4535/A Snowy Brooklyn View

A Snowy Brooklyn View
Date of Scene:	29 December 2020
Location:	Brooklyn
Synopsis:	No description
Cast of Characters:	Vanessa Carlysle, Oliver Queen

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Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
Vanessa and Oliver had made a trip in to New York together. Vanessa wanting to bring some presents to some of her friends there in New Lots, one of the rougher areas in the city. After, the pair had headed to the apartment that she still is keeping. Though rather than living there, it has been primarily a safehouse for Quiver, and of course Green Arrow if he needs it, but especially so for the large talking turtles that both Oliver and Vanessa have become acquainted with to varying degrees.

Though they are not in the apartment at the moment. Vanessa had pulled out a bag she'd brought from home. Inside is warm clothing. Donning it, she and Oliver head up to the roof with a futon, setting it near the edge and then cuddling up in it, with blankets atop them and some hot chocolate in a thermos that Vanessa brought.

The view from the rooftop is beautiful, thanks to the falling snow that covers up the city's grit with a fresh layer of virgin white. City lights twinkle and glitter, in many places setting that fresh layer of snow sparkling like a thousand million little crystals.

Oliver Queen has posed:
Oliver had been more than happy to take a tour back to Brooklyn. Sure, he'd always love Starling first and foremost but there's always something magical about New York snow that has to be witnessed at least once a year. Besides, he knew Vanessa liked being here. It was where her friends were afterall..

And speaking of friends, Oliver had made sure to buy some pizza nearby at Angelo's. Just in case there were turtles about. Yet with none having chosen it as a safe place for tonight they'd be left on the counter. Cold pizza! Mmmm! Though it's not as if Vanessa and Oliver couldn't take a bite in if they wanted to.

But right now there were other ideas, like being up on the roof, watching the city go by around them, the falling snow giving the city a new coat. "Nothing like being up on a rooftop to end a well-spent day." he murmurs, one arm around Vanessa.

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
Vanessa Carlysle cuddles in closer against Oliver's warmth. She donned some long johns under her pants and then a warm turtleneck with a sweater overtop, and then her jacket. She rests her head on Oliver's shoulder and watches the falling flakes. "This was sort of a thing," she says, motioning toward watching the wintery night from the roof.

"Staying warm a bit of an issue, though thankfully it's not windy tonight," she says. Nor too terribly cold. Cold enough for snow, but only a few degrees below freezing. "But when money's short, you turn to these kind of entertainments, you know?" she asks him.

Vanessa slides her hand over onto Oliver's, squeezing it softly through her glove. "More in the summer than the winter though. In the summer, the building over there has movies on the roof," she says, motioning to another of the tenement buildings.

Oliver Queen has posed:
Oliver is dressed rather similarly. Turtleneck. Woolen sweater atop. Gloves and even a wool cap. No chances given considering the temperature! Starling is a bit warmer most of the time. "Entertainments?" it seems to amuse him, at least the choice of word, the squeeze being returned under the covers, face turning to Vanessa for a moment to offer her a grin. One of those that does seem to reach his eyes. Not one he does often, and normally only with family or with Vanessa. Who she was swiftly becoming a part of.

"Movies on the roof..?" He quirks a brow, turning his attention across to that other building. Now that's an idea. It's not exactly something he is too used to. "Community sponsored I am guessing." a beat, "Well, they shouldn't skimp on winter. But I suppose we are the only crazies daring enough to come up here right now." he comments, bringing them closer under those blankets.

"Do you miss it?"

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
"Not like a civic center, organized sort of thing. Just a married couple with a projector who bring it up and invite others to come join them," Vanessa says of the movies. "They play a bit of a variety, though their collection is a little older, as are they. So you're more likely to get Star Wars or Sound of Music than more recent releases," she tells Oliver.

She nestles her head against his shoulder, gently rubbing her cheek against her boyfriend there. "I miss some of the people, though now I'm around a little more to help them. But... well... I do, and I don't I guess. There's so much here to not like that I could probably go on endlessly. But, it was home. So there's always some amount of... feelings there. But I wouldn't change anything that's happened since we met, Oliver. Not a thing."

Oliver Queen has posed:
"I mean, those are movies I wouldn't mind rewatching." Yes, of course Ollie has seen both. Die Hard is a christmas movie? Not for one Moira Queen. That's the Sound of Music. So yes, he knows the songs, and the names of the kids and ..., well, you get the picture. "Though we can skip the sound of music for a while." for obvious reasons!

He listens to Vanessa's talk about her friends, "It's good to focus on the good memories." he says, "But of course that the best is to craft new ones. I was a touch reticent when you mentioned wanting to return here more fully as Quiver. But I understand it now."

His eyes going back to the rooftops. "Wanting to protect this place."

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
Vanessa's hand slides over to Oliver's chest, and she gives a few soft little pats atop his heart. "You of all people, I knew would be able to understand," she tells him. "A lot of people around here who have failed this city. And really, I've only scratched the surface. Taken down a few of the gangs, the muggers, the... worse people. But people are still living in hellhole apartments, with heat, water, other utilities inconsistent at best," she tells him.

Her gaze goes back to the city landscape, but looking at the buildings themselves with more of a critical eye than before, and less just appreciating their snowy, sleepy shapes tonight. "Right now I'm just focusing on making it a little safer. But the time is going to come eventually to deal with bigger problems than the kids dealing rocks down on the corners," she says.

