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

Chojin Patriarch · 2026-03-26T07:22:23+0000

Mr Zoat said:
15th June 2012
15:26 GMT +2
Earth 8096

I take a small sip of hot chocolate, listening to the sliding back of chairs and movement of feet as the other patrons clear out in something of a hurry.

Ah, this alternate universe. Not the classic 90's marvel we've seen so often (where he's marrying Rogue) but an earlier one, set in... The early-00's Marvel shows shared continuity? (Wolverine and the X-Men, Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes and... Hopefully not that abysmal Fantastic Four show loosely inspired by the movies?)

Latverians have a complicated relationship with their sovereign, but no matter how much better they think he is than the alternatives none of them want to be around when he's about to fight someone.

Someone wearing significantly heavier armour than the local citizenry marches around and takes up position opposite me, and in the corners of my eyes I see billowing green cloth and shining metal.

And of course he's trying to reach out to Doom.

"Lantern."

I look up at his metal faceplate. "Y-. I'm sorry, do you prefer 'your majesty' or 'doctor'?"

I wonder if he's wearing the classic tunic or something more formal? Always like it when Doom dresses classy.

And scan-. Yeah, that didn't work. But scan his environment because that mask isn't sealed…

Ah.

It's totally a Doombot, isn't it? For when he doesn't want to attend to something himself... Also the old standby for when someone defeats Doom.

"The ego of Doom is not so fragile that it would make any difference. Why are you here, Orange Lantern?"

"Tourism. I-" I reach for my satchel. "-have a visa, if you want to check it?"

Naturally he applied, entered legally and is totally obeying all laws. Because you do not start shit in Doom's country.

"Doom is aware of everything that happens in his kingdom. Doom is also aware than you have been attempting to arrange a meeting such as this for just under a year."

"I am grateful that you've found time for me, Doctor."

...More or less. If anything, Doom might be curious as to why he's pushing so hard.

Even if I am getting a Doombot. You found a way to block my scans, the weight as roughly what I estimate yours is and it even breathes. What it doesn't do is use oxygen.

"'Tourism'." I nod. "Doom is exceedingly sceptical."

A minor oversight, as most of Doom's foes do not have such extensive scanning capabilities. And the one or two that do, such as Stark, are too confident to employ it.

"I hope that by learning more about Latveria and it's culture, I would learn something that would help me to become more persuasive in my missives to you. I doubted that I would see you in person, but… Here you are. I'm carrying no weapons other than the ring, which in deference to Latverian weapon control laws I'm not wearing. If you wish for me to leave, then I will of course do so at once."

Yes, Doom runs his country tyrannically, but if you abide by Doom's laws, then Doom has no problem with you.

He continues staring down at me.

I gesture towards the counter, where the woman manning it is standing to attention.

Probably a mix of awe (Oh god, Doom himself is standing in my cafe!) and terror (Oh god, is this foreigner going to start trouble in my cafe?) Though I'm sure Doom would compensate her for any damage caused, and have it repaired on Doom's dime.

"Would you like a hot chocolate? It's really quite good. And so are the pastries; you would not believe how hard it is to get good food in America. Your farming and food adulteration policies should be the model for the world to follow."

Might be a bit… Impractical in some places, but definitely something to aim for.

Sadly, I suspect Western capitalist practices are fundamentally incompatible with Doom's standards.

"Doom studied in America for several years, as well you know. Doom is aware of the failings of American agriculture."

I nod, waiting politely.

"Since Doom is here, speak your piece. State your case."

In other words, 'Don't tell Doom what Doom already knows.' This is probably enough a waste of his time as it is.

"I feel that you have the capacity to be a tremendous benefit to humanity, and that your feud with Doctor Richards -not that I'm attempting to minimise the significance of what he did to you- is distracting you for making progress in that direction. So I was wondering if there was something that I could do that would help you in that regard."

Which, depending on continuity (and the current backstory at any particular point) ranged from 'tells Doom he got a single calculation wrong in college, leading to Doom suffering a tiny scar' to 'Caused Doom to be exposed to unnatural Cosmic energies in space.'

