2501/Salmon Ladders and Target Practice

Salmon Ladders and Target Practice
Date of Scene:	17 July 2020
Location:	Arrowcave
Synopsis:	Practice time in the Arrow Cave before patrol
Cast of Characters:	Vanessa Carlysle, Oliver Queen

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Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
After had Vanessa had returned, with the memories of April O'Neil rather than Oliver, a few simple tests before she might reabsorb his skills showed what she'd suspected. Most of the training she'd done had been built on top of muscle memory from Oliver Queen. Ones that were gone now. While she was more knowledgeable about archery and fighting from remembering her own actions, her actual skills showed even less improvement than someone starting from scratch would have had with the training she'd gone through.

Today though, those memories of Oliver's were back. It didn't take long at all for them to return once she was back around him. Touch seemed to help, but even when she left some space with only partial memories of his, the rest had eventually come, just much much slower.

Vanessa has a quiver on her hip and is in her costume, working out prior to going out on patrol tonight. She has in hand the bow that Oliver made for her. Arrows start to fly, one after another, towards a trio of targets so there is room in the three bullseyes for all of them. Only two land outside of that mark, and those just barely.

Oliver Queen has posed:
If there was one thing that Oliver -never- skipped was training. No matter what there'd always be hours devoted to it in his day, it was the only way for him to keep up with the rest of the world that tried to progress. Sometimes faster than he cared to admit being able to keep up with ...

And so today here they were again. Ollie had followed Vanessa's progress with the bow, before she had picked back up his skills, not too happy that nothing had stayed with her, yet perhaps that was due to those powers of hers. Powers they had yet to explore in more detail. Though now as they were back he was free to comment when she actually missed two bullseyes.

"That was some adequate shooting." Adequate! But he smiles, some teasing visible there. For his part, he was working on the salmon ladder right now. What! He loves that thing. Just going up, up, up..., then slowly down, muscles strained with the effort. When he lands back down on the ground he says. "Arthur was here earlier today." Arthur, as in Aquaman, certainly not hard to find in his memories!

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
Vanessa turns around towards where Oliver is working out. She grounds one tip of her bow, both hands on the other end and letting them support her chin slightly as she watches him. She loves that salmon ladder. Not for herself, when Oliver is using it.

"It was the wind," she jokes, the facility windless unless they decided to add some into the training session. She watches Oliver's muscles strain, propelling him up to the top and then back down again. "I was away too long," she says with a growing grin as she watches him drop back down to the ground.

"Arthur," Vanessa says, the name triggering for her the way Oliver feels about him. Not so much distinct memories at the moment, but just the sum of his memories and his opinion of the man. "Did you challenge him to the salmon ladder? Would be his kind of thing," she kids.

Oliver Queen has posed:
"I swear. This gets harder every year." Oliver says, his eyes trailing back over his shoulder to the salmon ladder with brief sigh. Yet it did seem he was mostly joking. Not getting -that- old just yet! His blue gaze then goes back to Vanessa. "You were, but now we get to catch up again." that grin of his also growing. It was evident the kind of care he had for this woman. In fact, she could literally read it right out of his thoughts when she recovered those powers.

He steps away, reaching to pick up his shirt and get dressed again (Because is there any other way to do that salmon ladder than with a bare chest?). Hands go through his hair, focus staying on Vanessa. "No, didn't challenge him. Talked a bit about the JLA, he also met Thea. I think it was good for the two of them."

He then walks over to where Vanessa is training, going around her, fingers felt reaching for hers, adjusting her aim just a touch, the posture, a foot flicking forward against hers to have it move just a centimeter to the side. His voice from behind her, near her ear. "Try again." his tone reassuring. She had it this time.

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
Vanessa takes aim again, and with Oliver's adjustments lets the arrow fly from the new quiver. One after another they land in the bullseyes. When the last has made its flight and is stuck in the target, she turns back to Oliver. A gesture of her hand causes her bow to contract in to where it can be easily stowed on her costume.

She looks over the shirt he's put on. "Darn, missed my window," she comments with a grin. Though probably not as she slides her hands up to Oliver's shoulders and then loops them about to meet behind the taller man's neck. "It's good to be back," she says, resting her head gently against his chest and nuzzling her face to him, her head just beneath his chin. "As much as I love seeing April. This has come to feel like home to me," she says. "And not because of your memories of it, either."

