[The words splay against the pages of a book, and he lifts his eyes to redirect them in a more legible place โ across the walls of his assigned room in the castle.
He isnโt sure if he should be surprised or not, but this is a step in the right direction.]
He isnโt sure if he should be surprised or not, but this is a step in the right direction.]
Hi.
And yes, what I said before still stands. Iโm willing to collaborate with regards to research revolving around the Singularity if you plan on digging around in that direction too.
[when the caravans arrive from their travels to drop off supplies from not-so-far-off lands, certain parcels get pulled away and taken directly to the council for analysis. they are easily cleared, and distributed appropriately to its recipient.
stephen will receive a bottle which contains skin lotionโfor his hands, to be exact, as shown on the label printed in scarlet across the bottle.
there will be no sender, and no letter explaining the parcel's content.]
stephen will receive a bottle which contains skin lotionโfor his hands, to be exact, as shown on the label printed in scarlet across the bottle.
there will be no sender, and no letter explaining the parcel's content.]
At an ungodly hour on the morning of June 18th, the watch given to Stephen by Ambrose will sound off. Not just any sound, but a shrill siren that only grows louder when the clasp flies open of it's own accord. Swirls of magic pulsate on small dots, each aligned with the seven points across the Kingdom of Thorne that Stephen and his companions placed the thaumametors. If he pushes the mechanism on the side, the sound will immediately stop. It would seem the watch's alarm mechanism might need some tweaking, if Stephen values his sleep (and hearing) in the future...
Additionally, the device appears to function as intended, but the timing needs some work. Perhaps this could be Stephen's next task when he has a spare moment to revisit some of the nearby thaumamters around Castle Thorne.
Additionally, the device appears to function as intended, but the timing needs some work. Perhaps this could be Stephen's next task when he has a spare moment to revisit some of the nearby thaumamters around Castle Thorne.
[ driven by recent first hand experiences, peter valiantly resisted the knee-jerk urge of dropping into the horizons of the people he wants to make sure are okay and does the thing he should have done from the very start and texts.
or what passes as this world's equivalent. he's learning!
he's one nearly sleepless night in, expressly refusing to focus on the things he's already seen and trying to pretend he isn't starting to get jumpy at shadows. but he knows it isn't just him, knows it's starkly different from whatever usual nightmares have come and gone in his time here and that means it has to have something to do with the Singularity. again. it must, right?
it must because how else would he feel so watched on every turn. in horizon, and dream both? whatever it is, it raises concern. especially for those of them who are far more magically-inclined and removed from the single roof of mag's inn that the rest of them share.
stephen will see the message come into view fast, not unlike the flow of words that tumble from peter at any given point. ]
or what passes as this world's equivalent. he's learning!
he's one nearly sleepless night in, expressly refusing to focus on the things he's already seen and trying to pretend he isn't starting to get jumpy at shadows. but he knows it isn't just him, knows it's starkly different from whatever usual nightmares have come and gone in his time here and that means it has to have something to do with the Singularity. again. it must, right?
it must because how else would he feel so watched on every turn. in horizon, and dream both? whatever it is, it raises concern. especially for those of them who are far more magically-inclined and removed from the single roof of mag's inn that the rest of them share.
stephen will see the message come into view fast, not unlike the flow of words that tumble from peter at any given point. ]
hey stephen? how are you?[ is that too direct, or not enough information? what if thorne is completely fine? what if he's bothering him? is there an undo button to these sent messages? it's too late, isn't it. ]
there's some weird stuff happening here (again). like - in your dreams. and the horizon. you noticed too, right?
so i just wanted to check in and make sure you were ok!
[The words come tumbling into his vision, which is vaguely inconvenient, given that he is currently trying to apply it to the scrawl of a magical tome, opened on his desk. Stephen frowns, blinking.
But he's not about to ignore a message from Peter, especially at a time like this. At least they're not running into each other in the Horizon, again, finding themselves in worrisome circumstances that could have been avoided with a nice little mind-text.
Look at them, they're learning!]
But he's not about to ignore a message from Peter, especially at a time like this. At least they're not running into each other in the Horizon, again, finding themselves in worrisome circumstances that could have been avoided with a nice little mind-text.
Look at them, they're learning!]
