12946/A Sad Day In England

A Sad Day In England
Date of Scene:	02 October 2022
Location:	Buckingham Palace, London
Synopsis:	Lara goes home to London to attend a state ceremony. She helps a young lost Earl at the reception and then encounters Steve Rogers there.
Cast of Characters:	Steve Rogers, Lara Croft

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Steve Rogers has posed:
Dignitaries had come to London from all over the world. Heads of state, important individuals. Members of the British government. The British peerage, the nobility who still have a place in English society even if not one of rulership as had been the case centuries ago.

On a quiet day, the nation gathered and watched. A long ceremony that spanned a dozen hours. The changing of an era, of sorts, certainly for Britain and many of her former colonies that had now achieved independence, but still held cultural attachments.

Afterwards, a number of receptions were held for the guests. The more important ones gathered at Buckingham Palace itself. A section of the beautiful palace hosts the event. The mood is generally quiet and somber, though with a few drinks the conversation picks up, if still in a respectful way.

Members of British nobility wander, mingling with some world leaders, while others have already retired after fulfilling their diplomatic duties. The crowd is mostly older with a few exceptions, the average age is likely nearer to sixty than not.

Men are dressed in suits and ladies in dresses, or skirts generally. Dark colors prevail as one might expect, though some that are in uniforms appropriate to their station might be splashes of color in the mingling crowd.

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara was in a fairly unique position in that she was one of the first women to get passed a nobility title. After the death of her father, Lord Richard Croft, the title of Duke had sat in a bit of limbo, before the ruling had come to Lara that the powers that be, and the Queen, had declared it time to honor the rights of the daughters...

She'd become a Duchess on that day, and had attended her coronation. But, on the heels of her parents being wholely gone from her life... she'd been quite somber about it.

Now, a decade later, Lara Croft is attending the funeral of the Queen, the longest ruling monarch in the country's history... It was another somber day, but one she was certainly honored to hold her parents' legacy alive for...

Lara is dressed in black clothing, a black blazer over a black silk blouse, her black skirt going down to just beyond her knees, with a pair of black heeled shoes upon her feet. Her hair is done up in a intricate style on the back of her head, and she's wearing simple jewels from her mother's collection. She's one of the youngest nobles here, and has been making the rounds, talking to others of her peers, simple casual conversations abound, while not partaking in any of the drinks. She's simply speaking on her life in New York here and there, as many of her peers have questions for the young Duchess who has a pretty infamous history, both good and terrible things having happened to her, from the death of both her parents in tragic ways, to the horrible events that took place on that mysterious Japanese island... Lara was credited with Yamatai's discovery, but there were still many who believed she was entirely instrumental in a lot of the people who died in that shipwreck.

Needless to say, it was a sad day for the loss of the Queen, and a awkward day for uncomfortable conversations.

In the moment, Lara is walking by herself down one of the carpeted stretches as she takes a moment to breathe and relax, her heels quietly impacting upon the floor of the old historic home...

Steve Rogers has posed:
This area of the palace has a few rooms that are part of the reception. A string quartet plays quietly in one room. Doors lead out onto a balcony with a view of the grounds.

Ahead an older gentlemen of about sixty, with white hair and a slow step, is making his way down the hallway. A familiar face for Lara. Henry Russell, the Duke of Bedford. An occasional acquaintance of her father's, Lara will have seen him on a number of occasions over the course of her life. He was also supportive of Lara's family title being bestowed up on her.

Spotting the young woman, a pleasant smile comes to his face. He changes his steps to bring him over to where he'll meet her. "Duchess Croft. Sad tidings that have brought you home, though it lightens my heart to see you again," he says. "I trust that you have been well in your endeavors overseas?" he asks her in a kindly voice. Apparently not one of those who holds his old friend's daughter accountable for the storied events that befell her.

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara saw the older man approaching and she was ready to meet him, as he clearly was intending to do the same. She pauses and laces her fingers together in front of her lap. A warm smile is given to the Duke, and Lara gently nods her head toward him. "Lord Russell." Lara speaks in her quiet and calm tone. "It is good to see you..." She tells him, having memories of him at several functions when she was very little, though he's quite a bit older now.

