every day a little sting

[wildkingdom]

Comments

[pumping]

We need to stop her. Find who was taken. Save Cooper once and for all. Pull him and everyone else who aren't meant for this out. Convince her we're going along with it until then. Short term. And... not immolate you.

( It's all a work-in-progress, okay? He's not usually the one. )

[regentem]

I can tell you who was taken. Hayley Marshall, Josh Rosza, Derek Hale, and some witch named Maura.

[And Terry. Who is currently dead.]

[pumping]

That doesn't help me. Until Cooper was called into question, I was MIA and before that I wasn't top of the food chain. This guy here'll know more than me. Unless - being senior's really just an age thing. Sorry.

( Would it help to say he raised quite the son? )

[regentem]

[Sullivan Sr. raises an eyebrow back at him, before setting his jaw. "I know where they are. But unless you've got a ton of backup, getting all of them out of there alive is going to be a challenge, to say the least."]

[pumping]

Then - let's reunite father and son. Show him I'm a man of my word and get more heads together. If she thinks I'm off with Michael, she won't care until our business with Davina is done and - it won't be.

( Not as far as he's concerned. )

Buy you some magic time.

[regentem]

[Davina cannot believe that this is her life right now, but hey. As long as they're not setting her on fire.]

I'm gonna guess you're driving then.

[pumping]

( (8). He is not head hunter. )

Do - witches not have licenses?

( No. Really. This is your savior. )

[regentem]

[... Honestly, this is kind of refreshing but also a little frustrating.]

You're supposed to be setting me on fire. She's got an eye on all the city cameras, and you want to risk her catching me running around New Orleans driving a car?

[Michael is also giving you a bit of a skeptical look, Mickey.]

[pumping]

Yeah, I get it. You're in the back. Cooper, you drive, then. I'll navigate. We need a body matching Davina's.

( It's a lot to arrange. )

[regentem]

[Davina takes a deep breath, and nods as she rocks back into the van and Sullivan reaches forward to close the door.]

This should be fun.

[pumping]

( He climbs in, placing a call to Bela while navigating them to a certain morgue (5). He is not a local in New Orleans and it shows. It's probably good he's calling. )

[enjoythe_ride]

[It probably is. And she will give him directions to the morgue in question, as well as the back loading bay, that isn't viewed by any external cameras, just to be on the safe side.]

[pumping]

( With directions, he's a reckless, if unseasoned driver. A bit impatient and he fiddles with the radio too much, but with Santeria playing over the speakers, Davina can sit up as they're hidden by the overhang of the loading bay and the concrete wall opposite them. (2) spot check for anyone suspicious or any cameras? LOL )

[enjoythe_ride]

[He doesn't see anyone. Mostly because there's no one there. As he pulls to a stop, Bela comes out the door, easing down the stairs to meet them.

Sullivan raises an eyebrow. "Bela Talbot's your contact?"]

[pumping]

You shouldn't ask me who hers is. I promise. Cooper's at the end of whatever color this brick road is.

( he says it getting out of the car, pulling open the back door for Davina. he can still be a gentleman. )

[enjoythe_ride]

[Bela stops when she sees Davina, and tips her head to the side curiously.]

Do you happen to have the other faction heads stored in that van?

[Davina shakes her head. "Just me. He's supposed to be setting me on fire."

Sullivan also climbs out of the van, looking skeptical. Bela notices before gesturing to the door.]

Let's take this inside, shall we?

[pumping]

I'll flank the rear.

( Hand to his gun, he wants to be ready if there is somebody to find.

William has moved him, his sister, and Cooper into the waiting room now that they don't have to pretend is no-longer long-distance boyfriend is dead. He hasn't moved further away however, fingers still in Cooper's, sitting close. )

[positiveinfluence]

[Bela leads them inside to the waiting room, where the Queens and Cooper are waiting. Coop glances over when the door opens and then sits up straight, suddenly, when his father is the one following Davina Claire through the door.]

Dad?

[Sullivan stares back at his son for a moment as the younger man gets to his feet. He reaches out gently, placing a hand on his shoulder to make sure he's solid before fishing out his flask. "You know the drill."

Cooper doesn't hesitate, just unscrews the top and takes a swig of the holy water-vervain mixture. And then makes a face before handing it back.]

That's still foul.

[But he doesn't smoke, which is the important thing. Sullivan shakes his head before pulling him in. "Jesus, kid, you scared the shit out of me."]

[pumping]

( At dad, William looks up, is left and -- stands up himself, the picture of the CEO of Queen Consolidated, waiting for his chance. If he gets this chance. This isn't about him at all. Right, he'll stand right here.

Mickey remembers Mia, though. )

Hey.

[positiveinfluence]

[Mia's eyes narrow, because yes. She does know you. She glances from him to Bela before raising an eyebrow. "This is your inside man?"

Coop pulls back after a second, before glancing back over his shoulder to his boyfriend.]

Dad, this is William. William, Dad.

[Sullivan straightens, studying the other man briefly as he waits to see what he has to say for himself.]

[slavophile]

( "Captured, against-his-will," to Michael, "Until recently, promise," and back to Mia. "inside man."

William was not expecting a father-son reunion, or meeting any parents. This trip is somehow everything and nothing all at once. He has never experienced this much emotion in one hour.

But.

He's a CEO and an environmentalist and former Team Arrow member. And this is his boyfriend's father. He steps up to the plate, offering his hand. (13) )

William Queen, sir. It's nice to meet you.

[positiveinfluence]

["Right. Oliver Queen's son." He'll shake it, studying him a bit before turning back to his son. "He is your type."

Coop rolls his eyes.]

Be nice.

[In the meantime, Mia is still trying to put the pieces together. "Were you an inside man in London?"]

[slavophile]

( "No. And not on my bachelor party," he clarifies. )

She knows.

( William keeps Cooper's father's gaze, not looking away. )

And yes, Oliver Queen is my father. But, Samantha Harris was my mother. And she raised me until she died. And Felicity Smoak. I am not a product of my parents, but I learned a lot from them. I am my own man, Mr. Sullivan.

[positiveinfluence]

["I'm sure you are."

But that's all he's going to say on that for now. He's going to turn back to the rest of the room and cross his arms in front of his chest.

"We need some kind of plan here. Monroe told us to burn the regent at the stake, so she's going to be expecting that to go up soon."]

[slavophile]

( "I thought, find similar height, similar weight," Mickey offers. "Torch her. Them. Not Davina." )

We don't know what experts she has on her. Torch them, but what if they know it isn't Davina. It buys us, maybe an hour. Let's just keep faking every death.

( Wait a second. Something occurs to him. )

But, what if we did. What if we engineered what looks like a public standoff, all enter the same building and -- blow it up. There are tunnels under the city, so we won't. But, it's easier to kill us all than to just kill Davina. That way, there's no stake needed - I'm -- guessing she wanted you burned at the stake.