19659/Another time

Another time
Date of Scene:	14 December 2024
Location:	Yorkville Library
Synopsis:	Lara and Cinque get reacquainted, and enjoy a casual conversation together.
Cast of Characters:	Lara Croft, Cinque Evers

---

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara had purchased the Yorkville Library some time last year, after it had been closed down following damage sustained in an attack against a Spider-man villain. The library had been apart of the New York Public Library, but with it closed, it was being considered for other purposes. Lara Croft, Duchess of Surrey, British nobility, and a world explorer, had put in a bid on the building and won it. It took about a year to renovate, and get it ready for her intended purpose, which had finished back in August. Now, December, the building had been mostly moved in to by many of Lara's colleagues, who were using it as a base of headquarters, with suites on the second floor for temporary stay when in NYC, and a few other smaller rooms off of the main hall.

The main hall, or the grand hall, is where Lara was now. With a 20 foot Christmas tree lit up in its center, and a number of research tables scattered around it, the grand hall of the library was both impressive, cavernous, and festive for the holiday. A crackling fire was set in the fireplace on the eastern wall, adding that much more ambience to the large and spacious hall, while Lara herself, sat at a table near the tree.

The security system of the library did allow visitors, but they had to pass through an exterior wrought iron gate at the front of the building, then through a small courtyard, before they could be granted access at a set of double doors. Lara would know who was arriving, and had last say on who was permitted in, and who wasn't.

A group of colleagues had just left, about fifteen minutes earlier, though they had gone out the back door, which there was a small parking lot, for the vehicles of members of the Adventuer's Club to utilize.

Lara was dressed comfortably in a dark blue sweater that was fit to her lithe form, her brunette hair tied back in a loose ponytail, and a pair of dark army green hiking pants on her lower body. she sat at a desk covered in books, parchments, and tablet devices, along with a laptop, a cup of coffee and her phone, which was ready to buzz any visitors in through the camera and security system.

Cinque Evers has posed:
After passing through the security check, Cinque takes a few moments to let his eyes feast on the surroundings he'd just entered. The Yorkville Library wasn?t what he expected, it was more like stepping into a museum of discovery than a traditional library.

"This place is fancy," he muttered to himself, his lips curling into a faint smile.

As Cinque walked further in, his awe only grew. The Adventurer's Club had turned the library into their base of operations with an attention to detail that spoke volumes about their passion and resources.

He couldn?t help but compare it to his own project how much sweat, grit, and sheer determination it had taken to turn his old hotel and its adjacent building into Jamii Shelter and his headquarters. Sure, his efforts had been born out of necessity and community spirit, but seeing the transformation here? This was on another level entirely.

As he rounded a corner, Cinque spotted Lara,without thinking, he offered her a friendly nod, the kind he would give to one of his buddies on the street. A split second later, he realized it might not be the proper protocol in a place like this. A slight, embarrassed grin spread across his face as he rubbed the back of his neck with his right hand. "So," he began, his voice warm with curiosity, "Did you ever make it to Peru to solve your mystery with the Incas and the Quipu? I remember you saying it was a tough project something about it possibly not even existing?"

Lara Croft has posed:
Cinque had been added to the clearance roster recently, and because of it, Lara knew that he was in the building. She hadn't yet had a chance to speak to him, though, but with the place being pretty empty right now, it was only a matter of time before they ran in to one another, right?

She looked up at the sound of his voice, and a smile touched her pale pink lips. "Cinque." She said, pulling her hands from her laptop keyboard, and rising up to her feet. "It is good to see you again." She said, the white lights of the 20 foot tall Christmas tree illuminating the left side of her form, as she stepped toward him, and came to a stop, holding a friendly expression for him. "I meant to come find you, when I saw you check in, but... I got lost in my work." She said, glancing back to her table covered in her random sundries of research material.