Oliver Queen has posed:
"Good. I am glad I can still teach you something." Because there were always new tricks that experience brought! Oliver rests one of those large hands briefly on Vanessa's shoulder once she is done shooting, though when she turns back to him he laughs.

"There are always ways to re-open that window." amusement on his tone. "Like that.." he then says in a lower tone when she moves closer to him and places her arms up and around him. His own arms go down, around her slim body, bringing her close, hands upon her hips.

"It doesn't only have to feel like home, Vanessa." his tone quiet, gentler than his usual. His chin rests upon the top of her head as they rest close. "It is your home for as long as you want it to be, that much I can promise you." and yes, it was clear that he wished she chose to be there for ..., quite a long time.

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
The younger woman's fingers play in the back of Oliver's short hair. "Be careful, an offer like that is like feeding a stray cat. I'm liable to hang around forever," she says with a soft grin. She leans up towards him, offering her lips for a slow, tender kiss. One that is gentle, yet speaks of what she feels in her heart for Oliver.

Her other hand moves to brush over his shoulder as she lets the kiss break. "I can't imagine life without you now," she says quietly, those sloe eyes looking down from his. "Nor what it would have been like to go through these changes without you to help guide me and comfort me," she says. "I'd have never gone to someone like Doctor Simmons. Or, if I did, all of SHIELD would know about me," she says. "But mostly, I can't imagine I'd have viewed any of this in the positive way I do. Thanks to getting to be part of this part of your life," she tells him. "To help people. To help your city."

Oliver Queen has posed:
"Would that be a bad thing...?" Oliver replies, letting it linger there because he then becomes too busy in returning that tender kiss, his lips finding hers, heart skipping a beat as their bodies join in that intimate gesture, eyes closing and he losing himself to that moment.

He stays close even when that kiss breaks, his hands now up against the woman's back, keeping her there, safe, letting her find comfort in his eyes as they so sincerely and open look down at her face, even when she turns her gaze away. "You are stronger than you think, Vanessa. You would had found a way." he says, not the type to put the onus of all that came to be on his shoulders. He knows her strength afterall.

"Yet I am glad to have been able to be part of this. Of you discovering yourself." a grin. "Or more of yourself." he reaches to brush some loose strands out of her face. "And you don't have to imagine life without me. I want you here, with me." he tells her, no mistake on his voice, or hesitation.

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
Vanessa gently sinks in against Oliver's chest, the soft curves of her body against his more muscular physique. And she hugs him and savors the feeling of his arms, the touch of his fingers brushing the hair from her face. "I want that too," she tells him with a happy sigh.

She rests her head against his, her forehead against his cheek with their height difference. "I wish you could know my thoughts, know how much I love you," she tells him with a happy sigh. "But there's fun in finding ways to express it," she says, leaning her head back again enough to meet his eyes. "Later," she says, lips pulling back in a grin that holds a promise. "Are you going to come out with me on patrol tonight, or do you have things to do?"

Oliver Queen has posed:
"I can read your thoughts just fine, Vanessa." Oliver replies to the brunette, eyes meeting hers now, feeling the warmth of her body against him. He let out just the briefest of sighs. "But I will look forward to those other ways." he always did! For no way it seemed as if he'd ever get tired of this woman that had entered his life in such a manner that had made him happier than he had felt in years.

Another kiss is placed down upon her lips, a brief one, then another on her forehead. "I will go with you. Even if only to correct your shooting stance. We can't have you missing those bullseyes." Teasing? Quite so!

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
A warm laugh is given at the mention of correction. "I don't think the bad guys will wait for the advice to be given," she tells him. Another kiss is given, this one a quick peck, for there are preparations to make.

Vanessa lets Oliver go, moving over to grab a quiver which replaces the empty one on her belt, and then another pair of them which will be left in the patrol area for refills if needed. She doublechecks her bow and than turns on her voice modulator to test it. "Oliver Queen. You have saved this city," she says in a distorted voice before giving him a pretty smile. Her mask goes on and her hood goes up.

Starling City beware.

Oliver Queen has posed:
"Oh they will." Oliver assures Vanessa. "When I give them the stare." yes, he is known for his stares afterall! Specially on those that FAIL his city! But he lets Vanessa go and get ready while he does the same, slipping into his suit, mostly a mirror of hers even if made to someone a lot broader. He slips into the cowl, modulator also turned on.

"Great, you remembered the modulator this time." will he ever let it go? Nope! "And not, I haven't saved it yet. But I am hoping we will be able to do it, Vanessa. Together."

Starling city beware indeed!