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[Neko_Ali]

It's also not exactly thrilling to hear 'Oh, you're my stress release valve' either, which is basically what she just told Walky.

[Kugai]

Ouch!!!

[sitnspin]

I'm perfectly okay with being someone's stress relief. Having a relationship that is relaxing, fun, and uncomplicated is not a bad thing.

[Welu]

Dorothy has reached out about having a deeper connection with Walky when he was upset before and he rejected it because the relationship is just "for fun". He did say that while upset but it's stuck with her that he doesn't want the two of them to act more seriously even when he's obviously bothered by something. As far as Dorothy knows, she's sticking to what Walky wants and he isn't telling her otherwise at the moment.

[Method of Madness]

I think Walky would like something more than fun, but doesn't want to risk getting hurt since their relationship has an expiration date.

[sitnspin]

To be fair, all relationships have an expiration date, we just usually don't know what it is ahead of time. Every relationship ends, either through breakup or death. Just because it is temporary doesn't mean it can't or shouldn't be meaningful. Everything thing is temporary. Transience is the core nature of all existence.

[Kugai]

Calm the fuck down Ruth.

[Method of Madness]

Ruth's smiling in spite of herself.

[Kugai]

Sure Ruth, we know that, but we also know there's another reason. 

[ChaoSera]

I guess this is about as well as this could possibly go.

[BenRG]

One of these days, those two will admit that they are capable of warm feelings towards each other but I think it will take an enormous emotional shock for it to happen!

[Method of Madness]

I thought they just did.

[Kugai]

It's as close as those two are ever going to come to it I think

[sitnspin]

Ruth admitted she needs Billie. That's more than I've ever done except with one person ever. That certainly counts as "warm feelings" to me.

[hedgie]

Daww.  Joyce and her father are bonding.  Either this trip plot will serve to give happy breaks from the whole Mary problem, or something terrible is going to happen to Joycedad (this is Willis, after all).

[Method of Madness]

God damn it, you're probably right, but still :/

[chaospersonified]

I am made happy by today's strip.

I hope for Joye and JoyceDad bonding time, but I'm not looking forward to JoyceMom's appearance. From what I've been able to tell, she's the real radical in the family, especially now that Joyce is doubting. If, as Hedgie is predicting, something negative will happen in the coming strips, which, let's be honest with ourselves, is most likely, I think it would most probably be as a result of Joyce's mom doing something horrible and unforgiving. I don't think Joyce's dad would be the most likely target, I'm more worried about Becky.

Joyce might get a bit of 're-educating' in response to her friendship with Dorothy, but we've seen that she knows her Bible well enough to argue back with scripture. Becky, on the other hand, is risking a whole 'pray the gay away' situation with everyone she's even known and respected looking down at her and disapproving.

[Kugai]

I don't think Joyce is sure if that's a good thing or not


Or she may just be too busy concentrating on driving - which is always a good thing

[hedgie]

It is entirely possible that this will serve as a (relatively) pleasant interlude from the situation happening at the university.  Hells, Mary now thinks that she owns the place, and Ruth basically threw Carla under the bus, even though she now hates herself more about herself for doing so.  There is enough painful stuff in that story arc to possibly appease The Willis.  Joycemom could certainly be a problem, but methinks it's safe to say that Becky went into this with her eyes open.  Also, there is the possibility of Dina having problems after Sarah threw the "rebound" thing in her face.

(click to show/hide)

The number of previews Willis has been giving for the next couple of months, as well as the amount of artwork focusing on Carla, it is pretty safe to say that her story will have the primary focus.  Then again, the author could be trolling.

[BenRG]

In my experience, it's always a mistake to automatically assume that Willis's preview pictures are necessarily plot significant. They're usually just portraits or landscapes of which he's particularly proud, the former because of the expressions or body language shown are particularly dramatic of funny.

(click to show/hide)

FWIW, I'm expecting two upcoming storylines over the next 6 weeks or so:

• The time at the Brown house is going to be tense at times; Joyce is very much going to end up with a clear realisation that her 'perfect' childhood never really happened;
• Carla may end up hanging out with Amber whilst she's avoiding Danny because of emotional conflict.

[cesium133]

I hope for Joye and JoyceDad bonding time, but I'm not looking forward to JoyceMom's appearance. From what I've been able to tell, she's the real radical in the family, especially now that Joyce is doubting. If, as Hedgie is predicting, something negative will happen in the coming strips, which, let's be honest with ourselves, is most likely, I think it would most probably be as a result of Joyce's mom doing something horrible and unforgiving. I don't think Joyce's dad would be the most likely target, I'm more worried about Becky.

That's what's going to make it harder on Joyce: if both her parents were like her mom, it would be easier for her to break away from them. But what's going to happen is that she'll realize her mom is terrible, but her dad is a good person. This will be hard on her, because she can't break away from her mom without hurting her dad in the process.

[Kugai]

I've been wondering about that.  Are we about to meet the female equivalent of Ross?

Grud, I hope not, but I'm not holding out hope.

[Neko_Ali]

She did say that what Ross did was horrible, but she would have done what he did in his shoes. Which seems to show a horrible lack of self awareness on her part... Hank actually makes it sound like he would have done the same as Joyce in her place. That's kind of what I interpreted today's comic as. And it makes me wonder if there was some friction between the two over scripture and how they treat their families, as they take very different viewpoints. While Hank may be struggling with Becky's coming out, he's willing to listen instead of trying to force her and Joyce to conform to expectations.

[chaospersonified]

Well, here's ONE more strip to make me smile. Now I'm actually a bit more nervous, I feel like Willis is softening us up for a punch. I'm choosing not to think about that though. Happiness in the moment is almost always a good thing.

