[Video]

[strangebargains]

[The image is shaky at first, since he's holding it. A moment later and the image stabilizes and becomes much more than a chin or pair of nostrils. Stephen comes into view, he's wearing a red cloak with a high collar but it isn't his cloak and he's pretty miffed she didn't get pulled into this universe.]

Hello, everyone, I figure it's best to see if there's anyone I know here. New arrival, Doctor Stephen Strange, if that name rings a bell I congratulate you. That means you're alive and well because I was probably your Doctor. You're welcome.

[He waves a yellow-gloved hand. Underneath they were scarred and ached in certain temperatures, so he figured it'd be best to protect them in this manner.]

Now I've done this whole multiverse song-and-dance deal before. If I'd had the foresight to bring the Eye of Agamotto with me I could have taken care of your little problem. Chronoblivion? Been there, done that.

[He gets a dark look, and shakes it off. That sound exactly like Dormammu and he wouldn't be surprised if that simply was what they called him in this universe.]

Too many times.

Plus, what's the deal with giant world-eating entities? Do they have a club or something? Is it like what they do for fun since they're all bored in their dimensions?

Anyway. I decided to join your little group of Legionaires. I can't use magic here for some reason, but apparently I can still do some things. It's a little different from what I'm used to, but it's nice not having to worry about losing your sling ring.

Comments

[strangebargains]

[Stephen watches the glitter with fascination. He was still new at all of this himself, scarcely even a year had passed since he discovered that magic even existed.]

That's well done.

[bachido]

It's a new trick.

[It was not really up to his standards yet, and his frown of concentration might have said as much. The lines of the design kept shivering out of precision, and Kubo had to concentrate hard to keep them from falling apart entirely. The effortless part was the way his fingers flew up and down the neck of his shamisen, the precision and timing of his playing a truly masterful performance.

He abandoned the glitter, letting it flow back into its container, but kept the shamisen across his lap.]

You said you channeled magic from the universe. Is that something you're born with?

[strangebargains]

[Stephen appreciates music very much. He has an encyclopedic knowledge on popular music from his own world, and noted the skill in which the kid played.]

You're very good.

[A shake of his head.]

Maybe a person can have an aptitude for it, a natural affinity, but no. I learned magic only this last year. It's something anyone can learn with time and effort.

[bachido]

It's how I earned our living.

[Wanting to eat had a certain motivating effect on his practicing, and therefore skill level. But there is definitely talent beneath that hard work as well.]

My magic comes from my mother's side of the family. I think we have different magics. I wonder how many kinds there are?

[strangebargains]

[A nod. He hoped the kid would pursue it, he certainly had talent.]

I think so too. My teacher told me that we hack into the source code of our universe. That...probably won't make much sense to you if you're not from a place with technology, but think of the universe as having a set of instructions, and we can alter those instructions. Like...music, but we can change the notes.

[He flicks his hands and the shields disappear. ]

Probably more than we'd ever know.

[bachido]

[Given that he'd made his living with his shamisen since he was a young(er) child and that his superpowers revolved around his playing, there was no danger of him ever so much as falling out of practice.]

Oh, I understand. You ask the universe to do something in a way it understands, and it does it.

[No really, it was very similar to what Kubo did, except that the only thing that listened to his requests was paper. Stephen's magic was broader, but it wasn't hard for Kubo to accept.]

Does everything listen to you? Or do some things not want to grant your requests?

[strangebargains]

A bit, sort of. [It was a close explanation as any.]

Depends on the thing. It took me awhile to learn how to use my sling ring. It allowed us to teleport from one place to another. But some things are easier than others to manipulate. But magical objects that have their own life, they're stubborn.

[He tugs at his lifeless cloak a bit sadly.]

Our artifacts choose us, and my Cloak had quite the personality.

[bachido]

What's a sling ring? What could your cloak do? My mother enchanted my robes to fly me out of danger once when I was younger. Is it anything like that?

[strangebargains]

It was a ring that allowed me to teleport. And my cloak has an actual personality, it's own mind. It allows me to fly...yes, something like that. When I'm in danger she especially comes to my rescue.