#becile workers

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[ID: 13 panels in grey scale.

Panel 1: The Jack, sitting on a raised level, laughs wildly and kicks his legs while Scratch looks on patiently and makes the ASL sign for 'later.' Scratch asks, "Do you want to answer this later?"

Panel 2: The Jack curls up slightly and grins at Scratch. The Jack says, "I mustn't answer it at all! Everyone should be very cross if I did." Scratch looks surprised and makes the sign for 'sorry', saying, "Really? I'm sorry to hear that."

Panel 3: The Jack's grin becomes nervous. "Yes, sorry-- so am I. It is so very bad of me to think it."

Panel 4: Scratch thoughtfully makes the sign for 'favorite.' He says, "Bad? ... Would you like to know my favorite color?"

[ID: Three panels in grey scale.

Panel 1: A juice bag with the Becile Industries logo. Scratch narrates, "I've been on a liquid diet for awhile..." Surrounding the bag like an advertisement are the phrases: "Becile Industries food: Yucky, Synthetic, Tastes like gruel, Might be people?"

Panel 2: A glass filled with smoothie, with a bendy straw. Around it around the phrases: "Food here: Smoothies! Bendy straws! Fruits and veggies! (Cheap) (Sometimes other stuff) (Please don't ask), Has flavor!, Doesn't make me want to die!"

Panel 3: Scratch, crying in the manner of a cartoonish 90s anime, giving a thumbs up and drinking the smoothie using the straw stuck through a slot in his mask vents. He narrates, "I'm so happy." End ID]

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[ID: 20 panels in grayscale.

Panel 1: Scratch looks nervously at the viewer while making the ASL sign for 'bully.' Mr. Weed looks on reproachfully with a raised eyebrow, smoking a cigarette. Scratch says, "I think these guys might be the bullies." Mr. Weed says, "Yeah? What finally tipped you off?"

Panel 2: Scratch makes the sign for 'everything' while Mr. Weed scowls off to the side. Scratch says, "the everything about how they talk to each other." Mr. Weed says, "snort, Yeah, that's about right."

Panel 3: Down angled shot of Scratch and Mr. Weed by some heavy duty worktables. Scratch makes the sign for 'always.' Scratch says, "Have they always been...?" Mr. Weed says, "Dysfunctional? Mean as snakes? Yeah, as long as I've been here."

Panel 4: Mr. Weed looks at Scratch sideways while walking around one of the tables. There are tools hanging on a wall, indicating they are in the workshops. Mr. Weed says, "Maybe it used to be different. But knowing a fraction of what happened in this house..."

Panel 5: Shot of the worktable as Mr. Weed passes. It has metal manacles, oil stains, and a large crater in the wood as if someone bashed their head into it. Mr. Weed says, "...People get edges when they break."

Panel 6: Scratch looking concerned and making the sign for 'better.' He says, "But things could get better. They could--"

Panel 7: Mr. Weed turns around, looking a little angry and gesturing with his hand holding his cigarette. He says, "Let me stop you right there, Scratch. You want to know somethin' about bullies?"

Panel 8: A shot of the tool wall, with various tools. Mr. Weed says from off screen, "It doesn't matter what made them that way. If they've got power over you, they'll use it."

Panel 9: A shot of a small set of drawers labelled 'Rivets,' with a hammer laying on top. Mr. Weed continues, "You can't fix someone if you're their victim."

Panel 10: Scratch looking skeptical, leaning against a table edge and making the sign for 'advice.' Mr. Weed says from off screen, "... You don't like what I'm sayin'." Scratch replies, "You're not wrong. But I'm skeptical of pessimistic advice."

Panel 11: Mr. Weed's hand in a sketchy style, holding the smoking cigarette. He says, "Is that how I sound? Well, how about this: You get over thinking you gotta be a good person, and you do whatever it takes to survive. Fixing them ain't your job. Staying alive is."

Panel 12: Scratch and Mr. Weed speaking across the table, Weed leaning on his elbows. Scratch makes the sign for 'experience.' Scratch says asks, "Speaking from experience?" Mr. Weed says, "Yes. And theirs."

Panel 13: Scene change. Scratch is working on the old CRT TV, which has the back off, exposing the innards. Scratch is kneeling and looking into it with a tired frustration, holding a screwdriver. His antique hand lays on the TV top and taps his index finger. SFX: tap tap

Panel 14: Scratch looks up as The Skull appears in the doorway in the background, half in shadow and partially lit by his throat furnace. The Skull says, "Hey. You seen Hare?"

Panel 15: Scratch turns away and doesn't look at The Skull. He makes the sign for and says "... No."

Panel 16: The Skull, still in shadow with partial light from his furnace, looks off and cracks his knuckles. He says, "Tell me if you do. He and I need to talk."

Panel 17: Scratch looks down with a resigned look.

Panel 18: Scratch's expression turns to one of indignation and determination.

