1. Due to issues with external spam filters, QQ is currently unable to send any mail to Microsoft E-mail addresses. This includes any account at live.com, hotmail.com or msn.com. Signing up to the forum with one of these addresses will result in your verification E-mail never arriving. For best results, please use a different E-mail provider for your QQ address.
    Dismiss Notice
  2. For prospective new members, a word of warning: don't use common names like Dennis, Simon, or Kenny if you decide to create an account. Spammers have used them all before you and gotten those names flagged in the anti-spam databases. Your account registration will be rejected because of it.
    Dismiss Notice
  3. Since it has happened MULTIPLE times now, I want to be very clear about this. You do not get to abandon an account and create a new one. You do not get to pass an account to someone else and create a new one. If you do so anyway, you will be banned for creating sockpuppets.
    Dismiss Notice
  4. If you wish to change your username, please ask via conversation to tehelgee instead of asking via my profile. I'd like to not clutter it up with such requests.
    Dismiss Notice
  5. Due to the actions of particularly persistent spammers and trolls, we will be banning disposable email addresses from today onward.
    Dismiss Notice
  6. A note about the current Ukraine situation: Discussion of it is still prohibited as per Rule 8
    Dismiss Notice
  7. The rules regarding NSFW links have been updated. See here for details.
    Dismiss Notice
  8. The testbed for the QQ XF2 transition is now publicly available. Please see more information here.
    Dismiss Notice

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

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

Loading...
  1. Someguy Somewhere

    Someguy Somewhere The Critical Fumbler

    Joined:
    Jan 26, 2019
    Messages:
    590
    Likes Received:
    3,905
    If you want to compare to other fictional cloning.

    Under the old EU, cloning for troopers was slow, age accelerated only made them grow up twice as fast. This wasn't because they wanted to wait around 10 years to start the war, the army was planned to start 10 years in advance with that limit in mind.

    Clone tech for a full grown clone had problems going faster, this was explored in the original Thrawn trilogy as something of an Echo in the Force, which distorted the clone's mind. Thrawn got around that by using a force blocking creature to insulate the clones during maturation, which left them free of external influence.

    On the other hand, there's the Halo series Flash Clones.

    Similar idea, but rather then distorted mentally, it was physically, with the rapidly grown clones instead dying within a few years. But they seemed to have a fully functional mind leading up to that. No idea how they handled the mental duplication, but that seemed to be an aspect of their clones, as digitization of a flash cloned brain of a character is how they ended up with Cortana the AI, which had physical and mental resemblance to her 'mother'.
     
    Ardy likes this.
  2. Threadmarks: Otherworld (part 3)
    Mr Zoat

    Mr Zoat Dedicated ragequitter

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2016
    Messages:
    14,700
    Likes Received:
    729,212
    28th April
    09:28 GMT -5


    "…because I'm somehow the 'most evil'." Magnificus grimaces imperiously. "'Most evil'. The nerve of it."

    "They are working to save the world from alien invasion while you're working for Lex Luthor."

    "I can't quit! With Arnold-. Hugo gone, I'm running the place. I'm somewhat aware of the nature of Lex's other business, but alchemical research needs to continue and I don't see anyone else funding it."

    "And Nyssa's there."

    "It does make things easier." He gives his head a small shake. "I really don't think that they can claim to have reformed just because they're not-" He looks around as we walk through the Hall of Justice. "-'acting out' at the moment, that suddenly all of their misdeeds have just vanished."

    "If it helps, their behaviour might not matter. Unless they change their internal moral beliefs they can't get into Heaven."

    He frowns sceptically. "You said that you weren't impressed by Heaven. That you'd rather go to Erebos."

    "True, but I'm not them."

    "I doubt that they'd like Heaven any more than you did. And after you mentioned Hell's unique form of arcane engineering I wouldn't be surprised if they were positively looking forward to it."

    "Having another ally as a leading figure in Hell could be useful."

