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Gloomy Tai at the library

33 (43.4%)

Dora trying to make up with her GF

14 (18.4%)

Hannelore seeking vengeance on Juicy

8 (10.5%)

Marigold seeking medical aid

2 (2.6%)

Pintsize having an existential crisis

11 (14.5%)

Faye learning that 'creepy' is a state of mind

8 (10.5%)

Total Members Voted: 71

Voting closed: 10 Mar 2015, 08:40

[BenRG]

So, Faye has a support group, Dora is at risk of screwing up another relationship and Marigold is stressing out about her digestive problems! What could possibly happen next.

As said in the previous weekly thread, my favourite idea for this week is for Marten and Claire to find out that their carefree boss suddenly has cares on her shoulders. It might not go beyond them giving her a hug of reassurance this week but I do think they'll try to help out. We just might see Faye's arrival at the support group evening too.

What do you think?

[TheCaffeinatedPanda]

I get the feeling we're going to see an apology from Dora to Tai, but not much more on that front - remember, it was Sven who told Marten about Dora's shitty exes, not Dora. I would wager she's not told Tai either, and that nobody else (specifically Marten) has mentioned it. I think we might be seeing either Marten or Dora explain just why she's so closed off, but I don't expect she'll open up much more than that.

Shame, really. I miss happy, flirty Dora

[Gladstone]

I'm a bit conflicted.  On one hand, Marten and Claire trying to reassure Tai at the library would show the three of them interacting in a way that doesn't show off how adorable and wonderful Marten and Claire are as a couple, which would be great!  But giving us more of Dora's side (or more of her and Tai trying to work things out) would give her some much-needed page-time, which hasn't happened lately. She's only appeared in two strips over the past three weeks, showing that she already has doubts about firing Faye and is already letting it affect her other relationships, and we haven't seen much of her since Marten and Claire took over the foreground.  So, more Dora would be great, too.

Maybe we can have both?

[TheCaffeinatedPanda]

You want to have your cake AND eat it? Don't be ridiculous! 

[jwhouk]

Wouldn't it be funny - okay, maybe more ironic than funny - if Tai ends up realizing she needs help with drug addiction, and ends up at the same meeting as Faye?

[Gladstone]

For casual marijuana use?  Seems unlikely.

Okay, so she also takes LSD, but it makes her see DRAGONS! and why would she want to stop that?

[BenRG]

For casual marijuana use?  Seems unlikely.

It would be relatively simple, in story-telling terms, to turn that off-hand comment to Marten: "Man , I need to cut down on my pot intake" into that being an admission of her having had a growing abuse issue that she's been hiding. For what it's worth, though, I think that it's unlikely.

[swapna]

I get the feeling we're going to see an apology from Dora to Tai, but not much more on that front - remember, it was Sven who told Marten about Dora's shitty exes, not Dora. I would wager she's not told Tai either, and that nobody else (specifically Marten) has mentioned it. I think we might be seeing either Marten or Dora explain just why she's so closed off, but I don't expect she'll open up much more than that.

Shame, really. I miss happy, flirty Dora

I think you're right, in that regard, but I don't think her recent treatment of Tai has anything to do with her previous (shitty) relationships. She's not jealous of anybody (there's no 'Faye' in their relationship... yet). She's just closed off and probably isn't used to being in a relationship who is on one hand really, seriously interested in her and on the other hand not a doormat. (Before anybody misinterprets - Marten's not a doormat at the moment, but his relationship with Dora just brought out his worst traits. The night they broke up, he went after her to apologise - for her faults, and he was very aware of that. He just didn't know how to deal with it any other way)

[Rghfrgl]

I'm a bit conflicted.  On one hand, Marten and Claire trying to reassure Tai at the library would show the three of them interacting in a way that doesn't show off how adorable and wonderful Marten and Claire are as a couple, which would be great! 

You know, I actually wouldn't mind more sugary sweetness IF the joke is it's annoying/giving cavities to the rest of the cast.

Unlikely to happen in the library with Tai though, because Serious Business.

[TheCaffeinatedPanda]

I get the feeling we're going to see an apology from Dora to Tai, but not much more on that front - remember, it was Sven who told Marten about Dora's shitty exes, not Dora. I would wager she's not told Tai either, and that nobody else (specifically Marten) has mentioned it. I think we might be seeing either Marten or Dora explain just why she's so closed off, but I don't expect she'll open up much more than that.

