10439/A Picture's Worth A Thousand Words

A Picture's Worth A Thousand Words
Date of Scene:	14 December 2019
Location:	Queen Consolidated, Starling
Synopsis:	Oliver looks at Felicity's photography despite his assistant's interference. Ollie's girlfriend walks in on the meeting.
Cast of Characters:	Felicity Smoak, Green Arrow

---

Felicity Smoak has posed:
Felicity had tried to get some time on Oliver's schedule to show him her photo album, as requested. But that proved a more daunting task than she had expected. Oliver's schedule was pretty heavily booked. Of course Felicity can't see what the items are. Could be a meeting with the board. Could be a block of time with some fake reason while he's out Hooding around town.

It was a great source of consternation for Felicity on what to do. She didn't want Oliver to think she was dodging him. She tentatively set up a meeting for 7pm, seeing he had an opening there and knowing from past experience how late he could be around the building. "What's the worst that could happen, he turns it down and thinks I'm an idiot for cutting into his evening?" she asks herself aloud.

Jenkins's voice comes from the doorway. "Or fire you," he suggests. "If there's no time to fit you in during the day probably means you don't really warrant the time in his book, doesn't it?" he asks.

Felicity pushes her glasses up and gives Jenkins a stare as he comes into her office and around to her side of the computer. "Very funny. Your boss's boss's boss's... ok we really need to check the org chart sometime to see how many of those to put in. Anyway, when the CEO tells you to set up some time, you do it."

Jenkins replies, "Then do it," and he reaches over and taps her touchscreen over the Send button on the calendar invite. "No!" Felicity says, covering up her face as it's too late. "Glad I could help," Jenkins says, heading back out.

And now it is the appointed evening of the meeting. Felicity grabs her tablet and an old fashioned book photo album. She glances down at herself, realizing just how much time she spent deciding what to wear today, and feeling silly for it. "I hope I look ok," she says as she heads for the elevator and heads up to the top floor.

Green Arrow has posed:
It's been just one of -those- days for Oliver, a booking of "Annual performance reports" which was just what the name showed, a boring recap of the year's performance of the company. As if Oliver doesn't run through the numbers often enough... But investors need to be appeased.

Then there was the "Meeting with a potential investor", which instead of being a nice, normal meeting was instead a cover for some more cracking up heads on the investigation he is doing on those drug dealers. Captured a couple of mooks, got sore on the shoulder after a cheap shot from one of them to remind him he is not twenty years old anymore and then he is ready to just get this day over... But there's still something on his schedule.., he hadn't noticed it earlier. He pops it open and lifts his brows. "Meeting with Felicity." Well, seems she went ahead and scheduled it afterall. He smiles faintly.

Ellis has been running things precisely, it's what he does, it's what he was hired to do. And he never fails. Nothing goes by that he does not personally approve, at least where it comes to Mr. Queen's appointments. Though he does have a lot of meetings with investors that never turn up into anything .... He puts it away as the man not being that charming, not as much as he at least! But then, what's this?! A 7pm appointment with ...., he pulls up the employee's data..., a level 2 IT?! And approved already without his say so! Well, this won't do. He lingers on the top floor, waiting by the elevators.

Felicity Smoak has posed:
The elevator doors open and Felicity walks out onto the dark marble floor, her short heels clicking softly. She's wearing a black skirt and a white blouse, with a gold necklace visible where the blouse's top buttons are undone. Looking professional enough but Felicity did spend awhile in front of the mirror buttoning and unbuttoning, and then blushing as she realized what she was doing.

She walks down the hallway, the glass walls that surround Oliver's office visible ahead. The glass able to be 'smoked' for privacy, but otherwise just clear glass that leaves the office feeling even more spacious than it already is.

Felicity smiles to herself as she nears the door, having found herself looking forward to this meeting, if a little nervously perhaps too. And then suddenly Ellis is there. Stepping out in front of her and before the door, from Felicity isn't even sure where. He looks at her in an expectant way that doesn't need words to make Felicity feel she has to justify her presence.