    "Regardless of their spurious assertion, I'm not fond of acting as their messenger. If they want to pass information to the Justice League this badly they should just have sent an e-mail. Or used a robot courier."

    "This helps with plausible deniability."

    He rolls his eyes as I scan my key card and let us into the 'backstage' area of the Hall.

    "Yes, where could Magnificus Sivana have come by this information? A person hardly needs to possess Sivanic intelligence to deduce the most likely source."

    "'Plausible'. Not 'probable'. And are you sure that your disquiet isn't just down to the fact that you don't think you could beat Superboy in a fight?"

    "No, I'm over all that. My focus is -and always should have been- on my intellectual achievements. What is Superboy majoring in?"

    "His High School diploma? I think he's taking a mechanical engineering after school course."

    "Let me know if he wants any help with that."

    "You can ask him yourself."

    "Yes, but it's bad form to just walk up to someone who thinks they have a secure secret identity. Particularly if one wants to keep out of all of that business. No offence intended."

    "None taken. I'd much rather that more scientists of your calibre kept their minds on their research rather than mass murder or world domination."

    He nods, apparently satisfied with that division of labour.

    I scan my key card again through the reader attached to the conference room.

    "Just in here."

    I walk through the doorway and hold it open for Magnificus as he strolls in, not showing particular interest in the Justice League members waiting for him. William wanted to be here when he heard the name 'Sivana', Batman and Mr Hol are here in their capacity as intelligence analysts and Angelica is here as duty magician. John Stewart and Guy are here, and Guy gives me a smile and a jaunty wave as we make eye contact.

    Magnificus looks at the empty position at the foot of the table, sniffs, then pulls a holographic drone out of his pocket and lightly tosses it into the air. It swiftly rights itself and projects an image of the Sheeda-seeming warlock from Kennedy. After some pressure he gave his name as 'He-Died-For-Thee Bennett', though he would not be drawn on who the 'He' in his slogan-name referred to. My guess would be either Jesus or Melmoth.

    "We have good data on Sheeda weapons and behavior. We know that they're coming here soon, and we're all trying to be as ready as we can. But we don't know what Melmoth is planning, and there's a high likelihood that his people have further information on the Queen-aligned Sheeda that no one on Earth has access to." The image is replaced by one of Beulah Bleak. "Despite Klarion's death Orange Lantern managed to arrange things so that the witch-hunters left on less than friendly terms."

    He's not wrong. The rest of them weren't any more impressed by that sojourn into Hell than Beulah was.

    "Nonetheless… 'Certain contacts of mine' believe that they can open a portal to the parallel world which these 'witch-people' come from. They also believe that the Justice League is best placed to make contact with their government and handle relations with them. Their indoctrinated hatred of all things Sheeda should make them natural allies, and the presence of an angel or two should appeal to their religious sensibilities."

    William frowns. "Who exactly are 'certain contacts'?"

    "People of whom it might be useful for you to be able to later honestly claim that you had no knowledge."

    Batman inclines his head slightly.

    "We will of course verify the technique your contacts recommend."

    "Of course. I would be almost insulted if you didn't."

    "Yeah." William points at him. "See, it's when you say things like that that I get worried."

    "Because the League is practicing basic data network security?" Magnificus dismisses William with a shake of his head. "One of the difficulties with the method they employed is that there is a substantial delay between when their pathways can be opened. Anyone you send will have to have a convincing excuse as to why their 'secret identity' is absenting themselves from their regular work, perhaps for months."

    Which means that Kal-El can't really go. Batman could… Maybe. Jordan can if he brings Arisia. Mr Allen and King Orin can't. So… Probably Diana leading the mission? And if my team mates aren't skiving… I can go, as can Zatanna, Garth, Tula, Roy, Canis, Starfire… But maybe I need to recuse myself? It's not as if I'm actually repentant… But I'm also carrying a power ring that will let me study alien technology better than anything any of the League members might have can.

    Angelica makes a circling motion with her right hand.

