PLEASE- I CAN TALK ABOUT THEM FOR DAYSSSS

STRIKE #4

BARTENDER: I don't think it's very wise for yer folks to be fool'n 'round here.

THE ACTOR: What do you mean by that?

*THE ACTOR takes a seat at the bar.*

BARTENDER: You er hero folk aren't very liked in these parts.

THE ACTOR: *Sarcastically* Oh really?

What makes you say that?

*Panel shows a group of goons sharpening knives and giving dirty glances over towards THE ACTOR.*

BARTENDER: I'm jus say'n ya'll would leave here if yer know whats good for yer.

THE ACTOR: We can't exactly do that until we get some answers.

BARTENDER: Answers ter what?

*THE ACTOR pulls out a printed photo of GUY entering the bar and shows it to the BARTENDER.*

THE ACTOR: He was last seen here on February 28th.

What can you tell me about him?

BARTENDER: He miss'n?

THE ACTOR: Yes.

BARTENDER: Yer think it's a kidnapp'n?

THE ACTOR: Maybe.

BARTENDER: Well if it is I can't help ya.

I made er an oath to turn away if any crimes happen in the good ol' Tipsy Possum.

To have deniability yer see.

THE ACTOR: I don't think thats a very good reputation you want to have on your bar.

BARTENDER: It actually brings in a lot more customers!

In these parts people be looking for a place go get away with there kidnap'ns and murder'ns.

I jus tell em to clean it up after!

THE ACTOR: So are you telling me you haven't seen him?

*The BARTENDER takes a closer look at the paper.*

BARTENDER: No, I've seen em around.

THE ACTOR: You have?!

BARTENDER: Use to be one of my er more popular visitors up til a weeks ago.

THE ACTOR: What can you tell me about him?

MEANWHILE

*OBSIDIAN walks into the bar and, once separated from the team, is cut off by three large men.*

TOMMY: Hello Obsidian.

OBSIDIAN: *Nervously* Jay! Jack! Tommy!

Oh isn't it my three favorite goons! How have you been?

JACK: Working for the heroes now, Obsidian?

JAY: Hm?

OBSIDIAN: *Nervously* Pfft- Heroes?! What- no!

I-I-I have no uh idea what you are talking about.

TOMMY: The twins and I ain't convinced Obsidian.

You left us.

You broke the code.

And you know what happens to those who break the code.

*OBSIDIAN nervously steps back and bumps into the twins who moved behind them.*

TOMMY: Nighty night, boss.

*JAY and JACK chloroform OBSIDIAN and knock them out, the three goons exit through a back door with OBSIDIANs unconscious body.*

LATER

*CREAMPUFF sits down at a table with a group of goons.*

CREAMPUFF: Hello boys.

*A very buff looking woman stabs her knife into the table.*

WOMAN GOON: Humph

CREAMPUFF: And um ma'am.

Nice bar you've got here.

GOON ONE: It is. Now get out of it.

GOON TWO: We've seen you on the news.

We ain't want anything to do with a rookie hero like you.

GOON THREE: Get out wannabe!

WOMAN GOON: Humph

CREAMPUFF: Wannabe huh?

I'll tell you what, this rookie hero will be out of your hair if you tell me where I can find this guy.

*CREAMPUFF shows the goons the photo of GUY.*

WOMAN GOOD: Humph

GOON ONE: Why you looking for him?

CREAMPUFF: I don't need to answer that.

GOON TWO: Sorry sweet cheeks but we don't hand over the location of one of our own without reason.

*CREAMPUFF raises her fist.*

CREAMPUFF: Oh, I'll give you a reason!

*THE ACTOR stops CREAMPUFF before her fist hits the goon.*

THE ACTOR: What did I say before we entered the bar?

No fights, I said.

CREAMPUFF: These guys have answers.

THE ACTOR: I got some too, if we leave now we could be in and out of here with no harm done.

*THE ACTOR smile and waves to the BARTENDER:*

CREAMPUFF: They think he's on their side.

Got any answers on that?

THE ACTOR: Well, I'm sure there are ways to get them tp share without starting a bar fight.

I'll handel this one, Creampuff.

CUT TO

*THE ACTOR holds GOON TWO over the top of a building.*

THE ACTOR: Want to share with the group now?

GOON TWO: I ain't saying shit.

THE ACTOR: Have it your way then.

*THE ACTOR smirks and lets go of GOON TWO letting him fall off the roof, not really though, he is hanging off the side of the building by his ankle from THE ACTORs grapple line.*

THE ACTOR: Wanna talk now?

GOON TWO: Your a psycho bitch!

THE ACTOR: *Sarcastically* Wow, how original.

What if I were to just unhook the grapple line? Would you talk then?

GOON TWO: Fine! Fine! I'll talk! I'll talk!

THE ACTOR: Good.

Then start talking.

*CREAMPUFF, BLURRY FACE and SPECTRE watch THE ACTOR from the ground.*

SPECTRE: Well, that's a little dark.

