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Faye sees stars when Bubbles attempts to stop her from drinking

Faye sees everything red, white and blue-shifted

Faye gets convinced not to take a drink by Bubbles

Marten finds out about Faye's drinking - and is disappointed

Marten finds out about Faye's drinking - and beats her ass

Marten finds out about Faye's drinking - and Claire beats her ass

Pintsize slips Bubbles a few Bitcoin after convincing Faye not to drink

CorpseWitch finds out Faye was drinking on the job - and fires her

Bubbles then fires CorpseWitch into orbit

Hah ha ha ha... like Jeph's going to do any of that?

Waffles, spathe ham, and maple syrup

Purple Monkey Dishwashers on Elephants

None of the above

[jwhouk]

New week, new-ish poll.

[BenRG]

I'm thinking something eccentric will happen. Bubbles will make a point of not persuading Faye not to drink. Faye gets more and more angry with her, accusing her of trying to use reverse psychology on her, something that Bubbles firmly denies doing. Faye gets more and more irate and actually persuades herself not to do it.

The confrontation ends with Faye smashing the bottle to the ground and yelling: "Well, I'm not fallin' off the wagon tonight and THAT'S FINAL!"

"Good," Bubbles rumbles. "I'm glad."

[Kugai]

I like the way you think


And it's not what's gonna happen

[chaospersonified]

I agree with Kugai. I like that idea, bu I'm fair sure it is, in no way, what Jeph will be doing.

[Morituri]

I think Faye is going to get drunk, go home, and be depressed.  Maybe, in coming weeks, she will be angry at herself because she feels angry at Bubbles and knows that it's not really Bubbles' fault.   Bubbles is going to go home and be worried.  Possibly she'll privately compare Faye's behavior to that of someone whom she's lost.  And then she'll be depressed too because she feels hopeless about it or helpless to do anything beneficial about it.

I expect longer term developments, but at the pace this comic is posted, and as many of the side issues as Jeph probably intends to explore, that's kind of all I expect for the next week.

[chaospersonified]

Well... Comic.

Looks like Bubbles didn't stop her...

[swapna]

Well... Comic.

Looks like Bubbles didn't stop her...

Would have been a bad idea anyway. Faye is surprisingly honest and not wrong in her analysis of her behaviour; she is much more relaxed than just moments prior. I'm not saying the booze is a good solution here, but both bubbles calmness, her not judging and of course the prospect of getting some relaxes Faye and she is letting her guard down. Maybe this is how she learns to deal with it, because avoiding/destroying it and then getting back into it once somebody compliments her on her sobriety isn't a good way to live.

[Penquin47]

Didn't stop her... YET.  Faye still hasn't actually had any.  There's still time to change her mind!  (Unlikely though it is, IT COULD HAPPEN!)

In other news, Palkyrie is an awesome nickname and I wish Bubbles hadn't rejected it.

[Gladstone]

Bubbles isn't stopping Faye but she's slowly talking her down.  Maybe not completely--Faye's probably going to drink anyway, but she's not nearly as angry and frustrated as she would be if Bubbles had left her alone to drink by herself.  With Bubbles around to talk to, Faye has less reason to get blind, angry, the-world-can-go-to-hell drunk.  She might take a few swigs and decide she's making a mistake, she might finish the bottle and decide in the morning that she made a mistake, but Bubbles has already managed to calm her down, and is likely to keep her (somewhat) sober and talking for as long as she can.  Faye won't be going to the ER tonight.  Well, probably...

[Tova]

Faye clearly understands Bubbles' reluctance to speak of issues that are like fuck.

[chaospersonified]

Bottle's open in the last panel. It's some sudden decision-making if Faye chooses not to drink it.

Then again, that would be one heck of a twist, where Faye goes from so flippant to recognizing it's a mistake. If she was alone, that would just lead her to drink more, but maybe, with Bubbles' help...

Eh.

I still expect it to be a relapse. It's rare, as I understand it, for an addict to go cold turkey without any relapses. It's a struggle, or so I've been told. For Faye to just stop drinking and for that to be the end of it, no more struggles, is unrealistic, even for a comic with AI and space-pizzas.

[Tova]

This won't be the end of it, regardless of what happens this time.

[jheartney]

When Marten finds out, he's going to have some hard decisions to make. Will he stay in the roommate situation with a relapsing Faye? Doing so will just encourage her to keep drinking, and eventually may lead to horrible consequences for Marten. OTOH does he have it in him to tell her their time together as roommates is at an end? It's his only realistic choice if he wants to protect himself from Faye's addiction, but it's not an easy thing to do.

