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

fwrty · 2025-12-12T08:22:09+0000

Mr Zoat said:
My attitude towards evil has not changed

Chad Geoffrey: "I will not tolerate the forces of evil!"

Breadnaught · 2025-12-12T08:22:20+0000

Mr Zoat said:
"No? I don't leave mine behind, and everyone else brings their exotic equipment. But… I don't know what you're imaging, but we're all friends. Two of us are even married to each other."

Did Circe and Adom get hitched? I know she was interested, but didn't think it had gone that far. Which would make sense if it happened off screen.

Darko said:
I like to imagine that they did it over Oggar's corpse.

They totally drank wine from a cup made from his skull at their wedding.

Duke Long · 2025-12-12T09:00:34+0000

Mr Zoat said:
"It's not practical to probe everyone in the country, but you can protect against unnecessary usage by requiring warrants, or allowing an independent review if it looks like someone's overusing it. Plus, it's done wanders for the economy, and communal violence is at an all-time low. But -to be clear- use of that facility is in no sense compulsory. There are other option, or perhaps you're happy with the criminal justice system just-"

'wonders'

Mr Zoat said:
"I read a comic a while ago. There was a… Bit in it about an arms company. They'd been bribing senators to get contracts, the bribed them more to hush it up when the substandard weapons they sold didn't work properly. And one of their former P.R. people talked to a C.I.A. new hire about it, and the rookie asked why there wasn't a bigger fuss about it. And the P.R. guy says, 'because it's not a secret'. Talk to anyone on the street about the military-industrial complex, and they'll know what you're talking about. They know it's happening, even if they don't know the details. And they don't care. You think John Smith of Nottingham can get a copy of the Justice League's minutes? You think he cares?"

'then'

Mr Zoat said:
"No? I don't leave mine behind, and everyone else brings their exotic equipment. But… I don't know what you're imaging, but we're all friends. Two of us are even married to each other."

'imagining'

Chojin Patriarch · 2025-12-12T09:08:21+0000

Mr Zoat said:
12th August 2013
16:30 GMT

"The Prime Minister will see you now."

For those who don't remember, that would be Geoffrey Talbot, a Hellblazer alumni who the Renegade discovered to possess entirely natural Rage Enlightenment due to his frustrations about corruption in everything. The Renegade made him Prime Minister after cleaning out the British Government.

I nod and smile politely as I rise from my construct chair and follow the Principal Private Secretary towards the Prime Minister's office. A little young for the role, really, but given the root and branch 'reform' that the British Civil Service underwent there's a lot of that going around. At least he's not terrified either of me or his employer.

Yes, I imagine a lot of the older staff members were lost in the purges or simply 'retired' gracefully.

He knocks smartly on the door, then pushes it open. "Mister Grayven for you, Prime Minister."

Geoffrey nods to me. "Yes, I know who he is. Does this need to be a private meeting?"

Entirely a natural concern, given his work with the Renegade.

"No." I glance at the P.P.S.. "The lad looks reliable."

"He is. Come on, come on, sit down-" He gestures to the… Large reinforced chair just in front of his desk. "-and tell me what this is about. Had that thing dragged up from the basement for you."

How considerate of him. No doubt the Renegade called ahead, of course. You don't just drop in on a head of state like that with no warning, after all.

"Much appreciated." I stroll forwards and sit down as P.P.S…. Timothy Sotheby, takes up position on a chair at the side of the room, ready to take notes or offer information which may have slipped his master's mind. "So, to put your mind at ease-"

"Hmn."

Dangit, why am I imagining a youngish Chris Barrie (as Gordon Brittas, specifically) right now?

And I bet you are too, now.

"-I'll start by saying that there isn't a disaster that requires immediate attention, legal or otherwise. No criminal conspiracy or anything like that." After all, we're not criminals. "It's more of an… Offer."

"That sounds dubious, but keep going."

Yes, suspicious as hell, especially given the sort of thing he helped to root out in the government before.

