Time Stop vs. Beginning of Upkeep

[Daxos]

So I've dared to {Donate} a {Thought Lash} to my opponent and I hold {Time Stop} in my hand.

Can I use it to prevent him from paying the cumulative upkeep cost?

( oh! {Aeon Hub} {Æon Hub} seems like a safer bet, I'll run that too, but still curious about Time Stop applicability. Also I bumped two old threads about {Silence} since they seem relevant, but after reading them, I'm still unsure about this interaction.)

Thanks
-h

[Oldschoolmtgnoob]

Does cumulative upkeep use the stack? Being as it is a cost for something.
Like if a card ability is activated by sacrificing a creature, you can't kill the creature in response, right? Or is that just producing mana?

P.S. {silence}....how will you cast a spell when you are unable to....ssssspeak??
"Mhrhm mhrm mhm!"

[Daxos]

well Oldschool your post made me think along the right path I think (thanks).

According to this Rule I'll quote bellow, the cumulative upkeep is treated as a triggered ability, as such it must use the stack and I should be able to respond to it with my instant.  However I think it doesn't do what I want it to do, since as per the instant's text it exiles everything in the stack, including itself. If that is the case, I must conclude that it will exile the triggered ability's effect as well (since it won't be able to finish resolving)(?)

dang.

===== Rule Quote Start =====
702.23a: Cumulative upkeep is a triggered ability that imposes an increasing cost on a permanent. "Cumulative upkeep [cost]" means "At the beginning of your upkeep, if this permanent is on the battlefield, put an age counter on this permanent. Then you may pay [cost] for each age counter on it. If you don't, sacrifice it." If [cost] has choices associated with it, each choice is made separately for each age counter, then either the entire set of costs is paid, or none of them is paid. Partial payments aren't allowed.
Example: A creature has "Cumulative upkeep {W} or {U}" and two age counters on it. When its ability next triggers and resolves, the creature's controller puts an age counter on it and then may pay {W}{W}{W}, {W}{W}{U}, {W}{U}{U}, or {U}{U}{U} to keep the creature on the battlefield.
Example: A creature has "Cumulative upkeep—Sacrifice a creature" and one age counter on it. When its ability next triggers and resolves, its controller can't choose the same creature to sacrifice twice. Either two different creatures must be sacrificed, or the creature with cumulative upkeep must be sacrificed.
===== Rule Quote End =====

[Remillo]

The answer is no.  Cumulative Upkeep abilities go on the stack like anything else, and it only sees the cost as 'paid' or 'not paid' when the ability resolves.  If the ability is countered or exiled from the turn ending, it never resolves to give the 'not paid' signal to the other triggered ability.  In the case of Eon Hub, the ability never hits the stack if the upkeep never happens, leading to the same answer of 'doesn't work'.

[Daxos]

awww

thanks that seems very logical indeed.

there should be a way to make this work though maybe if aye.. *shrewd mumble***

[Remillo]

Well, if you {Mindslaver} (or ultimate {Sorin Markov}) them, then you can make them not pay it.  That's the easiest way I can think of.

[Daxos]

love the idea Rem, thanks.

for completeness sake (lurkers) {worst fears}