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Cleanin waffle irons.

Something not mentioned.

[Kugai]

To paraphrase the Hynaman

All problems are solved by C4

[ThinksTooMuch]

Sure, platonic friendships can exist. But I assume they only survive in an unrealistic parallel universe where all humans are unattractive, sexually inept, and emotionally absent.

 This is patently absurd.   This person should not be giving interpersonal advice to anyone.  I have five people I consider true friends, four of them happen to be female.  I am straight, I find each of them attractive, they are all either straight or bi and at least two of them have stated they find me physically attractive... and yet, no romantic tension.  We're "just" friends (just in quotes because these friendships mean far too much to me for them to be "just" anything). 

Basically what I am trying to say is that, while Claire has dropped a few tantalizing hints, it is not an inevitability that she and Marten will date, or even that she will consider it.  Near all of those hints are just as easily explained by a desire for a close friend of a type she seems to have been lacking til now (either that or her other good friend(s) are really good at hiding or very far away to not have appeared or been mentioned by now.)

[Game and Watch Forever]

Come to think of it... Claire was actively looking for Marten... I wonder how long she'll wait before mentioning it. Does Hanners need to leave for them to have a discussion in private or is she merely waiting for the right moment to bring up whatever it is?

[Carl-E]

Time to fire the head cannon, methinks. Nothing quite like grapeshot to the face for solving problems.

My head cannon was fired years ago. 


But that's because it wasn't working. 


Oh, and a note on Hanners and physical contact; she voluntarily jumped into the arms of a fireman once, when her "baser instincts" overcame her inhibitions for a moment.  IIRC, she found him "gross and sweaty". 

[Method of Madness]

Link?

[GuardianVamp]

http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1224 Right here.


Also, Hi!

[Carl-E]

Now, that's an epic first post! 


Welcome! 

[Method of Madness]

Thanks, newcomer! Welcome to the forum, and great job on a helpful first post!

[westrim]

Response dump!

So what is Claire drinking there?

Root beer, the best beer of them all and without that nasty alcohol taste/effect. At least, I can hope so, but our society, and Jeph in particular, is/are obsessed with mind altering substances. I greatly appreciate the local restaurant that puts root beer with it's fermented brethren instead of on the soda list, though.

Man, Momo has had a SERIOUS personality change since then.

Yeah, now she's as snarky and grumpy and non-eel-shooting as the rest of the cast.

Oh, and a note on Hanners and physical contact; she voluntarily jumped into the arms of a fireman once, when her "baser instincts" overcame her inhibitions for a moment.  IIRC, she found him "gross and sweaty".

Comic (Googling hannelore firemen brought me right to the ohnorobot transcripts):

(click to show/hide)

I think of that comic every time someone tries to say that she is a pure snowflake who has no possibility of a romantic, physical, or sexual relationship with Marten or anyone else. She'd clearly like to, she just has issues- and issues can be overcome. Likely not in the way shippers hope, but also not to be written off either.

Sure, platonic friendships can exist. But I assume they only survive in an unrealistic parallel universe where all humans are unattractive, sexually inept, and emotionally absent.

This is patently absurd.  This person should not be giving interpersonal advice to anyone.  I have five people I consider true friends, four of them happen to be female.  I am straight, I find each of them attractive, they are all either straight or bi and at least two of them have stated they find me physically attractive... and yet, no romantic tension.  We're "just" friends (just in quotes because these friendships mean far too much to me for them to be "just" anything). 

That you find them attractive might be pointed to by that columnist as proof that yours is not a completely platonic relationship, on the grounds that you would not have a similar thought process regarding males.

I've had to wrestle with that logic myself regarding my opposite gendered friends, and come to the conclusion that it doesn't have bearing on my relationships as they exist- they are platonic, and there is no indication or inclination that would change. However it still is difficult to reconcile the fact that I am fine with being platonic with the fact that I would also be fine if tomorrow any of most of them asked me out on a date, and would accept that offer at the very least to see how it works out and work out exactly what is different about a romantic relationship from a close friendship aside from the physical stuff and chemical bombs designed to make us perpetuate the species *breathes*.