When she looked back at him, she exhaled a soft laugh, and tilted her head, before she sighed. "I did. At ... heavy costs. But I did." Lara had caused a tsunami in Peru. She had woke an ancient God, and ended her relationship with one of the world's finest men. It was a rough spot for her, to say the least. "It was resolved, probably as best as I could hope for, all things considered."

she drew in a small breath, and took the sight of him in more fully. "How are you? It's been... awhile." She asked, her husky British accented voice, dancing through the sylables of her spoken words, gracefully and with an aristocratic flare that he likely remembers.

Cinque Evers has posed:
The first time he heard Lara?s husky British accent still stands out as one of his favorite recent memories. It?s a moment that replays often in what he jcalls his "forever" mind. What amused him the most, though, was how his enhanced intuition had utterly failed him. He?d been so certain she was a historical romance writer something about her demeanor and the way she carried herself. How wrong he had been.

"Oh, I guess you could say I?ve inadvertently become a master historian of a rare culture," Cinque said with a casual shrug, his eyes continuing to take in the intricacies of the room around him.

He gestured broadly in the direction of the Bronx. "I joined Shield," he began, then added with a smirk, "and I still own and run the Jamii Shelter. Don?t think I mentioned that last time we spoke."

He raised his arms in an exaggerated shrug, the gesture playful. "And, you know, sometimes I?m doing" other things. Nothing too important," he said with a lopsided grin, his tone hinting at more than he was letting on.

Lara Croft has posed:
As he spoke, Lara folded her arms across her stomach, after pushing the sleeves of her sweater up to just beneath her elbows. She slowly nodded her head to his response, before she tilted her own in a curious gesture toward what he said. "SHIELD, really?" She asked, a small smirk showing on her lips, as she gently shook her head from side to side. "Welcome to the fold, then. Though I have stepped back my duty time with them considerably this year... for personal reasons." She smirked for a moment, before she glanced toward a nearby table loaded with food and drinks, set out for the earlier meetings with the Club's meeting with membrs of NYU and ESU having been here a short time ago. "Would you like some coffee, tea, or donuts?" She asked, casting him a sly grin, as she stepped toward the table, moving to gather up a cup for herself, reaching for the pot of brewed tea on a warming plate. She stood with her back mostly to him, but did look to him on her right side, past her shoulder. "Well, I'd love to hear about all of that, honestly. If ever you feel the desire to shed deeper thoughts on it all, especially your time with SHIELD. Considering they are why I hold a residence here in the States at all..."

Cinque Evers has posed:
Cinque Evers says, "Well, the chef in me can never pass up the opportunity to try a new dish," Cinque said with a grin as he eased into the chair at the desk. He poured himself some tea, his movements deliberate yet unhurried. "One of my workers has been nudging me toward drinking more tea than coffee lately. It?s growing on me,but I digress."

He raised his arm in an exaggerated shrug, his expression turning more serious. "Oh, well. My other activities" they were getting too complicated. I realized I needed to make a difference without constantly worrying about the repercussions wrecking my shelter. So, I joined SHIELD."

His jaw tightened slightly as he ground his teeth, a shadow of frustration crossing his features. "Even so, I still find myself slipping into old habits from time to time. The arrival of the Herald," He paused, his gaze hardening. "It brings out the worst in people. And, well" His voice dropped, tinged with a cold apathy that matched the expression on his face. "Sometimes the solution to a problem has to be clear and concise. No room for gray areas. But I digress."

Cinque folded his arms on the table, the momentary apathy melting away to reveal a weariness that clung to him like a heavy cloak. "SHIELD?s the reason I became a historian of rare cultures. I had to really delve deep into a culture that was eons old. Have you ever heard of the Brood?"

His words hung in the air like a challenge, his tired eyes searching hers for any sign of recognition."

Lara Croft has posed:
An affectionate exhale of a laugh, came from the Briton, as she listened to him speak of tea. "It /entirely/ depends on what your tastebuds demand, and the type of tea that speaks to them most. I highly encourage Green tea, or Hibiscus. Hibiscus especially, if you like a tart, sweet flavor." She poured herself the fresh cup, before she turned to lean back against the table just a few paces away from where he chooses to seat himself. She places her left hand down upon her thigh, while her right holds her cup up to her lips to gently blow upon the beverage, casting some steam from it, before she samples with a sip.

