15625/Your Mission, Should You Choose to Accept It...

Your Mission, Should You Choose to Accept It...
Date of Scene:	16 August 2023
Location:	VIP Lounge - Hellfire Club
Synopsis:	Talk of past and future selves, and Lara gifts Sebastian with a coin of immeasurable value.
Cast of Characters:	Lara Croft, Sebastian Shaw

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Lara Croft has posed:
It wasn't often that Lara stopped anywhere for a drink, but it was a rare occurrence. It was generally always for the same reason, the reason to change things up a bit and get out of a perceived funk. Generally that funk revolved around the drive between work and her home here in Manhattan. She'd been a resident of Manhattan since she was 22 years old, and now in her 25th year she's become a well rounded New Yorker, at least in her mind. Sure, she might take long trips to far away places, and hop the pond back home to London to tend to business in her family manor back in Surrey, but still. New York is like a home away from home, or something.

Here and now, Lara sits at the corner of the bar on the main level of the VIP lounge. She's dressed casually in a set of black slacks, a pair of black leather shoes, and a dark blue button-up shirt that she has buttoned halfway up her chest over a black tanktop worn beneath it. Lara's hair is tied back in a loose ponytail, leaving her brunette tresses to fall around behind her shoulders.

In her right hand she holds a drink, looks like a rum and coke, while in her left she has her smart phone out, with her thumb rapidly scrolling through images related to her work, and the research being done by colleagues around the world.

Lara's right hand lifts her drink up to her pink hued lips, and she draws another sample of the drink from the glass before it is set back down again upon its coaster.

Sebastian Shaw has posed:
One of the primary responsibilities of the attendants at the Hellfire Club is to notify Sebastian Shaw of the arrival of any notables. Which was a tall task, as anyone who could gain entry to the VIP Lounge was almost certainly a notable in some regard. But some are more notable than others, and a world renown treasure hunter is one that would spark the interest of the Black King.

And so shortly after Lara's arrival, Sebastian manifests himself from a door in the corner of the VIP Lounge. Dressed as typical, a deep purple jacket from centuries past, white lace spilling out from collar and cuff, and a pair of tight black breeches, he strides into and has a few brief exchanges, greetings with other guests, before he finds his way to the bar, adopting a stool just to the side of where Lara is drinking. Although he simply leans against the counter, not taking a seat.

"Lady Croft, a pleasure to have you join us. It has been some time."

Lara Croft has posed:
Once her glass was set down, Lara put her right hand up on the side of her neck as she cupped it gently while her opposite hand scrolled her phone. She sent a quick one-handed message off to someone before a smile graced her lips. It was a moment later that Sebastian arrived, in his full regalia, and when she raised her eyes to meet him upon his greeting of her, he too received a smile from her.

The 'Duchess of Surrey' was not often used to Americans using her title, except for the ones who tried and often got it wrong, but when someone did tack on the 'Lady' it always did make her smile. She found it endearing.

"Mister Shaw." She says to him in her soothing London-infused accent. "It's good to see you. You are looking regal tonight..." She states, eyeing him over for a moment, his jacket and frill. "Is there some manner of event tonight, that I didn't realize I was stumbling in to before it started?" She inquired then, her brown eyes darting about the lounge for a brief moment.

Sebastian Shaw has posed:
While Sebastian Shaw was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, his very bearing and attitude evokes the sort of British upper crust that would _never_ mistake a Lady for anything else. It is an attitude that he adopted with years of practice, and one which now comes naturally to him. Unless one had read a biography, there would be no trace of the Pennsylvanian remaining, his accent crisp and unplaceable.

"Why thank you, I am pleased to hear that you like it." He extends his arms out to either side, as if to model the jacket for a moment. "And no, this is how I would typically dress while hosting. As I am sure you know, the traditions of our club extend well beyond this branch, and we have continued to follow them, even if they do come from where you do." His smile broadens. "I believe your father had joined our London club some many years ago, if I am not mistaken, the original." He looks around slowly. "Not that our American rendition is not without its own unique charms, freedoms from stamp taxes, and all that."

A glass of brandy appears near his hand from the bartender, and Sebastian retrieves it with the slightest of nods of gratitude and recognition to the server. "What brings you to my fair establishment? I would have thought you too busy chasing treasures or ne'er do wells to take time to unwind here."

