335/Lunch Back In New York

Lunch Back In New York
Date of Scene:	07 March 2020
Location:	Empire Diner
Synopsis:	The first trip back to New York since Oliver took Vanessa away for her safety.
Cast of Characters:	Oliver Queen, Vanessa Carlysle

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Oliver Queen has posed:
Back to New York.

It's not like Oliver was thrilled to go back but he had been called here for follow-up with Milton, one of the lawyers that had followed Vanessa's criminal case some time back. Apparently Yu Phun had paid bail and then disappeared. What a surprise... It was one of the reasons that Oliver sometimes didn't like following the law to the letter. Why the Green Arrow had to exist. And of course that he had yet to tell it to Vanessa too. Trusting fully was still a new thing to him. He had tried so in the past, without the best of results.

So as for them to enjoy themselves a bit now that they were in New York he suggested they went to a diner. Empire diner. Bit of a retro place, just the smallest bit of a throwback to the place where the met. No jukebox though which is a big fault. But it will do.

Stepping out of the SUV he makes his way over, opening the door for Vanessa. "After you." he offers. As he always does. "I have been told good things of this diner, never came here before."

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
Vanessa slips her hand into Ollie's for the walk inside, glancing around. "I haven't either," she says. Vanessa looks around the place, and while it lacks Sally and Mel at the diner they met in, the smile that Vanessa gives Oliver seems to suggest she picked up on the connection to their current eatery.

She'll let him pick a table for them. The smells filling the place are definitely enticing. "Mmm. If the aromas are anything to judge by, I'd say you chose pretty well," she tells Oliver.

She glances out the windows at the city that she's called home for the last seven or so years. "Feels different being back," she comments, eyes studying the city out there. After a few moment Vanessa's gaze drifts back to Oliver. "Though I realize it's me that's changed, not the city, I suppose."

Oliver Queen has posed:
Leading inside the diner Oliver brings the pair to the wooden booths. Spacious enough for them to sit front to front. He waits for Vanessa to settle on one before he does the same, zipping open his jacket and shrugging out of it. He rests his elbows on the table and then reaches across, taking one of Vanessa's hands between his. "We will see after desserts. They have a high mountain to climb after I ate on a few diners about." a grin then, his blue eyes studying Vanessa's face.

"Different, for the better?" He inquires her, trailing her gaze out to the city as well. Cold weather as it normally is this time of the year in New York, but not cloudy. Small blessings.

"I felt the same when I came back to Starling those years ago. Pivotal moments have a way to change us." his eyes thoughtful as he perhaps recalls those times. Darker ones. But his smile is quick to return.

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
Vanessa nods her head slowly at Oliver's question. "Yes, definitely for the better," she tells him with a soft smile. She reaches over to take his hand again, squeezing it softly to indicate some of those changes, or at least where they came from.

She listens as Oliver brings up his return to Starling. "You've mentioned a little bit, and Thea also, just a word or two, about some of what's happened. But I don't really know the whole story. I don't know if it's the kind of thing that you like to talk about much though?" she asks him quietly.

Vanessa gives a little shake of her head. "If not, not worries at all, though," she tells him. The waitress comes over. "Well aren't you a handsome couple? Can I get you something to drink? And do you want a little more time to look over the menus?" Vanessa hasn't even opened hers yet.

Oliver Queen has posed:
"Good, I feel like you are making me change for the better too." Oliver replies, his eyes straying from the window to now fully fix on Vanessa, that faint, pleased smile to his features as if there was no other place where he'd prefer to be now. Or with.

The talk about his return to Starling makes him let out a brief laugh. "It's not exactly the best of conversational pieces, but I can talk about it with you..." even if perhaps not all of it just yet. Again, too hard to trust fully. But he squeezes her hand gently, as if finding support in her presence. "It all happened when I was 19, or 20... I can't even recall it well anymore." or maybe he doesn't want to. "Our plane was flying over the south china sea when it crashed ..." but what he was going to say next is paused when the waitress approaches.

With his best smile on he asks her. "What do you suggest for us?"