[DashaBlade]

I'm looking at the background and, oh hell.

Is Faye about to get hammered in her workplace? Because it's sure not her apartment, unless she and Marten have done extensive redecorating that includes lockers and tanks of gas.

That's going to be bad, if so.

[Tova]

When Marten finds out, he's going to have some hard decisions to make. Will he stay in the roommate situation with a relapsing Faye?

You think Marten should kick her out if she relapses just once? Why not just kick her out now and be done with it?

[Method of Madness]

I wonder if we'll find out Bubbles's story.

[jwhouk]

I have faith in Faye.

(click to show/hide)

I also am a Patreon sponsor, so...

[Mad Cat]

It's easy to be sultry when you know you're about to get drilled.

It's easy to be tired when you know you're about to get chiselled.

It's easy to be angry when you know you're about to get screwed.

It's easy to be afraid when you know you're about to get nailed.

[Oenone]

I'm looking at the background and, oh hell.

Is Faye about to get hammered in her workplace? Because it's sure not her apartment, unless she and Marten have done extensive redecorating that includes lockers and tanks of gas.

That's going to be bad, if so.

I think it's actually Bubbles' rooms at the arena/rink.

[Penquin47]

I'm looking at the background and, oh hell.

Is Faye about to get hammered in her workplace? Because it's sure not her apartment, unless she and Marten have done extensive redecorating that includes lockers and tanks of gas.

That's going to be bad, if so.

I think it's actually Bubbles' rooms at the arena/rink.

So, technically, at Faye's workplace.  But she's clearly there to visit a friend, instead of work, so much more of a grey area than drinking at CoD was.

[Tova]

She's off the clock, in other words.

[jheartney]

When Marten finds out, he's going to have some hard decisions to make. Will he stay in the roommate situation with a relapsing Faye?

You think Marten should kick her out if she relapses just once? Why not just kick her out now and be done with it?

She's already relapsed once. This is number two, and done quite deliberately.

[Chronometry]

I know it's probably off-topic, but I saw the word "Bubs" and immediately thought...

[BenRG]

In Bubbles's defence, there is something about the nickname 'Bubs' that just doesn't scan right. I can fully understand not wanting to be referred by that!

What is her Dark Secret^TM? It seems to be contextually linked to the suicide of Faye's dad. The best that I can come up with at this time is that one of Bubbles' closest buddies in the service cracked under the strain of combat and ate a bullet from his or her own gun. That could bite deep, especially if Bubbles had previously waved off her colleague's distress and had told them to 'toughen up'.

I'm looking at the background and, oh hell.

Is Faye about to get hammered in her workplace? Because it's sure not her apartment, unless she and Marten have done extensive redecorating that includes lockers and tanks of gas.

That's going to be bad, if so.

She's at the Skate Park but, no, she's not at the workplace; she's in Bubbles' private quarters at the Skate Park. So long as Faye doesn't cause any trouble or damage and so long as she's ready for her shift, I've got the feeling that Corpse Witch wouldn't care.

[sitnspin]

Bubbles lost her entire squad. I imagine that has to be quite traumatic.

[brasca]

When Marten finds out, he's going to have some hard decisions to make. Will he stay in the roommate situation with a relapsing Faye?

You think Marten should kick her out if she relapses just once? Why not just kick her out now and be done with it?

She's already relapsed once. This is number two, and done quite deliberately.

There were never any consequences like that expressed for falling off the wagon the last time so why should this time be any different?  Even though things ultimately worked out after Faye was fired from Coffee of Doom evicting Faye would put a big wedge in their friendship and might make the situation worse since she doesn't have that many options as far as staying with other people.  And realistically speaking Marten needs a roommate to pay for the apartment anyway. 

Don't know why Bubbles vetoed Palkyrie.  That one is cute and clever. 

[Akima]

When Marten finds out, he's going to have some hard decisions to make. Will he stay in the roommate situation with a relapsing Faye?

Yes. I can't see Marten kicking Faye out, or walking out himself, over something like this. I don't think it would be a hard decision for him either.

[Case]

"How about Bubbarella?"

[BenRG]

I don't know... I'm suddenly visualising Bubbles cosplaying Barbarella and it is a very, very challenging mental image.

[gopher]

"I went to rehab. My friends embraced me when I got out. You relapse,
it's not like that. "Get away from me" - that's what it's like." Leo - The West Wing.

[Tova]

When Marten finds out, he's going to have some hard decisions to make. Will he stay in the roommate situation with a relapsing Faye?

