good company

Katalina pointedly ignored the implication that she herself might have to explain her presence here too. Her focus was far too defensive. “Uh, yeah. Duh,” she responded to the question. Well, probably. It hadn’t occurred to her, but it probably was a crime to be up here. She’d never thought about it before, and she didn’t particularly care, however if he was committing a crime then she sure was too. No high ground here. That quelled her anger a little, letting the confusion to shine through. “How did you even get up here? It’s basically impossible, the rooftop access doesn’t even fucking open.”

“So, what, do you own this rooftop?” Oliver challenged, but not maliciously. He didn’t think Katalina had any ownership, but he was hoping to get more out of her than just these threats, which he didn’t exactly think he deserved. After all, if they were both trespassing, like Oliver assumed they were, Katalina didn’t have much of a moral leg to stand on. “I know,” he replied casually. “I have my ways.” He hadn’t ever talked about his abilities with others aside from Lauren and the rest of the gang who watched them develop in him. “How did you get up here, then?”

“She’s really pretty.” Helpful, Shaggy. Helpful. “She probably wouldn’t have been talking… she’d be focused. And she’s a little shy.” Looking down at the shakes in his hands, he shrugged. “These won’t be good if they get melty. I’ll just buy her another when I find her. Like, do you want one?”

“Uh, I’m gonna need a little more than just pretty,” Oliver replied slowly, not trying to identify anyone off of that, lest Shaggy get jealous if he happened to be correct. “There was a blonde in here, like, half an hour ago, and a brunette who left maybe ten minutes ago,” he added, hoping that was a bit more descriptive. “Really? I mean, if you’re offering, sure, thanks. I know I can’t study on an empty stomach,” Oliver replied with a slight grin, reaching out for the shake.

Francis was tired which of course wasn’t saying much since Francis was always tired. He often felt as though he had been born just completely exhausted but that was only because his life with his parents had been entirely draining. It was a running joke within the gang at this point that Francis asked for peace since he and Rita were the ones constantly keeping their family in check. In fact, Francis knew very well that the gang would fall apart without his guidance so of course he was tired. Add on the new stress of the Sykes demands increasing and you have someone who was running very low on stamina. Francis had entered Oliver’s room to make sure his younger brother was getting his studies done.  Someone had to keep the youngest in check and no one else was responsible enough to do so. Francis had closed his eyes for about three minutes to rest. A quick shut eye was sure to keep him focused. However, that quick shut eye turned to a full on nap and Francis wasn’t aware until he heard Oliver’s voice break him from a blissful sleep. “Don’t kid me, Oliver.” Francis mumbled, rubbing the sleep from his eye as he looked to the red head. “I have slept in worse positions in my life. I assure you a potential neck cramp is the least of my worries.”

Oliver always suspected Francis was tired, even when he said he wasn’t, but he didn’t often see Francis fall asleep on him. After all, Francis often busied himself with the lives of the others in the gang, and Oliver had just assumed the other man crashed once everyone was finally asleep or at least out of sight. He’d suspected there were many nights spent protecting him from the world he’d been thrust into as a kid, but Oliver truly didn’t know the magnitude of it, the hours of sleep lost just so he could gain a few extra ones peacefully. Maybe if he’d known, he would have tried to take watch himself. Perhaps that’s why he didn’t know. “And the shoulder cramp you’ll give me?” Oliver teased. “Besides, you should go to bed. Take a nap at least.” There was a bit of concern in his furrowed brow as he studied Francis. “What’s kept you up this long, anyway?”

“I wasn’t assuming you did, just that maybe you wanted it to yourself.” Marinette was just trying not to be overbearing. Plus she was still trying to make new friends. Mari had never really had a problem with that before but America was very different then France. “History? Like American history? I’m not the most very versed but maybe I can help. If you want that is?” 

“True, but like I said, peace and quiet isn’t exactly helping me get much done, anyway,” Oliver shrugged. While he could be territorial over some things, most of those things were way back in New York, and he didn’t think Marinette was the type to threaten his livelihood in the same way the Sykes often did. Plus, he didn’t care much about this homework in the first place. “Uh, I think it’s world history? But it’s got some American history in it. Sure, if you’re offering. I’m obviously not too good at it, myself.”

It had been awhile since Hercules had caught up with his friend Oliver, truthfully the young god had found himself distracted by work and working out – and also didn’t want to bother what little friends he had left with a woeful tale of his broken heart. Yes, he still wasn’t over Megara. He crossed the campus with a small brown bag containing nachos and sides, wearing a backpack holding some drinks. He had missed Oliver and couldn’t wait to catch up. He tapped lightly on the door, only entering at Oliver’s words. “Nonsense, you look like a wonderful scholar!” he beamed. “I brought brain food.”

