9627/Arrow-gals!

Arrow-gals!
Date of Scene:	14 January 2022
Location:	Arrowcave
Synopsis:	Sekrits!
Cast of Characters:	Felicity Smoak, Thea Queen

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Felicity Smoak has posed:
It seems that if she's not at work in her office at Queen Consolidated, she's here, in the 'Cave. Felicity is nothing if not a creature of habit, only her habits are actually starting to change a little. She's got a little bit more of a spring in her step, a smile can be caught in reaction to a thought, and the pencils that are usually chewed to graphite are beginning to survive for just a little bit longer.

Today, she has a couple of red roses in a bud vase, complete with a spray of leaves and petite baby's breath. They're fully open and actually fragrant, as opposed to that 'hot house' look but no scent.

Felicity is working on her side display monitor, her fingers dancing over the keys as if she was playing a sonata on piano. Every few moments, she grunts softly in response to the actions before her, and with a sly smile, she murmurs, "Oh no... let's see what you think about this.."

Thea Queen has posed:
The young Queen is not that often a presence at the cave. At least not in the same manner as her brother is. Amazingly though she can often be found around when Oliver isn't. Are they the same? Sharing the same identity? A symbiosis of Queens to form the ultimate Queen? No, it's just Thea making sure to avoid her brother. As little sisters often do.

And tonight is no different. She knows he isn't around so she has actually been around, training at the shooting range with a bow, doing a few exercises. She even went to do the salmon ladder! Just a couple of steps though. That blasted exercise is harder than it looks.

"Ugh, no idea how he does it so easily.." She grumbles mostly to herself, stretching her limbs up. The time she has been here today has been enough to spot those small changes in Felicity, "I see someone's happy. What's been up with -you-?" she asks, running a small towel over the back of her neck while approaching. She makes a point of stopping near the roses.

Felicity Smoak has posed:
For some reason, even though the operation is all Oliver's; it lives or dies by him, even Felicity is kind of avoiding him. So, there is that common bond underscoring the pair. It's strange; how not to find Oliver is to go to his 'hangout'.

It's nice to have a little company so she's not feeling completely alone, but given her mood lately, she's not quite as self-deprecating as usual, either. "When he does it with us around, he shows off. I bet when he's alone, it's hard for him." Still, the view is amazing! "I'm considering a work-out plan." Blue eyes are still glued to the screen as she chats; multitasking, at its best! "Just considering. I'm not about to go on those 5 mile runs."

Not this girl!

Thea's approach does bring Felicity's attention up off the monitors for a moment, before she offers a smile, albeit a slightly sheepish one. "Flowers from home." Uh huh.

Thea Queen has posed:
There's a moment in which Thea opens her mouth to challenge the logic of Felicity's statement on how hard it is for Ollie to do salmon ladder. But then ..., she keeps her silence. That way leads madness! And besides, she is finding a few -things- that she is getting quite curious about, "A work-out plan, mmmmm..." fingertips lightly taptap over her chin, "We can start with the two mile runs." she suggests.

"You won't even feel a thing." It's true, those muscles won't be feeling a thing after the run! At least on the first ones...

And she didn't even need to ask about the flowers. That Felicity had the urge to justify herself about them is telling. Oh so telling. So a cheshire smile appears on Thea's expression. "Red roses?" an eyebrow curls up with curiosity.

"Don't you lie to me, Felicity Smoak. I have taught you all I know about the trade." The trade of lying, that is. Thea is a master where it comes to misdirection!

Felicity Smoak has posed:
"Considering," Felicity repeats, and she sits back in her seat, pushing up on her glasses again. The smile is there, but it is a touch challenging. With a laugh, she shakes her head, "I'm talking 5 sit-ups. Maybe one pushup." There's a pause before, "Maybe ten minutes on the treadmill." Maybe.

"Yes, from home," is insisted, her head canting slightly, and she sits a little straighter in her chair. "They were a gift." There's that smile at a thought again, and she's in that 'middle distance' briefly before she's front and center once more.