BLURRY FACE: Don't worry about it!

The Actor is a pro, they've been doing stuff like this for years!

CREAMPUFF: Cool.

SPECTRE: That's kinda scary...

...What if they fall?

BLURRY FACE: I'm sure they know what they're doing!

*THE ACTOR jumps down behind the trio.*

THE ACTOR: OK, so I got some answers.

SPECTRE, BLURRY FACE & CREAMPUFF: Aahh!

THE ACTOR: Oh, sorry!

Didn't mean to scare ya.

Anyway...

... The goon didn't know much, but it is suspicious that he full heartedly believes Guy is well, a villain.

CREAMPUFF: So what did he say?

THE ACTOR: Guy would regularly visit the bar and sit with him and his crew.

He would rarely come alone.

He would never order a drink but only gather information and leave.

The goon said that Guy was planning something.

Thats all the info I got out of him.

CREAMPUFF: Well, I guess we have a bit of a lead.

Is there any video footage of the people Guy entered the bar with?

SPECTRE: No, there are no security cameras inside the bar.

I checked.

CREAMPUFF: What about outside the bar? We got here because we saw video footage of Guy walking into the bar, right? Who was he with?

THE ACTOR: No one. That must've been one of the rare occurrences he came alone.

BLURRY FACE: He could have came in through the back door every other time, there are no cameras back there.

CREAMPUFF: *Sarcastically* Great.

THE ACTOR: Wait, where's Obsidian?

CREAMPUFF: I knew it!

They betrayed you! You didn't listen to me!

THE ACTOR: I don't think that's right.

Have some faith, Creampuff.

GOON TWO: *From the roof, hanging by the ankle.* Hahahaa!

Obsidian?! You brought them here?!

Oh, you dumb heroes!

THE ACTOR: What are you on about?

GOON TWO: They broke the code. Ain't no way we gonna let someone who broke the code get away unpunished.

THE ACTOR: Where are they?!!

GOON TWO: How would I know? I ain't the one who took em, now am I?

THE ACTOR: Damn it.

Ehehe Obsidian and Guy

Short Prompt #911

"There exists an infinite number of alternate universes…" The villain said, keeping a calm face as they addressed their nemesis. "…And in none of them, do you get any bitches."

Damn... Can we- Can we get a continuation of this? Please?

Snippet #19

AAAHHHH I'M LATE UPLOADING THIS

"There's a lot more to this job than just fighting," the superhero explained, one hand pressed against the hero's back as they moved down the dark alleyway, practically knowing the route by heart now. "Sometimes it's better to use our voices than our fists. Diplomacy. Negotiating with an enemy is never easy, nor is it done often, but there are some cases where it is necessary."

"Like Supervillain," the hero said.

The superhero nodded. "Exactly like Supervillain. Believe me when I say that fighting them isn't worth it - even a victory would be a hollow one at that. Villains with power like their's need to be kept at bay at all costs: the people always come first, Hero. No matter what."

"So, that's what we're here to do, isn't it? T-To negotiate?"

"Yes. Don't worry, I'll do all the talking." The superhero suddenly stopped beside a door, opening it to reveal a narrow staircase. They motioned for the hero to go down, the other gulping a little but moving forwards all the same. "All you have to do is watch quietly and follow my direction."

"I'm meant to be like a witness, right? Just stand there and look pretty for legal purposes?" the hero joked lightly, trying their best to stave off their nerves.

Behind them the corners of the superhero's lips curled upwards in an amused grin. "Yes, something like that."

"I bet the paperwork for this kind of thing is hell," the hero continued. "How often does Supervillain request something from us?"

"Once a year. Twice if they're feeling particularly greedy."

"And what do they ask for? Money, or - I don't know - jewels? Free dental care?"

The superhero merely hummed in response. "You'd be surprised..."

At the bottom of the stairs was a dingy corridor leading into a small, circular room. The walls and floor were concrete - the air cold. Across from them was a second entrance practically identical to the one they'd come through and right at it's threshold stood the supervillain, leaning casually against the doorframe whilst they eyed the watch on their wrist.

"Cutting it a little close, aren't we, Superhero?" they asked. "A few minutes more and I'd have grown impatient."

Their tone seemed to be teasing but there was an edge to it that made the hero shiver, forcing them to take a small step back. The superhero, however, was undeterred.

"I'm never late," they said bluntly.

The supervillain let out a small huff of breath. A laugh or a scoff, the hero couldn't tell, but it hardly seemed to matter when the supervillain's gaze shot upwards, first surveying the superhero and then the slightly smaller figure beside them. They smiled wide, eyes roaming up and down the hero's frame with great interest, the sudden attention enough to make the other squirm on the spot.

"Well, in any case," the supervillain said, standing straight and taking a step forward, "I see you've brought me what I asked for."

The words washed over the hero like ice. Their mouth dropped open and their eyes went wide, turning to the superhero beside them in search of reassurance only for the other to refuse to even look at them.

