Graduated college. Got an Associates in Visual Communication I didn’t deserve because I’m not the type to design. Got a BA in Project Management I didn’t deserve because fuck if I ever want to be that high on the totem pole.
Honestly, I skated through college. Did work only on the day it was due, procrastinated, never had a long night or anything for it. I felt the entire thing was so easy that I wasn’t really being pushed to do anything in it.
I got a degree many people consider useless (BA in literature). I then started getting better jobs, including in technology, and getting paid more money. And paid off my college debt pretty fast, I’d add.
That said, we really need an American version of the Open University, because yeah. Thirty-five grand of debt the day you walk out the door t’ain’t fun for anyone.
And then you disappear into nothingness! (But still keep your phone. Is that weird or what?)
If I see Rod Serling if I ever rematerialize… I’ll probably ask for his autograph. Still, if I’m in some twilighty show about some zone, I will be quite annoyed. 😉
Might be better to get your hands on a time machine, go back to before the books were published, and get rid of her then. Save the whole world from the awfulness and evil that is Twilight.
It could be worse. I’m currently stuck in some sort of limbo, with a supply of energon and my phone. And I forgot to upload Community to it, so I’m stuck watching Matlock episodes. Roberts has much to answer for!
I took a nap last night that went horribly wrong (and became me sleeping through this comic’s posting). Honestly, I would’ve gotten that you posted lyrics to the Diff’rent Strokes theme…and then I’d follow up with a lazy reference to the Bicycle Man.
Charisma, duh. Or maybe Constitution, to have longer drinking binges.
On that note, I strongly advise everyone to check out the new edition of D&D. I’ve been playtesting the beta-rules, and the Basic version of the game is available for download for free. It combines the best aspects of all previous editions and I reccomend it!
I feel like that’s missing the point. Ruth doesn’t want Billie to suck up to her, or try to win her back. She tells her to forget about her and move on. That’s a pretty clear rejection right there.
Psychologically, Billie has always been a child. By which I mean, she’s always sought the attention and praise of others, and defines herself by their approval. When that attention is taken away, she acts out, in order to get more attention. She needs to learn to value herself, and act on her own needs and desires. That means being alone for a while.
It’s painful, but the lover she needs right now… is her hand.
I think it’s ambiguous. Ruth says for Billie to leave, but her words in the final panel are ambiguous; is she just talking about how Billie doesn’t deserve her kindness, or us she trying to add some melodramatic bitter irony by talking about how she is the one who’s getting what she deserves for [abusing Billie earlier/even bothering to help now/being dumb enough to trust Billie]. Ruth does gave a flair for the melodramatic, and her expression in the last panel could mean very many different things.
One of my working theories is that Ruth hoped Billie would say “I’m sorry.”, and was disappointed to learn Billie “only” cared about keeping her own mind at ease.
“Dammit, she wasn’t requesting I jump into the bed with her for super fun times, I feel such a fool for waiting now, damn you Billie!”
This is Ruth’s internal dialogue (monologue?).
I can tell as I am psychic.
Idk, I just really really don’t think this is something Billie can do on her own, or at least we shouldn’t expect her to. I mean I could be totally off base but honestly I think Billie needs an actual support system in place, and help understanding that she has a problem.
That’s why I said “a little bit of progress.” A little bit of progress is even discovering the world doesn’t revolve around her and then getting over that fact so she CAN seek help. There are, unfortunately, a LOT of people who never get that far, partly because no one important to them has ever kicked their ass emotionally.
I don’t see how telling her you “stop getting stuff you don’t deserve” translates to “you don’t deserve good things.” I think it translates better to “you’ll only get good things if you work for them.”
You’re both missing the obvious. This is the point where a previous small time villain returns, now a full fledged Super Villain! That’s right, the sign post graffiti artists have returned!
Seems likely. Judging by her dialogue a while back (‘And I think we discovered I like girls together’) she was unaware of being attracted to women until the moment she suddenly kissed Billie. That doesn’t mean she was never attracted to anyone before then.
Man, nobody’s a winner here. Also, any bets on how long it takes Billie to leave Walky’s room? I predict at least until dinner, or about three months in real time.
“Do not speak of what men deserve. For we each of us deserve everything, every luxury that was ever piled in the tombs of the dead kings, and we each of us deserve nothing, not a mouthful of bread in hunger. Have we not eaten while another starved? Will you punish us for that? Will you reward us for the virtue of starving while others ate? No man earns punishment, no man earns reward. Free your mind of the idea of deserving, the idea of earning, and you will begin to be able to think.”
When Ruth was at her absolute lowest, despite having a history of bullying, abuse, and (at that point) recent sexual assault, Billie was there for Ruth because she wanted to be helpful.
Now that the tables are turned, this one thing is so unforgivable Ruth would rather walk away.
My gut instinct through this whole matter has been to side with Ruth, but the more I think about it, the better light I see Billie in, at least in the totality of her actions.
That said, I kinda feel like Ruth might not be currently the best equipped to deal with overseeing a hall full of girls. She may run a tight ship, but she lacks the empathy to deal with all of these issues, and after everything with Billie, she really shouldn’t be an RA anymore.
I get the joke, but that seems unlikely. Joe may not go in for the very predatory stuff, but if he was in a position of authority and still acting as forward as he does with women, that would constitute sexual harassment.
