3343/On the Trail of the Tablet

On the Trail of the Tablet
Date of Scene:	12 September 2020
Location:	3C - Lara's Greenwich Loft
Synopsis:	Amanda goes to meet Alex's next door neighbor Lara. Together, the three track down the 3rd piece of Zalmoxis' Tablet.
Cast of Characters:	Amanda Sefton, Lara Croft, Alexander Aaron
Tinyplot:	Zodiac Rising

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Amanda Sefton has posed:
Stepping out of the cab, Amanda Sefton looks up at the apartment building in Greenwich where her young friend Alex lives. He's not the one she's here to see, however. Instead, she's here to see his neighbour and friend -- the Lady Lara Croft.

Thus, she enters the building and presses the button for 3C, rather than magicking her way in. She does remember the woman from the gathering at Strange's mansion, though somewhat vaguely. Regardless, between that and Alex's apparent friendship with the explorer, courtesy seems the best choice.

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara had hosted the King of Wakanda here the night before, and summarily decided it was time to start cleaning up her apartment today because of it. There was a large amount of internal guilt at having a King her her loft, that was filled with boxes, and a complete lack of organizational cleanliness.

So this is where she is on this afternoon, dressed in a pale green long sleeved shirt, a pair of dark brown denim jeans, her hair tied back behind her shoulders and her eyes down inside of a box, on top of a stack of other boxes. In her right hand is a strange masked carved out of wood and painted in streaks of red and black, in her right is a head dress given to her on one of her trips when she was 15. "Where... do... you belong." She says to the items, before she hears the buzzer. "On a shelf, of course." Lara says as she starts to walk to one of the bookshelves, carefully placing the items side by side, before she starts to move toward the door.

A screen beside the buzzer provides a display of who is in the foyer, and Lara recognizes her. "Hello." Lara says over the comm. "Amanda right?" She remembers her too. "Come on up."

The door clicks and unlocks.

Amanda Sefton has posed:
Amanda's opted for a casual look, today, as well. Her brief recollection of the woman tells her the Lady may not be the sort to stand on ceremony. Thus, the sorceress wears a light grey knit top with blue denim jeans and a pair of riding boots hidden under the boot-cut legs of the trousers. At her side is a leather satchel with some fanciful stitching someone with occult knowledge might recognize as protective arcane wards.

When she enteres the apartment proper some moments later, she smiles and offers her hand. "Lara," she greets. "A pleasure to meet you."

Her own accent sounds like someone who's spent considerable time in London, but with an undercurrent from the Continent -- likely German. "Thank you for agreeing to meet me."

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara smiles to the woman as she steps into the apartment, and she'll shut the door behind her. "It's good to see you again. Under much less dire circumstances, no less." She motions further in to the loft. "Please, make yourself comfortable. I'm sorry for the mess, I've been here since February, but it looks like the moving people only just left. I'm trying to rectify that... today actually." She shows a soft smile then before stepping toward the kitchen area.

"Would you like something to drink? I believe I have just about everything anyone could want. Except milk, oddly enough. I found that out this morning." She raises her right hand to rub the back of her neck whilst stepping to the central counter to rest the other hand upon its edge. "I'm not sure where the milk went..." Mysteries!

Amanda Sefton has posed:
"A drink would be lovely," Amanda replies, taking a moment to look around the room. She smiles, offering a soft chuckle. "I haven't been in the city very long myself. I've been living with a friend since June. Most of my things are still in storage." Those that won't fit into her small bedroom.

That said... she actually doesn't have a whole lot more beyond that. The advantages of a) a nomadic lifestyle and b) magic.

She finds a clear spot and dares to sit. "I've something I'd like to show you, if I may."

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara steps to the kitchen proper and opens the refrigerator to grab them both a bottle of green tea. "A fellow Brit, migrated to the tantalizing shores of the United States? Now immersed in the most bustling hive of super powered people, all mingling together in a cauldron of madness?" She asks as she strides across the room to join Amanda at the kitchen table, which is remarkably devoid of items since she'd been cleaning up today.

