[Verdant becomes her safe space, her place where she knows she can go, but she also knows how to escape. The paparazzi still haven't quite gotten bored with her yet - the shock of her being back has faded but now people want to know what happened between her and JJ.
Questions she does not want to answer.
But, in Verdant, she can retreat to the VIP areas and most of the time be left alone, but also still be out and about in the world. And when Mickey gets escorted to the table that she's claimed for whoever of their group decides to show, she smiles.]
Hey, you made it. Zoe went to get drinks - if you want, I can text her.
( Living with his best friend's boyfriend's family is not where he saw himself, but he can't deny it doesn't have its' perks. The trust they place in Cooper's friend says a lot about them. But, they're the Queens, he knows they have the resources to make him disappear if he did do anything, so there's not as much a risk on their part. Still, he finds his own slice of life in Star City. He takes it easy with Wes, the bartender. As lame as he feels, he digs into the internet and reads about first coming out and what comes after, what it's like. And some days, he stalks his family on social media. Or, he listens to the last voicemail his brother left him.
He moderates, which is Cooper's plan. Stick with two bags of blood a day. Switch between coffee and alcohol over the course of the day. He also does research on addicts, not going so far as to go to a meeting, but successfully naming his craving but not letting it hold power over him.
He was never made for the lap of luxury, but damn does he like it.
Mia gives him a chance, too. They've come a long way from lying in London. She also helps at giving him a social life beyond Wes, beyond Laurel Queen, and the side-eye he swears he feels from Oliver. It still doesn't feel like his friend group, but if he's honest with himself, when did he have his own friend group, not including the guys in the military, or in Monroe's outfit.
No, it's Cooper.
That's why he has to push himself to connect. Because Cooper was it. And he was too late realizing what that meant. His circumstances didn't help, either. He has nightmares about the Salvatores and about the day by the river.
He doesn't want to hang around Verdant, so it's only the third time he's been there when he goes to meet Mia. He stops off to get a drink from Wes, and to flirt. He actually has a smile on his face as he's escorted back to Mia's VIP hangout.
He holds up his own drink, that he's not sure he has to pay for, but he'll swing back around. If it's on the house, a tip is still in Wes' future. Sitting down, he does consider something. )
[Mia did not request them but Zoe will bring them, so Mickey can have hers. She leans back on the couch and inches over, giving him room to sit so he doesn't feel like he has to hover by the door.]
I'm glad you came. I know this isn't your favorite place.
( He doesn't mind if he does, joining her, setting his glass down, holding it in both hands. He'll take those odds. He goes to say something, a smile cracking, like he's holding in a secret he hasn't told anyone, because he hasn't. He did mention it to one person who is outside of all of this, one wife who caught him coming back late one night. Laurel was nice about it. She has an edge to her that he likes, the unpredictability of a soldier.
His not liking Verdant the first time around came down to sounds and colors and senses in overdrive. But, yeah, he's not a nightclub guy. He's Texas. He's dank and dark and peanuts on the ground.
But, he also slips in anywhere pretty well, even if he doesn't feel like it. )
It's not not my favorite place.
( He doesn't have a favorite place, he's not from here. No, that's not true. He did find a smaller bar he liked, one open during the day for when he had a craving, one that felt like the salt lick he needed. And he likes the backyard of the Queen mansion, and the pool.
He saw William's place once. Swank penthouse. You'd never know William has money, and then you walk into the place his best friend has been shacking up in. But, the days pass and feels less about that. And happier for him. )
( He'd have to agree, though he's still keeping his personal connection close to the vest. He's not the personal guy. As close as he and Cooper had been in the trenches, it was more about camaraderie than anything personal.
Until he was compelled and floating in a river. )
Yeah, a couple of the bartenders, they're - ( they're... ) good.
( In trying not to say too much, he barely says anything. He wonders if that's speaking volumes as he considers what to say next. )
[Her head tips to the side, curious and trying to read in between the lines, but before she can press the issue, Zoe emerges with a tray of shots as well as the cocktail that Mia actually ordered.]
Finally, things are crazy down there tonight.
[She takes in the new face, before extending a hand to him with a smile.]
( He meets her hand with his, giving her a firm shake his father would be proud of before shoving himself further around the booth to give her the room. )
( Zoe gets the all clear as far as he's concerned. )
Bar downstair's being swarmed?
( If he's right about the schedule, Wes' second in still has an hour. It wouldn't be the time to keep him company, but he hopes Wes is holding it down enough. He doesn't know if vampire reflexes translate to mixology and mojitos. )
( That should make all the difference. There's a part of him that settles. His bartender beau isn't being swarmed because he's attractive, he's being swarmed because the Queen Bee is back in the nest. )
I haven't seen William here since the night you brought us all.
