11925/Obsession Search

From Heroes Assemble MUSH
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Obsession Search
Date of Scene: 08 July 2022
Location: New York Public Library
Synopsis: Cinque memorizes Lara researching things as Lara researches things!
Cast of Characters: Lara Croft, Cinque Evers




Lara Croft has posed:
    Compared to many superheroes and a minority of mutants, powered or un, Lara Croft is pretty normal. If one doesn't follow Archaeological circles, they likely don't know she exists. So it is that Lady Croft is allowed to go pretty much anywhere unmolested by the common man, unlike other minor celebrities. Her library card doesn't even list her title; it simply says "Croft, Lara" in unassuming text.
    The intrepid adventurer--a cross between Indiana Jones, Bruce Wayne, and Jet Li, all with better boobs than any of them--is just being 'random human number six billion and twelve of Earth'. She is, however, looking for something, and something specific by the look of it. Walking up and down the stacks in the non-fiction section, Lara peruses titles, authors, and reference numbers.

Cinque Evers has posed:
There is nothing like the feel of a good book in one's hand. It is just something to be said to be able to feel the knowledge at your very fingertips. The love of these feelings are what brings Cinque to the library today for his research, and he realize he would not be disturbed by any of his staff if he came here to do research. After perusing the many sections for the books he needs for research, he makes his way to the Rose Main Reading Room. His eyes take a minute to admire the massive windows and grand chandeliers.

Cinque lets out a pleasant sigh as he continues to scan the room as he enjoys each moment in time that he will remember forever, the light hitting the brass lamps, two students napping on each other while a third draws heartshapes of their forehead with a pink marker, the softness of the chair as he sits down... all these moments in time enjoy and forever remembered. Cinque bites the bottom of his lips as he slowly opens his first book.

Lara Croft has posed:
    Lara has only one tome in her hands as she enters the reading room. Head down, she moves to the table, gently setting the book down opposite Cinque without even seeming to realize he's there, though she's one seat to his left rather than directly accross from him. The book is from special collections, and wouldn't be able to leave the library, even to Lara. The archaeologist is therefor focused intensely, opening the antique pages carefully. It's a transcription of an actually ancient book, but even this reference book is over a hundred years old! Lara looks through a typed language which is definitely not English and a very precisely hand-drawn replica of the page the translation has come from, which is definitely not recognizable to most people. Lara seems to read both without difficulty.

Cinque Evers has posed:
Either due to Cinque's general alertness, the uniqueness of her book, or Lara Croft herself, Cinque does take notice of Lara and her reading when she sits down next to him. He slightly cranes his neck towards his right shoulder as he watches her reading. There is a moment when his eyebrows raise suddenly, when he realizes he is looking a bit noisy. He compounds the situation when he nervously states, "That seems like a very important book. Are you a writer? I used to have a friend that used to look through old history books to write historical romance novels."

Cinque briefly turns away to look down at his books. There are five opened books arranged in an somewhat pyramid pattern. The different books are more or less on the same page on each particular book. A closer examination of the various books reveals that they have nothing in common: One book on finance, another of old maps of the city, a book on African relics, a book of Julia Child's recipes, and another book on forensic science.

Lara Croft has posed:
    Lara looks up, her eyes landing briefly on the books across from her before they continue to make eye contact with the man reading five completely unrelated books simultaneously. Now there's a mutant power she wouldn't mind having: Proper multi-tasking. Then again, maybe he was just looking at the pictures. "No," she says with a slight, gentle smile. "I'm trying to find something." She then briefly looks over the five books he's reading again before returning her eyes to her own business.

Cinque Evers has posed:
"You're British?" Cinque says with some surprise in his voice. Cinque glances back at his books and lets out a small laugh, "Sorry, I guess this really not the ideal place to judge a book by its cover. I would have never guess you to be British." Cinque continues to prattle on, "You know you see people and you come up with stories about them. Cinque glances back away from his books and back to Lara as he says, "Well, I do..uhm." Cinque bites his lip a bit as he sighs, "Sorry, I have a habit of talking too much. What are you searching for?"

Cinque raises his hands in apologetic manner, "I guess I am still talking too much."

Lara Croft has posed:
    Lara looks back up and listens to Cinque for a few moments. She offers another gentle smile as he proclaims to be talking too much. "Perhaps," she says, calmly. She places her hand on the open book in front of her. "How much do you know about early Incan mythology and folklore?" she asks.

Cinque Evers has posed:
"Some information, but not a lot." Cinque explored some of that information when he was involved in that Nazca Cartel problem. Cinque furrows his brow at the memory, "I even visited parts of Peru, but it was a very brief visit." Cinque sits up a bit straighter in his chair, "I didn't know there were a lot of special books on Incan mythology and folklore book here in New York."

