Once Upon Arrow

He didn’t destroy Thawn. He had ample opportunity and never did. And he never had a good reason for not doing so either. In fact, half the time they were CHUMMY with each other.

Since Barry and Iris have revealed themselves to be kind of CRAP parents, especially since Barry sent his daughter back home without hope of ever seeing him again because he was having a paddy, she sided with his greatest foe and we find out that because of her selfishness, her NEED to see DADDY and rebel in her mid-20’s -_- -

(Remember Barry’s NEED to see mommy and dad again, giving no fucks for anyone else, changing everyone’s lives in the process, erasing baby Sara and killing Cisco’s brother - tip of the iceberg)

-she changed time. How arrogant can you be to not even check about the consequences? Like father, like daughter.

Those five years Oliver was supposed to have with his child? THAT’S why he only had months with her, because of Nora and her father’s inability to do what the world needed him to do. They took away Oliver’s happiness.

What will they destroy the next time they travel backwards in time for selfish reasons?

The Allen family make others sacrifice in their place: they give no shit for anyone other than themselves and call Barry a hero because he can run fast - if the DCTV Universe was just, Barry would die in the crossover and Oliver (with Felicity) would be given back to his family, WITH the time he’s lost.

Fuck Barry Allen.

This is beyond the joke, especially after the horrendous way they pulled Oliver to pieces.

I mean, we were all laughing at how he made Oliver’s jealousy rear its ugly head… but then he’s given powers. GIVEN them. He doesn’t earn them. So you think he’s going to right? Because then decides to use them for heroism, which was good.

Until it wasn’t.

Then it REALLY wasn’t.

Then it wasn’t to a degree that I’m stunned the show still stands.

Why iris loves him I don’t know; he will never know if HIS Iris, the Iris he grew up with, could have loved him to the degree the NEW Iris does. It’s as creepy and horrific as Stepford Wives, because Barry didn’t seem to care at all about that. He was perfectly fine with being given everything on a silver platter: ego stroked. Lottery won. Uncaring of how he changed everyone for the worst, because he gets to have sex with the version of Iris who suddenly thinks he’s everything.

He let his greatest enemy, not only ESCAPE in the crossover for no bloody reason, but he also let him live. Don’t give me bullshit about murder; this is about preventing devastation. It’s the duty of a hero to be the one to do the things others can’t and won’t and Barry didn’t have it in him.

Crisis is 100% on the Allen’s shoulders.

Barry is a hero because of his powers, not because of the man who uses them. It’s gone to his head and he and his family (YES, Iris is included in this because despite shouting at him, her actions as a mother were awful) think that because they have to shoulder the burden of being responsible (boo-fucking-hoo), they can utilise the speed force for their own ends.

NO.

It doesn’t work that way cupcake. Except, no one rags on him for it. The city loves him for it. The city doesn’t know about his indiscretions. Imagine if Cisco was able to find a way to compare the verse that was with the one he replaced in with in S3.

Imagine if everyone in central city was made aware of how their lives once were just months before. Imagine the mothers, father, children, parents who aren’t with them now but were until a selfish little prick needed to choose himself over everyone on the planet.

Imagine not hating him for it.

Imagine them all not screaming ‘who are you to play god with us’ at him.

Imagine him doing that again.

imagine then choosing a temper tantrum instead of his own (equally as ridiculous) daughter.

Imagine said daughter, as a consequence, changing the timeline. Twice. Because she wants what she wants. Imagine Iris wordlessly endorsing it by keeping her child so in the dark and so isolated, so ignorant and messed up that she’s felt abandoned her entire life, meaning their relationship was not a strong one.

Imagine all of this making it so that Oliver doesn’t to be with his family, because he’s chosen the world above himself.

Imagine this happening- oh wait, we don’t have to imagine.

I. AM. PISSED.

And Felicity… She’s strong in a way no one but Oliver could ever understand. She did the opposite with her daughter that Iris did with Nora.

