Post by adrini on Nov 29, 2013 19:43:51 GMT -5
"No lack of security tonight, Mrs. Queen. Afraid we can't protect our own?" Anderson smiled at the ornate affaire.
"For one night you don't have to." Dinah said kindly, gently moving the black silk of her gown to avoid it being stepped on. "You do enough for us everyday."
"Spoken perfectly." The chief laughed. "Your father would be shocked."
"Lance always talked about his 'warrior women'." The deputy next to him smiled. "Never saw you here, I bet."
"Neither did I." She smiled. "Though you need to have some warrior in you to survive high society."
"That I believe." Anderson said grimly. "That article helped but I still don't like what I hear."
"No one important believes that nonsense ." Oliver said when he approached, like his wife dressed to the nines. "Anderson, a pleasure. Thomson. Glad you could make it tonight."
"Thank you for throwing it. This is going to help more then a few families." The dark haired deputy beamed at the turnout.
"I just wish it could have helped those before." He looked at his wife warmly and kissed her temple.
"Newlyweds." Anderson chuckled. "Still on cloud nine."
"It so happens that it's very cozy up here." Di smirked.
>--)->
"It's like a fairytale!" Mia beamed as she looked around the room. "Why don't we do more of these?"
"We could, but they get old." Thea grinned. "A lot of politics."
"Hey, over here!" Cissie waved the two over, like the others she was dressed for the event. "They're making the announcement."
They hurried over and saw Ollie and Di walk to the platform. Mia beamed even wider, looking at the two adoringly. Around them Thea saw the party goers grin softly, several of them remarking that they were the teens from the article, and wondering which one was Mia. As the newest 'rescue' she had generated a good amount of interest.
"Everyone, a moment of your time before we return to the festivities." Ollie said with a grin, Di standing next to him and smiling at the room. The room fell to a soft murmur. "Firstly, on behalf of myself, my wife, and our family we want to thank you for your attendance here tonight. We also want to thank the Star City Police Department for everything they do for us every day, and for the incredible sacrifices they make."
"Tonight is about giving back and saying thanks. Firstly I'd like to raise a glass in thanks and gratitude for the SCPD." He raised a glass as applause filled the room and glasses were raised, the three giggled as a waiter gave them glasses of wine with a wink to follow suit. "However now to the best part of the night, thanks to the remarkable generosity of Star City, and the kind attendance of so many we raised over three million tonight."
Cheers filled the room, once they died down he spoke again.
"For those who don't know the funds today go to the emergency fund to help young families who lost a loved one in the line of duty, the original plan didn't consider such families fully. With this fund, which has already been transferred to the SCPD, families will get help with the cost of raising young kids, the cost of college, and planning for continued education. It is the least we can do for families that have made the ultimate sacrifice."
Looking around the room, filled with most of the SCPD in a show of support, they saw several people smile sadly at the comment. Ollie was about to speak again when the room echoed with a haunting laugh, and several white clad people on flying playing cards covered in spades filled the air. The room fell into a panic until Di's voice rang over the speaker.
"The Royal Flush Gang. Everyone evacuate now! Security, get the room cleared!" They saw Ollie and Di frantically look around the room for them, and motioned for them to come to them when they were spotted.
They were half way through the chaos of the room when Roy and Jade joined them.
"We tried to have a nice party." Roy said dryly. He nodded at the sight of the hired guards and officers helping people out.
"It was a Queen fund raiser, they were going to show up someday." Jade waved at a visibly frantic Digs, who was standing next to a relieved looking Bowstring. "Stay with us Cissie. You don't want to get lost in this crowd."
"Are they going to leave?" Thea asked as they hurried.
"Not until they're chased away." Jade said tiredly.
"Dinah!" Mia launched herself at the woman as they arrived. Bowstring and Cissie hurried off. "What do they want?"
"Gold, jewels, money. The theme never changes much." Di said as they hurried to the back exit into the house. "But we need to hurry and change."
"We're fighting them?" Thea asked as her brother grabbed her hand and hurried off.
"Just chasing them off." Di said as they hurried into the hallways. "And that's really just Jade and the archers, I don't need to bring the house down. Adrien and I will take support."
"Di, are you sure?" Jade looked at her friend, Di was grabbing the jewels and gold items from the others. Jade removed hers and handed them over.
"She's sure, girls go get ready. Meet us here." Ollie stole a quick kiss from his wife as she and Adrien opened the wall to the control center, the train of her gown vanishing behind the panel for a moment before she quickly appeared again to hand her husband his quiver and bow.
"Stay safe out there, things can be replaced." She said gently. "You can't be."
