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

2nd January 2005
09:01 GMT -6
Oh-ho. fallout from last episode? Yes please.

The United States Disciplinary Barracks in Fort Leavenworth is a formidable-looking structure. The brick and stone frontage, the bars on the windows and the armed guards all give the impression of an actual fort. What it is is the place where America puts the worst criminals in its armed services, one of whom has recently had his conviction quashed. Or the charges withdrawn; the American judicial system is largely opaque to me. But whatever, Guy Gardner 50 is getting out today and I thought that someone should be here.
Ooh. This is going to be awkward.

While I'd rather be here openly, given that the offence for which he is no longer considered guilty of is working for me I decided that that wasn't a good idea. So illusion charm it is.

Guy Gardner 16 shivers slightly in his all-enveloping long coat, hat tilted to obscure his face. We couldn't risk him wearing his ring in case the locals spotted it, and as a result he's enduring the Kansas winter chill with only conventional warm clothing. He shuffles in place, looking around for something to distract him from how cold he feels. Then his eyes fix on something in the sky-.
Heh, cross-time capers are always fun...

SHADE agent and Stormwatch member Kara In-Ze drops out of the sky, hovering just in front of me.

"And why are you here?"

She's dressed for the weather, though I'm pretty sure that she wouldn't feel it either. Thickly woven jeans, a knitted jumper and a thick coat accessorised with a bobble hat. There's something about the whole getup that makes her look young and sweet. Younger and sweeter.
She's still a teenager, isn't she? At least, not yet in her twenties?

I smile. "Even though I wasn't the one who put him in here, he did end up here as a result of my actions. I feel obliged to give him the opportunity to have it out with me in person."

She lands, eyes downcast, shakes her head and then looks up at me. "I'm here for the same reason. I actually do know what it's like to have the whole country hate you and stuff you in prison for something you didn't do."
Tarred with the same brush as Kal-El, wasn't she? Even saving the world multiple times since isn't helping overcome that...

"Really? I only ever got locked up for something I did do. What did they get you for?"

"They put you in prison?"

"I put me in prison to make a point. I lured a mass-murdering wizard into an ambush and murdered him. You?"
Let's not mention that he was a teenage boy... Or at least looked like one.

She hesitates to respond. Fair enough, I'm certain that I'm not her favourite person in the world, but since the met my children and knows that I mostly kayfabed our original encounter… "When… When Kal-El was mind controlled by Darkseid, I caught up with him at a military base he was attacking. I tried to stop him… It didn't go too well. Then the army hit us both with a kryptonite missile Luthor gave them, and I woke up in a cell."

I frown. "Um. Why?"

"General Hardcastle."
Oh, him. Guy's a dick in every universe, isn't he?

"Look, fewer people have a lower opinion of the US legal system than me, but…" No, no. I can see the US panicking and putting someone in prison without anything approaching due process. And she wasn't that well know at the time. "Yeah, okay. How long were they planning on keeping you there?"

"Oh, not long. They were going to inject me with liquid kryptonite and kill me."
Oh, well, that's... Wait what?
(Also: 'well known at')

"What? That's a bit-." I frown. "Wait. Were they… Keeping you there with kryptonite, or red sunlight?"

"Red sunlight." She exhales faintly. "Okay, not.. 'sunlight'. Eight feet of concrete to keep out natural light and some red lamps to light my cell."
Not the worst conditions DC's shown in its comics. Flashpoint Kal-El, for one.

"Wasn't.. that the same setup that SHADE had in..?" She gives me a look that's.. surprisingly fragile. "Um. Would..? Would you punch me if I hugged you right now?"

Lantern Grayven, I've changed my mind. Just hand me over to Corporal Gardner when he emerges.
Ah, Ring-nestro. No tolerance for sappiness, eh?

She frowns. "No, but only because heat vision is faster. Why are you.. doing this?"

I shrug. "I respect you. I think I'd come to like you if I got to know you properly. And I think-."
"Nothing romantic, mind. Just friends."

My Guy turns his head as the front gate of the prison opens and his doppelgänger, right hand holding the kit bag over his shoulder and left hand making rude gestures at the prison guards. My Guy becomes decidedly still as he looks at the living embodiment of how things might have gone. The other fellow takes a look around, his eyes stopping for a moment on the direction of the nearest bus terminal. Then he turns around, drops his pack and sticks both middle fingers up at the gate as it slams shut behind him.

Once he's sure that it's shut and that no one is watching him from the prison side he sags slightly, then bends down to pick up his pack. He takes a moment to make sure that it's properly secured and then starts walking.
He may talk a big game, but kinda beaten down, isn't he.