    "And will your 'contacts' wish to accompany us? Or expect us to share our discoveries with them?"

    Magnificus huffs quietly.

    "I believe that they feel that they will be able to access your records, whether you wish them to or not. As such, neither issue is a material consideration for them."

    William's eyes widen slightly and he looks at Batman in genuine concern. When Batman doesn't really respond he moves to Hawkman and then looks around the room at the rest of us.

    "Doesn't that worry anyone else?"

    Mr Hol shakes his head.

    "If these 'contacts' are members of Dr Sivana's family, they are already perfectly capable of designing weapons which could end human civilisation. There is no greater risk in them gaining the ability to make civilisation-ending weapons which make use of Sheeda technology."

    "An' if we're not goin' after them 'cause we think they only really wanna fight the Sheeda anyway, where's the harm in makin' 'em better at it?" Guy shrugs. "Way I see it, either they're a problem and we should be all over it, or they're not. So yeah, let's go talk t' tha witches."

    Batman nods. "Thank you, Doctor Sivana. You will have a response from the Justice League by the end of the day."
     
    Last edited: Aug 22, 2020
  3. Idkusername

    Idkusername Versed in the lewd.

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2019
    Messages:
    1,463
    Likes Received:
    13,996
    Okay, now I really want to see how the Sivana family reunion went.

    Oh, and Ted’s date, of course.
     
  4. Ardy

    Ardy I trust you know where the happy button is?

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2017
    Messages:
    641
    Likes Received:
    3,472
    I will be greatly amused if Paul isn't actually asked to come, for the reasons he stated. And he gets miffed about it.
     
  5. Darko

    Darko Connoisseur.

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2019
    Messages:
    22,136
    Likes Received:
    320,303
    Guess I was half right about this episode involving the Fae.

    This sentence feels a bit weird.

    Maybe 'it could not'

    I know this is the Russian guy, but what is Kori doing now, seeing as it's been several days, like 16 days, since she came to Earth?

    Did she go back home, or is she still trying out Alan's ring?
     
  6. moralrelativity

    moralrelativity Recovering pendant.

    Joined:
    Dec 2, 2016
    Messages:
    873
    Likes Received:
    3,602
    I hope the Justice League really appreciate how much Paul contributes. There is no way they'd ever have known about the Sheeda nor secured the assistance of the Sivana's without him.
     
  7. Mr Zoat

    Mr Zoat Dedicated ragequitter

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2016
    Messages:
    14,700
    Likes Received:
    729,212
    Thank you, corrected.
    Gone home.
     
  8. Darko

    Darko Connoisseur.

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2019
    Messages:
    22,136
    Likes Received:
    320,303
    Well she'll certainly have an interesting story to tell her parents and sister.

    Hope she gets a Blue Ring in the near future.

    Is Kori going to get her own Blue Ring sometime in the future of this story?
     
  9. Chojin Patriarch

    Chojin Patriarch Veteran Lurker

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2019
    Messages:
    2,150
    Likes Received:
    33,441
    And clearly that's worse. Terrible, in fact.

    Because even a man like Magnificus must follow his heart.

    And they're not likely to adopt any other religion. If any at all. They'll probably get caught by the Abrahamic faiths' afterlife by default. Presuming they're talking about his father and younger sibllings.

    But could they bring themselves to perform the necessary rituals and the like to a greek god? What god would even fit the Sivana family?

    Of course they'd be running things inside a day of dying. Demons are generally dumb.

    Which is important to the League. Can't be seen to be associating with known criminals.

    He could simply be passing on 'suspicions overheard on a family day together'..

    Another point of difference to Superman. Good to see him striking out on his own.

    It would be a little rude. And it's hard to meet him in an on-the-clock capacity either.

    Especially since ruling the world wouldn't leave much time for lab work.

    The question is, what's he consulting about? Clearly something Sheeda-related...

