(open) do you believe in magic

[potentialed]

who: Stephen Strange + everyone else
what: catch all/open log
when: the rest of June
where: multiple places
warnings: n/a; will add if needed



☆ riverview hospital ☆

[ A little over a month and Stephen is still needing breaks after using his hands for surgery. Or any procedures that require steady hands. There aren't many traumatic brain injuries to be found here - which is good, in all honesty. There had been a time he would've complained about being "bored" by the lack of complex cases. Now, he takes on other cases when he's not needed in surgery. Stitching people up, dressing wounds, diagnosing illnesses, signing prescription slips. It all comes back naturally to more he falls back into the routine.

He's even missed wearing the scrubs, in a way. The only thing that he finds discomfort in are the scars along his hands. tops, palms, and fingers bear them for anyone to see if they were to look. It was rare for him to feel self-conscious in that sense considering how vain he had been in the past. Or maybe he just hated the reminder some days. Other days, he barely noticed aside from the tremors that would result after using them too much.

All the same, he tries to focus on his work, meditating during his breaks in an attempt to recharge himself from all the energy he was using to steady his hands. By the time his shift was over, it was usual for him to feel exhausted.

During the days he's at the hospital he can be found making his rounds, meditating on his break (usually in the garden on the grounds), using his magic to get the vending machine to work because this fucking thing, or anyone could run into him as he's leaving after his shift. ]


☆ communal housing - floor 1 ☆

[ Aside from the time spent at Kamar-Taj, the last time Stephen shared a living space with anyone was back during his time in the residency program in New York at his first hospital. He had loathed it in a way but also grew to enjoy the attention he ended up getting. He made the highest grades during school and performed nearly every procedure perfectly, earning him routine praise from the surgeons and other medical staff. He ended up being the one everyone came to for help (and sometimes wanted a little more than help with studies - both of which he was happy to provide).

Then, at that age, he had been young and ambitious, growing more arrogant and yet secretly terrified of screwing it all up before he had really gotten a chance to start.

Now, he was older and in a completely different phase of his life. It was almost surreal to go back to being a doctor some days and then talking about magic on others. And then he would come back to his floor in the communal housing and roommates and his cloak was always the first to greet him, launching at him the moment he entered the room and wrapping around him in its form of a hug. The first few times, he protested and shoved it off. Now, he would pat it and give a muffled greeting of his own as the collar would pat at his face the same way a dog would lick it. ]

Yeah, yeah, I missed you, too.

[ And it was mostly true. He was growing more fond of the cloak the more he was around it, folding itself at the foot of his bed when he slept and always floating nearby when he was awake. ]


☆ gramarye magic research ☆

[ Since he was still getting used to the whole "Master of the Mystic Arts" title (and not being the Sorcerer Supreme everyone keeps saying he is), Stephen felt comfortable in his title as advisor rather than taking on a teaching role. Plus, he didn't think he had the patience to be a teacher.

Didn't stop him from keeping an eye on classes or sitting in on lectures, even giving a few himself. When he's not doing that, he can usually be found in his office (with those incantations up to keep a certain Asgardian Loki out) or practicing more of his own spells on the roof of the building. ]


☆ inbox + friendr ☆

[ Blow up his phone or tell him how he did his Friendr profile wrong. ]


☆ wildcard ☆

[ come at him bros ]

Comments

gramarye

[aeturnus]

[ Romulus has been in and out for a few days already, getting used to the intimidating (for him) building and learning what he can from Victor's instructions. The insatiable part of him keeps wondering at the other man Loki mentioned that might be able to help him with this, if he could learn twice as fast or even just more than he's already learning. Being taught is amazing, and he can see why it's considered a luxury or something for those who would dedicate their lives to it.

Making sure to keep his head up, he approaches the office where he'd been directed by Victor. He pauses, unsure, hand resting on the door before he curls it into a fist and knocks on the hard wood. ]

Doctor Strange?

[potentialed]

[ Stephen looks up from the book he was reading at the knock, thinking he recognizes the voice on the other side. ]

Come in.

[ Romulus will find him at his desk, stacks of books on it with about three open in front of him. ]

[aeturnus]

[ He lets himself in, head bowed when he enters but raises after he takes a few steps in. Enough to close the door behind him and take the whole office in. It's less intimidating if he knows the space, anyway. ]

Doctor Strange. My name is Romulus, I was... [ He takes a breath, calms himself down. ] ... I was told I could speak with you about something?

[ Still looking about the room more than at the man sitting in front of him, he notices something. A cloak, rather interestingly keeping itself hung in the air nearby, and he can't help the smile that comes from that. So at least one of them has a cloak, and a nice one at that. ]

[potentialed]

[ The cloak will continue to float where it is, slowly moving up a little more but then back down. Stephen raises a brow at Romulus, wondering what he has to ask when he could just ask that Doom guy (which was still the most on the nose name). He leans back in his chair, threading his fingers together on his stomach. ]

And what would that "something" be?

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki does lectures.

