DISCLAIMER: I don't own Arrow. If I did, there'd be a lot more Salmon Ladder going on.

A/N: Thanks for the feedback, guys! Both Josie and I are relieved to know that it wasn't just us picking up creeper vibes from Palmer...okay, well Josie doesn't actually care if anyone else did, but I appreciate it. Also, I'm ignoring last week's episode, which I like to call "Everyone Makes Really Questionable Choices", because they did, and in some cases 'questionable' was putting it extremely delicately.

In response, here's someone who doesn't make poor decisions.

He knows how it looks, a'ight? Stereotypical big black man coverin' the door to some club in the Glades with every little white girl wannabe socialite, totterin' around on heels that he's surprised hasn't actually snapped on someone yet, making 'em break their skinny little ankles, tryin' t' flirt their way in. If he was any less of a man, he'd prolly cry. Shit, LeTasha's already gone off on his behalf, when he told about the gig. Talkin' 'bout how proud black men don't need to be takin' servitude jobs when they've already gone through enough.

Yeah? Well, proud black men gotta eat. And put a roof over their head. And pay the bills on time so they don't turn into homeless black men. Shit. Demanuel's not crazy about the job, but a check's a check and Verdant pays decent, prolly better than most other places. It should, seeing how the Queens own it. They lost most of their fortune, but rich people broke ain't the same as everybody else's broke. 'Specially not someone livin' in the Glades broke.

He's good at his job cause Nana raised them that something worth doing was something worth doing well. And cause he owes it to Dig, who got him the position. Never thought talking to brotha about nephews and babies would turn into a job offer, but there it is, yanno? Dig's straight, so Demanuel does the best he can to keep Verdant legit. No obviously wasted customers, no underage thrill seekers trying to get in, no bribes through the door, and no drugs. Shit, after that Vertigo scare twice, it's been fuckin' hammered home by Dig, Big Queen and Little Queen and even the Harper kid. NO DRUGS. Even if it wasn't, D don't let that shit in his house.

And look at him soundin' like Miss Smoak, makin' it sound like they family or somethin'. 'Work Family', she calls it. A'ight fair enough, you ask him, Verdant's crew ain't too bad. Can't say he'd ever see himself workin' for a tiny little white rich girl, but Thea's growin' on him. She's pretty easy as far as bosses go. Her brother's the one that's a little tighter on the reigns when he bothers to show up as Oliver Queen and not the Arrow dude he thinks no one knows about.

But nigga, please. Ain't nobody who got two eyes and half a brain can't figure that shit out after a couple checks around the building. The Queen Car is parked in the back, so is the bike he knows the Arrow rides when he's out shootin' dudes. And Miss Smoak's little Mini. And that ain't much but add that to the fact he's seen the Hood and his crew around the building regularly? Shit, anyone can put two and two together.

But, whatever. They wanna dress up and go out and save the city? Fine by D. They out on the streets in the Glades, too, bustin' up the gangs, makin' safer for his sister when she gotta come home after dark, from work. They takin' care of his family so Demanuel's got their back, too. Just gotta keep his eyes open and mouth shut. Easy. Hmph, family...soundin' like Miss Smoak, again...white people...

I like Demanuel. He makes me smile for some reason. I have a feeling we'll hear from him again. What do you think?

Please Review.