    A fairly focused group. Leaning a bit more towards the darker side of the heroing business, barring Captain Marvel.

    That'd be about right for the devout protestants the Witch-worlders were inspired by/descended from.

    I am not surprised. She seemed like a hardliner amongst hardliners.

    So, this sounds like the main thrust of the episode. A JL delegation meeting with a suspicious, uptight people.

    People who the UN might have issues with them having contact with...

    Trust, but Verify. Classic Bats.

    Oh, please. How often do OL's plans go astray... ;) Don't answer that.

    Or send someone who doesn't have a civilian role or duties here. Or can get there and back under their own power. Not a long list.

    Joy. And meanwhile, all hell could break loose while they're away. This is one place a specialised Dolmen Gate could help...

    In short, will the rest of the Sivana family be making appearances?

    I like the implied threat involved in those few words. Not that the Sivanas consider it that.

    You're letting past experience colour your expectations, Billy. See what Solomon has to say about it, maybe that'll make you feel better?

    True enough. The Sivanas don't want to blow Earth up, though. There's stuff they like there.

    Now, will that response be good or bad? I'm sure we'll find out soon enough...

    The biggest drawback of alternate dimensions: access. I hope whoever they send is prepared for a long stay if something goes wrong... At any rate, more preparation for the eventual Sheeda invasion is always good.
     
  10. Handlewithcare

    Handlewithcare Versed in the lewd.

    Joined:
    Feb 6, 2019
    Messages:
    1,289
    Likes Received:
    12,979
    I still thoroughly enjoy all the Sivanas.

    So far Paul has found dates for three out of four children, right?

    He will get to babysit soooo many super brats :sneaky::D
     
  11. Darko

    Darko Connoisseur.

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2019
    Messages:
    22,136
    Likes Received:
    320,303
    Georgia seemed to be a fan of Plutos, even if she was more of a fan of his fake identity, assuming she didn't know he was a god, and seeing as the Sivanas may have some experience with magic she may have known.

    Hephaestus is also a good bet.

    They're already associating with people we would charitably call 'utter monsters'.

    Canis is an example.

    And while Barda and Angelica no longer engage in evil stuff remember that both of them have at least centuries worth of evil under their belt before they reformed.

    Angelica tortured souls in a miniature Hell for thousands of years, and Barda probably killed countless people in the name of Darkseid, and I'm going to assume a lot of them were innocent.

    They already know the League has a former demon as a member, and after the attack on Shiruta they may be aware of Apokalips and that two people that once worked for its ruler are League affiliates, so they may not have all that much of a problem.

    I will answer that!

    Honestly his plans don't really go astray as much as you think.

    Yes sometimes things don't go right, but that can mostly be attributed to something unexpected happening and not some innate flaw in his planning.

    Billy doesn't talk to Solomon the same way Adom talks to Zehuti, he just gets the wisdom.

    Plus Solomon himself may be uncomfortable with this.

    I can just imagine him being made their godfather.
     
  12. nick012000

    nick012000 Gone for Good

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2013
    Messages:
    4,553
    Likes Received:
    12,681
    So, odds that there’ll be seven members of the Justice League team heading to Witchworld?
     
  13. TheEyes

    TheEyes Well worn.

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2018
    Messages:
    5,045
    Likes Received:
    49,810
    "And what do you expect me to do about that? I'm just arbitrarily wealthy, have contacts with every major magical and magical-adjacent organization on Earth, am more trustworthy and less evil that Lex Luthor, and have on multiple occasions derided other people for wasting time face-punching evil rather than doing things more productive for society, while openly spending most of my time over the past several months doing the exact same thing. What, do you want me to be actually relevant?"

    Did you mean "recuse"? "Recluse" isn't a verb, and doesn't really mean what you're trying to say here, although neither does "recuse", really, since that's meant to have legal connotations. Maybe "excuse" would be better?
     
  14. RichardWhereat

    RichardWhereat Aia airëa Fëanáro.

