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

Vaermina · Mar 29, 2025

Mr Zoat said:
"No."

Yup, I wrote that.

haralo99 · Mar 29, 2025

Vaermina said:
Yup, I wrote that.

Just caught up, I assume it's dead.

Kiden · Mar 29, 2025

Mr Zoat said:
I offered to extend my ring's translation effect to her, but apparently including the Queen in your magic is a local taboo.

I'd think approaching the problem from the other direction and having the ring translate Dr. Crane would be acceptable.

Unless it was having issues with cultural references and idioms. That happened with two different Lantern colors at least once, some phrases appear to translate very literally while missing the real meaning entirely.

Mr Zoat · Mar 30, 2025

13th December 2023
23:47 GMT -5

The three of us look down at the bullet-riddled body of our would-be ambusher.

General Flag looks at me and Peacemaker. "Do either of you have any idea who-?"

I nod. "I'd like to take a moment to say a prayer for the soul of our wayward brother, Gagsworth A. Gagsworthy-"

Next to me, Peacemaker splutters with laughter.

"-in the hope that despite his numerous crimes, he may-."

Peacemaker pats me on the shoulder. "Like what? Being too short to ride the rollercoaster?"

"Ah… Five murders, approximately two hundred felony murders relating to his time as the Joker's sidekick, a… Probably-unknowable number of assaults and other such lesser crimes-. Please understand that as I say this I'm just working from Gotham police reports rather than drawing upon the knowledge of Heaven."

"Oh." He thinks for a moment, and then nods. "Now I don't feel so bad about shooting him." Then he freezes, then stares at me with an excited expression on his face. "Is the Joker here?" He raises his gun. "Because I wanna do what Batman's too much of a pussy to do."

"I agree that his romantic relationship with Catwoman is ill-considered, but I don't believe that she has influenced his actions towards the Joker."

"No, not pussy. Pussy!"

I regard him levelly as he gestures to his crotch.

"You know, like…"

He makes a crude gestures over his groin with his left hand.

"Pussy."

General Flag sighs. "Smith, stop jerking off at the angel. He knows what you mean. He's just too polite to point out that you just said 'pussy' four times to an angel."

"Oh." Peacemaker looks down for a moment, and then moves his left hand. Then unconsciously wipes it on his trousers before putting in on his hip. "But is he here?"

I shake my head. "The Joker is currently convalescing at Arkham Asylum with broken arms, legs and several broken ribs."

"So it would be real easy?" General Flag glares at him. "Oh, come on! He's killed hundreds of people." Peacemaker looks at me. "He's on the express route to Hell."

"Ah…"

He looks concerned. "Right?"

"In point of fact, no."

"Oh, fuck off! What do you mean, he's not going to Hell! He's the fucking Joker!"

I nod slowly. "While under normal circumstances his criminal activity prior to his unfortunate accident in the Ace Chemical Processing Plant would be grounds for chastisement, everything since then is a result of the mind-altering affect of the Smilex he was inadvertently exposed to."

General Flag snorts. "Heaven's got insanity pleas too?"

"Sort of. It's more that the false 'Joker' personality will be entirely erased and his true personality will rise to Heaven. Or, if you prefer, Heaven can fix insanity flawlessly, so we won't be dealing with Joker but with the failed comedian and petty criminal he used to be who just wanted to provide for his wife and son and made some poor decisions."

Peacemaker frowns. "So why don't you just fix him now?"

"Well, several reasons. But fundamentally it's because Eve and Adam didn't leave the tree alone like they were told to."

"Huh?"

"The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil? In the Garden of Eden? What actually happened is a little more complicated, but fundamentally, humanity's desire to reach out for knowledge and responsibility is respected by Heaven as part of the telos of your species, and as such we mostly leave the material world to you to deal with and just hand out score cards at the end."

He thinks about that for a moment.

"How am I doing?"

"Heaven requires that mortals inflict no more in punishment than was done in the crime. As such, your habit of wilfully killing people who have not themselves killed anyone will result in your never seeing the Silver City. On that subject, you should repent and amend your life."

He looks genuinely concerned, and for a moment I think that I might be getting- "But I can still kill people, right?" -through to him. "So long as they're murderers?"

"Yes, though I am concerned about the fact that it is that that you reached for, rather than a chance at the salvation of your soul."

He snorts and shrugs sullenly.

"Ah. I think I understand. May this emissary of Heaven lighten your path?"

He blinks. "Sure?"

I step closer and embrace him, arms around his sides and wings around his shoulders. He stands there awkwardly, arms frozen where they were.

"Your brother's death was a tragic accident, and you are not to blame for it."

He shakes, as Heaven's authority rules on the accusation of sin and makes him aware of his acquittal to the depths of his soul. I can feel his thoughts shift as the burden is removed, and his own astonishment as the weight he's borne for most of his life suddenly isn't there any more. He pulls back, left hand grasping the side of his head. A moment more and he'll start reviewing his own memories freed from the guilt he attached to them only seconds ago.

"U-rh!"

He blinks, gurns, and generally looks unsteady on his feet as his brain readjusts.

General Flag comes up alongside me. "His brother?"

