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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. Ngamer11

    Ngamer11 Experienced.

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    Works fine for me.
     
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  2. RichardWhereat

    RichardWhereat Aia airëa Fëanáro.

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    ffs, it didn't work the two times I checked it before quoting the link, and it now works. I would have blamed Australian internet, but that site tends to work for me a lot anyway.
     
  3. Sockmonkey

    Sockmonkey I trust you know where the happy button is?

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    It's amusing how the Sivanna kids have found a place where they actually sort of fit in.
    I'm looking forward to their next annual family get-together.
    He should get along with their mom fairly well. She knows how to wrangle socially stunted geniuses.
     
  4. Chojin Patriarch

    Chojin Patriarch Veteran Lurker

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    Well, someone's nervous about their first real-life date... She's just a delightful little neet, isn't she?

    True, true. But he's also well-socialised enough to recognise the value of a gift. Some useful data or interesting project for him to work on in what little spare time he allows himself, perhaps.

    Which is atypical enough that they consider it significant. Take from that what you will, Georgia...

    It's almost adorable how far out of her comfort zone she's willing to go for this meeting.

    What, romance? I'd have thought you'd see plenty of examples in your social science research... Or are you nervous because you don't think you resemble the typical object of a man's affections?

    Why, you're practically dating already, albeit long-distance.

    ...But so much of her character is tied to that 'psychotic evil'... :p I kid, I kid...

    :( Aww, no hugs for cuddle-blob?

    And of course only she could think a question like that is a good way to introduce herself...

    You've never watched an octopus crawling about? It's kind of cute in a gribbly kind of way.

    ...Um, Georgia...

    Hoo boy. This is going to be an awkward meeting, isn't it?

    Because he wants Hugs. Cuddle-blob must have hugs!

    ...Dangit, Dox. You dense, cold dummy...

    See what happens to cuddle-blob when he doesn't get Hugs? Don't you feel bad for him, Georgia?

    He does understand 'bad touch' locations, right?

    I bet he also gives damn good massages.

    True. It's a rare person who doesn't enjoy some form of physical contact...

    But seriously, massages. Tentacle Massages. People would pay for that kind of thing!

    I don't think you have quite the figure for the modern uniform, with it's ridiculous décolletage, though maybe the legs for the traditional Silver Age model... Also: Dox allowing redecoration just as his internet girlfriend shows up? :p Not a coincidence, I think.

    Look at that, he even dressed up for her!

    Daaaw.

    Heh. I can tell what he was thinking there: "What? Oh, you're here too?"

    Cute as it is, watching these two cinnamon rolls dance about probably would get boring after a while.

    Still prepping, after two weeks away? They must really want a numerical advantage there.

    Hell, he could pop over there right now and shred a fleet. He'd be back before you could even finish pouring the tea.

    Another OC race, I'm guessing? Odd that their fleet would still even exist after all this time, though?

    ...Oof. That could be awkward, yes. Or it could just be a Reach decoy, modern ships dressed as ancient vessels.

    That is true. But the chance that they aren't corrupted is too great to pass up.

    And coincidentally leave them alone together. x3 Smooth, OL.

    God, these two kids are so cute. ...Yes, I know Dox isn't a kid, but he's so socially stunted, he may as well be. And now OL has his next mission, eh? Investigate an anomalous fleet in Reach space. What's the bet it's a Reach ploy to discredit N.E.M.O. propaganda about their habit of driving client races to extinction?
     
    Last edited: Jun 5, 2021
  5. Darko

    Darko Connoisseur.

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    But you're right.

    No, she doesn't.

    But we do.

    I'm now picturing future meetings where people are asked to point to the location Ratchet touched them on a doll.

    I'm also picturing a Sexual Harassment Panda.

    Or more accurately Sexual Harassment Space Panda.

    If he goes to Japan he'll be rich.

    It's probably both for her and so the other OLC members see that their leader has a personality.
     
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  6. Mr Zoat

    Mr Zoat Dedicated ragequitter

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    [​IMG]

    I think he could pull it off. Though actually, the traditional uniform is fairly modest.

