It’s all so much to take in. Strange has landed in other universes and hot water before, but hey, at least this time he’s not being chased by someone trying to kill him. So. Progress. And at least the constant in life remains young women giving him good advice.

“I do believe in fate, these days,” the man says contemplatively. “Not as trite bullshit saying everything happens for a reason,” but in a way, wasn’t that what the Ancient One had taught him? if he hadn’t shattered his hands and his life, then he wouldn’t have become Sorcerer Supreme, then he wouldn’t have been present for Thanos, and it would have turned out worse. A chain of dominos. The suffering led somewhere. It was a kind of comfort.

“But I believe in it in the essence that once something has happened, that’s how it happened. Even with time travel, you can’t actually go back and change it — it creates a new branching timeline, you’re only ever going forward in your own chronology while the original remains unaffected, the suffering isn’t technically averted—”

He’s going on too long, his mouth running away with him. “Anyway, that’s besides the point. I’m getting too deep into the weeds. Point being: If I’m here, then I’m here, and that’s what’s happened. Best to do some good with it. I get it.”