Not coming anytime soon!
Not coming anytime soon!
Because when Winter comes, that's when Hannelore makes like GRR Martin.
She kills all her friends, kills them with a knife.
Didn't Jeph make a poster to settle this question?
George RR Martin stopped killing everyone though. Nowadays he just pretends to kill people every other chapter, usually Davos.(click to show/hide)
George RR Martin stopped killing everyone though. Nowadays he just pretends to kill people every other chapter, usually Davos.(click to show/hide)
Didn't Jeph make a poster to settle this question?
yes, he did. Dora is Autumn.
http://www.topatoco.com/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=TO&Product_Code=QC-MUCHA-PRINT&Category_Code=QC
...maybe it needs updating, with Claire being so prominent now?
I... don't know if anyone's even going to find out immediately that she took a stroll off the wagon.
Hannelore has a history of anxiety and excessive guilt, so she might go to pieces when she hears Faye used dealing with her problems to justify a drinking binge. I hope she does in front of Faye so that Faye can fully realise WHAT A TERRIBLE HORRIBLE SELFISH UNBELIEVABLY STUPID AND IDIOTIC THING SHE HAS JUST DONE!
"Goddamnit, Faye", indeed. I... don't know if anyone's even going to find out immediately that she took a stroll off the wagon.
have we ever seen The Wrath Of Marten ever manifest itself in the strip?
Totally on a different subject: Jeph drew Hanners very pretty today.
...why are we having this discussion in June? Does Australia have a really late fall?Leaves are still falling, but Winter is definitely here. Frosts etc. Too cold to snow in Tassie. Minus 5 overnight here in Canberra.
Minus 5 overnight here in CanberraWhy I'm glad I live on the coast - no frost. Seriously, is there anyone who does not know that the seasons are reversed in the Southern Hemisphere? Also, our native trees are mostly evergreen, so they shed leaves all year round instead of in a big dump in the autumn.
Also, no. We have never seen the Wrath of Marten. Frankly, I'm a bit wary of seeing it. Normally calm people can get frightening when they finally do get pissed off.
A right cross from Indie Boy would be a major wakeup for the Peach.
Didn't Jeph make a poster to settle this question?
yes, he did. Dora is Autumn.
http://www.topatoco.com/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=TO&Product_Code=QC-MUCHA-PRINT&Category_Code=QC
...maybe it needs updating, with Claire being so prominent now?
First I want to say I envy Dale because of this poster.
Oh, shit.She'd probably just turn him off again.
Edited to add: How epic would it be if Pintsize was the one who told her off for falling off the wagon?
George RR Martin stopped killing everyone though. Nowadays he just pretends to kill people every other chapter, usually Davos.(click to show/hide)(click to show/hide)
Intellectually, I understand exactly what's happened. I understand how easy it is for this to happen. I understand that this does not mean Faye is a bad person or doesn't genuinely want to sober up.
Emotionally, though, I'm done. Considering this is canon-wise about the same time Hanners gave her that note, considering she just got fired for this, considering all the shit she has just put Marten through, considering this came after she found a therapy group she was comfortable with...
I don't sympathize. Or empathize. It's not that I don't care about Faye; I just care more about the characters she's hurting at this point.
What I find the most disturbing is that Faye starts drinking again not because of a crisis or uncomfortable situation. She starts because she´s actually feeling good, because she has accomplished something positive, something she could be proud of. Something good she has done while she was sober. I´m not the addictive type, so it is hard for me to find a connection here, to empathize with her. I´m very careful with alcohol myself because of my daughter (and my uncle...).
What I find the most disturbing is that Faye starts drinking again not because of a crisis or uncomfortable situation. She starts because she´s actually feeling good, because she has accomplished something positive, something she could be proud of. Something good she has done while she was sober. I´m not the addictive type, so it is hard for me to find a connection here, to empathize with her. I´m very careful with alcohol myself because of my daughter (and my uncle...).
Who is this vertebrate who looks so much like Marten?
Who is this vertebrate who looks so much like Marten?
Please let this not turn into a physical confrontation, which Marten will lose.Marten wouldn't win or lose, he wouldn't even try.
Kinda called it.
I'm not Marten, but I'd grab the bottle and throw it towards that indention in the wall where she usually throws Pintsize.
I hadn't thought of the possibility of her torpedoing her friendship with Marten.
Didn't Jeph make a poster to settle this question?
yes, he did. Dora is Autumn.
http://www.topatoco.com/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=TO&Product_Code=QC-MUCHA-PRINT&Category_Code=QC
...maybe it needs updating, with Claire being so prominent now?
First I want to say I envy Dale because of this poster.
I eny Tai even more. But then Dora hs always been my favourite character.
I dunno about Marten being the bad guy. Faye's bargaining right now, but she's already admitted fault, and she didn't jump directly to blame.
