It's to a castle I will take you/Where what's to be, they say will be [Video/Action]

[new_frequency]

[Since when did she decide to visit Los Angeles? Sleepwalking? Maybe it was that last glass of wine before bed. Since when did they build a castle across the way from Dodger Stadium? There's little doubt in Laurel's mind that she's in the middle of a dream because, c'mon--a castle in the middle of a metropolis. Which might not be all that unusual in Europe--wait. Is she in Europe?

Glancing down at the device in her hands and (after prodding it a few times and dropping it on her foot at least once), Laurel figures out the video option. Let's see who's out there, shall we?]

Um, so-- I'm going to ask if this is a dream I'm stuck in, because it's the only logical thing I can come up with right now, and like any good dream, whoever's listening is going to tell me that it totally is one and I'm going to wake up when my coffee maker starts brewing.

[Her face scrunches in thought.] Maybe I need to find a coffee place.

Comments

[new_frequency]

[Oliver isn't the only one hearing a record scratch, though for very different reasons.]

Ollie? [Have a momentary huff of frustration and confusion.] I'm by Dodger Stadium and a castle. What the hell is going on? [Because dream or not, Oliver Queen appears to be on some harebrained mission.]

[havingprecision]

[A moment for him to consult the map and find the best way to her.] That's going to take a lot of explaning. Right now I just need you to sit tight. Help is on the way, okay?

[new_frequency]

This is the point of the conversation where I would normally tell you I don't need any help, but I didn't go to bed in LA last night.

[Pride will get you some places, Laurel. Today might not be the day.] Why are you here?

[havingprecision]

I know. I know it doesn't make sense Laurel but I need you to trust me. [Please, just this one time. Trust him and don't argue.]

I'll explain everything once I get to you.

[new_frequency]

[It's against everything in her nature, Oliver. You know this, but she'll deal this time. Mainly because she has zero idea of what is actually happening.

She glances at a passing car.] Okay, okay. Fine.

[havingprecision]

[Oh he knows and he fully expects to be read the riot act when he arrives, but as long as Laurel is safe, as long as she's okay he'll take that yelling with a smile.

He's running around a corner a few minutes later, a bow in hand and quiver strapped to him, scanning the street which appears to be threat-free for the moment.

Relief is bright in his eyes as he approaches and draws her into a hug.] Hi.

Prose! muaha

[new_frequency]

Here comes a guy in a hood carrying a bow and all the regalia that goes with it.Click. Ollie is suddenly pulling her into his arms... Click.

Boom.

Laurel's having trouble finding some words for a few seconds, realizing that The Hood-- the vigilante who decided to terrorize Starling City's worst of the worst--

She lets the hug linger for a little while before she gently shoves Ollie away, taking in the moment for what it is (whatever it may actually be is debatable). Laurel looks at him in mild disbelief. "...You--you're The Hood?" How's that for a time check?

[havingprecision]

And Oliver had been so caught up in relief he hadn't even stopped to think about when Laurel might have been pulled in or the last thing she remembered what have been. "Yeah," he drags back the hood, it was habit to wear it out some days still.

"Yeah I am."

[new_frequency]

Laurel gapes for a few moments, trying to gather what it is, exactly, she'd like to say. Which won't be pretty.

Her brow furrows. "And somehow in the grand scheme of pretty much everything, you couldn't find a second to inform me of that minute detail?"

[havingprecision]

Yeah this is going to go down just as well as it did back home.

But Laurel is here. Alive.
So Oliver will take it and he will take it all with no small amount of relief.

"I was trying to protect you Laurel. I was trying to protect everyone."

.. even Tommy.

[new_frequency]

"How's that been working out?" The snip is out of her mouth before she can stop herself. But that's not really fair, is it Laurel? Maybe not, but getting attacked in her own apartment and kidnapped wasn't really on her list of things to do.

She rakes a hand through her hair. Move on. Things to discuss later. "What is this, Oliver?" Motion to the stadium. "Why are we here? Better yet--how are we here?"