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

Discussion in 'Creative Writing' started by Mr Zoat, Jan 27, 2019.

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  1. Tyrantviewer

    Tyrantviewer lord of all I survey

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    Probably not a love elemental, but he probably wants to be turned into something other than a demon- Paul should get him and Richard Simons to work together on such a project to benefit them both- Surprisingly neither of them are in hell fairly- Simons is only their due to being forced to use Nergal's body since his was fried and constantine's had cancer, and Demon constantine was created to take on constantine's debt, and that of the sinner constantine added to flesh him out- Frankly I don't think either John would deserve hell without selling their soul, it goes wrong often but just How many people has he saved at great personal risk?

    I wonder what route they will go- more fruits from eden? The silver city is probably guarding them better now. I guess Love elemental isn't off the table for Demon Constantine but it just feels wrong, and they don't have a similar artifact to the star saphire to do other emotional elemental conversions... Paul could probably do an orange conversion but I don't think Avarice Elemental Constantine is an improvement to Paul in terms of risks, and D-Constantine probably would be hesitant to tie himself to an energy source that Paul is so good with, and has a giant snake enbodiment that could eat him.

    Chaos and Order are options- on that note I wonder if this search for Original John will reveal what is up with Welsh John, My original guess was that he was the Golden Boy, the hypothetical magician if John's twin had been the one to survive in the womb, and who is using his version of Constantine Serependipity powers to mess with John in canon. My thought was that he Hijacked John's order connection to become real since John was struggling with balancing both powers... Its still an option, especially if his current backstory is reality acomidating him or a result of whatever incarnation shenanigans Original John is doing right now.

    Paul would possibly consider Hell a better option than JFK's previous state of being a brain damaged, incoherent phantasm in an incarnation of what is worst about America, Paul probably doesn't hold JFK's state against him, JFK probably thought he was either going to heaven or hell, and barring Uncle Sam, No One could possibly have predicted JFK ending up like he was where he was.

    Paul is objecting to the issue in general, especially in the current age where blatant, tangible proof of the afterlife is a thing, There is no better time to go to the church of your choice and work hard to get the afterlife you want.


    On the topic of the Brass- I kind of want Paul and Alan to bring up the Sheeda, so JFK can have a hopeful and optimistic bit about mankind banding together to defend each other- in a way that jives with building up the military- Frankly I could see Paul trying to sell the Brass on improvements that would help against aliens and other threats, or bribing them by promising to pursue that in the real world in order to get past to deal with Smiley.

    On that note F*** SMILEY I can't wait to see him get his.
     
  2. PDV

    PDV Revelation That Uncertainty Is Itself An Answer

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    Disagree. I grew up in Massachusetts and JFK dropped his R's more than literally anyone I knew there. He's a prototypical Boston accent.
     
  3. DAT_NOOB

    DAT_NOOB Accused of writing in a far away land

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    MOTHERFUCKER!
    Sorry I just didn't realise that until you mentioned it.
     
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  4. Coda

    Coda Versed in the lewd.

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    Oh, I'm not saying he didn't. He definitely did. But it wasn't as exaggerated as... say, for example, Harley Quinn, whose drawl is cartoonishly strong.
     
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  5. xSieg

    xSieg Making the rounds.

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    Yeah, Alan's totally gonna be the one to hope hard enough to allow Ganthet to create a Blue Central Battery when someone eventually digs Nekron's tombsite or something equally dumb.

    I wonder who's gonna craft the Red Ring in the OLC? None of Paul's students seem like they have enough rage and mastery to do it, even with Kalmin helping. Maybe Kalmin himself mainlines it after Nekron ressurects the Anti-Monitors as a puppet? Pretty interesting stuff to think about, though it's also very far away in Zoat's predicted timeline iirc.

    Also, sorta cool to think about how Joy works. I remember people complaing about Nommo Balewa being a bit too affected for an Enlightened human in the Naziverse, but Paul's theory on the White Light makes it seems very normal for someone who's expressing his sense of Self individually and collectively constantly; He cannot act to change things even when he should, because he values the self image of every human there to do anything against their collective 'will'.

     
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  6. Darko

    Darko Connoisseur.

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    I don't think most of the African people that the Nazi subjugate would care about their self image if it means that the Nazis are out and they're free.
     
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  7. Mr Zoat

    Mr Zoat Dedicated ragequitter

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    It's not a matter of asking for forgiveness, it's a matter of repenting. Genuinely regretting what you have done, and in the case of Catholicism stating that to a priest.
    Now? Yes, idealised.
     
  8. Cuchulin

    Cuchulin Versed in the lewd.

