Last time someone was asked this they ended up with a free phone so there’s that at least, Nicola.
wrapping this one up in a couple of pages, y'all, which means it's soon time for Q&As! usual rules apply- you can post as a guest but remember to sign your name if you want it on there, there's no limit so you can ask as many as you like, any character is fine not just ones from this chapter, and if i don’t manage to use your question its not because its bad, its just because i couldn’t think of a good punchline for it :V have at it! you can also submit a question via tumblr here.
the kickstarter for the print version of this volume will be going up at the end of august too, hope you'll check it out!
Comments (71)
ThoughtBubble
14 Nov 2026 – 15 Nov 2026
Harrogate Convention Centre
Manchester Megacon
31 Jul 2027 – 1 Aug 2027
Manchester Central
NICOLA uses REDIRECT! It's extremely effective!
Also Eliza as a detective is the Best Thing Ever, she's gonna do GREAT
But when does she get assigned a magic sniffing dog?
Parsley would object rather strongly to that, I suspect.
Fun fact, Parsley can smell magic, she (he?) just doesn't bother to do anything about it. :-P
Harriet Barber, what's it like being the Witch of Widdershins?
A conspiracy theorist as a police detective? What can possibly go wrong?
Isn't that The Question?
I don't know, is it?
If it is, this could be the answer.
"I want you to understand something, Luxuria. Although my distaste for you as a spirit being is Brobdingnagian, what I'm about to do isn't personal..."
"The plastic tips at the end of shoelaces are called 'aglets'. Their true purpose is sinister."
Did I just hear the X-Files theme playing?
Nicola Skullyfracturer: No.
Dominik Fox-Moulded: Nein.
The Cigarette-Smoking Man: What are ye on about???
The Pipe-Smoking Woman: Hrrrm?
Chris Carter: is actually Luxuria opens box file marked "X-FILES PLOT RESOLUTIONS", revealing that it is empty villain laugh vanishes in percussive cloud of smoke
>:=)>
I’m looking forward to Inspector Swift arresting the entire town council for being alien lizard illuminati from the moon, here to steal human life essence.
That's racial profiling, that is.
...because they're really toad-like Moon-Beasts?
Time to call in the cats?
I smell a spinoff.
Question for any character who cares to answer. Given the events of the last year, isn’t it time magic was banned?
Hey Doctor Flake or whatever, did you imbued that fan-knife of yours with anything?
*imbue
If you use this question, please exclude the typo.
My sister has no magical abilities, at all. This intense young woman thinks Harry is a witch. Conclusion: This woman has the makings of a police detective!
Not a bad conclusion given that knowledge of The O'Malley is limited to a handful of people. And almost every spirit that can talk. But nobody's asking them anyways.
Yeah, this is one of those situations where Captain Barber can see that Eliza understands the process; she just doesn't have all the data. Data's easier to get than process.
I wouldn't worry about it. All great detectives are completely wrong about who the culprit is for the first 45 minutes anyhow. It's just those last 15 minutes she needs to work on.
Correction: the last 5 minutes of the show.
(and it is indeed traditional - a very old French whodunit TV show was called 'Les cinq dernières minutes", where the main protagonist and detective unerringly exclaims himself "bon sang, mais c'est bien sûr!" at the 5min-to-the-end mark)
Strictly true, but she managed to figure out that Harry was closely involved at all, and apparently dropped out of sight due to said involvement. And this whole bit with a mayor...
Barber's recruiting her, I see. And, offering a spot on the force, as well.
So now Eliza will have to adopt a pipe and deerstalker.
Therefore most likely to encounter Harry and Mal when looking for a match...
While I am not surprised that Nicola ducked Eliza's questions, I did not expect her to offer Eliza a job. Given how close she got to the truth based on limited data it will probably work out really well if Eliza takes the job.
Technically, she just told Swift to think about the fact that Widdershins PD is apparently going to have one or more full-time detectives on staff. Never said anything about Ms. Swift being one of them, no siree!
Inference, my dear Watson!
That was a test, though.
Forgetting about your question being answered isn't good.
But now that she knows the job exists, she can Investigate where to apply, thereby further demonstrating her detective skills
Spoiler: Nicola doesn't actually have the authority to offer anyone a job
She offered a (different) job to Ben, though! :)
Technically she was put in charge of giving that job to someone who had the authority to create the position.
And I just want to say, that was an expert dodge by Captain barber.
Mayor Hackett and/or Prof. Flack, what goes on in those Prussian owl fanciers' meetings anyhow?
I don't know Captain, for a Detective she was quite clueless about your misdirection there for awhile XD
Question for Vincent and Eliza: How did the two of you first become friends?
Parsley, what are your opinions of the various humans you have encountered?
Harry, how's your vacation to the southern Pacific going so far?
Sid, now that you and your magpie friend are on speaking terms, will they have a part to play in your act?
Yes, that first question is shamelessly ripped off from when Gren was asked something similar. I'm not sorry.
To the bird that follows sid and steals stuff
Do you have a name? Also What are your thoughts on Harry and sid?
You know it's just going to cheep randomly at you, right?
So? Gren answered a question once why can't the bird?
Prof. Flack, where do you order a knife-fan?
DOCTOR Flack!
A detective!? Does this mean she shall be helping get rid of the next world ending plot?! Possibly working along side the previously mentioned "Witch"?
Hey, woah, I'm actually present for a chapter end, which means I get to ask questions! So here it goes! Q & A for Mal, how have you been holding up since the sins incident? Have you been trying to help find Harry, or are you just staying out of the spotlight as much as possible?
Purple Hippo of Happiness-- are you and other spirits drawn to anyone who can see you or are you especially drawn to Mal because he's the witch?
will sharpe - so, what's on the horizon for now, considering that your name has now been cleared! whats next?
Theater Magic
Mal: You good at witchin' yet?
Yep. She's Old Harry's granddaughter.
=============
{His name is Harry, right?}
Close. His name is Henry. I'd like to know how he's doing.
Let's ask him! Henry Barber, how are you doing?
Since it would have been tragically melodramatic for him to have died after [his heartfelt speech](https://widdershinscomic.com/wdshn/july-5th-2016 "https://widdershinscomic.com/wdshn/july-5th-2016") I'm sure he's healing up just fine :P
Well played, Captain Barber.
I would just like to say, panel 2 is most excellent. :D
Panel two has the best face of Nicky ever.
Vincent could take notes from Captain Barber on dodging questions...
Dealing with your problems by indirectly giving them job offers: it's (still) the Nicola Barber way!
To Alexa: To your knowledge, was Harriet Barber the Witch of Widdershins?
One for the Malform Cleanup Crew:
Where have you guys been staying since Ben's house burned down? Did Mal just move into the Anchor? What about the other two?
Totally shipping these two now, FYI.
Any volunteers to write the fanfic?
Looks like Nicola is better at [deflecting questions with compliments](https://widdershinscomic.com/wdshn/september-21st-2018 "https://widdershinscomic.com/wdshn/september-21st-2018") than Knotty is.
Question for Harry:
Are you enjoying your beach holiday? --Lucy
Question for Wrath: What is your favorite cup of tea?
Ms. Swift, people have been saying that none of your recent products have been infused with spirits. Is there some reason for this?
This exchange is so beautiful on so many levels of comedy. <3
Ha! So Knotty's not the only one who's good at dodging Eliza's questions. 8-)