"Excuse me, Mister Gardner?"

Kara steps forward, prompting Guy 50 to stop and warily try to work out who she is. The time of his release wasn't passed to the press so there isn't a crowd here waiting to barrage him with questions. I imagine that if there were he'd swiftly find himself saying something regrettable. And then I see the exact moment he works it out.

"What.. the.. fuck 're you doin' here?"
No punching, please. You'll just break your hand...

He sounds more bewildered than angry, but given his position I imagine that's a mood which could change very quickly.

"I wanted to apologise. Part of the evidence they used to put you in there was from my report, and… Now that I know why you opened the vault, I can see that I jumped to conclusions."

"Yeah." He nods. "Y' did. You an' everyone else. Fuck alla yah. Anything else?"

It's a sad day when a Guy-variant is so out of sorts that he doesn't bother hitting on a pretty blonde woman.
Indeed. It's so out of character...

Kara folds her arms across her chest. "I'm also the reason why your release got expedited."

"Great, thanks, 'cause I've got so much t' be outside for." He turns his head to take in myself and his alter ego. "An' who're you supposed to be?"

"I'm the reason why you went into the vault in the first place." His fists clench instinctively. "I wanted to commend you for your initiative, apologise for my part in inspiring the Justice Department's latest bout of incompetence and offer compensation."
Hey, no punching!

"You can't give me anything!"

"Oh, don't worry. I've made compensation payments to everyone else I injured during my attack as well. It won't look like I'm paying you for services rendered. But, if you really want, you can donate it all to charity or convert it to cash and burn it or… Whatever. Up to you."
How magnanimous. Grayven knows how to make amends for his fuck-ups, doesn't he?

"Wait… Were…" He looks from me to Kara and back again. "You two..?"

I shake my head. "No." / "God no."
I can just picture her nauseated face.

I smile at Kara's response. "We just saved the world from a parallel universe version of me. Well, I did; Kara had a brief holiday on Thanagar." That earns me a short-lived scowl. She was actually rather busy with the gordanian military until the boom tube opened to bring her back. "So that earned me a reprieve, though unlike you I actually did all the stuff I've been accused of."

"Oh yeah?" He looks at Guy 16. "And who are you? My asshole CO here to apologise too?"

"No." Guy takes off his hat and turns down his collar. "I'm a guy who knows exactly what it's like t' be you."
Pun not intended, I hope, but Guy's sense of humour would make it reflexive...:D

"The fuck..?"

"I'm a parallel universe you. Only difference is, I had slightly better luck. Got my own power ring. Might even join the Justice League one a' these days. So unlike these two I get alla the crap you went through getting' here. An' maybe I'm the only one you might actually talk to about it. 'Cause I've been where you are. I've been that angry an' I did a whole bunch a' stupid shit." He turns away. "C'm on. Bar's this way, you ain't got nowhere better to be an' Grayven's buying."
Guy-16 knows what Guy 50 needs right now. And it ain't nice words.

Guy 50 looks around in a slight daze, then throws his arms up.

"Fuck it. Why not?"
Yep, that's about the only reasonable response. This shit is too crazy, get drunk.

Yeah, I think Guy 50's gonna be alright, with a little help. Maybe Kara can arrange for him to work as support staff for Stormwatch?
 
I think "met" should be "meet with". Or maybe change it from

"but since the met my children"

to

"but since she met my children"
Thank you, corrected.
Also, Guy wouldn't happen to be from Gotham, would he?
No.
She's still a teenager, isn't she? At least, not yet in her twenties?
I think early twenties?
(Also: 'well known at')
Thank you, corrected.
 
I've been reading this story without commenting for a while, and I just want to say how incredible it is you've updated every day without fail the whole time I've been following this story. Reading it has become a part of my morning routine.
 
I've been reading this story without commenting for a while, and I just want to say how incredible it is you've updated every day without fail the whole time I've been following this story. Reading it has become a part of my morning routine.

I have been following this story for at least five years and I can only think of two occasions where Zoat failed to post. Both times were when he was dealing with ban nonsense.

Dude is dedicated.
 
I could have sworn that there was one time where real life stuff blocked it.
Internet trouble at his parents house, where he was house sitting while they were on vacation or something? Or it was at his house, and he eventually went his folks house to post until someone could figure out what was wrong with his connect? Cannot remember the details, but the streak was broken, yes.
 
I could have sworn that there was one time where real life stuff blocked it.
And he made up the gap by posting two chapters: the one he missed that day, and the actual chapter for the day.

