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

[Enochi]

Thank you, corrected.

Is the SI fully powered too? Because...

Hmm.

Click to shrink...

Yeah fully powered SI might have a chance. Might. But in reality I just don't think he can keep up. Remember Superman is effectively infinitely strong. (He has lifted the Spectre and a book of Infinite pages) He breaks reality with his punches at full force and has held a black hole. Reverse-flash has admitted that Supes speed rivals his own. And Supes himself has stated he can measure time between nano seconds. While he is weak to exposure to kryptonite radiation Keep in mind radiation by its nature is Light-speed and Superman is much much faster then that.

It would take Paul merged with Ophidian to have a chance and I still thinks he loses.

 

[lefthandturnsignal]

Yeah fully powered SI might have a chance. Might. But in reality I just don't think he can keep up. Remember Superman is effectively infinitely strong. (He has lifted the Spectre and a book of Infinite pages) He breaks reality with his punches at full force and has held a black hole. Reverse-flash has admitted that Supes speed rivals his own. And Supes himself has stated he can measure time between nano seconds. While he is weak to exposure to kryptonite radiation Keep in mind radiation by its nature is Light-speed and Superman is much much faster then that.

It would take Paul merged with Ophidian to have a chance and I still thinks he loses.

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Okay, but none of this applies to YJ Superman

 

[Enochi]

Okay, but none of this applies to YJ Superman

Click to shrink...

Correct. Which is why I said I wanted to see Paul go against Comic Superman.

 

[Aeess]

Comic superman much less of a chance compared to WTR superman, the SI has a kinetic belt integrated into his armor, meaning that being physically stronger than young justice superman is of absolutely no benefit, and unlike WTR Superman comic Superman carries neither a radiation shield nor a spell eater making him vulnerable against various attacks the SI can easily use.

 

[Prince Charon]

I am starting to really, really like the Sivanas. All of them. They are just so much fun!

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Yeah. I mean, I wouldn't want to be in the same room with them, or the same city, and I'd be nervous about being on the same planet (though that is due to far more than the Sivanas, themselves), but they're fun to read about.

 

[Mr Zoat]

25th February
18:18 GMT -7

Diana 50 rubs her right shoulder with her left hand as she emerges from the sparring arena, then visibly hesitates as she sees me.

I raise my eyebrows in polite enquiry. "Good bout?"

"Yes." She nods. "She is a far more capable fighter than the Knockout I fought on my Apokolips."

"Stronger or more skilled?"

"Both. Have you used the g-gnomes to improve her skills?"

"No. She's been training with our Barda, but…"

Hm. I look through the viewing window to where Knockout is shouting at Elise.

Logistical Awareness.

Ah, that's interesting. I've known for a while that Knockout is essentially the New Goddess of Thuggishness, but I haven't appreciated exactly how much influence I have over her. Thugs are hirelings, working at the direction of an overseer who decides who gets thugged. Granny Goodness wants broken, obedient thralls. Darkseid wants the same, only not so much 'obedient' as 'unable to comprehend that disobedience is an option'. But I raise my hench-. My lieutenants up, empowering them to discharge their duties as they think best. She's actually… Not drawing on my power exactly, but responding to it, becoming better able to fulfil the role I set for her.

"Hm. It seems that I'm good for her."

"What did.. you just.. do?"

I raise my eyebrows as I return my attention to her. Curious. Not entirely unexpected. And it… Reminds me of that Teen Titans comic where after spending a good deal of time disempowered, Cassandra Sandsmark discovered that the various mystical influences on her life weren't providing her with power so much as restricting the power she had innately as Zeus's daughter. Do Diana's powers come from the goddesses..? Or do they come from her titanic nature?

"You felt that?"

"I felt.. something." Suspicious now. "What was it?"

"New God technology interfaces with our souls. Unlike most humans, we can manually control our metaphysiques, though… Only those powerful enough to attain a god-name can do so to any significant degree. I am a member of the Apokoliptian elite, the New God of Conquest. When I reach out I can feel the natures of those around me. I was curious as to whether there was anything in what you experienced concerning Knockout, and there is. My oversight makes her more powerful than she was under Granny Goodness or Darkseid."

