13200/Shoot To the Heart of the Matter

Shoot To the Heart of the Matter
Date of Scene:	27 October 2022
Location:	Verdant - Nightclub
Synopsis:	Thea speaks of what she knows about Korrek and that leads to plans.
Cast of Characters:	Thea Queen, Stephen Strange, Jane Foster

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Thea Queen has posed:
The Verdant is HOT tonight.

Live stage with a reknowned DJ getting that techno music beating to the inferno that is the dance track. Lots of business. Lots for Thea to do. It meant taking her mind off things by focusing solely on work, not having to think on what had happened. The betrayals. The disappearance of one Earth's mightiest heroes. And she had been unable to do anything about it. Yet she also knows she has to face it eventually, get to work. Figure out where Thor may be. Help with the efforts. So a message was sent.

<< We should meet. >> it's a simple message sent to Jane and also Doctor Strange. Time to start getting some answers. And also provide some.

So at the time of the meeting she waits. Up on her office on the second floor, the large blackened windows that frame a wall fully giving her a view of what is going on at the club without she being seen in return. She holds a glass of whisky in her hand, slowly stirring it.

Stephen Strange has posed:
There was a bit more to the messaging. A date, time, and location. Though nothing more, at least from the sorcerer's part.

After all, Doctor Stephen Strange is a busy man. Apparently too busy for common phone etiquette, like a confirmation text saying he will be there.

As the meeting time approaches, despite the thump of the bass beat or whatever sound that might be bleeding through from the dance floor below, a soft baritone is very clearly heard in the office.

"Hello, Ms. Queen."

A shimmer of golden sparks encircle a point in a corner of the office, framing a scene from...certainly not the Verdant. It looks very much like a museum, with glass cases and things that are certainly not meant to be touched. And, within the center, the silhouette of a man, with what is certainly a cloak upon his shoulders.

"You wished to meet, correct?"

The voice is most definitely from the shadowy figure who, as he steps through, is easily identified as the Sorcerer Supreme. Even as Strange walks in, a second portal opens, to some unknown location...but the location is unimportant. Instead, it is the person that the portal reveals. The third to join the private party in the office.

"I do hope you will excuse me. I thought it best that we avoided walking through the dance floor. I wouldn't want to disturb the patrons." Was that to Thea? Or to the other individual about to walk in? Like any good magician, Strange is not revealing who...

Jane Foster has posed:
A date, a time, and a prospect of significant worth for the taking. That might be enough to warrant the good Doctor's attention.

Jane steps through a portal after the sorcerer himself appears, largely because the sudden arrival of copper sparks draws her attention sidelong from whatever she was working on. Clearly not important enough to consider this an unwelcome intrusion. A lab, complete with remarkable numbers of monitors assessing various things, is briefly visible behind her.

Then she snaps up her bag and steps through, trying not to hasten too much that she trips or brings the chair. A near thing, really. The spinning office chair no longer remains behind to mock her as she enters Verdant, or some capacity thereof.

"Hello. Glad we could all manage this," she offers, gesturing and nodding to Thea in greeting. "I hope you've been well since the incident?"

Thea Queen has posed:
Of course there had to be a portal. Did Thea half-expect it? Is Stephen Strange becoming PREDICTABLE? But then he gets the SECOND portal going and then has a finely-trimmed brow arching up at him. And she puts the glass of whiskey away. Had she drank from it before? Uncertain.

"Doctor Strange." She greets the man with a smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes. Too tired, too exhausted. The kohl covers a lot of the tiredness but it's still there on her motions, "Indeed. And I wish it was for better reasons but..." she lifts her shoulders in a brief shrug. Attention then goes to Jane.

"No, I haven't been well." she says directly. "Yet there's still hope." she looks at Jane in particular. She knows how Jane was close with the Asgardians, namely Thor. "Sif is of a mind to go to Nifleheim, and Alfheim. I trust you know all this already."

Stephen Strange has posed:
"Ah. You're speaking of Odinson."

Yes, Stephen is being blunt. No sense in beating around the bush. He just gets straight to the point. "I would not recommend having a large party walk into Nifleheim, personally. A smaller group, perhaps a singular individual, yes, but not a larger gathering." A pause...then a consideration. "I do have need to return to the realms of the Underworld. I would be able to investigate while I am there."

What does Strange need to go to the Underworld for remains a mystery. But...the offer is still there.

Jane Foster has posed:
The quiet, measured response from Jane keeps her lapsing into silence. She provides a faint, measured smile of greeting, raising her hand in a mild wave. The delicate tip of her hand and her raised chin offering something of a hello without it being spoken overtly. Hers is a conservative presence, restrained and measured, grief a quiet grey cloud swirling around her for those who can say it.