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2016
    Messages:
    2,842
    Likes Received:
    15,034
    Huh. This is the hundredth episode. Congratulations Zoat.
     
  15. Darko

    Darko Connoisseur.

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2019
    Messages:
    22,136
    Likes Received:
    320,303
    He has actually been doing lots of things to improve the planet, and wider galaxy, aside from face punching.

    In case you forgot, the previous episode was basically a number of chapters that focused on the improvements he's been making.

    Though yeah, him not funding Magni and putting him in contact with Atlantis is very weird.

    Hundred and one technically.

    The previous episode was the hundredth.
     
  16. Mr Zoat

    Mr Zoat Dedicated ragequitter

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2016
    Messages:
    14,700
    Likes Received:
    729,212
    The SI doesn't have the skills to run a business, and Ted Kord is at his limit.
    Thank you, corrected.
    Atlantis now has enough surface contact that he doesn't need the SI's help to do that. However, the aquatic environment and dominant scholastic authodoxies orthodoxies means that Atlanteans don't really do much alchemy.
     
    Last edited: Aug 7, 2020
  17. TheEyes

    TheEyes Well worn.

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2018
    Messages:
    5,045
    Likes Received:
    49,810
    The previous episode was all the stuff OL did before heading off to Vega still paying dividends, and really just highlighted that almost everything he's done since returning from Vega has been either direct face-punching with the Team (or independently, for example when Heaven decided to put the planet on lockdown to hunt him), or face-punching adjacent, like recruiting two mages for the Justice League (who, amazingly, seem to still be the only mages officially on the JL roster).

    The SI didn't have the skills to practice law, either; he had the ring download those into his head in an hour or so. Moreover, there are millions of MBAs out there who would be happy to run the business for OL; he'd even get some fairly ethical, diligent ones, the kind who can't get hired at the more cutthroat enterprises for being too ethical, if he decided to set the whole thing up as a non-profit. Hell, Wayne would likely have a good stable of them around, and while maybe he's too biased to start up a "Wayne Arcana" subsidiary himself, I'm sure he'd be happy to support any initiative which began with: "I want to set up a archeotech company to prevent LexCorp from having a monopoly in the alchemy space."
     
  18. Diraniola

    Diraniola I trust you know where the happy button is?

    Joined:
    Dec 2, 2016
    Messages:
    771
    Likes Received:
    5,653
    Pun detected.
     
    Xmaster3000 and Prince Charon like this.
  19. Darko

    Darko Connoisseur.

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2019
    Messages:
    22,136
    Likes Received:
    320,303
    He also helped the Gordanians from getting killed to the last, helped those gnomes figure out a way to adapt to modern society, helped make Hell a better place, got the Angels to consider eating the fruit to give them knowledge, helped reform a Nazi that can potentially also help her Earth reform, saved Kara, made new avenues for magical research etc.

    All of these are things he did after coming back from Vega.


    The reason the League has only two magicians now is probably because there aren't all that many powerful magicians to recruit for the types of threats the JL faces, or the magicians don't want to join for one reason or another, like that woman who got Merlins book and couldn't join because of a time schedule.

    The reason we aren't shown uplift work in every single, or even most, episode is because people tend to prefer watching fights.

    Most people are going to prefer watching Hulk Hogan fighting Dwayne Johnson over watching a scientific lecture between Richard Dawkins and Stephen Hawking.

    OL has already started a revolution in magic and tech, people are already taking initiative while previously they didn't, so he doesn't have to do every single thing now.

    Other people should also take initiative and not rely on one guy to do everything for them.

    Batman can also do these things that you think OL should do.

    He's rich and has connections to magical contacts, like Orin who can get some Atlanteans to help.

    If people don't take initiative to improve their world when they can do it then OL may decide to stop caring for them since he doesn't want to essentially wipe the ass of someone that can do it themselves.

    The SI also probably has training from the League in matters of law for things like giving testimony, but they probably don't teach people how to run a business.

