video; un: stranger.things

[potentialed]

[ He wasn't really wanting to do something like this but since people keep comparing him to his... other self, he might as well clear this up on a larger scale.

He gets a sigh out before the video cuts on. He adjusts it to where he can address the camera directly but not in close-up. ]

I am Doctor Stephen Strange. I just arrived here a few days ago and I am aware that many of you already know of another Stephen Strange. Those of you I have met and have been here longer, at any rate.

I want to make this clear to people from here on: just approach me like someone you've never met. It doesn't matter if you know the other Strange here or have heard the name. I just got here. I have not lived his life, I have not done his deeds. Do not confuse me for him because I am not him.

I am sure all of you are well aware of the multiverse situation here so you know this is possible.

[ He does sigh through his nose now. He's kind of annoyed he has to do this at all. Before adding, ]

I hold a position at Riverview Hospital and am an Advisor at Gramarye Magic Research. If anyone needs help medically or... magically, I guess, I will do what I can. I just ask that my wishes be respected as well.

[ And with that, the feed ends. ]

Comments

[potentialed]

[ There's a pause before he's nodding, ]

Yeah, I can't really argue with that.

[ Helluva lot cooler than an alternate you eating fucking Cthulhu for survival. ]

[wingedman]

So you're not from the same universe as the other Stephen, obviously. Are you from the weird-ass one where Steve's president? Or some other one entirely?

[Somehow it has yet to occur to Sam that there's a Stephen from his own universe. A+, Sam.]

[potentialed]

Steve Rogers?

[ His brow creases as he's shaking his head. ]

Not even close. Last time I checked the news, the Avengers had pretty much imploded. I didn't read through a lot of the articles, mostly skimmed them. Was a bit busy at the time.

[ Like fighting off interdimensional beings bent on consuming the Earth. ]

[wingedman]

[Oh.

Oh.

Well, shit.]

Okay, guess I was wrong about there not being a Stephen from our universe, then. Uh. Sorry about that.

-you know, I'd argue that it wasn't an implosion, but there's really no other word to use for it. Apart from clusterfuck.

[potentialed]

[ He shakes his head again, ]

It's not like I was planning on becoming a sorcerer.

[ It just kinda... happened. ]

And yeah. That's a pretty accurate way to describe all of it.

[ Including that business with the accords. ]

[wingedman]

Well, I wasn't planning on becoming a wanted man in just about every country in the world, so I know the feeling, sort of.

[It's not really comparable, Sam's just making a lame joke.]

[potentialed]

At least you got a nice set of wings out of it.

[ He'll trade you one lame joke for another. ]

[wingedman]

[Sam looks a little surprised that Stephen's actually recognized him; he didn't seem to earlier in the conversation. But, then again, once he starts talking about the Avengers, it's the sort of thing that's only a matter of time.]

Nice vacation in superjail, too. First-class accommodations for 'enhanced individuals' - or guys like me who were just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

[And who pissed off the Secretary of State.]

I'm definitely leaving them a terrible review on Yelp.

[potentialed]

[ It was definitely the Avengers talk that helped him place the face. He knew he had seen it before. His memory stored all sorts of things away, sometimes without him realizing it. ]

Well, if you're "enhanced", I shudder to think what they would call me and my lot.

[ Dry. So dry. ]

Guess it helps to be here, then. Better than where you were.

[wingedman]

Lord knows how I ended up with that label. Running with the wrong crowd, I guess, 'cause there ain't nothing enhanced about me.

...Well, mostly.

[There's a flash of a grin, an implied innuendo, before he continues.]

Steve broke us all out of there. I was in Wakanda before I turned up here.

[potentialed]

[ He can't even hide his wince at that joke. Really, Sam? Really? He shakes his head and huffs a laugh, ]

That's a twist I wouldn't have seen coming. Captain America leading a jail break.

[wingedman]

[Hey, at least it wasn't a joke about his wingspan. Though that's probably coming next.]

Yeah, the guards didn't see it coming, either.