"I promise." The heir smiled as he replied, she vanished again.
"Old man?" Roy looked at his friend. Ollie and Di never fought apart, it was a code.
"She hasn't been the same since the fort, and she's just been too tired." Oliver pulled off the suit to reveal the costume under. "It's too risky to have her join us until whatever this is clears up."
"Fair enough." While Roy thought she would have been fine he understood why his friend was so protective, he had come close enough once.
--)->
We're in. You there support? Jade watched the five fly around the room, assaulting the last of the guests. She popped over the the Dias as she saw Ollie nod to the police chief. Anderson nodded and left with the last of the guests.
"The mighty protectors!" The King of Spades cheered as he spied the green archer. "We're here for your wards."
"The stones on the Lady of the house were wonderful, do tell me I can keep them." The Queen rode up to her partner, he beamed,
"I'll drape them on you myself, my love." He replied grandly.
Please tell me we don't sound like that. Ollie said. There was a giggle over the line. Tellingly no one replied.
"The people of the house are elsewhere. There's nothing for you here." Oliver loaded his bow. "And you aren't welcome."
"The mighty protectors of the Queens, the pay has to be impressive." The Jack flew overhead.
Oliver shot a charge arrow into the Jack's flying card, he fell to the floor with professional skill.
"He said leave." Thea said, a second electric arrow loaded. "Leave."
The King laughed, and as though picking at random, shot a claw and grabbed Jade.
"You just made my day." She said darkly to him before popping next to her partner. "You heard the woman." She said after a time. "Get 'em."
Thea leapt over to the Ten, quickly breaking the engine of the card. He fell to the ground, but quickly moved to fall safely. She, Mia and Rose moved to engage him.
Roy was waiting for the Jack when he fell near the podium, and had an armed arrow aimed at him when he looked up.
"This party was to help a lot of good people, hard working people." Roy pulled the string back. "You're not one of them."
"There you go, making all kinds of judgements." The Jack chided. "Not very good of you."
Stay focused. They try to distract with provocation and banter. Dinah's voice said over the line. Follow Jade's lead, she knows how to handle this.
"The lady of the house is very fond of her jewels, she won't be donating them." Jade popped next to the Queen, causing her to fall. At the ground Jade caught her, the Queen grumpily taking fighting form. "I can do this the hard way or you can just leave. Your call."
The Queen pulled out a bow and started firing a volley at her, Jade deftly dodged the shots.
"Arrows? I've never seen them before." She sighed and took familiar fighting forms. Wondering was it was with Star City and the bow.
"You've never seen the Arrowette." The Queen smirked.
"I work with the Speedys, Red Arrow and the Green Arrow himself. I wouldn't get your Robin Hood hopes up." Jade deflected two arrows with her gauntlets. "But by all means, impress me."
Still perched on the decorative ledge, Green Arrow looked at the King. The King, floating on his card returned the gaze. It wasn't that Oliver didn't have another electric arrow, but the ground was getting crowded and he didn't want to actually hurt anyone. He knew about this group, they we're annoying but largely harmless so long as they could be chased off.
The King began throwing small playing cards at him, they exploded as they hit the wall nearby, that changed things. Oliver flipped to the next outcropping and pulled out a net arrow. Firing it it wrapped around the King and stilled his arms.
"I don't want anyone to get hurt, but you will leave." He said firmly. "One more arrow and you go down with no means of catching yourself, maybe one of my people will help you. Maybe not, you have them busy. Just go and you won't be followed."
The King glared, struggled against the ropes, and scoured. Cursing he signaled to his team and flew out the window.
Thea stood aside, along with Rose and Mia, as the Ten sullenly jumped on the card with the Jack and flew off. Jade flew the card over to the Queen and politely got off to allow the woman on.
The group looked as the last of the group left and, aside from Oliver, left to get settled in the house. Oliver climbed back to the ledge.
>--)->
"Green Arrow." Anderson nodded when he returned shortly after. "Everyone got out safely, did the Queens get out?"
"We did." Dinah hurried into the room, hair falling out of the fancy style it had been in. "We're fine. Oh, they don't normally stick around to be seen."
Anderson looked at the green clad man, a moment later the archer tossed down a small package with a parachute and faded into the shadows.
The two hurried to the package and lifted the fabric. There was a small black box with a blinking red light.
"A transceiver. They've tracked them." Anderson said, sounding impressed. "Your protectors do good work."
"Can you find the gang?" The woman asked, she gave up on the style and pulled two pins out of her hair. As it fell Anderson smiled. She looked like the little girl his partner had doted on again.
