Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

The Reed/Bean family vacation (Marten, Claire (and Pintsize?) along for the ride; lots of coincidental background characters returning)

27 (16.2%)

The Fairy Girl ropes the ladies into some weird Summer Solstice festival

12 (7.2%)

Dora decides to add iced teas and iced coffees to CoD's repetoire; there are teething troubles

6 (3.6%)

Northampton's medieval-themed Summer Faire (Bubbles mentors Sam to win the Tournament)

30 (18%)

Claire's final exams looms; later the graduation is a significant thing

27 (16.2%)

Angus's show is on hiatus; he comes back to try to make peace with Faye

23 (13.8%)

Pintsize, having cleaned up at the poker game, goes on tour to several world casinos with Melon as his sidekick/assistant

8 (4.8%)

For the first time, Bubbles is able to face the annual reunion of the survivors of her unit

22 (13.2%)

Sven is going on tour to the summer Country festivals; somehow, May gets a Roadie job

8 (4.8%)

Other (please specify in a comment)

4 (2.4%)

Total Members Voted: 60

Voting closed: 26 Jun 2018, 15:18

[fayelovesbubbles]

So this comic has been going for 15 years now. Does anyone else feel like this story (much to my delight) is going to focus on Faye and Bubbles a lot? Faye is the central character other than Marten. I think the beginning of this relationship marks things maybe moving toward some kind of conclusion. I hope they stay together foreverandeverandever.

Which brings me to another point. How will Bubbles handle Faye getting old and gray? Sure, that's far off in the future, but it's reality. And she won't die, but Faye will. These are all interesting things to think about, how they'll handle this. I expect these discussions to happen in the future.

[St.Clair]

It's been said before (with many variations), but I'll say it again:
Courage is not the absence of fear, but acting despite it.

[fayelovesbubbles]

Totally. I mean, if there was no fear, why would you need courage?

[Milayna]

Oooh, I know! Charades!...
(Dunno why they had to take their clothes off to play Charades though...)

What, you’ve never played strip charades before?

Strip charades? That sounds...strange. I've done strip poker (years ago) though I'm not sure what rules strip charades would have. (Then again, I've never done regular charades either; I'm just aware of the general concept).

[Mojo]

This may seem trivial... but I notice in the recent strips, Bubbles' anatomy is carefully covered up.  That suggests the presence of things like nipples and genitalia.

This leads me to wonder at the PURPOSE of such things on a robotic body...?

Global Moderator Comment

We've been working to discourage speculation about what's inside swimsuit zones because it disturbs many forum members.

[Penquin47]

The original purpose behind surnames in most places in Europe was to distinguish which William (or Hans, or Jean, or whatever) was being talked about, because in any given village, there were a handful of common names that covered most of the villagers.  Nicknames helped (William, Will, Bill, Billy, etc), but "William the Baker", "The Short William," "William Who Lives At The Wood", "Tom's Son William" were also very useful.  Over time, those got shortened to William Baker, William Short, William Atwood, and William Thompson.  Among the nobility, house names were used, but there were also a) much fewer of them and b) more need to know who William's second cousins were.

[Dandi Andi]

This may seem trivial... but I notice in the recent strips, Bubbles' anatomy is carefully covered up.  That suggests the presence of things like nipples and genitalia.

This leads me to wonder at the PURPOSE of such things on a robotic body...?

The commonly accepted and canonical answer is "mind your business".

This is a subject that has been popping up quite a bit with the current arc and has lead to several other threads being locked down. I would prefer to not further agitate the moderators.  Please leave speculation about characters' anatomy off the forum.

[fayelovesbubbles]

This may seem trivial... but I notice in the recent strips, Bubbles' anatomy is carefully covered up.  That suggests the presence of things like nipples and genitalia.

This leads me to wonder at the PURPOSE of such things on a robotic body...?

I don't know. I mean, what's the purpose of her face? Or hair? Or her arms and legs? Or anything? Why shouldn't she have them?
 
redacted--don't wanna get in trouble.

