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

EgyptianDio · Nov 21, 2023

Dear Presence… I guess in a world like DC there had to be at least one moron like this.

Silverias · Nov 21, 2023

Mr Zoat said:
"Shake my hand."

This needs to be linked to "Friends on the Other Side."

Lord Ernest · Nov 21, 2023

Been a while since we saw Grayven, I was even a bit lost about what was going on.

Is this convenient timing or has this Perry White (Luthor) Jr. been on this deal for a while and got caught recently due to Grayven's interest in Succubus stuff?

EgyptianDio said:
Dear Presence… I guess in a world like DC there had to be at least one moron like this.

Honestly, comic universes usually have more than one, more than a handful even, there's normally a whole lot of those available.

moralrelativity · Nov 21, 2023

Mr Zoat said:
Improbably breast-waist-hips ratio

Improbably -> Improbable

Ngamer11 · Nov 21, 2023

Mr Zoat said:
Mr. White winces as he wish is pushed into the room, bound hand, foot and neck with enchanted bonds of iron, the neck bracket attached to poles held by federal agents on work experience.

That should say 'his'.

Mr Zoat said:
"You're a demon. And while the two aren't necessarily contradictory, I had Mister Constantine go through your alleged paperwork."

"Constan-? … Fuuuuuuuuuuuck."

"Not quite sure what he's got that I haven't, but sure. Be worried about him." I gesture to two agents accompanying her. "As you can see, the United States of America is a little better prepared to handle things relating to magic these days."

What does the Renegade have to do to become even more terrifying than Constantine for demons? Will it only happen once he starts his Harrowing of Hell?

Mr Zoat said:
"It was just one puppy! I have needs. … "And wants.

That quotation mark should be moved to the end.

KaiKolo · Nov 21, 2023

Great to see more from Grayven and I do like the implication that paranormal and otherworldly events have become so common knowledge that there are bureaucratic checks set by the government.

It's a funny image to me that Grayven claiming suzerainty over Earth means that he's stuck with the bureaucratic busywork and "janitorial duties".

Chojin Patriarch · Nov 21, 2023

Mr Zoat said:
18th February 2013
19:21 GMT -7

I sigh as the g-elves escort… An idiotic American college student in. He's dressed like an unusually sheltered middle class youth's idea of what a punk looks like, faux-leather bracers, three hundred dollar leather jacket and jeans that were 'ripped' with a pair of scissors. He looks up at me with a depressing combination is despair and hope. "Ah, Mister… Grayven?"

"Perry.. Jerome.. White."

...I suppose it's safe to guess he isn't Lex Luthor's biological son in this universe. If only because of how stupid he appears to be. Any son of Lex would be quite smarter. Now, what on Earth did he do to get this treatment?

I make a show of slumping slightly in my chair, elbows resting on my desk.

"How..?"

...Evidently it's something that can make the Renegade ashamed to have to deal with, huh?

"Ah… Mister Grayven?"

"A simple question, man. How on earth did you manage it?"

Well, that sums up his initial outlook on 'Jerry's intelligence, at least.

"Well, I…" His eyes shift shiftily as he tries to work out what the right answer is. "I-. The book made it… I didn't even think it was real. Y'know?"

"You, a rank neophyte, with no prior experience of magic, managed to summon up the Queen of the Succubae."

...Well, if they made it difficult, they wouldn't get any takers.

To my surprise and mild satisfaction, he manages to pull himself up slightly.

"Yeah."

Not the best thing to be proud of, but you do you, kid.

"Why?"

"Ah… My last girlfriend dumped me a couple of months ago, and she-. I'm pretty sure she's been spreading shit about me with all her friends-."

Now, is it deserved 'shit' or are you trying to pretend you're a complete angel?

I raise my right hand. He stops talking.

"I can well understand a young man being horny and without a partner. What I don't understand is going from that to selling your soul to Queen Triskele."

I mean, it can't have been worth much, after all. Maybe getting an escort would have been cheaper?

"I just… Stopped reading at 'succubus'."

