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The Wedding Overshadows All.

8 (21.1%)

Faye has a stumble.

7 (18.4%)

Claire finds out she barely passed her exams.

1 (2.6%)

Hannelore comes back!

12 (31.6%)

Purple Monkey Dishwashers!

1 (2.6%)

A week of nothing but Steve eating cereal.

3 (7.9%)

Something Completely Different.

6 (15.8%)

Total Members Voted: 36

[jwhouk]

New week, new poll, new questions... okay, maybe not "new", but you get the idea.

[Gyrre]

Better than my poll idea.

I was going to get you all to help me make a musical abomination by listing several genres and sub genres and asking "Which two would sound best mixed together?"

[TheEvilDog]

Unless we were going to get another time skip, I doubt Claire would get her results so quickly.

No, I think this week is going to be about the engagement and Faye's walk along the razor's edge.

[BenRG]

I'm pretty sure that Jeph has clearly signposted that Faye is going to have a stumble of some sort.

[shanejayell]

I hope Hanners gets the news and comes back. 

IO'm also thinking Faye might stumble, but I hope not.

[Is it cold in here?]

With Bubbles next to her?

[TheEvilDog]

Is Bubbles now surgically attached to Faye's side?

She can't be behind Faye all the time.

[hedgie]

Exactly.  Either Faye is going to have to learn how to deal with a bar atmosphere by herself, or that she should avoid them entirely.  I do think that it might actually help that it's the Horrible Revelation, and not some dive where they'd serve anyone capable of holding a glass without spilling more than half the contents.

[Is it cold in here?]

Bubbles is certain to notice the signal flare

Her hand has not been off Faye's shoulder since they got into the bar.

[TheEvilDog]

Her hand has not been off Faye's shoulder since they got into the bar.

To be fair, that could be all of a minute.

But its one thing to say to your partner that you're an alcoholic, its another thing for them to actually witness it. What I mean is that Bubbles has been supportive of Faye, but she also met Faye after she had begun therapy and was in the midst of sobering up. Bubbles has never seen Faye drink or seen the aftereffects. What she has seen is Faye avoiding the temptation and nearly buckle. She's also never seen the secret stashes of drink that kept around the apartment or work. She's never seen the worst of it and might not know what to look for.

Or Bubbles could go overly protective, insisting on checking every single one of Faye's drinks. Which is going to cause its own set of troubles.

[Tova]

I reckon that word “stumble” is just vague/non-specific enough to be a reasonably safe guess.

[Is it cold in here?]

It is possible that Bubbles's presence will be decisive simply because Faye is unwilling to disappoint her. She probably would hate to let Marten down as well.

Bubbles has probably read about human alcoholism, and I forget how she found that one liquor bottle but its fate in her hands was grisly.

If Faye tries to sneak off to poison herself, Bubbles is certain to suspect what's happening because she's already on alert. That would open ground for drama as they had a fight along the lines of "Don't you trust me?!"/"So you care more about the booze than about me."

[Near Lurker]

...since flavoring extracts are nearly all made with alcohol, I'm left wondering whether it matters if "juniper extract" is a euphemism or not.  Presumably, she's not going to drink it either way...

[Wombat]

Brun!

I was excited to see her, and then I had to go back and check if she was in the background previously and I was just dense. Anyway, she's there now and I'm excited for any Interactions.

[Mr Intrepid]

(1) I thought that was Brun!
(2) Bubbles has olfactory sensors that can detect chemical weapons,
       Surely she can detect traces of alcohol on Faye's breath.
(3) If Claire doesn't get a job as a librarian right away, I see a new career path
      opening up for her.

[shanejayell]

"So is Faye hiding in the bathroom to avoid the booze?" Marten asked

"It appears so. I shall go see." Bubbles replied.

......

"No, it was the burritos. Also, do NOT go in there."

[SomeCanadianWeirdo]

I'm hoping we'll get to see Tai's parents eventually.  It's probably a bit early this week unless she phones them in the next couple of strips to announce the engagement.

[mneme]

Wait, they can't pay her?

I mean, Dora's a successful (enough) businesswoman who employs like 3 people full-time; Tai is a working librarian without a lot of expenses.  Why wouldn't they be able to pay her at least a token sum?

[cybersmurf]

"So is Faye hiding in the bathroom to avoid the booze?" Marten asked

"It appears so. I shall go see." Bubbles replied.

......