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara's right hand goes down to the bar to press fingertips to the edge of her coaster that her glass rests upon. She smiles softly at the modeling of his jacket to her, and she nods ever so softly at what he says with regard to her father and the Hellfire of London. "I believe so, yes. I ran across some of the documents in his office back home recently, in fact. I didn't get a chance to read through them, but I do know a little about the history of the club as a whole. It's... hard to know what should be separated from fact and fiction, like... everything else." She says, laughing softly at her own words there at the end.

She shakes her head slowly once then. "Mm, well... I've been neck deep in planning trips to a far away place for many different teams looking to explore the depths of the Savage Lands in Antarctica. I don't know if you saw some of the news reports on that newly discovered region, but it's... quite the game changer, when it comes to the history of our race upon this planet. Ever the trips must be planned now, to uncover the secrets that lie within..." She states in a slower voice, her British accent dancing through those sylables with a graceful play.

"I've just felt like stepping away from that for a few hours, and enjoying this lovely lounge of yours again. It's been a few years now since I think I had a chance to stop in..." She notes, another glancing look around is given before she returns her eyes to him and raises her drink up for another sip.

Sebastian Shaw has posed:
There is a beaming smile of pride as Lara talks of the tales of the Hellfire. "The strangest facts are most assuredly the truest when it comes to this place, Lady Croft. I do not exagerate when I say that there is no place like this on earth," he says, amending briefly, "Save our other locations, of course." He lifts the glass of brandy and takes a brief sniff before sampling it. "Your father, as I understand it, procured no small number of treasures that are on display there. I should like, at some point, to have you do the same for us. I am _loathe_ to lose any competition, even to our British colleagues."

He nods again, reaching up to rub at his muttonchops for a moment. "I had heard some talk of it, yes. Rather interesting, although not the sort of thing that I would typically engage in an expedition to. I have some of my company keeping tabs on what has been released publicly, of course. It is always wise to be at the forefront of our changing world, else you end up at the back." He takes another sip, before setting the glass down on the bar beside him.

"I could understand that, to be sure. That is the benefit of this place, the troubles of the world outside do not have the finances to enter, leaving you free to relax." He chuckles, retrieving his glass again to lift in salute to her, before taking another sip.

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara sits on the edge of her bar stea with her back straight and her phone set down now that they're in a conversation, she displaying how she's not the type to rudely consider her device while speaking to someone. She shows him that continued warm smile, small but visible, when he speaks of her father. "I can only imagine what he might have donated. But, he did everything in his power to get the best items, far away from the black market thieves. Of course, the majority of that ended up in various museums, and schools across the globe... but, I'm sure he found great items for you and yours too." She says, a playful grin touching the corners of her lips.

When the thought strikes her too, she sits up a little taller, and reaches in to the front pocket of her button-up shirt. Her thumb and forefinger pluck out an old coin that she sets down on the bartop and pushes toward him. "Atlantean coin, roughly ten thousand years old. Straight from the Savage Lands." She informs him. "Consider it my first donation to your New York City branch..." She adds with another warm expression.

She indulges in another sip of her drink before she lowers the glass back down then to center it up on the coaster.

"I trust you've been keeping busy here then? Have you primarily been focused on the Manhattan Club, or do you make it back to the other locales often too?"

Sebastian Shaw has posed:
The grin on Sebastian's face broadens. "Oh, rest assured, we did do our best to encourage him to get some of the more interesting pieces that he had found, but he did always stand by that rule that if there was historical value, it would end up in a museum." Sebastian sighs. "Most of what we gained was on display in enough museums already that we were not denying the world anything of import." He raises his glass to Lara. "Your father was a good and noble man, and worthy of all the respect that his name carries."

His eyes widen for a moment as the coin is slid over towards him. "Amazing," he says quietly, reaching down to pick up the coin, peering at it closely. "I thank you most sincerely for this." He turns it about, studying it in the light, before secreting it away to a pocket for security. No doubt, it will make an appearance on display soon, with the proper name plate of acknowledgement.

"I do not travel nearly as much as I used to, that is true. Affairs here keep me rather busy, and to be honest, they have no need of me over there, as they are quite capable of seeing to their affairs." He smiles towards her. "Have you visited the London club on any of your sojourns?"

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara, of course, has many thoughts on her father's legacy, and all the mysteries that his life left in its wake. She probably toiled over them more than anyone else could ever dream of, even those who were trying to finish what adventures he publicly started and was unable to finish. There were entire sub-reddits dedicated to some of Richard Croft's work, and even Lara glanced at them now and then... She just smiled at Sebastian's kind words, and nodded once to him. "Thank you." She added in a voice just above a whisper.