A grin rises, lighting her expression a touch more, "So I heard things, too, Thea. Alex and I had a lovely chat." Cut her off at the pass!

Thea Queen has posed:
"Ten minutes on the treadmill but I adjust the speed." Thea bargains in return. It's quite the different Thea from a few months ago to this part. Where she used to perhaps be a bit softer around the edges there's a sharpness to her posture and physical form that hadn't been there before. Has she turned into one of those people that wakes up at 5am? Ugh...

Or is it a cat that she resembles? One on the prowl for certain. "A gift.." she echoes, or is it a singsong? Arms get folded on the back of Felicity's chair and her head pops over the other woman's shoulder, "Inquiring minds want to know..."

Being cut off at the pass though. So rude. It makes those blue eyes that so resemble Ollie's squint just a touch, "Did you now?" she says about the talk with Alex. "And what did you talk about?" so casual.

Felicity Smoak has posed:
"No. There is absolutely no way.."

Felicity knows her friend, and from the looks of it right now? She'd be running a sprint for those 10 minutes. "Not that I don't trust you, but I trust you to do what you're going to do." There's a moment when she gets that //look//, very typical for Felicity to put words together a little awkwardly, and this is pretty much one of those times.

Some things just don't change.

"A gift, yes." And not from Oliver! "I'm just actually starting to get a life, is all."

She is cut off at the pass, and Felicity pushes to steeeeeeer that other bit. "I did." She pushes herself away from the tables in her rolly-chair to look at her friend more fully. "We? He talked about yooooou."

Thea Queen has posed:
"I am glad you trust me to do what's best for you." And while Felicity is known to put together words awkwardly Thea is known to put words on other people's mouths. "I am glad you agree. We will start soon." light fingers tapping on Felicity's shoulder with approval, "Tomorrow at 9am? We will meet here." she says to the other. And just like that it's set. "It will be fun." she promises Felicity with a small grin.

It being a gift is put aside for a small moment. Just a small one really while she focuses on what Felicity said after, "He talked about me? Sorta loosey lips he must have. And what did he talk about?" she rests her hands on her hips, looking upon Felicity with quirked brows.

"Fine, fine. We have been going out. Is that what you wanted to know?", a pause, "Or wait, maybe you -knew- that already."

Felicity Smoak has posed:
There's the jaw drop, and the glasses that get pushed up even as she shakes her head. "Oh no.. not on my weekend. Besides, it's a holiday coming up. Sorry, can't.." But, Felicity is absolutely certain that no amount of refusal is going to matter to the younger woman. So, she's going to be hurting.

It's a slow recovery, but a recovery all the same as Alex comes back to the fore. "Yes, yes I did. But he sounds like he's stuck on you." She pauses before she finishes, "It's cute." Beat. "When are you going to tell Oliver?"

Thea Queen has posed:
"What else do you have to do on your weekend?" Thea then retorts, "Maybe meet with this mystery man that's lavishing you with red roses, perhaps? Should I inquire more about him?" there's a certain ..., pressure out of Thea though. She is digging for something. Or perhaps she just doesn't want something to be true, "I am your friend, Fel. You know you can talk to me about things." a faint smile to her lips.

That final question about Oliver has Thea quirking a brow. "Never?" is the immediate answer before she lets out a sigh, "I have been avoiding him for a while now, eventually he will start finding it suspicious. It's a long dance that he and I have played now." her shoulders rise in a shrug, resigned, as if there was no avoiding it.

"Stuck on me though? What do you mean, mmm?" She asks, eyes twinkling mischievously.

Felicity Smoak has posed:
"I actually have a life," well, now she does. Kinda. Sorta. "Well, I'm getting one. Plus," and she waves at the screens, "I've gotten a couple of hits on a few things that have to be followed up on. That's not to mention figuring out who the new archer girl is that was in town."

How's that for chaaaaaanging the subject? New archer girl!

"But, if you must know," Felicity starts slowly, lowering her voice, "Slade took me out for dinner the other night. And, the flowers were from him." There. It's official. She actually said the words.

