With This Ring (Young Justice SI) (Thread Fourteen)

Aeess · Sep 29, 2020

Darko said:
Are they dating?

Yes, since New Year when they made out on the watchtower. Tao didn't know if it was appropriate, but Renegade told him it was okay, later Tao started working as a super-hero in Star City to work with Artemis more often.

Mr Zoat said:
"I was thinking.. perhaps… Star City?" Tao and I walk towards the training area for the scheduled seven o'clock briefing by Batman. "I believe that I would feel better about the situation if I had.. a degree of oversight."

"Green Arrow can be a bit competitive and.. Star City actually has a fairly low crime rate."

"It would also be an opportunity for me to gain experience in working alongside Artemis."

I flash him a grin. "Is that what the kids are calling it these days?"

He frowns slightly. "Calling.. what?"

I snort and shake my head. "Tao, if you want to go to Star City, do it. Green Arrow will probably be fine with that. He may even offer to show you around himself.

"I think I would prefer that."

"And he can chaperone the two of you so her mother doesn't get worried."

"Um. That… I… Ahh..."

I pat him on the back with my right arm. "I had access to the Watchtower's internal monitoring at New Year. Quick work."

"Oh. I.. was.. not sure it was appropriate."

"No rule against it. And -come on- you've seen M'gann and Kon together."

He nods, managing a small smile.

nick012000 · Sep 29, 2020

Handlewithcare said:
Batman would turn into a literal Batpony. And hate it.

I think Supes and Wonder Woman would enjoy the singing and general happiness and stuff though.

Jonn has turned into weirder...or, wait, would he become a Changeling?

Flash would turn into a Pegasus I think and Aquaman into a Seapony/Siren.

Cyborg...dragon? Cyborg earth pony? Or unicorn?

Cyborg's got a Mother Box powering his cybernetics, doesn't he? He'd probably be an alicorn, or at least he'd be an Earth Pony with cybernetic wings and horns that grant him alicorn powers.

Eponymic · Sep 29, 2020

Coda said:
No, it's a British history reference, and James Bond is (nominally) British. Britain overhauled its currency in... I think 1971? And it became something of a meme to have to convert back and forth between "old money" and "new money" to get an intuitive feel for how much something was actually worth. People don't have to do that anymore because it's been like 50 years since then, but the slang has stuck around as a snarky reference to other similar conversions between old-fashioned and current measurements -- in this case between Fahrenheit and Celsius.

Yes, but Ian Flemming references the difference between old francs and new francs in much the same way in Casino Royal. Where in Bond uses old francs to "feel richer"and new francs to handle debts to make them "feel smaller". In context the proper units of tempature would "feel richer" and the French units would "feel smaller".

Likely reading too far into it though.

CTrees · Sep 29, 2020

rkyeun said:
I've stopped keeping count of how many updates literally nothing happens.

In comic books, I can't stand the issues where they're just standing around talking. I've dropped multiple books because everyone was just standing around talking in street clothes (looking at you, X-Men).

But here, my biggest, recurring complaint has been the conversations we don't see. I'm not completely sure what the difference is. Might be Zoat's writing, might be this not being a visual medium. Might be because it tends to be world building.

Your complaint just made the difference stick out to me.

nobodez · Sep 29, 2020

CTrees said:
But here, my biggest, recurring complaint has been the conversations we don't see. I'm not completely sure what the difference is. Might be Zoat's writing, might be this not being a visual medium. Might be because it tends to be world building.

I think it's a combination of medium and investment. A comic book has a monetary value beyond the time it takes to read, unless you borrowed it from a friend or library, and thus you may want to feel like you are getting your money's worth.

Prince Charon · Sep 29, 2020

Eponymic said:
Yes, but Ian Flemming references the difference between old francs and new francs in much the same way in Casino Royal. Where in Bond uses old francs to "feel richer"and new francs to handle debts to make them "feel smaller". In context the proper units of tempature would "feel richer" and the French units would "feel smaller".

Likely reading too far into it though.

In case anyone is unaware, Casino Royale was written in the 1950s, well before the monetary changeover in the UK.

