16601/Tomb Raider Shadows: Servants of Shadows

Tomb Raider Shadows: Servants of Shadows
Date of Scene:	17 December 2023
Location:	Paititi, Yucatan jungle
Synopsis:	Lara, Steve, Jonah and Morah plan out how they'll get the dagger from Hydra in the Yucatan.
Cast of Characters:	Lara Croft, Steve Rogers
Tinyplot:	Tomb Raider: Shadows

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Lara Croft has posed:
It had been a busy pair of days since Steve had arrived in Paititi. Lara had given him a crash course on the situation that the village was facing, with increasing amounts of sinister attacks from outside forces that were threatening to overrun the peaceful villagers. The villagers knew what was at stake, though, and were offering everything they could to help Lara, and the others, solve the problem before it culminated in something quite terrible...

Lara, Steve, and Jonah had ventured out to three more temples in the past two days, narrowing down the last site that had to be the final choice for where Trinity's forces would find what they were looking for. The mystical 'box' that would allow them to remake the world in the image of the person who conducted the sacrificial ritual to bring about an apocalypse. So much drama.

In the past two days, the team had fell under fire in the jungle from Trinity soldiers, faced off against jungle creatures, and discovered stranges wonders in each of the long lost sites that Lara had lead them through. Everyone was weary at this point, but they were close... as was the Solar Eclipse. When that Eclipse came, everyone knew what would come with it.

At the tavern within Paititi, Lara sits with her group at one of the tables, she stands up from the table and places the map in her hands down upon it, stroking her fingers and palms over it as she smooths the paper out. She pushes her finger at a specific place upon it, and taps it several small times. "This is where the distraction needs to happen." She says, her eyes rising to Jonah and Morah, then move over to Steve. "Everyone needs to converge here, to draw Trinity's people to them. I can ... slip in through the passage we discovered yesterday, and disrupt Domingquez's plans while the distraction pulls their forces from the foot of the ridge that the temple rests upon."

Jonah, leans back in his chair causing it to quietly creak beneath his wweight as he glances to Cap too, a concerned expression on his face.

Steve Rogers has posed:
On top of searching the temples, Steve has spent time preparing the villagers. How to defend themselves where necessary, and hide when possible. Organizing plans to get the children away should a worst case scenario happen in the way of attacks on the village.

But he's there on time to go over the plans Lara has put together for tomorrow. He gives a grateful smile to the bar's owner as a beer is brought to him, Steve wiping his forehead and hands clean with a damp towel before opening it and taking a sip.

Listening to Lara's plan, Steve's general openness makes it easy to tell he shares Jonah's concern for the young woman. "We'll definitely need numbers there to make sure to empty their men from the important area as much as possible," he says, which is more support of Lara's plan that it is addressing Jonah's concern. But Steve doesn't say anymore on those concerns, giving Lara his trust in her capableness.

"I will see who I might be able to get down here to aid us. Things are a bit of a mess with the normal uptick in 'activity' this time of year. You'd think the villains might settle in to enjoy the holidays. Instead it seems to get more active than normal."

Lara Croft has posed:
Jonah grimaces as he accepts a new drink as well, offering a word of thanks to the server. Morah looks between everyone as she holds her own drink in her lap. "We will be ready, no matter what. We have to be." She states with determination.

"We sure willl..." Jonah chimes in before he nods toward Lara. "We'll have your back, Lara. But you have to know when to back down, and not take overly risky measures. I know what this means to you, I know more than most... But you're not going to be able to help anyone if you end up... in trouble."

Lara spares her big friend a small smirk of an expression, her hands resting on the back of her hips as she steps around to stand behind Steve's left shoulder. She puts her right hand upon his shoulder, caressing it gently. "I'll be smart about what I do. My goal is to get the box before Dominguez can perform his ritual. I'll get it... and get back to you." She states, dropping her eyes down to Steve then, to give him a reassuring smile.

Villagers move by carrying weapons, and supplies to fortify the exterior fences that surround the settlement's perimeter. Most of the villagers are taking shelter, and it's left the place feeling a bit more vacant than when Steve had first arrived.

Steve Rogers has posed:
Steve Rogers reaches his hand up to rest atop Lara's and give a gentle squeeze. "Yes, definitely be smart about it. In fact, that's an order," Steve says before his eyes go to Jonah and give him a reassuring smile. "I'm a Captain, she's an agent. So I outrank her," he says to add a little levity for Jonah's sake. Though his hand gives Lara's another squeeze as if to both show support and concern.

