paradisalogs | Expedition Log 8

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Expedition Log 8

Who: Lara Croft and Natasha Romanoff, with an Open Section
What: Lara moves to Stark Tower
When: Backdated after The Gentlemen
Where: Stark Tower, City Royale
Rating: PG

Lara prepared to move to a new place outside of the castle to a more strategic location. She continues to acquire new places as outposts or fall-back positions in case things get bad in this world for them. Just preparing for the worst, is all. Plus, she grew to like Nat's company.

Besides that, she never really got to enjoy City Royale that much. There's still a lot of places to explore! Last time she went here, she just looked for places of escape and potential hide-outs, but didn't get to visit shopping centers or other attractions.

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Lara arrived at the entrance of Stark Tower with her belongings on horseback. Even after seeing the place twice, she still looks at it with awe. It's really a nice place, after all. Whoever this Tony guy is, he's got good taste]

[Lara takes her video camera out with her while walking down the streets. She could be found in the entertainment and shopping districts, maybe even in the seedy parts of town like the red light district after getting lost. She might need some help in warding off nasty thugs in this part...]

[The last thing Church expected to find when he went home was someone else living there. Granted it had been a while since he was able to get away from the castle and go home, and yes... it was Nat's place and her decision, but still.

And was that a horse?]

[Lara's attention was focused on the video camera screen until what sounds like a neigh of a horse distracted her. She turned her head to where it came from by instinct, and saw a familiar face]

Church?

Laura? What are you doing here? [Tact, thy name is Church.]

[Lara lowered her camera and gives Church a smile with a hint of sass]

It's Lara, and I'm just getting acquainted with the neighborhood. I'll be living in town from now on.

Lara, right. Sorry.

You got an apartment in town?

Uhm, no. I got a room in Stark Tower.

Oh... wait what? Stark Tower? When?

Just now.

Really? Where in the Tower?

[Trying not to sound annoyed...]

On the 8th floor. Why does it matter?

No particular reason... I just live there, that's all.

[So quietly pissed off right now. You're on his floor, that's his floor.]

Really? Then we'll be flatmates from now on. Or something close to that.

[Lara's beginning to pick up on Church's disapproval, but she chose to be quiet about it for now]

Do you wish to tag along? I'm surveying the town.

Thanks, I've seen it.

[he pauses for a moment]

I'm just going to go uh, you know... check on something in the Tower.

Okay... See you soon.

[Lara looks at Church with a curious somber expression etched on her face. He's usually a happy-go-lucky man from what little she's seen of him...]

[Mal's been out on a walk, trying to shake the restless feeling that seems to always be with him on land. He's not quite sure where he is, but he's not particularly worried at the moment. He'll figure it out. He glances across the street and spots Lara. He smiles, but before he can wave, she turns a corner down an alley. He decides to catch up with her, see if she needs any company, so he follows quickly behind.]

[Lara walks pretty fast despite actually taking it slow so the camera would capture more of the sights. But it seems she's documenting the routes more than the tourist attractions for future reference...

A group of unsavory looking men and women nod to each other as she passes them by. The group begins to leave one by one, tailing the tourist... They haven't noticed Mal yet]

[Mal notices the tails, but for the moment, is willing to chalk it up to coincidence. He debates calling out to Lara, but decides not to for the moment, not wanting to bring attention to himself in front of these strangers just yet. Instead, he just follows and watches, taking larger strides in an effort to catch up with Lara.]

[Lara started to noticed the people following her. It was easy since these people aren't really trained in stealth. They circled Lara until one of them speaks up.]

You don't look like you're from around 'ere, lass

[In which Lara rolled her eyes and replied dryly]

Really? I wonder what gave that away.

Don't get smart with me! You cross this street, you pay a fee. This is my turf. So you betta' learn your place

[Lara remembered she didn't bring her gun, or any weapon. She doesn't know what the consequences of killing a native would be and she would prefer to avoid that... There's a couple of wooden planks just by that corner she turned from. But she needs something a lot closer from her that she could use as a weapon]

[Mal picks up a plank as he heard the villagers threaten Lara, and gently advances on the group. He wields the plank like a baseball bat, ready to strike when he speaks.]

You sure about that, folks. Last I heard, these streets were free.

[The de facto leader of the thugs looked to Mal with a glare]

An' who might you be?

[Meanwhile, Lara took advantage of the distraction and slowly move to the side, to reach a wooden barrel lid with a handle. It's not much, but it would make a good shield]

[Mal gave the man a condescending smile, moving the plank to bring the man's attention to it.]

I'm just someone who don't think you should get a say-so in where people go around here.

That so? What are you gonna do then, mate? There's ten of us, and only one o' you]

[Lara almost rolled her eyes. She's on reaching distance to that barrel lid now. She could reach for it and smack the nearest goon in the face. But she wanted to make sure Mal knows they're gonna be in for a brawl. She looked at Mal and gives him a nod. She then proceeds to get the lid and strike the thug in the side of the head, knocking him out instantly. The noise of the man hitting the ground caught everyone's attention, in which Lara responds dryly]

Two against nine.

[The leader was furious. Glaring at Lara, then back at Mal]

Get 'em!

[The thugs shouted all at once, charging both at Mal and Lara. More might come...]

[Mal swings the plank and takes out two more goons, then calls out to Lara over the noise.]

Two against seven. I've had worse odds.

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Expedition Log 8

CLOSED: Stark Tower

OPEN: Touring the town

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