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

Handlewithcare · May 17, 2022

DAT_NOOB said:
Ironically I think Grayven has done more therapy

Does getting blasted with Pony Rainbow Juice Carebear Stare count?

Mr Zoat · May 17, 2022

Doccer said:
me

Chojin Patriarch said:
He waves a couple of fronds at me. "Lantern."

Thank you, corrected.

Ha! I figured he would. He and Pamela are about the only people involved in Accalacan that do know anything about the modern world, I suspect. Outside of any tribesfolk who were out undercover in the cities (which I think there was?)

No, they know plenty about the modern world. Not knowing was what caused their first attempt to fail.

Dried leaves dipped in something akin to blood and rolled into a smokable tube?

No. Leather.

RichardWhereat said:
Australia has those!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melaleuca_quinquenervia

They're only slightly poisonous.

And when Australia does 'slightly', you know you caught it in a good mood.

Akshka · May 17, 2022

When you leave to go get a plant computer from another planet.....in the middle of a conversation!

moralrelativity · May 17, 2022

Handlewithcare said:
Is it me or dies Paul seem a little...maniac in the last couple updates?

Maybe John's spell hasn't quiet given up yet?

Not just you. It's now crystal clear that someone's messing with Paul.

Grimnar · May 17, 2022

Mr Zoat said:
Germany has a modern army

This is... technically correct. They have some very good equipment.

You know, you just can't use any of it, and they don't really train with it, and nobody is actually able to get it mobilised, and the government would rather they just sit there and look pretty, in a background checklist sort of way.

TLDR, The german military is a fucking joke held up by technically proficent designs. In reality, it's a boondongle ala Saudi Arabia.

Darko · May 17, 2022

Handlewithcare said:
Is it me or dies Paul seem a little...maniac in the last couple updates?

Maybe John's spell hasn't quiet given up yet?

moralrelativity said:
Not just you. It's now crystal clear that someone's messing with Paul.

Well Paul has been thinking about finding John more and more lately, so maybe the spell is working overtime to make sure he's distracted.

moralrelativity · May 17, 2022

Darko said:
Well Paul has been thinking about finding John more and more lately, so maybe the spell is working overtime to make sure he's distracted.

Makes sense.

LazySloth13 · May 17, 2022

You know one reason why Paul comes off as scatter-brained to everyone else is due to how he operates when solving a problem; Paul makes plans using his own knowledge and the information from his rings, he then focuses on people or groups who can help put his plans into motion, and after making a few 'random' statements or questions he goes into action much to everyone else's bewilderment. Plus while these other characters are capable of growth a lot of them are in a a sense comic book characters who tend to remain largely static unless there's a situation that requires them to change, and given that none of them focus on uplifting humanity it's easy to understand why they don't share the same viewpoint as Paul.

Windona · May 17, 2022

Mr Zoat said:
Oh, no, the Russians and Chinese would see them as being too close to America. I seem to remember the idea of Japan Prime being upped getting quashed for the same reason. I wonder if there's actually been any sort of discussion about what the standard is? I mean, the scariest country on Earth at the moment is Bir Tawil, and that doesn't even have any inhabitants most of the time.

After doing some googling, I now know that Bir Tawil is the basis for the plot of land Lord Lantern Manga Khan built that trade post on. Also I wonder if Atlantis would be Security Council quality as well- I know it wasn't on the UN as of s1, and I have no idea when it joined, but I do imagine 'we control the oceans' might be a good argument for them to get on if they wanted to press the issue.

Mr Zoat said:
I roll my eyes. "Yes, funny. I assumed that if it was that uncomfortable to her that it was doing some sort of damage I couldn't perceive and so I stopped, given that she clearly doesn't have a problem with humans who know what they're doing manipulating plants."

Well Euathane is his. Good arguments work on Paul, but so does 'trust me it's bad and hurts me' when it's one of his saying it.

Mr Zoat said:
"Export?" He puts out his cigar, stowing it in his clothing. "That would need to get approved by both parties to the agreement, but given how far away Earth is that shouldn't be a problem. I didn't think you had that many druids."

"Earth laughs at declarative statements. Who do I need to talk to?"

Other planet: No way Earth could have that!
Earth: ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) No way Earth could have that?

DAT_NOOB · May 17, 2022

Wait do we have confirmation that there is a John Spell fucking with Paul's ability to look for him or is it just an assumption we all agreed on? or is it just the general John record wiping spell?

