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

Talia's personality didn't really come across in this update. To some extent that's understandable, seeing as how she's a very guarded person who is good at deception.

But still, I have no idea what Talia really thinks about things. She listened carefully to what OL said, made some agreeable noises, and sent him on his way. I suppose what I would really have liked to learn was how involved in the planning for any of this she was. Did Batman consult Talia on any of this? Did he at any point prior to actually pulling the trigger say, "I'm thinking of memory-wiping my agents for security and adding in some obedience programming."? Has she met the AI that Batman is using to run all of this? (And I don't mean Mr. Atom.)

Hmmm. Yeah, working this out as I type it, I've realized the AI is who OL probably most needs to talk to but hasn't. Brother Eye, or at least we presume that's the AI's name. Even when OL visited its satellite, it conspicuously didn't speak up. Batman did all the talking.

I'm still recalling how Anarky kidnapped Enginehead to examine him, which we never really found out why Lonnie wanted to do that. Was it because he knew about Brother Eye and wanted to examine a similar AI? It's seeming more and more likely to me.

Brother Eye is a free and independent being. He may have been programmed to want to help and support Batman like how Enginehead is programmed to help and support Lex Luthor, but that doesn't mean that they think and believe the same things. Under all the AI laws OL has been helping write, it's still an independent being. Everyone is focused on talking to Batman, but I think it would be reasonable to speak directly to the being actually running this army of memory-wiped supersoldiers.
 
On holiday isn't really a phrase on this side of the pond, we say "on vacation". You've had American characters say American phrases though and OL heard them as such so probably not? Like in most cases it's gonna be obvious in context but some things mean basically the opposite e.g. "quite lovely" so that could lead to some fun confusion.
 
On holiday isn't really a phrase on this side of the pond, we say "on vacation". You've had American characters say American phrases though and OL heard them as such so probably not? Like in most cases it's gonna be obvious in context but some things mean basically the opposite e.g. "quite lovely" so that could lead to some fun confusion.
I have no idea where Talia al Ghul grew up, but I'm sure she can understand the meaning of the word 'holiday'.

@Lazelurker You know what you did.
 
I have no idea where Talia al Ghul grew up, but I'm sure she can understand the meaning of the word 'holiday'.

@Lazelurker You know what you did.

Makes sense. She's been around the world, so she must have heard the word at some point. Also, some versions of her are implied to be much, MUCH older than they look. Not as old as her father, but definitely older than 100-200 years old.

Also, out of curiosity, what kind of unholy atrocity has @Lazelurker commited that he had to be forsaken by God himself and declared the definite Antichrist?
 
Common Sense, part 13 New
Common Sense (part 13)

1st October 2010
19:34 GMT -5


"Recognized, Wonder Woman, Zero Three."

I look up from my notes as Diana walks into the Mountain's training area, and nod politely. "Sir. Are you here about my homework?"

"No. I wanted to make sure that you are alright."

I chuckle quietly. "Compared to what?"

"Vile as they were, you did just kill several people."

"I'm a decade older than you were when you killed another human for the first time."

She smiles thinly. "Twelve years older. But I had been raised to it. I had spent my childhood training my body, and sparring with my Amazon sisters. You worked in an office."

"I feel fine so far. Honestly, people asking if I'm okay is making me feel more awkward than killing them did." I focus on my… Plan outlines. "I guess that's the difference between the Amazons and the English."

"I am somewhat surprised that Batman was not… More agitated. I understand why you made the decision that you did, but he has always striven to avoid slaying even those who clearly deserve it."

"He probably is, but… Batman's an intelligent man. He knows intellectually that leaving the Joker alive is indefensible and hypocritical of him."

"'Hypocritical'?"

"Obviously." I glance her way, but her expression doesn't give me much to go on in assessing how she feels. "Oh, come on. 'Should the Justice League kill serial killers' is a common subject of internet debate. I'm sure that you've read some of the arguments once or twice."

"I'm interested in what you meant."

