13276/One Small Story In Mexico City

One Small Story In Mexico City
Date of Scene:	05 November 2022
Location:	Mexico City
Synopsis:	While in Mexico City, Lara and Steve take a break from investigations to try a tiny family restaurant.
Cast of Characters:	Steve Rogers, Lara Croft

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Steve Rogers has posed:
Lara Croft, Darcy Lewis, and Steve Rogers are still in Mexico City for the Day of the Dead celebrations. After meeting in a cantina Lara's contact, or at least the person her contact had sent, there were things to do. Investigations to be made, locations to be scouted. The trio had split up the tasks and gone their separate ways for a time. Though now Steve and Lara have met back up, while Darcy is off either working on a theory, or perhaps just getting a nap. It's tough to say. So the pair had set out for dinner, having been given the name of a restaurant to try, La Ventana del Ticuchi.


The sounds of the parades had died down, both as they began to wane for the night, and as Steve and Lara seem to have left behind the main streets, finding themselves on a much smaller street, and one that would not hold a rather high end restaurant like La Ventana del Ticuchi.

Steve looks up from the map and gives a warm laugh in reply to a previous comment of Lara's to him. "I promise it isn't my skill at map reading that is the problem," he says, showing her the map. He turns and points at a large building. "That building is supposed to be a street, for one thing," he says, pointing out a building behind it that assures he's looking at the right spot on the map. "We'd be right on the right street to reach La Ventana del Ticuchi but for that."

The street they are on is rather economically depressed. A number of old buildings and businesses that look to be struggling. A man is sitting in a chair beside one door that just says, "Cafe" above it. In Spanish he tells them, "I could direct you to La Ventana del Ticuchi. But you would find no better cooking in Mexico City than that of my wife and I." He gestures towards the door. Through the glass they can see inside is a tiny little restaurant. No more than about four tables within the narrow enclosure.

Steve pauses at this to glance to Lara with an expression that seems to be asking if she'd like to take the man up on it.

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara was reluctant about leaving Darcy behind to rest and relax, but she got the sense the other woman wanted to be left alone with her devices. Techie girls and science types often are like that!

The walk through the city was one of enjoyment for Lara too. The atmopshere, even if it had died down quite a lot, was still the kind of atmosphere that Lara enjoyed. It was reflective of the rich cultures of this world, similar in some ways to more familiar things like Halloween, but different enough to always still feel uniquely located to just this part of the world.

Lara still has her mask, and is wearing that flowing white shirt that she'd picked out after arriving earlier today, her backpack hanging on both arms to keep it safer in and amongst the crowds out tonight. She looks to STeve and laughs softly before she regards the man who offers the quaint little eatery. "It's lovely. Seems as though it would be worth a shot too, to me." She adds with a light smile before turning toward it and walking toward the man. When he asks them their names, Lara introduces both she and STeve, if just by first names, and then steps up and through the doorway, her hand coming up to push her mask atop her head as they stride within the building.

Steve Rogers has posed:
The man himself seems to fit the area in that both of them have seen many years. And both bear the telltale marks of long exposure to the sun. In his case, a complexion like a deep tan, with a face given character in the leathery lines that make permanent creases here and there. "Lara, Steve," he says to them. "You are fortunate, Senor Steve, to have a such a beautiful flower that accompanies where you go," he says in open flattery to Lara. "I am Santiago, please come in."

The smile that results at their acceptance is enough for Steve to reach over and give Lara's hand a soft squeeze as if in approval of her choice. "Thank you, Santiago," he says as he follows Lara inside.

The interior has a pleasant smell to it originating from the door way at the back. Only wide enough for a table for four along each wall, and a space to walk between, the walls are a brown that has faded with age.

