* 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗧𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗢𝗥 𝗢𝗙𝙔𝙊𝙐𝙍 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ and I thought you might be 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒆 . . . ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀in the 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 place and time.

[* 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗧𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗢𝗥 𝗢𝗙𝙔𝙊𝙐𝙍 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬. @calignissorcier]

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ

𝐃𝐎𝐂𝐓𝐎𝐑 𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐏𝐇𝐄𝐍
𝐕𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄.

—— Just as you gave 𝓚𝙖𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙪𝙨 powers from your dimension, I've brought a little power from 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲.

This is * 𝑻𝑰𝑴𝑬.
endless, looped time. ❞

[Richard Siken bot @sikenpoems]

He doesn’t know
what to do with his hands.

[* 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗧𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗢𝗥 𝗢𝗙𝙔𝙊𝙐𝙍 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬. @calignissorcier]

( He's already passing him the coffee, resisting the urge to roll his eyes as he creates the portal required to reach the destination with ease —— the agent really 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒔 to take everything as an insult )

Alright, * after him.

[‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ 𝑬verett 𝑹oss. ‍ˎˊ˗ @adductosecum]

He’s not a 𝒘𝒊𝒎𝒑, thank you very much, and he can perfectly well handle going through a portal. ( He’s never been in a portal before, but he’ll leave that little tidbit out. )

Chop 𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒑. Hand the coffee over, and they can get started on this thing.

[* 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗧𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗢𝗥 𝗢𝗙𝙔𝙊𝙐𝙍 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬. @calignissorcier]

Whoever thought it would be a good idea to draw on his face while he was taking a nap ... He's 𝙣𝙤𝙩 amused.

[* 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗧𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗢𝗥 𝗢𝗙𝙔𝙊𝙐𝙍 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬. @calignissorcier]

( He can, if he wishes so, but the doctor wouldn't really recommend it —— Not even as a lie )

Right now, in fact. The way they're going to travel ( one hopes that the agent doesn't get dizzy easily ) is through a portal and therefore, he ought to hold that coffee well.

[‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ 𝑬verett 𝑹oss. ‍ˎˊ˗ @adductosecum]

( Fucking 𝘾𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙩, he wants to smack that smirk right off the sorcerer’s features : his hands itch to clasp around the other man’s neck, if only to stop him talking. )

So how long are they going to fuck around in here for before they 𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 get to work?

[* 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗧𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗢𝗥 𝗢𝗙𝙔𝙊𝙐𝙍 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬. @calignissorcier]

( At the risk of further anger, he must clarify that the growing smirk on his face is not due to the agent's 𝒈𝒓𝒖𝒎𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 —— there are external motives involved, for sure )

Annoying bastards? Well, that's crass. He isn't sure the coffee is meant for a rude man.

[‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ 𝑬verett 𝑹oss. ‍ˎˊ˗ @adductosecum]

( There's an imminent 𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒘 𝒐𝒇𝒇 that threatens to pop from his mouth, but he'll fixate the sorcerer with a withering glare instead, standing from his seat. )

There's no niceties for annoying bastards. Hand the coffee over, and get on with it.

[* 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗧𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗢𝗥 𝗢𝗙𝙔𝙊𝙐𝙍 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬. @calignissorcier]

The agent emits an energy of ' I hate my own ( fucking ) shadow ' and therefore, he didn't take it personally.

Really? Not even a ' pretty 𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚 ' ?

[‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ 𝑬verett 𝑹oss. ‍ˎˊ˗ @adductosecum]

He’s 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 just getting that now, is he? He thought he’d been giving off a pretty good vibe of ‘I don’t like you, get the hell out of my office’.

Hand the coffee over, and they’ll take a quick walk and talk about whatever he’s about to be investigating.

[* 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗧𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗢𝗥 𝗢𝗙𝙔𝙊𝙐𝙍 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬. @calignissorcier]

Another 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕? Someone isn't too fond of the doctor.

Good. He tried to stop him and so, if anything bad were to happen, it's entirely the agent's fault.

[‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ 𝑬verett 𝑹oss. ‍ˎˊ˗ @adductosecum]

Yeah, might be best not to get a 𝙨𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙢𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙝. Might land him in a bad spot, hm?

Done, and done. He'll give his team the orders to get themselves out of Strange's hair, and he himself will be taking over the investigation. No harm done.

[* 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗧𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗢𝗥 𝗢𝗙𝙔𝙊𝙐𝙍 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬. @calignissorcier]

He's sure that the answer to that question wouldn't be pleasant.

... He could get rid of the warrant but it would be a considerable waste of time so, just for now, he won't stop the agent only if he promises to follow him 𝙖𝙣𝙙 get rid of his colleagues.

[‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ 𝑬verett 𝑹oss. ‍ˎˊ˗ @adductosecum]

Yeah, too bad he doesn’t 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒔𝒕 a word coming out of Strange’s mouth —— does he look stupid? Because he certainly isn’t.

Could be a threat, if he’d like it to be. His choice : either let Everett investigate, or he’s going to show up with a nasty little warrant.

[* 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗧𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗢𝗥 𝗢𝗙𝙔𝙊𝙐𝙍 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬. @calignissorcier]

If you see a cloak running on its own, ignore it. Everything is fine.

( Maybe he spilled a cup of hot coffee on his lap but —— everything is fine )

[* 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗧𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗢𝗥 𝗢𝗙𝙔𝙊𝙐𝙍 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬. @calignissorcier]

If it were a harm to humanity, it would already be handled. The agent has nothing to worry about and should probably begin to understand that if he says the agency is not necessary, it's because it isn't.