[fayelovesbubbles]

So I was on reddit and saw this cute proposal gif, and it got me to wondering...who will propose? Faye? Bubbles?

Yeah, I know, I'm getting ahead of myself. 

[zisraelsen]

You should change your username to fayeisgonnaproposetobubbles and start the cycle again.

[Dandi Andi]

You should change your username to fayeisgonnaproposetobubbles and start the cycle again.

... Is there a way to do that?

I'm asking for a friend...

[zisraelsen]

I could have sworn there was, but the little bit of poking around I'm doing is proving me wrong.

[Case]

You should change your username to fayeisgonnaproposetobubbles and start the cycle again.

... Is there a way to do that?

I'm asking for a friend...

I could have sworn there was, but the little bit of poking around I'm doing is proving me wrong.

Far as I recall, the mods can change your username for you.

[shanejayell]

AWWWWWWWW.

Also, this next....

http://www.wmcactionnews5.com/story/38291972/couple-both-bring-rings-to-memphis-zoo-to-propose-to-each-other

[Case]

Somehow, "Roko Cop" seems a bit much

Roko Schultz (or Schulz, if you use the spelling from Case's list).  Now if Elliot's surname turns out to be Becker....

The 'simple Schulz' is commonly taken as 'representative' of all different spellings (Schulz, Schultz, Schulze, Schultes ... not sure about the americanized versions, like Shultz). They all derive from the office of Schultheiss - which is not exactly a Sheriff. IIRC, the original office was something akin to a sort of bailiff - the name could be read as "dues-enforcer" (it's a concatenation of "dues" and "to order").

[fayelovesbubbles]

You should change your username to fayeisgonnaproposetobubbles and start the cycle again.

Ha ha ha...nah.

[haikupoet]

Aw, Bubbles, it’s so cute that you think this could in a t way be a secret...

[fayelovesbubbles]

Right? It’s already out there. The friends are waiting to hear it’s official.

[awgiedawgie]

Could be its different with you 'Merricans, but Krauts seemed to find it more practical to associate people with what they were doing, or where they were doing it - maybe because those are pretty handy ways of locating the respective individual, when you don't have a county clerk's registry.

Not only locating the individuals, but keeping them all straight. When you have 50 people in a small area, all named John, their profession is one of the most obvious distinctions. Someone says "have you seen John?" "Which one?" "The baker." Eventually people stop saying "John the baker", and he's just "John Baker".

America was settled by immigrants from all over the world, and by the time the first settlers arrived here, the use of surnames was prevalent pretty much everywhere. So most people just carried over the surname from whoever in their family first arrived here. Forrester stayed Forrester, Schneider stayed Schneider, Miyafuji stayed Miyafuji, Woiczekowsky stayed Woiczekowsky (but no one in America knows how to say it correctly). Some people - for their own personal safety - changed their names during war time. In WWII, many Americans named Kaiser changed their name to Kisser. Others - for the aforementioned pronunciation problem - changed their name to something that was phonetically close. Dziadosz (Polish for "grandfather" or "old man") became Jardis.

[Bad Superman]

This may seem trivial... but I notice in the recent strips, Bubbles' anatomy is carefully covered up.  That suggests the presence of things like nipples and genitalia.

This leads me to wonder at the PURPOSE of such things on a robotic body...?

I don't know. I mean, what's the purpose of her face? Or hair? Or her arms and legs? Or anything? Why shouldn't she have them?
 
redacted--don't wanna get in trouble.

What I'm currently wondering about is, would the whole Faybles-arc have taken the same course, if Bubbles" Chassis looked more like ED209?



We've seen "ED's cousin" in the comic, so… what if?

[Bollthorn]

So this comic has been going for 15 years now. Does anyone else feel like this story (much to my delight) is going to focus on Faye and Bubbles a lot? Faye is the central character other than Marten. I think the beginning of this relationship marks things maybe moving toward some kind of conclusion. I hope they stay together foreverandeverandever.