Lara offers the glass bottle to Amanda then, while taking her own to open the lid, and join her at the able in the opposite chair. "I'm happy to help with anything you might need to show. I knew that when I met you, in such a situation like being at that Doctor's home, that you must be just as deep into all of this as I've gotten myself. Especially if you're associates with Alexander." She shows a light smile then before she sips her drink.

Amanda Sefton has posed:
Amanda accepts the bottle and raises it lightly in a gesture of thanks. She chuckles dryly at Lara's assessment. "That was some tangled web, that one," she says, referring specifically to the mess that brought them all to Strange's door. She can't help but smile, nevertheless. "I do like New York, though. It's vibrant. And I've always been drawn to the most vibrant of cities."

She takes a sip of her tea and gestures toward the wall that hides Alexander's separate apartment beyond. "Alex is a good kid, though. A little unusual, but I've met far stranger." Her eyes sparkle as she says it. The lightness of a teasing friend.

Nevertheless, she shortly sets her bottle aside and opens her satchel. From out of it, she draws a 3D printed replica of a partially shattered artifact. It's a stone tablet of some sort, written in a Hellenic script. She lays two pieces together so that they join where the break pattern suggests they should. It's evident that there is at least one more piece missing.

"This," she tells the British woman, now, "is the Tablet of Zalmoxis. Or, at least, part of it. And a replica, of course. This piece here," she points to the upper of the two, "belonged to a good friend of mine. I have currently hidden it away for safe keeping since there is someone with very dark designs after it."

That first piece is largely covered in writing, the language poetic in structure and in an obscure Thracian dialect possibly dating back to the time of Plato, should the explorer be well-versed enough to recognize such things.

She points now to the second piece. "This piece is a replica based on a photograph of an object that was recently stolen from a collector in Star City. I have a friend at Stark Industries who was able to extrapolate its dimensions for me."

The second piece is more pictographic in nature, the glyphs and lines on it suggesting a sort of abstracted map that likely corresponds more to celestial charts than land.

"I'm seeking the third piece. I was able to determine that the third piece is likely in Egypt, at a monastery devoted in some fashion to Zalmoxis. However, as familiar as I am with Cairo, I can't think that I've ever seen the name Zalmoxis linked to any of its monasteries or sects. Thus, I'm needing to figure out just which monastery I'm looking for. I'm rather hoping you might have come across something."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    Speak of the devil, as it were. Though the blond youth has more of the angelic to his features despite his godly given nature, though in this particular moment they are locked into a twist of consternation as only a few doors down the hallway within the confines of his apartment he scowls and grimaces with such intensity that it's amazing the object of his negativity doesn't fix itself if only to appease him.
    Yet when the plastic clicks and breaks as he works on the helmet at his desk, he frowns. Setting the small screw driver down he looks around at all of the myriad of small little bits on his desk. Nothing in the manual made it seem that replacing the camera would be this hard. And yet here he is.
    Some of the spare pieces on his desk go rolling as he digs around the documentation, pushes some wrappers around, then grimaces as he can't find what he seems to be looking for until eventually he takes a deep breath and rises to his feet.
    Helmet in hand he emerges from his apartment and takes the small trek down the hallway. Wearing just a pair of black basketball shorts and a blue t-shirt that shows a kitten flying with a rainbow behind it, he strolls down the way and then thump thump thumps his fist on the door.
    "Hey, Lara are you home and do you have an eyeglass repair kit?"

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara watches the items get brought out and put on display, her eyes trace across them and she leans forward, placing the tea bottle between her knees, as her hands hover over it. She visually scans the items and instantly begins to spot familiar elements across each of them, even if she may not know exact specifics from the start.

"Interesting." Croft quietly says initially. "Zalmoxis is a bit of a rogue, when it comes to the famous names of his era, information on him is spotty at best, but due to there being a great deal of people who considered he of divine origin, then I wouldn't be surprised if there was a monastery devoted to him. But--"

She pauses when she hears the knock at the door and the voice. "Neighborly visit." Lara announces with a smile. "Lets hope he's not looking for milk." She rises from her chair and walks across the room.