I close my eyes.

And this is why you put the warnings before the spells, fellows. Preferably with pictorial aids for morons.

One.

Two.

Three.

Four.

…

That practice in fatherly patience coming in handy.

Okay.

I open my eyes.

And give him your best 'Son, I am disappoint' stare, right?

"If you'd stopped reading at 'succubus' then we wouldn't be in this position. So am I to understand that your aim was to summon up an idealised sexual partner and make merry, and worry about the bill later?"

"I just… Figured she'd.. want… 'Vital force' or something?"

Well, that is what some mythology says about them, at least.

"Mister White, Japanese pornography is not a reliable guide to demonology. Also." I close my eyes again and shake my head. "Triskele has the form of a giant skeletal snake with an androgynously beautiful face strapped to her skull. Now, I'm dating a horse, so I'm not going to criticise you for having extra-anthropological tastes, but…"

Certainly he probably has fans in some low places thanks to that.

Probably not the sort he'd be willing to associate with, though...

"There were… There were, like, other pictures on the page, and I didn't really… I didn't know she was the snake, I just thought… I thought the bones were… You know, decoration."

If I ever find myself in the room with the man responsible for World of Warcraft…

...Or just about any other pieces of fiction. Seriously.

"I hope that the rest of your studies are going rather better than the 'F' I'm giving you in demonology."

"'F'-? The spell worked, didn't-?"

Wait, you actually managed to...

"It didn't achieve it's stated objective."

"OW! Fuck you!"

Huh. That would be the unlucky demoness now, then. Because seriously, Jerry here does not sound like the best of customers.

Mr. White winces as his wish is pushed into the room, bound hand, foot and neck with enchanted bonds of iron, the neck bracket attached to poles held by federal agents on work experience.

One suitably nubile succubus, magically able and willing to indulge his every desire. Which unless I miss my guess probably started at the occasional mildly usual sex act and quickly morphed into supportive girlfriend things that she'd find painfully boring but was too scared of her queen to say anything about.

"Oh, hells, I'm sick of sitting around watching this inane reality teevee!' I'm sure that can't have been the most pleasant posting.

"Jer-ry! They're hurting me!"

"Do you have your immigration paperwork?"

...Oooh, now she's in trouble. Don't mess with the USCIS.

"Wha..? I'm American."

Improbably breast-waist-hips ratio, flawless skin without makeup, purple hair and… I sniff. Yes, a mild aphrodisiac scent. None of that is impossible for a metahuman, but a metahuman wouldn't suffer burns from the sanctified iron.

...Not unless they have a really peculiar powerset, anyway.

"You're a demon. And while the two aren't necessarily contradictory, I had Mister Constantine go through your alleged paperwork."

"Constan-? … Fuuuuuuuuuuuck."

Yeah, you got that right. And not the fun kind, either.

"Not quite sure what he's got that I haven't, but sure. Be worried about him." I gesture to two agents accompanying her. "As you can see, the United States of America is a little better prepared to handle things relating to magic these days."

"Ah, babe? I think we should probably cooperate."

Okay, that's probably the smartest thing Jerry's said yet.

"But Jer-ry! The queen's gunna be super-pissed!"

I shake my head. "You know full well that in four years it's not going to matter anyway."

...Ah. Bone-snake lady is kind of impatient about this stuff, huh?

Mr. White looks at me nervously. "Why? What happen in four years?"

"The pact isn't 'until death'. It's 'until Triskele gets bored'. Five years at most, then she drags you off to Hell."

Right, that'll put a dampener on the whole ~~relationship~~ transaction, huh?

"…" His eyes widen. "F-uuuuck."

"You can get out of it! Just make a new deal! It's like a mortgage!"

Except this one doesn't end up with you eventually owning a home. Maybe buying a farm, but not one you could live on.

Mr. White looks at me for conformation.

"Yes, if you can scrounge up a new innocent soul to sacrifice, that would indeed work. The last person Mister Constantine found in your position habitually kidnapped and sacrificed babies to fulfil the requirement."

