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He's just a pervert but with more metal than most

He's a sort of troll who likes freaking out people by pretending to be transgressive

He's a weird kind of abstract archetype that Jeph created of the whole concept of an AI having any sexuality at all

He is actually one of the world's greatest behavioural psychologists trying to help Marten and Faye with a carefully-planned series of fake actions

He has impulse control problems, does stupid things on a whim and doesn't think about possible consequences

At first it was just curiosity and a one-off practical joke but it's become a bit of a habit he's never bothered to shake

He actually thinks that this is tremendeously funny and doesn't get everyone's reaction

Other reason (in-universe)

Other reason (real world)

[blt]

We've been thinking of Bubbles as an adult. How old is she, really?

The blushes could be childlike.

The strips with May looking for a job make mention of some sort of AI Maturity Index and it being equivalent to human age with respect to applying for jobs.  I imagine the QC universe army isn't in the business of employing AI child soldiers.

Edit: Found it

[pwhodges]

Why does an AI need to stretch...?

In this case to recalibrate their chassis' motion and position sensors for the not-recently-used no-armour setup.

[Kugai]

Jealous Faye   

Love Bubbles blushing at Fayes comment.

Of course, you realise  what this means now ........

SHOPPING TRIP!!!


 

[Mr. Skawronska]

Someone new to romantic relationships should start with someone easier than Faye.

Like a hungry Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake/Porcupine crossbreed with a flaming wedgie.

[brasca]

Jealous Faye   

Love Bubbles blushing at Fayes comment.

Of course, you realise  what this means now ........

SHOPPING TRIP!!!


 

Coming this fall.  Queer Eye for the AI. 

[Neko_Ali]

That... I think is actually probably a thing. Or it should be. A lot of AIs do seem to want to fit into human society, and do so to varying success. A show or program to help them out and explain some of the points of culture and fashion would probably help.

[Is it cold in here?]

"I understand and appreciate your intent" sounds more like "I know you meant no offense" than like flirting.

[snufflebottoms]

I hope we get a montage of Bubbles trying to find clothes that can contain her awesomeness.

[anahata]

SHOPPING TRIP!!!

...is better than shipping trope!

[BenRG]

Someone new to romantic relationships should start with someone easier than Faye.

Unfortunately, we don't get to make choices like that.

"I understand and appreciate your intent" sounds more like "I know you meant no offense" than like flirting.

It sounds to me what it is: Bubbles being pleased that Faye doesn't think she looks hideous (which, somehow, I suspect a part of her feared would happen). Bubbles, or so I've noticed, does tend to use very cumbersome phrasing. What it doesn't address is why Faye should have worried at Bubbles reaction to something that should have been completely natural and unremarkable for her to say. It might be me but there's a subtext to that.

[Is it cold in here?]

What it doesn't address is why Faye should have worried at Bubbles reaction to something that should have been completely natural and unremarkable for her to say

Bubbles has been known to be prickly. It may not even have been worry, though, but instead just a courteous inquiry about an unfamiliar situation.

I might be unsure what was appropriate to say if a seven-foot combat robot with PTSD stripped in front of me.

[blt]

I might be unsure what was appropriate to say if a seven-foot combat robot with PTSD stripped in front of me.

Thank you? 

[hedgie]

Bubbles has been known to be prickly. It may not even have been worry, though, but instead just a courteous inquiry about an unfamiliar situation.

What's wrong with being prickly? 

[Is it cold in here?]

I didn't say it was wrong, just that it was an adequate explanation of why Faye asked whether the compliment was OK.

[Morituri]

I might be unsure what was appropriate to say if a seven-foot combat robot with PTSD stripped in front of me.

Thank you? 

Damned right.  PTSD in a soldier, however unfortunate, means they've made a hell of an effort and gone through a lot of hardship to protect you. 

[Gyrre]

I hope we get a montage of Bubbles trying to find clothes that can contain her awesomeness.

She'll probably have about as much "fun" as I do finding clothes that fit. I'm 5'5" with broad shoulders and a barrel chest to boot. Medium for length but XL for width. Shoe shopping is the worse having a men's 9.5 with a 6E width.

But it's a comic, so she'll probably have better luck than I do.

[Is it cold in here?]

She has the option of getting a smaller chassis.

She also has some friends who make clothes.

She presumably had a source for clothing in the days before she enlisted.

[Undrneath]

She may not have been in this chassis before enlisting.

[BenRG]

Personally, I  think that Bubbles' first post-armour clothes will be one of Faye's baggy night tee-shirts (repurposed into a tank-top by happy necessity) and a sarong that's a repurposed bed sheet. After that it will be time to go to Big and Beefy People, the specialist XXXL clothier that dresses Elliott.

In the long term, I can see Bubbles wearing denim overalls at work.

