I spent an embarrassing amount of time trying to decide which newspaper comic I used to read growing up that this reminded me of, where the last panel is just a character glancing at the fourth wall.
Eventually I realized it’s almost all of them.
Although the profile shot particularly reminds me of Doonesbury.
She stopped wearing them a couple weeks ago, real time. (Like, yesterday, in universe, I think?) Caused Joyce to have a bit of a freak out, which pissed Sal off.
And here I was thinking the conversation back at Sal’s dorm would devolve into Joyce and Lucy making up wrong ways to say “Fuckface”. Until Ruth showed up.
See? Fight smart not necessarily with punching. Think ‘plausible deniability’. For a certain value of plausible, since Marcie sees right through you. Sorry, Sal, you’re about as slick as glue.
I don’t think she’s trying to hide it from Marcie, I think she’s joking a bit and also doing a good job of bringing it up without actually saying anything insulting about Malaya.
(and I think Marcie’s smiling because she recognizes that Sal avoiding Malaya is at least partially as a way of reducing conflict (while still doing stuff other than lean on the wall and scowl))
I mean, she shrugged with the “oh well” when Malaya hooked up with joe. Not to say she wouldn’t still go for it given the chance, but its probably less a focus. But she did make friends with Malaya a while back, and keeps her because of the lack of moral leanings resulting in less splash damage to her. Also even if you’re not hooking up, no reason not to hang out with hot girl.
It didn’t seem very clear. There was that shrug and smile, but the couple of shots of her before that seem pretty shell-shocked – though they were distance shots.
And I don’t think it’s been brought up explicitly since.
Could be “I’m fine with it.” Could be “Given up”. Could be “clinging desperately to hope”.
It’s actually a little sad, because for all that Carla tries to make herself memorable (mostly by being a persistently annoying butt), in people’s recollections she’s barely background noise.
That’s the problem when you’re a constant presence; at some point people tune you out.
Does Carla actually try to make herself memorable? Or does she try to make a shallow persona be the most salient thing about her, so that they remember her as “That annoying person I kinda’ want to ignore” rather than “That trans person.”
Also, Malaya, I call BS. You and Marcie were on the same team pretty much right away so regardless of whether she was on a starter team and moved up or you both moved up, it’s still clearly pretty quick.
I would think a small league/team would move them up pretty quickly if they’re competent. They just don’t want beginners rolling in saying they want to participate, and then having the roller-skating skills of a drunk squirrel.
Some teams of roller derby in cities with a strong importance of university seasons (where I live) have a yearly reworking of team composition at the begin at the university year rather than at the begin of the administrative year, composition that is usually fixed some time around the following weeks. After that you’re definitely in the beginner team unless proven you’re so good that they really need you.
That makes sense, but considering Marcie was trying to recruit Sal not that long ago (a week or two in verse, I think? For a team that meets on a weekly basis, that doesn’t seem too long to me), I still have a hard time believing it’s that hard to move up.
Of course, I have a bastard of a cold right now so I could be misremembering.
That was.. incredibly mild. Like, she’s literally just stating facts. If she had phrased her last sentence as, “You’re only gonna be able to watch”, would it have been any less ‘dickish’?
“You can’t just barge in” to someone who just said they wanted to join is pretty aggressive. Insisting someone’s intent was wrong like the last sentence is aggressive. The emphasis on “beginners” could be demeaning depending on how it actually came off. The way she phrased it sounds like “no you can’t join, and you’re an idiot for thinking you could”.
Neutral would be something like “there’s a different team for beginners that meets on another night, so you can sign up but you can’t actually play with us tonight”. Polite would be something else entirely.
Eh. Marcie had tried to get Sal to join multiple times before and been rejected. So it’s not like this is some rando off the street saying they’re interested, it’s someone who has mocked the activity multiple times before in a “I’m too cool for this” coming round like they set the rules.