"I don't think Zalmoxis' monastery would be above ground." She tells Amanda as she goes, looking back to her. "I think it would be beneath the city. In the Abbassia District."

After dropping that, she twists the handle and opens the door, smiling to Alex. "Hey. Come on in, I've found a friend of yours, no less. And yes, I do have a glasses repair kit."

Amanda Sefton has posed:
"Could be," Amanda agrees, even as Alex is entering the apartment. "I know he was described as a Christ-like figure, which implies at least some sort of cthonic sojourn."

She raises her hand to the youth. "Hey, Alex. What are you working on?" She takes a swig of the green tea in her bottle and sets it down once more. "I'm on a treasure hunt." She gestures to the replica tablet in front of her.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "Heya," Alex says as he meets Lara's gaze, "I need one of those tiny screwdrivers they have." He murmurs as he holds up the motorcycle helmet in one hand, as if that served as some explanation for what he just said. But then his lips part with a small 'ah' as she mentions a friend.
    There's a quick glance inside and he catches Amanda's eye, offering a smile as he murmurs. "So long as it's not that Amanda Sefton person, she is so rude." But then he looks to Lara and asks politely, "May I come in?"
    And if she allows it he will wander inside, strolling into the room with that helmet now tucked under his arm and his sneakers squeaking a little with his first stride into the room. "I'm not interrupting anything am I?" A glance is given from one to the other.
    "Oh, this helmet. Broke the camera, need a screwdriver to get it out." He hefts it again to offer an example as to his purpose.

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara smirks at Alexander's summation of his 'true feelings' on Amanda. "I guess you'll pay for that one." She mutters as she turns and walks back into her apartment, moving to the south toward her living room, and more specifically to the computer desk. She pulls a drawer open and reaches inside to grab a small leather bound pouch. She steps back to Alex and offers it to him. "It was my fathers." She tells him, his initials are even pressed into the leather above the small brass button that seals it.

"We were just discussing some things that Amanda here is working on, you're welcome to offer your insights." She tells the young man, glancing at his helmet for a second before she settles in on her kitchen table chair again.

"I have a contact at the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria who specializes in Getae religions, I think if I reach out to him, that he could confirm-- or deny this --but my guess is that if you're looking for a monastery dedicated to Zalmoxis, it would be in that district of Cairo. I would place a bet on it being subterranean as well, due to Zalmoxis' tendency to build structures underground to prove himself to others."

Lara softly smiles again. "My father was ... obsessed with anything related to immortality, healing, and restoration of the spirit, mind, and body. I'm almost certain he has writings on Zalmoxis, Salmoxis, and how they're connected to Pythagoras. In fact..."

She stands up and steps toward one of her bookshelves not far from the kitchen table. She takes a moment to scan the spines of the tomes before she crouches and retrieves one. "There's a museum in the Abbassia District..." She says as she flips through the small travel guide of Egypt. She turns to the right page and points to it, offering it to Amanda. "A Museum dedicated to Pythagoras, and with the connection between the two, I wouldn't be surprised if Zalmoxis' faithful would gravitate in and around it."

Amanda Sefton has posed:
Amanda rolls her eyes at Alexander's dig. "Don't worry, twerp. Your turn's coming." He hasn't seen mean, yet.

Hasn't met her mother.

She rises and crosses to Lara, taking the book to look at it. Glancing over her shoulder speculatively to Alex and then back to Lara. "There's enough information here," and she's familiar enough with the city that... "I think I can open a portal to this place."

She straightens and smiles at them. "Care to drop in on an old Cairo math museum with me?"

