Prince Charon
Just zis guy, you know?
- Joined
- Feb 20, 2014
- Messages
- 10,243
- Likes received
- 41,669
Did he do that intentionally, or accidentally?
-
The site has now migrated to Xenforo 2. If you see any issues with the forum operation, please post them in the feedback thread.
-
An addendum to Rule 3 regarding fan-translated works of things such as Web Novels has been made. Please see here for details.
-
RIP @Silver Swallow
-
Due to issues with external spam filters, QQ is currently unable to send any mail to Microsoft E-mail addresses. This includes any account at live.com, hotmail.com or msn.com. Signing up to the forum with one of these addresses will result in your verification E-mail never arriving. For best results, please use a different E-mail provider for your QQ address.
-
The rules regarding NSFW links have been updated. See here for details.
With This Ring (Young Justice SI) (Thread Fourteen)
- Thread starter Mr Zoat
- Start date
-
- Tags
- self insert young justice
Lord Ernest
At the End...
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2019
- Messages
- 1,370
- Likes received
- 12,760
Pretty sure it was intentional. To be fair, Rick Flag Jr was trying to choke Peacemaker but the initial stab stopped it, and then Peacemaker smacked the shard until it pierced Flag's heart. On top of that, he then ran after Ratcatcher and tried to kill her as well, so...
Prince Charon
Just zis guy, you know?
- Joined
- Feb 20, 2014
- Messages
- 10,243
- Likes received
- 41,669
OK. It may be different in this timeline, though.
Cuchulin
Versed in the lewd.
- Joined
- Jan 25, 2019
- Messages
- 2,233
- Likes received
- 8,860
To be fair Peacemaker has the excuse of his father being a White Nationalist Super Villain an utter psycho.
The Man (part 14)
New
Mr Zoat
Dedicated ragequitter
- Joined
- Dec 1, 2016
- Messages
- 16,760
- Likes received
- 868,868
4th June 2013
09:27 GMT
"What do you mean, 'it's a bad idea'?"
Queen Artemis is frowning, but it's mostly a puzzled frown.
"Because this is a-. Bulldozer. How far.. back do your records on the Dream go?"
"Centuries. Though the detailed records I used in devising this ship are more recent."
I nod. "Yes, that's the problem. Ah." I take a moment to look around, but it's just us in here. "The largest concern when dealing with the Dream isn't the dream storms, it's Morpheus himself. If you get past a dream storm, you're free and clear. Morpheus can pursue you forever."
She reaches out with her right hand and another thick journal flies into it. She them passes it to me. "I have experimented with lesser versions of these spells dozens of times. Not once has he raised a word of complaint."
I have a suspicion, but I check the dates anyway. Ah.
"Yes, this covers the period where he was imprisoned by an intelligent but extremely unwise magician. The realm fell apart without his oversight. Since…" I check the part towards the back… Yes. "About two years after this date, he got free and started putting his house in order. These-" I point to the diagram of the 'dreambreaker' prow. "-spells will damage the structure of any coherent parts of the Dream they strike unless the helmsman gets the angle of attack exactly right. That sort of thing is going to irritate him."
She picks up another book and flicks through it. It's another journal, though the handwriting and entry structure are noticeably different.
"Yes, I see. I had thought that earlier scholars had been imprecise in their recording, but if Dream was away from the Dream, that would explain the more dissolute structure."
I nod. "And frankly, I'd feel much better about asking his permission before doing something like this anyway. Now, flying through Hell doesn't have the same problem. You can push through as violently as you want, and the locals just treat it as the price of being in Hell."
"They are also far more malevolent."
"I can get hold of a demon lord far more easily than I can get hold of Morpheus."
She shakes her head definitively. "I will not treat with demons. And you should not either."
"Hell is on my long list of things to deal with, and Mammon is surprisingly mercantile. But if you're certain that you want to traverse the Dream, then either that needs to go or you need Morpheus's express permission."
She nods. "I had attempted to reach out to him, but none of my messages were received."
"Was-?"
"It would have been when he was indisposed, yes. I will prepare a new missive. But in the interests of setting out today, perhaps this design-" She waves her left hand, and the ink on the page… Rearranges itself into a new configuration. "-would be less offensive."
