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Post by Laurel Lance on Apr 14, 2014 16:51:59 GMT
It was amusing slightly, thinking about the inevitable interaction between her father and Tommy. He hated that Laurel was even friends with Tommy after the accident, but Laurel didn't give him much time to speak his mind on that subject. He had no right to tell her who she could or couldn't befriend. This, however, was different, at least, that's how detective Lance would view it. "You could go out of town when I tell him. Just don't be surprised to come home and find him waiting with a polygraph test." Laurel paused for a brief moment to let the thought sink in before she smiled to herself. "I'm kidding Tommy, there won't be a lie detector test. He won't be happy, he thinks you're selfish, which is a step above thinking of you like a criminal." It wasn't much better, but it was a start. Eventually Quentin would come around to the idea, or at the very least get used to it...eventually.
"Really? That's funny because you're not charming in the least." It was a lie, charming was one of Tommy's over-the-top qualities about him. There weren't many people in Starling City as charming as Tommy these days, but having money had a tendency to lend to the high self-esteem needed for such a personality trait. "I'm sure whatever you think up would be great. It has to be better than expired chips from the vending machine. One of these days we'll have the money to hire ourselves someone to just run around and do our most important errands, like picking up sushi from Toro's.
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Post by Tommy Merlyn on Apr 15, 2014 0:02:27 GMT
He smiled a little as a thought came to mind, "I'm going to stop thinking about your father for now and just let things go as they may," he told her. He didn't know what Quentin would do, how he would react, and there was just no point in trying to think about it. Best just to let things happen as they may, because in the end Tommy would have no control over it. He just had to be on his best behavior and hope Laurel would help stick up for him.
"So, I'm smiling for a reason," he told her. He wanted her to know that, because he thought it was a good reason. "Now, someday I might need a job. Might. Anyway, I'm almost always free, and I'd love to come by as often as possible. Let me do your errands at CNRI," Tommy offered. He was completely serious right now.
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Post by Laurel Lance on Apr 15, 2014 2:21:08 GMT
"Excellent idea. It won't be as bad as you think. I don't live with him, and he's hardly ever at my place. It'll work out." Laurel hoped to reassure Tommy, though she knew things would probably just need to play out first and see how it went. Quentin was a hard man to predict, but Laurel would make sure to be present the first time they both saw each other after telling her father, hopefully being the voice of reason.
Putting a hand to her chest, Laurel quickly sucked in a breath and gasped shockingly. "Tommy Merlyn might need a job? What has the world come to these days?" Tommy was notorious for not working, even at his own father's company. It was Malcolm who did everything for the company, as far as Laurel could tell, Tommy just reaped the benefits. But that was Tommy, it was just how it worked for him. "Well, your skills of running food errands would be much appreciated around the general vicinity of my desk once in a while." It was a bit of an odd thought, Tommy coming to her work. Not like he had never been there, he had, but rarely. He didn't need their services and it just wasn't the type of place you went to very often, the Glades were a scary place sometimes, especially when Laurel left the office late. If they were going to actually do this and take the plunge into the whole relationship thing, then Laurel figured she'd be seeing Tommy a lot, if only to distract her at times with his nonsensical life of playing before work.
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Post by Tommy Merlyn on Apr 15, 2014 2:40:07 GMT
Well, Quentin and Laurel didn't see each other a lot, so that was something. However, even if he wasn't a big part of her life, Tommy figured that things might change when he found out that his daughter was dating Tommy Merlyn. He'd run into Quentin a few times before, legally. He didn't want to think about it, or let Laurel know. Well, she might know, but he wasn't going to inquire about that.
"I don't need it," he told her. Someday he might, but that would be taking over the family business, "I'm more interested in being able to see you as often as I can. And if I start distracting you, well, I'll figure something else out then. But you do good work, all of you do. I just sit around and...well," he didn't really do parties as much anymore. He glanced down at his whiskey glass, "drink I guess. Not a lot going on. This'll be a nice change of pace for me, and who knows, it might inspire me to actually make something of my life." He said that last part in a clearly joking tone of voice.
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Post by Laurel Lance on Apr 15, 2014 2:52:40 GMT
"I guess you can always sit on the end of my desk and look pretty." Laurel wasn't sure just what Tommy could contribute to CNRI, she had never seen him work before outside of being as professional of a partier as anyone could be. "Don't be shocked if you're bored though, CNRI isn't very exciting, but it's worth it when I get a win for my clients." Looking down at Tommy's arm around her, Laurel lightly drew random shapes on his arm with her finger. "I've stopped by your mother's clinic a few times and volunteered. They could use more hands." Laurel's voice lowered as she spoke, unsure of whether or not she should say anything to Tommy.
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Post by Tommy Merlyn on Apr 15, 2014 3:01:51 GMT
"Tommy looked down at the mention of his mother's clinic. He hadn't thought much about it, other than the times he'd heard his father consider trying to close it down. He'd fought his father at every turn, but hadn't really done anything as of yet. "Someday...," he said softly, shaking his head a little. His arms stiffened a little as he held her against his chest, "I've wanted to go, I've wanted to do something, but I can't. I just can't..." His voice shook as he spoke. He just wasn't sure about any of it, how he felt. Hurt, wanting...he just wasn't sure what to do.
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Post by Laurel Lance on Apr 15, 2014 3:11:11 GMT
She shouldn't have mentioned it, immediately Laurel felt horrible for bringing up bad memories. The free clinic his mother had set up did more good than CNRI could ever do and Laurel admired the deceased woman for having done it, when she didn't need to do anything. "It's okay, I can go on your behalf. I know you'd be happy with it though, it's everything it should be." Laurel would much rather spend time at the clinic rather than following her coworkers to bars and clubs where she just sat there nursing a drink for an hour watching other people. Turning her hand to the side, Laurel lightly kissed Tommy's arm as it tightened around her. "I'm sorry I brought it up."
