InsaneJournal

Who: Tandy Bowen + Stephen Strange
Where: Battery Park ferry dock, ending at Avengers Tower
When: This morning
What: Tandy’s Arrival
Status: Completed Gdoc
Warnings: Mild language

Letting out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding as the sun began to set over Los Angeles, Tandy shook her head and turned towards the motel she and Ty were crashing at. She was glad they’d decided to find somewhere to bunk for the night, since neither of them wanted to be too far away until they heard from Karolina and the others. It seemed like the danger they’d been helping with was stopped for now, but that didn’t mean she’d rest easy anytime soon. Detouring slightly, Tandy made a beeline for the office so she could duck inside and snag a couple of take-out menus, and once she was outside again she started to look them over, musing over the suggestions. Pulling out her key for the room, Tandy stopped outside the door and puzzled over the selections for a minute, before shaking her head and unlocking the room to head inside. “Okay, I know we’re just outside LA, but do they really have to put avocado on everything here? Do you think there’s anyone who makes a decent muffaletta?” The teen shook her head as she pushed the door shut and dropped the menus on one of the beds, and only then realized that Tyrone wasn’t in the room - but she could hear the shower running. With a roll of her eyes, she walked over to the bathroom and rapped on the door. “Ty? I’m gonna head out and get us some food. Back in a while. Text me if you get a chance to look at the menus and something on there just screams your name, okay?” She heard a muffled ‘yeah’ and grabbed her phone, room key, and jacket, then headed back out to the parking lot, fully intending on just walking until she found somewhere with decent food. After about a block, she turned a corner and found herself...definitely not on the main road she’d been heading for. “What the hell?” She took a step back and looked behind her - and found herself immediately glad she did since she was standing on a dock, and across the water was...the Statue of Liberty? “Ty?” Tandy called out in confusion as she turned around again, but the dock was empty and instead of nighttime, it seemed to be really early in the morning, with her friend nowhere in sight. Another day, another new arrival. This universe was keeping everyone very busy. Not that Doctor Strange minded. It beat sitting around and meditating for hours. The spell net letting him know where to go, he donned his cape and opened a portal, stepping out on the docks and seeing a young blonde woman nearby. Her aura flashed white suddenly, which was odd, and he had to squint against it before his eyes adjusted and it faded down to a light glow. "Hello," he called out, stopping a safe distance away. He didn't recognize this girl, and she didn't look close enough visually to be related to anyone in the Avengers or another team. "I'm Doctor Stephen Strange, Master of the Mystic Arts." He looked over at the statue in the harbor, and then back at her. "And I'm guessing you're from somewhere far away, before you unexpectedly found yourself here," he finished saying, feeling that was a safe assumption to make. Spinning quickly when she heard a voice, Tandy lifted one hand, but reined her power in rather than manifesting a dagger, or even a glimpse of light, when the man didn't attack. The teenager frowned uncertainly as she studied him before replying, "Mystic Arts? You're joking, right? Are you cosplaying or something?" Or did he actually have some sort of magical powers like Nico? What was doubly weird was the fact that he looked vaguely familiar, like she'd seen him on the news once. As he went on, Tandy lowered her hand slowly. "Yeah….about three thousand miles away, in LA. How did you know? Did you do this?" Considering there wasn't anyone else around, it was something of a safe assumption of her own, or so she thought. Stephen drew in a breath, looking at the statue. Seeing that after being three thousand miles away had to be jarring. "No," Stephen said with a smile, almost laughing a little. "It's not cosplay. I'm part of a mystical sect tasked with protecting this world. I also work closely with the Avengers." He really hoped that he didn't hear 'is it a cult?' since he heard enough of that from Christine. As to the other questions she had, that's where things grew complicated. He had to think of a way of saying 'it was another me that inadvertently caused this' which therefore made it a 'yes but no' scenario. "There was a dimensional incursion and an entity wanted to eat this planet and its inhabitants. I stopped time in order to fight him when the dimensions were joined, and it caused...this." He looked around as though at a loss. Not of the emotional variety, but more of a 'should have listened to Mordo's advice' sort. "That was in another universe, though," he pointed out. "You've actually diverged into this one. When you return, you'll be returned to the point in time that you left. But I can't send you back there, myself. What happened was...a freak accident. It's impossible to predict." Which he was still paying for. Hence, being the welcome wagon. “Mystical sect, huh?” Tandy shook her head a bit, taking the words at face value, even if she was still pretty skeptical at the same time. “New Orleans could’ve used that a couple times.” Then her eyes snapped to his when he mentioned the Avengers, eyebrows lifting slightly. “Seriously? You know the Avengers?” Crossing her arms over herself, her gaze shifted back to the skyline, and even she had to admit that this seemed too real for all of what