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

Citizen · Jul 19, 2022

Mr Zoat said:
"Or perhaps their orders to not include pursuit."

This feels a bit odd, not sure if that's deliberate. "There are orders" perhaps, or "their orders are"?

Darko · Jul 19, 2022

dw7thdoctor said:
We're in OL perspective now right? so everyone except OL disappeared I'm assuming he has his special tattoos to thank for that.

Or whoever did this wants to deal with him alone.

Bud-E · Jul 19, 2022

dw7thdoctor said:
We're in OL perspective now right? so everyone except OL disappeared I'm assuming he has his special tattoos to thank for that.

Or they consider Paul the biggest threat since he's responsible for Nabu's death.

Chojin Patriarch · Jul 19, 2022

Mr Zoat said:
8th November 2012
11:43 GMT -5

This area still has trellises, but the vines attached to them are cut short and the bark looks burned. Carbonised. Dr. Mist is looking at them closely while The Demon make what looks like a half-hearted effort to copy him. I'm keeping watch while Alan tries glowing at Sanderson.

"I'm okay, Blue Lantern. It just, ah-. That was a lot."

No, Sandy, it was a normal day for the League. But what about you? Having any feelings of inadequacy that don't seem to belong to you? Submissiveness towards a higher authority? The feeling that there is no point to life and free will, and that you'd rather let someone else handle it for you?

"What did it say?"

He jerks his head around to look at me. "Say?"

I mean, he's not as attuned to New God-style perceptions as you, OL. Maybe other people don't quite feel Anti-Life the same way...

"The Anti-Life fragments we've encountered so far have been in the format 'thing equals other thing'. It would give us some idea of what sort of thoughts its imposing on you, and how we could counter it."

"I didn't-. I didn't hear words, I just kind of got an impression."

See, that's more like it. What kind of impression did you get? Ennui? Helplessness? A feeling of smallness and worthlessness?

"Okay, what sort of impression?"

Sanderson look uncomfortable, turning to Alan for reassurance.

Could be part of the Anti-Life's self-protective traits, could be nervousness at this 'kid' being nosy. I mean, OL does look not that much older than Sandy's physical age, right?

"Sandman, we've all seen a lot of unpleasant things. Things that would make it hard for a normal man to sleep at night. Some of us, like… Well, like Orange Lantern, deal with it by not worrying all that much about being 'normal'-"

I nod. "It's true."

To be fair, normal is boring, even in the DC universe, where it apparently means you can punch rock walls without breaking your hand.

"-and some of us prefer talking things through with our friends. Helps get a handle on things, turns them into things you can cope with."

I nod. "Back before-" I point at my eyes with my right forefinger. "-I got disarmed and chained to a rock by killer robots who were going to kill me and my friends. Talking things over with Guy and Wonder Woman really helped me get my head straight."

To be fair, that was one of his lowest, most vulnerable-feeling points. And he did go on a spree of security upgrades before they slowed him down enough to talk...

"Head..? Ah, yeah."

Alan nods. "And talking with the Flash helped me after.. what happened with Rose."

Probably the lowest point of his life, where grief was damn close to overcoming his will to live.

"Right, your girlfriend. I.. didn't want to ask, but I guess she'd be… Dead, by now."

"Ah. Yes. She died a few years ago."

Not wanting to burden him with the nasty details, huh? Understandable, that whole thing was unpleasant.

"And as always, giving information to the authorities makes it easier for them to apprehend the perpetrators."

"Okay." He nods. "Okay. It… I didn't hear it say 'equals' or anything, but just for a moment there, it was like my life was a big mess-." He bows his head, shaking it. "No, that's not it. It was like it was showing me examples from my life and saying 'look, you're making a mess of things'. And it was all… True? I mean, it wasn't trying to deceive me, just to show me why it saw what I was doing the way it did."

So, something akin to 'Life=Failure' or 'Effort=Failure'...

He lifts his head up slightly.

"That's what's shaking me up so much. I've had people throw insults at me plenty of times. I still remember Aunt Dian's face when I asked why those hoods thought my name was 'Cat Might' when I wasn't Wildcat's sidekick."

Them's some well-spoken hoods, then. Catamite is quite the ten-dollar word.

The Demon doubles over. "Fucking hell, mate."

"Sandman, you can string together a clip show of someone's worst moments and make someone believe just about anything about them. That doesn't mean that it's the definitive view."

