12652/Resonants: Site of Power!

Resonants: Site of Power!
Date of Scene:	01 September 2022
Location:	Shadowcrest Manor - Bristol Township
Synopsis:	Thor consults with Lara and Zatanna about a possible location for them to invoke the ritual. The Starport is considered and decided on.
Cast of Characters:	Zatanna Zatara, Thor, Lara Croft
Tinyplot:	Resonants

---

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
The terrace doors are open to take advantage of the last golden days of summer. Down below them is a large fountain, its stone dolphins jetting crystalline water into a marble basin surrounded by green manicured lawn. Comfortable chairs are arranged around a small round table set with a wine decanter and water. On a nearby table, there is even a tea service - all in the service of her illustrious guests.

The mistress of the mansion is at home and awaits them to be ushered in by one of her staff, however they decide to travel. She is comfortably dressed in a white sleeveless blouse tucked into loose linen pants, idly twirling a glass of red wine by its stem while staring at the play of water below.

Thor has posed:
    Assuredly it is more polite to go through the etiquette required. It would be proper for a traveler such as Thor Odinson to land and speak to this servant or that individual. It would be so very kind of him to take those few extra moments. Yet as the God of Thunder hurtles through the clouds and then breaks out of their gentle cover... when he espies the mansion below that was his destination and could not help but see those terrace doors open properly casting enough light to illuminate a figure from within.
    It would be more polite.
    But this way is faster.
    So it is with that decision made that the brush of wind and a rush of air likely brings the Asgardian's approach to Zatanna's notice. Floating there for a moment with hammer in hand though his clothes are more of Midgard than Asgard. Jeans, a white t-shirt, a grey hoodie, and work boots complete the image as he flashes a wry smile.
    "I bid you good e'en, Zatanna." And unless she objects he will alight upon that terrace.

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara isn't too long behind Thor, her black and silver Jeep Wrangler pulling up to the familiar manor house and finding a place to park. Inside, Lara removes her aviator sunglasses and sets them down on the dash before she steps out of the vehicle. In a pair of khaki pants, boots, and a form-fitting light grey tanktop, the young woman spends a moment tying her hair back, then reaching inside the vehicle to grab a white button-up shirt off of the passenger seat, along with her leather bag. She slips them both on, then shuts the door to her vehicle and starts toward the house.

By the time she greets whom answers the door, Lara is situated with the leather bag over her shoulder and a smile on her face. "Hello..." She says to the greeter.

Once inside, Lara follows as she's escorted, her eyes wandering idly as she's been here before... but some things have changed, as they are prone to do.

When she reaches where Thor, and Zatanna are, she smiles more warmly for them both. "Sorry I'm a little late. I lack... teleportation, and fast traveling hammers." She chides them both whilst stepping closer..

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
Zatanna raises her eyes at the swift parting of the clouds above, kissed by the corals and reds of sunset, revealing Thor Odinson. No objection is made to his golden presence and he is beckoned to join Zatanna on the terrace.

"A good evening to you, Thor, and welcome to my house," she greets him, smiling. "You are the first to arrive. Please come in and make yourself comfortable." The magician rises and, with an open hand, invites him to the seat next to hers.

Zatanna stands when she spies Lara through the terrace doors. "No worries at all," she says, gesturing for her to join them with a warm smile."I am glad you are here. Glad you are both here. Thor just arrived and I have been enjoying the sunset."

Thor has posed:
    There's the slightest sound of footsteps as Thor alights, shifting his grip on his hammer reversed then letting it rest on his hip. "You enjoy my thanks, good Zatanna." A few words said at ease as he steps to the side and toward that table that is set so thoughtfully for the guests and their arrival. He rests a hand upon the seat and draws it out in case the hostess would wish to sit before him.
    Though that is the moment when Lara arrives which garners another smile, "Lady Croft, a pleasure." Which means in turn he uncurls a hand to another seat there and after each person is suitably settled he will take a seat as well.
    "It is a fine sunset," He offers, "I do appreciate your taking the time to speak with me. I admit I have been curious about your thoughts about our efforts."

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara lifts her leather bag strap up over her head then upon arrival, she smiles to them both, and moves toward the offered seat. Her eyes glance toward the windows, and the setting sun outside, before she looks back toward them.

"At least I didn't have to drive in to the sun.." She quietly says before sitting down on the edge of the chair and placing her hands together between her knees. She regards them both with a calm stare before raising her eyebrows up some at Thor's words.