EDIT: Aw, I got sniped on the comic. That's what happens when I pile too much together.

[Latias]

Come to think of it... Claire was actively looking for Marten... I wonder how long she'll wait before mentioning it. Does Hanners need to leave for them to have a discussion in private or is she merely waiting for the right moment to bring up whatever it is?

There was nothing to indicate that she wanted to talk to him about something specifically. She could very well have just wanted to hang out.

[bhtooefr]

Also, wait, has everyone forgotten that Hanners hugged her father, completely intentionally, and not under the influence of mind-altering substances (either hormonal or in beverage form)?

[westrim]

Come to think of it... Claire was actively looking for Marten... I wonder how long she'll wait before mentioning it. Does Hanners need to leave for them to have a discussion in private or is she merely waiting for the right moment to bring up whatever it is?

There was nothing to indicate that she wanted to talk to him about something specifically. She could very well have just wanted to hang out.

I may be reading a lot into ellipses, but it seemed strongly intimated that between her words, her body language, and her willingness to hang around for a couple hours just to meet him that she needed him for reasons more private than simply hanging out.

I'm guessing she's pregnant, and Marten's the father.

[jwhouk]

Also, wait, has everyone forgotten that Hanners hugged her father, completely intentionally, and not under the influence of mind-altering substances (either hormonal or in beverage form)?

I haven't. But that was her father.

[K1dmor]

Also, wait, has everyone forgotten that Hanners hugged her father, completely intentionally, and not under the influence of mind-altering substances (either hormonal or in beverage form)?

 After getting the job at CoD, she hugged Marten.
 At the end of the pretend-date with Sven, she hugged him.
 And of course, her father's birthday present.

[Latias]

I may be reading a lot into ellipses, but it seemed strongly intimated that between her words, her body language, and her willingness to hang around for a couple hours just to meet him that she needed him for reasons more private than simply hanging out.

I'm guessing she's pregnant, and Marten's the father.

I interpreted it as more of her being shy/awkward due to not really knowing Marten's friends all that well. Well, I'm sure we'll find out soon enough if your interpretation is the case.

[Rghfrgl]

After getting the job at CoD, she hugged Marten.

Ah! Evil Hanners!

[Indicible]

Root beer, the best beer of them all and without that nasty alcohol taste/effect.

Root beer. It's bubbly and cloying and happy. And insidious.

There can be friendships (without ponies, thanks...). Not every human is looking for a reproductive partner, thank you.
But I do agree many if not most relationship problems (pre-partnership, and sometimes even post partnership) revolve around the whole sexual tension issue.
As for Claire? Well, she is discovering what it means to have a social life. She is accompanying Marten, because he is the cause of said discovery.

[Is it cold in here?]

The fact that hugging is Hannelore's highest achievement in physical contact shows her limitations, as does her intolerance of the very idea of kissing. Most forms of sex will be out of the question for a long time.

[Soulsynger]

That TL;DR was devastating.

(click to show/hide)

Let me try that:
We loved each other but for the child's sake she chose to be with the guy who got her pregnant.

[Lubricus]

Hee hee, "initiation paddle"!   

[WAYF]

Nice to see that Hannelore's sense of humour has more or less evolved to match Marten's. Remember there was a time when she couldn't properly tell if any given statement was a joke.
Also a good display of self-awareness on both their parts.

I see an interesting battle of wits forming between Claire and Pintsize...

[westrim]

Is Claire clambering to get away from the suddenly crazy people, or was she turning over in preparation for the paddle?

Also, she has a magnificent blush.

No, there was no typo here, move along, move along.

[Carl-E]

I'm hoping you meant "a magnificent blush"...

[Soulsynger]

[ ... ]
Also, she has a magnificent bush.

Woah, wait, what?

[Is it cold in here?]

Is it the same paddle?

[westrim]

Dammit, the one time I don't glance at my post after submitting (there's a reason most of my posts have an edited notice), I make a typo like that. 

Is it the same paddle?