Which brings me to another point. How will Bubbles handle Faye getting old and gray? Sure, that's far off in the future, but it's reality. And she won't die, but Faye will. These are all interesting things to think about, how they'll handle this. I expect these discussions to happen in the future.

Maybe by the time Faye reaches old age AI technology will have advanced far enough that if a person chooses so, they can have their consciousness or "soul" transferred into an AI body. Kinda like how they did at the end of 

(click to show/hide)

'Chappie'

Also we all know what they've been up to. As Brian Blessed would so elegantly put it, RUMPY PUMPY

[Skewbrow]

In modern Iceland, last names for men are all (father's first name)+(son) and women's are (mother's first name)+(daughter). So the phone books are organized by first name!

That would mean Icelanders (that correct?) do not have family names in the sense that all members of one "family unit" (parents + 1st gen offspring) share one single name?

Correct (AFAIK). The tendency to honor grandparents in the choice of the first (given) name is still there. A father-son combination of former athletes, Vilhjalmur Einarsson and Einar Vilhjalmsson, springs to mind. Not sure whether the Icelandic customs lead to names periodically repeating every other generation 

Also, at the last Euro cup, the Icelandic footballers wanted to have their first names printed on their jerseys. UEFA was against it. Don't remember how that was settled in the end.

[Perfectly Reasonable]

What do WE think they've been doing?
We have a pretty good idea of what a human female finds pleasurable.
But what about a female who happens to be an AI?
The process of AI creation is still poorly understood. The creation of a libido seems to be an unintended side effect. The satisfaction of this drive can result in strange behaviors. (points to Pintsize,  May,  Roko)
But it is clear that Faye is able to pleasure Bubbles. (YAY!)

And now the mods are giving me the hairy eyeball. Bye!
 

[oeoek]

What they did? Jeph told us

[Is it cold in here?]

In modern Iceland, last names for men are all (father's first name)+(son) and women's are (mother's first name)+(daughter). So the phone books are organized by first name!

There's a blogger and author named Alda Sigmundsdottir who loves to write about naming. There are a few people with actual surnames, including my friend there.

The other fun thing about the Icelandic phone book is that it lists people's occupations based on self reporting. Some people have been creative with this.

[Is it cold in here?]

Which brings me to another point. How will Bubbles handle Faye getting old and gray? Sure, that's far off in the future, but it's reality. And she won't die, but Faye will. These are all interesting things to think about, how they'll handle this. I expect these discussions to happen in the future.

Bubbles will care for Faye in her old age and I think will remain attracted to her. She knows now how to rebuild after a loss, so she will mourn and re-marry.

[Is it cold in here?]

You should change your username to fayeisgonnaproposetobubbles and start the cycle again.

... Is there a way to do that?

I'm asking for a friend...

I could have sworn there was, but the little bit of poking around I'm doing is proving me wrong.

Far as I recall, the mods can change your username for you.

PM me for a name change. I will ask you to put something in the re-introductions thread.

[Perfectly Reasonable]

In 3743, Faye and Bubbles march into the future with identical expressions.
(that's the funny)
But humans and AIs are -not- the same. Otherwise, what's the point?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Okay.
Bubbles can pleasure Faye, and Faye can pleasure Bubbles.
This is all we know and all we need to know.
Bye!

[Is it cold in here?]

What do WE think they've been doing?
We have a pretty good idea of what a human female finds pleasurable.
But what about a female who happens to be an AI?
The process of AI creation is still poorly understood. The creation of a libido seems to be an unintended side effect. The satisfaction of this drive can result in strange behaviors. (points to Pintsize,  May,  Roko)
But it is clear that Faye is able to pleasure Bubbles. (YAY!)

And now the mods are giving me the hairy eyeball. Bye!

Global Moderator Comment

We can celebrate their closeness without seeing the USB cables or intruding into their business.

[Greymoon]

I for one wanna see what kind of scarf they ended up with.