The only problem is he never tells anyone when they are, schedules them late and takes a positive delight in assigning realms of homework to whoever appears. But there's no denying how mind-blowing his lectures are. His sessions on Cosmology and the movement of celestial bodies and realms in convergence to magic and natural effects is very much in demand.

However, most people leave completely lost or trying to capture a glimmer of it as it flits through their mind. That's not Loki's business though. As the last few "students" wander off, Loki straightens his notes and glances at the remaining adult with a pointed eyebrow. ]

[potentialed]

[ Stephen almost makes it a point to sit in on Loki's lectures, more to make sure he doesn't cause trouble more than listening to what he has to say. Though the lectures themselves are proving to be surprisingly interesting. Not that Stephen is going to show that.

He stays in the desk he had taken for himself, giving Loki a tight smile that didn't really reach his eyes before it falls. ]

Never would've taken you to be the teacher-type.

[dothelokimotion]

Do I know you?

[ He eyes the man skeptically. He looks like Strange, albeit with some variance. Another copy. Perhaps from his world, judging by that tone. How cumbersome. It leaves Loki enough room to maneuver without much trouble, at least. ]

[potentialed]

[ There's that tight smile again. ]

No. But you've already surmised that I know you.

I hope you don't plan on opening any portals in the sky, here. I think quite a few people would be upset by that.

gramarye

[scholiast]

(It's funny that somebody practices up here at all; Lucretia didn't even know access to the roof of the building was possible. They didn't cover this in orientation.

Still, she'd been told by a colleague that Stephen Strange could be found up here on his off days, and had made a mental note to perhaps go and find him during a lull in her work. It takes her a day or so; she's deeply distracted by her own research, almost loathe to put it down in favour of concentrating on something else. But she's been asking around about magic for a personal project, and apparently Dr. Strange is a good person to ask about these sorts of things, so.

Here she is. She doesn't know whether to knock on the door to the roof or not, but then, it's not like it's an office space. So after a moment's hesitation she simply turns the knob and pushes it open, poking her head out around the door frame.

True to her informant's word, Stephen Strange is up here, practicing magic. Lucretia clears her throat.)

Excuse me– Dr. Strange? (She wishes that wasn't his title. It feels like she's calling him names.) I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions.

[potentialed]

[ The only reason he is up here is because he wanted to be. Probably wasn't allowed to be but when did that ever stop him? He also wasn't comfortable using the mirror dimension inside the building. The rooftop was safer for his more destructive spells. But he was staying in the current realm today, deciding instead to practice on his weapon formation. He's getting a little better, pushing what he can make with the energy he was channeling.

When she opens the door, he's tossing a glowing ax around, letting it spin in the air and trying to pull it back to him. She startles him, however, and the spell disintegrates before it can hit him. He looks more flustered than anything when she turns to her. ]

Yes?

[ Hands on hips in an attempt to look unperturbed (it's not really working) but then he gestures for her to join him, ]

Ask away. I'll see if I can answer.

[scholiast]

Sorry, (she adds, quickly, because she can tell that she's interrupted something. Why anybody would want to drag a glowing weapon around is beyond her, though. Physical weapons and magical energy are two very separate things in her mind.)

I... (She pushes the door open a little wider, and steps out onto the roof to join him.) I was wondering if I could ask you about how your magic works. I've met a good handful of people here who all use magic, but their methods of casting have been quite different to my own. That, and the way that people obtained their power in the first place seems to vary too.

(She's obviously very interested in the subject, so much so that she's becoming less apprehensive the more she talks.) I'd appreciate your input, if you don't mind giving it. I was told I should ask around the advisers.

[potentialed]

[ With all the monsters here, it seemed like a good idea for him to get better at conjuring weapons (and shields). Though he hasn't really explained to people that he can do that. Being an advisor, he's just around to observe and offer ideas when they seem fit.

His brows go up at the explanation but he nods along as he follows. He crosses his arms loosely as he thinks on a response. He then gestures to her with one hand. ]

What are your methods? If you don't mind me asking. That could be a good starting point for comparison.

[ Because he's pretty sure his methods are less than traditional. ]

gramarye

[couldkillthedevil]

[People at Gramarye Magic Research (and she still had difficulty saying that with a straight face) were quite helpful, when provided with the right circumstances to ask. Chloe had been on a hunt for information since she'd arrived a couple weeks ago, and it seemed her search led her here. Which was how she found her way to the rooftop where he was practicing his spells, keeping her distance for a moment before she approached.]

Excuse me. Doctor Strange?

[potentialed]

[ He's not really sure if he should be flattered or annoyed at people finding him up here. But the fact they keep seeking him out for one reason or another was more than what he expected. So, when he hears Chloe's voice, he drops his hands and the system of shields he had been expanding, disintegrate into golden dust. He turns to face her, ]

Yes?

riverview hospital

[divulsion]

[Wanda finds her way to the hospital on her day off from work. At Brigade, she makes enough to support herself comfortably, and her time off is spent between home and friends. Stephen counts as one of those friends, one of the few people she's met from her world who has magic. The added bonus is that his working at the hospital makes Wanda feel a bit better about not joining the perimeter guard like so many others. By all accounts she'd be of more use there than what she's doing, but after the events that transpired back home she'd wanted a chance to breath and consider the matter carefully.