Honestly? I’m getting a little pissed at Ruth. I mean if she doesnt want to talk to her anymore fine. But it was stupid from the start to expect a college freshman (who feels depressed and alienated) to quit alcohol cold turkey, without ever relapsing.
Addiction is fucking hard, and it’s really hard to go clean even with a bunch of resources and support. All Billie had was another alcoholic pinning their hopes on her. Ruth is a fucking RA, it’s her job to keep an eye out and know about consoling resources for students, and she’s older than Billie. It should have occurred to her that this wasn’t an ideal way for Billie deal with her alcoholism, or failing that, she should be more understanding when Billie fails.
Ruth has the right to set boundaries and all but she needs to figure out a way to be more neutral about this shit, because its her job. And yeah, it’s probably awkward but that’s why you don’t go around making out with people you’re responsible for???
Idk, get it together Ruth. Like, I know it’s rough, and I sympathize. But this not all on Billie.
Yeah, but my take on it is that Ruth is (a) hurt, (b) not used to letting herself be vulnerable enough to be hurt by someone, and (c) absolutely comfortable in playing the superbongo as a defense mechanism. Logically, Ruth may know everything you just said, but in the moment, this is the girl she really liked, the first girl she really liked (possibly the first PERSON), and that girl lied to her and made her feel stupid. Logic can go out the window when you get hit with emotions you’re not used to dealing with.
I mean, I agree, I’m sure that’s what’s happening. But she’s kind of being an asshole, not to mention a shitty RA. Like I guess I’d understand if she just felt too betrayed to be close to her, or that hanging around Billie is detrimental to her. But she’s had time to think about it now and she chose to come talk to Billie. At some point Ruth needs to take stock of the situation and realize that even if Billie really, really hurt her that doesn’t make Billie a bad person.
I wonder if Ruth sees Billie as a reflection of herself and is projecting her own self-loathing. Or perhaps she see’s Billie as the part of herself she wants to destroy.
Either way, it’s really sad for Billie. She’s really getting piled on to lately.
I wonder if Ruth really sees her as a bad person. She’s angry and upset with her, sure, but I don’t think she considers Billie some evil bongo. Like Kodra noted, she may well see in Billie something, or some things, about herself that she doesn’t like–things she herself hasn’t been able to square or cope with adequately.
Not to mention her (assumed) lack of experience with romantic things. Ruth, I think, incorrectly assumed Billie was reciprocating her feelings when Billie started checking up on her and offered to quit drinking with her. I think she now sees why Billie even bothered–for her own benefit, not Ruth’s.
This has probably all been thought out many many times prior this post and this took far too long to type out. I don’t usually dive into other peoples’ minds too deeply, especially fictional characters.
I am right there with you. You know what Ruth didn’t deserve? She didn’t deserve Billie checking in on her a few days after she forced herself on her in the hallway while she was drinking herself to death.
I feel like this whole arc is kinda focusing on how Billie needs to grow as a person, but Ruth is pretty culpable too.
I would love to see Sal take Ruth to task over this whole mess.
Yeah, that’s the thing…I don’t really get why so much discussion around this arc is ‘Billie needs to grow up!’. No, Billie needs professional support and authority figures who understand relationship boundaries.
Seriously. Granted, I think a good 60% at least of the cast needs professional support, but Billie’s now near the top of that list. (Amber is still at the top because DEAR GOD SOMEONE HELP HER.)
I don’t think Billie even tried to quit, I think she was consciously lying from the start.
And frankly, Ruth has legit reasons for being messed up, but she’s improving. Billie has significantly fewer excuses and doesn’t seem to be progressing at all.
I don’t think people need excuses for being depressed or being an alcoholic though? That’s kind of the thing about mental health conditions, they can be related to events but often they aren’t. Just because Ruth was able to come to terms with her addiction and quit cold turkey doesn’t mean that’s like the standard recovery rate either. It can take awhile, and it didn’t for Ruth and that’s great, but that doesn’t mean Billie has to match or exceed her progress.
I’m actually just talking about general maturity as well- Billie is less sympathetic in a lot of ways because of her attitude, i.e. me and the things I like are great, and everything else is stupid.
I guess the biggest knock against Billie right now is that she isn’t moving forward and doesn’t really see the need to.
And that’s a fair point about mental illnesses. I agree. I also happen to know more about them than I ever would have wanted.
Indeed. the drinking problem wasn’t so much that Billie failed at quitting her drinking addiction. The problem is more that she never actually tried. Because she didn’t think consequences apply to her.
It’s interesting because the major trauma Ruth dealt with (the death of her parents) is sort of mirrored with Billie. During parents weekend, the two of them hung out together because everyone else had their parents show up to spend time with their kids.
Even Blaine, that messed up jerkface cared in his own sick way enough to show up and try to see Amber. Billie’s parents couldn’t be bothered. (Yes I did just negatively compare someone to Blaine. Excuse me while I go shower)
What? in case you forgot, it was BILLIE who suggested going sober. Ruth did not expect Billie to live up to some unreasonable standard, she expected Billie to live up to the standard that she, you know, suggested and came up with her self. instead of just lying about it.
I mean i agree that Ruth, as an RA shouldn’t be dating one of the students she’s responsible for. And theres definitely fault on both sides here. But this whole “quit alcohol together” thing? Entirely Billie’s fault. She came up with it, she suggested it to Ruth, she did not ever actually keep to it, she lied to Ruth about it, and when discovered just made excuses and did not own up to any responsibility.