Oliver hadn’t seen Hercules in a while, but he’d figured their schedules were just opposite. Herc seemed like a morning type of person, while Oliver’s free time mostly existed at night where he roamed as he pleased. He was surprised to see him after a while coming into the lounge, but it wasn’t an unwelcome surprise. In fact, it was the much-needed distraction Oliver had been hoping for. “Yeah? You should tell that to my professors then. Maybe you can convince them,” he joked, shutting his book with a loud thump. “Great, I’m starving. How’ve you been, man?”

Dorian still believed he had to hate his part of the job when he saw Oliver sat alone with his notes. Things wouldn’t go black. He wasn’t a bad person. His look turned horrible, because Ronnie wasn’t there to make him do anything to the runt of Fagin’s litter. “It’s because you were made for squalor.”

“Come out here and take a walk, I don’t wanna get blood all over the place.”

Oliver’s jaw went sharp with tension the moment he heard that all-too-familiar voice. Of course they’d found him at a time when he was unarmed and unguarded. Oliver didn’t think he’d need to take any precautions just to go to the lounge, but he was ready for a fight nonetheless. He’d learned not to play by the rules, especially when the Sykes brothers didn’t, either, and he would do what it took to survive. “You would know, wouldn’t you?” He spat, leaning against the table. “I don’t take orders from you. Get the fuck out of my sight.”

Lottie was glad he’d spoken, because now when she barged in she knew he wasn’t gonna get all fussy about needing peace and quiet. She needed somewhere to sit, gosh darn it, and she wasn’t looking to argue about the semantics of whether innocently slurping her milkshake was ‘allowed’ in the common lounge. “Thank you kindly, sugar,” she replied with a smile as she entered and took a seat nearby. “I ain’t tryna bother you, I just gotta work on some stuff t’ send home for the holidays so my daddy doesn’t think I’ve forgotten about him. Do people write cards for Thanksgivin’ still? Did they ever? Ooh, maybe I’ll start a trend!”

“That’s fine. Like I said, I wasn’t getting any work done, anyways.” There was something Oliver found amusing about Lottie, something that made him smile slightly as she sat down. Maybe it was knowing he wasn’t the only person around here with a noticeable accent, though hers was much different from his. “That’s nice that you’re sending something home, though. I’m sure your dad will be happy getting a Thanksgiving card... even if those aren’t technically a thing.” Of course, Oliver wouldn’t exactly know. He didn’t have a father nor anyone really to send cards to. “What do they say about gifts again? It’s the thought that counts, right?”

He’d wanted to surprise Velma after getting off work early — that was the only reason Shaggy hadn’t texted her. He figured he’d be able to deduct where she was on his own. After all, he knew her better than he knew anyone else. “Uh, sorry,” he replied, balancing the milkshakes he’d brought in his hands. He didn’t realize how long he’d been standing there, all zoned out. “I was looking for my girlfriend.” The word still felt strange on his tongue, but he wasn’t complaining. “I thought she may be studying, but… I guess not…”

“No problem,” Oliver shrugged, watching the guy with a slight concern he was going to spill whatever was in his hands. No way was Oliver going to take the fall for whatever mess would undoubtedly ensue. “There was a girl in here a few minutes ago doing some work, maybe it was her? What does your girlfriend look like?”

Marinette was trying to find a quiet place to draw when she noticed the guy in the lounge. He seemed deep in thought so much that she didn’t think he noticed that she had come into the room. “Oh I’m sorry I didn’t want to disturb you.” She took and open seat herself. “What were you trying to get down, out of curiosity? Also feel free to tell me to mind my own business.”

“No, don’t worry. It’s not like I own the lounge or anything,” Oliver dismissed with a relaxed wave. Maybe if it had been someone related to the Sykes’, he would have gotten territorial, but he was used to sharing his space, and the solitude wasn’t helping him get any work done, anyways. “It’s no big deal, just some history homework. I’ve been trying but I’ve just been drawing a huge blank for hours. I’m ready to just give up.”

Reagan was getting out of art class when she walked by the commons to see her good friend Oliver sitting there. Instantly, the tiny blonde’s spirits rose seeing a friend out in the wild. Oh, but he looked busy. As much as Reagan wanted to shout his name to get his attention she had been learning to be more…laid back. Cass mentioned once that it wasn’t the most appropriate to greet people loudly from across the room. Princesses didn’t do that. So, she stood there for a moment unsure of what to do. While her desire to chat with Oliver was great she also didn’t want to disturb his peace. Truly, the boy must’ve been a mind reader because once he acklowdeged her, Reagan did a small little dance in her spot, squealing to herself with delight. “I can?” she asked, already moving to sit next to her. Her art supplies loudly plopping onto the floor below her. “What are you trying to do exactly? maybe I can help!”