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
Vanessa's head tilts a little curiously. "Me making you change for the better? Now Oliver, you might be about to shatter my perfect white knight fantasy I have going," she says in a soft, warm tone. "Seriously though, you... are so amazing. I can't even begin to imagine what I'd have improved in your life,' she tells him more seriously, looking down at the end.

But then they have the small interruption. The waitress, Melinda, says, "Well, the raspberry lemonade is really good. Also the cherry limeade. Or if you want wine or a cocktail or beer there's a pretty good selection," she says, the place definitely having a more trendy menu than the diner that Oliver and Vanessa met in.

"The cherry limeade sounds good," Vanessa says to the waitress, who jots it down on her pad and looks to Oliver for his drink order.

Oliver Queen has posed:
"I fully intend to shatter that perfect white fantasy you have going." Oliver says with intent, and perhaps some teasing to his tone as well. But there is that cumplicity to his gaze that he shares with Vanessa, in that way that they seem to be able to talk about anything. "I have a tendency to .., fold into myself when I spend too much time on my own. Or surrounded with those that do not fulfill me. You though..." the gaze he gives her is one that seems to need no further words on the issue.

"I will have a raspberry lemonade. And ..." and now Oliver looks towards the sandwiches up in large display boards. One calls his attention. "How about a New York pastrami sandwich?" because, well, they are in New York afterall.

His attention then goes back to Vanessa.

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
Vanessa holds up two fingers to the waitress. Then adds, "That means two including his. I don't want two for myself," she says with a grin and in a tone that gets one back from Melinda. "Just two pastrami's, coming up," she says, heading off to put in their order.

Vanessa's attention goes back to Oliver as soon as the waitress departs. "Well, spending time with you so you're not spending it alone? That does like something I'd like to help with, yes," she tells him. Her sloe, dark brown eyes shine with warmth for Oliver.

She says, "The whole knight analogy really has been an apt one though," she tells him. "It's ok if you need me to help shine your armor now and then." Vanessa pauses a beat. "That totally wasn't a euphemism either," she says with a laugh. "Though, I mean, well that too," she says, laughing some more. "Who'd have thought having a couple of crazy thugs wanting to threaten me would be the best days of my life, though?" she says, gazing over at Oliver.

Oliver Queen has posed:
The small interaction with Melinda makes Oliver grin. "You have a way with people." he notes easily when Melinda goes off to get the order prepared. "Though nothing wrong with having two, my lips would be sealed. Except to John, I tell him everything. Well, almost everything." and he still needs to figure out how they got so close. Damn it, she indeed has a way with everyone.

"I didn't exactly mean it as in you being there so I am not just alone." A soft chuckle leaving his lips and he shakes his head. "Just that you fulfill me in the right way."

The talk about shining his armor makes him pause, a cant of his head. But then he accompanies her when she laughs. "I just wasn't sure which of us was going through it with a dirty mind. Glad it was both of us." but in truth just enjoying this time with her seems enough now.

The mention of the thugs make him sober up though. Right, Yu Phun. "Yea, I will deal with that soon." he says it with a finality to his tone, not exactly the shining armor Ollie.

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
Vanessa slides her hand over to rest on Oliver's. "It's enough that we just avoid them. I'll testify, and once the trial's over, that'll be that." Unless they come after her for revenge. Is Yu Phun the type who would do that? To send a message? Vanessa is known on the streets. Would he let a damn hooker get away with sending him away without a response?

Vanessa doesn't seem to be thinking about that thought. She just gently squeezes Oliver's hand. "You and John do seem close," Vanessa agrees. "Almost like brothers sometimes, rather than someone who works for you," she comments. "How did you two end up together like this? Did he work for your family for a long time? Know you since you were knee high to a pig's eye?" she asks, smiling across the table to Oliver.

