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Post by Felicity Smoak on Jan 17, 2014 8:54:21 GMT -6
Felicity was home, and had been for the whole day now. She'd arrived that morning and gone straight to Queen Consolidated in order to find Oliver and help with the bombing that happened. She'd known she would find them both deep into it. From there she'd come here, to keep working and helping. Still in her new dress, and her clothes still in her car from her not-trip trip.
Her not-trip trip being to keep Barry company. He was sweet and she had become close to him during his stay. He had looked at her differently, and for a few moments here and there she had begin to wonder what might happen if she let them get closer. In stead, he was hit by lightening, and had been sleeping for five weeks now. It left her emotions on a see-saw with both hope and heart break.
What made everything worse, was that the bomber had gotten away. She hated when they got the better of her! It always made her feel guilty, and like she needed to be better. She knew that Oliver would come in and say something to make her feel better. He always did. The bomber might have had a trick up his shelve, but she would be ready for him next time.
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Post by Oliver Queen on Jan 17, 2014 14:05:15 GMT -6
Oliver was not in a good mood. The bomber had been in his grasp and instead of apprehending him and preventing anyone else from getting hurt -- or worse, die, they had let him get away. Furthermore, Felicity had almost made him run into a bus. He wasn't sure what it was about this particular instance, but he was not happy about her failure in communication. He had been hopeful when she returned that they would catch his guy in no time, and yet . . . she had disappointed him. And now, whoever else died from the bomber's attacks . . . those deaths would be on them. He angrily took off his helmet and stormed downstairs, wanting to know where the glitch was. What hadn't she done right.
He entered the Arrowcave, not even looking at Diggle, and instead, walked toward Felicity. She was seating at her usual spot, her back toward him, though turned slightly when she heard him enter. "What happened?" He questioned. His tone was void of any softness and instead, had a strong sternness to it. He was not going to let whatever distracted her slide. They had failed this mission, and he expected better from her next time. So no; he was not going to go easy on her.
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Post by Felicity Smoak on Jan 17, 2014 14:35:43 GMT -6
He sounded mad. Which meant she didn't turn to look at him, but faced her computer instead. She hated being outplayed, and she could tell he did too. This is why they were a team though, because mad or not, they could work together to out smart this guy and catch him next time. "He's using cellular technology to detonate his bombs." She explained, "Clearly, his expertise extends to obscuring that signal."
Which was were he had her at the intersection. He had hacked it, or tossed it or something. It made her think he turned left, and that was apparently a one way street, thus the bus mistake happened. She was just glad Oliver was alright and he's not hit the bus.
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Post by Oliver Queen on Jan 17, 2014 15:10:27 GMT -6
That was it? That was all she had to say? Oliver didn't know why he was so agitated right now. He hated letting a criminal slip through his grasp. All because Felicity couldn't focus on the task at hand. The bomber may have expertise in certain fields, but so did Felicity. Her expertise was why he had gone to her in the first place and why she was working with them. She was supposed to be the best. And now, all it took was one bomber to get the better of her. To outsmart her. "Felicity, your expertise was supposed to trump it," he stated bluntly, his voice holding that stern tone, making it rather evident that he was displeased.
After he spoke he began to walk away from her. He couldn't deal with this right now. She was clearly still emotional over Barry's coma. If she couldn't do the job, then she should have just stayed in Central City and not bother coming back. Somewhere in Oliver's mind, perhaps he knew he was being unfair and that she didn't deserve the blame. But right now, all that was clouded with whatever anger and annoyance he was feeling right now. And unfortunately, it was those latter emotions that were bringing the words out of his mouth.
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Post by Felicity Smoak on Jan 17, 2014 15:36:09 GMT -6
Wait, what? She turned to look at his back, as he walked away. No! He wasn't just going to drop this on her! She was thinking about them being a team, and he wanted to blame her? She was hurt, and it made her voice tight, "Excuse me?" She damned, rising from her chair so she felt stronger then she did sitting.
Was he blaming her? Saying she wasn't good enough or whatever? "If you have something to say to me, Oliver, say it." Because right now, she wanted him to speak plainly not in Oliver, where you had to read into everything to find the deeper meaning! She was damn good at what she did, and sometimes got blindsided, but he had never jumped all over her before!
