Chapter Text
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Page 1
[Row 1]
(Full-width panel: Showing scene of inside of the World Three base, some large machines and computers around, with Count Zap and Mr. Match talking off-screen)
Match: So, why the hell are ya draggin’ me along again?
Zap: To meet the newest member, of course! First impressions are very important, you know. Especially for coworkers!
Zap: As senior members, it’s particularly important to make sure newbies are settled in and can get along with the rest of us.
///
[Row 2]
(Zap is shown in the forefront, looking smug, while Match is behind him, slightly slouching and looking annoyed)
Zap: After all, the best kind of mayhem is where we all work together to cause as much chaos and destruction as possible!
///
(Close up on Match, looking to the side)
Match: *grumbling* Bah, if they can’t do their job without a welcome party, then I don’t see why that should be my problem.
///
[Row 3]
(View is now of both of them, Zap turns around to Match, looking upset)
Zap: Honestly, would it kill you to be at least a little sociable?!
Match: Ya’ve known me for at least a whole damn year at this point. Ya don’t have the right to complain.
///
*Zap turns back around, now looking annoyed with his eyes closed; Match crosses his arms at this point, continuing to look annoyed himself*
Zap: You could make an effort to change, though! Someday, all of us not being able to get along is going to do us in, I swear.
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Page 2
[Row 1]
(Full-width panel: Maddy in the foreground, sitting down somewhere at a chair and table, with Zap and Match approaching in the background; Still have some machines and computers as the background.)
Zap: Aha, there’s the new member!
Match: Her? Seriously?
///
[Row 2]
(Full-width panel: Showing Maddy doing her make-up and sitting down near a coffee table, Zap and Match off-screen)
Zap: Oh yes, she’s apparently an amazing hacker, and has a specialty in tracking down blackmail on systems and loopholes in code! She’ll be a wonderful asset to the organization for sure.
Zap: Which is why it’s important to make a positive first impression on her! You never know when you’ll have to work with her, so it’s better to be on good terms before then.
///
[Row 3]
(Zap on the left, Match on the right; Zap is standing up straight, looking at Match, while Match is slouched a little but with his arms still crossed, and his head tilted a little)
Match: *slightly blushing* Huh, I uh… wasn’t expectin’ her to look like that. She’s kinda cute.
///
*Zap is leaning in looking happy and surprised, with his hands on his face, while Match has stopped blushing and is very angrily annoyed*
Zap: Oooohhh?!
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Page 3
[Row 1]
(Zap is grinning while elbowing Match, and Match looks even more annoyed than before. Note arms still crossed for Match, but more scrunched up/grabbing at his arms now)
Zap: Well then champ, sounds like you’ll want to make an especially good impression! Do you need any pointers?
Zap: First thing’s first, you really need to stop slouching like that! And second--
///
*Match looks furious, and grabs Zap’s elbow. Zap reacts like it’s a very painful grab*
///
[Row 2]
*Match is still mad and leaning closer towards Zap, while the latter looks like he’s trying to get away*
Match: Look, if ya keep this up, I swear I’m gonna burn yer damn arm off!!
///
*Match lets go at this point, and Zap takes the opportunity to back off and hold up his hands*
Zap: *nervous/terrified* Y-Yes, of course!! Ha ha, I’m ever so sorry about that!
Zap: Won’t happen again sir, promise! Cross my heart, and all that!!
///
[Row 3]
(Full-width panel: Distance shot of Match on the left, Maddy sitting on the right, and Zap starting to awkwardly walk away from the former towards the latter)
Zap: SO THEN!
Zap: I suppose, I’ll just, introduce myself, alone, then!!
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Page 4
[Row 1]
(Maddy is sitting down, facing towards her makeup compact, but her eyes notice Zap approaching. He’s in the foreground)
Zap: Hello hello! Good morning! Ms. Madd, was it?
///
(Show Zap’s silly mug here, with him grinning and waving a hand)
Zap: It is so nice to finally meet you in person!