I look it over, and… As far as I can tell, it should be. The spells are designed to guide the ship and turn concentrations of power away from the ship rather than forcibly smash them apart.
"Yes, I think so. Though it would still be a good idea to check with him. Why wasn't-? Oh."
Yes, I see. Battering impediments aside is easy and simple. This… Not only is the ship far less well protected, but it requires a second pilot to control the spells.
"Yes. Fortunately, I have studied the art of lucid dreaming. I had wanted to be the main steerswoman during the maiden voyage, but unless you have the skill that will not be possible."
She gives me a vaguely hopeful look, but I shake my head. "It wouldn't be a good idea anyway, given how anomalous my metaphysique is."
And… Darn. I never thought to ask Sanderson if he'd learned that mundane skill along with his supernatural one. Who else do I know who can manage lucid dreaming?
…
I never thought to ask anyway. I… Guess that's probably something that John Constantine learned, and if he learned then Ambrose probably has as well. I could ask… Daniel, but it's not as if becoming Dream was some sort of good ending for him so I'd rather avoid that. Orpheus? I know he ended up as a severed head but I've got no idea what happened after that. Was it..? France, during the Revolution?
Doesn't matter. I wouldn't know where to start trying to find him today.
Ah-. Donna? Hypnos might answer a prayer from her even if she doesn't know how to handle it herself. Then there's Melinoë-.
"I might have someone who can help with that. One of my world's goddesses. If she agrees to come then she should be able to handle that."
"What is she a goddess of?"
"Nightmares-"
She frowns. "I-"
"-and Madness."
"-think that it may be best if I fulfil that task myself."
"Alright, but how long will it take you to change the physical components of the prow and open a portal?"
"Less than a day. I designed the mounts to be easy to change, as I was experimenting and did not know what the final form would be."
I nod. "I can pop back to Earth, ask her for her opinion and then come back well before you're finished. She might even be willing to recommend someone else. And I need to get someone to open the gates at the far end anyway."
And.. I should probably get permission to bring a ship through in the first place. And build some sort of dock.
"That is true. The rest of the design decisions are far less contentious." She nods, and with a wave of her hands the books and plans return themselves to their shelves. "Preparing the array for my use will not make it harder for another to use it."
I nod, and-. "Oh, one last thing. How long will transit take?"
"I don't know. Traversing from one point to another within the same magical world is different from going from one to another."
"A few hours, a few days or a few years?"
"Depending on the current, I would guess that it will take less than a day. But that is at best an educated guess."
"No, that's fair." I bow politely. "I'll be back before you know it." I raise my right hand to my forehead and
step out, homing in on
a few familiar desire-sets. Iola blinks as I clean her daughter of excrement before she looks around and spots me.
"Praise Hera."
"I'd need a bigger bra to pull that look off. Excuse me."
I fly out of her home's courtyard and towards the Temple of Hades. I don't think I've done anything to antagonise Melinoë recently, though it's probably worth finding out how Hades' courtship of her mother is going. And how she feels about the whole thing.
Maybe if things work out I could get them a dream boat as a wedding present?
09:27 GMT
"What do you mean, 'it's a bad idea'?"
Queen Artemis is frowning, but it's mostly a puzzled frown.
"Because this is a-. Bulldozer. How far.. back do your records on the Dream go?"
"Centuries. Though the detailed records I used in devising this ship are more recent."
I nod. "Yes, that's the problem. Ah." I take a moment to look around, but it's just us in here. "The largest concern when dealing with the Dream isn't the dream storms, it's Morpheus himself. If you get past a dream storm, you're free and clear. Morpheus can pursue you forever."
She reaches out with her right hand and another thick journal flies into it. She them passes it to me. "I have experimented with lesser versions of these spells dozens of times. Not once has he raised a word of complaint."
I have a suspicion, but I check the dates anyway. Ah.
"Yes, this covers the period where he was imprisoned by an intelligent but extremely unwise magician. The realm fell apart without his oversight. Since…" I check the part towards the back… Yes. "About two years after this date, he got free and started putting his house in order. These-" I point to the diagram of the 'dreambreaker' prow. "-spells will damage the structure of any coherent parts of the Dream they strike unless the helmsman gets the angle of attack exactly right. That sort of thing is going to irritate him."
