Discussion (192) ¬
[ Comments RSS ]
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission @cpsc.gov ⋅ 15h
David M Willis! @damnyouwillis.bsky.social ⋅ 1d
Tom Cox @dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social ⋅ 2d
Loading ...
Billie! DO be a hero!
+∞ for that 70s song reference!
Somehow I think there will be a job opening for an RA, regardless of Ruth’s medical outcome. How many weeks are we into the semester at this point in the story?
Yep. I was thinking the same thing: “that’s a good way to become an ex-RA.”
Also, I second the bonus for the 70s song ref!
Billie! Do be a hero
Don’t let Ruth be a fool with her life
Billie! Do be a hero
Save Ruth and make her your wife…
just for reference to those like me who never heard it before:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cdFuMgMkBM
My God!! How young ARE you people??
And the version that went to #1 in the USA was by Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods.
Oh FUCK no. Those little bubbles better indicate that she’s alive (aka she’s okay.)
I believe they’re drunk bubbles.
Can’t be drunk if you’re dead.
Unless you’re dead-drunk.
The drinking dead.
I would watch the shit out of that.
http://25.media.tumblr.com/dc4f3f7f8c236f740fa812a65b516df1/tumblr_miqm2x5V9P1rfprkno1_500.gif
True to my word I am watching the shit out of this.
They could just be gas escaping the body. The jumled sounds too.
“This man’s drunk.”
“Dead drunk.”
“Dead right.”
A reference to “Clue”? Vow of Silence in Non-Current Comics broken.
Hurya!
Agreed. Also, her gurgling is a sign of life. (If on the other hand it were written something like “kkcccchh,” I’d be more concerned, because that’s standard comic-speak for “death rattle.”)
Yeah, it’s basically why that word balloon exists. Ease that tension away.
Yeah, I could really easily see her looking dead, especially with Billie’s reactions in panels 3 and 4.
I thought the term was, “boozles”? Y’know, “booze bubbles”?
Since when does a corpse say “mrghl”…or anything for that matter? The spill on the floor does kind of look like blood, though.
Ruth’s tears D:
seeeeeriously :(:(
Get a test tube, they might cure cancer!
Got it!
they do! but only optic cancer! :((
I’m not sorry for my “funny” comment, but now I need a serious one, because holy shit Willis drew tears. TEARS. ON RUTHLESS’ FACE. THIS SHIT IS SERIOUS MAN.
Ruth could do so much better than Billie. Billie like-wise. No one is worth getting gasoline drunk over.
(I am sorry for my “funny comment.”)
Hmm, I don’t think the “amazingly inappropriate” thing was targeted at you.
It was. I said something stupid, he deleted it. No biggie.
I wonder where Willis will go with this? Is Billie going to take her to the hospital or try and take care of her herself? I mean, she could take Ruth to the hospital, but then the school would probably find out she was drinking. That’d be bad. So what will Billie do?
I’m not sure what you do with someone with alcohol poisoning. Is it like food poisoning where they just need to barf and get some medicine or is it more serious?
I don’t know what you do with them either but I’ve read enough William S. Burroughs to know that you get them a doctor if they smell like pee!
(otherwise they might die)
I’m sure Billie knows. It’s part of her wealth of helpful knowledge pertaining to terrible and horrific things.
It’s more serious – you call 911.
Throwing up and such, they’re usually going to be fine. Unresponsive, like Ruth, or unable to respond to simple commands, is past the point of “sleep it off,” they may literally be dying – call for help.
From the stories I’ve heard in principle it’s about the same. Load their stomach up with tar. Make them puke it up. Keep them stable while they recover.
That’s not to say alcohol poisoning can’t be very bad though. It’s just that there’s not all that much to do about it beyond what you would for any other kind of poisoning. Not like they’ve got some alcohol antidote to put in you.
At its worst it medical treatment of alcohol poisoning seems to involve lot of time spent restraining the patient during seizures, feeding tubes, preventing the patient from choking on their own vomit, restarting their heart whenever it has stopped, and just generally keeping the breathing.
I want to be very clear when I say that just barf and get some medicine doesn’t mean hold your friend’s hair while they throw up, give them some gravol and let them sleep it off. A hospital is still exactly the place to go. They will get you through the shit that would otherwise kill you.