Zap: My name is Count Jack Zap, and it is honestly a pleasure to be working with someone so bright and brilliant!
///
[Row 2]
*Zap takes on a very smug pose*
Zap: Now, as I am certain you already know, World Three is an illustrious cyber terrorism organization.
Zap: However, have no fear, I can tell that you should be able to make your place here in no time!
///
(Zap is going off on a rambling introduction/praises, having the word bubble in the last panel connect to several indistinct ones here. Maddy has closed her compact and looks bored, with a hand to her face and her elbow on her chair’s arm.)
///
[Row 3]
(Match is looking on at this from a distance, with Zap still having rambly word bubbles around him, the back of Match’s head to the view)
Match: *sweating a little* … Well then.
///
(Close up of Match from in front of him, from the waist up)
Match: *looking exasperated* That seems like a hell of a “first impression”.
///
*Match crosses his arms and looks away*
Match: Tch, I knew this was a bad idea.
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Page 5
[Row 1]
(Maddy’s still stuck with Zap and his word bubbles as before, except now she is clearly starting to get annoyed; Zap on the left, her on the right)
///
*Same as before, but now she looks over to the left side of panel, seemingly noticing someone*
///
(Show Zap close up in the midground on the left, Maddy near the bottom of the panel in the foreground, look towards Match in the far background)
///
[Row 2]
(Show a close up of Match from the waist up, probably with sparkly background)
///
(Now a close up of Maddy, looking very interested in Match)
///
[Row 3]
(Full-width panel: Maddy gets up and runs past Zap while he’s still talking)
Zap: *babble babble* –
Zap: Wh--
Zap: Hey, what’s--
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Page 6
[Row 1]
(Maddy on the left side of the panel and Match on the right side; Maddy stops to the side of Match, leaning in with her hands clasped together; Match has noticed her, but looks shocked and is leaning away)
Maddy: Well hey there, handsome! Nice to meet such a hot hunk on my first day here!~
Match: Wh--
///
(Close up on Maddy)
Maddy: *winking* I go by Ms. Madd, but you can call me Maddy!
Maddy: Bet you can’t wait to work with a gorgeous lady like me, hmm?~
///
[Row 2]
(View is looking behind Maddy, so with her back to the view, probably sparkles around her, with Match shown in the background looking at her)
Match: *still looking shocked/slightly confused* Uh.
Match: Hi?
Match: I go by Mr. Match--
///
(Now looking behind Match, with Maddy in the background facing the view)
Maddy: *smug grin and finger guns* So then, does that mean I get to call you Mr. Sexy?~
Match: *shocked, shoulders raised* The hell?!
///
[Row 3]
(Looking at Match and Maddy such that Match is now on the left side of the panel and Maddy on the right)
Match: *now clearly annoyed* No!
Match: And if ya can’t even be bothered with calling me by the name I told ya, then don’t bother talkin’ to me!
Match: Now if yer done botherin’ me, piss off!
Maddy: *annoyed, leaned back a bit from Match yelling at her* Wow, rude.
///
(From behind Maddy with her back to the view, Match is walking away into the background, and Maddy in a pose that makes it clear she’s annoyed by him walking away)
Match: *annoyed, just wanting to get out of this situation* No, what’s rude is you actin’ like a creep!
Match: Talk about a lousy first impression...
///
[Row 4]
(Full-width panel: Maddy standing off looking frustrated, Match further in the background angrily walking away from her, and Zap in the foreground, with the back of his head to the view)
Zap: *sweating* Hey, I wasn’t finished…!
Zap: What just happened?
(Fade away under this panel)
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Page 7
[Row 1]
(New scene, with Match in a break room; the view is from the wall in front of him, showing the rest of the break room in the background; He is leaning on a counter, with a coffee mug nearby, looking frustrated and drumming his fingers as he’s waiting for the coffee pot on the counter to finish brewing)
///
*Zap comes in from the right, trying to look upbeat, and holding a coffee mug*
Zap: Ah, hello! How are--
Match: *not even looking away from the coffee pot* Go to hell.
