castleinthemist | 02 - hard rain

Entry tags:

tomb raider: doppelganger

02 - hard rain - open

There was just something about storms that Doppelganger enjoyed. Perhaps it was the fact that it had been raining much like this when she blew the Croft Mansion to pieces for the hell of it, or the fact she had emotionally wounded her original by killing a friend right in front of her. Of course it could have been for a mundane human reason. Whatever it was, she found herself enjoying the view from where she sat near the courtyard, lounging with her legs crossed as a proper lady would while she rested. Those things were never lost, were they?

She was bored, plain and simple. There was only so much she could take of watching human drama playing out in the open. So many of the humans were emotional little things; slaves to their hearts. None of it was ending well for them. The couple she had seen were loosing it, becoming tired and disheartened and doing awfully stupid things. It wasn't enough that they were trapped in an ancient looking place with monsters lurking about. Not that she minded it either. Helheim was pretty much the same, only the fountains there could kill you and the shadows replaced by thralls. But for those silly minded humans, they needed even more to worry about and try to survive from before they were satisfied.

Tilting her head back, Doppelganger sighed and closed her eyes. Perhaps those shadows would lurk around soon and trying to have another go with her. Given her ability, there wasn't much they could do to really capture her at the moment.

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Harth stood inside, leaning against a window seat watching the dark one from afar. He had time to kill, time waiting on a few pieces to fall into place. Until then? He had this woman to examine. This woman who so piqued his interest only a while ago. So who was she and why this strange feeling he was getting from his senses? That was spun.

He didn't dare speak to her. Not due to shyness, just unsure of what to make of this being. So human like, just, not.

And she wasn't really dead either, not like he was. But that was really the question. What was she?

Someone was watching her, she could tell that much even with her eyes closed. That someone wasn't human either but what sort of non-human remained to be unseen. In her world demons, gods, monsters, and other creatures existed so it was not the shock one of those precious humans would have had.

She opened her eyes and looked toward the the window seat, a sly smile on her lips and her eyes practically glowing in the dark. There was an empty seat beside her on the couch and she patted it as an invitation. If he didn't except, she's just come over to him.

Harth made with the meek little stroll over to her, moving to sit on the opposite side of the couch from her. He looks her over before sitting fully, but looks completly out of place when he does. Intimidated, of course. If not by her physique but by the unholy looking eyes.

"I haven't seen you here before." He said, in that slight time lost New York-like accent.

"I've only just arrived." She replied, giving Harth a look over now that she had him right beside her. It was even more obvious that he wasn't human and how cute was it that he was trying to hide that?

But sort of species was he? Some sort of demon perhaps? "What species are you? You don't smell like a human."

"Perceptive. But I'd rather operate under the illusion of being human for a while longer if you don't mind." He gives her a stern look.

"And I'll thank you to keep your silence. Appreciate it." He smirks a bit, then turns to look at the rest of the room. Conveniently, nobody around to hear. No large eared creatures and super hearing blind girls to overhear.

"I'll answer that question at a more convenient time."

"Fair enough." If this "kid" didn't want anyone to know exactly what he was just yet, than so be it. It wasn't up to her to spread the word. Really, she wasn't involved with the drama and chose for it to remain that way. She may of had human memories, but she didn't have the drive to really care. Not unless it would entertain her.

Running her eyes over him again, she just smiled and bounced her foot up and down. Any questions for her Harth? She's waiting.

Hopefully what was to come would be very entertaining, although Harth didn't know that was a motive. He glanced to the side, briefly, looking over the room.

"What exactly are you that can take in details like that from smell alone?" He asked, then glancing to the exit.

"Walk with me?"

"That's a good question." She replied and decided to indulge him. Standing, she stretched her arms over her head and cracked her back. Nothing like a good stretch. "I am nothing more than a clone of a woman you've never met. I would suppose I'm Atlantean."

She shrugged and looked about the room.

"That may be the case but it's clear you have an interesting set of skills." He said, ignoring the nonchalant popping of her bones.

"I've heard that word. Some legend, an old one. Heard stories, read in a book." Seen it in his dreams at least once.

"Ancients speak highly of it but nobody believed it existed."

Oh, he didn't know the half of it. She had an incredible skill set for this place. Those poor shadows couldn't get close to her. "I can assure you it did exist." Though she had never seen it with her own eyes. Natla was one of their demi-goddesses however, so that and the memories from Lara were enough.

Now it wad her turn to ask more questions. She strolled along at his pace, her movements more sashaying than anything. "You've been watching me. Why is that?"