Panel 19: Scratch looks up with an open expression and makes the sign for 'help me.' He says, "Actually, could you help me with this? I'd really appreciate it."

Panel 20: The Skull walks into the room while Scratch holds out the screwdriver and makes the sign for 'thank you.' The Skull says, "... Sure." Scratch says, "Thank you." End ID]

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Hare: Who the hell is Vivian?!

Scratch: That name sounds familiar... I might have met her at Becile Industries, but she didn't work with me.

The Skull: Would she know where we live?

Scratch: I don't think so...

Hare: Criminy, she better not. Last thing we need is some splinter off the tree comin' in here with all of Buster's gang at her back.

Scratch: Who's Norman?

Hare: Norm was Pops’ second... He didn't grow up here, lived with his mom. Quiet guy. Didn't bother us much. Never did anythin' to make me trust him, but, eh... I guess he was tryin'.

The Skull: For all the good it did him. His brother blew him to smithereens back in the 50's.

Hare: Cryin' shame. Well! We'll keep an eye out for any 'Vivians' that need chasin' off. I ain't keen on going back to livin' under anyone's thumb.

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[ID: 5 panels in greyscale.

Panel 1: The Skull shrugging apathetically as Scratch works on some knitting in the background. The Skull says, "Scarves? That's what I have Scratch doin'. Dexterity training for that new hand.

Panel 2: The Skull pointing as the viewer sternly. Scratch looks questioning at his antique hand, which has got one of the knitting needles stuck awkwardly between the fingers. The Skull says, "The actual goal doesn't matter; it's about setting the bar lower than what you think you can do."

Panel 3: The Skull continues lecturing seriously as Scratch wrestles with the knitting needle still stuck in his hand. The Skull says, "You're gonna screw up and get discouraged, so don't put yourself in a place where that'll kill your motivation."

Panel 4: The needle flies straight up from Scratch's hand and gets stuck in the ceiling with SFX: thup. Scratch watches it with wide-eyed surprise and The Skull looks up, disconcerted.

Panel 5: The Skull looks and points at Scratch expectantly. The Skull says, "You ain't about to let that stop you, right?" Scratch indignantly signs, "No!" The Skull says, "Good, now go get it." End ID]

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[ID: 8 panels in greyscale.

Panel 1: Scratch looking excited and making the ASL sign for 'cancelled.' He signs, "The cancelled Toei production? I remember that!"

Panel 2: Scratch signing 'what's up' while looking over his shoulder at The Skull who is grimacing. Scratch signs, "Not that it was my kind of show, but the whole situation with Wisher was-- Oh, hi Skull. What's up?"

Panel 3: The Skull gesturing with his hand, squinting with confusion. He asks, "What's... 'anime?'"

Panel 4: Scratch looking extremely nervous and making the sign for 'cartoons.' He signs, "Uh. Japanese cartoons?"

Panel 5: The Skull pointing as if he just understood what Scratch is talking about. The Skull says, "Cartoons? Like Steamboat Willie." Scratch offscreen signs, "No." The Skull says, "Then what?" Scratch signs, "Maybe I should show you?" The Skull says, "I'm not busy."

Hare: Gosh, us? I can't think of any. Ey, Weed?

Weed: /puts down his beer and takes a drag off his cigarette. Gee, Hare, I'm not sure. Did you already gamble your coal money away, or did you just steal more from The Skull?

Hare: shshshp!

The Skull: Did he what.

Hare: Hey hey hey, don't worry about it! I just need a few days to win it back!

The Skull: You sewer-sucking rat. Hand it over.

Hare: Oho, no, Skull, buddy, tell me how ya really feel. Most days you just bottle up like a molotov. Exactly like a molotov, come to think of it.

Locksmith: In all fairness to The Skull, 'bottling up' one's emotions is not a 'bad habit.'

The Skull: Wait, what?

Locksmith: It's a personality flaw.

The Skull: Keep pushing, 'Smith, I'll see your head clean off your shoulders.

Locksmith: Tut. We shall see about that.

---- Meanwhile ----

Scratch: Sometimes I just wondering if it's all worth it, you know? Like is fighting Buster even feasible. I can't exactly move inconspicuously, and there's so many documents and contacts to translate, what if it takes me years? And some days I can't even work on it because of the pain, and the pain is... I can't even sleep through it. It's so much. What do I think I'm doing? I can't do this. I-- wait, is this a despair spiral?  This is a despair spiral. I gotta get out of it. Jack! Distract me!

The Jack: I went to check on the attic lady and she threw something at the door. I think it was a plate.

Scratch: Oh.

The Jack: So I went to the kitchen and found a plate and hit it with my head! Heehee!

Scratch: Oh dear. Did... you didn't eat any of it did you?

The Jack: Maybe!

Scratch: Okay... you wanna come with me to the workshop?

The Jack: Nope!

Scratch: Crap.

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