I'm doing all right, all things considered. A lot of nightmares lately, something creeping around in them. Guess Thorne's not the only place that's been affected. We've been trying to throw together some research for a spell to stop whatever's causing all of this.
What about you? Do you need anything?
> Hey, so
> on a scale of open-heart surgery to botox
> how up-to-date is your medical license?
> on a scale of open-heart surgery to botox
> how up-to-date is your medical license?
Edited 2022-08-16 07:52 (UTC)
I was a neurosurgeon. I wasn't licensed for either.
[But belatedly, Stephen realizes only after he's sent the brain-text that Tony, of all people, may only be reaching out for reasons important enough to overlook their less-than-amiable dynamic.
And so, trying again-]
Why are you asking?
[ After getting Stephen to agree to meet, Julie double checks that everything immediately surrounding her in Cadens is settled. She's alone in her flat; she'd managed to convince her entire group to stay put overnight, out of fear they'd be arrested, but every one of them had basically run out the front door at first daylight, all to the hospital to check on Jaskier. She'd let them go, too tired to bother fighting them anymore.
So she's pretty much on her own in terms of actually following the network and checking on people in other factions. She's under no delusions that she'll be any help to Jaskier at the moment, so she just focuses elsewhere. Right now, that focus happens to be Stephen -- as far as she knows, he's the most knowledgeable person in Thorne (in a general sense), and he has fairly strong ties to Summoned in both Solvunn and Cadens. If the queen wants information, that's going to be the kind of brain she's after, and Julie has seen that fallout before.
That's why she crosses the Horizon now, a blur of pink and blue pastel until she reaches the big double doors of the Sanctum. Out of habit, she knocks as she enters, peeking around the edge of the opening door. ]
Stephen?
[ It feels more like walking into a museum than a living space, and that's always sort of evident in the way she walks over the floor, the way she always slows the closing of the door with her third hand until it's gentle. ]
So she's pretty much on her own in terms of actually following the network and checking on people in other factions. She's under no delusions that she'll be any help to Jaskier at the moment, so she just focuses elsewhere. Right now, that focus happens to be Stephen -- as far as she knows, he's the most knowledgeable person in Thorne (in a general sense), and he has fairly strong ties to Summoned in both Solvunn and Cadens. If the queen wants information, that's going to be the kind of brain she's after, and Julie has seen that fallout before.
That's why she crosses the Horizon now, a blur of pink and blue pastel until she reaches the big double doors of the Sanctum. Out of habit, she knocks as she enters, peeking around the edge of the opening door. ]
Stephen?
[ It feels more like walking into a museum than a living space, and that's always sort of evident in the way she walks over the floor, the way she always slows the closing of the door with her third hand until it's gentle. ]
[This was a planned meeting, and Stephen doesn't make her wait โ he's at his favorite spot, at the top of the stairwell, ascending to greet her in the foyer as the Sanctum doors close behind Julie at her behest. His cloak, as always, flutters behind him as he walks.]
Julie.
[His features look taut, shadowed with concern. Given all thatโs happened, itโs hard not to feel weighed with worry, especially for a Summoned of Thorne; where it feels like heโs ended up on the wrong side of this war, beneath the eye of a queen who has, for lack of a better term, an itchy trigger finger, ready to send fireballs raining down on innocents when her ire declares it.
But thatโs the reason why Julieโs here, isnโt it? To talk him out of remaining at the castle, to free him from any danger he might stumble into, accidentally or otherwise. Heโs already prepared to have this back-and-forth with her, ready to explain his reasoning, but he doesnโt want to come at this like itโs an argument. His expression, though tired, is lined with a tinge of apology.]
I know youโre worried.
Julie.
[His features look taut, shadowed with concern. Given all thatโs happened, itโs hard not to feel weighed with worry, especially for a Summoned of Thorne; where it feels like heโs ended up on the wrong side of this war, beneath the eye of a queen who has, for lack of a better term, an itchy trigger finger, ready to send fireballs raining down on innocents when her ire declares it.
But thatโs the reason why Julieโs here, isnโt it? To talk him out of remaining at the castle, to free him from any danger he might stumble into, accidentally or otherwise. Heโs already prepared to have this back-and-forth with her, ready to explain his reasoning, but he doesnโt want to come at this like itโs an argument. His expression, though tired, is lined with a tinge of apology.]