"No, it was the burritos. Also, do NOT go in there."

...well, if you DO go in there i recommend turning your olfactory sensors down to minimum, or off entirely

[Cornelius]

Wait, they can't pay her?

I mean, Dora's a successful (enough) businesswoman who employs like 3 people full-time; Tai is a working librarian without a lot of expenses.  Why wouldn't they be able to pay her at least a token sum?

Dora is also shown to take on most extra shifts herself for the money, basically being forced to hire another person for her own health. Having people work for you is not evidence of ready cash. Asides from which, I think they need to budget for the wedding as well.

[Tova]

Yes, indeed. This may seem like nitpicking, but it makes all the difference: Dora doesn't employ 3 people full-time, her business does.

I'm sure Claire would get paid if she was doing something for the cafe.

I am also quite sure that Claire would want her involvement in the wedding to be based on friendship, not a business relationship.

[BenRG]

Well, it looks like Brun finally got her wish of being a bartender again! Which is good because, if Bubbles were to tell her that Faye is on a no-alcohol rule, she's the sort of personality who'd just be blankly no-debate about saying 'no' if Faye asks for a drink on the sly!

Claire is so wonderful with Tai and Dora here. It's entirely in-character that she's have pretty much already done all the Google legwork for the big day!

You know, this literally just occurred to me but Jeph may be indicating a big swerve in Claire's life plan here. What if she decides that she likes arranging events (and weddings in particular) so much that she decides to make a job of it before her library job comes through? Then, the library job comes through and she realises that she doesn't actually want it at all and seeing people happy on their big day is far more satisfying for her! It's a valid enough possibility!

Now, is Faye really going for a burrito disposal visit to the Porcelain Palace? Even if she is, she's going to have to face lots of temptations on her own!

Wait, they can't pay her?

I mean, Dora's a successful (enough) businesswoman who employs like 3 people full-time; Tai is a working librarian without a lot of expenses.  Why wouldn't they be able to pay her at least a token sum?

Basically, Dora isn't that wealthy. CoD probably contains most of her assets and money in a form not easily turned to liquidity. Between Dora and Tai, the two are probably only barely above 'struggling to break even'. That said, I'm also wondering if this is Dora the businesswoman at work here: She's trying to get the best possible deal from Claire!

[Is it cold in here?]

It's been a while since we got information about how Coffee of Doom is doing, but back when we did, Dora was fretting about its success and prospects.

[Killspree]

Dora's comment on just selling Coffee of Doom and moving with Tai so easily 'Might' be taken as its only doing so-so.

Then again it may not...

[Theta9]

...since flavoring extracts are nearly all made with alcohol, I'm left wondering whether it matters if "juniper extract" is a euphemism or not.

I read it as "gin".

[brasca]

I wonder if Brun has a second job at a different bar since I thought the Drunken Revelation had an old tyme dress code. 

For once Faye’s nutritional choices may keep her on the wagon or on the throne as it were.

[cybersmurf]

I believe the Horrible Revelation applies the dress code only to the bartenders. Elliot doesn't dress up, and we've seen Brun in normal attire working there before (the smelling incident).

Or maybe it's voluntary for them.

[Rincewind]

If that's Brun behind the bar, what are those little white dots running down her temple and by her eye? And, is she wearing lipstick?   

[TheEvilDog]

Yeah, I'm thinking that's not Brun. The woman in today's comic is the same height as Marten, whereas Brun is the same height as Clinton and if memory serves, Marten is a fair bit taller than him. The lips look different to Brun's as we usually see them and her head is higher than Brun's. I mean, it could be Brun, but I don't think it is her.

Also, the white dots on her temple are probably beads of sweat.

[cybersmurf]

Sweat, and the tip of her tongue.

 Have we ever seen Brun from that angle?

[Roborat]

"Bubbles is sampling some juniper extract"  So she has a glass of gin??

[Perfectly Reasonable]

...since flavoring extracts are nearly all made with alcohol, I'm left wondering whether it matters if "juniper extract" is a euphemism or not.

I read it as "gin".

"juniper extract" is indeed a thing, just not something you'd find offered in a bar.
'BBQ Pork Tacos' seems to be the menu special. BBQ pork burritos seem to be a thing as well-- wonder if that's what sent Faye out of bounds...
And if that's not Brün, she's certainly rocking Brün's hairstyle.

