Topic: WCDT strips 3671 to 3675 (5th to 9th February 2018) (Read 43453 times)

BenRG · « **on:** 04 Feb 2018, 14:27 »

Jeph isn't the sort of guy to do a Valentine's Day special strip or arc but, if he was, which canon couple would you like to see featured? Or how would you like him to subvert the whole thing?

Whilst I would love to have a totally silent four-panel with Steve and Cossette (just to maximise the troll), if I really had to give my favourite option, both for comedic and characterisation reasons, I'd like for the singletons to get together to flip the day the bird and declare how happy they are to be single. Naturally, as the night progresses, they all start becoming rather bitter about the state of affairs of their personal lives and may inadvertently give clues about who they'd prefer to be with that night.

Okay, so I'm a frustrated romcom writer.

Let me know what you want to see!

War Sparrow · « **Reply #1 on:** 04 Feb 2018, 16:45 »

I'd like Sven to come back.
Hanging out with his intern, reading, having a lovely discussion with Jimbo that leads to a concept album about lesbian werewolf ranchers rescuing their little town from an evil developer vampire zombie.

blt · « **Reply #2 on:** 04 Feb 2018, 17:12 »

Isn't Valentine's Day next week?

Tova · « **Reply #3 on:** 04 Feb 2018, 17:17 »

Incurable!

I picked Jim/Veronica/Sam because I would quite like to see them again some time soon.

Gyrre · « **Reply #4 on:** 04 Feb 2018, 18:36 »

Quote from: War Sparrow on 04 Feb 2018, 16:45

I'd like Sven to come back.
Hanging out with his intern, reading, having a lovely discussion with Jimbo that leads to a concept album about lesbian werewolf ranchers rescuing their little town from an evil developer vampire zombie.

Would Sven be the sort to eat black noodles on Singles Awarness Day?

Gyrre · « **Reply #5 on:** 04 Feb 2018, 18:38 »

Those are some tough choices.

Wouldn't Brun be invited to the 'contently single party' by one of the two individuals in denial?

SpanielBear · « **Reply #6 on:** 04 Feb 2018, 19:31 »

Comic!

God-dammit Jeph. I love you, but another week of this? The forums cannae take it!

TRenn · « **Reply #7 on:** 04 Feb 2018, 19:39 »

Well, this ship tease is going to be in transit for a while. it has far too much comedic potential to be resolved any time soon.

Hopefully Bubbles' 'blush stickers" have been properly serviced, they're going to get a lot of use for a while.

TheEvilDog · « **Reply #8 on:** 04 Feb 2018, 19:44 »

*Grabs some popcorn and sits back to await the fireworks on the forum*

Rincewind · « **Reply #9 on:** 04 Feb 2018, 19:47 »

That fourth panel is just full of "aaaaawwwwwwwww!" With a side of Squeeee!

SmilingCat · « **Reply #10 on:** 04 Feb 2018, 20:16 »

Faye blush!

I have a theory that Faye is partially unsure with her feelings because she hasn't come to the realization that romantic love doesn't necessarily have to come with sexual attraction.

Quote from: SpanielBear on 04 Feb 2018, 19:31

God-dammit Jeph. I love you, but another week of this? The forums cannae take it!

Drag it out another five hundred strips, Jeph, their tears will sustain you!

A small perverse otter · « **Reply #11 on:** 04 Feb 2018, 20:16 »

Oh, boy. You just had to go there, didn't you, Jeph? You'd gotten the whole forum in line, and you just had to launch a ~~tweet-storm~~comic like that.

War Sparrow · « **Reply #12 on:** 04 Feb 2018, 20:49 »

Quote from: Gyrre on 04 Feb 2018, 18:36

Quote from: War Sparrow on 04 Feb 2018, 16:45
I'd like Sven to come back.
Hanging out with his intern, reading, having a lovely discussion with Jimbo that leads to a concept album about lesbian werewolf ranchers rescuing their little town from an evil developer vampire zombie.

Would Sven be the sort to eat black noodles on Singles Awarness Day?

Sven is actually so deep into his novel on Viking trade routes he's missed the whole holiday.

brasca · « **Reply #13 on:** 04 Feb 2018, 21:45 »

I voted for option 3 since all of the others are couples and thus not single.

And it’s nice to see Faye blush even if it’s once for every 10 times Bubbles does it.

A small perverse otter · « **Reply #14 on:** 04 Feb 2018, 21:47 »

Singles Awareness Day falls on Ash Wednesday this year, so everybody will be so busy recovering from their Mardi Gras blowouts the night before that they won't care about whether they're coupled or not.