I know youโre worried.
[First thingโs first: he needs to fix the volume on his blasted watch.
When it had startled him awake in the dead of night, practically screeching on his nightstand, for a moment, Stephen thought the world itself might be ending. But recognition eventually filtered into those harried seconds, realizing the truth: a thaumametor had been set off, the Singularityโs magical fluctuations must be triggering it again, and this only ever means that it must be investigated.
When morning comes, heโs taken action, gotten permission to ride out with Thancred to the nearest location northwest of the castle. Stephen does not particularly look forward to yet another ride on a horse, remembering all too clearly the pain from the last extended trip, but at least this will be a much shorter outing. Maybe his bones have acclimated to the gait of the animal, at least a little.
Maybe.
Theyโre maybe an hour out from the castle when Stephen shuffles in his saddle. Nope, still sore, and already.]
Have I mentioned to you that I miss my portals?
When it had startled him awake in the dead of night, practically screeching on his nightstand, for a moment, Stephen thought the world itself might be ending. But recognition eventually filtered into those harried seconds, realizing the truth: a thaumametor had been set off, the Singularityโs magical fluctuations must be triggering it again, and this only ever means that it must be investigated.
When morning comes, heโs taken action, gotten permission to ride out with Thancred to the nearest location northwest of the castle. Stephen does not particularly look forward to yet another ride on a horse, remembering all too clearly the pain from the last extended trip, but at least this will be a much shorter outing. Maybe his bones have acclimated to the gait of the animal, at least a little.
Maybe.
Theyโre maybe an hour out from the castle when Stephen shuffles in his saddle. Nope, still sore, and already.]
Have I mentioned to you that I miss my portals?
[ Thancred finds himself in the perfect position when it comes to the thaumametors. He is a trusted friend of Stephen Strange, meaning that he is always informed when the watch goes off and alerts them to a fluctuation, but he doesn't have to be the one who's forced awake out of a deep sleep when the blasted device goes off.
Instead, he's informed the following morning, and while this development most likely means that something unpleasant is on the horizon, at least they have a chance to try and get ahead of it.
As soon as it's made clear that they'll be allowed to ride out to the nearest thaumametor, Thancred arranges horses for them, still intending to pull his weight where he can. He also insists that both of them eat a decent breakfast, aware that they'll have a long day of riding ahead of them.
He'd perhaps been wondering when Stephen's first complaint would come. An hour after they set out is possibly better than the last time. He can't quite recall now. ]
Yes, Stephen, at length. [ He smirks, shutting his eyes for a moment as he shakes his head to himself. ] If only they granted permission for us to venture out more often. We could make a habit of these rides, and you'd become accustomed to it.
Instead, he's informed the following morning, and while this development most likely means that something unpleasant is on the horizon, at least they have a chance to try and get ahead of it.
As soon as it's made clear that they'll be allowed to ride out to the nearest thaumametor, Thancred arranges horses for them, still intending to pull his weight where he can. He also insists that both of them eat a decent breakfast, aware that they'll have a long day of riding ahead of them.
He'd perhaps been wondering when Stephen's first complaint would come. An hour after they set out is possibly better than the last time. He can't quite recall now. ]
Yes, Stephen, at length. [ He smirks, shutting his eyes for a moment as he shakes his head to himself. ] If only they granted permission for us to venture out more often. We could make a habit of these rides, and you'd become accustomed to it.
Strange? It's Steve. I have a favor to ask.
[ A potential medical consultation has been on Steve's mind ever since Tony's "return," but there was no feasible way to make it happen. Now that Nocwich is opening its borders to all three factions on a monthly basis, he sees a golden opportunity.
Strong-arming Tony into this will be quite the task, but one he can manage. He has experience. Strange, on the other hand, is still largely an unknown to him. There's also a messy history there, he knows. Time to see if he can navigate it. ]
[ A potential medical consultation has been on Steve's mind ever since Tony's "return," but there was no feasible way to make it happen. Now that Nocwich is opening its borders to all three factions on a monthly basis, he sees a golden opportunity.
