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

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Draculthemad said:
It is so weird when I hear that kind of thing about Euro/UK countries. I live in a state capital, and the nearest supermarket to where I live OR work would take several hours to walk to. This time of year, it would also probably be potentially lethal to even attempt without outfitting yourself like some kind of arctic exploration expedition. ( Its -17 degrees Celsius atm).
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Population density, especially urban population density.

The US as a whole has a population density of 33 people per square kilometer. Europe as a whole (excluding Russia) has a population density of 105 people per square kilometer. All else being equal, this would result in you taking something like a third the time to get to the nearest grocery store. That's for an arbitrary location in the US versus an arbitrary location in Europe, not a city.

If you're living somewhere like, say, Helena, Montana, compare with some random British city -- let's say Newcastle upon Tyne. Newcastle has a population density of 2,500 per square kilometer. That's about even with Cardiff. Helena has a population density under 700 per square kilometer. Or Olympia, Washington, which has a population density of 950.
 
iamnuff said:
I live in a mid-sized town in england, and there's an Asda, and Aldi, a Morrisons, a Tesco and a Co-op within about ten minute's drive.
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dhasenan said:
Population density, especially urban population density.
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There is at least 6-7 large supermarkets in town, but they are far enough apart for the most part that you are going to be driving for at least 10 minutes to get to one unless you live nearby.

Mass transit is crap in my city ( bus only ), and its currently -15 Celsius outside. I suppose its just further evidence of US cities being largely design for car traffic only.

I mean, I have a car so its not like I am stuck relying on the buses. I just see plenty of people who are, and that must suck hard.
 
Draculthemad said:
There is at least 6-7 large supermarkets in town, but they are far enough apart for the most part that you are going to be driving for at least 10 minutes to get to one unless you live nearby.

Mass transit is crap in my city ( bus only ), and its currently -15 Celsius outside. I suppose its just further evidence of US cities being largely design for car traffic only.

I mean, I have a car so its not like I am stuck relying on the buses. I just see plenty of people who are, and that must suck hard.
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I live in Texas and there are at least three large grocery stores with in 10 to 15 minutes of my house by walking and a few more smaller ones. Competition is fierce where I am. On the plus side, low prices!
 
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Hullevow (part 7)
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    • 2nd March
    16:02 GMT

    Rob interlocks his fingers and stretches his arms above his head as Kaldur slides shut the minibus' door. "Y'know… I reckon we could have got away with just teleporting to just down the road and walking to Minions."

    Tula isn't stretching, but does wince slightly as her left leg cramps. "A magic presence suddenly appearing would risk drawing too much attention. We don't-."

    Beryl shakes her head. "And that's a fail for both of you." They both look at her, visibly confused. She smirks back. "Teleporting? Magic? What are you, superheroes or something?"

    Both sets of eyes dip to the sides. Ye-ah, this is going to take a bit of practice. Rob's never bothered with a secret identity and Tula hasn't really established a public one yet. Neither are used to drawing a line between two sets of knowledge.

    Kaldur nods to himself. "A small amount of practice is in order." His eyes move over his fellow Atlanteans. "Garth, Beryl, accompany me while we purchase refreshments. Remember: our conversation must not seem out of the ordinary. Paul-" I freeze up slightly. Ugh, really? The name thing hasn't bothered me significantly for months now. "-please accompany Robert and Tula while they attempt the same."

    I nod. "Of course. I'll just make a quick phone call and we'll follow you in."

    Kaldur nods, then turns and leads the other two in the direction of the entrance to Rownhams Services Westbound. Gosh, I've spent so much time in near-identical buildings over the years. They actually have fairly positive associations for me, representing as they did a welcome respite from long periods of sitting in the car on long holiday journeys to visit my grandparents. Thinking.. about it… I don't remember any report of Kaldur's adventures on the surface world mentioning him spending any time in Britain before now. I do hope he doesn't do anything silly like try making friends with someone to whom he hasn't been properly introduced.

    I take out my phone and make the unlock-squiggle with my right forefinger. Still not.. entirely sold on these things, but we need to keep in touch with each other and we can't use anything too advanced to do it. Luckily, the area around Minions has fairly good phone reception.

    "How difficult could it be to purchase a beverage?"

    "Well, there's… Like, a difference between being able to speak a language, and using it like people actually use it. Y'know?"

    I press John's contact number and hold the phone up to my right ear. "To be honest, Tula, your English is probably a bit too good. If you were less fluent the momentary gaps in fluency would be-"

    "Yeah?"

    "Afternoon, John." I turn away from the other two and start walking slowly in the direction of the trees which surround the non-road side of the Services car park. "Might have a job for you."

    "Blimey mate, another one?"

    I lower my voice slightly. Can't really stick up a sound exclusion barrier when we're under cover. "Rob has expressed concerns about his ability to get appropriate training with his arcane abilities. Can I assume that you aren't a secret master of Cornish arcane elementalism?"

    "You don't ask a lot, do you?" He exhales sharply. "No, I'm not."

    "Know anyone who is?"

    "What, you mean aside from Captain Cornwall?"

