mysticaldoctor | Spoiler Friendly Open Post

New Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness Trailer | Sci-Fi Jubilee

She had said it would be nice to see his universe, though that didn't mean she could do so right away. Being a scientist she first needed to commit to a bit of research to figure out the safest way to visit him.

It took a few weeks of tireless work to create a bracelet that would scatter her signature enough to allow her to safely enter another universe.

Now the problem was figuring out how to tell him she had done as much.

For Stephen's part he missed Christine - even if she wasn't his, and tried making a list of everything he remembered that she would need to know for the best possible experience, even though he didn't remember all the flowers that Christine's universe seemed to have. Or the sunlight, or the fact that her New York wasn't as much of a concrete jungle as his was.

He wondered if it would cause an incursion if he did go to see her - even if it was just - to check how the new way of things worked.

838. He tried concentration and focus and to imagine what it had been like there. How it smelled. What it was like to cross the street on red.

Christine had learned meditation from her Stephen, and had gained an appreciation for it.

With the infinite mysteries of the multiverse, apparently if two people are meditating about one another at just the right time they can connect, ever so slightly.

It's nothing but a faint whisper at the edge of his mind; but it is Christine.

Stephen

Christine? How... how are you?

That seemed polite and depending on her answer would probably depend on which Christine, but - he was pretty sure she would know the difference before he did.

He wondered if she would still want to come, after all - maybe it was only a joke between people that weren't going to see each other again, there was only the potential of it.

He wasn't sure if he should expect such success on the first try.

been researching. Think I found a way to make inner universe travel less dangerous.

She won't be able to maintain the connection very long, she doesn't have the magical power he does to hold something so mentally taxing.

But if the message gets across he should be able to understand that it's an invitation.

He concentrated further, trying to determine if he could actually travel, and fulfill that invitation, or if he'd need help getting there.

That much was likely up to just how powerful he was. She had heard of Sorcerers who could use other dimensions to travel between Universes, but she has yet to encounter one.

Waypoint. Make sure not to bother America, who was probably focusing on where she needed to be - and her own path.

Make sure to find the waypoint, then one could find their way into that universe. Christine's universe. Make sure to leave himself a door out so they could go back and forth.

It was all a bit dangerous and uncharted territory. But she believes they can do this without causing an incursion.

The potential to see the multiverse had made Christine work overtime, running every sort of simulation.

Now that she had gotten a message across she just has to wait, and make sure the door to the waypoint is clear and safe.

His hands definitely shook as he opened the portal. He did tell himself that his intentions were only to check on Christine's safety, show her his universe - and then - return her. This last part there was hesitation. Maybe Christine would want to stay. Maybe they could only visit for brief periods and that was what the universe allotted.

He opened the door to the where the waypoint was, and then entered the door under the river. He kept his sling ring in his hand, certain that he didn't want to be lost in this world, even though -- there was a Wong in his. He wasn't Sorcerer Supreme. He didn't need to be holding the knife.

"Christine?" He wondered if she was here, under the river, waiting for him.
He didn't portal to the lab, as much as he thought about doing it just for the sake of dramatic effect. If not he would have to go upstairs to the lab. That might require a simpler disguise.

She had just been leaving the door, walking back to the lab when she heard him. Her breath caught for just a moment before she turned to quickly go back.

"Stephen?" She didn't think she would be so excited to see the man again, but having lost her Stephen and then finally meeting another; it did make her miss the arrogant former-doctor that she knew so well.

"You made it." She grins when she rounds the corner and sees him.

"Christine." He folded his hands in front of him so they didn't shake as hard. "How are you, and this ... universe?" So he wouldn't have to worry, about the fact that they really didn't have much protection.

He smiled and looked relieved that she was in front of him. "I didn't thank you properly for ... watching my body. So. Thank you, very much." He was glad to see her, more than anything, but he didn't want to touch her too much, not if that wasn't something she wanted.

"Oh you know, it's ok. All the Illuminati are dead, so sort of a mixed blessing really." She had never liked them after what they had done to her Stephen. She understood the reasoning, but it seemed harsh.

"No, it's nothing. I wasn't about to let you get eaten by demon spirits or whatever they were." There's a certain tension between them, like they both might want to hug the other but just aren't sure about it.

"It's really good to see you again."

He felt odd, because that meant Mordo too - but - the universe being guarded by Christine would probably fare much better.

"It's ... good to see you too." I missed you, he can't say. The other you. She looks like she felt similar but - as he said, he gets scared. Touching is so intimate and close and bring up so many sensations. "They were the souls of the damned, those that were ... consumed and tempted by the Darkhold's power. So. What's this ... new device you've invented to enable us to see each other but not make each other ill?"

"Demon ghosts, close enough." She feels a little calmer, starting to relax in his presence, it was familar after all.

"They're in my lab. All life has a frequency, naturally, and each universes life has a slightly different one. So the bracelet I made adjusts for the difference." Christine can go into her research with such ease and passion.

"So you found a way to tap into ... a musical sort of consciousness." He smiled, not making fun, just connecting the fact that frequency was musical in a sense - connected to sound waves.
"That's brilliant." Stephen was making an effort to not - be thinking that he was as alone - that he had to fix it, and that wouldn't have been something he would have thought of.

She's so passionate about her work, that's something he admires.

"A bit, yes." She gives a little smile at the compliment. "It should offer a good bit of protection so we can have these visits."

Of course it would never be entirely safe, but she could hone her invention, make it better.

"How is your world?"

He moved closer. "Good... I - I think I'd like that."
He thought about telling her a lot of things. "America joined Kamer-Taj, apparently garnering some skill before she tries to find her parents."

He knew his world was a bit different than she might be used to.

"Good, she seems like a nice kid."

Christine is the one to reach out first, to touch his face, just like she had when they said good-bye.

"And how are you?"

"She's brilliant. Just needs to learn to slow down and trust herself a bit."
He sighed when she touched him.

"I'm - trying to not be the only one holding the knife." He'd taken some of that advice to heart, and frankly he hoped that at some point - in some universe Christine and he would figure out what they were to each other.

"I remember you saying something similar to me when I was a resident." To trust herself.

The touch went over well enough that she thinks it is safe to drape her arms around his shoulders.

"I'm proud of you."

"I'm sure I said it with much more arrogance." He leaned into the touch, not wanting to seem desperate, but he liked the closeness, even though it was hard to let people that close without fearing loss entirely.

He wasn't sure how to respond to the rest of it, so he leaned closer and kissed her head.
He just liked being with her, frankly - even though they should probably decide if they wanted to visit his universe or if she wanted to show him around.

"Oh, very arrogantly. But it did help."

As much as she wants to just stay like this, it's not a good idea.

"We need to get the bracelets on before we break the multiverse." She steps away from him. "Want to portal to the lab?"

"We can't walk and have hallway conversations like we used to?" It's so easy for him to forget this is not his Christine, that they have some technological advancements that his universe does not.

He doesn't forget completely - but it was easier to ignore it. Plus, he planned on using the portals back through the void, and that might take quite a good deal of magic.

Christine nods. "I guess we can. I have missed our long hallway talks."

They usually involved Stephen talking about something he was researching, or speaking at.

"Shall we, Dr. Strange?" She turns to walk back under the river.