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "If it's Greek I could maybe help," Since, to be fair, his sphere of knowledge is not as broad as the two women there before him. Yet he follows after Lara, moving further into the room and trailing along after, accepting the small pouch. His eyebrows lift, a breath drawn in as he holds it then he murmurs. "Oh this is..."
    A tilt of his head, "This is probably too nice for me to use. I was... hoping for like something from the drug store that was like ten bucks and I could break and not feel too bad about." Since he's /that/ good at fixing stuff.
    Yet as they focus on their research task he'll follow along, not speaking for the most part and more just leaning to look over shoulders and peer curiously at things. He'll listen as they chat a little back and forth and then says quietly, "If you guys ditch me there I'll be mad." Since he has no travel powers, it'd be a long trek home.

Lara Croft has posed:
People having the ability to open portals, casually, is something Lara is still getting used to being around... but that's been her experience in New York and the United States, one of ever evolving experiences with people of such powerful potentials...

Lara grins at it. "Could be fun." She replies to Amanda. "Let me just ... prepare a bit, I'll be right back."

She turns toward the far side of her apartment to the hall that leads to her bedroom. She pats Alex on the shoulder on the way past him. "Just don't break it, that's not asking too much, is it?" She smirks at him before heading off.

She'll be gone just for a few minutes to let Alexander and Amanda have some chit chat time.

Amanda Sefton has posed:
Amanda nods as Lara slips away to grab her equipment. She snirks at Alexander. "Oh, c'mon. You'd love Egypt. Ancient cults, tourist cops who beat up locals that dare to speak to strangers, exotic food, busy markets. Fun place."

It is, actually. She really enjoys Egypt, despite its dangers. It doesn't so much scare her as thrill her.

She gathers up her replicas and packs them away in the satchel at her side. "I've got a translation for the writing," she tells Alex. "I understand it's Thracian. Getae would make sense. I don't know how much Greek we're going for, but if you want to grab some equipment, too, I can wait."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "Don't break it she says," Alexander looks off after Lara and then crinkles his nose. "She hands me a priceless antique and tells me to not break it. That is like, the set up on some sort of sit-com plot. Where I use it, and then break it, and spend the entire episode running around trying to find a replacement only to realize that, I dunno, that it was the thought that counts, or that the answer was inside me all along or something suitably heart warming."
    He takes a deep breath and crinkles his nose, "I shoulda just gone to the drug store."
    But then he looks over at Amanda, "I carry my passport with me for the most part, and I have my coolio helmet. Though it doesn't entirely work." He ponders it and then sets it down upon the edge of one of Lara's tables, leaving the eyeglasses repair kit as well since if he's not taking it then no reason to take the other.
    "But I'm pretty much set mostly. No idea what I'd go get." He looks thoughtful a moment, then shrugs.

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara steps out of her bedroom with a military green light jacket on over her new light gray tank top, she has a backpack at her side that she raises up to hook over her left shoulder. Her right hand brushes some of her loose hair back out of her forehead and she smiles at them as she steps back into the room.

"Okay, I believe I have what I need. Mostly." She states, crossing to her desk to grab her phone and SHIELD Identification, which are stuffed inside of her jacket within inner pockets.

She turns back to them and nods confidently once. "This should be fun." She states.

Amanda Sefton has posed:
When both Alex and Lara indicate they're ready, Amanda makes a magical change to her outfit, which provides her with slightly more climate/culture appropriate attire, and then conjures a portal before them. Emerald energy bubbles off, disappearing into the aether, a view of a shaded alley way behind the market stalls visible through the event horizon. "After you," she says to the pair of them. Because if they don't go first the portal may close before they get fully through. And that would be disasterous on so many levels.

Once everyone is through, the energy disappates as if it were never there. Amanda gives them a smile and looks at the guidebook she thought to take with them. "Shouldn't be far from here."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    No magical wardrobe affectations for Alexander, he apparently is going in the guise of a college-aged tourist, which would be fitting in some ways. Unless someone stops him and speaks to him of the wisdom of such a decision. But beyond that he is set, kitten and rainbow t-shirt on, basketball shorts, white Chuck Taylor sneakers. Set for the world!
    But then the portal is conjured, and the young Olympian steps toward it, no hesitation nor wariness. Just up to the glowing gateway and then through it, stepping from one part of the world to the next. Once there with the others he rests his hands on his hips as he looks at the place and then lifts his voice even as the others appear... and likely some of the locals might well be looking at them strangely. Since, well, teleportation and all.
    "It smells funny here." The blond youth says with much tact.