Her lips press together in a soft line, and she dips her head. "I can't say I am well either. And the reality will be that Niflheim presents no friendly reception for us. We have not found a great deal of information to tell us the status of his whereabouts, except to say that I doubt him to be dead. We have so many unanswered questions."

The gesture of a nod to them, watching both. "Where do you want to begin?"

Thea Queen has posed:
The Young Queen lets out a brief sigh, running her hands over the front of her dress as she focuses back. She gets a faint smile back to her lips, then gestures to a few comfortable chairs. "Please. Sit if you wish." she goes over to her table, around it, then opens a small drawer. From there she retrieves a small ring. "Sif is hoping to not have a war brewing over it, but considering her state she may need the support of someone more .., diplomatic .., when they go to Nifleheim." she points out. Is she saying both Jane and Strange should go? Maybe.

"But ..., I would like at least to speak on what happened on my end of things." she shows them the ring. "This ring was given to me by Korek. A half-troll who was defeated in Trollheim when he tried to take over. I thought he wished to make amends but it seems that wasn't the case.." her frown grows. "He took young Frikke's place, then attempted to kill Dorin. We don't know the reason yet but I will be interrogating him soon. When I go to meet Loki." she sighs at this part. "The ring itself has no power, only some deep resonance to some important event on what I think was Korek's life. But ..., I fear this may have been Frikke's.." a somber look appearing on her expression.

"What I wanted to ask you though, do you know what may have caused Malekith's attack? Sif said Alfheim could have some answers."

Stephen Strange has posed:
When offered to sit, first there seems to be a minor mental debate. Should Strange sit? Should he remain standing? What would be the most impressive yet comfortable for him? That third question may not necessarily be a consideration...but Strange does move to sit. He takes the cloak off...but instead of hanging it up, he simply lets it go, to float where it wants to as he takes his seat. Yet, he continues the conversation as if this is a perfectly ordinary everyday occurrence. "Someone more diplomatic. Yes...that may be a good idea."

Yet, Strange does not offer to go. Something that surely Thea notices. After all, Strange already mentioned he has business with Helheim, or at least with the various realms of the Underworld. He may not consider a diplomatic mission as his purview, precisely.

The ring is regardless with a mildly curious air. No power to one might not necessarily be true for another. He does not take it, but he certainly gives it a visual inspection, if not a mystical consideration.

Ah...but it is the question about Malekith that Strange deigns to speak on. Not that his answers are actually helpful at all. "I do not know of what imagined slight Malekith decided was worth his attack, nor am I immediately aware of some grand scheme other than the fact that Malekith saw an opportunity to lock away his foe in an unescapable prison dimension. If it wasn't for the fact that the artifacts were still anchored to this existence, I would not have found you all. You can seek answers if you wish...but it is very possible that it is simply an attack of opportunity, and nothing more."

Jane Foster has posed:
Jane has no issues whatsoever with sitting when Thea invites her to do so. She glances at Strange and then nods minutely, settling down to press her hands into her lap. She shifts the bag around to the front, settled in her lap. The cloak gets a side-blink, but she smiles wanly for a moment at its appearance. Her gaze flickers back to the pair of them, her slender movements resolved until it's flat out unmoving altogether. Her posture is precise, taut.

The matter of the ring, then, is a mystery and the crux of the issue. "I have so many questions about the ring. How Korek become Frikke. Why he targeted the child. Frikke, what is his significance? Is it just access to Dorin, to Thor? Clearly this was a matter of delivery. How do you know of them?" Her head tilted, she sighs. "I'm not at my best, and slow to grasp things normally that would stretch out in total familiarity otherwise. As for Malekith, I can say I believe this is part of a grasping intent on his part. To throw down Thor, an ally of Alfheim. He seems to have designs on Alfheim, though until I go there, I am unsure why."

Thea Queen has posed:
That cloak has Thea staring momentarily at it. Magic. She will never get used to it. "Korek can disguise himself as others. From what I was told he is half-elf and may have some powers of illusion himself.." she looks between them as if she really wasn't the best to explain it. But she does, "I am not certain on Korek's motivations. That he was there right at the time it all began is telling that he may have been allied with Malekith. Frikke was the son of a Lord from Northern Asgard. It's where one of the resonant items was found for the ritual. But there really seems to be no connection that I can see between Frikke and Korek." she nods her agreement to what Jane says about Malekith's motivations, then nods slowly.

"Alfheim may have answers because of another ring, offered by the Queen of Alfheim. Think it may have influenced all that so ..., be careful when you go there. They may not be allies." she warns.

