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Post by Tommy Merlyn on Apr 21, 2014 15:22:11 GMT
He nodded. No, it wasn't the same. People needed their parents, no matter how old they got, but Laurel had something of a point here. She cared about him, his father apparently didn't. "If someone is here to care about me, I'm glad it's you and not my father." That was true; he preferred to have her than his father. He preferred to have her over anyone else.
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Post by Laurel Lance on Apr 21, 2014 16:03:15 GMT
"You've been in my life since before I was a teenager. Even if we weren't always close, you've always been around. And even if you were helping to get me in trouble and cconstantly ignoring my suggestions to follow the law, you were still there." They could have easily gone their separate ways when they no longer had Oliver holding them all together, yet they ended up coming even closer together. "I feel like it's been us against the world for the last few years, and I'm glad it's been you."
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Post by Tommy Merlyn on Apr 21, 2014 17:02:09 GMT
"I wouldn't have it any other way," he told her. Well, no. He would. Oliver. The three of them together again, but without Oliver and Laurel together, without Oliver being, well...Oliver (the Sara thing). He was happy to be with her, but it just wasn't the same, and didn't entirely feel right. But it was the best they could do, and he wouldn't dare voice it to her about wishing Oliver might still be here.
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Post by Laurel Lance on Apr 21, 2014 18:23:38 GMT
Between the two of me, they had so many problems going on. From Oliver and Sara dying to Laurel's mother leaving and Malcolm not being invested in Tommy's life, life had gotten hard. "I know you don't want to talk about it, but if your father isn't interested in your life, maybe finding interest in his will help. The company might bring you two together. You don't need to, it's just a thought."
Smiling to him, Laurel squeezed his hand affectionately again before she pulled her hand back and sat up straight as the waitress returned with their food, setting the dishes in front of them. Picking up the fork beside her plate, Laurel gently stabbed a piece of the lobster and put it in her mouth. It was good, the other attorney had been correct. "Onto better thoughts, have you thought of getting out of Starling for a bit? It might help you figure out where you want to go from here."
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Post by Tommy Merlyn on Apr 22, 2014 1:21:18 GMT
He thought about replying to her first point. Show interest in Malcolm's life? He could feign doing that, but it would end soon enough as his disgust would shine through to his father. That wasn't a good option, but he wasn't about to let her know that. It made him look petty or something that he couldn't even do that.
He thanked the waitress as the food was set on their table. He didn't eat yet, instead he watched Laurel take a piece of her lobster and figured it was probably a good meal. "You know, that might be a good idea," he admitted. He had places he could go, things he could probably occupy his time with. But he had things to do in Starling now, he had to go help with CNRI, help with charity things, as Laurel had pointed out as options for him. He didn't want to leave yet.
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Post by Laurel Lance on Apr 22, 2014 1:39:16 GMT
Taking a sip of her wine, Laurel branched out and took a bite containing both the lobster and rice. The spices were perfect, giving the rice flavor that complimented the seafood. Laurel had been spoiled by the men in her life, leaving her just as comfortable at a restaurant like this as she would be at a pizza place. "You like Coast City, which is nice to get away to." At least, Tommy had liked Coast City when they were younger.
"I just want to see you happy and less worried about your life." It was ironic, how Tommy had all the money he would ever need, yet he was the one who was unhappy with how his life was going.
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Post by Tommy Merlyn on Apr 22, 2014 13:20:27 GMT
Coast City. Well, it was hard not to like it, being on the coast and all. The ocean, the beach, all of that was beautiful. He finally took a bite of the lobster. Yeah, it had been a good decision to come here today, this was good food. He set his fork down, "I do like it," he said, "But I have things to do in Starling."
Happy? Well, he was working on it. This was the first step to becoming happier, by being with Laurel. Less worried though? That would take some time to get to. "I'll work on it."
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Post by Laurel Lance on Apr 22, 2014 15:13:15 GMT
"Please don't think I'm trying to push you away, I'll support whatever you do." Did she sound too pushy? She probably did. That was a trait of Laurel's, trying to push herself onto everyone else. Her father had needed it at one point, when she was continuously helping him stumble out of bars, but Tommy didn't need her help like that.
Nodding to Tommy, Laurel hoped that it would happen for him. She wasn't the happiest person on Earth, she had so many problems, but she had found happiness in her career, with Jo and her other coworkers, and now a bit with Tommy. She had even gotten closer to her father since joining his side of the law, but they still had their problems.
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Post by Tommy Merlyn on Apr 22, 2014 16:52:17 GMT
Tommy shook his head, "I would never think that, Laurel. I know that you're trying to help me, and I appreciate it. Unless you became really, really pushy, I wouldn't think that. And I mean, like, ordering me to do things and threatening to withhold anything, or something like that. That's the only type of pushy I'd see as pushy." Was that pushy, or was that something else? He wasn't sure, but the point stood. She couldn't do much wrong with him, he was just happy to be with her like this.