"Yes, I have a meeting with Mr. Queen. He wanted me," she says, and then realizes how that sounded. "Wanted me to set up a meeting with him," she clarifies awkwardly.

Green Arrow has posed:
Finally! Oliver is done with all the meetings, nothing more on the agenda .., now just relax on his chair and --- Is that a phonecall? He frowns and picks it up. His mother? Sure thing, he picks it up, "Hello, mother." ... "Yes, all is being arranged for the christmas party. Still pending on Dinah's acceptance and .." ... "Yes, I know you don't like her but .." ...

And so they go. Meanwhile, Ellis has been like a vulture, lying in wait, that little unpleasant smile on his face, bit of a shine to his eye and a tablet in his hands. Immaculate suit and manners. Yes, the man means business. "He wanted you, is it?" a smile, showing teeth, "I believe you are Ms. Smoak, correct?" he flips his tablet as if he was looking at her file, as if he hadn't already a few times once he noticed the schedule. "From level 2?" yes, he makes it sound as if level 2 isn't a good level.

Felicity Smoak has posed:
Felicity is definitely ambushed and it takes her a moment to recover. "Yes, Ms. Smoak," she tells him. Felicity reaches down to her Queen Consolidated ID badge. Unlike most pictures taken for IDs, Felicity's is actually nice looking. She has a huge smile on her face, happy to have been hired by a first with such opportunities.

"Felicity Smoak," she adds, looking around and still feeling awkward. "Level.... two," she says, the last word delivered in a hesitantly cute fashion as she indicates with her index finger to where it has IT2 on the corner of the badge to identify her position.

"Mr. Queen asked me to bring him some materials," she says, motioning to the tablet and the photo album folder she's carrying.

Green Arrow has posed:
Ellis takes his time, first inspecting the badge through squinted eyes, lingering there. A little mmhmm in reply to what Felicity says, the whole posture a touch dismissive, "Yes, I can read." when she points at the badge and what her level is. Neck remains slightly craned forward and then it's back to the tablet, "I am Mr. Ellis. Mr. Queen's aide." and no, he doesn't mention his level. Maybe he thinks himself too above such things. "This is all quite out of the ordinary. This meeting did not go through me."

Then his eyes skip down to the album, "And what materials would those be?"

Meanwhile, Oliver continues to be assailed by his mother.

Felicity Smoak has posed:
Felicity hears not enthused Ellis's reaction to her trying to use some cute humor to defuse the situation. Which removes exactly half the weapons in Felicity's arsenal. The other half, flirting, is the kind of thing someone with better social skills might do. It seems more likely to blow up in her face than be useful, so she just tries to look prim and proper instead.

Felicity glances down at the tablet and portfolio, not really wanting to admit to the personal nature of them, even if Oliver did ask for them. "Some artwork that Mr. Queen asked for specifically, for me to go over with him," she says. There, specifically. So indicating they aren't important would be going against Oliver's wishes. And including herself in that so he can't just try to take them off her.

Green Arrow has posed:
So the girl is smarter than he had originally thought. Ellis squints his eyes, feeling the trap as it closes in and makes it so he can't just take the items and have her go on her way. But he doesn't look too happy with that, nope, not at all. "Very well." he concedes the first point, but there's a feeling that the war has just begun. He walks to the door that leads to Oliver's office and knocks, "We will see what Mr. Queen has to say of this." His last try, that Oliver will make him right, that a level 2 has no place to be so up here! And specially not having a meeting past his---

The door opens and Oliver is there, "Ah, Felicity. Come in. I am glad you could make it this late." Ellis just looks on, fully defeated now, "Ellis, it's fine, go home, you look tired."

Felicity Smoak has posed:
Felicity's face lights up slightly. It could be just for being given the go ahead to pass Fortress Ellis. Though that isn't the only reason for it as she keeps her smile for Oliver low key. "Thank you Mr. Queen," she says, and she starts to say something complimentary about Ellis to try to avoid any hard feelings from him, and realizes she doesn't know his name. "Very friendly staff up here," she says, avoiding needing to use Ellis's name.