For a second, Oliver hadn’t really known who was in the doorway. The light behind Reagan had shadowed her face from him, but her little dance of excitement gave her identity away before she could even step closer. “Of course you can,” Oliver replied with a chuckle. “Do you really think I’d be able to live with the pout you would give me if I’d turned you away?” he teased. He moved a few of his books in towards him so Reagan would have plenty of space to spread her own things out if she planned on getting anything done. “Not much, just trying to understand history enough to pass the class. At this point, I’m already a lost cause.”

“Brilliant! Thank you. I’m glad someone is giving it a go.” Philip replied. He watched with wide eyes as the other attempted to make the sword budge. Philip’s hands were rightfully going to be covered in blisters after his own attempts, he knew the other lads hands would suffer the same fate. Thankfully, at Kit’s request mostly, Philip carried first aid kits with him. (Kits! get it!). “A little harder I think you’ve almost got it.”

Oliver wasn’t even sure how Philip managed to get it this stuck in the first place, but he was glad for the challenge. His past few days have been kinda boring, and he was hoping to gather his friends up to make it more interesting, but this would do perfectly for now. Oliver pulled with all the strength his arms would let him and pushed against the tree with all the strength his legs had. “I might need a hand,” he replied through clenched teeth, thinking it needed just that little bit of extra strength to come free.

That was probably a weird thing to say, Anna thought to herself, as the surprise on his face processed. She hadn’t meant to make him uncomfortable or anything, the compliment had just kind of slipped out. She’d thought it, then she was saying it, because who didn’t like compliments? She grinned as he replied, though. “Yep,” she agreed, tugging absently on one of her braids. “Well, I thought we were - that’s what my father told me - but I’ve met enough people with red hair recently that I was beginning to think he made it up. He also told me it gave me super strength, so I guess he wasn’t really making it super believable, in retrospect.”

“Really?” Oliver asked. “I haven’t met a lot in my life, but I’ve met a few.” Then again, Oliver never met so many people, as much as he made sure people didn’t notice him. “Well do you? Have super strength, that is.” He wasn’t sure if he wanted to reveal his own tricks (though he doubted his abilities were solely because of his hair color) just yet, but it would be interesting to tease her for a bit.

Katalina had long ago made a habit of retreating to high, unreachable places when she needed to be alone. There was safety - most people couldn’t get to her, and she was free to watch and think and brood at her own leisure. Perhaps that’s why it was so unsettling to hear someone climbing up to join her. She’d tensed, half-expecting to see Adora. That might’ve been understandable, even manageable. Seeing a stranger was far worse. She moved without thinking, slamming the figure up against the nearest wall as the adrenaline kicked in. “What the fuck are you doing up here?” Katalina growled by way of response, as baffled as she was suspicious.

“I could ask you the same question,” Oliver replied with a raised brow. Whoever his woman was, she meant business, and she seemed pretty pissed that he was up here. It’s not like she owned the rooftop.... or maybe she did, and Oliver had been spotted one too many times up here, but he wasn’t about to beg for his life or anything right now. “I came up here to hang out. Is that a crime?” Actually, it probably was, but that never stopped him before.

“Ah, yes that is what you call a mistake. a mistake I have yet to figure how to fix.” Philip said as he looked at the tree before him where his sword just so happened to tightly wedged into. Of course it would be philip to get his sword stuck in something. At least he hadn’t impaled anyone while brushing up his skills today, there was always at least one brightside when it came to his misadventures. “I’m going to be honest with you I’m not sure I can pull an Arthur here and magically pull my sword from this tree. It’s in there tight. Do you want to have a go at it? You can’t keep my sword but i’ll thank you graciously in some other way.”

Oliver wasn’t quite sure how Philip had gotten the sword stuck in the tree, but at the same time, he was sure the look he was giving the other man was the same look others gave him as they wondered just how he got up to such heights in trees such as this one. Shrugging, he approached the tree. “Sure, I’ll give it a go.” 

Having told a strange guy twice already to and quote “fuck off” Sadie felt he needed a more physical approach to rejection. With a raise of her boney fingers curled into a fist she launched it towards his face cackling at the noise of bone against bone, watching the blood spill from his nose. She smiled proudly masking the pain in her shaking fingers. She turned to face the onlooker. “What? You wanna’ go a round too?”

.

Oliver knew what was worth the trouble, and getting involved in this was definitely not it. He hadn’t seen much of what caused the other guy to get punched in the face, but Oliver figured whoever he was, he deserved it. “No thanks,” he answered, holding his hands up as a gesture of good faith. “I was just gonna say that that was an impressive hit.”