14296/An assassin, a cat and a mage walk into a sanctum

An assassin, a cat and a mage walk into a sanctum
Date of Scene:	01 March 2023
Location:	Sanctum Sanctorum
Synopsis:	Strange offers some insight to what happened with June's body swap with Tigra. A trip to the Avengers is scheduled.
Cast of Characters:	Elektra Natchios, June Connor, Stephen Strange

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Elektra Natchios has posed:
"As I told you before, you may want to be on your best behavior." Elektra is talking with what seems to be .., TIGRA?! And they are walking towards the Sanctum Santorum.

The assassin is sporting a pair of leather pants today, a jacket and scarf around her neck because it's chilly these days in New York. Dark hair is left loose and her hands are currently inside her pockets.

"But maybe having you be a newt would be a good change of pace.." Bit of a smirk on Elektra's expression there as they get to the front steps leading to the fabled Sanctum Santorum. The Wizard's Home.

Some of her expression drops when she sees the front. Memories of a past she has been wanting to forget associated to this house. She frowns some and then knocks at the door. Twice. The gall of some people.

June Connor has posed:
    June's body is Tigra's, and while Tigra may run around in a bikini, June opted for sweat pants and a hoody when she left the Avenger's mansion, emblazoned with the same group's logo.

    "Right right, because he's stuffy like you," she anticipates. She looks up at the Sanctum. She eyes the doors with an arched left brow.

    "I'm not sure why I let you talk me into this," she comments.

Stephen Strange has posed:
For most people, the unique edifice that is the Sanctum Santorum is no big deal. Situated in Greenwich Village, hundreds of people walk by it every day and most of them don't even bat an eye as they do so. It could be the whole New York attitude of 'don't wanna know, don't care to know', which would work perfectly well. However, for the Sanctum itself, there just might be an increased premonition to 'not care.' Perhaps it is a sort of vibe it gives off, purposely to ward off all except those that truly want to inquire of the resident within.

Or, hey, could just be haunted. And no one wants to mess with ghosts. At least, that's what the locals think.

Regardless, as the two approach the front door, they will notice that there is a definite shift. People seem to subconsciously walk around...avoiding the front door the pair find themselves in front of. Even with Elektra's persistent knocking, no one really seems to notice. All the more peculiar when the door decides to open after the second knock, allowing access in freely.

"Please, come in."

The voice, heard clearly, is most certainly that of Doctor Strange. However, he stands at the base of the stairs, a good 15 feet away or so, and yet the voice was heard as if he was standing right next to the two visitors. "Forgive the slight delay in response. I was not expecting visitors." Those grey eyes of Strange's watch on expectedly, as both Elektra and what appears to be Greer pass over the threshold just enough to allow the door to close...on its own.

"Ms. Natchios. To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?"

Elektra Natchios has posed:
Elektra is used to the theatrics. In fact she had enough of those when she joined the Infinity Watch way back when. Of course that the memories she has of -that- time aren't the most pleasant but she won't be delving into that just now. Instead she prefers to roll her eyes. First at June and those doubts, and then at Stephen and his ventriloquism tricks (not that she actually eyerolls at Stephen. She knows better).

But it's *felt*!

The assassin walks in and when the door closes behind them there's a dip of her head at Stephen, "Doctor Strange." some measure of respect to her tone. Probably respect June's hasn't seen Elektra using with other people in the past. "Been a while.." she says, casting a look around the hall a moment. "I am looking for your expertise.."

A look to June, "But first I should let the person with me introduce herself." wait, isn't that just Tigra the Avenger?

June Connor has posed:
    June looks a little startled when Strange appears. She was looking close for him based on the voice, and when he appears much farther away than anticipated, Tigra's finger points,

    "Okay, see? Creepy as hell, how did you meet this guy anyway?" The theatrics have a pretty distinct impression on her, and it doesn't look like she has any qualms about voicing it. She regards him as if he is some kind of ghost. "I'm uh, complicated," she says, looking very apprehensive as if she is having second thoughts about talking to the Sorceror Supreme about this particular strangeness in her life. Perhaps a little late now.

Stephen Strange has posed:
Oh, the eyeroll is felt. Does Stephen care? Not in the slightest. In fact, he seems somewhat amused by the whole situation. At least he is in a good mood. That should be good to see.

As for the visitor in Tigra's visage...well, Strange doesn't seem all that perturbed by her reaction, either. Though, he does bother to speak directly to June. "Aren't we all?"

All what? Complicated, of course.