And no need to point out that that would get your soul condemned to Hell anyway. Jerry's not that stupid.

"Fuck."

"Sure!" The succubus rattles her chains. "Just let me ditch these guys and I'll get right on it, and on you."

...She's not one of the Lady's smarter servants, is she?

I gaze levelly at Mr. White. "Seriously?"

"I-I don't wanna murder babies!"

Well, perhaps you shouldn't have taken to thinking with your lower head. That blind little bastard will get you into all sorts of trouble, you know.

"You wouldn't. You'd kidnap babies. The queen would kill them. And maybe not even then! Sometimes they just get trained as cultists, or sold on to other people!"

I lean forwards. "May I assume, then, that I will have your assistance in un-fucking this situation?"

Let's hope hearing her sound so chipper about the concept of killing or enslaving infants has shaken some sense into him...

He nods, while his succubus concubine just looks away, disinterested.

"And you."

Now to see if she has more brains than Jerry does.

"Whaaa-aat! You're ruining my contract!"

"Yes, but let's be honest with ourselves: you don't actually like Queen Triskele. Do you?"

True, she was only doing her job, but still... Considering what that job is...

"She got me this job." … "So no, she suuuucks."

If possible, Mr. White slumps a little further.

Oof. Foul blow to the ego there.

"It was just one puppy! I have needs. … And wants."

"So I intend to tug on your contract to get Queen Triskele's attention. Work with me, and you will avoid prosecution and eternal damnation both." I hold out my right arm. "Shake my hand."

He shakes.

And I can't help imagining him wondering if he's just trading one bad contract for another...

Jerry should honestly be a little more careful about making deals with arcane beings. But at least this one doesn't want him for dinner. I see the Renegade is still chasing down options about the status of the post-mortal Succupire kids. And I have the feeling he's not going to take any kind of guff from the denizens of Hell in this matter. So the Lady is for an interesting time.

...experience of magic, managed to summon...

Double Space there.

I gesture to two agents accompanying her.

I gesture to the two agents accompanying her.

Ngamer11 · Nov 21, 2023

Mr Zoat said:
"It didn't achieve it's stated objective."

Found another error. That apostrophe should be removed.

NightmareWarden · Nov 21, 2023

Y'know, hearing about Hell again makes me remember what an awful time Paragon-Paul experienced when practicing with alchemy pools. Agony and Extasy were infuriating, and genuinely threatening. The technomagic revolution down there made the grunts troublesome too.

What I'm saying is, I hope when the biggest players in Hell stick their heads out of their turtleshells for a bite? That Grayven has a machete ready. A good counter is more satisfying than "going for an enthusiastic walk," if you ask me. I wouldn't say no to dropping warded blizzard generators down there instead though, that's quite acceptable.

Vaermina · Nov 21, 2023

Mr Zoat said:
Not quite sure what he's got that I haven't,

The ability to win against things older and more terrifying then Darkseid?

Multiple members of The Endless who owe him favors?

The ability to rewrite his fate in the book of destiny?

Ngamer11 · Nov 21, 2023

Vaermina said:
The ability to win against things older and more terrifying then Darkseid?

Multiple members of The Endless who owe him favors?

The ability to rewrite his fate in the book of destiny?

The first usually happens at great cost, I'm not sure any of the Endless owe John a favor, and I wasn't aware of the last one. Can you quote when that happened?

Duke Long · Nov 21, 2023

Mr Zoat said:
Which unless I miss my guess probably started at the occasional mildly usual sex act and quickly morphed into supportive girlfriend things that she'd find painfully boring but was too scared of her queen to say anything about.

'mildly unusual'?

Mr Zoat said:
Mr. White looks at me for conformation.

'confirmation'

PrinceJonathan · Nov 21, 2023

I can just picture Grayven standing in Hell's Whorehouse surrounded by succubae while holding Queen Triscuit on a leash. "Alright bitches! You're now under New God Management!"

Darko · Nov 21, 2023

Mr Zoat said:
Grayven?"