Gantradies · Sep 29, 2020

Vaermina said:
As far as we know the Nerve Gas was only thing they had...

*audibly groans*
is there any word if they knew, at the time still using mostly EARTH TECH,that the US were using robotic probes for first-through recon, given they had enough Intel about the American stargate program to time the activation to miss their own?
...
i think that's the thing i find the most infuriating-that they intentionally set up a defense system that'd obliterate the base's ability to defend itself/hand it over to an invader on a silver platter, that could be circumvented by motion-sensing/remote operated UCV's made with period tech >.<

... i mean, nerve gas has a use-by date, like any complex biowar agent even if its still somewhat effective the chemicals change/degrade over time, if there's no countdown/delay its just BEGGING for a strategically vital project to be gutted with a single literal slip of a finger/subverted leader, would likely cause morale/loyalty issues in a large chunk of personnel....

..... its a contingency the SOVIETS would have dismissed as insane/idiotic, given the politbureau dismissed the original plans for Perimeter/Dead Hand on those grounds >.<

iamnuff · Sep 29, 2020

thebishop8 said:
Did she think it was an accident? What the hell kind of excuse did he give back then?

That it was an accident, obviously.

Mr Zoat · Sep 29, 2020

Thrackerzod said:
Missing threadmark.

Thank you, corrected.

Mquz said:
Batman at the very least would just be a normal pony wearing a bat costume. Flash would be an Earth pony, just REALLY REALLY GOOD at running.

Agent Orange said:
I think he's just mentoring her on the whole 'being a (magical) pointy stick launcher guy' on their respective teams. He's significantly older than her. He's Mr Tao from Paragon's side.

No, Celestial Archer is about Artemis' age. And they are dating.

Xelloss said:
I don't mind if nothing happens, if it does in an enjoyable and entertaining fashion.
But then I enjoy slice-of-life (in reasonable doses) so I guess it's a matter of preferences.

I felt that I needed to re-establish between two characters who are the focus of the episode and haven't seen each other for a while.

frommerman said:
A Leslie Fish reference? In my WTR?

It's more likely than I thought I guess.

Not exactly the first time.

Doccer · Sep 29, 2020

Mr Zoat said:
New God watch

Please tell me you have a link?

Mr Zoat · Sep 29, 2020

Doccer said:
Please tell me you have a link?

No.

Zig · Sep 29, 2020

rkyeun said:
I've stopped keeping count of how many updates literally nothing happens.

Honestly the slice of life chapters like this are probably the best part of the story. You are reading a fic that updates with around ~1k words every day. Most fics update far less consistently but with longer updates and definitely go more than 1k words of nothing happening within their 10k word updates.

DrThoth · Sep 29, 2020

I don't think it's likely, exactly, but I wonder if Renegade's shared soul with Lynne will play some part in them returning to their present. The Source seems like the kind of thing that will transcend space-time.

Darko · Sep 29, 2020

Chojin Patriarch said:
Heh, young godly love. Or infatuation. Not everyone meets the One in their first relationship. That's usually the one where you learn the pitfalls of other people...

Well she and Tao have a lot in common, at least compared to her and Wally.

They're both archers, so they can share some interests, they were both raised with a bit more discipline than most people their age, Artemis her dad and Tao in the army, they're both in a similar line of work.

Chojin Patriarch said:
Okay, Grayven, dial it back a little. There's sarcasm, and then there's being an asshole.

But renegade is practically the New God of assholes.

Chojin Patriarch said:
Boy, it's a good thing Mother Boxes can't vomit. She sounds like she's suffering the world's biggest hangover, and it just. Won't. Stop.

Ohh she may be vomiting, but it's spiritual vomit and renegade isn't mentioning the metaphysial vomit on his legs now.

Chojin Patriarch said:
Oh, sure, you've never had someone you shoot at move slightly while the arrow's in flight, and turn a wounding shot into a riskier hit? Arrows are not the most gentle of weapons, you know.

Ehh, she's a god of archery at this point so that's probably no longer an issue, and even before that she had some extreme training and trick arrows with all sorts of functions.

