Owner	Pose
Jonathan Sims	It's a sunny afternoon in New York, chilly, enough to make Jonathan Sims bundle up in a heavy coat and grouse to himself about the weather. It was colder in Westchester, though, and he had to /train/ in that, so he keeps the grousing internal as he makes his way to a particular address along Bleecker Street. He has a list of people to talk to, and even if other things are taking higher priority, the fact is that really the problem he's facing is /far/ too big to handle alone. He has his little piece of it, and that will pan out when it pans out, but maybe it would be best if someone who knows more about all of this knew what was going on.     And /supposedly/ someone who knows a /lot/ more about these things than him lives at this address. That, or every memory he wound up having shoved into his head is wrong, and that hasn't happened yet.     Does he need to knock? Do people who live in mystic houses ever actually have people knock at their front doors, or do they just somehow /know/ company's coming? What if there are wards, waiting to blast down an unwary Archivist?     No, that's silly.     He raises his hand to the door anyway, just in case the action triggers... something. And to follow through and knock, if need be.
Stephen Strange	Just before the knuckles meet the door, the door opens. Apparently, mystic houses just know company is coming. Of course, there was the cursory scan that the house itself gave, for those who are sensitive to that sort of thing. The house...found no fault. And of course let the owner of the residence know. It has to be that, since Stephen is actually standing in the foyer, those grey eyes falling expectantly upon the front door. "If you are looking for the public library, it is three blocks north." A slight smile curls the corners of his lips. "However, if you are looking for a mystical type, then you have found the right place. And the wards felt it prudent to not stop you." A hand beckons Jon in. "No, I didn't peer inside. The Sanctum just knows." That hand reaches out in greeting. "Doctor Stephen Strange, at your service...."
Jonathan Sims	Jon blinks at the man for a moment, eyebrows raising and then going back to their normal level. He takes the hand, shakes it, and nods. "Doctor Jonathan Sims. The Archivist." A title that may or may not be known; regardless, he doesn't seem all that fazed by a house that just... /knows/ things. His accent isn't New York or even American; it's South of England, precise and crisp.     He steps inside, nodding politely. "Thank you," he says. "I am indeed looking for... well, you, actually, Dr. Strange. I am, unfortunately, probably the bearer of bad news." He makes a bit of a face, but he's looking around with interest, dark eyes ever curious.
Stephen Strange	There is a raise of the eyebrow at the mention of the title. "The Archivist, is it? Rather new to the position, I would wager?" Oh, yes...it seems that Strange is at least familiar with the title. "You are not here to draw a statement from me, are you?" Oh...and he is familiar with the duties. That....is interesting. "Though that might be rather intriguing, to say the least." A pause. "Looking for me. Now that would possibly lead me to believe that you are looking for a statement." The head tilts, those grey eyes not leaving Jon. "But...you are bearing news. So that tells me that you are not looking for a statement...but something of a more tangible nature. Perhaps...assistance?" It isn't that far-fetched of a guess. Most people are deterred by the subtle wards on the building...and the fact Jon made it through means that yes, Strange might just be needed. "Well then..." The sorcerer is surmising that this might be more than just a simple housecall. "I should ask what it is that needs my attention this time. Is it something to do with dreams, perchance? Or are there other aspects that threaten to take over our realm as we know it? Perhaps a dimensional incursion? Those seem to be quite popular as of late." Oh...Stephen sounds rather nonchalant...but those eyes never leave Jon, even as the Archivist takes in the surroundings of the Sanctum.
Jonathan Sims	Jon shakes his head. He doesn't seem surprised in the least that Strange would know the title. "No, though I wouldn't be adverse. It's part of the duties, after all." There's a wry twist to his words. "Got quite a doozy from the remaining ravens at the Tower of London the other day, though, so don't fret if you're not willing."     He sighs. "No, no, this pertains to statements given to me, and my grandmother, by... well. First off: John Constantine has been impersonated by a demon for a few months now. He's returned, the real one, and we're tracking down the demon. But I believe you had interaction with him at least back in August, so it behooves me to make you aware. The demon gave us both information about what it was doing at the time, but I'll admit I'm still unclear on what was happening. Something was broken in the Underworld, and the gods of death were fighting. Yes?"