"Alright. When Bruce Wayne returned to Gotham, he could have joined the police service. Yes, it was corrupt, but James Gordon was starting at the same time, and they could have ended up working together. He could have tried to push reform through internally, using political contacts from outside of Gotham to twist arms… Or heck, gathered evidence of endemic corruption and passed it to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He could have stood for elected office. There were lawful paths for him to take in pursuit of his goals. Instead, he decided to become a vigilante. He decided that it was correct to ride roughshod over the law. Assault, trespass, theft, and that famous instance of stampeding a swarm of bats through central Gotham to escape the S.W.A.T. team… He decided that the best way to help the people of Gotham was ignoring normal due process."

"So then we've got the Joker. Repeat offender. Three figure kill count. Completely insane, with no prospect of rehabilitation. But suddenly he can only go to Arkham." I widen my eyes and droop the corners of my mouth. "Why? When did the law suddenly become important? Because following the law Batman shouldn't exist, and if we're concerned with what's right… How many people did the Joker need to kill?"

"Did Batman try and persuade you?"

"No. Batman's an intelligent man. He knew that if he actually asked 'why did you kill this serial killer while he was busy killing people' then he'd feel like an idiot, and he'd definitely look like one. And he knows that I know that, and that I wouldn't have done it without considering my defence, so… He didn't bother."

"What does he have you doing?"

"Public relations. I'm supposed to consider different possibilities for revealing what happened. And naturally, since people are going to want to know by tomorrow at the latest, I've got to do it now."

She nods, and walks around behind me so that she can see the screen. "What ideas do you have?"

"Well, there's lying. Telling people that the Injustice League headquarters exploded because of a chance hit on the power generation system that they were using to power their vines would probably be believable. People would believe it. Likely fallout: none, because no one is going to care about a group of self-identifying mass murdering supervillains. Potential fallout: mild, because while people could find out that we were lying, the only part they'll care about it that we lied. Then there's buck-passing. We could tell people that we provided the coordinates to the U.S. military and they carried out a missile strike that destroyed the area. Likely fallout: General Hardcastle gets a mild political boost and police are slightly more likely to use firepower against supervillains."

"Hardcastle?"

"Favours enforcing anti-vigilante laws, encouraging superhumans to join state or federal law enforcement agencies and using the military against high tier supervillains. I'm sympathetic with his general attitude, but he doesn't strike me as having the right character to actually oversee any of his proposals."

Common-sense.jpg


I exhale through my nose. "And one of the nice things about both options is that they allow the Justice League to get out of explaining why they sent literal children after serial killing supervillains."

Diana nods, her face hardening. "Yes, several members of the League are not entirely happy with that decision."

"Good. And then there's my preferred option. I tell everyone exactly what I did, openly and honestly. I'm not a member of the Justice League and wasn't acting under League orders. If… Ice, say, had found the Injustice League base of operations and froze the whole place solid, there'd be no fallout. The Justice League doesn't have any responsibility for encouraging superheroes generally to comply with their rules of engagement."

"That isn't quite the case with you. Both Batman and I have particular responsibility for you, and recordings of your training sessions with Hal have been posted on superhero websites."

"Not legally, you don't. And unlike, say, Robin, I am not a child." I frown. "Did Lantern Jordan ever kill anyone while he was in the air force?"

"I don't believe so." She looks down for a moment. "And perhaps this is a good time to speak on the fact that you are not a child."

"I told you the moment I realised that you thought I was… What, fifteen? I assume that you left me here because it was convenient, and I haven't complained about it-."

"That was not what I meant. Children require closer supervision because they lack life experience. You were right when you said that you lacked knowledge of many areas of superhero life, and that is why you were left here. I would be far more concerned if you made the decision that you did if you were your apparent physical age. But… I feel that this emphasises that perhaps leaving you on the children's team was… Unwise."

"You don't have an adult training school."

"No, but Hal has volunteered to oversee your training full time."

I frown. "He can't. He's obliged to look after the whole Sector. I can't leave this system."

