Queen and Mother (ladyfrigga) wrote in avengers_logs, @ 2018-06-12 23:53:00 |
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Entry tags: | -complete, frigga, stephen strange |
Who: Frigga and Dr. Strange
What: The arrival of the ultimate mom
When: backdated, 6/11
Rating/Warning: green
It was Monday night. Nothing usually happened on Monday nights, unless it was a full moon. Luckily, there wasn't a full moon until June 28th, and Stephen wasn't working consults for the emergency department anymore. Instead, he found that his life graduated from a hectic surgery schedule into mystical craziness.
A little quiet time was necessary, and so Stephen Strange was actually enjoying a quiet cup of tea after Wong departed, currently ensconced in a comfortable chair, reading one of the books brought from the library of Kamar-taj.
It was a strange sensation to be be brought back from the afterlife, even for a goddess. Any lesser being would probably have gone insane. It had simply given Frigga pause. When she realized she was on Midgard she had sighed. This was inconvenient. There had to be an answer here. She just needed to find it...which would be easy enough.
Turning slowly in place, Frigga, Queen of Asgard, opened her senses for the closest magic concentration, assuming that anyone with magic would know why she was brought here. It wasn’t hard to pick up on, and once she located it, Frigga flexed her own magic to take her there.
Reappearing before what she recognized as a Sanctum Frigga smiled before she gathered up her skirts to ascend the stairs. Once she reached the door she rapped lightly.
Stephen raised his head and looked to the left, and then to the right. He swore he heard someone knocking on his door, even though the Sanctum was magically warded against common passersby seeing it or being able to find the front door. Mostly it kept solicitors away, which was good. It also made it harder for Grubhub to find him, which was bad.
There wasn't the magical alert of someone known showing up, which he would have received. So when the rapping was heard again, Stephen stood up as his casual clothes shifted into the attire of a mystic, the cloak gliding over to rest itself over his shoulders with a friendly pit pat. That didn't make him feel any less apprehensive about opening the door.
The door opened after he was standing a good five feet away from it, both hands raised and ready to act in the event the visitor was unwelcome. What he was met with was a regal woman that exuded a magical power very similar to a certain God of Mischief he recently dealt with. Asgardian. Possibly a returnee. But who?
"...hello and welcome to the Sanctum," Stephen said, giving the woman a wary stare. "Let me guess. Wrong turn at Asgard?"
While she waited for the door to be answered Frigga let her magic feel the wards of the place. Very well done. Perhaps a little overdone, but in these times she could not blame the source. The power signature gave her an idea of the personality of the mystical source. There was a seriousness she could respect, but there was a touch of mirth that was not typical. Frigga approved. It meant the power source was proud of their accomplishments, but humble enough to laugh at themselves. She looked forward to meeting the one behind these magics.
Soon enough that became a reality. The door opened, a bit more dramatically than necessary, to reveal the sorcerer within. Theatrics. He reminded her of Loki. As did the flippant question.
“Greetings, sorcerer,” Frigga said with a polite smile. “My being in existence anywhere was not of my doing. So I come to you seeking answers.” She did not incline her head nor lower her eyes. “I am Frigga. Queen of Asgard.”
Obviously, this was where Asgardians were gravitating to. Stephen was watchful but lowered his hands back down to his sides. He did nod his head to hear out of courtesy for her royal status. This was a lady and should be treated as such...and it wouldn't do to get on Thor's bad side, being rude to his mother.
"Come in, your highness. I don't often get unexpected visitors. Especially those that have returned from the dead." He walked toward her, to hold the door the old fashioned way, with a hand "Your sons will be pleased to see you."
Her smile lifted as her welcome changed to one she was more accustomed to. Not that she was a snob in any way shape or form, but she was here for answers, not a fight. Frankly, she wasn’t certain her magics were on the same level as this sorcerer.
She entered as invited with a grateful incline of her head. It felt like stepping into a whole other world. Frigga hadn’t spent much time anywhere but Asgard, but she was certain that Midgard was not supposed to have pocket realms.
“My sons are here?” she asked as she turned to look at the young mystic. Thor and Loki? On Midgard?! And this city was still standing? Interesting. “I would very much like to see them. However, perhaps you could tell me why I am here.”
"You're here, because another me splintered their universe into two nearly precise copies, a few months ago," Stephen explained while closing the door. It locked itself as it was charmed to do, and Strange motioned over to where they could sit, if she wanted to. "This universe is unstable, time is fractured, and there is...a lot of overlapping of events, lately. We've been dealing with repercussions ever since."
As he walked by the Queen's side, he introduced himself, " I'm Doctor Strange. I'm part of a society of sorcerers here on Earth, tasked with protecting this world and reality. Time and space have been affected, so...there have been occasions where the dead are returning. I believe, having spoke with Odin before his passing...my condolences...that would include you."
As to why she was here, he had a theory. But it was only that. A theory.
Frigga couldn’t help but glance around while the sorcerer spoke. She was listening, but there were things here that almost demanded to be noticed. Only another versed in magic would feel the compulsion. So many powerful items. Frigga wondered if he knew what all he had.
She took the invitation to sit down then gave this Doctor Strange a dire look. “Time and space should not be lightly manipulated. You do not seem the type to machinate such a splintering for little reason.” Mention of her beloved husband brought a small, sad smile to her face. She wished he had come with her.
“You have an idea of why I was brought back to the physical realms.”
The Sanctum did a few relics that weren't yet identified, possibly from other worlds entirely. They were named for cataloguing purposes and their power could be felt to those sensitive to them, but they were relative unknowns. One of which, Frigga's youngest son had 'borrowed' a month ago.
"It wasn't done lightly. It was done to save this world from a dark entity that was called forth to consume it," he explained as he sat down across from her, conjuring up a cup of tea for the both of them. "I was able to do that, but this alternate universe is the consequence."
