InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "It tickles!"

Dr. Stephen Strange (doctor__strange) wrote in avengers_net,
@ 2019-04-03 12:12:00

Entry tags:

- network, clint barton, natasha romanoff, nick fury, peter quill, stephen strange

Q&A
All right. I'm here to answer questions about this universe. Including what's happening in it, what might happen in it, and what won't be happening in it.

I'll answer to the best of my ability. Here's some highlights from the welcome pamphlet: This pamphlet will be updated with new reprintings, as time goes on.

-------------------------------------start of pamphlet-------------------------------------

You, Other You, and the Multiverse
An Overview for the Recently Displaced

by Dr. Stephen Strange, Master of the Mystic Arts

Hello. You've arrived in an alternate universe. It's a jarring experience that each of us has been through. Take your time and read through everything at your own pace.

You - You have diverged from the prime universe into this alternate copy. No one in the primary universe will notice that you are missing. There is only one of you in this particular universe at any given time, so you've taken the place of this universe's counterpart. There are already multiples of you in each universe throughout the multiverse.^[1] Some of them are like you. Some of them are not. Some of them are dead. Some are alive. At least one of them is a circus clown or a talking dinosaur. That means it's possible that...

Another You - might have been here before. This might not be the first version of you. If you go back far enough on the network, you can see what other yous have posted. This means that you'll have to reforge connections again. It also means that others are going to have to make that connection again with you. There is only one you here, at any given time. There should never be more than one you. Having another you runs the risk of a temporal paradox.^[2]

The Multiverse - There is an infinite number of universes, but only two are of importance. This universe is a stabilizing copy of what we'll call the Prime Universe. That's the universe that our timeline has diverged from, where Thanos won and a decimation took place. In this universe, we have the Infinity Stones and Thanos does not. Events from the Prime Universe sometimes leak over from the rift connecting our universes together. You may periodically experience what your Prime counterpart has done in dreams or visions. There are no connections to any other universes. You don't need to worry about any bleed-over from them. In a few hundred years, the rift between Our Universe and the Prime Universe may seal itself shut. There is no way for us to close it or lessen the effects of it through shielding. This has already been attempted. It must happen naturally.

Stabilization - There's no way to seal the breach that connects these two universes or has brought us over as a diverged copy. No, unfortunately, I can't stop it from taking you away, replacing you, or replacing or removing anyone you care about. No, I can't make the universe stop leaping 5 years forward in time, although it has only happened once before. I have no control over these things. No one does. If we try to force or make adjustments to an already unstable universe, we risk the bubble popping and everything ceases to exist. Meaning you will cause a universal collapse, and the end of everything and everyone living in it. Lights out. Game over.

Mind Leeches or Lost Memories - This happens. Unfortunately. At random intervals, you may have dreams of what you have done in the other universe.
If you or someone around you begins having trouble recognizing where they are or what's happening? Contact me immediately. I can remove astral parasites, but I can't return any lost memories of what you've done in this universe. The removal doesn't hurt. It's a dull headache at worst and usually goes away within 24 hours. Either way, take two Tylenol and get some rest.

Return Trips - Aren't happening. Similar to how I have no control over who comes or goes, I also don't have a way to shove you back into a dimension where, technically, another you already exists or has recently died. Even if I were able, and I'm not, attempting to forcibly place you in there might create a variety of temporal paradox or causal loops, which would potentially degrade this timeline and definitely pollute that one. Which, lets face it, is already polluted with enough tragic events. That they need to figure out.

If it makes it easier, think of yourself as Schrodinger's cat in this image, with one branch being your Prime Universe counterpart and the other yourself in this universe. Minus the dead part. Hopefully.

You can liken the creation of an alternate timeline into a new universe to a fork in the road, or the branching of the letter Y, where the two paths continue running concurrent in close relation to one another. There can be some overlap where the veil is thin. We are in frame 3 where the two universes have separated, where you can see through to the other side. As time moves forward, we will separate into our own unique universe.

The specifics and mechanics of this universal anomaly are not entirely understood. There are no answers as to why you ended up here, how you were brought here, or how long your stay might be. Much less what happens when, or if, you disappear.

Here are some recommendations:

DO: take time to adjust - Once you are given a room in the new Avengers Tower, try to find some quiet time to adjust to your new surroundings. If this means sleeping for a day or two, take that time to do what you need to do in order to gradually settle in. The events of the 'snappening' and 'unsnappening' in the other universe have already transpired here. You don't need to worry about it happening again.

DO: stay hydrated - You might find that your appetite has suffered, but staying hydrated helps your mental focus while you are adjusting to your new timeline. I don't recommend you do this with alcohol, but no one is going to blame you if you choose to use this as a coping mechanism. Temporarily. We hope.

DO: look through your entire welcome package - Within, you will find everything you need to use the network or communicate; a laptop, phone, log in credentials, and an apartment key. There is a prepaid card for food or other necessities. It is connected to an Avengers expense account, and money is added the 1st of the month. Speak to Tony or Pepper if you have payment or accomidation issues.

