeps with him. His original bow is also probably present.

AJ Strong has posed:
AJ's smile turns into something a bit more serious. He's never going to have that glower down, he just doesn't have the look for it. "I don't know how much Roy shared with you. I'm guessing not much." He crosses his arms over his chest, trying to pick his words. "I should be dead. The powers came in the effort to save my life, whatever experimental treatment they used. I don't know much myself except a few things." He sighs heavily, chewing his lower lip. "It feels like I need to use them to help. Like every moment I have is borrowed, so I owe it back to the world to do something. It sounds kind of silly saying it out loud, but it's true."

Oliver Queen has posed:
What is this? Good cop, bad cop? But Ollie takes the squeeze on the shoulder from Vanessa as he should. Maybe he should relax a bit more about the talk though, but it's as if he can't help himself. He gets serious when it's time for these talks.

He steps further into the room, past the suits. And indeed there's the original Speedy suit there. Even if next to it there's another one very similar, and apparently having been used recently. Would that mean Thea is back in action? As for other ones out of the ordinary there's one very similar to Arrow's own but made for feminine curves. Ollie clearly wouldn't fit in that one!

"No, he didn't share a lot." Just enough it would seem. He listens, his brows furrowing. "It doesn't sound silly. Means your heart is in the right place." he states after a few moments. His eyes then go to Roy, "I see why you behaved so well this year." perhaps a bit of a tease. But hey, deserved. "And what can you do, AJ? Do you think this kind of life is where your powers would best be used?"

He makes his way over to where the salmon ladder is because he wants to watch Vanessa's attempt on it. Curious perhaps.

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
Vanessa Carlysle has an ear open to the conversation, but knows having someone new coming to the team, knowing who they are, is a big deal and so stays out of the way so the talk goes how he likes. Besides, her workout isn't quite done yet, and she's been meaning to give his particular activity a try.

She takes one glance down at the trio of men below, and starting to question making the attempt with an audience. Not for long though as she jerks her arms upwards with the pole, moving it up to the next slot.

At first it looks good but the pole just barely makes it to the slot. One side goes in and the other is caught on the lip though she had kept the pole nice and straight. For a moment she's poised between a fall or not, but she manages to muscle the stuck pole into the slot. After which she draws a big breath and lets it out.

Roy Harper has posed:
Roy Harper has had plenty of experience with Oliver and these talks, so he seems a lot more relaxed, but then, he's seen Ollie at his /most/ stern and disapproving. He's earned that in the past, and seems to still be in one piece. So this can't be that bad, can it? He observes the suits with a little crooked grin, noting that Thea's has been used, and the one that must obviously be for Vanessa. He finds himself a seat on the steps not too far away, sitting on one of the bottom ones. He laughs a little when Oliver says he sees why he behaved so well, "Wasn't my story to tell," Roy says on how much he has or hasn't said. Much as he hadn't told AJ about Oliver, either. "Hey.. I started /before/ I met AJ, thanks," he adds, but it's good natured. He glances over toward where Vanessa is making her attempt up the salmon ladder and lets out an encouraging whistle, "Go Vanessa!" He cheers her on from where he sits.

AJ Strong has posed:
AJ watches Vanessa on the salmon ladder, shaking his head and looking suitably impressed with her actually doing it. "I'd fall on my ass.." He mutters under his breath. Though he flicks his gaze back to Ollie. "Teleporting is the main thing.." He runs his hand through his hair, pushing it back out of his face. "I have a pretty good sense of balance. It's like my.. Um.." He squints slightly. "My nervous system is overclocked. I don't really know how to explain it, or even really how it works. Just that it does." He puffs out his cheeks as he exhales, looking towards Roy, though even he hasn't seen all the little quirks.

Oliver Queen has posed:
"It works up muscles we never knew we had, doesn't it?" The most expert salmon-ladder user of the world says, though Oliver appearing to be quite impressed as well. Those abilities of hers always did. He finds himself smiling just so but he doesn't move to help her on the next steps. He knows better than that. Instead he glances back to the others. First to Roy. "Well, regardless it's been a good change." he reinforces.

But eventually his eyes find their way back to AJ. "Teleporting.." the man echoes, now that's impressive in it's own right. He manages a faint chuckle. "I see why you think that's how you should use your powers. And do you have any training besides what Roy has been showing you?" his eyes again going to his former student. Yes, that much he had told him.

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
The next rung of the salmon ladder goes more smoothly for Vanessa, and the one after that she does quite fluidly. As she's nearing the top though the signs of fatigue in her muscles can be seen. The little trembles as the muscles exert themselves without much chance for rest.

That final rung is a tough one. She struggles to get the bar high enough, again managing to get in one side and then having to try twice before seating the other properly. She takes a moment, dangling from one arm to shake the other and give the muscles a break, then switching.

Then back down to the bottom. She manages that a little easier, not having to muscle the bar as much. Only one slip in form, a small one, before she's back down at the bottom. She drops free, shaking her arms out some more.

She glances over towards the boys and Oliver, her eyes ending up on the latter. "For some reason, more difficult than I remember it being," she tells him, her lips having just a tiny smirk-like turn at the corners. "Going to grab some juice, will bring some back for you two," she says to AJ and Roy to see if they want some, before heading upstairs.