"I believe that he, John and Lantern Gardner have come to an agreement regarding that."

I…

Common-sense.jpg


Honestly, it's probably for the best. I'm on good terms with my team mates. Kon doesn't care about the age difference, other than to make a joke about me being slightly closer to the others in age than he is. The others…

Yes, ruthlessly killing a group of supervillains is going to create a rift there. And… I didn't even consider including them. Didn't bring it up… Probably undermined Kaldur quite a bit there.

Jordan and I aren't really friends. We're civil outside of training and professional when we're working, but that's about it. He's too… Aggressive for me, really. I don't know if that's a him thing or a Green Lantern thing… Lantern Stewart only took one lesson, and that was mostly on construct application.

I sigh, and close down the computer.

"I'll get my stuff. I don't suppose that Alan's an option instead, is he?"
 
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On one hand, this is a smart choice, but knowing what we do about the things that will happen it's likely that the Team's effectiveness will go down without Paul there.

Heck, if he starts to spend time around Jordan and the Watchtower then it's likely that Red Arrow could potentially tag him with the Starro tech.
 
Posted in Story Only.

*DRAMATIC GASP* LAZELURKER, YOU DISEASED MANIAC! YOU'VE DOOMED US ALL!

"So then we've got the Joker. Repeat offender. Three figure kill count.

Wait, really? Only three? I could have sworn his body count was much higher than that. Wasn't this version mentioned to have killed thousands?

On one hand, this is a smart choice, but knowing what we do about the things that will happen it's likely that the Team's effectiveness will go down without Paul there.

Heck, if he starts to spend time around Jordan and the Watchtower then it's likely that Red Arrow could potentially tag him with the Starro tech.

Unlikely. All the Pauls are aware that brainwashing, possession and mind-control are things that can happen in the DC universe, and since this one is driven by common sense and practicality, he probably already has protections against that sort of thing. Heck, since he likes to be prepared for various possible threats, I wouldn't be surprised if he had already thought about getting anti-magic protection earlier than Paragon or Renegade, meaning that he would already be protected before the mission at the Tower of Fate.

Speaking of which, how did he even handle that mission, anyway? How did he survive Klarion and Teekl?

Your "common sense" has no meaning in this world of flying jet pack apes.

Eh, it'd be more accurate to say that what constitutes common sense in DC isn't what constitutes common sense in real life. In other words, one man's madness is another man's logic.
 
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Now are they moving him away from the kids so that his direct rational choices are not picked up by the team? I mean they're still his current social network, and the logic of 'relating to the team empowers his avarice' when it comes to ring power is still in play at this time, which was one of the reasons he stuck with the team rather then the league.

While he can learn to get along with the greenies, as shown elsewhere, he actively doesn't work with them over friends...outside Guy, because he doesn't have a connection with them. Also for some jobs multiple lanterns are redundant, since the skill sets generally overlap.

His request to train under Alan would work because he's got the temperament that the league wants Paul to pick up, as well as experience, it doesn't bench an active lantern from off planet duty, and Paul's functional ring and modern technical understanding aids Alan in current day cases.

This Paul is 'underleveled' in his own words when they come up to the multiversal story, in part because he didn't get stuck in quite as crazy situations as others, but I'm wondering if he's just less powerful in general because he lacks the connections to drive his emotions as hard. He lacks attachments...well aside from dating Artemis's mom. Um....and getting Her into the field as a hero would be....well aside from Alan's romance advice NOT to date super villains, she has the same skill set as Jade, and likely similar issues about being overshadowed by his powerset....of course she's not likely to run off to the other side of the universe with her kids on earth.

Wonder what Common Sense options for Power Ups he's got in the pipe, both for himself and others.
 
Now are they moving him away from the kids so that his direct rational choices are not picked up by the team? I mean they're still his current social network, and the logic of 'relating to the team empowers his avarice' when it comes to ring power is still in play at this time, which was one of the reasons he stuck with the team rather then the league.