Oh, I totally agree that Billie’s being a hypocrite and it was unfair of her to come up with that idea in the first place. Billie does stupid immature things for sure. Like thinking all she needs to stop drinking is willpower, or not understanding how much of a problem she has. She’s a college freshman, so I’m not going to expect her to know how to deal with an addiction or comprehending having one all on her own. That’s just not realistic. Billie might have thought it was realistic, but that’s kind of the whole thing isn’t it? She’s to inexperienced to know her suggestion was a terrible idea, but I’m really not gonna hold it against her.
Billie seems to have suggested going sober because it was something Ruth clearly needed. Billie has never found herself in as dangerous a state as Ruth put herself into, and thus (semi-justifiably) sees Ruth as the one with a problem. Yes, it’s bad that she so quickly failed in keeping up her end of it, but it’s not like she enacted the deal out a malicious intent to randomly screw with Ruth.
“Billie has never found herself in as dangerous a state as Ruth put herself into”
This is the exact same thing Billie tries to say to Ruth. Which Ruth’s response is rightly “remember that time you crashed a car into a tree when you were drunk out of your mind?” So id say Billie has in fact put herself into just as dangerous a state.
And yeah i agree that she didn’t intend to hurt Ruth with the deal, she was just trying to come up with something that would stop Ruth from drinking too much again and didn’t think it through. But still, even if the intent wasn’t malicious, that doesn’t change the result. road to hell, good intentions, etc, etc.
And that’s coming from the borderline stalker (broke into Billie’s room to deliver a present), thieving (keeps stealing other people’s stuff) and power-abusing RA (she uses her RA keys to do the aforementioned things from what I’ve gathered).
Honestly, I think Ruth could use a dose of her own words here, because both her position and what affection she might feel entitled to are things that she doesn’t deserve. The latter mostly because she’s willing to overlook her own faults so easily, but if Billie slips on one difficult obstacle it’s apparently game over.
It’s true that those two might both need help to deal with their issues, but they should probably seek it from people who have more emotional stability to offer as support.
Oh, Ruth’s hypocrisy is more evident than that: she herself knows that she didn’t deserve Billie’s kindness in breaking into her room when she was passed out.
I feel like Ruth's last statement is more directed at herself than Billie, or at least toward both of them. Both of them have done some messed up things, and I can't see Ruth solely placing blame on Billie and ignoring her own acts of abuse and harassment.
Maybe in several months/years we'll finally revisit the storyline and get to a point in the strip where both of them feel like they deserve each other's care 😀
Unless you’re cheating somehow, or unknowingly earned the favor (or disfavor) of an unscrupulous teacher, then by definition you get the grades you deserve.
Welp, that relationship seems to be good and sunk and it’ll probably stay that way for a year (real time) at the very least. Ruth is one of my favorite characters, so I hope either she’ll be able to find someone else who doesn’t hurt her as much to be with or Billie is able to clean up her act enough for another try. Or maybe both might happen to create more conflict?
Finally. I’m happy somebody said it. I know she has had a hard time, but I can’t really find any sympathy for her. She thought she was gonna hit college and own the place… just how conceited can someone be? I mean, I know most people that age can be oblivious, but yikes.
I think maybe that although those that are saying that Ruth needs to forgive Billie because Billie was there for her when she needed her, are missing a very basic point.
Billie is an alcoholic and so is Ruth. Alcoholics can not be trusted, period. I was married to one for years until I realized that I could not change him. He had to change himself.
Ruth is doing the right thing to save her own self, she is getting away from Billie while she fights her own battle.
The only logical way these two could get together is if they both went to AA and supported each other through the group. As it stands now, they can’t.
Ruth cared enough to keep her promise and see if Billie was ‘okay’, then she stayed when Billie said thank you.
I think Ruth just gave Billie the best advise she is ever going to get from anyone. It’s flat out the truth. Billie has to get her shit together, herself.
Somehow, this quote from one of my favourite video games seems appropriate:
“Is it worth it? To say it never is would be a lie. Because sometimes… you get lucky. Sometimes, you get something you know you don’t deserve in a million years. A reason to live.”
Doesn’t Ruth know anything about addiction? Statistically, it’s almost impossible to rehabilitate simply by trying to abstain from drinking alcohol. I hate to say it but Ruth is acting like a great big baby.
At her age, and speaking from experience, I’d be surprised if Ruth even considers herself addicted.
Although if she does, that’s a hopeful sign. Admitting that one has a problem is the first step in correcting the problem.
Right, and honestly that first step is hard. We need to give Billie some time I think. Ruth doesn’t have to be around her if she doesn’t want (although I think she needs resign as a RA at this point). They probably shouldn’t be hanging out together honestly, because it might derail Ruth’s progress and keep Billie from focusing on herself.
I think that Ruth will back with Billie. In the background, she needs her as much as Billie. And if not,… well… whatever… there are always other ways. I believe. 😛
I would really hope that the story does not take a direction where Ruth and Billie have to attend a pseudo-religious group that preaches recovery through closeness to God in order to solve their problems with alcoholism.
(There’s also the issue where AA attendance has not proven to actually be effective. For recovery for the two of them, I think AA would be something of a red herring. A psychologist would be a considerably better choice for both of them. Ruth has her depression to handle, for example.)