As for her, however? Felicity continues, "Not going to tell Oliver." Not yet, anyway. "He has been nothing but a gentleman."

Thea Queen has posed:
"What new archer girl?" That prompts an instant frown out of Thea. Also a look to the screens. Maybe there's an image there! Thea is a territorial creature, come into it at your own risk! "There's only one archer girl in Starling." there. She is already marking out the frontiers of her turf. "Well, there was Cupid too. But psychos don't count.." or do they?

Talking about Slade though? Is that some color draining out of Thea's face? Or just confirmation of her suspicions. She lets out a faint sigh, mostly to herself. "I see." a brief nod of her head. "Seems you two are finding some common ground. It's good that you are going out a bit more." her tone is very neutral though.

"Has Slade told you much about himself?" she then inquires, blue gaze fully on Felicity.

Felicity Smoak has posed:
Felicity watches Thea, and the smirk that plays on her face means she's gotten the reaction she figured she would when mentioning the 'new archer girl' in town. "Didn't recognize her. Crossbow. Was on the docks, shaking up the businesses." Mob bosses, that is. "I sent her a quick text," //how// she did that, however, she doesn't divulge. She has secrets!

"No, psychos don't count." She tilts her head, and adds, "I don't believe I actually had to answer that."

Is that color draining from Thea's face? It's hard to keep a neutral expression when one's face is pale. "What?" It's a singley worded question, but it holds a whole lot, even if it may sound lightly confrontational. "He compliments me. Actually thinks I'm pretty as well as smart." She could sound a touch defensive, and she nods, underscoring, "A little, yes. Former officer in the military, which makes sense."

Thea Queen has posed:
"Oh, crossbows..." Thea says that as if it was the inferior weapon. Peasant weapon! Bows require the real skill! Thea runs one hand up through her hair almost as if dismissing crossbow girl and her challenge to Thea's turf. "Well, keep me posted. It might be someone new and it's better we get to them before they get themselves killed. Could always be a Gothamite, I can ask around my contacts too ..." oooo, contacts in Gotham! "I met the Canary a couple of weeks ago." a sigh, "She can be very .., expansive.."

Pausing to go fetch a water bottle nearby Thea takes the time to recover from that initial 'blow'. Color has returned! And she was actually thirsty too. So she takes a minute drinking before returning to the talk itself, "I am sure he does. You most likely realized we knew one another back at New Year's party.." she sets the bottle down on the table, folding her arms together.

"He didn't tell you how he knows me, did he?"

Felicity Smoak has posed:
"I'm keeping my eye out. Besides, when I texted her, I did mention that we needed her target and asked her not to kill him." After all, higher level dock worker contacts are hard to come by! "She didn't, so I think she might be okay.

"The Canary?" Not a name she knows, and immediately, Felicity rolls forward to start typing, looking up files on this new person. "Give me a few minutes, and we'll have expansive information on her.."

The few moments apart also allows Felicity a little breathing room, and she murmurs, "It'll be okay," before Thea returns. The other woman, too, is a great deal more collected.

"I just figured that he knew you because he knows Oliver?" After all, she's heard the name. Just not a lot, and certainly not in any of the more private conversations. Felicity is more out of the loop than she realizes. "I figured. He walked me home from the party. It was nice, having an escort home. Not that anyone would have really bothered me, but.. and when I got up the next morning, there were flowers in my kitchen." From him.

Thea Queen has posed:
"Black Canary. Has .., quite the scream. She invited me over to Gotham for ..., drinks. You should come too, for the drinking part." Because Thea surely won't be drinking anything stronger than some OJ. Maybe she will go daring and get some grape juice too. That's where wine comes from, right? Grapes...

"So, he got into your home without you knowing and left you flowers?" Yes, Thea is deliberately trying to make it sound creepy. So manipulative! But she's got a horse in this race. And besides, she's the type of friend that feels she knows best.

"But yes, he knows Oliver quite well. And he knows me as well." she presses her lips to a thin line for a few moments, thoughtful, "We understand each other..." it almost sounds as if there should be a 'but' coming after those words. But it doesn't come. Instead she drinks more water.

