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Canon Story
Frightened Virgil
Frightened Virgil
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Artist Writer
David Hopkins David Hopkins
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Arc XVII: Fnar's Vacation Short XXV: Mr. Smooth


A young teenage boy, Virgil, is dictating a diary entry when outside by himself, he's accompanied by Jack who is pleading with the boy not to do something. Virgil reveals he's a survivor of his classmate Brian's school massacre, having survived the shooting by being in the bathroom at the time. Virgil remembers that he grabbed a mop handle, preparing to club Brian, but when he sees Brian shoot his friend Taffy, he loses his nerve. He can only hide and listen to the sounds of Brian shooting his classmates.

Years later, Virgil can no longer live with the guilt, and commits suicide, hoping to confront his friends in the afterlife. Jack has no choice but to take Virgil to Hell for his sin, but when he listens to Virgil nonchalantly accept his fate, still blaming himself for his inaction during the massacre, Jack takes Virgil with him, avoiding Judgment, a violation of the rules.

The forces of Heaven, including Angels and Pomfrans, are descending on Hell searching for Virgil. Farrago finds Fnar and asks to see Jack. Fnar tells her he wants her alone, no other angels. Farrago agrees, and gets into an argument with Jack, with her trying to take Virgil to Judgment and Jack asking how people can escape Hell. Farrago refuses to give Jack the direct answer, but some thoughts by Fnar pushes Jack to realize souls have to ask forgiveness to escape Hell. When he asks Farrago how to get to Heaven, she shares that one must have unwavering faith in God.

Realizing that Virgil still has crippling guilt, Farrago enlists the help of Pelt, one of the Pomfrans looking for Virgil. Farrago convinces Pelt to open a Sufferance Zone, a small pocket dimension where the deceased can confront their sins. When Virgil is confronting a manifestation of his sin, Farrago and Jack both sense that Central is nearby. Knowing she'll force them to take Virgil to Judgment before he is ready, Jack volunteers to stall her while Farrago guides Virgil through his ordeal.

Before they part, Farrago gives Jack a good luck kiss, and this act of affection revives some of his memories. He remembers a distasteful exchange with a skunk girlfriend where he continualy dismisses her attempts to comfort him, striking her when she brings up Jill.

Jack comes to, confused as to the meaning of this vision, trying to dismiss it as Hell deceiving him. But Central approaches and confirms it's true, angrily provoking Jack by accussing him of being a dictator. Jack and Central begin to fight. Inside the Sufferance Zone, Virgil continues to confront his sin. He still blames himself for not saving his friends, and the manifestation of his sin takes on the form of murder. When Farrago tries to ask who the sin really belongs to, it attacks her.

Central and Jack continue their fight, with Jack slicing Central's wing and her shattering Jack's scythe, sending shrapnel in his face.

Back in the Sufferance Zone, the manifestation of sin take the form of Brian, who blames Virgil and his friends for his massacre, claiming they laughed at him in life. Virgil desperately dismisses Brian's accusations, claiming he didn't kill his friends. When Brian asks him why he's still in Hell, Virgil's eyes are opened as he realizes he killed himself. The sufferance zone's purpose at an end, it dissipates and Jack and Central's fight comes to an end. The other angels have arrived, including Reckonin and Patty and have surounded the area.

Central speaks with Virgil, and finds he knows what he's done wrong, and asks if he's forgiven himself. He has, and then asks God for forgiveness. When he tries to thank Central, she tells him Farrago deserves most of the thanks, along with Jack, which surprises everyone.

While waiting in line for Judgment, Central and Jack have a heart-to-heart. Both of them discuss Virgil's fate, God's acceptance of Jack's actions, and their own personal history with each other. Central apologizes for holding onto her own personal predjucides against Jack based on her memories. Jack reveals he cried when he saw Central's murdered body.

VIrgil get's word from the Book of Life that he'll get to be reborn on Earth, and this his friends are all waiting for him when he returns. He promises Jack he'll see him again when he comes back, and thanks God for him.

Before the group splits up, Jack gives Farrago a kiss to show his appreciation for all her help. Jack is suddenly shocked, and Farrago turns to see her wings have returned. Central explains his actions have returned what another Sin took away, and Farrago excitedly tries her wings out. As one last point of discussion, Central asks Jack to investigate how Brian was able to get free from his punishment and torment Virgil. She suspects a Sin is involved, and Jack agree.

In a denoucment, Brian is speaking to a shadowy figure who has helped him escape his punishment. The whole incident with Virgil (and the subsequent angel intervention in Hell) was all a distraction to allow this figure to sneak an creature called an Abaddon into Hell. This being will use the Abbadon to build a demonic army of Reworks. The creature at the end reveals himself to be Kane, a creature that confuses and frights Brian because he is a long extinct species, human.

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