    [​IMG]
     
  7. FreeGod

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

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    I don't think even Paul can make Nth metal without going full snake again.
     
    Last edited: Jun 5, 2021
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  8. moralrelativity

    moralrelativity Recovering pendant.

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    That AND another trap for OL.
     
  9. RichardWhereat

    RichardWhereat Aia airëa Fëanáro.

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    I could pull that off. No-one wants to see it, but I could do it.
     
  10. Prince Charon

    Prince Charon Just zis guy, you know?

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    If someone put one of those on me, I would want to pull it off as soon as possible (unless I were very drunk, maybe).

    I would point out, though, that the classic Star Sapphire uniform as designed in the 1950s or early '60s, and so some of the modern ones are probably a fairly accurate colloquial translation.
     
  11. Ngamer11

    Ngamer11 Experienced.

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    Mr Zoat, random questions. Now that Kara Zor-El is getting accustomed to living on Earth and is even wearing Superman's colors to fight crime, is she going to be made a member of the Team as Supergirl II? Also, what are the differences between the Supergirls' costumes, if there are any?
     
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  12. Mr Zoat

    Mr Zoat Dedicated ragequitter

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    No. There's a difference between fighting at a time of dire necessity and fighting professionally.
    Overgirl wears shorts. Noriel looks like this, while Kara wore something more like Kal-El's costume.
     
  13. Darko

    Darko Connoisseur.

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    If I were to make a guess I'd say that the biggest difference between the two would be the material it's made oout of.

    For Loriel it's probably enchanted. while for Kara it's most likely made out of Kryptonian, or at least some other type, of super science materials.

    As for looks, I'm thinking that Loriel's may look like the t-shirt and skirt thing from the comics, while Kara's may be different.

    Though I'm not sure if Kara really is fighting crime.

    Yeah she helped during the Sheeda invasion and with the tech god case, but that could have just been her helping during major crises' instead of dedicating herself to fighting injustice. Like a person volunteering to fight fires if there are a lot of them, but not becoming a fireman.

    Edit: Zoat beat me to the punch.
     
  14. Ngamer11

    Ngamer11 Experienced.

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    Mr Zoat, since Kara was made known first, does she technically count as Supergirl I? Or does that go to Linda, as she was the one going out in costume first?
     
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  15. Darko

    Darko Connoisseur.

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    Some people were at least calling her that, even though she didn't really engage in heroics.

    I remember Noriel told Paul that Linda would dress up in a Supergirl costume when she would sometimes have sex with Buzz, so it's likely that she was called that before.

    Though Loriel, or Linda or Noriel, or whatever was the first that actually got into the whole heroics thing.
     
  16. Threadmarks: Onslaught (part 9)
    Mr Zoat

    Mr Zoat Dedicated ragequitter

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    24th August 2012
    15:37 GMT


    Darkstar Lotta frowns as she scrolls through her pad.

    "Cloning tanks."

    "Yes, for medical emergencies. It has to be the general purpose ones because there aren't any standard models designed for human physiology."

    She nods, apparently unconvinced. "I thought Orange Lanterns of your level could regenerate their injuries?"

    "We can. But only if we have an intact brain. I'm going to be storing a complete body here so that my soul can jump into it if I'm completely disintegrated."

    She nods, tapping the 'approved' button a little harder than the situation truly required.

    "Un-der-stood."

    Hm. I should probably.. requisition a spare ring for it. Or…

    I call out one of the thralls who took part in the attack on Yuna. Standard pattern humanoids with oddly angular skulls; it's a little like someone painted a face over the corner of a right angle. The face is two flat surfaces with holes for nostrils and eyes. No desires of her own, but just enough undirected orange to maintain a connection.

    Let's see…

    We pull and tie fragments of desire from the Honden to the remnants, binding and programming the structure to heed our desires, twisting until the construct becomes a thing in the material universe. A pull

    and the lich-ring is complete. I-.

    "Did you just turn a person into a ring?"