She picks up another book and flicks through it. It's another journal, though the handwriting and entry structure are noticeably different.
"Yes, I see. I had thought that earlier scholars had been imprecise in their recording, but if Dream was away from the Dream, that would explain the more dissolute structure."
I nod. "And frankly, I'd feel much better about asking his permission before doing something like this anyway. Now, flying through Hell doesn't have the same problem. You can push through as violently as you want, and the locals just treat it as the price of being in Hell."
"They are also far more malevolent."
"I can get hold of a demon lord far more easily than I can get hold of Morpheus."
She shakes her head definitively. "I will not treat with demons. And you should not either."
"Hell is on my long list of things to deal with, and Mammon is surprisingly mercantile. But if you're certain that you want to traverse the Dream, then either that needs to go or you need Morpheus's express permission."
She nods. "I had attempted to reach out to him, but none of my messages were received."
"Was-?"
"It would have been when he was indisposed, yes. I will prepare a new missive. But in the interests of setting out today, perhaps this design-" She waves her left hand, and the ink on the page… Rearranges itself into a new configuration. "-would be less offensive."
I look it over, and… As far as I can tell, it should be. The spells are designed to guide the ship and turn concentrations of power away from the ship rather than forcibly smash them apart.
"Yes, I think so. Though it would still be a good idea to check with him. Why wasn't-? Oh."
Yes, I see. Battering impediments aside is easy and simple. This… Not only is the ship far less well protected, but it requires a second pilot to control the spells.
"Yes. Fortunately, I have studied the art of lucid dreaming. I had wanted to be the main steerswoman during the maiden voyage, but unless you have the skill that will not be possible."
She gives me a vaguely hopeful look, but I shake my head. "It wouldn't be a good idea anyway, given how anomalous my metaphysique is."
And… Darn. I never thought to ask Sanderson if he'd learned that mundane skill along with his supernatural one. Who else do I know who can manage lucid dreaming?
…
I never thought to ask anyway. I… Guess that's probably something that John Constantine learned, and if he learned then Ambrose probably has as well. I could ask… Daniel, but it's not as if becoming Dream was some sort of good ending for him so I'd rather avoid that. Orpheus? I know he ended up as a severed head but I've got no idea what happened after that. Was it..? France, during the Revolution?
Doesn't matter. I wouldn't know where to start trying to find him today.
Ah-. Donna? Hypnos might answer a prayer from her even if she doesn't know how to handle it herself. Then there's Melinoë-.
"I might have someone who can help with that. One of my world's goddesses. If she agrees to come then she should be able to handle that."
"What is she a goddess of?"
"Nightmares-"
She frowns. "I-"
"-and Madness."
"-think that it may be best if I fulfil that task myself."
"Alright, but how long will it take you to change the physical components of the prow and open a portal?"
"Less than a day. I designed the mounts to be easy to change, as I was experimenting and did not know what the final form would be."
I nod. "I can pop back to Earth, ask her for her opinion and then come back well before you're finished. She might even be willing to recommend someone else. And I need to get someone to open the gates at the far end anyway."
And.. I should probably get permission to bring a ship through in the first place. And build some sort of dock.
"That is true. The rest of the design decisions are far less contentious." She nods, and with a wave of her hands the books and plans return themselves to their shelves. "Preparing the array for my use will not make it harder for another to use it."
I nod, and-. "Oh, one last thing. How long will transit take?"
"I don't know. Traversing from one point to another within the same magical world is different from going from one to another."
"A few hours, a few days or a few years?"
"Depending on the current, I would guess that it will take less than a day. But that is at best an educated guess."
"No, that's fair." I bow politely. "I'll be back before you know it." I raise my right hand to my forehead and
step out, homing in on
a few familiar desire-sets. Iola blinks as I clean her daughter of excrement before she looks around and spots me.
"Praise Hera."
"I'd need a bigger bra to pull that look off. Excuse me."
I fly out of her home's courtyard and towards the Temple of Hades. I don't think I've done anything to antagonise Melinoë recently, though it's probably worth finding out how Hades' courtship of her mother is going. And how she feels about the whole thing.