Felicity moves inside the office then, moving over to Oliver's desk carrying the portfolio and the tablet. "Apologies for it being so late, it was the only time I could find on your schedule," she tells him.

Green Arrow has posed:
Ellis stays by the door, that smile back on his face, plastered on it. Hands go behind him, "Of course, Mr. Queen. Thank you. Have a good.., meeting." then a bow of his head while the door is closed. Oliver goes back to his desk. "Sorry, on a call. Just one sec." he holds up a finger, going around the table to pick up the phone he placed on mute. "Yes. Sorry, I am about to start a meeting. We will talk later, ok? Sure, love you too." then he hangs up, phone back on it's resting place and he can finally give his full attention to Felicity.

"Hopefully Ellis didn't give you too much of a trouble. He can be very protective when he wants to." That seems to amuse him somewhat. It was one of his mother's hires, but so far he has been rather competent. At least when he is present, "Seems it's becoming a constant for us to meet after-hours, I am fine with it being this late." then his eyes travel to the tablet and photo album, "That's quite old school."

Felicity Smoak has posed:
Felicity gives a little wave of her hand and says of Ellis, "Just doing his job." She looks down at what she brought and says, "I know, I work in IT, so everything needs to be on the computer. But, there's something nice about having an actual photograph in hand and not just an image." Felicity gives a little self-conscious shrug and smile. "Or, I feel that way, anyway," she says.

She looks to see where Oliver wants to take a look at them, turning on the tablet and unlocking it and opening an app that has rows after rows of pictures in it. She glances up, looking around, but not seeing any sign of Ellis, or anyone else on the floor for that matter.

Green Arrow has posed:
It's a rather large office, and now that it's night there's quite the beautiful view of a starlit city under them from those full windows on the end of the office. Oliver smiles faintly, leaving his desk to join her on the other side to look over the pictures. "It makes them feel more real, doesn't it?" he says when Felicity mentions having an actual photograph instead of all in the computer.

He settles down on the side of the table instead, a bit sideways and not exactly as a CEO should sit! But then again, he doesn't need to be that formal now since they are going through something more personal than work related. His eyes start to roam through the various photos on the tablet, curiosity there. "As I told you before, I am curious as to what you have found beautiful in our city to take pictures from. May I?" he asks of the tablet, extending one hand to it.

Ellis is nowhere to be seen anymore, off to lick his wounds, though it's not as if he greyed the windows for privacy, the corridor still visible.

Felicity Smoak has posed:
Felicity finds herself distracted as she gets a glimpse of the view out the window. "Something like this would be amazing to capture," she tells him, offering Oliver the tablet as she says, "I have prints of each, but you can see more at once on the tablet."

She moves over to one of the windows next to the leather couch along that wall. The blond young woman stands looking out at the city lights, that are bright enough to cast shadow and light on the contours of her face. "I don't know that I could ever get tired of looking at a view like that," she says as she looks out the window at Starling below.

After a few moments of revelry there she finally turns back to him, opening up the portfolio and sitting down on the couch to be able to rest it on her knees as she looks for a page in it.

Green Arrow has posed:
Oliver picks up the tablet, fingertip brushing over the screen while he watches the images, a smile to his face, he always enjoys watching parts of his city, specially through other people's eyes. Gives him perspective, and makes him know there are more out there that find the city beautiful.

But then he casts his eyes up, taking a glimpse of Felicity's face on the shadow. He finds himself looking at her instead, blue eyes watching her until he blinks owlishly, re-focusing. "You are right, I think I'd prefer to see them as actual photographs." he steps out of his seat on the table and instead moves to join her by the window, a glimpse down to the city, a faint smile to his lips. He is liking this, relaxing, and in good company. She always brings a smile to him.

But then a glance down to the portfolio and her apparent search, curious as to which particularly one she is looking for. "You are free to take a picture of the view if you want."

Felicity Smoak has posed:
Felicity glances over to the window. "I'd like to, I'll have to bring in a camera for it. Another time that I wouldn't be a nuisance?" she asks him, glancing over to Oliver as he sits down beside her. Felicity put on perfume today, another of those uncommon occurrences for her with it.