He keeps staring. If it was really him, I'd assume that his heads-up display was showing him something. Since it's a Doombot, I assume that it's awaiting instructions. Doom himself might actually be using it to speak to me now.

"Doom does not require assistance, especially not from you."

It would be gratifying if Doom actually took note of him at that moment. If nothing else, it means you interested Doom.

"Clearly. But it might be helpful; speeding certain projects up, or encouraging people to listen to you who might otherwise be prejudiced against you." I take another sip of hot chocolate, in case he wants to say something. No? Alright. "I'm not Doctor Richards or Anthony Stark. I know that I'm nothing like as intelligent as you. But that doesn't mean that I'm useless."

Yeah, M!OL's not even in the top ten of 'smartest people in the Marvel Universe.' Mostly because he has the Ring do all the complicated thinking whenever he Wants something done...

I put my left hand on the part of my shirt covering the ring.

"May I?"

A risky gesture, certainly. But asking permission from Doom first makes it likely he's not going to engage in any American foolishness.

"Doom will permit this."

I reach in and put the ring on, the environmental shield activating at once. But I don't don my armour.

Very wise. I wonder if he uses something modelled on SHIELD agent gear for light armour? He almost certainly uses something closer to Stark's armour designs (with permission from the creator, of course) for heavy armour...

"I found this in the Antarctic while bailing out one of my daughter's field trips." A small box materialises on the table in front of him. "My gift to you. And while I make no demands, I would respectfully recommend that you use it for something which demonstrates to the rest of the world that I already know; that you are a great untapped resource."

That daughter being Rogue, of the X-Men (the 'Wolverine &' incarnation?) Funny that while the other one romanced the older version, this one adopted the younger one.

He picks up the box, staring at it and presumably running some sort of scanner over it. It's not critically important because he's not actually here, but there's such a thing as keeping up appearances.

Satisfied, he opens it, revealing the small ingots of Antarctic vibranium I recovered from the Savage Land. I've… Chosen not to tell T'Challa that I copied the machines he uses for processing it.

...Aw, shit!

That's something significant. Antarctic Vibranium is bad news.

He stares for a moment, and then closes the box keeps it firmly grasped in his left hand. "Doom accepts this tribute, and shall consider what you have said. Now GO."

I down the last of the chocolate as I rise to my feet, leave the.. last of my Latverian currency as a tip along with the cup, pick up the pastry, bow deferentially to His Majesty Doctor Victor von Doom, King of Latveria, and then transition to my fallback point just outside of Latveria.

When Doom gives an order like that, you do not fuck around and find out.

I thought that went w-.

You have twenty one messages.

Because of course private communications aren't a thing in Latveria.

Naturally he put the Ring on 'airplane' mode for the duration?

Are they all from the same person?

Yes.

I wonder if the Avengers knew he was coming here?

Is it Janet?

Yes.

Because of course it is.

Janet Van Dyne? The might Wasp? Well, now.

Just call Janet.

Calling 'Jan-

"She's not going to the prom!"

...Oh, this is about Rogue? I mean, given her powerset, even protected by whatever countermeasures the smartest people on Earth can provide her, would she want to be around average teenagers?

-et'.

"Janet, hi, sorry I couldn't-"

Good luck getting any words in edge-wise, Paulie.

"She's not going to the prom, Paul! The PROM!"

"-pick up. And… Um, okay? Did she-"

To a social butterfly like Janet, that would be a disaster on par with Galactus stopping by for a Himalaya-sized snack...

"It's tomorrow! She can't not go to the prom! It's social suicide!"

"-say why? I-. If there's no one that she wants to go with-."

And I really hope she isn't interested in Gambit. He's just a little older than her in this one...

"It's because-. She doesn't want to go if she can't touch the guy she's with. I though the force field fixed that?"

"It's not a hundred percent reliable. It would cover hand-holding fairly reliably for a few hours, but after that-."

And anything more than that is right out. Can you just imagine M!OL serving as her father, giving the boy a shovel speech, complete with construct shovel?

"But it's not even that bad!"

"She's a bit fixated, but don't panic. I know someone she can go with."