"His father used to make them fight one another when they were little boys as a form of martial training. He accidentally killed his brother with an extremely unlucky hit."

"Unlucky like Rick?"

"That was not quite the same. He believed that fight had to be fought. I will warn you now that both your son and him would be judged free of guilt for that."

"I don't-." General Flag shakes his head. "Who was that Greek guy, the one who had to beg Brad Pitt to give his son's body back?"

"King Priam."

"DuBois disobeyed orders even knowing Waller had a bomb in his skull. And Smith obeyed because he genuinely thought it was the right thing to do. He killed my son, and I-. I hate this. Smith!"

"Ugh…" Peacemaker shakes his head, becoming somewhat coherent now that he has something external to focus on. "Yeah?"

"You still got that bomb in your head?"

"I guess?"

"You want it gone?"

"Yeah?" He doesn't sound particularly certain.

"Waller covered up for the people who made Corto Maltese happen. That means they're still in the U.S. government. I understand not wanting to announce things to the world. I don't know if it would have resulted in a war or not… But if we handle things quietly then it won't. Are you in?"

"Yeah." This time he sounds certain. "That was fucked up, and everyone involved deserves what's coming to them."

"Then that's what we're doing."

Darko · Mar 30, 2025

Mr Zoat said:
brother, Gagsworth A. Gagsworthy-"

Next to me, Peacemaker splutters with laughter.

His parents must not have been very imaginative.

Mr Zoat said:
He looks genuinely concerned, and for a moment I think that I might be getting- "But I can still kill people, right?" -through to him. "So long as they're murderers

It's like that time he was agreeing with that janitor and said he'll kill more white people.

Mr Zoat said:
I step closer and embrace him, arms around his sides and wings around his shoulders. He stands there awkwardly, arms frozen where they were

Yeah, the only bird he lets hug him is Eagly.

Mr Zoat said:
"Your brother's death was a tragic accident, and you are not to blame for it."

He shakes, as Heaven's authority rules on the accusation of sin and makes him aware of his acquittal to the depths of his soul. I can feel his thoughts shift as the burden is removed, and his own astonishment as the weight he's borne for most of his life suddenly isn't there any more. He pulls back, left hand grasping the side of his head. A moment more and he'll start reviewing his own memories freed from the guilt he attached to them only seconds ago

I wonder if this will also help him get rid of his hallucinations of his dad.

Chojin Patriarch · Mar 30, 2025

Mr Zoat said:
13th December 2023
23:47 GMT -5

The three of us look down at the bullet-riddled body of our would-be ambusher.

General Flag looks at me and Peacemaker. "Do either of you have any idea who-?"

I see they had no trouble with the jackanape who interrupted their much-needed discussion. And from the looks of the timestamp, it didn't take particularly long. Then again, trick pies and gag-themed weapons don't hold up well against guns.

I nod. "I'd like to take a moment to say a prayer for the soul of our wayward brother, Gagsworth A. Gagsworthy-"

Next to me, Peacemaker splutters with laughter.

Yes, that's a perfectly natural reaction. Pity it doesn't look like he'll get that Shirley Temple with Baby Doll, though.

"-in the hope that despite his numerous crimes, he may-."

Peacemaker pats me on the shoulder. "Like what? Being too short to ride the rollercoaster?"

Hey, now, just because he had a few moral shortcomings in life... Don't cut him down to size about it.

"Ah… Five murders, approximately two hundred felony murders relating to his time as the Joker's sidekick, a… Probably-unknowable number of assaults and other such lesser crimes-. Please understand that as I say this I'm just working from Gotham police reports rather than drawing upon the knowledge of Heaven."

...Little fella's been busy. Definitely deserved his fate, then.

"Oh." He thinks for a moment, and then nods. "Now I don't feel so bad about shooting him." Then he freezes, then stares at me with an excited expression on his face. "Is the Joker here?" He raises his gun. "Because I wanna do what Batman's too much of a pussy to do."

"I agree that his romantic relationship with Catwoman is ill-considered, but I don't believe that she has influenced his actions towards the Joker."

Hey, now. Sometimes the Bat-Cat thing can be a good thing. If nothing else, you get amazing kids who live up to both parents' legacies.

"No, not pussy. Pussy!"

I regard him levelly as he gestures to his crotch.

Oh, he knows exactly what you mean, but he's to polite to acknowledge it. Even if he wasn't touched by an angel, he'd be too British to laugh.

"You know, like…"

He makes a crude gestures over his groin with his left hand.

"Pussy."

...Please stop.

General Flag sighs. "Smith, stop jerking off at the angel. He knows what you mean. He's just too polite to point out that you just said 'pussy' four times to an angel."

"Oh." Peacemaker looks down for a moment, and then moves his left hand. Then unconsciously wipes it on his trousers before putting in on his hip. "But is he here?"

That would be akin to tugging on Superman's cape, wouldn't it? And not in the nice way, either.

I shake my head. "The Joker is currently convalescing at Arkham Asylum with broken arms, legs and several broken ribs."

"So it would be real easy?" General Flag glares at him. "Oh, come on! He's killed hundreds of people." Peacemaker looks at me. "He's on the express route to Hell."