Don't go explaining it, Demon. The last thing Sandy needs is your spin on things.

Alan nods. "And sometimes hearing something about yourself you don't wanna hear is the kick in the pants you need to get up and fix it. You think your life's kind of in a muddle right now? Well, it probably is. You were locked up in a basement and then kept prisoner by dream demons for sixty years. You're in the middle of fixing it right now; in five years you'll be back on track."

Sanderson takes a moment to absorb that.

And Alan once again proving he is one hell of a mentor. Even without the Blue Light, the man can give an uplifting speech.

"Yeah. Yeah, you know what? You're right. Thanks, guys."

Alan pats him on the right shoulder with his right hand. "You're always welcome."

With it? Alan could convince a suicidal depressive that it'll all be okay.

"Of course, that did sound like the most orderly interpretation of the Anti-Life, which… Makes a worrying amount of sense."

Sanderson frowns. "What exactly is the Anti-Life?"

Oooh, boy. What to say. The whole truth would honestly make him more vulnerable.

"We don't.. really know. In fact, as I understand it, us not knowing is a big part of what keeps the universe safe. Because to know that a particular phrase is part of the Anti-Life, you have to understand it. And to understand it you have to believe it, to have it shape your thoughts. And it's all… Things that a person might believe in their lowest moments, and it-. You end up thinking that that's just how things are, that it's normal. And then you try and spread it."

"Oh." He looks around at the fields. "Ooh."

Yes, the implications are quite clear, then. Now imagine if someone could take advantage of that submissive state...

"But it is beatable. You're feeling better now, aren't you?"

He nods. "I am. But I thought this was just a bunch of magical plants."

Nothing just plain and simple about anything when magic is involved.

"They are." Dr. Mist straightens up. "But as Orange Lantern said, thet is a most orderly form of Anti-Life. It can be made to flow through these crystals and infest the entire world. While I cannot deduce why it is thet John Quinn is trying to achieve this horrible thing, I can at least understand his methodology. Demon, do you have anything to say?"

"That I've got more fucking sense that to mess about with Anti-Life." Dr. Mist stares at him. "What? I'm self-absorbed, not suicidal. There's not enough me in me to want to hollow myself out more."

Well, at least he isn't stupid. I can just imagine some demons looking at something like this and going 'This is a good plan! Imma steal it!'

"Concerning John Quinn."

"He.. wasn't doing anything with the Anti-Life last time I spoke to him. It doesn't even make sense to me. He wasn't-. Controlling people isn't.. really part of our nature. Manipulating on a case-by-case basis, sure. Maybe give people a bit of a nudge. But controlling them like this?"

On the other hand, the Golden Boy...It was implied he was doing something like this to his world, wasn't it?

"Do I need to list your criminal acts?"

He rolls his eyes.

I mean... Did he ever control someone into doing something they wouldn't have otherwise? Or did he just give them the temptation to do so?

Putting aside the whole 'murder someone to steal their identity' or 'murder someone to use their life-force for an evil ritual' stuff.

"I'm not trying to say I'm innocent in any general sense. Just that I haven't tried to mind control people on an ongoing basis. I'm already the most miserable parts of John the First, I don't want to find out if I can be double miserable. And I can't be bothered telling people what to do. Too much like honest work."

"See, if you start with that, it sounds more honest. Any idea where the finished crystals ended up?"

Because even Evil has Standards, and a Constantine doubly so.

"There is a focal point, not far from here. I do not know if it is where the crystals are, but we need to go there first. This place is a threat I cannot abide by."

He turns to face me, and his face is still bleeding.

Uh, Doc, you may want to fix that shit first?

I can't imagine that's making it any easier to see.

"This is why I joined the Justice League."

Alan nods. "Then that's where we're going. Any idea why the 'brownees' gave up?"

Yeah, why haven't they been assaulted from every angle by the teleporting, entropy-slinging fae yet?

"They know that we can fight them off, so they're holding themselves in reserve until the next time we get into a fight."

"Or perhaps their orders to not include pursuit."

Sort of a 'stay around here, and don't leave' thing? Kind of silly, but if them leaving the area lets them recover...

Seems a little hopeful, but I suppose it's possible.

"No way to free the brownie, then?"

I mean, you brought him along to take a closer look. I assume you've been doing so this whole time, right, Doc?