I regard her curiously.

"I'm interested in how you felt it. If you're not opposed to the idea, I'm sure that Sunset would relish the chance to examine your metaphysique in detail."

She tenses slightly, and I hold up my palms in a pacifying gesture.

"Though of course it's not compulsory. Might I offer you a healing ray for the shoulder?"

"No. I'm fine."

She walks past me in the direction of the showers. Hm. If I remember my Earth 2 correctly, Diana became the Goddess of Truth. How do 'truth' and 'conquest' interact? Well, a functioning imperial justice system is a must-have for any empire, and it must be both honest and seen to be honest. Being prepared to be open and direct is a statement of confidence and power, but I'm far too dishonest to regard it as anything other than a situational tool.

Do I want to make Diana my tool?

She's not as capable as Diana 16. She left Themyscira… What, a decade ago? As opposed to during the Second World War. But she has the same potential. And unlike Diana 16 she would actually use her New God-like affinity for soul-based technology. As my tool she would regain her sense of purpose; my purpose, true, but a valuable one for the universe at large. The Justice League pussy-footed around the Light. I ended them in an afternoon. The fact is that I'm much better at this sort of thing than any of the other groups in the field.

I mean, she was a Justice Lord. And my visit is half the reason she's not trying to… Do whatever she was planning on doing for Ares before that. I could have her providing metahuman muscle for the genomorphs in Africa? The US superpeople might get better publicity but there are still plenty of hard cases over there who can give the genomorphs trouble. And then… Attach her to Lex's fleet?

No, no, nothing to do with Lex. Bad memories, even if she accepted intellectually that they aren't the same man. But policing isn't ever really 'solved'; there'll always be some sort of problem to throw her at. And maybe we can work on truth-power aura effects..? I did once consider writing a superhero story where a man with truth compulsion powers was elected to the US senate. Could be productive. It would be interesting to see a legislature where people couldn't feel the need to pose and pander, at least after the initial honesty-related career suicides finished.

I can't even really see a downs-.

Downside is that I'd be acting just a little like Darkseid.

Just a little, but I'd still be deliberately altering a person's outlook without their knowledge or consent. And that's not what I'm trying to be.

"Diana!"

She takes a step back into sight.

"I've.. got an offer for you, but… Finish your shower. It can wait."

She looks slightly puzzled, but nods and then returns to her ablutions.

I open a hush tube to the large dining room. Given the size my family has grown to we use this room for family dinner most days. In fact, it's also started serving as a spill-over living room.

"…unsure why you still call her 'mistress'?"

Ah, Ghia'ta's being confronted with another aspect of love she hadn't encountered on Zamaron. Since they don't have the Amazons' rope-play fetish. Honestly, I'm a little surprised that she hasn't bumped into bondage by accident at this point, but perhaps that's deliberate on Carol's part.

"She is the Queen. I would never let our personal relationship interfere with the performance of my duties."

Jean told me that Sazu keeps trying to help with running the place. Attempts to encourage her to take it easy in the final stretch of her pregnancy met with refutation; she gets stressed when she's not working. So I just gave her access to all of my plans and asked her to have a decko, which appears to be a reasonable placebo.

Ghia'ta shifts awkwardly.

"But… Surely… Your love for one another does change your relationship?"

"Since I share her bed whenever she is in the capital, I am no longer separated from her during the nights. I prefer that."

"You do love her. Don't you?"

Sazu smiles demurely. "I was designed to be a personal assistant. All members of my caste love the people they assist. By being Maxima's consort, lover, and the mother of her children, I can.. help her in ways I had not thought possible. That's something I find profoundly joyful in a way I doubt I can adequately explain. Maxima is my world, her and our unborn child, and I will love them both as long as I live."

"Des.. igned?"