Sal never said anything bad about roller derby. She just said she didn’t want to join and that she wanted to hang out with Marcie one on one like they used to. She’s said plenty of bad things about Malaya though.
True, Marcie did try to get Sal to join. But, that was earlier in the semester.
I figure the team probably has a roster of players who are familiar with each other, so they need to be careful in adding new players since it may affect team chemistry.
Sal has been nothing but a hateful dick to Malaya the entire time they’ve known each other, why wouldn’t Malaya be rude to her? This isn’t dickery in a vacume.
Yeah, I think that Marcie’s crush on Malaya is past history now. Marcie is essentially a nice woman and Malaya isn’t; Marcie has no intention of structuring her life around someone so pettily nasty.
We don’t know that she’s right. Normally you’d at least let people try out for your team before presuming that they don’t belong, right?
(My volleyball team would always let potential new players do some trial trainings even outside the formalised annual trials, and then either take them on or get them in touch one of the other teams in the club that fit better.)
wouldn’t Sal get moved off of beginners pretty fast? We’ve seen she’s already a very good skater (tho I guess there’s a lot more to the sport that just skating ability)
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why, however inconvenient! *evil hand clasp*
Shit-eating grin.
Never understood that expression.
“I have eaten the shit – and it was DELICIOUS!”
??
I assume that you’ve never had a dog.
My dog has never done that, thank goodness…
That… is the best super-villain face. How long did Willis work on that?
Joyce had this smile recently, though I forget where. Maybe when she realized she wanted Jacob for herself?
I was thinking more along the lines of Grinch face
I spent an embarrassing amount of time trying to decide which newspaper comic I used to read growing up that this reminded me of, where the last panel is just a character glancing at the fourth wall.
Eventually I realized it’s almost all of them.
Although the profile shot particularly reminds me of Doonesbury.
For a second I got Doonesbury and Caner Cancerbean swapped in my head.
…Is that a dyphemism for Funky Winkerbean?
Relevant Willis comic…
Nice callback.
Does mean Andy Lippencott is St.Lisa?
Clever girl?
Turned into the 1960s Grinch for second there, Sal.
And they say her snark grew three sizes that day…
First thing I thought of, too.
Sal? More like Sly. wakka wakka
That’s a whoppah!
*smug Sal intensifies*
That’s the Grinch-iest smile I’ve seen in a while.
It’s the same one that Joyce used.
Anti Joyce and Sal have the same attitude.
Appropriate rhyme at appropriate time.
Grinchy grin for the win.
Marcie likes being fought over, eh?
Huh. No gloves.
yeah i don’t think he’s had much practice drawing her hands without ’em recently
She stopped wearing them a couple weeks ago, real time. (Like, yesterday, in universe, I think?) Caused Joyce to have a bit of a freak out, which pissed Sal off.
It was this morning, in universe.
I’ve been wondering why Sal had left the room already but Malaya hadn’t! Ha!
But, Malaya’s in the room, which means, she’s not doing anything.
So, why does Sal think she’s “not available”?
Is Malaya… GIVING HER SPACE??? *boggles*
Or it’s a little bit later and Malaya was about to head off for class?
And here I was thinking the conversation back at Sal’s dorm would devolve into Joyce and Lucy making up wrong ways to say “Fuckface”. Until Ruth showed up.
*plays Neil Young’s “Let’s Roll” on the hacked P.A. speakers*
But we just saw Malaya and she looked perfectly available…
Maybe she’s got a class to go to soon or something?
College studies are no joke.
We’ve seen that Malaya actually studies…
Tell that to Walky…
Yo where’s all their gear? You can’t just show up with a pair of roller skates and no pads. This is not up to WFTDA standards.
😀 Hi Sal!
See? Fight smart not necessarily with punching. Think ‘plausible deniability’. For a certain value of plausible, since Marcie sees right through you. Sorry, Sal, you’re about as slick as glue.