"Not yet." He notions, and chains of rock rise out of the ground and bind his prisoner. "Not without more knowledge on how they were infected."

Alan nods. "But you will be able to, won't you?"

Kind of offends his sensibilities to let them carry on in that state, huh?

Dr. Balewa nods back. "I believe so. With the source removed… Yes, I believe so."

"Are we creeping up or rushing the target?"

So, slash and burn, or sneaking mission. I know which I might prefer, and it ain't the one involving a natty stealth suit.

"I believe thet the element of surprise is lost. Let us attack with-."

My colleagues vanish, leaving me along with the brownie in the field.

...Cloaking tattoos pay off again, huh?

Well, either someone higher-up decided to haul their asses in and missed OL thanks to his tattoos, or Doctor Mist will show up in a second with an apologetic look on his (still cut-up) face... Either way, things might just have gone from bad to worse. The real question is whodunnit? Does Quinn have local leadership in his pocket, or is he just taking advantage of something already present? So many questions, and no answers in sight...

moralrelativity · Jul 19, 2022

Citizen said:
This feels a bit odd, not sure if that's deliberate. "There are orders" perhaps, or "their orders are"?

You're right. Darko's already suggested a good correction above - "do not".

Handlewithcare · Jul 19, 2022

dw7thdoctor said:
We're in OL perspective now right? so everyone except OL disappeared I'm assuming he has his special tattoos to thank for that.

I would guess we have a "join me as father and so...dude and other dude to rule this galaxy" speech incoming.

And I guess Quinn got overtaken by Order to try to do this?

BlackCoat13 · Jul 19, 2022

Mr Zoat said:
My colleagues vanish, leaving me along with the brownie in the field.

alone
brownie(s?). (There is more than one of them, right?)

Mr Zoat · Jul 19, 2022

Darko said:
"makes"
"it's imposing"
"sense than"
"do not"

BlackCoat13 said:
alone

Thank you, corrected.

brownie(s?). (There is more than one of them, right?)

There are, but he was refering to the one that Dr. Balewa took prisoner.

Darko · Jul 19, 2022

Handlewithcare said:
And I guess Quinn got overtaken by Order to try to do this?

Or by Darkseid.

BR549 · Jul 19, 2022

Darko said:
Or by Darkseid.

Not necessarily an 'or', there. You could make a strong case that Darkseid's desired end-state of the universe is, in fact, an exceedingly orderly one.

Windona · Jul 19, 2022

Darkseid, Lords of Order, Desaad- could be one, could be a combo.

...I can't believe it took me this long to grok that Dr. Balewa is White/Life enlightened, and thus him being able to counter Anti-Life makes a ton of sense.

Though if it's a single brownie and not a swarm, it might not necessarily be what it seems.

Ryumancer · Jul 19, 2022

Windona said:
Darkseid, Lords of Order, Desaad- could be one, could be a combo.

...I can't believe it took me this long to grok that Dr. Balewa is White/Life enlightened, and thus him being able to counter Anti-Life makes a ton of sense.

Though if it's a single brownie and not a swarm, it might not necessarily be what it seems.

It was kinda mentioned ages ago that he is not, in fact, Life Enlightened, but he's far, far closer to it than pretty much anyone else.

Mr Zoat · Jul 19, 2022

Ryumancer said:
It was kinda mentioned ages ago that he is not, in fact, Life Enlightened, but he's far, far closer to it than pretty much anyone else.

It was?

Darn, I need to start keeping track of this stuff.

Bud-E · Jul 19, 2022

Mr Zoat said:
It was?

Darn, I need to start keeping track of this stuff.

I love the fact that you churn out so much content that not even you can keep track of it all

Ngamer11 · Jul 19, 2022

Ryumancer said:
It was kinda mentioned ages ago that he is not, in fact, Life Enlightened, but he's far, far closer to it than pretty much anyone else.

Mr Zoat said:
It was?

Darn, I need to start keeping track of this stuff.

Considering he's the only one with white quotation marks, he might as well be enlightened. This is especially true if he is also resistant to the Anti-Life Equation.

Ryumancer · Jul 19, 2022

Mr Zoat said:
It was?

Darn, I need to start keeping track of this stuff.

Yeah, not sure what chapter it was in, mind, but he was just using normal quotation marks, and at one point had a bolded white sentence which got people asking. Was probably around when he first showed up in story.

