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

[Ardy]

I don't think they'd know. They weren't really involved in that part of things, and Hela and Amora aren't close.

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He directly told both of them when those two were recruited. That's how WE found out about it.

 

[taylozinsee_2814]

How does this version of Paul charge his ring? I remember something about challenging the Mandarin to take his rings, but I thought that was just to give Rogue the forcefield one. I'm always fascinated by how the different AUPauls charge their rings.

 

[Ngamer11]

I don't think they'd know. They weren't really involved in that part of things, and Hela and Amora aren't close.

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He directly told both of them when those two were recruited. That's how WE found out about it.

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Happened here:

"What do you know of Asgard? What do you know of Thor, brief mortal creature with a scant few decades of-."

"I'm dating Hela."

She blinks. And Skurge nearly drops his axe on his foot.

"You're-? You're dating Hela?"

"Yeah. That's where I ended up when the Norn Stones exploded. Spent some time in her realm, we hit it off, and… She seems nice?"

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[Mr Zoat]

He directly told both of them when those two were recruited. That's how WE found out about it.

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Oh, right. In that case, yes.

How does this version of Paul charge his ring? I remember something about challenging the Mandarin to take his rings, but I thought that was just to give Rogue the forcefield one. I'm always fascinated by how the different AUPauls charge their rings.

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He was using a norn stone. He might still be using one, I haven't really thought about it.

 

[Ngamer11]

He was using a norn stone. He might still be using one, I haven't really thought about it.

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You mentioned Hela slapped him after learning he was doing that and forged him a lantern-shaped regulator.

 

[Mr Zoat]

You mentioned Hela slapped him after learning he was doing that and forged him a lantern-shaped regulator.

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Gosh, part me is actually making himself useful!

Where's that makes her the perfect person for Janet to commiserate with?

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No, because presumably Sue is alright with it, or Reed has a better work/life balance that it looks like from the outside. Janet's problem is that Henry spends too much time doing stuff she doesn't care about.

 

[CrazyNoVa]

No, because presumably Sue is alright with it, or Reed has a better work/life balance that it looks like from the outside. Janet's problem is that Henry spends too much time doing stuff she doesn't care about.

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Makes sense. Plus, Sue is a scientist herself, and although she's not as smart as Reed, she's still got a doctorate or two of her own. Thus, since she's more scientifically-inclined than Janet, she can relate more to Reed's science-nerdiness than Jan can relate to Hank's science-nerdiness. Thus, Sue and Reed share more common interests, and they have better synergy as a couple than Jan and Hank. By contrast, although Hank and Jan do care about each other, they have less compatible interest, and Jan is much more extroverted than Hank.

 

[Prince Charon]

Makes sense. Plus, Sue is a scientist herself, and although she's not as smart as Reed, she's still got a doctorate or two of her own. Thus, since she's more scientifically-inclined than Janet, she can relate more to Reed's science-nerdiness than Jan can relate to Hank's science-nerdiness. Thus, Sue and Reed share more common interests, and they have better synergy as a couple than Jan and Hank. By contrast, although Hank and Jan do care about each other, they have less compatible interest, and Jan is much more extroverted than Hank.

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Also, Sue knows how to get Reed to focus on her (e.g. by making her clothes invisible when he glances her way - I think that happens more in fanart, but I'm pretty sure it's either implied or shown in a few comics), something that Janet in this cartoon seems not to be great at doing to Hank (because they can't get away with as much as comicbook artists can).

 

[BR549]

There's also a very useful yardstick for comparing how well the relationships work.

Reed and Sue have (well, will have, in this continiuity, but-) Franklin and Valeria.

Hank and Janet have...

...well, Hank has Ultron and Jocasta.

If you squint. While drunk.

 

[Mr Zoat]

1st September 2013
15:58 GMT -6

I'm disappointed.

In my time with the Justice League I have encountered every sort of drug den. Gang-operated crack houses where the dealers vouch for their own supply with personal experience. Back alleys on every continent, urine scented and otherwise. Armoured safe-rooms where the only access point was a solid steel door and business was done through a sliding hatch. Ice cream vans making things convenient for their customers and bicycle couriers ignorant of their packages' contents.