Strong-arming Tony into this will be quite the task, but one he can manage. He has experience. Strange, on the other hand, is still largely an unknown to him. There's also a messy history there, he knows. Time to see if he can navigate it. ]
[Oh, naive Stephen Strange, who thinks this will not be an awkward ask at all. He's eager to help, eager to be nosy and see what kind of problems everyone else needs fixing, as always. The expediency of the reply proves it.]
Sure. What do you need? Everything all right?
Hello Stephen, it's Istredd.
A conversation is happening on this psychic plane from Kyle, it was brought up that the banishing spell done against the nightmare creature might be helpful for other reasons, such as banishing gods. However no one knows if it was written down anywhere we would have access to.
However, I assumed that a skilled mage who was there might be able to remember it, so I thought of you first.
A conversation is happening on this psychic plane from Kyle, it was brought up that the banishing spell done against the nightmare creature might be helpful for other reasons, such as banishing gods. However no one knows if it was written down anywhere we would have access to.
However, I assumed that a skilled mage who was there might be able to remember it, so I thought of you first.
[Oh? Now there's a thought. Istredd doesn't have to wait terribly long for a reply; Stephen's message glistens into his vision with neat and legible handwriting.]
[A generally helpful trait. One that helped him get through med school and learn the basics of magic without spending too much time looking like a newbie. (One that burned knowledge of the Darkhold's pages into his mind, for good or ill.)]
Flattering. But it just so happens that I have a photographic memory.
[A generally helpful trait. One that helped him get through med school and learn the basics of magic without spending too much time looking like a newbie. (One that burned knowledge of the Darkhold's pages into his mind, for good or ill.)]
I can relate the process to you or anyone else interested. Though I should point out that it wasn't something that a single individual could cast. It required a group.
[Not the first, nor the last. Stephen is an expert at burning the candle at both ends, and he's indulging in the art tonight, too. The flicker of text across his vision is in a familiar hand, and he pauses in his work to reply.
Frowning.]
Frowning.]
I am. Hidden behind the usual pile of books. Everything all right?
[The first week, Wilhelm invents some excuse about not feeling very well. It's not a lie, exactly, but what keeps him in bed all day isn't any sickness.
Then for a while, he utilizes the chaos that's ripped open to continue to avoid his lessons. He's off in Nott, putting out the fires that he technically started. Stephen, he hopes, has bigger things to worry about than teaching some kid how not to accidentally commit arson.
Finally, he runs out of excuses.]
Hi, sorry to bother you.
Um.
I was thinking
I don't know if I want to keep studying magic.
Then for a while, he utilizes the chaos that's ripped open to continue to avoid his lessons. He's off in Nott, putting out the fires that he technically started. Stephen, he hopes, has bigger things to worry about than teaching some kid how not to accidentally commit arson.
Finally, he runs out of excuses.]
Hi, sorry to bother you.
Um.
I was thinking
I don't know if I want to keep studying magic.
[Things have been busy. Things are always busy for Stephen Strange; he finds himself spinning many plates at the castle and beyond. Big bulllet points on his schedule that often overshadow the lessons he doles out to those interested โ though he manages always to make time for that, too, somehow.
Heโs noticed that Wlhelmโs not been attending his, despite the whorl of chaos thatโs overshadowed everything. And thatโs fine, really; thereโs a lot going on, and a lot that can be excused. But heโs a mentor, too. In that way, he knows when such excuses have begun to stretch thin. Itโs only a matter of time, he thinks, before he receives a message that might act to absolve the young man of the responsibilities outright.
He canโt say heโs entirely surprised when he finally receives it.]
[But of course heโs going to ask.]
Heโs noticed that Wlhelmโs not been attending his, despite the whorl of chaos thatโs overshadowed everything. And thatโs fine, really; thereโs a lot going on, and a lot that can be excused. But heโs a mentor, too. In that way, he knows when such excuses have begun to stretch thin. Itโs only a matter of time, he thinks, before he receives a message that might act to absolve the young man of the responsibilities outright.
He canโt say heโs entirely surprised when he finally receives it.]
Why not? Itโs not like you havenโt been making progress.
[But of course heโs going to ask.]