Maybe if things work out I could get them a dream boat as a wedding present?
Chojin Patriarch
Veteran Lurker
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2019
- Messages
- 2,531
- Likes received
- 37,877
Ah. Well, looks like her designs weren't as complete as she envisioned. From the sounds of it, the initial concept would work more like an icebreaker than anything, pushing through dense areas of dreamstuff and forcing them aside. I doubt Morpheus would be happy about that, much less the said areas of dreamstuff themselves.
Just goes to show you can be as old as dirt and still not know everything.
Let me guess, roughly analogous to the Twentieth Century?
And an irritated Dream is a bad Dream. A dream of Eternal Waking would probably be at the lower end of his punishments if you broke something he was fond of, like his Castle.
Turns out when your anthropomorphic embodiment is absent, things get all swirly and disjointed. Figures.
That's where skilled guards come in. Preferably armed with potent anti-demon weaponry.
Bit late for that, ma'am. He has a pet Lord or two in his pocket...
It's not like he envisioned the need for an answering machine, after all.
Good plan. I shudder to imagine how acidic his evaluation of the previous design would have been.
I'm guessing this variant has more drawbacks.
And of course she hasn't had anyone else trained in this field, has she? Or at least, no one competent enough to her lofty standards?
Heh, another older gent who the Queen might find an interest in. Packed into a handsome young body, no less.
Yes, he was there at one time. Not willingly, mind. Ironically, John's ancestor retrieved him for Morpheus.
I suspect her answer would be 'Oh, no! Not again!' Given how well her last adventure with him worked out.
...Ah, well... Don't worry, she's far more pleasant than her domain would suggest.
Your choice. You're missing out on her enjoyable company.
Very good idea. It may make the structure a little weaker, but better to be adaptable than unbreakable.
Just a whole mess of permissions to gain, eh? Hopefully not right on top of Charon's ferry docks, anyway.
Since he has had a few bad experiences with unexpected time-shifts in interdimensional transit. Remember the Sheeda invasion he mostly missed out on because of that trip to Witchworld?
The latter would definitely be sub-optimal, especially given the urgency of his needs.
Oh, goodie. That can't go horribly wrong at all, no sir. Or worse, horribly right.
Aw, such a nice godfather. Helping out with the baby's diapers...
I can't imagine Hera didn't notice that little prayer and his comment and laugh out loud.
I mean, as long as it's not a different kind of dreamboat...
Though given some Olympian relationships, I could see them sharing.So, time to see how Hades and Persephone are doing. Hopefully things are going well, or this whole plan could face some awkward interference. No doubt we'll also get to see how the various kids have been handling things in their absence. Even if all this is something of a side-questing diversion, given he could make arrangements to haul gates via starship...
Darko
Connoisseur.
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2019
- Messages
- 22,832
- Likes received
- 326,642
Another magician that doesn't know what the Endless have been up to.
I wouldn't necessarily call him intelligent.
He just followed some instructions.
Assuming they don't try to eat you.
You donknow a goddess connected to dreams.
Assuming he bothers to read it.
No!
Just...no...
Yeah, two guys cut off his earing, but apparently it's cursed.
I'm betting that she's rethinking her association with him.
Assuming Persephone is interested.
Even if she's happy right now, once the effects of the waters have run out she may still want the divorce.
A few months of happiness are not likely to make up for thousands of years of fear and misery.
Last edited:
Darko
Connoisseur.
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2019
- Messages
- 22,832
- Likes received
- 326,642
She is over a thousand years old.
It's possible that the skill necessary for it to work would require a lot of time to master.
She may go.
At least then she'll know what sort of stupidity he's gotten involved in and she can plan accordingly.
AmericanNumbers
Not too sore, are you?
- Joined
- Jun 25, 2021
- Messages
- 365
- Likes received
- 3,512
Oh no. Crossing the immortal love interests. This should be fun
NightmareWarden
Versed in the lewd.
- Joined
- Oct 14, 2015
- Messages
- 1,282
- Likes received
- 5,878
It's a shame that Melinoe and Dr Quinzel never had a reason to meet in the Paragon or Renegade timelines. I haven't followed the last decade of Harley Quinn releases. A meeting with Melinoe which discusses the inherent instability in her from childhood or a twisting flame ignited by the Joker...? There are topics worth broaching when you have a non-villainois character associated with madness on hand.