Chojin Patriarch said:
And that's quite a good question. Have there ever been scenes of New Gods going hungry in the comics? After they awakened their Godhood, that is. There's no doubt Granny's charges often went to be with empty bellies...

Some of the skinny and emaciated slaves we see in the comics could have been full on gods that displeased Darkseid somehow.

Chojin Patriarch said:
A parallel universe where you can recharge the rings and get out from under the Vampire Sun's light. Good planning. Wonder how you can manage it without conventional technology.

As God from the wonderful videos of Darkmatter2525 explained to Jeffrey how he's going to solve his problems.

"Magic"

Chojin Patriarch said:
Perspective. For all they know, the Human race has died out completely after one of those alien invasions, that seem to happen every Thursday in the comics. Admittedly, even if they haven't died out, you'd be hard pressed to recognise them as human anyway.

In Doctor Who humanity practically looked the same even after trillions of years so it's possible that if there are humans in the Sheeda era they may still look human, possibly because of genetic engineering to maintain the human form we know.

Chojin Patriarch said:
Thankfully they haven't progressed past the dating phase. Can you imagine the fun Grayven could have, oversharing his, shall we say, bedroom successes? But, a gentleman doesn't tell.

But renegade would so share all his dirty stories if he can make someone uncomfortable.

Chojin Patriarch said:
Honestly, she probably could use something like that, between the Sheeda invasion and the 'Mister Sivana's wild ride' trip they're on here. Would be interesting to see team members take him up on that offer, even if they Boom Tube there.

The chance to see renegade act like a little child on sugar?

Yes please.

Chojin Patriarch said:
Oh, god, I wasn't serious about sharing! Remember, Grayven, she's all of sixteen or so.

That hasn't stopped some of the other Paul's from doing some inappropriate things with underage girls.

Yeah Paul didn't go too far with Zatanna, but lying about his age and some of the activities they engaged in, like him brushing her hair and kissing her on New Years Eve even if he was uncomfortable, are still kinda inappropriate.

Chojin Patriarch said:
Is it that surprising? I mean, most supervillains didn't start as hand-wringing, evil-laugh-giving loonies like the Joker. Is it so hard to beleive a rookie hero might mess up?

Well it may be kinda hard to believe that a rookie would decide to enslave a guy on what was essentially his first day.

Killing them by accident?

Sure.

Enslaving them to the spiritual level?

Kinda hard to fathom.

Chojin Patriarch said:
As if you'd try and inject someone you're fighting with a formula that makes them stronger, tougher and drives them into a murderous rage? Any other method would require The Renegade back then to have slapstick-tier clumsiness... With a power ring.

Unless the formula allows them to control he person they are injecting.

Circe turns men into animal hybrids and gives them enhanced strength.

Chojin Patriarch said:
Honestly, I'm starting to wonder if the Sheeda exist yet. I really figured they'd have noticed the temporal flux of these two's arrival. Or are we likely to see them run into post-apocalytic Columbians soon?

The Columbians are probably nowhere around.

The Sheeda may exist, but either they didn't detect the two of them, or are sending someone to observe, or they're being watched but don't know since they're methods of detection, the Box and ring, aren't working at full capacity.

DrThoth · Sep 29, 2020

Darko said:
That hasn't stopped some of the other Pauls from doing some inappropriate things with underage girls.

Yeah Paul didn't go too far with Zatanna, but lying about his age and some of the activities they engaged in, like him brushing her hair and kissing her on New Years Eve even if he was uncomfortable, are still kinda inappropriate.

Both Renegade and Eros-Paul have revealed their ages far earlier (and the Eros story explored the consequences of that quite well, in my opinion), while Paragon goes to a lot of effort generally to maintain the facade. I do hope he actually comes clean with that at some point, there doesn't seem to be any real point to it now, and Zatanna already knows (which I'm glad finally happened). I'm not sure if his reluctance is some consequence of his enlightenment and semi-inhuman mindset, but I don't think that makes sense.

I think Paragon should also have made his age clear to Jade before beginning their sexual or romantic relationships, not after; not because I think it would have changed her opinion, but it's basic information she deserves in order to make a valid decision. Especially considering that Common Sense Paul is dating her mother, which I just remembered upon a random re-read (would be fun to see that relationship and family dynamic).