This is just a corner shop.

It doesn't even look that disreputable. I mean, it's not part of the reconstruction, but whoever runs it has made an effort to keep it looking as nice as it can.

"Here?"

"Yeah? Sure!" Bleez prances forwards, pushing the door open and heading inside.

Scans don't show anything particularly exciting within. There's a shotgun, but it's licensed and… This is Hub City. If they didn't have one then one of the better organised syndicates has moved back in. Shop contents is… Nothing explicitly illegal. Snack food, household sundries, alcohol in various forms… And behind the desk, next to the cigarettes and… I believe those are legal in this state, are vacuum-packed emotion patches.

That was painfully easy.

I mentally shrug and walk in after Bleez.

"…who my dealer is, just in case they work different on aliens."

"Uh-huh." The hirsute man behind the counter nods, then looks at me with his eyes widening. "Uh…"

"I'm perfectly aware that they're legal."

"Oh." He nods. "'cause… They are."

"Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say 'not illegal, as once more technology has outpaced legislation."

"Dude… I just work here."

"And since it's not illegal, I'm sure that you won't mind giving me the name of your supplier, so that I can assure myself that their work is not harmful."

"Ah…"

"Profitable?" I nod. "I understand. But I put it to you that a formal investigation of the sort that would occur should someone die of an unfortunate reaction would be significantly worse than the minimal disruption of me asking polite questions. So how about you work with me here?"

"Dude… I just work here."

"We do arrest suppliers, you know. But if you can give me your employer's phone number-"

He thrusts his own mobile towards me over the counter.

"-then." I take it from him. "Thank you." I look at the contacts list. "Ah, which of these-?"

"'Boss'."

I tap the screen and hold it to my ear. "Bleez, if this is calling your phone-."

She rolls her eyes.

"Hey, Bleez? Did you have, like, a bad trip or something?"

"No, but someone did. They nearly died."

"Ah, shit. I didn't know it could do that. Whenever I use it-."

"What is it, Derek?"

"I'm sorry, sir, I've just borrowed Derek's phone."

"You the cops?"

"In Hub?"

"Heh, okay. So-. Oh, I know you, you're the chocolate guy!"

I look over to the Cadbury display stand, and am mildly pleased to see that the British side is slightly more depleted than the American side. Certainly beats 'cake man'.

"Among other things, sir, yes."

"You got any new commercials coming out? 'cause those are a hoot!"

"One's undergoing final revisions now. It's nice to know that people enjoy them."

"You didn't actually… Do anything to those dogs though, right?"

"They're trained to bark and sit on command. No dogs were harmed in the making of our adverts. No comment on what Hershey does to them."

"Aw dang!"

"Listen, the reason why I'm borrowing Derek's phone is that I wanted to talk to you about the emotion patches."

"Right? They're not illegal or nothing."

"That's true. However, I encountered one person who had an extreme negative reaction to one, so I'd like to speak with the suppliers so that I can make sure that it's safe."

"Oh. Shit. What was it like?"

"Something about the magic in the substance caused more and more of it to appear in his body, causing an increasingly extreme emotional reaction. You remember the Smilex vines?"

"It can do that? I don't wanna kill nobody."

"It doesn't appear to be a common reaction. It might just be a bad batch, but I doubt that they're meeting good manufacturing practice track and trace standards. I've got friends with an interest in alchemy; if the stuff is harmless when properly prepared then I'd be happy to help them improve their processes. And if it is inherently dangerous, then it's probably best that I shut it down now."

"Yeah, I guess… Just kinda a shame."

"As I said, it may well not be permanent."

"Okay, so, you know how the portal supply runs work?"

"I own a controlling stake in the network, so, yes."

"The guy who does the local stock control, Charlie… Uh. Mackensen, that's it. I was talking to him a few weeks ago, and he mentioned he had a new legal high thing… I was just gunna try it out, but then it started getting popular. I've had it on reorder since."