A nod is given to the man, as Lara hears his question. "Ah, yes... New York has been... quite an experience. The stories about it being a haven of all manner of activities is entirely true." She tells him, meaning for that to be a light hearted joke. "I've learned quite a lot in my short time there, but, I'd say it's made me a stronger person too. The time has helped quite a lot..."

A glance is given toward the other direction. "How is your family, and how are things going for you?" She asks of the elder before her then.

Steve Rogers has posed:
The older duke smiles as he hears Lara's answer. "Good, good," he says. "I'm quite glad to hear that. You come from a fine family line, Lara, and I don't mean that just in the sense of the peerage. It is good to hear that you are finding positive experiences there. Even if it is," he says, before pausing to lean closer to say in a jokingly conspiratorial tone, "America."

He gives a gesture with a hand. "My family is well. Have a new grandchild. A baby girl, Barbara. Looks just like her mother," he says proudly. "And what of you in that regard? I note the lack of a ring on your finger yet, young lady," he says, the latter term said with a joking tone. "Not for lack of interest I'd wager. You've turned out as lovely as your mother, god bless her soul," he says.

As Lara looks the other direction, she'd note evidence that she is not the youngest in attendance. A boy of no more than seven or eight can be seen down the hallway. He's wearing a tailored suit, and looking about. As he turns to look down the direction where Lara is, her sharp eyes can spot the glisten of his eyes, and the track where a tear recently passed, though he's wiped the tear away by now. A small coat of arms on his jacket identifies him as an Earl. The Earl of Lincoln. If Lara has kept up with such things, she'd know him to be Henry Fiennes-Clinton. It was news when he was granted the title after the passing of his father just two years ago, a request that had been made by the former Earl before his passing, and granted by Her Majesty.

He's looking about the way a boy does who is lost, or at the least, separated from those he's searching for.

Lara Croft has posed:
The compliments from the older man has Lara showing him an even warmer smile, along with a light nod. She glances down to her hands in front of her lap, and then laughs politely at the mention of a lack of a ring. "It's true..." She says softly. "My dedication to my education, and now my career, it hasn't left a lot of time for anything else. I'm sure it will come along though, some day... when I'm older, quite older." She notes with a little grin for him.

The catch of the boy beyond the Duke's shoulder draws Lara's eyes though, and she does a small double-take toward him. She does recognize him, as she brushed up on all of this on the plane ride across the ocean again. She watches the young Earl a moment before she looks back to Henry.

"Oh, if you'll excuse me, Your Grace, I think I need to check on something..." She tells him before dipping her head ever so slightly and then giving his arm a light pat as she moves to step around him...

Moving once more, Lara walks softly down that carpetted hallway until she reaches the young teary eyed boy. She turns and lowers down to sit upon the edge of one of the chairs. "What's the matter?" She asks him in a kind tone of her caring voice. "Are you alright, young Earl?"

Steve Rogers has posed:
The boy peers about, left and right, but as Lara comes to sit with him, he turns to her fully. "I can't find Geoffrey. My guardian and steward," the boy says. "He was right there and then next thing he wasn't. And I mustn't do anything that will embarrass the family," he says, keeping his voice low as if afraid even saying so might do just that.

The poor lad. A dozen hour funeral could not have been easy for him to sit through. And then having to put in an appearance at the reception. He looks visibly worn down by the day he's had.

He scrubs a hand quickly across his eyes, lest any more tears be seen by anyone. "He was right here," he says, turning and looking up and down the hallways again, then looking back to Lara.

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara shows a sympathetic expression to the young boy. She too glances up and down the hallway. "I believe I remember seeing the two of you together, so I think I remember what he looks like." She tells him, before she puts a hand to her chest. "I'm Lara, would you like to go looking for him with me?" She asks, offering her hand then to him. "I'm an Archaeologist, you see. I'm quite good at finding lost things." She tells the young one with a little grin to help ease his emotions.

