14079/Don't You Want Me

Don't You Want Me
Date of Scene:	08 February 2023
Location:	<text>
Synopsis:	No description
Cast of Characters:	Jane Foster, Stephen Strange

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Jane Foster has posed:
Pleasant, modern technology does fantastic things. Nothing like the blessing of a secure phone line or a carrier pigeon made of vibranium to transmit a message for a location. Jane certainly knows the values of a properly worded invitation, anyway, one that acknowledges a man's pride and doesn't presume on availability or location.

<Would you like to follow up on Atl. Starport-related issues @ Triskelion, 8:30 PM?>

The Triskelion isn't necessarily all she had in mind, but nothing like a walk around the grounds or venture out of the usual dull interview rooms or the like. Besides, sometimes a girl just needs to get some fresh air.

Stephen Strange has posed:
Just because Stephen Strange is a sorcerer doesn't mean he is a stranger to technology. The fact that he receives a text message is no big surprise. The fact that he receives it from one Doctor Jane Foster? Maybe a little surprise, but not much more. Jane certainly knows how to phrase a well-worded invitation. As such that Strange feels inclined to respond.

<I would be amiable to this. Will meet you there. >

This time...there isn't a big show of a portal with Strange stepping through. No, SHIELD tends to frown at that sort of thing. Strange actually just, simply, walks in. Though, portaling may have happened. Just....not at the Trisk.

Jane Foster has posed:
The brunette wears a camel coat and a knit hat, the concession to the cold that she can't truly feel the way that some do. Not that New York doesn't deliver on the chilly weather, the clammy numbness of ice in the air. She carries a pair of binoculars that honestly don't do that much for her ability to see the stars, light pollution being simply too prevalent. But she can enjoy a view of the stars all the same until Stephen makes his appearance.

When he does, she nods to one of the guards. No need to be told; certain people have a noteworthy kind of mental aura that she can easily recognize without trying. Also, she's been waiting.

If he spots her, and hopefully he will, she lowers the binoculars and awaits his approach. "Good evening. Thank you for sparing me the time."

Stephen Strange has posed:
"Certainly, Doctor Foster. Thank you for extending the invitation."

Yes, it is a measured response. But...one that is given without any malice. Just proper manners, of course.

As far as how Strange is dressed, he certainly doesn't look all that magical. It could be very well mundane. A coat and hat to combat the cold that he would feel, should he cared. Sensible shoes even. No cloak, no blue tunics. A truly disappointing ensemble if one wanted mystical might.

As far as the guards? Well, they certainly do know what Strange looks like, regardless of ensemble. They allow Strange through with no problem. He doesn't even have to do the Jedi mind trick, complete with hand gesture. Strange pulls himself up to Jane's side, pausing to look up at the sky, despite the light pollution. "You wanted to speak about the starport?" A pause. "Somehow I sense there might be more than just the starport on your mind."

Jane Foster has posed:
Jane smiles at the use of the title, though it's a man named /Doctor/ Strange. He probably hears it more often than his actual given name, too.

She tucks her hands into the pockets of her coat, ostensibly to remain warm, although 'warm' is a tricky business in the midst of February. "All's well for you, I hope?" Proper that they should exchange pleasantries and greetings, though she doesn't necessarily feel the need to reside entirely on those expected laurels with the sorcerer. "I wished to speak about the force behind the starport, yes. We both have no real love for a particular dark elf responsible for multiple attacks on Earth, do we? As a SHIELD consultant, have you been able to read any of my reports based on the Kursed in Newfoundland or the failed ritual in Fiji? We have reason to assume Malekith orchestrated these attacks as part of an older, grander plan that goes back to targeting Asgard. The incursions we've seen would imply a possible attack staged /from/ Midgard or at least a weakening on Midgard to access Asgard. I've been at pains to identify a pattern between the slaughter; in Fogo, it was apparently altruistic people responsible for heinous crimes, and in Fiji, dishonourably discharged soldiers that amount to oathbreakers. What happens to be the next target or link in the chain, I simply cannot be sure. There's too little to go on, and for that, we've needed more information. A source became clear -- an exiled dark elf operating in New York. We contacted him and sought his assistance. Svartalfjar -- many of them, anyway -- operate as a hive mind. That is, they're able to share their thoughts and arguably operate communally with their monarch at the height of the pyramid. Our contact has limited connection to the hive mind, as exile is tantamount to being cut off from that and a death sentence upon return."

Stephen Strange has posed:
"Truth be told, I had not read your reports."

At least Strange is being honest. Though, it does make sense. He is, after all, just a consultant...not necessarily an agent.

However, Strange does listen intently as Jane runs through her theories on the incidents in question. And...he does frown somewhat noticably when the name Malekith is mentioned. Yes, Strange definitely has no love for that particular thorn in his side. But...a dark elf informant? That is intriguing.

"An exiled dark elf? That is rather rare. I imagine that there was at least some use of the information he provided?" Yes, Strange caught that the elf in question is male. "There are more...intrusive ways of gathering information, but to have one with access to the hive mind, however limited that might be, is still more preferred than some of the brute force methods I can think of.

Jane Foster has posed:
"You're a busy man. I understand. However, the ritual performed in Fiji might draw your interest considering it operates on some of the oldest magic known in Asgard. Besides the fact that some svartalfjar magicians manipulate dark matter," she adds, in case that fact might have eluded the Sorcerer Supreme.

"Dark matter," she adds softly, "reacts exceptionally poorly when it comes into contact with actual matter. One destroys the other; matter invariably loses that battle."

Her calm settles anew as she gazes past Stephen to the walking path that wraps around a sculpture meant to inspire contemplation or something. Its abstract design doesn't correlate to any obvious structure of entity. "The dark elf informant wants several things. Standard array, protection and ownership of his current home. In exchange he is willing to enter the hive mind to decipher the likely next targets for the Svartalfjar king. That would be Malekith, presently. There's not enough information we could bring to confirm what the next targeted sites or people would be. Each time they've struck has revealed increasingly ferocious resistance. Last one was an ancient entity that supported the dark elves in war; a dreadnought. Something practically legendary to the Asgardians, and given their society stretches back fifty millennia and more, that's saying something."

Her nod marks his opinion, and leads unhappily into the next statement. "In order to verify his information and frankly, to ensure he's not corrupted or countermanded in the process, I've thought to skim along the hive mind with him. Not a /direct/ ride, I don't think I could access that. That way we can validate the information through an external source or note anything he might not. Contact puts him at risk." No point in saying there's risk to her, of course. "It's a two-way path, they can see in to some extent. I might be able to blur some of that. More importantly, there should be very little risk at severing the connection for the right person. You would be the top of our list of consultants capable of doing that with minimal collateral damage, if you would consider it."