So, where can I find the old universe? I’ve pretty much rushed through the entire DoA in a few days and I’ve been finding mentions to the old characters quite frequently :s
Start here http://www.itswalky.com/comic/and-now/. You’ll want presnt-Willis’s commentary, as it makes it all much more bearable. Eventually you’ll get to where he’s stopped rerunning things, where someone else may give you the cheat code to skip ahead.
Best thing for Ruth to do: “Billie, I know quitting drinking is hard. I thought you were there for me, it hurt my feelings when you weren’t. Tell me what happened, why did you fall off the wagon?”
Best thing for Billie to do: Not talk to Ruth. Sober up. Pick a job she wants in the future.
WTB more overreactions though.
Man, I’m really liking the variety of views on this whole situation. I was really surprised by how many people think Ruth or Billie are better off without the other, but both sides bring up valid points. Whoo, diversity of views caused by experience-filtered lenses!!
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Somber.
I read that as sober…
That’s applicable too. . .
But for how much longer?
Both are equally unenjoyable.
That’s not true at all, Ruth. I’m in college and I continue to get things I don’t deserve.
Completely, totally and unfortunately true. I had the same experience, far more often than I wish I had to admit to.
Talking about getting things you don’t deserve with Mister Satan as your avatar. So very perfect.
At no point in life do you stop getting things you don’t deserve – good or bad.
I think the wisdom of this statement is pretty understated.
Does syphilis count? Is that deserved or undeserved?
Well that isn’t punchy at all. ‘Consider this a moment in your life like many others, former cheerleader’
I’m married, and I totally don’t deserve my spouse.
Graduated college. Got an Associates in Visual Communication I didn’t deserve because I’m not the type to design. Got a BA in Project Management I didn’t deserve because fuck if I ever want to be that high on the totem pole.
Honestly, I skated through college. Did work only on the day it was due, procrastinated, never had a long night or anything for it. I felt the entire thing was so easy that I wasn’t really being pushed to do anything in it.
Not true. I got 35K in debt I don’t deserve.
+1
Hell, I didn’t even get the college credits I DID deserve. . .
Well, that’s what you get for going to college, an overpriced toilet paper and debt.
and fifteen extra pounds
And the stunning realization that you are basically worthless and you better off doing things on your own than with a partner.
Why are you narrating my life right now?
Wait…why are you living my life?
Which one of you guys is my doppelgänger? Cause this is just getting freaky.
This is not how I wanted to be reminded to watch Richard Ayoade’s The Double.
Little known fact; all college students are secretly the same person.
And a collection of medicinal Cannabis along with an odd craving of pickles and GoGurt. . .
or 75… I went full Dina when I realized you could have any breakfast cereal you wanted, and as many bowls as you wanted and…
…75.
In a row?
“Try not to eat any CEREAL on the way to the car!”
Is this a euphemism for sex?
…and so she goes, “Sixty-nine? You mean you want beef with broccoli?”
I’m assuming she means pounds.
But without that toilet paper I might not be able to read webcomics all day and get paid for it.
So my webcomic habit cost me $35k. Seems fair enough, in hindsight.
Back in my day we had to work for our debt. Not like you kids, gettin’ Debt for next to NOTHING.
When was your day?
Huh.
I got a degree many people consider useless (BA in literature). I then started getting better jobs, including in technology, and getting paid more money. And paid off my college debt pretty fast, I’d add.
That said, we really need an American version of the Open University, because yeah. Thirty-five grand of debt the day you walk out the door t’ain’t fun for anyone.
I like your gravatar – Ethan with Joyce. 🙂
That’s…actually a picture of Eric.
(But I see what you did there)
One of the many reasons the UK is better! I’m only expecting £20,000+ in debt!
Not much humour to be had today it seems…
Yep, looks like we’re on a one-way feels trip, courtesy of conductor Willis.
This what hapeens when you don’t check which bus it was before getting on.
Next thing you know, you wind up in….The Twilight Zone.
And then you disappear into nothingness! (But still keep your phone. Is that weird or what?)
If I see Rod Serling if I ever rematerialize… I’ll probably ask for his autograph. Still, if I’m in some twilighty show about some zone, I will be quite annoyed. 😉
Fortunately, The Twilight Zone and Twilight are two _very_different things.
The actual one, or the imagined hell that is me being forced to watch Twilight over and over until I die of sparkly vampires?
If that’s the case, I’d start a killing spree…starting with the morons who forced me to watch Twilight in the first place.
Might as well start at the source, The creator of Twilight. Now just how to get rid of her? Maybe make it look like a vampire bite?
Stake her heart, chop her head off and set her body on fire…and then we say she’s a vampire.
I’d be in for either one of these…
Might be better to get your hands on a time machine, go back to before the books were published, and get rid of her then. Save the whole world from the awfulness and evil that is Twilight.
It could be worse. I’m currently stuck in some sort of limbo, with a supply of energon and my phone. And I forgot to upload Community to it, so I’m stuck watching Matlock episodes. Roberts has much to answer for!
It also happens when you get bad LSD.
Make your own. There’s an excellent chem lab there.
The Arristocrats.
*cue laugh track*
Best imagined in Gilbert Gottfried’s voice.
It’s a hard knock life.
But you still gotta cherish the Good Times™!
Now the world don’t move to the beat of just one drum…
Especially if the drummer is horrible.