"Thank you for your help. I'll go and speak to Mister Mackensen and try and get this put to bed."

"He's not in any trouble, right?"

"He… Might be, if he's broken company rules about employees piggybacking their businesses on mine, but that's a slap on the wrist thing for a first offence. You have a good day."

I end the call and pass Derek his phone back.

"Thank you for your help, Derek. I hope that everyone else will be as civilised."

"No problem, man. Take it easy."

 

[Slake Mothman]

This is just a corner shop.

It doesn't even look that disreputable. I mean, it's not part of the reconstruction, but whoever runs it has made an effort to keep it looking as nice as it can.

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It's disconcerting how realistic this is. Corner shops/ bodegas/ convenience stores do tend to be early adopters of 'legal highs' before legislation bans them because of their terrible side effects. Or terrible unadvertised primary effects. They're often right next to the cheap flavored cigarillos and the 0%abv Fireball.

"They're trained to bark and sit on command. No dogs were harmed in the making of our adverts. No comment on what Hershey does to them."

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I wouldn't worry about it. If it's Hershey, chances are they weren't real dogs anyway.

 

[Chojin Patriarch]

1st September 2013
15:58 GMT -6

I'm disappointed.

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Well, not every dealer can be someone like Snowflame, sitting on a mountain of cocaine powder and ranting about the purity of his 'white god'. Sometimes, you just get some white-collar guy in a backroom trading little baggies for cash.

Spoiler: Commentary spoilered for length

In my time with the Justice League I have encountered every sort of drug den. Gang-operated crack houses where the dealers vouch for their own supply with personal experience. Back alleys on every continent, urine scented and otherwise. Armoured safe-rooms where the only access point was a solid steel door and business was done through a sliding hatch. Ice cream vans making things convenient for their customers and bicycle couriers ignorant of their packages' contents.

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The last one reminds me of 'Grand Theft Auto San Andreas's Courier missions: running packages of unnamed-but-illicit stuff to various destinations around the city de jour. One now-mostly-lost novelised Let's Play even suggested what they might be for each variant: Asian medicines for Los Santos, 'head products' for San Fierro and betting numbers for Las Venturas...

This is just a corner shop.

It doesn't even look that disreputable. I mean, it's not part of the reconstruction, but whoever runs it has made an effort to keep it looking as nice as it can.

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Eh, only really a problem if they're selling illegal stuff under-the-counter. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives take a dim view of that sort of thing, especially if you aren't paying proper dues on the stuff.

"Here?"

"Yeah? Sure!" Bleez prances forwards, pushing the door open and heading inside.

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Entirely likely, sadly, and potentially selling the most innocuous-seeming things. Again, consider things like 'asian medicines' of dubious and possibly toxic potency.

Scans don't show anything particularly exciting within. There's a shotgun, but it's licensed and… This is Hub City. If they didn't have one then one of the better organised syndicates has moved back in. Shop contents is… Nothing explicitly illegal. Snack food, household sundries, alcohol in various forms… And behind the desk, next to the cigarettes and… I believe those are legal in this state, are vacuum-packed emotion patches.

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I assume their liquor and tobacconist licenses are properly correct too, since OL would have noted it if not.

That was painfully easy.

I mentally shrug and walk in after Bleez.

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Never know what you might find in a corner store, really, especially in a bad neighbourhood. Reminds me of another scene from GTA San Andreas: CJ's looking to make a home-made silencer for his next job, his friend Cesar hands him a silenced pistol. CJ asks where he got it, and Cesar just tells him 'Same place I get my pants, homes! This is America!' ...Admittedly, GTA America is just a bit crazier in that respect, where you can buy full-auto assault rifles, miniguns and rocket launchers at just about any Ammu-nation, depending on the game.

"…who my dealer is, just in case they work different on aliens."

"Uh-huh." The hirsute man behind the counter nods, then looks at me with his eyes widening. "Uh…"

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That's 'Hairy', for anyone who hasn't encountered the word before. I would assume he has a marvellous beard.

