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The hospital waiting room?

50 (33.3%)

Faye on a trip down Deriver Denial?

26 (17.3%)

Emergency Cast Meeting?

45 (30%)

The police station, charged with the assault (or even murder) of Pintsize?

9 (6%)

Weird archetype-filled dream sequence for Faye in which she sees her life as a strange Pyroland-like fantasy and is Elightened?

20 (13.3%)

Total Members Voted: 139

[Isyrion]

I wonder will we get  a recreation of what happened between Faye leaving CoD and passing out on the couch, subject to what she can actually remember. This would follow naturally from Marten asking her what she remembers.

Pintsize may fill in some blanks later on, depending at what point he was deactivated.

Alternatively, Faye may just shut up shop and not talk about it.

I can see Faye clamming up a bit, however Hanners is there and we know she is more than capable of slapping Faye straight.  Hanners I think might be the one who could help Faye the most.

Just to weigh in on Dora, I feel should keep her distance for a few days then offer the suggestion of doing art for a living with Dora finding her a few commissions.  Hanners can help her get the word out online, hell can even get her mom to him with getting Faye set up as a freelance commercial artist. 

[Geographus]

The last time we saw Faye with her glasses on was when she was in The Great Schism. If Jeph was going for realism here, the non-blackout panels in Close To Home would have been blurry, too. But blurring those panels would have made the strip much harder to understand what was going on, if not impossible.

When you drink alkohol everything gets blurry. Maybe Fayes vision is so bad that
it actually gets better.

[Mr. Skawronska]

*Sighs happily and eats popcorn*

[shrike1978]

Right, could be. Probably she just doesn't remember passing out, but then I would have expected gloomier reaction, kinda. We'll see tomorrow

She's probably so confused right now that she's not framing things from that perspective.  I've been there.  Waking up from a blackout/passout drunk, bolting upright, no idea where I am.  I remembered some of the stupid crap I did leading up to that, but at the moment, nothing was more important than figuring out where I was and how I got there.  That's where Faye is right now.  Over the next few minutes, she'll come back down to Earth and the firing will hit her.

[dexeron]

Potential evidence that Faye actually does have health insurance through CoD?

http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1648

[Japheree]

I was reminded of this song earlier today. It is pretty appropriate.

[Jedit]

Would that be like zero-gee football in Red Dwarf? Or more like Quidditch?

Neither, it's Brockian Ultra-Cricket.

[ysth]

Potential evidence that Faye actually does have health insurance through CoD?

http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1648

Could just be worker's compensation premiums.

Update: while googling to try to figure out what might be in the IV after she wakes up, I ran across the following.  Enjoy.

http://www.cracked.com/blog/4-things-i-regret-doing-while-drunk-in-your-emergency-room/

[Random832]

The last time we saw Faye with her glasses on was when she was in The Great Schism. If Jeph was going for realism here, the non-blackout panels in Close To Home would have been blurry, too. But blurring those panels would have made the strip much harder to understand what was going on, if not impossible.

Supposedly, dehydration can cause temporary clear vision for nearsighted people.

[Y]

Could just be worker's compensation premiums.

Does that mean that because she drank at work, it is now a work related accident?

[emilygrrl]

The last time we saw Faye with her glasses on was when she was in The Great Schism. If Jeph was going for realism here, the non-blackout panels in Close To Home would have been blurry, too. But blurring those panels would have made the strip much harder to understand what was going on, if not impossible.

Supposedly, dehydration can cause temporary clear vision for nearsighted people.

If Faye were still dehydrated though, she'd still have the IV in her hand in Back Among The Living.

[shrike1978]

Does that mean that because she drank at work, it is now a work related accident?

Only if it occurred at work.  And if Faye were drinking at work without Dora's knowledge and in violation of the rules, Dora could have the worker's comp claim denied.

[ReindeerFlotilla]

I'm shocked that Hanners is in a hospital without full PPE (personal protective equipment), i.e. a hazmat suit. If any non-hospital person would know about nosocomial infections, it would be her.