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara was in the process of wrapping a white and tan scarf around her neck as she stepped through the portal and into the alleyway. She slings her backpack on over the other shoulder, then pulls the scarf up over the back of her head to use it as a hood. She takes several steps forward, then sweeps her head from right to left, before looking back to the others.

"This, would save me so much time, I cannot even describe it to you." She tells them both, with a slight grin. "But, I guess I get a lot of research done on the travel, generally speaking."

Her eyes glance northward when she hears Alex speak of the smell. "Sounds lively, in that direction. And I smell food. A festival?" She asks then, turning that way.

Amanda Sefton has posed:
"Looks like we got lucky," Amanda says, following Lara as she heads out onto the street. "I was afraid we'd have to wake up the curator." Or, you know, magically portal in or something. That's Daytripper for you.

Instead, they make their way through unusually crowded streets toward the museum. Bright lights hang in front of it, illuminating the people milling in the makeshift plaza before it. Many wear masks and cloaks, as if it were a fancy dress party.

"Reminds me of Marrakech," Amanda says, tucking a blonde strand into the headscarf she wears. "Ever been there during a festival of masks?"

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    Falling into step behind the two women, Alexander takes in the sights and sounds, frowning to himself for some reason and at times worrying at his lower lip distractedly as some thought niggles at the back of his mind. But he keeps close enough to hear them and when his eyes drift in the direction Lara indicates. "Food could be good."
    But then they shift pace and he lifts his voice again, "I've never been to Marrakech." A few more steps, "Though there's a restaurant named that in DC, or there was a few years ago. A lot of fun."
    His hands slip into his pockets as he strolls, "Had belly dancers, and this chicken dish where it was covered in powdered sugar and syrup."

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara's eyes raise up toward the sky to gauge the time of day, the sun was down... as it would be. It's unsettling to feel that experience, of being in mid day, then sundown so suddenly.

When she looks back down she shakes her head at the others. "Marrakesh, only once. Briefly. All I had time to do was visit the Medina souks, in fact that blanket on my sofa was from one of their market stalls. I'd very much like to experience one of those festivals someday, though."

Lara looks down at her phone and flips it on to bring up a GPS map, it's her SHIELD phone. "I'm sure the Agency tracker will wonder how my phone just went from New York to Cairo in the blink of an eye." she idly comments.

"We're not far, it appears this is a cultural celebration festival. They're happening all over the city near gardens and parks. The museum is likely still open too, so that's good. No need to trespass... yet." The 'yet' part is mumbled.

Amanda Sefton has posed:
Yet. And possibly inevitable, given this group. But, hey, They've been lucky so far.

Amanda shakes her head at Alex's description of the restaurant. She gives him a lopsided smile. "Pale immitation of the real thing, I expect."

Then she glances down at the book. "Do you have a data plan that works in this part of the world?" she asks Lara. "We should find the name of the curator or museum director." In other words *someone* they can speak with, who won't necessarily just shut the door in their faces.

She continues to weave through people, one hand carefully on her satchel -- for all that the wards on it silently encourage wouldbe festival pickpockets to leave her alone. "That's it up ahead, isn't it?"

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "I don't think you guys heard me, roast chicken with powdered sugar and syrup, it was delicious." As Alexander says that, still walking along, a small group of men give them the stink eye as they pass and they get one back from the young Greek deity though coupled with a crinkled nose added in for free. Then back to Amanda, "Do you have any idea of the name of the dish? I never got it and I've spent my many years in search of it again. Even google has failed me."
    Settling into his stride he mirrors the two young women and eases his pace once there is that motion by the sorceress that their objective is ahead. "Looks like it might be having stuff going on." Considering the hustle and bustle near it.
    A glance aside and he asks, "Is time critical in this, or do we have the freedom to take it easy on this gathering of information?"