    "No, I turned a construct into a ring. I turned a person into a construct a week ago." I pluck the ring out of the air and try making a construct with it. Eh, it's not great, but I could work with it in an emergency. "Though if it makes you feel any better, she was already essentially mindless thanks to the Reach."

    Lotta nods. "It does."

    "How have you been?"

    "Since when?"

    "Since last time we saw each other? I don't.. think I've seen you since I first arrived."

    "Ah… Better than I was expecting." She exhales amusedly. "Sorry, I've been partnered with Phil for so long that I've forgotten what basic social enquiries sound like."

    "You do have other squad mates."

    "Yeah, but you spend most time with your partner. As for how well I'm doing… It's… Nice not to be losing the war any more."

    "You didn't request a transfer."

    "No, I actually listened to you when you said that orange power rings affected your judgement. And Phil wasn't going to transfer, so…" She shrugs. "The new exo-mantles are plenty for me."

    "I'm a little surprised that Phil stuck with it. I'd have thought that direct combat was more his thing."

    "According to him, power rings take most of the fun out of it. They're too 'remote'."

    I nod. "They're not for everyone. Though if it.. comes up, please point out that there's nothing to stop him just using a construct axe or something."

    "I'll pass that on." She looks around the Darkstar infiltration ship's cargo hold. "Putting a bio-lab in here is easy enough. Can you tell me what we're going to be studying?"

    "Reach bio-modification techniques on novel species."

    She nods. "We have the expertise. Which species in particular?"

    I throw an orange dot at her pad, transferring the files Dox gave me. She moves her finger as she scrolls through.

    "This is-. These are extinct species."

    "Maybe not. But you see why I want a Darkstar ship; I'm going to be flying into a hostile fleet, kidnapping the crew and flying back while inside Reach territory."

    "Yes. So, about that power ring?"

    She chuckles, but it's awkward and nervous. She's a veteran, but flying into Reach territory like this is triggering her 'and they send the medals to your next of kin' instinct.

    "If you're serious-."

    "No, I'm.. not. So all we're doing is hiding until you get back, and then running away?"

    "That's the plan. Though if you tell me that it can't be done, then I'll come up with something else."

    "I assume that we're running to somewhere?"

    I nod. "Into a waiting L.E.G.I.O.N. assault fleet. If for some reason that's unworkable, orders have been sent to L.E.G.I.O.N. ships over-" I create a construct map. "-here to assemble here to give us protection. Obviously that creates a lot of holes in our perimeter and Commander Dox would rather we didn’t do that, but the option's there if we need it."

    "And Lanterns?"

    "Those are not small fleets. I'm going to ask Lantern Natu if she'll come along, but she'll be joining the science staff. I'll be heading in on my own."

    "Are there Lanterns who could make the ship faster?"

    "Faster?" I nod. "I can make it faster. There are a couple of paranoids who could make us better at hiding, but there are some… Rather serious side effects to them using their abilities."

    "Such as?"

    "We might forget that they're on the ship. Or that we're on the ship. Or that ships exist, or that the universe exists, or-."

    "Right." She frowns. "How do we know we haven't already recruited them?"

    "Dox has an alert system, and we think I should be immune. But… You see the problem."

    "I see I was right sticking with the exo-mantle."

    I nod, twitching my nose. "Probably. How long will it take to get the module installed?"

    "If we put your name on the order, half an hour."

    "Do it. Though point out that since I'm not a L.E.G.I.O.N. or Darkstar officer it probably shouldn't be accelerated like that."

    "Do I tell them that before or after-?"

    "After."

    "Request sent. Any preference on the crew?"

    "Darkstars who are used to hiding and running."

    "That's still most of us. Just about. I'll see who's available. When do we leave?"

    "As soon as possible. I'll go talk to Lantern Natu."
     
    Last edited: Jul 10, 2021
  17. Darko

    Darko Connoisseur.

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    Ahh, Paul always frustrating people.

    'stop him'

    'Dox gave'

    'if she'll'

    'who could'

    Sometimes power isn't everything.