No one ever gets my Diff’rent Strokes references! Which is understandable on the Lost Light…
I took a nap last night that went horribly wrong (and became me sleeping through this comic’s posting). Honestly, I would’ve gotten that you posted lyrics to the Diff’rent Strokes theme…and then I’d follow up with a lazy reference to the Bicycle Man.
So get out there and earn those Ruth-smooches, cheerleader.
How many would she haft to save up to get some sweet sugary Ruth loven.
Well she’s already got an “I’m Billie” going for her. This’d be hard if Billie was ugly or something.
Said in a gravelly voice, followed by “I’m not wearing hockey pants.” Which would probably not be the thing to say to Ruth.
Indeed. Also I can’t take ruth seriously when she’s said the most factually inaccurate thing I’ve read in a *while*
Because she’s the girlfriend Billie needs, but not the one she deserves right now.
The next chapter is called “When Somebody Loved Me,” you know. It looks like one of the people who used to be loved will be Billie.
Or maybe “Somebody to Love”.
The Rusko track?
Didn’t they change the name of he chapter in War of the Lions?
Billie needs to earn some brownie points and stat.
What stats should Billie earn? Strength? Wisdom? Agility?
Wisdom would probably be most useful for her right now.
She could also use some points on her Will VS drunkeness.
Charisma, duh. Or maybe Constitution, to have longer drinking binges.
On that note, I strongly advise everyone to check out the new edition of D&D. I’ve been playtesting the beta-rules, and the Basic version of the game is available for download for free. It combines the best aspects of all previous editions and I reccomend it!
Eh, I’d rather Shadowrun, chummer. Mages can’t be geeked in DnD.
Did they go back to being D&D and not Tabletop WoW?
Drunkenness is a fort save, not a will save.
She has already maxed out her levels, and spent them all on drinking. She’s the Dumbledore of drinking.
So, I guess Ruth’s the Snape here?
And Danny is Ron?
That is kinda harsh. To Danny.
Dexterity.
Charisma, duh.
I feel like that’s missing the point. Ruth doesn’t want Billie to suck up to her, or try to win her back. She tells her to forget about her and move on. That’s a pretty clear rejection right there.
Psychologically, Billie has always been a child. By which I mean, she’s always sought the attention and praise of others, and defines herself by their approval. When that attention is taken away, she acts out, in order to get more attention. She needs to learn to value herself, and act on her own needs and desires. That means being alone for a while.
It’s painful, but the lover she needs right now… is her hand.
Or a mechanical nosepicker, either or.
I think it’s ambiguous. Ruth says for Billie to leave, but her words in the final panel are ambiguous; is she just talking about how Billie doesn’t deserve her kindness, or us she trying to add some melodramatic bitter irony by talking about how she is the one who’s getting what she deserves for [abusing Billie earlier/even bothering to help now/being dumb enough to trust Billie]. Ruth does gave a flair for the melodramatic, and her expression in the last panel could mean very many different things.
One of my working theories is that Ruth hoped Billie would say “I’m sorry.”, and was disappointed to learn Billie “only” cared about keeping her own mind at ease.
“Dammit, she wasn’t requesting I jump into the bed with her for super fun times, I feel such a fool for waiting now, damn you Billie!”
This is Ruth’s internal dialogue (monologue?).
I can tell as I am psychic.
I hope Billie understands this is the kick in the ass she needs, even if it only starts a little bit of progress rolling for her.
Idk, I just really really don’t think this is something Billie can do on her own, or at least we shouldn’t expect her to. I mean I could be totally off base but honestly I think Billie needs an actual support system in place, and help understanding that she has a problem.
That’s why I said “a little bit of progress.” A little bit of progress is even discovering the world doesn’t revolve around her and then getting over that fact so she CAN seek help. There are, unfortunately, a LOT of people who never get that far, partly because no one important to them has ever kicked their ass emotionally.
I’m not sure how telling her “You don’t deserve good things” is a kick in the ass she needs. Unless she needs to be kicked into suicidal depression.
I don’t see how telling her you “stop getting stuff you don’t deserve” translates to “you don’t deserve good things.” I think it translates better to “you’ll only get good things if you work for them.”
Wait I hear something! It’s the disappointed screams of people who expected Billie and Ruth to bang.
From Ruth’s expression at the end, I think she might be one of them.
I wanted them to bang but I know Willis enough that I would have been surprised if they indeed did bang.
Don’t know what your talking about I lost my voice a wile ago screaming about.
Billie, stop acting like such a protoform!
And another thing…
Wait a minute…
Guys I got it!
RUTH is the whiteboard dingdong bandit!
It’s obviously Dina. Rule #1 in investigations; it’s always the quiet ones
Or it could be Dio.
Ok, apparently, I was missing the obvious…
You thought the dingdong bandit was Dina but it was I, Dio!
You’re both missing the obvious. This is the point where a previous small time villain returns, now a full fledged Super Villain! That’s right, the sign post graffiti artists have returned!
Revenge for people snickering about her boners shirt?
Rule #34 in investigations: actually, this is no longer about investigations.
Au contraire, the FBI (Female Body Inspectors) are fequently involved.
That…makes since, I mean who would stop her she’s the RA of the building.
She’s the RA of the floor, not the building
“Being a lesbian sucks! If I draw enough dicks, maybe I’ll like them or something!”
ruth is not a lesbian
She’s a Billiebian!
A Billieber?
(I’ll show myself out . . . )
Wuzzat uh BIEBER reference?
*twitch* *twitch*
Get ’em.