"Some people I work with like to get together every few months to coordinate our efforts in improving the world. I suggested that you might be a good addition."

He doesn't look impressed. "Is this my invitation to the Bilderberg Group?"

An unofficial diplomatic conference of sorts, at the eponymous hotel. Kind of an obvious reference once you know about it.

"HAH!" I raise my right arm, forefinger extended. "Yes! None of the others got the joke!"

"What are you talking about?"

Admittedly, most of the people he works with aren't the sort to know (or care) about those things. Two ancient beings of mystical power, two superscientists (one of which is a corporate leader) and a being of elemental shadow who is very much a private citizen.

"I booked a room at the Bilderberg Hotel for our first meeting just to make that reference. None of the others got it." He regards me levelly. "We're not part of the actual Bilderberg Group. I'm not, anyway. The others might be, but they haven't told me if they are. We're exclusive, not exclusive."

Although the Renegade probably has enough global cachet to actually be invited. Adom would probably be a less likely guest, though, assuming he's taken control of Kahndaq here.

"Has this group been meeting for long?"

"Coming up two years. We started just after I got back to Earth from my little field trip."

Which is around the same time that the British Government got cleaned up, which I expect Talbot to take very close notice of.

"Did they advise you on your actions towards the former British government?"

"No, that was more of a me thing."

Much like the old Light, they encourage each member to engage in their own projects, but coordinate to avoid conflicts of interest... The only difference is their focus.

"This whole thing smacks of the sort of secret society bullshit that we worked together to purge."

"The main difference is that we're not doing this to gain power."

"You took over Africa."

I'm sure it looks that way in both cases, but the specifics are quite different.

"No, I forced the governments of the most corrupt parts of the world to stop being corrupt. I forced hilariously biased police forces to actually enforce the law in a fair and even handed manner. And aside from the private security company which is doing it turning a small operating profit -and having an excellent end-user satisfaction report- I haven't benefited financially at all."

Just took the fear of being shredded by a super-fast assassin to get them straightened out. The trick is keeping them there after they think the danger's passed...

"You use telepaths, Grayven."

I flap my right hand. "You can mind control some of the people all of the time and all of the people some of the time. You can't mind control all of the people all of the time."

Not quite the way the phrase is used, but the principle counts.

"Telepaths in law enforcement."

"Yeah, and it works really well. Are you telling me you wouldn't have liked something like that when you were in the force?"

He snorts. "I would, at that."

Given he raged himself into Enlightenment because he couldn't sort things out, I can see the appeal.

"It's not practical to probe everyone in the country, but you can protect against unnecessary usage by requiring warrants, or allowing an independent review if it looks like someone's overusing it. Plus, it's done wanders for the economy, and communal violence is at an all-time low. But -to be clear- use of that facility is in no sense compulsory. There are other option, or perhaps you're happy with the criminal justice system just-"

Keep in mind he was a good cop in a bad system. Hence the rage.

He actually smiles. "Heh."

"-the way-. Hah! Yeah, I can't finish that sentence. But-. Look. There are exotic options that aren't in widespread use for a variety of reasons, and… My friends and I got tired of waiting. We've got a project coming up that we think you could help with, and in return there are things that we can do for you."

Waiting for people to actually realise those options exist, and start using them, of course. But people will be people, and take the path of least resistance and effort.

He nods. "What happens if I say 'no'?"

"I have to try talking Jon into it. Or possibly the Chinese. Suboptimal neither way. Or we twist arms in Africa until they federate and get the new president to demand a U.N. Security Council seat." I sigh, shrugging. "It's a lot of extra work either way. You're the better choice."

And I'm sure it'll be great for the British economy. Not that the prime Minister is meant to profit from that sort of thing...

"And if I'm interested, then back out and shout what I know to the rooftops?"