Well, given that Billie pulled the alarm and it’s not a drill, the fire department is going to show up and evacuate the building. I’m not sure how Billie is going to manage to take an unconscious Ruth out of the building without anyone noticing. I guess she could try hiding Ruth but someone is going to notice Ruth didn’t evacuate. Also, firefighters do not fool around when searching buildings.
Fun note: My college was one of the schools who’s fire alarm was not a prank! A very exciting night for us all.
“Someone is going to notice Ruth didn’t evacuate.”
Especially since RA’s are probably the go-to person to take charge in case of a fire emergency. Someone needs to do a headcount. Other RA’s will notice her absence.
As I’ve said elsewhere, RAs have classes and they also leave the dorm to go eat or ride their bikes or go shopping. Ruth is not expected to remain in her room 24/7. She doesn’t get in trouble if the fire alarm goes off at lunchtime and she’s at Chick-Fil-A downtown.
>_> Why would a possibly gay person eat at Chick-Fil-A?
Because they are amazingly delicious. If I was gay, I would still eat there.
Ethan has already covered this earlier in the comic, actually.
Yes, Ethan still eats at Chick-Fil-A, but basically because he’s not ready to fully embrace his homosexuality. He doesn’t want to give up on things society says he can’t have as a homosexual. Chick-Fil-A is not exactly in that category, but he will not give it up simply because someone else says he ought to. Ruth’s case might be similar.
http://www.dumbingofage.com/2011/comic/book-2/01-pajama-jeans/extolling/
> Also, firefighters do not fool around when searching buildings.
Actually, considering that the alarm didn’t unlock all doors, what are they going to do? Just kick down every locked door in case there’s someone behind it?
When firefighters arrive on the scene, there’ll possibly also an ambulance. Which means Billie probably did a very smart thing by setting off the fire alarm. Professional help will arrive soon.
Has it already been noted that this puts Billie in a similar situation as Sarah, when she got her roommate expelled for her own good? With the marked difference that Ruth is a far cry from being a popular girl. Which may mean Billie will be judged differently for it.
Ambulances come without fire trucks, too, so Billie could have accomplished that without committing a crime…
“I called 911 because the RA didn’t come out of her room even when there’s no reason she should – oops she’s fine and now she hates me even more.”
versus…
“Someone pulled the fire alarm and when Ruth didn’t leave I checked on her and oh no help me fire department!”
The second option makes perfect sense for a panicking dumb college student. Removes any personal responsibility for being the one to summon help, and gives her a legit reason to be concerned for Ruth not coming out of her room.
Not if Billie explains that she smelled gasoline and that a fire would quickly follow? Maybe?
When I saw comments about tears, I was scratching my head as I couldn’t see any, I had to photoshop this comic by changing the brightness and contrast to be able to see the tears.
Might wanna check your monitor calibration if it’s that invisible…
While it might be possible that it is the monitor’s fault, it is fair more likely due to the fact that I am legally blind (but not blind blind thank goodness)
so, perhaps partially color blind, perhaps? I have a nephew who’s got a light case of color blindness something to do with pinks and blues and such…
Seriously, you’re blaming it all on Billie?
Aww, she looks so cute when she’s intoxicated beyond belief.
It’s that uncomfortable position. Falling off of beds adds a +1 to Cuteness!
In a different context, Ruth’s pose would have been fresh blackmail material for Billie to collect.
In my experience drunk people don’t actually get better looking. Maybe the alcohol is so thick the viewer is experiencing beer goggles? Ruth seems to be much better looking drunk and disheveled.
Nah, it makes perfect sense. She is dressed casually and not wearing her glasses. Most importantly, she isn’t scowling and projecting a hateful and aggressive attitude. Have you ever known someone like that ? If you can get them to let go of it, it can make them look like a whole different version of themselves.
Man, this comic is really knocking on the 4th wall, isn’t.
Episode as in “this whole situation”
Is it?
is that a bottle of listerine in the corner
If it is, then there’s a good reason she’s passed out. Either from being drunk, alcohol poisoning, or just the sheer shitty taste of that. Or, speaking from some experience here, probably all three of those.
I thought listirine had a chemical component thingie that forces you to vomit it back up.
I don’t think so. The taste is what probably does that.
Isn’t blue food coloring and a Listerine bottle a pretty standard way to hide alcohol in plain sight?
Yup. Pour out most (but not all) the mouthwash then add blue or green food coloring and your favorite hard alcohol.