If she zones out she’d be a daydream Billieber
Bisexual then?
Seems likely. Judging by her dialogue a while back (‘And I think we discovered I like girls together’) she was unaware of being attracted to women until the moment she suddenly kissed Billie. That doesn’t mean she was never attracted to anyone before then.
Man, nobody’s a winner here. Also, any bets on how long it takes Billie to leave Walky’s room? I predict at least until dinner, or about three months in real time.
“Do not speak of what men deserve. For we each of us deserve everything, every luxury that was ever piled in the tombs of the dead kings, and we each of us deserve nothing, not a mouthful of bread in hunger. Have we not eaten while another starved? Will you punish us for that? Will you reward us for the virtue of starving while others ate? No man earns punishment, no man earns reward. Free your mind of the idea of deserving, the idea of earning, and you will begin to be able to think.”
Yeah, Billie should respond with that.
Ruths a high maintenance drama queen, Billies well rid of her (at least I hope she is)
Now start doing what it takes to earn back her trust, Billie, so next time she does something nice for you, you will deserve it.
Ruth: “like me for example.”
Don’t go too far out on a limb. You might get hit by a truck… Or a car, like in Back to the Future.
Or by a model car…or truck.
…or by a monkey.
Or a monkey that transforms into a truck!
Wait, so you’re saying Trukk AND Munky?
Or a piano if we want to get really classic
If we’re going classic, let’s throw in an anvil and a safe….and the kitchen sink.
And dress her up in a coyote costume
When Ruth was at her absolute lowest, despite having a history of bullying, abuse, and (at that point) recent sexual assault, Billie was there for Ruth because she wanted to be helpful.
Now that the tables are turned, this one thing is so unforgivable Ruth would rather walk away.
My gut instinct through this whole matter has been to side with Ruth, but the more I think about it, the better light I see Billie in, at least in the totality of her actions.
That said, I kinda feel like Ruth might not be currently the best equipped to deal with overseeing a hall full of girls. She may run a tight ship, but she lacks the empathy to deal with all of these issues, and after everything with Billie, she really shouldn’t be an RA anymore.
I agree, I think Joe would be better suited to overseeing a hall full of girls.
The sexual harasment rate would drop, thats for sure…
I get the joke, but that seems unlikely. Joe may not go in for the very predatory stuff, but if he was in a position of authority and still acting as forward as he does with women, that would constitute sexual harassment.
The sexual harassment _reporting_ rate would go down. Not necessarily a good thing.
Honestly? I’m getting a little pissed at Ruth. I mean if she doesnt want to talk to her anymore fine. But it was stupid from the start to expect a college freshman (who feels depressed and alienated) to quit alcohol cold turkey, without ever relapsing.
Addiction is fucking hard, and it’s really hard to go clean even with a bunch of resources and support. All Billie had was another alcoholic pinning their hopes on her. Ruth is a fucking RA, it’s her job to keep an eye out and know about consoling resources for students, and she’s older than Billie. It should have occurred to her that this wasn’t an ideal way for Billie deal with her alcoholism, or failing that, she should be more understanding when Billie fails.
Ruth has the right to set boundaries and all but she needs to figure out a way to be more neutral about this shit, because its her job. And yeah, it’s probably awkward but that’s why you don’t go around making out with people you’re responsible for???
Idk, get it together Ruth. Like, I know it’s rough, and I sympathize. But this not all on Billie.
Yeah, but my take on it is that Ruth is (a) hurt, (b) not used to letting herself be vulnerable enough to be hurt by someone, and (c) absolutely comfortable in playing the superbongo as a defense mechanism. Logically, Ruth may know everything you just said, but in the moment, this is the girl she really liked, the first girl she really liked (possibly the first PERSON), and that girl lied to her and made her feel stupid. Logic can go out the window when you get hit with emotions you’re not used to dealing with.
I mean, I agree, I’m sure that’s what’s happening. But she’s kind of being an asshole, not to mention a shitty RA. Like I guess I’d understand if she just felt too betrayed to be close to her, or that hanging around Billie is detrimental to her. But she’s had time to think about it now and she chose to come talk to Billie. At some point Ruth needs to take stock of the situation and realize that even if Billie really, really hurt her that doesn’t make Billie a bad person.
I wonder if Ruth sees Billie as a reflection of herself and is projecting her own self-loathing. Or perhaps she see’s Billie as the part of herself she wants to destroy.
Either way, it’s really sad for Billie. She’s really getting piled on to lately.
Somehow, the Mary gravs are so…perfect.
I wonder if Ruth really sees her as a bad person. She’s angry and upset with her, sure, but I don’t think she considers Billie some evil bongo. Like Kodra noted, she may well see in Billie something, or some things, about herself that she doesn’t like–things she herself hasn’t been able to square or cope with adequately.
Not to mention her (assumed) lack of experience with romantic things. Ruth, I think, incorrectly assumed Billie was reciprocating her feelings when Billie started checking up on her and offered to quit drinking with her. I think she now sees why Billie even bothered–for her own benefit, not Ruth’s.
This has probably all been thought out many many times prior this post and this took far too long to type out. I don’t usually dive into other peoples’ minds too deeply, especially fictional characters.
I am right there with you. You know what Ruth didn’t deserve? She didn’t deserve Billie checking in on her a few days after she forced herself on her in the hallway while she was drinking herself to death.
I feel like this whole arc is kinda focusing on how Billie needs to grow as a person, but Ruth is pretty culpable too.