She goes slowly through the book once Oliver sits down and can see it. It looks like anything that catches her eye may get snapped and preserved. A wheat field with mountains in the distance. A small daisy growing out of a crack in a desolate ground. A dog jumping in the air to catch a frisbee.

She stops on one and pulls it out of the portfolio. "I ran into her at a craft fair," Felicity says, showing a picture of an aged Native American with very wrinkled skin but a lovely smile on her face, and a light in her eyes. "She was excited I wanted to take her picture," Felicity says, leaning towards Oliver a little and offering him the picture.

Green Arrow has posed:
"Of course. I can even let Ellis come here to take the picture if you so wish. If I am not around. We will figure something out." Oliver replies, now settled next to the blonde woman, eyes down on the portfolio. He does catch a whiff of that scent though, looking up at her briefly but then back down. No comment about it, wouldn't be proper. Instead his focus goes to the pictures being displayed.

"Lots of moments that you are capturing." a smile at the dog on the jump and the others that seem to have caught her fancy. He finds himself grinning while he goes through the various pictures, finding himself enthralled by them. "You have quite the talent for finding those simple, yet beautiful moments."

But then they get to the picture of the native american, he looks it over curiously, reaching to take the picture from her fingertips so as to look more closely, making it so he has to lean a bit as well.

Felicity Smoak has posed:
As Felicity holds the photo over for Oliver and his eyes go it, the young woman's blue eyes lift to look out through the slightly horn-rimmed glasses at the man instead of the photo. "Thank you," she says, eyes still on his face. "I guess I've never really thought of myself as being very good at it," she tells him.

Felicity looks back down to the photos. "I actually haven't ever shown them to anyone before," she says. "Like... not ever," she adds, eyes moving away, anywhere but on Oliver's for a moment.

She looks back to him after a moment and says, "There's one... some candy," she says, looking in the portfolio again. She turns through slowly, letting Oliver look at each. One is a photo of a very fit, handsome young man walking on the beach in a pair of board shorts. "Ah, not sure how that got in there," she says sheepishly, advancing to the next page. "Here it is," she says. A colorful disc-shaped lollipop with a swirling pattern that is half the size of the head of the kid holding it. The little boy's eyes are wide as the looks at it.

Green Arrow has posed:
"I don't know if being good or not applies." Oliver muses, his lips pursed together a moment, "I have never been the type to appreciate those photography shows, where some of the photos can be so worked over that they don't feel real." fingers then running over the picture of native woman. "But this one feels authentic. It's different."

When she mentions that she never showed the pictures to anyone that makes Oliver arch an eyebrow. He hadn't realized how personal these would be to her. It makes him look at her directly, studying her expression, and how she seems to avoid him for that moment.

He can't help but let out a chuckle of the fit young man, "Ah, he puts us all to shame." he jests, continuing to go through the pictures with a grin on his lips, shoulder to shoulder almost as he needs to stay close to look at those. But then they reach the one with the lollipop, "Do you think he was wondering how he would eat it all or that they even made lollipops that big?"

Vera decided that he'd pay Oliver a surprise tonight. He so likes to stay up to work late! And perhaps she can convince him to go out and buy some presents.., she has been eyeing those beautiful shoes downtown and --- Ah, focus. The clickclack of her heels is heard through the parking lot, passing a fleeing Ellis and then to the elevators.

Felicity Smoak has posed:
Felicity smiles as he asks about the lollipop picture. "It was in a store and he was just... oggling it," she says with a soft laugh. "I could tell his mother was going to buy it for him already, but she kind of made him wait and want it a little bit. So when he finally got it... it was just beautiful," she says. "I wish I could have gotten her expression at that moment too," Felicity adds, her smile growing as she recalls the moment.

She forgets for a moment she's sitting next to her CEO. Heart lightened by the warm memory, as she passes the photo to Oliver her fingers brush against his. Not on purpose, but there's a hesitation where she doesn't pull them away yet as the sit, legs against each other, and shoulders nearly touching.