Bud-E · May 17, 2022

DAT_NOOB said:
Wait do we have confirmation that there is a John Spell fucking with Paul's ability to look for him or is it just an assumption we all agreed on? or is it just the general John record wiping spell?

Well it's either that or Paul suddenly developed an extreme case of ADHD.

hkim · May 17, 2022

Bud-E said:
Well it's either that or Paul suddenly developed an extreme case of ADHD.

Suddenly?

Istaran · May 17, 2022

Pinklestia said:
Yup, both of the human and pony kind. He also has done more family bonding. While OhEl LITERALLY can't let himself take time off wirh his girlfriend.

Again I question how is Oh El the one that's supposed to have the better ending? As he went for a guy who was very cautious about using his power ring to... This.

Grayven was much more blatantly in need of intervention early on, and consequently got it. Oh El made better choices early, masking the need for intervention until quite late and letting people get used to the problems until they gave up on the potential to deal with them. (At this point I suspect people who could successfully intervene don't recognize it is not too late. Batman, for example, has probably come up with some plan to seal him away for millenia, maybe in a magical super Arcam, only as a measure of last resort, but hasn't thought to politely ask him to voluntarily get therapy.)

xSieg · May 17, 2022

Batman's probably started to plan how to seal OL ever since his report from Kadabra on the Orangest Night, honestly.
Doesn't take exactly a genius to understand how the Reach (who were the first targets of the identity theft wave IIRC) could qwa-matter bomb someone important enough to make Paul do something like that, and he already is "only" productively insane at his best

Though I imagine he only started taking it seriously after the hypertime shenanigans, which means he can now try to fix it and make a better timeline instead of being slapped by timetravel mechanics

Bud-E · May 17, 2022

Istaran said:
Grayven was much more blatantly in need of intervention early on, and consequently got it. Oh El made better choices early, masking the need for intervention until quite late and letting people get used to the problems until they gave up on the potential to deal with them. (At this point I suspect people who could successfully intervene don't recognize it is not too late. Batman, for example, has probably come up with some plan to seal him away for millenia, maybe in a magical super Arcam, only as a measure of last resort, but hasn't thought to politely ask him to voluntarily get therapy.)

After reading this my first thought was why doesn't anybody ever just sit down and talk about how they feel then I remembered the answer entertainment. We wouldn't have much of a story if everybody was rational or expressed their feelings.

Pinklestia · May 17, 2022

Bud-E said:
After reading this my first thought was why doesn't anybody ever just sit down and talk about how they feel then I remembered the answer entertainment. We wouldn't have much of a story if everybody was rational or expressed their feelings.

And it tends to not he easy to.open up and talk because that risks getting you hurt more.

Is Oh El gonna end exiled from DC? That's were the universe hopping Pauls snips come from?

Deadring · May 18, 2022

Handlewithcare said:
Is it me or dies Paul seem a little...maniac in the last couple updates?

Maybe John's spell hasn't quiet given up yet?

I bet this is what it looks like when Paul is freaking out. I get the vibe that he isn't consciously aware that anything is wrong, but he just has a feeling. The vibe is just off, somehow, and he isn't sure where or why, but he feels it. Something doesn't match up, and he's not sure what it is just yet, but he knows it's something.

Or maybe that's just me.

Someguy Somewhere · May 18, 2022

....Paul is a chaotic individual, follows a goddess of chaos and has a set of tattoos that absorb ambient magic.

Constantine doesn't NEED any complex spellcraft to keep him busy....he just needs to drip feed him an IV of raw Chaos and let the universe and OL bounce off each other. Which is pretty easy I'd assume considering that, much like the former lord of hell, he knows how the tattoo's work, and has a direct feed of something that makes up a fair chunk of his soul...chaos rather then greed in this case.

Since he's a LORD of Chaos he's got plenty to spare.

Mr Zoat · May 18, 2022

7th November 2012
10:28 GMT -3

Dr. Isley looks around as I materialise, prize in a large case in my right hand.

"What's that? Why can't I feel it?"

"Warded. There's an alien plant inside. Euanthe never had any problem with those before, but given how heavily engineered it is I thought I'd check that no one was doing anything that required intense concentration."

"What does it-? A plant computer?"

