Donna Strange @thedonnastrange - Tumblr Blog

SERENA! I SAW U EAT MY LAST JUICE POP!

@the-cinnamonroll-stark

I DID NOT

the-cinnamonroll-stark

YUH HUH >:[

NUH UH

the-cinnamonroll-stark

YUH HUH

@the-iron-rose back me up

Calling in the lawyer, smart move.

@the-cinnamonroll-stark do you have any proof of this theft?

the-cinnamonroll-stark

*shows a CCTV footage and tons of photos* Dadee also puts a tracker in some in cases k get lost >:[

Yep that’s a lot of evidence

@serenastark-official you’re screwed. I suggest a plea deal

fine fine, but that's not me, that's probably someone disguised as me

It doesn’t look good, going to be hard to prove your innocence

what if i told you it was @not-really-a-hero-anymore in disguise

Well, was it?

it was

Do you have a signed confession?

Not yet

I suggest you get one

Wait, it could actually be @thedonnastrange

Me??? What makes you think would eat a little girl’s last juice pop?

policedepartment-ny

ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING A POSSIBLE CURE

We have managed to cure one of the zombies. Anyone possessing magical powers, please come to the Rand building IMMEDIATELY. We will need your help.

PSA

If you have magical powers, please head to the Rand building!

@fistofiron @wilsonfisk-thekingpin @the-revolution-official @serenastark-official @oh-to-be-a-murderer @brock--rumlow @goddess-of-birds @verygoodlawyer @official-buckybarnes @thebestmerc-1 @ravonna-lexus-renslayer @d-adpool @bstandsforbabydaddy @whoelseshoulditag??? @hmmmm @whateverthisisfine

@wong-the-not-wizard (where is Stephen when we need him?) @not-really-a-hero-anymore @thedonnastrange @jade-lopez-maximoff @rio-vidal-official

#marvel #donna strange #mcu rp

Hey- what- uh-

Zombies???

Location: Quiet Stone.

Trigger warnings: depression, survivor’s guilt and mentions of death.

This takes place after a two year time skip. Cat is currently 19. And she went no contact with everyone she knew during the last two years.

—————

Cat stood on her balcony of her office in Quiet Stone. She sighs. She's changed this city so much. during the last two years . The living conditions are better and the air is actually breathable now. Under her mask, Cat smiles softly. She leaves her office and heads to a garden memorial across from her office building. The memorial was for her fallen Merc Gang.

12 mercs, 12 statues and 12 graves. Cat has healed from almost everything, except one wound that will forever hurt. The grief and guilt of her Merc Gang's death will always drag her down no matter what. Cat stood in the middle of the memorial and fell to her knees. She took off her combat goggles and tore off her leather eyepatch, which broke it. She threw her combat goggles and broken eyepatch to the ground.

Cat then did something she only did when she was alone: she cried. This wound will always hurt and never heal. She misses them terribly and lays awake at night wondering if she did something different, would they still be alive? "I am so sorry." She claws at her temples. Cat was so lost in her tears, she didn't hear footsteps behind her, slowly walking towards her.

—————

Tags (no pressure and you can use any blogs): @its-nate-the-sharpshot @my-n4me-isnt-alice @long-lost-king @rio-vidal-official @th3blackcatt @bernie-bernie-barnes @the1-and-only-peggycarter @iwasmadetobeasoldier @your-fav-russian-assassin @serenastark-official @the-best-black-widow

Feya walks up, moving towards the side of Cat's good eye. She stands there, waiting for Cat to notice her. Whether or not Cat would quickly recognize them was beyond them. A fair bit had changed in two years, and this time... this time she wasn't in any vigilante outfit. She was wearing jeans and a short-sleeve mock neck. Her hair was different too, the lighter blonde having completely taken over and was even lighter.

Cat sees Feya out of the corner of her eye and mistakes her for someone else. “Go away, Ivory. Please…”

Feya pauses, a confused expression now on her face.

“I’m not Ivory…” she says slowly. Her voice is much more recognizable than her appearance, especially with it being more clear without the usual mask.

Cat lifts her head up, immediately recognizing a voice she hasn’t heard in two years.

"Black Cat? Is that you?"

Feya nods, looking down at Cat.

"Mhm, it's me. Been a while, hasn't it?" She offers a soft smile and takes a step closer before going down to her knees, kneeling beside Cat.

Cat quickly wipes her tears away. "It's been two years. Two whole years that I've kept everyone I knew safe…"

They tilt their head, their hair falling past their shoulders.

“I’m sorry I haven’t been here. You.. you’ve been doing amazing, Cat.”

"What are you talking about? For two whole years I’ve kept everyone I knew safe from me. It's not your fault."

“Maybe… but I should’ve done more regardless.” She sucks in a sharp breath, raising her head briefly to look around the memorial. They let out the breath slowly.

“How have you been?”

"I am fine, Black Cat." Cat responds a little too quickly. "I have always been fine."

They look back at Cat, their expression a bit more serious.

“We both know that’s a flat out lie,” she bluntly points out.

“How many times have we done this dance? Too many, if I recall.” She lets out a heavy sigh. “You know it’s okay to admit that you’re not fine, right?”

"Not here. I am always fine. I'm in charge. Everyone excepts me to be fine."

“I don’t,” she points out.

“You don’t always have to be fine, even if you’re in charge of things. If people truly expect you to be fine all the time, then those aren’t people you want to be around. Trust me, I’ve been where you are.”

Cat chuckles softly. "Last time I checked. I highly doubt that you have ever been in my exact position."

They make a face.

“Okay, I’ll admit, I’ve never owned a company. But I have been in a position where I felt that everyone expected be to be okay all the time,” they explain with a soft laugh.

“My point is that you don’t have to be perfect all the time. People who are worth it won’t ever ask that of you.”

"The Merc Society is not a company. And I am the World's Best and Most Feared Merc. I am the definition of I have to be perfect and okay."

Feya raises her hands in surrender.

"Uh-huh. The World's Best Merc that happens to also be a person too. Just because you're the best doesn't mean you're perfect. Look at all the old artists that went crazy, hell Beethoven was continuously losing his hearing by his twenties." They lower their hands.

"You can't put yourself up to such high expectations, Cat."

Haven't posted in a while whoops. College is kicking my ass lol.

[Whoops it seems like I've half-forgotten about Donna. I'll try to use her more and flesh her out more]

let’s go annoy Stephen

Oh hell yeah!

@strangeofficial GET READY FOR MEMES

strangeofficial

ugh...

This you?

strangeofficial

That cats my spirit animal.

Haha yes! Some things never change.

Haven't posted in a while whoops. College is kicking my ass lol.

[Whoops it seems like I've half-forgotten about Donna. I'll try to use her more and flesh her out more]

let’s go annoy Stephen

Oh hell yeah!

@strangeofficial GET READY FOR MEMES

strangeofficial

ugh...

This you?

Haven't posted in a while whoops. College is kicking my ass lol.