Upon the walls are numerous photographs though. Some are black and white, though others are color if many faded by time. Pictures of a beautiful Mexican woman with flashing eyes, and after awhile there is a short but strapping young man appearing in them with her. The pictures seem to chronicle their lives, with pictures of them on some kind of ranch, with horses and burros and also some livestock. There are photos that show them together in Mexico City, posing in front of the same places tourists often do. A wedding picture is one of the most cared for, in a beautiful silver frame that gleams as if it is kept frequently polished. It's clear from the progression, as the pair grow older that it is Santiago and, as she emerges from the back, his wife.

She speaks Spanish as well, as he says, "This is my wife, Esmeralda. And the finest cook in Mexico City. Come, have a seat." She comes over to greet them both. She reaches up to Lara, lightly cupping both of her cheeks briefly as she says, "So beautiful. The entire room is brightened by you, senorita."

Steve pulls out a chair for Lara, then lingers on his feet looking at the photos a bit longer before he's seated.

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara's eyes scan over the pictures on the wlal, and they really do tell a story. it is a heart warming story, especially when you think about all the dark in the world throughout all those years, but those two had each other to get through it all. It makes Lara light up with warmth. As did the compliment from Santiago. She had thanked him in his tongue, then his wife was there and she too was being as sweet as one could expect. 'I look forward to the meal.' Lara says in a good hearted way before she sees Cap has pulled a chair out for her. "So sweet."She says softly to him, as her shirt is smoothed out, and she slips down in to it. She pulls the chair forward some and then looks to Santiago. "How long have the two of you been in this location?" She asks of him then before looking over the table to smile at Steve while her hands move up to pull the mask off and set it aside on the corner of the table that they share now.

Steve Rogers has posed:
Steve Rogers has removed his mask as well, as he was coming inside the tiny little cafe. "The photos, they really are nice," Steve agrees in his conversational Spanish of the records of the couple's life together. "Have you lived in Mexico City since you first came here?" he asks, gesturing to where a couple of the photos are first showing them there.

Santiago shuffles back to get them menus, old paper printouts that have obviously been in use for a few years, not even laminated. "We opened the cafe," he says, pausing to look at Esmeralda to have her complete the statement. "1972," she says, the old woman having a sweet disposition, her face as aged as her husband's, but where his is leathery, she has rounded cheeks and features. "We eloped in 1969 and came to Mexico City," she explains.

Santiago shuffles back to get water glasses, bringing out bottled water to fill the glasses. "Her father didn't approve of me," he says, which from the smile and swat she gives him, seems like something he's jokingly held over her head all these years. She fills in more of the story. "He wanted me to marry the son of a nearby ranch owner," she explains. "But I knew who I wanted to be with."

Steve smiles at the tale, eyes going over to Lara to share a smile with her. "I suppose leaving your family like that took a lot of courage," he says in a tone of approval. "This is my first time here for El Dia de Los Muertos," he tells them. "It is really quite the spectacle."

Lara Croft has posed:
"Well it looks like you two have had a lot of great memories here." Lara tells their hosts with a smile still stuck on her features. She keeps her hands down at her sides on the edges of the chair as they share that info with them, and a look is exchanged with Steve before Lara looks once more at the pair.

"I was lucky enough to first come for this festival many years ago with my mentor. He was quiote fond of it...." She says with a warm tone before her hands come up to fold on the edge of the table in front of her. "STeve, and I, are making some of our own memories here in this lovely place now too. We brought a friend, but I think she needed a bit of time to unwind from it all... So we're just out and looking to experience a bit of your world, the quintessential tourists, you might say." The British woman says in a good natured way as she looks once more toward Steve.

Steve Rogers has posed:
Steve's smile for Lara is warm as she relates her own connections, past and current, with the holiday. "Good memories," he adds along to her comment, smile lingering on the Englishwoman for a moment before looking back to the couple.

Santiago says in Spanish, "Good memories need wine!" and makes haste, or as much as he can manage, to get them glasses and a bottle. He returns, opening the bottle and pouring for them. "But not too much, or else the memories," he says, and then makes a gesture with his fingers as if the memories will flit away from their heads with too much wine.