Though I could just be misremembering the context, and it's a bit hard to notice explicitly white text when the text is already that color...

Now, on the other hand, this was a super long time ago both in and out of universe, so he might've simply achieved it since then.

Ngamer11 · Jul 19, 2022

Ryumancer said:
Yeah, not sure what chapter it was in, mind, but he was just using normal quotation marks, and at one point had a bolded white sentence which got people asking. Was probably around when he first showed up in story.

Now, on the other hand, this was a super long time ago both in and out of universe, so he might've simply achieved it since then.

He should've been enlightened since before he first appeared, since he mentioned that during a long time meditating, he saw something beautiful, which was implied to be the Life Entity.

Mr Zoat · Jul 19, 2022

Ryumancer said:
Yeah, not sure what chapter it was in, mind, but he was just using normal quotation marks, and at one point had a bolded white sentence which got people asking. Was probably around when he first showed up in story.

Though I could just be misremembering the context, and it's a bit hard to notice explicitly white text when the text is already that color...

Now, on the other hand, this was a super long time ago both in and out of universe, so he might've simply achieved it since then.

That was probably just me forgetting to put them in.

Windona · Jul 19, 2022

I didn't read the forum post while catching up on the story so I just assumed he was White Enlightened.

Cuchulin · Jul 20, 2022

BR549 said:
Not necessarily an 'or', there. You could make a strong case that Darkseid's desired end-state of the universe is, in fact, an exceedingly orderly one.

Which is one of the biggest reasons I have a problem with Order being the "Good guys" by default in DC Comics while Chaos has to be the "bad guys".

Mr Zoat · Jul 20, 2022

8th November 2012
11:46 GMT -5

Teleportation? No, Dr. Balewa at least would resist magic-based teleportation and-.

Move-.

My construct barrier wavers and-.

Warning: spell eater temperature increasing.

Okay, clever dick. FEED ME.

And suddenly I can see the beam of purple arcane power boring into my construct armour, the construct replenishing as I take the pressure off by feeding on the magic. The beam is a straight line so over there! I fly rapidly over the blackened fields, construct hammer held at the ready. A railgun would be more effective but I do need whoever this is capable of answering questions.

I get a quick impression of robes and I swing the hammer, a translucent clawed hand appearing to catch if before it can hit its target! I dismiss the hammer at once and replace it with a railgun loaded with beanbag rounds, firing the moment it's ready. The shot goes straight through my target, but I'm getting a better view-.

Felix Faust.

Most of his power comes from his pact with a group of three eldritch creatures called Abnegazar, Rath and Ghast, respectively. His connection to them comes from a group of three arcane artefacts which should still be in storage-. In a secure Justice League facility which John Quinn would have full access to. Apparently, the act of tapping into them will break the spells binding them away from the material universe a hundred years after the year in which he first contacted them, so about fifty years from now. At which point they'll be Ophidian-food-.

I think I just worked out why the Reach abandoned Earth in the original timeline.

Of course, given that he was involved in Roanoke, my restrictions for dealing with him are a little more relaxed.

"Faust. Surrender or die."

"Anti-Life Justifies-"

I switch to mage slayers and fire at his centre of mass, but he interposes his demonic floating hand.

"-my actions."

The hand ripples, the spell-. Oh, is that ablative spell architecture? Clever, and since he's basically channelling power from his patrons who have the raw power to spare I'm probably not going to be able to out-drain it.

"What does the Anti-Life say, Faust?"

"Find out."

I'm yanked down as-. Where did these vines come from, this area was clear! I generate construct blazers and a plasma initiator construct but-.

Aimless=Valueless

I see myself going to Vega, and the unified fleet burning Wombworld from orbit, killing uncounted slaves and test subjects as well as the locals. I see the Orange Lantern Corps under Dox's command pushing the Reach back across the entire periphery. I see the Justice League's failure to accept an operational philosophy impairing their effectiveness.

"I'm-."

Aimless=Valueless

I see a world of people walking in lockstep, every action made at the direction of The Master working to raise the whole up, stronger and more vital than ever before.

But fortunately I don't care about any of that. I want, therefore I am. Sometimes the results aren't the best, but that's not why I do things. I do things because I want to do that when I think they will achieve something worthwhile, and I accept that I might be wrong. That's just life. And I'm certainly not going to trust that this time the autocrat who demands absolute obedience in exchange for benevolent tyranny will actually do a good job.