I would love to see Sal take Ruth to task over this whole mess.
Yeah, that’s the thing…I don’t really get why so much discussion around this arc is ‘Billie needs to grow up!’. No, Billie needs professional support and authority figures who understand relationship boundaries.
I’d say that Ruth kinda needs that too.
….come to think of it, I could go for that too
Seriously. Granted, I think a good 60% at least of the cast needs professional support, but Billie’s now near the top of that list. (Amber is still at the top because DEAR GOD SOMEONE HELP HER.)
I don’t think Billie even tried to quit, I think she was consciously lying from the start.
And frankly, Ruth has legit reasons for being messed up, but she’s improving. Billie has significantly fewer excuses and doesn’t seem to be progressing at all.
Equivalent situations, they ain’t.
I don’t think people need excuses for being depressed or being an alcoholic though? That’s kind of the thing about mental health conditions, they can be related to events but often they aren’t. Just because Ruth was able to come to terms with her addiction and quit cold turkey doesn’t mean that’s like the standard recovery rate either. It can take awhile, and it didn’t for Ruth and that’s great, but that doesn’t mean Billie has to match or exceed her progress.
I’m actually just talking about general maturity as well- Billie is less sympathetic in a lot of ways because of her attitude, i.e. me and the things I like are great, and everything else is stupid.
I guess the biggest knock against Billie right now is that she isn’t moving forward and doesn’t really see the need to.
And that’s a fair point about mental illnesses. I agree. I also happen to know more about them than I ever would have wanted.
Indeed. the drinking problem wasn’t so much that Billie failed at quitting her drinking addiction. The problem is more that she never actually tried. Because she didn’t think consequences apply to her.
Yeah, but accepting you have a problem is actually part of the process imo. The process Billie needs help with and probably cant do by herself.
It’s interesting because the major trauma Ruth dealt with (the death of her parents) is sort of mirrored with Billie. During parents weekend, the two of them hung out together because everyone else had their parents show up to spend time with their kids.
Even Blaine, that messed up jerkface cared in his own sick way enough to show up and try to see Amber. Billie’s parents couldn’t be bothered. (Yes I did just negatively compare someone to Blaine. Excuse me while I go shower)
What? in case you forgot, it was BILLIE who suggested going sober. Ruth did not expect Billie to live up to some unreasonable standard, she expected Billie to live up to the standard that she, you know, suggested and came up with her self. instead of just lying about it.
I mean i agree that Ruth, as an RA shouldn’t be dating one of the students she’s responsible for. And theres definitely fault on both sides here. But this whole “quit alcohol together” thing? Entirely Billie’s fault. She came up with it, she suggested it to Ruth, she did not ever actually keep to it, she lied to Ruth about it, and when discovered just made excuses and did not own up to any responsibility.
Oh, I totally agree that Billie’s being a hypocrite and it was unfair of her to come up with that idea in the first place. Billie does stupid immature things for sure. Like thinking all she needs to stop drinking is willpower, or not understanding how much of a problem she has. She’s a college freshman, so I’m not going to expect her to know how to deal with an addiction or comprehending having one all on her own. That’s just not realistic. Billie might have thought it was realistic, but that’s kind of the whole thing isn’t it? She’s to inexperienced to know her suggestion was a terrible idea, but I’m really not gonna hold it against her.
good points! i agree.
Billie seems to have suggested going sober because it was something Ruth clearly needed. Billie has never found herself in as dangerous a state as Ruth put herself into, and thus (semi-justifiably) sees Ruth as the one with a problem. Yes, it’s bad that she so quickly failed in keeping up her end of it, but it’s not like she enacted the deal out a malicious intent to randomly screw with Ruth.
“Billie has never found herself in as dangerous a state as Ruth put herself into”
This is the exact same thing Billie tries to say to Ruth. Which Ruth’s response is rightly “remember that time you crashed a car into a tree when you were drunk out of your mind?” So id say Billie has in fact put herself into just as dangerous a state.
And yeah i agree that she didn’t intend to hurt Ruth with the deal, she was just trying to come up with something that would stop Ruth from drinking too much again and didn’t think it through. But still, even if the intent wasn’t malicious, that doesn’t change the result. road to hell, good intentions, etc, etc.
1. That’s a goddamn lie and you know it.
2. Are you really the one to talk?
Seriously though
Whoa. I was just watching the new season of Free! and I almost forgot what it’s like to take same-sex ships seriously.
And that’s coming from the borderline stalker (broke into Billie’s room to deliver a present), thieving (keeps stealing other people’s stuff) and power-abusing RA (she uses her RA keys to do the aforementioned things from what I’ve gathered).
Honestly, I think Ruth could use a dose of her own words here, because both her position and what affection she might feel entitled to are things that she doesn’t deserve. The latter mostly because she’s willing to overlook her own faults so easily, but if Billie slips on one difficult obstacle it’s apparently game over.
It’s true that those two might both need help to deal with their issues, but they should probably seek it from people who have more emotional stability to offer as support.
Oh, Ruth’s hypocrisy is more evident than that: she herself knows that she didn’t deserve Billie’s kindness in breaking into her room when she was passed out.
Oof. Poor kids :<
I feel like Ruth's last statement is more directed at herself than Billie, or at least toward both of them. Both of them have done some messed up things, and I can't see Ruth solely placing blame on Billie and ignoring her own acts of abuse and harassment.
