IC inbox for Snowblind

[thewarningafter]

@beyonce

You've reached Dr. Stephen Strange. Leave a message and my secretary will get back to you.

Comments

@notasidekick; video; evening 195

[nursetemple]

[Possibly, she's not sure anymore, but it might be the first time she's on video while communicating with Strange. She's spent the day getting herself back together, trying to make sense of what happened, and trying to find Beckett, to no avail.

And now, she wants to make sure people are okay. Because they have not found Beckett, and it looks like he isn't the only one who didn't make it out of the maze.]

Hey Bey, it's Claire. [With a slight 'duh' expression on her face, she waves at the camera.] Just wanted to make sure you're okay. Checking up, you know?

video, same evening

[thewarningafter]

[He'll do her the courtesy of matching formats. He still doesn't recognize her even when he sees her face, wonders how often they even crossed paths back in New York. His is the face of someone who's tired as hell; there also happens to be a yellowing bruise on one side of it.]

I think I'm about as okay as anybody gets here.

[He has his cloak back, which was a huge relief.]

I take it you got out alright as well.

@hawkguy, audio, day 195

[awwnoun]

... So did you find your cloak? [ Hey, Stephen. Clint's just checking up on you. ]

audio

[thewarningafter]

[Oh. Hawkguy.]

It was waiting for me. I'd ask it what happened while I was gone but, you know. Cloak.

@jwatson; text; Late Night 198

[jumpthegun]

Dr. Strange, I'm very sorry for contacting you so late. You don't need to respond immediately, I just wanted you to know that I misspoke when we met up. Apparently Sherlock Holmes did fake his death in my universe. My apologies for the confusion and unfortunate display of emotion you had to deal with from me.

audio | afternoon 199

[thewarningafter]

[Stephen didn't deliberately ignore this. It was a weird night, and he sort of threw his tablet away in the morning. He's...also not sure how to respond, really.]

Why are you apologizing?

@LELRIC; audio; afternoon day 200

[armoured]

[This will be the third doctor he's spoken to today, and one of his last chances. He'd rather not talk to a new person about this, but he has no choice. He really thinks this might be a viable option, and a part of him doesn't care about the risk any more.

He sounds tired, but he's trying to push the rest down so it's not too audible.]

Excuse me, Dr. Strange, it's Alphonse Elric. I'd like to talk to you about an experiment at the hospital, I know you're nearby, do you think you could come back?

early evening day 200 | text

[thewarningafter]

[Stephen doesn't see the message until the end of another long day, and his heart immediately sinks at the suggestion of returning to the hospital for the second time in as many days. That and a general sense of foreboding at the words 'experiment' and 'hospital' in the same sentence makes him cautious. With House in the next room (and Stephen unwilling to give him any kind of order to make him avoid listening in), he opts for text.

Alphonse had been...not quite what he'd expected in person. It seems weird to him to insist on going around in armor in this place months in, and he hadn't expected the kid to be so tall.]

Possibly. What kind of experiment?

@jwatson; text; Night 203

[jumpthegun]

Dr. Strange, I'm afraid I have to report that the painkiller supply is low, all around. I've been trying to prescribe for the recent injuries yesterday. Whatever attacked us weren't standard anomalies, according to the Admin.

Also, I'm afraid I'll be dying tonight. Locked out.

audio

[thewarningafter]

[At first Stephen just breathes a sigh of resignation over the opening of the message -- he'd expected that sooner or later all of it would be running out, and this just cements his thoughts about the need to ration them out.

The final line doesn't initially register. He has to read it a second time before he's sure he read it correctly, a third time before he can believe it's really a statement of fact. Like as not he'll be overheard by the others in the shed despite keeping his voice low.]

Jesus Christ, John. Where are you? Can you dig a shelter?

@carcinoGeneticist; audio; Night 203

[quadrangle]

[He's spoken to Stephen before, but since that was over text and trolls are weird, he's still audibly hesitant once he finally opens his mouth.]