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Post by Oliver Queen on Jan 17, 2014 17:05:19 GMT -6
As her tone of voice changed, becoming more strict as well, he felt the irritation already in him, increasing. She rose to her feet and took a few steps toward him, demanding that he speak plainly. If that was what she wanted, then that was what she was going to get. He stopped walked and stood facing her. "People are dying." A reminder. And another blunt, direct statement. That was what she wanted after all, wasn't it. For him to speak his mind. So yes. People were dying and they couldn't afford these kinds of mistakes. Her mind was obviously still with Barry because she couldn't even focus on a single task when he knew she was capable of so much more.
"So I would like you to pull your head out of Central City and get back in the game." She had returned to help them. Being physically here was one thing, but she was not mentally here. And that, was not something they could afford to let happen again. He didn't need her making mistakes because she was still thinking about another man. He needed her focused. Attentive. And all here. Which, recent events have proved she clearly wasn't.
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Post by Felicity Smoak on Jan 17, 2014 17:46:38 GMT -6
People were dying, and it hurt to hear. She knew that! That was why she was here! It was why she came back! To help stop more from dying! She didn't need to be told the death count! Then he told her to pull her head out of---what-wait-why?!
It hurt for him to say that! How dare he! "Sure, right after you get yours out of your ass." Her words were not as strong or as angry as she hoped them to be, but nor were they her normal joking tone. He was not going to put this on her! She had made a mistake, yes but not because she was thinking about Barry! When Oliver went out there she knew that is was her work that helped bring him home alive and THAT had been her focus and the only thing on her mind!
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Post by Oliver Queen on Jan 17, 2014 18:19:54 GMT -6
Did she really just say that to him? Get his head out of his ass?! Oliver looked at her, unsure as to when he had been this agigated by her words and actions . . . or rather, inactions. He wasn't even sure what fueled it. He wasn't sure why he had become this irrational person, blaming her for losing the bomber. At the surface of his mind, it was her lack of concentration that was the reason he lost the bomber. But deep down, he knew this wasn't right. "Excuse me?" He said, clearly disapproving of her words. Enough that Diggle no longer remained a silent spectator; he felt the need to intervene. And it was probably for the best.
"All right. Maybe we should just take a breath here," he said as he came up toward them. Oliver had a feeling that his attempt at mediation would be unsuccessful. How could Oliver just let this go? Another man was distracting her from her purpose of being here. She had been there for five weeks and he had not asked her for anything during that time. He hadn't even asked her to return to Starling. And now that she did . . . she was not putting her all into the job, and others would pay the price because of it.
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Post by Felicity Smoak on Jan 17, 2014 19:33:55 GMT -6
Diggle stepped forward and tried to calm things down, but Felicity needed Oliver to say what he was really thinking right now. "No, wait." Besides, she knew Oliver would never physically hurt her, so she could do this one on her own. "I want to know, what exactly was that crack about Central City meant to imply?" About her and her ability to do her job.
HE came to her for help, not the other way around. He and brought her in to this, and ever since DAY ONE she had given this everything! She'd given up a job she'd loved, moved to be his PA while everyone thought she was earning it on her back, given up any hope of a personal life while working with him--and with all this she had still felt good about everything and who she was. He was not about to make her feel bad! She didn't miss things often!
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Post by Oliver Queen on Jan 18, 2014 17:36:28 GMT -6
She wanted to know exactly what he was talking about? Well then, he would give her that. There was no need to sugar coat anything. Not right now. Not when so much was at stake and she was thinking of something-- someone else. "When the first bomb went off, you weren't here." She had asked, and he was telling her. Words meant to make her feel guilty because . . . well, she wasn't here with him. No. Wait. Not with him. Not just with him. She wasn't here for the cause, with him and Diggle. That was what he meant . . . wasn't it?
Unable to think properly, his tone grew more stern and displeased. "And when the second bomb went off, you sent me the wrong way." Because she had been distracted. Distracted after the first bomb, and now after the second. And they could not afford to let it happen a third time. She had sent him on a wild goose chase with nothing but a near collision with a bus. She needed to get it together. That was all there was to it.
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Post by Felicity Smoak on Jan 18, 2014 18:00:58 GMT -6
When the first bomb went off she wasn't here?! He was mad about THAT!? How was she to know that a bomber would decide to blow things up?! Her friend needed her there! She was there for Berry like she would be there for Oliver and Diggle if they needed her to be! How DARE he put that on her! Tonight she could ALMOST understand but THAT night?
