Who: Stephen Strange, npc!Wong What: Magical location spells. When: Recently, days ago. Rating/Warnings: Green.
The talk he had with Tony Stark was only a first step toward helping those who were displaced by fragmenting the timeline. Even if it saved an entire planet, Stephen Strange knew that was his fault. And as much as they were both egomaniacs that preferred to be left to their own devices - Stark to his tinkering and him to his books - they were easily able to see eye to eye. Or they were finally able to, once he wasn't being stared at like his head was on fire, and he had fully explained the reason that time was broken in the first place. It wasn't only politics that made for strange bedfellows. Apparently saving the world did, too.
Unfortunately for everyone involved, it would only get worse. They had to act quickly. When he sensed those nearby that were affected or transported by the distortion, it didn't take him long to deduce that Stark was the braggart that could help the most.
Among those that wouldn't help, but would have been useful if only they weren't so fickle? He had sensed Loki's arrival and distinct magical signature. He was alone. No other Asgardians were accompanying him. The only thing that kept him from sending the trickster god into a dimensional free fall, was Loki's sudden spell casting. Magic was comprised of focus and intent, and he could sense the intent that was used to cloak any movements. Those spells weren't created out of malicious intent. They were woven out of a chaotic web of fear and confusion, an act of self-preservation that didn't escape Strange's notice.
Whether it was from the threat of a free fall or something else, Loki knew that he could be sensed merely standing on a street corner. Any sorcerer worth their salt would shield themselves with spells that were going to take a lot of time and frustration to break through, and Loki had over a thousand years to perfect his craft. This was going to be a problem. A problem to keep a close eye on. If Loki was stupid or careless enough to lash out with any ill intent, he would know. If he used any magic to harm someone else, it would be like a beacon to locate and hone in on. Hopefully, if he was actually concerned about any repercussions, it might be possible to reason with him and keep him from acting out. If not, then there was a safe and non-destructive means to contain Loki, or anyone like him.
That was going to be an issue he'd try to solve in his free-time. Same thing with trying to locate that rotten smell downstairs that started about an hour ago. He swore it coincided with Wong showing up from the Hong Kong Sanctum, but there were more important issues taking precedent. Stark might have a big mouth, but it was apparent that he was a workaholic accustomed to burning the candle at both ends. The text he received two hours ago stated that things were ninety percent complete. The other half, his own obligation toward making amends, was going to use much more esoteric methods.
As though on cue, Wong reverently laid a book on a table as though it was made of blown glass. As he turned each page, they looked ready to crumble to dust. Preserving this was going on the To Do list. They'd have to transcribe it before it was lost to the ages.
"And we're sure this the right spell," Stephen asked as he looked over the pages that Wong had stopped on. It came out of a stack of books that he hadn't read yet.
"Is my head still attached to my neck?" Wong replied, and it was hard to tell if the former librarian was honestly trying to make a joke or being an jerk. Wong's face was at his default setting: devoid of expression.
A stare-off ensued.
Finally, thankfully, Wong grunted out one word, "Joke."
"I...gathered. Mostly. Warnings, warnings, warnings," he was saying as he moved to flip to the next page, only to have his hand slapped away. Wong did it instead.
His eyes quickly skimmed over the pages, committing it all to memory. This wasn't that bad for a remote viewing spell. It would save him scouring New York in his astral form. "Nothing other than the risk of minor hemorrhaging from the eyes if not done correctly. For both parties involved. That's not so bad? Remember the one that could turn someone inside out if they moved the sigil a half turn counterclockwise, instead of clockwise?"
"Which you almost did," the other man reminded him, and at that, he actually laughed out loud. After this much time spent together, he had learned that Wong thoroughly enjoyed dark comedy.
"Thanks, Wong. You're so helpful," was his dry response. "If you see any blood pouring out of eyes, you'll be the one taking over."
He drew in a deep breath while focusing on those residual spots where time had momentarily thinned and someone had traversed through. Scarred hands moved through the air to form the Eldritch magic from the diagram from the book. The bright lines were drawn as though made of burning fire, lines twisting and turning until an intricate mandala was formed in front of his face. He saw Wong nod in approval and then began to expand his mind outward.
There were a few that were already affected wandering around. Besides himself, Wong, Stark, and Loki. And there were some that really wanted to stay undercover as much as possible and had the experience to stay that way.
"...great," he grumbled out loud. This task was going to be harder than he thought. As they moved, he memorized their last locations and general directions they might be moving toward. These people might be on the move or magically shielding themselves, but time itself had marked them. He could make an educated guess to their whereabouts and simply use the spell again.
Those who had no magic were easier to locate. Time for an experiment. He tried to focus on Loki and as he felt his sight moving in a certain direction, his mind's eye met an instantaneous blinding flash of green and gold that left him with a dull headache. It had to be a warning to not get too close. He'd have to find the radius and unravel Loki's spell, and then send an envoy while keeping close tabs on if they stayed safe or not. Stephen would happily put a certain mischief maker into a perpetual free-fall and conveniently forget about him, until Thor showed up. It was then that he saw something...different.
He blinked his eyes open with a surprised 'huh' noise slipping past his lips.
"What is it?" Wong asked, his voice as serious as his expression surely was.
"I think...I saw the The Wind Sash of Wazimuto in the upper atmosphere. White. Flappy. Like a demon scarf on a rampage."
"Hm. Yes, that sounds like it."
"One more thing for the to do list," he sighed. If the Wind Sash ever landed, he hoped everyone would back away slowly and then lay on the ground with their hands over their heads. Or they'd be likely to lose their heads or be hung from their necks. At least until it generated enough self-momentum to blow itself up and away again. That thing had been on the loose causing random gusts and down-drafts for the last five hundred years. How it avoided taking out an airliner was a miracle. They had enough problems. The last thing they needed was an escaped relic flapping around overhead.
"I have a headache now." He opened one eye and shifted his gaze off to one side. "Are my eyes bleeding?"
Wong leaned in enough to take a peek at the side of Stephen's face. He grunted once and told him, "Bloodshot."
"I can tell there's a limit." With a wave of his hands, the magic dissipated. He shook his head in an attempt to clear the ache away. It didn't work. "Practice makes perfect."
"No choice now. It is a necessity."
"...I know," was Stephen's all too somber reply. "I need to meditate. And some naproxen."
"Eat first. I brought you stinky tofu."
If there was anyone alive that knew the full implications of damned if you do and damned if you don't, it was Stephen Strange.