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[portalling]

stephen strange

crystals · correspondence · private scenes

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crystal

[succise]

Why are you called 'Strange'? What's wrong with you?

HAHAHA

[portalling]

( miss he is already having a DAY— )

It happened to be my father’s surname, and his father’s father before him. Didn’t exactly have much choice in the matter.

Who’re you?

[succise]

(Continue your day then, why are you mad)

How terrible for you. (So unfair!

She's getting distracted.) Lady Vega Arany of Vyrantium. I have another question for you.

[portalling]

( I’m rather busy right now, he almost snaps, almost lets his temper bare its teeth at this complete stranger,

but instead, Strange just stuffs the crystal in his pocket, leaving her on read. This is for Later Stephen to deal with. If it’s urgent, she’ll have to let him know. It’ll take about an hour before the hubbub of the day settles and he finally wends his way back to the conversation. )

sorry

[succise]

(Vega waits.

For thirty seconds. Then she says,) Hello?

[succise]

(Another thirty second pause.)

Are you there?

[succise]

Mr. Strange—we were in the middle of a conversation!

[succise]

(A very gracious sixty second pause to follow.

Then,)

Yes, well! I can see exactly why they call you 'Strange' now!

[succise]

(Five minutes later:)

This IS work-related, I'll have you know! But fine! If you truly don't care!

GOOD-BYE.

[portalling]

( And eventually, then: sinking into a chair in his empty office, setting down a sad cold sandwich on a plate, letting the day slough off him. Strange made her wait, without much warning and thus not very politely, but it probably could’ve been worse? He thumbs the crystal awake again. )

Alright, Lady Vega Arany of Vyrantium, I’m back. Fire away.

[succise]

(Vega makes him wait another hour.

All for:)

Pardon, who am I speaking with?

[portalling]

( Rolling his eyes; thankfully she can’t see it. Takes a big bite of his sandwich, he chews and swallows, then does this properly, if wearily. )

Doctor Stephen Strange, Head Healer of Riftwatch, rifter, sorcerer. It’s been a hectic day, Lady Arany. What can I do for you.

[succise]

(Distractedly,) Oh yes—do you have access to human hair?

[portalling]

( uh )

Don't we all?

How much, and for what?

[succise]

I want a variety.

Do you also have access to things like fingernails?

[portalling]

No, because that would be weird as hell.

Are you building a voodoo doll of a hated enemy or something?

[succise]

I don't understand healers, so I didn't want to rule out that you'd have something useful.

—But yes, in a way. I have orders to obtain a cursed doll from a woman living in Antiva City. It was my idea to swap the thing with something of our own creation, so she won't feel the need to make us take it from her by force or pay her for it. The fingernails would probably make it more convincing.

[portalling]

( wait, he was KIDDING what do you mean yes in a way— )

… Huh, well. Do you know if she’s a magic-user at all? That’s my only wariness, considering established precedent for tracking people through parts of their body, a biological connection; I wouldn’t want to hand over a compass to someone from Riftwatch.

Maybe if you bought it off some black market in Lowtown. Surely someone’s willing to sell some locks of hair and nail filings for coin. ( Ugh, gross. )

[succise]

Oh, she isn't a magic-user, (is said with such confidence that it MUST be true.) She's a silly woman who has stumbled upon something she doesn't fully understand. That's why we need to get it — she'll hurt herself and everyone around her otherwise.

(The black market in Lowtown is an idea though. She makes a little 'mmhmm' sound in her throat.) That would work just fine.

When can you get it to me by?

[portalling]

( Strange stops abruptly in the middle of eating his sandwich; almost chokes on a bite. There’s the sound of a hacking cough before he manages to swallow and reply: )

—look, I’m a busy man, and I don’t exactly have the time to run around doing your shopping errands for you. Why can’t you go, if this is your cursed nightmare-doll situation to deal with?

[succise]

Because, (she says importantly, then pauses for a long moment.

Hmmm

Ah,) I don't want to touch any hair or fingernails that aren't my own, if I can help it. But you do that all the time!

[portalling]

( Deep breaths. Don’t just hang up on her again. )

You know what’s great? Personal development. Riftwatch is rife with opportunities for personal development. Chances are you’re eventually going to be touching far worse things than locks of hair; no time to get used to it like the present.

[succise]

—Worse things?

(Her voice rises in horror.) What things?

[portalling]

Blood? Guts? Melted abominations? We are a field-ready organisation in the midst of a war, Arany. We do occasionally see combat.

[succise]

(Vega is so startled by this prospect that she doesn't even correct the use of her name sans title.

All she can think to say is,) But I am not in Forces, so I would not be in the middle of things.