Joker's laughing gas in some continuities could irritate such a goddess, if it works "heretically" compared to other mind-affecting drugs. If you can imagine a fool on this world taking venom or such to catch a woman's eye, I'm sure you can imagine the drugs an ex-doctor Harley Quinn might take. She'd combine them and suffer side effects in hopes of reigniting a long-dead spark of romance and excitement with the Joker. Likely an abusive one. Hmm. I suppose if Melinoe gets involved in that ugly situation, she could also suggest warping the Joker directly to make his obsession with controlling Harley more prominent. That'd be typical monkey's paw DC divine muckery... Until the Joker overcame it and wrestled that bronco into some mess that warranted a superhero brawl.
Ngamer11
Experienced.
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2019
- Messages
- 3,462
- Likes received
- 21,023
They have met in the Paragon timeline. She assumed Harleen was sane before the latter asked for nightmares in order to better understand the human mind. Can't remember when they met though.
Mr Zoat
Dedicated ragequitter
- Joined
- Dec 1, 2016
- Messages
- 16,760
- Likes received
- 868,868
They recently made a comic about her wanting to sniff Poison Ivy's farts. It also involved her using Plastic Man as a nappy.
You haven't missed much.
NightmareWarden
Versed in the lewd.
- Joined
- Oct 14, 2015
- Messages
- 1,282
- Likes received
- 5,878
I'm unfortunately aware of that. Wonder what audience it is aimed at. I've not followed her Injustice or Harley & Ivy comic lines. Nor any where she is a chaotic superhero/vigilante, which is what fanfics would actually use as reference materials.
Though if Swamp Thing and the Parliament of Trees pop up in the new thing due to Ivy's presence, I might need to buy some booze.
The Man (part 15)
New
Mr Zoat
Dedicated ragequitter
- Joined
- Dec 1, 2016
- Messages
- 16,760
- Likes received
- 868,868
4th June 2013
11:13 GMT
Queen Artemis looks dubiously at our new pilot, who is making himself comfortable in the lotus position as the apprentices finish setting up the ship's spell network.
"Are you certain that he is sound?"
Frankly, no, but Melinoë recommended him, and… I'm never sure whether she's genuinely angry or performatively angry, but the suggestion appeared to be a serious one, so…
"If something goes wrong I can probably bulldoze us to safety myself."
"You counselled me to avoid that."
"Yes, but this way we'd have a guilty party we didn't mind handing over to the authorities."
"Oh, that won't be necessary." Our… Oddly cheerful guest looks around. He actually… Looks healthier than any picture of him that I've seen. What's going on in his head… There's a glow around him that's making me a little concerned, and I can't see inside him at all. "I'm not going to make a mess of the first thing my goddess has asked me to do for her."
"And I'm glad you feel that way, Doctor Crane, but you weren't in Arkham because you had good impulse control."
"That's a thing of the past. And I've got you to thank for it. Both for putting me in touch with Melinoë in the literal sense, and… Well, that white light burst reversed the affect of long term phobaline hydrochorate exposure on my brain. I still regard fear as being the underlying basis of all human psychology, but now I can feel other things again. Things like awe and joy."
"So, Blackgate rather than Arkham?"
He rolls his eyes. "Please. I can study the universal subconscious of the universe. Crime is an unnecessary distraction."
"And you can handle the lucid dream navigation without getting distracted chasing nightmares?"
"Of course." He frowns. "Aside from anything else, I want to come back later so that I can study them properly."
"When you use the medallion, do you still feel fear, or just curiosity?"
He closes his eyes and lets out a long relaxed breath. "Oh, it's terrifying. Quite different to how it was before the Anti-Life. But at the same time I'm completely cognisant of what's happening and why. I'm like a dentist eating a candy bar!"
"As long as you're happy and not violating mortal law-." Ah. "Have you been encouraging others to try the amulets?"
"Yes. Most don't try it more than once, but-. Does the name 'Vaermina' mean anything to you?"
"No."
"She's a fictional goddess in some.. computer roleplay game. Some… Fans wanted me to play-act an initiation ritual. I think they use it as a hazing, now."
