Alexcorvin
Goodbye
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*Sees what you did there* *Giggled a little*After Emma, I'm no longer surprised by female self-righteous Red heads.
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*Sees what you did there* *Giggled a little*After Emma, I'm no longer surprised by female self-righteous Red heads.
Well discovered something.
It turns out that post flashpoint, Vril isn't an only child.
He has a sister, Techne, leader of the Coluan Resistance, which is oddly reminiscent of the Guardians of the Galaxy. It includes a foul mouthed bunny rabbit who owns a ship.
Post flashpoint, aka New 52? The only good thing to come out of New 52 is Superman's cat.
well martians are into role playAnd if not, I fully expect that Paul will be able to make one himself, with sex workers, and gambling facilities.
I imagine some would go for it as a fresh start and others would be enraged seeing it as exile from their rightful home.Ah, an interesting solution. If the local Red Martian government wouldn't grant White Martians equality, just move all the willing White Martians to a new planet so that they can make their own government. I wonder what the Hyperclan would think of that.
Post flashpoint, aka New 52? The only good thing to come out of New 52 is Superman's cat.
Jarro can stay but he's on thin ice.Hopefully this Vril doesn't go crazy like that version of himself.
And the Aquaman, Swamp Thing, Animal Man comics, just to name a few other good things.
Along with the friendship between Jon and Damien.
And let's not forget, Jarro!
Anyone who is tired of Jarro is tired of life.
Always feels like OL is just wasting his time having anything to do with them.
My experience with two Quests, and general cynicism with the world let's me say that improving the world is a largely thankless task, and is likely to be rendered pointless most sapient decisions, their numerous frustrations, and the corruption nature of their influence.Always feels like OL is just wasting his time having anything to do with them.
[Don't worry Chris, I still remember you.]
[Tangseid approves of this.]My experience with two Quests, and general cynicism with the world let's me say that improving the world is a largely thankless task, and is likely to be rendered pointless most sapient decisions, their numerous frustrations, and the corruption nature of their influence.
When one takes on the goal of improving anything that is what you accept when going to the business.
I dunno...given that his dealings with humans has exposed him to magic, the single most powerful force in the universe with apparently no counter but more magic, and crumbler tech, which basically tells anything and everything that isn't magic to fuck off....I'd say he's gotten plenty.
I mean...I really don't like M'gann, especially canon M'gann. But it almost feels like he could do that without having to deal with the Martians. Like, every single time he does, I just find myself going "Ugh...he should just leave you people to rot."And by helping the Martians he's helping M'gann, a close friend, and destroying a system which he views as being wrong, which he likes to do.
I almost feel like he doesn't even have to talk to them to do any of that, and that he could probably be helping a people who would be much more receptive and grateful.My experience with two Quests, and general cynicism with the world let's me say that improving the world is a largely thankless task, and is likely to be rendered pointless most sapient decisions, their numerous frustrations, and the corruption nature of their influence.
...They just feel like a people who spend more time either being difficult, or actively harming themselves than doing anything else.
His approval is met with my appreciation of his acknowledgment of sapient flaws, and my disapproval of his excessive Doom.
I dunno...given that his dealings with humans has exposed him to magic, the single most powerful force in the universe with apparently no counter but more magic, and crumbler tech, which basically tells anything and everything that isn't magic to fuck off....I'd say he's gotten plenty.
Come to think of it, about 80% of everything OL does with his ring is "make a human shizo tech construct", or a gun to shoot out a human shizo tech bullet.
I mean...I really don't like M'gann, especially canon M'gann. But it almost feels like he could do that without having to deal with the Martians. Like, every single time he does, I just find myself going "Ugh...he should just leave you people to rot."
They just feel like a people who spend more time either being difficult, or actively harming themselves than doing anything else.
I almost feel like he doesn't even have to talk to them to do any of that, and that he could probably be helping a people who would be much more receptive and grateful.