///
[Row 2]
(Now looking behind the two of them, so that the counter and coffee pot are in the background now; Zap is fully in the panel now, with Zap now on the left side and Match on the right)
Zap: *saddened* Oh come now, don’t be like that--
Match: *still not looking away* You’re the reason my day is spoiled, so I have every right to be mad at you.
Zap: I-It’s not like I meant to!!
///
(The view has changed back, so that the rest of the break room is in the background; panel close up on Zap now, he’s looking towards the right side, away from where Match would be on his own right)
Zap: *looking guilty* I had no idea the newbie would be like… that.
Zap: I mean, at least she seems to like you, which is probably a good thing--
///
[Row 3]
(The view is now from near the coffee pot (on left side of the panel), with Match in the middle and Zap to the right. Match is still looking at the coffee pot while Zap looks more guilty/uncomfortable)
Match: Considerin’ the fact that you-know-who turned out to have an absolutely damn obnoxious personality,
Match: then no, that’s not a good thing. I’m not interested in that kind of person.
Zap: *concerned smile* Oh come now, you never know, maybe deep down she’s a real sweetheart--
///
(Close up on Match and Zap (on the left and right side of the panels respectively), Match fully turns to Zap with an angry expression, pointing a finger at Zap’s chest. Zap looks terrified and has his hands up)
Match: *growling* Shut! UP!
Match: I don’t care if “deep down” she’s a @$%&in’ saint!
Match: If she’s this bad now, then I don’t wanna put up with Maddy just for the possibility of her bein’ nicer later!
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Page 8
[Row 1]
(Full-width panel: Maddy coming in from the right, pushing Zap out of the way as she gets closer to Match; Match looks confused/angry, while Zap probably gets his face covered by Maddy’s word bubble)
Maddy: *smugly* Why hello there!~
Maddy: I heard someone call my name, and look who called! Did you finally miss me?
///
[Row 2]
(Now just Match and Maddy (left and right respectively), Maddy wraps herself around one of Match’s arms, while Match himself looks disgusted)
Maddy: *eye closed, looking very pleased* Oh, I just knew you couldn’t refuse me much longer!
Maddy: Don’t feel bad, most people can’t resist for very long.
///
(Closer up to Match and Maddy, with Maddy wrapping a bit of her hair around her finger, and Match edging closer from disgusted to angry again)
Maddy: *smug again* So then, where do you want to go for our first date?
Maddy: Or would you rather skip the pleasantries and--
///
[Row 3]
*Match angrily pushes Maddy away, almost knocking her into Zap. Match looks furious now, Maddy looks insulted, while Zap looks like he’s scared to be in the middle of this mess*
Maddy: Hey!
Maddy: What the hell--
///
*Match is now yelling at Maddy, who just looks annoyed, and Zap attempts to hide behind his mug*
Match: Will!
Match: You!
Match: STOP!!
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Page 9
[Row 1]
(Full-panel width: Close up on Match looking very angry)
Match: Ye’re so damn annoyin’, just get the hint already!
Match: I ain’t interested in ya, and if ya keep this up, then I never will be!
Match: Being a @$%&in’ annoyin’ little @#$%& ain’t gonna help yer case!
Match: So if ya actually want my attention, then tone down yer @#$%in’ rotten attitude already!!
///
[Row 2]
(Full-width panel: View change, with the counter and coffee pot in the background; Match walking away towards the lower left of the panel with a still angry expression, with Maddy looking exasperated and her hands up (she’s near the right side of the panel), and Zap nervously off to her side in the middle)
Maddy: *angry* Excuse you?!
Maddy: I’m not the one with the rotten attitude, you are!
Maddy: What, do you seriously not understand the concept of flirting or something?!
Maddy: I’m not gonna give up yet!!