If she's going to make that play, Jeph's established that she knows she's wrong to do it. It would just be typical alcoholic behavior. I wouldn't be surprised if she did try to burn that bridge. It's been my experience that addicts commence digging when they hit rock bottom.
He should take the bottle, but he should also tell her that any continued drinking means her leeway on rent is zero.I like this - any other suggestions on what Marten's best response should be? All I hear IRL is that it is up to the addict to change, and that as family/friend you can't get them to do so. So what makes helping, enabling? When does stopping enabling become heartless abandonment?
There's a major source of conflict coming up the next time the rent is due.
He should take the bottle, but he should also tell her that any continued drinking means her leeway on rent is zero.
Stern Marten is being logical now. That doesn't actually work, does it?
Well, she hasn't threatened violence.
Hooray?
Why would she? She knows she's wrong, she's only angry at herself.
I'm a little concerned with the way he's needling. I get it, it's for the joke's sake, but if I were Faye, I'd be angry. She knows she fucked up, she knows it was a multi-step process, telling her that doesn't help things.
Something about it concerns me, though, and this is where I'm forcing myself in there. She just seems so un-Faye, seems depressed, like she's in a mode thinking she's a fuck-up and that's the end of the story. That's my concern, and it's not based on anything but her demeanor and expressions, nothing canonical.
I like this - any other suggestions on what Marten's best response should be? All I hear IRL is that it is up to the addict to change, and that as family/friend you can't get them to do so. So what makes helping, enabling? When does stopping enabling become heartless abandonment?
Yep, any AI companion assigned to Faye would definitely need self-defense capabilities for when (not if) Faye threatened to get rough.
What I find the most disturbing is that Faye starts drinking again not because of a crisis or uncomfortable situation. She starts because she´s actually feeling good, because she has accomplished something positive, something she could be proud of. Something good she has done while she was sober. I´m not the addictive type, so it is hard for me to find a connection here, to empathize with her. I´m very careful with alcohol myself because of my daughter (and my uncle...).
Yeah, that doesn't feel contrived or anything.
:grumpypuss:
Unless she's coming over because despite what he says, she knows he needs her. That's the only reason I can imagine Claire just suddenly hanging up like that.
Mind you, she does have a jealousy streak (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2653), and pretty severe anxiety issues...
Wait, really? What's changed?
Claire has been understanding as hell but everyone has a limit. I don't think her hanging up on Marten was an "eff you" hang up, more of a frustrated, I don't know if this is going to work because of your weird relationship with Faye hang up. I wanna be mad at Faye, I know she has a problem and people make mistakes and it was a moment of weakness but damn, this better not be a recurring thing. I'm 100% team Claire, and for as much as I wish her success I won't be able to forgive Faye of her alcoholism ruins that relationship.
Claire has been understanding as hell but everyone has a limit. I don't think her hanging up on Marten was an "eff you" hang up, more of a frustrated, I don't know if this is going to work because of your weird relationship with Faye hang up. I wanna be mad at Faye, I know she has a problem and people make mistakes and it was a moment of weakness but damn, this better not be a recurring thing. I'm 100% team Claire, and for as much as I wish her success I won't be able to forgive Faye of her alcoholism ruins that relationship.
Seriously? Faye doesn't like Claire that much. Kicking Claire out is for her own good.
Claire has been understanding as hell but everyone has a limit. I don't think her hanging up on Marten was an "eff you" hang up, more of a frustrated, I don't know if this is going to work because of your weird relationship with Faye hang up. I wanna be mad at Faye, I know she has a problem and people make mistakes and it was a moment of weakness but damn, this better not be a recurring thing. I'm 100% team Claire, and for as much as I wish her success I won't be able to forgive Faye of her alcoholism ruins that relationship.
Seriously? Faye doesn't like Claire that much. Kicking Claire out is for her own good.
It might be, but all Claire is going to think is that Marten will always have an attachment to Faye she might not be able to compete with, or want to for that matter.Do you think that little of Claire? Or for that matter, do you think Jeph would have Marten lose another relationship for that exact reason?
It might be, but all Claire is going to think is that Marten will always have an attachment to Faye she might not be able to compete with, or want to for that matter.Do you think that little of Claire? Or for that matter, do you think Jeph would have Marten lose another relationship for that exact reason?
It might be, but all Claire is going to think is that Marten will always have an attachment to Faye she might not be able to compete with, or want to for that matter.Do you think that little of Claire? Or for that matter, do you think Jeph would have Marten lose another relationship for that exact reason?
I don't see that as being a reason Claire would dump Marten. It might put stress on the relationship, but I see it as being a factor in the end, not the root cause, whatever that may be, if it exists.
I mean, if for no other reason, Jeph probably wouldn't do that because it's how Marten and Dora ended. Jeph's never struck me as an especially repetitive writer...
