IC inbox for Snowblind

[thewarningafter]

@beyonce

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

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[thewarningafter]

No -- I've never actually met Thor. I've just seen the news footage.

[cahooted]

News foot--

[Okay, hang on.]

So aliens invaded New York and Thor's been on the news. That doesn't sound very secretive at all.

[thewarningafter]

Yeah, no, that stuff isn't secret. We've had...superheroes, don't like that word, since 2008. Or since World War Two if you count Captain America. The Chitauri, though, that was...that was closer to home.

[cahooted]

Superheroes? [Flynn laughs because Stephen is just painting a picture here bit for bit that almost makes his world seem tame in comparison.]

You have aliens and superheroes and magic, mixed all together in one pot? You world sounds wild. I got enough on my plate with one of those three.

[thewarningafter]

Yeah, well. The extradimensional horrors would've been enough by themselves. There's another dimension, neighboring one. Some people I kind of would have known from home were here from it, and it sounded like theirs was...more.

[cahooted]

You mean like alternate versions of themselves?

[thewarningafter]

Exactly like that. Billy, actually -- Billy's from that world, too. Knows a different me from there.

[cahooted]

Oh, I know Billy. I mean, we talked, when I got here, he... seemed to know a lot about magic.

[thewarningafter]

He does. He's another sorcerer in his own right.

[cahooted]

Maybe I should talk to him again.

It's... nice to be able to talk about it. My job and magic, I can't do that at home. It can get a little, you know.

[thewarningafter]

Sure.

[He doesn't know. He'd been cloistered away from the real world during his training, and when he'd returned to New York the first thing he'd done was to fess up to Christine about exactly where he'd been and what he'd been doing.

Well, second thing. First thing was fighting off an attacker on the astral plane.]

I'm not so great at keeping quiet about it. Not here, especially.

[cahooted]

Me neither. It's the first time I feel like it's okay to talk about it, and it's great!

[He smiles, if a bit ruefully.]

It's too bad it doesn't work. I'd love to learn about your arts, see it in action. That would be fascinating.

[thewarningafter]

Yeah, right now I've just got...sparkles.

[The face he's making is all but audible.]

We ever get these nanomachines to stop blocking my powers, you'll get to see it when I open a gateway home for you.

[cahooted]

[A gateway back home. That sounds marvelous and Flynn's voice warms accordingly.]

I'll hold you to that.

[thewarningafter]

Of course, we might have to make a stop at my place on the way...just to check a few spells against the written rituals, of course.

[cahooted]

Of course. [Good job, Stephen, he sounds downright cheerful about it.]

We should be very thorough.

[thewarningafter]

Oh, absolutely. Might take me hours in the library to get all the incantations right. You wouldn't get bored, I hope.

[cahooted]

No, no, I get it. Magic is very complicated.

I'm sure I'll find a way to pass the time somehow. Don't worry about me.

[thewarningafter]

The most complicated. And all we have for you to look at is a bunch of dusty displays of old relics.

[cahooted]

Horrible! [Now he just laughs.]

It's a deal. Thanks, I can't wait.

[thewarningafter]

Neither can I.

[There's real warmth in his voice. It's nice to imagine one day getting back to where and who he's meant to be.]

[cahooted]

[Flynn smiles at the tone. It feels good to make plans and have something to look forward to. Whenever that will be.]

I should probably let you go back to your day. But hey, uh, if you ever feel like telling me more about that stuff, give me a call.

You know. To prepare me for all the boring artifacts I have to look at. So I'm ready for all the insufferable long hours.

[thewarningafter]

And if you ever want to tell me more about the things you've found. Just, you know, so I can prepare you if you're going to see repeats.

[cahooted]

Hah! That sounds very important and reasonable indeed.

See you around, safe travels!

[thewarningafter]

You too, Flynn.

[And he'll disconnect.]