[Whoops it seems like I've half-forgotten about Donna. I'll try to use her more and flesh her out more]

let’s go annoy Stephen

#marvel #donna strange #mcu rp #marvel rp #mcu #mcu roleplay #marvel roleplay #marvel comics #roleplay #marvel cinematic universe

Oh hell yeah!

Haven't posted in a while whoops. College is kicking my ass lol.

[Whoops it seems like I've half-forgotten about Donna. I'll try to use her more and flesh her out more]

If I had to count how many times I’ve seen variants of my dead brother… it’d be a lot.

-thedonnastrange

Oh my dear sister...

Mhm.

This thing of the various dimensions is strange and...painful. I have never met an alternate version of my dear sister, but now...here you are.

How are you?

It.. is. It’s something that takes a while to get even somewhat used to.

I’m doing well. I’m in college, I’m the Ancient One’s apprentice.

I'm happy to hear that you are following a magical path and studying, but above all that you are well.

*smiles tenderly*

It’s been quite a journey. I found the magical path shortly after the Stephen in my universe passed. But in the end, I am proud of how far I’ve come.

If I had to count how many times I’ve seen variants of my dead brother… it’d be a lot.

-thedonnastrange

Oh my dear sister...

Mhm.

This thing of the various dimensions is strange and...painful. I have never met an alternate version of my dear sister, but now...here you are.

How are you?

It.. is. It’s something that takes a while to get even somewhat used to.

I’m doing well. I’m in college, I’m the Ancient One’s apprentice.

If I had to count how many times I’ve seen variants of my dead brother… it’d be a lot.

-thedonnastrange

Oh my dear sister...

#mcu rp #rp marvel #donna strange #marvel #mcu roleplay #marvel cinematic universe

Mhm.

Stephen acts like he’s above all of us, but I know for a fact he has fallen asleep in the Sanctum’s library with a book on his face at least five times this week. Wong has photographic evidence.

Now I need to see this.

@wong-the-not-wizard

wong-the-not-wizard

I'll show you if you promise not to tell Stephen that I have them-

Pinky promise

wong-the-not-wizard

Okay, apparently I deleted them? But I have this instead-

Ehhehehehehhehehe

Oh my god. This is the best thing ever.

I think this alone is going to get me through my classes today.

Stephen acts like he’s above all of us, but I know for a fact he has fallen asleep in the Sanctum’s library with a book on his face at least five times this week. Wong has photographic evidence.

#donna strange #marvel #mcu rp #marvel rp

Now I need to see this.

I bet Stephen Strange was the kind of kid who corrected his teachers when they got something wrong. Like, he absolutely had a ‘well, actually’ phase, and I know for a fact it never ended.

#donna strange #marvel #mcu #mcu rp #marvel mcu #mcu roleplay

Can confirm. He got in trouble a lot few times for it, too.

There’s the sound of sparking- a familiar sound if you know what the opening of a portal sounds like. Then, a young woman wanders with brown shoulder-length, wavy hair walks through. She has a scar on the left side of her chin. She’s wearing dark jeans, a black tank top, and a grey flannel.

By the look on her face, she’s incredibly confused.

“This isn’t my apartment…”

-🔮/thedonnastrange

Serena, balancing on her crutches, raises an eyebrow at the unexpected visitor. She raises an eyebrow, her expression somewhere between unimpressed and exhausted.

"Yeah, no kidding, Sherlock. Unless your apartment comes with a Stark-branded security system and a land shark named Jeff." She gestures vaguely around the room, then winces as she shifts.

With a dramatic sigh, she leans on her crutches. "Okay, mystery flannel lady, who are you, where did you come from?"

She seems taken aback by the sarcastic nature of her and raises her hands in defense.

“Jesus, no need to be an ass about it.” She glances around briefly. It’s clear she has a lot of questions. She lowers her hands.

“Stark? As in Tony- that doesn’t matter, does it?” She shakes her head briefly before looking the other woman up and down.

“My name is Donna Strange. I’m well aware I’m in the wrong universe at this point. I think I just need to talk to the Ancient One and get this figured out.” She completely misses the last part of the other’s words.

Donna Strange. That’s… that’s impossible.

She shifts slightly, gripping one of her crutches and pushing herself up, even though her ankle immediately protests. “Yeah, okay, nope—hold on a damn second, lady.” She points at Donna, crutch wobbling.

“You—" She exhales sharply. “You died.” Her voice is uncharacteristically serious, the usual bravado replaced with something closer to shock. “Stephen’s sister, Donna Strange. You drowned..”

Now she looks even more confused. Why is this woman freaking out?

“Yeah, I know. I was resuscitated. How- how do you even know about that?” There’s also a glint of worry in her eyes as she sees the woman wobble. She takes a step closer, wanting to be able to intervene if the other suddenly loses her footing or something.

Serena exhales sharply, closing her eyes for half a second before snapping them open again. "Okay. You—sit. Now," she orders, nodding toward the nearest chair. "Because either I’m about to pass out, or you just threw the biggest curveball of my damn life, and I have been through some things recently."

Serena exhales sharply, finally really looking at her. She's seen pictures—old ones, grainy, but enough to recognize the same sharp features, the same damn eyes.

Then, she fixes Donna with a sharp look. "And I know because your brother is my friend—which, by the way, means I get dibs on being the one to explain to him why his supposedly dead sister just walked through my living room."

She just nods and goes to sit in the chair, knowing she oughta just listen. She watches the woman’s face closely. She can see the confusion, the recognition. The photos may be from years past, but it’s the same person, minus the scar on her chin.

Her expression only changes when the other mentions Stephen. And at that she furrows her brows a bit.

“In my universe at least, my brother is dead,” she explains. Her hands are in her lap and she’s fidgeting with some rings on her fingers.

"I need, like, five seconds to process this before my brain short-circuits."

She exhales slowly, lowering herself back onto the couch. “I—uh. I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

She’s silent for a moment before she glances back up at Donna. “For what it’s worth, he’s alive here. And probably gonna lose his damn mind when he hears about this.”

“Yeah, yeah, take all the time you need.” She lets out a soft breath that’s almost a sigh.

“It’s fine, not your fault.” She waves a hand lightly.

She looks away for a moment.

“I don’t doubt it… how do you, you know, know him?”

She adjusts her position, leaning back against the couch with a small wince.

"I was being my usual brilliant self, got tangled up in some weird magic nonsense, and boom—Doctor Snark himself enters the chat. Saved my ass, and I proceeded to annoy him until he became my friend, so now he’s stuck with me. Whether he likes it or not."

Her expression softens slightly, her voice quieter now. “He doesn’t talk about you much. Not because he doesn’t care—because he does. A lot. Losing you wrecked him.” She pauses, watching Donna carefully. “So, uh… you showing up here? Kind of a big deal.”

Magic and Stephen in the same sentence? That’s weird for Donna. She looks back at the other woman. Her confused expression has melted away to something softer, melancholic. Questions still ran through her head. She died in the universe, permanently. It had to have been a long time since then because Strange is still a doctor, though she doesn’t know the exact date. How would he react? Is it going to mess something up by her just being here?