You think Marten should kick her out if she relapses just once? Why not just kick her out now and be done with it?

She's already relapsed once. This is number two, and done quite deliberately.

Okay, fine. Twice, then. Doesn't come close to changing my opinion. He won't kick her out. Assuming she does relapse again (it hasn't happened yet), she has been making a genuine effort, it's a tough monkey to kick, and Marten isn't an arsehole.

[Gyrre]

Odd side bar: what regional accent do you all read Bubbles voice in?

For me it's sort of an even-toned Midwest cosmopolitan accent (think Dallas, Texas or Clevland, Ohio)

[sitnspin]

I picture it as the neutral American media accent with little to no inflection.

[oddtail]

Odd side bar: what regional accent do you all read Bubbles voice in?

For me it's sort of an even-toned Midwest cosmopolitan accent (think Dallas, Texas or Clevland, Ohio)

To me, most American accents kinda sound alike (except those from the Deep South and perhaps Chicago), but I suppose the accent I imagine her using would be Midwestern. From what I gather, the accent I think of as "typical, usual American" is close to Midwestern, and I imagine most English-speaking characters using it unless there's an indication they might have a strong regional accent. I might be wrong, though. Maybe the accent I'm thinking of is nowhere near the Midwest.

[FacelessDeviant]

Honestly though, does Faye WANT to get fired?

Of all the places to pop a bottle open, she chose to do it on her workplace, where there are AI around that never sleeps and have access to all manners of high tech sensoring equipment?

[elfly]

Honestly though, does Faye WANT to get fired?

Of all the places to pop a bottle open, she chose to do it on her workplace, where there are AI around that never sleeps and have access to all manners of high tech sensoring equipment?

You mean the illegal robot colliseum?

[katsmeat]

Honestly though, does Faye WANT to get fired?

Of all the places to pop a bottle open, she chose to do it on her workplace, where there are AI around that never sleeps and have access to all manners of high tech sensoring equipment?

Corpse Witch isn't Dora. Provided Faye continues to do her job adequately, she's likely not care in the slightest.

[Thrillho]

Honestly though, does Faye WANT to get fired?

Of all the places to pop a bottle open, she chose to do it on her workplace, where there are AI around that never sleeps and have access to all manners of high tech sensoring equipment?

You mean the illegal robot colliseum?

That'd be a good name for an industrial band.

[Welu]

I assumed they went back to the skate-park because that's where Bubbles lives and Faye wouldn't want to drink in her own flat where Marten will see her. As patient and understanding as Bubbles is being with Faye, I highly doubt she'd let Faye drink and work. Especially when work involves metal and high temperatures. From the outside, Faye is off the clock and having a drink at a friend's place.

[jheartney]

There were never any consequences like that expressed for falling off the wagon the last time so why should this time be any different? 

If there are no consequences, then Marten becomes part of Faye's addiction. If Faye is consistently relapsing, then things will get worse and worse. Remember the trip to the hospital? Expect more of that. Also expect Faye to become more and more irresponsible, and for her drinking to have bad effects on those around her, including Marten. Eventually the friendship will be destroyed by her addictive behavior. If he wants to avoid that, the time to put a stop to it is now.

[themacnut]

When Marten finds out, he's going to have some hard decisions to make. Will he stay in the roommate situation with a relapsing Faye?

You think Marten should kick her out if she relapses just once? Why not just kick her out now and be done with it?

She's already relapsed once. This is number two, and done quite deliberately.

And here's the thing about relapses; no-one, not even the addict themselves, knows how long they will last. Faye may just down this one bottle and then go back on the wagon, or this could be the start of a weeks- or months-long bender. During which time she may lose the job at the skate park (possibly after seriously injuring herself and/or damaging one of the fighting AIs due to trying to work while drunk) therefore losing another source of income and thus her ability to help Marten make the rent. If her alcoholism gets her and Marten evicted, that will almost certainly damage their friendship.

Of course, we still don't know what's going to happen here. Faye may still choose not to take that drink, or could decide not to get another bottle. The reasonable thing for Marten to do is keep a close eye on the situation to see how bad this relapse may be before making any decisions about whether to give Faye the proverbial boot from the apartment. He doesn't know about this potential relapse yet of course, but if it keeps up he will find out.

[Morituri]

As patient and understanding as Bubbles is being with Faye, I highly doubt she'd let Faye drink and work. Especially when work involves metal and high temperatures. From the outside, Faye is off the clock and having a drink at a friend's place.

