artemis-unearthed

[artemis-unearthed]

It was a tough topic, that was for certain. Lara didn't have a particularly concrete answer, eyes turning back to focus on the stretch of road as she considered it.

"A mixture of both, I suppose."

Maysilee was new, Cata had told her. Something about time travel or some sort — it didn't faze her, not after everything supernatural she'd already seen and experienced. She'd been having trouble finding a place where she'd fit in at school, and so Lara had offered to take her out on an excursion to investigate some new ruins on her radar. At the very least, it had given her something to look forward to.

The jeep jostled as it went over a rocky stretch of the sand, though the shaking didn't last long. Lara's grip tightened on the steering wheel as she righted the vehicle, touching a boot to the accelerator.

"You surround yourself with people. The right people, who'll lend you a hand and stop you from falling down a pit you can't get back up. I can't promise that it'll never happen, but you have help from any one of us."

“For it to never happen to you, or for it to never happen to anyone else?”

The question spilled out of Maysilee’s mouth faster than she could stop it, and she turned her attention to the landscape they were traversing. She wasn’t in the arena anymore — she’d been sent to this time the second she killed that Gamemaker. Her therapist claimed she needed to get out of that survival mentality, but she couldn’t help herself. In the arena, you were either ally or enemy, with no in between. Maysilee would never have allied herself with someone selfish, and so, as she gazed out the window, she shifted in her seat.

“Because I was hunted down like a dog, and I don’t know how to make that never again even though I have the power to prevent it.”

[artemis-unearthed]

〘  maysilee donner 〙  ⸻ @towngirlreaped

➥  If you were hunted down like a dog, what would you really want?

"For it to never happen again."

The switch in topic had been a surprise, and her gaze flickers over to the younger girl in the passenger seat next to her. Lara had commandeered some sort of jeep to traverse the terrain, borrowed from some unlucky individual — she was sure to bring it back in half decent condition, just needed it for a day or two.

"Where are you going with this?"

[artemis-unearthed]

The kiss wasn't exactly expected to be part of the first aid routine. They weren't anything beyond friends, but it surely didn't mean much else, and so the archeaologist ignored the faint ghost of a butterfly in her chest. It wasn't hard to do so when she was focused on how much it suddenly began to sting with more attention turned towards it.

Teeth gritted with occasional shaking exhales, betraying her noteworthy resilience, though pain remained a factor. Claws torn into her back weren't the easiest thing to recover from, and so Lara had to start as soon as possible, and what better time than now, during camp? Still, Sam's choice in vehicle was certainly interesting for the jungle-terrain they found themselves in, and Croft would pay serious money to see just how far it would take itself.

"Suppose I'll take first watch, then."

Sam kissed Lara on the cheek before she did anything with the first aid kit. It was a quick thing, in and out, which gave them no room to regret it. On that note, they began cleaning the other’s various wounds with a lover’s tenderness. The pair might’ve been only friends, but… friends did this, right?

“I got distracted,” Sam admitted. “I wanted to figure out more about the vehicles we should be using to get around.”

The motorcycle had been acquired shortly after that conversation. Sam didn’t feel like sharing the details of their story until Lara shared hers, so she focused on cleaning the wounds. Hopefully, this wouldn’t exacerbate Lara’s pain. To be fair, Lara hadn’t seemed to be in much pain to begin with, but whatever. The point still stood.

“We should sleep soon. I don’t know about you both, but I’m getting tired.”

[artemis-unearthed]

{ SURVIVOR } TOMB RAIDER STARTERS - PT. I

LEGEND OF LARA CROFT .

Spiked pit. Classic.

And I bet . . .

There it is. Certain death.

A nice holiday in ___ they said. It'll be fun, they said.

Just a small stop-off for treasure.

You're always looking for treasure to be more exciting than it is.

When that's the choice, you better damn well survive.

What country are you in now?

I'm not asking for you to be the person you were before all of that.

You can't rebuild yourself by running away.

Someone had to watch things while you were God knows where. I nominated myself.