Sazu nods. "On Almerac, we are all genetically engineered to be highly effective at the roles required in our society. I was designed to be a highly social administration and logistics specialist. Once I completed my basic training, my assessment test results were so high that out of my entire batch I was chosen to serve Crown Princess Maxima, and to aid her in all ways."

"Including marrying her and carrying her children?"

"I did not expect this. Generally, engineered castes reproduce with others of their caste. Naturally, conventional reproduction between different castes is taboo because it would remove the specialised adaptations with which each caste has been engineered. The children would be born with a confusing mix of instincts and struggle to find anywhere to fit in." She smiles. "But since both Maxima and I were created in laboratories neither of us saw any reason not to use them in the creation of our own children."

I take a step closer. "I take it that Ultraa does?"

"Ultraa is a high-performing member of the command caste. In other circumstances he might well have become Maxima's husband and king. He claims that what we are doing undermines the caste system, but having reviewed his psychological profile I think it's far more likely that he resents being passed over for someone who he could beat in a fight."

I nod. "Well, not to worry. Maxima knows her business and I know mine. Nothing's going to reach you in here."

I then consider that statement.

"For a statistically significant length of time, at least."

 

[DAT_NOOB]

I nod. "Well, not to worry. Maxima knows her business and I know mine. Nothing's going to reach you in here."

I then consider that statement.

"For a statistically significant length of time, at least."

Click to shrink...

Good to see grayven covering his ass if anything goes wrong.

 

[Razorfloss]

Gotta love that last line. Don't want to temp murphy into action

 

[Chojin Patriarch]

Diana 50 rubs her right shoulder with her left hand as she emerges from the sparring arena, then visibly hesitates as she sees me.

I raise my eyebrows in polite enquiry. "Good bout?"

"Yes." She nods. "She is a far more capable fighter than the Knockout I fought on my Apokolips."

Click to shrink...

A solid reminder of what the Lords did to the dark side of the New Gods...

Spoiler: Commentary spoilered for length

"Stronger or more skilled?"

"Both. Have you used the g-gnomes to improve her skills?"

"No. She's been training with our Barda, but…"

Click to shrink...

Ah, that niggling doubt. Always pays to confirm suspicions.

Hm. I look through the viewing window to where Knockout is shouting at Elise.

Logistical Awareness.

Ah, that's interesting. I've known for a while that Knockout is essentially the New Goddess of Thugishness, but I haven't appreciated exactly how much influence I have over her. Thugs are hirelings, working at the direction of an overseer who decides who gets thugged. Granny Goodness wants broken, obedient thralls. Darkseid wants the same, only not so much 'obedient' as 'unable to comprehend that disobedience is an option'. But I raise my hench-. My lieutenants up, empowering them to discharge their duties as they think best. She's actually… Not drawing on my power exactly, but responding to it, becoming better able to fulfil the role I set for her.

Click to shrink...

So she's becoming a new god of Chief Mooks. Lovely.

"Hm. I seems that I'm good for her."

"What did.. you just.. do?"

Click to shrink...

Ah, she felt that? Interesting.
Correction: 'It seems'

I raise my eyebrows as I return my attention to her. Curious. Not entirely unexpected. And it… Reminds me of that Teen Titans comic where after spending a good deal of time disempowered, Cassandra Sandsmark that the various mystical influences on her life weren't providing her with power so much as restricting the power she had innately as Zeus's daughter. Do Diana's powers come from the goddesses..? Or do they come from her titanic nature?

Click to shrink...

Heh. He really should look into that. OL has quite a jump on that quest-line.

"You felt that?"

"I felt.. something." Suspicious now. "What was it?"

"New God technology interfaces with our souls. Unlike most humans, we can manually control our metaphysiques, though… Only those powerful enough to attain a god-name can do so to any significant degree. I am a member of the Apokoliptian elite, the New God of Conquest. When I reach out I can feel the natures of those around me. I was curious as to whether there was anything in what you experienced concerning Knockout, and there is. My oversight makes her more powerful than she was under Granny Goodness or Darkseid."