Lara's hazel eyes remain on him, his response enjoyed, as she lowers her cup again. At his last words, there is recognition in her eyes. "The Brood? They recently were ..." she softly shakes her head from side to side. "Pushed from the Savage Lands, within the heart of Antarctica. The Savage Lands, being a region I have been lucky enough to get to delve in to elements of it. It is a wondrous place. It is brimming with archaeological opportunities, many of which I have passed on to other colleagues, but one I am still quite intrigued by. It is a dangerous place, though. You have to really stay on your toes, for fear of what you might bump in to within its dense foliage, as it is an outstanding 'bubble' of jungle life, built within the protective zone of alien technology. It's... it is everything that my childhood mind thought archaeological endeavors might uncover, while my adult mind is still not sure if any of it is real, or not."

She showed him another playful grin, if a bit small. "Is this the same Brood that you are speaking of, however?" She asked, before enjoying a second sip of her fresh tea.

Cinque Evers has posed:
Cinque Evers takes a sip of his tea before placing his cup on the table, "Yes, the same Brood." Cinque traces his finger around the edge of the rim of the cup as he speaks, "The last time I was in the Savage land, I was already with SHIELD." Cinque lifts his eyes to glance directly into Lara's hazel, lowering his voice eventhough it is only the two of them in the room.

"You know how was able to copy that book for you. Well, I have good memory. I will remember everything about our time together from the light of Christmas Tree illuminated the left of your body as stepped towards me, to the exact shade of dark blue sweater, to how I felt, to the aroma of the tea, everthing about these moments will forever be remembered in exact detail.

Cinque takes another sip of his tea, "A situation happenned which cause me to be able now remembered eons worth of history of the Brood, stretching back to their origins. Most of it is so alien that is hard to comprehend, and it has change me." Cinque frowns, "I was warned that they might be side effects they took a bit to kick in. It was too much information at once...I just did not calculate the variables properly."

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara was just a few steps away from Cinque, leaning back against another table, as he spoke, and toyed with his cup of hot tea. When he spoke of her general appearance, she glanced down at herself. Her dark sweater was almost black in the dim light of the grand library hall, but the light from the impressive tree did help show the blue in the soft fabric. The fireplace continued to crackle in the background, but it was behind Lara, over by the seating area of leather sofa and matching chairs. She showed him another soft smile, at his words, before she gently shook her head.

"A photographic memory is both a blessing, and a curse. Though photographic is a relative term... You're speaking of something much more advanced, I think. In fact, it reminds me of a friend of mine. A dear friend. Diana Prince. She has a memory so perfect, that she remembers... everything, as though it just happened minutes ago. I've had long conversations with her about this. I've seen how it makes her smile, and it makes her frown."

Lara finished her thoughts on that note, before she afixed her eyes to him. She pushed off of the table, and stepped over to sit down in her original chair, just a small space over from his chosen chair. She sat on the edge of hers now, her tea in her right hand, set on a coaster beside her on the dark wood table. "Have you been having negative effects from this?" She asked. "Maybe we can find a way to help with it?"

Cinque Evers has posed:
"Really, I never knew of any person that had a memory like me. I would love to speak to her." Cinque takes another sip of his tea, "You are correct it is not the samething as photographic memory. I can remember everything even the most mundane things, and because of other enhancements it becomes a lot of details I can collect about a single moment in time." Cinque says, "I can visualize moments as a slow pace, like I have seen every individual snowflake in a blizzard."

Cinque furrows his brow and elaborates, "I can remember each snowflake, and how it fell to the ground." Cinque lets out a soft sigh as he adds "I can also remembered that there was a faint shadow in an alley that latter was revealed belonging to a cat. There was also the aroma of fresh doughnuts from the diner across the street. The owner decided to still serve doughnuts to any first responders that might be working in the blizzard, but I digress.