Stephen Strange	Oh....that. Strange does not need to answer for Jon to realize that he knows exactly what the Archivist is speaking of. "Yes, I know. Though, it was not necessarily in the Underworld. A quintet of death gods decided to consolidate their power and anchor their combined kingdoms to the mortal realm, thereby causing death itself to seize to be. The gods warred amongst themselves in an effort to solidify their positions and, in the process, summoned the wrath of the Demogorge." So matter of fact, the information given. Stephen continues. "Others try to take advantage of the chaos. Malekith himself attempted a rather nasty incursion that caused John to attempt to solve the situation by jumping into the Black Bifrost. A rather hasty decision and one that I do not recommend. I, naturally, had followed him to attempt to save him...and I do believe that in that moment, the Black Bifrost unceremoniously dumped us into the Underworld, though in opposite ends of it." A shrug is given. "I eventually made my way out, after determining what exactly was in store for our reality. John was spirited out of the Underworld as well, though I did not see him again until the incident with the Demogorge. That...was a situation that was quite involved...but eventually resulted in the Death Council being struck asunder." With the explanations given....Strange takes a moment to regard Jon. "Does that shed any illumination upon the subject?"
Jonathan Sims	Jon frowns thoughtfully. "Some, yes," he says, slowly. "It was Malekith that caused that incursion in the Botanical Garden? I have a patient who... may or may not need to hear those details." He fiddles with the bracelt on his left wrist absently, eyes slightly distant, going over information. "The Black Bifrost, but I doubt that's the only way down, and with things mostly fixed..." /Mostly/?     His gaze snaps back to Strange, and he says quite seriously, "I believe that while the worst may be over, the problem is not yet fully... fixed. There are rumblings here and there, but not least is that the gods I serve have rather insistently pointed me to the memory of the demon's time in the Underworld. The Bayt al-Hikmah--there is information there I need to retrieve. I don't know what, and I don't know how to get there, but I know I need to go, at some point." He gives Strange an apologetic smile. "And I've been... going about finding people who were involved and letting them know the trouble isn't yet over. You were at the /top/ of that list. Whatever's going on, I presume it's your duty to see that the job gets finished for good."
Stephen Strange	"Oh, no. The Black Bifrost is not the only way down. It just so happens to be the way that I went, unvoluntarily, of course. There are much easier ways. Some more costly than others." Clever. Playing on Strange's sensibilities to get the job done. There is a nod...because yes, of course Stephen wants to restore things back to how they were. "Well, nice to see I was at the top." A joke...but only partly. A soft laugh accentuates the attempt. "Of course, of course. I will certainly assist." No answer in regards to his duty...but yes, he *is* the Sorcerer Supreme for a reason. "I can assist in getting you there, if needed. Possibly even more. I do have promises to keep to certain deities that will prompt me to return there soon enough, so perhaps we can combine our efforts." Does that mean that Strange is going to help? Yes....yes it does.
Jonathan Sims	Not 'clever' so much as knowing the type. Jon himself is the type, in his own way. Help the people, do the job, run down to the Underworld and pray you ever come back, let alone in time for tea. He huffs out a long breath. "Well, that's... reassuring, actually." He blinks, as if surprised. It is? It is. Funny, that.     Then he smiles. "Well. I'll be happy to combine efforts, when it comes to that. This is a bit of a long-term project, I think. There's no immediate threat that I know of, whereas the entire Commonwealth hangs on the breath of six ravens, and I doubt America would do well if Canada fell into the sea." He says it entirely seriously. "In all honesty, I wanted to be sure I talked to you about this so I can be sure someone more capable than I knows that it's going on, so I can give my focus to, well, ensuring the Empire doesn't fall."     A pause, then, "Did you ever have that moment, where you realized that, yes, /you're/ the metaphorical cavalry? That there's nobody else to call, because /you're/ one of the people that gets callled in case of emergency?" He shakes his head. "I'm not used to that, I have to say."
Stephen Strange	The cavalry comment. Now that produces a rather sincere smile. Oh, does Stephen know the feeling. "It takes a bit to get used to it. I am, but only because I was trained for it." And no, he is not talking about the sorcerer part. Now....the whole raven thing. That draws Strange's attention. "Well, long-term or not, it is a project that still needs attention. It would seem that it is high time for me to visit the London sanctum. Perhaps I can assist with the raven situation....as well as provide transportation to the underworld. " "We will resolve this, certainly. Feel free to ask whenever. If I can spare my time, it will be given freely."
Jonathan Sims	Jon nods. "I'm certain we'd appreciate the help. SHIELD is working on the problem, with consult. And I think the Chief said you do work from time to time." He doesn't /quite/ know about the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen yet.     "But! Ahh, yes. That's probably the best way to get hold of me, if you need to. Aside from mystical means. I'm... new to all of this, so I honestly don't eve know what those might be." He smiles. "I think that's about all I needed, though. We'll get things sorted, indeed. Thank you for your time."