Like, he had an actual planet spin their core back up and start refilling their water back up. Yet just about every time he deals with them, it feels like a frustrating waste. Like trying to help a gambling addict family member. You just know the money they begged for their "bills" is going right into a slot machine.
To be clear, I'm not saying that anything is wrong with the Martian arcs. But like...they just remind me of the Super Mario Sunshine race. Like.."Ugh....I HATE you people. Why are you like this?!"
Meh....I mean....Meh....I don't know why, but I just can't even care.His dealings with Mars have now also given him access to an entire planet of telepaths, who will most likely be of great help for the war with the Reach and freeing the Coluans.
Blah...more Magic. God damn power rings over here, entire new corps, but look out! More magic!
Okay, the human race has been a LOT more helpful in general, with humans, meta-humans and so on, actually doing shit.And humans also seem like they spend more of their time harming themselves and being difficult, yet Paul hasn't given up on them.
But it feels like it is.
I do hope we see more of them then.Yeah the bitch that showed up in the last chapter was a pain, but apparently other rulers are actually trying to change things for the better.
We've got to try.it would be difficult for him to destroy a backwards Martian system of government without dealing with Martians.
Depends- a group-en-masse movement would be a lot more palatable, but I agree that there'd be a lot of limitations on the method of displacement/emergration-He's probably not going to find very many willing given the standard Martian psychology.
I get frustrated that Zoat doesn't finish an arc before changing perspectives. I also don't like long stretches in space. But i loved the Sheeda future arc which many seemed to dislike. I like Mars because i'm looking for ways Grayven and Artemis can become world rulers again, and this seems to be showing me a way they can.Meh....I mean....Meh....I don't know why, but I just can't even care.
That's another thing. I dunno why, because its just me, but like...all this build up to the Reach, and I can't even look at them as worthy opponents. I don't know why. Maybe its because I never really read any books they were central in? I mean I read some Blue Beetle.
But its just like "Yeah, yeah...Reach, Reach, lets get back to the good stuff."
I have no idea why. It just feels like filler. It's really weird.
Blah...more Magic. God damn power rings over here, entire new corps, but look out! More magic!
I never thought there would be a time when I was actively bored of, and annoyed with, magic.
Meh....I mean....Meh....I don't know why, but I just can't even care.
That's another thing. I dunno why, because its just me, but like...all this build up to the Reach, and I can't even look at them as worthy opponents. I don't know why. Maybe its because I never really read any books they were central in? I mean I read some Blue Beetle.
But its just like "Yeah, yeah...Reach, Reach, lets get back to the good stuff."
I have no idea why. It just feels like filler. It's really weird.
Blah...more Magic. God damn power rings over here, entire new corps, but look out! More magic!
I never thought there would be a time when I was actively bored of, and annoyed with, magic.
Okay, the human race has been a LOT more helpful in general, with humans, meta-humans and so on, actually doing shit.
You know...maybe that's it. It kinda feels like the Martians just sit around, doing nothing, until someone fixes their shit.
Or maybe its the fact that I lived through years of DC trying to Shill Martian Manhunter as more powerful than Superman, but that's bullshit, no one cares, and he's a jobber.
But it feels like it is.
I do hope we see more of them then.
We've got to try.
The problem with the Reach in this story is more a general problem with Zoat's writing.Meh....I mean....Meh....I don't know why, but I just can't even care.
That's another thing. I dunno why, because its just me, but like...all this build up to the Reach, and I can't even look at them as worthy opponents. I don't know why. Maybe its because I never really read any books they were central in? I mean I read some Blue Beetle.
But its just like "Yeah, yeah...Reach, Reach, lets get back to the good stuff."
I have no idea why. It just feels like filler. It's really weird.
Blah...more Magic. God damn power rings over here, entire new corps, but look out! More magic!
I never thought there would be a time when I was actively bored of, and annoyed with, magic.
Okay, the human race has been a LOT more helpful in general, with humans, meta-humans and so on, actually doing shit.
You know...maybe that's it. It kinda feels like the Martians just sit around, doing nothing, until someone fixes their shit.