"Enlightened!"

Vines explode, crystals shatter and Faust gets knocked on his arse, though his floating hand survives.

Aimless=Valueless

"Says you."

Didn't get a clear vision of The Master, but I'm guessing Darkseid.

"What-?"

"Hello, Faust."

The floating hand is still there, but he doesn't react quickly enough to move it as my filaments leap out and grab him.

"Remember me?"

"Ah-?" He blinks, then frowns. "Actually, no. Where-?"

"Roanoke? You helped Klarion cast a spell that separated the world?"

"Obviously I remember doing that. I just don't-"

I spot the gestures he's making behind his back with his left hand and snap his left thumb's metacarpal so that his-

"Agh!"

-thumb is pointing backwards.

"In exchange for the information you possess, I will offer to abstain from killing you."

"You're a Lantern! How did you resist my power?"

"Killing you it is, then. Ring, assimilate."

"No, wait!" He holds up his hands, thumb dangling loosely. "I'll talk!"

"After Roanoke, what happened?"

"Fate put me in an oubliette, isolated from all magic. I don't know how much time passed. Then something happened, the spells keeping the prison secure weakened. I don't know what it was-."

"Me killing Nabu, probably."

"You killed-? How did-?! I mean-."

"Nabu's mind was a magic structure. Drain it faster than it replenished and his mind eventually collapsed. What happened next?"

"I worked at breaking out. Communed with my patrons, studied the remaining spells keeping me imprisoned. I was this close to working my way free when he turned up."

"He?"

"Someone wearing Fate's mask. It obviously wasn't him, but he could control the binding spells so I went along with him. He wanted my assistance in making contact with certain mortal allies of mine."

"I know who The Light are."

"And in getting hold of these… Crystals. After that, things get a little…" He frowns. "I don't remember. I don't remember much, except-. I suddenly felt that everything I'd achieved in my life was a foolish waste of time. A hex, obviously, but utterly overwhelming. You freed me, so you have my-"

He raises his hands, grinning and the universe expands away from me!

"-thanks."

Citizen · Jul 20, 2022

...so, does this count as OL's good deed for the day?

Mr Zoat said:
I see myself going to Vega, and the unified fleet burning Wombworld from orbit, killing uncounted slaves and test subjects as well as the locals. I see the Orange Lantern Corps under Dox's command pushing the Reach back across the entire periphery[/color]. I see the Justice League's failure to accept a operational philosophy impairing their effectiveness.

Seems to be some color issue here.

BlueMangoAdea · Jul 20, 2022

Mr Zoat said:
He raises his hands, grinning and the universe expands away from me!

Can't Paul warp space with his ring? I swear I read him do that.

FreeGod · Jul 20, 2022

BlueMangoAdea said:
Can't Paul warp space with his ring? I swear I read him do that.

No need he can just move fast enough to make any space warping meaningless. Especially combined with teleports.

Darko · Jul 20, 2022

Mr Zoat said:
Felix Faust

Of course.

Mr Zoat said:
Dox's command pushing the Reach back across the entire periphery[/color]. I see

Remove the tag.

Mr Zoat said:
I spoke the gestures

"spot the"

Mr Zoat said:
Nabu's mind was a magic structure. Drain it faster than it replenished and his mind eventually collapsed. What happened next?"

Maybe don't tell the evil wizard how to beat powerful beings that are likely to be his enemies.

Chojin Patriarch · Jul 20, 2022

Mr Zoat said:
8th November 2012
11:46 GMT -5

Teleportation? No, Dr. Balewa at least would resist magic-based teleportation and-.

Move-.

My construct barrier wavers and-.

Good reactions, OL. Companions disappear without visible teleportation spell use? Someone else did it. Hanging about in the place they were? Bad idea, since whoever moved them could just as easily drop off a bomb when they realise they didn't get you. And now a direct attack. Time to get some answers, isn't it?

Warning: spell eater temperature increasing.

Okay, clever dick. FEED ME.

Ah, the good old middle finger against hostile magic. Which means whoever's casting is in line of sight of him...

And suddenly I can see the beam of purple arcane power boring into my construct armour, the construct replenishing as I take the pressure off by feeding on the magic. The beam is a straight line so over there! I fly rapidly over the blackened fields, construct hammer held at the ready. A railgun would be more effective but I do need whoever this is capable of answering questions.