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    Considering how much JFK slept around, his involvement in politics and his families mob ties? I'd say he was expecting a more or less light stint in purgatory before heading to the Silver City.
     
  9. Threadmarks: Dear John (part 20)
    Mr Zoat

    Mr Zoat Dedicated ragequitter

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    7th November 2012
    Roughly 10:55 GMT -5


    Cannons. Big cannons. Battleship cannons, Second World War era, no longer in use. Can't see a loading mechanism, magic. Robot has… A face that would probably mean something to someone who knew more about the minutia of American military history than me.

    Odd that I can't see the wall from inside-. Right.

    Kennedy raises his right hand in what I think is meant to be a placatory gesture. "This is not-."

    KABOOM!

    Guns fire and we frantically evade, Alan creating a shield to protect Kennedy. Some of the fusillade slams into the invisible wall behind us, momentarily disrupting the image of… Hah, the idyllic landscape visible from here that certainly doesn't actually exist out there. Some shrapnel from fused explosives hits my construct shield, causing cracks-.

    "Avarice!" Something bangs, and a second later there's a iron chain wrapped around my construct shield. "Just what we need! And hope! Do you know how many hopes I've sent to die?"

    The chains glow orange-. They're sucking the light out of my con-!

    I drop as the construct fails, the chains above me clanging into each other and then leaping back towards their master.

    "Paul?!"

    I land on the road, take a few staggered steps-. Ring, charge?

    One hundred and twenty three percent remaining.

    "Uninjured, reporting energy draining chains. You?"

    What did I lose?

    Twenty seven percent maximum charge of one ring.

    That's not sustainable.

    "I felt… Like a thousand of America's sons were asking me why I threw their lives away."

    "It's The Brass, a manifestation of the worst of America's officer corps. I'd guess that he saw the same thing, but didn't feel guilty about it. Can you still make constructs?"

    "Kennedy and the eagle are giving me a pep talk."

    "Good show. Guns seem to be slow firing."

    I rise back into the air, trying to keep what appears to be the statue of a giant phallus between me and where The Brass fired its chain from. Looking closer, I see something moving across the upper portions of its armour…

    The worms. The worms are carrying the ammunition to reload its guns.

    "What do you think, fly up to it and flick them off?"

    "While I'm struggling to think of killing corrupt worms as something that would worsen the American political process, it's still mind control."

    "The old one-two?"

    "I think we need something less literal. Weaken it under its own rules, then get it to stand down." The worms are squirming away from the guns now. "Ultimately, it's a distraction."

    "Alright, but I've been working on this for a while."

    A giant blue gun forms in the sky to my right, positively inviting the guns The Brass trains on it to fire. But Alan fires first, the beam lancing out and striking-.

    Striking an invisible force field around The Brass. And I know this is going to be a painful metaphor, but I can't-.

    "The Veil of Legitimacy! So long as I wear the uniform, I'm untouchable by your un-American weapons!"

    There it is-.

    Guns-

    KABOOM!

    -into action and I'm moving as the two shots pointed my way fly past what's probably a very nice monument of some sort in the real world and detonate around me, shards of magical shrapnel slamming into my construct shields. They hold, but they take a battering and I'm already moving to try to avoid a possible chain-.

    The chain wraps around the monument and emasculates it.

    "Got any paint?"

    "What colour?"

    "Green and red."

    "Can't say I-. Did that thing just wreck the Washington Monument?"

    "Probably. Cover me?"

    "As long as it's not in paint."

    "It's not worth my time to roust you out." The Brass reaches down to somewhere I can't see, then straightens back up with a… Giant rugby ball with a radioactive symbol on the side. He pulls his right arm back, ready to throw. "Time to use strategic weapons!"

    "I am not President Truman, and you are not General Groves." I fly upwards, and spot Kennedy strolling towards The Brass in the open, eagle flying along with him and the vulture lurking off to the side. "The authority to unleash this great nation's nuclear arsenal belongs to the president alone. You do not have the right to use the nuclear football."

    Sounds like an opening. I fly around The Brass's right while his attention is focused on Kennedy, fabricating-. Would a hologram projector be easier? Yes, I can't guarantee that paint would get through. Drones, stealth drones with holoprojectors.

    Fabrication complete.

    Okay, that should deal with the Veil of Legitimacy. How do I stop the worms handing resources to The Brass that would be better applied elsewhere? Actually, The Brass hasn't walked anywhere since we arrived. What fuels The Brass?

    Gain a little height, and… Looks like there are cables plugged into his lower legs, running to somewhere… The same place the worms are coming from, underneath… A twisted version of the Lincoln Memorial. Clearly there's something there, but I'm sure there will be other defences in place that I can't see.