Uh, right.  Metal and high temperatures and FRIENDS' LIVES. 

Don't forget, these two are essentially working as medics.  When surgeons go to work drunk, it's not them accidentally cutting themselves with the scalpel that's the main worry.

[Is it cold in here?]

Good analogy except that her mistakes would be disfiguring or expensive, not lethal. That triple-reinforced core is designed to survive attacks by a combat chassis.

Come to think of it, though, I wouldn't take any bets on it surviving an accident with a cutting torch.

[blue5]

Next strip: Bubbles takes a sip of booze and shorts out. Faye goes to rehab.

[elfly]

Total abstinence is kind of fucked up and probably leads to people relapsing in alcoholism over and over. The AA method of using guilt and telling people they can never become better about alcohol use is destructive and doesn't really work outside of a few extreme cases, which Faye probably doesn't fall into.

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/04/the-irrationality-of-alcoholics-anonymous/386255/

Faye relearning how to drink like a normal person is probably a good thing.

[chaospersonified]

Total abstinence is kind of fucked up and probably leads to people relapsing in alcoholism over and over again

'Probably' being a key phrase, and 'kinda fucked up' is an opinion. I personally wouldn't exist if my mom hadn't gotten sober a few years before I was born. I can't, of course, say anything about my early years, but she's been sober for at least twenty, both my parents have. My dad went dry, too, just to show support.

The point is, it helps certain people. Others need alternate methods, but for some, total sobreity is what they need.

Side note, draining a bottle of bourbon on your own, in one night, as Faye's history would suggest she's about to do, is anything BUT 'drinking like a normal person.'

[themacnut]

Total abstinence is kind of fucked up and probably leads to people relapsing in alcoholism over and over. ...
Faye relearning how to drink like a normal person is probably a good thing.

Alcoholics by definition can't deal with alcohol like normal people. Alcohol is generally a minefield for those who can't handle it well, and they're really much better off avoiding it entirely. Just like most people are better off staying far away from a literal minefield, leaving it to people with specialized training and equipment. Even for those people, minefields are still dangerous and need to be handled with care.

[Morituri]

I've known a bunch of addicts - including my dad, although he quit when I was still very short, so I mainly only ever saw long-term aftereffects with him - but I've personally just never seen any point in it or any reason to do it.  Alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, LSD, whatever.  It's just useless pointless crap to me.  It took me a long time to understand fully that it was a 'real' thing that people struggled with.  I feel lucky (and kinda guilty sometimes) when I see how hard other people have to fight to *not* do these things.  I've seen the struggle since long before I even realized what it was, I've learned the patterns, I know how the rationalization works...  but I've just never been there.   I guess I feel sort of like when I walk into Costco and see a row of TV sets priced over $1200.  People CARE that much about television?  Seriously? 

I grew up in a place where marijuana was easily available. Where it was, literally, a weed.  Pretty much any kid could take a walk down any creekbank on any Thursday afternoon in summer, and find a patch of it - none of it cultivated, or hidden, or anything, we just lived where it grew wild.  In places people passing through just literally pulled their cars over and cut fifty pounds of the stuff growing in the ditch whenever they felt like it.  It was free for the taking.  And so in my school there were a large number of people whose brains did in fact, yes, turn to mulch over the course of years of frequent, heavy, use.  Don't let people tell you marijuana has no long term effects - kids who smoked a pound of it a month for years starting at age twelve, reached mid high school with no functioning brains.

And all of that which I saw playing out around me at school - were to me just another case of boring stupid people doing boring stupid things. 

Except sometimes when the 'heads would do something exceptionally pathetically stupid, and then ...  it's insensitive as hell, but I was, like thirteen at the time and didn't care about the boring people anyway ...  I considered that kind of stuff just hilarious.  I stopped short of mocking them openly, but that was mostly because they were stupid boring people and I didn't care enough about them even to mock them.

Now I'm a grownup, and I see that sort of thing for tragedy of a pathetic sort - but I just couldn't have handled that much tragedy when I was a kid, so it was all just a big stupid joke played on stupid people. 

[Neko_Ali]

The difference between addicts and non-addicts is the don't have 'just a drink'. Complete abstinence is often the only way they have to deal with their problem. Because they can never have 'just a drink' to relax, or reward. One becomes two, becomes a bottle, becomes sneaking around and lying about drinking. Because living life while impaired because you are always drunk or hung over and craving.

[Kugai]

*Sigh*


I'll be over there ----------->



Let me know when Fayes funeral is




*Walks off shaking head slowly*