[Shortly after this]
Stephen, I have sent out an invite to the Thorne Summoned to meet this weekend to discuss our situation here more bluntly since we cannot safely do it within the castle. I hope to share information so everyone understands the situation clearly and perhaps make more solid connections between one another. It would be beneficial for you to be there as one of the most influential Summoned in Thorne. If you would be amendable.
Stephen, I have sent out an invite to the Thorne Summoned to meet this weekend to discuss our situation here more bluntly since we cannot safely do it within the castle. I hope to share information so everyone understands the situation clearly and perhaps make more solid connections between one another. It would be beneficial for you to be there as one of the most influential Summoned in Thorne. If you would be amendable.
Not long after kidnapping is probably acknowledged
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
magicalarchaeologist
2023-02-19 11:49 pm (UTC)(link)
STEPHen
cฬดออฬออฬฟอฬฆฬฃaฬธฬฟฬฬอออฬงpฬธอฬฬฬฬฬฟฬ ฬญอtฬถออฬ ฬฬงอออฬฒอฬผฬขuฬดออฬฝอฬ อออฬฬฅฬณฬผrฬทฬอฬฬอออฬอฬฬฟออออออฬฬฬฎอeฬตอฬฬอฬฐdฬทฬออฬฬออฬฬฬฆฬอ
masked attack powerful mฬตฬฬกaฬทอฬขgฬทอฬงiฬตฬฬฐcฬถฬพฬง can't use
cฬดออฬออฬฟอฬฆฬฃaฬธฬฟฬฬอออฬงpฬธอฬฬฬฬฬฟฬ ฬญอtฬถออฬ ฬฬงอออฬฒอฬผฬขuฬดออฬฝอฬ อออฬฬฅฬณฬผrฬทฬอฬฬอออฬอฬฬฟออออออฬฬฬฎอeฬตอฬฬอฬฐdฬทฬออฬฬออฬฬฬฆฬอ
masked attack powerful mฬตฬฬกaฬทอฬขgฬทอฬงiฬตฬฬฐcฬถฬพฬง can't use
Edited (it was recommended to do hover text on the weird words!) 2023-02-20 01:37 (UTC)
Stephen, Yennefer—
Are both of you still in Thorne? Respond as soon as you can.
Are both of you still in Thorne? Respond as soon as you can.
Edited 2023-02-21 05:37 (UTC)
So. Hypothetically speaking. How likely are we to get permission to cooperate with the other Factionsโ Summoned if this problem continues to escalate?
[No delay in response.]
Hypothetically speaking, the Summoned are a resource for each faction, and one that none of them are probably keen to lose. It would take a big problem to get every leader on the same page given the current political climate, but...
I'm pretty sure this qualifies. They've got to know we're likely to do it with or without their permission, anyway. Makes more sense to help us than hinder us.
Stephen, it's Jayce. Viktor and I have been working on a tracking system. We Summoned volunteers who intentionally got themselves caught with trackers on them. Along with that and chasing down a few leads around the map, we've started to get a sense of possible locations. It's still early. I've been working on upgrading the search mechanical birds Free Cities use.
Anyway, all that to say, do you know of any location spells? Can we hand off a receiver of some kind in Nocwich if you or someone else could use in Thorne, it's the only place we don't have a direction from yet.
Anyway, all that to say, do you know of any location spells? Can we hand off a receiver of some kind in Nocwich if you or someone else could use in Thorne, it's the only place we don't have a direction from yet.
[You know, he won't even argue the ethics of sending Summoned away to be captured on purpose. It sounds like something he'd volunteer himself for, so he'd be aware of the hypocrisy; plus, he saw the rumblings on the mental network.
Besides, if it garnered results-]
Besides, if it garnered results-]
Yennefer and I have already worked together on a locator spell. We've just cast it, too. If it's a location you need, I can give you one: the signal we've attuned, when we focus it on honing in on a single individual, bounces back closest from Thorne's northeastern coasts.
Are you trying to triangulate a location?
[ ooc: set directly after this ]
๐ป๐๐๐๐, ๐ท๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐ก๐๐๐๐๐. ๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ถ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐น๐๐๐ ๐๐. ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐กโ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ข๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ โ๐ ๐ก๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐ค๐๐กโ โ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐. ๐ผ ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ค๐๐กโ โ๐๐, ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ข๐๐.