Stephen noted the sad expression on Frigga's face and there was no doubt it was because her husband was gone. The language of loss was one thing that transcended worlds or entirely different sentient species.
"I have a theory, that those brought here are somehow helping to further stabilize this reality. Or can help the people who are somehow able to do that. Thor's fine. But there has been an issue with your youngest son, Loki." Stephen paused before closing his eyes to try and muster up one of his last remaining shreds of patience. "Rather, there have been several ongoing issues with Loki."
She could probably help him identify a few of his items, but one didn’t volunteer information to another mystic unasked for. Instead, she just took mental note of what was here that she could see.
“An issue?” she asked calmly. Inwardly she sighed. Loki. Her wayward son. Still struggling, apparently. “Tell me.” She would need information before she saw him so she could possibly diffuse any animosity, hopefully on both sides.
Most of the relics were upstairs in the display cases or kept under lock and key, whether behind a door or in a chest for safe keeping. Stephen already got the sense that Frigga held vast amounts of magical power, overshadowed only by the overwhelming amount of power that Odin once possessed.
"Where should I start?" Stephen mused aloud, reaching over to pick up his cup of tea. "Here's what I know, after talking to your husband and eldest son. He usurped the throne of Asgard disguised as Odin, after casting a spell that left the actual Odin as a blithering old man in a rest home. Thor eventually found out, bringing Loki here to retrieve their father. This was after I spoke to Odin, who freed himself from the spell and left to go die in Norway. Then your daughter showed up, apparently overpowered both of your sons somehow and took over Asgard. This resulted in both of your sons and the last of the Valkyries unleashing Ragnarok. What was left of the Asgardians are now refugees.
"I say what's left, because we currently don't know how many are left. In the main timeline, Thanos killed Loki for an Infinity Stone taken from the vault before Asgard's destruction. Along with half of the Asgardians on that ship. Thor has had difficulty contacting Heimdal. That's not boding well for the refugees here, either. Luckily, both sons were transported here before that anything actually happened. Loki decided to take the Infinity Stone in his possession and hide it, without telling anyone except his girlfriend. That's after putting a spell on her so she could only talk about kittens if she said anything. He removed the spell, but convinced her not to talk anyway. When he dreamed that his counterpart died, he took off to get the stone back without telling anyone. Not even Thor. He was almost caught by the enemy, messed up and drained of magic using paths along Yggdrasil to evade them. Only to be rescued from Helheim by Thor, Sif, and myself."
Stephen took a deep breath and a long sip of tea, because that was a lot of disclosure. And he still wasn't done with the summary, or his own part in it. There was one last thing.
"I've warded and bound the stone to Loki, but Thor is the key to removing it from Loki's dimensional pocket," he finished saying. "A key to the lock. I hoped Loki might be compelled to help, instead of being a hindrance. Then I sent him home with his fellow Asgardians, to recover. That was over a week ago. He's probably better by now."
Oh, Loki. Frigga now understood why she’d been brought here. Her son. No one understood him like she did. Not that she was blind to what he did, but she was quite possibly the only one who could temper him, council him and keep him focused on the proper path.
She had done this for years. Frigga had been the peacekeeper between brothers since they were little boys. But Thor hadn’t needed her as much as Loki had. When he felt left out, Frigga gave him something just for himself. When he despaired of ever being as good a warrior as his father or brother, Frigga taught him another way. She gave him magic in hopes that he would have something all his own. He used it in other ways, alas.
All of this was known to her about her son. The information about Hela wasn’t anything she could or would comment on. Instead, when she spoke, a proud mother’s smile was on her face. “Loki has a girlfriend?”
"Uhhh, yeah, probably. Better ask your son," was Strange's somewhat incredulous reply. At least it looked like everything else had sunk in, given the subtle changes in Frigga's expression. He didn't think he needed to harp or nag any further, when he had little doubt that someones mom was capable of doing that far more effectively than he ever could. "She's....from this planet."
He left out that Darcy Lewis was opinionated, blunt, and stubborn. And also a little too proud about tasing Thor and Loki.
"I can take you there," he offered after putting his tea aside, opening a portal with one hand and reaching through to take out one of the welcome packages. He held it out to her. "I anticipate they will give you a room befitting you. These items will help you communicate with everyone else who has been made aware they are here to help this timeline."
Frigga knew she may have frustrated the sorcerer with her answer, but these were her sons. How she would treat with them was no one’s business. When she dealt with them individually she didn’t let the other know what she’d said. As for Loki’s girlfriend being Midgardian, it made no difference to Frigga. She had accepted Jane Foster, after all.
She finished her tea then set down the cup with a smile. The odd package was accepted after she stood up. She wasn’t certain what he meant, but she was sure her sons would happily explain.
“Thank you,” she said with a nod. “However, you needn’t take more time out of your day. I can find my sons myself, now that I know they are here.”
"I don't mind," insisted Stephen. He stood up as well, raising one hand and making a swift circular motion to open a portal. Through the fiery circle were the front doors of what looked to be a large warehouse.
"There you are. Don't hesitate to contact me at any time, your highness." He managed a smile. "It's been an honor. Perhaps some other time, we can speak about our different schools of magic."
It was a fascinating to witness the formation of the portal. It was a technique she didn’t recognize. That made her curious and she turned an almost sly smile to Doctor Strange. “I would very much enjoy meeting with you again, and thank you for your assistance.” She started toward the portal but paused at the threshold. “Know this. I will speak with my son.” Frigga looked up at the sorcerer with a stern look in her eyes. There was still kindness all about her, but the slight edge in her voice said she would stand between her son and anyone else.
When she was certain he understood Frigga smiled again then walked through the portal without another word.