[
This idea has come to Stephen before, but this is the first time he's acted on it. Maybe it's seeing Karkat's name on the obituary yesterday, or maybe it's seeing Clint on the network again and remembering the pain the Avenger had been in when last he was alive and how Stephen had struggled to do anything about it. Or maybe, just maybe, it's guilt over having given in at last and taken some of the Vicodin Tony handed off to him for safekeeping to ease the constant pain in his hands. Like maybe if he gave back to the "community" somehow it'd make up for betraying a dead man's trust.
Whatever the reason, Stephen's switched on his video feed for the same reason he ever does: he's making a conscious effort to look trustworthy. He's sitting in what some might recognize as the soundproofed building near Mallard River Market, his expression clearer and calmer than he's felt in a long time thanks to the relief granted by the drug. By now his goatee has been swallowed up by almost two months' worth of scraggly growth, taking some of the edge off the superhero (or supervillain) look that comes hand in hand with the whole tunic and cape thing.]
Hello, Norfinbury, Doctor Stephen Strange here. Today we're going to talk about meditation.
[
He offers the camera a little smile.]
Now, I could tell you the part about how it's going to help you, you know, align your spirit and all that kind of stuff. I'm pretty sure most of you don't care, though, so I'll just point out that it
also helps with stress and lowers blood pressure. Might help you sleep, too.
I've recorded a guided meditation for all of you; the file should be attached to this entry. Let me know how that works for you, and I can make more of them.
[
True to his word, a file named [meditation1] is attached. It's a half-hour-long audio recording in which he explains to the listener how to get comfortable and prepared, then walks them through a series of visualizations that probably sound abstract to anyone who's never visited another dimension. It winds down with a re-grounding in reality, all delivered in his lowest, smoothest voice.]