.003 - sleeping beauty's here again

[greenarrowed]

Well, that was the most convenient nap I've ever taken.



[Open Spam]

[Oliver doesn't think he's ever going to be fully used to the strange things that happen here. Like falling asleep one night and waking up three weeks later like it's no big deal. He's been here long enough to know that it happens and that there's no real explanation for it and there's really no point in dwelling on it.

He misses the island now more than ever, he realizes, as he leans against the railing on the Barge's deck. Lian Yu had its own set of issues and oddities, he'll admit that, but if it's a straight choice between hellboat or an island in the North Pacific, it's not hard to figure which one he'd choose. If it were a choice between Starling City and the island, he can't honestly say he'd actually want to go back home either.

But anyway, Mr. Queen is just brooding at the stars, if interrupting his thoughts catches your fancy.]

Comments

[theonlyresponse]

Good. [He gazes out, oddly distant, remembering something Alfred had told him.] Because if you ever do, that's when you should hang up the bow.

[greenarrowed]

[Oliver raises an eyebrow slightly.] I'll hang up the bow when my job is finished.

[theonlyresponse]

Define "finished." [This job never really ends, bro :|]

[greenarrowed]

[Don't say things like that. Oliver goes quiet for a moment, shifting his weight between his feet, and looking to the floor. It's still so, strange to talk about this casually with someone else who just. Gets it.]

There's a list I was working off of. I got it from my father. It's a list of all the people that ruined our city. Once it's done, I'm done.

[theonlyresponse]

I had a list. [He thought it was that simple, once. Wipe all of them out, systematically. But it never ended, and it cost him so much.] I'm not done.

[Bea isn't, either. He wonders what she would make of Oliver.]

[greenarrowed]

[Yeah, that's real reassuring, Bruce. You should go into the peptalk business.]

I'm not you.

[theonlyresponse]

No. [That much is true, but there's also-] Make sure you don't go down the same road.

[Peptalk business, yep.]

[greenarrowed]

[For the first time in this entire conversation, he cracks a smile and gestures around them.]

Kinda late for that isn't it?

[theonlyresponse]

[He steps closer, and on instinct, everything in him screams intimidation. Almost like he's jabbing a finger into Oliver's chest.] No. It isn't. Not for you.

[greenarrowed]

[If he's intimidated, he doesn't show it.]

What's this? Advice from the old veteran then?

[theonlyresponse]

Advice from a friend. If you have those.

[A little bit of it is self-hatred, for the the part of himself he sees in Oliver. The rest is all concern, however oddly he expresses it.]

[greenarrowed]

[Look old man, Oliver doesn't need people to be concerned about him. He's fine. Totally fine and in control.]

I avoid them, usually. Too much collateral damage.

[theonlyresponse]

[This conversation hits too close to the ones he first had with Alex. What had his ex-warden done? Backed off after a certain amount of time. Bruce can't really do the same, it shows weakness. But hey, this boat is about helping. He's not weak, not any more.] Suit yourself.

[He's still going to be here for you B(]

[greenarrowed]

[He'd like it, in theory, to feel like he belongs somewhere again but the last thing that happened at home, the reason he's here... it just reminded him why he can't have that luxury and it's hard to forget that, even here where people can't actually die apparently.]

Thanks. I guess. [He's turning back to his brooding now, alright try and stop him.]

[theonlyresponse]

[Maybe another day when he's in a less pleasant mood.

He turns to leave.] The CES is quieter.

[except not now because he needs to brood kthnx.]

[greenarrowed]

You need a Warden to get in there. [He says it flippantly, before it really sinks in.]

You didn't...?

[theonlyresponse]

[Oh. Right. But there's was always someone to let him in and now... he could it himself.] Yes, I did.

[greenarrowed]

[Shit Bruce, that's something you start with.

Oliver manages a small smile.] Congratulations.

[theonlyresponse]

[It hasn't completely sunk in yet. He just shrugs.] How long it takes depends on you.

[He knows there's certain things that happen on the ship that can and will break a person. He hopes (odd, isn't it? To hope again) that it won't need the same level of persuasion for Oliver.

Bruce might not be a great example, but he can least serve as a warning.]