Not only did she make damn sure that Mia knows her father, that she understands him and that he loved her, she made damn sure she’d be safe if she wasn’t there. Despite her loneliness, she built her daughter on the ground of her father and made sure her roots were strong as steel. She personally fought for a better world for her before becoming a fugitive: she did not sit there and enable her daughter to throw a tantrum and watch her use her abilities to fuck with the time line.

Oliver and Felicity are together now and happy but they suffered a great deal that they didn’t have to.

The crossover is not the enemy: Oliver was supposed to die. Olicity saved him and the crossover will allow him to meet Mia.

But they just couldn’t stop there. They had to remind us how “bad” and “damaged” Oliver was. How he doesn’t deserve respect or to be called a hero. And he hears this from a spoiled brat from Central City.

Yep. F Barry Allen and the TV writers who destroyed the character I loved (and still do, in animated form) - while trying to vilify the most selfless of all DCTV heroes: Oliver Queen and Felicity Smoak.

but once Barry was brought in I knew that the whole Arrowverse thing would become about POWERS and META-HUMANS and ABILITIES because apparently these things make a hero a hero.

Well, I have three fics going that say otherwise.

In a very real way, Arrow has ended. The final ten episodes are more of an extended crossover than anything else, so I can face my fics KNOWING that Olicity are ALL that.

And re-writing s1 in True Face allows me to go everywhere the writers couldn’t then wouldn’t.

But I can’t even try to humanise Barry. All the good I once felt for him has been destroyed. I need people to see this, to see that Barry created evil - which affects the BALANCE, RIGHT?!

That’s something else that confuses me. Oliver’s a negative force right? But Barry screwed everything up and let his enemy live to screw with his daughter.

But OLIVER’S the negative force.

Hah.

Whatever Flash writers.

We were well fed.

Legacy. What is a legacy? It’s planting seeds in a garden. You never get to see.

Time and again they have questioned his leadership and unjustly characterized him as someone who still uses aggression and intimidation as his brand of heroism (he’s the most evolved of you all, you ungrateful idiots!)

The Other Side of a World Without You

Oliver measures the passage of time by the greying of his hair. 

The Monitor’s retreat is part of the multiverse, but time moves differently here. Though the landscape around them looks passably like earth, Oliver is aware that “day” and “night” here are constructs meant to make this strange place less alien to the collection of humans fighting for the survival of the multiverse.

Nothing is what he expected when he left his family – it’s been ages of fighting and then falling back to this odd retreat, strategizing, and then fighting again. The Monitor told him he’d die in this fight, and Oliver had simply assumed he’d be facing a short, brutal campaign, ending in the kind of sacrifice he’s spent years ready, willing, and able to make. Especially to save the world.

To save the multiverse.

He will gladly sacrifice his life to keep his family safe.  Even if it’s taking ages longer than he’d expected. Years and years of fighting, and missing Felicity, William, and Mia.

The superiority of ‘gritty’ books is steeped in misogyny. ‘Happy’ books are obviously for women and children who need to be protected from the horrors of the world that can only been properly understood and appreciated by the Vastly Superior Intellect and Life Experience of Men. Men want real books where people suffer and die! It’s more real! The realism!!!! It’s REALLER! Like. Can we just. not. Realer =/= intrinsically better. 

People read books for different reasons. All those reasons are legitimate. Someone reading a good romance book is the same as someone reading a good crime thriller or a good YA fantasy. If it’s for fiction, it’s for enjoyment, and no genre of book is superior. 

If you’re reading the fluffiest piece of domestic fucking fluff that’s cavity-inducing and makes you make muffled screaming sounds over the unbearable cute, your enjoyment is just as intellectually valid as John Smith reading Game of Thrones or some political thriller. 

Oliver & Felicity │I was waiting for you

Set 5 years after Felicity disappears into the portal with the Monitor. Her and Oliver save the universes or whatever Oliver needs to do to set the world in balance. And then they return. 

