2797/A visit from a new 'friend'

A visit from a new 'friend'
Date of Scene:	05 August 2020
Location:	Verdant - Abandoned Warehouse
Synopsis:	Ivana Stoyanovich visits Thea with an offer she absolutely can't refuse. But Thea refuses. But what can change in a month?
Cast of Characters:	Oliver Queen, Thea Queen

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Oliver Queen has posed:
It's getting dark in Starling, another one of those summer nights, clear skies. No rain the last few days so work has been going well on the renovations of the Verdant... But now it's rest time. At least to some. The foreman, an older man called Jimmy does what he always does every time their shift is over. A knock on the wood near the exit door.

"Ms. Queen. We are done for the day. You goin' to be a'ight?" he asks. It's almost a ritual, even if most of the times he really isn't expecting to get an answer. He knows Thea will be busy out in the depths of the Verdant..

And so Thea is left alone to her affairs... It only takes a while though until the sound of a vehicle approaching is heard. Maybe one of the worker's vans? Nah, there's another quality to it. The car will stop near the entrance, it visible from a window being a grey BMW.

The doors open and three men begin to get out of the car. Suits.

Thea Queen has posed:
Thea's working side by side; working as a runner, as a 'designer', making sure everything is right. She's also smart enough to feed the workers. After all, who doesn't appreciate a pizza? Working on a full, contented stomach is important, and Verdant is very important to the youngest of Queens.

The proprietress of the warehouse gives a bright but tired smile to the foreman, and she nods quickly. The bruises from a few weeks ago have faded, as had the cut on her lip, and she's golden. No more soreness, and just a little bit of... eeeeh. Still, she's confident in her place. It's her neighborhood!

"Go ahead. Go home. I'll see you tomorrow." There's that pause before, "And thank you." Who doesn't like to be thanked for their work?

She stands by the wrought iron staircase leading to the top floor; things are coming along! Bullet holes are mostly filled, the sheetrocking is set in place, and lights are set to dim.

Once he's gone, Thea turns to move up the stairs to her 'office', though the sounds of the night sound.. slightly different. Turning about, she catches movement and looks out the window, her head canting slightly, blue eyes narrow to try and catch to see if she recognized the car.

Nope... and her eyes widen as she searches the immediate surroundings. She doesn't leave her bows lying around.

SIGH.

Oliver Queen has posed:
See, it's that kind of treatment which makes Jimmy be here first thing in the morning. He does like a boss that cares afterall! (And his one weakness is pizza. But don't tell anyone) But Jimmy is gone now, along with the rest of the workers..

What's left is indeed those three men. Bodyguards of some kind? One of them walks to the back door and opens it, letting a woman step up from it. She is dressed in a suit as well but .., for some reason.., appears to be the boss of the others. Perhaps it's the arrogant chin, expectant to be obeyed, a thing that is not disputed by the three big men as they begin to make way to the entrance to the Verdant.

The woman walks briefly after with a bit of a sashay, confident, as if she ruled upon these lands (It's the Glades though so .., yay?) and finally a knock is heard upon the door.

"Ms. Queeen~" the voice of the woman calls out.

Thea Queen has posed:
Thea watches the move from the car to the door via a quick 'Ring' set-up, and here is where the youngest of Queens should do the smart thing and call the police.

Does she?

Nah.

Instead, she moves from higher ground to her lower, slipping off her platform shoes for something a little more.. easy to work with. Step by step, she's psyching herself up until she reaches the door. Standing on tippy toes to look through the viewfinder, she exhales again and she opens the door, an expertly fashioned smile that is pulled out for special occasions on her face.

"I'm sorry, we're closed. Keep an eye on the papers for our grand opening."

Oliver Queen has posed:
It pays to be smart sometimes. But what's life without a bit of danger and excitement right? Yet it's not as if they seem to be here to trash the place, or anything of the sort. Or at least ..., NOT YET!

They wait patiently, perhaps knowing she is inside? It wouldn't be beyond these types to be keeping an eye out for the construction of the Verdant. And maybe they have caught on her habits. Regardless, here they are, just a while after most of the workers left.

"Good evening." The woman says, an accent to her. Eastern Europe? Maybe. At least the angular features, clear blue eyes does seem to mark her as someone perhaps of those areas of the world. A pair of glasses are on her face, the rest of her dressed in an immaculate white suit, silk gloves on her hands and could be beautiful if not for the scar mark that runs from her lip across her cheek.

"And ah, I am aware. I have been waiting with great excitement for the opening, yet I was here tonight to speak with you, Ms. Queen." A gesture made. "If I may?" she is quite polite at least!

"I am Ivana Stoyanovitch."

Thea Queen has posed:
Thea has a hand on the door edge itself, and she's got a light lean; all the hallmarks of being able to slam it again with full body force, should it come to it. It's tempered, a little perhaps, by the cant of her head that almost seems to rest on the door in a bit of a casual air. The smile that she wears doesn't quite reach the eyes, but it's all a game, isn't it?

"I already have all my jobbers. Catering company is locked in with a deposit, as is my distributer for alcohol. The only thing I really need is a DJ company, and I'm sure that's not the ad you're answering."

Still, courtesy begets courtesy, and there's nothing like polite ruffians. It makes things, at least on the outside, look much more acceptable. Taking a step back, Thea opens the door for the lady, at the very least, giving something of a side-eye to the bodyguards. It's a quick evaluation; obvious bulges here and there where weapons might be. Nothing like a quick threat assessment in your own club while being the proper hostess in the late hours!

"Ms Stoyanovitch, it is getting late, and I have to go home soon." Beat, "So.."