Click to shrink...

Still thinking he's the New god of Conquest, I see. Can't wait to see when he realises his true nature.

I regard her curiously.

"I'm interested in how you felt it. If you're not opposed to the idea, I'm sure that Sunset would relish the chance to examine your metaphysique in detail."

She tenses slightly, and I hold up my palms in a pacifying gesture.

Click to shrink...

That's a 'no', then. Or at least a 'Not Now'.

"Though of course it's not compulsory. Might I offer you a healing ray for the shoulder?"

"No. I'm fine."

She walks past me in the direction of the showers. Hm. If I remember my Earth 2 correctly, Diana became the Goddess of Truth. How do 'truth' and 'conquest' interact? Well, a functioning imperial justice system is a must-have for any empire, and it must be both honest and seen to be honest. Being prepared to be open and direct is a statement of confidence and power, but I'm far too dishonest to regard it as anything other than a situational tool.

Click to shrink...

He'd rather work things out in back-rooms, over a stiff drink, eh?

Do I want to make Diana my tool?

She's not as capable as Diana 16. She left Themyscira… What, a decade ago? As opposed to during the Second World War. But she has the same potential. And unlike Diana 16 she would actually use her New God-like affinity for soul-based technology. As my tool she would regain her sense of purpose; my purpose, true, but a valuable one for the universe at large. The Justice League pussy-footed around the Light. I ended them in an afternoon. The fact is that I'm much better at this sort of thing than any of the other groups in the field.

Click to shrink...

Ego the size of a planet...

I mean, she was a Justice Lord. And my visit is half the reason she's not trying to… Do whatever she was planning on doing for Ares before that. I could have her providing metahuman muscle for the genomorphs in Africa? The US superpeople might get better publicity but there are still plenty of hard cases over there who can give the genomorphs trouble. And then… Attach her to Lex's fleet?

No, no, nothing to do with Lex. Bad memories, even if she accepted intellectually that they aren't the same man. But policing isn't ever really 'solved'; there'll always be some sort of problem to throw her at. And maybe we can work on truth-power aura effects..? I did once consider writing a superhero story where a man with truth compulsion powers was elected to the US senate. Could be productive. It would be interested to see a legislature where people couldn't feel the need to pose and pander, at least after the initial honestly-related career suicides finished.

Click to shrink...

Ah, Garth Ennis. One of the weirder, wilder writers of the Nineties, and still at it today.

I can't even really see a downs-.

Downside is that I'd be acting just a little like Darkseid.

Click to shrink...

Heh. He'd rather people come to their own conclusions, I see.

Just a little, but I'd still be deliberately altering a person's outlook without their knowledge or consent. And that's not what I'm trying to be.

"Diana!"

She takes a step back into sight.

"I've.. got an offer for you, but… Finish your shower. It can wait."

Click to shrink...

Taking it slowly. Good idea.

She looks slightly puzzled, but nods and then returns to her ablutions.

I open a hush tube to the large dining room. Given the size my family has grown to we use this room for family dinner most days. In fact, it's also started serving as a spill-over living room.

Click to shrink...

One thing Grayven has going over OL: A much larger and closer in-group. The Team is fine, but he needs more than friends...

"…unsure why you still call her 'mistress'?"

Ah, Ghia'ta's being confronted with another aspect of love she hadn't encountered on zamaron. Since they don't have the Amazons' rope-play fetish. Honestly, I'm a little surprised that she hasn't bumped into bondage by accident at this point, but perhaps that's deliberate on Carol's part.

Click to shrink...

There's a lot about Love she has to learn...
Correction: 'on Zamaron'

"She is the Queen. I would never let our personal relationship interfere with the performance of my duties."

Jean told me that Sazu keeps trying to help with running the place. Attempts to encourage her to take it easy in the final stretch of her pregnancy met with refutation: she gets stressed when she's not working. So I just gave her access to all of my plans and asked her to have a decko, which appears to be a reasonable placebo.

Click to shrink...