Ah, here comes the controversial, if canon, take.

"Ah…"

He looks concerned. "Right?"

"In point of fact, no."

"Oh, fuck off! What do you mean, he's not going to Hell! He's the fucking Joker!"

No, he's a man broken by a very bad day, what with losing his wife and (presumably unborn) child, being threatened with a beating or death if he doesn't lead the next job, and then he ran into Batman and took a header into an ambiguously-defined vat of 'chemicals'. Doesn't really excuse his shit afterwards, but it's understandable, right?

I nod slowly. "While under normal circumstances his criminal activity prior to his unfortunate accident in the Ace Chemical Processing Plant would be grounds for chastisement, everything since then is a result of the mind-altering affect of the Smilex he was inadvertently exposed to."

Better than the 'Joker' movie origin, that's for sure. That's just 'Taxi Driver' with a mentally unstable comedian instead of a Vietnam veteran taxi driver. And a decidedly New Teens attitude.

General Flag snorts. "Heaven's got insanity pleas too?"

"Sort of. It's more that the false 'Joker' personality will be entirely erased and his true personality will rise to Heaven. Or, if you prefer, Heaven can fix insanity flawlessly, so we won't be dealing with Joker but with the failed comedian and petty criminal he used to be who just wanted to provide for his wife and son and made some poor decisions."

And depending on the reality, some other poor schmuck may end having a bad day, getting a bleached-white face and deciding to mess with Batman. Because Gotham is cursed.

Peacemaker frowns. "So why don't you just fix him now?"

"Well, several reasons. But fundamentally it's because Eve and Adam didn't leave the tree alone like they were told to."

"Huh?"

Because two hippies took bad advice about produce from a snake, Humanity got fucked over.

It's complicated.

"The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil? In the Garden of Eden? What actually happened is a little more complicated, but fundamentally, humanity's desire to reach out for knowledge and responsibility is respected by Heaven as part of the telos of your species, and as such we mostly leave the material world to you to deal with and just hand out score cards at the end."

Which most people will bitch about as 'God moves in Mysterious ways' or 'If God were good, there'd be no evil'. It's all excuses, though. We have free will, being the place where the rising ape meets the falling angel, as stories love to highlight. And if some power beyond wants to sit, watch and judge, well, that's their prerogative.

He thinks about that for a moment.

"How am I doing?"

And then he shudders as Lan sucks his breath through his teeth.

"Heaven requires that mortals inflict no more in punishment than was done in the crime. As such, your habit of wilfully killing people who have not themselves killed anyone will result in your never seeing the Silver City. On that subject, you should repent and amend your life."

He looks genuinely concerned, and for a moment I think that I might be getting- "But I can still kill people, right?" -through to him. "So long as they're murderers?"

...Is that really the point you're taking away from all this?

"Yes, though I am concerned about the fact that it is that that you reached for, rather than a chance at the salvation of your soul."

He snorts and shrugs sullenly.

Well, he never said he wasn't a hypocrite, what with his crusade against war and violence by using violence... He probably knew he wasn't headed upstairs.

"Ah. I think I understand. May this emissary of Heaven lighten your path?"

He blinks. "Sure?"

Heh, yeah, that sort of request would raise eyebrows. Especially from a guy like Peacemaker.

I step closer and embrace him, arms around his sides and wings around his shoulders. He stands there awkwardly, arms frozen where they were.

"Your brother's death was a tragic accident, and you are not to blame for it."

Oooh, deep past trauma. And maybe a little nervousness. Angels are traditionally good-looking, after all.

He shakes, as Heaven's authority rules on the accusation of sin and makes him aware of his acquittal to the depths of his soul. I can feel his thoughts shift as the burden is removed, and his own astonishment as the weight he's borne for most of his life suddenly isn't there any more. He pulls back, left hand grasping the side of his head. A moment more and he'll start reviewing his own memories freed from the guilt he attached to them only seconds ago.

I can picture him feeling a little adrift without that cornerstone of his psyche. Might be useful to nudge him onto a better path.

"U-rh!"

He blinks, gurns, and generally looks unsteady on his feet as his brain readjusts.

I expect it feels rather like getting poked in the brain. Or like someone stuck a finger in and stirred his mind for a second.

General Flag comes up alongside me. "His brother?"

"His father used to make them fight one another when they were little boys as a form of martial training. He accidentally killed his brother with an extremely unlucky hit."

...He better be enjoying the not-so-tender mercies of Hell, I hope. That's fucked up.

"Unlucky like Rick?"

"That was not quite the same. He believed that fight had to be fought. I will warn you now that both your son and him would be judged free of guilt for that."

As much for their reasons as the accidental nature of it?

"I don't-." General Flag shakes his head. "Who was that Greek guy, the one who had to beg Brad Pitt to give his son's body back?"

"King Priam."

And that was a hell of a gamble he took, doing that. Throwing himself on his foes' mercy in the name of propriety towards the fallen? They could easily have taken him hostage, if they'd been more pragmatic. Instead, they accepted him under xenia and let him make his plea.