๐ป๐๐๐๐, ๐ท๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐ก๐๐๐๐๐. ๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ถ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐น๐๐๐ ๐๐. ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐กโ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ข๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ โ๐ ๐ก๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐ค๐๐กโ โ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐. ๐ผ ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ค๐๐กโ โ๐๐, ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ข๐๐.
[The words glisten in his vision, and Stephen looks up from his book, splayed across a desk in the library. His brow quirks once he reads the message -- not the first time Wanda's sent someone his way.]
[Since they've had some of their, ah, differences, but the rift is not as big as it once was. He thinks.]
Did she? I guess I should be flattered by her constant assurances doled out to people I've never met.
[Since they've had some of their, ah, differences, but the rift is not as big as it once was. He thinks.]
That is to say: Nice to meet you, Claire. I have been studying this world's healing magic since my arrival in Abraxas, yes. I'm assuming you're in need of my services?
[wanda has has enough time to thing over stephen's words. not so much what he said but what he didn't say. truth be told, it was a little shocking to hear him admit that he cares for her.
(part of her feels so undeserving.)
but she definitely struck a chord, took a step too far. she doesn't find him in the horizon, much as she tries. maybe it's more bad timing than anything else.
so, a few days after her slip on the lake comment, he'll get a message.]
(part of her feels so undeserving.)
but she definitely struck a chord, took a step too far. she doesn't find him in the horizon, much as she tries. maybe it's more bad timing than anything else.
so, a few days after her slip on the lake comment, he'll get a message.]
I'm sorry.
Edited 2023-04-13 23:57 (UTC)
[If days have passed between then and now, then Stephen is less gun shy about her bringing it up again; heโs had time to adjust that sting into just a section of his heart that simply needs to be prepared to be spoken about, now that the subject has been broached once by Wanda. A doctor prepping for surgery.
Preparation makes things easier. At least, he thinks so. Maybe sheโll skate over the whole thing, anyway, and it wonโt matter.
But when he sees the words, somehow, he still feels blessedly unprepared. He supposes he didnโt account for an apology, and it takes a moment to reply.]
Preparation makes things easier. At least, he thinks so. Maybe sheโll skate over the whole thing, anyway, and it wonโt matter.
But when he sees the words, somehow, he still feels blessedly unprepared. He supposes he didnโt account for an apology, and it takes a moment to reply.]
Itโs all right. Iโm fine now.
It wasnโt a topic I was prepared for. In a place where I was prepared to have it.
A moment of your time, Doctor, if you have one.
starting this a little early, also this is being sent at like 6am
princessvegas
2023-08-18 04:34 pm (UTC)(link)
[ She is floating through the air above a castle. She looks around, confused, with a field of vision that's so wide. There are tentacles all around, in the periphery of her eyes -- they are hers, she realizes, as they stretch and reach through the air. She tentatively swings one toward herself, grazes her face. Her nose is missing, and her mouth; she flinches and blinks her eyes.
No. Eye. One eye.
Julie doesn't know where she is. Her mind echoes with terror and bewilderment. Coursing indignation, anger. The sun is barely rising in the east, the sky still a dark navy, just light enough to see the towers and the town below herself. Almost no one walks the streets; a few stray cats go running as she passes.
Approaching the castle, she feels a distant sense of curiosity about it. She circles the towers, then pauses at a window, looking in. A bedroom. Four-poster bed. She peers at the person sleeping there. Stephen Strange.
Shooting upright in bed with a gasp, Julie grabs at her own chest, over her heart. She pants and looks around at her own room. There's an overwhelming sense of alarm, fear and anger, but nothing seems out of place or wrong.
By now, Julie is used to emotions that aren't her own, accustomed to riding the Singularity's moods always present in her head. She can feel how upset it is, how it seems to wail and shriek against her mind. Still half-foggy from sleep, she tries to put all the pieces together, a task that momentarily feels impossible.
Castle. Tentacles. Frantic feelings. Stephen.
Stephen?
It's too early to message him. It's still mostly dark outside. She breathes hard, blinking at the window. ]
Hey, sorry to bother you so early, but. Weird question. Have you looked outside?
No. Eye. One eye.