"I don't do much processing. Sometimes, there's some techniques which can be nice. I did a lot of that early on, but eventually I preferred to just, let the picture speak for itself," Felicity says, eyes lifting back to Oliver as she sits near to him, eyes going to his.

Green Arrow has posed:
"You still have it in your memory. Sometimes that's what's important." Oliver says in return, continuing to examine the lollipop image with an amused smile to his lips. He can picture it already. The touch on their fingertips lingers for a moment as well, also from his part, feeling the warmness of that touch. There's a mirror of hesitation too from his part but he eventually lets his hand settle back down on the album, watching a few more, distracted for a few moments as if it took some time for him to re-focus.

But he eventually does and looks back up to her, "Being authentic." as if she had just confirmed what he said earlier. "It is what I like about you." then a pause, it probably sounds bad. "About your pictures." just in time to amend it. Ufff! But his eyes stay on hers, blue on blue.

Vera continues on her relentless approach, her dress more appropriate to a gala (a minor one but still...!), long and dark, showing shoulders and hugging to her rather elegant curves. Make-up that enhances those sharp traits on her face, that give her both a dangerous and alluring look. It's a long tedious journey to the top floor but it eventually arrives and the doors open.

Felicity Smoak has posed:
Felicity looks like she's touched by what Oliver said, her smile that results has a soft, warm glow to it. The same is reflected in her eyes. "I'm glad you wanted to see these. If... if I was going to show them to someone for the first time, I like that it was you," she tells him.

She's looking into his eyes, perhaps leans just the smallest amount, a centimeter or two, when Felicity catches movement out of the corner of her eye. She straightens a little, turning to the door, but it isn't Ellis.

The stunning brunette opens the door and sways in. No Ellis to intercept /her/. "Ollie, there you are, figures you're still here. You're /such/ a hard worker," she says, her tone making 'hard work' something she herself would not be likely to be caught doing.

Felicity was conscious of how closely she and Oliver were sitting before, but now that awareness takes on a different form. She rises from the leather couch quickly, slipping the lollipop picture back into the portfolio but not saying anything, letting Oliver address the stunning woman.

Green Arrow has posed:
The smile is returned with one of his own, perhaps not with a glow as indeed he has a more reserved nature, but more open than his usual at least, which is always a bonus. Oliver continues looking at her, "You have me an higher consideration than I perhaps deserved. I hadn't realized these were so--" but then he pauses, noticing that look to the door and he also shifts a bit on the couch to glance at the door. Did Ellis forget something? No, the man never does.

Instead it's Vera. That surprises him, he wasn't expecting her here tonight, they hadn't been exactly in the greatest of terms last couple of days but here she was, "Hello, Vera." he rises, but not quickly, giving Vera an assuring smile. "I am always hard at work as you know." not taking the innuendo bait, "Though I am glad you could take some time off your own doings to visit. Dinner tonight?" he suggests.

And then a gesture is given towards Felicity. "This is Felicity Smoak, she works with us here at Queen Consolidated. Our resident IT genius." then he introduces Vera, "This is Vera Martinelli."

Then an interjection from Vera, she speaking with a feline smile. "Ollie's girlfriend."

Felicity Smoak has posed:
Felicity puts on a smile for Vera, trying not to focus on the woman has perfect teeth. And a perfect nose. Her eyes are a color that make her seem like some kind of exotic creature. And then the body. Oliver sure can pick them.

"Nice to meet you, Miss Martinelli," Felicity says, offering her hand to the woman, the portfolio shifting to her other hand. She doesn't pay close enough attention, tipping it forward while it's not fully closed and photos start to fall out of it.

Vera shakes Felicity's hand briefly before discarding it, and paying the blond no more mind as Felicity lets out a small eek at the photos falling to the ground, a good dozen of them. Vera's attention is back to Oliver while Felicity kneels and begins picking them up. "Dinner sounds great, I'm absolutely famished, Ollie," she tells him. "Shall we?"