"Perry.. Jerome.. White."

Oh boy.

Wpnder if this is connected to Lex.

Mr Zoat said:
You, a rank neophyte, with no prior experience of magic, managed to summon up the Queen of the Succubae."

Honestly, it's possible that demons prefer to be summoned by amateurs and even do most of the work in the summoning process.

A powerful expert is likely able to banish or bind them in a way that they can't get out of, but a newbie wouldn't be able to do it.

Mr Zoat said:
Now, I'm dating a horse,

You really are a god.

Mr Zoat said:
White winces as he wish is pushed

"as his wish"

Mr Zoat said:
"You can get out of it! Just make a new deal! It's like a mortgage

Because that's just so good.

Mr Zoat said:
"I-I don't wanna murder babies!"

"You wouldn't. You'd kidnap babies. The queen would kill them

You're doing a great job for your case here.

Mr Zoat said:
And maybe not even then! Sometimes they just get trained as cultists, or sold on to other people!"

Just...great.

Mr Zoat said:
"Yes, but let's be honest with ourselves: you don't actually like Queen Triskele

She's her boss.

Few people like their boss.

Mr Zoat said:
"So I intend to tug on your contract to get Queen Triskele's attention. Work with me, and you will avoid prosecution and eternal damnation both." I hold out my right arm. "Shake my hand

PJ here is getting some interesting friends.

Darko · Nov 21, 2023

Chojin Patriarch said:
...I suppose it's safe to guess he isn't Lex Luthor's biological son in this universe. If only because of how stupid he appears to be. Any son of Lex would be quite smarter

Hey, sometimes intelligence can skip a generation.

And Lex has also done a lot of stupid shit himself, so PJ here may be very much like him.

Chojin Patriarch said:
Huh. That would be the unlucky demoness now, then. Because seriously, Jerry here does not sound like the best of customers

He's naive, not very bright, and magically weak.

He's a fairly good customer for a demon.

Chojin Patriarch said:
She's not one of the Lady's smarter servants, is she?

Or she's just desperate.

SirKaid · Nov 21, 2023

EgyptianDio said:
Dear Presence… I guess in a world like DC there had to be at least one moron like this.

Every bell curve has a shallow end, though admittedly hitting the sweet spot where you're smart enough to perform the magic while being stupid enough to perform the magic is a bit rarer.

Mr Zoat · Nov 21, 2023

moralrelativity said:
Improbably -> Improbable

Ngamer11 said:
That should say 'his'.
That quotation mark should be moved to the end.

Chojin Patriarch said:
Double Space there.
I gesture to the two agents accompanying her.

Ngamer11 said:
Found another error. That apostrophe should be removed.

Duke Long said:
'mildly unusual'?
'confirmation'

Than you, corrected.

KenNM · Nov 21, 2023

Been rereading some arcs, and the comments.

I think I recall when I first lost track of the fic, cuz before I used to read the daily updates.

It was when Nazi Earth appeared, frankly, seeing Paul be so unempathetic (ironically for someone supposedly enlightened), and frankly insensitive, condescending, and riduculously anal retentive like insisting that people use "National Socialist" to everyone he meets, came too close to defending and white washing them. Like, why the hell does he feel the need to remind and pester people about insistent terminology when it just makes him look and sound like a smartass and a Nazi whitewasher?

Honestly, I got the impression that Paul's a Nazi sympathiser or white washer; oh sorry National Socialist sympathiser, getting the terminology wrong is worse than being offended that someone's an unrepentant National Socialist being it's being rude according to Paul.

Sure, he says in the JSI arc that National Socialism never appealed to him, but frankly first impressions last, and the passionate and insistent defence he's always ready to give and that he's such an insensitive dick at times I have no trouble believing he's a Nazi sympathiser or at least a white washer.

Hell, the second biggest shock I had when he told JSI Kara that being a Nazi never appealed to him was he actually pulled his head out of his ass enough to not use "National Socialism never appealed to him", the biggest was admitting being a Nazi never appealed to him, which frankly I can't 100% believe given everything.