Shame, really. I miss happy, flirty Dora

I think you're right, in that regard, but I don't think her recent treatment of Tai has anything to do with her previous (shitty) relationships. She's not jealous of anybody (there's no 'Faye' in their relationship... yet). She's just closed off and probably isn't used to being in a relationship who is on one hand really, seriously interested in her and on the other hand not a doormat. (Before anybody misinterprets - Marten's not a doormat at the moment, but his relationship with Dora just brought out his worst traits. The night they broke up, he went after her to apologise - for her faults, and he was very aware of that. He just didn't know how to deal with it any other way)

Yeah, I'd agree that it doesn't affect how she treats Tai. What I was getting at was that I don't think Tai is in a position to understand why Dora is so reluctant to open up, and that's going to need to be explained to her. And much as I like Marten, I think it would be perfectly fair to say he certainly used to be a doormat

[Kugai]

I hope that Tai will be able to draw Dora out, I don't like the fact she's shut down this way.

[Aziraphale]

I'd like to see a strip or two of just Tai and Marten (sans Claire). The two of them are close, and he's given her perspective on things before when she's needed it (especially WRT Dora). With that said, there needs to be a deeper discussion between Tai and Dora, because the fact that each of them is -- at least from what we've seen in-comic -- largely opaque to the other makes the whole thing read as more of a "friends with benefits" situation than a relationship that's viable for the long-term.

[FunkyTuba]

While Dora's cleaning house, what will happen to Mieville?

[TheCaffeinatedPanda]

Pintsize could cat-sit!

[Rghfrgl]

While Dora's cleaning house, what will happen to Mieville?

You can't control a cat. It has to go.

Thought Dora before the cat kicked her out.

[rfrank dodelijk]

perhaps faye will meet and strike up a friendship with juicy at the support group, who could then confide to faye her worries about the intense blond girl with very clean hands who she is sure is following her. from a distance. making notes.

[cesariojpn]

Dora & Tai make up all goody two-shoes like Clariten, Faye amazingly has a revelation and becomes a prohibitionist, going around smashing bars with a battle spatula, Hanners sends a tungsten rod to strike Marigold's apartment with her in it, and we go back to more dreckless squee.

And we get to see Steve and Cosette eating breakfast. Because racecar.

[Rghfrgl]

Faye amazingly has a revelation and becomes a prohibitionist

Does this mean the girls are going to start wearing cute flapper outfits?

Maybe Marten can save the reputation of the fedora. Nah, far too late.

[Aziraphale]

You're thinking of a trilby, not a fedora. Indiana Jones wore a fedora; the trilby is worn by knuckle-dragging, ass-breathing basement dwellers.



Further citation:
http://goodmenproject.com/featured-content/brand-thats-not-a-fedora-and-stop-wearing-it/

[cesium133]

That reminds me... I should buy a cowboy hat before I leave Oklahoma.

[Gladstone]

Does this mean the girls are going to start wearing cute flapper outfits?

Maybe Marten can save the reputation of the fedora. Nah, far too late.

Nah, I think Marten would look better dressed as a newsboy.  Those caps haven't been ruined by MRAs yet, have they?  Dear grog, I hope not. 

[Kugai]

[DSL]

The flat hat and this.

[Kugai]

I say ol' boy!

Jolly jaunty jalopy there!!

[stephber]

Comic's up! Back away slowly and no one gets hurt.....

[Gladstone]

Marten, you are a BAD FRIEND.

[Aziraphale]

While I don't think Marten's reaction was a good one, it's an understandable one. He may be trying to avoid getting in the middle of Dora and Tai's issues, or trying to avoid saying the wrong thing about Dora and making things worse (let's face it, this is Marten, so odds of that happening are astronomically high). With that said, he could at least have stuck around and let Tai say what she needed to say, while tactfully saying that he wasn't going to take sides.

OTOH, that shouldn't even be necessary; he and Faye both helped the two of them get through a rough patch before this.

[Kugai]

Mr Reed

You seriously, seriously disappoint me young man.



Bad form young man, bad form.

[Half Empty Coffee Cup]

A bad friend to whom? If he got involved here, he'd catch flak from Dora. In a no-win situation, the only winning move is not to play.

Looks to me like Marten just won.

[osaka]

Marten noped out so goddamn hard Dora is wondering what the hell just happened.

(Not a typo)

[hedgie]

Given his deer in the headlights facial expression, I'm rather surprised that he was able to stage a successful retreat.

[Zebediah]

Marten is going to find Hannelore and ask for a lift to her dad's space station so that he can nope this from orbit.

[osaka]

"We're gonna need a bigger nope"

[Half Empty Coffee Cup]

All hands on nope, prepare for noping.

[Coffee_Kaioken]

this is the first time in a loooong time that I've read a new QC strip and audibly sniggered out loud.

'Atta boy, Marten.

[Gladstone]

OTOH, that shouldn't even be necessary; he and Faye both helped the two of them get through a rough patch before this.

Exactly!  Why nope out now without any information when he talked her through her problems last time?  This doesn't feel like Marten at all.

"Oh dear, Tai is having the same trouble with Dora that we had when we were dating.  Maybe if I walk away everything will turn out all right."