Dr. Strange? It's Karkat. Uh, I was hoping to get your help, if you're around? I'm by the school.

audio

[thewarningafter]

[God, but he sounds young. After everything that happened, Stephen has little doubt what kind of help Karkat needs if he's calling him. He keeps his voice down, not necessarily wanting to broadcast the conversation to his traveling companions.]

I'm near there myself. What's the problem?

@hawkguy, audio, morning 204

[awwnoun]

Hey. [ It's early, he knows. There's a pause, as Clint takes a deep, dragging breath. ] What do you know about pain management?

audio

[thewarningafter]

[It's probably good that the audio feed from Stephen's end isn't turned on as he listens to this first message. Clint doesn't deserve the sharp, bitter laugh it evokes. He keeps that to himself as he actually answers.]

Couple things. What kind of pain are we talking about, and what have you tried?

@hotstud_xxx; text; Morning 206

[rubikscomplex]

[It's something like 3 A.M. when House finally sends his message. He's debated who to talk to, who to ask, but ultimately, Stephen is the only one he thinks will just be professional about it without asking too many questions. This is going to be humiliating enough, as is, but he'd been a little better when he'd been taking the bupropion. He doesn't have SAD, though. There's a better choice... It's time to bite the bullet.

Have you considered therapy? Strange had asked.

This is going to be so freaking embarrassing.]

i'm deaf
don't bother talking

i need a prescription
sertraline, 50 mg/day

text

[thewarningafter]

It's in.

Since when are you deaf?

@309_W1C_2DZ; text; early morning 207

[howdull]

[He's running out of doctors to go to...]

Dr. Strange, I require a prescription made out.

audio | midday 207

[thewarningafter]

[Stephen didn't get a chance to check his messages this morning, what with being a little dead at the time. He gets to this around the time he's fielding a few other conversations, including one he doesn't catch as coming from the same username.

It's going to be dicey feeling this out, but he doesn't want to turn someone down flat if they're in need.]

What are you trying to treat?

@jwatson; text; Night 208

[jumpthegun]

[John has been ignoring the network since yesterday, so he doesn't know that Stephen was killed or that he has a particularly vexing death price. This is the apology he's looking forward to least. Mainly because he was such an incredible ass to this poor man who's never done anything to hurt him. And a man who's been through far, far too much.]

Dr. Strange, you don't need to reply to this, but I wanted to extend my deepest apologies for the way I acted toward you the other night. It was rude, it was uncalled for, and it was just a bloody dick move. I don't want to give excuses for my behavior, so I won't. Suffice to say I was wrong about you and everything here.

You're real and this place is real. I recognize that now. And again, I'm sorry for ever calling that into question. I know you're perfectly capable of taking care of yourself, but if you require any medical assistance and can't get it from someone you'd prefer, please consider me fully available for your needs.

text | an hour or two later

[thewarningafter]

[Fortunately for both of them, the apology is specific enough that Stephen can place who this is right away. Stephen had certainly fumed over it long enough.]

You didn't exactly call it into question for me.

[He's real. He refuses to have any doubt about that. Being seen like that, though, being told all but literally to his face that John saw him as something made for his entertainment...well, it kind of sucked.]

@IAmLegend; video; Day 205

[definingfuture]

Stephen. I need your help.

video | after lockdown

[thewarningafter]

What is it, what's going on?

evening 208; @zachtastic; text

[majorlazer]

[He started with Watson, but Strange is getting the exact same message, just moments later.]

Doc, emergency. Steph broke her leg. Fell through a piece of the floor when we were monkeying our way in the tunnels. Got in a building okay, but I don't know what to do.

She took some painkillers. Tramadol.

[Attached is a picture of Steph's broken leg.]

audio

[thewarningafter]

[Stephen's reply is a minute or two delayed as he stops what he's doing and shows the message to Claire. The picture is real, but after yesterday's con he's leery of incoming requests.

It's legitimate, though, and he thumbs on the audio response as soon as he's verified that. He wonders a little why they were carrying tramadol, but that doesn't especially matter just now.]

You need to keep her leg as still as possible, but it'll be better if you can raise it. Do you have anything soft she can prop her leg up on?