You ducking out early? Faux pas, stay a while.

You know, sometimes I swear. It's like talking to a brick wall.

So you're just gonna leave me alone in this spooky-ass dark mansion?

It's not spooky, it's Jacobean. Except for all the ghosts.

You look tired.

I always find shrines less cozy when they're empty.

It's careless for people like us to have confidants.

Don't like when you act all mysterious.

If you're here to take something, I can assure you our security is much better this time.

Why can't the world ever just end in cupcakes and unicorn rides?

It's a while. Unit of measurement is deliberately vague.

You mean stealing from me or trying to kill me?

In no way is that accurate.

Pity. I'd hoped you'd be angry.

Power on its own is not evil.

So you're just a misunderstood hero.

If you were hunted down like a dog, what would you really want?

And how many did you destroy in your process?

Now my gut slash boundless genuis and expertise tells me that's a top grade safe.

Oh, we're just going for it.

You do know that breaking into the home of an agent is a serious crime, right?

Like "ripped your heart out that's why you're closed off" kind of complicated?

They're playing chess and I'm playing Mille-Borne.

The ___ I used to know had a sense of adventure.

Uh, rude. You can't just turn me on and off like a light.

___ isn't really good at teams.

Yeah, that's like a slug calling a worm slimy.

Make up? Excuse you, I was a detective. We work in facts.

Right. I forgot when things got tough, you leave.

You've been everywhere in the world but home.

You failed because you thought someone would save ya.

Why is everything so dramatic with you?

The people we love is the treasure you'll never find in a tomb.

And now we're diving again. Therapy is also a good option, you know.

I guess this is where we install the waterslide?

I hate theme parks.

Nothing's ever lost. It's just waiting to be found.

How did a rat and a rabbit beat a dragon in a race?

Let's argue dragon athletics later.

Well then. Shall we take the yellow brick road?

Aren't you sick and tired of being sick and tired?

Just once I'd like a secret society to meet on a beach in Maui.

This place could be on fire in two minutes, or implode.

I forgot how it felt to want to strangle you.

First impressions are everything.

Sometimes I swear you have a death wish.

This place wasn't meant for us.

Are you sensing trap? Because I'm sensing trap.

I do believe it's a trap!

[artemis-unearthed]

adventuring sentence starters! based on Tomb Raider, Uncharted and Indiana Jones

31 starters, TW: death mention, injuries

"Isn't this exciting?"

"Let's face it: we're lost"

"This was a terrible idea"

"It's full of moskitos, here!"

"Wait, there could be a trap"

"This is it! That's the entrance!"

"Stand back, I've got a machete"

"That looks dangerous. Be careful"

"I can't believe we finally found it!"

"Careful, that bridge looks unstable"

"I really, really thought we were done for"

"These darts still work after so many years!"

"How did you convince me to get in here?!"

"Don't tell me you want to climb that, now?"

"Remind me what we're looking for, exactly?"

"Are you sure the trasure is still down there?"

"There's something spooky about this jungle"

"There's something written here. Can you read it?"

"I think I saw a snake. Why did it have to be snakes?!"

"What should I look out for? Jaguars? Spiders? Bigfoot?"

"Watch your steps. I don't think you could survive that fall"

"Do you think we'll find monsters and mummies down here?"

"Spiked walls! Of course it had to be spiked walls! Now what?!"

"To think all of this was undiscovered until now! Isn't it beautiful?"

"So, what do I need to expect? Rolling boulders and spike traps?"

"Legends say that anyone who gets in here will face a terrible curse"

"Hold still. Going around with an open wound here isn't a good idea"

"Only those who face the trials will reach the relics hidden deep in the temple"

"That definitively is a skeleton. In the middle of the room. Doesn't seem suspicious at all"

"Will you stand still? You're going to destroy something ancient and valuable if you keep running around!"

"I mean, I understand all the traps. I wouldn't be happy some randos walked in my tomb to steal my belongings, either"

[artemis-unearthed]

〘  CROSSOVER VERSE 〙  ⸻ ➥  RESIDENT EVIL .  