[Half Empty Coffee Cup]

Huh. I thought for a bit and came up with a possible alternate reading.

What if Marten's going to the Coffee of Doom to chew Dora out over letting her insecurities sabotage yet another relationship? That'd... completely contradict my earlier post. I guess I have no idea what's going through Marten's head right now.

[Zebediah]

What's going through Marten's head right now? An old Polish proverb: "Not my circus. Not my monkeys."

[Coffee_Kaioken]

Maybe he has to save all that supportive capacity for Faye?

If he hadn't been through the wringer from that, he might be willing to share some tips from experience, but given what's going on lately, he might be in more of a "nope, spent a whole relationship dealing with Dora drama, not my problem anymore" mode?

edit:

"Not my circus. Not my monkeys."

Perfect

[Aziraphale]

Huh. I thought for a bit and came up with a possible alternate reading.

What if Marten's going to the Coffee of Doom to chew Dora out over letting her insecurities sabotage yet another relationship? That'd... completely contradict my earlier post. I guess I have no idea what's going through Marten's head right now.

That would make a bit more sense; you could read Marten's facial expression, in light of what Tai's told him and what he knows Faye has been through, as, "Oh, shit. Dora's probably in a lot worse shape than she's letting on." To be assertive enough to draw Dora out would be something we haven't seen from Marten up to this point, but it wouldn't be as out of character as it would've seemed a few months ago.

[jmucchiello]

OTOH, that shouldn't even be necessary; he and Faye both helped the two of them get through a rough patch before this.

Exactly!  Why nope out now without any information when he talked her through her problems last time?  This doesn't feel like Marten at all.

"Oh dear, Tai is having the same trouble with Dora that we had when we were dating.  Maybe if I walk away everything will turn out all right."

"Oh dear, Tai is having the exact same trouble with Dora that I had. If I tell her what I already did, break up with Dora, I could lose them both as friends. If I tell her to stick with it that isn't giving her the advice of my personal experience. I better run."

[jwhouk]

I think we have a general feeling that Marten just "nope'd" there.

[jmucchiello]

Read the comic title: Nothing Good Can Come
So Marten split.

[Tova]

Marten, you are a BAD FRIEND.

Normally I am pleased when I predict the forum reaction, but this one was a little too easy.

[Half Empty Coffee Cup]

Do you think anything good could come of Marten going to Dora for a "what the hell?" moment?

Me neither.

[Aziraphale]

Do you think anything good could come of Marten going to Dora for a "what the hell?" moment?

Me neither.

I think if it was anybody else, she'd just tell 'em to fuck off. Coming from Marten, it just might surprise her enough to get through.

But, as jmucchiello points out, a tactical retreat was probably his best option.

"Oh dear, Tai is having the exact same trouble with Dora that I had. If I tell her what I already did, break up with Dora, I could lose them both as friends. If I tell her to stick with it that isn't giving her the advice of my personal experience. I better run."

[mary tyler murder]

This is my favorite comic in the entire history of this comic.

I want Marten to keep noping out of the city, out of the state, into an entirely new comic with new characters with nobody else from this one ever mentioned again.

[explicit]

I'd do that same exact thing, fuck that mess, ain't my place.

[Gladstone]

Marten, you are a BAD FRIEND.

Normally I am pleased when I predict the forum reaction, but this one was a little too easy.

My first reaction was much harsher, but I decided to tone it down.  Still, I think Marten could've, you know, stuck around and listened to the full story before moonwalking away, but I guess Jeph wanted to go for the easy laughs.

MARTEN: "What's wrong?"
TAI: "Dora and I had an argument. [Quick summary of argument, with concerns over how Dora's been acting since she cut Sven out of her life and fired Faye.]"
MARTEN: "Wow, I had no idea.  I mean, I've been spending a lot of time with Claire, and trying to help Faye out with her problems, but that's no excuse for ignoring everyone else.  Is there anything I can do to help?"
TAI: [Conversation]
MARTEN: [Conversation]
TAI: "Thanks, Marten, that really helps!  I do feel better."
MARTEN: "And just think, I almost walked out on you when you said you were having problems with Dora!  Gosh, that would've been a dick move, right? [Hearty guffaw]"
TAI: [Hearty guffaw]

[mary tyler murder]

You're thinking of a trilby, not a fedora. Indiana Jones wore a fedora; the trilby is worn by knuckle-dragging, ass-breathing basement dwellers.

[QUOTED IMAGE]

Further citation:
http://goodmenproject.com/featured-content/brand-thats-not-a-fedora-and-stop-wearing-it/

Both are fine hats that people need to get over.

Especially given how many of the girls who complain about them are now sporting this christ-awful sideways-mullet that looks ugh on the insanely hot and puke on anyone less than that.