Also, this is most likely me reading too much into things but that X she and Marcie make reminds me waaaaay too much of their hug here: http://www.dumbingofage.com/2015/comic/book-5/03-the-butterflies-fly-away/erase/
I don’t think she’s trying to hide it from Marcie, I think she’s joking a bit and also doing a good job of bringing it up without actually saying anything insulting about Malaya.
(and I think Marcie’s smiling because she recognizes that Sal avoiding Malaya is at least partially as a way of reducing conflict (while still doing stuff other than lean on the wall and scowl))
I am also joking a bit. Honestly, Marcie would have to be incredibly oblivious to not catch that Sal did that on purpose.
I think it’s more ‘yeah, yeah, smart ass, clever.’ than necessarily being glad they won’t be fighting but that’s also a fair read.
Is Marcie still after Malaya? I thought that ship had sailed.
I mean, she shrugged with the “oh well” when Malaya hooked up with joe. Not to say she wouldn’t still go for it given the chance, but its probably less a focus. But she did make friends with Malaya a while back, and keeps her because of the lack of moral leanings resulting in less splash damage to her. Also even if you’re not hooking up, no reason not to hang out with hot girl.
Last I saw, Marcie still wanted to bang Malaya but was okay with her wanting to bang other people.
For some value of okay. Honestly, it looked to me like Marcie gave up after Malaya went for Joe, but I could be wrong.
It didn’t seem very clear. There was that shrug and smile, but the couple of shots of her before that seem pretty shell-shocked – though they were distance shots.
And I don’t think it’s been brought up explicitly since.
Could be “I’m fine with it.” Could be “Given up”. Could be “clinging desperately to hope”.
Haha, Carla is barely a face in the background in the memory.
He, retroactive-memory-burn!
It’s actually a little sad, because for all that Carla tries to make herself memorable (mostly by being a persistently annoying butt), in people’s recollections she’s barely background noise.
That’s the problem when you’re a constant presence; at some point people tune you out.
Maybe it’s just an indication that being a persistently annoying butt is not the best way to make friends.
It works, for some people.
I MEAN SO I”VE HEARD
What’s this “friends” thing I keep hearing about?
Somewhat popular TV show, started in the mid 90s, ran for a decade.
But that’s not important right now.
Does Carla actually try to make herself memorable? Or does she try to make a shallow persona be the most salient thing about her, so that they remember her as “That annoying person I kinda’ want to ignore” rather than “That trans person.”
MARCIE: “Who was that strange tall girl anyway?”
So is Amber apart of Sal’s crew now? Or will she just be an occasional friend who hangs out?
lmao that smug face
Also, Malaya, I call BS. You and Marcie were on the same team pretty much right away so regardless of whether she was on a starter team and moved up or you both moved up, it’s still clearly pretty quick.
I would think a small league/team would move them up pretty quickly if they’re competent. They just don’t want beginners rolling in saying they want to participate, and then having the roller-skating skills of a drunk squirrel.
Some teams of roller derby in cities with a strong importance of university seasons (where I live) have a yearly reworking of team composition at the begin at the university year rather than at the begin of the administrative year, composition that is usually fixed some time around the following weeks. After that you’re definitely in the beginner team unless proven you’re so good that they really need you.
That makes sense, but considering Marcie was trying to recruit Sal not that long ago (a week or two in verse, I think? For a team that meets on a weekly basis, that doesn’t seem too long to me), I still have a hard time believing it’s that hard to move up.
Of course, I have a bastard of a cold right now so I could be misremembering.
well its nice Marcie and Sal are back to being chill again
mhm
Sal: Motor cycle bad ass, and. What. Angsty second grader? Like?
Crafty Sal!
Machiavelli Sal.
Sal-chiavellian?
Masaliavellian?
MachiaSalian?
She pairs well with her twin, Kraft M&C Walky.
Sure there’s a separate team for beginners… But did Mayala have to be such and incredible dick about it?
It’s Malaya. She doesn’t care if she is a prick.
Yes and yes. Remember when she took Fuckface back from Joyce?