While he can learn to get along with the greenies, as shown elsewhere, he actively doesn't work with them over friends...outside Guy, because he doesn't have a connection with them. Also for some jobs multiple lanterns are redundant, since the skill sets generally overlap.

His request to train under Alan would work because he's got the temperament that the league wants Paul to pick up, as well as experience, it doesn't bench an active lantern from off planet duty, and Paul's functional ring and modern technical understanding aids Alan in current day cases.

This Paul is 'underleveled' in his own words when they come up to the multiversal story, in part because he didn't get stuck in quite as crazy situations as others, but I'm wondering if he's just less powerful in general because he lacks the connections to drive his emotions as hard. He lacks attachments...well aside from dating Artemis's mom. Um....and getting Her into the field as a hero would be....well aside from Alan's romance advice NOT to date super villains, she has the same skill set as Jade, and likely similar issues about being overshadowed by his powerset....of course she's not likely to run off to the other side of the universe with her kids on earth.

Wonder what Common Sense options for Power Ups he's got in the pipe, both for himself and others.

Well, theoretically, there's nothing stopping Common Sense Paul from doing research on the Danner and Garrick formulas like Paragon Paul did, isn't there?

Or if he wanted to, he could always start studying magic to get a soul and then become a wizard. I don't think we've seen a Paul who has specifically dedicated himself to magic, haven't we? Sure, we've seen some Pauls with magic abilities, but not one who is actively studying how to become a true wizard.

Or perhaps, he could do what Angel Paul did and try to graft Gabriel's wings unto himself. It didn't seem like there were too many risks, so it wouldn't violate his common sense rule, as far as I know.

Or maybe he could convert to Hellenism and worship the god/goddess of logic common sense, or at least whichever deity comes closest to having common sense as a domain, and get a boon from them? Maybe Athena? Wisdom, strategy and common sense often overlap, after all. I'm sure Diana would love to introduce him to her, especially if she believes Athena could be a good influence on Paul.
 
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[
Unlikely. All the Pauls are aware that brainwashing, possession and mind-control are things that can happen in the DC universe, and since this one is driven by common sense and practicality, he probably already has protections against that sort of thing. Heck, since he likes to be prepared for various possible threats, I wouldn't be surprised if he had already thought about getting anti-magic protection earlier than Paragon or Renegade, meaning that he would already be protected before the mission at the Tower of Fate.

Speaking of which, how did he even handle that mission, anyway? How did he survive Klarion and Teekl?
Given most Paul's are perfectly fine using the Orange Light even knowing what it does to a person I'm pretty sure they dont really consider those things a risks at all.
 
Common Sense (part 13)

1st October 2010
19:34 GMT -5


"Recognized, Wonder Woman, Zero Three."

I look up from my notes as Diana walks into the Mountain's training area, and nod politely. "Sir. Are you here about my homework?"
Ah, his other nominal mentor coming to confer with him. At least she'll understand the need to use lethal force, and likely the reasons for it. Which means they'll probably be discussing things like his going around the League for operational clearance...

"No. I wanted to make sure that you are alright."

I chuckle quietly. "Compared to what?"
Ah, the compassionate veteran checking on the first-time killer. That's also a fair reason to look in on him.

"Vile as they were, you did just kill several people."

"I'm a decade older than you were when you killed another human for the first time."
Yes, but she did that in a war. This was functionally a police counter-terrorism action, desipte the use of military ordnance.

She smiles thinly. "Twelve years older. But I had been raised to it. I had spent my childhood training my body, and sparring with my Amazon sisters. You worked in an office."

"I feel fine so far. Honestly, people asking if I'm okay is making me feel more awkward than killing them did." I focus on my… Plan outlines. "I guess that's the difference between the Amazons and the English."
I still say it's some measure of Orange Light contamination. The desire to end this quickly smoothing the way for the emotional impact.

"I am somewhat surprised that Batman was not… More agitated. I understand why you made the decision that you did, but he has always strove to avoid slaying even those who clearly deserve it."

