Of Chakra and Chi [Raven]

[Connor Hawke]

Players: Raven and Connor Hawke
Location(s): Sherwood Florist
Plot Summary: Raven comes into the shop looking for someone and finds Connor instead.

Connor had been quite surprised when Dinah had willingly given him control over Sherwood Florist. When she had packed up and left Star City he had assumed that she would take everything with her. Yet she had left one thing behind. Her legacy. As cheesy as it sounded Black Canary had quite a reputation amongst the criminals in Star City. At first they had only objectified her and viewed her as someone to jeer at and threaten. Yet over the months and then years she had proven herself to be one of the most dangerous vigilantes they could face while breaking the law. Connor could only remember when criminals would beg to be captured by Black Canary. Before she had left many ran the moment they saw her. Connor missed her but luckily she had left him one thing to remember her by.

Regrettably Connor didn’t know enough as much about flowers as he could. He loved to care for them and watch them grow but when it came down to it he couldn’t exactly sell them to disinterested customers. He couldn’t even recognize half their names. He wasn’t sure how Dinah had done it. So instead of keeping Sherwood Florist as a flower shop he had instead turned it into tea shop. He had used some of the many that Oliver Queen had left for him to purchase books. Some were for sale and some were for display. All of them could be read while at the tea shop. He had invested in some of the most exotic and refreshing tea leaves across the world to create unique blends for those willing to try them. Lastly he had arranged to purchase fresh fruits and ingredients for nutritious pastries for anyone who was hungry. There was only one rule at Sherwood Florist. No coffee.

Connor had found himself spending more and more time here. He could read, meditate and hold conversations with customers if need be. He didn’t feel the need to hide behind a mask to help people at Sherwood Florist either. He found himself giving people advice and helping others with disputes. Sherwood Florist had become a second home to him and he found himself spending more time here than at the mansion. He had even taken to leaving his Green Arrow outfit here so he could switch when the sun set. The profits weren’t half bad either. Connor as finally finding himself settling into a normal life again. It was a feeling he hadn’t since Lian had died.

He was simply sitting behind the cash register carving some type of rune into the wooden counter top with an arrow head when the bell above the door rang. He glanced up at the door just in time to notice a young woman around his age with violet hair walk inside. She looked familiar but Connor wasn’t entirely sure who she was. A red jewel glittered on her forehead and she carried herself with grace and poise. She radiated a sense of inner calm that Connor had always struggled to maintain. Needless to say he was curious at best. He set the arrow head on the counter top and blew the wooden chips he had carved out into his palm before he stood to his feet and walked towards her. “Can I help you?” He said with a smile as he settled behind the cash register. “If you’re looking for something to drink we have ginger tea. No coffee, though.” One would be surprised by how many people came wandering in for coffee.

[rae]

Sherwood Florist. Had it been night time, Raven wouldn't even bother trying to look for Dinah here. But it day, so if she wasn't at the Watchtower, and if she wasn't home, this would be the place to find her. This store reminded her a lot of the times Raven tried to desperately to have a normal life. Those attempts were mostly failures. Some heroes could do it, balance the crime fighting and the everyday lifestyle just as Dinah has done here with the store, but the half-demon couldn't, try as she might. That fear of exposing who she truly was simply kept her from getting close to anyone, while others found her need for privacy off-putting. Dinah was lucky.

Today wasn't about Black Canary though. It was about Speedy. A few days ago on a visit to Titans Tower, Raven was overcome with someone else's emotions. Her empathy picked up on Mia's boiling pot of rage, disappointment, and sadness festering inside her and basically burning her soul alive. Unfortunately, Raven was unable to address the matter. Kory was in need of immediate assistance so she had to answer the call and leave. It was only until today that she found the opportunity to return, but Mia was nowhere to be found. The Teen Titans hadn't heard from her all day, so Dinah was her next option. If she didn't know where Mia was, then Raven was going to have to search for her by another more intrusive mean (which she hoped it wouldn't come to that).

She walked into Sherwood Florist removing her hood and immediately thinking she should put it back on. She walked into the wrong place it seemed. This was no longer a flower shop. It instead looked like a tea shop. Raven's dark eyes swept over the patrons, the decor, and the soft meditative music. Everyone's auras were so serene, it actually made her feel good too. And as much as she would have liked to stay, this just didn't seem like it was Dinah's store anymore and she had an important matter at hand. Raven's foot was up and ready to turn her back around and through the door when the man behind the counter spoke to her. She took a few steps forward with her eyes matching his. He was at peace, it radiated off him. "I'm actually looking for someone," Raven answered. "Who's the owner? What happened to the flower shop that was here before?" she asked.

[Connor Hawke]

"Looking for someone?" Connor repeatedly blankly for a moment. He was trying to figure out who this woman was because he had definitely seen her before. Yet it was hard to figure out where. His eyes flickered over body for a milisecond and then back to her face. Then it was obvious to him. She was clearly a super hero of some sort. He would have guessed monk but monks didn't wear chakras on their foreheads. Not the monks that came to Star City. There was also the fact that Mia had mentioned this woman before. Connor took little interest in the other heroes of the West Coast. If het met one in person he was friendly and cordial but he had never been one for gossip or discussing another hero's successes or shortcomings. As a result he only knew this woman by face not by name. But apparently she relied on meditation as much as he did. That was obvious just by looking at her.