Want the ends, want the means. The Nazi Earth already exterminated the lesser races, so to Paul, the modern Nazis are completely alright. It's like the Japanese people completely unwilling to even acknowledge the atrocities that happened in WWII, Nazi Earth is unrepentant and doesn't find anything wrong with what they did and Paul's an ardent defender ready to justify to the people he knows why that's fine and just, as they should just forget it and they're all being silly about having qualms with working with genuine Nazis, and that National Socialism is totally fine now since Nazi Earth's already finished with the genocides and exterminations so only the good parts are left.

Edit: Sorry about, just needed to get it off my chest.

Ngamer11 · Nov 21, 2023

Mr Zoat said:
"It was just one puppy! I have needs." … "And wants.

After double checking, I've confirmed that the missing quotation mark at the end is only present in the story only version.

Mr Zoat · Nov 21, 2023

Ngamer11 said:
After double checking, I've confirmed that the missing quotation mark at the end is only present in the story only version.

Thank you, corrected. For real this time.

KenNM · Nov 21, 2023

I wonder which patron Zatanna's chosen. Cuz, with the Silver City's record in the fic, it's a foregone conclusion, that arc probably brought a wave of conversions actually, I'm estimating it to at least be in the six digits.

She was thinking of converting and Paul's definitely gonna encourage her, even if Giovanni's devout and tries to convince Zatanna otherwise, Paul's probably just gonna point out the foolishness of his faith since the angels didn't do anything during his possession and go for a two for one conversion.

I'm betting on Hecate, hard to find a more fitting patron to a homo magi than a goddess of witchcraft.

Would asking about that be a spoiler Mr Zoat ?

Darko · Nov 21, 2023

KenNM said:
wonder which patron Zatanna's chosen

I remember her considering Aphrodite, but she was emotionally devastated at the time, so that may no longer be considered.

KenNM said:
Cuz, with the Silver City's record in the fic, it's a foregone conclusion, that arc probably brought a wave of conversions actually, I'm estimating it to at least be in the six digits.

I'm thinking that a lot of Khandaq is going to start worshipping the Khandaqi gods.

The Shinto could also probably find converts.

KenNM said:
She was thinking of converting and Paul's definitely gonna encourage her, even if Giovanni's devout and tries to convince Zatanna otherwise, Paul's probably just gonna point out the foolishness of his faith since the angels didn't do anything during his possession and go for a two for one conversion

Most pantheons didn't do anything to stop the Anti-Life, so they may still not get any converts.

KenNM · Nov 21, 2023

Darko said:
I remember her considering Aphrodite, but she was emotionally devastated at the time, so that may no longer be considered.

I'm thinking that a lot of Khandaq is going to start worshipping the Khandaqi gods.

The Shinto could also probably find converts.

Most pantheons didn't do anything to stop the Anti-Life, so they may still not get any converts.

Eh, given the track record of the Silver City, I expect Christianity to be a dead religion in-universe by the time the fic's done.

And OL to provoke a religious war with Islam because he's just that dense and unempathetic to sensitive topics and condescending when he thinks people are being idiots.

On the Khandaqi, maybe. Hard to find more zealous people than the Muslim, they'd be grateful to Teth Adom, and the common citizen likely won't be hung up about Khandaq expanding its borders due to his help in fighting off the Anti-Life. Then again, nah, you're right. Islam's about to get a big decrease in worshippers I think.

Though that does remind me, I wonder what happened with Billy.

Susanoo was willing to act as a patron, but I admit Zauriel appealing to his superiors to empower Billy is ironic. It's not like the Wizard would be against it given Solomon, but that'll just repeat the problem down the line when the Silver City is destroyed and Zauriel is the last angel in existence, as for the souls in it, eh, I'm sure OL can just dump them in Elysium or something, close enough.

Ngamer11 · Nov 21, 2023

KenNM said:
Though that does remind me, I wonder what happened with Billy.