"DuBois disobeyed orders even knowing Waller had a bomb in his skull. And Smith obeyed because he genuinely thought it was the right thing to do. He killed my son, and I-. I hate this. Smith!"

"Ugh…" Peacemaker shakes his head, becoming somewhat coherent now that he has something external to focus on. "Yeah?"

So in the end, he chooses mercy over vengeance? Lan is probably giving a quiet smile and nod when he thinks they're not looking.

"You still got that bomb in your head?"

"I guess?"

Given Bloodsport still had it... And Peacemaker technically went AWOL, though he's probably considered KIA. No point detonating a bomb in a corpse.

"You want it gone?"

"Yeah?" He doesn't sound particularly certain.

Probably won't even feel as weird as having his self-loathing about his brother's death washed away.

"Waller covered up for the people who made Corto Maltese happen. That means they're still in the U.S. government. I understand not wanting to announce things to the world. I don't know if it would have resulted in a war or not… But if we handle things quietly then it won't. Are you in?"

So, a few private meetings, possibly involving breaking and entering. And depending on what they say in those meetings, they might soon afterwards be taking up the matter with Saint Peter.

"Yeah." This time he sounds certain. "That was fucked up, and everyone involved deserves what's coming to them."

"Then that's what we're doing."

I have the feeling Waller won't be happy about this.

Well, then. Peacemaker and Flag senior both in a better headspace, declaring a private vendetta against the people in charge of the Corto Maltese stuff. That's not going to have dramatic fallout in the halls of government, nor in the headquarters of ARGUS at all, no sir. Wonder if Lan will stick with them, or leave them to it and claim ignorance of their plans if Waller asks.

Mors · Mar 30, 2025

Mr Zoat said:
"No, not pussy. Pussy!"

I regard him levelly as he gestures to his crotch.

"You know, like…"

He makes a crude gestures over his groin with his left hand.

"Pussy."

The joke, of course, being that 'pussy' in this context apparently is derived from a longer word and not from the slang for vagina.

Doccer · Mar 30, 2025

Mr Zoat said:
moment to say a prayer for the soul of our wayward brother, Gagsworth A. Gagsworthy

What's the A for?!!

Old Knife · Mar 30, 2025

Mr Zoat said:
"Then that's what we're doing."

Rick Flag Senior. Welcome to the green lantern corps.

Jesus Christ. Another one!?

Jus4532 · Mar 30, 2025

Mr Zoat said:
I nod slowly. "While under normal circumstances his criminal activity prior to his unfortunate accident in the Ace Chemical Processing Plant would be grounds for chastisement, everything since then is a result of the mind-altering affect of the Smilex he was inadvertently exposed to."

Oh shit, does that mean if anyone were to kill the Joker in cold blood, then they would possibly go to hell for that?

Darko · Mar 30, 2025

Jus4532 said:
Oh shit, does that mean if anyone were to kill the Joker in cold blood, then they would possibly go to hell for that?

Not necessarily.

The Joker is a threat, and whole he's mentally ill, the Angels may recognize that there was no mortal way to treat him so his murderer may get a pass.

supernerd91692 · Mar 30, 2025

is there a index with all the other lantern chapters?

Darko · Mar 30, 2025

Chojin Patriarch said:
Better than the 'Joker' movie origin, that's for sure. That's just 'Taxi Driver' with a mentally unstable comedian instead of a Vietnam veteran taxi driver. And a decidedly New Teens attitude.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrJhGi1vUjo

Chojin Patriarch said:
Angels are traditionally good-looking, after all.

Well in some cases they're attractive from a lovecraftian perspective.

Chojin Patriarch said:
...He better be enjoying the not-so-tender mercies of Hell, I hope. That's fucked up.

Would be ironic if his tormentor is Baphomet.

Chojin Patriarch said:
Given Bloodsport still had it... And Peacemaker technically went AWOL, though he's probably considered KIA. No point detonating a bomb in a corpse.

Waller knows that he's still alive.

NightmareWarden · Mar 30, 2025

Jus4532 said:
Oh shit, does that mean if anyone were to kill the Joker in cold blood, then they would possibly go to hell for that?

"In cold blood" basically never applies, outside of his current state of injury. But the key is to genuinely repent afterwards, which would require one to acknowledge the human under the makeup. It would require one to confront that they took the easy choice, rather than supporting his capture by safe means like watching a camera feed, supporting the creation of new non-lethal takedown tools, or researching ways to cure all kinds of maddening ailments.

And if someone zealous declared that they slee Joker in God's name? They'd have to confront their failure. They'd have to confront the fact that the Lord's will can be unknowable, that his ability to interpret that will is flawed. And that he has helped turn strangers against the faith by proclaiming his act to be the will of the Lord.

NightmareWarden · Mar 30, 2025

Mr Zoat said:
And for the first time his eyes waver. "There is no such thing as too much unity. My predecessor lived through the breakup of the Russian Empire. I lived through both Stalin and de-Stalinisation, through the occupation of Eastern Europe and the privatisation of national industries. Where there is disunity, there is weakness. And that is not to be tolerated."

"I didn't realise that you-" I open up my empathic vision again. "-were that old. Are you another Danner enhancile?"

