riverview | 003 // @strange.magic: video

Entry tags:

003 // @strange.magic: video

[Stephen is so fucking over this.

It's only the fact that he knows which buttons do what that he can get the video on at all and he definitely doesn't look like a happy camper, not with the frown he was wearing.]

So this... memory loss thing. Anyone made any progress on figuring out a way around it?

[His brows twitched lower as his frown deepens into an annoyed sort of scowl, trembling fingers drumming restlessly against the open pages of a book.]

Not having much luck on my end.

[For a reason he's not getting into with all and sundry.]

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

[ He's actually surprised to see that face on the Network. ]

Glad to see the same hasn't happened to you, too.

[Look, he's just not a people person. He did all his socializing for the month at the beach thing.]

It didn't hit you too, did it?

[ Possums are sociable creatures, too, Stephen. ]

No. Just a number of people I know.

Any idea what it could be? It can't be something we've all been exposed to because not all of us have been affected. Unless some of us are immune to whatever it is...

[By now, Sam's surprisingly good at reading Stephen's moods - in particular, deciphering the various forms of crankiness exhibited by the Sorcerer Supreme. He can tell that something's definitely wrong from his body language in the video. There's a furrow of concern in his brow when he responds.]

What's going on?

[Obviously he hasn't forgotten who he is like most of the people Sam's noticed posting so far, which is a relief.]

[Don't you try and use logic on him you little fucker]

It seems to hit different types of memories too in each person. Specific things for some, general chunks of time for others.

Immunity is a possibility given it's not clustered, whatever it is. You have some people in a group coming up missing things, but others not. With the close quarters most are in with the housing, you'd think it'd spread like wildfire.

[There's a moment where Stephen is obviously considering being a snappy asshole in response; he clenches his jaw, fingers stilling as much as they ever do over the page before he finally seemed to push past the initial urge.

Only because it's a private video though. And because it's Sam and he's been a damn better friend than Stephen feels he deserves most of the time so he's going to try and be at least somewhat less of a bastard to him by way of gratitude.]

...I've apparently forgotten how to read.

[ TOO LATE ASSHOLE ]

You would think. But it hasn't. The next guess would be randomized and yet specific memories being wiped doesn't fall in line with that theory.

[ He reaches up to rub at his face. ]

There's no pattern I can distinguish from what I know. Could the source be a person?

[Wow rude.]

We'd need to know where everyone hit has been for... at least a week, maybe two, depending if this has an incubation period or if it just takes hold the second it hits. If there's a specific patient zero, a pattern would show, people in similar areas, or along a discernible path.

[He grimaced as he was speaking, fingers stopping their drumming with a thump of palm against the page. Maybe a little too forcefully, if the flash of a wince was any hint.]

Problem being not everyone remembers that information.

Oh, shit.

[There's a look of sorrow in Sam's eyes at the news - not pity, just sorrow. Stephen probably would have rather forgotten who he was than forget how to read, Sam knows that. He hesitates for a moment before offering his assistance; Stephen is prickly and proud, and he might very well get more pissed off. But Stephen also knows by now that Sam's likely to just turn up at the Sanctum no matter what he says.]

I'll come over after work, help you go through your books. The ones written in English, anyway.

Exactly.

[Good thing there wasn't pity there- Stephen absolutely would have gone Full Asshole if he thought there was pity.

He huffed, shoulders stiffening slightly like he was going to argue, he didn't need help, but really? In this case he kind of did. Shoulders dropping again as he relaxed a fraction of a hair instead of grumping or growling.]

...Yeah, that sounds fine. [His tone was still gruff though. It was a tossup of how quickly he'd swing back to anger, but he at least was well aware the help would be needed.]

The erratic nature of the spell seems to imply a finite amount of time. Powerful but most likely to burn itself out.

[ He runs a hand through his hair, looking most harangued. ]

Unfortunately, I'm unable to pinpoint anything since it has infected so many.

No, not yet.

Does stuff like this happen a lot? I mean, a lot of people seem really angry about it. Something about things like this happening before.

( He looks noticeably upset. Someone he's more familiar with might wonder who kicked his metaphorical puppy. )

Are you okay, by the way? It didn't make you forget anything too, did it?