Yet, creepy or not, Stephen remains amiable. "Well, you did walk into the home of a known sorcerer. While I do not have the long white beard and other such stereotypical aspects of a wizened individual, I felt a little parlor trick was warranted."

A pause. "Besides, it was amusing." Yes, Strange is coming with the jokes today.

"Now, would you like to tell me what brings you here? Or shall I employ other tricks of the trade to divine your purpose. Trust me, it will be easier if you just tell me."

Elektra Natchios has posed:
That June makes it hard just has Elektra look at her with that kind of expression Stephen would recognize anywhere. The look of a master disappointed with their ward. Which .., Elektra actually has a student? And is it Tigra of all people? Something clearly isn't right here.

"This is June." She says, making her way further inside the hallway, "She has been studying under me for over a year now. The problem is that June is not Tigra, nor an Avenger. And whatever happened here made her wake up in the body of one." she explains, the tone in Elektra's voice skeptical. She believes in magic for sure but ..., this seems to go beyond her normal understanding.

"She swears she has done nothing, that she woke up in this body. We need to figure out what is going on." the corner of her mouth quirking up in a small smirk.

"And so I thought talking with the strongest sorcerer I know would be the best." nothing wrong with a little ego stroking to get into Stephen's good graces.

June Connor has posed:
    June sags her shoulders and tilts her head back up at the ceiling like a child at the insistence of the sorceror. "Ugh!" she groans. Definitely not Tigra mannerisms.

    She stuffs her hands into the pockets of the hoody, stretching on it. "Yeah, and it really wasn't my fault," she says, anticipating blame coming her way despite the explanation of what she had told Elektra and what had already been repeated. "So like, I don't know where the real Tigra is, or where the real -my body- is, I figure she gots mine if I gots hers, y'know? I'm also gonna say it was probably her fault."

Stephen Strange has posed:
Oh...that look from Elektra to June. That was priceless. And the way June is reacting to Stephen's request? Just that alone is enough for Stephen to know that Elektra has her work cut out for her with her choice of student.

All that and Stephen smiles just a little bit more. But, at least he has the common sense to not laugh....yet.

The sorcerer then speaks. "Yes. I had a suspicion that this wasn't Ms. Grant." Of course Stephen knows who Tigra is. It would have made it so much easier if he just said that. "And, regarding the short time we have had now, even that was enough to signify that your ward here, Elektra, was certainly not an Avenger." Meaning that Stephen purposely asked to be sure, rather than leaping to a conclusion.

"If I didn't know any better, I would say that someone has been watching one too many Disney movies. Though I do prefer the originals to the somewhat recent remakes." Shades of Freaky Friday.

Now that the information is out, Stephen gets down to business. He actually bothers to move forward, closing the distance between the duo and him. "Forgive the questioning, but I am only seeking to attempt to understand. You, June, say that you did nothing? Just woke up this way with no explanation? Are you sure that nothing prompted this?" The sorcerer does not mean to be blunt. It is just merely an effort to get all the details. "In my experience, nothing just happens for no reason. There is usually some outlying reason. You might not have done anything, nor Tigra herself, but someone did. Perhaps if you can tell me when, if not the why...."

Elektra Natchios has posed:
Elektra folds her arms together and rests her shoulder against a wall while June goes with her own choice of theatrics about this whole situation. Though all in all it isn't as bad as she might had anticipated. On a good way to not being turned into a newt! The assassin listens to the talk between them and then nods slowly.

"Not this morning.." She interjects, "It's been a few days ago already. But June forgot to come over and actually tell me about it. I am sure she must have a lot of stories about Avenger Mansion though..."

"All she told me was she was sleeping and then woke up in a stranger's body." She looking between them, "But go ahead, fill in the details." she tells June.

Story time! Or June story time in this case.

June Connor has posed:
    The comment that June is certainly not an Avenger causes a narrowing of the eyes, and June starts to make an F posture with her lower lip in retaliation, but then thinks better of it. Should probably not cuss the Sorceror Supreme. Very hard for her.

    "Yeah, I mean, I guess someone probably did it," she says. "There was this crazy dream, right? Like, a dream I got pulled into from another dream?" She looks quizzically at Elektra. "That doesn't make sense, does it?" she says, and looks back to Strange. "Anyway, something...a lady that could fly, a bunch o'superheroes." She tries to remember more. "I dunno, it was batshit like most dreams. I remember a bunch of weird green men? Some kinda whirlpool or somethin'..."