Hanners has the power to resist her fears and anxieties when she thinks something more important is at stake. I'm sure she's also taken the necessary precautions. Faye is, indubitably, in the cleanest room in the hospital, now. I'm sure you could assemble space probes in there.

[Oilman]

Didn't she once lance a blood blister, to general surprise?

[Isyrion]

I'm shocked that Hanners is in a hospital without full PPE (personal protective equipment), i.e. a hazmat suit. If any non-hospital person would know about nosocomial infections, it would be her.

Hanners has the power to resist her fears and anxieties when she thinks something more important is at stake. I'm sure she's also taken the necessary precautions. Faye is, indubitably, in the cleanest room in the hospital, now. I'm sure you could assemble space probes in there.

To bad I can't hire Hanners to keep my apartment clean....granted she would probably kill my roommate.......

[maxh]

I'm shocked that Hanners is in a hospital without full PPE (personal protective equipment), i.e. a hazmat suit. If any non-hospital person would know about nosocomial infections, it would be her.

I'd assume she's just eaten her way through a bucket of pre-exposure prophylaxis meds.

[NilsO]

Didn't she once lance a blood blister, to general surprise?

Yes, but that was for a rather creepy purpose. But at least Marten's DNA is now available for future cloning.

[Zebediah]

And still Hannelore had some difficulty pulling it off.

[Smallest]

On that note, tomorrow's comic may be, "so, how'd you get hannelore to come?"

[KevxD]

I can see Faye clamming up a bit, however Hanners is there and we know she is more than capable of slapping Faye straight.  Hanners I think might be the one who could help Faye the most.

Agree with this, think Hanners will provide the tough love that's necessary. She's done it before, and more importantly, Faye accepted it.

[Is it cold in here?]

Welcome, new people!

[bartman]

Welcome, new people!

Especially dramatic writing drags us all screaming into the light.

So to topic: will the POV pull back to show a room full of anxious friends (or a window with anxious faces staring through it?). I guess the next words out of Faye's mouth will tell us if she's hit rock bottom or just a nasty ledge this time.

[Y]

On that note, tomorrow's comic may be, "so, how'd you get hannelore to come?"

Tomorrow's comic might be Marigold trying to fix Pintsize in case he was turned off more violently (or that could be for Friday). And I suppose a working Pintsize might fill in the blanks about what happened. (or make something up about how they totally did it...)

Uhm, I never noticed her eyes to be so brown before... Also, wide pupils can mean poison, or just because it was dark before when her eyes were shut.

[Akima]

Agree with this, think Hanners will provide the tough love that's necessary. She's done it before, and more importantly, Faye accepted it.

Hanners knows all about wrestling with inner demons too.

[Kugai]

Big Sister Hanners


It'll either be that, or she'll head back home to her Mothers for a while in order to start sorting her shit out.

[Aziraphale]

Big Sister Hanners


It'll either be that, or she'll head back home to her Mothers for a while in order to start sorting her shit out.

I've thought about this a lot over the last couple of days. I can't help but wonder if heading back to her mom's would be the best move under the circumstances. Realistically, how much of a support system does she have there? At that point, she's walking into her mother's residual baggage, her sister's unresolved issues with her mother, and a host of other stuff, and all of it without her friends. I'm all for family, don't get me wrong, but her chosen family -- the one in Massachusetts -- may have a better handle on the situation than the biological one (as long as they're helping and not enabling). I get the feeling she probably has a deeper trust in Marten -- one that he's earned, incidentally -- than in her mom or her sister, and there are others in her circle (Hanners being a prime example) who might not only be better equipped to put her in her place when she needs it, but to whom she'll listen.

[greywolfe]

I was honestly expecting more dramatic hospital developments. #jephtroll

[Neko_Ali]

How much, and how good of a support system would she have where she's at? Where she will be reminded of her problems. Where she doesn't have a job or a way to support herself? It's not like a trip home would be permanent or a cure, but presumably her mother would at least be able to give her a place to stay for a while and a change of scenery. It won't fix her problems, but it will give her a chance to assess what she's doing and the road she was heading down without the added pressures of putting her friends on the spot or trying to find work to cover her half of the rent. Of course her taking a break wouldn't solve that problem for Marten, but his mom could probably pick up Faye's half of the rent for a while. Perhaps in exchange for some welding or sculpture work for her new apartment in the area. Which wouldn't be a bad thing for Faye whether or not she decides to visit Savannah for a bit.