Essentially, much from the games remain the same, only that Trinity has made connections with various other organizations, namely Umbrella for a brief period of time, and then moving onto The Connections and similar. They do not particularly deal entirely in bioweapons or the like, but have facilitated their spread in a bid for their own agenda, and it so often happens to coincide with artifact locations and areas of interest Lara searches or aims to investigate — though not always. She's experienced several of them herself through her outings, and has come to learn of their existence as a result, and has had an interest in researching them further, on the side.

Lara continues to work for herself and does not particularly function as a mercenary or affiliates herself with any sort of organization, though she hasn't been opposed to having met a few hailing from them and getting to know them better. She remains suspicious regarding motivations a lot of the time, but as long as they don't interfere with her, she'll take the help here and there. The events of the games + show remain the same as they are in canon, she still experiences the Divine Source, and the themes of the supernatural still exist, just more in a shared universe.

[artemis-unearthed]

EVERDAY HEROES — SKILL CHECK STARTERS .

send one of these into my inbox + receive a starter based on the outcome of the appropriate D20 dice roll .

acrobatics .

arts and crafts .

athletics .

computers .

deception .

endurance .

insight .

intimidation .

investigation .

mechanics .

medicine .

natural science .

perception .

performance .

persuasion .

security .

sleight of hand .

social sciences .

stealth .

streetwise .

survival .

vehicles .

[artemis-unearthed]

{ SURVIVOR } TOMB RAIDER STARTERS - PT. I

LEGEND OF LARA CROFT .

Spiked pit. Classic.

And I bet . . .

There it is. Certain death.

A nice holiday in ___ they said. It'll be fun, they said.

Just a small stop-off for treasure.

You're always looking for treasure to be more exciting than it is.

When that's the choice, you better damn well survive.

What country are you in now?

I'm not asking for you to be the person you were before all of that.

You can't rebuild yourself by running away.

Someone had to watch things while you were God knows where. I nominated myself.

You ducking out early? Faux pas, stay a while.

You know, sometimes I swear. It's like talking to a brick wall.

So you're just gonna leave me alone in this spooky-ass dark mansion?

It's not spooky, it's Jacobean. Except for all the ghosts.

You look tired.

I always find shrines less cozy when they're empty.

It's careless for people like us to have confidants.

Don't like when you act all mysterious.

If you're here to take something, I can assure you our security is much better this time.

Why can't the world ever just end in cupcakes and unicorn rides?

It's a while. Unit of measurement is deliberately vague.

You mean stealing from me or trying to kill me?

In no way is that accurate.

Pity. I'd hoped you'd be angry.

Power on its own is not evil.

So you're just a misunderstood hero.

If you were hunted down like a dog, what would you really want?

And how many did you destroy in your process?

Now my gut slash boundless genuis and expertise tells me that's a top grade safe.

Oh, we're just going for it.

You do know that breaking into the home of an agent is a serious crime, right?

Like "ripped your heart out that's why you're closed off" kind of complicated?

They're playing chess and I'm playing Mille-Borne.

The ___ I used to know had a sense of adventure.

Uh, rude. You can't just turn me on and off like a light.

___ isn't really good at teams.

Yeah, that's like a slug calling a worm slimy.

Make up? Excuse you, I was a detective. We work in facts.

Right. I forgot when things got tough, you leave.

You've been everywhere in the world but home.

You failed because you thought someone would save ya.

Why is everything so dramatic with you?

The people we love is the treasure you'll never find in a tomb.

And now we're diving again. Therapy is also a good option, you know.

I guess this is where we install the waterslide?

I hate theme parks.

Nothing's ever lost. It's just waiting to be found.

How did a rat and a rabbit beat a dragon in a race?

Let's argue dragon athletics later.

Well then. Shall we take the yellow brick road?

Aren't you sick and tired of being sick and tired?

Just once I'd like a secret society to meet on a beach in Maui.

This place could be on fire in two minutes, or implode.

I forgot how it felt to want to strangle you.

First impressions are everything.