[chaospersonified]

It is entirely possible that this will serve as a (relatively) pleasant interlude from the situation happening at the university.

REelative being the key word there. We still don't know what the drama will be just yet, but I think it may actually hit some people harder than the one concerning Carla. I, personally, can only look at that and feel sadness through empathy, but the whole situation with the uber-religious crowd, that I can directly connect to my own life. It's a difference of connecting to a character and having lived similar situations.

[LeeC]

Did...did Joyce and her father both just cuss?! 

[Method of Madness]

Damn right they did.

[Neko_Ali]

D'awww... Father/daughter bonding through casual profanity and dislike of a mutual target...

[BenRG]

I'm wondering if lot of this is due to Hank's realisation that Joyce is growing up. Maybe he felt that he had to present a façade of righteousness and purity in front of his under-age children but feels he can let the slip now Joyce is growing up and experiencing more of the world's shades of grey.

Hypocrisy? Perhaps, or maybe a feeling that his children needed him to be "that perfect guy" to keep their own emotional balance and confidence in the ethics that he taught them.

[Welu]

This is going pleasantly so far. I smiled for Joyce today.

[Neko_Ali]

I think Joyce is also benefiting from realizing her dad, who she sees as a good and righteous cursing, shares her feelings about Ross, freely curses when need be and is treating her like an adult. She's suffered a lot lately in the feelings of being loss and cast adrift from her religion and betrayal from the adults in her life. And/or the feeling that she was betraying her religion and adults she respected because she accepted Becky being gay and stood with her instead of being the 'good submissive girl' she thought she was supposed to be. Basically, she's painfully growing up, and Hank is letting her know that's okay.

[Kugai]

A nice Father/Daughter moment there.  At least Hank was able to recognise that Ross was an asshole, even though he still 'Hung Out' with him.

I think the real fun will begin when they get home and we meet Mom.

[hedgie]

(click to show/hide)

For 5 May:
http://dumbingofage.tumblr.com/image/138890342282

That look on Mary's face is just perfect.

[BenRG]

This strip (2/8) is the point when Ruth realises that occasionally prowling the halls and snapping threats does not leave one in touch and in control with the events on the floor. The problem with seeking oblivion is that it leaves you oblivious to events. Maybe this will inspire her to learn to do her job properly?

[chaospersonified]

Maybe this will inspire her to learn to do her job properly?

I kind of hope not. Where's the fun in a properly-monitored hall? Given, I don't know much about the duties of an RA; I'm not sure I've ever had one who 'did his job,' but I was in a dorm for a couple of years without an RA, just an old man who never actually checked up on any residents, and that was the best dorm experience I had. I'll admit, my experience is limited to just three dorms, but still.

[Kugai]

At least their relationship is based on something more than just hot sex and a shared love of Whiskey.

[Kugai]

And thus The Real World intrudes on Ruths life again.

[mandyk89]

At least their relationship is based on something more than just hot sex and a shared love of Whiskey.

Hey, what's wrong with that??? 

[Neko_Ali]

Eventually you have to stop and get more whiskey.

[Method of Madness]

God damn it, Ruth, you just said that, then clarified that you still needed each other and that you weren't ending things. Now you're ending things again.

[ChaoSera]

I'm pretty sure with arrangement she means the living in her room thing.

[BenRG]

Given that Ruth is a suicidal depressive, that isn't guaranteed.

[Neko_Ali]

Well the issue wasn't just that they were living together, it was that as an RA she shouldn't be involved with one of her residents. Needing each other and having to end it for other reasons is not mutually exclusive.

[Kugai]

Goddammit!!!!

[Kugai]

Dogslobber attack, level 4

Nice house though

[hedgie]

Joyce's mother is such a berk.

[Method of Madness]

Right, because her father is in prison because she's a lesbian...and not for armed kidnapping, apparently.

[BenRG]

Right, because her father is in prison because she's a lesbian...and not for armed kidnapping, apparently.

I think that Carol's assumption is that Ross wouldn't have done something like that if Becky hadn't come out. I think she's wrong about that. For such a violent personality, it was just a matter of finding an excuse to act out his violent dominance/ownership fantasies.

I've got a horrible feeling that Carol's support of Ross may lead to uncomfortable revelations. Does she consider Ross a better Christian man than Hank? Did she ever go to him for 'comfort' when her frustration with Hank's refusal to do something like beat the sin out of their kids got too great? I'm wondering if the weekend may end with divorce very much on the table because Carol cannot respect her husband's compassion or abide by his wish that she doesn't badger Joyce, Becky and Jocelyn.

[CrowFairy]

I found myself wondering how long this whole Becky mess has been going on, so I went and checked.

Here's where she shows up at Joyce's dorm:
http://www.dumbingofage.com/2014/comic/book-5/01-when-somebody-loved-me/angel/

Please note that the date is October 29, 2014. No wonder it feels like Becky's been here forever!

Carry on!

[chaospersonified]

I found myself wondering how long this whole Becky mess has been going on, so I went and checked.

Here's where she shows up at Joyce's dorm:
http://www.dumbingofage.com/2014/comic/book-5/01-when-somebody-loved-me/angel/

Please note that the date is October 29, 2014. No wonder it feels like Becky's been here forever!

Carry on!

Two things:
A) holy shit, Becky was introduced on my birthday?!
B) Holy shit, it's been that long?!

I started reading shortly after Becky's introduction. Within a day or two of it coming out that she was a lesbian and a runaway. I'm just amazed it's been that long I've been reading daily.