DC Gothic – Justice League
Grass Skirts And Coconut Bras
Private Beach - Hawaii – April 2003
"Welcome to Hawaii!" I shouted with a grin, as everyone stepped through the portal Raven had created "Please enjoy the my holiday home and the private beach".
The house was what you'd expect for beach-front property owned by the wealthy. It wasn't that big but since the sea and sand were only meters away from the front door it was well worth cramming so many inside. Besides as long as there wasn't any freak weather everyone would be spending most of their time outside, and since the skies were blue, the wind was cool, and the sun was shinning I was so not going to lock myself indoors. I'd had enough of being cooped up.
"It is so beautiful" Blackfire said with a happy smile on her face, as she checked out the palm trees and white sandy beach "and because no one is around I don't have to hide behind a hologram".
When I'd suggested to Ray that Blackfire disguise herself I hadn't at that point known that I owned a beach house on one of the islands of Hawaii and the land around it. Since there wouldn't be normal people around there was no reason for everyone not to be themselves.
"And it's all ours for two whole days" Raven remarked.
She didn't sound as happy as she should be.
"Well it's ours whenever we want it" I corrected "but yeah everyone enjoy the weekend".
The next forty-eight hours were going to be so fun.
"I call the biggest room!" Beast Boy said, pushing past everyone else.
Out of the corner of my I saw Terra roll her eyes and yank Beast Boy backward, like he was overexcited toddler.
"Hey! What was that for?" Beast Boy asked of his girlfriend.
Personally I didn't know why she needed a reason.
"I've already decided who goes in what room" I said, while unlocking the front doors "and I'm getting the master bedroom".
Beast Boy groaned but followed everyone into the house nonetheless.
What greeted us inside was a luxurious sight that could rival even the finest of hotels. The walls that faced the ocean were made of glass and were perfectly clear so nothing got in the way of the view. A huge skylight seemed to make up the most of the roof and it let in enough sunlight that I kept my sunglasses on.
A plasma screen T.V hung on the wall along with various modern paintings, that did not appeal to my sense of taste. Also there was a huge dark wooden coffee table with magazines the girls would enjoy along with video games for the guys and a selection of DVDs.
I knew that Galatea had scouted the place out a few days in order to make it habitable and she had clearly gone to some effort to make sure that we would have everything we needed.
The kitchen was elegant and also very modern looking, with a massive stainless steel refrigerator. Even in here sunlight filled the room and enough food to feed an army was laid out on the counters.
"SWEET!" Beast Boy shouted, jumping onto the couch. He had the T.V on before anyone else even made it half way into living area.
"Not so fast BB, we still gotta check out our rooms" Cyborg said, lugging in his and Bumblebee's luggage.
Beast Boy immediately jumped off the couch and managed to fall over which made Terra roll her eyes again. Dude really was a overgrown
child sometimes, but on some level she had to find it adorable otherwise one night she would have suffocated him with pillow while he slept.
The bedrooms were at the back of the house and it was darker here and the roof was not transparent.
"Alright. Stargirl and Ace your on the couch as it folds out" I told the only two single people.
They moaned, but it was just easier to put couples into the bedrooms, not that I was in a couple I had a sort of complex four way thing going, and Jinx apparently wasn't coming as she was now playing for the other team. The bad guy team, not lesbian one. But on the plus side that did mean there wouldn't three people sharing one sofa bed.
"Borg and Bee your room is right there, Terra and Beastie Boy your room is across from theirs" I was now saying "assuming I remember the floor plan correctly".
I'd never been here before but the accountant who handled all my money and investments had faxed me enough information for me to learn the layout of the place.
"Aren't you excited Ray?" I inquired when it was just me and my girls.
"I suppose." Raven deadpanned as we walked down the corridor to the master bedroom.
"What? You're not excited at all? We're in Hawaii Rae!" Blackfire said, as stopped in front of our room " I saw a documentary before we left and it looks even more amazing than it did on TV".
Well that explained why she'd wanted to come here.
"And we live in California. Which is by the water too." Raven replied.
Well yes, but that wasn't the point and it didn't have anything to do with why she wasn't bursting with joy.
"Whatever Raven, just remember to have fun" Blackfire said with a sigh.
I could sense an argument coming, but after being away for a whole year a perverse part of me had missed them so I did nothing to prevent it.