Or maybe its the fact that I lived through years of DC trying to Shill Martian Manhunter as more powerful than Superman, but that's bullshit, no one cares, and he's a jobber.
But it feels like it is.
I do hope we see more of them then.
We've got to try.
To highlight to readers that this is a different OL.Is there any reason why his ring is so much more conversational?
Is there any reason why his ring is so much more conversational?
Is there any reason why his ring is so much more conversational?
Is there any reason why his ring is so much more conversational?
Ah... He's found the last person to use the 'Hyde serum'. And he sounds a right rotter.20th August 2010
21:43 GMT
The old man frowns at me.
"'oo the fuck 're you supposed to be, orange Lantern?"
Old, then. Unlike Sally Sonic, he's not immortal. One thing Tangseid here will have to worry about, though the Ring will fix that easily enough for him.I land on the small patch of grass outside of his care home's dining room.
"Yes."
And there we have it. One of those innocent-sounding 'patriotic heroes' of the old days. And the only surviving male user of the serum Tangseid's dosed himself with."Hah!" He smiles bitterly. "That show's me right up. Didn't know they came in different colours." He leans on the fence, hands dangling over the railing. "Fine, what'd'yah want?"
"Dennis Wilson. Formerly Vitaman."
So innocuous sounding... So simple a thing, that it can lead to what we know it will...The smiles fades a little, then he shrugs. "Maybe I am. What's it to you?"
"We've got a chemist in common."
I wonder just how hard it really was to get those records... I wonder how many government servers he hacked, or old military paper archives he scanned to find it..."Not bleedin' likely. Everyone who worked on that's dead as a door nail."
"But they kept records. Which I acquired."
Unfortunately, much like the MCU Super-soldier serum... There are downsides...He blinks, his face relaxing in surprised. "Fuck me. Really? What the hell d'you do that for?"
"It was an augmentation formula with no adverse side effects. It seemed like a good idea."
That was a long time ago, and the scientists involved were probably not young to start with..."Well, yeah, they were tryin' t' make a bunch of remorseless psycho bastards, weren't they? So it's hardly a downside if that's exactly what they got." He huffs with amusement. "You had a fancy magic ring anyway, but you had to go out of your way to fuck yourself over."
"Is it a simple on/off thing? Does the psychosis progress?" He bows his head. "Do you have any leads on anyone with a little more technical knowledge-?"
Yup. He might be the only person alive who knows what the serum actually was... And he didn't care about the making of it, did he? After all, it's a one-and-done thing, Tangseid wouldn't have used it otherwise."I haven't talked t' anyone on the boffin side of things since the War. You've got a better chance of finding any of 'em that I would. If any of 'em are still alive, which would be bleedin' surprisin'." He pulls a packet of cigarettes out of his back pocket and extracts a single cigarette. "You got a light?"
I wonder if that paranoia is a side-effect of the serum, or just a part of this Paul's nature... After all, he's been searching for a power-up longer than the Paragon did. I wonder, what would have made the original like that? We know the Renegade is the way he was because of a bad day at work before he got the ring...Anything untoward in that cigarette? Aside from the usual?
Looks fine to me.
Heh. You don't want to lose a valuable source of information, after all, no matter how little he knows. Already seeing people as tools..."What, you don't like fags? Just like the fuckin' nurses 'ere. Not like I've got all that long anyway; the stuff doesn't keep you alive, it just lets you fake it better."
"No, I just wanted to make sure it wasn't a cyanide cigarette or something."
Obliging of him. After all, what better way to make the old man do what you want."My 'dyin' for king an' country' days are long behind me."
A crack of orange lightning strikes the end, which begins to smoulder.
I doubt he can remember that far back, not for something that boring and simple. After all, he's got to be in his nineties, and improved vitality or not, he's balls old."Ta." He raises it to his lips and inhales deeply, looking up at the sky as he does so. After a moment he exhales, returning his gaze to me. "Well?"
"Did you notice any change in your behaviour-?"