Felicity Smoak has posed:
Felicity shakes her head again, "Going for drinks in Gotham. I heard you correctly, right?" Brows do rise, and she looks at her friend over the rim of her glasses. "I'll go, only if you need a wingman." And even then!

She can almost predict where this is going, and Felicity holds her hand up to try and block the arguments that she has a feeling will be coming. "Yes. He walked me home, then dropped off flowers. Thea," she pauses and puts her hand down, her attention on her friend, "He makes me feel wanted. He makes me feel like I'm pretty. That he actually sees me, as opposed to my being a piece of furniture."

There's a moment of silence before, "Understand each other? What?" There's both the puzzled look and curious, all vying for a spot on her face. "But? I hear it, but don't hear it."

Thea Queen has posed:
"You are not a piece of furniture, Fel. And I hope no one here makes you feel like that, not even my stubborn-headed of a brother." Thea's little frown grows a bit in intensity, lips jerking to the side as she considers on how best to approach this. In the end she finally shrugs, "When next you meet with him ask how we both know one another. If anything it should be him telling you.."

And she realizes maybe how it sounds and lifts one hand, "No, we are not having an affair of anything of the sort. I know how your mind likes to wander.." she does know Felicity well after all!

Thea then lets out a brief laugh without much mirth in it, "I am making it weird, aren't I?" she shakes her head to herself. "It's because I worry about you." and nothing about her inability to express things about her past, her dead father and Slade's role in that.

Felicity Smoak has posed:
"Thea, Oliver complained to me that his blind date stood him up. All while he was expecting me to take care of his wounds because he decided to go out on his own." If that's not furniture? "I mean, I don't mean furniture, furniture, but.. there are times when I think that I really won't be missed if I'm not down here." Felicity smiles tightly before she sighs, "I just like being noticed." She lifts her shoulders a little, adding, "To feel like I'm wanted, even if it's only for a little while." Because, promises. She's not holding Slade to his promise of 'always by her side'.

Eyes of blue narrow behind thick glasses lenses again, though it's not in that 'jealousy' expression. More, an 'out with it'. "Okay, should I ask both of you to see if your stories match? I mean, come on, Thea. I get that Oliver's got stories that I'll never hear, that he'll never tell me because I'm not anyone he'd confide in." Does she sound frustrated over that thought? Absolutely! She does continue, however, "But you tell me, how do you know him?" She smirks soon after, and echoes, "Yes, yes you are making it really weird. Just out with it."

Thea Queen has posed:
Thea gets that serious look to those blue eyes. She reaches over to place each of her hands on Felicity's shoulders. "Felicity." gaze on gaze. "Stop." is that an order? "Stop demeaning yourself like you do not matter. You are an important part of this operation, the glue that keeps everything together. My brother is .., my brother. He has his faults, we both know it. Like I have mine. But never for a moment think you aren't wanted, or that I won't be there for you."

She takes in a breath, chewing on her inner-cheek before finally speaking up. "Remember how I have been changing this last year? Sharper? How I am more fit, etc..?" she says, "Well, Slade has been part of it. He has been part of it. He is the one that trains me." there, she revealed it. Or part of it at least. But it's better than nothing!

Felicity Smoak has posed:
It's a slow delivery, but it comes all the same, "I know." She believes it, honest! "He sends me flowers." A little, simple thing. "Oliver is Oliver, and Thea, you know I'd do anything for him." Her words are in earnest, the truth of them plain, "Just like I'd do anything for you."

The slight trackback, and the little subtle stages that Thea's gone through in the past year, plus, hasn't escaped her notice. "Yes," she encourages to the 'remember how..' question. "So, that's not a bad thing, right? That's just a thing." Right? "If he wasn't good at it, you wouldn't be doing that." Or, conversely, if Thea wasn't any good, he wouldn't be spending the time. She does chuckle soon after, however, and the smile remains behind,

"I am not going running first thing in the morning. Not for anybody."

With the little secrets divulged, each holding back just a little from the other, the essential stories have been told. Yet another thing the two girls share!