I manage to control my reaction well enough not to frown. The colours I saw before are still there, but now that I take a closer look I start to notice the things that aren't. I can't follow threads to formative memories or experiences, they just sort of... Trail off to nowhere. I mean, the most intense green is associated with... I think that's a gulag. But the rest...

His face remains impassive. "My personal history is of no relevance. I act on behalf of the Russian people at the direction of their leader, the President. So far as you may be concerned, I am the face of the Russian state. One functionary among many, and completely replaceable. Good day, Orange Lantern."

Oh. OH, this director is like Uncle Sam and the German predecessor to Captain Nazi, eh? Huh. An administrative role… oh, and Mister Gort this chapter, AKA Steel Wolf, likely appreciates the unnamed director's competence, since Steel Wolf believes every Russian leader since Stalin has been "ineffective and weak." Just like golden age americans would appreciate Uncle Sam, but more zealously.

I suppose there are other possibilities for this director, but I THINK all the pieces line up. I wonder if this was caught on SB or SV.

Ngamer11 · Mar 31, 2025

supernerd91692 said:
is there a index with all the other lantern chapters?

You can see a list of alternate povs in the recap page on tv tropes.

NightmareWarden said:
Oh. OH, this director is like Uncle Sam and the German predecessor to Captain Nazi, eh? Huh. An administrative role… oh, and Mister Gort this chapter, AKA Steel Wolf, likely appreciates the unnamed director's competence, since Steel Wolf believes every Russian leader since Stalin has been "ineffective and weak." Just like golden age americans would appreciate Uncle Sam, but more zealously.

I suppose there are other possibilities for this director, but I THINK all the pieces line up. I wonder if this was caught on SB or SV.

It was noticed on SV. The story had migrated there by then.

Silverias · Mar 31, 2025

Mors said:
The joke, of course, being that 'pussy' in this context apparently is derived from a longer word and not from the slang for vagina.

That's not actually true afaik. Pusillanimous just happens to be similar. I may be wrong but I remember looking up the etymology and this not bearing out.

Vaermina · Mar 31, 2025

haralo99 said:
Just caught up, I assume it's dead.

Sadly yes, my currently active stories are the three in my signature.

Cuchulin · Mar 31, 2025

Chojin Patriarch said:
Hey, now. Sometimes the Bat-Cat thing can be a good thing. If nothing else, you get amazing kids who live up to both parents' legacies.

Helena Wayne is a more worthy successor to the Bat than Daimien and a serious badass in her own right.

Mr Zoat · Mar 31, 2025

4th June 2013
Not Sure

"I had not realised that the Dream City was originally a part of your world."

I nod. That shortened our journey considerably. Artemis assumed that there would be some sort of link, but the journey there took more time than the journey towards the Gates of Horn and Ivory which are now coming into sight.

"Yes. I…" Uh. "I told the Caliph that I would go back and tell him about the time some friends and I ran through a dream storm. I just.. haven't gotten around to it." I shake my head. "But yes, in a remarkable feat of self-absorption he had Morpheus take everything great about his realm into the Dream, ensuring that the memory would outlast the physical realm."

I shake my head.

"And I can't even get angry at anyone, because the person who did it stopped existing the moment all of his noble traits were taken into the Dream and a husk of a mortal ruler was left behind, and as far as I know the Caliph here didn't exist until it happened."

"Then there is a real place which corresponds to the Dream City?"

"There was, but it's been destroyed and rebuilt and changed around so many times that if you wanted to do a correspondence ritual you'd be better off starting from scratch."

"A pity. It would be easier to anchor the spell if that were not the case."

"Let's put a pin in that until after you've had a meeting with Morpheus." I lean against the railings, looking down at the shambling figments of imagined lifelessness. "Doesn't feel like all that long ago that I last came through here. It took me a little while to work out that they weren't misplaced shades."

Queen Artemis comes over to stand besides me. "Is that what your people are reduced to once they die?"

"They were. Our God of the Dead had a bit of a rethink a few centuries ago, and now you can barely tell that they're not alive. Oh, I should probably warn you: amongst the people you'll be staying with there's another woman named Artemis, and it's also the name of one of our goddesses. So if someone calls out for aid during a hunt, they're probably not talking about you."

She nods thoughtfully. "I do not think that there are any other women named Artemis on my world."

"No?"

"It is a name of an earlier age. And it is heavily associated with me."

"Is your longevity unusual?"

"Yes. My father came from the world of Zerox originally. He was an immensely powerful wizard, and I seem to have inherited part of his longevity."

"Oh. That's a problem Queen Hippolyta doesn't have. Most Amazons are about as old as her."

"Is she married?"

"No. Ah. It's a.. bit of a joke that it's obvious to everyone on the island except her who she should marry, but I'm too afraid of what our Goddess of Love will do to me if I say anything to give them a nudge."

"Why would your Goddess of Love be troubled by that?"

"There are bets going. I'm also the reason why the husband she hated being forced to marry divorced her the moment he got the power to do so, and married her to a eunuch. She's, ah… Not a very nice person, and I don't want her attention." … "Also, some of the bets are really big, and I don't know who bet what."