That was.. incredibly mild. Like, she’s literally just stating facts. If she had phrased her last sentence as, “You’re only gonna be able to watch”, would it have been any less ‘dickish’?
Well… yeah, it would have.
“You can’t just barge in” to someone who just said they wanted to join is pretty aggressive. Insisting someone’s intent was wrong like the last sentence is aggressive. The emphasis on “beginners” could be demeaning depending on how it actually came off. The way she phrased it sounds like “no you can’t join, and you’re an idiot for thinking you could”.
Neutral would be something like “there’s a different team for beginners that meets on another night, so you can sign up but you can’t actually play with us tonight”. Polite would be something else entirely.
It would be harsh to a new random person, but Malaya already has history and beef with Sal.
Eh. Marcie had tried to get Sal to join multiple times before and been rejected. So it’s not like this is some rando off the street saying they’re interested, it’s someone who has mocked the activity multiple times before in a “I’m too cool for this” coming round like they set the rules.
Sal never said anything bad about roller derby. She just said she didn’t want to join and that she wanted to hang out with Marcie one on one like they used to. She’s said plenty of bad things about Malaya though.
True, Marcie did try to get Sal to join. But, that was earlier in the semester.
I figure the team probably has a roster of players who are familiar with each other, so they need to be careful in adding new players since it may affect team chemistry.
Sal has never mocked the activity or said she was too cool for roller derby even a single time.
This is Malaya. ‘Being a dick about it’ is her default behaviour.
Of course she did. I’m not sure if Malaya knows how to not be a jerk about things.
She doesn’t even know whether they’re beginners either. I don’t think we know whether Amber or Sal have played Roller Derby before.
To Sal, she did. Sal is her antagonist-of-choice.
Sal has been nothing but a hateful dick to Malaya the entire time they’ve known each other, why wouldn’t Malaya be rude to her? This isn’t dickery in a vacume.
Only one of those two assaulted the other, too. (hint: it wasn’t Malaya)
Sal is channeling her inner Grinch and is planning something. This is going to be good.
Nah, she’s just happy that Marcie is sidelining Malaya.
“Then Sal had an idea.
An awful idea.
Sal had a wonderfully awful idea.”
She would steal all the waifus. She would steal the Marcies, the Joyces, the Dorothys ans the Ambers.
Yeah, I think that Marcie’s crush on Malaya is past history now. Marcie is essentially a nice woman and Malaya isn’t; Marcie has no intention of structuring her life around someone so pettily nasty.
I thought Marcie just wanted to get laid
Yeah, I’m still waiting for that shoe to drop.
If Marcie’s behaviour towards Lucy is anything to go off of she’s really not particularly nice and Malaya is probably more her speed.
And now begins the Motorball arc. Looking forward to the deadly crazy cyborg maneuvers.
Nice “gee, ain’t a stinker” grin, Sal.
Keeping Malaya away won’t be a bad thing – it protects her from Amber.
I mean Malaya is right but theres a nice way of telling them that
not that she’d use it but she could
We don’t know that she’s right. Normally you’d at least let people try out for your team before presuming that they don’t belong, right?
(My volleyball team would always let potential new players do some trial trainings even outside the formalised annual trials, and then either take them on or get them in touch one of the other teams in the club that fit better.)
Panel 6 Marcie in the background: Yeah, my bf’s hate each other.
Must be a REAL SURPRISE for her given how INCREDIBLY SUBTLE Sal and Malaya are about it.
That face though XD
Even in flashbacks Carla manages to photobomb.
How dare reality interfere with a dramatic announcement! How rude!
wouldn’t Sal get moved off of beginners pretty fast? We’ve seen she’s already a very good skater (tho I guess there’s a lot more to the sport that just skating ability)
As far as I know, we don’t even know that Sal and Amber haven’t played Roller Derby in the past.
Bad, Sal! No diabolical thoughts with your best friend around!
Those poor poor Beginners god have mercy upon them.