Maybe in several months/years we'll finally revisit the storyline and get to a point in the strip where both of them feel like they deserve each other's care 😀
Right, so when is Walky going to learn the same lesson about his grades?
When he stops earning good ones? Remember, he is naturally really smart
Unless you’re cheating somehow, or unknowingly earned the favor (or disfavor) of an unscrupulous teacher, then by definition you get the grades you deserve.
Welp, that relationship seems to be good and sunk and it’ll probably stay that way for a year (real time) at the very least. Ruth is one of my favorite characters, so I hope either she’ll be able to find someone else who doesn’t hurt her as much to be with or Billie is able to clean up her act enough for another try. Or maybe both might happen to create more conflict?
Not saying that also means you only get stuff you DO deserve… because that doesn’t usually happen either.
Finally. I’m happy somebody said it. I know she has had a hard time, but I can’t really find any sympathy for her. She thought she was gonna hit college and own the place… just how conceited can someone be? I mean, I know most people that age can be oblivious, but yikes.
I think maybe that although those that are saying that Ruth needs to forgive Billie because Billie was there for her when she needed her, are missing a very basic point.
Billie is an alcoholic and so is Ruth. Alcoholics can not be trusted, period. I was married to one for years until I realized that I could not change him. He had to change himself.
Ruth is doing the right thing to save her own self, she is getting away from Billie while she fights her own battle.
The only logical way these two could get together is if they both went to AA and supported each other through the group. As it stands now, they can’t.
Ruth cared enough to keep her promise and see if Billie was ‘okay’, then she stayed when Billie said thank you.
I think Ruth just gave Billie the best advise she is ever going to get from anyone. It’s flat out the truth. Billie has to get her shit together, herself.
Somehow, this quote from one of my favourite video games seems appropriate:
“Is it worth it? To say it never is would be a lie. Because sometimes… you get lucky. Sometimes, you get something you know you don’t deserve in a million years. A reason to live.”
Doesn’t Ruth know anything about addiction? Statistically, it’s almost impossible to rehabilitate simply by trying to abstain from drinking alcohol. I hate to say it but Ruth is acting like a great big baby.
At her age, and speaking from experience, I’d be surprised if Ruth even considers herself addicted.
Although if she does, that’s a hopeful sign. Admitting that one has a problem is the first step in correcting the problem.
Right, and honestly that first step is hard. We need to give Billie some time I think. Ruth doesn’t have to be around her if she doesn’t want (although I think she needs resign as a RA at this point). They probably shouldn’t be hanging out together honestly, because it might derail Ruth’s progress and keep Billie from focusing on herself.
I think that Ruth will back with Billie. In the background, she needs her as much as Billie. And if not,… well… whatever… there are always other ways. I believe. 😛
I’d like to see Ruth try dating…someone else!
Yarr, all hands on deck! The ship is sinking, now even faster than before!
Belay that, we’re no worse off than we were before. We’ll make port.
Vigorously!
You prideful bastard! You’re gonna drown us all!
I would really hope that the story does not take a direction where Ruth and Billie have to attend a pseudo-religious group that preaches recovery through closeness to God in order to solve their problems with alcoholism.
(There’s also the issue where AA attendance has not proven to actually be effective. For recovery for the two of them, I think AA would be something of a red herring. A psychologist would be a considerably better choice for both of them. Ruth has her depression to handle, for example.)
Damnit, that was meant as a reply to http://www.dumbingofage.com/2014/comic/book-4/04-the-whiteboard-dong-bandit/ease/#comment-243824#comment-243793
Getting stuff you don’t deserve? Ruth’s never been to Judge Parker.
Yeesh, every time we hit moments like this, I wonder if Ruth is gona die I this universe.
So, where can I find the old universe? I’ve pretty much rushed through the entire DoA in a few days and I’ve been finding mentions to the old characters quite frequently :s
Start here http://www.itswalky.com/comic/and-now/. You’ll want presnt-Willis’s commentary, as it makes it all much more bearable. Eventually you’ll get to where he’s stopped rerunning things, where someone else may give you the cheat code to skip ahead.
Thank you, kind sir or madam!
Ruth’s eyes in that second-to-last panel…her expression makes me want to give her a hug.
Well, at least one of them recognizes that their relationship shouldn’t continue.
Best thing for Ruth to do: “Billie, I know quitting drinking is hard. I thought you were there for me, it hurt my feelings when you weren’t. Tell me what happened, why did you fall off the wagon?”
Best thing for Billie to do: Not talk to Ruth. Sober up. Pick a job she wants in the future.
WTB more overreactions though.
Ruth would only say something like that if she was replaced by a pod person though.
Oh, I know a few people in college who got stuff they didn’t deserve.
Really bad stuff that I wouldn’t wish on anyone.
C’mon now, Ruth . . . you know white people NEVER stop getting stuff they don’t deserve! Especially in America!
Man, I’m really liking the variety of views on this whole situation. I was really surprised by how many people think Ruth or Billie are better off without the other, but both sides bring up valid points. Whoo, diversity of views caused by experience-filtered lenses!!
Question. What progam does Willis uses?
Yay! I’ve read it all now, start to current.
How can I read the ones from the future?
http://www.patreon.com/dumbingofage
Clever Cartoonist!
Huh, read this a few times, and I still don’t get what Billie did between updates, besides shower. Gah, I feel slow.