I get a quick impression of robes and I swing the hammer, a translucent clawed hand appearing to catch if before it can hit its target! I dismiss the hammer at once and replace it with a railgun loaded with beanbag rounds, firing the moment it's ready. The shot goes straight through my target, but I'm getting a better view-.

And the lucky winner of an orange-flavoured can of whoop-ass is..?

Felix Faust.

Most of his power comes from his pact with a group of three eldritch creatures called Abnegazar, Rath and Ghast, respectively. His connection to them comes from a group of three arcane artefacts which should still be in storage-. In a secure Justice League facility which John Quinn would have full access to. Apparently, the act of tapping into them will break the spells binding them away from the material universe a hundred years after the year in which he first contacted them, so about fifty years from now. At which point they'll be Ophidian-food-.

Ah, Faust. He of the silly blue tights and flappy robe. And the natty little skullcap with its crescent moon topper. And even better, he appears to be an old acquaintance of Doctor Mist (Who sealed him in time until the modern day...)

I think I just worked out why the Reach abandoned Earth in the original timeline.

Of course, given that he was involved in Roanoke, my restrictions for dealing with him are a little more relaxed.

Yeah, I have no doubt he has quite a few shares of multiple murder charges, mass terrorism and unlawful use of magic hanging over his head...

"Faust. Surrender or die."

"Anti-Life Justifies-"

And he's Justified?

Oh, this is the perfect chance to use him as a punching bag...

I switch to mage slayers and fire at his centre of mass, but he interposes his demonic floating hand.

"-my actions."

Well, that's rude. Time to give him a pimp-slap with a giant construct hand, perhaps?

The hand ripples, the spell-. Oh, is that ablative spell architecture? Clever, and since he's basically channelling power from his patrons who have the raw power to spare I'm probably not going to be able to out-drain it.

"What does the Anti-Life say, Faust?"

Huh, man's been learning a few new tricks, huh? Guess he's had to do something after being locked up for a couple of years...

"Find out."

I'm yanked down as-. Where did these vines come from, this area was clear! I generate construct blazers and a plasma initiator construct but-.

Ah, the Sororitas method to witchery: More Sacred Promethium! Burn, burn and burn some more.

Aimless=Valueless

I see myself going to Vega, and the unified fleet burning Wombworld from orbit, killing uncounted slaves and test subjects as well as the locals. I see the Orange Lantern Corps under Dox's command pushing the Reach back across the entire periphery. I see the Justice League's failure to accept a operational philosophy impairing their effectiveness.

The first, that had nothing to do with him. the second, he set up on purpose. The third? Well, that's on the league for ignoring good suggestions.

"I'm-."

Aimless=Valueless

I see a world of people walking in lockstep, every action made at the direction of The Master working to raise the whole up, stronger and more vital than ever before.

Ah, yes. Tyranny in its most primal form. And it's most evil.

But fortunately I don't care about any of that. I want, therefore I am. Sometimes the results aren't the best, but that's not why I do things. I do things because I want to do that when I think they will achieve something worthwhile, and I accept that I might be wrong. That's just life. And I'm certainly not going to trust that this time the autocrat who demands absolute obedience in exchange for benevolent tyranny will actually do a good job.

"Enlightened!"

Ah, the benefit of his mind being fundamentally broken in a useful way.

Vines explode, crystals shatter and Faust gets knocked on his arse, though his floating hand survives.

Aimless=Valueless

"Says you."

I wonder if Faust is even aware of the actual words OL is hearing, or if it's like Sandy's general perception of 'everything you try to do sucks, so don't bother'.

Didn't get a clear vision of The Master, but I'm guessing Darkseid.

"What-?"

And it looks like that rattled the Anti-life clear out of Faust's noggin. Perhaps he'll be more talkative now.

"Hello, Faust."

The floating hand is still there, but he doesn't react quickly enough to move it as my filaments leap out and grab him.

Yoink! For bonus comedic points, I'm imagining him in the restraints they used on Kycelius in Doctor Strange

(The Crimson Bands of Cyttorak, maybe?)

"Remember me?"

"Ah-?" He blinks, then frowns. "Actually, no. Where-?"

Oh, how convenient for you, Faust. Sadly, amnesia is no defence.

"Roanoke? You helped Klarion cast a spell that separated the world?"