"I'm perfectly aware that they're legal."

"Oh." He nods. "'cause… They are."

"Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say 'not illegal, as once more technology has outpaced legislation."

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In other words, they may want to monitor the news in the near future...

"Dude… I just work here."

"And since it's not illegal, I'm sure that you won't mind giving me the name of your supplier, so that I can assure myself that their work is not harmful."

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Ah, OL's not quite paying attention. Our beautifully bearded gent here is just the cashier.

"Ah…"

"Profitable?" I nod. "I understand. But I put it to you that a formal investigation of the sort that would occur should someone die of an unfortunate reaction would be significantly worse than the minimal disruption of me asking polite questions. So how about you work with me here?"

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OL, I hate to invoke the phrase, but maybe 'I want to speak to your manager' would be more effective here than off-handed intimidation that's clearly failing.

"Dude… I just work here."

"We do arrest suppliers, you know. But if you can give me your employer's phone number-"

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I bet Bleez is just standing there doing the thanagarian equivalent of 'I'm so sorry, he's just...' body language.

He thrusts his own mobile towards me over the counter.

"-then." I take it from him. "Thank you." I look at the contacts list. "Ah, which of these-?"

"'Boss'."

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Easier than trying to penetrate his monologue, really.

I tap the screen and hold it to my ear. "Bleez, if this is calling your phone-."

She rolls her eyes.

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If she was the employer, why would she have brought you here?

"Hey, Bleez? Did you have, like, a bad trip or something?"

"No, but someone did. They nearly died."

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Ah, good, explain why OL's here. That would have been much simpler to start with.

"Ah, shit. I didn't know it could do that. Whenever I use it-."

"What is it, Derek?"

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Evidently a day off, as this is probably not normal procedure. Or the manager works elsewhere and Derek calls him if they need a top-up of this or that.

"I'm sorry, sir, I've just borrowed Derek's phone."

"You the cops?"

"In Hub?"

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To be fair, who is managing law enforcement in town? I doubt there are OMACs on every street corner... Yet. So someone has to handle the day-to-day routine stuff that's too small for guys like OL to look into. Then again, reforming the Hub City Police Department was probably one of the mayor's first priorities...

"Heh, okay. So-. Oh, I know you, you're the chocolate guy!"

I look over to the Cadbury display stand, and am mildly pleased to see that the British side is slightly more depleted than the American side. Certainly beats 'cake man'.

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Yup, knew it...

"Among other things, sir, yes."

"You got any new commercials coming out? 'cause those are a hoot!"

"One's undergoing final revisions now. It's nice to know that people enjoy them."

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Oh, Ollie's gonna hate to hear that.

"You didn't actually… Do anything to those dogs though, right?"

"They're trained to bark and sit on command. No dogs were harmed in the making of our adverts. No comment on what Hershey does to them."

"Aw dang!"

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Which is a peculiar angle anyway, given how harmful chocolate is to dogs in notable quantities.

"Listen, the reason why I'm borrowing Derek's phone is that I wanted to talk to you about the emotion patches."

"Right? They're not illegal or nothing."

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True, but they aren't certified as legal either. Which leaves them in quite the grey area... Rather the crux of the entire episode, really.

"That's true. However, I encountered one person who had an extreme negative reaction to one, so I'd like to speak with the suppliers so that I can make sure that it's safe."

"Oh. Shit. What was it like?"

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I'm guessing he's a little concerned because he's also using the product. Nothing makes someone worried knowing they could be in danger themselves.

"Something about the magic in the substance caused more and more of it to appear in his body, causing an increasingly extreme emotional reaction. You remember the Smilex vines?"

"It can do that? I don't wanna kill nobody."

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...Although it kept doing that partly because OL was decontaminating him each time because of the overdose. Admittedly, it's still a troublesome side-effect even if it's a rare edge-case.

