Golden Gate Comic Con, Chapter 7: Pages 21-22
PAGE 21
PANEL 1: Cut to a shot of Nina at the bar a few minutes later, similar to what we saw in Panel 5 of the previous page except for one difference. You can see Ms. McKinney take a seat on the bar stool right next to Nina, taking the shield off of her back and placing it on the bartop.
NINA [curious, to Michele]: What about seats? It's gonna be near packed by the time we get there? MICHELE [not worried, to Nina]: No worries. I got VIH seating attached to my 3-Day Pass. NINA [confused, Bubble 2]: VIH? MICHELE [Bubble 2]: Very Important Hero. Basically, it makes sure I and whoever wants to join me get a good seat for the panel I want to see, regardless of when I end up showing up for it.
PANEL 2: We move to an action shot of Michele taking her seat on the barstool a second later; her hands and wrist gently placed on the far edge of the bartop. You can see the shield next to one of her hands as well as the outline of another person seated a distance away from them at the bar.
MICHELE [Cont., explanatory]: The Con's had the offer down for a couple of years, but you have to had attended at least 6 Cons to qualify for it. And this year's my 6th, so... NINA [Off-Panel]: Wow! Does it ever get boring after all that time? MICHELE [scoffs, Bubble 2]: 'Course not, I love it! The cosplay, the panels, the level of swag on offer each year...there's always something new and exciting to find each year. Not to mention the people... NINA [flirty blush, Off-Panel; Bubble 2]: ...So, how does this VIH thing work?
PANEL 3: Same setting/layout as the previous panel, taken continuously in terms of the action from Panel 2. She raises her right wrist up a little bit from the hardwood, getting set to go on to her explanation.
MICHELE [effortlessly]: Pretty easy. I access the data connected to my pass, which I can do through my comm. Once that's done... MICHELE [Bubble 2, to Lil' Jarvis]: Lil' Jarvis, place a VIH hold for 2 for the Fantastic Four panel at Hall A. LIL' JARVIS [from the comm, to Michele]: Yes, Big MAC.
PANEL 4: Cut to a shot of Nina a split second later. She nods in a basic understanding of the explanation, but with a desire for explanation on another thing in particular; her right forefinger pointing in the direction of Michele's wrist.
NINA [curious]: Big MAC...?
PANEL 5: Back to Ms. McKinney in the same setting/layout as Panel 3. As she speaks, her focus is split toward her wrist comm and Nina explaining the story behind it. You can see her left wrist move off the countertop, hovering between it and her lap.
MICHELE [chuckles]: It's my nickname. The Big part's--well, pretty self explanatory. As for the MAC part...
PANEL 6: Same setting/layout as the previous panel. A few moments later, we see her pop off her metal prosthetic right hand with her left, revealing the connector placed right at the base of the elbow. Michele has a look that tries to be nonchalant which hides a humming nervousness inside her as to what Nina's response is going to be.
MICHELE [Cont.]: It stands for "Mechanically Augmented Chica." Just a nickname I gave myself after I got the prosthetic in order to deal with the reg jerks who made fun of me in school. I rarely do this for people I met, so this is kinda... NINA [Off-Panel]: Wow...!
PAGE 22
PANEL 1-2: A two-part set of panels that cuts back to Nina in a side shot next to her. In Panel 1, she does her best to double back and deflate what she fears was an insensitive remark on her part. Then, in Panel 2 a few moments later, she turns away and down to the stool next to her to pick up something next to the engine for her Doopool outfit (which we see in the background for the first time in Panel 2).
NINA [stammering/correcting, to Michele; Panel 1]: I don't--I don't mean in an, "OMG, what a freak!" type of way. I mean, I--I--I've never actually been friends with someone who's a MAMaaa... NINA [dejected, Panel 2]: I'm just gonna shut up and drink for a bit. MICHELE [Off-Panel chuckle, Panel 2]: I got your point, Nina...
PANEL 3: Back to Michele in the same setting/layout as the last panel of the previous page. With a warm smile that sees the genuineness in the young woman's anxious words from the previous panel, she tightens her hand into a metal fist moments after the prosthetic is slipped back into the corresponding connector.
MICHELE [Cont.]: I've heard considerably worse from others- men, 10 year old boys...men who basically are 10 year old boys deep inside. You're not even close to that level. MICHELE [Bubble 2]: Now, let's get to this code before the bartender pops in.
PANEL 4: Back to a shot of Nina in the same setting/layout as Panel 2. She glances over in Ms. McKinney's direction while focused mainly on a closed Netbook-sized laptop that she places on the bartop in front of her; the edge of the glass next to it.
NINA: You need something to help you write it down?
PANEL 5: Cut back to Michele, confidently shaking her head at the assumption; the setting and layout as Panel 3. As she speaks, her body starts to turn forward toward the front of the bar in preparation for her order to come.
MICHELE [calmly explanatory]: Jarvis will save up a copy of the code that I'll download into my V-Box back home. LIL' JARVIS [one last bit, from the comm; to Nina]: Indeed. All you need to do is access the Pri-Wi before we begin he syncing process- the network's "Dream Waltz," by the way. NINA [Off-Panel]: Dream Waltz? MICHELE [Bubble 2]: It's a Women of Neverwhere song, from way back in the early years.