    Perks of being the boss, or a boss in your case, Paul.
     
  18. Zig

    Zig Not too sore, are you?

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    So not explicitly asking for his girlfriend but making sure she's on the short list?
     
  19. moralrelativity

    moralrelativity Recovering pendant.

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    doing to -> going to
    doing to -> doing a
    his -> him
     
  20. Mr Zoat

    Mr Zoat Dedicated ragequitter

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    Thank you, corrected.
     
  21. Chojin Patriarch

    Chojin Patriarch Veteran Lurker

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    If anyone's forgotten, she's one of the first Darkstars he met, way back when he first made contact with the Maltusians. Rescued them from a Reach Scarab Warrior and all. Evidently building a team for this mission, then. Looks like we got a heist underway.

    Not yet. I'm sure you can make some adjustments during transit.

    And I love that that's a possibility for him. For most people, disintegration is it. Finité. Sweep up what's left with a dustpan and put it in an urn for the next-of-kin...

    ...And she doesn't even question it. Probably doesn't believe it, but hey, Illustres wants it, Illustres gets it.

    Probably drawn from one of those 'extinct' races the Reach seem to be keeping in their back pocket, I'll bet...

    Well, not quite making a ring from scratch, but it's progress. Helps that the construct-lantern had no real mind beforehand, I suspect.

    No real will to resist the process, after all. And it's hardly going to be a ring you'll actually use in any combat situation. Might want to arrange a spare actual ring, just in case, anyway.

    Bet she's been keeping busy. It has been over a year.

    Yeah, but they're replaceable. A good partner...

    ...A good partner is not. As for a transfer, she's smart.

    Plus, having seen how OL fought, I bet he didn't find it that interesting. Neither the weapons, or the 'being a big glowing-orange target'...

    Just point him at the no-doubt-plentiful number of melee-preferring Lanterns already about. Ragnar, for example.

    o_O 'Novel'. That's one way to put it.

    Not extinct enough, it seems. Wouldn't be the first time people declared something gone only for one to turn up somewhere unexpected. Like Kryptonians.

    You say that, but... Again: Big. Glowing orange. Target.

    Completely understandable, especially if she's heard the scuttlebutt about how the Illustres' missions usually go. Seriously, nearly every mission we've seen him take on has had something go awry.

    Doesn't sound so bad, does it? ...Until he respawns in the bio-pod because something out there was enough to kill him again. Because you know she's thinking something like that...

    Well, duh. Not like you'll be on a one-way trip.

    Good to hear he's not going to be completely unsupported.

    Presumably for her expert medical knowledge. Might need it to keep their 'rescuees' alive, if the Reach have them booby-trapped.

    The typical Orange Lantern method of overkill? "If no bad guys are alive to see me, I'm hidden! HALPING!"

    ...That sounds like a serious existential nightmare...

    Why, one of them could be standing right there and you wouldn't notice him...

    Well, that's quick. Logistics department is nothing to sneeze at around here, eh?

    He's not that much of an idiot, after all. :p

    ...The ship is only so large, OL. Can you be a little more specific on skillsets?

    Well, I bet there'll be a few sore heads if she picks veterans. They'll have to drag them screaming out of the bars...

    Heh, good to see an old face. I see OL's taking no chances this time out. Full espionage team for backup, a respawn point that isn't half the galaxy away or dependant on another Orange lantern... While I half expect this 'heist' to go off flawlessly, we all know things will end in explosions...
     
  22. Handlewithcare

    Handlewithcare Versed in the lewd.

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    "So how good are you at hiding?"

    "I am no longer convinced I exist"

    "You're in"

    "Or am I...,"

    "Oh, shush you"
     
  23. Darko

    Darko Connoisseur.

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    You son of a bitch, I'm in.



    And Paul already knows Hephaestus, so he can recruit him!

    I think she's frustrated.

    Or one they're in the process of assimilating.

    And Paul tends to insult other superheroes or their costume choices.

    At least their colors look good.

