Technical Assistance

Chapter 12: User Interface Calibration

Both Moira and Tommy laugh, though Felicity didn't really mean it to be funny.  "It was nice meeting you, Felicity," she starts, "but I should probably continue greeting my guests.  I hope you both have a wonderful time.  And Merry Christmas."

They both murmur their best wishes back, and they actually manage to step into the party.  The Queen mansion is a vision of the perfect holiday home, with live garland draped down the staircase and around the lit fireplace.  A Christmas tree sits in every room, and Felicity feels like she's stepped into a winter wonderland.  "Whoa," she breathes to Tommy.  "The Queens sure know how to throw a Christmas party, don't they?"

Tommy chuckles and moves to respond at the same time that another voice calls, "Tommy!"  They both turn toward the direction of the voice, and Felicity is pleasantly surprised to find Thea in a stunning red dress, making her way toward them.  She hugs him, and Felicity thinks Thea might have a bit of a crush on Tommy Merlyn—why, she'll never know.  "I knew you'd make it."  Her expression sours as she looks at Felicity, and she realizes the younger girl genuinely doesn't recognize her.  "Who's the flavor of the week?" she asks snidely, and Felicity is again reminded that Thea Queen is not someone she wants as her enemy.

"You know, Thea," Felicity responds instantly, "I'm getting really tired of you mistaking my intentions.  First Oliver, then Merlyn here.  It's going to give me a complex."

The change in Thea's facial expression is comical; she switches between surprise, indignation, realization, before finally settling shortly on embarrassment.  But Felicity is the one who is surprised when Thea hugs her, much the same way she had Tommy.  Felicity's arms finally wrap around the girl, after the initial shock wears off.  "Oh, Felicity, I'm so sorry!" Pulling back, she continues dryly, "You dress up nice—start poking fun at Kimberly's dress with a glass of red in your hand, and no one will know you weren't born with blue blood in your veins."  She notices Felicity's attire for the first time.  "And nice dress—where did you get it?  Doesn't look like anything I've seen off of the new fall lines."

Felicity snorts.  "I would almost bet that it didn't make a fashion line anywhere."  When Thea frowns, Felicity whispers, "There's a thrift store on Twenty-Fourth that has some really good things."

Thea looks her up and down, blinking and seemingly appalled that it's from a thrift store.  "No kidding," she says finally, appraising the dress again.  "You'll have to take me there sometime."  She frowns between Felicity and Tommy.  "Wait, what are you two doing, coming together?  You're dating?"  Leaning in, she asks Felicity, "Does Ollie know about this?  Because you know he's going to be pissed, right?"

Felicity turns pink, and she's starting to lose count of how many times someone in the Queen family has made her blush in the past few weeks.  "No, no, no.  No," is her immediate response.  "Merlyn's all wound up in Gorgeous Laurel."  Thea frowns at the reminder, and Felicity's certain that there's something there.  "We're just friends.  And he's saving me from being that awkward wallflower in the back."  She shudders.  "Or worse—following that one person I know around all night like a lost dog in need of a friend."

Thea waves at someone in the background before turning back to Felicity with a smile that sets her nerves on edge.  She starts sauntering off, adding as she turns sideways in a suggestive voice, "Well, I don't think Ollie would mind."  Before Felicity can do anything other than flush more deeply, she's gone, and Felicity is starting to think that abrupt exits after provocative statements are encoded on the Queen family's genes.

As though he's ignored the entire conversation, Tommy only picks two glasses of red wine off of a waiter's serving tray with ease.  He hands one to her, then sips from his own before he asks casually, "So, do you dance?"