He took another bite of his lobster and nodded, "Fantastic," he said. He'd usually have a drink with such a meal, but he was driving. He could handle his alcohol, but Laurel was a lawyer, her father was a detective, so he didn't want to screw things up.
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Post by Laurel Lance on Apr 22, 2014 19:35:24 GMT
It was interesting to Laurel what Tommy considered pushy by her, traits that she had never displayed even with Oliver. She had suggested they move in together, but it was hardly an ultimatum, and he could have easily said no and continued stringing her along. Now she was with Tommy and he was talking about extreme behavior that would push him away. "Never Tommy. I've seen some of the less desirable actions of yours, but I've also seen the good. I know you can do something amazing and I will be excited to see what you come up with." seeing the best in everyone was always her fatal flaw and never worked out for her, but she still had to try.
"It was a good suggestion by the prosecutor. I'll have to tell him I took his suggestion when I see him next."
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Post by Tommy Merlyn on Apr 22, 2014 22:33:54 GMT
Tommy nodded, "Please do tell him," he said. His less desirable actions...he was beyond that now. He knew what she was talking about, and he hated himself for having been that way. It had made sense at the time, but looking back he could do nothing but self-loath. He had to be a new man, a better man. That's what he was now, because being with Laurel made him want to be better.
"I plan to do amazing things, especially with you," he told her. Just what? He wasn't sure yet.
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Post by Laurel Lance on Apr 23, 2014 2:27:02 GMT
The food and wine went nicely together, though Laurel had taken notice of Tommy's lack of alcoholic beverage. It wasn't like Tommy to not have a drink in his hand. He held his alcohol well, he didn't get drunk and lose all self control... not often at least. "I like this new Tommy." She didn't go into specifics, they weren't important to list. "I hope you keep your annual summer party though. Even I have to admit that's fun." The big parties had fallen to the Merlyns and while there would never be a Christmas party like Robert's, summer could be claimed by the Merlyns. It was nice to get everyone together, people Laurel had grown up, worked with, Starling was a big place but not so big you could go out and not run into someone you like... and usually someone you dislike too.
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Post by Tommy Merlyn on Apr 23, 2014 2:48:23 GMT
"What part of the new me do you like?" he asked. He'd accept a blanket answer like "All of it" or something, but he was curious as to what she might say. He gave her a nod, "Don't worry, I'll see to those parties. I'll even make them bigger, if I can." He was the one who was usually behind doing it, his father just tolerated it and held his own, "fancier" party inside with business associates, aged liquor, and all that. Tommy was the one who had the fun stuff going on.
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Post by Laurel Lance on Apr 23, 2014 6:25:29 GMT
Laurel wasn't surprised that he had asked, and she didn't mind telling him either. He had just seemed so unhappy thinking about all the things he used to do or be that Laurel didn't want to force him to keep thinking about such things. Setting her fork down, Laurel's gaze moved to Tommy's face as she gave him her full attention. "It's the things you've said and the way you've been talking all day. You're actually thinking and caring about people other than yourself. You've always come off as selfish and reckless, but today you're sounding so different." Even Laurel knew that Tommy's sudden transformation wasn't going to be perfect, she expected him to slip up and she wasn't buying every single thing he was saying, but she did believe that he wanted to start changing, and hopefully when he got a taste of the things he had been talking about all day, he would continue to want them.
"The big one can be fun, yes. Maybe I should start throwing the small parties, it would be nice to see Jo outside of work." A small group of people hanging out, like it used to be, before things got complicated. Though Laurel suddenly realized that she didn't know a single person that Tommy would consider a friend now. "I don't know any of your friends names." Dropping her gaze to the plate in front of her, Laurel admitted the truth as she suddenly felt guilty for not paying that much attention. She had been telling herself that this thing with Tommy was just fun and not to get attached, but the underlying relationship had always been friendship between them, and she should have known more about him and who he hung out with the last few years.
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Post by Tommy Merlyn on Apr 23, 2014 15:01:20 GMT
It wasn't hard for him to sound different. With all the things that had been on his mind, and everything that haunted him, it was easy to change. Being with Laurel reminded him of who he used to be, and how much he wanted to be someone else. He wasn't sure if he could always keep this up around people from his past, but he'd have to try, and keep Laurel on his mind to attempt to accomplish that.
"My friends? I'm trying to move on from them," he told her. "I need new people in my life, not people like the old me. And you know, I could help you with a party. Or host one on your behalf. Of course, I'd listen to everything you have to say about how you want it run, since it'll be your party, your friends."
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