    Orange is just...ughhh

    He may think they're cheating.

    A Thunderer, a giant Starro, a qwa-matter bomb, a secret power ring...

    I remember this one X-Man called Forget Me Not who's ability essentially made other people forget he existed.

    Dox probably had a hand in building it.

    Though he's still an idiot.
     
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  24. BlueMangoAdea

    BlueMangoAdea Alive. For now.

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    Stealth obsessed paranoid orange lanterns. They might do decently with a yellow ring as well, though not the usual style of making others fear you, but closer to using their fear to hide better.
     
  25. Vaermina

    Vaermina Well worn.

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    Can we skip the rest of this storyline and just spend the entire time watching the Sivana's get up to various shenanigans instead?

    Because "Paul effortlessly walks over everyone" stopped being amusing some time ago.
     
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  26. DrThoth

    DrThoth I trust you know where the happy button is?

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    I'm having trouble figuring out how an orange ring can make something like that happen, it sounds like a pervasive and persisting mental effect; we haven't really seen power rings for straight up mental manipulation, as far as I remember.

    I've never really liked that yellow rings work by creating what others fear rather than using your own; yes, I know the latter is still possible and part of getting a Sinestro Corps ring is mastering your own fears, but the former application is still the most common portrayal and what people associate yellow rings with. It makes sense for a Qwardian weapon to do that since it fits their methodology/philosophy, but one of my favorite moments regarding the yellow light (that I know I've brought up before, sorry) is when Renegade uses his fear of trusting others/commitment to make wedding rings when mock-courting the Justice Lords Supergirl, since that's a great example of harnessing your own fears, so that's what I'd like to see more of. Unless I'm mistaken, making yellow constructs that other people fear doesn't mean you yourself fear them.

    I like the concept of tapping into other people's fears as a higher-order/more esoteric use of the yellow light, like something a fear-enlightened Lantern could do; and it would be interesting to see analogous uses from the other lights- Blue Lanterns already make people around them hopeful, and I think the Saint Walker origin story shows their ability to channel collective hope to make their hopes real. Paragon's enlightenment made people more consciously aware of their desires when around him, I believe (though that was mainly Danette/Red Inferno, I don't think we've seen it really come up since then unless he's actually Enkindling Avarice); someone using the Green light for outright mind-control via willpower manipulation would make sense (I forget if Malvolio used it in that fashion) and Red Lanterns should be able to stir up the rage of other people (as far as I know, they don't do this, but maybe there are examples).
     
  27. BlueMangoAdea

    BlueMangoAdea Alive. For now.

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    A red lantern in Raul’s plane did it, but through blood magic rather than pure ring manipulation.
     
  28. Darko

    Darko Connoisseur.

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    Ahh, yeah we've seem that a whole bunch of times.

    Branding comes to mind, as well as the whole encouraging certain desires.

    Not to mention the Indigo rings and them turning their users compassionate.

    We've seen rings do mental manipulation plenty of times.

    As for how the rings can be used to make people forget, maybe it's by creating a device that can alter perception or some sort of telepathic device.

    Basically something similar to the perception filters from Dr. Who.
     
  29. DrThoth

    DrThoth I trust you know where the happy button is?

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    Yes I should have been more specific in my interpretation of mental manipulation. The way Paragon describes the potential ability of such paranoid stealth-oriented Lanterns sounds a lot like the Silence from Doctor Who, actually. The intended effect is to make the ship hide better from enemy sensors and things, and the described risks/side effects don't sound like it would just be a matter of putting up a better sensor baffler or something.
     
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  30. webxro

    webxro Benevolent Bystander

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    Ok, sorry for being dumb and sorry if somebody already asked, but remember how Lex was putting very very simple anti-scry stuff on everything he makes ? How bad would it be for somebody that hates him to do an over-powered magical ritual and search for everything Lex and push enough power into the ritual to break the anti-scry stuff and make it ignite ? I mean not as an intel-gather, just as a smash everything Lex. Would that be possible ? Plausible ?
     
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