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Tattoo (whilst drunk)

4 (6.8%)

Old tattoo

1 (1.7%)

Tattoo (whilst sober) because Emily insisted

14 (23.7%)

Burn

15 (25.4%)

Damn, Emily is FAST with that felt-tip!

11 (18.6%)

Robo-Hand's recharge socket (hey, it's an older model, okay?)

5 (8.5%)

Pattern on Clinton's flesh-coloured body stocking

9 (15.3%)

Total Members Voted: 54

Voting closed: 08 Apr 2015, 06:50

[anahata]

Emily's ignorance of social conventions might be an advantage for Clinton, who obviously isn't too familiar with some of them himself.
Ironically, consulting conventional dating advice from the internet might be especially inappropriate in this case, since Emily doesn't really operate on that plane. For all we know, she might respond well to what the rest of us would call a social gaffe from Clinton.

Except that we already know how it's going to end 

[rfrank dodelijk]

Smart and crazy is a hard combination to resist

i'm so sorry to use the same sentiment twice as an answer but it's a good one.

that's what smart and crazy people want you to think. really they are quite dangerous.


edited twice due to me buggering up the quotes. sorry.

[osaka]

Oh dear. Clinton is about to be swept by class 5 hurricane Azuma. I'd suggest fleeing the area as fast as possible, but he seems to have shut off indeed.

Yep, he's in love alright! I'm pretty sure that he's going to do most of this stuff to himself in a desperate, testosterone-addled need to impress "the pretty girl in a sundress". Y'see, panel 4 strongly suggests his higher brain functions may have been knocked offline!

I could see that being what happens. Let's hope he doesn't make an ass of himself to the point where Emily won't want to spend any more time with him.

(Next up: Emily calls Claire and tells her she's had the most wonderful night of her life, AND EVERYTHING STARTS MAKING NEGATIVE SENSE)

[CM_albion]

Clinton, run. 
those are the eyes of benevolent oblivion for you sir.

[Zebediah]

Smart and crazy is a hard combination to resist

i'm so sorry to use the same sentiment twice as an answer but it's a good one.

that's what smart and crazy people want you to think. really they are quite dangerous.

Yes, we are.   

And really, that was a reasonably good plan for a first date. Low-key but fun, and lots of chances to talk about stuff.

Which is probably where things went wrong. Conversations with Emily are prone to fly off on unexpected tangents.

[Sylentknight]

A pretty girl in a sundress has cast my plans to the wind on more than one occasion. 

[BenRG]

I'm still trying to work out the 'why' of 'Clinnn-tonnn'. Here's another possibility: That's how Clinton pronounces it - he draws out the 'N' sound slightly and puts a clear gap between the syllables. Emily, being Emily, has assumed that it's spelt 'Clinnn-tonnn' and is pronouncing it appropriately.

She'll probably be quite surprised when she finds out the truth. "Why don't you pronounce it that way?" she'll ask.

You can tell that I like the thought of Emily as the ultimate innocent. I wonder if Claire is ready for the day when Emily asks her, as her best friend, what this 'sex' thing is really like?

[pwhodges]

I'm still trying to work out the 'why' of 'Clinnn-tonnn'.

Perhaps she perceives each "n" as a separate mora (syllable, sort of), like ン in Japanese.

[chaospersonified]

I'm still trying to work out the 'why' of 'Clinnn-tonnn.'

Best I can find is that it goes back to this - http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2854. She was being strange and she apparently found it FUN!!

[Akima]

Somehow, I just can't imagine Helmuth von Molke going out with a pretty girl in a sundress.

[snubnose]

Somehow, I just can't imagine Helmuth von Molke going out with a pretty girl in a sundress.

Why would you mention that guy ?

Wikipedia says he lived to 90, between 1800 and 1891. So he was young somewhere between 1815 and 1830. Obviously at that time photography wasnt invented yet, so all pictures of him show him as an old man.

[Hiazi]

Knowing what Clinton's night is going to end up like in the end, I can't decide if Emily's face in the last panel is terrifying or adorable. Adorifying? Terorable? Hm.

[Akima]

Why would you mention that guy?

You mean other than because Jeph quotes him in today's strip?   No reason at all...

Never mind photography, had sundresses been invented in the early 19th century?

[snubnose]

Why would you mention that guy?

You mean other than because Jeph quotes him in today's strip? 

Oh, its a quote from Moltke ? Didnt knew that.

Either way Wikipedia says he understood seven languages, wrote a book, made translations etc. Doesnt sound like a man to me that would have trouble getting a woman ?

Never mind photography, had sundresses been invented in the early 19th century?

Err ... Fashion is about clothing. Thats about all I know when it comes to fashion.

[Zebediah]

I am not aware of any Western cultures in the early 19th century that would have allowed a young woman to show that much skin in public, no.

Thankfully we live in more enlightened times.

[valkygrrl]

Never mind photography, had sundresses been invented in the early 19th century?

Is there a substantial difference between a sundress and a knee-ish length tunic?

[rfrank dodelijk]

isn't clinnn-tonnn the way the simpsons tentacle aliens pronounce president Clinton's name in the tree house of horror episode where they take over Clinton and some other fellah in order to be elected?

