little cancer .

lara's torso leans over the desk, the comfort of the desk chair abandoned, as she sifts and files her notes amongst a myriad of pictures and carbon copies of texts she's translated by hand. the ghosts of manor keep her company, the faceless phantom of amelia croft comforting, the scrutinising spectre of richard croft over her shoulder, whispering and guiding, encouraging and chastising at the same time. she's lost in a history of her latest project, drowned and drench and far too gone to hear griffin's approaching steps until the door creaks and announces her arrival. she straightens up a little, a hand digs into her shoulder to straighten out the bothersome knot that tightens under the boulders of her work, and a wane smile flickers on her features. ❝ just straightening out some final details before i set up the company for the travels next week. ❞ she overexplains, not that she needs to, not with griffin. with jonah, maybe. but never with griffin.

she smiles, weary, but still there. she enjoys the company of her sister, perhaps to rid that feeling of being alone or maybe she was afraid of losing her like the both of them had lost everyone close to them. griffin follows lara's beckoning with a sense of eagerness, the front of her body leaning against the backside of the furniture as lara topples into it. she makes quick work of her own jaffacake, eliciting a delightful sigh as she chews and swallows it down until it's gone. something on your mind? part of her had known that the question would be asked.

If he so wished to, he would have read their thoughts right through those eyes, but where is the fun in that, right? He is all about fun, and is he really to blame? Living for centuries must weigh down on one, makes one HUNGRY for even the smallest source of excitement. ❝ Oh.. ❞ A fake expression of surprise and disappointment. He understands their reluctant gesture to allow him in, yet he makes no movement, feigning ignorance, or hesitation of his own. ❝ Maybe he’s not there. Thanks for your time though. ❞

there's a sigh, curse her inability to not help someone in need, and she casts a glance to the manor. " have you tried leaving food out? i have some you can borrow, " lara speaks up after returning her gaze to him. she straightens up her posture, no longer leaning against the concrete pillar. she laces her fingers through the bar of the massive gate, resting her hand there. she's already mentally scolding herself, going against her own word.

❛  nothing's going to happen to us, right?  ❜ ❛  i'm ... scared.  ❜ ❛  i don't like where this is going.  ❜ ❛  did i ever tell you i'm actually terrified of [the dark / heights / spiders / etc.]?  ❜ ❛  you hear me? we're not going to die today!  ❜ ❛  did you hear that? it sounded like screams.  ❜ ❛  i really, really don't like this.  ❜ ❛  we're completely alone here, nothing's going to happen to us.  ❜ ❛  this place has been abandoned for centuries.  ❜ ❛  whatever happens, keep the lights on.  ❜ ❛  you're not scared, are you?  ❜ ❛  this is like straight out of my worst nightmare.  ❜ ❛  do you believe in ghosts?  ❜ ❛  what are you afraid?  ❜ ❛  what was that?!  ❜ ❛  see, i told you there's nothing to be afraid of.  ❜ ❛  go on, no one will hear your screams.  ❜ ❛  it was a foolish idea to come here alone.  ❜ ❛  no one is going to save you now.  ❜ ❛  don't be afraid, i'm not going to hurt you.  ❜ ❛  you really think you can run from me?  ❜ ❛  it's a shame i'll have to kill you when we're done with this.  ❜ ❛  want to make a deal with the devil?  ❜ ❛  i'm not afraid of you. not anymore.  ❜ ❛  there are figures hiding in the shadows, waiting to strike.  ❜ ❛  this wasn't so bad now, was it?  ❜ ❛  what could possibly go wrong - it's just an old abandoned meaning, it doesn't mean it's haunted, right?  ❜ ❛  face it, we won't make it out of here alive.  ❜ ❛  i'll even give you a choice - it's either you or them. who's going to die tonight?  ❜ ❛  i will haunt you for the rest of your days.  ❜ ❛  don't scream, it will only make this worse.  ❜ ❛  you look so pretty when you're scared of me.  ❜ ❛  i won't kill you ... yet.  ❜ ❛  ghosts and monsters aren't real.  ❜ ❛  i'm not afraid of anything!  ❜ ❛  you! you're sick! you sent me here to die, didn't you?  ❜ ❛  close your eyes. it'll make it easier if you don't see it coming.  ❜ ❛  no matter where you hide, i'll always find you. so you better give up now.  ❜ ❛  i promise i'm gonna be your worst nightmare.  ❜ ❛  it's only over when i say it is.  ❜

"Strength of spirit like that is rare. It must be guided."

The hoodie of a TATTERED coat slides down onto his back and shoulders; they deserve to get a face of the person they are dealing with, right? His hair is disheveled, a little bit of dirt on the exposed skin of his face and fingers. No, he is not lost, but he sure as hell would play the role. ❝ As a matter of fact, my cat is. ❞ A lie. He allows his arms to wrap around him to feign cold. Oh had they known he is the SHADOW swallowing figures in the wounds around every now and then, a frequency not set yet nor tremendous; he doesn’t need to HUNT all that much. ❝ You didn’t happen to have an orange, big cat wandering into your property by any chance? Oh, his eyes are two colored: blue and green. ❞

her eyes have already been analyzing him,   picking at every detail that they could quite possibly capture.   from his tattered coat to his arms that wrap around himself.      "      no,      "      that came out a little too harshly.   she had every right to be precautious.   lara croft didn't have a good reputation when it came to strangers.      "      there's a cat,   but she's not your description.      "      can't trust him,   the voice in the back of her mind is practically screaming at her.   she allows silence to linger in the air,   as if telling him that he could move on.