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara's eyes are down on the device in her hands, only just now having to do her reserach on this trip, while already here... so there definitely is some advantage to a bit of travel! "There are a lot of museums in this region..." She quietly comments while Alex reiterates his dining experiences in that restaurant.

"The Museum of Prisons is just to the west of, Alexander." She states. "If you'd like to stay awhile." She glances up at him and smiles softly before looking down again.

"Hawass, is the family name who owns many of the Museums in this district." She taps the screen. "Zafir Hawass is the name of the Curator for the Pythagoras Museum." She then looks up and points around the corner. "It's there."

She says this, pointing now, as they come out on a large open stretch of sandy ground with a park in the middle, a bubbling fountain spewing water that is surrounded by festival activities. "Beyond the park." Lara adds, in case the festivities are too distracting to see the building's facade built with many tall archways, marked by pillars of all the same height, no scaling necessary to get through small entryways at their tops. No no, there's a front entrance, up a set of stairs, and it's all very well lit at the time being.

Amanda Sefton has posed:
"It's probably a variation on Chicken Tagine," Amanda tells Alexander. "I've never seen it with powdered sugar, but it does use a honey syrup and can sometimes be served with white pepper." The weird things you pick up as a flight attendant.

She notes the hostility of the men who eye Alexander, and glances away from them to where a khaki-uniformed tourist cop stands, his hand heavy on his rifle. It won't take much to redirect his attention, if necessary.

But, for the moment, it's not necessary.

She nods to Lara, however, as the Brit gives them a firm destination. "Let's see if Mr. Hawass is up for giving us a bit of an interview, eh?"

It doesn't take them long to get past the festival goers and cross the threshhold of the museum itself. Amanda glances to Alex and Lara. "Either of you fluent in Arabic or Egyptian? Otherwise, let's hope they speak English." She actually knows quite a few languages -- including several Ancient ones. But most of her contemporary languages are European.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    Another time making that same face, but this time more in Lara's direction, though he doesn't say anything for the moment. Instead he looks in the direction of that bubbling fountain and chews his lower lip for an instant before he makes a small sound that is not unlike a 'hrm.'
    Then he murmurs, "Chicken Tagine." His eyes distance and he repeats it to himself slowly over and over so he doesn't forget it, repeating it to himself thirty two times since that supposedly is enough to solidify it in his memory. Yet he continues along with them, silent save for the occasional whisper.
    'Chicken Tagine.'
    In response to Amanda's question Alex murmurs, "Newp." Then adds a shake of his head to solidify his answer. That said he follows along after Amanda as she goes to chat.

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara's eyes are drawn to the festival as they pass by it, offering smiles to those who are enjoying the jubilation of the celebration. But as they skirt the festival gathering at this park and move on toward their ultimate goal, Lara nods to Amanda's question. "I speak Arabic, and ancient Egyptian." She speaks softly before adding. "And I want chicken now... so thank you, Alexander." She adds with a soft smirk.

Once inside of the museum, Lara adjusts the hood atop her head and starts to scan for a representative to speak with. It doesn't take too long, they're out in force for this busy tourist evening, as the tourism business is very big in this part of Cairo.

Lara glances back to her companions as she approaches the Rep and begins to speak to them, she motions to them and can be heard speaking their first names to the young man. He nods softly and glances back to Lara, who, after a moment produces her SHIELD ID and displays it.

The ID gets a lot of doors opened, and motivates a lot of people to come and speak with you, such as the Curator of a museum on a busy night like tonight.

After a moment, the Rep motions them onward and takes them past the public facing event in the museum and into an adjacent room filled with statues and artifacts all surrounding the lore and history of the museum's centerpiece figure.