Incidentally, I think that's all it is, just a speed bump. If anything, the issue resurfacing provides an opportunity for character development, for Marten to be aware of what he's doing here. Perhaps it might even give him greater perspective on what happened with Dora. Not that Dora doesn't share responsibility for that, her own issues caused...well, issues, but Marten's attachment to Faye was a factor too. And so, it remains to be seen if he learns his lesson in the long run.
It might be, but all Claire is going to think is that Marten will always have an attachment to Faye she might not be able to compete with, or want to for that matter.Do you think that little of Claire? Or for that matter, do you think Jeph would have Marten lose another relationship for that exact reason?
^Here here!
Claire has never shown jealousy. That's Dora's thing.
This was actually foreshadowed when Marten broke a date with Claire in favor of the hospital trip.
Claire is bright and can generalize to a line given two points.
I don't think it would have been rude to ask Claire to come over. She knows the situation, keeping her at bay is only making her feel less important to Marten. If Faye is a "part of the package" then Claire should be Marten needs to accommodate Claire accordingly, not lie to her.
I'd say it being 'just him' is Marten being respectful to Faye's privacy. It'd also rather rude to invite a friend - any friend - over, even if they were aware of Faye's current issue, especially with something like this. If anything, Faye should be in control of who is invited in while she's going through this, and I'd imagine that a woman who's overstepped her boundaries before by snarking Faye despite not knowing her all that well would not be welcome company at the moment.
Good morning,
It´s 7:30am over here in Europe and I´m not quite awake yet. So could someone please explain to me what Martens expression "I think I´m gonna need a rain check on tonight" means? I think I can imagine, but there might be implicated meanings that escape me.
New comic...
...and the people who predicted the situation with Faye causing problems between Marten and Claire were right.
Good morning,
It´s 7:30am over here in Europe and I´m not quite awake yet. So could someone please explain to me what Martens expression "I think I´m gonna need a rain check on tonight" means? I think I can imagine, but there might be implicated meanings that escape me.
Basically, it means "due to unforeseen complications, we need to cancel our plans and reschedule". I *think* it comes from baseball: since the games are played outdoors, if a game was rained out, the club would offer "rain checks" to people who'd bought tickets for that game that they could use to come back some other day without having to buy another ticket.
She's been feeling that way about herself since the break up with Angus. Before that really. She has said it in as many words. And part of that is societal pressure. That you are supposed to always be there for your partner. That putting your needs ahead of your partner's is somehow wrong. But she feels she has failed, and hard. And worse that she is a failure and a fuck up and doesn't see or doesn't want to find a way out of that. So yes, she's been wallowing in self pity as much as cheap bourbon. And until she starts to work on that, she's probably not going to make progress on her other issues.And now she is forcing Marten to put her needs before his partner's. Can't be an improvement.
She's not forcing Marten to do anything.
Stuff
I think the candy floss unicorns are about to be culled.I have no idea what this means.
A few thoughts.
* Finally, look, folks. We've got a third-person omniscient viewpoint. WE know Faye isn't trying to get into Marten's pants. WE know that they're not banging. WE know that -- at least from what we've seen over the dozen years of the comic -- Marten's not a cheater. WE know that Faye has a serious alcohol problem. WE know that she's really messed up over Angus leaving. WE know that the overwhelming number of Marten's friends being women is because he likes having women friends, and not because he's after a harem. WE know that Faye's hospitalization was no petty matter, and that she was in serious danger.
Claire doesn't know these things. Not for a certain fact. She has no idea that Faye is as bad as she is (and it is, after all, a hard-drinking social circle, where a number of them routinely get blitzed). She has no idea that Faye isn't trying to get her hooks into Marten, and has no idea that she doesn't already. She doesn't have a camera trained in their apartment, so that she's got proof that the crises Marten claims are happening are actually happening. She wasn't privy to Faye's medical records.
If any of you think that Claire's got the serene self-confidence in both herself and her new relationship with this guy she doesn't know all THAT well to be as sure of the reality of the situation as we are, you're not paying attention.
A few thoughts.
* First off, is it a surprise to anyone that Claire's a bit high strung? And even mellow folks can have bad days. Claire's a long, long way from mellow.
* Secondly, would it be that much of a surprise to anyone if Claire's insecure about this situation? This relationship with Marten is a NEW one, and may well be her FIRST one. He's living with another woman, someone for whom Claire knows he's had feelings and has been told has had feelings for him, someone whose interactions with Marten everyone in the social circle knows ALREADY split up a relationship of his. That woman's just broken up with her own SO, she's just lost her job, she's got a substance abuse problem, and that's the sort of situation where ladies in Faye's position often go trolling for some man, ANY man, to help them feel better. Hey, look, there's one right there
Didn't we see Claire at the hospital? She's privy at least to the fact that that DID happen.