"He probably is, but… Batman's an intelligent man. He knows intellectually that leaving the Joker alive is indefensible and hypocritical of him."
Or, to use the old turn of phrase: 'Some bastards just need killin'.' By rights, even taking them alive would likely just have meant keeping them in prison until international law could try them and presumably execute them.

"'Hypocritical'?"

"Obviously." I glance her way, but her expression doesn't give me much to go on in assessing how she feels. "Oh, come on. 'Should the Justice League kill serial killers' is a common subject of internet debate. I'm sure that you've read some of the arguments once or twice."

"I'm interested in what you meant."
And I bet the Joker is a big source of ammunition for the 'for' side of the proposition.

"Alright. When Bruce Wayne returned to Gotham, he could have joined the police service. Yes, it was corrupt, but James Gordon was starting at the same time, and they could have ended up working together. He could have tried to push reform through internally, using political contacts from outside of Gotham to twist arms… Or heck, gathered evidence of endemic corruption and passed it to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He could have stood for elected office. There were lawful paths for him to take in pursuit of his goals. Instead, he decided to become a vigilante. He decided that it was correct to ride roughshod over the law. Assault, trespass, theft, and that famous instance of stampeding a swarm of bats through central Gotham to escape the S.W.A.T. team… He decided that the best way to help the people of Gotham was ignoring normal due process."
Part of it was that he saw the people needed help sooner rather than later. It could have taken years for any of those options to pay off, and if he got a reputation as an anti-corruption crusader, it's a safe bet he would have ended up the same way as his parents. And Gotham is a bad enough city that a man running around in a bat costume punching criminals actually worked to improve matters...

"So then we've got the Joker. Repeat offender. Three figure kill count. Completely insane, with no prospect of rehabilitation. But suddenly he can only go to Arkham." I widen my eyes and droop the corners of my mouth. "Why? When did the law suddenly become important? Because following the law Batman shouldn't exist, and if we're concerned with what's right… How many people did the Joker need to kill?"
And seriously, does Bats drag him there personally, so as to prevent any 'accidents' in custody or 'killed while attempting to flee' moments? All it takes is one cop who lost someone in a Joker attack...

"Did Batman try and persuade you?"

"No. Batman's an intelligent man. He knew that if he actually asked 'why did you kill this serial killer while he was busy killing people' then he'd feel like an idiot, and he'd definitely look like one. And he knows that I know that, and that I wouldn't have done it without considering my defence, so… He didn't bother."
So general disappointment and simply moving onto disciplinary action, then.

"What does he have you doing?"

"Public relations. I'm supposed to consider different possibilities for revealing what happened. And naturally, since people are going to want to know by tomorrow at the latest, I've got to do it now."

She nods, and walks around behind me so that she can see the screen. "What ideas do you have?"
Oh, this will be good...

"Well, there's lying. Telling people that the Injustice League headquarters exploded because of a chance hit on the power generation system that they were using to power their vines would probably be believable. People would believe it. Likely fallout: none, because no one is going to care about a group of self-identifying mass murdering supervillains. Potential fallout: mild, because while people could find out that we were lying, the only part they'll care about it that we lied. Then there's buck-passing. We could tell people that we provided the coordinates to the U.S. military and they carried out a missile strike that destroyed the area. Likely fallout: General Hardcastle gets a mild political boost and police are slightly more likely to use firepower against supervillains."
Ah, a familiar name. As for the first options... Honestly, yeah, people will be fine with the deaths of the perpetrators, but the loss of trust in the League? Problematic.

"Hardcastle?"

"Favours enforcing anti-vigilante laws, encouraging superhumans to join state or federal law enforcement agencies and using the military against high tier supervillains. I'm sympathetic with his general attitude, but he doesn't strike me as having the right character to actually oversee any of his proposals."

Common-sense.jpg
A man who would look at something like the Ultramarine Corps and say 'A good start. How soon can we have ten regiments?' The problem is he'd probably go too far and trigger a superhuman arms race.

I exhale through my nose. "And one of the nice things about both options is that they allow the Justice League to get out of explaining why they sent literal children after serial killing supervillains."