At this point, though, does no one who he hasn't already told suspect the truth? If Batman knows or suspects, I'd assume he'd have confronted Paragon before now, possibly in the post-Nabu interrogation.

Darko · Sep 29, 2020

DrThoth said:
Both Renegade and Eros-Paul have revealed their ages far earlier (and the Eros story explored the consequences of that quite well, in my opinion), while Paragon goes to a lot of effort generally to maintain the facade. I do hope he actually comes clean with that at some point, there doesn't seem to be any real point to it now, and Zatanna already knows (which I'm glad finally happened). I'm not sure if his reluctance is some consequence of his enlightenment and semi-inhuman mindset, but I don't think that makes sense.

I think Paragon should also have made his age clear to Jade before beginning their sexual or romantic relationships; not because I think it would have changed her opinion, but it's basic information she deserves in order to make a valid decision. Especially considering that Common Sense Paul is dating her mother, which I just remembered upon a random re-read (would be fun to see that relationship and family dynamic).

At this point, though, does no one who he hasn't already told suspect the truth? If Batman knows or suspects, I'd assume he'd have confronted Paragon before now, possibly in the post-Nabu interrogation.

I think that Paul may not really care anymore about revealing his age.

He may think there's no point to it anymore and is worried others may dislike him for keeping it a secret.

Diana and Bruce most likely suspect something, but I doubt that they consider him to be a thirty year old, but probably think he's just a few years older than he is.

DrThoth said:
Especially considering that Common Sense Paul is dating her mother, which I just remembered upon a random re-read (would be fun to see that relationship and family dynamic).

Really hope we see an interlude of that version in the future.

Mr Zoat · Sep 29, 2020

DrThoth said:
I think Paragon should also have made his age clear to Jade before beginning their sexual or romantic relationships; not because I think it would have changed her opinion, but it's basic information she deserves in order to make a valid decision. Especially considering that Common Sense Paul is dating her mother, which I just remembered upon a random re-read (would be fun to see that relationship and family dynamic).

At this point, though, does no one who he hasn't already told suspect the truth? If Batman knows or suspects, I'd assume he'd have confronted Paragon before now, possibly in the post-Nabu interrogation.

The SI told Jade after he returned to Earth.

Darko · Sep 29, 2020

Mr Zoat said:
The SI told Jade after he returned to Earth.

Yeah, but if I remember correctly she found out about that after they had sex and started a romantic relationship, not before that.

Pinklestia · Sep 29, 2020

rkyeun said:
I've stopped keeping count of how many updates literally nothing happens.

I stopped to count how many updates have stories that are boring.

Worse is that I just know Zoat would have done the same story way shorter when this fic started. But nooo he has to drag it for over twenty updates nowadays.

Doc Sithicus · Sep 30, 2020

frommerman said:
A Leslie Fish reference? In my WTR?

Mr Zoat said:
Not exactly the first time.

I will always be grateful for introducing me to "The Sun is Also a Warrior" all those years ago.
I coudn't get my hands on actual CD but I've bought the digital edition of Avalon is Risen in 2016.

Stsword · Sep 30, 2020

nick012000 said:
Cyborg's got a Mother Box powering his cybernetics, doesn't he? He'd probably be an alicorn, or at least he'd be an Earth Pony with cybernetic wings and horns that grant him alicorn powers.

In Post flashpoint and YJ continuity yes, his cybernetics include a 'box- a fatherbox.

Valint · Sep 30, 2020

Handlewithcare said:
Batman would turn into a literal Batpony.

Or this.

Cuchulin · Sep 30, 2020

Handlewithcare said:
Batman would turn into a literal Batpony.

I'm Batmane.

Darko · Sep 30, 2020

Cuchulin said:
I'm Batmane.

Prepare to feel the righteous hooves of justice.

Mr Zoat · Sep 30, 2020

One Foot in Front
Of the Other

"What about Texas, then?"

I hold my seventh attempt at a coral arrow up and look it over with a critical eye. Straight, smooth, with a somewhat pointy tip. I think it'll do.

"Probably vote for Knight, unless I can talk Jon into going to a gun show. Which isn't very likely."