"The word 'fun' isn't in my dictionary." Raven said in the monotonous voice she famous for.
I knew it was and next to that word was a picture of her tied to the bed with a riding crop whacking her ass.
"Please try to enjoy yourself" I requested of my magic using lover.
As we entered the big bedroom the scene before us was a beautiful one. The ceiling was painted to look like a starry night and walls were a shade of purple that was normally only seen just after a sunset.
A glass wall faced the ocean view with a balcony and if I had judged things right the sunset should actually be visible form this room as well as the living area. The whole thing would no doubt be very romantic.
As for what we'd all be sleeping on a large, round fluffy bed was in the centre of the room. It was heart shaped but since the bedding wasn't red it didn't seem to obvious, and to my everlasting gratitude there was no big mirror above the bed. The room already looked to much like a honeymoon suite in my view.
When I saw a small smile appear on Raven's face, and I knew that unlike Blackfire and Power Girl, she had noticed that this room was rather suited for a honeymoon. No doubt she planned to use this fact to somehow make me uncomfortable. Not that she'd have much luck after all I wasn't the same person that I had been eight months ago.
Blackfire dropped her luggage, which was a lot considering that she could fly home quickly enough for anything she needed, and collapsed on the bed, no doubt enjoying it's feathery goodness. Before she could fully relax, however, there was a knock on her door.
"What do you want?" Raven said to Beast Boy, who was peering into our bedroom
"Hey, you've got an awesome room!" the shape shifter needlessly informed us "Wanna see mine we've got a water bed? Terra's hates it but I like it!".
If Slade had ever stayed in this place then I would eat my hat. Of course I'd have to buy a hat first since I didn't own one. But that would not be necessary as I knew he'd just brought furnished places as hideouts, and hadn't given a damn what how they were decorated.
However he might have done something with the basement. There was nothing in the plans, but that didn't mean anything.
"I'll pass on the invitation. We'll be downstairs in a second." Raven replied, before slamming the door in Beast Boy's face".
"The emo side is strong with this one" I muttered under my breathe.
It was then I decided that I would have to nip her bad attitude in the bud before her mood ruined everyone's weekend.
"Fire, 'Tea give me a moment alone with Ray" I ordered
My other two girls did exactly that and I was impressed by how easily I could get them to do things. Either I had a lot of control over them or they had sensed what was about to happen and had wisely decided to get out of the line of fire.
"I don't know what's got your panties in a bunch" I said to Raven when the door closed "and frankly I don't care. I've just spent the better part of a year in a place that made no sense, with a guy that makes me look like the poster boy for sanity".
When put that way it sounded bad, but truth be told I'd forever be grateful for Goku for taking so much time out his own life to train me, and since I could live for thousands of years that was really saying something.
"All want to have fun before I go back to Jump City and deal with Red-X and your not going to ruin that for me. Is that understood?"
Ray just nodded, and she might have said something but I wasn't finished just yet.
"I'm not saying that I don't care if your upset" I told Raven, without raising my voice "but it's not fair to ruin everyone else's good time, so whatever it is making you all emo I'm telling you to put it aside until we get home. When we do I will be happy to listen to whatever have to say and I'll do my best to help. Is that okay with you?".
She didn't take long to answer.
"Yes" she said.
It took me a moment to process the fact that I'd actually been able to say all that without her getting all pissed off at me. I had really grown during my time away.
"You are going to join everyone else for the barbecue" I went on to say, still in a perfectly calm voice and you will do your best to be pleasant. You told me you miss your friends and some of them are here so make the most of it".
Again she answered right away.
"Okay"
By now she was looking at her own feet like she was a chided child.
"Good" I said "Now go change into that sexy bikini I know you brought for this trip".
As she rushed to as she was told I promised myself that one day I'd figure out exactly why I kept ending up with women who seemed to gain some enjoyment from being ordered around by a man like. I assumed it had something to do with unresolved issues with their fathers. Then I realised that I knew about Blackfire's father, other than he dead, hopefully he'd never tried to kill her.
"I'd better change to".
My kung fu outfit was actually rather comfy despite being weighted but it wasn't something I wanted to relax on beach in.
(Line Break)
Private Beach - Hawaii – April 2003
After a year of living a lifestyle that could only really be approved of by a Buddhist, it was nice to drink a beer and to cook meat while surrounded by super powered babes in bikinis. This was exactly how men like me were meant to live.