"We will make you a meal perfect for those memories," Esmeralda promises Lara. She leans close to Lara's ear, "Your man, he is very guapo, handsome," she whispers, patting Lara on the shoulder as if in congratulations. As Santiago starts to go over the menu, Esmeralda waves him away. "I will make them something," she says, apparently having a meal in mind for them. "You have no allergies?" she asks, pausing on her way to the kitchen.

Steve is grinning at the couple, and his head tilting slightly as if curious what she said to Lara.

Lara Croft has posed:
A sly grin rests upon the young Briton's face as she listens to them in the moment of kind friendliness. When the whisper is given to her of Steve's physical prowess, Lara just laughs a little and leans over, her eyes on Steve. She says 'You have no idea.' back in Spanish, just for the playful reaction she expects that it would let her and the woman share together. She then straightens in her seat across from Steve and raises her hands up to put her chin upon the back of her interlacing fingers.

"Wine sounds good." She says. "Though if I get tipsy, you'll have to carry me back to the hotel." She jokes with him.

Steve Rogers has posed:
Lara's whisper back, does indeed draw a conspiratorial warm laugh from the elderly woman, and another pat on Lara's shoulder before she's heading off for the kitchen. She shoos Santiago along as well, telling him something quietly and he nods, going in the back with her, leaving Lara and Steve alone for the moment.

Steve rests his hands one upon the other on the table in front of him, eyes focusing back on Lara fully as she sits across from him. "Its a deal," he tells her warmly, picking up his wine glass and offering it to touch against her own before he takes a sip from it.

"Though the other place sounded nice. Elegant even from the write up - and I was wanting to find out about the name, I think it means The Tickle Window? - well. I think this is going to be the far nicer memory than had we made it there," he tells Lara in a soft, deep tone.

Santiago returns, but sits in the very back, giving them privacy. But he's brought a small classical guitar, and he settles on a stool there and begins to play quietly a beautiful folks song.

Steve glances over his shoulder towards the source of the music. "Would you like to dance while she's cooking, Lara?" he asks, offering her his hand.

Lara Croft has posed:
"Oh, and no, I have no allergies, that I'm aware of." Lara called out to their cook as she saw her within the kitchen door. "And thank you again." She adds before smiling to Santiago as he strums on his guitar. She smiles to Steve. "Should we ask if they have a bowl of bugs to take back to Darcy?" She teases their friend who is not here to defend herself.


"And I would love to dance." She responds then as her hands go down to the table's edge, then she rises up again from the chair, her hands moving to sort her loose top out around her waistline before she roams her eyes around the little eatery again. "It kind of reminds me of Jonah's place." She says to Steve before offering him a hand. "Though, I wish Jonah would find someone to share in the photos with." She notes before she moves with him to where he'll undoubtedly guide her.

Steve Rogers has posed:
Esmeralda shines that beautiful smile of hers back through the doorway and waves with a ladle then goes back to stirring some kind of sauce. The delicious aromas suggest that they have a wonderful dinner ahead of them.

Steve laughs about the insects. "I can't fault her for the adventurous spirit," he tells Lara as he rises, taking her hand as she moves to join them. Behind Steve, Santiago glances up, seeing them move to dance, and smiling but turning his eyes aside as if to provide them with privacy.

Steve's hand slides down around Lara's waist and continuing to the small of her back. The other finds her hand again. Drawing in near against his chest as he holds her close enough their bodies are lightly pressed together. A chaperone might not approve, but the warmth in Steve's eyes shows he is willing to risk it. "I'm surprised Jonah hasn't found someone," Steve says. "He's such a warm person. I'd imagine he'd have little difficulty finding someone who appreciated that in him," he comments.

It is a slow, tender dance that Steve leads Lara in. Drifting only short distances in the cozy spaces of the cafe, but focused on the woman that has come to mean much to him. "I wish I had more photos from when I was younger. Of my family. I don't have any of my father left," he says. "I'm not sure what happened to them when I was, you know. Frozen," he says.

