James Brighton Society, Chapter 9: Pages 5-6

Page 5, 6 Panels- Bedroom/Living Room, Grem's Apartment/Officer Reese's Apartment/Azeban's Floating Cabin, Washington D.C.

Panel 1: We move to a close-up on Mr. Reese's face in a similar setting that we saw at the end of the previous page. He looks over to the right of the panel view in puzzlement, trying to piece together a proper answer. The background behind him is a mix of the modest light brown wallpaper and the glow of the sun from the window.

OFFICER REESE [to Tasha, into the receiver he holds]: On my crappy salary--not a chance! Honestly, I'd just be happy for a coat...or to not have the cashier hovering around me while I'm inside. I know a guy I can rent something for--

Panel 2: Cut back to Tasha a moment later. The setting and layout behind her is the same as we saw in Panel 5 of the previous page. She looks on knowingly at the statement, casually leaning against a part of wall that was nearby her at that moment. You can see a shadow belonging to Athena move on in the background on a table near the window.

TASHA [casually, to Officer Reese]: I actually know someone who can help get you one.

Panel 3: Cut to a shot of Azeban sitting on a leather chair in front of a fire in her parlor room, drinking a nice appropriately sized (for her) glass of Sherry. You can see the image of a mermaid moving as if it were in the water from left to right in the top of the panel view. You can also see part of the hallway through the opened parlor doorway, along with a stream of sunlight from an off-panel window.

TASHA [Cont., caption]: Though, fair warning, her look may be a little...shocking. So stay calm, and don't make fun of her height, unless you want an elephant horn on your forehead. SOUND EFFECT [from a glowing section of tile in front of the opened doorway, Off-Panel]: DING DONG!

Panel 4-6: A three-part set of panels that focuses on the same setting and layout as the previous panel, comprising a series of action shots. In Panel 4, Azeban leans off the back of the chair and takes a hard chug of the rest of the Sherry glass. In Panel 5, we see her off the chair and walking over to the glowing ovular shaped presence in front of the doorway, her back to the reader, moving within a few steps of the area by the time we reach Panel 6.

SOUND EFFECT [from same are as Panel 3, Panel 4]: DING DONG! SOUND EFFECT [Cont., Panel 5]: DING DONG! AZEBAN [reacting to the noise, Panel 5]: I'm coming, I'm coming... AZEBAN [muttering to herself, Panel 6]: Impatient hairless apes...!

Page 6, 7 Panels- Azeban's Floating Cabin, Above Washington D.C.

Panel 1-3: A three-part set of panels that follows the transition of the trickster god standing at the edge of the glowing oval. In Panel 1, she yawns and hops inside with the casual demeanor of someone who's done this action before. In Panel 2, it's mostly her molecules warping through the chamber and up toward Panel 3 where she pops up right in front of the door with her back to the reader.

Panel 4: Same setting/layout as the previous panel. It composes of an action shot moments later as Azeban opens the door, revealing Reese (to the left of the doorway) and Tasha (to the right) looking down in her direction. In the background, you can see part of the airship that helped to bring the two of them there parked in front.

TASHA [ecstatic, to Azeban]: Azzie! AZEBAN [equally ecstatic, to Tasha]: Ms. Natasha, good to see you. Though I assumed you would be preparing for the Ball this evening.

Panel 5: Cut to a shot of the trickster god tilting her head in the good Officer's direction. She smirks a bit, examining the human's body with a touch of flirtation that can be seen in her eyes. You can see a little bit of the front lobby in the background as well as a hallway a handful of steps down from where she's standing.

AZEBAN [Cont., intrigued]: Is this a bonus from our mutual friend Gremlin for my work? He's not my type, but...I can definitely have a little fun with it.

Panel 6: Back to Reese and Tasha in the same setting as Panel 4, with a layout that is more closely focused on our two human heroes still stading where they were earlier. While the former Detective is visibly unphased by the god, you can feel the waves of anxiety and shock coming off of Mr. Reese at the sight of Azeban.

TASHA [scoffs, shaking her head]: No, actually, Grem's...out at the moment. TASHA [shifting into an introductory tone, Bubble 2]: This is my friend Kyle. He is coming in his stead to the Ball tonight, and I need yo tou whip up one of your specially tailored suits for him.

Panel 7: Back to Azeban in the same setting and layout as Panel 5. She ponders the idea for a moment and shrugs, casually agreeing to the request. She waves in the weary travelers to come inside.

AZEBAN [to Tasha and Reese]: Entre...entre! AZEBAN [caption]: So, do you know what happened to the Irishman?