Maddy: Hey! Where do you think you’re going, you son of a--
///
[Row 3]
(Match is off-panel now, so the view shifts to just Zap on the left and Maddy in the middle, and the coffee pot on the counter towards the right side of the panel. Said coffee pot has finally dinged, to indicate that it’s done brewing. Zap’s looking a little surprised that it went off at the right time, while Maddy is a little more surprised)
///
*Zap points at the coffee pot with an attempt at a cheery expression, while Maddy is side-eyeing him in annoyance*
Zap: Oh, hey, look at that, the coffee’s done!
Zap: Ms. Madd, would you like a cup?
(Fade away under this panel)
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Page 10
(Starting a page montage (4 rows with 2 panels each, so 8 total) of Maddy annoyingly flirting with Match)
Panel 1: Maddy tries to hold Match’s hand, but he’s pulling away.
Panel 2: Maddy striking a pose on the break room counter, while Match trying to ignore her and drink his coffee in peace.
Panel 3: Maddy tries to do a trust fall (i.e. where one person falls and the other catches them)…
Panel 4: … and Match just steps away from her as she falls down.
Panel 5: Maddy tries to give Match a… questionably-edible bento box. His reaction is of pure disgust.
Panel 6: Match covering his ears while Maddy is apparently singing something to him.
Panel 7: Maddy is latching onto Match’s arm while he’s trying to get away.
Panel 8: It’s just one big screaming “ARRGH!!” bubble, of Match screaming in frustration.
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Page 11
[Row 1]
(Full-width panel: Match is shown underneath a table with his knees to his face, holding his head and looking both angry and scared)
Match: *thinking* Damn it damn it damn it!!
Match: I can’t take much more of this, that devil woman is just gonna keep makin’ me miserable!
Match: How the hell do I get her to stop?!
Match: I keep yellin’ at her to stop, but she’s so damn stubborn it feels like it makes her try even harder to flirt with me!
Match: @#$%in’ hell!!
///
[Row 2]
(Zap is shown entering the room eating a chocolate orange, and starting at the table Match is under)
Zap: Uh… Match? Is that you?
Zap: What are you doing under there?
///
(View shown over Zap’s shoulder, looking down at Match under the table. Match has let go of his head, but his hands are hovering to the sides of his head)
Match: *glowering* I’m havin’ a damn crisis thanks to the pink demon.
Zap: *sweating nervously* Ah, who?
Match: Ya know who!!
///
[Row 3]
(Zap on the right and Match on the left, facing each other, Zap now crouches down on eye level with Match)
Zap: *looking concerned* Hey, so, I’m guessing things with Maddy have gotten worse—
Match: *now has his arms around his legs* No @#$%in’ duh.
Zap: -- so, maybe it’s time you had a serious talk about this? I know she hasn’t listened to you not liking her, but maybe she’d listen if you talked with her calmly.
Zap: You know, so she can realize you’re being serious and not just trying to tease her—
///
*Match grabs one of the pieces of Zap’s chocolate orange, and Zap looks annoyed at this*
Zap: Hey!
Match: Look, I’m clearly havin’ a bad day, ya can spare me some damn chocolate.
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Page 12
[Row 1]
(Match is now eating the chocolate piece, while Zap has sat down cross-legged on the floor to keep talking. Zap’s back is to the view)
Zap: Do you at least agree that staying under a table like this isn’t going to help your situation?
Match: *grumbles* Yeah…
Zap: Good. So like I said, you should really just talk to her!
///
(View of Zap from the side, wagging his free finger at Match under the table. Match has eaten the whole piece by now)
Zap: *looking stern* And certainly not like you have been!
Zap: No yelling, no cursing, you need to—
Match: *looking at the chocolate like he doesn’t care what Zap’s saying* Can I have another piece?
///
[Row 2]
*Zap holds his chocolate orange out to let Match have another piece, clearly annoyed while doing so, while Match still doesn’t seem to care*
Zap: *annoyed* As I was saying, you need to talk to her, calmly and rationally!
Zap: Clearly the yelling you’ve been doing hasn’t worked, so you need to try a different approach.
///
(Close up on Match eating the piece of chocolate orange)
Match: *looking like a mixed of annoyed and defeated* Will that even work? Can a woman like Maddy even be reasoned with?