"Obviously I remember doing that. I just don't-"

Gee, not even a little remorse? Or did the consequences not settle in before Nabu tossed you in Magic Order Jail?

I spoke the gestures he's making behind his back with his left hand and snap his left thumb's metacarpal so that his-

"Agh!"

-thumb is pointing backwards.

Ah, a dual-purpose trick. Can't cast without a usable thumb, and pain will make it harder for him to concentrate on the spellwork...

"In exchange for the information you possess, I will offer to abstain from killing you."

"You're a Lantern! How did you resist my power?"

It's called 'being a badass'. I'd say you should try it sometime, but you are so far from badass, you couldn't see it even with a scrying spell.

"Killing you it is, then. Ring, assimilate."

"No, wait!" He holds up his hands, thumb dangling loosely. "I'll talk!"

Oh, you remember that? Good to see that you're not a complete simpleton.

"After Roanoke, what happened?"

"Fate put me in an oubliette, isolated from all magic. I don't know how much time passed. Then something happened, the spells keeping the prison secure weakened. I don't know what it was-."

Sometime around six months later, or thereabouts? Ah, right...

"Me killing Nabu, probably."

"You killed-? How did-?! I mean-."

Ah, don't think he missed that little spike of 'do want', Felix. Nor the 'oh shit, could he do it to me?' burst of fear...

"Nabu's mind was a magic structure. Drain it faster than it replenished and his mind eventually collapsed. What happened next?"

"I worked at breaking out. Communed with my patrons, studied the remaining spells keeping me imprisoned. I was this close to working my way free when he turned up."

Ah, now it becomes clearer. Who else would have access to the prisons other than Nabu's successor.

"He?"

"Someone wearing Fate's mask. It obviously wasn't him, but he could control the binding spells so I went along with him. He wanted my assistance in making contact with certain mortal allies of mine."

Oh, did he now?

"I know who The Light are."

"And in getting hold of these… Crystals. After that, things get a little…" He frowns. "I don't remember. I don't remember much, except-. I suddenly felt that everything I'd achieved in my life was a foolish waste of time. A hex, obviously, but utterly overwhelming. You freed me, so you have my-"

Well, at least he doesn't realise what he had bouncing around in his skull for a while. Last thing anyone needs is this imbecile getting his hands on a fragment of Anti-life.

He raises his hands, grinning and the universe expands away from me!

"-thanks."

And of course he has has the 'Still Spell' feat, which allows casting without gestures... Probably not the first time someone's damaged his hands...

So, Quinn busted Faust out to use his help for... Something. One has to wonder whether the other two losers Nabu snagged after Roanoke got a similar deal? Unfortunately, until they can face Quinn directly, we won't know for sure. And he's apparently working with the Light too? Assuming that's who Faust was actually referring to, anyway.

Curiouser and curiouser...

Darko · Jul 20, 2022

Chojin Patriarch said:
Yoink! For bonus comedic points, I'm imagining him in the restraints they used on Kycelius in Doctor Strange

Now that was hilarious.

I'm also wondering if Faust is doing the weird movements he was doing during the binding.

Radix · Jul 20, 2022

What is the current status of Paragon-verse Light?

Ocean Master was dead and then came back for Oceanus. Queen Bee got killed by Firebrand. Klarion murdered by OL.

And they had Satanus join I think, but he also got murdered/usurped by Mammon.

It feels like they have been a non-factor for a while. But maybe Quinn teames up with them. Which would be bad to a degree.

Irked · Jul 20, 2022

Yeah at this point Quinn is looking less and less like an actual clone and more like Golden boy who took a chance to yoink Nabu's helm and Order powers away from Constantine after Nabu's death then LARP as his replacement while he joins up with the Light.

It's also really REALLY bad because this means the Light have potentially had an insider feeding them confidential information from the Justice League for a while now, so who knows what they might have been able to set up in the background with the fakes help.

thebishop8 · Jul 20, 2022

What's funny is that after they captured Satanus and Demon Constantine escaped Belle Reve, Paul advised Waller to add the Tower of Fate to Belle Reve to secure magical prisoners. John Quinn even had an off-screen conversation with Waller about it. There's various evidence that implies that Waller didn't go for it, but if she had followed Paul's advice Quinn would have had access to the Belle Reve's magical prisoners to add to this mess, like Satanus and whoever else, maybe that Dr Mr Gotham guy.

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