Larassa was sitting on a crate outside, her digitigrade legs propped up on a small rock.
She heard the tent flap opening and looked up to see the merc exiting the tent.
She frowned at him, but said nothing as he approached her. Hopefully, he wasn't here to rub it in that Lara wouldn't be leading this operation. That pissed her off to new heights.
Blowing out some more cig smoke, she patiently waited for him to say something to her. He probably was about to try to ask her about herself or something so they can get to know one another better.
If this was the case, she was about to laugh in his face. She didn't share details about herself with others except for the bare necessities.
She had a phenomenal track record of successful missions, but something had gone terribly wrong with the last one.
Lara's last mission had ended with her partner dead and herself mortally wounded. Even for a mutant, Lara was lucky to still be breathing. She'd hated it when she'd had to call in a rescue for herself and her dead partner. Nothing like that should've ever happened...yet it did.
Tarkov approached the girl and sat on a crate next to her. He leaned forward and made the best expression of sincerity he could muster.
"Listen, I know you don't like being on a leash. But this doesn't need to be like pulling teeth. I know how run an op, and I know how to give you space, but you must obey me, unless you want men to die. From what I've mustered, you've lost too much already to take any more chances with peoples' lives."
Larassa puffed out some more smoke before spitting to the side.
She met the merc's gaze and then said evenly, "I don't want to see anyone else die."
She then averted her gaze as she muttered, "I've seen my fair share of death by now."
Puffing out smoke again, she looked back at the merc and said, "Name's Larassa. Let's just get this over. My bag's always packed so I'm ready whenever you are."
"Tarkov. Before we get ready to head out, I need to know some of your abilities, so I can plan accordingly. Also, I've commissioned some field supplies for you, in case it becomes necessary."
Tarkov sat back on the crate, expressing some relief that he can get down to business with Larassa.
Larassa stiffened at this request and then glanced around, seeing the various soldiers around them.
Keeping her voice low, Larassa puffed out some smoke again before saying, "If you wish to know my abilities, then we'll need somewhere much more private than this."
Upon hearing supplies were commissioned, Larassa nodded and added, "Very well, I'll add them to my supplies."
She was curious what he'd requested for her, but from what she could tell, he probably had been smart in what he'd asked for.
Tarkov leaned forward again.
"Why not in front of your men? Won't they be seeing this in the field?"
Lara let out a low laugh at this. She grinned devilishly as she looked at Tarkov and said, "They already know what I am and what I can do. I'm more concerned with how you'll take it. The last thing I want is one of my men rushing to my aid and accidentally harming you. To my men, I'm hope. To my enemy...I'm the Devil."
"Dramatic. My guess is we will see soon enough what you can do. Are you up to snuff with your skills? I know you've been recovering recently."
Noting Tarkov's lack of care for her little speech, Larassa narrowed her eyes. She decided against making a scene though. She'd already done that once today.
Hearing Tarkov's question, Larassa frowned and replied, "I'm not sure. Like you say, I've been recovering. My skills could be getting a bit rusty, though they've never really been a problem for me."
Tarkov stood.
"Guess you'll have to prove just how much devil you've got in you. We should go and see what you're capable of. Where can we go to see these powers?"