"S-Superhero? I- I thought we were here to - to negotiate," the hero said.

They were ignored.

"Oh, but we have negotiated," the supervillain supplied instead, eyes still fixed upon the hero with what the other could only describe as a look of hunger. "This, dear pet, is the trade."

The hero shook their head, trying to take another step back only for the superhero to catch their arm.

"No," they said. "No, no, no - you can't. This - you're lying: Superhero, they're lying, right?"

Finally, their superior turned to them, face expressionless as they held the hero's gaze. "The people come first, Hero. No matter what: the people come first."

They let go then, gesturing vaguely to the supervillain in front of them.

"Go," they ordered.

"B-But I--"

"Go."

If they noticed the hero's tears their didn't comment on it.

For a second, the hero simply stood frozen - a numbing surge of betrayal sweeping through them. They knew they couldn't run; knew that they'd be overpowered in seconds if they even tried and if they did then would that...would that be classed as treason? They would be disobeying a direct order from their superior: refusal to follow through was seen as an act of villainy - they'd have their heroic status ripped from them.

The people come first, Hero.

Shakily, they took a step forward. Then another. Their gaze fixed down upon the floor, vision slowly getting blurrier as more tears caught in their eyes.

No matter what: the people come first.

Sacrifice one to save many. The hero guessed it made sense - tried to persuade themself that it made sense. This was just a part of the job. They were just...

Doing...

Their...

Job.

They stopped when the supervillain's boots came into view.

The hero didn't even need to look up to know that the other was smiling down at them - could practically feel the intensity with which the supervillain looked upon them. They jumped sharply as a hand came up to play with their hair, holding their breath as the supervillain began stroking them like they were some kind of pet - another hand coming up to wipe away the tears that fell down the hero's cheeks.

"Hush now, it's alright," the supervillain cooed. "I am going to take such good care of you..."

"You better," the superhero inserted suddenly, and the hero could have sworn the other used to have so much more warmth in their voice than this. "They're meant to last you the year. I won't react kindly if you go back on our deal a fourth time."

Fourth?

God, how many other people had been sacrificed already? Where were they now? The superhero had said they were meant to last a year but what did that mean - what did it mean? Were they going to die?!

The hand stroking through the hero's hair stopped. Slowly their head was tilted upwards, and their eyes were forced to meet the supervillain's.

"Oh, they'll last me," the other said with confidence. "After all, I picked them for a reason - you told me yourself, Superhero: this one does not break easily... Unless I get bored of them, I'll drag them out for as long as I can."

It'll be pretty neat if there were a pangender one....

lgbt dividers

lesbian

gay/mlm

bi

trans

lgbtq

pan

ace

aro

nonbinary

original baker 8-stripe

please rb if saving!

Be safe out there everyone, your loved ♡♡♡

This is what I am doing now, posting this

Writing Tips

Punctuating Dialogue

✧

➸ “This is a sentence.”

➸ “This is a sentence with a dialogue tag at the end,” she said.

➸ “This,” he said, “is a sentence split by a dialogue tag.”

➸ “This is a sentence,” she said. “This is a new sentence. New sentences are capitalized.”

➸ “This is a sentence followed by an action.” He stood. “They are separate sentences because he did not speak by standing.”

➸ She said, “Use a comma to introduce dialogue. The quote is capitalized when the dialogue tag is at the beginning.”

➸ “Use a comma when a dialogue tag follows a quote,” he said.

“Unless there is a question mark?” she asked.

“Or an exclamation point!” he answered. “The dialogue tag still remains uncapitalized because it’s not truly the end of the sentence.”

➸ “Periods and commas should be inside closing quotations.”

➸ “Hey!” she shouted, “Sometimes exclamation points are inside quotations.”

However, if it’s not dialogue exclamation points can also be “outside”!

➸ “Does this apply to question marks too?” he asked.

If it’s not dialogue, can question marks be “outside”? (Yes, they can.)

➸ “This applies to dashes too. Inside quotations dashes typically express—“

“Interruption” — but there are situations dashes may be outside.

➸ “You’ll notice that exclamation marks, question marks, and dashes do not have a comma after them. Ellipses don’t have a comma after them either…” she said.

➸ “My teacher said, ‘Use single quotation marks when quoting within dialogue.’”

➸ “Use paragraph breaks to indicate a new speaker,” he said.

“The readers will know it’s someone else speaking.”

➸ “If it’s the same speaker but different paragraph, keep the closing quotation off.

“This shows it’s the same character continuing to speak.”

Redesigned The Actor, Creampuff and Obsidian from my original comic STRIKE again. My last redesigns were in June I think, these aren't much different but I find them to be a lot neater and less clustered. I really need to get back to writing STRIKE again and I promise I will I'm just kind of busy with theater at the moment ...

I hope you guys like the designs! What do ya think?

It's a work in progress, you've gotta bear with me...