If he would accept the offered hand, Lara would stand up again then, taking hold of his hand and looking down to him. "You know what? I believe I saw a table with some refreshments, and cake, just down the hall. We could go in that direction, and see if we can't find your friend." She tells the boy then before starting in that direction. "You look quite dapper in that suit, if I might say too." She tells him then with another smile.

Steve Rogers has posed:
The young boy does take Lara's hand when offered. "Thank you," he tells her. Before adding belatedly, "My Lady." His hand squeezes hers with a light grip, as if finding in her kindness something that can cling to as she leads him towards the room with the refreshments. "Geoffrey took me to Saville Row for it," he says, looking down at it.

He glances around the hallway, and then back to Lara. "Being an Earl isn't always easy," the tired boy confides to her just before they step into the other room.

People mingle about. For a boy it would probably be more difficult to spot a particular person from his lower vantage point. The table of refreshments is set out, as well there are waiters who roam the room, bringing drinks or taking glasses away on trays.


    *********

"Well thank you," Steve Rogers replies. "It was definitely a time of great change and strife. I'm glad that it is in our past now."

The older British fellow talking to Steve was the fifth to come bring up World War Two to him, talking in tones that clearly held the war in high regard, likely as one of the heights of Great Britain as a nation. Not the fifth time today, just the fifth time at the reception.

Holding a glass of soda water, Steve made a few more moments of polite small talk before excusing himself to move on through the room. Pausing for a moment to let out a breath and center himself, Steve's eye falls on an unexpected, but welcome sight.

Lara Croft stepping into the room, leading a young boy by the hand. At a glance, Steve could tell the boy was tired, and in at least some minor amount of distress. The way the boy looked up at Lara with gratitude and for guidance brought a soft, approving smile to the American. His eyes lingered on the graceful beauty of Lara's face for a few more moments, finding her presence restorative against the fatigue that Steve himself was feeling.

Someone else approaches Steve, but he begs their forgiveness and makes his way towards Lara and the young Earl.

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara lets out a soft lilting laugh at the boy's comment about the difficulties of being an Earl. "Tell me about it..." She responds, looking down to him and giving his hand a light squeeze. "We share something in commonality then, I do believe." She tells him before looking up again. She doesn't immediately see Steve, since he's on her left when she strides in to the room with the boy. "Here we are..." Lara tells the Earl. "We have a wide variety of sodas, some tea, and lemonade. I'd go with the lemonade, I think... Get a little pep after a long day." She says to the boy before finding their way to a table with plates of cake and silverware. Gathering one up, Lara takes it to a seating area off to the side, and sets it down on the table for the boy, along with whatever drink he'd chosen. She sits down beside him then, and is about to speak to him when she notices Steve approaching. A warm smile shows for him as she makes eye contact, but a second later she leans down to speak to the Earl again.

"Look, I think Captain America has come to help you..." Lady Croft whispers to the young man.

Steve Rogers has posed:
Young Henry's expression shows how welcome the snacks are to him. He does go with the lemonade, following Lara over to take a seat. He does glance about for signs of his guardian, looking right past the approaching Steve Rogers. Obviously not knowing who he is. Not until Lara says that to him.

Steve's lips pull back in a smile that expresses without words what a pleasure it is for him to see Lara there. The young Earl's wide-eyed stare though pulls Steve's attention over. The boy asks Lara, "Really? That's Captain America?"

By then Steve is at the table with them. His eyes seek out Lara's to share a smile with her before looking back to the boy and crouching down a bit to be on the seated boy's level. "Yes I am. Steve Rogers. Pleased to meet you," he says, offering the boy his hand.

"Henry," the boy says, completely forgetting to give the kind of introduction that was no doubt drilled into him as the proper way for an Earl to introduce himself at a function like this.

"Henry," Steve tells him. "You are quite fortunate if you are serving as Lady Croft's escort today. I am sure there are others here who would envy you that honor," Steve says, blue eyes looking back to Lara.

"She's helping me find Geoffrey," Henry explains, looking to Lara as well.