    Downloading the necessary knowledge on how to run a business may not actually give him the skills.

    People can memorise math equations, but they may not know anything about what they actually mean.

    Didn't really intend it to be a pun.
     
    Frank Iannetta, Cuchulin and Ngamer11 like this.
  20. TheEyes

    TheEyes Well worn.

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2018
    Messages:
    5,045
    Likes Received:
    49,810
    The thing is that they're not taking that initiative without OL himself involved somewhere in the process, even if it's just organizing things or giving people marching orders. OL had to make suggestions to Ted Kond and Lex Luthor in order to get them to start their magitech divisions, and went to Sephitian directly multiple times to get him to start going more into practical magical research.

    This is a separate issue from the UN's political laziness: there is evidence to support a multi-century effort (possibly spearheaded by Boss Smiley) to prevent magic from becoming mainstream, and for now only OL seems to be able to push back against whatever force is being brought to bear on Earth. Moreover, OL has already leaned on the scale, only he did it back when he thought Lex Luthor could be turned, that he wasn't wholly committed to being unrepentantly evil. Thus, OL has already created an alchemy business and handed it off to a business manager, except he only created one and he handed it off to Luthor, ensuring that the only alchemy business that can and will exist will serve to enrich the Caveman and his brain-dead plans to enslave Earth.

    In other words, at this point setting up a competitor to Luthor isn't "[relying] on one guy to do everything for them," it's fixing OL's previous mistake in trusting Luthor.
     
    Bramble Thorn, Cuchulin, Ardy and 3 others like this.
  21. Darko

    Darko Connoisseur.

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2019
    Messages:
    22,136
    Likes Received:
    320,303
    Good point about the Luthor thing, but remember that OL may not fully believe that Boss Smiley is behind everything.

    Luthor also may not be the only one in the alchemy business because Wally seems to be working with Ted Kord so the possibility of him expanding into alchemy sometime in the future is a possibility.

    Wally is also a skilled alchemist and it may be easier for them to sell their products because one of Luthors lead researchers is a Sivana, someone that people may be reluctant to trust due to his families history.

    He can also get easier access to magical equipment seeing as he has connections in Atlantis.

    OL also told Luthor about alchemy before he knew he was on the Light and involved in so much supervillainy. Yeah he knew he was involved in some shit, but not in things like Roanoke when he suggested it.

    Luthor already has a competitor in tech and magic in Kord.

    They already have been taking their own initiative when OL isn't around, even if most of it is offscreen.
     
    Ngamer11 likes this.
  22. Coda

    Coda Versed in the lewd.

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2019
    Messages:
    1,079
    Likes Received:
    4,181
    "And it sank into the swamp!"

    Some Native American traditions also have a myth about an ancient hunter being taught how to make a flute to help his insomnia. Greek myth has Hermes putting a giant to sleep with music before slaying it, and Hermes was associated with the pan flute (Pan himself was the son of Hermes).

    In more modern media: Pokemon has a Grass Whistle move that causes sleep, and Harry Potter has a flute that puts Fluffy to sleep.

    Normally I would have chalked this up to dialogue, but this is a Sivana. "neither issue is a material consideration for them."

    Generally, sure, but there are plenty of dangerously intelligent ones. It's like saying animals are generally dumb. There's a big span of what constitutes "demons."

    I dunno, I've seen some pretty good lectures.
     
  23. Darko

    Darko Connoisseur.

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2019
    Messages:
    22,136
    Likes Received:
    320,303
    While there are some highly intelligent demons they do tend to be fairly emotionally volatile and immature in that department.

    They tend to be prone to allowing their worst traits to take over.

    The only ones I don't think do this are Satanus and Mammon after OL altered him.

    Georgia is a student of social behavior, so manipulating even the intelligent ones may be in her capabilities.

    As for what constitutes demons here, we'll that's the arcane beings that were born in the Abrahamic Hell.

    True, but in average people still prefer watching fights.
     