    She suddenly points at Elektra, then at Stephen. "Oh yeah, I do have stories. How come Avenger's got like million dollar pools and crazy shit like that?"

Stephen Strange has posed:
Foul language in front of Stephen! Perish the thought! Though, honestly, the good Doctor probably doesn't care one way or another. It is just the observation he had. Tigra isn't petulant. That was the point.

Oh...June does have some information. "A dream. Where you were pulled in from another dream. That sounds like a shared experience." The head tilts in contemplation. "Did you see Tigra in this dream within a dream? Perhaps you recognize some other heroes? If this happened to you, it is perfectly feasible that it happened to others as well. Though, please do not feel like you have to remember. Dreams and the Astral Realm in particular is a rather nebulous concept. I would be more surprised if you have perfect recall of all events within this dream."

Then....the question of pools. Yes, off-topic, but Stephen offers an answer, nonetheless. "You do realize that Tony Stark is an Avenger, yes? Billionaire. And there are others that are just as financially blessed." Yeah, get people with money on a team and things happen. Says the person with a three story mansion in the middle of Greenwich Village.

Elektra Natchios has posed:
"Mmmm..." Elektra eloquently shares at what June explains, eyeing her pupil for a few further moments in silence. "You hadn't told me about these dreams. You may have become involved in someone else's battle." she suggests, mouth jerking to the side in thought.

For some reason Elektra takes it rather seriously. She knows how deadly dreams can be.

And of coursethat she pipes in about pools. "You never complained about the infinity pool at the penthouse.." now she is amused.

June Connor has posed:
    "Yeah but you never pretended to be all altruistic, helpin' the down and out and what," June points out to Elektra. She nods, as if the pool had proved her point somehow, whatever that point may actually be, probably isn't the purpose of the visit. "I don't remember for sure," June says. I guess probably? The Hulk was there, he kinda stands out. Other than that, I'm not sure, lots of people? Why the hell I wound up there is beyond me. Big question is, do I stay this way? Like, forever?" she asks, it doesn't sound like she necessarily wants 'no' for an answer.

Stephen Strange has posed:
"So, it is possible that this is not just an isolated incident for you, but, rather, others experienced the same sort of body swap. It seems as though it was a consciousness transference. Your astral selves may have been pulled to this one dream, then when it was dispersed, the consciousness was mis-directed." It all sounds like it is completely plausible, the way that Strange is phrasing it. Like it happens all the time.

Which, of course, it does not.

Is it permanent? Strange's answer may not please June. "No. It is not a good idea to cross consciousnesses like this. It could be permanent, should one really strive to try. However, in my experience, this is repairable. Though, it won't be easy."

Will Strange elaborate? A little, though it is still not very clear. "The best solution is to determine the exact cause how. And the extent. That is going to take some time, since, as you said, it was just not you and Tigra involved, but others as well. This can be corrected, but not immediately."

Elektra Natchios has posed:
They are finally getting somewhere so Elektra dislodges herself from the wall she had perched against, "Hulk. Tigra." she considers a moment, "All Avengers." she looks Stephen over, "Like you, are you not? Yet if you weren't aware of this.." she ponders a couple of seconds more, ".. who else would have the power to do such a thing in your group?"

"Or it could be an enemy but it doesn't seem as if anyone's been alerted to this. Didn't you just stroll around the Avengers mansion and not get caught?" this to June, then letting out a sigh.

"I can't just go over to the Tower and ask unfortunately." You know, international assassin. Probably a few outstanding warrants for her. Details.

June Connor has posed:
    "Of course not," June sighs. "You're gonna tell me to go talk to the rest of the Avengers, I can just feel it," she says, strain in her voice, she pivots in a circle inspecifically. "Oh shit, and I slapped Steve Rogers on the ass," she winces. She didn't expect to have to answer for that one. That's kind of like having multiple warrants out for her. "I guess I can go...ask them if that's happened to anyone else? This isn't as fun as I thought it'd be."

Stephen Strange has posed:
"Well..."

Stephen offers a somewhat sympathetic look to June. "Contrary to what your mentor said, I am not an Avenger. Though, I do know of some on an individual basis." A glance over to Elektra is given, then back to June. "I could certainly go with you, if you truly felt uncomfortable with the aspect. Maybe it will provide some weight to the situation. It would, also, allow me the opportunity to see what may have happened. Still, it is your call. I can look into what I can here, without alerting the Avengers."

A shrug is given. "But....it *would* be of benefit to ask around. It is up to you."