Oliver Queen has posed:
Maybe it's not only Vanessa that can read minds! But Oliver does it with his own experience having gone similar paths. He nods faintly back at Vanessa, smiling when she taps on his heart, "There's always more to be done. But it's important to keep our feet down and in the real. Trying to do too many things at the same time is usually doomed to failure." again, from experience. Like his brief attempt at getting into politics. But it was one of those things he'd try again sometime..

"I suppose what I am saying is that we should not try to take a step bigger than we can." He advises, "We are still learning about your powers afterall. And in our line of work a mistake can be rather fatal.." specially for those not bulletproof! Things are unfair for the common men and women...

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
While Vanessa is training with Oliver, learning for herself the skills that are the bread and butter of Team Arrow, she still has not fended for herself on a mission so far. When it's come down to her own life being on the line, she's gone out mimicking Oliver's skills and experience, only letting them lapse so when she trains she can learn the skills for herself.

She doesn't comment on what he said. Just slides that arm around him, pressing herself in closer against the pleasing bulk of the handsome man that is a decade her senior. Though she never really thinks about that much, when she does she finds she likes that gap in their ages somehow.

"If you never had the company, didn't have the family obligations," Vanessa says, "What would you have wanted to do with your life? What kind of career would you have chose?" she asks.

Oliver Queen has posed:
Never had the company? Well, that's a question ... It has Oliver ponder on it for a time in silence, leaning comfortably with Vanessa, sharing warmth with the woman he loves. "Perhaps archeology. Something out in the field. You could say I gained quite the liking to the outdoors when I was on that island.." a faint laugh. "Well, a love hate relationship more like it."

"But being out there, digging, exploring. Think I would had enjoyed that." A brief shake of his head, "But don't think it's something I will ever do. Not in the normal way at least." he then turning to lean and place a brief kiss atop Vanessa's forehead. "What about you?"

"If you had no obligations, just a blank slate to restart life."

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
Vanessa considers that as Oliver turns her question back towards her. "For me it was... well it wasn't like I had something in front of me that there was a need for me to do it. It was more... not seeing a path. And, well, a lot of being stupid," she says in a wry tone, giving a self-deprecating sigh. "So, I don't know really. My life would have had to be really different to end up differently. And... I just don't know where I'd have felt drawn to," she says.

She draws her hands up to rest on Oliver's shoulder, moving her chin to rest on them as she looks at him. "You see the impact you've had on my life?" she asks him quietly, gazing into his eyes.

Oliver Queen has posed:
"You and me both." Oliver replies with a brief shrug of his shoulders when Vanessa speaks about being stupid, and not seeing a path. Look, young Ollie wasn't a nice person. "I only went to college because parents wanted me to. And again I went for economy because it's what they wanted. I didn't really care, I would just go, know that they would pay up for my education and make sure I graduated.." being rich is hard ...

"So if you'd ask this question to my young self, I suppose he would had said ..., just live off your parents money. Sell the company. Party night and day."

"But I am asking your actual self though, not the old one." A grin again on his features, hand moving up to rest on the back of Vanessa's life and keeping her close, "I do." he then answers her. "And I like seeing you happy."

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
Vanessa Carlysle closes her eyes. The cold air has added a rosy glow to Vanessa's cheeks. One can definitely get an elegant feel from the young woman even despite her upbringing and the life she's had. It might be easy to picture her succeeding in any number of things. Though much more difficult for Vanessa to picture herself like that.

"I just don't really know," she says. "In some ways I'm kind of there. Unconstrained in ways that I never experienced in my life before. Thanks to you," she tells Oliver. She hugs herself to him more tightly. "This is what makes me the most happy. Being with you. And helping people. Helping people like I'd have never imagined I could do before," she tells him. "Maybe that's what I'd have chose. Be a hero from a young age. Like Roy. Even if, well, it wasn't until this last year that my abilities emerged. So maybe it wasn't really possible for me before. Not without someone like you to train me at least," she says. Or an island to train her. But she doesn't bring that up, knowing what his memories of Lian Yu are.

Oliver Queen has posed:
"It only means you have a generous heart. Not many choose the hero's path just for the sake of it, Vanessa." Oliver then replies, feeling her heartbeat against his as they hold one another close, "Yet circumstances often tell us what we can and cannot do with our lives.." something they seemed to had broken out of somehow. "I am glad you have choices now. It's what you deserve." he assures the woman, rather aware of the way she often depreciates herself.

A pause as Oliver then chuckles. "I swear.., we will most likely turn into snowmen soon enough. Whoever had the idea of getting out here with this cold..?" it was partially his fault (well, maybe more than partial) but shhhh! Don't tell him that.

Starling boys do seem the warmth of their city more though!

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
Vanessa Carlysle slides up Oliver's body to bring her lips to his for a kiss that is cool and wintery on the outside, but oh so warm on the inside. After their lips part she slips off of him and back to her feet, reaching down a hand to help Oliver up.

Once they are both on their feet, she slides beneath his arm as they walk towards the doorway that leads down into the building. "Hopefully none of the Turtles come by tonight," she tells Oliver as they open the door and step inside, leaving the rooftop to the falling snowflakes. The door slowly swings shut behind them, cutting off the last bits of their conversation.

"I don't know if they know what the hangar on the doorknob means..."