Queen Artemis smiles. "What is his name, that I might avoid saying anything that I should not?"

"Oh, no. Her name. There are very few men on Themyscira." Hm. "In fact, there probably aren't any at all at the moment."

"Why is that?"

"Uh… They had a sex-segregated society, and then lost a war, and only the women and young children evacuated to their new island, and while there were a few boys with them their goddesses only blessed the women with extended lifespans. So eventually the men aged and died. There are five men with Themysciran citizenship, one by marriage, three because their mother is a citizen and me because the crown princess took pity on me. The rest, all women."

I look towards the bow as we approach the Gates. Melinoë is occupied, though I'm not sure whether she's just avoiding me-.

I look to where Dr. Crane is coming out of his trance, smiling broadly.

Avoiding one of us, or is actually busy. Instead, Cyber-Akhlys is on door duty. I

just have to reach out and strum her desire

and the Gates open for our passage. I catch sight of one of the dream-shades trying to shamble through, and it fades to nothing the moment it leaves its medium. That just reassures me that they're not really alive, and are just human-shaped scenery.

Queen Artemis is looking… Pretty darn impressed, actually. "I have not seen the like before. How is this possible?"

"You're looking at the bound titan, Erebos. The gods of my people beat it into submission and repurposed it for storing the souls of the dead. I don't understand the exact process, but I'd guess that it's sufficiently primal that it can touch both the Dream and the Earth directly without issue."

"A titan would-. Do your gods live here?"

"Some of them do. Why do you ask?"

"Normally, gods cannot exist in the corporeal world in anything like their true form as it cannot support pure magic beings. But in a bound titan, they could use its own primal magic to…"

She looks away, clearly considering the implications. I.. didn't think to ask about her world's gods, though from the sound of things they didn't do anything similar.

"What is the condition of the souls of the dead?"

"Lord Hades replaces their connection to the material with one to Erebos itself. In some lights you wouldn't know that you're talking to a shade. Doctor Crane, have you been here before?"

"Not physically. If you don't need me, I'd like to speak to some of the shades. I've been wondering what it's like to exist without the fear of death to motivate them."

"No, by all means. Put me down for a medallion on 'fear of ennui'."

"An obvious choice, but I'll allow it. Your majesty?"

"I have no idea."

"Anyone else?"

A couple of the other members of the crew look around, but most of them carry on with their preparations as we finally sail through the Gate. Looks like Erebos isn't on fire. Good.

"Then I will put my own coin on 'fear of impermanence', since basic psychology requires it to be something like the sensation it is replacing."

I nod. "Let me know your results."

"I'm not showing you the raw data. I've published so very little lately. It must be peer reviewed, first."

"Far be it for me to criticise your professionalism. Your majesty, I thought that a tour of Themyscira would do for today, to allow you to adapt to Earth's magic fields. We can visit Hub City tomorrow, or Poseidonis if you prefer."

She nods. "I would like to see Hub City. I believe that it will allow me to understand how your world has suffered."

"Not a problem. I'll let the mayor know once we reach the surface."

BR549 · Mar 31, 2025

...who would be the peers of a (mostly) sane Dr. Jonathan Crane?

Ardy · Mar 31, 2025

It's always refreshing to see someone look at earth-16 and say "what in the goddamn?"

Darko · Mar 31, 2025

Mr Zoat said:
So if someone calls out for aid during a hunt, they're probably not talking about you."

Unless they wish her to use her magic for it.

Mr Zoat said:
She nods thoughtfully. "I do not think that there are any other women named Artemis on my world

Probably because it's an older name.

Mr Zoat said:
"It is a name of an earlier age

Yep.

Mr Zoat said:
"Yes. My father came from the world of Zerox originally. He was an immensely powerful wizard, and I seem to have inherited part of his longevity

Shit.

I'm guessing her dad in this story is Mordru.

We know he's interested in magical worlds, so he could have gone there.

Mr Zoat said:
dream-shades try to shamble through

"trying"

Mr Zoat said:
Looks like Erebos isn't on fire. Good.

Anytime any place isn't on fire is a good thing.

Mr Zoat said:
"I'm not showing you the raw data. I've published so very little lately. It must be peer reviewed, first

Not sure there are many psychologists that study the state of ghosts.

Chojin Patriarch · Mar 31, 2025

Mr Zoat said:
4th June 2013
Not Sure

"I had not realised that the Dream City was originally a part of your world."

I nod. That shortened our journey considerably. Artemis assumed that there would be some sort of link, but the journey there took more time than the journey towards the Gates of Horn and Ivory which are now coming into sight.

Which, unless there's temporal trickery stuff going on, would make it comparatively new compared to some parts of the Dreaming. Though only the long-lived would particularly notice, given it happened almost a thousand years ago.

"Yes. I…" Uh. "I told the Caliph that I would go back and tell him about the time some friends and I ran through a dream storm. I just.. haven't gotten around to it." I shake my head. "But yes, in a remarkable feat of self-absorption he had Morpheus take everything great about his realm into the Dream, ensuring that the memory would outlast the physical realm."

