Me: Writing up Episode 0 is too hard!
Also me: I think I'll try to work on Episode 6 tonight...
That Penelope/Le Paradox boss fight is just too tempting not to start up...
I say that, and yet the only thing I've got is... "She made the first move."
The hardest part of that scene isn't how the fight plays out, but rather the dialogue between our heroine and villain.
"I want to know more about Penelope's past, before the Black Baron. Would she be an orphan, or would her Dutch mouse parents still be around? Would they be supportive of their little girl genius, or worried sick?"
Confessed by: Anonymous
YES, it's finally here! I could rattle about it's development but I did most of that in the foreword. Though I forgot to mention two details. - We included 'Original Ancestors. Don't worry there's only two of them and are an excellent and creative supplement to the Cooper bloodline in my honest opinion. They're written and illustrated in the style this zine was inspired by (the ancestral book) and we hope you enjoy them. - We also included 'Honourable Mentions' after Conner's page. I could've made a whole page just, announcing them but couldn't think of much to fill it in with SO, honourable mentions are canon characters who, in some way, shape or form assisted the Cooper family in the past. - These pages have transcripts! They're in the image description. That's all! We hope you enjoy and sharing would be appreciated! Thank you!
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Got a request from @mx-kit for this pinup of penelope from Bentley's Hackpack. As always, I take any requests for future acquisitions
Just another scene that I believe took place behind the scenes during the China level of Sly 3. Yep. These two are still my BFF-OTP
When your characters are saying no without saying "no"
INARTICULATE
Ah
Oh
APOLOGETIC/UNCOMFORTABLE
Alas ⚜ Can’t help ⚜ Do me a favour ⚜ Give over
I’m afraid… ⚜ Sorry ⚜ Unfortunately
EVASIVE
Any other time… ⚜ Ask Arthur ⚜ ‘Bye ⚜ Must run
Not right now ⚜ Talk to me later ⚜ The thing is… ⚜ What a pity
DEFINITE (with negative word)
No can do ⚜ No chance ⚜ No go ⚜ No way (José)
Never (in a thousand years) ⚜ Not in a million years
Not on your nelly ⚜ I should say not
DEFINITE (no negative word)
Are you serious? ⚜ Drop dead ⚜ Fat chance
Get lost / knotted / stuffed… ⚜ God forbid ⚜ Hard cheese
I’d rather die ⚜ Impossible ⚜ Over my dead body
Push off ⚜ See you in hell first ⚜ Tough titty
Unthinkable ⚜ You must be joking ⚜ You’ve had it
EXCUSES
If it were up to me ⚜ I’m right out ⚜ It’s more than my job’s worth
It’s not in my hands ⚜ Love to, but…
EUPHEMISMS/CLICHÉS
Chance would be a fine thing ⚜ Closed for business
Correspondence closed ⚜ If wish were father to the deed
Je regrette, mais… ⚜ Not my department ⚜ Not my remit
The editor regrets… ⚜ The umpire’s decision is final
Would that it were possible
Parents begin to teach their children to read between the lines in this way at an early age. Here are some of the negative responses used by parents to a request by their 4-year-old for another biscuit.
You’ve just had one ⚜ It’ll be tea time soon
Ask Daddy ⚜ I haven’t heard the magic word yet
Source ⚜ Word Lists ⚜ Notes & References
new sticker design(?)
The time has come for Act 3. This covers the final two missions of the episode.
You might have to fill in some of the blanks yourself, but Penelope somehow winds up in a final duel with her impostor, with her signals jammed.
It's during this duel that Robo-Penelope reveals something to the player. The real Penelope designed Le Paradox's blimp. Robo-Penelope did everything else.
With this reveal, we finally understand why Penelope has been behaving so strangely. She's been acting out of guilt. She feels undeserving of the boys' friendship. Even so, she's willing to pull every last bit of her weight to make sure they never get hurt again.
Note: Imagine this playing during the Penelope/Robo-Penelope mirror match.
After defeating her impostor, Penelope, now consumed by an overwhelming amount of guilt, feels the need to confess her treachery to someone. She decides on telling Bentley, knowing full well doing so would break his heart all over again.
Then again, he does deserve to know the truth, does he not?
Cue Penelope's painful confession to Bentley. The only thing she doesn't reveal is her true motive, as she doesn't want to justify anything she or her impostor did.
And that "motive" relating to money, fame, power, and Bentley's potential? All fabricated by her impostor.
After that and a tearful apology, she tries to leave the Cooper Gang forever... only to be stopped. Bentley asks her if any of her treachery was worth it. She says it wasn't, and all she did was lose everyone she cares about.
Guess what? Bentley is satisfied with that answer. He forgives Penelope, believing that being kidnapped, impersonated, and hated by everyone she loves was the perfect punishment for her attempted betrayal. He also refuses to leave her or punish her further, now that she's learned her lesson.
Sly and Murray are spared from learning the truth until after our heroes leave Conquest Island.
Finally, the rest of the Robo-Cooper Gang is destroyed, followed by their creator, Sir Raleigh, getting royally clapped.
Penelope remains reinstated, even after Sly and Murray learn the truth.
As for what happens afterwards... I'm not sure. This is all during Episode 2 of 6.
I want to believe Penelope was kidnapped and impersonated. She still designed the blimp. Her impostor (an evil robot) did everything else. Even her motive was fabricated.
Here's something that could happen in Sly 5.
When the boys (Sly, Bentley, and Murray) eventually find out and take her back, she's going to be a guilt-ridden mess hell-bent on destroying her impostor and her creator for breaking Bentley's heart and making everyone hate her, with several measures of self-loathing for nearly doing the same thing herself.
The reunion scene would need to happen early in the episode in which this story takes place, during the second mission, and no later. That way, the player can get used to her being fully playable for the first time ever before the boss fight.
All three boys, while elated to have Penelope back, will quickly notice that something is seriously wrong with her. They think her impostor did everything, including designing the blimp. When they ask her what's wrong, she refuses to elaborate.
Bentley is especially concerned, but incredibly proud of his reinstated girlfriend for her enduring loyalty.
Cue Penelope pulling her weight several times over during her return episode and defeating her impostor, only to be consumed by all the guilt and confess to none other than Bentley about her treachery by the end. The only thing she doesn't reveal is her motive, saying it doesn't matter because what she did was wrong.
And because I love a good, happy ending, she will be forgiven. She's already spent the entire episode proving herself in spades. As for Sly and Murray's reactions? I'll leave that for you to decide. Would Sly drive himself crazy over not knowing her motive? I think he might.
I realize she will need a very sympathetic motive for this idea to work.
Clenched fists and knuckles turning white.
Eyes narrowing to slits, brows furrowed.
Jaw muscles tensing visibly.
Speaking through gritted teeth.
Taking deep, sharp breaths.
Pacing back and forth, unable to stay still.
Pointing a finger accusingly.
Voice raising to a shout or a growl.
Kicking or punching nearby objects.
Lips pressed together in a thin line.
Rapid, agitated movements.
Slamming doors or throwing objects.
Standing with arms crossed tightly.
Glaring intensely without blinking.
Face turning red or flushed.
Breathing heavily and erratically.
Snapping at others for minor things.
Shaking with barely contained rage.
Muttering or growling under their breath.
Eyes blazing with fury.