And useful to have another pair of eyes, one not caught up in the plans.

Ghia'ta shifts awkwardly.

"But… Surely… Your love for one another does change your relationship?"

"Since I share her bed whenever she is in the capital, I am no longer separated from her during the nights. I prefer that."

Click to shrink...

Heh. Bet that's making waves in their society.

"You do love her. Don't you?"

Sazu smiles demurely. "I was designed to be a personal assistant. All members of my caste love the people they assist. By being Maxima's consort, lover, and the mother of her children, I can.. help her in ways I had not thought possible. That's something I find profoundly joyful in a way I doubt I can adequately explain. Maxima is my world, her and our unborn child, and I will love them both as long as I live."

Click to shrink...

Good to see that much passion in her.

"Des.. igned?"

Sazu nods. "On Amerac, we are all genetically engineered to be highly affective at the roles required in our society. I was designed to be a highly social administration and logistics specialist. Once I completed my basic training, my assessment test results were so high that out of my entire batch I was chosen to serve Crown Princess Maxima, and to aid her in all ways."

Click to shrink...

Trained in many techniques, I expect?

"Including marrying her and carrying her children?"

"I did not expect this. Generally, engineered castes reproduce with others of their caste. Naturally, conventional reproduction between different castes is taboo because it would remove the specialised adaptations with which each caste has been engineered. The children would be born with a confusing mix of instincts and struggle to find anywhere to fit in." She smiles. "But since both Maxima and I were created in laboratories neither of us saw any reason not to use them in the creation of our own children."

Click to shrink...

And I bet others are starting to think along similar lines back there.

I take a step closer. "I take it that Ultraa does?"

"Ultraa is a high-performing member of the command caste. In other circumstances he might well have become Maxima's husband and king. He claims that what we are doing undermines the caste system, but having reviewed his psychological profile I think it's far more likely that he resents being passed over for someone who he could beat in a fight."

Click to shrink...

Ah, male egos. So easily bruised.

I nod. "Well, not to worry. Maxima knows her business and I know mine. Nothing's going to reach you in here."

I then consider that statement.

"For a statistically significant length of time, at least."

Click to shrink...

Aw, you got Murphy all excited and then bam, letdown.

Well, all domestic and pleasant. A good contrast to OL's heist Training exercise planning...

Godspeech:

Logistical Awareness.

Ah, that's interesting. I've known for a while that Knockout is essentially the New Goddess of Thugishness, but I haven't appreciated exactly how much influence I have over her. Thugs are hirelings, working at the direction of an overseer who decides who gets thugged. Granny Goodness wants broken, obedient thralls. Darkseid wants the same, only not so much 'obedient' as 'unable to comprehend that disobedience is an option'. But I raise my hench-. My lieutenants up, empowering them to discharge their duties as they think best. She's actually… Not drawing on my power exactly, but responding to it, becoming better able to fulfil the role I set for her.

Click to shrink...

 

[Vaermina]

Downside is that I'd be acting just a little like Darkseid.

Click to shrink...

And of course the whole bit with your entire currently claimed existence being antithetical to Truth.

 

[Mr Zoat]

Correction: 'It seems'
Correction: 'on Zamaron'

Click to shrink...

Thank you, corrected.

 

[Handlewithcare]

Could a society handle a physical goddess of truth?

Absolute lies would destroy a society. There needs to be a basic measure of trust to allow any group to function.

But so would absolute truths. People don't fit perfectly together. Constantly telling the absolute truth would lead to permanent conflict, since it would allow all competing interests to compete openly.

Society needs a measure of both to be successful.

 

[Razorfloss]

And of course the whole bit with your entire currently claimed existence being antithetical to Truth.

Click to shrink...

Is it? You can be truthful and still be a conquer you just don't lie about what you are doing. The truth isn't always good and just.

 

[Ardy]

And of course the whole bit with your entire currently claimed existence being antithetical to Truth.

Click to shrink...

Hey, just because he isn't Grayven, son of Darkseid and God of Conquest, doesn't means he's not Grayven, God of Conquest.