[shanejayell]

Faye should lend Bubbles the 'Tsundere' t-shirt.

 

[hedgie]

I didn't say it was wrong, just that it was an adequate explanation of why Faye asked whether the compliment was OK.

And you totally ignored the hedgehog joke.

[Tova]

I admit that one flew over my head. 

[Zebediah]

Maybe you were just hedging your bets.

[HeavyP]

Awww!  And bonus - hugs with no skull-bruising "Donk!" this time, just a pleasant "Smoosh."

[Is it cold in here?]

I got the point.

[JoeCovenant]

Awww!  And bonus - hugs with no skull-bruising "Donk!" this time, just a pleasant "Smoosh."

And also, no awkward blush.
And not a hint of anything sexual...


Good. 

[BenRG]

FWIW, Faye isn't a blusher. She rarely if ever blushed during her relationship with Angus, even when they were both stark naked and discussing their respective experiences of sex.

[anahata]

Awww!  And bonus - hugs with no skull-bruising "Donk!" this time, just a pleasant "Smoosh."

The main significance to me was that for the first time (as I recall) it was Bubbles hugging Faye instead of the other way round.

[JoeCovenant]

FWIW, Faye isn't a blusher. She rarely if ever blushed during her relationship with Angus, even when they were both stark naked and discussing their respective experiences of sex.

Yeah, I was thinking more from Bubbles' POV...

[TinPenguin]

Cute, but that is not a cardigan.

[Zebediah]

This is last week's thread, by the way.

[JoeCovenant]

This is last week's thread, by the way.

Damn You and your Temporal Fascism!!!   

[Kugai]

TIME
MARCHES
ON!

[Morituri]

What?  No, March was two months ago.  Try to keep up, okay?

[cesium133]

Time flies like an arrow.
Fruit flies like a banana.

[Is it cold in here?]

From Pearls Before Swine:
Q. What kind of jeans do you have on?
A. Guess.

[BenRG]

Official Poll Results Post
Just what is Pintsize's deal?

1. He's a sort of troll who likes freaking out people by pretending to be transgressive - 14 (21.9%)
2. He is actually one of the world's greatest behavioural psychologists trying to help Marten and Faye with a carefully-planned series of fake actions - 13 (20.3%)
3. He has impulse control problems, does stupid things on a whim and doesn't think about possible consequences - 11 (17.2%)
4. He actually thinks that this is tremendously funny and doesn't get everyone's reaction - 9 (14.1%)
5. He's just a pervert but with more metal than most - 6 (9.4%)
6. At first it was just curiosity and a one-off practical joke but it's become a bit of a habit he's never bothered to shake - 5 (7.8%)
=7. He's a weird kind of abstract archetype that Jeph created of the whole concept of an AI having any sexuality at all - 3 (4.7%)
=7. Other reason (real world) - 3 (4.7%)
x. Other reason (in-universe) - 0 (0%)

A surprisingly close result this time! It seems odd that one of the oldest characters in the strip should generate such divided opinions as to his motives. I genuinely would have expected more people to have selected one of the "He's just an asshole" options or for the views of the character to be more settled!

[Tova]

The motivations of Pintsuze have been debated for some time afaik so I'm as little surprised at your surprise.

We've only ever really known him on a superficial level, so while he's outwardly the simple prankster, there have been a small number of hints that there's more going on, so of course there will be diverse opinions.

[cesium133]

Thinking of Pintsize, does anyone remember when "the day" from Zach Weiner's guest comics is? I vaguely seem to remember it being in 2017, but I'm not sure.

[jwhouk]

Thinking of Pintsize, does anyone remember when "the day" from Zach Weiner's guest comics is? I vaguely seem to remember it being in 2017, but I'm not sure.

July 22, 2017.

[cesium133]

Okay, so it's coming up pretty soon. I think the AIs will be good overlords.

[Method of Madness]

I mean, they'd probably do better than we do.

[Tova]

I really really hope Jeph writes at least a nod towards that guest comic when that day arrives.

[Is it cold in here?]

Ok Bubbles is cute as all hell, but I have to admit I'm now a bit concerned about where the relationship is going.  I have a bad feeling Bubbles is on the way to getting hurt.

The price of never getting hurt is exorbitant.

I have no need for friendship
Friendship causes pain
Its laughter and its loving I disdain

This time around Bubbles will have kick-ass friends to back her up when she does get hurt. Put Marten's steadiness and Faye's loyalty and Hannelore's insight together ...

I wish I could give extra likes just for the Simon & Garfunkel quotation. "I Am a Rock" was absolutely the perfect song to illustrate your point.

For some reason it took me this long to remember the lines of the song that really resonate with Bubbles. Imagine her living by herself at the fight club, clinging to her metalloceramic outer skin. Then remember

I am shielded in my armor
Hiding in my room
Safe within my womb
I touch no one and no one touches me