Red edge, looks like it.

[Lubricus]

Is it, perhaps, a rooibos? 

[pendrake]

For comic 2458...

1. Man, seems like months since I last posted here.   ... ...oh crap, it has been!  Damn you Real Life! .

2. Art-wise, this strip was great for facial expressions.  I too liked Claire's blush (my graveyard-shift eyes did not see her bush ), but I liked Hannelore's amused expression even more.

3. @Westrim... I am fairly certain she is clambering over the sofa-arm to escape the implied hazing.

4. Warning - While you were typing at least 4+ replies were added.  Damn, you rusty at posting here, boy!

[Is it cold in here?]

Poor Claire, hazing rituals everywhere she goes.

[Tova]

It's a touch disturbing to consider that Faye and Pintsize have something in common.

[ankhtahr]

2. Art-wise, this strip was great for facial expressions.  I too liked Claire's blush (my graveyard-shift eyes did not see her bush ), but I liked Hannelore's amused expression even more.

That blush is so incredibly d'awww-worthy, and Hanner's happy face is as well, but I must also commend Jeph for the look of surprisal/shock on Claire's face upon discovering Pintsize with the paddle.

About Rootbeer:
I tried that stuff once. (It's pretty hard to get by Germany) It tasted like vanilla coke mixed with a herbal toothpaste and even more sugar. Can't say that I liked it much.

[GarandMarine]

Awww Claire Blush go!

Heh but if Claire cannot handle mild insanity like the threat of the initiation paddle I fear for her continuing mental health.

Side note: This keyboard lacks an apostrophe key and gained a couple hundred strange characters I am unfamiliar with. I miss contractions.

[Jeva]

I've never had root beer I don't think we have it in England, or at least I've never seen it. What's it like?   

Also, cutest Hanner-face so far in panel 3.

[Sidhekin]

Hanners was once on the receiving end of "birthday spankings", or at least the suggestion of such.

Nice to see her comfortable and sympathising at the, um, "other end".  (Is there an idiomatic expression for the opposite of "the receiving end"?  I'm blanking on it ...)

[muon]

Is Claire clambering to get away from the suddenly crazy people, or was she turning over in preparation for the paddle?

Also, she has a magnificent blush.

I came here to post the exact same comment. (Or, well, the edited version, at least. If we've seen the unedited version, I missed it.)

[Indicible]

It begs the question, whose paddle is that? Pintsize's? We know he has some underwears and condoms stocked up. But a paddle? He would need a partner in spanking. Unless it belongs to other occupiers of the place. Marten? We know he is strictly vanilla. Faye and Angus? Well, that could work.I do not see either of them bottoming, so, switches?

[westrim]

About Rootbeer:
I tried that stuff once. (It's pretty hard to get by Germany) It tasted like vanilla coke mixed with a herbal toothpaste and even more sugar. Can't say that I liked it much.

I've never had root beer I don't think we have it in England, or at least I've never seen it. What's it like?   

Root beer is mostly a North American thing, on account of its original source being the sassafras tree root, which was used for tea first. Most root beer has varying elements of sassafras in it (or something trying to taste like sassafras), but there's no one solid recipe. There are a few non continental varieties, including one in the UK, but they likely have very different flavors from the US standard- the one Ankhtahr tried was likely from the UK and had too much mint. Vanilla coke is a reasonable comparison, but root beer doesn't have the coke aftertaste, just lingering sweetness. The big brands are A&W, Barqs, and IBC, so if you try one of those you'll have the generic American experience with the beverage. However, they're also all force carbonated; there are only a few places that serve it naturally carbonated, for a much smoother and mellower taste, like my aforementioned restaurant. You can make it with this kit, if you're the hands on type: http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/e86c/

(Or, well, the edited version, at least. If we've seen the unedited version, I missed it.)

Not if you read the comments below mine.

It begs the question, whose paddle is that? Pintsize's? We know he has some underwears and condoms stocked up. But a paddle? He would need a partner in spanking. Unless it belongs to other occupiers of the place. Marten? We know he is strictly vanilla. Faye and Angus? Well, that could work.I do not see either of them bottoming, so, switches?

