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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audio | same day

[thewarningafter]

[Luckily for Flynn, Stephen leaves the bunker the very same day this message comes in--which means, of course, that he actually gets it. He doesn't send video in reply; he's still unaware that the static won't cover his face when he does.]

I'm alive. Cleaned a sink today. Stopped forgetting everything as soon as it happened about a week ago, so I could be said to be doing well.

You?

permavid

[cahooted]

A sink? Well, that's [weird, but then again for Norfinbury it probably isn't?] more than I did so far. Find anything?

[He leans back with a slight shrug.]

You know, same old. Trying to get by. Trying to make myself useful.

perma-audio

[thewarningafter]

Found a sink.

[He chuckles ruefully.]

I want to test how long it takes for the mold in the bunker to regrow, and the sink is the easiest place to attack for now. I'm kind of a fan of usefulness myself.

perma-audio

[cahooted]

Have you tried leaving something from the outside, too, see how long it takes for the mold to attack it? Does the sink still work, can you examine the water?

[Maybe he should head out there. Exploring the new area sounds like the place to be, but he has people out here to consider and... truth to be told, his MN poisoning makes the thought of joining a group as big as the bunker team feel like rusty nails to his skull.]

I was thinking about making a language database in case our translators break down again.

[thewarningafter]

It works, but I wouldn't trust it. Wouldn't trust anything in there. There are entire appliances in there, though--things the spiders never gutted.

[Just a momentary pause. It's...a valid concern, but he hates to consider it.]

You think that's likely to happen?

[cahooted]

Huh. Do you think the mold keeps them away? Maybe it messes with their programming? Can you bring out a sample and, I don't know, smear it over something in another house that they would usually carry away?

[Flynn puffs his cheek, weighing his head from side to side.]

Hard to tell. But with medication suspended I'd say it's a possibility communications might break down next. I think we definitely should prepare for it.

[thewarningafter]

Think it's more likely the bunker is shielded from the network and the mold is something we don't see elsewhere because the spiders clean everything else. Might as well try it, though.

Fair point. We have a decent number of non-English speakers here, don't we?

[cahooted]

If last time is any indication, yeah. I think most people got by okay for a while but if it becomes the norm? Coordinating things is going to be a problem.

Speaking of which, uh, how are you? I couldn't help but notice that you and Peter aren't talking.

[thewarningafter]

[Stephen agrees well enough with Flynn's first point, but it's the second one that gets his full attention. There's an awkward, painful little pause.]

Yeah. We're not. He has his reasons.

[cahooted]

Yeah. I mean, apparently.

[Another awkward pause to add to the mix.]

Do you, uh. You wanna talk about it?

[thewarningafter]

I suspect I've talked about it at length...not that I remember.

[Sigh.]

I may have decided the fate of the entire universe without consulting him. Or anyone. It wasn't something I did lightly.

[cahooted]

Sounds like a lot of responsibility.

... I don't think you would. But I guess that doesn't help things.

[thewarningafter]

I think I knew what I was getting into the first time I saw what it took to save the Earth and didn't run away screaming.

[There was screaming that time. Intermittent and involuntary, but there was some screaming.]

People died. We died. I did what I thought was right.

[cahooted]

[He's very quiet for a moment. When he speaks again his voice is layered with pain.]

So it's true. You and Peter, you... back in your world...

[thewarningafter]

Yeah.

[It's odd to think about. He hadn't expected to have to live with that decision. Not in this sense.]

If it's any comfort, knowing me there's a chance it wasn't going to be permanent. Not...all of us, at least. I looked into the future and I did what was needed to move us into the one timeline in which we win. I just...don't remember what that looked like anymore.

[cahooted]

I hope you're right. If not, you can just... look, you just come to my universe, okay?

[Somehow he knows it won't be as easy as that but that won't stop him from offering.

Another pause.]

I'm not allowed to mess with time. One of the big nos of the Library. Sometimes it's hard.

[thewarningafter]

If we're not dead we're going to have work to do.

[He lets out a little sigh.]

No knowledge is forbidden, only certain practices. Most people can't wield it anyway.

[cahooted]

Yeah.

... Do you want me to talk to Peter?

[thewarningafter]

You think it'll make any difference?

[cahooted]

Well, I can try. No promises, but... I really think you guys should talk.

[thewarningafter]

I've listened to everything from the time I lost. I know what kind of things I said to him. He's hurting right now. He has reason to be, and maybe it's easier for him if he has someone to be the bad guy. To be responsible for it.

[cahooted]

I know, he...

[Flynn exhales. He's been doing quite well avoiding to think about what he knows because thinking about it makes his heart hurt.]

He told me what happened. Which is why I think he needs his friends. And you need yours.

[thewarningafter]

He has Gamora.

[Stephen lets out a sigh.]

Look, I don't...I don't think you're wrong. I just don't know that either of us is ready to let this go. Not without knowing what comes next. Why I even did it.

[cahooted]

That's what I said when I avoided him. Gamora was pretty mad about that.

It's okay, I won't push it. I just... think the situation is bad enough as it is.

[thewarningafter]

Well, she's not the one messaging me about it.

I'll...I will. Soon. [That's a lie.] If you did talk to him...I wouldn't object.