No, the “HRMGHL” indicates she’s alive. I’m also pretty sure she’s far from OK.
What happened to our earlier mouth 2 mouth comments??
I was wondering the same thing…
I have suplied a third. Everyone watch it closely so we can see where they’ve been going.
It’s already gone!!!!
Holy cheezits that was fast.
Willis went delete-happy on sexual comments like that. Likely because Billie doing anything to Ruth right now would be rape and that ain’t cool.
Perhaps Willis is not okay with sexualizing Ruth in her current condition for some strange reason.
Yeah, I wonder why!
+1
…some strange reason?
Rape is horrible, people.
sarcasm: it’s a thing
RaijinK is not disagreeing with you. In fact, he is expressing agreement, through the rhetorical device of sarcasm. You may also notice Willis commenting right above you with “+1”, indicating agreement with the parent comment, further supporting this claim.
…Maybe I should take a break from my English paper.
Its not rape if its mouth to mouth resuscitation. Not usually something you do unless the person is unconscious.
I’m guessing they weren’t referring to standard CPR.
CPR wouldn’t even be useful here anyway and I’ve read some more comments and I gotta agree with ya there. I usually look forward to resolutions (like finally seeing Ruth) than any sexy goings on. I’m all for such things once both parties consent though
I’m still looking forward more to them talking things out without being exposition cockblocked.
not just unconscious but not breathing. unconscious means call 911- not breathing means have someone else call 911 and start saving. Also interestingly enough with peoples fantasy posts the Red Cross has taken mouth to mouth out of CPR as much as possible (even more for lay person as opposed to professional rescuer CPR) partially because a major reason someone would hesitate to do CPR is that they don’t want to have to “kiss” the other person. (by the way rescue breathing is hard work even if not combined with chest compressions) there is nothing sexy about it as the person performing it has to keep timing their breaths, watching the victim, making sure THEY don’t run out of air. and keeping track of vitals in case they need to change what they are doing. With chest compressions you are doing all that PLUS wearing yourself out by trying to make a muscle that has stopped working start working with your bare hands and a ribcage and other muscles in the way.)
What? Aw come on
They are gone because they were amazingly inappropriate.
Hm…I guess I can live with that. Then again, I’m also amazingly inappropriate.
That would be pretty gross at this point. Even if she hasn’t puked, there is probably a little bit of it in there
Oh, thank god, she’s okay. There has yet to be a lesbian relationship in this comic and as all good webcomic fans know, a webcomic is nothing without at least one lesbian relationship. Just ask Andrew Hussie, Dan Shive, The creator of Gunnerkrigg Court, Batlesbo…
She is so fired.
Also, Jesus Christ what is wrong with you people.
You love us. All of us.
I hope this doesn’t go the stereotypical “romantic mouth-to-mouth” route.
It’s very unhygienic.
And on top of that, it’d be damn creepy.
And on top of that, would not help someone not die of alcohol poisoning in any way.
No worries, Willis has gone out of his way to squash that. ^-^
I always like the nondescript booze with the Xs on them that appear in cartoons or comics.
The bottle is definitely dead. It will never open its eyes again.
Quick, Billie! Hide Ruth’s booze and save her!
(Also, Ruth’s super-cute without her glasses… She needs to get frames that suit her better so she can look hot with them on!)
She’s dieing of alchohol poisening, hiding her booze won’t do squat.
Well… if she could hide the booze, clean up the spill (while removing the smell)… get Ruth to the hospital (without informing the school) and do it all before the firefighters arrive and before Ruth dies… she might not be in any trouble assuming she is 21 or over (I think RAs usually are).
If she can do al that then Amazigirl has nothing on her!
This is all Billie’s fault for rejecting her.
WHEN A HOT REDHEADED LESBIAN HITS ON YOU, YOU HAD BETTER SAY YES.
It’s like if someone asks if you’re a god.
But what if they find out their god is weak and decide to destroy them!?
That becomes the plot for a video game.
And when a handsome preacher’s son tries to slip a roofy in your drink you should take it as a compliment. *eyeroll*
Whew. Okay. It’s not a hanging. Just alcohol poisoning.
She doesn’t have Billie’s tolerance for booze, but then again, only Irish dockworkers have Billie’s level of tolerance.
Billie LAUGHS at Irish dock workers and their weak lily-livers!