He decided she could be trusted and she at least deserved to know what happened to Dinah. Few people seemed to notice that Sherwood Florist was a totally new store. He was still curious to know more about this woman. He could at least try to help her find Dinah which wouldn't be too difficult. He also knew that there were very few heroes who relied on meditation as a form of relaxation. Many simply trained or buried themselves in their work. He was always happy to see someone who relied on the same methods he did. Of course Connor was jumping to assumptions but he felt that he could recognize someone else like him. "Dinah Lance relocated to Gotham City." He reached underneath the counter and pulled out a card with her name, store address and number on it. He then smiled apologetically. "If you had any orders or anything I can handle them here for a discounted price. It's just that when she left she gave me the rights to the store and I figured Star City could use a place that was therapeutic...especially in recent events."

"My assistant Mia isn't here either. She's on a vacation with some friends." As far as Connor knew Mia was running around with Suzie and Cassie in Gateway City. He couldn't be entirely sure. She had been so unhinged lately. He had figured that it wouldn't hurt to mention her either. Maybe this woman was looking for Mia and Dinah. Clearly Connor wasn't being sought out. He wasn't well known throughout the hero community and he preferred to keep it that way. The sound of a teapot's shrill whistling attracted his attention and Connor quickly moved towards it. He poured a glass of tea for a gentleman sitting in the corner and approached the man, giving him a free refill. The gentleman had been reading silently and Connor had figured it wouldn't hurt to try his hand at customer service. People appreciated someone who was willing to fulfill needs they weren't aware they had. Speaking of unfulfilled needs...

"You seem like a tea person." Connor said as he walked behind the counter again. "I have some left in the pot. Maybe I can pour you a cup and I can help you with whatever you needed when you came in."

[rae]

Raven took the business card from him and looked at the address. So Black Canary did move to Gotham City. She had actually heard that peripherally during a conversation between Robin and Starfire a while back, but Raven didn't think much of the information at the time. Back then, she hadn't yet picked up on Mia's state of mind anyway.

She placed the card on the counter and slid it back to him. "I see," she started. "I don't have any pending orders, no. I actually just wanted to speak with Ms. Lance..." she paused. Maybe he could help instead. "About Mia." Seeing how he mentioned Mia and revealed that she actually works here, he had to have some information on her whereabouts. Even if that meant Raven had to interrupt this vacation of hers. Something needed to be done to help her before she slipped off the rails. She just couldn't stand the thought of allowing a hero to fall when she could have done something to help. Mia's situation reminded her a lot of how Roy had his falling, and wanted nothing to do with any of his friends. With Raven's help, so much could have been prevented, and yet she didn't fight to help him. It was a regret that loomed over her still.

He walked away to serve customers, leaving Raven to decipher just how to go about talking about Mia. There was no telling who the young hero had told about her alter ego as Speedy. So how was Raven to explain her interest in a girl she had no connection to? She decided to play it safe. When he returned, Raven grinned slightly. "If it wouldn't be a bother to you, I'd love some tea." She turned around and headed to an empty table. It was low and accompanied with two plush pillows on opposite sides. Raven sat cross legged on one and held up her cup as he poured in the tea. "I'm Raven, by the way," she smiled. "And I'm not sure how to talk to you about this. I just have to ask for discretion after I'm done. I've been looking for Mia for days now and I wanted to speak with Ms. Lance because she's Mia's guardian. I was hoping she would know where Mia is because..." she cleared her throat quietly, "I believe she's in danger."

[Connor Hawke]

When Raven slid the card back to him Connor realized that this really was superhero business. He steeled himself for a conversation that would again drag him into the swirling typhoon of Mia's mental health. It was a conversation he was always willing to have but always felt awkward having. Mia wasn't doing well and Connor was still desperately trying to figure out how to make her feel better. Whenever he did he was forced to fight his own private feelings about Lian's death. He felt awful about her death but he knew he wasn't responsible and he felt oddly detached from this situation. Sometimes he was glad Prometheus was dead and sometimes he hated his father for killing him. Sometimes he identified with Mia and sometimes he was annoyed with her. These mood swings were not pleasant and Connor had been hoping that he could help himself while trying to help Mia. When it came down to it he simply felt selfish for having his own miniature crisis and as a result he pushed away his feelings.


"Well…Dinah isn't here right now but I actually live with Mia. Maybe I can help." He suggested again. He turned towards the pot and poured Raven a cup. Conversations always felt more relaxed over tea. You had to have patience to drink the scalding hot water just like you needed to be patient during a conversation. It was a standing comparison that held true to many conversations Connor had. He wash' trying to be manipulative. He was just following a pattern he had noticed dozens of times before. He didn't pour himself a cup, though. He was on duty and wasn't about to treat himself. This conversation was serious and emended his full attention. After pouring the cup Connor balanced it on a small plate and crossed the store towards Raven. He took note of the low table she was sitting in and joined her. He stepped over the pillow and slid down to his knees effortlessly. He then placed the tea on the table and slid it across towards the woman.


"Green tea." He said with a nod at the cup. "I used organic tea leaves. It's a fairly strong batch." That was more of a warning than anything else. Tea bags didn't breed real tea. Tea leaves made real tea and if you weren't used to drinking tea with tea leaves than it could be a little overwhelming. Connor amended his statement after he realized it could be misconstrued as condescending. "I have the feeling I don't need to warn you, though." He said with a wane smile. "Connor Hakwe." He mimicked her introduction before he settled back to listen to what she had to say. "Ever since Dinah left for Gotham I've been like Mia's guardian. We've worked together often and we're fairly close." He paused at Raven's last statement. "You have my discretion but…what makes you think she's in danger?" He wasn't sure if Raven was being dramatic or if Mia's own temper and grief would be the death of her. He had enough faith in her character to believe that it wouldn't be but you never could know for certain.