only death can part us now

[patrols]

Comments

[bereavements]

I've experienced wilder.

( Okay, so they're talking about it. Well, the wedding did get attacked by vampires earlier, so there's nothing off limits. )

My dad's a vampire-werewolf hybrid, my mom was a werewolf-now a hybrid, and my grandmother was the first witch. But, metahuman... Sounds like it counts?

[canarying]

She has a sonic scream. Can blow out someone's eardrums if they make her angry enough.

[She gives a small shrug.]

My dad was also a superhero but he did it the old fashioned way of learning how to punch things.

[bereavements]

Count me as someone not looking to make her mad enough.

( Wow. )

Really. Superhero. But no powers?

[canarying]

There are more of them than you think. But yeah - have you heard of Wild Dog?

[Zoe would never say it to Rene's face, but he was kind of more of a B-Team hero. But he was her hero, so that should count for more than anything else.]

[bereavements]

Can't say that I have, but I've never been to Star City, or to Seattle. And my brand of superhero have always come in the supernatural flavor. Or, at least tinged. I guess Mia is tinged now, too.

( With her slayerness. )

[canarying]

[Zoe nods because that much is true. The Slayer end of things definitely gave her a super charge.]

True. She was scary enough even before she had super strength.

[Zoe doesn't really think Mia needed that but what does she know.]

But it's nice that she's made so many friends through it, though. Like ... real friends, not her superficial socialite friends she used to have.

[JR and Quentin don't count in the latter.]

[bereavements]

Really? I thought she was socialite royalty?

( Yes, with Oliver Queen for a father, whom she's now familiar with. )

She's worth befriending. And she's helped a lot of people, whether she knows it or not.

[canarying]

She was. That's why everyone wanted to be in her circle but very few of them actually cared.

[It's about status and clout, a lot of the time. Zoe hates it, but she wasn't raised in it.]

I think she's figuring it out, one way or another.

[bereavements]

Are you leading up to a question, or are we just making small talk?

( There's a glint in your eye, Zoe. )

[blackstarred]

She's trying to get you to spill secrets you don't know.

[Mia will helpfully supply, after coming back from a side bar conversation with Hope's aunt about their memory shenanigans.]

Taking advantage of you not knowing her well enough to be suspicious, basically.

[Zoe gives a mock gasp, placing hand over her chest. "I would never."]

[bereavements]

Anything Mia's keeping from you doesn't involve me. I also think secrets are healthy.

( That said. )

Is there something the both of us can know as friends?

[blackstarred]

["Maybe a hint at the new guy ... " She pauses, scrutinizing Mia's face briefly "... Girl?"

Mia raises an imperious eyebrow.

"Person, Zoe ultimately settles on. "That you are currently spending your time with. Because Quentin is very good at keeping secrets but not at keeping that he has a secret."

Mia rolls her eyes.]

You know him. He's a nice guy. Can we settle for that for right now?

[That only proves to make Zoe more confused. "I ... don't know. That's both better and worse all at once."]

[bereavements]

Who are you dating?

( The girl who recently said secrets are fine is suddenly very interested. )

Do I know him? He's not here at this wedding, right?

[canarying]

No, he's not here because I'm her plus one.

[Which is just making Zoe even more confused. But to Hope, Mia sighs: "No, you don't know him. He hasn't been out here."

Meanwhile, Zoe's wheels are spinning:]

You brought me instead of this person because for some reason you don't want it public yet? That's not usually you.

["It's a little weird, okay? I didn't want to have to answer a ton of questions about it."]

Not Q. You didn't get back together with JJ, did you?

[Mia's eyes widen and she shakes her head. "God, no."]

And it's someone I know, so ...

[Then, it clicks.]

Connor?!