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara has no qualms about being close to Steve at this point in their relationship. She gets up close with him and just holds herself there as they start to sway to the kindly played music of Santiago's guitar skills. Her eyes are on Steve's as she moves with him, against him, and just enjoys the ambience of the moment.

"Jonah has no problems making friends, but he has a lot of problems with making intimate connections... He had a bad father. A bad father who lead his brother to passing away one night after a fight, and a reckless car drive. It haunts Jonah still, and he just... he struggles letting people in. But. I know there are a number of women who are trying to get him to loosen up at the restaurant. It's yet to be seen if they're his type or not yet though..." She says with an affectionate laugh for her dear friend.

At what Steve says of his father, Lara tilts her head softly to the side whilst watching him. "Perhaps SHIELD can track that kind of stuff down. I would think that ... those things have to be out there somewhere.... I could look in to it when we get back, if you'd like?" She says, giving his hand within hers a gentle squeeze.

Steve Rogers has posed:
Steve looks thoughtful at the Lara's mention of trying to track things like the photo down. "They had managed to get ahold of a few things, though it was mostly in the hands of collectors. Whatever things we had from the apartment were... I don't know, probably auctioned off. Maybe there might be something in an old newspaper. Maybe something from his unit in the War," Steve says. Which would be World War I, not the one that Steve took part in.

Her offer seems to touch him. "You don't need to put yourself to any great efforts, Lara. But if you wanted to see what you could find, I know you'd know better where to look than I," he says. His smile for her is one of gratitude, his thumb brushing gently along the back of her hand as she squeezes his own.

"Well," he says, returning to the topic of Lara's best friend. "Would you like to give him a little nudge? Could mention we wanted to try... well not a restaurant. That might come across wrong. Maybe that we wanted to go somewhere. Rockefeller Center ice skating? Or a trip out to Liberty Island? And, he'd be welcome to go if he wanted to double date with us? See if he picks out someone to accompany him then?"

Lara Croft has posed:
"Well if I can't find some items from a hundred years ago, how could I ever be expected to track down anything from a thousand?" Lara fires back, being light hearted and silly, of course. She moves her hand up his shoulder to the side of his neck then while their food is prepped, the dancing music is upplied, and they sway their bodies to the motion of it, together and close like this.

"I'll do what I can though, in all seriousness. It would be a big deal for you to have those kinds of things back in your life now..."

She lets out another little, short, laugh at the talk of Jonah and a double date. "Possibly." She says back at him then. "It would help him feel more comfortable, I'm sure. But, it might make him even more nervous too. It's hard to say. It would be worth a shot, though, I believe..." She then just smiles at him as they sway.

"Well, I think I brought us down here hoping to find something that could help Thor, but it seems like that might be a lost cause...."

Steve Rogers has posed:
The sweet folk song played on the classical guitar is the perfect music for the moment and for the setting. Like the tiny cafe itself, it's intimate and seems filled with warmth and emotion. Steve sways with Lara, turning her about with him. Moving with that easy grace that people seemed to dance with in the thirties and forties, that was lost by the current generations that more just slowly turn circles.

Steve's fingers brush along Lara's lower back where he holds her. "Most of what I have now was more recent. From the war, my old unit," he acknowledges. "Well I have Bucky, which is probably the best I could hope for from those days. Most of the time," he says, chuckling with a bit of good natured ribbing for his friend who isn't here to hear it.

"We'll find Thor, Lara. It may take us some time. But I don't think there's much out there that can possibly stop that man," he says reassuringly. "We'll pursue this, and maybe it will help. If not, it's one more avenue we'll have checked out to help us get nearer to the answer."

He reaches up to brush his fingers gently through the hair along the edge of Lara's face. "You know it means a lot that you understand this part of my life. What it's like to go through what we did. Even if I'd have rather spared you having been at the platform has I known what would happen. I know what you bring. And that you're willing to travel as we did to help him," Steve says, trailing off. He's not always the best at giving voice to his own emotions, even if people find his speeches inspiring. He lets it trail off there, instead leaning forward to brush the gentlest of kisses to Lara's lips.