I wouldn't be surprised if she had her concerns; that is to be expected. I'm just thrown off by the way that's presenting. Claire always seemed to me like the type who would keep talking for ages in hopes of getting some assurance Marten was telling the truth, not hang up so soon.
I like that expression, by the way. Good, simple way to put it.
I think that Claire knowing Faye and Marten's history shouldn't really be that important. Yeah, there was something once, a very long time ago, but there's never really been anything since (that she knows about, and was generally not anything significant). They've been friends and only friends for a long time, even in comic time (it's been what, a year or two since that point?). Focusing on one event that happened long before she ever knew them, and that had a major relationship and a few minor ones in between meeting them, just suggests that she/people thinks it's not possible to stay friends with exes. And they aren't even exes!
Hmmm I'm kinda wondering what it was that Marten was about to say. "No I don't-"
-think you should come over.
-want to have sex with Faye.
-know a six letter word for radiator.
I think that Claire knowing Faye and Marten's history shouldn't really be that important. Yeah, there was something once, a very long time ago, but there's never really been anything since (that she knows about, and was generally not anything significant). They've been friends and only friends for a long time, even in comic time (it's been what, a year or two since that point?). Focusing on one event that happened long before she ever knew them, and that had a major relationship and a few minor ones in between meeting them, just suggests that she/people thinks it's not possible to stay friends with exes. And they aren't even exes!
I think that Claire knowing Faye and Marten's history shouldn't really be that important. Yeah, there was something once, a very long time ago, but there's never really been anything since (that she knows about, and was generally not anything significant). They've been friends and only friends for a long time, even in comic time (it's been what, a year or two since that point?). Focusing on one event that happened long before she ever knew them, and that had a major relationship and a few minor ones in between meeting them, just suggests that she/people thinks it's not possible to stay friends with exes. And they aren't even exes!
Like lots of us, I'm projecting my own experience on to the characters. I don't have the most patience for Claire, admittedly, because I've had to take care of sick people, and there are always people who don't get it. They have needs that you can't fulfill because someone else needs you more, and they either don't want to or just can't listen to the reasoning behind it. It's frustrating to see a friendship or relationship fall apart because of a crisis you can't ignore, and the other person needs more than what you can give, but as I've said before: Claire is an adult. She often doesn't act like it (and I know that's part of her charm for other people, and it's not wrong), but in this case, I think she would be better served by to taking a step back and realizing what a very serious situation it is, and her better role as "girlfriend" is as a supporter to her partner, who's taking on a lot for someone he cares about very much, and that if he asks for space, he's probably got a very good reason.
I think that Claire knowing Faye and Marten's history shouldn't really be that important. Yeah, there was something once, a very long time ago, but there's never really been anything since (that she knows about, and was generally not anything significant). They've been friends and only friends for a long time, even in comic time (it's been what, a year or two since that point?). Focusing on one event that happened long before she ever knew them, and that had a major relationship and a few minor ones in between meeting them, just suggests that she/people thinks it's not possible to stay friends with exes. And they aren't even exes!
Faye needs perhaps full time professional help. This will also allow Marten and others to be supportive friends but not literally crutches holding Faye up.
It's obvious that Faye doesn't intend to stop drinking. He can't make her. That has to come from within.
It's obvious that Faye doesn't intend to stop drinking.
The roots of Marten and Faye's relationship is frustrated mutual sexual attraction.
I'm thinking that may not be the answer here.
You've pretty much summed up my feelings. Yes, taking care of a friend is a priority. Even taking care of strangers who are in a bad situation; if your partner is, for example, a volunteer firefighter or something they will blow your valentines three-weeks-planned fancy date off because their pager beeps - and they are right to do so.
You've pretty much summed up my feelings. Yes, taking care of a friend is a priority. Even taking care of strangers who are in a bad situation; if your partner is, for example, a volunteer firefighter or something they will blow your valentines three-weeks-planned fancy date off because their pager beeps - and they are right to do so.
I can speak to this as I am a volunteer FF. It's not easy to find people who are truly accepting of it, and even if you do, it has to be a two way street. If you always blow off plans for the firehouse, it's not going to work out and it's going to really hurt you in the long run because you need a support system. In the same stroke, the other person has to understand that sometimes it will happen and plans may get pushed back or cancelled.
In my experience, the people who work best are the ones with strong personal lives outside. That doesn't bode well for Claire, since she seems to be fused to Martin. Some of the firehouse couples I know may not see each other for a couple days or if they do, just in passing.
I do agree that Martin and Fayes history is relevant, and her other friends need to get involved. If he's the one constantly taking care of her, him and Claire probally will implode.
And I think that might not be a bad thing. It might actually force a really interesting story arc with Martin finally coming to terms with his own flaws.
Can this please just be a case of "a wild quantum tunnel appears - it uses "signal unavailable through tons of concrete" - it's super effective" ?