Roy Harper has posed:
Roy just shakes his head slowly as he watches Vanessa on the salmon ladder, letting out a low whistle and a "Daaayumn. Go V." He grins and gives her an up-nod as she heads past him up the stairs. "Sure, sounds good," he says about the juice, and then his attention shifts back toward AJ and Oliver. As talk turns to what AJ can do he says, "He can kind of hop through the air. It's the most badass thing. Scary as /shit/ but he can carry someone with him. We were up on this roof and he just.. like.. held on and *poof* we were in mid air like a cartoon. And then *poof* again and we were on another roof." He flashes a broad grin. "Scary but bad ass. I mean, imagine it in a fight, right? Suddenly *poof* he's /right there/ and then *poof* he's on the other side of the room, then *poof* back again. It's like the /best/ evasive ability not to mention the ambush capabilities." He's apparently really excited about the possibilities of what AJ could do with it. He does nod when Oliver says that it's been a good change, and rubs a little bit at the back of his neck, "Yeah. It's felt good." Not that there haven't been temptations, but all the focus at school and having something /else/ to work on has kept him steady for a while now.

AJ Strong has posed:
"I've taken some kick boxing classes, just the last six months or so. But I'm not sure how much help it'll be. Otherwise I've just been trying to figure things out on my own, so I'm pretty sure I'd get my butt kicked." AJ is still watching Vanessa's progress on the salmon ladder, clapping once she reaches the top. The offer of juice gets a nod and a, "That'd be nice, thanks."

"Well, there are limits, I have to see where I'm going, and I.. uh.. actually can't control what I bring with me, if it's too close to me it comes along whether I want it to or not. And if it's too big, I might was well trying picking myself up with my own hands, it just won't work." He says it all in a rather quick rush, ater all, no one likes sharing their limitations, and he's laying them all out.

Oliver Queen has posed:
Vanessa's comment makes Oliver look quite amused for some reason. "Maybe it's the age." he quips back. Whatever that means! Though when she announces going upstairs he steps in briefly, giving her a small one-armed hug along with a small kiss on the side of her head. He watches the young woman go for a few moments before his attention is drawn back. And he certainly doesn't seem to share Roy's excitedness on the possibilities of AJ's powers, his brows furrowing and he says in that stern manner of his. "I can see how that could be distracting. And make us feel stronger than we actually are."

Eyes rest again on AJ. "It's good that you are aware of what your limitations are already." he nods, at least that he appears to approve.

A few moments later he then adds. "You should stay for a few days with Roy. Maybe we can help you with part of your training." he suggests.

Roy Harper has posed:
"Wait, you can't control what comes with you?" Roy asks, blinking a little bit. "But you were able to take me with you on purpose.." Apparently that was something he didn't know about AJ's ability, from the surprise that registers on his face. "Huh." Then he smirks a little at Oliver's lack of enthusiasm, rolling his eyes but settling back on the steps. "I'm not saying that it /replaces/ the need for all the other training, just that it could be a really cool tool to make it even /cooler/." There's a little bit of the typical Roy impatience. But he then asides to AJ, "Not that he isn't right but.." he looks over to Oliver with a challenging look. See? Seeeeee. He admitted you are /right/ Oliver. ".. But I still think it's badass."

AJ Strong has posed:
"Because I made sure you were close enough." AJ says to Roy with a small smirk. "That's why I was holding on to you." He looks over to Oliver and nods. "I may have done a lot of experimenting, a whole bunch of trial and error, and a small mess made in a junkyard." He scratches the side of his nose as he looks off to the side. "But it's no good being able to pop in and out of places if I can't handle myself once I'm in danger. And, the bow training with Roy gave me an idea I want to try."

As Oliver makes his offer to stay a few days, AJ breaks out into a huge grin. "That would be amazing, thank you. I'll put my all in." Though he eyes the salmon ladder sideways.

Oliver Queen has posed:
"At least you already seem to have a good mind about it already." Yes, Oliver isn't only a drill master, he can admit when he sees something good on someone! As it appears the invite is accepted he offers a nod. "Don't call it amazing just yet. I am not the nicest where it comes to training." a chinjerk towards Roy. "He will know."

"We are set then, training will begin soon. Feel free to have Roy here show you around Starling." then noticing the look towards the salmon ladder he can't help but smirk. "This one comes later. Vanessa makes it look easy but ..."

And with a shrug he begins to walk back towards the entrance. "I will leave you guys to get acquainted to the place. Anything else you know how to reach me." this last part apparently directed to Roy.

Roy Harper has posed:
Roy nods to AJ when he says it was because he made sure Roy was close enough, and grins a little bit, but then he's quiet as Oliver and AJ talk. He snorts a little when Oliver says not to call it amazing just yet. "He does /not/ pull punches," is all the warning he gives AJ. "But then, neither will whoever you're fighting. So, best way to learn." The only thing Roy's been teaching AJ thus far has been archery, so AJ has not experienced sparring the Arrow Way just yet.

He nods to Oliver as he begins to leave, and gets to his feet. "Thanks," he says, sincerely, and then walks over toward AJ. "So, yeah.. this is my family, and my family is.. also Team Arrow, as it were. Welcome to the Arrowcave."

AJ Strong has posed:
AJ schools his features, keeping the nervousness from his face with at least moderate success. "Well, then thank you for the opportunity, amazing or not." Though he does sneak a peek at Roy, trying to judge just what he might have gotten himself in to. Though there's already a muley expression on his face as if he will work thgouh what is to come on pure stubborness alone.

He watches as Oliver walks off then turns right back to Roy with a smile. "I think I'm going to need a burger." He tilts his head. "Or three."