"It doesn't appear to be a common reaction. It might just be a bad batch, but I doubt that they're meeting good manufacturing practice track and trace standards. I've got friends with an interest in alchemy; if the stuff is harmless when properly prepared then I'd be happy to help them improve their processes. And if it is inherently dangerous, then it's probably best that I shut it down now."

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...Before they have a mass poisoning happen. And if OL does get them up to code, so to speak, then it might help when the time does come to get it legalised or not.

"Yeah, I guess… Just kinda a shame."

"As I said, it may well not be permanent."

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And if or when it does get legalised, they might get a discount out of it for being an early adopter.

"Okay, so, you know how the portal supply runs work?"

"I own a controlling stake in the network, so, yes."

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Heck, it wouldn't exist at all if not for OL, when it comes down to it.

"The guy who does the local stock control, Charlie… Uh. Mackensen, that's it. I was talking to him a few weeks ago, and he mentioned he had a new legal high thing… I was just gunna try it out, but then it started getting popular. I've had it on reorder since."

"Thank you for your help. I'll go and speak to Mister Mackensen and try and get this put to bed."

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Well, that's another link in the chain found. Wonder if Mannheim's found something similar on his end or what.

"He's not in any trouble, right?"

"He… Might be, if he's broken company rules about employees piggybacking their businesses on mine, but that's a slap on the wrist thing for a first offence. You have a good day."

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Now, if someone dies because of it, that's a bit more serious. But hopefully worst will not come to worst.

I end the call and pass Derek his phone back.

"Thank you for your help, Derek. I hope that everyone else will be as civilised."

"No problem, man. Take it easy."

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...Why do I get the feeling some later segment is going to start with OL getting blasted through a wall when someone isn't so sensible.

It's a slow process, following each link and lead, but thoroughness is the watchword here. The sooner they can find the ultimate source of the patches, the sooner they can determine what the dangers of them really are. And it's already turning up a worrying aspect to the Cadbury portal transportation network: Ease of smuggling.

 

[Mr Zoat]

I wouldn't worry about it. If it's Hershey, chances are they weren't real dogs anyway.

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Dogs don't look like real dogs on camera.

 

[KharnTheBrotrayer]

I love that the response to this was "He might get a formal reprimand at work" and not the overly strong response to this magical drug.

 

[Vaermina]

1st September 2013
15:58 GMT -6

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I'm getting a bit confused here, wasn't the person who had the negative reaction and OMAC?

Because if everyone else had been fine, then that seems more likely to be the failure point then something like a bad batch or there being an inherient problem with the drug.

 

[Darko]

I'm getting a bit confused here, wasn't the person who had the negative reaction and OMAC?

Because if everyone else had been fine, then that seems more likely to be the failure point the something like a bad batch or there being an inherient problem with the drug.

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You had your once a year good point about something.

The OMAC being mind-wiped probably had something to do with that.

But the OMAC situation will also be more difficult to deal with because Batman is involved with that, but this drug thing may be much easier, so Paul wants to resolve it first before he goes after the OMACs.

 

[Vaermina]

You had your once a year good point about something.

The OMAC being mind-wiped probably had something to do with that.

But the OMAC situation will also be more difficult to deal with because Batman is involved with that, but this drug thing may be much easier, so Paul wants to resolve it first before he goes after the OMACs.

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Whats there to resolve about it though? He's said it himself, its not illegal. So it really feels like he's looking for something new thats wrong so he can avoid investigating the problem he already found.

 

[Darko]

Whats there to resolve about it though?

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Who made it, how is it made, where is it made, if it's largely safe.

He's said it himself, its not illegal. S

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It's not exactly legal either.

So it really feels like he's looking for something new thats wrong so he can avoid investigating the problem he already found.

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Maybe, but that doesn't mean that the drug situation isn't serious in its own right.

So far the only person that's tested it is Wally.

It would be much safer if they had a bunch of others test it to make sure it's safe.

Not to mention that they're apparently using his portal network to distribute it without his knowledge.

So even if the drug turns out to be safe, that doesn't mean that he shouldn't investigate because if they can use the network to smuggle this then they may use it to smuggle other, less safe things.