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

Reader mode
So just one thing ... Sarsaparilla is mostly non-alcoholic. This is the equivalent of confusing root beer or ginger beer with actual beer. So then why does she ask if he wants a non-alcoholic cocktail? Is this supposed to be alcoholic, or does she think he's underage?
 
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Mquz said:
So just one thing ... Sarsaparilla is mostly non-alcoholic. This is the equivalent of confusing root beer or ginger beer with actual beer.
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I'm confused. Did someone think it contains alcohol? The story post was pretty clear everyone was on the same page in that regard, OL calling non-alcoholic cocktails "more adventurous".
 
Mquz said:
So just one thing ... Sarsaparilla is mostly non-alcoholic. This is the equivalent of confusing root beer or ginger beer with actual beer. So then why does she ask if he wants a non-alcoholic cocktail? Is this supposed to be alcoholic, or does she think he's underage?
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I think she was trying to entice him to buy more.
 
Mquz said:
So just one thing ... Sarsaparilla is mostly non-alcoholic. This is the equivalent of confusing root beer or ginger beer with actual beer. So then why does she ask if he wants a non-alcoholic cocktail? Is this supposed to be alcoholic, or does she think he's underage?
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He ordered sarsparilla. She offered to upgrade him to a cocktail, noting - since he ordered a non-alcoholic drink - that the cocktails are available in 'virgin' fashion if he wants one.
 
TheMidnightRook said:
It was actually the drink of choice of a lot of cowboys in old Western movies. Mostly those made during the Hays Code era, when depicting alcohol wasn't allowed.
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More modern movies referencing it include the like of the Big Lebowski's cowboy narrator drinking it, or it being Doc's drink of choice in Back to the Future 3 when he was stuck in the Old West.

So I imagine there are those who know that cowboys drink sarsaparilla from seeing movies that reference that trope rather than seeing those old Westerns themselves....Pop cultural osmosis I guess.
 
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Ace Dreamer said:
Should that be 'our'?
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Thank you, corrected.
Khettien said:
Isn't the Batsuit (and by extension, the various other Bat-family suits) bulletproof? At least, it was by the 80's version, IIRC.

I suppose that wouldn't help if someone shot where the target isn't covered, but that'd be some serious marksmanship.
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There's no such thing as 'bullet proof'. Most parts of Batman's regular armour can take a couple of hits from low calibre bullets. Also:
Sockmonkey said:
It's armored to a point. He's not going to compromise his stealth or agility, so I wouldn't count on the non-rigid sections of it reliably stopping anything more than a .38 or a knife.
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Mr Zoat said:
"Mister Cobblepot…" I shake my head. "If an individual wishes, in private, to consume a narcotic which harms no one but themselves, I struggle to come up with a reason to stop them. I don't indulge myself-" I raise my glass slightly. "-but all the evidence I've seen is that marijuana is less dangerous than beer."
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While very few real studies have been done on the subject due to reasons.

You could fix that with your power ring. :D
 
Aeess said:
Didn't the SI give Batman a kinetic belt to integrate into his costume? So Batman shouldn't really have any Problem with being repeatedly shot.
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Paul strongly recommended it during the performance review, which means Batman ignored him.

Vaermina said:
While very few real studies have been done on the subject due to reasons.

You could fix that with your power ring. :D
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I... what... why is Vaermina making a good point?????
 
Khettien said:
Isn't the Batsuit (and by extension, the various other Bat-family suits) bulletproof? At least, it was by the 80's version, IIRC.
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As I recall, around that time, the bright yellow oval with the Bat symbol inside was the most heavily armored part. The bright yellow part being handwaved as being purposeful as he WANTED people to aim there.

Problem? That part of his chest is one of the worst places to take a bullet, Kevlar or no. Which was what he had back then.

Reason? While Kevlar might stop a bullet, it's still halting a small point of extreme kinetic force. Feeling like a mini car wreck/the hardest punch you could possibly ever take. Bruising is a given, cracked or broken bones an extremely likely hood. Over the breast bone like Batman has?

Also? Enough repeat impacts and its just not going to matter. Bullet "proof" material can be brute forced.
 
Simonbob said:
"Mister Cobblepot? I'm about to make you an offer you can't refuse."
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Sounds more like an offer he won't want to refuse, which is so much better for avoiding unpleasant grudges.
Aeess said:
Didn't the SI give Batman a kinetic belt to integrate into his costume? So Batman shouldn't really have any Problem with being repeatedly shot.
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Then watch as he freaks out criminals by re-enacting the minigun scene from Superman Returns.
Ardy said:
Paul strongly recommended it during the performance review, which means Batman ignored him.
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Possibly with good reason. With all the crazy shit he's seen I wouldn't be surprised if he passed on the opportunity because A: no matter how safe the technology is, there's always going to be some crazy side-effect because it's DC Earth, and B: he'd eventually run into some mad scientist type who could use the kinetic field against him somehow, and with how powerful it is he probably wouldn't survive the event.

In the context of the setting, Batman's general unwillingness to use anything that wasn't developed by normal humans unless he's got no other viable option makes more sense. There's always something unexpected in that universe ready to screw over the unwary or unknowing, and I think Batman has a very good idea of how much there is in the universe he doesn't know or understand.