(On non-leap years when Ash Wednesday is Singles Awareness Day, Easter falls on April Fool's Day. Draw whatever conclusions you like from that.)

shanejayell · « **Reply #15 on:** 04 Feb 2018, 21:54 »

AWWWWWW.

Yeah, Faye, one of these days Bubbles is just gonna explode.

Loki · « **Reply #16 on:** 04 Feb 2018, 22:48 »

Personally, I just want to see Sara happy with the allosaur.

BenRG · « **Reply #17 on:** 04 Feb 2018, 23:17 »

Today's strip supports my theory that we missed something during the time skip - Specifically Faye becoming more tactile with Bubbles because, as Bubbles once pointed out, humans tend to do physical contact to reassure friends. What this meant was that Faye actually didn't notice when her touching became more intimate and emotionally loaded (I think that Bubbles holding her face when Spookybot offered their help was the boundary marker). However she does feel those emotions and attraction. I just think that it's her self-esteem issues and her unwillingness to push Bubbles into something for which she may not be ready is holding her back.

Panels 3-5 in today's strip seem to suggest that Faye and Bubbles are at the 'hug and draw strength from each other so often that they don't notice it' stage. I also think that Faye is just teetering on the precipice where she doesn't really know what the thinks or feels about any of this anymore.

poofdepoof · « **Reply #18 on:** 04 Feb 2018, 23:29 »

I know everyone's talking about how Jeph is going to tease this out &c &c but... I feel like Jeph is actually fairly generous about payoffs. I feel like the cogs are starting to turn in Faye's head... And now that the forum poll mentions it, I'm wondering if Valentine's day will actually help the matter.

Near Lurker · « **Reply #19 on:** 04 Feb 2018, 23:36 »

Dammit, Faye. You're too smart to be this oblivious. At least recognize what's not happening.

anahata · « **Reply #20 on:** 05 Feb 2018, 00:29 »

I think Faye has just recognized it. The blush says it all.

Cornelius · « **Reply #21 on:** 05 Feb 2018, 00:40 »

Well, mutual blushing: perhaps they are both indeed content to leave it at this for the moment.

Quote from: SmilingCat on 04 Feb 2018, 20:16

Drag it out another five hundred strips, Jeph, their tears will sustain you!

A ship needs to float on something, you know.

gopher · « **Reply #22 on:** 05 Feb 2018, 03:42 »

We get it. Bubbles is attracted to Faye, and Faye doesn't quite realise it. Switch to another plotline, please.

BenRG · « **Reply #23 on:** 05 Feb 2018, 03:45 »

Quote from: gopher on 05 Feb 2018, 03:42

We get it. Bubbles is attracted to Faye, and Faye doesn't quite realise it. Switch to another plotline, please.

I think that today's strip takes things one more step. This is Jeph confirming that Faye feels something strong about Bubbles and, at this point, is either not thinking about it or doesn't know what to think about it.

traroth · « **Reply #24 on:** 05 Feb 2018, 04:39 »

Ok, I was wrong. It's still cool. They are so cute, in today's comic...

Pennepasta · « **Reply #25 on:** 05 Feb 2018, 04:52 »

Quote from: BenRG on 05 Feb 2018, 03:45

Quote from: gopher on 05 Feb 2018, 03:42
We get it. Bubbles is attracted to Faye, and Faye doesn't quite realise it. Switch to another plotline, please.

I think that today's strip takes things one more step. This is Jeph confirming that Faye feels something strong about Bubbles and, at this point, is either not thinking about it or doesn't know what to think about it.

I agree there. Feels very like the Clinton/Elliot strip where they were being all cutesy, and then Elliot let on later that he was attracted to Clinton. Flip knows *quite* which strip that was, though

ckridge · « **Reply #26 on:** 05 Feb 2018, 05:04 »

I'm solidly aboard ship, but today's strip irritated me at first. I thought initially that Faye was being jerked out of character to tease readers. I could see no plausible way she could have moved so quickly from mere friendliness to compliments and hugging. After consideration, though, I think it makes narrative sense.

If you go back and read the last five strips together, they show movement toward greater intimacy. Faye asks searching questions. Bubbles answers them even though clearly embarrassed. Faye comforts her embarrassment by petting her. Bubbles responds with her own searching question, thereby showing that she is seeking intimacy too, not merely enduring it. Answering the question, Faye realizes that she has had no desire for anyone else since she took up with Bubbles, and is content with this. And thus, sweet talk and hugging. Conversations like this are the mental equivalent of sex. They do not necessarily lead to physical sex, any more than affectionate touching does, but they put sex near by.

ckridge · « **Reply #27 on:** 05 Feb 2018, 08:18 »

As to Singles Awareness Day, I would like a one-shot of Hannelore off in the world somewhere, solving differential equations, repairing satellites, disassembling, cleaning, and reassembling a stove, flying a wingsuit, conversing with an itinerant on a Greyhound bus, talking with Station on the phone, cleaning a zendo, climbing a mountain, or whatever it is that she is doing to get her feet more solidly under her.