[As he speaks he's looking over the image, assessing the severity of the break: whether the leg is at an odd angle, whether the bone has broken through the skin, and so on.]

@ASolomons; audio; night 217

[devoutish]

Tell me about sleeping pills. Side effects, are they habit-forming-- everything important.

[Alfie definitely sounds like he needs them - he sounds completely worn-out.]

audio | night 217 | talk of fears might creep in, here

[thewarningafter]

[Funny thing, Stephen doesn't sound much better.]

Just about everything I could prescribe for insomnia carries some risk of dependency, yeah. There's also a chance of next day drowsiness, and a small chance of sleepwalking or abnormal thinking. Is the problem with falling asleep or staying asleep?

@Kid, video, after lockdown 228 - private

[equal_shots]

[It takes far more courage than it ought to for Kid to send Stephen a message, his nerves shot. The camera picks up a bundled head that shivers in the dim light, half the teen's face obscured by the cloak he's huddled under.]

I apologize for calling you so late, doctor. I was...hoping you might be able to help me. [Kid is hesitant, his voice hoarse and breathless. Still, he hastily adds:] If I am imposing and you are busy, please excuse me. I know the physicians here have a heavy caseload.

@beyonce | video | private

[thewarningafter]

[Normally Stephen prefers audio, but he remembers how insistent Kid had been on video when they last spoke and Kid already sounds like he's halfway ready to hang up before he even gets to his request. Stephen appears onscreen looking about as ragged as he ever does these days, but he offers a brief little smile.]

Not at all. It's what I'm here for.

[He has to be here for something.]

@carcinoGeneticist | text | morning 234

[quadrangle]

HEY, UH, DOCTOR STRANGE?
I KNOW THIS IS COMING OUT OF NOWHERE BUT I WANTED TO ASK YOU A FAVOR. SORT OF? I MEAN YOU DON'T HAVE TO ACTUALLY DO ANYTHING, BUT IT'S SORT OF IMPORTANT.

audio | morning 234

[thewarningafter]

[Vague message is vague. It's probably a medical request, though, because why would Karkat come to him for anything else? Stephen switches on his audio without a second thought; it's been well over a week since his pain levels were low enough for typing.]

Sure. Sure, how can I help?

@totheark; text; Night 234

[0thingsonmymind]

doyou havemy
pills
?

Night 234

[thewarningafter]

[...Crap.]

Yeah. Yeah, I still have them. You're in the industrial zone, aren't you?

@godsend, audio, Night 235

[termineur]

[ This transmission starts out in text, with a link out of nowhere, but shortly after switches to audio. ]

Whoops. Think I just sent you a link to a network post. My eyes aren't exactly operational right now, so just- check that out later.

Anyway, hi, Stephen. I'm back. I have a medical request for you.

@beyonce | audio

[thewarningafter]

Glad you made it back.

[Given how many people he's known who have died and stayed dead lately, good news is always welcome. Stephen's feelings remain a little mixed regarding Gabriel; after traveling with him he'd like to believe the man's assessment of his own mental state, but...serial killer. Kind of a big deal.

Still, he's genuinely pleased to hear of one less permanent death in this place.]

Yeah, I see the link, it's to a post by Doctor Watson? Something about --

[About using the nanomachines to treat mental imbalances. Well. That's a thing.]

What was it you needed?

@jwatson; text; Day 237

[jumpthegun]

Stephen, are you in the residential area by chance, further to the east? I know you were running supplies. We're in a bit of a dilemma for something. I need to pick something up in the Industrial Area for Sherlock, but I've got a patient I'm going to over by the school. Mary's agreed to go and fetch what we're after, but I don't like the idea of her traveling alone. Are you heading back to the industrial area soon, if you aren't already there?

@beyonce | audio | same evening

[thewarningafter]

[This is...surprisingly good timing, actually. Stephen wonders privately whether John saw his post to the network, whether he's aware of Stephen's current problems. He hadn't intended to go back east so soon, but under the circumstances....]

I'm near the convenience store. I was planning to try to pick up a few more things while I'm over here, but I could go now.