Sometimes I swear you have a death wish.

This place wasn't meant for us.

Are you sensing trap? Because I'm sensing trap.

I do believe it's a trap!

[artemis-unearthed]

"Still on my way, actually. Didn't think you'd be so far out, but it'll be nice to have a spot of company."

Catalina had told her nothing about coming to help, but when you worked in the type of profession she did, the archaelogist could suppose that information was easily leaked and guarantees never a perfect concept. Hands calloused from years of climbing adjusted themselves on the beam, not moving to take Cisneros' hand, rather keep her balance.

"Unless you'd rather stay behind and help Zip."

Lara made her way up the pillar in no time, and Cisneros reassessed the woman's skills. Surely, someone of that caliber wouldn't fall for the illusion so easily? But Cisneros had done plenty of research, and she'd been conditioned perfectly. She was, for all intents and purposes, as similar to the real Catalina as it got.

"We have that in common, then," she said, gesturing at her ruined clothing.

The clone would've definitely preferred to wear something more practical, but practicality wouldn't convince Lara of anything. The luxurious gown she donned moved with her, a singular unit, and her heels fit the image. Cisneros allowed her fingers to gently brush against Lara's. Initiating physical contact like that would've been a bold first step, so she waited to observe Lara's reaction.

"It's good to see you again. Did you find what you were looking for?"

[artemis-unearthed]

Lara could have dragged along just about anyone, but Cass had been the closest to her at the time, and Zip insisted that she bring some sort of friend with her. She'd reluctantly acquiesced, and now stuck in the middle of the wilderness, Croft remained in her element. Pausing her study of the map and compass through torchlight and rapidly dimming sun, Lara's gaze flickered over at the words.

Gloved hands folded the map and stashed the rest of her equipment, standing and taking several steps closer. She sat down beside Cass, borrowing the lighter, her pack placed on the opposite side to shield it from the wind.

"Twenty minutes, if luck is on our side." Not that it ever particularly was. "Here. Let me show you."

Lara began with kindling, small pieces of paper and dry shaved wood lying around and carefully piled, lighter going underneath until it caught. Slowly, lighter wood was piled on, shaped to a peak, the archaeologist shielding the flame the best she could while it flickered within.

"Just takes a while to get used to it."

"There should still be some on the fringes of the clearing."

@constellationcursed from here

[artemis-unearthed]

EVERDAY HEROES — SKILL CHECK STARTERS .

send one of these into my inbox + receive a starter based on the outcome of the appropriate D20 dice roll .

acrobatics .

arts and crafts .

athletics .

computers .

deception .

endurance .

insight .

intimidation .

investigation .

mechanics .

medicine .

natural science .

perception .

performance .

persuasion .

security .

sleight of hand .

social sciences .

stealth .

streetwise .

survival .

vehicles .

[artemis-unearthed]

𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐫𝐬 : a little assortment of action prompts for muses who may or may not hate each other. remember to tag your blood and violence. add +reverse to swap the roles.

[ ����𝐨 𝐚𝐢𝐫 ] : sender is holding the receiver by the throat. [ 𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐥 ] : receiver is on their knees in front of the victorious sender. [ 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 ] : exhausted from a battle, the receiver gives up resistance. [ 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝 ] : sender attempts to stab the receiver. [ 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 ] : sender grabs the receiver by the hair. [ 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐞𝐬 ] : receiver is being held as captive by the sender. [ 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐩 ] : receiver finds the sender trapped and unable to escape from them. [ 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧 ] : sender is lifting captured receiver's chin up. [ 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧 ] : sender breaks one of receiver's bones. [ 𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐝 ] : sender has made the receiver bleed. [ 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐝 ] : sender forces the receiver to watch their loved one die. [ 𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐝 ] : sender pins the receiver against a wall out of sheer rage. [ 𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐲 ] : sender spares receiver's life. [ 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 ] : sender warns the receiver to not antagonize them. [ 𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐬 ] : sender and receiver are sharing a kiss that draws blood. [ 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝 ] : receiver is trying to win sender's trust in order to escape later. [ 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 ] : facing a greater threat, sender and receiver must work together.