  24. Mr Zoat

    Mr Zoat Dedicated ragequitter

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2016
    Messages:
    14,700
    Likes Received:
    729,212
    Thank you, corrected.
     
  25. Ardy

    Ardy I trust you know where the happy button is?

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2017
    Messages:
    641
    Likes Received:
    3,472
    Now Zoat, I’ve been a loyal reader for years now, and I have at last a solid suggestion to make.

    Put OL into the following universe!

     
  26. RichardWhereat

    RichardWhereat Aia airëa Fëanáro.

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2016
    Messages:
    2,842
    Likes Received:
    15,034
    He'd need a violet ring for that one.
     
    Gilhelmi, Assblaster5000 and Darko like this.
  27. Darko

    Darko Connoisseur.

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2019
    Messages:
    22,136
    Likes Received:
    320,303
    OL always seemed like a more thoughtful and artistic soul to me, so maybe he can be put in this universe:



    He would be a great help to Hatred in getting rid of his pedophile desires.

    Yes Hunter may try to stop him from advancing the world, but if OL offers to change him into a woman then I think he'd be okay.

    And he can find out if Dr Missus The Monarch is really a woman with a very deep voice, or a guy that had a sex change.

    Now the question is, who he would romance, The Alchemist or Shore Leave.
     
    Cuchulin and Ngamer11 like this.
  28. Threadmarks: Otherworld (part 4)
    Mr Zoat

    Mr Zoat Dedicated ragequitter

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2016
    Messages:
    14,700
    Likes Received:
    729,212
    29th April
    10:17 GMT -5


    "Aw man." Wallace grouches as he slumps in his chair. "Couldn't they do this over summer vacation?"

    Richard shakes his head. "We don't know when the Sheeda are going to arrive. This… Can't wait."

    "Yeah, I.. know." Wallace sighs. "I'm just bummed out that I'm missing going to an alien planet."

    Canis shakes his head. "Most worlds are less interesting than you might think. If it truly vexes you, I can just open a boom tube to somewhere for you?"

    Wallace perks up. "Really? Thanks, dude."

    Artemis's eyes narrow. "Wait. What's the catch?"

    "There is no catch." Canis shrugs in disinterest, then hesitates. "Though perhaps I should warn you that most of the worlds I visited… Do not remember New Gods kindly. And of course you would not be able to speak with anyone."

    "I'm not a New God."

    "If you were to enter by boom tube while wearing that costume and moving as you do, the locals may simply assume." He shrugs. "I would remonstrate with them for the insult, but the notion that you could be-" He chuckles. "-one of us is so ridiculous to anyone who knows anything of the New Gods that it hardly seems worth it. Slaying an imbecile is hardly gratifying."

    "I.. think.. perhaps…" Angelika clenches her right fist nervously. "Imbeciles have something to offer?"

    Raquel puts her right hand on Angelika's left shoulder. "No, no. Like this. Canis?"

    "Yes?"

    "Shut the hell up."

    At the head of the room, Kaldur takes a breath, readying himself to restore order. But Canis doesn't seem particularly perturbed.

    "Not unless she asks. I want to see the moment when she puts her new understanding of her nature into practice."

    Angelika takes a deep breath and draws herself up slightly. "Canis, shut the hell up."

    He smiles, gives her a mock bow from his seat and then settles back, pulling out a tablet upon which he begins outlining a new artwork of some kind.

    Kaldur nods his head slightly. "To return us to the question at hand; Batman has requested that anyone who wishes to accompany the League's mission to the parallel universe should make themselves known. Those members of the team who are attending school are obviously ineligible."

    Which… Actually isn't the majority of our team any more. We've gone from being a sidekick team to a mixed-age training team. Or… Given that I was going to be offered a Justice League place prior to killing Nabu, a mixed age Justice League affiliated team that happens to include some trainees.

    "I'll be putting my name forward, though given why the witch-hunters left Batman might decide to turn me down."