"I know of two planets with advanced plant-based civilisations. I introduced them about a year and a half ago, and they've been cooperating ever since. If Euanthe turns out to be able to handle this-" I raise the case slightly, then lower it again. "-I can arrange for a visit."

"How many did you get?"

"Just one, to test out. They can make more pretty quickly, but after you study it for a bit you might be able to make your own."

"Did you actually want us on the UN Security Council?"

"No, no-. I mean, I don't.. have an opinion. If I wanted it to happen I'd be doing more work than this. But if you get there, then-"

"Hugo's the head of state."

"-go him." I nod at Euanthe and Mr. Zatara. They're sitting in the lotus position facing one another, Euanthe's bonsai plant floating in the air between them. "What are they doing?"

"Checking what will happen if Euanthe succeeds. Zatara offered to help her with it if she helped him first."

"How much longer do they have to go?"

"I don't know. What they're doing… It's on a level far beyond anything I can do."

"But you're watching carefully and learning from it?"

"I was. Now I've lost my place."

"Ah. Sorry."

"No. No, the job comes first." She exhales. "I'm not used to having people depend on me. Or… Look up to me. Not since Gotham University."

"Didn't you used to employ a few henchpeople?"

"As Pois-." She shakes her head. "In Gotham, I thought they were idiotic meatbags helping me cause their extinction. I didn't think of them as actual colleagues. I wouldn't have noticed how they felt about me."

"Do you talk to any of them now?"

She shakes her head.

"Do you-?"

"Doctor Mist to Orange Lantern."

"Excuse me." I raise my ring to my left ear. "Orange Lantern here. Are you ready to perform the scan?"

"That is not quite how it works. I em contacting you because I have detected someone using the spell now."

"Now? Where?"

"In Northern Ireland, the city of Belfast."

"What?" I frown. "But the only.. person there-."

Ah.

I hand the case to Dr. Isley.

"Please work on this with Euanthe when she comes out of this. I'm afraid that this requires my immediate personal attention."

"I will send you the coordinates."

"Thank you, but I think I've got a pretty good idea where he is."

"If you know where he is, why have you not already made contact?"

"Because he wasn't there. Moving

now."

7th November 2012
13:28 GMT

I appear in the air, a.. short distance from the office of a major publisher. I've been here before and I recognise the desires there. But my target… There. A restaurant, getting lunch.

"Should I join you?"

"That-."

I want to say, 'that won't be necessary, thank you', but the fact is that my relationship with the British government is nothing like good enough to storm in, do my thing and then leave without it causing a huge mess for everyone else. Whereas Dr. Balewa has a Justice League warrant, can legally make arrests and is by default treated as the expert that he is in the field of magic.

"Would be helpful, thank you."

An arc of white runes flicker in the air, vanishing as he steps through.

"What do you know?"

"Once upon a time, a magician called John Constantine wanted to avoid going to hell."

I drop down to street level, causing a minor disturbance in the local population. Though it's not so much 'run and hide' as 'get your camera'. Winds roil next to me as Dr. Balewa appears. Once he's regained his composure I march in the direction of the restaurant.

"So he created a golem with his blood and magic, and gave it enough of his memories that it could stand in for him in the ritual sacrifice. And the only good memory he gave it is his memory of his relationship with professional illustrator Kathryn Ryan. Suffice to say, the Demon Constantine doesn't like his progenitor-"

I shove open the restaurant door and march inside.

"-very much."

Everyone's staring at us, though only Ms. Ryan does so with any sort of familiarity. I've only spoken to her twice, but I'm fairly distinctive. The man opposite her, with violet strands trailing between them… Clearly isn't The Demon Constantine.

Very clearly.

I can even see the desire set that doesn't match his at all.

And we know that those desires weren't there a year ago.

I form a construct around him and yank him out of his seat.

"Hey! What the feck-!"

And we feed on the spell and it collapses, causing his appearance to snap back to John's before rotting into his demonic form.

"You're under arrest. Again."

Pinklestia · May 18, 2022

Uh... so anyone wanna explain?

Blackshard · May 18, 2022

Pinklestia said:
Uh... so anyone wanna explain?

The Demon Constantine appears to have put up a magical disguise almost good enough to fool Paul's empathic vision.

Pinklestia · May 18, 2022

Blackshard said:
The Demon Constantine appears to have put up a magical disguise almost good enough to fool Paul's empathic vision.

Unfortunately Paul is a greed elemental in a meat suit and he is the adopted son of the Great Snake.