And Tangseid still hasn't decided whether to change back or not, I see. After all, if he can mitigate the negative effects of the serum the way he does the Ring's what does it matter?He frowns. "What?"
"Before and after. This ring can monitor my behaviour and draw attention to the anomalies, but I want to know if you learned to notice when you were acting out of character."
Heh. Trying to piss him off, old man? I wonder why...
I'd say he's unimaginative, but at that age, well..."Excuse me?"
"You're a fuckin' cunt, you fuckin' cunt, that's what you are."
Oh, he is definitely trying to piss Tangseid off. Looking for one last fight before you go out, Mister Wilson?I tilt my head slightly. Why would he..?
"I'll.. add 'possible Tourette' to the list of symptoms. If you don't have anything useful to say, I'll leave you to carry on dying in-" He flicks his cigarette directly at my eyes "-peace."
And isn't that a difference to regular OL? I'm definitely leaning towards him being low on compassion... Wonder if he's also suffering a lack of Hope and Love, as Sally Sonic was?I let it bounce off my environmental shield.
"Are you trying to provoke me? Because it won't work. If I kill you, I can't get any more information out of you."
So, honestly, if you took care, watched yourself for 'evil' desires... You could negate the downside well enough...Warning! Deviation from baseline thought processes detected!
Yes, I spotted that one myself. An old man, whose only enhancement is something I added as an extra. He's not bullet proof, and the worst that can be said about him is that he's been involved in some 'shady' business. No murder sprees, no particularly grotesque behaviour -and he would certainly have had the opportunity for it- and he's in failing health. But I'm not even looking at his desires and it's…
The hard part is realising that the desires you're feeling are what you would have considered wrong, isn't it? I shudder to imagine what this OL's merger with the Ophidian would be like...The ant comparison is overused. But that's something like what I'm feeling. If I was in a room with a buzzing fly I might squash it or I might shoo it out, but I wouldn't care what the fly thought. Since he isn't actually a threat, I don't feel any need to kill him… But I don't feel particularly reassured about the fact that if he's anything to go by I don't have to worry about suddenly deciding to eat my team mates.
Of course I… Wouldn't worry…
Ah, the old man's got a point. The only real concern Tangseid has now is punishment. No thoughts of what those he care for would think, only how he'd be punished..."Nah. See, this is what I mean. You decided not to kill me. Probably don't think it's worth the aggravation. I can say what I want an' you won't care, 'cause it's a hassle. I can drop dead right now, and the only reason you'd do anything is 'cause there'd be a hassle if someone spotted you'd been 'ere."
"If there was someone else to talk to, believe me, I'd be talking to them instead."
I bet Tangseid's already got plans running through his head to improve the world, regardless of cost. All those plans he would have previously discarded due to the risks involved..."Fine. What else d'ja want?"
"Did you find yourself becoming more violent after taking the substance?"
"Nah. Enjoyed it more, but I was always a thug. Only real difference… Was I started planning it. Planning how to get at people, bring 'em down. So what about you?"
Ha! I wonder how she would have responded... Especially since she thinks of him as a teenager..."It's been less than a day, and other than coming on to a colleague I haven't really done anything."
"Was it Wonder Woman?"
Ah, such binary thinking... How old-fashioned of him. And showing just how morally empty he is..."No. Why do you ask?"
"Met her a couple of times, back in the war. Tried it on, but she weren't interested. Try'na live vicariously. You a poof, then?"
Yes, well, as you said, you were a thug. Whatever else the serum did to you, it magnified that thuggishness..."I'm trying to keep the conversation professional. You don't know me, and I don't think I'd like you better if I knew more about you."
He shakes his head. "I don't know what you think you dosed yourself with, but if I was in your shoes I wouldn't be taking lip from some dirty old tosser like me."
The hard part is wanting to be sorted out... And Tangseid seems to like the way he feels now... Likes it enough to not feel like changing back yet."I'll take that as a positive sign. Do you have a particular technique for knowing when something you want to do isn't smart?"