Bit of a duff move, even if it made for an amazing story. And OL really does have a lot of dangling meeting owed about the place, doesn't he?

I shake my head.

"And I can't even get angry at anyone, because the person who did it stopped existing the moment all of his noble traits were taken into the Dream and a husk of a mortal ruler was left behind, and as far as I know the Caliph here didn't exist until it happened."

A grim way to look at it, but in a way, it's a fair price he paid for a kind of immortality.

"Then there is a real place which corresponds to the Dream City?"

"There was, but it's been destroyed and rebuilt and changed around so many times that if you wanted to do a correspondence ritual you'd be better off starting from scratch."

Yeah, the current Bahgdad is a long way from the ancient city. Even if it occupies around the same physical location.

"A pity. It would be easier to anchor the spell if that were not the case."

"Let's put a pin in that until after you've had a meeting with Morpheus." I lean against the railings, looking down at the shambling figments of imagined lifelessness. "Doesn't feel like all that long ago that I last came through here. It took me a little while to work out that they weren't misplaced shades."

Half-formed ideas and barely-glimpsed dreams, I take it? Echoes of sleepers passing through, leaving a wispy after-image of their resting consciousness?

Queen Artemis comes over to stand besides me. "Is that what your people are reduced to once they die?"

"They were. Our God of the Dead had a bit of a rethink a few centuries ago, and now you can barely tell that they're not alive. Oh, I should probably warn you: amongst the people you'll be staying with there's another woman named Artemis, and it's also the name of one of our goddesses. So if someone calls out for aid during a hunt, they're probably not talking about you."

I always wonder if the goddess sees the choice of name as a bit presumptuous of the parents.

She nods thoughtfully. "I do not think that there are any other women named Artemis on my world."

"No?"

Probably something of an unspoken social taboo, especially given the nature of Name-based magic.

"It is a name of an earlier age. And it is heavily associated with me."

"Is your longevity unusual?"

Given the nature of extended lifespans, I would wonder about the birth rates. Or is it just the more deeply-inclined students of magic that live longer...

"Yes. My father came from the world of Zerox originally. He was an immensely powerful wizard, and I seem to have inherited part of his longevity."

"Oh. That's a problem Queen Hippolyta doesn't have. Most Amazons are about as old as her."

Zerox again. Funny how that one world has so many seeds cast across the universe.

"Is she married?"

"No. Ah. It's a.. bit of a joke that it's obvious to everyone on the island except her who she should marry, but I'm too afraid of what our Goddess of Love will do to me if I say anything to give them a nudge."

Heh. And of course she's oblivious to it, while the lady in question pines away. I hope some outside influence finally gives them the nudge they need.

"Why would your Goddess of Love be troubled by that?"

"There are bets going. I'm also the reason why the husband she hated being forced to marry divorced her the moment he got the power to do so, and married her to a eunuch. She's, ah… Not a very nice person, and I don't want her attention." … "Also, some of the bets are really big, and I don't know who bet what."

I expect someone on Olympus was keeping track. Hermes perhaps, or Dionysus. They seem the most likely.

Queen Artemis smiles. "What is his name, that I might avoid saying anything that I should not?"

"Oh, no. Her name. There are very few men on Themyscira." Hm. "In fact, there probably aren't any at all at the moment."

"Why is that?"

Artemis probably had a slight eyebrow-raising moment at that. But a kingdom of only women, well...

"Uh… They had a sex-segregated society, and then lost a war, and only the women and young children evacuated to their new island, and while there were a few boys with them their goddesses only blessed the women with extended lifespans. So eventually the men aged and died. There are five men with Themysciran citizenship, one by marriage, three because their mother is a citizen and me because the crown princess took pity on me. The rest, all women."

Conner and Mitchell, of course. I assume ~~Hector~~ Daniel Hall is the third by descent from Hippolyta Hall. ~~The one by marriage would probably be that fellow that got an Amazon pregnant?~~ EDIT: Whoops, right family, wrong generation.

Though as @Ngamer11 noted, Hector counts as the married.

I look towards the bow as we approach the Gates. Melinoë is occupied, though I'm not sure whether she's just avoiding me-.

I look to where Dr. Crane is coming out of his trance, smiling broadly.

There are such things as abhorrent worshippers, after all. He probably acts like a creepy fanboy around her.

Avoiding one of us, or is actually busy. Instead, Cyber-Akhlys is on door duty. I

just have to reach out and strum her desire

Ah, yes, she was cybernetically augmented to deal with her perpetually rotting state, if I remember right?

and the Gates open for our passage. I catch sight of one of the dream-shades try to shamble through, and it fades to nothing the moment it leaves its medium. That just reassures me that they're not really alive, and are just human-shaped scenery.

Queen Artemis is looking… Pretty darn impressed, actually. "I have not seen the like before. How is this possible?"

~~Ah, realising Earth might be more than some mystical backwater compared to your world?~~

Probably a bit much there. But she might find the way Humanity is mixing technology and the arcane surprising...

"You're looking at the bound titan, Erebos. The gods of my people beat it into submission and repurposed it for storing the souls of the dead. I don't understand the exact process, but I'd guess that it's sufficiently primal that it can touch both the Dream and the Earth directly without issue."

