9362/(Tomb) Raider at the (Phoenix) Gate

(Tomb) Raider at the (Phoenix) Gate
Date of Scene:	29 September 2019
Location:	Eyrie Building -- Xanatos office.
Synopsis:	Lara joins David's quest to secure the Phoenix Gate and ensure his own destiny... and also they tour Castle Wyvern.
Cast of Characters:	David Xanatos, Lara Croft

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David Xanatos has posed:
The call had come from one Owen Bennet, Personal Assistant to David Xanatos of Xanatos Industries... that eclectic man who had had a castle built on top of his corporate headquarters. $1,000 for perhaps an hour of her time, if she could schedule it in. He couldn't, or more likely wouldn't, go into any details further then that, save to say it would be a matter of mutual profitability if an arrangement could be made.

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara was a naturally curious woman, and the very nature of this call and request piqued some of that curiosity within her, because hey... its that building that has a Medieval European castle peaked atop it. That is pretty much right up Lara Croft's aisle for wanting to know more...

So she'd accepted, though the money had nothing to do with it. Her black 2025 Jeep pulls up outside and she steps out from within it. Her black leather jacket is zipped up to mid torso level and her hands go down to her sides as she strolls casually toward the building.

Once within, Lara will talk to whomever is present in the foyer, relaying her information and why she's here, willing to be directed to wherever it is she's to follow up on this meeting while observing and glancing about the insides of the building itself.

David Xanatos has posed:
Owen met her in the grand lobby, a tall blond man with thin glasses and better posture then your average yard stick. "Thank you for coming Lady Croft, Mr. Xanatos is very eager to meet you." He says with a tone nearly devoid of inflection or accent. He scans a keycard at the wood paneled elevator, which opens and soon they are raising towards the top of the main building. When they open again it is on an office that would be called spartain, if not for the comanding view of the City outside of it. Only the Empire State building is taller then the Eyrie in all of the NYC...at least before he built a castle on top of it. Xanatos himself is standing in front of the window, talking to himself it would seem when the elevator doors open. But then he says "I have to go, my apointment is here." and removes an earpiece. before offering her a full toothy smile. "Lady Croft, a pleasure to meet you at last."

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara is quite polite to Owen, showing him a smile and thanking him softly as he escorts her through the building. She lets her eyes roam over the lift as they step into it and calmly awaits it as it rises up through the building, she would ask him a few simple questions about the building itself on the way up, but nothing too indepth or detailed, just casual chit chat.

When they arrive and she sees Owen nod toward where Xanatos is, Lara looks to him. She hears the tail end of his previous conversation and then steps toward him before stopping and nodding once to him. "Mister Xatanos. Thank you." She says in her thickly accented English. "To be honest, I've looked up at this building many times since living in Manhattan, its a honor to get to see it from the inside. Its... quite a curious design choice, as I'm sure you've been told many times over." She affords him a soft smile then.

David Xanatos has posed:
Owen is polite, but distant. He answers any questions she might have, but does not exactlly invite further conversation. Not rude, but rather someone who is on an errand and wishes to see it completed. Xanatos on the other hand grins at her praise and nods, "It certainly is unique, isn't it? He asks in a tone of playful amusement. "Perhaps if our little discussion goes well we can take a tour. There are some beautiful tapestries in the Great hall of the castle that I've been restoring." He gestures to a small conversation circle of plush chairs around a small table. Owen stands nearby asking, "Can I offer some refreshment? WE have coffee, several sorts of tea and a rather impressive wine selection if that is your preference."

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara takes her eyes off of their surroundings and places them back on him so as not to be rude and give him her full attention. She's a SHIELD Agent, by title, but at her heart she's still a curious archaeologist who sees history in almost everything, in places the average person sees nothing of stand-out worth, Lara sees eons of historical information...

But for now, she just offers him a smile, a nod and moves to find a seat. "Tea, would be lovely. Thank you." She says then. "I'll admit I'm curious about the invitation here. The last time I had a mysterious invitation from a wealthy individual, it lead to... well... a very unfortunate, or unsettling ending. I've been reluctant to take up more mystrious invites, but, this building drew me in."

David Xanatos has posed:
David Xanatos raises an eyebrow at that remark and the corner of his mouth turns up ever so slightly. "While I'm not completely opposed to the idea of mixing business and pleasure, and you certainly are a beautiful woman, I promise that my intentions on inviting you here today are, if not completely honorable, at least completely non-carnal." His shrug and smile adds a silent "Another time perhaps." Owen departs, likely to fetch the tea. Xanatos stand and walks to a book shelf to retrieve a small rolled parchment. "I'm trying to obtain something. Something most sane people would not believe exists. And while most folks told me that it was a fools errand and I'd be wasting a small fortune trying to find it, I have a few small fortunes to spare. Additionally, when I asked about people who might be skilled enough to not chase chase a wild goose, but potentially catch one... your name came up three separate times."

Lara Croft has posed:
The first of what David says takes Lara a second or two before she gathers up how he'd taken her words and it makes her shake her head, show a smile and laugh softly before she replies. "Oh, no, not like that. I mean that what the person sent me after ended up creating a lot of trouble that put people's lives at risk. But yes... thats in the past now."

To what David goes on to say, Lara listens closely and nods her head gently a pair of times. "Well I'm glad to hear I come highly recommended." She initially responds. "Truth be told, I don't do a lot of private work anymore, being that I'm an employed Agent of SHIELD, but... I do have a few side projects that I'm working on, my own passion endeavors, as they say. Its possible that I could help you with yours, if its one that I think has a chance of being seen through to a satisfying conclusion. There are a lot of fruitless chases out there, Mister Xanatos, though we live in a world where many old legends have been proven to be fact, some really are just myth and tale for bedtime's sake."