Man, with these two as her legal guardians, she must have a lively home life...

"Ah, I don't think sending Leech to a mutant school-."

"No, not Leech."

Yeah, I don't think AoE anti-mutant-power powers are gonna go down too well at Xavier's. The few times he's attended, he either had enough control to suppress the AoE or technological assistance.

"Good, because he's not a bad guy? But she's kinda totally out of his league. Wait, you're not thinking of Sebastian-?"

"No? He's my age. Just-. Leave it with me. Just… Help her with her dress and whatever else she needs. I'll be back in about an hour."

Ick. Yeah, I'd rather see her with a teenage Gambit than the leader of the Hellfire Club's mutant inner circle.

"Okay. Okay. Consider it managed. Just make sure he's… Good."

"I will. Thank you, Janet. You're indispensable."

I mean, dating a villain can work - just ask Batman - but it can get awkward if they're on a team you fight regularly.

So, this is going to be our side-plot for the episode, eh? Or at least one of them. A fatherly and Avenger-y alternate OL raising an adopted daughter who can drain the life and powers out of people... I suppose having him in her phonebook makes some X-Men missions easier if she can call him in as the cavalry.

Vaermina · 2026-03-26T07:53:08+0000

Mr Zoat said:
15th June 2012
15:26 GMT +2
Earth 8096

You know... I'm starting to think the only versions of Paul that aren't massivly destructive to everything around them are those who don't have access to Orange Power Rings.

Because there is no fixing Doom so long as Reed Richards exists.

BR549 · 2026-03-26T08:01:35+0000

...what even is that hairstyle Wolverine and the X-Men Rogue has anyway? Sheesh.

Chojin Patriarch said:
Which, depending on continuity (and the current backstory at any particular point) ranged from 'tells Doom he got a single calculation wrong in college, leading to Doom suffering a tiny scar' to 'Caused Doom to be exposed to unnatural Cosmic energies in space.'

I forget what backstory, if any, EMH gave Doom and Reed, but EMH Doom was a key part in defeating that continuity's Skrull invasion, giving Tony the key pieces he needed for his Skrull detector to become a Skrull reverter.

"This world is mine to rule, and mine alone. These...reptiles may not have it."

Duke Long · 2026-03-26T08:09:24+0000

Mr Zoat said:
Even if I am getting a Doombot. You found a way to block my scans, the weight as roughly what I estimate yours is and it even breathes. What it doesn't do is use oxygen.

'is'

Mr Zoat said:
"I hope that by learning more about Latveria and it's culture, I would learn something that would help me to become more persuasive in my missives to you. I doubted that I would see you in person, but… Here you are. I'm carrying no weapons other than the ring, which in deference to Latverian weapon control laws I'm not wearing. If you wish for me to leave, then I will of course do so at once."

'hoped'?
'its'

Mr Zoat said:
"I feel that you have the capacity to be a tremendous benefit to humanity, and that your feud with Doctor Richards -not that I'm attempting to minimise the significance of what he did to you- is distracting you for making progress in that direction. So I was wondering if there was something that I could do that would help you in that regard."

'from'

Mr Zoat said:
"I found this in the Antarctic while bailing out one of my daughter's field trips." A small box materialises on the table in front of him. "My gift to you. And while I make no demands, I would respectfully recommend that you use it for something which demonstrates to the rest of the world that I already know; that you are a great untapped resource."

'that which'?

Mr Zoat said:
He stares for a moment, and then closes the box keeps it firmly grasped in his left hand. "Doom accepts this tribute, and shall consider what you have said. Now GO."

', then closes the box and keeps'?

Mr Zoat said:
"It's because-. She doesn't want to go if she can't touch the guy she's with. I though the force field fixed that?"

'thought'

The prom! Hahaha, such a funny thing from American television.

Mr Zoat · 2026-03-26T08:40:47+0000

Duke Long said:
'is'
'hoped'?
'its'
'from'
'that which'?
', then closes the box and keeps'?
'thought'

Thank you, corrected.

The prom! Hahaha, such a funny thing from American television.

Those zany Americans, what will they think of next?

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

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This is filth! FILTH!!

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