The road was dark and empty. Nearby, birds sang their quiet songs and the wind blew dirt around the air. In the middle of the quiet street, a blue light appeared in the middle which became bigger and bigger until it took over the entire street. From the blue light stepped out two individuals, a woman with glowing blonde hair and a large man. They held hands as they stepped out, their postures confident and ready.

“We made it.” The woman breathed, looking around in wonder. The man followed suit, looking around before recognizing the faint outline of the house far away.

“We’re at Queen’s manor.” He said, surprise coloring his tone. He looked over at his companion with tears in his eyes. “I can’t believe we’re back.” He whispered. She gazed at him adoringly, bringing their clasped hands to her lips before pressing them against his hand.

“I told you I would find you.” She whispered back. He quietly sighed, looking at his wife. She had always been able to find his peace but he hadn’t expected her to give his life back too. She truly was remarkable.

She finally tore her gaze away from his eyes to look down the empty road. “Come on,” she said, leading him down the path. “We need to find a place to sleep before we find our kids.”

He nodded, his stomach twisting with nerves at the thought of his kids. The kids he hadn’t seen in 25 years. He had heard about their daughter from Felicity, marveling at her tales of Mia’s heroics and strength. And he was pleased to hear about their son joining the fight and using his intelligence to save the city, just like his mother. But he was nervous. What would they think of him after 25 years? He wanted to believe that things could go back to normal and he could get to know them, get to spend the rest of his years with his children and his wife. But life was never that simple.

“Hey, stop that.” Felicity admonished, squeezing his hand. It took him a second to realize that he had been squeezing her hand a little too tight. He relaxed his hand quickly, trying to pull away, horrified at the thought of causing her discomfort but she held on. She turned her head to him, a beautiful smile gracing her features.

“I know you’re scared about seeing them again.” She said knowingly. He sighed, ducking his head away from her inquisitive stare. She always knew him too well. “But it’ll be fine.” She continued, swinging their hands lightly. He smiled slightly at her antics.

“I’m just worried that they won’t be able to forgive me.” Oliver murmured as they walked down the path, not looking for anything in particular. “We never told them where I was actually going. And they think I’m dead.” He winced, remembering the look on Felicity’s face when she had tearfully told him about how she had needed to fake his death. How she couldn’t have invited William to his funeral because it was too dangerous with the Ninth Circle waiting for any hint of her location. “I just don’t know if they’ll want anything to do with me now.” His eyes burned into the ground, heart breaking at the thought of his children. It had been 25 years. He had caused them so much suffering.

He felt Felicity stop in her tracks, his hand pulling slightly from when he had tried to keep walking. He stopped too, confused before seeing the set look in her eyes, lips turned down in a disapproving frown. He knew that look all too well.

“Oliver,” she scolded, and he fought back a smile. He had missed her so much. The past 5 years with her had been wonderful but still not enough to make up for 20 years apart. “They are going to be ecstatic to see you again. Having their father back is going to mean the world.” She placed her other hand on his face and he automatically melted into her touch. “I’m not saying it’s going to be easy or quick.” She said, her voice strong and confident. “But eventually we will have our family back together.”

He nodded, opening his eyes to look into his wife’s. She was so beautiful and strong. The light of his life. How he had survived so long without her he didn’t know.

“Let’s go.” He murmured, leaning down to kiss her softly before turning to start walking again.

“Hey sweet girl,” she cooed as she came closer to the crib. Mia’s cries quieted, but she still sniffled when she focused on the vacant spot next to Felicity. “Its okay to cry, I miss him too.”

Mia didn’t understand. She didn’t realize that Oliver had left to be hero. All her daughter knew was the man who always came when she cried wasn’t there for her now. And Felicity hated it. She hated the universe for this. And her so called friends who let it happen. Barry and Kara were heroes too. But it had to be Oliver? Always always Oliver.

“Come here,” she said, lifting her baby up and nestling her into her arms. “He loves you, he loves you so much. And if things could be different, he’d be right here.”