[BenRG]

Ever since I first saw this strip on Patreon, I've been wondering about what Bubbles said in panel 4. She's 'always been different, in some ways'. I think that Jeph is leaving a huge hook for later revelations there. Revelations that, I suspect, might answer many questions about why she still has her milspec chassis and why sex works for her.

My suspicion is that Dr Ellicott-Chatham has been working for a long time to avoid a violent singularity by creating close bonds between humans and synthetics. The objective of the program was to influence AIs to have a strong subconscious need to make those bonds and, to a certain extent, to desire and find fulfilment in living human-like lives in anthropomimetic chassis. A violent confrontation is less likely if society evolves to see humans and AIs as two sides of the same coin - just more or less hydrocarbon in their make-up.

I'm also wondering if Bubbles' chassis represents a next-generation attempt to create anthropomimetic chassis that give AIs a fully human-like experience of the world. Naturally, only the military can afford sensor rigs like that so ECI had to dress it up as a combat chassis but the real objective was to create authentic synthetic humans. It's level of non-mission functionality may actually be quite extensive.

If I'm right, I'm wondering if Momo might be another product of this experiment.

[hakko504]

I for one wanna see what kind of scarf they ended up with.

At least they will end up a very closely knit couple.

[Greymoon]

I for one wanna see what kind of scarf they ended up with.

At least they will end up a very closely knit couple.

Your well-woven pun amuses me.

[awgiedawgie]

Ever since I first saw this strip on Patreon, I've been wondering about what Bubbles said in panel 4. She's 'always been different, in some ways'. I think that Jeph is leaving a huge hook for later revelations there.

I suppose it might be a hook, but I just see her reflecting on things that have already been revealed...

As an AI, she is different from her human counterparts.
As a soldier, she was different from her AI counterparts.
As a result of being an AI and a soldier, she was an outcast - first she was an outcast to other AIs for being a soldier, and after the military program was canceled, she was an outcast to the military for the program not being successful (even though it wasn't even her fault - they always choose a scapegoat).

Basically, she's never quite fit in, and it's made her very self-conscious. It's always been uncomfortable for her. But now she's finally OK with it.

[Tova]

I for one wanna see what kind of scarf they ended up with.

At least they will end up a very closely knit couple.

Your well-woven pun amuses me.

It gave me a warm and fuzzy feeling.

[bhtooefr]

Bubbles will care for Faye in her old age and I think will remain attracted to her. She knows now how to rebuild after a loss, so she will mourn and re-marry.

I feel like talking about marriage as if it's a done deal after they've been a couple for two hours is just slightly premature.

[Thrillho]

Okay so am I crazy to think...if you’re attracted to people, you’re attracted to people. An AI is a person. Why does there have to be a separate sexuality for it? Maybe that’s weird to say. Marten said it best, he doesn’t think of Pintsize as anything but his unusually small roommate.

Because society is fucked. Why do people have to come out? Why do people assume hetero unless otherwise stated? This is a discussion I've had with numerous people of late, including on here, and while a 'why does it need its own word?' principle is really nice hypothetically, in practice it's a blank cheque for oppressors.

Is it just me, or does being involved with Brun seem like a bad idea for any of the QC characters. Sharing jokes and food seems about her limit for comfortable closeness - and not for Bubbles-like reasons.

Have you ever met anybody like Brun? Because I don't think this is particularly fair. There's speculation on this forum from Brun's debut about her being AS or on the spectrum somewhere, and while Jeph has never confirmed this, your description there suggests that getting involved with an AS/autistic person would be a bad idea. For the record, that also includes me, but I'm responding more on behalf of the socially awkward or introverted or antisocial and everyone in between rather than myself.

I am really wondering what Brun’s deal is, to be honest. She knows Clinton and Elliot like her and she just...isn’t doing anything one way or the other. She does seem to be on the spectrum, but even so, she must feel one way or the other about them. I’m not a fan of her opaque nature.

Being that physically close to Clinton, she has to have known she was making him feel ...things. I don’t know if she’s trolling us or intentionally oblivious.