It hurt, and she didn't like this Oliver. She has always wondered what would happen when Oliver didn't control every move, or thought, or word that came out of his mouth but this Oliver wasn't what she had thought about! "After you didn't catch him in the first place!" She did feel guilty! More people could die because she had let the man fool her but if he wanted to play the blame game, then he needed to look at himself too!
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Post by Oliver Queen on Jan 18, 2014 18:28:57 GMT -6
Was she seriously blaming him?! He had relied on her directions to get him to the bomber! The streets had been busy, and she had to serve as his eyes to lead him to the man. Just as she often did. And because she messed up this time, it became his fault for letting the man get away?! There was only so much he could do. So no. He would not accept all the blame in this case. He had relied on her, and she had failed him. Because of it, more people could die.
"Don't blame me because you didn't have it tonight," he stated defensiveley and angrily, deflecting the blame for this. This was more on her than him. Right? Wasn't it? Wasn't that was what he was upset about? He didn't even know. But standing here and listening to her say that she was focused and that he didn't have the bomber was unacceptable. She wasn't on top of it like she usually was. And it was no coincidence that the first time she failed in giving him proper directions, just so happened to be when she returned from Central City after five weeks.
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Post by Felicity Smoak on Jan 18, 2014 19:15:05 GMT -6
How--He-- She stared at him for a few seconds, feeling almost betrayed by his words. She had worked damn hard helping him do all this, and now they were reduced to this bickering? "I need some air." She told him, and side stepped him to walk out of there, with her feelings hurt but most her pride in tact. She didn't return, but instead drove home, and for the first time in weeks, crawled into her bed. She didn't sleep though.
His words were stuck in her head, both that night and the following morning at the office. She didn't speak to him unless there was a direct reason too, and everything else was put in an email to him. Email to, Mr. Queen; you have a lunch appointment in an hour. The things that she normally would have popped in and told him as an excuse to see him, were not in emails.
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Post by Oliver Queen on Jan 19, 2014 0:09:25 GMT -6
Oliver didn't look at her as she walked out. He just stood there, trying to calm himself from the anger and annoyance he felt in this moment. It was Diggle who broke the silence. "At the risk of me getting my head knocked off Playing the blame game's not going to help us catch this son of a bitch." It wasn't a blame game. It was a matter of making sure people did their appointed job. "Neither is doing things halfway," Oliver argued. He was still very displeased with Felicity right now. She was better than this . . . she could have easily caught him! "Is that what you think's going on here, Oliver? You think she was distracted? She wasn't giving it her all?" Yes. Yes it was. Wasn't it? "She almost ran me into a bus, Diggle. What do you think?" he reminded him. Oliver had nearly collided into a bus when he should have been chasing down and catching the bomber.
"I think you didn't have a problem with Felicity's performance until she met Barry Allen." Oliver gave a slight nod, not in agreement, but as further sign of irritation. An emotion that was rather evident on his face. With those final words, Diggle walked away. Of course Oliver didn't have a problem with her performance before Barry Allen, because Felicity had not been distracted before he came along. She had focused on the job. She had given it her all. Yet as soon as Barry came into the picture, her thoughts were centered around him. She had left him . . . no wait, them, she had left them and spent 5 weeks with Barry. And when she came back, she hadn't been here mentally. That was what this was about. That was why Oliver was angry. It was. That was it.
As the thoughts repeated in his mind, he felt as if he was trying to convince himself more than anyone else. For there was no one else here. Feeling frustrated and further annoyed, he set his bow down and changed out of his Arrow clothes and back into the ones that turned him back into Oliver. He spent most of the night in the Arrowcave. Felicity nor Diggle had returned which Oliver was not complaining about. He spent the time reflecting, thinking, trying to organize his thoughts and while he knew he should be thinking about how to catch the bomber . . . other thoughts tended to dominate his mind. And Diggle's words continued to replay in his head.