Mia lifted her tiny fingers, and moved them to her cheek. Wiping away the tears that Felicity had let fall. So much like her father already.

“Your daddy was the best hero in the whole of the universe,” she said with a smile as she kissed Mia’s fingers. “He saved everybody. And you and I, we’re never gonna let the world forget it. Not as long as we’re around right?”

Mia nodded, even though she suspected the baby had no clue what she was agreeing to. But it made Felicity smile all the same.

(via)

My love for you is bigger than the frackin’ universe  EPISODE 7x22 SPOILERS>

So tonight Felicity’s journey came to an end.  Beth was right about one thing in her interview–it’s a lot to process.  I have so many mixed emotions right now.  The majority of the episode was the writers hitting us over the head with the redemption theme, hence the need to have BS and Bronze Tiger there.  That said, I adore Bronze Tiger.  Why couldn’t we have traded all of NTA and BS for him earlier in the season?  I have never identified with a character more than when he punched that dude in the face and told the crowd that Oliver is trying to save their dumb asses before glaring and scaring them into dispersing.  That is the kind of teammate Oliver Queen deserves.  Take notes, DD and RR.

Oliver also tried to redeem his half-sister.  Again.  His approach tonight was to tell her he wanted to kill her after she told him she let their father die, thus causing his life to spiral and endure more loss.  He even handed her a weapon and told her to kill him.  I appreciate his belief in her but dude, you have a wife and child and a baby on the way and as of last week, she dropped a whole building on you and was trying to do it again tonight.  Anyhoo, apparently Oliver said or did something different tonight than the other 500 times he’s tried to get through to her and she chose not to kill him and they fought against the Ninth Circle.  Since Emiko was redeemed, of course she died.  I’m still not sure why or how Emiko was killed and Oliver wasn’t but I honestly wasn’t paying that much attention and I don’t care.  Emiko’s parting words to her brother were that the Ninth Circle is going to kill his family and he needs to get them into hiding.  

I’m with Emiko if it means getting Olicity out of that ungrateful city.  Before they go though, the ‘team’ has a reunion at the bunker.  They say really lovely things to each other that don’t ring true to me but okay.  Then everyone leaves except for OTA (THE WAY IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ALL ALONG).  I appreciate the visual of OTA standing together in the center of the bunker but something about it was lacking the emotion I wanted to feel with that scene.  We got a much better and more emotional OTA scene at Olicity’s new home where they tell each other that they are family and that they love each other.  #OTAForever <3

Olicity were finally alone to settle into their new home.  We got a montage of moments, (that even had a couple of callbacks): Oliver saying that even if it’s not a tropical paradise (Aruba), they never got a honeymoon, followed by a sweet kiss.  Olicity sitting together on their porch with two lit candles between them…..

 …to Mia’s birth and Smoak-Queen family moments.  It was nice but all too brief, just like Olicity’s time together.  Oliver’s headstone said 2019 so Mia was only a few months old before the Monitor shows up to collect on his deal with Oliver.  

Yep, Oliver is happy and content in their little love shack in the woods achieving maximum domesticity so of course someone needs him to give all that up, this time to save the whole universe.  Remember earlier when I was talking about BT and said I never identified with a character more?  That was until Felicity asked Oliver:  WHY DOES IT ALWAYS HAVE TO BE YOU?!?!?  

Oliver has suffered so much.  He watched his father commit suicide.  He spent five years being tortured, betrayed, and watching more people he cared about die.  He came home to right his father’s wrongs and make the city a better place. He has been shot, stabbed, beaten, and burned for his efforts and watched even more people he cares about die.  He has been made to bear the responsibility of his entire family’s legacy and has never been given the respect or recognition he deserves.  Felicity fell in love with Oliver because she knew his heart and she saw the hero in him when he didn’t even see one in himself. But loving a hero means his suffering became hers.

