〔ᶜʰᵃʳᵃᶜᵗᵉʳ ᵈᵉᵖᵗʰ/ ᵃᶰᵃˡʸˢᶤˢ〕

[I HIGHLY recommend reading over this chapter if you are one of my mains and/or RP with me. BTW this post is lengthy, I expect a select few to actually read this IN FULL.]

❝And yet the selfish man wanted to be forgiven━

for thinking about himself.❞

Stephen Strange [ex-Sorcerer Supreme], has found himself right back to square one. But for him? That's a good thing. He's gone from the main man of magic to just the guy who sits out on the sidelines. And no, this isn't just his excuse for finally finding a cure for his hands and living his real life as another rich prick, or from the 'responsibility' of what comes with being a protector of magic. Just recently, Stephen struck a deal with someone his mentors have told him to NEVER contact. But as arrogant, and ignorant and self–righteous as this American can go, he took the matter into his own hands. And 'lucky' for him, working w̶i̶t̶h̶ for Dormammu* is a small price to pay when the tab comes due.

*[I wanted to explain more of this when I write Stephen's confession]

Former magic practitioner, now once again Doctor Stephen Strange has magically taken back his former wing of the hospital. He was graciously re-accepted with open arms from his willing colleagues, especially Dr. Christine Palmer. Not that I'm saying anything has rekindled or would be kindled between the two, it's just Stephen could use a bit of love and appreciation after being strictly rejected and banned from the temple @ Kamur-Taj and the Sanctum Sanctorium. 

What better place is there to let all your anger out by cutting open your patients for money? 

Stephen is also one of the newest members for the Dark Avengers. He was recently recruited by one of his closest friends(?), the Scarlet Witch [who has actually seen Stephen at his weakest and most vulnerable] and scouted out by 'Wiccan'.

The good doctor can be timid and easily shaken up by everyone or anything that reeks of higher power, especially those with magical abilities. He's not scared of you, [no of course not] even though I like depicting him as such, but he has worse things to fear, like his master, Dormammu. I show Stephen to be visibly scared as both an innocent state to grant him mercy from his opponents- and that someone with power as strong as the Sorcerer Supreme themself, what exactly is there to fear? What I'm trying to say is that he's basically 'pretending' to be scared most of the time, yet adjacent to that he has to keep up the charade to have an excuse from the demons and satanic forces blasting through his head, heart and mind altering him from keeping the doctor sane. And it hurts. All the time. That's where most of his 'panic attacks' come from.

But what Stephen really fears is that since his soul has been traded off for the ability of his hands, Dormammu can make the sorcerer his own puppet. Sometime sooner or later Stephen might be requested to murder someone in the name of the Dark Dimension.
Besides, it's worth it if he can get his hands to still work, right? Other than that, the immense dark, magical abilities the doctor had been given to do as he pleases [mostly to keep up the use of his hands NOTHING else**] was both a blessing and a curse. Because there are always downsides and upsides to everything.  Especially magic this powerful.

Stephen, mid-arc to becoming the official Sorcerer Supreme™ decided to not only 'heroically' save earth by 'bargaining' with the dreaded Dormammu but ask him to actually cure his hands (something Mordo nor the Ancient One could provide him)

This dark!au character arc happens before Stephen domes the Sorcerer Supreme name. He doesn't run- protect the Sanctum Sanctorium anymore.. that job had fallen to Karl Mordo... Stephen escapes with Dormammu to leave Earth as well as the battered bodies of Kaecilius and his disciples for a short period.

  For my mains, you'll mostly find Stephen working @ the hospital on particularly late shifts. He will not/does not plan go home because he can't feel like being left alone to his hallucinations and visions. When these do worsen, Stephen will take a leave to go home and let his problems escalate in the confinements of his own house. Otherwise, the office he was given at the hospital will do for now [just because it grants him the littlest of privacy].  

Stephen simply couldn't stand the loss of the function of his hands. The constant shaking of his appendages were all too symbolic of his own inability to grip his own confidence. Once he was able to hear of such a higher power that could rival the Ancient One's, he had expected- even hoped to actually meet Dormammu in person to confront him for more than one thing. Thankfully the good doctor got what he asked for, right?