[Is it cold in here?]

Savannah might even be bad for her. Aunt Betty and all the people staring on the street? Worldviews incompatible with hers, as she mentioned in 625?

[A Duck]

Judging by Jeph's twitter, we might get filler. Sad, but perfectly understandable.

I assume next comic (tomorrow or whenever) will be Faye's reaction, followed by Claire and Dora on the following comics. I really wonder how much "Friend Dora" remains after Boss Dora turned into Ex-Boss Dora.

[bhtooefr]

The reason she left Savannah hasn't changed. If she goes anywhere, other than to visit, it will be away from either of those places, maybe the west coast or something (and presumably out of the comic).

[eschaton]

Faye going back to Georgia for awhile would only make sense for story purposes if she discovered something more about her father's suicide.  Quite honestly, if Jeph wanted to do this, he could just as easily have Faye's mother come up to visit her. 

I will say we should remember the argument with Faye and Dora was titled The Great Schism.  There will be no reconciling between the two right away, for one reason or another.  Dora might feel guilty about how she left things, but my guess is she'll feel too awkward about the whole thing to want to confront the issue again - since burning bridges is much easier.  And Faye will remain pissed - not so much because of getting fired (either she'll recover, and find a new job, or not, and find different reasons to be miserable) but because when it came down to it, Dora just didn't care about her as a friend as much as she thought. 

[ReindeerFlotilla]

Sometimes a title is just a title. I wouldn't read too much into any of them.

[sluthy]

Comic!

...and we at least have a first step. Well done Faye.

[Method of Madness]

This strip made so incredibly happy. I hope that doesn't sound heartless. But like sluthy said, it's a first step. Now she can heal.

[osaka]

Now that is some impressively quick realization, at least in my opinion. Then again, it's not completely implausible. Probably the firing just hit her upside the head SO HARD she activated a deathstreak in Call of Duty.

(Poor comparison brought to you by 3:20am)

As it's been said, let's hope this is the first step to recovery.

[judemorrigan]

As much as one hates to see someone suffering, that sends like pretty much the best of all possible reactions on Faye's part.

[TheEvilDog]

This strip made so incredibly happy. I hope that doesn't sound heartless. But like sluthy said, it's a first step. Now she can heal.

It's one thing to recognise there's something wrong with you, it's something else entirely to actually seek help and to heal. Faye has admitted she isn't alright, but that's something she's said a few times.

[jwhouk]

Comic up.

And... there... we... go.

Yes, the first step is to admit you have a problem. "I'm not all right" is an admission.

[Penquin47]

Negative echo of Marigold from 1685.  Interesting.

I'm glad to see that Faye is physically all right and realizes that she's not actually all right.  Good for her for taking that step - although it's a long way from sitting in a hospital realizing you're not all right to taking the next step and admitting you need help, and then actually getting it.

[TheEvilDog]

I'm glad to see that Faye is physically all right and realizes that she's not actually all right.  Good for her for taking that step - although it's a long way from sitting in a hospital realizing you're not all right to taking the next step and admitting you need help, and then actually getting it.

Thank you for making a clearer version of what I was fumbling to try and say.

[jwhouk]

Negative echo of Marigold from 1685.  Interesting.

Bravo for noticing that. And it is unusual - considering what happened later in the comic. (Anyone for a one-panel bit with Dale & Marigold again?)

[FayeDouble]

Yay Faye! She's taken the first step. Maybe now she'll get the help she needs.
Marten is the perfect person for her to lean on. He doesn't even care what she did - all he cares about is that she is (physically) all right. Now he has learned she is not emotionally/mentally/spiritually all right. And I think he will help her, in the way she needs to be helped.
I LOVE QC!!!