JoeCovenant · « **Reply #28 on:** 05 Feb 2018, 09:59 »

Can I just say...

I was totally unaware of Singles Awareness day...!

oddtail · « **Reply #29 on:** 05 Feb 2018, 10:04 »

Quote from: JoeCovenant on 05 Feb 2018, 09:59

Can I just say...

I was totally unaware of Singles Awareness day...!

We need a Singles Awareness Day Awareness Day!

SpanielBear · « **Reply #30 on:** 05 Feb 2018, 10:54 »

Quote from: oddtail on 05 Feb 2018, 10:04

Quote from: JoeCovenant on 05 Feb 2018, 09:59

Can I just say...

I was totally unaware of Singles Awareness day...!

We need a Singles Awareness Day Awareness Day!

So long as it doesn't fall on Infinite Recursion Awareness Day, that should be fine.

TinPenguin · « **Reply #31 on:** 05 Feb 2018, 10:59 »

I believe it typically falls on the Feast Day of Cyril and Methodius, for those unlucky enough to have no bro to create transformative new writing systems with.

Mr. Skawronska · « **Reply #32 on:** 05 Feb 2018, 16:30 »

Other: May "trying her feminine wiles" on a human. Hilarity ensues. Pintsize gets jealous.

Zelia · « **Reply #33 on:** 05 Feb 2018, 16:56 »

Long time reader (since 2008 I think), new poster because there's an angle here I'm not sure people are considering. This relationship between Faye and Bubbles is the first intimate, asexual, non-romantic partnership between any characters in this strip, the first queerplatonic relationship. While some people are calling for a resolution to perceived romantic tension, and other's just want Jeph to change focus for a while, I find their relationship refreshing. All too often in literature the very important friendships in people's lives, the sorts of friendships that are true partnerships, are treated as second-string to romantic and sexual relationships. Even though Bubbles may be interested in romance to some extent, she's clearly happy with the partnership she has, and may be willing to leave behind her romantic interest forever to sustain that relationship. Even romantically inclined people can be perfectly happy without romance in their lives. There doesn't need to be a resolution. And I'm happy to continue watching their friendship as they feel out their personal boundaries. This is what queerplatonic relationships are all about, that personal definition of what works and what doesn't for the people involved.

I'd actually be disappointed if Jeph decided to quickly veer this off into romance or sex. It's interesting as it is.

ckridge · « **Reply #34 on:** 05 Feb 2018, 17:05 »

Hi, Zelia. I, too, am happy to see the present growth of trust and intimacy between Faye and Bubbles go on for a long time. I think romantic love is one of the highest possible human states, but this gradual opening is beautiful to see and good in itself, not merely as a route to something else.

I must differ about this being the first intimate, asexual, non-romantic partnership in the strip, though. Such relationships are the rule between humans and AnthroPCs. Pintsize and Marten, Hannelore and Winston, and Marigold and Momo all have such relationships.

evilbabyorphanage · « **Reply #35 on:** 05 Feb 2018, 17:10 »

Quote from: SpanielBear on 05 Feb 2018, 10:54

Quote from: oddtail on 05 Feb 2018, 10:04
Quote from: JoeCovenant on 05 Feb 2018, 09:59

Can I just say...

I was totally unaware of Singles Awareness day...!

We need a Singles Awareness Day Awareness Day!

So long as it doesn't fall on Infinite Recursion Awareness Day, that should be fine.

Doesn't everything fall on Infinite Recursion Awareness Day?

Gyrre · « **Reply #36 on:** 05 Feb 2018, 17:37 »

Quote from: A small perverse otter on 04 Feb 2018, 21:47

Singles Awareness Day falls on Ash Wednesday this year, so everybody will be so busy recovering from their Mardi Gras blowouts the night before that they won't care about whether they're coupled or not.

(On non-leap years when Ash Wednesday is Singles Awareness Day, Easter falls on April Fool's Day. Draw whatever conclusions you like from that.)

General poor planning on the part of the Roman Catholic church, I'd say. Christmas should be in September after all.