Her eyelashes flutter some as she considers it. "I have felt we've been doing well, though I'm of course, still a rather new member to all of this... I'm certainly eager to see how it unfolds too, and still..." She shakes her head gently side to side, then grins just a bit. "Well, I think I am still a bit unsure how well this will go in the end, but hopeful."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"Will I sound like I'm running for office if I say that it is a momentous project that I'm honored to be involved in?" She smiles with touch of self-derision, her gaze moving between Lara and Thor. "I hope not, I mean it sincerely. It has been quite an adventure."

She interrupts her answer by gesturing to the table, "There is wine, sparkling water or tea and coffee if you prefer. Please help yourselves."

Settled back into her chair, she adds, "I still have some concerns about us not opening doors to a potential invasion but I think Caitlin Fairchild has that side of things in hand. What do you both think? There are still a lot of questions remaining about where we will place the portals. Is that what we have decided to call the connections between the realms?"

Thor has posed:
    Lifting a hand, Thor raises it as if to hold off what compliments are given from Zatanna's direction though he nods to them both. He takes his ease in his seat, settling back and resting his hands on the arms of the chair while his gaze drifts between each. "There is still a long way to go, though perhaps we are half way? I'd say?"
    The Asgardian prince nods a little, then smiles his thanks at the offer of a drink. For once he leans forward and choices the water, taking the decanter in hand and lightly turning it on its side to pour some ice as well into his drink. Then he cocks an eyebrow to each offering to fill their glasses should they so wish to partake.
    "Have you found any likely sites for where we could store the artifacts and use for the site of the ritual?" He takes up his glass and shifts back into his chair, holding the drink in one hand as he continues, "I imagine there are a million factors to gauge in such a matter."

Lara Croft has posed:
A smile is shown to Thor as he offers to pour the drink, and she motions for the tea. Whether he was nice enough to pour her tea or not, she'll end up with a cup one way or another! After a sip, Lara lowers it down to hold it in front of her chest between both hands. Her eyes first go to Zatanna. "Portals... they have a bit of a ... sour connotation, to them, I believe. I'd rather refer to them as ... Gateways, perhaps?" She offers back before her eyes dance again to Thor.

"I know that we plan to store some at the home of Doctor Strange, right?" She questions. "SHIELD has a massive containment center, though I know not all are 'keen' on using what SHIELD provides... I can offer my family home. It's tucked away in a remote location of Surrey, outside of London. But... yes, beyond that... I have been reading about this Atlantic Starport. It seems to me that all traffic should idealy be shunted there. Any 'threats' that come through the Gateways... well, it sounds like they'd face the only combined location of all the largest teams of super powered people... This seems like the best direction, to me, at least..."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
Zatanna rises to pour tea for Lara. "I'll be mother then. Milk? Sugar?" Hands poised over the the tea tray, she turns to regard Lara while she contributes to the conversation.

"Gateways! I like the sound of it," she surveys them both for their response.

"I second Lara's feelings about SHIELD, and think the Sanctum Sanctorum is very well secured. As is Shadowcrest, which I also offer as a place to guard the objects until we are ready to open the Gateways."

She finishes Lara's tea and places it in front of her, then returns to her seat. Eyes lowered, she taps a finger to her lips, considering, speaking slowly, "I should like to go to the Starport. It is one thing to read ancient maps of ley lines, and another to experience them. All sorts of things can fracture their power."

She looks up her eyes shifting between Lara and Thor, "Will there be a team of super heroes on site at all times?"

Thor has posed:
    "It should not create permanent portals," Thor offers, a hand lifting a little. "As far as I understand it. More that when portals are created it should draw them there. Or however some travel. I know some of the Fae will likely simply be walking and then emerge from behind something or other? But I am not well-versed in their magic."
    Though his eyes level upon Lara and he nods, "The good Doctor holds the ones we have recovered for now. SHIELD has some good people, present-company included." His lip twists up, "But that would perhaps make their ownership seem... more narrow than I would hope they would be?"
    Yet then she mentions the Starport.
    Which has Thor furrowing his brow. "That may be wise, though... I would dislike to trade upon Diana's hospitality and her efforts. Would be horribly presumptuous in some ways." A glance is given to Zatanna, "Though perhaps it might be for the best."
    For a time he falls silent, thoughts drifting. When he returns to the here and now he looks back to the sorceress, "I believe that several teams have already connected for observing and protecting the Starport. I believe the Avengers have something aimed that way."
    He straightens up a little, "Let us pursue that angle then? Perhaps if you both would be so kind as to examine the Starport site more thoroughly. Zatanna I imagine you would be able to ascertain its mystical properties and likelihood of it being suitable. And Lara, if you could perhaps dig into the history of the area, any possible... negative aspects or prophecies? Anything that could rear its head and come down on us?"