[Elder Sign]

In panel 5, those are the eyes that have gazed into the outer dark, and witnessed the stirring of unknowable elder things. That is the face of madness.

Beware those who have gazed in such manner, witnessed uncomprehendable things, and come back sane. They are well worth fearing.

And whomsoever has gazed into the endless Void, and found the Void gazing back at them, if they should ever return from that dread realm beyond time and space, shall be fundamentally and unutterably changed by the incomparable horrors to which they were never meant to bear witness.  Their coming shall be the merest herald of the footsteps of doom.

*rolls for Sanity* ... 1?!  Dammit.

[vforvancouver]

Now I have the mental image of Emily wearing a kimono or a qipao...

and DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANG!

[tywren]

I've suspected for a while that Emily is somewhere on the Autistic Spectrum. Although I generally disagree with almost everything rfrank posts, in this case, I will agree as far as to say that any relationship with Emily will be high-maintenance, just because social conventions that you or I would consider automatic and intuitive might be a mystery of sorts to her.

My personal theory about Emily is that she is, or at least was ultra smart (at least as smart as Hanners dad, if not more so). At one point she came up with a theory to bridge the gap between synthetic, and organic lifeforms, by downloading AI into organic brains. When she tried to preform the process on herself with a recently compiled AI, something went wrong, and the two personalities merged. That's why she does so many childish things, such as Clinnn-tonnn (like an toddler trying out a new sound they find interesting), and at the same time she can code programs so dangerous that government agencies EMP them before they can run.

[Undrneath]

Jeph's Vendetta against courting tips from the internet continues. 

I just hope whatever happened to Clinton was post-date.

I cant help but admire your optimism... I think thats highly unlikely.

Then perhaps not of Emily's design or at least well intentions gone wrong.

[FunkyTuba]

Somehow, I just can't imagine Helmuth von Molke going out with a pretty girl in a sundress.

Why would you mention that guy ?

You mean other than because Jeph quotes him in today's strip?   No reason at all...
Never mind photography, had sundresses been invented in the early 19th century?

great... yet another thing to go look up on google

[Kugai]

In panel 5, those are the eyes that have gazed into the outer dark, and witnessed the stirring of unknowable elder things. That is the face of madness.

Beware those who have gazed in such manner, witnessed uncomprehendable things, and come back sane. They are well worth fearing.

And whomsoever has gazed into the endless Void, and found the Void gazing back at them, if they should ever return from that dread realm beyond time and space, shall be fundamentally and unutterably changed by the incomparable horrors to which they were never meant to bear witness.  Their coming shall be the merest herald of the footsteps of doom.

*rolls for Sanity* ... 1?!  Dammit.

When you look into an abyss, the abyss also looks into you.

Friedrich Nietzsche

[Akima]

Now I have the mental image of Emily wearing a kimono or a qipao...

Or an ao-dai, or any other Chinietnapanorean dress... I'm sure Emily would like nice in any of the above. At his next con, Jeph could sell posters like hot cakes.

[Gladstone]

The best part about Clinton's date with Emily?  It's not Clinton's date with Hannelore.

I'm glad that Jeph decided to de-creep Clinton and make him a (somewhat) sympathetic character, and I'm really glad he had the sense to avoid rehashing the Faye/Angus storyline, with Clinton continuing to obsess over Hannelore and her dad until she warmed up to him and decided that maaaayyyybeee he wouldn't be such a bad guy to date.  Granted, it took several injury-by-broadsword threats from the Coffee of Doom gang, and a shock from Momo, before he backed off the obsessive stalky fan-crush, but that's still more sense than Angus ever had.  So it's good to see Clinton taking a chance with someone he doesn't already have a history with.  Way to be less creepy, dude.

(I'm still not putting Dale on the same level as Angus.  Dale and Marigold had a weird antagonistic thing going on for a while, but it was more of a weird geeky rivalry that went on too long than a bad John Cusack romantic comedy like Angus and Faye were stuck in.)

[Rghfrgl]

I think his crush was more on Hannerdad anyway.

Now THERE'S a ship!

[osaka]

Of the space variety too.

The best part about Clinton's date with Emily?  It's not Clinton's date with Hannelore.

Definitely. That shows that Clinton is not a numbnut like he appeared at the beginning.

[Neko_Ali]

Now I have the mental image of Emily wearing a kimono or a qipao...

Or an ao-dai, or any other Chinietnapanorean dress... I'm sure Emily would like nice in any of the above. At his next con, Jeph could sell posters like hot cakes.

Yay, new information. I have seen people wearing these before, but I didn't know the name of them. They are very pretty.

[Aziraphale]

(I'm still not putting Dale on the same level as Angus.  Dale and Marigold had a weird antagonistic thing going on for a while, but it was more of a weird geeky rivalry that went on too long than a bad John Cusack romantic comedy like Angus and Faye were stuck in.)

The early Angus/Faye thing had a serious creep factor. The Dale and Marigold thing, on the other hand, always seemed to come from mutual inexperience and misunderstanding.