DON'T: start street preaching - The other people in this universe aren't aware that they're copies. In any way. At best, you'll appear mentally impaired but mostly harmless. At worst, the cops might think you are aggressive or a threat. It's likely they will either try to shoot you, arrest you, or place you under an involuntary psychiatric hold for 72 hours. If you use superpowers to resist, the government might label you as a threat or an enemy. No, I won't help get you out of jail or custody if you want to become a fugitive, because...

DON'T: stop believing - that what you do here doesn't matter, or how you act won't have the usual repercussions. Even if the Sokovian Accords were ruled unconstitutional in the USA, other countries still enforce them. In this country, we're still operating under the same legal system and rules of engagement as before. No excuses. Play stupid games? Win stupid prizes.

DON'T: avoid others - talking with others in a similar situation can help you process what's happened.

Further Information

Locations
a. Dr. Strange resides at 177z Bleeker Street, New York, NY 10012. To schedule an appointment, text or send a message through the Avengers Network.
b. The new Stark Industries building (new Avengers Tower) is at 200 West St, New York, NY 10282. Request clearance or employment from Tony Stark.
c. Asgardians live in Asgard, currently at the edge of our solar system. They have network access and a working Bifrost. Ask Valkyrie for a request to visit.
d. The former Avengers HQ in upstate New York is now a research center and storage facility. The former Avengers Tower was sold in 2017.

Links recommended by Tony Stark

a. Multiverse - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiverse
b. Temporal Paradox - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temporal_paradox
c. Wormholes - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wormhole
d. Chaos Theory - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaos_theory
e. Schrödinger's Cat - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schr%C3%B6dinger%27s_cat
ᵖʳᶦⁿᵗᵉᵈ ᵃᵗ ˢᵗᵃʳᵏ⇁ᶦⁿᵈᵘˢᵗʳᶦᵉˢ⇁ ʷᶦᵗʰ ᵉᶜᵒ⁻ᶠʳᶦᵉⁿᵈˡʸ ʳᵉˢᵒᵘʳᶜᵉˢ ᵒⁿ ¹⁰⁰ ᵖᵉʳᶜᵉⁿᵗ ʳᵉᶜʸᶜˡᵉᵈ ᵖᵃᵖᵉʳ

-------------------------------------end of pamphlet-------------------------------------

A few caveats to this post:

You probably won't like what I have to say.

Whatever it is, Stark? No.

I can't give you the best date for anything related to weddings, births, or other social functions. I'm not Miss Cleo.

(Post a new comment)

	the_iron_man 2019-04-03 07:16 pm UTC (link)
	God. You are a raging pit of unfun. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	doctor__strange 2019-04-03 07:17 pm UTC (link)
	Great. Mission accomplished. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	thehoffs_twin 2019-04-03 08:17 pm UTC (link)
	This was the worst Ted talk ever. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	doctor__strange 2019-04-03 08:23 pm UTC (link)
	It's informative. Not fun. Like most Ted talks. No refunds. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	thehoffs_twin 2019-04-03 09:16 pm UTC (link)
	You can't give me back the 15 minutes it took to read this? (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	doctor__strange 2019-04-03 09:18 pm UTC (link)
	~~I'm surprised it didn't take longer.~~ No. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	the_destroyer 2019-04-03 09:19 pm UTC (link)
	Who is Ted and what did he talk about? (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	thehoffs_twin 2019-04-03 09:36 pm UTC (link)
	Some super smart guy who franchised out public speaking. Earth is weird. You can make money doing nothing. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	the_destroyer 2019-04-03 09:55 pm UTC (link)
	He charges money to speak publically? This planet is stupid. These talks from Ted also need pictures to illustrate their points. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	doctor__strange 2019-04-04 07:29 pm UTC (link)
	I've added a picture. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	thehoffs_twin 2019-04-07 05:12 am UTC (link)
	It's the worst, my dude. Super worst. It actually makes me miss Nova Prime sometimes and then I eat a pizza and I remember life is good. ...there are! Okay, you've been youtubing this haven't you. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	the_destroyer 2019-04-07 07:55 pm UTC (link)
	I was watching these you tube videos of Ted's approved talks, but I started thinking of other things and fell asleep. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	the_destroyer 2019-04-27 08:15 pm UTC (link)
	Also. We need more pizza. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	seeswithboth 2019-04-03 08:18 pm UTC (link)
	Good information. Appreciate the reminder. [private] You're not keeping me out of the loop, are you? I need to know what's going on. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	doctor__strange 2019-04-03 08:45 pm UTC (link)
	You're welcome. [private] Nothing new, unless you want to know about a rise in Cthulhu-ism, dark entity attacks, and astral parasites. The breech has been unnaturally quiet. After the last time, where I forgot who I was for four or five days, I haven't stuck my face back into it. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	seeswithboth 2019-04-03 09:36 pm UTC (link)
	[private] No, that's fine. I have a team going to Estonia next week, to work on that weapons tip. I think this will keep us busy for a while. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	[private] doctor__strange 2019-04-03 09:54 pm UTC (link)
	I see. Weapons runners are definitely not my forte, so I'll leave it to you professionals. If there's any cosmic anomalies or mystical creatures on the loose, then I'll let you know. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	blackwidowbite 2019-04-03 08:26 pm UTC (link)
	Succinct and to the point. Very helpful primer. [private] Any chance I could get more background info on all this? (Reply to this) (Thread)