I wonder how instrumental it might be to accuse Faye of being a disturbing factor in Marten's personal life. Marten might not be the kind of guy to actually DO that but with Faye being in the state she's in it's probably all too easy to hear any criticism offered as just such an accusation.
There's also Marten's state of mind and memory to consider. He's had a relationship basically blow up in his face over control-issues (Dora's).
In my experience, people hanging up quickly is often - at least subconsciously - also a way to gauge someone else's "stolidity" and thus to gauge how quickly someone can be persuaded to "give in" when faced with open-ended confrontation.
As with Marten, this might be out of character for Claire but no one can say how Marten might see it in his current situation.
she [Claire] is the one who will have to suffer the consequences (i.e. Marten's absence from dates.)
how is marten at fault here? i fail to see how this scenario highlights any of his flaws (not to say he doesn't have any).
Why do you think he does not suffer those consequences as well? Plus the problems of dealing with Faye on top of that.
Faye needs perhaps full time professional help. This will also allow Marten and others to be supportive friends but not literally crutches holding Faye up.
So I know this comic has never focused on financial stuff, mainly because that would be a boring as shit webcomic. But something to keep in mind when thinking about real life people with these same struggles: "full time professional help" can't be paid for with unicorn dust and smiles. In an ideal world anyone who needed therapy and addiction counseling could get it, but we don't live in an ideal world, we live in a kind of fucked up one. People regularly rush to "oh, they should get some real help" judgments without actually considering what that would mean for a person without spare money lying around.
Claire, remember, is not only the child of divorce, but the child of parents who divorced because of infidelity. This is going to weigh heavily on her. Just as Faye's issues with abandoment had to be taken into consideration, if Marten wants things to work with Claire, he is going to have to realize that he is going to need to steer far clear from anything that can be read into as him cheating or wanting to cheat.
It's been mentioned before, but I think the time factor needs to be emphasized here; this is the second time in probably less than a week that Marten has cancelled a date with Claire due to Faye's alcoholism (I don't think it's even been a week since she got out of the hospital). And Claire isn't stupid, she'll figure out that's the reason, probably already has, hence her hanging up in a huff; she may be wondering if this is going to be a regular thing with Marten, and if so does she really want to deal with it.
If Claire has ingrained insecurities stemming from a parent's infidelity and abandonment, then even innocuous situations can be read into as it happening again. It may be possible to avoid obviously-suspicious situations, but it is utterly impossible for Marten to 'steer clear' of situations that don't seem like they could be taken in that way. He can certainly try, but it is a lot to expect of someone to expect them to be on high alert with every single interaction they have, to make sure it can't possibly be construed as an indication of potential abandonment or infidelity, and will destroy a relationship sooner, not later.
Can he try to avoid the obvious ones? Sure. But the onus would lie on Claire to seek out help in dealing with her hangups, not Marten in having to cater to them.
how is marten at fault here? i fail to see how this scenario highlights any of his flaws (not to say he doesn't have any).
He could have called Hannelore, or another friend to come over. Or just emptied the bottle. At some point, he has to be willing to put Claire first.
To go back to the FF example, a FF who never puts himself first ends up one of two days 1.) Burnt out and quit 2.) A statistic in yearly suicide counts.
It's been mentioned before, but I think the time factor needs to be emphasized here; this is the second time in probably less than a week that Marten has cancelled a date with Claire due to Faye's alcoholism (I don't think it's even been a week since she got out of the hospital). And Claire isn't stupid, she'll figure out that's the reason, probably already has, hence her hanging up in a huff; she may be wondering if this is going to be a regular thing with Marten, and if so does she really want to deal with it.
She could as easily be thinking that because he's obviously dealing with the aftermath of the same problem, it's best to leave him to deal with it rather than distracting him.
The problem with that interpretation is Claire hanging up on Marten mid-sentence. That's the kind of thing people generally do when they're pissed off at the person on the other end of the line, and do not want to hear any more of what they have to say.
[paragraphs of more things I agree with]
... I wonder if we're going to start seeing an ACTUAL relationship develop between Marten and Claire instead of this weird, idealized version that's thus far come across as kind of shallow (in my opinion).
He could have called Hannelore, or another friend to come over.
ClaritenThat nickname is so bad I think I'm allergic to it :parrot:
It would have been better if Marten had been honest about why he was a no show.Ok, Marten was in no way dishonest.
It would have been better if Marten had been honest about why he was a no show. Claire is aware what happened, so I don't see why he was so hesitant about telling her that Faye had fallen off the wagon.
It would have been better if Marten had been honest about why he was a no show. Claire is aware what happened, so I don't see why he was so hesitant about telling her that Faye had fallen off the wagon.
Because it would feel intrusive of Faye's privacy even in this situation just to plainly tell it to someone on the phone in front of her.
