“Better not. I’ll be back with a vengeance otherwise.” A mild joke, a flicker of a smile. Strange unconsciously pats his pockets, double-checking that he still has his crystal on him; he keeps it on the same side where he’d always stored the sling ring, once upon a time. Keep all your everyday magical items in the same spot.

Strange tidily shoves his chair back under the table, and then he’s off, reluctantly leaving the pile of books behind in the librarian’s safekeeping— but he’s at least one connection the richer. And as he sets off into the middle-of-the-night Gallows to wend his way back to the living quarters, he finds himself feeling a little more settled, a little more grounded.

He’s stranded here. Fine. Having to learn the ins and outs of a brand-new universe. Fine. But the people are helpful, and the libraries are deep — so perhaps it’s not the worst thing ever.