Christ, mate, it could also be neither, you know? Some of us more opaque people aren't such a fan of the transparent nature of modernity. To take it to the extreme, if I have to choose between Brun's 'you will never know anything about me' attitude and my 16-18 year old students' 'I put a photo of every time I get a Subway up on Insta and Snapchat' I definitely choose Brun.

I’ll take it a step further and assert that Brun isn’t obligated to do anything at all about how others feel about her. Including recognize that those feelings exist.

Now, if she chooses to acknowledge those feelings and give Clinton and/or Elliot a clear response to them, good for her. But it is in no way required.

I liked this post. Then I unliked it, just so I could like it again. Excellent work, Zeb.

Heh, Jeph definitely reads the forums.

Sometimes. Not particularly often. Usually after someone has logged a mod report because he gets those too, and occasionally will show up just to fire someone out of an airlock, call them a dickweasel or something and then leave.

TWO HOURS??? Damn ladies, didn't know you had it in ya. 

In my own experience, two female-identifying or vagina-having folks would find this to be fairly standard. I'd defer to the actual lesbians and vagina-havers of the forum, but I've been in a relationship with two NB vagina-havers the past couple of years and they as well as the other folks I've spoken to seem to line up with this experience. One of the many reasons why so many people would benefit from a reduction in hetero-normativity! And a reason why I often wish I had a vulva rather than a penis 

NOT sudden. NOT unexpected. Faye, everyone has just been waiting for you guys to get together. So be together and know that everyone who cares about you wants this for you. Even your SISTER has been waiting. So don't worry!

Bear in mind that comic time moves slower than real time. Despite being a comic that's been running for the better part of two decades, I think only a few years have passed in the comic timeline, and that's including a time skip or two.

You should change your username to fayeisgonnaproposetobubbles and start the cycle again.

... Is there a way to do that?

I'm asking for a friend...

I could have sworn there was, but the little bit of poking around I'm doing is proving me wrong.

Far as I recall, the mods can change your username for you.

Admins can, which is only hodgy, cold and Jeph. None of us regular mods can.

[sniktchtherat]

Regarding 'two hours' - the US has a particularly bad average when it comes to intimacy durations - most Europeans who answer such questions spend upwards of an hour even with hetero couples.  The US average is...15 minutes.  Partly it's the Puritan heritage showing; sex being entirely for procreation because pleasure is de debil, we must suffers eternally for the sins of the past mindset.  Partly it's the greater acceptance of sex and sexuality in Europe leading to proper education regarding the mindset of intimacy - the greatest pleasure one can experience is that which is generated by seeing someone you care about completely lost in bliss...and knowing you helped make that happen.

If Bubbles and Faye are spending two hours intimately, then I am damn glad for them.

[sitnspin]

TWO HOURS??? Damn ladies, didn't know you had it in ya. 

In my own experience, two female-identifying or vagina-having folks would find this to be fairly standard.

It has certainly been my own experience. The advantage of multiple orgasms, no refractory period, and the tendency for us to focus on more than just trying to reach climax as soon as possible.

[Shteevie]

TWO HOURS??? Damn ladies, didn't know you had it in ya. 

"Only two hours?"

There; fixed it for you.

[Thrillho]

TWO HOURS??? Damn ladies, didn't know you had it in ya. 

In my own experience, two female-identifying or vagina-having folks would find this to be fairly standard.

It has certainly been my own experience. The advantage of multiple orgasms, no refractory period, and the tendency for us to focus on more than just trying to reach climax as soon as possible.

T'was precisely you that I was hoping would respond when I said I was sure someone else on here would be able to back me up. One of my current lovers identified as lesbian before me, so I'm... weirdly experienced with lesbian sex, I guess?

[SubaruStephen]

TWO HOURS??? Damn ladies, didn't know you had it in ya. 

Wow.......that’s plenty of time for someone to set up the Arbor Day banner in the living room (and then go play poker...or to a coffee shop).