A vastly simplified explanation, but an accurate one. Remember that trouble with the emergent Titan of technology that he headed off by feeding it to Hephaestus? Things do get weird when that much thaumic energy is involved.

"A titan would-. Do your gods live here?"

"Some of them do. Why do you ask?"

Planning a courtesy meeting, or are you worried they're not nice gods?

"Normally, gods cannot exist in the corporeal world in anything like their true form as it cannot support pure magic beings. But in a bound titan, they could use its own primal magic to…"

She looks away, clearly considering the implications. I.. didn't think to ask about her world's gods, though from the sound of things they didn't do anything similar.

And with almost no clues, she's basically pegged the Olympian's relationship to the Titans vis-a-vis their manifestations.

"What is the condition of the souls of the dead?"

"Lord Hades replaces their connection to the material with one to Erebos itself. In some lights you wouldn't know that you're talking to a shade. Doctor Crane, have you been here before?"

I'm guessing it's obvious enough in anything close to a modern light bulb, but by candlelight, very subtle?

"Not physically. If you don't need me, I'd like to speak to some of the shades. I've been wondering what it's like to exist without the fear of death to motivate them."

"No, by all means. Put me down for a medallion on 'fear of ennui'."

Heh, of course he would think boredom is their greatest concern.

"An obvious choice, but I'll allow it. Your majesty?"

"I have no idea."

I'm guessing she hasn't done much exploration into post-mortem communications.

"Anyone else?"

A couple of the other members of the crew look around, but most of them carry on with their preparations as we finally sail through the Gate. Looks like Erebos isn't on fire. Good.

I assume the crew is needed for more conventional duties, since the ship is fully functional as both an airship and sailing vessel?

"Then I will put my own coin on 'fear of impermanence', since basic psychology requires it to be something like the sensation it is replacing."

I nod. "Let me know your results."

A fear of... Change? Huh, I suppose that would be a concern for them. If things are changing, then Hades is probably having Ideas.

"I'm not showing you the raw data. I've published so very little lately. It must be peer reviewed, first."

"Far be it for me to criticise your professionalism. Your majesty, I thought that a tour of Themyscira would do for today, to allow you to adapt to Earth's magic fields. We can visit Hub City tomorrow, or Poseidonis if you prefer."

Wise. Wouldn't do for her to discover her magic has nasty side effects on Earth, like some kind of Wild magic.

She nods. "I would like to see Hub City. I believe that it will allow me to understand how your world has suffered."

"Not a problem. I'll let the mayor know once we reach the surface."

A flying visit for the first day, then? A quick overview, a look around the safer parts of the city? Perhaps a more detailed one later, once she's rested.

Well, that was impressively unexciting. Let's hope their return journey won't be as difficult. But that's a matter for later. I can't wait to see her reaction to the Olympians, Themyscira and maybe American cities. And Earth in general, perhaps. Good chance she'll get some attention for her looks, too, and maybe some folks interested in courting...

Ngamer11 · Mar 31, 2025

Chojin Patriarch said:
Conner and Mitchell, of course. I assume Hector Hall is the third by descent from Hippolyta Hall. The one by marriage would probably be that fellow that got an Amazon pregnant?

Hector Hall is Hippolyta Hall's husband, meaning he's Themysciran by marriage, while their son Daniel Hall is Themysciran through his mother.

Z000 · Mar 31, 2025

Darko said:
Not sure there are many psychologists that study the state of ghosts.

which mean it a new field and is getting dunk on right now by every one else but also very exciting to get into cause everything is new

Scarecrow is probably rediscovering new joy and fear of studying new shit right now

Darko · Mar 31, 2025

Chojin Patriarch said:
, realising Earth might be more than some mystical backwater compared to your world?

She already knew that.

Paul did give her Atlantean research papers.

Mr Zoat · Mar 31, 2025

Darko said:
"trying"

Er... You know what, I'll just change it.

Duke Long · Mar 31, 2025

Mr Zoat said:
"Far be it for me to criticise your professionalism. Your majesty, I thought that a tour of Themyscira would do for today, to allow you to adapt to Earth's magic fields. We can visit Hub City tomorrow, or Poseidonis if you prefer."

'from'?

Mr Zoat · Mar 31, 2025

Duke Long said:
'from'?

No, that's correct. I only found out that some places consider 'from' to be valid despite not making any sense when I looked it up just now.

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

Well worn.

Making the rounds.

Getting sticky.

Dedicated ragequitter

Connoisseur.

Veteran Lurker

Making the rounds.

Versed in the lewd.

I trust you know where the happy button is?

Versed in the lewd.

Connoisseur.

Not too sore, are you?

Connoisseur.

Versed in the lewd.

Versed in the lewd.

Experienced.

Know what you're doing yet?

Well worn.

Versed in the lewd.

Dedicated ragequitter

This is filth! FILTH!!

I trust you know where the happy button is?

Connoisseur.

Veteran Lurker

Experienced.

If this is trash, then find me in the dumpster

Connoisseur.

Dedicated ragequitter

Glomerulus

Dedicated ragequitter

Users who are viewing this thread