"Mrs. Queen." Diggle hurried into the room. "Chief."
"All is well Mr. Diggle." He smiled slightly as the bodyguard nodded at Dinah's reassuring grin. "Could I speak to the family, get a statement?"
"Of course you can, though I don't know how much we can help." Dinah walked to the Dias and sighed, resigned.
"Di?" The guard asked.
"My engagement ring. I guess it got pulled off when I was getting the girls. It's not here." She sighed and shrugged. "I guess we're all safe so it doesn't matter."
"You have the upgrade anyway." Anderson said, noting to keep an eye out.
"True, it did it's job. Let's get those statements so people can relax." She opened the door into the less formal area of the house. "You'll be welcome to stay after, of course. I think we could all use a drink at this point."
>--)->
"They've gotten very good." Mr. King said as he sat down. "But they were good to begin with."
"It was like they knew what we were going to do!" The dark haired man said with frustration. "We never had a chance."
"They did know, the two women of the house-" Author King was cut off.
"Were in the birds. I know. Only one was there, though. Mrs. Queen just ran off." The second man sat down himself.
"She has a cover to keep,Vertigo. It's not surprising. She was likely acting as support. Did you get anything?" King leaned back in his chair.
"A few things. Bonnie wanted one of them, a simple emerald ring. I didn't think you'd mind." Count Vertigo poured a glass.
"Of course not. You seem to be getting along, or am I reading you wrong?" King smirked.
"Not at all. It seems I've finally found my better half. There's just the husband in the way. And her daughter would make a perfect ten." King nodded.
"Bowstring is a small time reporter, it won't be hard to get him to leave. He will fight for Cissie though." Author tilted his head thinking. "And she's old enough her opinion will matter in hearings. The girl does not get along with her mother. Still we can hang that over his hear for a fast separation."
"A shame, but nothing to fuss over. I was planning on ambushing the Queen's Holiday Benefit. Try some new tactics. Bonnie has a few good ideas." Vertigo smiled.
"I look forward to hearing them. I'll get the papers started for Bonnie. This shouldn't take terribly long at all."
"Splendid. Once I get my business is taken care of I can give your sister the life she deserves." Vertigo smiled.
"I'll be glad to see it." Author nodded.
>--)->
A crushed and destroyed looking Bowstring sat on a bench outside a hearing room outside the main courtroom. His eyes open in shock and disbelief.
He knew he and Bonnie were having issues, that was clear to anyone. However, with the Olympics over they had decided to take more time to work on it. Cissie was almost grown and it was their turn again. It just seemed that Bonnie had decided otherwise.
"Where? You said the front hall." Bowstring heard Oliver walk to the area and hurry to him. Looking up he felt himself being pulled up. Adrien followed behind him.
"I just heard, I'm so sorry Bowstring." Oliver shook the mans hand before patting him on the back. "Cissie called Thea and told us everything. When did this happen?"
"I got the summons this morning. Her brother is pulling strings to push it through." Cissie stood next to him and hugged him. He could only pray they wouldn't go after her. "She wouldn't even tell me why."
Adrien looked down and nodded. Oliver shook his head.
"I know there's no point in fighting a lot of it, but if they take my Arrowette away-" Cissie squeezed him tighter.
"Our lawyer has some experience in custody, we'd be happy to cover the costs." Adrien said and pulled out a card, handing it over. "You have enough to worry about, and you've been very kind helping us."
Bowstring took the card and nodded gratefully. He had his own back up, it had never occurred to him to call them. Cissie looked at him and carefully put the card in her purse, he could tell she was scared.
"Mr. Queen, I'm surprised to see you involved in this sad business." Bowstring swallowed as his brother-in-law walked over. Oliver's face went calm, centered.
"The Jones' are close personal friends of ours. I came as soon as I heard." The young man said evenly. "It's a shame no kind of counseling was put on the table, with a daughter involved it would have been in everyone's best interest."
"In this case it would have delayed the inevitable." Authur replied. "Best to end it quickly. From what I hear though it might be best you get some experience in the proceedings."
"I thought you far to great a man to give credence to such rumors, this is truly disappointing to hear." Oliver shook his head. "I can assure you they are entirely false."
"I'm glad to be corrected, it would be a shame if such a fairy tale were to fall apart." Mr. King smirked.
"Indeed it would, for the instrument of the attempt." Bowstring was shocked as Oliver's eyes narrowed. "These false reports are grounds for libel, those responsible should be more careful. Such a charge would trigger quite an investigation. Good day, Mr. King."
Adrien nodded to he and Cissie, and they got up and walked with the two. Author, who was normally entirely self composed, looked shaken.