While good drama, this whole storyline with Ruth has hit uncomfortably close to home, and I’m extremely relieved to see she’s not committed suicide.
And while we’re talking inappropriate, the suicide jokes in last strip’s comment thread kind of upset me, to tell the truth.
agreed. let’s maybe joke a little less about the heady combination of suicide & alcoholism, guys? just a little less.
Hmm…I’m not sure if it’s the fact that they’re cartoon characters, or maybe if I am just evil or something, but I didn’t mean anything wrong with my mouth-to-mouth comments. I guess cuz it’s a trope used ANY time a character is unconcious that they get mouth to mouth from a person they don’t like, push them off, or hit them or something that I guess I don’t see it as innopropriate. I apologize. :T
I don’t think you can be entirely blamed for that.
The CPR we see in the media is a pretty and neat version of the kind that actually saves lives.
It’s all kissing and immediate recovery, with no long-lasting effects.
This easily leads to the belief that it’s not that serious.
Real CPR involves broken ribs and vomit, even if done correctly, and is really only a holdout until proper medical care arrives.
Like you said, it’s an overused plot, so you’ve seen it before.
That and if someone is unconscious but breathing (as Ruth appears to be), CPR would be a very poor idea.
I saw the comic and within a few seconds posted the first thing that flashed through my mind.
Me too. It was borderline reflex.
Congratulations once again, you surely can twist a person up over your fictional characters.
Good on you Billie for setting off the fire alarms for whatever reason, you may just have saved Ruth’s life. (I hope).
She’s still alive, far as I know, the dead don’t cry.
Wait. Ruthless… CRYING???
I thought she traded her tear ducts in exchange for super strength!
Also, that is perhaps the best uncomfortable sleeping/passed out position I have ever seen in art.
damn…
Is this where Mary comes in and accuses Billy of being responsible for Ruth’s condition?
Yes. Mary is required to ruin things.
Appropriate avatar is appropriate.
I half-expected Ruth to have hung herself or something.
I don’t think I could frown hard enough to match my emotions in relation to what you just said.
What? I said HALF-expected, and Billie made that big dramatic reaction in yesterday’s strip, and even in today’s she still had to check if Ruth was alive. It’s not too far from what I said. Also, I find Ruth creepy.
This really is exactly what I expected, yeah. For her to bust in and find a suicide.
She’s a leafs fan. THAT explains it all.
Ruth is a Leafs fan! That EXPLAINS everything!
We had an airman in my dorm drink so much he ended up in an alcohol coma. Luckily, no one just left him there and pretended they didn’t see him, or assume he would just be okay, and called an ambulance.
The medical people seriously believed he wasn’t going to make it and called Mortuary Services and our commander to notify the family.
I seem to remember his blood/alcohol level was over 0.3%. of course it being the military, people were treated like criminals for letting him drink alone in his room instead heroes for doing the right thing and saving his life.
I… don’t think those are tears. I think it’s just… the way the light is hitting her eyes? Why would she be producing fresh tears while she’s passed out drunk?
yeah, i didn’t think you could cry unless you were conscious.
Conscious is kind of a sliding scale.
And here I thought you were going to have one of your earliest character deaths in rectos
hey guys sorry i’m late what’d i mi- YOU PEOPLE DISGUST ME.
Would you like an antacid? Or perhaps gingerale? We also have barf bags.
+1
Not being able to sleep in a bed properly could save her…. it means she’s less likely to choke on her own vomit in Trendelelburg-style position.
I dunno, she’s still on her back.
Only once Billie turned her over. How Billie rolled her over from that position, I don’t know.
Ahh yeah, good point. Yeah, from her initial position she probably would be okay.
Rise again, rise again
Though your heart it be broken
And your life about to end
No matter what you’ve lost, be it a home, a love, a friend…
That song’s been running through my brain all day and those lyrics just seemed eerily appropriate here, specially since she’s Canadian
Following the standard “characters make the WRONG decision and it prolongs their misery” theme of this comic, I’m waiting on edge to see if Billie gets help for Ruth or tries to hide her from the firefighters who will be checking the building soon, to cover her ass from being fired and/or kicked out of the school.
Exactly my response.
Also, which would have worse consequences? We’ve seen what happened to Sarah for making what was probably the RIGHT decision.