Green Arrow has posed:
Oliver watches the interaction between the two women, his face having now turned to a more serene expression. But why is he having to make the effort? That gets him to ponder until he notices the photos beginning to fall out. A press of his lips to a line and then he eases himself down on a knee to help pick up the photos, "Soon enough. We are but getting finished here. I thought we could go italian tonight." he continues speaking up to Vera, perhaps a distracting maneuver so as for him not to be forced away, still having to finish his meeting with Felicity.

As the photos are being handed back to Felicity for safekeeping he smiles faintly, he knows how important they are to her. But then he is back up and turning to face Vera, "Do you mind giving us a moment? Just so we can get finished here."

Vera arches one rather finely-trimmed brow, "Mmmm, very well, but let's be quick. I still wish to go downtown. I saw these marvellous shoes that I think would go wonderfully with my dress for the christmas party."

Felicity Smoak has posed:
Felicity takes the photos back, slipping then back into the portfolio and, once they are inside, securing it better than before. Her eyes flit to Oliver for a moment, a grateful expression as he hands them over. She doesn't say anything as Oliver and Vera speak, just gets back up with a brief dusting of her knees.

Felicity holds the portfolio in her hand, up against her torso protectively. She drifts away, giving Vera and Oliver the illusion of privacy at least, like a good employee, even if she's there in the room with them. When Vera makes to leave Felicity gives her a nod of her head and then picks up the tablet, turning back to Oliver quietly.

Green Arrow has posed:
The door is closed behind them, the clickclack of heels heard just outside as Vera picks up her phone, apparently calling a friend. Voices are muffled though so nothing can really be perceived, one way or the other.

Oliver turns his eyes to Felicity when Vera leaves, a smile stays on his lips. "I didn't expect her to be here tonight. I apologize, I wish we'd have had more time to go through your photos. Perhaps another time?" he says, apparently not having lost his humor, he enjoyed what little time they had together. He walks over to the couch to pick up the tablet and hand it back to Felicity.

"Thank you for showing me a piece of the city that I often cannot see in such a manner." The tone is genuine, eyes down on Felicity.

Felicity Smoak has posed:
Felicity smiles to Oliver and says, "Thank you for your kind comments on them. If you'd like," she says of going through them another time. Though she isn't sure if he means that or is saying it to be nice, so there won't be another meeting set up for it of her doing, at least.

Felicity looks up to Oliver. "I liked having you see them," she admits to him, but then glances towards the glass door and wall, as if worried she might be showing too much on her face. "Vera's very lovely. You're a lucky man," she says, forcing a brave smile to her face to congratulate him.

Green Arrow has posed:
"Mmmm.." Oliver mentions about the 'lucky man' part, but then eventually offers a nod, even if only to answer Felicity's words, "Depends on the day, I'd say. But thank you." he says, then questions in a conversational manner. At least without any kind intention behind it. "Do you have someone that makes you happy as well?" a bit of a personal question perhaps, but then again they have shared enough of their persons that they have a bit more than a simple work relationship.

He then walks to his desk, picking up his phone, jacket. "Shall we be on our way then? Vera will have my head otherwise." he is probably kidding.

Felicity Smoak has posed:
Felicity holds the portfolio and tablet not unlike a schoolgirl with her books, both arms around, held against her body. Oliver's neutral answer about his luck is noticed though Felicity tries not to show too much on her face from it.

The question to her about someone in her own life, yields a quick shake of her head. "No. I mean, there's a delivery guy who always brings a little treat but... don't think that's the sense you meant," she says, expression showing just a little bit of humor.

The blond woman nods and moves towards the door with Oliver. "Yes, I don't want to mess up your evening," she tells him. "Thank you," she tells him before they pass out through the door.

Green Arrow has posed:
"A treat? Well, it would depend if it's chocolate or not." Oliver says with some levity to it, "I just discovered the chocolate cherry flavor a couple of days ago, I was quite impressed." but he doesn't explain how it was through a energy power bar given by Carrie after he got himself a good beating by her Sifu, because they reach the door, "You did not mess up my evening. If anything you did brighten it. I will be thinking of lollipops." and then the door opens and they are out.

Vera turns off the phone, "There you are. Shall we?" a simple brief smile to Felicity and then off to the elevators they are.