"I think Ray opened a portal to heaven by mistake" I said to Cy and BB as we watched the girls play a game of volleyball.
Well nearly all of them. Raven was in the kitchen, hopefully not preparing food in any way that involved heat as she had once cremated an entire box of pop tarts and somehow set a bowl of cereal on fire.
"Oh yeah" agreed Borg, who was intently watching his girlfriend jump and down a lot "no one live can be this lucky".
The little green dude was no so happy.
"Urggh" expressed Beast Boy "how can you eat so much meat".
I hadn't actually eaten any of the dead animal parts yet, as they were still cooking.
"If it's any consolation I've been a strict vegan for the last eight months" I told BB.
It hadn't been by choice it was just that the food supplies in the Time Chamber had been rather limited. There was only so much you could do with rice and noddles.
"Eight months!" said a shocked Cyborg before he realised something "Hold on a second I know I saw you eating meat up in the Watchtower before you went on that mission to set magic right. That wasn't eight months ago".
I remembered that meal well. I'd had lemon chicken as a side dish with my pasta. Why I recalled it so vividly was rather mysterious, but I guessed it had something to do with it being the last meal before I'd died. Cyborg most likely remembered because he had his memories on a hard drive.
"The place I went to train in had a chamber were time flowed faster" I explained "a year inside is a day on the outside. I was inside for eight months and I lived on vegan food. So for this weekend I am spoiling myself with bad food and beer. I earned it".
Even with the limited menu options the whole thing had been worth it. My control over my demonic powers was really impressive now. I'd gotten the barbecue going with a click of my fingers. No lighter fluid needed.
"Yeah but it stinks" Beastie Boy complained.
It was amazing how little he was bothering me. I hadn't achieved a state of inner peace or gotten anywhere near enlightenment, but if nothing else spending all that time cut off from distractions had given me a chance to get some perspective and to work through my feelings. I wasn't getting worked up over the little things any more.
"Tell you what" I said to the green dude "When I stay at your fancy holiday home and get to enjoy your private beach, then I promise not to eat any meat".
Hearing that made Cyborg burst out laughing. However BB was not so amused and he had a question.
"How do you afford this place?" he asked.
My answer was a simple one.
"By being a millionaire?"
As I flipped the ridiculously think and juicy burgers I could tell that a more detailed was needed.
"I was Slade's last apprentice so when he 'died' I got everything that was his" I told the lads "He was the world's best assassin for many years and he made quite the fortune, and he spent his wealth on places like this so he would have lots of hidey holes like this for when he needed to disappear for while".
If I'd ever tried to hunt Deathstroke I never would have looked for him in a location such as this. It was rather clever and more common than I'd imagined. Talia had confessed to me while we'd been in Aspen that her father than a flat in Jump City that he kept just so he could have someone keep an eye on me. Which upon thinking about it was actually a way for me to get to the Demon's Head. I'd have to visit the apartment when I got back to the city.
"And because they are all mine I know have apartments and houses all over the world" I finished saying.
Cy was impressed, but BB was still annoyed with me.
"That blows" he complained "I have to live in the Watchtower in a tiny room and it's cold up in space!".
I doubted Terra enjoyed it much either so I decided to fix that.
"If you want a house just let me know" I said "I've got a list pf them somewhere you can just pick one and move in".
Transferring the deed of ownership was no trouble as I had people to handle that sort of stuff for me.
"Really?" he asked "You're going to give me a house!"
To him it was a big deal, but to me empty homes were just a waste of resources. Much better to put them to use.
"Can I..." Cyborg started to say.
I cut him of as he was having trouble asking for a handout.
"You helped put Slade down so there's no reason for me not to share the spoils of war".
I might have been able to phrase that better, but since he was getting a free home he didn't fret over it.
"So Slade's money is what you're gonna use to set up your business and make the games consoles " Cy was saying as the girls made their way back over to the house.
"Not exactly" I replied "I got to you back engineer that Xbox1 and then patent a downgraded version because I'm going to milk this technology for all it's worth".
I'd asked Cyborg to come up with a downgraded version of the Xbox1 (something to close to the 360) so that I could bring out two games systems rather than just one.
"You see I'm going to have another company produce and sell them but I'll still get a percentage of the profits. Then in a year we can show them the better version".