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara puts her right hand on the back of Henry's shoulders. "Young Henry here is the Earl of Clinton, and has had a very... long day." She explains to Steve with a continued smile for him upon her face. She takes in a breath then before she glances around the room once. "He was .. searching for his Steward just outside here, and I thought I'd bring him in here for a bit of refreshment before we found Jeffrey." She explains to Cap.

"Of course, now that we have the help of an Avenger, I think we'll be just fine, don't you, Henry?" She asks the young one with another little grin for him.

Just outside the room, Jeffrey can be seen stomping by the open doors to look for where he'd left Henry. He lets out an audible nervous exhale as he goes right on by the open doors...

Steve Rogers has posed:
Henry is still wide-eyed, giving Lara back a big nod as she asks his opinion. Henry leans over nearer to Steve, who leans in as well to hear the boy whisper, "I have a backpack with your shield on it." It brings a smile to Steve that fills his eyes as well. "I'm glad you do. The Avengers need people like you out there, keeping an eye on things and making sure the people around you are safe," Steve tells him.

Henry is beaming, when he spots Geoffrey go by past the door. "There he is!" he says, pointing. Steve looks up in time to get a glimpse of the man. He looks to Lara even as he straightens from where he was partly crouched to talk to Henry. "I'll go get him," he offers to Lara, touching her shoulder briefly as he passes by. He moves with a quick step, though not one undignified for the somber surroundings, and disappears through the door.

Henry looks back to Lara. "How do you know Captain America?" he asks her.

Steve will return after about thirty seconds, with Henry's steward and guardian in tow.

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara's eyes are on Steve and the boy as they exchange a back and forth dialogue. She keeps a soft smile at the sight of it, seeing how Henry is looking at someone he idolizes, which is powerful in its own way. She glances then when Henry spots the Steward stomping by outside in the hallway, but doesn't see anyone. "Oh, okay, thank you." She tells Steve as he goes to retrieve the man, watching him dip out in to the hall.

Her eyes go back to Henry then at his question and she exhales a little laugh. "From work." She tells him in-short. "Truth be told, I've moved to New York for the past two years, to help build my father's business there, and help my own career at the same time... Captain Rogers just so happens to work near to where I do, so we have gotten to know each other a little bit." She explains before her eyes go back to the door to smile to Cap's return with Jeffrey.

She, and the boy both, stand up from the plush seat and she watches the young Earl rush to the man's position.

Steve Rogers has posed:
At the end of Lara's explanation, the young English boy tells her, "You are so cool." And then he's sliding off the chair and moving over to the man who reaches down to pick up Henry and hug him. "Are you alright lad? I looked up and you weren't there," he says.

Henry nods to him. "I tried to find you," he says, the boy's tiredness immediately apparently to Geoffrey. "I think you've done more than your duty, lad. It's time to get you home. You've been an honor to your family and your country," he tells Henry, who rests his head on the man's shoulder.

Geoffrey turns then, taking in the sight of Lara fully for the first time. "Lady Croft," he says, inclining his head. "Thank you if you assisted Earl Fiennes-Clinton," he says. And Steve gives the man a nod that confirms that Lara did indeed. "Well, then yes, thank you very much, your Grace," he tells Lara.

Steve just stands quietly by for the exchange.

Lara Croft has posed:
As it so happens, Lara comes to stand off to Steve's left, her hands coming together to lace her fingers between one another in front of her skirted lap again. She smiles at the interaction between the boy and his Caretaker. When he regards her, Lara just gently nods her head. "I thought it best that we step out of the hallway, and just wait for you to come and find him while we enjoyed some cake and lemonade." She says with a soft smile for Jeffrey.

She then looks to Steve and nods once to him. "Of course, meeting Captain Rogers is just a nice treat, especially after such a trying day." She tells the older man before smiling to the boy. "It was nice to get to speak with you, Henry. Feel free to reach out any time, I'll be happy to tell you stores of New York." She nods her head once to him before she looks to Steve and gives him a light grin.