    Tally ho.

    "You want the football?"

    "The football is rightfully mine."

    "Then you can-." The holoprojectors get into position and activate, and suddenly The Brass is wearing the uniform of a Soviet Lieutenant. "What the hell is this?"

    Alan fires again, his shot tearing through The Brass's armour and sending the giant guns on its left shoulder plummeting to the ground. And while that's happening I fire out titanium chains, wrapping up the worms around the Memorial in something they can't just melt their way through-.

    "Not too shabby, boy."

    The stone figure sitting on the seat mimes clapping. They're… A slightly wrong version of-.

    "Bad Sam."

    "Lazy, boy. Lazy." He stands, brick dust puffing of him as he pats himself down. "And since you're here in mah place of power, ah will have to give y'all a hidin' for it."
     
    Last edited: Jun 5, 2022
  10. Ngamer11

    Ngamer11 Experienced.

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    That should say 'sons'.

    Of course Paul would call it that. I want to see him say that out loud in front of cameras and in the company of his friends, who would most likely be facepalming.

    That's an easy way to get rid of his conceptual protection. I also want to see Alan do something clever like this, especially if Paul will be struggling against 'Bad Sam'.
     
  11. jasonh23761

    jasonh23761 Not too sore, are you?

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    Well now, that's certainly an interesting interpretation.
     
  12. Z000

    Z000 If this is trash, then find me in the dumpster

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    alot of people are just that juvenile but it something else when it come out of Paul/Zoat though

    probably his British side talking

    but that apply both way, alot of tall object in the UK can also be compare to a phallus
     
  13. Massgamer

    Massgamer Not too sore, are you?

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    Do love how fighting has to be done smartly, figuring out enemy based on symbolism and such. Paul just can't steamroll things in conceptional world.
     
  14. Darko

    Darko Connoisseur.

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    'protect Kennedy'

    'blue gun'

    'shots'

    Hmm, I seem to remember that during the Civil War, Sam was split into two different beings that fought each other, so maybe Bad Sam was his Confederate self.
     
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  15. PrinceJonathan

    PrinceJonathan Versed in the lewd.

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    Saying something like that is just asking Paul to summon a steamroller that conceptualizes America tearing down a Wall of Oppression to build the Freeway to Freedom.
     
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  16. iamnuff

    iamnuff Connoisseur.

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    I love conceptual shit like this. This is what A Practical Guide is all about.

    Seeing JFK stop them from using the nukes just by pointing out that they're not allowed to do that is cool.
    The Brass would have absolutely used that nuclear football. They don't have the right. they're not allowed to use nukes without the president's permission, but they have enough conceptual weight that they'd probably have been able to somehow get away with it anyway.

    Except there was the one person in the whole country who has the authority to call them out and remind them that they're not permitted to do that, and him simply saying that was enough to if not actually prohibit it, at the very least force them to hesitate.
     
  17. Chojin Patriarch

    Chojin Patriarch Veteran Lurker

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    Conceptual space. Distance means nothing here. If they don't want you to see the defences guarding their gates against The Enemy, then you won't. Hardly matters, when they're right in front of you.

    Does it count as gross insubordination or treason, given that he's shooting at his nominal commander-in-chief?

    Well, this is going completely wrong, right from the start.

    Dirty pool. This is going to be a total puzzle boss, isn't it?

    Good thing he doesn't rely solely on his ring for flight. Still, going airborne is going to be risky given their firepower.

    And no doubt The Brass is hungry for more, more, more.

    That's a lot of charge in one hit. Luckily they don't seem to be able to throw it back at him.

    Ouch. Now that's a nasty way to break someone's sense of hope.

    Should be super-effective, between his being American and their collective hopefulness.

    Riggers, eh? Now I'm picturing it being like an ugly male version of a shipgirl.

    That'll probably just make it mad.

    Sadly, it isn't as concerned about collateral damage as you have to be...

    Alan certainly seems to be the sort not to rest on his laurels.

    Oh, that's just cheating, now. Or, for a more appropriate quote: 'Not enough gun.'

    Maybe Alan needs to bust out something more American. Giant Colt 1911s, maybe?

    The Brass: "I love the smell of Napalm in the morning!"

    What, going to try painting it pink or something? You know? Ruin its ego by making it a literal pinko? :p

    Oooh, clever. I doubt the rest of the defences would turn their guns on it, but it might give it pause.

    ...Mind out of the gutter... :oops:

    ...Motherfucking badass. Makes sense that he feels no fear.

    Bring on the lightshow! Don't forget the moustache!

    Amusing. It runs on an extension cord.