"This is a good location for a fight. The terrain will favor a smaller force fighting a larger one," Steve comments, information he would have shared already with Lara if he helped with selecting it. But good to let the others know. Steve leans his head back against Lara's upper stomach. "Do you think if we draw them here," Steve says, motioning to the map to the location, "that they will have enough to also send a group to the village to harry it? Try to split us up?"

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara's free hand goes up to the top of Steve's head as he makes that order of her, and speaks of her being under him in rank. She grins at this, but doesn't openly comment on it. Jonah does laugh a little, a short laugh which is clearly laced with no small amount of worry for his best friend's safety. "I'll take comfort in that..." He says dryly before taking another pull from his beer.

Lara runs her hand through Steve's hair before she drops that hand down to his other shoulder. She looks down at the map once more, as does Morah, and with a light nod Lara looks toward the native woman. "Are there any unexpected elements to that that you think might come up?" She asks of the other woman.

"Mm..." Morah softly responds. "There are many wild animals in this region of the jungle. Predators, and some tribes reside here.." She points to the map a little to the east. "They may be trouble, but I would think if gun fire is happening that they will stay far away. That does not mean they won't try to intervene and pick off anyone who strays from the group. I would advise everyone participating to stay close to one another, and not venture from the main group..."

Lara gently nods her head to that before looking down to Steve. "Our goal here is to make sure they know this is our push toward the temple. If they believe it's a distraction they may spread their numbers out."

"I'll stay close to the village." Jonah says. "I'll make sure that if they send anyone here, they'll regret it. We have explosives ready along the perimeter... It should make them think twice about pushing on Paititi."

Steve Rogers has posed:
As Lara's fingers tease through his hair, there's a comfort in Steve. Her fond touch like that something Peggy would never have done in public. And with Janet, such a tight might have been as much statement as fondness. The young English noblewoman's presence is calming, especially before a fight, and Steve's eyes shine with those private thoughts. Even if Lara can't see them, Jonah quite possibly notices the light there if not knowing the exact thoughts.

"It's quite possible Doctor Banner might make the trip. I think getting out of the country right now might be something he would jump at the chance for. If so, quite likely predators and tribes alike would give a wide berth," Steve comments. "Though it also means, we may have to stop short of making the temple. To avoid potential damage there. Though if you need help Lara, we could leave him with some of the others and send a group to assist," he says.

Jonah's plan draws an approving nod from Steve. "The presence of you and Morah should go a long way towards providing them with some leadership should it come to that," Steve agrees. He leans his head back against Lara's torso seeking out her presence again as they talk.

Lara Croft has posed:
Everything Lara did was simply of her nature. She'd never had a committed relationship in her life like this. She had no experience. She just enjoyed Steve's presence. He'd quickly become a physical, and mental source of confidence, resilience and strength that she's not sure she'd have in this situation without him. She's smiling more, and Jonah has most certainly noticed that in his friend. Lara's thumbs gently stroke over the sides of Steve's neck as he leans his head back against her stomach. Wearing a sleeveless tunic of black with blue trim, it's a specially designed top made for water resistance and a light amount of physical protection, being that it's a one-piece suit too, it dips down inside of the hiking trousers cinched around her waist by a leather belt. "It's best if I go entirely alone. I can manage better if I don't have to worry about the safety of others." She quietly states, knowing steve won't like that, but also that he knows her skills are geared toward her operating as such. "Once I have the box in hands, I'll send out a call, and will retreat to either the village, or the crash site of the plane." The plane they flew in on, where Steve had first arrived too when he'd come to find she and Jonah.

Jonah draws in a light breath as he mulls the plans over in his mind. He exchanges a look with Morah then. "Well, I guess we do another perimeter sweep. Try and see if there's anything we can find that may stand out as a weakness..." Which earns a soft nod from Morah. "I'll go get our things." She says, rising from her chair. She spares a moment to stare to Steve and Lara. "We'll make this work. I am sure of it." She says with a stern confidence, before heading toward the stairs of the tavern patio.

Steve Rogers has posed:
Steve projects quiet confidence towards Jonah and Morah. "And when this is all over, I understand Lara has been getting some horses at her manor. If she's amenable, maybe we can all gather there. Find a sleigh somewhere if there's snow and have a nice ride through Surrey?" He looks upwards towards Lara standing behind and above him to see if that would be amenable to her.

Always good to remind people of the good waiting for them after coming out of a dangerous situation. Something to live for.

Steve finishes off his beer then and rises as the pair move off. He turns towards Lara, sliding his arms around her. Rather than express his concern for her, he just holds her, forehead leaning in against her head for a few moments to just enjoy her presence. Before finally saying, "We should probably get some sleep. Tomorrow is going to be a long day." He takes her hand to lead her up the stairs.