[Truec]

For some stupid reason, I'm amused by the fact that the hem of Emily's dress is at the same height as the top of Clinton's pants.  I may be easily amused.

Chinietnapanorean

Once I managed to parse it, I immediately decided I love this portmanteau and hope to find places to use it.

[hedgie]

Now I have the mental image of Emily wearing a kimono or a qipao...

Or an ao-dai, or any other Chinietnapanorean dress... I'm sure Emily would like nice in any of the above. At his next con, Jeph could sell posters like hot cakes.

This is *Emily* that we're talking about.  Knowing her, if she put on a kimono or yukata, she'd end up with the obi around her head, somehow, and all the various ties needed dangling from it, and possibly, various parts of her anatomy. 

[Gladstone]

The early Angus/Faye thing had a serious creep factor. The Dale and Marigold thing, on the other hand, always seemed to come from mutual inexperience and misunderstanding.

Yeah, that's what I thought, too.  But I've read a few comments on these forums comparing Dale and Angus, so I wanted to defend him.  Dale's thing with Marigold was just some socially-inept WoW feud without a hint of romantic attraction (one-sided or mutual) until much later. 

[Energia]

I missed the 2931 bridge cartoon, and started the Clinton/Emily thing with the DB roommate one.  I was enjoying the story better that way.  Also, in 2931, is that a US style double socket on his arm?  With separate holes for Earth pins?  Now I need to do some Googling to understand American electrical systems all over again. 

[Sullivan]

Energia: Yes, it's a NEMA type 5-15R "duplex" socket. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NEMA_connector

[Energia]

Thanks for the link - I suspect that shopping in our local versions of Home Depot may be a bit simpler.  Dying to find out what Emily did to Clinton (or couldn't stop him doing to himself!)

[FunkyTuba]

o god I hadn't even noticed the haircut

[Half Empty Coffee Cup]

So this is the shape of it: Clinton folds more easily than paper to Emily's suggestions.

[ASB84]

This reminds me of an anecdote that Drew Carey recounted in his book, about chatting to a lady in college and her mentioning in passing (as a vague compliment before she left the bar, incidentally not with him) that she liked Brut, which he was wearing at the time.

"Within a week, I was Brut Man."

[Zebediah]

Ah, now it's all starting to make sense.

"I think you would look nice with a tattoo!"
"I think you would look nice with a black eye!"
"I think you would look nice with vomit on your shirt!"

No, wait, it's actually not all starting to make sense. 

[tywren]

Ah, now it's all starting to make sense.

"I think you would look nice with a tattoo!"
"I think you would look nice with a black eye!"
"I think you would look nice with vomit on your shirt!"

No, wait, it's actually not all starting to make sense. 

You have it right for the tattoo, after which i think someone does/says something uncouth to Emily, and Clinton takes a beating after white knighting, then at the end of the date she goes on about how wonderful things went, and kisses him good night, at which point he pulls a Southpark and pukes all over himself.

[improvnerd]

I'm still guessing the black eye is from the mosh pit at a punk club Emily suggested they go to.

[Schwungrad]

The hairdresser is a distant ancestor of Uncle John

[mustang6172]

Hooray for traditional barber shops!

Boo, barber who thinks he can pull off a comb-over!

[tywren]

In panel 5, those are the eyes that have gazed into the outer dark, and witnessed the stirring of unknowable elder things. That is the face of madness.

Beware those who have gazed in such manner, witnessed uncomprehendable things, and come back sane. They are well worth fearing.

And whomsoever has gazed into the endless Void, and found the Void gazing back at them, if they should ever return from that dread realm beyond time and space, shall be fundamentally and unutterably changed by the incomparable horrors to which they were never meant to bear witness.  Their coming shall be the merest herald of the footsteps of doom.

*rolls for Sanity* ... 1?!  Dammit.

When you look into an abyss, the abyss also looks into you.

Friedrich Nietzsche

So there we where, sitting in a nice little non euclidean collage bar, just off the campus of Miskatonic U, trying to translate the Dhol Chants, when this philosophy student comes up and starts talking about Nietzsche. The next thing you know, it's 4 hours later, and we're discussing the parallels between the rantings of Abdul Alhazred, and the writings of modern philosophers. Then all of a sudden we all hear someone hacking up phlegm in the back room to the tune of "Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn", which as we all know means it's time to pay the tab and GTFO.

[MrNumbers]

There is a very endearing kind of idiocy to this situation.

Like the puppy who chews the newspaper to shreds in the desperate attempt to drag it to your feet, because it's just too big for him to handle.

[zmeiat_joro]

The date went well, then. At least that's what I'm taking away from what's happened so far.

[SubaruStephen]

I wish I could go into an old-timey barber shop and ask for a Popular Men's Haircut.

But you need hair for that...

[Rghfrgl]

Gimme the Vanilla Ice.

[Natswash]

I guess that haircut is rather popular now that I think of it...

[Gladstone]

Of course, Emily only looks concerned in that last panel.  But deep down, you know she's thinking "No plan survives first contact with the enemy"? Oh, Herr Moltke, how little you knew... and trying to suppress a maniacal giggle.