The Community, Issue 9: Part 3.1

Page 219 Panel 1: At a table in the D.C. a few classes later, around lunchtime, we see Ant and Seanna eating and chatting. You can see a few other students next to them at another table in the background doing roughly the same thing.

SEANNA

(pleasantly surprised, to Ant) I didn't know you went to school here when we met.

ANT

(correcting explanatory, to Seanna) I dropped out a few months later- family/pandemic stuff. Also, you never really asked.

SEANNA

(Bubble 2) Fair point...what's your major?

ANT

(Bubble 2) Public Policy & Administration. I'm hoping to go into the Foreign Service after I graduate.

SEANNA

(Bubble 3) Good on you! May I ask about the family stuff? If-If it's not too painful...

ANT

(Bubble 2) It's been long enough, and it's not that long a story.

Panel 2: Slight close-up on Ant a beat later, grabbing the middle of her cup to take a sip as she speaks.

ANT

(Cont., sighs) My parents were at high-risk for the virus. So, initially, I stepped in to help run the family thrift store part time while doing my art. Then they died of the virus a few months before H-Day, and- basically, it went full-time.

ANT

(Bubble 2; reacting to Panel 3, Bubble 1) The day the vaccine was discovered, and began distribution globally.

Panel 3: Watkins throws an upturned eyebrow at the last word of the statement; their right hand touching one of the fries on the plate.

SEANNA

(confused) H-Day?

Panel 4: Same setting/layout as Panel 2; a two-part set of panels. She chuckles as she takes a sip, finishing out the rest of her thought from that aforementioned panel.

ANT

The "H" stands for hope. It's one of those goofy, viral things that also fit the times. Kinda like sea shanties.

SEANNA

(Off-Panel) True...

Panel 5: In the second part, the young woman lowers the cup back onto the table; a jolt of curiosity tinged on her face connected to what she says.

ANT

So. What have you been up to, besides the coma and riding the morning show circuit?

ANT

(Bubble 2; reacting to Panel 6, Bubble 1) Really? That's fantastic- congrats! If you need any tips navigating all that, I'll be happy to help out.

Panel 6: Seanna chuckles at the question; their cheeks puffed out slightly with the french fries they ate over the course of the previous pair of panels.

SEANNA

Well, me and Lynn are officially an item, along with her girlfriend.

SEANNA

(Bubble 2; reacting to Panel 5, Bubble 2) Good to know. Also, I...

Page 220

Panel 1: Watkins looks on at the plate with awkward nervousness, swallowing the food in their mouth at the end of the previous page.

Panel 2: Same setting/layout as Panel 5 of the previous page. In the few moments of pause, Ant realizes the truth she had stumbled onto.

ANT

(wants to know more, to Seanna) No shit! What kind of powers? Captain America type, Captain Marvel type...I've always wondered what a nonbinary Sentry would look like.

Panel 3: We move back to Seanna; the setting and layout similar to Panel 1. With a similar level of nerves as that aforementioned panel, they look up at Ant with a hopeful glint in their eyes.

SEANNA

(slightly cryptic, to Ant) Can you keep a secret?

Panel 4: A two-part set of panels that moves back to Ant; the first, we see her nodding slightly. As she does, you can see a glimmer of light off-panel in the direction of her gaze.

ANT

Of course.

Panel 5: In the second part, the glimmer is more noticeable as the mystery form appears in full view on the table.

ANT

(Cont., mouth agape) 'Kay, that is--so awesome! The protesters could certainly use someone with powers like that.

Panel 6: We move back to Seanna giving a slight nod in agreement to the idea. You can see a little teddy bear on the table to the lower right of the panel view; the thing that they made appear through the previous pair of panels.

SEANNA

(explanatory) I actually offer up my pto help a friend of mine a few days ago.