"He's on his way." She says to the others, when the Rep steps off. She looks to Amanda then. "How do you want to approach this? Questions wise."

Amanda Sefton has posed:
"Let's see if he can tell us the connection between Pythagoras and Zalmoxis," Amanda suggests. "And whether or not he knows if Zalmoxis has an Egyptian pantheon equivalent. That will likely be a better indication of just where this monastery may be than anything."

She takes a moment to look around the place, getting both a feel for its exhibits and its layout. She's not anticipating trouble here. But they are three strangers in a strange land... and one that's steeped in arcane mystery.

Not to mention the fact that, more than once, she's had another sorcerer -- like her Mother -- just show up out of nowhere in such places because they sensed she was nearby.

That's not really something she wants to deal with right now.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    Unapologetic, Alexander answers Lara quietly as he keeps his place a little behind and to the side, "It was good chicken." And for him that settles it, good enough chicken to be lauded. But he shadows the others in the group, strolling along and stepping around a group of young men at the corner of the street before the museum.
    Once they're there with the representative chatting with Lara, Alex looks toward Amanda and smiles a little, then offers a small shrug even as he looks back to the Tomb Raider once she wanders back.
    But it's when Amanda starts speaking about the interplay between Pythagoras and Zalmoxis that he listens, paying attention. Though there's a certain distance to those pale hazel eyes of his that has him murmur quietly, "This feels like a field trip."

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara gives a soft nod to Amanda and then a little smile at Alexander. "And you thought you were just going to be doing some simple repairs to your helmet today." She says to the younger man.

It takes only a minute or so before a man in his mid 40s, bald, darkened skin, wearing a very fine suit arrives from around a corner. He approaches the three wayward adventurers and offers them all a hand to shake.

"I am Zafir Hawass, Owner and Curator of this Museum. You have come on a very busy night." She says to them, searching their eyes. "But I am happy to answer your questions."

He looks to Lara. "You are the SHIELD Agent that Adeen spoke of?" He asks Lara, who gives him a nod in return. "I am, and I apologize for interrupting you on this celebratory evening. We've come with, pressing matters, searching for answers on specific topics."

The man glances between them all after hearing this and nods his head.

"About Zalmoxis, if you're familiar with the name." Lara adds.

It takes a second before the Curator lights up with the information. "Ah, yes, the Slave who became a God." He smiles widely. "We have references to him here in the Museum, some exhibits that speak of his deeds... though there are many accounts for who the man was, and possibly was not. How may I help you with this?" He asks further.

Amanda Sefton has posed:
Since the curator seems at ease with English, Amanda smiles. She also files away the info that Lara is with SHIELD for later reference. She's not actually interacted much with SHIELD before now.

"Did Zalmoxis have any Egyptian parallel, do you know?" she asks the man presently. "We're specifically looking for remnants of a cult that may have made its way out of Thrace and into Egypt."

The man considers that for a moment or two. He tilts his head back and forth -- from shoulder to shoulder -- as he thinks. "Zalmoxis has a very confusing history. You are likely to find the clearest information about him in Romania. However, he has been conflated with several sky gods and cthonic deities, including Theban Zeus and, subsequently, the cult of Amun here in Egypt. These links, however, are tenuous at best. But his traditional spheres of influence are belived to be the sky, the dead, and the mysteries."

"Mysteries, indeed," Amanda says. "Another word for 'Magic'." She purses her lips slightly, considering his words. "So, is there... any sort of organization here in the city that might still have some sort of association with that sort of thing?" She gives a self-deprecating duck of her head. "I mean for historical purposes, of course."

The man shakes his head, chuckling softly. "Do not discount the power of magic, even in these modern times," he says softly. Then, he smiles. "Regardless, to answer your question: No. Not with Amun, at any rate. The closest you might come is the Ibis Society, who are experts in all things Thoth. He was regarded as the god of magic in ancient days."

Amanda smiles a little more freely at that. "You wouldn't happen to have an address for them, would you?"