Diana nods, her face hardening "Yes, several members of the League are not entirely happy with that decision."
Oh, good, so it wasn't just negligent mentors. I'm guessing they weighed up the chances and grudgingly accepted that Batman might have had a worthwhile plan. On the other hand, an unaffiliated team of adult heroes might have been better. Outsiders, if you will...

"Good. And then there's my preferred option. I tell everyone exactly what I did, openly and honestly. I'm not a member of the Justice League and wasn't acting under League orders. If… Ice, say, had found the Injustice League base of operations and froze the whole place solid, there'd be no fallout. The Justice League doesn't have any responsibility for encouraging superheroes generally to comply with their rules of engagement."
And with a reputation as a Lantern, if he's known at all, the general public might well assume he's got lethal force privileges the Greenies don't. I doubt anyone would complain if the (presumably) alien-backed hero took a stand.

"That isn't quite the case with you. Both Batman and I have particular responsibility for you, and recordings of your training sessions with Hal have been posted on superhero websites."

"Not legally, you don't. And unlike, say, Robin, I am not a child." I frown. "Did Lantern Jordan ever kill anyone while he was in the air force?"
I can already see the space-battles equivalent forums lighting up with discussions of his and the Green's capabilities, their WMD potential and even arguments over who would beat who in actual fights (as opposed to sparring.)

"I don't believe so." She looks down for a moment. "And perhaps this is a good time to speak on the fact that you are not a child."

"I told you the moment I realised that you thought I was… What, fifteen? I assume that you left me here because it was convenient, and I haven't complained about it-."
Certainly, I'd assumed it was so he could act as a caretaker and chaperone for those living in the Mountain full-time.

"That was not what I meant. Children require closer supervision because they lack life experience. You were right when you said that you lacked knowledge of many areas of superhero life, and that is why you were left here. I would be far more concerned if you made the decision that you did if you were your apparent physical age. But… I feel that this emphasises that perhaps leaving you on the children's team was… Unwise."
...And where else could you have sent him?

"You don't have an adult training school."

"No, but Hal has volunteered to oversee your training full time."
Ah, Guardians on his case about monitoring the unknown Orange Ring? 😏

I frown. "He can't. He's obliged to look after the whole Sector. I can't leave this system."

"I believe that he, John and Lantern Gardner have come to an agreement regarding that."
I'm guessing trading off full-time shifts monitoring Earth (And CS!OL) while the other two perform Sector patrols.

And really, they at least can help you with some combat-related things, though specifics would vary.

Honestly, it's probably for the best. I'm on good terms with my team mates. Kon doesn't care about the age difference, other than to make a joke about me being slightly closer to the others in age than he is. The others…

Yes, ruthlessly killing a group of supervillains is going to create a rift there. And… I didn't even consider including them. Didn't bring it up… Probably undermined Kaldur quite a bit there.
With them having toured the aftermath, I suspect they'll come around on the idea that them being there would not have been good anyway.

Jordan and I aren't really friends. We're civil outside of training and professional when we're working, but that's about it. He's too… Aggressive for me, really. I don't know if that's a him thing or a Green Lantern thing… Lantern Stewart only took one lesson, and that was mostly on construct application.

I sigh, and close down the computer.

"I'll get my stuff. I don't suppose that Alan's an option instead, is he?"
So it's likely he and Guy will be working together for the next while, then.

Hmm... Alan and Guy might be better choices for mentors, given his analysis of Jordan and Stewart. Although Alan will be limited in his operational time, given his Ring limitations. So it's likely Guy will be overseeing him for a while. Helps that he'll need to get back into the swing of Ring-Slinging himself, so this might become an interesting variation of the Green and Orange buddy-cops.
 
Wasn't this version mentioned to have killed thousands?

The three figure deaths could be before the plant attack.

The thousand deaths are the result of the plant attack.

Speaking of which, how did he even handle that mission, anyway? How did he survive Klarion and Teekl?