[Bad Superman]

And then there are women who prefer "good hard 10 minutes" to "an exhausting marathon that leaves you tired and sore" (their words, not mine).

EDIT:
Oh, and of course there are also men who don't see sex as a race... me being one of them.

[mgrayson3]

Is it just me, or does being involved with Brun seem like a bad idea for any of the QC characters. Sharing jokes and food seems about her limit for comfortable closeness - and not for Bubbles-like reasons.

Have you ever met anybody like Brun? Because I don't think this is particularly fair. There's speculation on this forum from Brun's debut about her being AS or on the spectrum somewhere, and while Jeph has never confirmed this, your description there suggests that getting involved with an AS/autistic person would be a bad idea. For the record, that also includes me, but I'm responding more on behalf of the socially awkward or introverted or antisocial and everyone in between rather than myself.

Yes. Two immediate family members. One much further out than Brun and one slightly closer to the average.

My statement arises from Brun's seeming lack of interest in a more intimate relationship. Should she want one, and be willing to face the difficulties and changes to her routines? Then sure. I'm not implying she's "bad" or "damaged". She's one of the most interesting characters, and that's a high bar!

 

[fayelovesbubbles]

Ha! I was mostly joking. Two hours is pretty average.

[fayelovesbubbles]

Last panel is too cute for words.

[Is it cold in here?]

Bubbles will care for Faye in her old age and I think will remain attracted to her. She knows now how to rebuild after a loss, so she will mourn and re-marry.

I feel like talking about marriage as if it's a done deal after they've been a couple for two hours is just slightly premature.

Any other couple, certainly.

Our culture treats sex as more definitive than it is. They didn't quite realize it but emotionally they've been a couple for some time now.

When my wife moved in she got acquainted with the neighbors and heard they had thought I was a "marriage waiting to happen". I see Bubbles that way.

I imagine Jeph having Bubbles be the one to propose, well before Faye is ready to process the idea.

[oeoek]

Flump...

(click to show/hide)

[bhtooefr]

Any other couple, certainly.

Our culture treats sex as more definitive than it is. They didn't quite realize it but emotionally they've been a couple for some time now.

When my wife moved in she got acquainted with the neighbors and heard they had thought I was a "marriage waiting to happen". I see Bubbles that way.

I imagine Jeph having Bubbles be the one to propose, well before Faye is ready to process the idea.

I was rounding down to two hours, figuring there was very little time between them admitting their feelings, and their hasty retreat to their bedroom. (I was starting it at "I would never ask you to leave", not when they started having sex. Just that the two events were very close in time to one another.) And, that's just the thing, while they've effectively been a couple, they're just now starting to process the implications, and there could be some things that make marriage not certain.

Not saying it won't happen, just saying that the ship's barely out of dry dock, let's give it time before we send it on an around the world voyage?

[awgiedawgie]

Regarding 'two hours' - the US has a particularly bad average when it comes to intimacy durations - most Europeans who answer such questions spend upwards of an hour even with hetero couples.  The US average is...15 minutes.  Partly it's the Puritan heritage showing; sex being entirely for procreation because pleasure is de debil, we must suffers eternally for the sins of the past mindset.  Partly it's the greater acceptance of sex and sexuality in Europe leading to proper education regarding the mindset of intimacy - the greatest pleasure one can experience is that which is generated by seeing someone you care about completely lost in bliss...and knowing you helped make that happen.

If Bubbles and Faye are spending two hours intimately, then I am damn glad for them.

I get the feeling that it's more a problem of the "instant gratification" mindset. I get you off, you get me off, slam bam thank you ma'am, and we go do something else... separately. My first wife was like that, despite my desire for intimacy (I suppose in hindsight, I should have seen that as a sign that she was cheating on me, but I was young and trusting... and clueless).

Personally, I was more than happy to spend two hours - and then some - in the bedroom with my last girlfriend. One nice thing about doing that, for guys as well as girls, is the opportunity for multiple orgasms. But really, it's just about two people being as close to each other as physically possible.