[Mr Intrepid]

So Claire has information about wedding venues and dates right there.  Either her Google-fu is strong, or she keeps a running list, just in case.

[thedevilissix]

I feel a bit uneasy about Dora asking whether Claire’d be up for working for free.
My previously self employed hustler brain is firing off “NO DAMMIT YOU SHOULD BE PAID IF YOU HAVE A TALENT FOR THIS”  ) - that said, if she agrees to it in order to get more experience at it (or simply because she simply wants to help friends with sorting out their special day)....I can kind of understand?
I feel a bit conflicted..   

[hedgie]

Dora's just a tough negotiator.

[TheEvilDog]

I'm more concerned with Claire jumping in and almost taking control of Dora and Tai's wedding planning.

I mean, fair play to Dora for getting free work but I don't know, its typical Claire and its going to blow up in her face.

[Zebediah]

And if that's not Brün, she's certainly rocking Brün's hairstyle.

And Brun’s coloration, and Brun’s general physique, and Brun’s job. If that’s not Brun, why did Jeph make a new character who looks exactly like her and does the same job at the same place?

[dutchrvl]

And if that's not Brün, she's certainly rocking Brün's hairstyle.

And Brun’s coloration, and Brun’s general physique, and Brun’s job. If that’s not Brun, why did Jeph make a new character who looks exactly like her and does the same job at the same place?

And even the exact same color t-shirt. Yeah I'm with you on this that this simply IS Brun.

[Mr Intrepid]

And if that's not Brün, she's certainly rocking Brün's hairstyle.

And Brun’s coloration, and Brun’s general physique, and Brun’s job. If that’s not Brun, why did Jeph make a new character who looks exactly like her and does the same job at the same place?

And even the exact same color t-shirt. Yeah I'm with you on this that this simply IS Brun.

And Brun tends to get very focused.  Unless she is directly addressed by someone.  Plus, how long have they been there?  This may be the first time she's passed by.

[hedgie]

And if that's not Brün, she's certainly rocking Brün's hairstyle.

And Brun’s coloration, and Brun’s general physique, and Brun’s job. If that’s not Brun, why did Jeph make a new character who looks exactly like her and does the same job at the same place?

Clearly, that eldritch beer she drank created a doppelgänger.

[Gyrre]

Background Brun!

[Gyrre]

...since flavoring extracts are nearly all made with alcohol, I'm left wondering whether it matters if "juniper extract" is a euphemism or not.

I read it as "gin".

Wouldn't that be "juniper ale" instead?

[TheEvilDog]

No, it'd be gin, its made from Juniper berries.

Well, it'd be more likely than the bar selling the Finnish beer "sahti", but that's made with rye as well as juniper berries.

[Perfectly Reasonable]

And if that's not Brün, she's certainly rocking Brün's hairstyle.

And Brun’s coloration, and Brun’s general physique, and Brun’s job. If that’s not Brun, why did Jeph make a new character who looks exactly like her and does the same job at the same place?

Clearly, that eldritch beer she drank created a doppelgänger.

The shirt the doppelgänger is wearing has the same RGB values as the one Brün wears in 3941-6.

Funny, the doppelgänger question has come up before.

[Theta9]

No, it'd be gin, its made from Juniper berries.

I thot gin was grain alcohol flavored with juniper berries, not "made from" them.

[TheEvilDog]

No, it'd be gin, its made from Juniper berries.

I thought gin was grain alcohol flavored with juniper berries, not "made from" them.

There are 4 legal definitions of gin.
- Juniper flavoured spirit drink - where a fermented mash is pot distilled to approximately 68% alcohol by volume, then redistilled with botanicals.
- Gin - where the mash is not redistilled, but the flavour is just added and where the predominant flavour must be juniper.
- Distilled gin - where the ethanol is distilled in the presence of predominantly juniper berries.
- London gin - where the ethanol is redistilled in the presence of all the natural plant material involved.

I grew up around distilleries, granted predominantly whiskey distilleries, but they also produced gin in regular quantities.

[cesium133]

New comic.

Bubbles is, of course, right about IPAs.

[TV4Fun]

Comic.

Definitely agree with Bubbles' opinion of IPA. Not surprised Marten's drinking it though.

[Mordhaus]

That may be the most complete and accurate description of an IPA ever.

[hedgie]

Agreed.  I have a friend who is obsessed with them for whatever reason, but she's always wanting some of whatever stout or porter I order for myself.