Chapter 1 – Page 81
In today’s update, our villain invites our erstwhile kidnap victim TO HIS LAIR.
Just to liven up an extended bout of people talking to each other, I thought I’d throw in a testament to Bayeaux’s vanity and show off a fancy stained glass window. That definitely didn’t add tons of effort to the page for no reason, no sirree.
I’ll excuse Bayeaux’s villain monologuing this one time, firstly because he has no intention of ever actually harming Si – he’s not a complete monster, at least in his own head – secondly because he’d never pass up an opportunity to influence an impressionable young mind, and thirdly because I imagine he just loves hearing the sound of his own voice.
↓ Transcript
Panel 1:
Si is tied up in a chair in front of a massive stained glass mural of Bayeaux leading the people of Britain out of the darkness. She is stark terrified.
Panel 2:
Same view. A nervous smile tweaks the corner of Si’s mouth.
SI: Whatever it was I did, I’m sorry and I won’t do it again.
BAYEAUX (off-panel): Your head, girl! Your head!
BAYEAUX (off-panel): I had to bring you here just to stop it messing up all the parabolas!
Panel 3:
Bayeaux focuses hard into Si’s eyes, looking for something.
BAYEAUX: I had a timetable! You ruined the timetable!
SI: ‘s this the timetable fer youz blowing up a buncha buildings with V2s?
SI: Cuz, uh, I dun’t fink you should do that.
SI: Could you mebbe not do that?
Panel 4:
Bayeaux turns, framed by the stained glass mural dedicated to his massive ego.
BAYEAUX: I have to! Nothing else will work fast enough!
BAYEAUX: The Vandals in charge are starting to list these monstrosities! I can’t knock them down if they’re listed!
SI: But there’s people in ‘em!
Panel 5:
Si is growing in confidence, struggling in her rope ties.
BAYEAUX (off-panel): That’s what the air raid sirens are for - they’ll evacuate.
SI: No they won’t! That ain’t how people work!
SI: They’ll go “that’s weird,” fink it’s a glitch, go back t’the ironing and get blown up! The refugees’ll get flashbacks! They’ll trample over kids falling down the one set o’ stairs in these places!
Panel 6:
A Paladin leers over Si. She shrinks.
INTERFACE: Escape attempt #20: FAIL
SI: And...and even if they do run...you’re blowing up their jobs! Their lives!
SI: All this cuz you don’t like how a bunch o’ buildings look?
BAYEAUX (off-panel): Their “lives…”
Si is tied up in a chair in front of a massive stained glass mural of Bayeaux leading the people of Britain out of the darkness. She is stark terrified.
Panel 2:
Same view. A nervous smile tweaks the corner of Si’s mouth.
SI: Whatever it was I did, I’m sorry and I won’t do it again.
BAYEAUX (off-panel): Your head, girl! Your head!
BAYEAUX (off-panel): I had to bring you here just to stop it messing up all the parabolas!
Panel 3:
Bayeaux focuses hard into Si’s eyes, looking for something.
BAYEAUX: I had a timetable! You ruined the timetable!
SI: ‘s this the timetable fer youz blowing up a buncha buildings with V2s?
SI: Cuz, uh, I dun’t fink you should do that.
SI: Could you mebbe not do that?
Panel 4:
Bayeaux turns, framed by the stained glass mural dedicated to his massive ego.
BAYEAUX: I have to! Nothing else will work fast enough!
BAYEAUX: The Vandals in charge are starting to list these monstrosities! I can’t knock them down if they’re listed!
SI: But there’s people in ‘em!
Panel 5:
Si is growing in confidence, struggling in her rope ties.
BAYEAUX (off-panel): That’s what the air raid sirens are for - they’ll evacuate.
SI: No they won’t! That ain’t how people work!
SI: They’ll go “that’s weird,” fink it’s a glitch, go back t’the ironing and get blown up! The refugees’ll get flashbacks! They’ll trample over kids falling down the one set o’ stairs in these places!
Panel 6:
A Paladin leers over Si. She shrinks.
INTERFACE: Escape attempt #20: FAIL
SI: And...and even if they do run...you’re blowing up their jobs! Their lives!
SI: All this cuz you don’t like how a bunch o’ buildings look?
BAYEAUX (off-panel): Their “lives…”
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