Old Scars, Chapter 3: Part 4.2

Page 69

Panel 1: Cut to an interior shot of Grem stepping inside the automobile, checking out the interior carefully and with a scientific respect.

GREM

Uber luxe for someone who works at a news agent's.

Panel 2: Same setting/layout as the previous panel. He tilts his head back toward T, shifting toward an apologetic defensiveness connected to the last statement.

GREM

(Cont.) No offense intended. I just...it's been a long, long while since I've seen such fine craftsmanship as this.How long did ya build it?

GREM

(Bubble 2; reacting to Panel 3, Bubble 1) What type of...special add-ons do ya have? Rocket boosts, attack weapons?

Panel 3: T grins proudly at the compliment, clicking on their seatbelt and nodding appreciatively; their hands gripping the wheel to the panel right direction.

T

Thanks. 6 years worth of work, not to mention a dozen more sketching it out while in school. Not to mention hiding it from the Saapaat any time they wanted to make my family's life a living hell.

T

(Bubble 2; reacting to Panel 2, Bubble 2) A generous smattering of bits and bobs.

Panel 4: Action shot of their hand a few moments later, pressing the button that activates the car's engines. You can see a section of the onboard radio around the top half of the panel view.

Caption

(Cont., T)

"I'll show you an example when we hit some open road!"

Panel 5: We move to an exterior shot of the Timmi a short time later as it drives out of the Helsinki city limits. You can see the logo of the dirigible Grem had missed upon landing- an ad promoting Juho Kusti Paasikivi for President.

Caption

(T)

"So...Adventurer or Kook?

Panel 6: Cut to a shot of the two of them in the car a split second after the question is asked. He raises an eyebrow of slight befuddlement at the random question. In the background, you can see sections of wilderness as they pass it by.

GREM

What was that?

T

(explanatory) Why you're going to Oulu to see the "Magic Tree"- is it 'cause you're an adventurer or a kook? From everything I've read about it, those are the only reasons that make sense to me.

Page 70

Panel 1: Grem chuckles and gives a slight side nod toward the spirit of the question; his gaze staring out at the road in front of him.

GREM

Fair point. I've been called both in my travels, so...I'm happy to be known as both.

Panel 2: Triggered by the middle of the reply, T's ears perk up metaphorically with new questions that need answers.

T

What kind of travels, if I may ask?

T

(Bubble 2; reacting to Panel 3, Bubble 1) And you think whatever's going on in Oulu falls on that first part?

Panel 3: We move back to Mr. Allen; his casual grin fades slightly as he gives his partial answer to the question.

GREM

Usually the kind that nearly destroy the planet. Though sometimes they shift toward the more straightforward or, when the gods are especially kind, more pleasurable.

GREM

(Bubble 2; reacting to Panel 2, Bubble 2) Possibly, aye...! Bit early to know for certain, but- definitely possible.

Panel 4: A two-part set of panels that starts out with a period of awkward silence between them both, touched also by a sense of nerves on T's part.

Panel 5: In the second part, a short time later, the immortal Irishman turns his head toward the driver with a question that pops into his head.

GREM

Speaking of adventurers, that guy who allegedly walked into the "magic tree." You happen to have read anything more that I might have missed?

T

I'd say so! My sister was there when it happened.

GREM

(Bubble 2) Really?

T

(Bubble 2) No one gave a damn of her story though 'cause, ya know- idiot human male nonsense

GREM

(Bubble 3) That's the truth! So, what did she see?