Yes. It has to be subtle. Tibor’s in luxury, Scarlet’s in Deconstruction. They’ll probably start taking furniture away from Scarlet next. While Tibor’s in “See how generous we are?” Kindness can cause more damage than cruelty. Sure, people will ask where’s Scarlet, but people being people will just go back to their own lives and own problems. Ludis will likely begin getting Scarlet to start questioning her own story next. “She’s brave at the start” just means that it’s only the start. Tibor is secondary, as Scarlet’s the one creating the situation that They want to shut down. After a week of mother in law food, what would Scarlet do for a slice of cake?
Harlan Ellison isn’t involved (sadly) so Novil’s not likely to go that far. Maybe. You don’t need torture to torture someone. “Repent, Harlequin cried the Tick-Tock Man” wouldn’t be required reading at any rate. (But on the other hand, neither is “It’s time for torture, Princess.”)
But the point is that Scarlet has her first real argument about the machine that she can’t run away from, throw a punch, or blow off. She’s at a full halt, so is she going to stick to her story or do something worse: tell all of it? The Grondian attack, the life on the road, and why she has nothing left but the Machine story?
Scarlet doesn’t realize how stupid her story sounds, and is. She saw ‘some machine’ as a child for a short moment, and assumes it’s THE Machine of Eternal Summer. If she had just said, “I saw a huge machine, it COULD be the machine of eternal summer, or maybe a military construct/facility that must be investigated because it could change the war” it would be much more convincing.
Nobody doubts that Scarlet is super-smart, but there is just not enough solid evidence.
16 thoughts on “Machine Girl 057”
Agnarr
Don’t break. Break HIM.
BlackDragonSlayer
Precisely 😉
MegaJar
So it WAS deliberate! He knew exactly how disgusting that food was, and he fed it to her on purpose to try and break her spirit! Sneaky little…
BadRoad
At least Tibor is fine.
Gonfrask
So, technically torturing
Vicious Sand
Yes. It has to be subtle. Tibor’s in luxury, Scarlet’s in Deconstruction. They’ll probably start taking furniture away from Scarlet next. While Tibor’s in “See how generous we are?” Kindness can cause more damage than cruelty. Sure, people will ask where’s Scarlet, but people being people will just go back to their own lives and own problems. Ludis will likely begin getting Scarlet to start questioning her own story next. “She’s brave at the start” just means that it’s only the start. Tibor is secondary, as Scarlet’s the one creating the situation that They want to shut down. After a week of mother in law food, what would Scarlet do for a slice of cake?
ToBeFree
The guard’s pre-outburst facial expression in panel 4 is very well done.
Jude
I noticed that too. What a change of his facial expression from one panel to another.
Arent
Torture with bad food from his “mother in law”? That’s the most evil act this government dares to commit? ^^
Vicious Sand
On the first day.
ThePinkSpartan
Intersections in Real Time, anyone?
Vicious Sand
Harlan Ellison isn’t involved (sadly) so Novil’s not likely to go that far. Maybe. You don’t need torture to torture someone. “Repent, Harlequin cried the Tick-Tock Man” wouldn’t be required reading at any rate. (But on the other hand, neither is “It’s time for torture, Princess.”)
But the point is that Scarlet has her first real argument about the machine that she can’t run away from, throw a punch, or blow off. She’s at a full halt, so is she going to stick to her story or do something worse: tell all of it? The Grondian attack, the life on the road, and why she has nothing left but the Machine story?
One
Scarlet doesn’t realize how stupid her story sounds, and is. She saw ‘some machine’ as a child for a short moment, and assumes it’s THE Machine of Eternal Summer. If she had just said, “I saw a huge machine, it COULD be the machine of eternal summer, or maybe a military construct/facility that must be investigated because it could change the war” it would be much more convincing.
Nobody doubts that Scarlet is super-smart, but there is just not enough solid evidence.
Pilgrim
People such as that guard need to be introduced to an oubliette. Permanently.
Isharfoxat
They really think they can break her?
ME
YOU know she’s the heroine, destined to triumph. THEY don’t.
Characters
Amos Allrick Ariana Carolus Athamas Baako Bolin Clara Graybold Cyril Darius Leyh Elwin Flammt Emelia Evelina Ferrus Gale Nenawa Gavin Carolus Iona Irvin Janos Zaisthra Jehona Shardyk Julius Mirkning Kala Silverspring Kenan Orege King Protos Lauro Levon Goldwood Leyton Wayt Ludis Graybold Luitpold Marik Marton Princess Elodie Raymond Reto Mirkning Reva Rodar Rosetta Greenleaf Scarlet Carolus Severin Silvana Mirkning Tibor Frey Vidal Viola Vreni Xaver Yerim Zach Ilkin