And ... it's that a 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕?

[‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ 𝑬verett 𝑹oss. ‍ˎˊ˗ @adductosecum]

Unrelated, 𝒎𝒂𝒚𝒃𝒆. But, a possible danger to humanity and worth investigating? If his agents are crawling all over it, then it must be something important.

They can make this easy, or they can make this hard. Strange is better off cooperating.

[* 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗧𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗢𝗥 𝗢𝗙𝙔𝙊𝙐𝙍 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬. @calignissorcier]

Oh —— and it's not like his agency ever forced themselves into situations unrelated to them and only made everything harder, right?

This is more than just a hero matter ... and no, Agent Ross isn't involved. At all.

[‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ 𝑬verett 𝑹oss. ‍ˎˊ˗ @adductosecum]

Well, obviously it 𝒎𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕, considering his agency happens to be so interested. And considering that he himself is the one tasked with dealing with 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔 …

Consider him involved, hotshot.

[* 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗧𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗢𝗥 𝗢𝗙𝙔𝙊𝙐𝙍 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬. @calignissorcier]

Just because it's important doesn't mean it has something to do with him or his agency.

And it has nothing to do with being scared or not —— God, he's * 𝒔𝒕𝒖𝒃𝒃𝒐𝒓𝒏.

[‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ 𝑬verett 𝑹oss. ‍ˎˊ˗ @adductosecum]

If his fellow agents are investigating 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 this thing happens to be, then it must be something important. Which means that it may be time for him to step in himself.

He’s not scared shitless easily.

[* 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗧𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗢𝗥 𝗢𝗙𝙔𝙊𝙐𝙍 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬. @calignissorcier]

He isn't naive enough to expect that. As long as he doesn't plan to assassinate him at the moment, he is satisfied.

... Is he deaf? He just said that his co-workers will be harmed if they stay there —— Agent Ross is no exception.

[‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ 𝑬verett 𝑹oss. ‍ˎˊ˗ @adductosecum]

Dick move, Strange. Does he think Everett’s going to give him a little smile and a little thanks? 𝑵𝒂𝒅𝒂. Wishful thinking, though.

Well, what 𝒆𝒙𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒍𝒚 are they getting themselves involved in? Maybe it’s something 𝒉𝒆 should be looking into instead.

[* 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗧𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗢𝗥 𝗢𝗙𝙔𝙊𝙐𝙍 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬. @calignissorcier]

He wanted to test the waters —— see the agent angry before brightening his day with a gift. A peace offer, one might say.

... Make them stop, 𝙤𝙗𝙫𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙡𝙮. Does he want to see them hurt? Because they will be if they don't back away.

[‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ 𝑬verett 𝑹oss. ‍ˎˊ˗ @adductosecum]

… he brought coffee? Now, if he had 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 prefaced the conversation with that little tidbit, this could’ve gone in a completely different direction.

Is that so? And what, exactly, does he want Everett to do about that?

[* 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗧𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗢𝗥 𝗢𝗙𝙔𝙊𝙐𝙍 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬. @calignissorcier]

𝑰𝒅𝒍𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒕-𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒕. Isn't he friendly? A wonder to hang out with. He brought him coffee, just in case.

The real reason he's here is because some of the agent's colleagues are meddling in matters that, frankly, have nothing to do with them and only make his work harder.

[‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ 𝑬verett 𝑹oss. ‍ˎˊ˗ @adductosecum]

For a visit? Un-𝒇𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈-likely. Everyone who visits his office while he’s on-duty needs a good reason to be there, because he’s a very busy man, and idle chit-chat isn’t on the table.

[* 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗧𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗢𝗥 𝗢𝗙𝙔𝙊𝙐𝙍 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬. @calignissorcier]

He's not 𝒉𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 and he doesn't intend to read any piece of information that isn't his business.

Now, does he ( really ) need a reason to be in his office? Maybe he was just passing by.

[‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ 𝑬verett 𝑹oss. ‍ˎˊ˗ @adductosecum]

He does 𝒏𝒐𝒕 need someone hovering over his shoulder while he works, thankyouverymuch —— besides, the documents he’s working with are quite sensitive, and shouldn’t be seen by outside eyes.

Maybe that’s true, maybe it isn’t. What is he here for, then?

[* 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗧𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗢𝗥 𝗢𝗙𝙔𝙊𝙐𝙍 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬. @calignissorcier]

Annoying? The agent could work as he does normally if he just concetrated hard enough, it has nothing to do with him.

if he asked for an hour, he would 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 have the chance to even hear from him.

[‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ 𝑬verett 𝑹oss. ‍ˎˊ˗ @adductosecum]

He 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏’𝒕 be considering it an invasion if Strange wasn’t being so fuckin’ annoying and disruptive to his work —— without an appointment, no less.

[🌜 @hazybites]

let's compare scars; i'll tell you whose is worse.

[* 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗧𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗢𝗥 𝗢𝗙𝙔𝙊𝙐𝙍 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬. @calignissorcier]

Does this count? If he can't share his office ( for just a few minutes ) with someone without considering it an invasion ... he must be a terrible partner for game night.

[‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ 𝑬verett 𝑹oss. ‍ˎˊ˗ @adductosecum]

Counter-𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓 question: does he always invade people’s personal space?

[* 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗧𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗢𝗥 𝗢𝗙𝙔𝙊𝙐𝙍 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬. @calignissorcier]

Counter question: is he always this irritable?

[‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ 𝑬verett 𝑹oss. ‍ˎˊ˗ @adductosecum]

Counter question: is 𝒉𝒆 always this annoying?