Darko · May 18, 2022

Mr Zoat said:
"I will send you the coordinate

"coordinates"

crazygrox · May 18, 2022

Pinklestia said:
Uh... so anyone wanna explain?

Paul found the Demon Constantine in his secret identity.
Apparently he's formed an actual positive and loving relationship with this illustrator lady. I'm still not 100% sure it isn't mind control.

Ngamer11 · May 18, 2022

Mr Zoat said:
Everyone's staring at us, though only Ms. Ryan does so with any sort of familiarity. I've only spoken to her twice, but I'm fairly distinctive. The man opposite her, with violet strands trailing between them… Clearly isn't The Demon Constantine.

Very clearly.

I can even see the desire set that doesn't match his at all.

And we know that those desires weren't there a year ago.

I form a construct around him and yank him out of his seat.

"Hey! What the feck-!"

And we feed on the spell and it collapses, causing his appearance to snap back to John's before rotting into his demonic form.

"You're under arrest. Again."

I wonder how badly this is going to mess her up?

Mr Zoat · May 18, 2022

Darko said:
"coordinates"

Thank you, corrected.

Chojin Patriarch · May 18, 2022

Mr Zoat said:
7th November 2012
10:28 GMT -3

Dr. Isley looks around as I materialise, prize in a large case in my right hand.

"What's that? Why can't I feel it?"

Given how... Lively... Transit through the Honden can be, I'm not surprised he's taking every precaution to ensure his little treat arrives in the same shape he left J with. I am impressed that he got one so quickly.

All of two hours to score an early production model?

"Warded. There's an alien plant inside. Euanthe never had any problem with those before, but given how heavily engineered it is I thought I'd check that no one was doing anything that required intense concentration."

"What does it-? A plant computer?"

Well, you did say you missed having one. And if you two should happen to be able to make local versions...

"I know of two planets with advanced plant-based civilisations. I introduced them about a year and a half ago, and they've been cooperating ever since. If Euanthe turns out to be able to handle this-" I raise the case slightly, then lower it again. "-I can arrange for a visit."

"How many did you get?"

The joy of connections. Heck, if it works out, he might well be able to arrange a trade deal. I'm sure Euanthe can contribute some clever things to J and Alstair.

"Just one, to test out. They can make more pretty quickly, but after you study it for a bit you might be able to make your own."

"Did you actually want us on the UN Security Council?"

That would be an amusing career trajectory for her. From super-powered eco-terrorist to UN member in all of two years.

"No, no-. I mean, I don't.. have an opinion. If I wanted it to happen I'd be doing more work than this. But if you get there, then-"

"Hugo's the head of state."

I wonder, would the UN consider turning down having UN Peacekeepers with superhuman physiques. Even if they operate in their own units, just one such unit could make for a big stick.

"-go him." I nod at Euanthe and Mr. Zatara. They're sitting in the lotus position facing one another, Euanthe's bonsai plant floating in the air between them. "What are they doing?"

"Checking what will happen if Euanthe succeeds. Zatara offered to help her with it if she helped him first."

Or rather, help her do it safely? One misapplied twist in the spells needed, and...

Good bye biosphere.

"How much longer do they have to go?"

"I don't know. What they're doing… It's on a level far beyond anything I can do."

Effectively running a simulation of what would happen, maybe? Sort of a precognitive divination?

"But you're watching carefully and learning from it?"

"I was. Now I've lost my place."

You know, OL. With all the thaumic noise from your greediport.

"Ah. Sorry."

"No. No, the job comes first." She exhales. "I'm not used to having people depend on me. Or… Look up to me. Not since Gotham University."

Better than being a crazy Arkham frequent visitor obsessed with 'saving' the plant-life of the world from humanity...

"Didn't you used to employ a few henchpeople?"

"As Pois-." She shakes her head. "In Gotham, I thought they were idiotic meatbags helping me cause their extinction. I didn't think of them as actual colleagues. I wouldn't have noticed how they felt about me."

Hopefully she didn't make them dress up in leaf-themed long-johns or something.

"Do you talk to any of them now?"

She shakes her head.

At least they'd have a high chance of surviving her service, unlike, say, the Joker's goons.

"Do you-?"

"Doctor Mist to Orange Lantern."

I'm guessing he's made his list of spell pings, and checked it twice...

"Excuse me." I raise my ring to my left ear. "Orange Lantern here. Are you ready to perform the scan?"