Susanoo was willing to act as a patron, but I admit Zauriel appealing to his superiors to empower Billy is ironic. It's not like the Wizard would be against it given Solomon, but that'll just repeat the problem down the line when the Silver City is destroyed and Zauriel is the last angel in existence.

Mr Zoat confirmed that they were instead able to get Zeus' power back into Billy.

KenNM · Nov 21, 2023

Ngamer11 said:
Mr Zoat confirmed that they were instead able to get Zeus' power back into Billy.

Huh, good to know. Thanks.

Billy rocking some theurgy or what Susanoo's got would have been fun, ah well, the name's too iconic I suppose lol

Darko · Nov 21, 2023

KenNM said:
Eh, given the track record of the Silver City, I expect Christianity to be a dead religion in-universe by the time the fic's done

I doubt.

If the fic ends millenia into the future in-universe, then maybe.

But I think that the Abrahamic faiths will just lose some worshippers after this.

Heck, with the Life Entity being seen, they may actually experience a resurgence and growth if it's attributed to the Abrahamic god.

KenNM said:
And OL to provoke a religious war with Islam because he's just that dense and condescending when he thinks people are being idiots

This is...sadly plausible.

KenNM said:
Though that does remind, I wonder what happened with Billy

He got Susanoo as a Power patron.

Last we saw him I think he was doing the same thing Adom was doing and used that power to help free people from Anti-Life.

Nommo was worried that the Shinto would side with Darkseid due to pragmatism, but it didn't happen.

Ngamer11 · Nov 21, 2023

KenNM said:
Huh, good to know. Thanks.

Billy rocking some theurgy or what Susanoo's got would have been fun, ah well, the name's too iconic I suppose lol

Darko said:
He got Susanoo as a Power patron.

I found the quote that confirms that Zeus is still sponsoring Billy.

Mr Zoat said:
No one. Zeus is still fine sponsoring William, and Hephaestean is fine with allowing it.

KenNM · Nov 21, 2023

Darko said:
I doubt.

If the fic ends millenia into the future in-universe, then maybe.

But I think that the Abrahamic faiths will just lose some worshippers after this.

Heck, with the Life Entity being seen, they may actually experience a resurgence and growth if it's attributed to the Abrahamic god.

This is...sadly plausible.

He got Susanoo as a Power patron.

Last we saw him I think he was doing the same thing Adom was doing and used that power to help free people from Anti-Life.

Nommo was worried that the Shinto would side with Darkseid due to pragmatism, but it didn't happen.

Personally, I think OL's the type of guy to reveal to the world that Jesus was a nephilim born of rape and the whole "Son of God" thing is a complete lie and propaganda piece (since Zoat's using Hellblaizer's continuity for that) if he gets pissed enough at someone or something and it'd hurt them if this was revealed. Regardless of "burying the hatchet" with Zauriel.

It's only Christianity that'd implode or disolvw into anarchy, Judaism and Islam might weather that big reveal a little better.

Eh, I sincerely doubt OL would let people attribute the Life Entity's actions to the Presence. Technically there's a connection since the Life Entity is the light in "let there be light". But do you seriously expect Paul to tell people that something useful came out of the Presence? No way.

If he had to choose between a world wide press conference that'd inform people about the Life Entity and what it is and that it's on Earth to clear things up, or letting the secret remain and let people misguidedly attribute it to the Presence, I doubt he'll let the latter slide.

Even disregarding the fact that the Presence created the Life Entity, OL's biased. He has a habit of knowingly framing things in the worst possible light and deliberately leaving things out of context about things he doesn't like when telling other people.

And yeah, Paul's gonna trigger a religious outrage and outcry one of these days, and he'll not give a shit and be completely oblvious why they could possibly take offence aside from being them being idiots.

Mr Zoat · Nov 21, 2023

KenNM said:
Eh, given the track record of the Silver City, I expect Christianity to be a dead religion in-universe by the time the fic's done.

And OL to provoke a religious war with Islam because he's just that dense and unempathetic to sensitive topics and condescending when he thinks people are being idiots.