Gyrre · « **Reply #37 on:** 05 Feb 2018, 17:41 »

Quote from: Near Lurker on 04 Feb 2018, 23:36

Dammit, Faye. You're too smart to be this oblivious. At least recognize what's not happening.

Smart people can be plenty oblivious. Trust me.

Thrudd · « **Reply #38 on:** 05 Feb 2018, 17:53 »

Quote from: Gyrre on 05 Feb 2018, 17:41

Quote from: Near Lurker on 04 Feb 2018, 23:36
Dammit, Faye. You're too smart to be this oblivious. At least recognize what's not happening.
Smart people can be plenty oblivious. Trust me.

Well it may be that so many points were put into knowledge skills that there were none left over for non-verbal communication.
For some it is trying to communicate with a squid - even if the signals are obvious there is no clue on what is meant outside of generalities at best.

Is it cold in here? · « **Reply #39 on:** 05 Feb 2018, 18:16 »

Quote from: Zelia

While some people are calling for a resolution to perceived romantic tension, and other's just want Jeph to change focus for a while, I find their relationship refreshing.

Welcome, not-exactly-new person!

I too would consider it good art to show a relationship like what Faye and Bubbles have as a success. "Refreshing" is just the right word.

I worry that they are both products of the world they grew up in and got their ideas from. If they've watched too many romantic comedies, for example, their hidden assumptions will interfere with their discovery and development of a queerplatonic relationship.

Which, let's note, is a kind of relationship more likely to benefit both of them than a conventional sexual one.

jwhouk · « **Reply #40 on:** 05 Feb 2018, 18:35 »

Quote from: evilbabyorphanage on 05 Feb 2018, 17:10

Quote from: SpanielBear on 05 Feb 2018, 10:54
Quote from: oddtail on 05 Feb 2018, 10:04
Quote from: JoeCovenant on 05 Feb 2018, 09:59

Can I just say...

I was totally unaware of Singles Awareness day...!

We need a Singles Awareness Day Awareness Day!

So long as it doesn't fall on Infinite Recursion Awareness Day, that should be fine.

Doesn't everything fall on Infinite Recursion Awareness Day?

Or is it nothing? I can never remember.

Perfectly Reasonable · « **Reply #41 on:** 05 Feb 2018, 20:09 »

Quote from: Loki on 04 Feb 2018, 22:48

Personally, I just want to see Sara happy with the allosaur.

They are obviously meant for one another.

TheEvilDog · « **Reply #42 on:** 05 Feb 2018, 20:11 »

Quote from: Perfectly Reasonable on 05 Feb 2018, 20:09

Quote from: Loki on 04 Feb 2018, 22:48
Personally, I just want to see Sara happy with the allosaur.

They are obviously meant for one another.

That point doesn't have a leg to stand on.

(Just like Sara)

MamiyaOtaru · « **Reply #43 on:** 05 Feb 2018, 20:30 »

whoa! a new dude character

Neko_Ali · « **Reply #44 on:** 05 Feb 2018, 20:34 »

oh no... It's happening... With Hannelore's extended absence, Claire's floof is becoming lonely and restless. It seeks to add others to it's mass by any means necessary. THE FLOOFENING HAS BEGUN!

Gyrre · « **Reply #45 on:** 05 Feb 2018, 21:02 »

Quote from: Neko_Ali on 05 Feb 2018, 20:34

oh no... It's happening... With Hannelore's extended absence, Claire's floof is becoming lonely and restless. It seeks to add others to it's mass by any means necessary. THE FLOOFENING HAS BEGUN!

Well, at least it's not a semi-hypnotic beard.

Tova · « **Reply #46 on:** 05 Feb 2018, 21:05 »

SHENANIGANS

I like the mirrored body language in panel one.

BarGamer · « **Reply #47 on:** 05 Feb 2018, 21:21 »

Off the top of MY head, they should either disassemble Pintsize, or call Hanners. Off the top of Claire's head, go with the scissors.

TheEvilDog · « **Reply #48 on:** 05 Feb 2018, 21:46 »

Well obviously things can't keep going on like this. Things are getting way too crazy and someone is going to get hurt. One of them is going to have to go.

Marten, pack a bag, you're staying at Steve's until you find a new place.

Or maybe hang out with Hanners.

Whichever works.

Mad Cat · « **Reply #49 on:** 05 Feb 2018, 21:59 »

"poor decision-making skills"

… on WHOSE part?

THESE FORUMS NOW CLOSED (read only)

Poll

How to mark Singles Awareness Day?

Author Topic: WCDT strips 3671 to 3675 (5th to 9th February 2018) (Read 43453 times)

TheEvilDog

TheEvilDog

TheEvilDog