Oliver’s sacrifice is now Felicity’s sacrifice as well.  She puts on a brave face as she gently wipes away his tears during their goodbye.  We got another callback to 3x20 when Oliver tells Felicity she opened up his heart in ways he didn’t know were possible.  Those were the same words Felicity said to Oliver right before she told him she loved him for the first time.  A soul-changing moment for Oliver that he waited so long for and one he remembers all these years later.

Olicity’s goodbye also gave me a couple of things I have waited a long time for.  First, Oliver finally said that Felicity is beautiful; and two, that his only regret is that he didn’t tell her he loved her sooner.  I have long held the belief that Oliver knew he loved Felicity way before he uttered those three words in the mansion.  Vindication!  I’ll take my happy from this show any way I can get it.  

Of course, it also took things away, namely 20 years of Olicity’s life together.  Unlike Felicity Smoak, math is not my strong suit but let’s look at some numbers. Oliver spent five years in hell.  It took three years after that for Oliver to choose happiness.  Ironically, Oliver had to leave Star City back then to truly be happy.  He and Felicity had less than a year together before the BMD bomb blew up their relationship.  The dumbass writers then kept them apart for a year and a half.  Reunited and married during the course of season 6, only for Felicity to lose Oliver to prison.  They were physically apart from May until November of last year.  They had maybe a year before being separated for 20 years.  That’s a f**kton of years for these two amazing heroes to be apart from one another.  

They shouldn’t have to be good at goodbye.  They deserved those twenty years.  They deserved all the happiness and joy life can bring them.  They deserved to raise their children together.  So I’m still struggling with that even though I knew going in tonight that they wouldn’t get the ending I wanted for them.  It’s not that I don’t like angst but for too long, the ‘happy’ moments haven’t balanced with all they have been put through with little emotional payoff. YMMV.

After Oliver left, Felicity fell to her knees in tears and sorrow.  I’m trying not to imagine how long she stayed there, sobs wracking her body and her heart broken into pieces.  Probably until she heard Mia crying for her and then she picked herself up and kept her promise to her husband by loving and protecting that baby girl for the next 20 years all on her own.  But every day, she knew a part of her soul was missing.  Flash-forward Felicity helped next-gen Team Arrow figure out how to destroy Archer, stop the Zetas and bring down the wall between the Glades and Star City.  Mia was the archer out in the field and William watched over her via tech.  Green Arrow and Overwatch 2.0.  Olicity’s kids are now the heroes saving the city, setting up the potential spin-off.  Their final scene together was at Oliver’s grave site.  Felicity told them she was going off the grid but it would be different this time.  Felicity was saying goodbye to her children so she could be reunited with Oliver wherever he is in the universe.  

I did love that Felicity has the ability to summon the Monitor at will.  Ugh, her power.  Does anyone else think that wasn’t the first time?  Except all the times before, she wasn’t ready but she had the Monitor tell Oliver how she and Mia are doing and that she loves him and Oliver would have the Monitor tell her how proud he is of her and how much he loves and misses them.  Like the Monitor is their own intergalactic messenger boy.  It’s the least he could do TBH.  

With Oliver and Felicity still alive, I’m holding out hope for some sort of reset out of the crossover.  It would be nice for Olicity to get that time back, even if we won’t get to see it.  I’ll always wonder how Olicity’s journey/ending could have been different if it hadn’t been at the mercy of a crossover and a spin-off.  But mostly, I’ll always be grateful for the kismet that brought Emily to Arrow and how she brought life to one of the most amazing characters of all time and with SA, had the chemistry that created a ship that is now multi-verse endgame in canon. 

FELICITY SMOAK IS IMMORTAL AND OLICITY IS FOREVER! <3

At the present time, I have no plans to watch season 8 unless EBR returns so this will be my last review.  But I’ll still be around, celebrating our amazing heroes and enjoying your creations and friendship.  As it states on the Olicity bench, ‘we found ourselves in each other.’  That sentiment remains true, show or no show.  I couldn’t have asked to be part of a better fandom.  xoxo