If this is going down the road of "Oh you're so hung up on Faye, you're in love with her/can't let go of her, we have to break up", I'm going to cry and stop reading. (I know no one cares, but I had to get it out of my system)
thanks for reading bye.
It would have been better if Marten had been honest about why he was a no show. Claire is aware what happened, so I don't see why he was so hesitant about telling her that Faye had fallen off the wagon.
Because it would feel intrusive of Faye's privacy even in this situation just to plainly tell it to someone on the phone in front of her.
So I know this comic has never focused on financial stuff, mainly because that would be a boring as shit webcomic. But something to keep in mind when thinking about real life people with these same struggles: "full time professional help" can't be paid for with unicorn dust and smiles.
He could have called Hannelore, or another friend to come over. Or just emptied the bottle. At some point, he has to be willing to put Claire first.
I've got a turn of phrase that's filtered into our social circle: "Non-players off the green." It's code for "I've got this, I don't need any help, I don't need anyone else mucking this up, this isn't a spectator sport, and I don't have the time or the mental energy to spare from caring for my friend to explain what's going on to kibitzers, even if I was inclined to play fast and loose with my friend's confidences and troubles, which I am most certainly effing not." There are those who don't find this endearing.
But a Faye-first focus wasn't the only thing wrong in the Marten/Dora relationship. Dora's constant need to be in control (a lack of even allowing the other bodily autonomy - Marten got flak for getting a haircut without Dora's permission, as well as was blackmailed into not trying to grow facial hair, to name a couple), and a lack of boundaries were the main issues, imo.
People are claiming that Marten always put Faye first in regards to the relationship with Dora, but could someone please link an example? Faye didn't really have any crises that necessitated the kind of attention that warranted the dropping of plans with other people, or not like this, anyway.
Dora's problem with Faye was that she was insecure about her being Marten's 'second choice', since Faye was emotionally unavailable, but I don't recall Marten ever giving her any reason to think that that was true. If anything, Dora was responsible for her own issues, since she decided to go after him right after Faye turned him down. if she'd given everything a cooling-off period, then Faye would probably not have been a major factor, if not a complete non-issue.
I just don't get the people who are saying that Marten should prioritize Claire over Faye in this situation.
Marten and Claire have been dating for like 5 minutes. As opposed to one of Marten's best friends, who he lives with. Honestly, this early in a relationship, if you are blowing off a good friends real crisis in order to hang out with your new boyfriend or girlfriend then you are not showing good judgement nor maturity. You are showing even less judgement if you insist on bringing your new special person with you everywhere you go. Marten and Faye should spend some time bonding, if Claire were there, I think it would turn into cute couples time.
However, I think the idea that Claire is insecure and jealous is very possible. Its her first relationship, it can be very hard to maintain perspective in your first relationship. But if that is indeed the case, I hope that Claire gets a good hard dose of reality. I don't want to see Claire hurt, but I would love to see Claire grow.
I feel that the people saying Marten is enabling Faye are being way too harsh.
It's been, what, a week since Faye was in the hospital?
Faye still deserves to be treated as a person, with dignity. Until Faye has financial problems, Marten has no reason, and more importantly no right to kick Faye out. It isn't Marten's apartment, I think he and Faye are both on the lease. Faye isn't "crashing at Marten's" anymore. She is an equal member of the apartment.
Faye is still drunk. Faye just invited Marten's girlfriend over. Marten's girlfriend may well distract Marten.
...
I thought Marten was in the right to not have anyone over for exactly this reason - because dealing with a drunken Faye who's supposed to be quitting requires his full attention, and having someone else around - someone who's rubbed Faye the wrong way before - wouldn't help. Not thrilled with this development.
Is it just me, or is Faye getting a bit bigger?
Is it just me, or is Faye getting a bit bigger?
It's not just you, and I just came to the forums to post that question, word for word. Except I probably would have said 'chubbier'. She is starting to overflow the clothing.
I suspect this may be less of an artistic style change and more of a realistic aging of a character not taking care of herself.
Plus of course using up willpower to refrain from drinking leaves less available to refrain from overeating.
Is it just me, or is Faye getting a bit bigger?
Is it just me, or is Faye getting a bit bigger?
I thought the same thing, and poked the archives to find out.
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2738
Looks like it. That was right at the beginning of the sad-Faye-slide.
I mean fuck. If my best friend was potentially dying, hell even a casual acquaintance, and I was there at that time, with the option to act, I could be going on a date with my ultimate woman and I'd pass.
I mean fuck. It's human life versus a goddamn date. The date becomes irrelevant when life is in the fucking balance.
...The longer I type, the more I wonder if we're going to start seeing an ACTUAL relationship develop between Marten and Claire instead of this weird, idealized version that's thus far come across as kind of shallow (in my opinion).
If Faye played League of Legends, she'd be a natural Katarina: "Violence solves everything!"