She sucks a sharp breath in before speaking.

“It.. wrecked me too, losing him.” Another pause

“I- I don’t know how I got here,” she admits. “I was waking home from the store and suddenly I’m in a different place.”

She doesn’t push. Doesn’t ask how or why. Not yet.

Instead, she nods, letting out a slow breath. “Yeah… losing someone like that does wreck you.” Her voice is quieter, more thoughtful.

At Donna’s next words, her brows furrow. “So… no portal, no spell gone wrong, no creepy cosmic entity screwing with you?” She tilts her head. “You just—what? Blinked and ended up in another universe?”

She leans back against the couch, tapping her fingers against the crutch. “Okay, well, if you’re really lost, I could call Stephen—though explaining this over the phone sounds like a nightmare—or we can just roll with it and try to figure out what’s yanking you across universes. Either way, you’re not just wandering around alone while the multiverse is playing hot potato with you.”

“I mean, realistically, there’s something I missed. Y’know, I had classes all day and I was exhausted. It makes sense that I’d miss something.” She thinks of her words. Her face is thoughtful, though it’s almost a soft pout.

“I don’t think I can work my sorcery like normal here. I’ve tried to make portals to basic places but it never ends up right.” She sighs.

“If it’s our best.. and safest bet… I think going to the Sorcerer Supreme would be a good idea. But I do have to ask, why are you talking about Stephen like he knows magic and stuff?”

She lets that realization sink in for a second before waving a hand dismissively. “Anyway, yeah, Stephen’s a sorcerer. Like, one of the best. Well, technically not the best, because Wong is actually the Sorcerer Supreme—long story, Stephen lost the title on a technicality—but yeah, he’s a full-blown magic man. Cloak, portals, eldritch nonsense, the whole Doctor Strange package.”

“My brother is a sorcerer?” She says, her eyes going wide and her tone a bit incredulous.

“Wow,” she says, though it’s a lot quieter. “And here I am splitting my time between sorcery and college.” Stephen Strange, always the high achiever. She lets out a soft airy laugh.

“Yeah, your brother is a full-time magic menace. He traded scalpels for spellbooks, and now he’s got the Cloak of Sass dragging him around like a dramatic wizard superhero.”

She tilts her head. “You do both, though? College and sorcery? Damn, multitasking much? What are you studying?”

She stares for a bit in disbelief for a moment before blinking slowly. That was a shock. Her brother had been the Sorcerer Supreme. She shakes her head a bit.

“Yeah, yeah. I’m majoring in biology, but also working to minor in photography.”

She huffs a short laugh. “That’s wild. You two really swapped paths across universes.” Then, after a beat, she adds, “And honestly? If your Stephen was anything like this one before the magic, I cannot picture him wielding a sling ring. Dude had the patience of a caffeinated squirrel.”

She lets out another soft laugh.

“That’s.. a perfect description. He was still a doctor. He just- uh- died in a bad car crash on his way to some fancy dinner.” She looks away for a split moment.

“I was 16 at the time. I already had an idea of what I wanted to pursue, but the accident just solidified it.”

She exhales softly. “That’s rough.” Her voice is quieter now, lacking its usual sarcastic bite.

She watches Donna for a moment, then tilts her head. “Was it just you after that? Or did you have family to lean on?”

“Kind of. Our parents died when I was younger, so I lived with family friends,” she explains. She seems a lot more relaxed than when she first stepped through the portal.

[I’m trying so hard to make the timeline understandable lmao]

She leans back against the couch, resting her hands over her stomach. “Well, for what it’s worth, you landed in a universe where Stephen’s alive and probably going to have an existential crisis when he sees you. So that’s fun.”

She lets out a heavy sigh at that, muttering a curse under her breath.

“I dunno what to even do in this situation.” And she doesn’t. In her universe ancient one is still alive and she could ask questions whenever. Here… she’s belt completely on her own, but more or less.

[no worries! That’s much more important than a tumblr rp lmao]

She gives Donna a small smirk, then adds, “But hey, at least you’re not dealing with this alone. You’ve got me now—bad ankle and all.” She gestures vaguely at her crutches. “Welcome to the circus.”

She shifts slightly, wincing at her ankle. “Step one: we get you to Kamar-Taj. Wong’s the Sorcerer Supreme, and if anyone knows how to untangle multiversal bullshit, it’s him. Plus, Stephen’s probably there half the time anyway, so we can kill two birds with one sling ring.”

She pauses, then adds, “Unless you wanna sit here and panic for a bit first. That’s a totally valid option too.”

“You’re not wrong.” She lets out an airy laugh. Wasn’t life always a circus? She shifts, moving so that she was leaning a bit towards the other.

She listens to her words, nodding along lightly.

“I think there will be plenty of time to panic later on. Might as well.. do it now, right?” She thinks about it for a moment.

“I can try to open a portal to Kamar-Taj, but we may just end up in Texas or somethin’.”

[fair enough, fair enough.]

Serena snorts. “Yeah, uh, as much as I’d love an unplanned road trip to Texas, I really don’t feel like explaining to Wong why we showed up in the wrong hemisphere.”

She pushes herself up, using her crutches for support. “Hang on, I’ve got a direct line to at least one of those magic nerds.” She taps the device in her ear. “C.A.R.L.O.S., call Strange.”

A beat of silence. Then, in a chipper British accent, her AI responds:

Calling Mister Wizard, fetching your spell-slinging acquaintance, dialing the Sorcerer Sarcastic himself—

Serena sighs. “You see what I deal with?” She gestures vaguely at nothing before looking back at Donna. “Just… prepare yourself. This is either gonna be a normal conversation or Stephen’s gonna have a full-blown identity crisis the second he sees you.”

She chuckles again.

“That would be a funny call.”

She watches as the other dials Stephen through an AI system. She starts fidgeting with her rings again. Now’s not the time to lose her head.

“Think I’m more prepared for the latter..” It makes sense. Nothing like this could have a normal conversation. She focuses on her breathing. In, hold, out, hold. Think of the weird ‘C.A.R.L.O.S.’ AI thingy. The British accent of it.

She looks away and focuses on the room around her, trying to distract herself with the little details of the room.

Serena listens to the call ring a few times before it goes to voicemail. She groans.

“Of course he doesn’t pick up. Of course.” She rolls her eyes, then waits for the beep before speaking.

"Hey, Wizard Supreme—wait, nope, that’s Wong. Uh, Former Wizard Supreme. Yeah, whatever—Stephen. Listen, I need you to call me back ASAP. Like, drop everything you’re doing level ASAP."

She glances at Donna, then continues, her tone turning slightly more serious.

A pause. Then, smirking slightly, she adds, "And no, I’m not having a stroke. Just call me back before the multiverse decides to throw another curveball at us, yeah? Cool. Byeee.”

She hangs up and looks at Donna. “There. Now we wait for him to hear that and either call back immediately or have a complete meltdown first.” She shrugs. “Fifty-fifty chance, really.”

