Quality Time
Archive Random
Quality Time
8th May 2016, 11:01 PM in Season One - Part 4: Havenport Hardcore
Average Rating: 5 (10 votes)
Author Notes:
Professor Etheric
Professor Etheric
Mercy is on the hunt. I'm still convinced that a large part of an investigation like this involves canvassing the area.

And then there's that mysterious being that follows you around when you're not looking (and probably on the right track).

Up next: "Dreads"

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User comments:
anonymous coward (Guest)
Tsirf?
Also, how does one person canvas an area in a time-sensitive manner? Police manhunts after a murder or suspected murder generally mobilize a substantial chunk of the uniformed to canvas an area and/or search. Mercy may be magic in a fight and armed with mesmerism, but I'm doubtful she's the equal of a entire department for mass interviewing.
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Professor Etheric
Professor Etheric
Mercy is somewhat adept with the genii loci of urban areas. Enough so, at least, to listen to their whispers and use them along with her own skills as an investigator to intuit where to go and who to talk to. It's tiring and often expensive, as there is always a price, but when time is of the essence, one does what one must.
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anonymous coward (Guest)
Genii loci... well shit. At least asking for favours of a town where the scum use Lovecraftian nouns for gang names could not possibly bite anyone on the ass. By fair trickery rules, the city ought to honour the bargain by taking Mercy to the scene of the action just after it was too late.
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junoro
junoro
Wait, who's that in the background in the last panel???? Does that person know what's going on?? I demand they spill the beans! Don't shush me, background person!
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Professor Etheric
Professor Etheric
That one's a sneaky one. So far, he hasn't done much, but you can see him scattered throughout the comic, and he has a lot yet to do...

Also, he's shushed us before...
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SarahSophia
SarahSophia
Meh. He (really, it) does that.
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anonymous coward (Guest)
Maybe the question of what beans they have to spill and what it'll take to make a mess out of those beans is an interesting question to you, but somehow it's not what I'm most interested about from the spike-eared shushing weirdo with the really-blue eyes. I can't point at anything to support this hypothesis, but I have a strong feeling they really know how to grill. I'm interested in their eldritch secrets of barbecue, I bet I could grow a very profitable restaurant chain with those secrets.
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argylefox
argylefox
Watch out for that guy, he will totally Nes you up.
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Professor Etheric
Professor Etheric
Yes... yes he will, And then your life is forever "interesting"...
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lirvilas
lirvilas
My prediction for your missing witches: it's too late.

Also, nice bubble placement!
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Professor Etheric
Professor Etheric
We shall see...

And thanks! I had a lot to convey here, and I REALLY wanted it to flow.
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ZeroGee
ZeroGee
Nothing like a little quality time. :)
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Professor Etheric
Professor Etheric
Precisely!
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Microraptor
Microraptor
Oooh, mysterious (possibly fourth wall aware) elf (?) guy!

BTW, this story arc is emitting quite some "film noir detective" vibe. Just with magic and Lovecraftian horrors instead of trench coats and jazz clubs!
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Professor Etheric
Professor Etheric
That "elf" has been here before...

And yeah, Mercy lends herself really well to that vibe. For me, one of the joys of Autumn Bay is the way that different characters will color the story differently.
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Seabiscuit
Seabiscuit
The last panel THE LAST PANEL!!!!!! Hyype... ;)
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Professor Etheric
Professor Etheric
What? Nothing to see here... moving along... :P

(Don't worry. That elf-like creature WILL have more of a part.)
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HeSerpenty
HeSerpenty
I spot a Nessie!!!

Yea I dunno what to expect with these missing witches :'D
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Professor Etheric
Professor Etheric
What? Where? :P

I'm glad I've got you all guessing! :)
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sigpig
sigpig
In a lake in Scotland, of course...
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Professor Etheric
Professor Etheric
Heh... wrong Nessie... :P
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Delta-v
As if things weren't tense enough. a two-legged monkey wrench seems about to hurl itself into the machinery. ><

In Autumn Bay, you NEVER ask, "Could things get any worse?" The answer is: "Oh, yes, yes they can!" ^^
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Professor Etheric
Professor Etheric
They absolutely always can.

It would seem that the monkey wrench in question is currently in observer mode... :P
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Delta-v
I think there's only a whim's-worth of difference between observing mode and full on upset-the-chessboard-and-rearrange-the-pieces mode.....
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Professor Etheric
Professor Etheric
I'll give you this one for free. He's being subtle this time, but has ALREADY upset the pieces. Would you like the trail of breadcrumbs? :)
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Delta-v
Well YEAH, but aren't you already dropping them? That's your normal Modus Operandi. ^^

I just wasn't looking for them--but I will be, from now on. :)
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Professor Etheric
Professor Etheric
Yes, I have been dropping them. Hint: look for all signs of Nesariel and think "how is he manipulating things?"
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Fig
Fig
really like how she's trying to be mindful of the kid, in spite of everything else.
also... izzat... izzat my boy on the last panel? 0.0 IT IS!

also, if you're interested, i keep thinking we should do some kind of tiny crossover thing... with Nes and a certain elf murderer... if you're interested.
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Professor Etheric
Professor Etheric
She's actually invested in Ghoul in general at this point. She just has something very pressing going on.

That be he!
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AmeliaP
AmeliaP
I like the smoke dividing the page! Smart layout!
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Professor Etheric
Professor Etheric
I like to play with layouts and such.
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