...The longer I type, the more I wonder if we're going to start seeing an ACTUAL relationship develop between Marten and Claire instead of this weird, idealized version that's thus far come across as kind of shallow (in my opinion).
I know I'm late here, but this point is kind of a nonsense. In real time they've been dating a while, in comic terms they've hardly dated for any time at all, basically all couples are just insanely rainbow-farty in the early phase.
YMMV.
My milage is exactly one mile to the mile. It never changes.You have a vehicle that consumes distance itself in order to travel? Isn't that kind of dangerous?
My milage is exactly one mile to the mile. It never changes.You have a vehicle that consumes distance itself in order to travel? Isn't that kind of dangerous?
I can't imagine a separation of Faye and Marten helping any abandonment issues she may have. I hope it doesn't get to that point.
Is it just me, or is Faye getting a bit bigger?
After all the uncertainty that yesterday's strip created. I can relax for the weekend now. Thanks Jeph.
After all the uncertainty that yesterday's strip created. I can relax for the weekend now. Thanks Jeph.
Your optimism knows no bounds. We've got drunk Faye, clingy Claire, and stressed-out Marten in the same room to look forward to. I'm going to wait until this in-comic night ends before I stop worrying about Claireten and my trusty old shipping pair, Faye and the desire to live.
My milage is exactly one mile to the mile. It never changes.You have a vehicle that consumes distance itself in order to travel? Isn't that kind of dangerous?
There goes the neighborhood! And the next neighborhood over...My milage is exactly one mile to the mile. It never changes.You have a vehicle that consumes distance itself in order to travel? Isn't that kind of dangerous?
Just imagine car engines eating up all those flyover states, a bit at a time, as you drive from New York to L.A. America would solve its gasoline problem!
Been pondering Marten's ending line all night (I work 3rd shift as a Hotel desk clerk). He's not very amused here - that's serious snark verging on very serious anger. I think Jeph is pointing us at Marten getting to the "enough" point. I think if push really comes to shove, Claire wins. Everyone comments about how he's her first real relationship but I think that in a very important way she is _his_ as well. This is the first time we've seen him take someone else more seriously than anything else in his life. That was the real reason mom said "I saw it coming". She may or may not see the details but she did see Marten grow up three or four levels.
So, he's felt he needed to break a date because of Faye's issues - as a friend you do that but you still feel the anger - and then she pulls her usual "swiss knife of violence" crap on top of it? Clairiten isn't that fragile; the insinuation that she had to help is... unfortunate.
Yeah, I can see him asking her to move out as the 3000 shoe drop.
their ship name could really only be FayI do not approve of shipping here, but...dude. "Maye", not "Fay". (Also why are people saying "Clairiten"? That's a god damn allergy medicine, if you must combine their name...why not Martaire?)
But... but... the allergy medicine pun is the only reason I've been calling them Claireten.their ship name could really only be FayI do not approve of shipping here, but...dude. "Maye", not "Fay". (Also why are people saying "Clairiten"? That's a god damn allergy medicine, if you must combine their name...why not Martaire?)
My milage is exactly one mile to the mile. It never changes.You have a vehicle that consumes distance itself in order to travel? Isn't that kind of dangerous?
(Also why are people saying "Clairiten"? That's a god damn allergy medicine, if you must combine their name...why not Martaire?)
Been pondering Marten's ending line all night (I work 3rd shift as a Hotel desk clerk). He's not very amused here - that's serious snark verging on very serious anger.
*singing*(Also why are people saying "Clairiten"? That's a god damn allergy medicine, if you must combine their name...why not Martaire?)
The shared consonant does a world of good in the middle of Claireten. Also, Martaire sounds like you're shipping a drink with a philosopher. If you thought they were unbearable sober...
It occurs to me that if May ever did agree to help Faye get sober, their ship name could really only be Fay. The removal of the 'E,' and the alcohol, being May's main contribution.
It occurs to me that if May ever did agree to help Faye get sober, their ship name could really only be Fay. The removal of the 'E,' and the alcohol, being May's main contribution.
Fmay.
*singing*"Heidegger, Heidegger was a boozy beggar who could think you under the table..."
Immanuel Kant was a real pissant who was very rarely stable...
BTW, I don't think anyone commented on the fact that Claire answered the call from Marten's phone. If she'd been as pissed off with him as some people conjectured, she would have let it ring.
You could go Pernese
F'may?
"You're welcome" wow Faye way to be a complete bitch.
BTW, I don't think anyone commented on the fact that Claire answered the call from Marten's phone. If she'd been as pissed off with him as some people conjectured, she would have let it ring.
Maybe she thought her assertiveness made him change his mind and he called to apologize.
Yes they did. "YMMV" is an acronym including contraction of "your mileage may vary" as I'm sure you are aware but you seem to have missed that the term "mileage", means "volume of fuel consumed per unit distance travelled" and is generally expressed in miles per gallon.My milage is exactly one mile to the mile. It never changes.You have a vehicle that consumes distance itself in order to travel? Isn't that kind of dangerous?