"I am just hoping to figure out some more things." Cinque looks at his hands and sighs, "I am still trying to figure out all the changes, but I did come here to seek answers to my future." Cinque nods quitely to himself, "Your group reminds me of something that I read in Count of Monte Cristo."

Lara Croft has posed:
What Cinque says, and throughout it, seems to keep Lara's attention quite well. She stares solely upon his face, and gently nods her head to what he is trying to explain to her. "I am sure that is a lot to handle." Lara quietly tells him. "Honestly, I've... always had something similar. I've been very good at learning topics of importance to me. If I find value in it, I can dedicate myself to something, and remember it quite well. Perhaps not to the level that you are describing, but still. Languages? I speak over a dozen now. Read and write them. My ..." She glanced to the table on her right. "ability to retain information from books, and missives, is sometimes impressive to even me. Though I hate to boast about myself, which is not my intention here. I am merely stating, that I feel some empathy for your situation, that you are suffering from something that may be along similar lines."

She showed a sympathetic expression, before she nodded her head once. "I will send your name to princess Diana, and perhaps she can speak with you soon."

When he spoke of the Adventurer's Club, Lara showed him a soft smile, one that lightened her facial features up, and summoned a warmer smile. "The Adventurer's Club of New York was a famous group, first founded in 1912. Hosting many famous explorers, science minded experts, and all manner of world renown adventurers, it stuck in my head since I was a little girl, reading books about them." She made another affectionately soft laugh, short and sweet. "They faded away in the later half of the 20th century, but... I've been honored to attempt a revival. We're in a new era of discovery, I think, and we need to band together the minds that are willing to be open to new takes on old concepts. The dogmatic nature of archaeology has to change, if we're to ever get true answers, irregardless of personal gain, or blustering egos."

Cinque Evers has posed:
"I hope you do not think I am a blustering egomaniac due to how I am been prattling on about my memory." Cinque closes his eyes as he explains, "I was just to kinda explain, perhaps poorly that I am now have detailed of eons of alien hive race in my forever mind along with your smile and the warm I feel from the fire.

Cinque bites the corner of the lip as he stands to starts to pace a bit, before turning to Lara, "I would not say I am suffering. I am just having trouble comprehending all the side effects, and what that means for my entire future. I am also do not know if there are not going to be more side effects in the future, but everyone has their burdens. Cinque realizes the time and quickly says, "I was hoping that I could bring something of value to the Club. I am better in urban situations than traveling in the jungles or the barren tundra, but I always willing to learn. Some people think I am smart, so I can be helpful there too.

Cinque laughs slightly at Lara's comment, "When I met you were looking and understanding Inca's Quipa. I think that would be impressive to majority of the people on the Earth, but what do I know I thought you wrote romance novels when I met you.

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara glanced over to the fireplace, to her left, beyond the table of snacks and beverage containers. The fire was still going quite well, enough logs inside the large recessed stone fireplace to keep it going good and long. she cast a look back to Cinque, and showed him a warm expression at his words toward her. She raised her cup up for another sip, before she set it aside. "I certainly wouldn't lump you in with the... less than enjoyable elements of the archaeological society of the world." She replied, as she moved to stand up from her perch on the edge of her chair. Back on her feet, she motioned toward the rest of the grand hall, their voices having been echoing quietly throughout the two story tall room, while they had conversed. "Would you like to have a tour of the place?" She asked him.

"I'd be happy to see you around here more frequently, and perhaps you'd be interested in some of our sojourns abraod too?" She smirked faintly, and raised her right hand up to tuck some loose strands of her dark hair back behind her ear. "I'll be interested to hear you rant on what you know of the Brood, should you ever wish to speak of it. I ... fought them some, myself. They were quite intimidating. But, much of what lies in the Savage Lands is."

She waited for him to join her, before she pressed her fingertips together in front of her belt buckle. "If you're low on time too, I can show you out too. This place can be a bit easy to get lost in." She told him, expressing those words with a soft smirk. She picked up a single sugar cookie from a platter, one shaped like a holiday tree, that she offered him. "Merry Christmas, too." She said with a happy look.