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara had asked for a bit of both sugar and milk for her tea, being a bit of a adventurer after all. She'd then just settled back in her seat and sipped it while listening to the two of them in turn. "It depends on how precise we could get with where these visitors would arrive. If precision is an option, then maybe the staff at the starport would be willing to offer some space specifically /for/ this..." She then allows Thor to speak on super hero teams being present at the facility, as that is not really something Lara can speak on, beyond what the headlines, and various articles, have detailed...

She does nod her head softly to Thor's final thoughts on investigating the site itself. "Well... it isn't in the Bermuda Triangle... So that's at least, something." She dryly jokes before sipping the tea again.

A light nod follows though, and Lara adds. "I'll look. I am sure the Atlanteans chose a ideal spot, but you never know... It could be the site of a ancient shipwreck, or asteroid impact that may hold some ill-significance... so, I'll do what I can to search for such."

Lara does cast her eyes around their immediate area, before she looks back. "I would feel better if half the items were kept at the Sanctum, and the other half here... rather than all eggs in one basket, so to speak."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"Lara, you are more than welcome to use the library here if it will further your research," she leans slightly toward the woman with a faint smile.

Nodding several times, Zatanna sweeps her hand to the library that can be seen through the terrace doors, "There is a vault where we keep the most dangerous objects in isolation in such a way that they can't interact with other things. It has never been breached because of the protections laid on it by successive generations of my family."

Folding her hands together, "Excellent. The sooner the ley lines are explored and the history of the area confirmed the better, to my mind. Would you both like to come to the Starport?"

Thor has posed:
    Flaring his hands, Thor frowns. "It unfortunately is not an option. For the enchantment to work they all must be within proximity of each other I believe. Though..." The Asgardian's brow furrows as his gaze distances again, "There was some talk that it could be a global enchantment of sorts, more powerful if they were spread to sites of power across the globe. But that was not our goal." Since down that path lies... dangers.
    Shaking his head, "If you wish Zatanna perhaps speak with Dr. Strange about the matter? Mayhap he would have some insight that I am missing."
    That said he takes a sip of water then rises to his feet, setting the glass down with a faint clink. "No, I should remain here. I believe..." His brow furrows as some errant thought strikes him. "I may have need to have words with my brother. A small suspicion but best to examine it now before things go further."
    

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara gently nods her head, as she glances toward the library offered. She looks back, with a grin showing across her visage. "Don't tempt me with a vault filled with mysterious items of power..." She says in that playful tone of her British voice. "My curiosity becomes an unstoppable force." She further teases before Thor rises up, and she looks over to him when he does just so.

"They have to be quite close to one another then?" She asks. "Got it... I suppose having them all entirely separated around the entire globe would lead to more trouble than it is potentially worth, trying to keep them all safe, and secure."

Lara indulges another sip of her drink before she glances toward Thor. "Your brother?" She asks. "Loki?" She assumes, not the other one that nobody ever talks about.

"I... hope that conversation goes well." She says, knowing only the legend of the two's history together.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"Oh, by all means the object can work in proximity with each other. I was referring to our vault. And having them scattered...." she shakes her head, agreeing with Lara.

Zatanna remains silent on the subject of Loki, merely widening her eyes in an unasked question at Thor and nodding."Then, tell me when you would like to visit. I am at your disposition. And yes, Lara, please do feel free to use the library. I will tell my staff that you have entry to the house." A mischievous smile lights her face, "As for the vault. You are welcome to visit it while I'm home."

She rises as Thor pushes himself to his feet. "Thank you both for coming."

Thor has posed:
    At Lara's mention of his brother by name, Thor nods and murmurs, "Indeed." For it is e'er that one that needs the most attention. "Though it is probably nothing. Yet best to be safe." Considering what his neglect, real or imagined, of the Trickster has begat in the past.
    He slips the hammer from his hip and gives a nod to each in turn, "Ladies." And as he says that single word he sets the hammer to spinning, just a few blurring rotations before he is launched upward and into the sky leaving the two to their evening.