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    A small harumph comes from Alexander as he replies to Lara, "I like my helmet." Which is true, he does. Yet he doesn't seem displeased at all, and if one knew him well enough to see the subtle light in his eyes they might be able to tell that despite his mild growliness he was actually enjoying himself.
    As the two women discuss matters with the curator, however, he falls quiet and straightens up a little. The mention of SHIELD shifts him from that casual carefree manner to a more focused and disciplined approach. His brow furrows, his hands leave his pockets and he focuses more on his surroundings. For the watch word with that organization is professionalism. At least with him.
    So he pays attention to their surroundings and will stand guard as he can. Though not very intimidating as he does so considering the kitten on his t-shirt. And the rainbow.

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara glances to Alex when he mutters about his helmet and she smiles over at him before her brown eyes return to the Curator to watch, and listen, to his responses for Amanda. When he replies about the address, he says he'll have it brought to them before they leave.

Lara nods softly to him once. "I was on your website earlier, before arriving, I saw a donation option on the site. I'll be donating to it as soon as we get home, to thank you for your time here tonight. Your family holds a lot of educational sites here in Cairo, an endeavor I'm more than happy to support." She states with a soft smile for the older man.

She looks back to the others then. "This Thoth location might be what we're looking for?" She states then. "But is it too late in the day to look in to it is the question."

Amanda Sefton has posed:
The curator smiles at Lara. "You are most generous," he says, giving one of those hospitably grateful bows often seen in Middle Eastern culture. In answer to the question, however, he says. "I think it is too late to see the Ibis Society tonight. They are very private about their business. And I am given to understand there was some sort of incident there not so long ago that has made them far less welcoming to strangers than usual. I would suggest you wait until morning to speak with them."

Amanda's brow drifts faintly skyward at the man's information. "Thank you for that advice," she tells him, returning his bow in kind. "You have been very helpful, and we appreciate it."

Once the man has given his proper farewell to them and has returned to his duties -- once he's sure Lara has no further need of him -- Amanda turns back to her companions. "I'm pretty sure I know what happened at the Ibis Society," she says grimly.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    Arms folding over his chest, the Olympian furrows his brow and looks on while listening with one ear. He does, however, keep his head on a swivel and considering the surroundings. Just trying to make sure that the situation is under control, though there's no reason to suspect otherwise.
    Shortly after that the conversation is over with the curator retreating. It allows them to step closer to confer and Alexander nods toward Amanda.
    "What happened to them?" He asks as he shifts his weight to the other foot, looking at her and Lara but keeping his gaze primarily on their surroundings.

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara thanks the Curator in Arabic as he steps away, and then looks to Amanda and Alex. She takes a moment to glance down to her phone before she steps closer to them. "Well, we've put ourselves out there now, if there's any alarms going to go off because of our sniffing around, they're going to be going off as of within moments from now." Croft states before she glances to Amanda after Alexander poses that question.

"Are we staying here, or shuffling back to New York, via how we arrived?" She asks.

Amanda Sefton has posed:
"Did you hear about the so-called 'mutant terrorist attack' in Starling City?" Amanda asks in response to Alexander's question. "It wasn't a terrorist attack. It was purposeful and the perpetrators were the minions of a very powerful sorcerer. They were after a piece of the Tablet of Zalmoxis. I have a piece of it, too. And I think the Ibis Society is a front for the monks that have -- or, possibly *had* -- the other piece. I think the incident the curator mentioned was an attack. But I won't know for sure until I meet with them."

She considers Lara's words and nods. "I think we're best to head back, now. It will throw any potential enemies off our scent. And it will give me time to try a safer method of contacting these monks." One, she hopes, won't send them scrambling for their magical defenses.

She smiles, however. "But I appreciate the help, today. And... if you want to come with me later, you're welcome. I have a feeling though this is going to get a lot rougher before it's over. So, don't feel bad if you walk away."

She's in it for the long haul, regardless.

"Come on. I think there's an empty alcove this way..." And in it? A portal back to the Village in NYC.