"That is not quite how it works. I em contacting you because I have detected someone using the spell now."

O-ho! But is it actually John or just someone with the same trick? He had to learn it from somewhere, after all...

"Now? Where?"

"In Northern Ireland, the city of Belfast."

Hmm... Now what would Johnny-boy be doing in Ireland, hmm?

"What?" I frown. "But the only.. person there-."

Ah.

Evidently OL's memory of Hellblazer characters is damn good.

I hand the case to Dr. Isley.

"Please work on this with Euanthe when she comes out of this. I'm afraid that this requires my immediate personal attention."

Okay, now I'm really curious... And kind of worried.

"I will send you the coordinate."

"Thank you, but I think I've got a pretty good idea where he is."

Oooh, the suspense.

"If you know where he is, why have you not already made contact?"

"Because he wasn't there. Moving

...Hmm. To the Wikis!

now."

7th November 2012
13:28 GMT

I appear in the air, a.. short distance from the office of a major publisher. I've been here before and I recognise the desires there. But my target… There. A restaurant, getting lunch.

At least he was smart enough not to go diving right on top of them...

"Should I join you?"

"That-."

OL, consider: Massive magical backup, just offering his help...

I want to say, 'that won't be necessary, thank you', but the fact is that my relationship with the British government is nothing like good enough to storm in, do my thing and then leave without it causing a huge mess for everyone else. Whereas Dr. Balewa has a Justice League warrant, can legally make arrests and is by default treated as the expert that he is in the field of magic.

"Would be helpful, thank you."

Well, good to see he can make a sensible decision.

An arc of white runes flicker in the air, vanishing as he steps through.

"What do you know?"

Yes, please do exposit for those not in the know?

"Once upon a time, a magician called John Constantine wanted to avoid going to hell."

I drop down to street level, causing a minor disturbance in the local population. Though it's not so much 'run and hide' as 'get your camera'. Winds roil next to me as Dr. Balewa appears. Once he's regained his composure I march in the direction of the restaurant.

...Oh, hell. Literally. Not him again. Almost as annoying as Truggs. But less likely to cause a disaster directly.

"So he created a golem with his blood and magic, and gave it enough of his memories that it could stand in for him in the ritual sacrifice. And the only good memory he gave it is his memory of his relationship with professional illustrator Kathryn Ryan. Suffice to say, the Demon Constantine doesn't like his progenitor-"

I shove open the restaurant door and march inside.

So, is he looking to get his leg over with her, or just do something to her to hurt John? Or hell, both.

"-very much."

Everyone's staring at us, though only Ms. Ryan does so with any sort of familiarity. I've only spoken to her twice, but I'm fairly distinctive. The man opposite her, with violet strands trailing between them… Clearly isn't The Demon Constantine.

Pfft, right. Glamour!

Very clearly.

I can even see the desire set that doesn't match his at all.

Demon did his homework, at least...

And we know that those desires weren't there a year ago.

I form a construct around him and yank him out of his seat.

...Pity OL has a direct line to check that sort of thing.

"Hey! What the feck-!"

And we feed on the spell and it collapses, causing his appearance to snap back to John's before rotting into his demonic form.

"You're under arrest. Again."

And if that sounds a bit excessive: Demon. Constantine. Either of those things is trouble. Both? Well, you do the math...

Now, what on Earth is he up to, I wonder? I suppose trying to hurt John directly is out now that he's well out of the Demon's league. But messing with his loved ones, as discreetly as he can manage? That might work. Assuming John doesn't find out and come down with the full force of his Chaotic powers... On the upside, it might let OL get in touch with him.

Vaermina · May 18, 2022

Mr Zoat said:
"You're under arrest. Again."

Under what grounds?

As much as some people might like, being a Constantine isn't a crime.

Ngamer11 · May 18, 2022

Vaermina said:
Under what grounds?

As much as some people might like, being a Constantine isn't a crime.

He did break out of prison.

Senevri · May 18, 2022

Pinklestia said:
Unfortunately Paul is a greed elemental in a meat suit and he is the adopted son of the Great Snake.

I like to think of him as Ophidian's thinking-brain human.... But I suppose I should put quotes around "human" at this point.

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

Versed in the lewd.

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Connoisseur.

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Beetle Queen of Crackshipping

Accused of writing in a far away land

Stand up so I can push you down!

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Screee!

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