cuddlecity | (open) ➹ 'boy you was battle born'

CHARACTERS: oliver queen and you
LOCATIONS: various places; ft. sucker punch
WARNINGS: possible violence
SUMMARY: catch-all for april

↪ still in here trying to figure it out (sucker punch)

( Happiness; the ultimate goal. What everyone strives for. Just a fleeting chance to grasp it and cling, breathe life into a moment and stretch it out longer than you have any right to. Then why did he fight against fully embracing the pursuit? Knowing what a rare commodity it is leaves guilt lingering. Life in Cadelle couldn't be elevated any nearer to perfection; a relationship built upon unshakable foundations, emotional scars healing over, trauma from the past no longer required to sustain him. The chance to understand who Oliver Queen actually is now that the dust settled.

A spark of anger; the ember smoldering, threatening to fan itself towards something larger. The question remains unanswered. Ever present; refusing a call towards oblivion, swiftly dodging past his attempts at banishing the unspoken words. Does he need the green arrow in order to be complete? How selfish did that make him?

Jab. Cross. Front kick. To progress in the direction of an answer can only be found in a certain kind of therapy. Beads of perspiration dot his heavily scarred body; the ring is his church, offering up any confession as long as its physical. Round after round. A fresh body every five minutes. The faces blur together; pure instinct and muscle memory, taking a shot in order to land one. Blood flows in a thin line from his left eyebrow, and only when he presses the action against the ropes does he realize this is going too far. Past friendly sparring. )

Sorry. ( Gloves lifted in a sign of apology; one step backwards to create space, his speech slightly blocked by a mouthpiece ) We can call it there if you want...I got carried away. ( Yet something in his eyes says another round is acceptable )

↪ creature double feature (the drive in)

( Convention wisdom says that to appreciate what the drive in has to offer one requires a car; if his current situation is any indication, that may not hold true. The ideal perch for an archer. Just behind the concession and parking area, he's found a sloping hill to take refuge on, allowing for a decent view of the screen. Who could resist the call of 'b movies' from the past? It may seem in poor taste; how many times had Star City been held under siege or assaulted by forces of sheer terror? This puts things in perspective; gives them a more lighthearted touch, and allows for a brief reprieve.

His motorcycle is off the side; a blanket extended over the grass, providing better seating than any theater could have. There's a small radio (far from the easiest thing to procure) nearby, blasting the sounds of a giant lizard rampaging through crowded streets. As if to tie the experience together, he's gone to the lengths of buying an overly large tub of popcorn, and accompanying drink. It's the first movie of the night and he's still undecided whether he'll stay for the second. Gone is the rigidity that usually dots Oliver's body language; he's relaxed, legs stretching out, enjoying the cool breeze.

Approaching footsteps barely register; he doesn't turn his head towards the sound, though if you look close enough, you'll be able to catch the corners of his lips pulling into the first hints of a smile. ) Sit down, if you want. Just getting to the best part.

↪ wildcard

( if you'd like something specific, shoot me a pm. )

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

In some ways, we were. ( Shaped now by experiences they couldn't have imagined before. Different crucibles, her's equally as traumatic, something realized after returning. The person who deserves better; she's always deserved better. Only now does he understand that's Laurel's choice to make and no one else's.

Swallowing, he inched closer, without invading the bubble of her personal space ) You're the only one that can look at me and still see that person. ( For better or worse. )

Laurel... ( There's no obliviousness to her body language; it isn't hostile as much as she's guarding herself. ) I've missed you.

[There's a deep breath, because she's missed him too. But a lot of the time, she isn't sure if she's missing the person Oliver is now, or the person he was then.]

You have a weird way of showing it.

[For Laurel, it's just days after he left her a note, saying that he couldn't be the person that she wanted him to be. He left her alone to grieve their best friend, who they both loved, and this time, Laurel didn't have Tommy to lean on and make up the difference.

But then she remembers that it might not be the same for Oliver and she shakes her head.]

Sorry. I know timelines are weird here. That was probably a barb intended for past you.

(open) ➹ 'boy you was battle born'

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