"I read a comic a while ago. There was a… Bit in it about an arms company. They'd been bribing senators to get contracts, the bribed them more to hush it up when the substandard weapons they sold didn't work properly. And one of their former P.R. people talked to a C.I.A. new hire about it, and the rookie asked why there wasn't a bigger fuss about it. And the P.R. guy says, 'because it's not a secret'. Talk to anyone on the street about the military-industrial complex, and they'll know what you're talking about. They know it's happening, even if they don't know the details. And they don't care. You think John Smith of Nottingham can get a copy of the Justice League's minutes? You think he cares?"

I'm guessing that is a reference to events from early in 'The Boys', concerning Vought-American. It sounds like the sort of darker-and-edgier crap that world would produce. The weapons, incidentally, were their version of the M-16, and they were historically even worse than the original rollout, if I remember right. Catastrophic mechanical failures rather than misinformed troops.

I sit back slightly.

"Yes, the extra public attention we'd get for… Maybe two weeks? Would be a bit of a nuisance… But that's it. 'Powerful people meet, talk'. Heck, you were the one who mentioned the Bilderberg Group. It's not news, except in the specific."

And most people won't look deeper than the headlines. Those that do and decide it's bad would be seen as among the tinfoil-hat crowd, I suspect.

"And if I'm at least curious?"

"Then you pop along to the next meeting and say 'hello'. They all know about you of course -the publically available information only- and you've probably heard of some of them. And… If you think there's something they can help you with, ask. If you want to know about their objectives… Ask."

It might take a couple of such meetings to actually see that kind of openness, though. Most of them are a little wary of strangers. Except Cranius, I suspect.

He raises his right hand slightly, indicating his ring. "Am I expected to leave this at home?"

"No? I don't leave mine behind, and everyone else brings their exotic equipment. But… I don't know what you're imaging, but we're all friends. Two of us are even married to each other."

In the case of The Shade and Adom, they are their exotic equipment, after all.

He thinks for a moment. "Is it your horse woman?"

"No it's not.. Luna. She thinks Cluedo involved an excessive amount of sinister plotting. And we're not married.. yet. That's actually… Part of what this is about."

That's actually kind of cute.

"You're assembling a secret sinister cabal to… Plan your wedding?"

"No. There's a problem I have which means that I can't get married yet, and my colleagues are helping me deal with it."

Admittedly, it's not really something to talk about in the open like this. Too many things that might cause a panic, after all.

"I think you can get a pill these days."

I glower faintly. "I don't have trouble sustaining an erection, thank you."

And if he did, he'd probably try the Rings first.

"No, I thought you were talking about the clap."

I glower harder. "No."

Just because he's dating a sapient mythical equine doesn't mean he's discovering all sorts of exotic diseases. Though I suspect the down-market tabloids are having a field day with that sort of story. Well, the 'Superhero dating magical horse princess' angle, not the other stuff.

"Hm. Alright, fine. Give me the date and I'll put it in the diary. But to be clear: I was happy to die striking a blow against the former government. My attitude towards evil has not changed."

I smile. "I'm glad to hear it. I'm sure you'll fit right in."

That could be a bit awkward if he actually takes exception to them...

Ah, the joy of knowing the man in charge. For now at least. If Talbot does get along with the New Light, then things will proceed quite efficiently, I bet. The key word there being 'if'. I don't doubt the Renegade could shut down Talbot's Ring if he tries anything aggressive, but doing so would absolutely ruin their association. And that would be counter-productive...

Mr Zoat · 2025-12-12T09:40:03+0000

Ngamer11 said:
That should say 'options'.

Duke Long said:
'wonders'
'then'
'imagining'

Thank you, corrected.

Darko · 2025-12-12T09:45:00+0000

Chojin Patriarch said:
In the case of The Shade and Adom, they are their exotic equipment, after all.

Most of the New Light is technically their own exotic equipment since most of them have magic power.

Chojin Patriarch said:
And if he did, he'd probably try the Rings first.

Many men fear not being able to rise to the occasion, so the yellow ring may work.

Signaller · 2025-12-12T10:12:44+0000

Mr Zoat said:
"I have to try talking Jon into it. Or possibly the Chinese. Suboptimal neither way.

Either way

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

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