"I am hoping to figure out more once I talk with Korek. If I can get him to talk." a beat, "He's the type to boast so I think I can swindle him."

Jane Foster has posed:
"Frikke's behaviour was unusual even when we visited the hall. How his relationship with his father went or not, it felt a touch like Eomer and Theoden from the Tolkien movie." Yes, the one with the towers. Jane ponders that, watching Thea curiously rather than the ring. Looking for any signs of the extraordinary, an attachment or the gossamer trails of concern about the object. "It struck me then they had an uneasy relationship, one somehow clouded, but I wasn't sure. It may be nothing more than familial matters, and none of our concern. Korek, however, taking on different shapes doesn't entirely surprise me. We have a troll lord that holds fierce ambitions to change the face and shape of Trollheim. Why not greater? He was deposed by Asgard, wh ocame to his enemy's aid. Then that places us in a situation for motive. Would this be something, a gambit that leads to a deeper rot, because Korek allied himself to Malekith to seize control of a realm? Is he half-svartalf, rather than ljosalf? It would certainly not be the first time such things happened, and that opens the door to scheming and treachery. Not in the blood, but socially. As for Malekith, we don't necessary know why he wants this but we can posit ideas. Power hungry. Revenge. Opportunity. The same reasons as so many cruel men and women learn their reach exceeds their grasp, to the misfortune and woe of a good many civilians."

She nods to the ring. "How did you come by this? Did he come to you? I wonder why he offered it to you. Did he seek an ally or is it a convenient item used to divine what you're up to? Surely Doctor Strange, you could determine if it's put to any malfeasance or awful use? I doubt highly he was trying to seal an engagement and show his affection for you. Did you have it when we were at the Starport? Has it ever done anything? The resonance for an event is interesting. What do you think connects it to Frikke? That he killed the boy and took over his position?"

Thea Queen has posed:
"He came to me and offered me the ring." Thea replies, her eyes now trailing down to the ring itself, arms folding together and hip jutting to the side. A small frown is still on her delicate features, "He wanted to be part of the saga, he said. He wanted Trollheim to have a chance to leave it's name in the songs that would be told that day. Or at least that's what he shared. It might have been true, even if not for the motives I thought." and her frown deepens then.

"The ring was supposedly an item that linked to Trollheim. He wanted it to be offered as one of the items that had significance. Because due to Trollheim being part of Asgard it means we hadn't really searched for an item from them and he wanted to change it." she shakes her head a bit. "And no, it was not showing affection for me."

"I had the ring with me when I was at the Starport. But it did nothing. Zatanna had looked it over before we went and saw there was nothing magical about it." she explains.

A pause at those last words. "Yes, I think that's what he did. He killed the boy and offered me the ring he was wearing when he did it."

Stephen Strange has posed:
First, a glance towards Jane. What can Strange divine of this object? Then...a glance back towards Thea. "You're asking for a psychometric analysis." Not a question. Just a flat out statement. "It is possible, of course, though it is not something that I do normally. I would have to research." What? Strange doesn't know everything about everything?

No, in this case he doesn't.

"I didn't pick up any mystical power from the ring initially. But, it if is tied to an event, then there may be something that I initially missed. Unlikely, but possible." Ah...there's the ego. Stephen isn't going to admit if he made a mistake. "Still, it isn't much to go on. Questioning who gave this to you would be a more reliable route than trying to use psychometry on a ring."

Jane Foster has posed:
One of the items of significance, that raises the brunette's yellow flags. Jane stiffens a little, her position in the seat otherwise idea and particularly still and tall. "We have our target for Niflheim if we cannot find the Thunderer there. To be sure, I am quite certain we will not locate him in Hela's realm. Frikke may be able to confirm some facts, like if he was set upon or whether Korek told him anything. It may be against hope to expect him to know more than those plans, but possible. I would not expect Korek to deal well with any Asgardian, even a child. He wanted something part of the saga.... but if the saga was not successful, then would he be remembered for sending Odin into sleep? Thor to we know not where?"

Her attention flickers against the ring, past it. "Korek is bound to have more answers, but they could be corroborated. Why he chose the ring and if it was used as a focus for a spell or something to concentrate on? I don't blame you, Ms. Queen, let me be clear on that. I merely wonder if he used you to spread this sorrow. Gifts aren't typically given freely without some string attached in the eyes of such being."

She then taps a finger against her knee a few times, and waits on Stephen to finish before adding, "The ring that Alfheim gave to Thor caused the misery we encountered, I believe. I would postulate these two early connections are significant. Frikke, from our first stop. Alfheim was the second or the third. Something planted longer ago bears seeds."