It's not a total lie, is what I'm saying

 

[Queshire]

Interesting question though. At what point does it stop becoming a lie and becomes the truth? When do you become the mask you wear?

 

[The Unaligned Player]

Could a society handle a physical goddess of truth?

Absolute lies would destroy a society. There needs to be a basic measure of trust to allow any group to function.

But so would absolute truths. People don't fit perfectly together. Constantly telling the absolute truth would lead to permanent conflict, since it would allow all competing interests to compete openly.

Society needs a measure of both to be successful.

Click to shrink...

Debatable.

 

[Vaermina]

Is it? You can be truthful and still be a conquer you just don't lie about what you are doing. The truth isn't always good and just.

Click to shrink...

Except he's not actually Grayven.

Hey, just because he isn't Grayven, son of Darkseid and God of Conquest, doesn't means he's not Grayven, God of Conquest.

It's not a total lie, is what I'm saying

Click to shrink...

This is Truth with a capital T.

Attempting to rules lawyer a lie into being true will get you nowhere with it.

 

[Xmaster3000]

Except he's not actually Grayven.



This is Truth with a capital T.

Attempting to rules lawyer a lie into being true will get you nowhere with it.

Click to shrink...

Well, he's certainly a "Grayven, the god of Conquest".

 

[Sockmonkey]

I love the phrase "deciding who gets thugged" and would like to see it appear in other works.

 

[w34v3r]

While I doubt society would survive full honesty 100% of the time in all situations. Having the ability to reliably and non-violently compel honesty under specific conditions would be very valuable in maintaining a civilization, courts, senates, and contract negotiations for example.

 

[DAT_NOOB]

And of course the whole bit with your entire currently claimed existence being antithetical to Truth.

Click to shrink...

Except he's not actually Grayven.

This is Truth with a capital T.

Attempting to rules lawyer a lie into being true will get you nowhere with it.

Click to shrink...

At this point, he is A Grayven in that his name is legally Grayven and he possesses memories that paul doesn't, of growing up on apokalypse that he mentioned in stars crossed (which was the arc that had him become more Grayven than paul) and to head off the idea that he's merely lying, why would he lie to the justice lords? they need his help even if he wasn't actually Grayven.

Still thinking he's the New god of Conquest, I see. Can't wait to see when he realises his true nature.

Click to shrink...

I mean at this point he kinda is to the point where Grayven 16 acknowledges he's not a fake.

 

[Chojin Patriarch]

I mean at this point he kinda is to the point where Grayven 16 acknowledges he's not a fake.

Click to shrink...

I've been convinced for some time, that Grayven's New God nature is not Conquest, as he claims and believes. Not Conquest by Force of Arms, more specifically.
Rather, he seems to exemplify Conquest as Acquisition. Nearly everything we see him do results in him gaining something, whether it be property, power or followers. The few times he suffers a setback, he gains experience and perspective. Unlike the true Grayven, who rules by fear and power, Grayven the Renegade gains his follower's loyalty by caring about them as people, by helping them solve their own problems.
Certainly, it reflects the Orange Light that played a part in his early development far more than the Yellow of Fear.

...Or I could be seeing things that aren't there. I don't expect Mr Zoat to say one way or the other. Not until it matters in-universe. Heck, perhaps this realisation is why he ends up screaming at the Source Wall.

 

[Ace Dreamer]

25th February
18:18 GMT -7
...
Cassandra Sandsmark that the various mystical influences

Click to shrink...

Missing word? Something like 'decided'?

---

Self-restraint, that important characteristic of a ruler. Good to see Grayven exercising it...

 

[Mr Zoat]

Missing word? Something like 'decided'?

Click to shrink...

Thank you, corrected.

 

[Mquz]

Could a society handle a physical goddess of truth?

Absolute lies would destroy a society. There needs to be a basic measure of trust to allow any group to function.

But so would absolute truths. People don't fit perfectly together. Constantly telling the absolute truth would lead to permanent conflict, since it would allow all competing interests to compete openly.