    Oh, he's going to just throw the bomb without arming it, isn't he? Still a few tons of metal, after all, and Kennedy is still more-or-less flesh.

    Ha! Not only a turncoat, but he got a demotion too.

    Well, about time we got to meet this jackass.

    Oh, boy... Maybe you guys should have gone after the real Sam first, maybe?

    And now we get to the real meat of the episode, eh? Somehow, I get the feeling this is going to be a Hopeless Boss Fight... Unless there's a last minute Big Damn Heroes from the real Sam, OL and team are really going to be up against it here. Even with Hope!Kennedy's help, I don't think the Lanterns have the metaphysical oomph to beat this one. Tomorrow should be impressive.
     
  18. FreeGod

    FreeGod If you see a God on the road fuck it!

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    The red scare. Might as well use one american problem to beat another. When in doubt call your opponent a communist.

    No reason to be subtle when it's a battle of metaphor.
     
  19. Rebu

    Rebu hey, little Anna, you're the one

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    "Mistah Orange Lantern, teah dawhn this wahll!"

    "Yes, sir!"
     
  20. Grimnar

    Grimnar Versed in the lewd.

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    Is this bait? It has to be.

    Fun fact, the American Military is actually underfunded to fullfill all the duties it's been given. It's a feature creep of their duties by the government, not the military being hilariously overbloated with funds.
     
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  21. DrThoth

    DrThoth I trust you know where the happy button is?

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    So the impostor/Bizarro Uncle Sam isn't just Boss Smiley, I guess. I suppose that makes sense, since Smiley might be an egregore of a more universal (in terms of humanity) political corruption/subtle manipulation. Thinking of egregores makes me kind of picture the comics Candlemaker as being manifested in the Nuclear Football now.

    I'd have thought Paragon is metaphysically powerful/'high-ranking' enough to avoid things draining the orange light, even if they're conceptually suited to it (or especially so). Maybe he can still reverse the Brass's (or the whole place's) connection avarice somehow, though that may be skirting the whole brainwashing the American psyche thing.

    I'm a bit surprised there isn't any evident manifestation of the lizard men conspiracy theory (which I believe is also anti-Semitic?) but I suppose there's still time for that.
     
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  22. Stsword

    Stsword Versed in the lewd.

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    It's not a conspiracy theory in DC, actually, it happened. Martian Manhunter defeated the shapeshifting reptilians and their Martian master in Martian Manhunter: American Secrets.

    "He was a Martian, I was a beatnik." It makes sense in context.

    Doesn't work in Earth-16 though, since Mars is neither a dead planet nor was Jonn on Earth during that time, so if Zoat wanted to incorporate that bit he'd need to take quite a few liberties.
     
  23. woweed

    woweed Know what you're doing yet?

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    Sidebar: Was the implication that the MIC has the face of General Groves?
     
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  24. Mr Zoat

    Mr Zoat Dedicated ragequitter

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    Thank you, corrected.
    No, it's not just an insult. The version here is literally a phallus.
    Thank you, corrected.
    Well done.
     
  25. Luma

    Luma Getting out there.

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    Yep, the Heartland feels like American Arcadia.
     
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  26. 012345

    012345 Well worn.

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    I think Paul is more than capable of brute forcing all those fights. Diana and everyone else after all didnt want him to figh Zeus as they fully expected him to be able kill him even when powered by Titans. Its just for some reason Paul is now concerned about possible mind control of collective american psyche into better shape that would come from him simply going Doom Slayer on all Symbols of Evil America?

    Like in previous parts they hid from manifestation of american military-industrial complex. While Paul is fully capable of soloing space armadas that have many times more firepower that even DC USA. And with him getting better at Avrice manipulation or New God/Avrice connection he dont even have exuse of not being able to fight because their magic.
     
  27. FreeGod

    FreeGod If you see a God on the road fuck it!

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    When you get powerful enough you stop focusing on the most efficient way to win and start focusing on getting the most optimal victory.
     
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  28. woweed

    woweed Know what you're doing yet?

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    Mind control is bad. I mean, Paul may be the reigning champion of the "didn't think this through" olympics, but still.
     
  29. FreeGod

    FreeGod If you see a God on the road fuck it!

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    Or in this case if Paul overpowers the manifestation of American's military might do all the soliders lose confidence, the guns stop working, some other unexpected results?

    The stuff in the asslands are bad things, but most of them are tied to good or important things. If you just go destroying everything recklessly it's hard to predict the collateral damage.
     
  30. woweed

    woweed Know what you're doing yet?

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    To be fair: It's Paul. Not like potential ramifications have stopped him before. But fair enough.
     
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