	doctor__strange 2019-04-03 08:30 pm UTC (link)
	I hope it helped. At least with the basics. [private] We'll have to get more specific. I doubt you want generalizations about the universe, and I might not have the finer details about personal matters. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	blackwidowbite 2019-04-03 08:35 pm UTC (link)
	It cleared up most of my questions. [private] It's mostly for my own education. I like knowing about a variety of things and this seems like a rather important one I should read up on. Your area of expertise is one I haven't encountered much, if at all, in my past. As for personal matters, I figure I'll be told what I need to know by the relevant parties. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	[private] doctor__strange 2019-04-03 08:44 pm UTC (link)
	All right. I know you and the Avengers are more grounded than the things I deal with. I'm a Master of the Mystic Arts, tasked with protecting this planet from inter-dimensional threats. I'm also guarding the Time Stone. As for those relevant parties, that's probably a good idea. You and I haven't had interaction other than the initial first meetings. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	Re: [private] blackwidowbite 2019-04-03 08:51 pm UTC (link)
	And that just makes me want to know more for when any situations come up where you're unavailable or otherwise engaged. But, I presume it's best to have fewer cooks in the kitchen? (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

[private]

doctor__strange
2019-04-03 09:15 pm UTC (link)

Or if I'm dusted again. Unless that happens a third time, my door is always open and I'm available to answer questions on the network or by text. No matter what those questions are or when anyone wants to ask them.

That's a good metaphor. It's not a matter of too many cooks, Natasha. It's a matter of what ingredients the cooks are working with, and what they're cooking.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	Re: [private] blackwidowbite 2019-04-03 09:25 pm UTC (link)
	I'm sorry you had to go through that experience. I will keep that in mind for when I have more questions. I see. There is great potential for many disasters to happen that way. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

[private]

doctor__strange
2019-04-03 09:31 pm UTC (link)

Thanks, but there's nothing for anyone to be sorry for. I learned from it here. And I only gathered what it was like over there, after piecing what happened together again. After the fact.

This has hit other people harder. Like Clint.

Could be. I think a disaster happens when too many cooks are working on the same dish, rather than making what they know best. As long as they're working independently while tackling the same dinner plan, everything should come together.

Now I need to go to Hong Kong.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	Re: [private] blackwidowbite 2019-04-03 09:36 pm UTC (link)
	Yes...I need to sit down with Clint and get the lay of the land there. I can't imagine how he's feeling. Hmm, so experimenting without supervision is unwise I take it. Oh, I haven't been in forever. I miss the dumplings. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

[private]

doctor__strange
2019-04-03 09:52 pm UTC (link)

I've dealt with this as a neurosurgeon. Counseling usually helps. I think he's still working his way through the stages of grief.

Some of us were going to talk to him about trying to get his family back in this universe, but that opportunity is gone. The people capable of it are no longer with us. I never got a chance to mention it.

That's a good question to ask, about experimenting with the boundaries of all of this. It depends on who is doing the experimentation and what the experiments pertain to. Stark's latest attempt to study the Reality Stone ended up being a bad idea. There's still some room to test other boundaries. Let's just say, I'm not about to poke this universe and see how many times it takes until it pops.

That's what I'm going for, to pick up some shao mai. The food analogies did it.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

Re: [private]

blackwidowbite
2019-04-03 11:28 pm UTC (link)

That's not typically a thing we tend toward, but I'll do what I can.

In some ways that's better he doesn't know that there was a chance especially since that opportunity is no longer there. That second gut punch would've done even more damage.

I'm glad someone has common sense on that front. I'd like to stay in one piece, please and thank you.

Mind picking up an additional few orders of whatever you're going for for me?

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	[private] doctor__strange 2019-04-04 02:23 am UTC (link)
	I'm not going to stop working on finding a way. If I do find something that is the best chance, then I'll approach. For now, as things stand, getting him to gradually talk about it might be beneficial. I think a lot of people would echo that sentiment. In the meantime, dim sum. I can do that. I'll leave it on your kitchen counter. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	cant_miss 2019-04-04 01:07 am UTC (link)
	There's no return shipping? You can't send me back? (Reply to this) (Thread)

	doctor__strange 2019-04-04 01:42 am UTC (link)
	I'm sorry, but no. Once you're here, there is no way to send you back again. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	cant_miss 2019-04-04 02:54 am UTC (link)
	Then what's the fucking point? (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	doctor__strange 2019-04-04 02:59 am UTC (link)
	I can't answer that for you, Clint. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	cant_miss 2019-04-04 06:36 pm UTC (link)
	You were right. I didn't like the answer. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	doctor__strange 2019-04-04 06:39 pm UTC (link)
	No one does. (Reply to this) (Parent)