No one said anything about consumption. In that senses, I get exactly one gallon per gallon, which is one liter per liter, for you metric folks. Or a litre per litre for the people who spell funny.
"You're welcome" wow Faye way to be a complete bitch.
I wonder if Marten and Faye will ever be single at the same time again. Not overtly wondering what'll happen if/when that happens.
"You're welcome" wow Faye way to be a complete bitch.
Don't call anyone a bitch in a post on this forum, fictional character or otherwise.
I mean, ideally that's the case because it means Marten and Claire last.Or that Faye finds someone new (that would probably be the true warning sign that Marten/Claire is about to go wrong).
"You're welcome" wow Faye way to be a complete bitch.
Don't call anyone a bitch in a post on this forum, fictional character or otherwise.
Alphawolf55 gets a like from me just for Thrillho's bad attitude, and mod bullying.
Alphawolf55 gets a like from me just for Thrillho's bad attitude, and mod bullying.
You could go Pernese
F'may?
Only if she where a dragon rider, in which case May would be jealous as all hell, because Faye gets to fly around on a gold dragon, but she doesn't get to be a YF-29 Varitech Fighter.
Yes they did. "YMMV" is an acronym including contraction of "your mileage may vary" as I'm sure you are aware but you seem to have missed that the term "mileage", means "volume of fuel consumed per unit distance travelled" and is generally expressed in miles per gallon.
Alphawolf55 gets a like from me just for Thrillho's bad attitude, and mod bullying.Sexist insults aren't allowed. That's not exactly a huge impost, I think. I, and I think anyone, can get by without violating this minor restriction, yet express themselves with suitable vigour.
'Sir, you are an apogenous, bovaristic, coprolalial, dasypygal, excerebrose, facinorous, gnathonic, hircine, ithyphallic, jumentous, kyphotic, labrose, mephitic, napiform, oligophrenial, papuliferous, quisquilian, rebarbative, saponaceous, thersitical, unguinous, ventripotent, wlatsome, xylocephalous, yirning zoophyte'.
Yes they did. "YMMV" is an acronym including contraction of "your mileage may vary" as I'm sure you are aware but you seem to have missed that the term "mileage", means "volume of fuel consumed per unit distance travelled" and is generally expressed in miles per gallon.
I have personally never seen it used to mean anything else, even when the units are litres and kilometres, so you came across as trying to make some sort of snarky comment about people being inconstant, which is ridiculous given the origin of the YMMV term; originally a legal disclaimer found in automotive advertising media that maid claims about the products typical fuel efficiency, it has come to mean an acknowledgment that everyone's personal circumstances are different and, therefore, trying to guarantee a claim is valid in all cases would be ridiculous so it would be best if everyone acknowledged that.
Hence the confusion.
BTW, I don't think anyone commented on the fact that Claire answered the call from Marten's phone. If she'd been as pissed off with him as some people conjectured, she would have let it ring.
Maybe he'd never heard the phrase outside of a car commercial?Those in Australia and the UK have never heard it, period. We've only seen it in the metaphorical context. It has never appeared in adverts here.
Sexist insults aren't allowed. That's not exactly a huge impost, I think. I, and I think anyone, can get by without violating this minor restriction, yet express themselves with suitable vigour.
If I may suggest an alternative - here's one containing every letter in the alphabet.Quote'Sir, you are an apogenous, bovaristic, coprolalial, dasypygal, excerebrose, facinorous, gnathonic, hircine, ithyphallic, jumentous, kyphotic, labrose, mephitic, napiform, oligophrenial, papuliferous, quisquilian, rebarbative, saponaceous, thersitical, unguinous, ventripotent, wlatsome, xylocephalous, yirning zoophyte'.
Three at least though there may be more.*singing*"Heidegger, Heidegger was a boozy beggar who could think you under the table..."
Immanuel Kant was a real pissant who was very rarely stable...
Ah, there's nothing like a Monty Python reference for the two or three of you out there in the audience.
Sexist insultsNot sure whether it qualifies as sexist, but this definitely is a very sexualised insult :P .Quoteithyphallic
BTW, I don't think anyone commented on the fact that Claire answered the call from Marten's phone. If she'd been as pissed off with him as some people conjectured, she would have let it ring.
I don't think Claire did pick up, though. Faye's wording feels an awful lot like a voicemail to me.
It is possible, it just takes maturity and self knowledge.
While I could see Claire not having the relationship experience to be able to contain jealousy (although I hope we don't go this route, plotline wise, as it is very similar to the Dora plot) I absolutely do NOT see Marten and Faye ever having a sexual/romantic relationship, much less waking up one day and realizing that they have been "in love for years!"
]"I can't believe it's not butter" I get. "Where's the beef"... not so much.