If I didn’t know that this was the result of sudden unstoppable feels and heartbreak and confusion and alcohol, Panel 2 Ruth would be adorable.
Now it’s kind of like, “well, at least she can find peace in unconsciousness, oh wait those are tears in panel 4, guess not.”
Why is everybody so worried about what Billie is going to tell the firefighters?
Fire alarm goes off, Ruth doesn’t come out, Billie is worried and tried to get her out. All true, Billie is protected (probably) by Good Samaritan Laws. All she needs to do is hide the booze and Ruth might not get in trouble, though that’s doubtful when the firefighters get paramedics to examine her and find she’s still got a bit of blood in her alcohol system.
Of course there’s likely security cams that caught Billie being the one to pull the fire alarm.
Oh my god, they killed Ruth.
David you basturd.
But seriously, it would be saddening if Ruth dies.
Is Ruth’s right hand backwards?
Yes.
Not anymore!
A. I think I see who the new RA is going to be.
B. I think Ruth just lost that position in preparation for A.
C. Is another Kickstarter going to be required to get another year of daily strips?
D. All that power Ruth got used to is going to be pretty hard for her to let go of.
I’ll take that “hrmghl” as a “yes I am alive”.
One serious thing Billie should do at least would be make sure Ruth’s airways are clear and then place her into a recovery position.
Ruth is uber cute in panel 2. But in related news ALL THE FEELS!
Barely responsive, crying, and possibly near death is “cute?”
Cute is the wrong word, but there’s definitely a super-positive emotion that can push its way through and it’s the same one that triggers a “that’s so cute” reaction. It’s seeing defenselessness. It prompts a desire to interact. When something’s wrong, that hopefully manifests as helpful interactions like cradling, cooing, or cleaning up their mess. When nothing’s wrong, it manifests as playful interactions like cradling, cooing, or tickling. /shrug
Jereko understands, don’t be a kill joy. I mean, just look at her all helpless and adorable! Plus the art style really suits her.
She’s alive! Thank God she’s alive!
Ok, so I was wrong.
I’m not sure what position Ruth is in now. (I mean, situationally, not a good one. But physically speaking, I’m not sure where her legs ended up.)
It’s been 4 months since we last saw Ruth. That seems like kind of a long time. It almost makes me wonder if comics aren’t cut out for multiple storylines like this.
She’s been drinking alone in her room for four months.
Why would that mean comics aren’t cut out for multiple storylines? I think it’s fine. From your comment, I’d assume it means you think it isn’t. *shrug* Not everyone operates the same way.
Threw me off with the weekend updates. Was so confused by what was going on. Hope Ruth will be ok.
Two people I knew in colledge in the 80’s died of alcohol poisoning, one at a party, and another in their room alone, via grain white lightning. The 80’s had a variety of ways to kill yourself. Then came crack, meth, and AIDs, it’s toll is a whole other story. Wished there was a Billie in 1986. Sorry Doug, it was a lousy was to go, alone.
Love this storyline
The art has been great lately too
Hope Billie can help poor Ruth
She didn’t shit herself, neither is she covered in sick.
She’s gonna be ok.
Very intense. Great writing as always.
*eyes the Twitter feeds*
Joyce knows about Ethan’s gaiety now, so she may have caught what Mike’s referring to. Is it possible that Joyce is… being snarky?
*wipes away single tear*
They grow up so fast.
I don’t think we really know that Ruth is to the point of dying of alcohol poisoning from what we see here. That being said.. unless she gets up and starts acting really lucid in the next frame tomorrow Billie needs to assume the worst and get her help.
Is it just me, or does Billy look kinda like a Ninja Turtle in the last panel?
Gah I actually believed this would be just her over reacting, hope she hasn’t OD’d.
If I saw someone in this state I would’ve thought the best thing might be to force he to throw up.
You go gurl save your friend to be,… get her to heave up whatevers in her stomach, wrap something around her hips,.. and carry her out cheerleader.
I do not care about the deleting.
Good comic.
[cognitive dissonance] And in Kickstarter time, they are all getting licky-style with the fingering… [/cognitive dissonance]
Wow, how’d my comment rocket upwards? THAT’s what y’all were talking about? =p
Mr. Willis, seriously. Panel 4 is genuinely excellent. Good on ye.
Because you overreacting and having to deal with a drunken Ruth getting pissed that you broke down her door and rang the fire alarm sounds SO much better…