A part of her wants to sigh in utter relief, but she knows that it’s just putting off the inevitable. She looks at the other when she starts speaking to Donna.

“Fifty-fifty chance,” she repeats, her voice quiet and more to herself than anything. She forces herself to stop playing with her rings.

“So now we wait?”

Serena nods, shifting to sit back down. “Yup. Now we enter the waiting game, where we either get a callback in the next two minutes or we end up chasing him down because he’s ignoring his phone like a cryptic asshole.”

She glances at Donna again, noticing how she’s stopped fidgeting, but there’s still that tension in her shoulders. Yeah, this is a lot. Serena’s been through enough weird multiversal nonsense to roll with it, but Donna? She’s new to this.

She taps her fingers against her crutch. “Which means we’ve got two options: sit here in awkward existential dread or kill time until Strange calls back.

The tension is clear, but Donna doesn’t mention it. She doesn’t complain or break down.. not yet at least. Instead she just acts like it’s fine. She just brushes it off.

“Existential dread or do something.” She lets out another airy chuckle. The answer is obvious. It wasn’t even a true question. The last thing Donna needs is to sit with her thoughts and end up in an anxiety attack.

“I think the latter is better for the both of us.”

She shifts, adjusting her crutches so she can sit more comfortably. “Alright, let’s see… Oh! I could introduce you to Jeff. He’s my pet land shark. Absolute menace, ten outta ten, would recommend.”

She pauses, then smirks. “Or we could play a game. Like, I dunno… two truths and a lie? It’s a solid distraction and I get to see how much of your life sounds made-up.” She raises an eyebrow. “Your call, Strange.”

“You have a land shark? How does that even work?” She scoffs lightly in disbelief. She shakes her head.

“Two truths and a lie?”

Serena grins. “Hell yeah, I have a land shark. His name’s Jeff, and he’s the goodest boy. Kinda like a puppy, except with more teeth and significantly fewer survival instincts.” She gestures vaguely. “Don’t question it too much. Just accept the chaos.”

Then she nods. “Yeah, two truths and a lie. We each say three things—two are true, one’s a lie. Other person has to guess the lie. Simple, but effective.” She smirks. “Wanna go first, or should I set the bar impossibly high?”

“Accept the chaos… I really gotta learn how to do that, don’t I?” She really does. Especially on the path of Sorcery.

“I-I know what it is,” she chuckles. She thinks about it for a moment.

“You know what, yeah. Set the bar high.”

Serena smirks. “Atta girl. Alright, prepare to be bamboozled.”

She leans back slightly, tapping her fingers against her crutch as she thinks. Then, with a dramatic flourish, she says:

I once hacked into the Pentagon because I was bored.

I got into a fistfight with Deadpool over the last chimichanga.

I can play the piano blindfolded.

Donna’s expression shifts to utter surprise and confusion. Who was this woman? Hacking into the Pentagon? Fighting Deadpool over food?

“That’s… wow. I’m going to go with the last one. The others feel too.. detailed.” She shifts a bit, crossing her legs- a habit she’s done for her whole life.

Serena grins, shaking her head. “Wrong! I can play the piano blindfolded. Muscle memory.” She taps her temple.

Then, smirking, she adds, “The lie was the Pentagon one. I thought about hacking it once, but even I know better than to poke that particular bear.”

She points at Donna. “Your turn, Miss Multiversal Mystery.”

She scoffs lightly. She’s bummed but not truly upset about losing that. She shakes her head, thinking of her lie and truths.

“I have a German shepherd,” she starts off. Her eyes flicker up, looking at the ceiling as she thinks.

“I have straight As in my college classes, and I work at my school’s biology museum.”

“Hmm… see, the straight As thing could be true. You do give off ‘responsible student with a tendency to overwork herself’ vibes.” She gestures vaguely. “And the biology museum? That also sounds believable.”

She leans forward slightly. “But the German shepherd? That one’s throwing me off. You don’t seem like a dog person. I’m calling BS on that.” She crosses her arms. “Final answer—the dog is the lie.”

“Ouch,” she lets out quietly at the ‘overworking student’ comment. She lets out a full laugh after the other finishes talking.

“Okay, okay. I mean, you’re right about the lie, but you don’t think I’m a dog person?” The tension in her shoulders is visibly decreasing.

“It’s my dream to have a German shepherd. A giant German shepherd named Loki or somethin.”

Serena smirks. “See, that makes way more sense. Dream dog? Totally believable. Already having one? Eh, didn’t track.” She shrugs. “No offense, but you give off ‘I’m too busy dealing with life’s cosmic bullshittery to own a pet’ energy.”

Donna lets out an airy laugh, rolling her eyes a bit.

“You’re not wrong, again,” she admits.

“I’m I really that easy to read?” She shakes her head, a soft smile on her lips. Donna seems a lot more relaxed now. Her mind is finally off of the, very inevitable, future events. Her shoulders aren’t tense anymore and she’s not playing with her rings.

Serena shrugs with a playful smirk. “Nah, not easy to read. Just… conveniently obvious. I’m good at picking up on the little things. Like, you know, your entire vibe of ‘I’m a busy, slightly neurotic overachiever with a hint of ‘I’m probably holding in a full-blown meltdown’ energy.” She raises an eyebrow. “I mean, it’s practically written on your face.”

She leans back, settling more comfortably. “But hey, you’re way less of a hot mess than I expected. I thought I was gonna have to pull you out of some mystical panic spiral. Guess I misjudged.”

She taps her crutch thoughtfully. “Okay, okay. My turn. Here goes:”

I once convinced an entire group of people I was a certified psychic.

I can do a full split, no problem.

I once went three days without sleep because I was ‘working on a project.’

She opens her mouth, probably to argue, then shuts it again. She makes a face.

“I- I have no argument whatsoever.” She lets out a short sigh.

“Honestly I’m surprised I haven’t had an anxiety attack yet, though I’m not complaining.” She listens when the other starts her turn.

“The ‘certified psychic’ one?” She thinks about it for a moment. “Though I feel like you’d easily be able to do that..” she adds before letting out a sigh.

“Goddamnit I don’t know,” she laughs. She waves her hand a bit. “Let’s just go with the psychic one.”

Serena grins, leaning back. “You’re good at this, but not quite good enough.” She taps her finger against her chin. “The psychic thing is actually true. I once convinced a whole group I could predict their futures—totally made it up, but I can sell a story when I need to.”

She leans forward a bit. “The lie was the full split. I wish. That’s one skill I have yet to master. Probably never will—I'm not built for that level of flexibility.”

She sighs, wiping a hand down her face. She should’ve thought of that.

“Damn. Here I am being ‘not quite good enough’ and you being too good.” She still doesn’t seem actually upset. She knows it’s just all for fun.

“Okay.. uh,” she starts. She thinks about it for a moment.

“One of my professors got arrested for drug trafficking, I’ve been arrested, and I’ve been to a Nine Inch Nails concert.”