Since she was seen with it before, it's likely Fayes.

[ankhtahr]

First of all, my name is Ankhtahr 

The root beer I tried was an A&W one. Herbal toothpaste and vanilla coke.

And doesn't root beer only contain artificial flavour nowadays as sassafras root is poisonous?

[bhtooefr]

According to Wikipedia, apparently if the safrole is removed, sassafras extract can still be used to produce commercial root beer, but AFAIK all of the mainstream American root beers don't use it. (I don't care for the mainstream American root beers, though, and can only tolerate them if they're in a root beer float.)

Although, a local BBQ place carries Henry Weinhard's Root Beer, and that actually does use sassafras extract. I liked that one, although it's HFCS-sweetened, which... yeah.

[jwhouk]

You poor non-North Americans who've never had proper Root Beer.

Or, the best type of Root Beer: the Root Beer Float!

[Indicible]

I happily leave your root beer, as long as I can get decent mead.

Since she was seen with it before, it's likely Fayes.

Don't remember that one.
Faye with a paddle. Terrifying thought.

[Method of Madness]

The best root beer I've had was homemade root beer in Amherst, Massachusetts. I wonder if Dora's been to ABC.

[Loki]

You poor non-North Americans who've never had proper Root Beer.

You might have rootbeer, but we have... uhm.

...
someone help me out.

We have proper bread! And Ü-Eier! Take that!

[bhtooefr]

That reminds me, I've had some downright awesome root beer from a place (don't recall where, because I wasn't the one that bought it) in Ypsilanti, MI.

And then made it even more awesome by adding Pinnacle Whipped vodka.

[DSL]

Mmm. Hires Root Beer (no longer, alas), with a close second prize going to A&W -- IF it's brought in a frosted mug on a tray that's clipped to the rolled-down window of your car, back in the (pre-HFCS) day. In a can from the supermarket, it's sugar water.
Frostie was another back-in-the-day favorite. The current "Frostop" is an acceptable substitute.
Barqs -- yes, it'll do, in moderation.
Stewarts or the various "craft"-ish brands, especially if the sweetener is cane and not cornglop, in the glass bottles are the best bet.

Unfortunately, my aging metabolism has dictated a switch to (unsweetened) iced tea.

[Carl-E]

IBC, in bottles.  Still sugared. 

[hakko504]

You poor non-North Americans who've never had proper Root Beer.

You might have rootbeer, but we have... uhm.

...
someone help me out.

Spezi! Also known as Mezzo-Mix or Schwip Schwap

[KOK]

I've never had root beer I don't think we have it in England, or at least I've never seen it. What's it like?   

I tried it once, the one time I visisted the USA. The word that comes to mind describing the taste is wierd. Not actually unpleasant, but not particularly pleasant either.

[Carl-E]

In all honesty, I think Ankhtahr's description is pretty close. 

It's fermented sassafras root/bark.  Sugar (a lot) was added to help the fermentation along.  Herbal-tasting, too sweet, holds a head for a long time because it's thick.  Nowadays, good ones still have sassafras extract in them, but many use artificial flavoring. 

It's not minty at all, though.  At least, not to my palette. 

[aphanisis81]

The best root beer I've had was homemade root beer in Amherst, Massachusetts. I wonder if Dora's been to ABC.

MoM, I used to tend bar at ABC (2003-05), and the first time I tried the Uncle John's Root Beer off the tap, I didn't even know what I was tasting. A world apart from A&W and Mug, that's for sure. I used to make the occasional "Restricted Root Beer" (root beer plus root beer schnappes), and also tried to incorporate it into fancy-pants martinis with vanilla rum and blackberry liqueur.  Good times.

Also, hi everyone. I'm 99% lurker until now. I posted under this name back before the Dora/Marten breakup, if that gives a sense of my absence since then. I had to re-register the name. Anyway, looking forward to posting a bit in the future. I sense an implosion of the status quo between now and Thanksgiving...