Oliver Queen has posed:
If they do have weapons they don't seem to be the gun kind. Maybe knives at the most. This -is- a social visit afterall! And in what way would a rich socialite threaten them, right? The name Stoyanovitch could even ring a bell if Thea has followed the news after her little incident. One of the men killed there by a certain one-eyed menace had that surname. The boss? Maybe. Ladder climbing is all so confusing where it comes to mob families...

When the door is open further the smile on Ivana widens, making it so that scar becomes more pronounced, she making her way in, those high heels echoing on the otherwise empty warehouse. "Cutting right to business." emphasis on the cutting. "I can respect that." only one of the bodyguards walks in with her, the other two continuing outside. No need to crowd the young Queen.

"You have chosen a very peculiar place to open your business in." the Glades. "There are many rules here, invisible rules to most but ..." and she gestures with her hand. "I am here to insure you are aware of those, and maybe even you would be keen in doing business, for I see your place with quite the potential in what I deal with."

Thea Queen has posed:
"That's all we share," is returned with one of those polite, politic smiles, "And, as I said, it's getting late. My family expects me home soon, so.."

Thea walks slowly towards one of the work tables and turns around, leaning in it, fingertips lightly on the surface. Her head cants and she listens, brows creased before another smile comes, her lips pressed together. "This is my city. The Glades, well.. it has something for me, and I think I could do some good here." Her head tilts a little, blue eyes study the woman's face, and her brows rise. "I know my club has a great deal of potential to be a positive influence on the neighborhood, Ms. Stoyanovich. More jobs means a better economy. Giving people a chance to dig themselves out of a hole. As for rules?"

Thea pauses, and her expression turns thoughtful before, "Unwritten, unspoken rules? I.. have an idea," and she nods slowly, the smile disappearing. "And you're here to make sure I don't get myself into trouble." It's a statement.

Oliver Queen has posed:
"Not all we share." Ivana replies with one of those knowing smiles, tapping on her nose as if she was privy to some kind of secret on the life of the young Queen. "And I agree, we can all do good things here. I am all for the Glades to become open to other opportunities like yours." elegant hand gestures here and there about the warehouse.

"The problem is that this /is/ a dangerous place, one never knows what the future will bring. And I'd hate to see your dreams burn down before they have time to flourish. Which is why I am here, to make sure we are all in synch." her tone almost as if she has Thea's, and the Glades best interests at heart even if it does seem to confirm what Thea is concluding about the woman's visit here.

"And also, we could become quite rich together, Ms. Queen." a gesture. "Your own money. Not your family's. All I'd ask is that we'd be able to conduct business here."

Thea Queen has posed:
Thea tilts her head again as she considers; she's listening, she really is. And for all intents and purposes, she may even look as if she's receptive to the idea until,

"Thank you for your concern," the young Queen begins. "I know that we are both looking out for the best interests of the Glades, but I'm not really interested in taking on a partner at this time. Or a subcontractor in.. something. As I said, I already have my distributors for alcohol," and she underscores with soft tones that alcohol is the //only// thing distributed in the Verdant, and continues, "my caterers for food until I can get my kitchen up and running. I will, however, keep your undoubtedly generous offer in mind."

Standing a little straighter from her previous light lean on her table, her head dips a little and her expression turns politic again. A game face learned from her mother, no doubt. "My family is important to me. When everything is said and done, I'm a Queen." And that means everything is entwined, even if she does set business funds aside!

Oliver Queen has posed:
"You would be making a mistake, Ms. Queen." Ivana is all manners, even at being refused. Yet her expression /does/ betray she isn't exactly used to being refused, just the faintest of frowns beginning to creep in. Not an happy mobster, nope. "We would even be willing to have some go your way, free of charge." of course she has heard of Thea's reputation of her past.

"And yes, make no doubt that this is a generous offer. It's as I said, an opportunity that doesn't come often." and yet as Thea professes how important family is to her the woman lets out a brief snort, shaking her head. "Sometimes they but shackle us. Like my dear father did." she opens her arms to her sides. "His demise made me realize I need to fend for myself, make my own name." which may confirm one of those killed in that little meeting with Deathstroke may have well been her father. All being said Ivana seems to have handled his death rather well.

"Think about it." The woman brings out a card from inside her jacket, placing it on a table. "One month? That seems enough for an answer, don't you think?"

Thea Queen has posed:
"It wouldn't be my first mistake," Thea returns. "Then again, you probably know that," given the intimations. "So, you'd know that I really do value my family and wouldn't do anything that might jeopardize a chance that only comes along once." There's that smile again, the kind that doesn't quite reach her eyes, but is there just for show. It's all a game. "I'm really not interested, thank you."

"I'm sorry your father wasn't the encouraging sort. Mine was." A statement of fact. "And, now that he's gone, my family has become even closer."

Still, Thea watches as the woman leaves the card on the table, her gaze firmly held there. "I'm sure my answer will be the same. Feel free to check back, though. I'll be here."

Oliver Queen has posed:
It would be easy for Ivana to go with that typical 'Don't make it be your last mistake.' But nah. No need to burn those bridges just yet. Instead she appears rather accepting of Thea's answer. For now. "Is anything worth more than independence?" but then she lifts her hand, a gesture made to the bodyguard who begins to walk towards the door.

"Maybe in time you will understand what I mean. I will look forward to speaking with you in one month's time. Until then, the rest of a good evening Thea Queen." And with that she begins walking to the door, high heels heard as she again does that sashay, full of confidence on herself and what she represents.

The bodyguard opens the door, allowing Ivana to step out before he also makes his way out. Soon enough the sound of that SUV leaving is heard, leaving Thea alone to her thoughts, and her bar.