(BTW, folks: Did you know you can change your title? If you've made a couple of posts, you can look under Personal Details on your account to change it there. I hope to see more custom taglines, folks! Been seeing so many sex jokes under folks - so many 'Know what you're doing yet's and 'Not too sore are you?'.)
 
I remember, it was thanks to his sister's husband (I think) that the internet problem was resolved and we got the chapters. Those were a hard couple of days, I was having a cold sweat and everything at the end, just like withdrawal.

BTW, folks: Did you know you can change your title?

First thing I did when I could. It was kind of embarrassing having that "your first time is always over so quickly" thing below my name.
 
Guys from Gotham (supplementary, Renegade option)
2nd January 2005
09:56 GMT -6


I glance over to the partially-concealed table where the Guys are having a muttered heart to heart. I actually know what the point of divergence was in their lives, more or less. Guy 16 once told me that he got straightened out by his brother… Before he knew about Mace's criminal sideline. From what I could tell, Guy 50 never had that conversation. Mace Gardner died a year or so early. The nearest Guy 50 had to something like that was joining up with an anti-Lords group while in prison.

Which explains why he's as aggrieved about the whole thing as he is. The military is what he latched onto after the Lords were taken down, and it gave his life structure and meaning. Now, they've kicked him out. Or… Maybe not, I suppose.

I frown at Kara. "So, if he's been released with charges rescinded, does he just show up back at his regiment, or is there some sort of process..?"

At this time of the morning we've got the hotel bar more or less to ourselves. The Guys got a couple of bottles of what appears to be the cheapest beer in the place. No idea why. Kara's got an orange juice while I was mildly pleased to find that they stock Shloer. I suppose the fact that Kansas was a dry state until 1948 might go some way to explaining that, but I've never encountered it outside of England.

"I.. imagine that they'll write him when someone up the chain of command has decided how they want to play it."

I nod and take a sip. There are actually a lot more grape-flavoured things in the United States than I remember there being in Britain. In artificially coloured food, purple means 'grape' here rather than 'black currant' like it did back home.

"How's Scott adapting to the ship?"

"Actually, they decided it would be better if Barda captained it." I nod. Makes sense. I'm not totally sure what Barda's domain is, but it's certainly more associated with violence than Scott's. "Did you know it was called the Absolute Dominion?"

"No, though that does sound like a name I'd give a ship." A big ship, anyway. It would be a bit farcical for a destroyer. "Does it have better crew quarters than the thanagarian ship you were using?"

She shakes her head. "The extra boom tubes are.. convenient, but I'm not going to live there."

"Why not?"

"Because I have a job. I'm a senior SHADE agent, and the agency is still trying to justify its existence. I need to stay visible on Earth."

"What's so great about SHADE?"

"They offer training in how to use super powers and how the law works. And if you're planning on bringing up the children-"

"It did cross my mind."

"-that was the army, and then Father Time personally. Most of SHADE had nothing to do with that. It's.. just a federal law enforcement agency that's responsible for overseeing people with super powers."

"Oh? We're setting something like that up in my parallel." I smile, leaning slightly closer. "We should compare notes."

She peers uncertainly at me. "Are you..? Look, are you actually interested in me, or are you just trying to wind me up again?"

"My admiration for you is entirely unfeigned. You possess all of the characteristics I find most attractive." Ah… "Well, the size difference could be a slight problem, but that aside I very much like what I see and hear."

"A-?" She looks away, blinking heavily and shaking her head. "I can't believe I'm having this conversation."

"Why is it such a surprise? The first time we met I asked you to marry me."

She shakes her head more vehemently, then frowns, looking at me. "Wait, I thought you said that was role-play?"

"A bit yes, a bit no. I enjoy being bombastic and assertive. I like being direct about what I want. Yes, I set myself up as a foe dishonestly, but I really enjoyed the chance to ham it up like that. I was having great fun right up until the nuke went off."

"It took Marvel two weeks before he could taste anything other than that.. spray!"

"And I'm sure that he's now learned to take precautions against scent weapons. He fought much better this time."

"Did Flash even really-." She cuts herself off, eyes widening. "Oh God. That was you."

"Well,-."

"I saw you speeding up when we fought. I thought that maybe you were using Sinestro's ring or you were just that fast. You have some way of giving people super speed, and you pretended it was from Flash."

"And what do you think my motive was?"

"Because you thought it would be fun to abuse her trust? To mock-" I shake my head. "-Flash's memory?"

"Neither John nor Shayera would have tolerated that. We thought that you needed a Flash."

"But why Eliza?"

"She seemed to fit the character profile required. Of course, we couldn't vet everyone… But I think we made a good choice. Does she know?"