    "Mm, he isn't. That's the problem." I glance back. Tula's followed me towards the wooded area, though she's more interested in the trees than my conversation. Atlantis doesn't have trees or any real tree-equivalents. They get oxygen from plankton, algae and seaweed. Some types are decorative, but even at its best it's nothing compared to what you can find in any well-maintained British garden. For lack of anything better to do Rob's following her.

    "I think I met his uncle once. Don't know if he'd remember me. He any better?"

    "Isn't he in prison?"

    "Yeah, but he's allowed visitors. And I could probably con me way in even if he wasn't."

    "I don't know much about him. Rob hasn't wanted to talk about him." Rob glances at me for a second, then looks away. Come on, it was going to come up eventually. "Do you think he'd know enough-?"

    "Look… Don't want to spoil your mental image of me or anything, but I don't actually know everything there is to know about magic. Give me a couple of weeks without anything else on-"

    "Hah."

    "-yeah, and I can probably dig up some old Cornish gypsy or witch who can tell you a little bit… But that's not really what he wants, is it?"

    "His dad doesn't take the superhero thing entirely seriously. It's something he's obliged to do, but he doesn't have the same sense of mission that…" I chuckle. "I was going to say 'that Batman has', but… I mean, like any of the Leaguers have. From what he said, his grandfather wasn't much more into it. My friend Alan gave his great grandfather a glowing review but he's dead."

    "Oh, you want… Riiight. How long's he been dead for?"

    "About forty years. Died of.. probably a stroke and a heart attack at the age of eighty three."

    "Calling up the spirits of powerful wizards is a really dodgy one. I'd want Rob or his dad there at least. Someone from the blood line."

    "We can do that."

    "I'll need the usual stuff then: something important to him in life, the location of his grave and someone who can hold him off if things get nasty."

    I nod. "You busy next weekend?"

    "I was just going to keep on readin' this stuff you got off of Sephtian."

    "Okay, pencil me in for Saturday night. I'll confirm nearer the time."

    "Right. Here, y'know Chas actually took Geraldine t'that gate thing you set up in Battersea? He usually hates gettin' involved in magic."

    Huh. That's interesting. "Did Renee go?"

    "Yep."

    "Get out."

    "Straight up, mate. Even went through the frigging thing."

    "Miracles of good PR. I mean, if I can convince her… Oh, right, while you're there; you don't know about anything that might cause a town in Cornwall to have nightmares for twelve years, do you?"

    "Funnily enough, no."

    I smile. "Alright. See you next weekend, if not before." I lift the phone away from my ear and press the 'off' button.

    Tula looks around. "Was that John Constantine?"

    "Yes, it was."

    "Do you think.. you could arrange a training session with him? Neither Garth nor I are at all well versed in the magics still used by the surface world. Since we first met I have been worried that I still have gaps in my knowledge like the one he used to beat me."

    I'm not sure how good an idea that is… On the other hand, who am I going to suggest they talk to, Nabu? It's a legitimate concern. "I can certainly ask him. You'd have to.. go to him, of course. I don't think the League really want him hanging around their students." She nods. "Now then;-" I put my phone back in my jacket and stride purposefully in the direction of the Services building. "-An Introduction to English Social Interactions. You may need this."
     
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    • Empiricist2 said:
    I think it would have been hilarious if the answer had been 'yes' and the rest of the episode was something completely different.
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    "Yeah there's an evil Fairy Prince imprisoned near there, bugger's probably trying to break out again. Five kilometers west of the town square, big hill with an oak tree surrounded by a fairy ring. You can't miss it. There's twelve iron poles buried there nailing the thing in place. Just replace the ones that have rusted through and it'll be fine."
     
    As long as he uses a different name and no one else tries to call him another,he should be good.

    Paul: my name is Phil.
    passersby: I thought she said it was Paul?
    Paul: Dang it! You had one job!
     
    Mr Zoat said:
    "Yeah, but he's allowed visitors. And I could probably con me way in even if he wasn't."
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    Probably without even resorting to magic.

    Mr Zoat said:
    "I'll need the usual stuff then; something important to him in life, the location of his grave and someone who can hold him off if things get nasty."
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    Huh. Gotta wonder how necromancy (In the sense of making a call, not getting the silent majority to rise up (As it were)) works in terms of the mystical significance of graves versus bodies or what-have-you. Specifically, when people have empty graves (Intentionally, mind. Not because the graves were robbed. Who even robs graves? Are body parts really that hard to come by?)

    On the one hand, we wear our meatsuits for at least sixty percent of our lives, and most of us develop some attachment to it. On the other hand, graves are a sort of death ritual.

    Mr Zoat said:
    "-yeah, and I can probably dig up some old Cornish gypsy or witch..."
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    ...Damn it all, I don't know if he's being literal or not.


    Mr Zoat said:
    "Miracles of good PR. I mean, if I can convince her… Oh, right, while you're there; you don't know about anything that might cause a town in Cornwall to have nightmares for twelve years, do you?"
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    "...Me in one of 'em magical girl kits?"

    "Damn it, John."
     
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