public channel; forward-dated a hair to day 67

[kingsroads]

[ There's a bit of a pause before Strange starts talking, as if he's not entirely certain what he's going to say. He sounds a bit tired, but awake enough to hold a conversation. ]

For those of you who didn't already know, I'm not dead anymore. [ pause. ] Which, I suppose, is obvious as I'm talking to the radio, but the point stands.

I'd like to speak directly to the Ringmaster, Syrlya, and Zangetsu, if possible. As for everybody else, can you please fill me in on what happened from the time I left with Ignatius to now? Don't spare any details, this will be written down for posterity's sake.

[ fun fact: Strange has ABSOLUTELY ZERO CLUE about the various levels of trainwreck that the fae party in the library + rescue missions + torture session were. ]

Finally, odd question, but did anyone bring any flameproof fabric?

Comments

[kingsroads]

Can't you find me instead? [ Strange whines. if there was any worry in Childermass's mind that Strange was still enthralled, this whiny tone of voice is straight up proving that Strange is himself again. ]

I'm still in the medical tent.

[atouts]

[ Oh, he knows. He was lurking in the trees, watching everyone else scramble around the newly hatched magician. ]

No. [ Also he can't punch a man too weak to leave the medical tent, which is surely what will happen, though he won't inform Strange of that. ] You'll be busy with visitors enough as it is.

[kingsroads]

I'd prefer it if one of those visitors was you. Apparently, more fae showed up than expected.

[ more fae like the Count of Crows. u okay, buddy? ]

[atouts]

Something I am well aware of. Still, I recommend you get your own rest before worrying about that.

[ aka he's being a jerk and not saying. ]

[kingsroads]

If you're going to be that stubborn, then I'll get up and find you myself.

[ says the person equally stubborn. ]

[atouts]

Considering I am inclined to put you right back into the kind and caring arms of our doctor... [ Yes, that is sarcasm, just very dry sarcasm. ] Maybe you should not.

[kingsroads]

Find me a reflection, I'll be there shortly. [ fuck yooooou, he's gonna do this ]

[atouts]

[ meanwhile, Childermass, being nowhere near anything particularly reflective does... nothing? he's not exactly inclined to go find the nearest lake or something. ]

[kingsroads]

[ There's a pause, some murmuring, five seconds of silence and then an intensely annoyed noise. ]

Please go stand near a puddle.

[ guess who's scrying on Childermass, hint it's Strange, bet you missed this. ]

[atouts]

Can't particularly say I see one near me, Mr. Strange.

[kingsroads]

[ Another pause, before, ]

Well, it's a bit of a walk but it will have to do. Try not to move from where you're standing. I'd hate to pass out in the middle of the woods.

[atouts]

[ Of course, he's still going to try and find him. There is, naturally, a sigh, but he won't mutter or curse at Strange. He'll just say, sounding eternally resigned, ]

Stay put. I will be over in a minute.

[whattaprick]

[ And there's a drowsy, faintly audible murmuring in the background that probably explains how a certain someone isn't up and yelling at Strange-- ]

Goin' somewhere?

[kingsroads]

Lambert! Childermass, please drag Lambert with you, I need to yell at him as well.

[atouts]

You slept through the open season for yelling at him, I'm afraid. [ Or remained egged through? Whatever. ] Similarly to yourself, he, too, doesn't need to be running around.

[ Ignoring the fact that Childermass can just go from shadow to shadow, so there'd be very little running involved. ]

[whattaprick]

[ Turns out half-carrying your recently dead BFF's ass really takes it out of you, huh? Anyway, since it's not directly into the radio, the response is still faint but tinged with unmistakable scorn: ]

--aép arse.

[kingsroads]

He was well enough to watch me hatch, [ Strange briefly complains. ]

But fine. I can wait until he's awake.

[atouts]

He thought he was. There's a difference.

[ Because he thought wrong.

Regardless, he's leaving the tent and it really does only take a minute. In one shadow, out the next, stepping straight out into the medical tent. He's a little more casually dressed than usual, lacking cravat and vest, but that's about it. ]

[kingsroads]

[ thankfully, someone hosed Strange down. He's a tired mess, but at least he's sitting up and at least he's not covered in egg gunk.