Does that make him overly cautious? Maybe, but if I lived on Earth-16, I'd be cautious as hell too!
 
Valiran said:
Possibly with good reason. With all the crazy shit he's seen I wouldn't be surprised if he passed on the opportunity because A: no matter how safe the technology is, there's always going to be some crazy side-effect because it's DC Earth, and B: he'd eventually run into some mad scientist type who could use the kinetic field against him somehow, and with how powerful it is he probably wouldn't survive the event.

In the context of the setting, Batman's general unwillingness to use anything that wasn't developed by normal humans unless he's got no other viable option makes more sense. There's always something unexpected in that universe ready to screw over the unwary or unknowing, and I think Batman has a very good idea of how much there is in the universe he doesn't know or understand.

Does that make him overly cautious? Maybe, but if I lived on Earth-16, I'd be cautious as hell too!
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I recall a story where Batman was giving a type of force-field generator. I'm almost positive that it was Wayne-tech, but either way, it was developed by someone who was either a Bat-ally or someone who works for Bruce Wayne.

Basically the thing blocked bullets.

So Batman goes out batmanning, and some mafia goon shoots at him over the course of the night, to which the bullet bounces off the shield....and hits one of the people trying to KILL HIM.

"You break it, you bought it." Says the leader as Batman stands there horrified.

Que a frantic Batman diving the injured goon to the hospital.

Moral of the Story? Batman swears never to use this incredibly useful piece of tech ever again as he gives it back to what I now wanna say was Lucius Fox. Reason? "Because I'll risk my life, but not others."

Fuck Batman and everything about Batman. Rich, mentally ill lunatic.

But also fuck the writer for their hackneyed, moronic attempt to justify why Batman won't use more advanced tech.
 
Maxx Crowley said:
I recall a story where Batman was giving a type of force-field generator. I'm almost positive that it was Wayne-tech, but either way, it was developed by someone who was either a Bat-ally or someone who works for Bruce Wayne.
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Sounds a lot like the "Field Test" story from Batman: Gotham Knight, unless the story's gotten reused at some point since which... wouldn't surprise me. As I recall, the "force-field" was an electromagnet that he wore on a harness under both civilian clothes and armour.
 
thebishop8 said:
You beat me to it. Here's a link for those curious:

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>red shirt tries to kill a guy, gets punched in the face
>a bunch of his friends also try to kill that guy
>one of his friends' bullets ricochets and hits red shirt in the shoulder
>"You've killed me!"

Ahahahahahahahaha.

Oh, wait, he's serious.

HAHAHAHA!
 
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Khettien said:
Isn't the Batsuit (and by extension, the various other Bat-family suits) bulletproof? At least, it was by the 80's version, IIRC.
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Bulletproof-ish. Unlike Superman and his ilk Bat's suit can't shrug off .50 rounds and would probably struggle with multiple hits from a .776 or any other actual combat focused round. And even for rounds your average thug is likely to use like .45 armor piercing ammo is a thing.

Mquz said:
So just one thing ... Sarsaparilla is mostly non-alcoholic. This is the equivalent of confusing root beer or ginger beer with actual beer. So then why does she ask if he wants a non-alcoholic cocktail? Is this supposed to be alcoholic, or does she think he's underage?
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She's not confusing Sarsaparilla with alcohol. She's mentioning that they have other non-alcoholic options that he may not be aware of and might enjoy. Designated drivers get that sort of thing a lot when ordering soda in bars.

Vaermina said:
While very few real studies have been done on the subject due to reasons.
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Actually quite a few studies have been done on the subject. I've personally read at least half a dozen BIG studies on the subject, and dozens of smaller ones. Getting into what they say strays a little too close to rule 8 IMO. I suggest you go look them up yourself.
 
Siskulous said:
Actually quite a few studies have been done on the subject. I've personally read at least half a dozen BIG studies on the subject, and dozens of smaller ones. Getting into what they say strays a little too close to rule 8 IMO. I suggest you go look them up yourself.
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You missed a key word there, it was "real".
 
Vaermina said:
You missed a key word there, it was "real".
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No.

You do not have the authority to credit or discredit scientific studies. There's a system, and you are not a part of it.


Secondly, you are wrong.
There are a number of real studies done on the matter. "Real" meaning it is either peer-reviewed or backed by a known and reputable source. For instance, here is a meta-review on the subject, which checks and agglomerates information from a total of 68 other studies. They go into detail on their epistemology, the sources for their data, the criteria they used for selecting studies, and more. This information can easily be found in the "methods" section.

Note that this particular review is more focused on finding the types of health risk rather than their overall likelyhood, be it in comparison to any other substance or otherwise. However, it is quite easy to find more studies on that website if you wish.


Please do not come back until you have educated yourself. Thank you.
 
Guys from Gotham (part 5)
16th February
22:09 GMT -5

"What?"

Richard… Probably raises his eyebrows at me as I fly up to his rooftop eyrie.

"You didn't try and sneak up on me."