A reader wrote an omake on how it would go.

Instead of using an untested ability in a dangerous situation, that being Assimilation, Paul just shot Teekl and Klarion disappeared.

Nabu then removed the chais magic inside Paul and Paul suggested that he talk to Atlantis for hosts.

While he can learn to get along with the greenies, as shown elsewhere, he actively doesn't work with them over friends...outside Guy, because he doesn't have a connection with them

Nothing stopping him from becoming friends with them.

Also for some jobs multiple lanterns are redundant, since the skill sets generally overlap.

Paul doesn't have the restrictions that the Greens have and has other abilities, like Branding, that would be great for interrogations.

Plus the Guardians would probably approve of this plan since it would allow them to more closely monitor him and influence him in a way to prevent a Larfleeze situation.

Sure, we've seen some Pauls with magic abilities, but not one who is actively studying how to become a true wizard.

I think Red Lantern can count, since he cast some spells.
 
"I am somewhat surprised that Batman was not… More agitated. I understand why you made the decision that you did, but he has always strove to avoid slaying even those who clearly deserve it."
'striven'?
Diana nods, her face hardening "Yes, several members of the League are not entirely happy with that decision."
Missing full stop.
"I told you the moment I realised that you thought I was… What, fifteen? I assume that you left me here because it was convenient, and I haven't complained about it-."
Wait, fifteen? Does he look that young? I don't remember that. I thought he looked like a late teenager or maybe early twenties.
 
"He probably is, but… Batman's an intelligent man. He knows intellectually that leaving the Joker alive is indefensible and hypocritical of him."

Eh.

That argument doesn't really hold much water to me.

Should the Joker be put down for the good of all? Absolutely.

Why is it Batman's sole responsibility?

Joker, baring any bullshit, is just a guy. Anyone could pull the trigger on him, metaphorically or otherwise. Batman hands him over to the authorities and they and the justice system eventually send his ass to Arkham. Bruce doesn't keep him in some special bat themed prison or anything. There's a ton of other people at numerous other levels who could do something else. They could put him in an actual prison or in some other facility that he hasn't proven entirely capable of escaping. They could choose to pursue the death penalty or someone could see that he tragically falls down eight flights of stairs and breaks his everything.

Does Batman have some responsibility? Sure. But other people could also decide to do something and they don't.
 
Wait, really? Only three? I could have sworn his body count was much higher than that. Wasn't this version mentioned to have killed thousands?
It's thousands now, and the total people who died from chuckles overdoses might take that higher, but he hasn't gone into mass murder for the sake of it.
Speaking of which, how did he even handle that mission, anyway? How did he survive Klarion and Teekl?
I haven't precisely decided, but I suspect that they stopped off and picked up a trustworthy wizard before going to the Tower, so they'd have someone around who knew what was going on. An Atlantean commercial wizard, perhaps.
Or perhaps, he could do what Angel Paul did and try to graft Gabriel's wings unto himself. It didn't seem like there were too many risks, so it wouldn't violate his common sense rule, as far as I know.
Do you want to reread what you just wrote?
'striven'?
Missing full stop.
Thank you, corrected.
Wait, fifteen? Does he look that young? I don't remember that. I thought he looked like a late teenager or maybe early twenties.
He didn't think he did.
Here it was at first called Batman 2000, which was the most 2000-ish way to call anything.
Oh? What country's that?
Joker, baring any bullshit, is just a guy. Anyone could pull the trigger on him, metaphorically or otherwise. Batman hands him over to the authorities and they and the justice system eventually send his ass to Arkham. Bruce doesn't keep him in some special bat themed prison or anything. There's a ton of other people at numerous other levels who could do something else. They could put him in an actual prison or in some other facility that he hasn't proven entirely capable of escaping. They could choose to pursue the death penalty or someone could see that he tragically falls down eight flights of stairs and breaks his everything.

Does Batman have some responsibility? Sure. But other people could also decide to do something and they don't.
But Batman already decided to ignore failed authorities by becoming Batman in the first place.
 

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