[artemis-unearthed]

✱˚｡⋆ ↪ 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐑 . ( a collection of lyric prompts based on billy joel's 1977 album the stranger . adjust phrasing as necessary . )

working too hard can give you a heart attack .

we all fall in love , but we disregard the danger .

for just this once i hope that looks don't deceive .

the sinners are much more fun .

get it right the first time .

i know that everybody has a dream .

i'm not much good at conversation .

yeah , i might get up the nerve .

all that i could give you was a reputation .

i search everywhere for some new inspiration .

i don't believe in first impressions .

i want you just the way you are .

this is my dream ; just to be at home , alone with you .

just let me pull myself together .

you didn't count on me when you were counting your rosary .

though you can see when you're wrong , you can't always see when you're right .

gonna have to make the first time last .

a word from you can bring a better day .

they say there's a heaven for those who will wait .

i can't afford to let it pass .

what purpose would that serve ?

i never was much good at coming on real strong .

i don't have time for true confessions .

if all it takes is inspiration , i might have just what it takes .

you might've heard i run with a dangerous crowd .

i don't know how to say those first few words .

you've done it . why can't someone else ?

you'd better cool it off before you burn it out .

i've gotta give it one good try .

i suppose it's now or never .

you can't be everything you wanna be before your time .

it all depends upon your appetite .

only the good die young .

come out , [ name ] , don't let me wait .

dream on , but don't imagine they'll all come true .

don't you know that only fools are satisfied ?

they didn't give you quite enough information .

it's always the same in the end .

they never tell you the price that you'll pay for the things you've done .

things are okay with me these days .

i'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints .

we ain't too pretty , we ain't too proud .

we might be laughing a bit too loud , but that never hurt anyone .

slow down , you're doing fine .

take the phone off the hook and disappear for awhile .

i didn't know you could look so nice after so much time .

sooner or later , it comes down to fate .

i took the good times , i'll take the bad times .

you've got so much to do , and only so many hours in the day .

if you're so smart , why are you so afraid ?

don't change the color of your hair .

it's alright , you can afford to lose a day or two .

you're so ahead of yourself that you forgot what you need .

i just want someone i can talk to .

don't go changing to try and please me .

is that all you get for your money ?

i couldn't love you any better .

we never knew we could want more than that out of life .

you can never go back there again .

don't be afraid to try again , everyone goes south now and then .

it seems such a waste of time .

you've never let me down before .

though we share so many secrets , there are some we'll never tell .

good luck moving up , cause i'm moving out .

i'll meet you any time you want .

you should know by now , you've been there yourself .

once i used to believe i was such a great romancer .

what will it take 'til you believe in me the way that I believe in you ?

you always have my unspoken passion , though i might not seem to care .

i would not leave you in times of trouble .

i don't want clever conversation , i never want to work that hard .

though you drown in good intentions , you'll never quench the fire .

did you ever let your lover see the stranger in yourself ?

we all have a face that we hide away forever . we take them out and show ourselves when everyone is gone .

[artemis-unearthed]

"Everything, really."

Lara had no way of knowing why they still hung around her, and perhaps that was why this heavy air always seemed to follow wherever she went. She had no doubt both her father and Roth were immeasurably disappointed in several of her decisions, but they weren't around to scold her nor provide her direction. No, that was all her — and much like how Roth helped raise her, she knew that you couldn't always rely on someone being there to catch your fall.

Regardless, grief was still a weighty thing and Lara had enough of it to fill several lifetimes to the brim, hidden as it was. Baggage she carried through every step of life's journey, anger that simmered beneath bone on occasion and misdirection for the path she supposed herself to be on.

"Hardly anything is, these days." Lara let out an exhale, glad to be moving away from the topic of her and onto something — someone, else. "I want to hear."

Ailani understood the struggle with identity. After that year of hell, she’d been forced to define and redefine herself. She didn’t have any ghosts of her own. She didn’t have an identity of her own. She’d been subject 504 — an error, a mistake, a blip in the system — and nothing more for far too long.