"… " I nod. "Friendly social contact. That's great progress."
"I really thought of them more as…" He frowns. "What's a socially acceptable way of saying 'self-cleaning lab rats'?"
"Interns."
"I… Doubt that they'll let me go back to teaching at Gotham University, but I thought it felt familiar. And magic isn't regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, and I don't have to explain fan conventions to the Dean."
I nod, slightly reassured. "I'm happy that you've found a niche for yourself. But to be clear-."
He rolls his eyes. "Yes, Batman already threatened me with grievous bodily harm, there's no need to echo him."
"But to be clear, if you feel that you're backsliding, or if you're having any problems that you don't know how to deal with, I'm happy to help. Either personally, or I can refer you to a psy-" He grimaces. "-chiatrist who can try and help. Not a lot of people can call themselves 'recovering supervillains' and I'm glad that you're one of them."
"Oh. Well, alright. It won't come to that, but…" His expression is one of confused uncertainty. "Thank you for the offer?"
"You're welcome." I turn back to Queen Artemis. "Alright, I'm a little more reassured."
"I only understood half of that conversation and I was not reassured at all."
"Well, no, but his answers were more reassuring than my questions." I offered to extend my ring's translation effect to her, but apparently including the Queen in your magic is a local taboo. "So we're ready to go on our end."
She lays her right hand on the poop deck railing, and I feel the universe… Outside of the ship's thaumic systems fade away.
"And I am ready also. Prepare to make way!"
I make a slight effort to minimise my own arcane presence. While my tattoos don't have an off switch, I can somewhat isolate them from the acquisitive power of the orange light, and I don't think that taking even small amounts of power from the ship's systems is a good idea.
Looking over the side of the ship, I see the wizards responsible for opening our way start work, the runes around their circles lighting up.
"I couldn't follow all of the detail in your description. How does this work?"
"Each of the magicians around us reach into the Dream and draw together those ideal forms representing the ship. Once the dream form is sufficiently coherent, they link to the actuality of the ship itself."
I nod. "Alright, simple enough."
"Once the two are linked, the second stage begins: reducing the connection between the ship and the magic systems of this world. Then the link to the ideal form in the Dream is strengthened once more until we are in the Dream."
"I suspect that it's a lot more complicated than 'are'."
"It is. Do you want to borrow the tome which explains it in detail?"
"Yes please."
I-. Oh. That's weird. There's a slight sense of dislocation. Perhaps… Bilocation? I feel where I am and also somewhere else, but the other place isn't giving me any sensory feedback.
"Should I feel like I'm in two places at once?"
She hesitates, then nods. "If you are unusually sensitive to magic, yes. It will pass once we enter the Dream fully."
I look over the edge of the ship and… Things are getting… Simplified? I can still see where things are and what they are, but the details are getting lost. Trying to focus is like getting up close to an impressionist painting.
"And how long does this take?"
"I believe that we are ready to fully transition… Now."
11:13 GMT
Queen Artemis looks dubiously at our new pilot, who is making himself comfortable in the lotus position as the apprentices finish setting up the ship's spell network.
"Are you certain that he is sound?"
Frankly, no, but Melinoë recommended him, and… I'm never sure whether she's genuinely angry or performatively angry, but the suggestion appeared to be a serious one, so…
"If something goes wrong I can probably bulldoze us to safety myself."
"You counselled me to avoid that."
"Yes, but this way we'd have a guilty party we didn't mind handing over to the authorities."
"Oh, that won't be necessary." Our… Oddly cheerful guest looks around. He actually… Looks healthier than any picture of him that I've seen. What's going on in his head… There's a glow around him that's making me a little concerned, and I can't see inside him at all. "I'm not going to make a mess of the first thing my goddess has asked me to do for her."
"And I'm glad you feel that way, Doctor Crane, but you weren't in Arkham because you had good impulse control."
"That's a thing of the past. And I've got you to thank for it. Both for putting me in touch with Melinoë in the literal sense, and… Well, that white light burst reversed the affect of long term phobaline hydrochorate exposure on my brain. I still regard fear as being the underlying basis of all human psychology, but now I can feel other things again. Things like awe and joy."