( To escape the uncomfortable late lunch. In admitting this, he realizes he's making it clear he's been since and William hasn't. Well. Hunters have haunts. Maybe it will slide by. )
Yeah, from what I've heard Cooper doesn't really like crowds that much.
[Which isn't said to slander his name, she knows that if he wasn't good people, Mia would have punched him in the face already. It's mostly teasing a not-present William because she hasn't been properly introduced to the new boyfriend yet.]
But also he might just be growing out of his clubbing phase.
[Mia, teasing, can jab right back: "Maybe some people should take the hint."
( It's not fair to let an entire city live up to one person, but it kind of does, here, since he and Cooper are on different pages. And Cooper is entitled. He's found his guy. Mickey's not saying he's done the same. Life isn't that convenient, life isn't TV. But, life seems to be shaking out pretty good right about now.
With a roll of (13), he tries to conceal just how much he's liked it so far, always one for playing it closer to the vest. )
It's not Texas. ( In the good and the bad ways. ) You two grew up here?
[Zoe is sharp as a tack (18), and she doesn't miss much. But she's also William's best friend and knows that sometimes, it's not worth pushing people on the personal stuff until they're ready.
She doesn't know Mickey, so she's going to let him divert the conversation.]
Not here, exactly. I grew up in the Glades - which is not as shitty as it used to be thanks to my dad cleaning things up.
Well, I'm the kid of a blue collar worker and a teacher.
( He's been selective of his own circle ever since high school. Until the military. And then until Cooper. Cooper and his brother were his unit. He liked it that way - liked it more than he ever knew until it was too late, but he liked it. )
Nothing wrong with that. My grandmother was a casino waitress for years.
[Donna Smoak is as much of an everyday person as it gets. And Mia is quite fond of her favorite grandmother. She also taught her to walk in heels and do her makeup, much to her father's chagrin.]
But yeah. This probably is a pretty big change. You've honestly had a lot of change recently.
[And she gets that, more than probably anyone else.]
Sometimes when everything is changing you need to be somewhere where there aren't really any expectations.
[Mickey saw the tail end of it, and probably doesn't know many of the details, but at least she knows how freeing it can be.]
When your entire worldview shifts, there's nothing wrong with needing a minute to adjust. Though ... you can probably still take a minute without going radio silent.
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everyonelives2023-03-16 09:07 pm
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Questions she does not want to answer.
But, in Verdant, she can retreat to the VIP areas and most of the time be left alone, but also still be out and about in the world. And when Mickey gets escorted to the table that she's claimed for whoever of their group decides to show, she smiles.]
Hey, you made it. Zoe went to get drinks - if you want, I can text her.
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He moderates, which is Cooper's plan. Stick with two bags of blood a day. Switch between coffee and alcohol over the course of the day. He also does research on addicts, not going so far as to go to a meeting, but successfully naming his craving but not letting it hold power over him.
He was never made for the lap of luxury, but damn does he like it.
Mia gives him a chance, too. They've come a long way from lying in London. She also helps at giving him a social life beyond Wes, beyond Laurel Queen, and the side-eye he swears he feels from Oliver. It still doesn't feel like his friend group, but if he's honest with himself, when did he have his own friend group, not including the guys in the military, or in Monroe's outfit.
No, it's Cooper.
That's why he has to push himself to connect. Because Cooper was it. And he was too late realizing what that meant. His circumstances didn't help, either. He has nightmares about the Salvatores and about the day by the river.
He doesn't want to hang around Verdant, so it's only the third time he's been there when he goes to meet Mia. He stops off to get a drink from Wes, and to flirt. He actually has a smile on his face as he's escorted back to Mia's VIP hangout.
He holds up his own drink, that he's not sure he has to pay for, but he'll swing back around. If it's on the house, a tip is still in Wes' future. Sitting down, he does consider something. )
I wouldn't say no to shots.
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[Mia did not request them but Zoe will bring them, so Mickey can have hers. She leans back on the couch and inches over, giving him room to sit so he doesn't feel like he has to hover by the door.]
I'm glad you came. I know this isn't your favorite place.
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His not liking Verdant the first time around came down to sounds and colors and senses in overdrive. But, yeah, he's not a nightclub guy. He's Texas. He's dank and dark and peanuts on the ground.
But, he also slips in anywhere pretty well, even if he doesn't feel like it. )
It's not not my favorite place.
( He doesn't have a favorite place, he's not from here. No, that's not true. He did find a smaller bar he liked, one open during the day for when he had a craving, one that felt like the salt lick he needed. And he likes the backyard of the Queen mansion, and the pool.
