some guys think they can't be winners

[beanchaointe]

Comments

[kapiushon]

( "It's their cover. Tax purposes. And, it does finance their extracurricular legal activities. They save the supernatural," he says proudly, but not boastfully. He's not running down his list of wrongdoing, he's doing good.

Also,

"Isaac Lahey. He's a werewolf in Scott McCall's pack." )

And he saves...

( "Witches, werewolves, and other supernatural people and creatures that need saving." )

Like Slayers?

( Oliver has never been good at easing into topics, and that particular pink elephant is one that needs to be addressed. He'll get back to the arms dealing saviors. )

[blackstarred]

Kind of.

[Mia isn't sure they're wholly compatible but:]

Slayers were created to protect humans from vampires. But sometimes the less harmful supernatural creatures need protection from humans.

[kapiushon]

And they need you and your brother.

( He's just trying to understand everything. )

[blackstarred]

I don't know about need.

[They've certainly got enough manpower that they don't need someone like Mia. Maybe they do need William, but he's got a different skill set from her.]

But it's the right thing to do.

[kapiushon]

You're doing it the right way.

( He does understand, especially where he came from and the lengths he went to as the Green Arrow. )

And as yourselves.

[blackstarred]

Not like we can be anyone else.

[The waitress comes to take their orders, and as they're passing the menus back, William's phone goes off with one of those Google alerts that he set up to be informed when Mia happened to pop up on the grid.

All that's there is a TMZ headline: Queen heiress reappears in Prague with new mystery date.]

[kapiushon]

( So. He just - stares, taps the article and scrolls. Oh, and then he orders, setting his phone beside him on the seat. What article? He rolls a (2) to try and mask that he read anything, but, (2), so. He clearly read something that tripped him up. )

[razes]

[Mia's sitting next to him, so she doesn't catch the look right away, but Laurel being directly across from him can't help but raise an eyebrow.]

Something wrong?

[slavophile]

Uh. Probably not.

( Not wrong, no. )

It's just - TMZ. You know the tabloids and our family.

[blackstarred]

[She can't help but raise an eyebrow, because who's in the tabloids this time?]

Did someone dredge up something from Dad and Uncle Tommy's party days again?

[Completely oblivious to the fact that they might be talking about her.]

[kapiushon]

( Well, he probably wouldn't have said something, but because Mia is trying to pin it on their father, or uncle? )

I was the Hood, the Arrow, and then the Green Arrow, you'd think they'd get tired of the billionaire playboy.

( William does wince at that.

"Let's not mention your hard partying manwhore days," he says, casually. )

Do you want me to mention your most eligible bachelor profile, or the exposé on your exes and your trust issues? ( Hey! ) I read.

( "It's not you, Dad. Or, me. It's Mia. And it does involve one of Uncle Tommy's clubs." You all pried, fine. He unlocks his phone and sets it down on the table. )

[blackstarred]

[Her eyes narrow before she reaches for his phone to read the article. Then she groans, tipping her head back as she reaches for her own phone.]

I should warn Hope.

[Sends off a quick text: We might be on TMZ, sorry.]

[kapiushon]

Who's Hope?

( He takes William's phone next, scanning. He's used to having one gay son. )

Are you --

[blackstarred]

[We're in the twenty forties probably, Oliver. Everyone is bi.

But that's not the point. She narrows her gaze at him briefly, before responding.]

Hope is my not single friend, who I went to check out Verdant Prague with. TMZ is blowing things out of proportion, as per usual.

[kapiushon]

( He still wants to be supportive. Labels or no labels. And he's not so sure he's bi, but he's never had or tried the chance. He did grow up in a very different time and family. Not the point, this is about his daughter. )

Okay. Then they don't know what they're talking about and it will die out on its' own. Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson will probably get remarried.

( What. He's a public figure who knows public figures.

We might be or we are?
We are
Really unflattering angle of me )

I just want to know you guys are safe. And, if not, safe - living your lives on your terms. I know you didn't choose to be a slayer.

[blackstarred]

[Sorry. I thought I was off their radar.

Her defensiveness softens again, before she shrugs.]

Honestly, joining up with the Slayers was probably one of the better choices I've made lately.

[kapiushon]

I'm going to ignore that joining up with the slayers also cut off contact with your family. But, I understand doing what you have to, and pulling away to do it.

( Too many times, he pulled away from his team or outright defied them to do his own thing. )

If anyone ever doubted you were my kids.

[blackstarred]

[Well, okay. She probably shouldn't have done that part.]

I'm sure the hole in the floor of a Czech clock tower would agree that I'm very much your daughter.

[kapiushon]

That sounds historically... significant.

( Did Mia vandalize a Czech landmark? )

[blackstarred]

More magical than historical?

[She wouldn't know. She skipped the tour.]

But someone cast a spell on it to try and trap us in the same room over and over again and the only way to get out was to get off the floor. So I blew a hole in it.

[Laurel can't help but laugh. "Good girl."]

[kapiushon]

Did that -- stop the spell?

( He is not well versed in anything magic. Their uncle Constantine would be the one to go to for this. )

[blackstarred]

No. But it only applied to that floor, so by going down, we were no longer stuck in an endless loop of insanity.

[It was for the best.]

[kapiushon]

The problem was solved.

( "One problem. It got a lot messier, but because of a competing - or contributing spell. But, hey, we're here in one piece." So, don't worry too much, dad or Laurel. )

[blackstarred]

It was a crazy, witchy time. And not nearly as bad as Knightsbridge, so I guess we should be thankful for that too.

[The body count of Prague was eight. The body count in London was a lot higher.]

[kapiushon]

What is Knightsbridge?

( He's trying to keep up, it's just very hard! )