Oliver Queen has posed:
Oliver doesn't seem that convinced about the avoiding part but still he nods, as if to satisfy her. But in those eyes it seems as if he has other ideas, a determination there that is rather similar to a certain vigilante that came into her life earlier. "Avoiding them should work for now." until he can find them and put them back in jail, where they belong. Or worse. But that would mean returning to a part of his life that he wished he had long left behind. Yet had he truly changed? There was still that bloodlust on him sometimes, that pulled him to do what was needed so that the people he cared for were safe.

"John has been by my side for years now. He has saved my life more than once." In fact quite a few times over the years, but no need to go there. He is just Oliver, a billionaire that lives his life without too many preocupations, right? "He was working for our family when I returned, we hit it off from there." he doesn't mention that he was one of the first to know he was the Arrow. The first he trusted with the secret. From there their connection only grew. But the way he speaks there seems to be quite a lot more to it than he is saying now. "We understand each other, I think that's the main part. And he isn't scared of telling me how wrong I am sometimes. Which is a bonus. I need those from time to time."

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
Vanessa listens closely as Oliver speaks at a little bit of length about his friendship with John. She smiles, though also he might catch that little flash of alarm as she realizes he's needed his life saved. It's gone quickly though, and it was concern for him, from the looks of it, rather than worrying about herself or what she might be getting into.

"I'm glad you have him," she says. Vanessa's expression turns a little warm and light-hearted to balance the mood as she says, "If you need someone willing to tell you that you're wrong, I can happily assist on that job," she says, breaking out in a teasing grin. In trust there hasn't been much of that from Vanessa at all. Or not much. Maybe a disagreement about a song or movie is about the worst of it.

"You and Thea seem like you're fairly close too. She... mentioned she'd heard a bit about me, from you," Vanessa, says, smiling a little at that part.

Oliver Queen has posed:
"Once you get to know me enough I think you may regret having offered that. Because I will gladly take it." To Oliver it seems only a matter of time until she learns who he is, what he does. And all the problems it comes with. How fair would it be for him to do so though? In a way it feels selfish, he could protect Vanessa in many different ways. Ways that might not get her into trouble anymore. But here he was. Nope, not perfect at all.

But then the talk goes to Thea and his smile returns, whatever thoughts he was having being set aside. "Thea. Well, we got a lot closer when I returned. She was just a small girl when I disappeared, and almost a full-grown woman when I was back. Of course we have our disagreements, but it's part of being brother and sister. And it also means that we talk a lot. I may have told her about meeting you... It was the blueberry pie girl at first, but then it went from there as our relationship advanced as well." a pause. "You will find I keep very little secrets from her." though he doesn't mention his mother now.

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
Vanessa Carlysle clears her throat softly, smiling over at Oliver as he mentions the blueberry pie. The waitress comes back with their drinks and food, setting them down and departing after checking if there's anything else they need.

Vanessa waits for Melinda to go and then says, "You told her about that night at the diner? I mean, when it happened? Not just... later?" Vanessa asks. It isn't the first time Oliver has let her know that her feelings from that night were matched on his end. But that sign of it, that confirmation, still makes her glow a bit inside.

"She seemed nice," Vanessa says. "I'd like to get to know her better. Though she does make me a little worried about meeting your mother. Gave me the impression she isn't likely to like anyone that you brought home." Vanessa leaves unsaid, "Especially someone like me," though it's in her thoughts.

Oliver Queen has posed:
"No, it wasn't just later. Or after we were together." Oliver admits, then lets out a soft chuckle. "It was on the following night. And she was pissed because, well, timezones. I woke her up." he doesn't seem to regret it at all. Brother and sister, go figure. But he does grin at remembering it. "But, she seemed happy at least. Me and relationships, they never went well." which is telling something, considering he is a 35 year old billionaire. Might make one wonder what kinds of skeletons he keeps on that closet.

"Mother doesn't really like anyone. She is my mother, so I love her of course, but she can be insufferable when she wants to. You do have a way with people as I said earlier so.., maybe there is a chance. Let's not worry too much about it." though Oliver doesn't seem to be considering whatever Vanessa was in the past. For him that doesn't seem to matter, only what they will do from now on.

But there's also sandwiches to consume, so he picks it up and starts eating through it.