It's her first time visiting Stephen at work, and for that reason she wanders the hallways a bit longer than necessary, trying to track him down on her own. Finding him using magic to pull things out of a vending machine was certainly unexpected, however. She raises an eyebrow at him, holding a bag in one hand and a mouse on the opposite shoulder.]

That's stealing, Stephen.

[He probably paid and the item probably got stuck, but she can't resist teasing him.]

[potentialed]

[ He would probably be of more use a part of the perimeter guard, too, in truth. But the chance to be a doctor again, to help heal people instead of fighting them was too tempting. He knows fighting will be a part of his life, even here. But he still considers himself a doctor, first.

However, there are days when it's even more mundane than he likes. Like when the vending machine decides to take his money and not give him anything in return.

Stephen manages to grab what he paid for and is grinning to himself, giving it a little toss in the air before catching it -- and then stopping short when he both sees and hears Wanda at the same time. ]

Not when it took my money and refused to give me anything.

[ He raises a finger, ]

In that case, the machine was stealing from me.

[divulsion]

[Wanda doesn't have a horse in the race and yet...]

Inanimate objects can't steal from you, Stephen. It's not as if the machine made a choice to take your money and withhold your...what is that?

[With a little twist of her fingers she uses her magic to snatch the item from his hand to get a closer look at it. When it reaches her fingertips she grins at him and adds cheekily:]

That is stealing, by the way.

[potentialed]

[ He's about to say something when she just takes his bag of Combos (which he still can't believe they have) and he's left drop-jawing over this. He walks over, hands on his hips and trying not to laugh. Wow, Wanda. Wow. ]

First off, two wrongs don't make a right.

And second, Sarah Connor would like to have a few words with you about the whole machines-are-inanimate-objects argument.

gramarye

[metalmenace]

[Doom had been aware that Stephen Strange worked at Gramarye for some time, having walked past his office one or twice before. He had also been aware that his office had magic that wasn't quite right for the Stephen Strange he knew. One plus one apparently equaled counterpart from another universe according to Doom.

So he decided he was finally going to meet him after Romulus had mentioned wanting to speak to Strange, so at some point after that, he ended up finding out that this one liked to practice up on the roof. One stint of teleportation later (doors are for peasants, after all), and he was standing on the roof watching him practice for a few moments.]

Interesting. You're not quite what I expected.

[potentialed]

[ For most that came up here, he at least had the door to alert him most of the time. This time, Doom is just there and Stephen, much to his annoyance, jumps. His heart lurching and his spells bursting into golden specs. He glares slightly at the other man, rolling his shoulders. ]

Sounds like a personal problem.

[ The salt is strong in this one. ]

[metalmenace]

[The levels of salt are puny compared to his own Stephen, so Doom doesn't even bat an eye at the comment, focusing more on the magic and the Strange in question.]

It wasn't meant as a slight, Stephen Strange. I find that variations across the universes make for an interesting change of pace. I know how my Stephen would react, but how would you react in the same situations or even different ones?

hospital;

[advanced]

[There are a lot of people that Bucky could go to for help, but he still has a problem with that most of the time and prefers to sort things out by himself wherever he can. So when he gets badly cut up falling through a rotten floor out in the ruined city, he doesn't think to just go to the hospital like a regular patient. No, that means doctors and questions and he doesn't deal well with either of those things.

So, like the sensible person he is (not), Bucky has managed to sneak into one of the supply closets at the hospital and is raiding it for bandages, stitching thread, antiseptic, and a needle. He's in a tatty blue hoodie and jeans, so he obviously doesn't belong in there if a certain doctor happens in on his rounds...]

[potentialed]

[ It's fairly normal for janitors or nurses to be in the supply rooms, should the door be open. Stephen thinks that's just the case when he passes by, sparing a glance into the closet. But then he stops in his steps and walks backward to have another look. When he looks back inside and nudges the door open a little more, he immediately recognizes the man that he shares a living space with. ]

Barnes. I'm a little insulted you'd raid a supplies closet instead of coming to me.

[advanced]

[He freezes at the unfamiliar voice, especially when it addresses him by name, and slowly turns to get a look at whoever this is. It might be obvious now he's turned that he's not the other Barnes, though there are some small similarities. The main one is the arm, but that's hidden right now under a hoodie and leather gloves.]

Who the hell are you?

[Like he's not the one that's been caught raiding somewhere he shouldn't be.]

[potentialed]

[ His shoulders slump at that some, ]

Really? Stephen Strange. We live on the same floor in the communal housing?

[ He gives Bucky a Look, ]

You seriously don't know me?

[ Stephen, this is the wrong thing to be put out about. ]