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Post by Tommy Merlyn on Apr 15, 2014 3:18:35 GMT
He shook his head, but remained silent for a few moments, just keeping her in his arms. He wanted to try to think of what to do, what to say, but his mind was mostly blank right now as he attempted to comprehend what to do with himself. Finally he spoke, "No. It's my responsibility. I won't stop you from doing anything, but I'd rather you not go on my behalf. I need to get there myself. Someday...someday I will." He leaned his head forward onto her shoulder, "Don't be sorry. You have a right to bring it up."
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Post by Laurel Lance on Apr 15, 2014 3:32:12 GMT
"Just because something was hers, doesn't mean it has to be your responsibility. And that doesn't mean you don't appreciate it or you don't care about it. Maybe you're supposed to find your own thing and just be the funds for hers. If I took on my mother's stuff, I'd be speaking Greek now, and none of us want that. It's bad enough I know more Latin than a casual sentence." Tilting her head to lean against Tommy's, Laurel closed her eyes. The comparison wasn't even close to being the same, her mother was alive, not that Laurel would ever see her again. It was a chore just to convince Dinah to come out for Laurel's graduation.
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Post by Tommy Merlyn on Apr 15, 2014 3:35:38 GMT
"My father wants nothing to do with it. He's tried to shut it down, but he has no legal authority to, fortunately. A Merlyn needs to be involved...and I'm the only one left to do anything about it. I have to, but I...I just can't bring myself to going over there and doing it. I've never even been to where my mother was murdered. I don't think I could do it," he told her softly, his voice shaking.
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Post by Laurel Lance on Apr 15, 2014 3:52:05 GMT
"What? Why?" Laurel didn't really expect Tommy to answer, she was more shocked than anything else about the notion of Malcolm trying to shut down his late wife's clinic. He was more heartless than Laurel ever thought, though she would never speak those words allowed to Tommy. "If he tries to force it Tommy, all of CNRI will be submitting so many motions to halt the process that his lawyer will be overwhelmed. As long as you want it open, I won't let him close it." Malcolm had money, but Laurel had something more important than that, she had friends. She was cutthroat in court, but she never ruined her relationships outside the courthouse, even with lawyers she often went up against, she could still call them up for a drink.
"I can't imagine what it would be like to go to that spot for you. If you ever find the need to go there, I'd go with you if you want." Laurel couldn't help but think of Sara, though that was different. Laurel couldn't go to where she died, couldn't even go to her 'grave'. There was a headstone, but no body, it was just a symbol, a useless symbol at that.
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Post by Tommy Merlyn on Apr 15, 2014 3:58:05 GMT
Tommy just shook his head, "My mother left it all in my name. He can't close it without me, and I won't let him. It's safe." He smiled a little, "I appreciate the offer to fight my father and his lawyers. I don't know if you guys would have a chance or not, but that offer means so much." He didn't have any idea, he'd never really paid much attention to court proceedings with Merlyn Global Group, or seen Laurel or other members of CNRI work.
"I don't know if going with you would help," Tommy admitted, "If I go, I'll break down. I don't want to do that in front of you. It's not some masculinity thing, it's just...I don't even know." He didn't have any idea how to explain it, not only to her, but to himself as well. It was just something that hurt him, that resonated inside of him.
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Post by Laurel Lance on Apr 15, 2014 4:09:52 GMT
"I never knew that, I'm glad she did that." Laurel had always known about Mrs. Merlyn setting up the clinic, though she had had always assumed that it was left to her family, rather than just Tommy. It was almost as though she knew what Malcolm would try and do without her presence around to stop him. "Those corporate lawyers are all about being bullies in court. Sometimes, the best way to beat a bully is to outsmart them. When you bury them in paperwork, it's very easy to miss a document that could make or break the whole case."
Pulling her head away from Tommy's, Laurel lightly kissed his cheek. "I understand Tommy. You need to do everything in your time. And it's okay to break down. If you need or want me, I'm here. And it's okay if you don't. It's for you."
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Post by Tommy Merlyn on Apr 15, 2014 4:19:05 GMT
He kind of wanted to ask her about the burying in paperwork thing. It seemed to him that his father's lawyers were better off with that, due to having more numbers and more resources, but he didn't ask. He was interested, but that would be something to ask another day. When she turned and kissed his cheek, he rested his head on her shoulder.
"I'll get there...someday, I'll get there...," he said softly, more to himself than anything. It was a promise, though. He was going to get there someday.
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Post by Laurel Lance on Apr 15, 2014 4:36:21 GMT
Laurel had been to the spot of Mrs. Merlyn's murder, not out of some gruesome fascination to go see the spot, more out of the fact that she worked in the Glades, and her clients were in the Glades. Laurel often had to go all around the Glades just to do her job, though she had never stopped at that spot, instead Laurel tended to hurry past it, as though it was marred forever and anyone caught there would meet the same fate. That was true of the Glades as a whole though, despite how much Laurel tried to fix it.
"I know you will, and when you do, I'm sure you'll find a way to do something good because of it." Quentin wasn't always wrong about Tommy, Tommy was entitled, but he had always taken everything about his mother seriously, from her murder to her passions. "You're going to do something amazing Tommy Merlyn. You have all the advantages in the world, I'm sure you'll find a way to do something memorable."
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