Match: She’s so damn persistent, it feels like this won’t end until she gets bored, or someone else catches her eye, or one of us dies.
Zap: *off-screen, shocked* Christ, don’t be that morbid!!
///
[Row 3]
(Zap has gotten up again, while Match is still under the table; The view shows Zap from about the knee up and Match’s head under the table)
Zap: *concerned but stern* You don’t really have many other options left, so you might as well try, right? I’ll even come with you for support, if you need it.
Zap: At least then you’ll have given it an honest try, right?
Match: *seems to be starting to get up from under the table, slightly off-screen* I mean, I guess—
///
(A very loud THUMP from the table, Zap looks shocked, and it seems Match hit his head on the table)
///
(Stream of cursing bubbles from the table, from Match holding his head in pain. Zap looks like he’s trying to awkwardly shuffle away)
(Fade away under this panel)
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Page 13
[Row 1]
(Full-width panel: Showing from left to right, Maddy and Match in front of machines and computers facing each other, somewhere in the base. Maddy looks giddy with excitement, while Match looks annoyed and has his arms crossed. Zap is also there, off to the right side, for support/backup)
Maddy: *bouncing up and down* Ooooo, so! So! What d’ya wanna tell me?!
Maddy: Are you confessing your absolute love to me?! Is that why pasty guy’s here, as a witness?
Maddy: Oh, or are you proposing to me already?! Ah ha, that’s what it is, isn’t it?
Maddy: Ahaha, this is awesome!~ Well of course I accept—
///
[Row 2]
(From Match’s viewpoint, he holds up his hand to stop Maddy; Maddy in turn has stopped and looks surprised)
Match: *off-screen from the right* No.
Match: Just.
Match: Just stop for once and listen to me.
///
(Now from Maddy’s view, with Match still holding up his hand, looking exasperated)
Match: Look, I just…
Match: I think I made the wrong impression on ya, and I really need to clear things up, for uh…
Match: For both our sakes, I guess.
Match: Could ya at least hear me out?
///
[Row 3]
(Close up on Maddy, who still looks surprised)
Maddy: Oh.
Maddy: Oh.
///
*Maddy looks a bit disappointed/annoyed now*
Maddy: Alright, fine.
///
*She has now crossed her arms and is looking off to the side, still with an annoyed expression*
Maddy: But I think I know where this is gonna go anyways.
Maddy: So, start talking.
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Page 14
[Row 1]
(Full-width panel: View of Zap looking concerned at them both, with them talking off screen)
Match: *off-screen* So.
Match: Um.
Match: Alright, I’ll just get the negatives out of the way.
Maddy: *also off-screen* Whatever.
Match: *still off-screen* Christ, you little—
Match: Ugh, nevermind, let’s just get through this.
///
[Row 2]
(Maddy on the left and Match on the right, facing each other; Match looks annoyed but also has a bit of desperation of getting Maddy to understand his frustrations, Maddy has her back to the view but still has her arms crossed)
Match: I’m saying this with complete honesty.
Match: I really, really do not like all this aggressive flirting you’ve been doing.
///
(Close up on Match looking angry, he has his hands in front of him and he’s looking down at them)
Match: Ye’re obnoxious and annoyin’ and so damn persistent about it! For God’s sake, do ya ever take a break?!
Match: I can tell ye’re probably used to this sort of bull working on other people, but just, if ye’re gonna believe one thing I say, then…
Match: Please believe me when I say that this isn’t going to work on me! I’m not trying to play hard to get, I swear, I’m just so damn tired of this—
///
[Row 3]
(View is now on Maddy from in front of her, still with her arms crossed and looking off to the side)
Maddy: *pouting, looking both mad and sad* So in other words, I went too far.
Maddy: And that’s pretty much ruined my chances with you forever.
Maddy: Alright, I get it—
///
*Maddy is now looking towards Match in surprise*
Match: *off screen from the right* No, that’s not—
Match: Um, I mean.
