defenderofdesmoines | Kamar-Taj

It was kind of surreal to be back here at Kamar-Taj, but it was a welcome sort of surrealness, at least.

...also, had that one sorcerer with a bull's head always been here?

"You guys should look into getting on the grid,"Annie commented lightly from where she was seated and assessing her injuries (including whether anything had messed up her be-socked foot, since she was never getting that shoe back.) "Or at least keep some flashlights around. How does anyone charge their phones here?"

Important questions!

Dr. Stephen Strange	"They're pretty old-fashioned here," Stephen, now fully alive, said. "But you're more than welcome to take it up with the Sorcerer Supreme." Wong did love him some Netflix. He looked down at Annie's foot. "Sorry about your shoe."
Annie Hargreeves	Annie made a pff noise and waved a hand. "Sorry about your...." She paused, then just waved at Stephen's whole person. "Sorry for kicking you. And, uh. All that like...chasing and stuff." Annie had never been a horror movie villain -- or the puppet of one -- before! And weirdly, she didn't really want to repeat the experience, either.
Dr. Stephen Strange	"What's a little Michael Myers stalking among friends?" Stephen said with a shrug. "Look, about Wanda. She did the right thing in the end." Sure, that didn't make up for all the mind stealing and killing, but it counted for something.
Annie Hargreeves	Annie softened, her shoulders sinking a little. "She did," she agreed quietly, before blowing out a slow breath. "I'm really gonna miss her." Even after everything that had happened. It all seemed both so preventable and so...inevitable at the same time. Annie had known (and loved) a lot of flawed people, but she had never met someone who was as much her own worst enemy as Wanda Maximoff. Literally and figuratively.
Dr. Stephen Strange	"Me too," he admitted. "And I don't say that often about people who try to kill me." Mordo, for example. He would not miss him. Stephen nodded over toward America. "We'll take good care of her here, you don't need to worry about that. Though she's proven she's more than capable of taking care of herself now." He'd miss Wanda, yes, but it was still pretty cool to see America punch her.
Annie Hargreeves	"Sometimes it just takes a little push," Annie noted, smiling over at America. Or, you know, being repeatedly traumatized to the point of being forced to understand how to use your power. America and Viktor Hargreeves probably hung out in yet another universe, comparing notes. "But don't be a stranger," she added, her smile widening because look at that, she sort of made a little joke there. "Even if she's safe here...like, let me know how she's doing? How all of you are doing." She meant him and Wong in addition to America, of course, but also -- like, was the minotaur friendly? Annie was very curious about him.
Dr. Stephen Strange & America Chavez	"Of course," Stephen said. "Even if I don't, Wong loves being in everyone's business." Annoyingly so. America bounded up to Annie and Stephen, pumped from already seeing the cool stuff she'd be doing at Kamar-Taj. "You're leaving already?" She probably could use finding another shoe, America.
Annie Hargreeves	"Yeah, I can't hang too long," Annie replied as she pushed up to her feet. She'd be sore for a few days, but it didn't seem like she had any internal damage or anything. Nothing she hadn't already been through with the likes of Soldier Boy and Black Noir -- though at least she'd kept both shoes through those fights. "Unless you think I'd make a good sorcerer, too. What do you think?" And cue Annie doing some complicated, circular hand motions in front of herself while putting on a very serious face for America.
America Chavez	America laughed. "Probably should stick to the light stuff and the punching." "Oh!" America said, perking up. "Do you need a portal? 'Cause I can totally do that now."
Annie Hargreeves	"Yes you do," Annie replied, beaming at her. "And you know what, I totally am going to need a portal, considering I can't really leave how I got here the first time. And speaking of your portals -- I keep meaning to tell you, America. You and I share -- um, a motif." She moved over, holding out her left hand so America could see her wedding ring -- though, of course, that was a eight-pointed starburst, rather than America's five-pointed ones. "My codename, back when I was working," she shared, smiling softly, "was Starlight." So she was all about your portals for a few reasons, America.
America Chavez	"Cool," America said, taking Annie's hand briefly to look at her ring. "I love a theme." As if that wasn't already evident by the fact her jacket had a star and an American flag printed on it. "Uh, I know this might be weird since I've known you for, like, a day and a half," she said. "But can I hug you goodbye?"
Annie Hargreeves	"I was going to insist," Annie told her with a little laugh, reaching to pull America into a tight (but not that tight, don't worry!) hug. That was your warning she was gonna come for you, too, Stephen. (Also, everyone was just going to have to deal with the fact that these hugs were coming with a touch of Eau de Zombie Stephen Strange.) "You should be so proud of yourself," Annie told America softly, giving her a squeeze.
America Chavez	"Thank you. For everything," America said, hugging Annie back. A star-shaped portal burst open behind them, startling a few students. "Whenever you're ready."
Annie Hargreeves	Annie gave her one more squeeze before pulling back with a soft, fond smile, and now it was your turn, Stephen. And, also, his important, life-saving friend. Accessory? (...pet?) "Thank you," Annie told Stephen, moving in for a hug. "And I keep meaning to tell you, I love your cape."
Dr. Stephen Strange	"Cloak," he said before giving Annie an awkward hug back. "It's a cloak." Said cloak curled around Annie to give her a little hug as well. "Okay, that's enough of that."
Annie Hargreeves	"Aww, Cloak, you're nice," Annie told it (unless that was not Cloak's preferred pronoun; this was uncertain territory), giving the cloak a little pat as she gently pulled back from Stephen. "Thanks for saving me, buddy." Seriously. Her cape -- which might well be a cloak and she never realized (fact: it was not, it was actually a cape) -- had never saved her life! Not once! "And thank you, too," she added, more sincere as she addressed Stephen. "It's been real." And if you all did not think she would be hitting up Wong -- because she'd already figured out that while Stephen was a medical doctor of some sort, actually, Wong was definitely the one to ask here -- for a good therapist here in this superhero-friendly universe.... Well. That wouldn't be surprising. You all also probably needed therapy, too, really.
Dr. Stephen Strange	Wong had therapist recommendations ready to give to Stephen for so long now. "Be careful, kid." He couldn't help himself with that moniker.
Annie Hargreeves	Annie rolled her eyes, though again -- it was very fond. "You too, old man." (Though like, old in a handsome way. Only having grey hair at your temples looked so cool.) She turned to America, offering, "I'm just a call or a text away. Make these guys get you a phone that can stay charged here, okay?" as she walked towards the portal. Maybe there were magic phone chargers! Or magic phones! That sounded like a thing.
America Chavez	"Oh they're getting me so many things." Especially now that she was mostly holed up in a multiverse where you had to pay for things. "Bye, Annie! Visit us!" Maybe help them whenever Kang showed up to do horrible stuff!