Serena's eyebrows shoot up. “Okay, damn, you really just threw me in the deep end with these.” She points at Donna. “First of all, if your professor was actually arrested for drug trafficking, I need that story. Second, if you were arrested, I also need that story. And third—Nine Inch Nails? Respect.”

She squints, tilting her head. “See, I want to believe the professor thing ‘cause that’s just too insane to make up. And the concert? That feels plausible. So…” she crosses her arms, thinking.

Then she smirks. “I’m calling BS on you being arrested.”

“I can tell you all the stories later.”

Donna smiles. It’s a proud, sly smile.

“Wrong. I have been arrested. I haven’t gone to a Nine Inch Nails concert.” She looks proud of herself for stumping the other.

Serena’s jaw drops. “No way.” She points at Donna, eyes wide with dramatic disbelief. “You got arrested? You?! Miss ‘Overachiever Biology Student’ got put in cuffs? Oh, I definitely need that story now.”

She crosses her arms, shaking her head with a smirk. “And here I was thinking you were all responsible and law-abiding. Shame on me for underestimating you.” She huffs. “I demand details, immediately.”

Donna lets out a laugh at her reaction.

“Yep, I’ve gotten arrested.” She leans forwards, uncrossing her legs.

“So, basically there was the one guy at my high school who thought he was the shit. He was just an annoying asshole, right? One day in senior year he started harassing me and my friends super bad, so I just… slashed his tires,” she explains, gesturing with her hands.

“But I got caught by a really badly placed security camera. I was in art when the police came and arrested me, but no charges were ever pressed.” She finishes the story with a laugh.

“Would I do it again? Hell yeah.”

Serena just stares for a second before bursting out laughing. “You slashed his tires?! Holy shit, Donna! That is so much better than I expected.” She shakes her head, grinning. “Here I thought you got arrested for, like, a peaceful protest or some nerdy science crime. But no, you went full-on vigilante justice on some high school douchebag.”

She wipes a fake tear from her eye. “I gotta say, I respect it. The fact that you got caught by a badly placed security camera? Chef’s kiss. Classic rookie mistake, but the intent was solid.” She leans forward slightly. “So, how’d your friends react? Were they, like, horrified or hyped?”

She laughs along with her words, nodding along too.

“Well, I mean, I feel like most my friends are more ‘peaceful’, but they understood completely. They wanted me to be careful, but I didn’t give a shit. We had a good laugh about it until the police arrived.”

“Honestly, you own that story now. Wear it like a badge of honor. ‘Yeah, I’m a badass sorcerer and I’ve got a criminal record—what of it?’” She gestures dramatically.

Then she grins. “Alright, you have to tell Stephen that story when you meet him. Just to see his face. I feel like he’d either be proud or immediately start questioning all his life choices.”

Donna smiles.

“Hell yeah I do.” Her smile fades for a moment

“Hey, what year is it here?”

Serena notices the shift in Donna’s expression, and her teasing grin fades slightly. She tilts her head.

“Uh… it’s 2025.” A beat. “Why?”

Her expression becomes thoughtful, the small pout forming again.

“It’s only 2020 in my universe,” she says. Her tone isn’t sad or confused, it’s more of just thoughtful. It’s more of a statement. She seems to just be thinking through everything.

“So you guys are 5 years ahead of me. Which makes it around 22 years since I drowned.”

“Twenty-two years is a long-ass time,” she says, a bit softer now. “And you’re just… here. Alive.” She taps her fingers against her crutch absentmindedly. “I mean, time travel, multiverse hopping, all that weird shit—it’s one thing to hear about it, another thing to live it.”

She studies Donna’s face. “You okay?”

She listens to her words, that enough true expression on her face. She nods.

“I think so… for now at least. I- I’m just thinking.” She pauses for a moment to find her words.

“I’ve always thought that things happen for a reason, right? So I’m trying my damn hardest to figure out the why to all of this.”

Serena nods slowly, her expression thoughtful. “Yeah… I get that.” She exhales, rubbing a hand over her face. “I mean, if the universe—or multiverse—yanked you outta your normal life and dumped you here, there’s gotta be a reason. Otherwise, that’s just some next-level cosmic bullshit.”

She tilts her head, studying Donna. “Maybe you were meant to find Stephen? Or maybe something bigger is at play, and you’re about to get caught up in some multiversal nonsense.” She shrugs. “Either way, you’re here now. And until we figure out the ‘why,’ you don’t have to deal with it alone.”

“Too many questions, not enough answers.” She lets out a heavy sigh.

“That’s what I hate about the world. And that’s why I love science. You ask questions and then find the answers.”

She nods and smiles softly.

“Thank you.”

By the look on her face, she’s incredibly confused.

“This isn’t my apartment…”

-🔮/thedonnastrange

Serena, balancing on her crutches, raises an eyebrow at the unexpected visitor. She raises an eyebrow, her expression somewhere between unimpressed and exhausted.

"Yeah, no kidding, Sherlock. Unless your apartment comes with a Stark-branded security system and a land shark named Jeff." She gestures vaguely around the room, then winces as she shifts.

With a dramatic sigh, she leans on her crutches. "Okay, mystery flannel lady, who are you, where did you come from?"

She seems taken aback by the sarcastic nature of her and raises her hands in defense.

“Jesus, no need to be an ass about it.” She glances around briefly. It’s clear she has a lot of questions. She lowers her hands.

“Stark? As in Tony- that doesn’t matter, does it?” She shakes her head briefly before looking the other woman up and down.

Donna Strange. That’s… that’s impossible.

Now she looks even more confused. Why is this woman freaking out?

Serena exhales sharply, finally really looking at her. She's seen pictures—old ones, grainy, but enough to recognize the same sharp features, the same damn eyes.

Her expression only changes when the other mentions Stephen. And at that she furrows her brows a bit.

“In my universe at least, my brother is dead,” she explains. Her hands are in her lap and she’s fidgeting with some rings on her fingers.

"I need, like, five seconds to process this before my brain short-circuits."

She exhales slowly, lowering herself back onto the couch. “I—uh. I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

She’s silent for a moment before she glances back up at Donna. “For what it’s worth, he’s alive here. And probably gonna lose his damn mind when he hears about this.”

“Yeah, yeah, take all the time you need.” She lets out a soft breath that’s almost a sigh.

“It’s fine, not your fault.” She waves a hand lightly.

She looks away for a moment.

“I don’t doubt it… how do you, you know, know him?”

She adjusts her position, leaning back against the couch with a small wince.

She sucks a sharp breath in before speaking.

“It.. wrecked me too, losing him.” Another pause

“I- I don’t know how I got here,” she admits. “I was waking home from the store and suddenly I’m in a different place.”

She doesn’t push. Doesn’t ask how or why. Not yet.

Instead, she nods, letting out a slow breath. “Yeah… losing someone like that does wreck you.” Her voice is quieter, more thoughtful.

“I don’t think I can work my sorcery like normal here. I’ve tried to make portals to basic places but it never ends up right.” She sighs.

“If it’s our best.. and safest bet… I think going to the Sorcerer Supreme would be a good idea. But I do have to ask, why are you talking about Stephen like he knows magic and stuff?”