"So, Blackgate rather than Arkham?"
He rolls his eyes. "Please. I can study the universal subconscious of the universe. Crime is an unnecessary distraction."
"And you can handle the lucid dream navigation without getting distracted chasing nightmares?"
"Of course." He frowns. "Aside from anything else, I want to come back later so that I can study them properly."
"When you use the medallion, do you still feel fear, or just curiosity?"
He closes his eyes and lets out a long relaxed breath. "Oh, it's terrifying. Quite different to how it was before the Anti-Life. But at the same time I'm completely cognisant of what's happening and why. I'm like a dentist eating a candy bar!"
"As long as you're happy and not violating mortal law-." Ah. "Have you been encouraging others to try the amulets?"
"Yes. Most don't try it more than once, but-. Does the name 'Vaermina' mean anything to you?"
"No."
"She's a fictional goddess in some.. computer roleplay game. Some… Fans wanted me to play-act an initiation ritual. I think they use it as a hazing, now."
"… " I nod. "Friendly social contact. That's great progress."
"I really thought of them more as…" He frowns. "What's a socially acceptable way of saying 'self-cleaning lab rats'?"
"Interns."
"I… Doubt that they'll let me go back to teaching at Gotham University, but I thought it felt familiar. And magic isn't regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, and I don't have to explain fan conventions to the Dean."
I nod, slightly reassured. "I'm happy that you've found a niche for yourself. But to be clear-."
He rolls his eyes. "Yes, Batman already threatened me with grievous bodily harm, there's no need to echo him."
"But to be clear, if you feel that you're backsliding, or if you're having any problems that you don't know how to deal with, I'm happy to help. Either personally, or I can refer you to a psy-" He grimaces. "-chiatrist who can try and help. Not a lot of people can call themselves 'recovering supervillains' and I'm glad that you're one of them."
"Oh. Well, alright. It won't come to that, but…" His expression is one of confused uncertainty. "Thank you for the offer?"
"You're welcome." I turn back to Queen Artemis. "Alright, I'm a little more reassured."
"I only understood half of that conversation and I was not reassured at all."
"Well, no, but his answers were more reassuring than my questions." I offered to extend my ring's translation effect to her, but apparently including the Queen in your magic is a local taboo. "So we're ready to go on our end."
She lays her right hand on the poop deck railing, and I feel the universe… Outside of the ship's thaumic systems fade away.
"And I am ready also. Prepare to make way!"
I make a slight effort to minimise my own arcane presence. While my tattoos don't have an off switch, I can somewhat isolate them from the acquisitive power of the orange light, and I don't think that taking even small amounts of power from the ship's systems is a good idea.
Looking over the side of the ship, I see the wizards responsible for opening our way start work, the runes around their circles lighting up.
"I couldn't follow all of the detail in your description. How does this work?"
"Each of the magicians around us reach into the Dream and draw together those ideal forms representing the ship. Once the dream form is sufficiently coherent, they link to the actuality of the ship itself."
I nod. "Alright, simple enough."
"Once the two are linked, the second stage begins: reducing the connection between the ship and the magic systems of this world. Then the link to the ideal form in the Dream is strengthened once more until we are in the Dream."
"I suspect that it's a lot more complicated than 'are'."
"It is. Do you want to borrow the tome which explains it in detail?"
"Yes please."
I-. Oh. That's weird. There's a slight sense of dislocation. Perhaps… Bilocation? I feel where I am and also somewhere else, but the other place isn't giving me any sensory feedback.
"Should I feel like I'm in two places at once?"
She hesitates, then nods. "If you are unusually sensitive to magic, yes. It will pass once we enter the Dream fully."
I look over the edge of the ship and… Things are getting… Simplified? I can still see where things are and what they are, but the details are getting lost. Trying to focus is like getting up close to an impressionist painting.
"And how long does this take?"
"I believe that we are ready to fully transition… Now."
Last edited:
Ngamer11
Experienced.
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2019
- Messages
- 3,462
- Likes received
- 21,023
That should say 'Do'.
Darko
Connoisseur.