Society needs a measure of both to be successful.

Click to shrink...

Absolute truth would not destroy a society. All sides would either mesh in non-competitive viewpoints, or compete openly, which is a far better alternative to competing beyond closed doors. Social bonds are possible with people you don't agree with, even if they're loud about their opinions, so compromise would eventually happen.

 

[Coda]

young namesake

Click to shrink...

Namesake means the person you're named after... so the kid is Grayven Sr.?

Absolute truth would not destroy a society. All sides would either mesh in non-competitive viewpoints, or compete openly, which is a far better alternative to competing beyond closed doors. Social bonds are possible with people you don't agree with, even if they're loud about their opinions, so compromise would eventually happen.

Click to shrink...

Compromise... or war, depending on how tolerant the people are. It could hypothetically work, but it would require some reengineering of human nature to pull off.

"Never knowingly speak a falsehood" is a lot more plausible than "absolute truth." That still allows for secrets and for holding your tongue when the truth would do more harm than good.

 

[Pinklestia]

And of course the whole bit with your entire currently claimed existence being antithetical to Truth.

Click to shrink...

Anti-Life is not anti-truth, is more like not 100% honest.

 

[Handlewithcare]

Absolute truth would not destroy a society. All sides would either mesh in non-competitive viewpoints, or compete openly, which is a far better alternative to competing beyond closed doors. Social bonds are possible with people you don't agree with, even if they're loud about their opinions, so compromise would eventually happen.

Click to shrink...

Look at internet arguments. People saying what they truly think leads to a lot of conflict and little compromise.

Or any social gathering. Those depend to a large part on people lying that past little hurts don't matter anymore.

And if you only socialise with people you agree with, you get echo chambers.

I think the only viable alternative, if you have no option but to say the absolute truth, is to say nothing.

 

[DrThoth]

Just a little, but I'd still be deliberately altering a person's outlook without their knowledge or consent. And that's not what I'm trying to be.

Click to shrink...

So....is he going to stop doing this and be open about it for every other non-New God in his employ? Most notably Blackfire...

(I only just realized that the events of Jiggity Jig also serve a narrative function to distinguish the Blackfires in terms of their social relationships to versions of the SI, so well done with that impressive balancing act, as always.)

Ah, Ghia'ta's being confronted with another aspect of love she hadn't encountered on Zamaron. Since they don't have the Amazons' rope-play fetish. Honestly, I'm a little surprised that she hasn't bumped into bondage by accident at this point, but perhaps that's deliberate on Carol's part.

"She is the Queen. I would never let our personal relationship interfere with the performance of my duties."

Click to shrink...

I hope I'm not the only one who thought for a second that Ghi'ata was somehow talking to Captain Philippus here, given that (a version of) Diana was around and with the reference to Amazons. But I don't believe the state of Philippus/Hippolyta has changed in either world (now THAT would be a good long-term project for Ghi'ata to work on, if possible).

 

[Mquz]

Look at internet arguments. People saying what they truly think leads to a lot of conflict and little compromise.

Or any social gathering. Those depend to a large part on people lying that past little hurts don't matter anymore.

And if you only socialise with people you agree with, you get echo chambers.

I think the only viable alternative, if you have no option but to say the absolute truth, is to say nothing.

Click to shrink...

Would that really be so bad? That's a thing you're supposed to teach kids: "if you can't say something positive, don't say anything at all".
I may be speaking from ignorance, but social gatherings depend less on lying and more on moving past the little hurts and being able to work with the people who hurt you for whatever goal you want to achieve.
But the thing with the internet is that there is no immediate need for compromise. Most Internet conversations don't and shouldn't matter except as places to anonymously vent grievances. Brilliant ideas don't really tend to come out of them. It's one of the things that in my opinion led to there being so much division in politics. Remember when Democrats and Republicans could put aside differences and work together? That was before the internet really became a massive thing. Before each party became it's own echo chamber due to people yelling at it through the internet.