“My brother is a sorcerer?” She says, her eyes going wide and her tone a bit incredulous.

“Wow,” she says, though it’s a lot quieter. “And here I am splitting my time between sorcery and college.” Stephen Strange, always the high achiever. She lets out a soft airy laugh.

“Yeah, your brother is a full-time magic menace. He traded scalpels for spellbooks, and now he’s got the Cloak of Sass dragging him around like a dramatic wizard superhero.”

She tilts her head. “You do both, though? College and sorcery? Damn, multitasking much? What are you studying?”

She stares for a bit in disbelief for a moment before blinking slowly. That was a shock. Her brother had been the Sorcerer Supreme. She shakes her head a bit.

“Yeah, yeah. I’m majoring in biology, but also working to minor in photography.”

She lets out another soft laugh.

“That’s.. a perfect description. He was still a doctor. He just- uh- died in a bad car crash on his way to some fancy dinner.” She looks away for a split moment.

“I was 16 at the time. I already had an idea of what I wanted to pursue, but the accident just solidified it.”

She exhales softly. “That’s rough.” Her voice is quieter now, lacking its usual sarcastic bite.

She watches Donna for a moment, then tilts her head. “Was it just you after that? Or did you have family to lean on?”

“Kind of. Our parents died when I was younger, so I lived with family friends,” she explains. She seems a lot more relaxed than when she first stepped through the portal.

[I’m trying so hard to make the timeline understandable lmao]

She lets out a heavy sigh at that, muttering a curse under her breath.

[no worries! That’s much more important than a tumblr rp lmao]

She pauses, then adds, “Unless you wanna sit here and panic for a bit first. That’s a totally valid option too.”

“You’re not wrong.” She lets out an airy laugh. Wasn’t life always a circus? She shifts, moving so that she was leaning a bit towards the other.

She listens to her words, nodding along lightly.

“I think there will be plenty of time to panic later on. Might as well.. do it now, right?” She thinks about it for a moment.

“I can try to open a portal to Kamar-Taj, but we may just end up in Texas or somethin’.”

[fair enough, fair enough.]

Serena snorts. “Yeah, uh, as much as I’d love an unplanned road trip to Texas, I really don’t feel like explaining to Wong why we showed up in the wrong hemisphere.”

She pushes herself up, using her crutches for support. “Hang on, I’ve got a direct line to at least one of those magic nerds.” She taps the device in her ear. “C.A.R.L.O.S., call Strange.”

A beat of silence. Then, in a chipper British accent, her AI responds:

Calling Mister Wizard, fetching your spell-slinging acquaintance, dialing the Sorcerer Sarcastic himself—

She chuckles again.

“That would be a funny call.”

She watches as the other dials Stephen through an AI system. She starts fidgeting with her rings again. Now’s not the time to lose her head.

She looks away and focuses on the room around her, trying to distract herself with the little details of the room.

Serena listens to the call ring a few times before it goes to voicemail. She groans.

“Of course he doesn’t pick up. Of course.” She rolls her eyes, then waits for the beep before speaking.

"Hey, Wizard Supreme—wait, nope, that’s Wong. Uh, Former Wizard Supreme. Yeah, whatever—Stephen. Listen, I need you to call me back ASAP. Like, drop everything you’re doing level ASAP."

She glances at Donna, then continues, her tone turning slightly more serious.

A pause. Then, smirking slightly, she adds, "And no, I’m not having a stroke. Just call me back before the multiverse decides to throw another curveball at us, yeah? Cool. Byeee.”

She hangs up and looks at Donna. “There. Now we wait for him to hear that and either call back immediately or have a complete meltdown first.” She shrugs. “Fifty-fifty chance, really.”

A part of her wants to sigh in utter relief, but she knows that it’s just putting off the inevitable. She looks at the other when she starts speaking to Donna.

“Fifty-fifty chance,” she repeats, her voice quiet and more to herself than anything. She forces herself to stop playing with her rings.

“So now we wait?”

She taps her fingers against her crutch. “Which means we’ve got two options: sit here in awkward existential dread or kill time until Strange calls back.

The tension is clear, but Donna doesn’t mention it. She doesn’t complain or break down.. not yet at least. Instead she just acts like it’s fine. She just brushes it off.

“I think the latter is better for the both of us.”

“You have a land shark? How does that even work?” She scoffs lightly in disbelief. She shakes her head.

“Two truths and a lie?”

“Accept the chaos… I really gotta learn how to do that, don’t I?” She really does. Especially on the path of Sorcery.

“I-I know what it is,” she chuckles. She thinks about it for a moment.

“You know what, yeah. Set the bar high.”

Serena smirks. “Atta girl. Alright, prepare to be bamboozled.”

She leans back slightly, tapping her fingers against her crutch as she thinks. Then, with a dramatic flourish, she says:

I once hacked into the Pentagon because I was bored.

I got into a fistfight with Deadpool over the last chimichanga.

I can play the piano blindfolded.

Donna’s expression shifts to utter surprise and confusion. Who was this woman? Hacking into the Pentagon? Fighting Deadpool over food?

“That’s… wow. I’m going to go with the last one. The others feel too.. detailed.” She shifts a bit, crossing her legs- a habit she’s done for her whole life.

Serena grins, shaking her head. “Wrong! I can play the piano blindfolded. Muscle memory.” She taps her temple.

Then, smirking, she adds, “The lie was the Pentagon one. I thought about hacking it once, but even I know better than to poke that particular bear.”

She points at Donna. “Your turn, Miss Multiversal Mystery.”

She scoffs lightly. She’s bummed but not truly upset about losing that. She shakes her head, thinking of her lie and truths.

“I have a German shepherd,” she starts off. Her eyes flicker up, looking at the ceiling as she thinks.

“I have straight As in my college classes, and I work at my school’s biology museum.”

“Ouch,” she lets out quietly at the ‘overworking student’ comment. She lets out a full laugh after the other finishes talking.

“Okay, okay. I mean, you’re right about the lie, but you don’t think I’m a dog person?” The tension in her shoulders is visibly decreasing.

“It’s my dream to have a German shepherd. A giant German shepherd named Loki or somethin.”

Donna lets out an airy laugh, rolling her eyes a bit.

“You’re not wrong, again,” she admits.

She leans back, settling more comfortably. “But hey, you’re way less of a hot mess than I expected. I thought I was gonna have to pull you out of some mystical panic spiral. Guess I misjudged.”

She taps her crutch thoughtfully. “Okay, okay. My turn. Here goes:”

I once convinced an entire group of people I was a certified psychic.

I can do a full split, no problem.

I once went three days without sleep because I was ‘working on a project.’

She opens her mouth, probably to argue, then shuts it again. She makes a face.

“I- I have no argument whatsoever.” She lets out a short sigh.

“Honestly I’m surprised I haven’t had an anxiety attack yet, though I’m not complaining.” She listens when the other starts her turn.