I pass her the arrow and she takes a moment to get a feel for it.

"I'm not talking about the election. We're pretty sure Luthor was up to something and you're supposed to be keeping tabs on him."

"Yes, he made a big hole in the ground. I went to see it."

Getting the giant space ship may have been the primary objective, but Lex wasn't going to waste his investment for a ship he was giving to someone else.

"The only thing special about it is that it's lined with a simple kryptonian crystal."

"And you didn't think that was worth mentioning?"

"What, that Lex has a bit of a Krypton-fixation? I rather thought you knew." I shrug and then slice a new section off my coral-block with my daiklave. "He wasn't just working on ways to kill Kal-El. He wanted to develop kryptonian technology as well. Dumb programmable crystals-"

Were a gift from Karsta, who's hiring every Tamaranean childminder she can.

"-are just one of the things he learned to make."

And I'm not telling her the truth about that, because I am planning on getting home. Not entirely sure what I'm going to use a few hundred kryptonian marines for yet but I'm sure that something will present itself.

Artemis puts the new arrow on her string and draws it experimentally.

"What does it do?"

I shrug, strands of coral falling to the ground as I slide the block I'm working along the edge of my blade.

"It's strong, absorbs radiation and grows where it's told. That's about it. Nothing clever."

"So it's not a weapon."

"It works as armour but it's not a very effective weapon against things in our weight class."

She smiles. "Oh, I'm in your weight class, am I?"

"If you can shoot holes in space, yes. I don't suppose you can do time, can you?"

"Ahh… No."

She sights and looses her arrow at a nearby coral wall, the arrow becoming thirty arrows in transit with all of them embedding themselves into their target. She nods, satisfied, and strolls over to recover them.

"This should do."

I hold up my complete arrow as she checks them for impact damage and stows them in her quiver.

"So I can just stop?"

She shrugs. "You can keep on going if you want."

I hold up the half-finished arrow before me, shrug and toss-.

No. Ugh. Thanks, brain.

I bring it to my mouth and bite the end off, chewing… Yeah. No. We can't live off-

"What are you doing?"

-this stuff.

"I wondered if we could eat it." I turn my face away from her and awkwardly spit what is basically rock out. "In case you're wondering: we can't."

"Ah, yeah?" She frowns. "How hungry are you?"

"Not rock-eating hungry." I pull my daiklave out of the ground and attach it to my armour. "Can your rainbow bridge arrow thing take us anywhere?"

"Anywhere on Earth… If this place even counts. But I can't go to a place I don't know, and I don't know anywhere-"

"In this time." / "-around here."

I nod. "Right. And… Yes, I can't think of anywhere that would be similar enough five billion years in the future to bypass that. So I guess we're back to plan 'pick a direction and keep walking'."

She nods, and we turn in to direction we were walking before our brief stop and keep walking.

"How come Luthor didn't use that kryptonian crystal stuff for his space ships?"

"Because those ships are designed for agility and stealth. Kryptonian warships were flying bricks."

"Didn't help with the Sheeda."

I smile. "What, you mean those empty hulls we left on the ground so they'd be a nice and obvious target?"

She stares at me. "What?"

"Yeah. The on-site bunkers were made of kryptonian crystal, but… We knew that the Harrowing was coming up and we didn't think we'd have time to finish a big enough fleet to protect the whole planet. So we… Kept a nice obvious target out in the open. Sure, the Sheeda would know that we were working on space ships, but if they thought they knew where all of them where and saw them all being destroyed, they'd stop worrying."

"You wanted them to commit."

"Yep."

"And… Then you get aboard the Castle and assassinate the Queen?"

"No. We get aboard the Castle and disable the time drive so they can't get away. Then the actual fleet flies in from the actual shipyard on the far side of the moon and destroys everything that's left."

"The actual-? No." She shakes her head. "Green Lantern would have spotted it."

I shrug. "Advanced sensor stealth and magic wards. One of the local Greenies might have found it if he looked really hard in exactly the right place, but that wasn't very likely."

"So Lex Luthor's.. got a space fleet."