Match: I guess it’s not like I completely hate ya.
Maddy: Huh?
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Page 15
[Row 1]
(View of Match, no longer looking mad, and now looking at Maddy instead of down at his hands)
Match: *kind of sad/guilty?* We’re havin’ a serious talk here, so I should be, uh, honest about this…
Match: I still think ya look cute. Ye’re adorable, honestly.
///
*Match looks up at the ceiling with an annoyed expression*
Match: But yer damn persistence is making it hard to like ya any more than that!
Match: Seriously! I don’t care if that sort of thing is appealin’ to other people! I hate this kind of thing!
///
[Row 2]
*Match now has one of his hands behind his head, and is looking off to the side, blushing slightly*
Match: So if you’d just, tone down the aggressive flirtin’ and all…
Match: … then trust me, ya woulda won me over by now.
///
*Match is looking towards Maddy*
Maddy *off-screen from the left* You… think I’m cute?
Match: Eh?
///
[Row 3]
(View is switched back to just Maddy, she’s blushing and looking amazed)
Maddy: Y-you… mean that?
///
*Maddy has a hand to her mouth, starting to look like a mix of amazed and mad*
Match: *off-screen* Well, yeah, I—
///
*Now she looks definitely mad*
Match: Uh, hey, are ya alright—
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Page 16
[Row 1]
(Full-width panel, showing a loud SMACK and Zap looking surprised/scared)
Match: *off-screen* OW!!
///
*Full-width panel, Maddy is stomping away from left to right, past Zap now, who looks scared and has his back to the wall and trying to stay out of her way*
Match: *off-screen from the left* The @#$%in’ hell was that for?!
Match: Oi! Why the hell are ya walkin’ off?!
Match: Ya better not be plottin’ to bother me again—
///
*Full-width panel, Maddy is on the right looking toward Match on the left off-screen; Zap is in the middle now trying to press into the wall even more, but still looking at Maddy in fear*
Maddy: *angrily screaming* I’m not planning on doing anything to you or with you anymore!!
Maddy: And that smack was for you being a @#$%ing stupid jerk!!
///
*Full-width panel, Maddy has exited the panel from the right while Match has entered it from the left, holding the right side of his face. Zap is looking at Match now*
Match: *yelling* The @#$% is wrong with you?! I didn’t mean it in a creepy way or anything, it was a compliment—
Maddy: *off-screen, yelling* Go @#$% yourself!!
Match: *still yelling* Oh, if ye’re gonna be like that, then go to @#$%in’ hell!!
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Page 17
[Row 1]
(View of Match and Zap together, Match on the left side and Zap on the right, with Zap looking somewhat nervously towards the view at Maddy stomping off; Match is still holding the side of his face)
Match: *closing his eyes in pain* Ow! Damn it…
Zap: Well, ah… that was pretty bad, but it probably could have been worse—
///
*Match turns to Zap angrily, the hand that was holding his face now balled up into a fist, while Zap looks scared again*
Match: Ye’re jokin’, right?!
Match: I tried havin’ an honest heart-to-heart with her, and that devil woman just freaked out on me over a compliment!
///
[Row 2]
(From behind Match and with Zap in front of him, Match has grabbed Zap by the collar, and Zap predictably looks even more terrified)
Match: *angry* And it’s all your fault for suggestin’ this in the damn first place—
Zap: *terrified* AH NO!
Zap: Wait, ahh—
///
*Zap holds up a wrapped chocolate orange*
Zap: *nervously smiling* HEY so uh, I still have one of these! You can have it if you, ah…
Zap: D-don’t beat me up? And I’m sure it’ll make you feel better!!
///
[Row 3]
(Close up view of Match looking angry and slightly confused)
///
(View changes to Match on the left and Zap on the right, with Match already opened and eating the chocolate orange. Zap looks tired and nervous)
Zap: So, ah…
Zap: At least she said she’ll leave you be from now on, right??
Match: Bah. That's the only good @#$%in’ thing I got out of this.
(End Chapter, fade away here)