"Yeah, it's called not being a prat. The formula doesn't make you stupid. If you're too thick to watch yerself, that's your lookout." He pulls out another cigarette, watching me carefully. "'course… If you're that worried, I bet your magic ring could sort you out."
If anyone's wondering, we have seen her before, back in the Martian Womanhunter episode. The Paragon identified that besides the eternal youth thing she suffered from, she'd had all the lights of Hope, Compassion and Love burnt out. Guess now we know what did it."Probably. But I'm not worried, am I? Adverse consequences are… Just a variable I have to account for." I shrug. "But if you don't have anything helpful to say, is there anyone else I can talk to? Anyone else who's been dosed?"
"Yeah. My little Sal. Sally Smart. Works in porn now. Got a few of her early flicks if you wanna take a butchers. She's a petty bitch, but I don't think she's gone totally off the rails neither."
And fuck you too. Have a nice death."I'll pass. But thank you. You've been marginally helpful."
"Fuck off."
And with every moment you waste not changing back, you lose more and more desire to become that man again...I head upwards, considering the issue. So I can only consider practical issues. Anything else I'll have to refer to the ring's best guess about my pre-modification state. That's not good, obviously. I've lost a capacity. I should be able to change myself back, see how I feel about things and dose myself again if I think it's worth it.
Except that I'm not the man I was yesterday.
Now? Well, guys like the Joker will have to watch out, I guess..."Ring, just curious. Are my constructs stronger now?"
"Yes. Without the distraction of moral concerns, they're a little stronger. Old you would have worried a little about hitting someone too hard, though."
And the slippery slide begins. "Maybe it's not so bad if I kill the Joker?" "Damn it, why won't they do what I want?" "You know, if I tweak this desire... They'll be more helpful..." "Huh, I accidentally conquered the world? Oh well."Just have to be a little careful. And… Supervillain serial killers exist here, and while the prison system isn't quite as revolving door as the versions in the comics, there are still repeated incidents from the same offenders. Maybe a little less reticence on my part will be a good thing?
You've got a better chance of finding any of 'em than I would.You've got a better chance of finding any of 'em that I would.
That seems extraneous, if he's thinking about the old man.An old man, whose only enhancement is something I added as an extra.
Double Space.
Do you have a particular technique for knowing when something you want to do isn't smart?"
Adverse consequences are… Just a variable I have to account for.
Thank you, corrected.You've got a better chance of finding any of 'em than I would.
Double Space.
No, which he added to himself as an extra.
Old, then. Unlike Sally Sonic, he's not immortal. One thing Tangseid here will have to worry about, though the Ring will fix that easily enough for him.
Unfortunately, much like the MCU Super-soldier serum... There are downsides...
That was a long time ago, and the scientists involved were probably not young to start with...
Yup. He might be the only person alive who knows what the serum actually was... And he didn't care about the making of it, did he? After all, it's a one-and-done thing, Tangseid wouldn't have used it otherwise.
I wonder if that paranoia is a side-effect of the serum, or just a part of this Paul's nature... After all, he's been searching for a power-up longer than the Paragon did. I wonder, what would have made the original like that? We know the Renegade is the way he was because of a bad day at work before he got the ring...
So, honestly, if you took care, watched yourself for 'evil' desires... You could negate the downside well enough...
The hard part is realising that the desires you're feeling are what you would have considered wrong, isn't it? I shudder to imagine what this OL's merger with the Ophidian would be like...
All those plans he would have previously discarded due to the risks involved...
Ha! I wonder how she would have responded... Especially since she thinks of him as a teenager...
Ah, such binary thinking... How old-fashioned of him. And showing just how morally empty he is...
The hard part is wanting to be sorted out... And Tangseid seems to like the way he feels now... Likes it enough to not feel like changing back yet.
Yes, well, as you said, you were a thug. Whatever else the serum did to you, it magnified that thuggishness...
I'm wondering what the reasons for other changes in the setting are, like Cir-El. I got the impression this was just a variation of Earth-16Z otherwise.