Seeing Felicity at work the next day was, not like it usual was. They hardly spoke. She sent him emails when she had something to tell him, and he was making no attempt to talk to her. He was still upset with her actions, and she was clearly still upset with his words. So for the most part, they avoided each other. Only talked business where it mattered, and engaged in no small talk or casual conversations. He had nothing more to say to her. It wasn't until they were all in the Arrowcave, watching the live newsfeed of Sebastian's unity rally. The Arrow had paid a visit to Sebastian cautioning him against this, saying it was too dangerous but the man wouldn't listen. And now, it was up to them to stop him. Oliver was pacing behind Felicity, glancing at the news, as she was busy at the computer. They still had not spoken. And he had no intention to speak to her about anything other than business. "Tried to get him to stand down." But clearly it had not worked. "He seems as stubborn as you when it comes to fighting back."
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Post by Felicity Smoak on Jan 19, 2014 8:39:53 GMT -6
"Or everything." She added on to Diggle's comment, because after being silent so long she wanted Oliver to know she was still mad at him. He's hurt her feelings, and made her feel bad at her job here--and she had NOTHING to feel bad about! She didn't want to fight, but she couldn't let it go. Not yet. Not while everything was still painful.
It didn't take Diggle long to defuse the moment, "Hey, is this how it's going to be with you two from now on?" And it made her pause to think. She hoped not. Looking back at her work, it was then she found what would help them! In order to make sure there was no mistakes, she doubled check the information. Normally she'd have just spoken up, but she didn't want to get yelled at again.
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Post by Oliver Queen on Jan 19, 2014 16:20:47 GMT -6
She was continuing with her snippy remarks. And Oliver had nothing to say about it. He was not going to argue with her. Diglge questioned if this was how it was going to be between them. Quite honestly, Oliver didn't like this. He didn't like being at odds with Felicity, for it rarely happened. Yet something inside of him had snapped and he couldn't let it go. All he could do was divert the subject to what really mattered right now. And that was stopping the bomber.
"Maybe we should just head down to the rally," he said in a calm voice to Diggle, not having the energy to fight or argue about anything else. He just wanted to stop this guy. He just wanted to get this case over and done with. He felt like no matter what he did, he kept losing. The bomber had got away. Sebastian refused to withhold this rally to another time. It was as if no one else was using their head. As if everyone else was thinking of something else, or someone else. And he was just getting tired of it.
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Post by Felicity Smoak on Jan 19, 2014 18:44:42 GMT -6
"Maybe we won't have to." Felicity stopped them, finally speaking up, even asks he was still working to bring up some of the information. She wanted to be sure but she had to speak up about this, because this guy needed to be caught. No more people was dying while they were here to stop it! No more bombs, no more scare tactics! They could do this!
"I analyzed the bomb remnants we got from Lance." She hoped he didn't get on trouble for sharing this with them. "The design's identical to the bombs used by an anti government militia group called the Movement." Which was both odd and frightening for a name. "Lucky for us, they have a very active and hackable message board. One of their most prolific fans has an IP address right here in Starling." Which meant he could be the one who be bombing everything.
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Post by Oliver Queen on Jan 24, 2014 14:56:01 GMT -6
Oliver had been looking at Diggle when he asked the question, but Felicity then spoke up, suggesting that maybe they wouldn't have to go to the rally. Oliver looked at the computer screen Felicity was working on and stepped closer, looking at what she was doing. He was following along with what she was telling him, hearing all that she had found out. She had found a good lead, able to hack the message board where apparently all this anti government group was posting things. It worked in their favor. And showed that Felicity was back on her A game. Though, deep deep down, Oliver knew she was never off.
"Tell me," he said, not in a demanding tone, but one to urge her to keep going. It was minimal speech, not over talking -- which wasn't something Oliver did anyway. But after not having communicated with her for so long, he wanted to keep everything strictly business, so instead of saying anything that could steer the conversation in another direction, he simply said these two words. Direct. Straight to the point. And minimized any chance of further discourse.
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Post by Felicity Smoak on Feb 14, 2014 15:21:23 GMT -6
She typed up the codes to narrow in on the IP street address, so he could see it as she talked, and know where he was going without her having to say the address, or talk to him on the coms and walk him there. "The computer's in a local souvenir shop." Which was a bit creepy for a bomber to sell to nice people and kids. "The whackadoo in question goes by the username Shrapnel."
Which sounded bomby, and creepy. If Oliver could get to him first, then maybe he could stop this? Though at this point he could also already be there. It made her feel edgy, but she knew better then to try and stop this. They had to help all the people that would be there or everyone who went to raise peace, would end up dead. Turning she looked at Oliver and Diggle, waiting to see what they would do.
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