He didn't know. Not yet. But he knew whatever secrets she hid it wouldn't be a long time before he knew, and not long for her to know his little secret either. He continues on towards the pigeon room, walking beside her. Inwardly he wondered if she smelled the blood that was spilled both here and in the common room. Could she not guess what was going on?

Not that there were fewer chances of others walking in on them?

"It's not not to see that you're not exactly one of the herd." He said, likening the others to sheep going to the slaughter.

She could smell it. It wasn't exactly hard to pick up if one knew what it smelled like. But she didn't know why exactly it was spilled. It could have easily been the shadows killing people, or the humans doing each other in. This being some part of some grand plan didn't click with her yet. She only just met Harth.

"And you aren't as well. Beings like us don't mix with humans."

"True. Been doing as well as needed for the time I've been here." Harth replies solemnly, gesturing up the stairs.

"Have you been up this way?"

"No. I've tended to keep around the common areas. People watching." She glanced up the stairs for a moment and then at him. If he was planning on something, he had better forget it.

"Good to learn about my enemies."

"Tedious but nessa. These people are resourceful, but none very versed in magic from what I can tell. The shadows are a foreign concept to them." Harth replied, continuing onwards. Try something?

On her? An unknown variable? It wasn't worth the effort. Not yet.

Doppelganger followed him up the stairs, giving him the chance to speak while she looked him over, trying to figure out just what he was. She hoped that he would be foolish enough to try something, just to see what he could do.

"As is nearly everything to them."

"Hmmn. You have an interesting perspective." He can be sure of that much. He smiles back at her with that twisted version of a boy's smile.

And no. He wasn't going to try anything. Be patient.

And up the stairs they went, into the long room, then through there to the trolley area. Well well. More of their shadow friends.

Waiting for them at the trolley. Watching them. "Look at them. I don't think they know what to do with us."

Her eyes settled on the shadows, watching as they struggled to figure out what to do about them. They couldn't catch her, not very easily at least, and with her abilities she could fend them off for quite a time. They were probably wondering whether or not it was worth it.

They seemed to be reacting the same to the boy. How curious.

"Why bother to hunt what you cannot catch?" She replied, stepping towards the shadows. Her days spent in the castle were terribly boring. Teasing these shadows would do her a world of good in fending that off. Making it near enough to them, she stood still to give them that chance to try and catch her.

"They never seem to die." Harth remarks as he watches her move, keeping an even face should he have to put up an act for anyone else who happens by.

He watches her thoughtfully as she approaches. "You'll note a few of them will catch on to your spins, catch on to your style. You send them off they come back a while later."

The few shadows neared her, almost close enough to drag her into the shadows. At the last moment, it seemed like she disappeared, confusing the few shadows who scattered to look for her.

"That's why they'll never catch me." She whispered into Harth's ear, smiling as she strolled around him.

When she moved, his eyes followed her. He couldn't see it all, for her movement moved through the air like a shadow and he lost her trajectory. But then she was behind him, and he unblinking stood before her.

"How interesting. Is this the power of Atlantis or something more?"

"It's a power my creator graced me with." Although proud of her abilities, she hated Natla with a passion. It was evident on her face when she said the word creator.

"It's one of a few abilities of mine."

"I might ask of your assistance then if you're willing. I'm sure you're all too eager to leave this place, but not before properly exploring it." He pauses, watching the shadows cluster around the corner.

"Take my advice? Look for a way out but also see if you can't find possible clues to why we are here. I can help translate ancient ruins if necessary. What I need to know is, if the way back to our worlds is through castle or can it be found elsewhere."

"I also can translate. My original was an accomplished archeologist." She watched the shadows cluster at the corner, taking in Harth's words. Assist if she was willing. Of course. There was no way she'd be someone's slave again.

"But I'll keep an eye out."

"Then by all means. I just hope you'll think to share your findings with me." Carefully treading with her. But then Harth was usually always careful, especially with his words. They were precise and carefully chosen.

Especially when he deals with these humans pretending to be one of them.

Doppelganger smiles and shrugged before turning and leaving the room. If she found something of great interest she may be inclined to share it. But only if she was in the mood to do so.

But for now she'd keep an eye on him. It was easy enough to see the wheels turning in his head, planning something.

Funny, he knew she knew how much more there was to the eye, but all everyone else ever saw was the boy. The weakling. Toph even gave him hell for it, not that it mattered much.

He pauses a bit and briefly before moving off to take care of his acquisitions.

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02 - hard rain - open

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