“The ‘certified psychic’ one?” She thinks about it for a moment. “Though I feel like you’d easily be able to do that..” she adds before letting out a sigh.

“Goddamnit I don’t know,” she laughs. She waves her hand a bit. “Let’s just go with the psychic one.”

She leans forward a bit. “The lie was the full split. I wish. That’s one skill I have yet to master. Probably never will—I'm not built for that level of flexibility.”

She sighs, wiping a hand down her face. She should’ve thought of that.

“Damn. Here I am being ‘not quite good enough’ and you being too good.” She still doesn’t seem actually upset. She knows it’s just all for fun.

“Okay.. uh,” she starts. She thinks about it for a moment.

“One of my professors got arrested for drug trafficking, I’ve been arrested, and I’ve been to a Nine Inch Nails concert.”

Then she smirks. “I’m calling BS on you being arrested.”

“I can tell you all the stories later.”

Donna smiles. It’s a proud, sly smile.

“Wrong. I have been arrested. I haven’t gone to a Nine Inch Nails concert.” She looks proud of herself for stumping the other.

Donna lets out a laugh at her reaction.

“Yep, I’ve gotten arrested.” She leans forwards, uncrossing her legs.

“But I got caught by a really badly placed security camera. I was in art when the police came and arrested me, but no charges were ever pressed.” She finishes the story with a laugh.

“Would I do it again? Hell yeah.”

She laughs along with her words, nodding along too.

“Honestly, you own that story now. Wear it like a badge of honor. ‘Yeah, I’m a badass sorcerer and I’ve got a criminal record—what of it?’” She gestures dramatically.

Then she grins. “Alright, you have to tell Stephen that story when you meet him. Just to see his face. I feel like he’d either be proud or immediately start questioning all his life choices.”

Donna smiles.

“Hell yeah I do.” Her smile fades for a moment

“Hey, what year is it here?”

Serena notices the shift in Donna’s expression, and her teasing grin fades slightly. She tilts her head.

“Uh… it’s 2025.” A beat. “Why?”

Her expression becomes thoughtful, the small pout forming again.

“It’s only 2020 in my universe,” she says. Her tone isn’t sad or confused, it’s more of just thoughtful. It’s more of a statement. She seems to just be thinking through everything.

“So you guys are 5 years ahead of me. Which makes it around 22 years since I drowned.”

She studies Donna’s face. “You okay?”

She listens to her words, that enough true expression on her face. She nods.

“I think so… for now at least. I- I’m just thinking.” She pauses for a moment to find her words.

“I’ve always thought that things happen for a reason, right? So I’m trying my damn hardest to figure out the why to all of this.”

By the look on her face, she’s incredibly confused.

“This isn’t my apartment…”

-🔮/thedonnastrange

Serena, balancing on her crutches, raises an eyebrow at the unexpected visitor. She raises an eyebrow, her expression somewhere between unimpressed and exhausted.

"Yeah, no kidding, Sherlock. Unless your apartment comes with a Stark-branded security system and a land shark named Jeff." She gestures vaguely around the room, then winces as she shifts.

With a dramatic sigh, she leans on her crutches. "Okay, mystery flannel lady, who are you, where did you come from?"

She seems taken aback by the sarcastic nature of her and raises her hands in defense.

“Jesus, no need to be an ass about it.” She glances around briefly. It’s clear she has a lot of questions. She lowers her hands.

“Stark? As in Tony- that doesn’t matter, does it?” She shakes her head briefly before looking the other woman up and down.

Donna Strange. That’s… that’s impossible.

Now she looks even more confused. Why is this woman freaking out?

Serena exhales sharply, finally really looking at her. She's seen pictures—old ones, grainy, but enough to recognize the same sharp features, the same damn eyes.

Her expression only changes when the other mentions Stephen. And at that she furrows her brows a bit.

“In my universe at least, my brother is dead,” she explains. Her hands are in her lap and she’s fidgeting with some rings on her fingers.

"I need, like, five seconds to process this before my brain short-circuits."

She exhales slowly, lowering herself back onto the couch. “I—uh. I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

She’s silent for a moment before she glances back up at Donna. “For what it’s worth, he’s alive here. And probably gonna lose his damn mind when he hears about this.”

“Yeah, yeah, take all the time you need.” She lets out a soft breath that’s almost a sigh.

“It’s fine, not your fault.” She waves a hand lightly.

She looks away for a moment.

“I don’t doubt it… how do you, you know, know him?”

She adjusts her position, leaning back against the couch with a small wince.

She sucks a sharp breath in before speaking.

“It.. wrecked me too, losing him.” Another pause

“I- I don’t know how I got here,” she admits. “I was waking home from the store and suddenly I’m in a different place.”

She doesn’t push. Doesn’t ask how or why. Not yet.

Instead, she nods, letting out a slow breath. “Yeah… losing someone like that does wreck you.” Her voice is quieter, more thoughtful.

“I don’t think I can work my sorcery like normal here. I’ve tried to make portals to basic places but it never ends up right.” She sighs.

“If it’s our best.. and safest bet… I think going to the Sorcerer Supreme would be a good idea. But I do have to ask, why are you talking about Stephen like he knows magic and stuff?”

“My brother is a sorcerer?” She says, her eyes going wide and her tone a bit incredulous.

“Wow,” she says, though it’s a lot quieter. “And here I am splitting my time between sorcery and college.” Stephen Strange, always the high achiever. She lets out a soft airy laugh.

“Yeah, your brother is a full-time magic menace. He traded scalpels for spellbooks, and now he’s got the Cloak of Sass dragging him around like a dramatic wizard superhero.”

She tilts her head. “You do both, though? College and sorcery? Damn, multitasking much? What are you studying?”

She stares for a bit in disbelief for a moment before blinking slowly. That was a shock. Her brother had been the Sorcerer Supreme. She shakes her head a bit.

“Yeah, yeah. I’m majoring in biology, but also working to minor in photography.”

She lets out another soft laugh.

“That’s.. a perfect description. He was still a doctor. He just- uh- died in a bad car crash on his way to some fancy dinner.” She looks away for a split moment.

“I was 16 at the time. I already had an idea of what I wanted to pursue, but the accident just solidified it.”

She exhales softly. “That’s rough.” Her voice is quieter now, lacking its usual sarcastic bite.

She watches Donna for a moment, then tilts her head. “Was it just you after that? Or did you have family to lean on?”

“Kind of. Our parents died when I was younger, so I lived with family friends,” she explains. She seems a lot more relaxed than when she first stepped through the portal.

[I’m trying so hard to make the timeline understandable lmao]

She lets out a heavy sigh at that, muttering a curse under her breath.

[no worries! That’s much more important than a tumblr rp lmao]

She pauses, then adds, “Unless you wanna sit here and panic for a bit first. That’s a totally valid option too.”

“You’re not wrong.” She lets out an airy laugh. Wasn’t life always a circus? She shifts, moving so that she was leaning a bit towards the other.

She listens to her words, nodding along lightly.