[Zalder]

Faye's face in panel three just breaks my just.  You can almost feel all the pain she is feeling.  Good for her in taking the first step in admitting that she is so very not all-right.  I've known people who after more than one trip to the hospital as a result of their drinking still refuse to admit they have a serious problems.  It takes a combination of strength and reaching a real bottom point to be able to do that. 

[Omega Entity]

And Faye will remain pissed - not so much because of getting fired (either she'll recover, and find a new job, or not, and find different reasons to be miserable) but because when it came down to it, Dora just didn't care about her as a friend as much as she thought.

I disagree. It may have been Dora's way of trying to show Faye that she does have a problem, and that Dora's not going to enable her by turning a blind eye to her not only breaking the rules, but to her having gotten to the point where she's in a constant state of alcohol haze. Tough love is called that for a reason.

Seriously, just because Dora fired her, doesn't mean she doesn't care for her as a friend. Compartmentalization is a thing.

---

As for today's comic, is that a bit of a Southern twang in Faye's dialogue?

"This is the stupidest fuckin' thing I ever done", rather than "I've ever done". Or maybe I'm reading too much into it.

Edited for grammar/spelling.

[Zalder]

And Faye will remain pissed - not so much because of getting fired (either she'll recover, and find a new job, or not, and find different reasons to be miserable) but because when it came down to it, Dora just didn't care about her as a friend as much as she thought.

I disagree. it may have been Dora's way of trying to show Faye that she does have a problem, and that Dora's not going to enable her by turning a blind eye to her not only breaking the rules, but to her having gotten to the point where she's in a constant state of alcohol haze. Tough love is called that for a reason.

Seriously, just because Dora fired her, doesn't mean she doesn't care for her as a friend. Compartmentalization is a thing.

---

As for today's comic, is that a bit of a Southern twang in Faye's dialogue?

"This is the stupidest fuckin' thing I ever done", rather thank "I've ever done". Or maybe I'm reading too much into it.

Plus I'm predicting we're going to see an apologetic Dora (regardless whether she thinks she was right or wrong for firing Faye) make an appearance by Faye's bedside soon.

[Zebediah]

As for today's comic, is that a bit of a Southern twang in Faye's dialogue?

"This is the stupidest fuckin' thing I ever done", rather thank "I've ever done". Or maybe I'm reading too much into it.

Nope, that's definitely Southern. A suppressed native dialect or accent often reasserts itself in times of stress. For example, my wife's carefully suppressed Appalachian Mountain dialect resurfaces when she's angry and/or tired.

[Omega Entity]

Oh good. I was hoping I wasn't imagining things.

[Oilman]

It's been mentioned before that FAYE has certain speech mannerisms which are intended to disguise her Southern accent. I always get the impression she sounds like Jodie Foster as Clarice Starling (Dr Lecter specifically mentions that she does this).

[ASB84]

I think it's realistic that the realisation has come quickly. It doesn't mean recovery or resolution will. It just means that this was a wake-up call.

Very powerful strip, once again. The last couple of strips have been a bit of a breather, which was necessary, but I'm glad to see the story is still uninterrupted. I feel there needs to be at least one more strip pushing the story forward and moving on to a new day before we cut to something else.

And Faye will remain pissed - not so much because of getting fired (either she'll recover, and find a new job, or not, and find different reasons to be miserable) but because when it came down to it, Dora just didn't care about her as a friend as much as she thought.

I disagree. It may have been Dora's way of trying to show Faye that she does have a problem, and that Dora's not going to enable her by turning a blind eye to her not only breaking the rules, but to her having gotten to the point where she's in a constant state of alcohol haze. Tough love is called that for a reason.

Seriously, just because Dora fired her, doesn't mean she doesn't care for her as a friend. Compartmentalization is a thing.

On top of that, caring and compassion has its limits, particularly when the other person has crossed the line. Faye has likewise taken her friendship with Dora for granted, in breaking her trust and her one hard-line rule, in turn abusing the huge amount of leeway that Dora grants her and other CoD employees. Even if she didn't do so maliciously, even though she does obviously have a problem, that's not an all-conquering trump card that excuses any and all wrongdoing on her part. Faye put her friend in a difficult position; that's not showing a lot of consideration to Dora, who does have a business to run after all.