"Unless we badly miscalculated and he's-. Uh. Well, if we're in the future then he's certainly dead, but since he was on board the Pax Lex it's possible that we miscalculated and he died that day."

"Pax L-? Of course he called it that."

"Actually, I picked it. He finds it embarrassing." I smile. "One of our Chinese employees asked if Lex's family name was 'Pax'."

But it didn't give him a bout of paranoia, which means that his therapy sessions are actually working! He gets to name the next battle cruiser, but I suspect that he intends to be boring and give it a sensible name rather than a pun based on my name. Either that, or do a pun that no one but him will understand.

…

How am I going to tell the difference?

"And that's it? The ships fly in and destroy all of the harvest ships-."

"And the fliers and monsters. Our ships can all operate in an atmosphere, so fire support isn't a problem. Any surviving Highborn might be a problem, but that's what the League's for."

"And they don't need you for that?"

"No, just for nobbling the Queen. I-."

"Hhhkkkkkkk."

My daiklave's out and Artemis's coral arrow is on her string as the horde of zombie children charge out of the murk!

Darko · Sep 30, 2020

Mr Zoat said:
Not entirely sure what I'm going to use a few hundred kryptonian marines for yet but I'm sure that something will present itself.

Well there is that war with Apokalips you're planning.

Mr Zoat said:
I bring it to my mouth and bite the end off, chewing… Yeah. No. We can't live off-

"What are you doing?"

-this stuff."

Remove the " from 'this stuff'.

hance1986 · Sep 30, 2020

Zoat, can you give a rundown on the New Gods Grayven has made and what abilities they have or have developed out of being New Gods? Artemis is...what? New God of the Hunt like the Olympian Artemis? Her New God abilities revolve around marksmanship and being a true sniper? She made one arrow in flight multiply into many arrows and she learned a divine teleportation technique from Tao.

What about Kid Flash? And Kaldur? And Renegade Zatanna and Green Arrow? What new God abilities have they developed?

Darko · Sep 30, 2020

hance1986 said:
Zoat, can you give a rundown on the New Gods Grayven has made and what abilities they have or have developed out of being New Gods? Artemis is...what? New God of the Hunt like the Olympian Artemis? Her New God abilities revolve around marksmanship and being a true sniper? She made one arrow in flight multiply into many arrows and she learned a divine teleportation technique from Tao.

What about Kid Flash? And Kaldur? And Renegade Zatanna and Green Arrow? What new God abilities have they developed?

I think he made everyone aside from Robin, who didn't want it, a New God.

Artemis is more like a god of archery and her abilities are supernatural marksmanship.

Kid Flash had his speed increase to the level of the Flash and he lost his hunger.

Kaldur lost the gills he had on his neck and maybe the webbed fingers and toes and is most likely some kind of water god now as he's been shown as being able to manipulate water much more easily and without his water sword things.

Zatanna is a much more powerful magic user now and I think Green Arrow may develop the same powers as Artemis as Tao, although his may be weaker since I think he only got a partial Awakening, but I'm not fully certain on that.

aaa001 · Sep 30, 2020

Mr Zoat said:
I bring it to my mouth and bite the end off, chewing… Yeah. No. We can't live off-

"I heard in times of hardship, the pioneers used to eat coral"

Mr Zoat · Sep 30, 2020

Darko said:
Remove the " from 'this stuff'.

Thank you, corrected.

With This Ring (Young Justice SI) (Thread Fourteen)

I trust you know where the happy button is?

Getting sticky.

Chasing the ring

Bringer of Context

Just zis guy, you know?

Not too sore, are you?

Connoisseur.

Dedicated ragequitter

Versed in the lewd.

Dedicated ragequitter

Not too sore, are you?

I trust you know where the happy button is?

Connoisseur.

I trust you know where the happy button is?

Connoisseur.

Dedicated ragequitter

Connoisseur.

Well worn.

Not too sore, are you?

Versed in the lewd.

I trust you know where the happy button is?

Versed in the lewd.

Connoisseur.

Dedicated ragequitter

Connoisseur.

A pitiful excuse for a man.

Connoisseur.

Your first time is always over so quickly, isn't it?

Dedicated ragequitter

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