“I think there will be plenty of time to panic later on. Might as well.. do it now, right?” She thinks about it for a moment.

“I can try to open a portal to Kamar-Taj, but we may just end up in Texas or somethin’.”

[fair enough, fair enough.]

Serena snorts. “Yeah, uh, as much as I’d love an unplanned road trip to Texas, I really don’t feel like explaining to Wong why we showed up in the wrong hemisphere.”

She pushes herself up, using her crutches for support. “Hang on, I’ve got a direct line to at least one of those magic nerds.” She taps the device in her ear. “C.A.R.L.O.S., call Strange.”

A beat of silence. Then, in a chipper British accent, her AI responds:

Calling Mister Wizard, fetching your spell-slinging acquaintance, dialing the Sorcerer Sarcastic himself—

She chuckles again.

“That would be a funny call.”

She watches as the other dials Stephen through an AI system. She starts fidgeting with her rings again. Now’s not the time to lose her head.

She looks away and focuses on the room around her, trying to distract herself with the little details of the room.

Serena listens to the call ring a few times before it goes to voicemail. She groans.

“Of course he doesn’t pick up. Of course.” She rolls her eyes, then waits for the beep before speaking.

"Hey, Wizard Supreme—wait, nope, that’s Wong. Uh, Former Wizard Supreme. Yeah, whatever—Stephen. Listen, I need you to call me back ASAP. Like, drop everything you’re doing level ASAP."

She glances at Donna, then continues, her tone turning slightly more serious.

A pause. Then, smirking slightly, she adds, "And no, I’m not having a stroke. Just call me back before the multiverse decides to throw another curveball at us, yeah? Cool. Byeee.”

She hangs up and looks at Donna. “There. Now we wait for him to hear that and either call back immediately or have a complete meltdown first.” She shrugs. “Fifty-fifty chance, really.”

A part of her wants to sigh in utter relief, but she knows that it’s just putting off the inevitable. She looks at the other when she starts speaking to Donna.

“Fifty-fifty chance,” she repeats, her voice quiet and more to herself than anything. She forces herself to stop playing with her rings.

“So now we wait?”

She taps her fingers against her crutch. “Which means we’ve got two options: sit here in awkward existential dread or kill time until Strange calls back.

The tension is clear, but Donna doesn’t mention it. She doesn’t complain or break down.. not yet at least. Instead she just acts like it’s fine. She just brushes it off.

“I think the latter is better for the both of us.”

“You have a land shark? How does that even work?” She scoffs lightly in disbelief. She shakes her head.

“Two truths and a lie?”

“Accept the chaos… I really gotta learn how to do that, don’t I?” She really does. Especially on the path of Sorcery.

“I-I know what it is,” she chuckles. She thinks about it for a moment.

“You know what, yeah. Set the bar high.”

Serena smirks. “Atta girl. Alright, prepare to be bamboozled.”

She leans back slightly, tapping her fingers against her crutch as she thinks. Then, with a dramatic flourish, she says:

I once hacked into the Pentagon because I was bored.

I got into a fistfight with Deadpool over the last chimichanga.

I can play the piano blindfolded.

Donna’s expression shifts to utter surprise and confusion. Who was this woman? Hacking into the Pentagon? Fighting Deadpool over food?

“That’s… wow. I’m going to go with the last one. The others feel too.. detailed.” She shifts a bit, crossing her legs- a habit she’s done for her whole life.

Serena grins, shaking her head. “Wrong! I can play the piano blindfolded. Muscle memory.” She taps her temple.

Then, smirking, she adds, “The lie was the Pentagon one. I thought about hacking it once, but even I know better than to poke that particular bear.”

She points at Donna. “Your turn, Miss Multiversal Mystery.”

She scoffs lightly. She’s bummed but not truly upset about losing that. She shakes her head, thinking of her lie and truths.

“I have a German shepherd,” she starts off. Her eyes flicker up, looking at the ceiling as she thinks.

“I have straight As in my college classes, and I work at my school’s biology museum.”

“Ouch,” she lets out quietly at the ‘overworking student’ comment. She lets out a full laugh after the other finishes talking.

“Okay, okay. I mean, you’re right about the lie, but you don’t think I’m a dog person?” The tension in her shoulders is visibly decreasing.

“It’s my dream to have a German shepherd. A giant German shepherd named Loki or somethin.”

Donna lets out an airy laugh, rolling her eyes a bit.

“You’re not wrong, again,” she admits.

She leans back, settling more comfortably. “But hey, you’re way less of a hot mess than I expected. I thought I was gonna have to pull you out of some mystical panic spiral. Guess I misjudged.”

She taps her crutch thoughtfully. “Okay, okay. My turn. Here goes:”

I once convinced an entire group of people I was a certified psychic.

I can do a full split, no problem.

I once went three days without sleep because I was ‘working on a project.’

She opens her mouth, probably to argue, then shuts it again. She makes a face.

“I- I have no argument whatsoever.” She lets out a short sigh.

“Honestly I’m surprised I haven’t had an anxiety attack yet, though I’m not complaining.” She listens when the other starts her turn.

“The ‘certified psychic’ one?” She thinks about it for a moment. “Though I feel like you’d easily be able to do that..” she adds before letting out a sigh.

“Goddamnit I don’t know,” she laughs. She waves her hand a bit. “Let’s just go with the psychic one.”

She leans forward a bit. “The lie was the full split. I wish. That’s one skill I have yet to master. Probably never will—I'm not built for that level of flexibility.”

She sighs, wiping a hand down her face. She should’ve thought of that.

“Damn. Here I am being ‘not quite good enough’ and you being too good.” She still doesn’t seem actually upset. She knows it’s just all for fun.

“Okay.. uh,” she starts. She thinks about it for a moment.

“One of my professors got arrested for drug trafficking, I’ve been arrested, and I’ve been to a Nine Inch Nails concert.”

Then she smirks. “I’m calling BS on you being arrested.”

“I can tell you all the stories later.”

Donna smiles. It’s a proud, sly smile.

“Wrong. I have been arrested. I haven’t gone to a Nine Inch Nails concert.” She looks proud of herself for stumping the other.

Donna lets out a laugh at her reaction.

“Yep, I’ve gotten arrested.” She leans forwards, uncrossing her legs.

“But I got caught by a really badly placed security camera. I was in art when the police came and arrested me, but no charges were ever pressed.” She finishes the story with a laugh.

“Would I do it again? Hell yeah.”

She laughs along with her words, nodding along too.

“Honestly, you own that story now. Wear it like a badge of honor. ‘Yeah, I’m a badass sorcerer and I’ve got a criminal record—what of it?’” She gestures dramatically.

Then she grins. “Alright, you have to tell Stephen that story when you meet him. Just to see his face. I feel like he’d either be proud or immediately start questioning all his life choices.”

Donna smiles.

“Hell yeah I do.” Her smile fades for a moment

“Hey, what year is it here?”

Serena notices the shift in Donna’s expression, and her teasing grin fades slightly. She tilts her head.

“Uh… it’s 2025.” A beat. “Why?”