When Strange sees Childermass, he gives the fellow magician a grin. Look at Strange, he's perfectly fine and not a slightly traumatised ball of conflicting emotions! Nope, he is trying to seem like he's aokay, because then the inevitable 'you're a bonehead' talk will go so much smoother. ]

I go from being a soldier to camping trips in the woods. This is the peninsula all over again!

[atouts]

[ From being a soldier to...? Immediately, that has Childermass frowning, because why would he ever do anything but frown? Still, he crosses the few steps it takes to go from where he had arrived to standing over Strange, hands settling on his hips so that he's standing in a way that definitely screams 'yes, he is here to judge you'. ]

You haven't been a soldier since the peninsula, Mr. Strange. [ Nightrunner business aside, that's more mercenary work than real soldiering. ] So I believe you are mistaken.

[kingsroads]

[ And now it's Strange's turn to frown. Of course he was a soldier, that's why Ignatius put him through—ah. Wait. Ignatius. Childermass doesn't know about what he experienced in Ignatius's realm.

There's a moment where Strange looks over Childermass and mulls his options. On the one hand, he probably should tell Childermass just what Ignatius wanted him for and did with him. On the other hand, that'll just invite more worry and more concern over Strange's mental state. And really, Strange can think of so many ways this conversation can go sour once the 'look, he's not that bad, he didn't horrifically torture me' point gets brought up. It's decided: Childermass doesn't need to know for now.

It'll probably come out later anyway. These things usually do. ]

Perhaps, [ Strange simply responds, before he changes the topic. ] I know you're here to yell at me, so we might as well get it over with.

[atouts]

[ It would only feed into the same thing he has to say now, to be completely honest. He could yell, he could tell off, scold, he could do a lot of things, but in the end, no, he just stares down at Strange for a drawn-out minute, an entire sixty seconds of saying nothing at all to that, to Strange telling him to just get on with it, like it's expected.

The man's grown too used to this, to him trying to talk sense into his mad schemes, and every time, it's for nothing. It's all wasted energy, wasted breath, so what he says instead is said without a hint of anger. ]

I sent Zangetsu to kill you because I already knew the others would not be able to manage it. If even death has not been enough to make you reflect upon your own actions in any useful way, I have nothing left to say to you, Mr. Strange.

[kingsroads]

[ Of course it's expected. When has Childermass even slightly approved of any idea Strange has? It's always no, Mister Strange, using the mirror is a stupid decision. No, Mister Strange, there's nothing you can do to help. Strange knew that as soon as Childermass entered the room, he'd berate him for his actions, and probably lay blame at Strange's feet for factors he couldn't control. ]

Of course I've reflected on my actions, [ Strange responds, as he narrows his eyes at Childermass. ] I had a plan. And, if I knew then what I know now, I'd shift aspects of the plan. But it's hardly my fault that I didn't know Lambert would be as stupidly bloodthirsty as he was and Rita would be as damn impulsive as she was.

[atouts]

Regardless of whether I agree or not with their actions, you don't really have a right to judge them, do you?

[ Because he really, really doesn't have a leg to stand on here, as far as Childermass is concerned. ]

This was a situation of your own making. You threw yourself away to our enemy knowing all too well how dangerous of a man you are. Knowing what you do now, would you have done differently, as you say? Or would you still have gone with Ignatius?

[kingsroads]

I threw myself away to the enemy knowing I could withstand whatever torture they put me through. If I had known now what I knew then... [ And Strange pauses for a moment. ]

I would have let Miss Hiragi offer herself instead.

[ Hot damn, is he ashamed to admit that! But it's the truth. He went into this situation thinking that Ignatius would be as bad as Nightshade was. Considering that, from Strange's perspective, he was only a fraction as terrible as Nightshade? That meant others could and would have survived. The experience would have probably fucked poor Yuzu up seven ways to Sunday, but she wouldn't be tortured. She'd make it out alive. And she'd be a hell of a lot easier to take down than he was.

Strange awkwardly rubs at the mirrored scratches around his wrist as he deliberately doesn't make eye contact with Childermass. ]