"Come on, Oh El. How am I supposed to manage that?"

"I happen to know that Batman still routinely sneaks-."

"Sneaks away from Commissioner Gordon when he's looking in the other direction, I know." He turns away, accelerates to a loping run and leaps easily from one side of the street to the other. I transition after him. "Barbara asked me if it was Batman's idea of pranking him."

"And since you've given me such an open and honest answer, I'll return the favour. Basic magic concealment will shield you from my empathic vision unless I make a real effort, scry warding will stop regular ring scans-"

"I knew that."

"-and other forms of radiation can be blocked in various ways. It wouldn't be easy to set something up without fully enclosed armour, but you probably could. You might be better off going 'full-magic' if that's the way you want to go."

He accelerates to a sprint. His next jump takes him up five floors and across another road.

"What, you weren't satisfied with getting Kid Flash into magic and now you want me to as well?"

"Yes. Using magic equipment, anyway. You can buy directly from Atlantis so I don't have to know what you're getting-. Though you might be better off going through me to buy from Hephaestus."

"Did you ever think about why Batman doesn't buy magic equipment?"

"I've been assuming that it's because he can't maintain it himself. Which… Isn't much of an argument to a Lantern."

"I think it's more because the people he knew who used it didn't exactly understand how it works. Even a guy like Jason Blood usually only explains what he can do in mystical terms. And Zatara doesn't know why things happen when he talks backwards."

"But Atlantis-."

"Batman didn't meet Aquaman until the Appellaxian attack. And they didn't really talk much about Atlantean magic."

"King Orin probably didn't know all that much himself. Not like he grew up with it. But you can get in contact with the Atlantean embassy in Washington and arrange a consultation with a commercial wizard whenever you want. So, is it a prank?"

"I don't think so?" He slows to a halt atop the tallest building in this part of Gotham. "I think in the beginning he wanted to make the police afraid of him too, seeing as how most of them were working for the mob anyway. Now it's just part of what he does."

"Alan didn't do things like that when he worked with the Gotham police."

"Gotham wasn't a corrupt mess in the thirties."

"Alright, but what makes a bigger impression: disappearing in the middle of a conversation or hanging in the air while glowing brilliant green?"

"Batman didn't know who Green Lantern was."

"What, and he couldn't have found out?"

"Huh." He turns away and looks out across the city. "That's actually a good point. He could have found him."

"I mean, I understand why he didn't track down Crimson Avenger-"

"Because he was dead."

"-even though they operate in similar ways."

While Hugo Danner was America's first superhero, Crimson Avenger was America's first masked hero. He also had a rather large body count. I haven't checked to see whether the local version had the demonically possessed handguns of the version I remember, but he certainly shot people dead. I mean, he didn't do it on principle; he wasn't the DC version of the Punisher or anything. But people in America are allowed to own firearms and use them for self defence or the defence of another. Back then -especially coming off the back of prohibition- the 'custom' of heroes not using lethal force basically didn't exist.

Still. Since I'm here, it might be worth putting a little extra effort into hunting down those guns.

"Not that similar." He turns back to me. "So how'd it go with the Penguin?"

"He's going to keep an ear out. How'd it go with the Penguin's computers?"

"I didn't find anything major. I mean, I didn't think he'd get involved with dealing Smilex, but he might have supplied the muscle or the intel." He shrugs. "Nothing."

"Is that unusual?"

"Gotham's economy might have picked up, but it's not so good that people with long criminal records can get jobs easily. A lot of them go to the Penguin…" He shrugs. "But it's not like he runs a labor exchange. Plenty of people don't go to him."

"Alright. What next?"

"Next?" He brings up his arm computer. "I send a message to Batwoman, so she doesn't do anything crazy. Then I go looking for people who look like they're up to no good and ask them if they know anything."

"Might it be worth talking to Catwoman? She lives in the sort of place where the buyers might live."

"It's not just poor people who buy Smilex, Oh El." He exhales. "Not any more. For a little while the Joker was giving it away. He started at low doses, then escalated. People are a lot more cautious these days."

Hm. The only person I remember selling a Smilex-derivative in the comics was Maximilian Zeus. The local version of him is a mostly-recovered businessman who attends court-mandated therapy sessions and who these days studiously avoids anything that would cause a relapse. Or maybe I'm over thinking it: sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

"I suppose." Hm. "Speaking of exotic equipment upgrades: do you think Batman would want a power ring?"

"Ah… Probably not from you."

"I ask because Sinestro's dispute with the Guardians isn't strictly my problem." Richard looks decidedly dubious. "Part of Batman's method involves invoking fear, which would match the techniques needed to use a yellow ring."

"You.. haven't been.. talking to him, have you?"

"No, but Dox did. And I'm wondering if maybe I should. If Sinestro gained access to more rings, I'd much rather he use Batman as a template for his training methods than anyone else."

"I'm.. gunna say 'no'."

"How about if Sinestro had an accident? He is under sentence of death in several places."

"Aren't you the one who said that Batman isn't the DPS guy?"

"I suppose. Alright. I'll go and look for more Smilex, you shake down some suspicious characters. Meet you back in an hour?"
 
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