David Xanatos has posed:
David Xanatos nods slightly, "I have reasons, reasons I am hesitant to discuss but reasons, to believe this one is true." He sits down and unrolls the parchment to show an aged drawing of an artifact. Like a teal shield with a golden bird engraved on it. "It's called the Phoenix Gate. Legend has it that it was forged on Avalon by and Arch Magus."

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara looks to him as he presents the parchment and she lets her eyes trail over to it. She stares at the Phoenix Gate image and takes in its various details and telling designs. "I believe I've head of this." Lara then says as her eyes rise up to look at where David is now seated. "It belonged to the Normans, did it not?" She asks. "I was under the impression it went missing a very long time ago..."

There's a soft shake of her head then and Lara lays her hands atop her knees. "Is there any information, any leads, on what may have become of it in that time? What has drawn you to it that makes you seek to spend one of your small fortunes on its acquisition?"

David Xanatos has posed:
"Quite allot of information, most of which isn't worth very much but I will put it at your disposal should you care to sign on." Xanatos says as Owen returns with a silver tea set, pours for them both and offers Lara cream and sugar. "As for what is drawing me to acquiring this particular piece, that is a multifaceted situation. But one facet, that I'm willing to share with you at this time and that you are at least likely to believe in any case, is that I have already acquired the companion piece, the Eye of Odin, and would like to see them reunited."

Lara Croft has posed:
When the tea arrives, Lara graciously accepts it and thanks Owen for his efforts. She holds the cup between her hands where she sits on the edge of her chair, dressed like a New York civilian but with the posture of a true native born London aristocrat. She takes a sip from her tea as she looks to David and listens.

As she lowers the cup, and he finishes speaking, she has to take a second to frame her words properly. "I'll have to go over what you give me before I can decide if its a project I think I can help you with. If it is, I'll be quick to contact you to let you know. But..." There's a softness to her voice then as she trails off there for just a moment. "I have to know all the intents and purposes of what this artifact will lead to. Like I said with that last job for a private individual... the artifact that I recovered lead to something that placed innocent people's lives at risk. I can't do that type of work for others, I can't be used as a method of means toward potentially inflicting harm on others. It makes me just as liable for the mayhem as the person who set it all up."

David Xanatos has posed:
David Xanatos nods to Owen, an unspoken directive it would seem as the man departs but quickly returns with a large accordion folder. "I trust in your discretion that the contents of that folder will remain confidential. He considers her over his tea then asks, "Do you believe in Fate Lara? Destiny? That the past is firm and the future history that simply has not happened yet?

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara takes another sip of her tea then and she looks up to watch Owen deliver that large folder with all of the pertinent information on it. She watches it get set down beside her and then glances down into it before she hears that question from David and it draws her brown-eyed stare back onto him.

"In truth." She starts, then shakes her head once right to left. "No. I believe that its up to us to forge our own destinies. I believe 'Fate' gives in far too much to a lackadaisical behavior where one ends up believe 'someone else is in charge' rather than they themselves. That is irresponsible to me. We make our own futures."

David Xanatos has posed:
David Xanatos nods slightly, "A story that frequently came up when I was researching the Gate was that of the man with an appointment in Venice." he sips his tea and says, "The story goes that one day, a wealthy man in Parma was walking the streets when he saw the Incarnation of Death staring at him. Terrified, the man boarded a train and fled all the way to Venice. He checked into a hotel, and went to his room. Six hours later, Death entered the room and said "It is time." Bereft, the man simply nodded and said "But before you take me, tell me why you stared at me like that in PArma." And Death replied, "I was merely startled to see you there, as I knew we had an appointment tonight in Venice." He seems amused at his own story but adds, "It's my belief that Fate or Time or whatever you all it is like a river. It will flow exactly where it intends. You can divert it slightly. Slow it a bit, or speed it along, but what is destined to happen, will happen if for no other reason then it already has happened for our future selves."

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara takes another sip of her tea while he begins his anecdotal tale. Whether or not she's heard it before, there's no indication of, but when he finishes it, she has hwer tea held before her and is offering the older man a soft smile.

"Well... if that is indeed how it is..." She says quietly then. "Then I plan to build a boat." Another smile is shown then toward David and Lara leans forward to set her tea down upon a table in front of her. She then moves to gather up the folder with all of the pertinent information about the Phoenix Gate in it. "I should probably take all of this home and set to work reading through it though. There appears to be quite a lot here, it might take me a little bit of time to get through, but I'm quite curious now what all I can find out about it."

David Xanatos has posed:
David Xanatos nods slightly and stands, finishing his tea and offering her that magazine cover quality smile. "Well then, what do you say I offer you that tour now?" he asks and also offers her his arm, "After all you won't see another castle like this on this side of the ocean.

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara is glancing down at the folder then when he reminds her of the tour, it makes her look up again at him while he smiles and stands. "Oh yes, of course." She states, already having moved on to thinking intently about the contents of the large folder... thats how Lara's mind works, she gets lost in whatever passion project she's currently invested in.

The folder is set down on the chair she'd occupied and she rises up to take his kindly offered elbow. "Thank you." She tells him then as she starts to walk with him. Its quite likely that on this tour she's going to ask about a million and one questions though, so he'd best be prepared for it!