Lara Croft has posed:
    "There aren't," Lara says, calmly. She runs her fingers gently over the page. "This is something unique. It doesn't have a direct link to what I'm after, though." She runs her fingers over some of the non-English but similar-looking words. "Among the Spaniards who came to the Americas was one particularly prescient friar. He did his best to save people from the conquering horde of conquistadors, treat smallpox where it was still a problem, but most importantly, talk to people. He gathered a lot of information, which is almost all dictated letters he had people tell him for their loved ones, if he could find them, along with quite a few writings--actually that's not the right word. Incans used Quipo to relay information. See?" She points to a very thoroughly and carefully reproduced drawing of a string of knotted strings.
    "This book is not something I'm supposed to have my hands on," she admits. "It's not officially part of this library's collection. I need to get what I can out of it today. Tomorrow, it will not be here." She adjusts herself. "Please forgive me if I seem distracted, as I have limited time."

Cinque Evers has posed:
Cinque quickly glances down at carefully reproduce drawing of a string of knotted strings. In that briefest of the moment, Cinque has memorized every detail of the picture. "Interesting stuff." Cinque leans back in his chair as he raises his right hand to rub the back of his neck. "So why are you researching the Incans and their Quipo? Cinque glances at his collection of books and glances at the people library. "Is there a particular note you are looking for?"

Cinque taps his right foot underneath the a few times to indicate his nervousness about what he is going to say next. "I used do research for a writer...so I have a system that saves time. I could help you,

Cinque tilts his head from his right shoulder to his left shoulder, "If you want me too, you will have to tell me what I am exactly looking for. Like if you had an example."

Lara Croft has posed:
    "I'm looking for traces," Lara says. She feigns disinterest as he effortlessly memorizes the drawing she's not supposed to have. "I'm looking for something that may not exist. I think it does, but I'm going off of paper thin evidence. All I need are clues. Doesn't have to be a lot."

Cinque Evers has posed:
"So are you a like a historian or something?" Cinque peers over at the book a few times, "Hhmm, what sort of clues?" Cinque bites his lips, "I am afraid I am not tracking the importance of the book."

Lara Croft has posed:
    Lara smiles politely at the man, then says, "Archaeology is frequently about hunting for what used to be a needle in what used to be a haystack," she explains. "However, again, as I have limited time, I'm going to get back to reading."

Cinque Evers has posed:
Cinque Evers nods his head slowly as a nervously grin appears on his face. Seemingly finally taking the hint, Cinque pulls out a notebook and begins to read through his five books as he writes something down in his notebook. occasionally Cinque peers over at the pages in Lara's book as he continues with his task. After about few minutes, Cinque quietly passes his notebook pages to her.

"When I was in Peru, I went on tour and the guide. He went on and on about Pachacutec. Cinque smiles softly as he reveals perfect copies of the writings, minus the drawings as continues, "Anyways, one of the proverbs that I guess is attributed to him is "He who seeks to count the stars before knowing how to count the sums and knots of the (quipu) ledgers deserves derision." Cinque places his hand on his chest, "I can't count the stars or understand what you are looking for, but I am pretty sure I can save you time by copying sections of this book for you, so you can study without feeling rushed. I always like to analyze things." Cinque says, "I would need my computer to help with pictures. I am not that artistic, but I assure you that I can reproduce the drawings too, and get it back to you."

Cinque raises his arms in a shrug, "Just think of it as a favor. It just has been awhile since I have worked with anyone in an intellectual way.

Lara Croft has posed:
    Lara looks at the book for a moment, then back toward the entrance to the reading room. She leans forward, pressing the book under her chest, almost as though hiding it from him. "I need to use the little girl's room," she says, quietly, almost as if this were a library. "I obviously won't be able to stop you from anything while I'm in there." She surruptitiously closes the book as she sits up, then stands. She maintains eye contact with Cinque for a moment longer than is strictly polite, then turns and breaks eye contact to head toward the exit.

Cinque Evers has posed:
Cinque raises his right eyebrow at the long stare. Cinque ponders to himself that obviously this is serious work to her.

This might take a bit longer if he had to worry about actually deciphering each bit of text, but he is just working on copying what he sees. Cinque gently flips through the pages as his eyes dart back and forth around the page. Cinque's powers not only allowing him to memorize everything he sees, but he memorize the touch of each page, the aroma of the book. If he had enough time with the book and the right equipment, he could probably pull off an almost perfect replica of it.

Cinque finishes turning all the pages in the book, and begins to make copies of each page in the book in his notebook.

Since the woman trusted him not to waste his time, he stops reading his books and focus solely on copying each page.

Lara Croft has posed:
    Lara returns and sees the book exactly as she left it, but she sees him writing in what is definitely not English. She picks up the book and tucks it under her arm. "Here," she says, putting an index card with a telephone number on it on the table in front of him. "Call me. I should go so you can keep working." She then turns and unceremoneously walks out of the room with the book. Clearly, there's more going on here than just 'woman researches something from a book'.

Cinque Evers has posed:
Cinque Evers peers down at the card, watches the woman as she leaves the room. Cinque taps his foot on the desk as he takes hold of another forever memory.