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2019
- Messages
- 22,832
- Likes received
- 326,642
"has asked"
Rebu
hey, little Anna, you're the one
- Joined
- Jun 5, 2017
- Messages
- 221
- Likes received
- 1,511
I was wondering if that was some sort of meta joke. And it was!
Dur'id the Druid
Know what you're doing yet?
- Joined
- Jun 3, 2019
- Messages
- 219
- Likes received
- 655
And then he was a flying orange lizard again.
Chojin Patriarch
Veteran Lurker
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2019
- Messages
- 2,531
- Likes received
- 37,877
Well, anyone suitable for this task might need to be a little loosely connected to reality anyway. Better someone who can maintain focus than someone who gets distracted at a critical moment. And few could manage that better than this man.
Albeit apologetically and fully expecting to have to deal with a vexed Morpheus?
Admittedly, whatever torment they get subject to is likely to become legendary.
How impressive. Has he perhaps internalised the essence of fear, perhaps? Not to Enlightened levels, but as a talented amateur...
Well, that's useful. Wonder if any other former criminals with biochemical imbalances got their priorities reset by the White Light? And would they realise?
That's a nice way to talk about your goddess.
Kidding.And somewhere, certain Nightmares feel a chill down their spines, or the equivalent.
Ah, of course he looks at it that way. An addict that's had his 'normal' reset, of course it feels new and intense.
I foresee our resident naysayer being mildly amused by the invocation.
Which raises questions about what it involves, and whether they're actually invoking something by accident.
Just because he's had his emotional responses zeroed back to factory defaults, doesn't mean he's changed that much.
Perhaps you can found a university of magic. Something hidden... Unseen, if you might.
Presumably of a level well beyond their usual encounters. And with a Power Ring of Fear, he can make it especially traumatic...
No doubt he's dealt with a lot of so-called 'psychiatrists' back at Arkham. And found them wanting.
Ah, that lovely level of mental variation where 'conventional' logic starts to lose its hold.
...She did learn English at some point, didn't she? Otherwise, this trip could be really tricky. Hopefully she can maintain translation magic for long periods.
Well, then. Once more unto the breach and set sail for... A decidedly boring and uneventful maiden voyage.
Yeah, probably for the best. The tolerances are probably vanishingly small.
Now, can the Queen explain it in terms an average person can follow?
Effectively synchronising the ship and its dream-form.
Well, you did ask for a simple explanation.
Hopefully he can manage to understand it without a technical dictionary in hand.
Now there's a nightmare for some: Two OLs?
Heh. 'Sensitive to magic', she says. Hopefully OL's soul-structure is resilient enough now to prevent the pseudo-drunken state he started out suffering from.
I hope those aboard are protected from any transformations, baleful or accidental.
I wonder, did they even bother to name the ship? Or would that bind it too much to the real for this to be effective? Names having power, and all that. Either way, this promises to be an impressive feat, or a terrifying mistake. Let's hope they don't run into a metaphorical iceberg in the Dreaming or something similar...
Duke Long
Glomerulus
- Joined
- Mar 14, 2022
- Messages
- 615
- Likes received
- 2,164
What's stopping his vision? Is it an effect of general wards on the ship or has Melinoë given him something?
'reaches'
Mr Zoat
Dedicated ragequitter
- Joined
- Dec 1, 2016
- Messages
- 16,760
- Likes received
- 868,868
Thank you, corrected.
The S.I. doesn't know.
No, I think that's alright.
Ngamer11
Experienced.
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2019
- Messages
- 3,462
- Likes received
- 21,023
I was rereading and found images that don't work anymore.
Duke Long
Glomerulus
- Joined
- Mar 14, 2022
- Messages
- 615
- Likes received
- 2,164
I'm fairly confident I'm right on this one. It's because 'Each of the magicians' is singular. Imagine if the sentence was instead 'The magician reach into', it's clearly wrong.
Though actually I did miss that it should also be 'draws'.
Mr Zoat
Dedicated ragequitter
- Joined
- Dec 1, 2016
- Messages
- 16,760
- Likes received
- 868,868
Not completely sure what the original pictures were, but I've put new ones in now.
Again, no, I don't think so.
Last edited:
hkim
Know what you're doing yet?
- Joined
- Aug 8, 2018
- Messages
- 174
- Likes received
- 734