While I had the money to buy everything needed to set up my own company, it would take time and I had no guarantee that product would ever reach the shelves because the more established companies could find ways to drive me out of business. However if I let Mircosoft, which had already brought out a version of the Xbox , pay me to sell Cyborgs version of the Xbox1 then they'd end up dominating the industry as they would outsell the latest Gamestation (which was what Playstations were called here) and possibly even drive Sony out of that market.
"Then I'll use the money to develop that hand held game system I picked up. After your done taking it a part and reconfiguring it of course. It's so far ahead of what we have here that we will make a fortune".
Cyborg made a thoughtful face as the girls just started at us.
"Does anyone have a clue what they are talking about?" Stargirl asked of the other females.
None of them did.
"We can sell the wireless controllers separately" Cy suggested 'And we could even make our games. You brought some games so I figure out the software easy".
I'd not considered selling the wireless controllers as well. If we did that then we could even offer the tech to Sony and then see if Mircosoft would try to outbid them.
"No more shop talk" Bumblebee insisted "I'd like to eat".
The food was done and as I started to serve Ray made an appearance with a large bowl of what I hoped was only salad. Even she couldn't mess that up, not unless she made the dressing herself.
As well sat down to eat we discussed what we were going to do tonight.
"How about we check out the luau" Blackfire suggested to the group "I learned about them thanks to the documentary I watched, they look like a lot of fun".
The idea was met with approval by the majority.
"Is a luau that dance the girls do with the grass skirts" Beast Boy asked.
I could tell that his girlfriend was not happy about where his trail of thought was going so I decided to say something.
"That's called the hula" I told him "it's a traditional dance and yeah there are ladies here who perform it during a luau which as is a sort of party. The interesting thing about the hula is that some version of the dance are actually a form of worship. They were done to praise god and goddess".
As I bit into the burger I'd cooked I just had to say.
"This is a burger worthy of the gods".
I was so glad I could cook.
That was when Galatea made a face and said.
"People are so silly. Worshipping made up things. I bet Krypton never had any gods.
I had to correct her there.
"Actually you do have a god, he's called Rao, and they aren't made up" I told her "I've met Hades and he's the Greek god of the Underworld He brought me back from the dead so I'd say he's a god".
It hadn't been a one time thing either he'd done for the same for Shayera
"I work for a goddess" Raven added between bites of food "and I've met a few others".
Karen thought about it for a second before asking me something.
"But how do you know their really gods and not just really people who have powers like me?" was Galatea's next question "I mean you said I'm like a goddess and I know you said that to Kara too so maybe this Hades guy is really an alien with super powers".
Well both she and her mother certainly had the means of backing up that claim and like her mother Karen's body was nothing less then divine. But it wasn't as simple as that.
"It depends" I said "Some people think that the creator of the universe is the only god. But others faiths think differently. The idea that a god is an all powerful all knowing being is mostly a western philosophy".
I could tell that this subject wasn't one most of the table wanted to discuss
"To make it simple anyone who is immortal, has supernatural powers, and has worshippers can be thought of as god" I said to the very big breasted blonde.
Which Galatea actually needed to know as gods could kill her.
"So if you had worshippers you'd be a god" Karen reasoned.
That made me laugh.
"No I..." I started to say.
Well I was immortal and I had supernatural powers.
"I don't have worshippers and I'm not exactly hard to hurt so no one would take me seriously as god" I pointed out.
Although it did appeal to my megalomaniac side, however I couldn't really be the god of anything.
"She's not that wrong" Ray then said "You could become a god if you wanted to. I could too, it's not as hard as people think. I just don't want to".
Well she was already a demi-goddess. Trigon had been worshipped in the past according to some sources and he'd been around for a very long time. He wasn't even dead in the strictest sense and he was called a Hell-god in a few texts I'd read about demons.
Heck since I was his heir I could be considered to be a demi-god myself. I might not have that level of power, but I was immortal and I had a lot of magic to call upon.
"Don't worry I don't want to be one of either" I said to Raven "from what I know the gods we have aren't worth the trouble".
Shayera had once told me over coffee how her people had killed all their gods so people didn't actually need them.
"So are we gonna go see the sexy dancing" Blackfire asked.
"Yes" I replied as I started on my second burger "we shall go and enjoy the local culture".
And by that I meant try to find out if the women doing to dance wore anything under the grass skirts. I was really curious about that.