“Not finished with what?”

Ailani had her own relentless quest, too. The more ghosts she could help find peace, the better. Her abilities benefitted those around her, so she felt obligated to help out. Roth and Lara’s parents might not have wanted to move on; Ailani wanted to help regardless.

“Lara, it’s not… it’s not a happy story,” Ailani prefaced. “Are you sure you want to hear it?”

[artemis-unearthed]

Eyes furrow at the patronization, a jaw clenches for a moment and eyes narrow even further at the reasoning, despite her attempt to leave some sort of room to be amiable, offer a sort of an alliance. Rather, just anything that meant one step closer to rescuing yet another trinket from the hands of an organization that wouldn't treat it with the respect it deserved, intending to wield it as the weapon they thought it could be.

"I know the type. They only chase their own interests."

String creaked as the bow was pulled back further with the movement, though Lara didn't make to fire. They were stuck in their own bout of chess, stalemated to the end, and any action would likely lead to some sort of mutually assured destruction, but not in Lara's case. At least — not now, after everything that had happened as of late — but Lara was determined to do something about the other tonight.

"Perhaps not being the one to send this world into chaos." Inflection rose with the perceived question, eyes still remaining on the other in a bid to convince. "And . . . help the people who've already been affected. Whatever they're offering you, is it really worth losing everyone? Jonah, Zip, Sam . . . me," There's a pause, and a sharp intake of breath.

"There's more to it all than empty promises and people who'd abandon you for the next job."

Cisneros’ grip on her own weapon never faltered either. She didn’t believe in giving up when the battle had only just begun, and Lara stayed steady in this fight. A smirk made its way onto her lips; oh, she’d played the other like a fiddle. Money meant nothing to her in the scheme of things, for she far preferred to see the archeologist’s turmoil as she believed her girlfriend had betrayed her.

“Ah. Clever girl.”

Cisneros’ patronization wouldn’t go unnoticed, but the gun stayed focused on its target. If Lara fired, she’d fire. If she fired, Lara’d fire. They remained locked in this dance until one of them acted, but Cisneros stayed curious. She had very little experience with humans who weren’t clones, so in theory, this could be considered a learning experience.

“For the betterment of the world,” she retorted. “Umbrella wants to help… in their own way. This key is a step towards that.”

Cisneros’ mask stayed up, and she offered Lara little else in the way of motivation. She took a step back — but she didn’t fire, and she put one hand up in mock surrender. Could something actually be gained from siding with the enemy? If so, what? A bottom lip was chewed on as the clone mulled it over.

“What’s in it for me?”

[artemis-unearthed]

if you'd be interested in interacting with an independent ETHAN WINTERS rp blog, from capcom's RESIDENT EVIL 7 + 8, please give this post a reblog or a like. originally infected in 2022, reborn in 2025. written by geoff.

[artemis-unearthed]

〘  leon s. kennedy 〙  ⸻ @fightfected

➥   leon can feel eyes on them. he doesn't turn to meet them, instead he leans to her, bumps her with his shoulder, ❛ she's lookin' at you, not me. go on, croft — play it cool. ❜ can't go as bad as last time, can it?

play it cool? leon kennedy had clearly never met lara in his life if that was his only advice. she's never been particularly skilled in this field — she could ramble on about ancient civilizations and practices like the best of them, but the second it came down to attempting to chat someone else up, all that knowledge flew out the window. shitty jokes and one liners were the most common, not unfamiliar to the agent beside her as she'd come to know, only hers are worse. your confidence is admirable, leon.

❝ I don't believe you've met me. ❞

acting as wingman clearly hadn't been lost on either of them. they've done this before at bars and clubs that they've dragged each other to under pretense of keeping out of trouble, and she supposed it was her turn. she nudges him back, careful not to let the drink in her hand spill. Perhaps the liquid courage would help her a tad, but that was no guarantee — when you spent all your time investigating the dead, talking to strangers was more than a little unfamiliar.

❝ besides, we couldn't possibly know. ❞