... haven't looked into much of it myself but, there anything you want help with Stephen?

[ he isn't the best with reading Stephen's moods, the man is perpetually grumpy with the shit that he has gone through, but this... there is something else that is at work here and Tony is worried about him. ]

You wanna repay me, buy me a pizza and some beer for dinner.

[There's absolutely no need for repayment, but it makes it sound like the whole thing's just a bargain, rather than Stephen relying on Sam for assistance. Something more equal, more palatable to him.

...yeah, Sam knows way too much about how Stephen's mind works.]

Careful.

[ It's almost an aside as he can hear how hard he's doing his fingers, the wince only proving it. ]

Do you think it would be worth it to take a poll? Ask on the Network if they have forgotten things recently? Might be the only way we can get a headcount.

From what my brother and I have been researching, it might be tied to the portal. It seems these strange things happen semi-regularly. One thing's for sure, it's not the god that was waking last month. It's been put to sleep. But it could be a follower of that god...

But if it is, they're or whatever's causing this, is targeting people who weren't involved with that mission. So our theory is that it's related to something with the portal.

So far, we've counted at least eight people affected, but there might be more.

[While his glower deepens a bit at the aside, he thankfully doesn't snap back at the other man for it.]

Might be useful. Another problem is if this is temporary or not, like the last round of memory altering that happened.

[He busted back to square one on magic like fuck he's staying busted back on anything else if he can help it.]

Sounds like a deal.

[Sam has definitely figured out how to at least try and ensure Stephen doesn't just rebuff aid. At least when he wasn't feeling especially prickly over things, at which point there was simply no reasoning with the man.

But so far Sam had picked the right way to handle the issue. It was just a matter of how grumpy the situation made Stephen between now and when he came around.]

Okay. Temporary is good news.

[It's something at least.]

Babyface was thinking we could try and figure out where people were over the past week or so. See if we can't find some common ground or person they all came in contact with. Or at least enough of them to make a good estimate. Long shot given it's spellwork, but it might net us more information.

[Younger Strange has a nickname now, not that he realizes it. Hope he likes it!

Tough titties if he doesn't though.]

It happens more than people would like. There was a similar incident before, people being literally transformed to earlier versions of themselves, both in mind and body. Temporary, but... upsetting all the same.

[Stephen just shrugged a bit at the question of if he was okay, because really what was being okay? Could you eat it?]

I seem to have forgotten how to read of all things.

When have you known me to actually want help with anything, Tony?

[Don't mind him avoiding the actual question, he's just not happy about most anything right now.]

Oh, I assure you there's more. Either the memories taken might not even occur to them as something odd, or they're not about to admit it.

Wouldn't surprise me if the portal's the cause... takes a lot of power to just pluck people from across time and space in multiple realities.

[Sam turns up a couple hours later, letting himself in and searching for Stephen till he finds him, still among the books. Since he's grumpy, he doesn't try to greet him with a kiss - something that's difficult to get away with at the best of times. Sam might be a little too affectionate for grumpy hermit wizards.]

Things going any better? You get any information from the network?

[He sure as hell is still there, flipping through pages with a scowl that definitely hints that things haven't improved much. Wong perks up from his spot on the low-slung sofa nearby, with a small whuff and a pat of tail against cushion by way of greeting.]

Not really. Just that no one else knows much more, that it's supposedly temporary.

[He shook his head, letting the book fall shut with a thump and leaving it there on the desk.]

Best guess so far is it's all the portal's fault.

[Sam pulls a baggie out of one pocket and tosses Wong a dog biscuit. Yes, he spoils Stephen's dog, too.]

Like the thing before, you mean. But that turned out to be an artifact from someone else's world, right? So maybe it's something else caught in the portal?

[Yeah, a+ logic, Sam. Way to point out the obvious.]

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Page 1 of 4

003 // @strange.magic: video

video; un: stranger.things

no subject

no subject

private video; @falconwings

no subject

private video

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

[ video | un: trickster ]

[ video | un: parker ]

video; un: stark.naked

no subject

no subject

video; un: soulbond

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

action

no subject

no subject