bad takes

Page 1. Scaramouche is standing, but his limbs droop. His eyes are wide open but unfocused and tired. He is smiling a bit. Text reads: “Poor, foolish, delusional puppet.”

Page 2. Disembodied hands with puppet strings attached to them control a small doll with Scaramouche’s hair. Text reads: “Struggling so hard to cut yourself free

only to find yourself dangling at the ends of yet another’s strings.

Maybe it’s time you accepted

you were

made

to be used.

Page 3. The strings on the small puppet loosen and it is set down on the floor, lying limp. Text reads: “Trading your life for the feeling of supreme power…

A good deal, or didn’t you say so yourself?

(so why…)”

Page 4. A young Scaramouche looks up curiously at the vague shape of Yae Miko. The Plume of Luxury from the Husk of Opulent Dreams artifact set is also drawn in the corner of the page. Text reads: “Why are you thinking of that yesterday left in the dust

and those words you said then?”

Page 5. Scaramouche’s eyes are half-closed and his mouth is slightly open. It’s as if he’s drowning in water or floating in some darkness. Text reads: “Words borne from weak impulses you burned out of yourself long ago.”

Page 6. Scaramouche is slouched on the ground and clasping at his chest, looking distressedly forward, where pear-shaped fruit are scattered in a trail. Text reads: “Words that received no answer then,

and certainly wouldn’t now.”

Page 7. Scaramouche’s disembodied eyes float at the top of the page, tired and crying. Below them is his figure, barely holding himself upright. Text reads “(why…

do you still want to say them…)”

Page 8. Scaramouche hangs from the tubes connected to his back and says “Save… me…” These words are in handwriting, as opposed to a font like the rest of the text in the comic. Each letter droops down lower and lower.

invasive species cleanup