Episode 23 | Objectified | Object Show Comic

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OBJECTIFIED is a BFDI / Inanimate Insanity inspired horror webcomic. Viewer discretion is advised.

Ep 23. Liquid Motivation

5/5/23

Objectified object show web comic, episode 23, Liquid Motivation, Fossil, Painkiller

The first panel shows a close-up of Fossil's goggles, Carrot's assimilated body reflected in the green of her lens. From out of shot, Painkiller asks, Fossil, what are we meant to do here, exactly? Painkiller is standing at her side, facing away from the specimen chamber and leaning back against the control panel with a nervous hand on their head. Fossil begins, Well, and turns to face Painkiller with a thumbs up as she answers, I will utilize my knowledge of terminal coding. Painkiller, unimpressed, answers, Huh? To do what? And what am I here for? Fossil answers, You're here to not be dead in the overcrowded hospital! We will find a use for you, I'm sure. Briefly, Painkiller seems to have their doubts, with text beside them saying, Ah, but.

They ask, You saved me, out of kindness? Sweating nervously, Fossil replies, Yes. That answer seems to change Painkiller's attitude completely, though, taking them from uncertain to obviously flattered by what they think is romantic interest. They say, Oh, hehe, maybe I misjudged you. Fossil, obviously regretting her choice of words, emphasizes, Yes, we are good friends. Painkiller asks, what's next? Fossil replies, Tonight? I record some basic observations. Too eager, Painkiller asks, Can I help? There are hearts all over their speech bubble. Fossil reluctantly says, Fine.

In the next shot, Fossil and Painkiller are in an orange-carpeted bedroom, with Fossil explaining, You can have this guest room. I'll stay in Carrot's room. Painkiller, distracted, points out the glass sliding door and asks, Hey, is this a pool? Adjusting her goggles, Fossil answers, Well, yes, but are you not, dissolvable? Offscreen, Painkiller asks, Is it full of enzymes? Fossil, unamused, answers, No. Painkiller shouts, Let's go swimming! Fossil asks, Why? Painkiller, clasping their hands together pleadingly, begs, Can we at least check it out? I haven't gone swimming since I lived in Marshlight Port! Fossil starts to ask, Why can't you do it by yourself, only to be cut off by Painkiller exclaiming, I'm scared!

Looking bummed, Fossil sits with her feet and tail dangling in the pool as Painkiller loots the poolside bar, saying, Holy shit. This counter's full of booze! Why is this at a lab? Fossil answers, Carrot liked to party with the rich. Painkiller, holding up a bottle and two shot glasses, asks, Do you wanna, you know. Fossil bluntly answers, I do not drink. Painkiller, having a flashback to Fossil chugging alcohol when they arrived, replies, What? You big fat liar! You drank an entire bottle when I got here!

Fossil, now having climbed fully into the pool, says, Yes, but that is not hard liquor. Painkiller, now carrying a different bottle and a wine flute, walks over to the poolside and says, I found chardonnay? Fossil goes, Ugh. With a judgmental sip, Painkiller continues, Suit yourself. If you wanna think so bad. Fossil, almost unusually relaxed, replies, That is no chore for me. I actually feel good. Painkiller asks, What's there to feel good about?

Fossil, unsure, answers, That's, a good question. Painkiller, walking towards one of the lounge chairs, suggests, Maybe it's the wine. Fossil replies, No, it's not like that. Holding up a handful of pool water, she continues, I feel, more alive! Significantly! Is it the water? Mania?

Painkiller, pouring their glass out onto the floor in favor of drinking directly from the bottle, replies, Mania? No, I know what manic looks like. It's your animal. Fossil scoffs, Bah! What animal? I am hominid, not bestial. Painkiller, already buzzed, replies, Actually, you're both! The terminal classification for being both is Defect! Because it's a bug in the terminal's programming. Venomously, Fossil replies, I know.

With their face propped in their cheek, Painkiller continues, aren't you part gator? Like the farm animal? As they ask, a thought bubble going to their head shows two goofy, fat alligators lying flat on some grass. Fossil, offended, starts shouting, Farm animal? They are not just, only to be cut off by Painkiller smugly saying, You are a gator! I knew it! Furious, Fossil glares over at them, asking, Did you still want me to kill you? Seeming to realize how much they're upsetting her, Painkiller says, Let's put a pin in that offer.

Time passes. The conversation moves on. Painkiller asks, What killed him the first time? I mean, what was he like? Fossil answers, Alcohol poisoning. He was a party animal, like I said. He was always hosting something and had many partners. They're talking about Carrot.

Lying on their front with their empty glass in their hand, Painkiller says, What a lucky duck. You two sound like you're night and day. He was really always screwing around, hum? Fossil, arms propped up on the side of the pool, sighs and says, And still, somehow, this man was the head scientist of the rings. Frustrated, she adds, A glorified botanist.

The next panel shows her legs and tail below the water. How ironic, she says. He was so proud to be a monster. He could predict storms and Spring, he could sense rot and smell poison. He was a romantic, but it was the poison he loved the most.

Later, in the lab, alongside bangs and drilling sounds, the elevator dings. Painkiller exits in a bathrobe, rubbing their eyes and saying, Ugh. What's all that noise? You woke me up, what time is it?

Fossil, mildly annoyed, replies, One in the afternoon. She is holding a hand-drill, standing in front of a giant tank of water. Painkiller, looking it over, says, Oh. Giant aquarium, that's new. Fossil replies, Yes, it is. The efficiency of my body and mind while submerged in water has, inspired me. As she speaks, a wide shot reveals that the aquarium's been built directly beside the specimen chamber where assimilated Carrot is kept. Zooming back in closer to the conversation, Fossil pats the glass of the aquarium, saying, This is a think tank. There is text reading pat pat. Painkiller, mildly surprised, asks, So you're like, the fish?

Fossil, annoyed again, answers, I suppose. Painkiller asks, How'd you make this whole thing? I didn't know you, made things. Fossil, grinning and letting the hand drill run, replies, What am I not proficient in? I'm the head scientist of Paradise. The drill buzzes. Painkiller, blushing, says, Right, how could I forget? I'm standing in front of a celebrity.

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