sometimes people leave you halfway through the wood

[madskilled]

Comments

[blackstarred]

Yeah. Pretty much.

[There are some other bonus features that come along with it, but she'll let Oliver process before giving him the full details.]

[kapiushon]

Why didn't you at least, send one message. If you needed time.

( Everyone thought she wasn't ready to marry J.J. who'd asked for her hand. Oliver thought so, too. )

I know I'm the last person that can call you on disappearing.

( But, Mia! )

[blackstarred]

I know, I know.

[The guilt is starting to set in. How William was in that building looking for her, and she could have just as easily found a body rather than her brother. She doesn't have a good reason for going AWOL, beyond:]

I just didn't know what to say.

[kapiushon]

You say that you have a problem, or that something happened. You know what I've been through. Your uncle's a meta. Constantine's a sorcerer - of sorts. Did you think I couldn't handle it?

( Did you underestimate your father, Mia? He's just trying to get to the bottom of it. )

[blackstarred]

No.

[Of course not. Oliver's weathered a lot of bs over the years, he would likely take vampires being real in stride.]

But ... it was a lot. Vampires and demons are a lot. I wasn't even sure I was handling it and I didn't want you guys getting hurt because I didn't know how to protect you.

[A pause.]

I know it sounds really dumb, but I thought that staying away, at least until I got a handle on this Slayer thing was the right thing to do.

[kapiushon]

( Maybe, maybe he could buy not wanting her brother to be hurt, but her father thinks he could hold his own against a vampire or a demon. He has, hasn't he? But. He also understands. )

Look, I get it. You were scared and confused and still learning. But, next time, loop us in. We can handle ourselves. Or, did you forget my one-time wife training you and your brother in the backyard?

[blackstarred]

I did not forget. It actually gave me a leg up on the rest of the Slayers so thanks for that.

[Though the other girls probably didn't appreciate it.]

And yeah. Next time I'll do better. I promise.

[kapiushon]

I'm not going to think about what you'd become if there is a next time. Where's your brother?

( Seriously. )

[blackstarred]

He went to get some air, I think. He wanted to give us a chance to talk first, I told him I'd let him know when I did.

[She tips her head back against the wall.]

He's tied up in something else. I'm gonna stay with him.

[kapiushon]

He threatened to call me if you didn't, didn't he?

( You two and your ultimatums. )

What's he tied up in?

( WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH HIS CHILDREN? )

[blackstarred]

[She's not going to dignify that question with a response.]

Oh, you're going to have to talk to him about that.

[Mostly because she doesn't have all the details and it's William's turn to squirm.]

[kapiushon]

( So. He. Did. )

Nice set up. He's not coming home any time soon, is he?

[blackstarred]

He said he was going out for a drink.

[So it depends on who he meets at the bar.]

But I said I'd text him when I'm done so I'll let him know you want to talk to him.

[kapiushon]

I mean, to Star City, Mia.

( Mia. )

[blackstarred]

Oh.

[That home.]

I don't know. What he's wrapped himself up in, I think it's only just starting.

[kapiushon]

Words I'm fond of hearing.

( He's not. )

I know this is coming from me, but I just want you safe. And if not, safe, then available. That's all I ask.

[blackstarred]

This is my current phone. You can call me and I'll answer. And if I have to get a new one, I'll let you know.

[Because she's her mother's daughter and she knows the value of having a network of burner phones.]

Promise. And I am sorry, Dad.

[kapiushon]

Let me know. Let Laurel know.

( Both. Just in case. But. )

I know, Mia. I love you.

( When he's done the phone call, he brings down the phone and turns back to Laurel 2.0, brings a hand up and just -- )

This is what I get.

[razes]

[She raises an eyebrow at him as she takes a sip from her drink.]

Shocked that your children stepped into their father's footsteps?

[kapiushon]

When my mother threatened I'd have kids like me, I thought she'd meant hard partying.

( But that's how he'd been when she'd threatened that with a smile. She always loved him, even when he was a cad. Give him a second and then he settles himself back into his chair and sets his phone down. )

[razes]

I think both of them are guilty of that too, if it helps.

[She reaches over and rubs his shoulders as he does, giving him a chance to settle in and relax.]

Is Mia okay?

[kapiushon]

She's -- ( He takes a big, long breath. ) Been activated. She's magic. A vampire slayer.

( So. Take that. And run with it because he is still wrapping his head around. )

[razes]

Oh. Oh wow.

[Not the words Laurel was expecting to hear today.]

That sounds complicated.

[kapiushon]

Just another set of circumstances I can't keep my kids from. William gets kidnapped ( or has these high profile break-ups ) and Mia gets activated. I thought she wasn't ready, to marry J.J. I wasn't ready for her to marry J.J., but. The world keeps happening to my kids. Is this what my mother feels like?

[razes]

Probably.

[She shifts in closer, brushing her thumb against the nape of his neck.]

But the world happens to everyone's kids. It just hits some people harder than others.