On the Khandaqi, maybe. Hard to find more zealous people than the Muslim, they'd be grateful to Teth Adom, and the common citizen likely won't be hung up about Khandaq expanding its borders due to his help in fighting off the Anti-Life. Then again, nah, you're right. Islam's about to get a big decrease in worshippers I think.

Not exactly. Due to the Cold War going a little differently, the sort of 'spicy' Islam we're used to is a much smaller thing mostly limited to the border region between Afghanisan and Pakistan. The largest unifying ideology in the Middle East is anti-colonial pan-Arab nationalism. Even if peoples faith took a hit, cultural inertia would keep them doing a lot of things assocatied with it.

As for Jesus, it's not like he can prove anything.

KenNM · Nov 21, 2023

Mr Zoat said:
Not exactly. Due to the Cold War going a little differently, the sort of 'spicy' Islam we're used to is a much smaller thing mostly limited to the border region between Afghanisan and Pakistan. The largest unifying ideology in the Middle East is anti-colonial pan-Arab nationalism. Even if peoples faith took a hit, cultural inertia would keep them doing a lot of things assocatied with it.

As for Jesus, it's not like he ecan prove anything.

Gotcha, so when OL innevitably puts his foot in his mouth, yes to religious outcry but no attempted assinations and suicide bombings from religious extremists. Then again, by the time he puts his foot in his mouth enough to get that big an outrcy, there's probably not even gonna be enough people believing in that sort of hogwash to be offended.

As for that, it's easy. Ask for Diana to lend the lasso (since he's confident at lending and leaving the Spear of Destiny to Hecate permanently, and he's got the rapport with Diana to ask to borrow it) and get Zauriel. Arrange for a live broadcast unbeknownst to Zauriel and not tell anyone what he's gonna ask and keep it secret until it's too late to keep it hidden. Then, boom. Straight from an angel's mouth that Jesus was Gabriel's rape baby, with the lasso of truth making sure it's the entire sordid truth. Boom, Christianity takes the biggest hit it's ever had in recent history at the least.

OL's done things like these, overblown, and over the top retribution to get back at someone that hurt what was his, but didn't fully think about the splash back of said retribution. Sure, the Silver City's amount of believers being slashed by a third is a positive for Paul, but he probably wouldn't anticipate how that many people will act during a crisis of faith and having everything the were taught to believe in be a lie, and how annoying it'd be for him to have to run damage control and making his friends and colleagues about also running damage control because the masses aren't being reasonable and just calmly and orderly converting to better options available instead of this hullabaloo about mass hysteria.

Cuz, Paul's incredibly unempathetic regarding what people feel. He's a utilitarian who's forgotten (if he ever knew) how to empathize with the individual who's not in his ingroup, and as far as he's concerned, people he does care about that are Christian are better off finding a different patron in regards to benefits.

Edit:

Is it a negative interpretation of Paul? Maybe. But I find myself harder to like him as time goes on, as stuff he did piles up.

I still quite like the story though, and the alternate Pauls are still a treat to read about.

------
Hu...No wonder he fits so well with the Olympians. Never thought of it that way. Over the top reaction to slights (in this case slights to his loved ones), and screwings tons of people because he didn't make the retribution only affect the target.

That being said, it's interesting to see history diverge slightly due to the butterflies of having superheroes and villains around with schizo tech and magic for a time period outside WWII.

Having the looming threat of superhumans around does make sense that it'd make the Cold War be different.

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

DAJAKU! DAJAKU!

Know what you're doing yet?

At the End...

Recovering pendant.

Experienced.

Know what you're doing yet?

Veteran Lurker

Experienced.

Versed in the lewd.

Well worn.

Experienced.

Glomerulus

Versed in the lewd.

Connoisseur.

Connoisseur.

Know what you're doing yet?

Dedicated ragequitter

Actually 23

Experienced.

Dedicated ragequitter

Actually 23

Connoisseur.

Actually 23

Experienced.

Actually 23

Connoisseur.

Experienced.

Actually 23

Dedicated ragequitter

Actually 23

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