drpalmer | Christine Supreme AU

In all the infinite universes, there was sure to be one in which Stephen Strange didn't survive his car accident, and in this, particular version of such an event, Christine had been with him. It had been a different path that led her to magic. The universe needed a new sorcerer, be it Stephen or someone else.

She had trained and devoted herself to the mystical arts just as she had devoted herself to medicine. Healing magic and defensive spells came most naturally for her, it was in her blood to help. In this universe Christine Palmer became an incredible power, she saved countless lives.

Of course, she had never truly stopped mourning Stephen, but she carried on and fought in his memory.

When the walls between universes started to crack it was as if a call was put out for all the Sorcerers in every universe to find ways to help repair the cracks.

Something was coming and she could feel it. She was pacing around the Sanctum, whatever was on the way was going to come here, of that she was certain.

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"No, it wasn't exactly ideal." This Christine at least understands what drove him to it.

She doesn't answer that, instead she closes the space between them to kiss him.

He leans in and closes his eyes, trying to remember everything about this and what it felt like. The feel of her lips on his.

She's doing much the same, it's been so long since she's kissed anyone.

Kissing him is familar and different in equal measure, but it's wonderful.

He pulls back a little when he feels she might need to breathe properly and brushes his finger against her cheek. "It's been... a long time." He would have thought she might have moved on - and - oddly - he would have accepted it, as long as she was alive.

She rests her forehead against his, a happy little smile on her lips. She was determined to savor every moment she was allowed to have with him.

"I tried a few dates, a year or so after, but nothing felt right."

"How'd you get interested in the Mystic Arts?" He wants to know a lot of things, and enjoys being this close.

"I met the Ancient One, here in the city, on the sidelines of one of the many fights Tony Stark got into." The closeness is really lovely. "There was a pull, almost, like the magic was looking for me."

"Oh," he feels like he's missed out on something because he didn't know his world's Stark - didn't really care - at all.

"What was she like - the Ancient One? I mean - I remember my world's - trying to stop me - split my soul to."

"Mine was, not kind per-say, but fair, and reasonable. Was a very unexpected surprise to be knocked onto the astral plane."

Christine casually strokes his cheek and hair, all fond affection.

"Opening your third eye and being aware of the rest of the world around you is - for lack of any other word - eye opening." He smiled a little at her touching him, feeling whole and lost at once.

He's trying to hide the fact that he feels a bit regretful of this.

"That is one way to put it. Also 'very nearly piss your pants terrifying' as I described it."

They will both have complicated emotions, it seems only natural. She's got her own story of bittersweet feelings at being with this Stephen.

"How many things did she show you?" Keeping away from the subject of ... pausing himself for centuries to soak up all that power, in desperation, just to have this again - to have a normal conversation, with her. It seems very silly - now, and he wasn't sure why he had felt that was his only option.

"A little tour of the dimensions." Christine chuckles, "it feels so long ago, I feel like I didn't ever get to know her really."

It seems more unlikely to travel through Universes to find another who had suffered the same loss, changing time seems easier.

"It's a pity there isn't a place in time for - the previous sorcerers to meet. Though, I doubt we'd listen to each other, even if the opportunity was given."

"That would be such a mess." She laughs, "too many large egos in one place."

The Master's of the Mystic arts may be out to save the universe, but there are some egos involved.

He laughs, thinking of that. "Only you though - seems you would be happy to teach any future foundling, maybe we'd be better for it to not approach such things with such arrogance." Not need to fix everything. "How do you - decide when to let it go?"

Edited 2021-12-31 23:56 (UTC)

"I take anyone who shows some aptitude and a level of kindness."

She does take most anyone, it's true.

"To let what go?"

"When do you decide that ... the integrity of time is more important, than what you want. You - accepted the fact that I had died and you weren't going to change it. Clearly you know this better than I do."

That wasn't like Stephen. He usually insisted he knew best.

"Oh. Um." She thinks about it, "it wasn't so much that I was protecting the universe as not wanting to pull him back unless I knew it would be perfect. I couldn't make that promise."

Stephen looked amused by this, not that she wanted to protect the universe, but it had to be just right.

"I see." He likes this Christine a good deal.

"I have a bit of moral ambiguity in there sometimes." She chuckles and kisses him again.

"Never thought of you as ambiguous, but you'd have to be to find ... me still attractive, despite my appearance and what I'd done. If I'm going to exist in this world, I also should know if anything else is different that I should be made aware of."

Though he might not ... remember if there was a difference. It's been a bit too long since he socialized properly.

He kissed her back and decided not to explain that part. "We should have dinner first, some creme brulee, what else do you like?" He hated that there was only parts he really remembered properly - years gaining power and more years in the prison of his own making had caused some forgetting.

"I'm sure what's different is more nuance than anything. I certainly can't think of anything important off hand." They would no doubt learn all the little differences in time.

"Of course, it must be ages since you've had a real meal. I still go for a lot of pastas, I know a great little place that will deliver."

They'll have to figure out the best way to introduce him to this world, perhaps a spell will be involved.

Stephen nodded. "It has been ages." Literally. He feels a little guilty having to count on her for these things, but he also likes being looked after.

"Let me order us something then. I imagine eating and sleeping will help you feel a bit more human again."

And Christine likes to take care of him. She's always been a nurturing person.

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