@godsend, voice, Day 245

[termineur]

Hey. Hope everything's back to normal for you, too. Just thought I'd let you know I finally talked to the Admin about that thing we were planning on doing. She needs your approval, and then it's settled.

[ He speaks with some nervous energy- even though he wanted to do this, he's also been putting it off. But after killing Claire again- well, it's past time. ]

Night 246

[thewarningafter]

[That thing we were planning on doing. Okay. That's...fine. Stephen is pretty damn sure there was only one thing he and another person were planning on doing that involves the Admin, but the vagueness of the message is putting him on edge. He remembers all too well how that one asshole tricked him into writing a prescription after his last death.]

Okay.

[Think, Stephen, think. The procedure can't be done without the patient's consent, so it shouldn't be possible for this to be a trick to get the wrong person's brain adjusted. Right?]

Any new information I should know about before we, uh, do the thing?

@featherydouche; video; night 246

[mrcreamsicles]

[Davesprite makes an exception to his usual preference for text or even voice this time. How else can he test if Strange recognizes his face? And if even his bright orange one rings no bells, that will prove just how deep the loss goes.]

Sup. Recognize me?

audio

[thewarningafter]

...No.

[That this person would ask that tells him who he's talking to (...probably), but that's the only cue Stephen's getting.]

Are you always orange?

@duster, audio, night 255

[bywolves]

Your cloak is annoying. When you're done being dead, let me know.

@beyonce | audio | afternoon 257

[thewarningafter]

Oh, good, because I have been extremely worried about it and frankly if I lost that thing I'd probably enter some kind of depression spiral. Again. And did you ever consider that maybe you're the one annoying it? Where are you, the residential area? Because I am...very much not.

@navialernovictoria, audio, post-tabletgate

[whiteknightnecromancer]

Hello. I was hoping to talk about the magic of your world and mine. While we have the opportunity.

[This is Dorian's way of saying he's glad Stephen's not permadead.]

audio | afternoon 257

[thewarningafter]

Oh, you. No time like the present, huh? I'm not on anything this time -- that's a lie, I'm on pregabalin and frankly it's worse than the vicodin for my concentration, not to mention the whole compulsive speech thing that's happening right now -- that's to say that I would be thrilled to talk about something that isn't the deepest, darkest secrets of all the people around me, which was kind of a running theme when I first got out of the body bag. Demons, right? Except we're going to need to back it up and lay out some clearer definitions if your world sources its magic from anything you'd call a demon.

@hotstud_xxx; text; Night 259

[rubikscomplex]

i need your help with something

audio | same night

[thewarningafter]

What is it?

[He tries, he really does, to leave it at that. Unfortunately for House, Stephen's still spilling his guts to any and all comers.]

Is it the sertraline? You're not supposed to be out for another week and I was just going to fill it without talking to you about it, but that plan's kind of down the toilet now that communication's down with Eve. And now that I've talked to you about it.

@hotstud_xxx; text; Morning 265

[rubikscomplex]

i'm heading down to building 291

[This is Building 303 on the OOC map.]

checking the trap door there
if we came up through those maintenance tunnels
they might still be accessible
catch up quickly

[And that's what you get, Stephen.]

audio

[thewarningafter]

[He's not angry. He's not sure he's even disappointed. Anyway,
they'd known Stephen had other business to attend to first.]

I'm getting my cloak. You catch up with me.

@starspangledhero; voice; morning 265

[fifty]

I'm sorry. I'm really, really, really sorry, like, like-- I should've protected you but I couldn't, i should've been able to fight whatever they did to me and I really-- I really hurt you. [Here's Stephen's blubbery apology, you're welcome.]

audio | an hour later

[thewarningafter]

[Stephen knows perfectly well that America isn't at fault for what happened. He was upset by Magenta's insistence on vengeance, won't have any part in that kind of thinking.

...But the sound of America's voice puts a cold, hard knot of dread in his gut, and Stephen can't respond immediately; has to set this aside and come back to it. Setting his tablet to transcribe America's message to text helps a little. When Stephen's message does come through, his tone is carefully measured.]

I should have been able to get out of that cell. There are a lot of should haves going around.