002 // @strange.magic: video

[suckstobestrange]

[Stephen looks… well less like a hobo than he has in past months. Still looks like he needs to sleep for a year, but that seems to be standard.

He ran a hand through his hair, frowning down at something outside of view.]

So… I think someone lost a dog in the park?

[He shifts the phone so the camera shows his feet, and the small puppy that was running circles around him. It slowed to a stop when it noticed the attention, peering up at Stephen and his camera, ears perking curiously. But when no treats or attention were forthcoming, it head-butted against his ankle with a bark.

Stephen took a few steps back, which just encouraged the Lillipup to run after him, tail wagging, catching his pant leg in teeth to tug, like he was trying to pull the man along with him, though if even the small pup knew where to was questionable.]

This little guy look familiar to any of you?

Comments

[ikols]

Are we keeping your new dog? I assume it's ours as an apartment because it seems to find me just as enthralling.

[suckstobestrange]

I don't see why not. He seems bright enough to be trained, and he's pretty friendly.

[Oh Stephen it's so cute you think it's the Lillipup that's gonna be trained here.]

[ikols]

He's going to stay wild until you catch him in a pokeball and become his legit trainer, word to the wise. I have played a plethora of those games.

[suckstobestrange]

Well, do you know if there's a store or something here that has those? I know the games exist and all but the specifics still elude me.

[ikols]

I am basically a Pokemon Master but even I can't explain all the specifics to you. If the games exist in this nexus then I imagine they do so randomly, like the rest of us falling through the portal.

You'll just have to do your best and clean up Lillipup poop in the meantime.

[suckstobestrange]

To be fair the only reason I know they're a thing is I'm pretty sure even I'm not hermit enough to have avoided seeing kids playing it over the years.

Ah yes the charming side of pet ownership.

[ikols]

It's a game wherein enslaved innocent animals are forced to battle until sufficient maiming or unconsciousness is achieved. You can see why children like it, they can be the most brutal. Hopefully your new dog will enjoy a more meaningful life, which seems far more likely given he must have come from a universe where all of that was real.

[suckstobestrange]

Yeah no, he's going to do... I don't know, dog things? Run around the park, dig stuff up, chew on things, chase other stuff.

[And bullying Stephen to sleeping longer through the mysterious power of being a dog, but that's a surprise for Future Stephen.]

[ikols]

Ah, he's Spiritual Doggo. All of that while assisting his master in protecting ... [ Tilting his head. ] What did happen to you protecting Earth-616, Stephen? Are you focusing entirely on this dimension now? Are we the Guardians of Whatever We Feel Is Appropriate?

[suckstobestrange]

Well, until I can somehow contact our home dimension and see what's on fire now without me there, I suppose helping to keep this place from imploding too would be a good idea. What with it being temporary home until we get back.

[Assuming there's anything left for him to protect when he gets back, that is. Oops?]

[ikols]

So essentially, you failed to keep the rest of us safe from this place.

[suckstobestrange]

Given my recent track record, yeah that about sums it up.

[ikols]

So you're a wreck at what you do, the Captain doesn't want to be the Captain, Stark's being weird, [ SAY YOU'RE NOT SCARED OF MAYBE-DYING, TONY, ] and I sorta died. Barnes is also clearly evil.

[ That last one is just a spiteful freebie. ]

I'm starting to think it's more than a coincidence we're all so messed up.

[suckstobestrange]

The misfit dimension? [He's heard odder ideas.

However that's not all he focuses on here.]

...'Sorta died'? Sounds like an understatement if I've ever heard one.

[ikols]

Hashtag magic. Ego-death, no biggie.

[ mASSIVE BIGGIE but he's cool, see how cool he is as he moves on. ]

I'm starting to view us as a box of broken toys. Billy doesn't have any real control over his powers either, for another thing, not to leave him out. That isn't really his fault though, merely his time-line's.

[ Hmm, pensive god is pensive. ]

[suckstobestrange]

Sounds like it. [He'll let it slide for now, if only because he would rather not poke too hard at Emotion Things right now.]

So what are you thinking? That we're pulled here because of being a variety pack of disasters?

[ikols]

I think we're a majestically unstable group of superheroes being placated with puppies.

[suckstobestrange]

Well you're not wrong...

[ikols]

Something to think on while petting your pooch.

[ And he signs off with a cheery wave to contrast the subject matter. ]