The reaction to the coin just garners a soft grin from her, but his question about the London Club has her shake her head side to side. "I've never had an opportunity to go inside, no. I did deliver a package there once, back in my university days when I was a bike courier..." She states, laughing lightly and shortly again there. "But, no, by the time I would've been brave enough to go inside, and partake in its offerings, I was already ... well... graduated, and neck deep in all the mayhem I've created for myself in my post-education days." She has another grin grace her lips before she nods to the bartender who stops by to ask if he can refresh her drink.

"Are there any gala events coming up that I should attend?" She asks Sebastian then, her hands folding together with her fingers interlacing in front of her on the bar's edge.

Sebastian Shaw has posed:
Sebastian decides to let the topic of her father slip away, having said his thoughts on the matter, and not wanting to dwell too much on unhappy topics. He nods to her thanks, and moves on.

The man laughs heartily as Lara recounts her tale. "I find it hard to believe that the great Lady Croft ever lacked the bravery to do anything, let alone enter a club to which she was already a member." His eyes twinkle with amusement, as he adds, "I am glad you summoned up the courage to attend to ours, then. I would have been disappointed if fear kept you from engaging in my company."

"In fact, there is!" Sebastian smiles, snapping his fingers. "I apologize if you were not invited, and I will most assuredly correct the error, but there is a part in a few weeks to celebrate the conclusion of summer. It is, in honor of the time, a themed party, with a request that those who wish to cling to the last vestiges of summer come in swimwear, as they wish." He looks at her for a moment, considering. "Perhaps that would be a fine place to debut the coin, as we could create a representation of Atlantis itself." He smiles. "Would you consider perhaps allowing me the honor of escorting you to the gala, if it is such a time as you may attend?"

Lara Croft has posed:
The bartender replaces Lara's drink, and she thanks him with a kind tone to her voice. She then regards Sebastian again with a small smile. "It's possible, but I'm not sure about my availability. Once these teams are sent out to the Savage Lands, I'll be overseeing all of it for the entirety of the operation. A swim party does sound fun, but I'll have to see when it will be and if my schedule with line up for it."

She nods once toward the coin then. "But, if you'd like, I can begin to gather up other similar items to keep your theme on-point. There certainly are more impressive ones to be had, of course, and perhaps could even have some on loan from some of the local museums. Most of my own donations go straight to the Natural History museum, so they are on pretty friendly terms with me." She states with a subtle grin.

"But yes, in my early teenage years I was a bit of an introvert. Having spent most of my time away from civilization with my then mentor... moving back to London was a bit of a culture shock. The very thought of attending social parties was as foreign to me as the depths of the Amazon jungles." She smiles once more, before shaking her head right to left again.

"I made a few friends at UCL who helped get me out of that shell though. Kicking and screaming, of course, but they managed.. at least a little bit." She says softly, an affectionate tone to her voice and facial expressions there.

Sebastian Shaw has posed:
"Of course, I understand." Sebastian places his hand over his heart and partially bows to her. "That you would even consider it is honor enough to me."

His smile broadens as she talks of other trophies. "I would be greatly appreciative of that, and be sure that you are known as the provider of such things. There are many here who would have interest in such, but could not, for various reasons, deign to visit a municipal museum without causing some disturbance."

There is a slow shake of his head in disbelief. "I cannot imagine you not being in total command of an audience you were facing, Lady Croft." He inclines his head once more. "It is important to have friends, to help us triumph over the adversities that we bring up ourselves, as well as those from the world around us. I am glad that they were able to help you, and clearly they were exceptionally effective."

Lara Croft has posed:
When he speaks of those who might be here, that would be unable to visit a museum without causing a stir gets Lara to show a slight grin. "The company that we choose." She teases the proper spoken gentleman before her, as her hand brings her fresh drink up for another sip from its contents, the little ice cubes clinking within the sparkling glass.

When she lowers it once more, she laughs more openly then at his last words. "That might be overselling it some. I certainly got dragged to my fair share of silly parties in my early twenties, but even still I'd find the best corner I could, and I'd hunker down in to it." She states, perhaps playing that up a little bit for humors sake.

She shows a warm smile though there-after. "But yes, I've... changed, since then. As one is prone to do once they kick off their life, and... well... immerse themselves in to the kind of ridiculous sojourns that I have, I guess." Her voice trails off there, as she shakes her head lightly again. "I'm still a workshop project, you could say. Ironing out the Wrinkles."