Julie doesn't know where she is. Her mind echoes with terror and bewilderment. Coursing indignation, anger. The sun is barely rising in the east, the sky still a dark navy, just light enough to see the towers and the town below herself. Almost no one walks the streets; a few stray cats go running as she passes.
Approaching the castle, she feels a distant sense of curiosity about it. She circles the towers, then pauses at a window, looking in. A bedroom. Four-poster bed. She peers at the person sleeping there. Stephen Strange.
Shooting upright in bed with a gasp, Julie grabs at her own chest, over her heart. She pants and looks around at her own room. There's an overwhelming sense of alarm, fear and anger, but nothing seems out of place or wrong.
By now, Julie is used to emotions that aren't her own, accustomed to riding the Singularity's moods always present in her head. She can feel how upset it is, how it seems to wail and shriek against her mind. Still half-foggy from sleep, she tries to put all the pieces together, a task that momentarily feels impossible.
Castle. Tentacles. Frantic feelings. Stephen.
Stephen?
It's too early to message him. It's still mostly dark outside. She breathes hard, blinking at the window. ]
Hey, sorry to bother you so early, but. Weird question. Have you looked outside?
[Uninterrupted sleep, these days, are a rarity โ there is always something to do that keeps the mind awake, a tiredness that wheedles into his thoughts and paradoxically makes it harder to rest. But occasionally, there is a night in which he might sleep without issue, where dreams come easily and are not, for once, terribly harrowed.
The waking world is sure to make up for that, it seems.
Stephen is utterly unaware of the thing that might be peering through his window, and by the time he awakens via a shimmering scrawl of words that appear in his vision, he isnโt completely sure what to think.]
[Hold on, let him try again. He sits up in his bed, sheets crumping down around his middle.]
[Confusion be damned, that never means anything good in this world. Or any world. Even as he โsendsโ it, heโs shuffling out of his bed to get back onto his feet. A little groggily, but mostly mentally present.]
The waking world is sure to make up for that, it seems.
Stephen is utterly unaware of the thing that might be peering through his window, and by the time he awakens via a shimmering scrawl of words that appear in his vision, he isnโt completely sure what to think.]
what
[Hold on, let him try again. He sits up in his bed, sheets crumping down around his middle.]
Looked outside right now?
[Confusion be damned, that never means anything good in this world. Or any world. Even as he โsendsโ it, heโs shuffling out of his bed to get back onto his feet. A little groggily, but mostly mentally present.]
[ On the advice of Julie, Adora is trying to reach out to Stephen Strange. She's been practicing with Catra, how to only send messages to one person, so she's about 98% sure she's only sending this to him. ]
๐๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ฌ๐งโ๐ญ ๐๐ซ. ๐๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ ๐, ๐โ๐ฆ ๐ซ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐จ๐ซ๐ซ๐ฒ. ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐จ๐ฅ๐ ๐ฆ๐ ๐ ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐๐ฅ๐ค ๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ ๐ฏ๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ ๐ก๐๐. ๐๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญโ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ค๐๐ฒ?
[ She feels a little like she's going to Madame Razz again for help, just as confused on Abraxas by cryptic visions as she ever has been on Etheria. ]
๐๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ฌ๐งโ๐ญ ๐๐ซ. ๐๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ ๐, ๐โ๐ฆ ๐ซ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐จ๐ซ๐ซ๐ฒ. ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐จ๐ฅ๐ ๐ฆ๐ ๐ ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐๐ฅ๐ค ๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ ๐ฏ๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ ๐ก๐๐. ๐๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญโ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ค๐๐ฒ?
[ She feels a little like she's going to Madame Razz again for help, just as confused on Abraxas by cryptic visions as she ever has been on Etheria. ]
[The message indeed found its mark, and Stephen replies succinctly and quickly enough to it.]
[Well. He certainly has a hundred questions, and Who are you? is one of them, but with all that's starting to unfold across Abraxas, he sees the value in letting her lead with her vision first. It's not the first he's heard of such a thing happening; Julie had shared similar with him.]
It's Doctor Strange. But yes, of course. Tell me.
[Well. He certainly has a hundred questions, and Who are you? is one of them, but with all that's starting to unfold across Abraxas, he sees the value in letting her lead with her vision first. It's not the first he's heard of such a thing happening; Julie had shared similar with him.]
Page 1 of 2