he was saying to be total bullshit. “Dimensional incursion?” Okay, now she knew she really wished Tyrone was here, because he’d probably understand this way better than she would. “...Wait, let me get this straight. Something wanted to actually eat the planet, and you stopped it by breaking reality?” The teenager paused for a moment as she tilted her head, thinking it over - and then finally gave a slow nod. “Okay, that kinda tracks with alien invasions, robot armies, and floating cities.” Letting out a slow breath, Tandy looked at him again. “So you seriously have no idea how I can get back to my friend? Or when I’ll go back?” What the hell was she supposed to do if that was true? "And how do you know I'd go back to the same point?" "I do know the Avengers, and yes, that was Dormammu. Destroyer of worlds, a primordial being from the Dark Dimension, welding unimaginable supernatural power. He conquers entire dimensions to incorporate them into his own. The consumption of which sustains him," Dr. Strange explained, if that's what it could be called. "Also, if you didn't return," he continued, trying to put this in easy to understand terms, "it might cause a potential multi-dimensional instability across several Earths and yourselves. I know, because I met myself from a different point in time, from after my arrival here. Meaning, at some point, I will go back to where I originated from. Our time here is only a...pitstop, more or less. For some, we can only hope it's afforded them a lifetime here that they wouldn't have, over there." Tony and Natasha in particular, who would essentially be wiped out of existence if they left. Tandy's brow furrowed in confusion as she studied him. "Dark Dimension, huh? I've been somewhere that could probably be called that, but there wasn't a primordial evil." Just the loa, and a man who wanted to be one, but now was probably not the best time to go into that. She blinked a couple of times as he went on, trying to fully grasp what he was saying, before finally just shaking her head a bit. "Okay, so...what do I do now? Find some way to get home, right?" Tandy wasn't sure what else there was for her to do in this weird alternate New York, unless he needed her for something. Pulling her phone out of her pocket, Tandy frowned at the screen. "Wait, why does this have the wrong date?" Looking back up at Strange, the teen was trying very hard not to panic now. "I think you need to explain this a little more, doc." "Because time doesn't move the same in every single Earth throughout the multiverse," he explained. "There's some versions of ourselves that are still stuck in the caveman era. There's also no way to return from our original point of origin, until the universe sends you back." That much they did know. Because it happened at random, and not by choice. "In the meantime," Stephen offered, "there's a place for you in the new Avenger's Tower. Here, in Manhattan. It's where all of the new arrivals are staying. Stark's put apartments in the Tower. If you want, I can take you there, and give you the means to access the Avengers Network." Lowering her gaze back to the phone, without responding, Tandy sent a quick text to Ty, then waited for a response. When it didn't come right away, the teen looked up again, still obviously wary, but there was an edge of belief in her gaze as well. His story was so unbelievable that it actually seemed as though it could be plausible, somehow. The offer was an unexpected one, and Tandy stared for a long moment. “...You’re saying I can stay in the Avengers’ place? For real?” As ‘cool’ as she often tried to be, she couldn’t deny the excitement she felt at the prospect. The Avengers had only been around for about five years, and Iron Man for not much longer than that, but like most kids, she’d wanted the “Heroes of New York” toys and had dreamed of being one of them someday. Sure, she’d gotten over that dream pretty quickly, but when it came down to it, she knew Ty would seriously kick her butt if she said no to a chance like this. And hey, if he turned out to be a liar or a bad guy? She could take care of herself. Slowly sliding her phone back into the pocket, Tandy met his gaze. “Okay, yeah. Sure, why not?” "Yes, you can. First, let me give you this." The welcome package appeared out of thin air and hovered close enough for her to take, as he turned to open a portal. The other side of it resembled a corridor in a modern apartment building. He stepped through to show her it was safe, and waited on the other side. "You'll be in room six, on the thirty-seventh floor," he explained. "Everything you need is in that package, including a phone and laptop. You can ask Friday, Tony's AI assistant, for help finding your way around. She's like Alexa, just ask. Take your time, make yourself comfortable...oh, and there's a brochure in there to explain some of the basics." Tandy blinked in startlement at the package that literally appeared right in front of her, and after a moment she reached out and took it curiously, before lifting her eyes to the man again. The teen waited until he’d stepped through before doing the same, still a bit confused by all of this but willing to go along...for now, at least. “Room six, phone and laptop, Friday. Got it,” she repeated, glancing down at the package when he mentioned a brochure. “Okay, I’ll...look that over. Thanks.” Realizing at the last minute that she hadn’t given her name yet, she looked back over at him. “I’m Tandy, by the way. Tandy Bowen,” she told him, before turning to the room he’d mentioned. She’d thought the day was weird, but things just got a whole lot stranger. Ha. Pun totally intended.