With an exhale she refocuses her eyes upon his. "I'll see what strings I can pull for you though, perhaps get you a whole Atlantean themed motif for your end of summer bash."

Sebastian Shaw has posed:
Sebastian raises his own glass to her, echoing her statement as if it were a toast. "The company that we choose." He takes a long sip. "I would not have it any other way, of course. It is the one way to ensure that life always remains interesting." And with those last few sips, the glass is emptied, and placed on the bar.

"I find that those of us who have to reinvent ourselves are the ones who truly end up how we want to be, not how fate made us." He looks at her, considering quietly. "You became what you are, through grit and determination. Much like I had to invent Sebastian Shaw, for there was none and likely would not have been anything near it had I not taken my own identity into my hands. " He slides the glass towards the inside of the bar, and a bartender retrieves it, taking it for more of a pour. "And few of us ever reach the point that we are no longer that work in progress." He shrugs slightly. "I imagine there is probably even progress that I myself can make towards myself."

He nods in agreement to her offer. "That would be fantastic, Lady Croft, and I would be in your debt."

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara lightly returns the playful toasting gesture before sipping her drink once more. When it's settled down again, her right hand comes up to prop her slim pointed chin in her palm. She stares at him as he speaks, and she offers him that same soothing smiling expression.

"I think you have managed to etch out a pretty good version of yourself, Mister Shaw. You have all of this..." She notes, glancing around the lounge, though insinuating all that lies beyond it too. "You have earned yourself quite a lot, and many seem to flock whenever you open your doors to a celebratory occasion. Not many can claim to have such influence, and sway, over those around them. But..."

Lara tilts her head to the side then as she alters her tone ever-so-slightly upward. "There is always room for improvement." She notes, her gaze returning to his. "That's what my Mentor would tell me, were he here today." She adds with a little smirk. Her drink of amber liquid is raised up again for another sip from its bubbly contents.

Sebastian Shaw has posed:
"I would like to think so," Sebastian replies as a brandy reappears at the bar. "It was hard work, both to build myself and then the empire, so to speak, but ultimately as it was always it is in service to others." He lifts up his glass and swirls it to indicate the room about them. "I am the host, and yes, as you say, they flock here. That is my goal, to bring pleasure, satisfaction, and fulfillment to as many as I can." He shrugs for a moment, bringing the brandy to his lips. "That shall be my legacy, I suppose."

He does not disagree, nodding to her about improvement. "As I said. There are always more things that I can do. The final version of Sebastian Shaw has not yet arrived." He takes a long sip of the brandy now. "Although he may indeed be close."

Lara Croft has posed:
With years of etiquette training being ingrained within the young Lara many years ago, the adult Lara here today gives her undivided attention to Sebastian as he speaks to her, and she offers a small smile back in return for what he says. At the end of his words, she raises her glass up again for another casual toast. "To our final versions, not yet being here." She tells him, soon to sip her drink once more there-after.

"Hopefully not to arrive for a long time still." She says then showing a grin as her hands settle side by side upon the edge of the bar before her.

"I suppose I should be getting back to my home though... I have a mountain of assignments to hand out to a variety of eager explorers." She draws in a deep breath then, as she raises her right hand up to swipe it across her brow and the loose tendrils of dark hair that were strewn across it. "I appreciate the conversation, Mister Shaw." She tells him then, voice kind and proper as ever.

Sebastian Shaw has posed:
"And to one day meeting them," Sebastian adds, raising his glass once more and then taking a healthy swallow from it. "I imagine your final form would be far more attractive than mine, regardless of anything else."

"Yes, the siren song of responsibility cannot be resisted." He places his glass back down on the bar. "It was a pleasure, as always, Lady Croft, and I do hope that you find it within yourself to visit us again sometime soon, even if not for the upcoming gala."

Lara Croft has posed:
The compliment from him garners a pretty smile touching her features, and his words get a slight single nod. "Send the date and time along to my contact info, I am sure you have it on file." She tells him as she gathers up her phone, enjoys another sip of her drink before she pushes it with the coaster toward the arriving tender who takes it with a pleasantry for Lara.

She pulls her black light jacket off of the back of her chair, slides her phone inside it, and folds it over her wrists.

"I'll make a note to visit the London location too. We have to evolve and change, after all. No more deliveries, beyond myself this time." She says with a grin before she nods again toward him, and starts toward the lounge's exit.