    Zatanna nods. "I'm going to volunteer. I want to see what a society shaped by magic.. that isn't Atlantis, looks like."

    Richard looks sceptical. "Is your father going to be okay with that?"

    She shrugs. "I'll convince him."

    Angelika shakes her head. "I do not think I have much to offer this mission. And I do not think that I should represent this Earth to parallel universes."

    Lantern Rrab makes a gesture of equivocation. "Whether or not I go will be up to Lantern Jordan."

    Ghia'ta nods. "I am in the same position, and.. I.. doubt that Carol will be invited on the League mission."

    Amon shakes his head. "Neither my brother-in-law or my sister will allow me to miss so many lessons with my tutors. Unless there is some special need for me, I should say no."

    Noriel thinks, then shakes her head. "Zauriel is serving as my shepherd, and I do not think that he will be pleased with me travelling to a world where they make such common use of unclean magics."

    Leonid nods. "Russia needs this information. My choice is simple."

    Canis smiles at Angelika, then rapidly signs his response.

    My presence has been requested, since my Aunt and Uncle have prior commitments. My Mother Box will be our primary route of egress should the Savannahs betray us.

    Roy appears to understand Canis's response, and then nods his own. "I'm in."

    Garth frowns thoughtfully. "Which of the League's magicians are going?"

    Kaldur shakes his head. "Batman has not informed me. I imagine that they are still determining their team's composition now. But putting your name forward does not mean that you will go, just that you are willing to go if you are asked."

    He nods, then he and Tula make eye contract for a moment before nodding.

    "Then we volunteer."

    I suppose that with them being soldiers they don't have the same degree of freedom to choose that us unpaid volunteers have. And that just leaves Kaldur himself.

    "I will also be volunteering, though given the content of the mission brief I do not expect to be selected. I will inform Batman of your decisions at the end of this meeting."

    Kon folds his arms across his chest. "So what are the rest of us doing?"

    "We will participate in planning for the mission, but while it is ongoing those who remain will more frequently be called upon to act as support for the Justice League."

    Wallace smiles. "Think I can live with that. Oh, hey." He turns to me. "See if you can pick me up some alchemy textbooks while you're over there."

    "Will do. I'll be trying to get hold of examples of their arcane machinery as well as their Sheeda-derived stuff."

    Richard smiles. "Klepto-Lantern strikes again."

    "Wouldn't that imply that I just steal lanterns?"

    "Kleptomaniacs don't just steal maniacs, Oh El."

    "Fair point. And no, I'm going to trade for them. As far as I could tell from their last visit they don't have much of an understanding of magic theory."

    Kaldur regards me levelly. "This will be a Justice League mission. If you are invited, you should not make any trades that you have not cleared with the mission leader."

    I raise my hands. "I know. I'm not going to deliberately undermine anyone, though I won't promise that I won't make a few deals on the side."

    Noriel scowls. "If you raise the dead then I will burn them."

    "I'm not going to raise the dead-" A few eyebrows are raised. "-using witch-sign, because that only works on people with Sheeda blood and because I'm only interested in true resurrection which the people of witch-world don't try for theological reasons."

    Zatanna pats me on my right arm. "And because you can't use normal magic anyway."

    I hold up my right hand and make a construct in the shape of the grundymen command sigil which the witch-hunters used.

    "Yeah, that too." I look at Kaldur. "Shall I do a full briefing on our previous encounters with them?"
     
    Last edited: Aug 7, 2020
  29. Mr Zoat

    Mr Zoat Dedicated ragequitter

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2016
    Messages:
    14,700
    Likes Received:
    729,212
    [​IMG]
     
  30. Idkusername

    Idkusername Versed in the lewd.

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2019
    Messages:
    1,463
    Likes Received:
    13,996
    So... why can’t OL use magic? His ring should make short work of rituals or runic circles and the like.
     
    ChestBurster, Relyt33 and Xmaster3000 like this.
Loading...