He saw William's place once. Swank penthouse. You'd never know William has money, and then you walk into the place his best friend has been shacking up in. But, the days pass and feels less about that. And happier for him. )
Is it yours?
( The VIP treatment she gets? Unreal. )
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I feel safer here than most places. I can feel relatively confident that Uncle Tommy isn't going to sell me out to the paparazzi.
[She can't say she's been that lucky anywhere else.]
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You know any of the other staff, or just the top of the food chain?
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[And clubs like this can have a high turnover.]
But I know some of them. Tommy tends to hire good people.
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Until he was compelled and floating in a river. )
Yeah, a couple of the bartenders, they're - ( they're... ) good.
( In trying not to say too much, he barely says anything. He wonders if that's speaking volumes as he considers what to say next. )
Thanks for inviting me.
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Finally, things are crazy down there tonight.
[She takes in the new face, before extending a hand to him with a smile.]
You must be Mickey. I'm Zoe.
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Mia said there'd be shots.
( He rubs his hands together, helping himself. )
Mia has friends in high places.
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[She's not ashamed to say it, but when you're running around with the Queens, it opens all kinds of doors.]
And I'm glad she knows me well enough to know that where I go, shots usually follow.
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( Zoe gets the all clear as far as he's concerned. )
Bar downstair's being swarmed?
( If he's right about the schedule, Wes' second in still has an hour. It wouldn't be the time to keep him company, but he hopes Wes is holding it down enough. He doesn't know if vampire reflexes translate to mixology and mojitos. )
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[Zoe's mostly teasing as Mia rolls her eyes.]
People love the hot goss. Or want to try and shoot their shot now that Mia's single.
["Unfortunately none of them are capable of grasping the level to which I am not interested."]
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( That should make all the difference. There's a part of him that settles. His bartender beau isn't being swarmed because he's attractive, he's being swarmed because the Queen Bee is back in the nest. )
I haven't seen William here since the night you brought us all.
( To escape the uncomfortable late lunch. In admitting this, he realizes he's making it clear he's been since and William hasn't. Well. Hunters have haunts. Maybe it will slide by. )
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[Which isn't said to slander his name, she knows that if he wasn't good people, Mia would have punched him in the face already. It's mostly teasing a not-present William because she hasn't been properly introduced to the new boyfriend yet.]
But also he might just be growing out of his clubbing phase.
[Mia, teasing, can jab right back: "Maybe some people should take the hint."
Zoe mock gasps, one hand covering her chest:]
Are you calling me old, pipsqueak?
[Mia shrugs. "If the shoe fits ..."
Zoe reaches for a shot.]
You Queens know how to hit where it hurts.
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I never had a clubbing phase.
( But, he's growing into one, anyway, thanking present company downstairs. )
To hitting where it hurts.
( It's as a good a cheers as any as he downs the shot. )
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[They've had worse toasts. Zoe knocks her shot back before leaning back to look over at Mickey.]
So how have you been enjoying Star City?
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With a roll of (13), he tries to conceal just how much he's liked it so far, always one for playing it closer to the vest. )
It's not Texas. ( In the good and the bad ways. ) You two grew up here?
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She doesn't know Mickey, so she's going to let him divert the conversation.]
Not here, exactly. I grew up in the Glades - which is not as shitty as it used to be thanks to my dad cleaning things up.
[Mia supplies: "Her dad is the mayor."]
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( He's great at diverting. Thank you, Zoe. )
So, heiress and the mayor's daughter. Forget running in circles, pretty sure you are the circle, Mia.
( He's in fancy company. And to think, it's by in-law, if they go into technicalities. )
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[Which is to say he's not wrong, but they're not letting just any heiresses into this particular club.]
That has been curated through years of realizing that most other people in this usual circle suck.
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( He's been selective of his own circle ever since high school. Until the military. And then until Cooper. Cooper and his brother were his unit. He liked it that way - liked it more than he ever knew until it was too late, but he liked it. )
All this -- it's a far cry from small town Texas.
( All of it. Fighting. Hunting. Turning. )
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[Donna Smoak is as much of an everyday person as it gets. And Mia is quite fond of her favorite grandmother. She also taught her to walk in heels and do her makeup, much to her father's chagrin.]
But yeah. This probably is a pretty big change. You've honestly had a lot of change recently.
[And she gets that, more than probably anyone else.]
Sometimes when everything is changing you need to be somewhere where there aren't really any expectations.
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( As groundless and rootless as he feels, it's the first time someone has given him permission to be. )
You're speaking with experience, underneath all the Mia Queen of it all.
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[Mickey saw the tail end of it, and probably doesn't know many of the details, but at least she knows how freeing it can be.]
When your entire worldview shifts, there's nothing wrong with needing a minute to adjust. Though ... you can probably still take a minute without going radio silent.
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