"No."

"Are you going to tell her?"

Kara fidgets awkwardly. "I.. don't think so. I couldn't do that to her."

"I think that's the right choice, but I hope that having made it you'll be a little more understanding of Richard and myself."

"Oh no. This is not the same as what you did."

She's staring at me, the determination written clear on her face-.

"Are you getting turned on by this?"

"No, not.. turned on. It isn't sexual. But I do like the fact that you're confronting me like this. I respect the fact that you have clear moral beliefs. You know…" I lean a little closer. "I'm pretty sure that given enough time you could moderate my worse behavioural tendencies. If you were willing to put in the effort."

"What makes you think I'm single?"

"The fact that you haven't brought that up before. But if you tell me otherwise I'm happy to back off."

"And what about you? Too busy conquering the world?"

"I had an.. unfortunate misunderstanding which ended my last serious relationship. We're.. on reasonable terms now, but the relationship is very much over. The last woman I dated rather lost interest when… Well, she'd internalised her enemy's epistemology and might-makes-right ideals, When she realised that I wasn't interested in brute force conquest or unquestioningly supporting her political ambitions her ardour dimmed somewhat. I have female friends, employees, students… But I'm not dating any of them. And… Frankly, if I have to personally oversee every part of a campaign of conquest then I'm doing it wrong."

"What about your kids?"

"I.. wouldn't expect you to take on a maternal role you weren't prepared for. But I hope that if things go well, you'll come to consider them part of your family just as I do."

She looks away. "I can't believe that I'm even considering this."

"You'd be surprised how often I hear that."

"No I wouldn't."

"Oh, I think you would. Where would you like to go for our second date?"
 
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What? She's covered in water.
Then why is it so goopy? Unless it's snot? Is a blow job just a nose (blowhole) cleaning service? Also, it mentions blowjobs, which I'm not sure are safe for this SFW section you're posting in (probably is though, especially if it's a blow job she's being payed for, and not a blowjob.)
 
I glance over to the partially-concealed table where the Guys are having a muttered heart to heart. I actually know what the point of divergence was in their lives, more or less. Guy 16 once told me that he got straightened out by his brother… Before he knew about Mace's criminal sideline. From what I could tell, Guy 50 never had that conversation. Mace Gardner died a year or so early. The nearest Guy 50 had to something like that was joining up with an anti-Lords group while in prison.
So his image of his father as a 'good guy' never got broken? Amazing what a small thing can do.

Which explains why he's as aggrieved about the whole thing as he is. The military is what he latched into after the Lords were taken down, and it gave his life structure and meaning. Now, they've kicked him out. Or… Maybe not, I suppose.

I frown at Kara. "So, if he's been released with charges rescinded, does he just show up back at his regiment, or is there some sort of process..?"
If they don't want him back, maybe he could be useful to Stormwatch...

At this time of the morning we've got the hotel bar more or less to ourselves. The Guys got a couple of bottles of what appears to be the cheapest beer in the place. No idea why. Kara's got an orange juice while I was mildly pleased to find that they stock shloer. I suppose the fact that Kansas was a dry state until 1948 might go some way to explaining that, but I've never encountered it outside of England.
Heh, he hasn't invested enough effort into Guy's companion level to see the 'why I drink shitty beer' scene. And should that brand name be capitalised? (Won't mark it as an error, just in case)

"I.. imagine that they'll write him when someone up the chain of command has decided how they want to play it."

I nod and take a sip. There are actually a lot more grape-flavoured things in the United States than I remember there being in Britain. In artificially coloured food, purple means 'grape' here rather than 'black current' like it did back home.
Don't forget packaging color differences. Like pinkish-violet meaning Salt and Vinegar in some brands, while others use green.

"How's Scott adapting to the ship?"

"Actually, they decided it would be better if Barda captained it." I nod. Makes sense. I'm not totally sure what Barda's domain is, but it's certainly more associated with violence than Scott's. "Did you know it was called the Absolute Dominion?"
Ugh, good riddance to Grayven-50. Big ego, big power, but not enough sense to back it up.

"No, though that does sound a name I'd give a ship." A big ship, anyway. It would be a bit farcical for a destroyer. "Does it have better crew quarters than the thanagarian ship you were using?"

She shakes her head. "The extra boom tubes are.. convenient, but I'm not going to live there."

"Why not?"
"I'm sure the living quarters are very spacious."

"Because I have a job. I'm a senior SHADE agent, and the agency is still trying to justify its existence. I need to stay visible on Earth."

"What's so great about SHADE?"

"They offer training in how to use super power and how the law works. And if you're planning on bringing up the children-"
Once the stupid-evil bosses went out, they probably picked up their game.
Correction: 'super powers and'

"It did cross my mind."

"-that was the army, and then Father Time personally. Most of SHADE had nothing to do with that. It's.. just a federal law enforcement agency that responsible for overseeing people with super powers."

"Oh? We're setting something like that up in my parallel." I smile, leaning slightly closer. "We should compare notes."
Admittedly, there are some differences. Yours doesn't have the rep of trying to take over the world.

She peers uncertainly at me. "Are you..? Look, are you actually interested in me, or are you just trying to wind me up again?"

"My admiration for you is entirely unfeigned. You possess all of the characteristics I find most attractive." Ah… "Well, the size difference could be a slight problem, but that aside I very much like what I see and hear."
Huh, that pic looks fine to me. Nothing visible that you wouldn't see in a swimsuit, anyway. Not commenting on the 'Hot skitty on wailord action' aspect.

"A-?" She looks away, blinking heavily and shaking her head. "I can't believe I'm having this conversation."

"Why is it such a surprise? The first time we met I asked you to marry me."

She shakes her head more vehemently, then frowns, looking at me. "Wait, I thought you said that was role-play?"
Yes, but then he got to know you.

"A bit yes, a bit no. I enjoy being bombastic and assertive. I like being direct about what I want. Yes, I set myself up as a foe dishonestly, but I really enjoyed the chance to ham it up like that. I was having great fun right up until the nuke went off."

"It took Marvel two weeks before he could taste anything other than that.. spray!"

"And I'm sure that he's now learned to take precautions against scent weapons. He fought much better this time."
No wonder he was so aggressive in the fight.

"Did Flash even really-." She cuts herself off, eyes opening. "Oh God. That was you."

"Well,-."

"I saw you speeding up when we fought. I thought that maybe you were using Sinestro's ring or you were just that fast. You have some way of giving people super speed, and you pretended it was from Flash."
I suppose she has him there.

"And what do you think my motive was?"

"Because you thought it would be fun to abuse her trust? To mock-" I shake my head. "-Flash's memory?"

"Neither John nor Shayera would have tolerated that. We thought that you needed a Flash."
Someone to keep you sensible, grounded, human.

"But why Eliza?"

"She seemed to fit the character profile required. Of course, we couldn't vet everyone… But I think we made a good choice. Does she know?"

"No."
I doubt she'd take it well.

"Are you going to tell her?"

Kara fidgets awkwardly. "I.. don't think so. I couldn't do that to her."

"I think that's the right choice, but I hope that having made it you'll be a little more understanding of Richard and myself."
Good to see she agrees with him on that.

"Oh no. This is not the same as what you did."

She's staring at me, the determination written clear on her face-.

"Are you getting turned on my this?"
Grayven! Kara! You can't just ask that! It takes all the fun out if it.
Correction: 'on by this'

"No, not.. turned on. It isn't sexual. But I do like the fact that you're confronting me like this. I respect the fact that you have clear moral beliefs. You know…" I lean a little closer. "I'm pretty sure that given enough time you could moderate my worse behavioural tendencies. If you were willing to put in the effort."

"What makes you think I'm single?"
I don't there're many mortal men up to her standards.

"The fact that you haven't brought that up before. But if you tell me otherwise I'm happy to back off."

"And what about you? Too busy conquering the world?"
Ah, such a gentleman.

"I had an.. unfortunate misunderstanding which ended my last serious relationship. We're.. on reasonable terms now, but the relationship is very much over. The last woman I dated rather lost interest when… Well, she'd internalised her enemy's epistemology and might-makes-right ideals, When she realised that I wasn't interested in brute force conquest or unquestioningly supporting her political ambitions her ardour dimmed somewhat. I have female friends, employees, students… But I'm not dating any of them. And… Frankly, if I have to personally oversee every part of a campaign of conquest then I'm doing it wrong."
Let's not mention the whole 'trying to stab you in the face' part...

"What about your kids?"

"I.. wouldn't expect you to take on a maternal role you weren't prepared for. But I hope that if things go well, you'll come to consider them part of your family just as I do."
Wow, he's actually serious about this thing...

She looks away. "I can't believe that I'm even considering this."

"You'd be surprised how often I hear that."

"No I wouldn't."

"Oh, I think you would. Where would you like to go for our second date?"
...But still having fun too.

Grayven being a master troll as usual. And good to see him considering dating again, after poking so many of his friends about it.
(Let's not let one image link bring down the whole tone of the thread, shall we?)
 
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