I meant it in the traditional dating sense, but I see where you’re going here. These two have had “bad ending” written all over them for a loooooong time now.
But it’s probably that “what happens happens” attitude that is their ward against drama. Because they’re both not overinvesting/overanalysing it. Danny Amber and Ruth could learn from them.
Pretty much EVERYTHING in this comic is just an awkward pretext to fucking, “get’n it AUN!” or other various horizontal shenanigans, isn’t it?
(I think I finally figured it out!)
It’s been over a decade since that story arc, and we even got past it on the rerelease w/ Author commentary site. I think we can safely put Ruth’s adventure with the truck into “Rosebud” territory.
As far as hover-text comments, “nobody gets hit by a truck” isn’t much of a spoiler for past comics. It at best tells you that a character gets hit by a truck in one of his comics, not who. I hadn’t even put that much thought into it, I assumed “hit by a truck” was a trope on TV Tropes (I was thinking of “Dropped a Bridge on Him”) and thought that comment was metaphorical.
Well, whatever, damage (however small) has been done. I re-read Willis’ rules and he never said “no spoilers for old comics” so I was in the wrong.
hahaha! This line forced me to sign up so I could tell you I literally laughed out loud at this! SO perfect. I want a universe where I can quote this line in more contexts.
Let’s see, we have a gay guy and his willing beard, a dipshit in a love triangle with a girl and her alter ego that borders on being a split personality, a manwhore and a girl who filmed having sex with him to make a political statement, the English guy diddling his student, and Mike and your mom. Really, I think Ruth/Billie may be the second LEAST messed-up relationship of this whole damn strip (behind Walky/Dorothy).
I’m not sure I would say that Joe/Roz or Mike/your mom are more messed up than Ruth/Billie?
The only ‘bad’ thing about Joe/Roz was that she filmed it for a ‘political statement’, except that statement was basically ‘My body is mine, and sex-positive is a good thing.’ The taping was completely ok with Joe (she asked), both were willing, and neither seem to have much in the way of regret of the situation or act.
On the other hand, we have Ruth/Billie, who, within a week, have gone from ‘act of sexual harassment by slamming one person against the wall and kissing her’ to ‘in a relationship based on helping each other stop[ drinking cause one of them almost died’ to ‘I’m stealing things for you because I can’t show affection except for with violence, rule/law breaking, and abusing my authority.’
And like MM said, what Mike and your mom have is special; don’t be a prude, man.
(Sorry, that was way long and a bit hostile sounding, but I’m getting a bit worried by how much ‘aww’ is going around for something that’s so messed up, Not saying I don’t ship it, but it’s just a train wreck right now.)
Joe/Roz probably doesn’t even really count as a relationship either. I was just piling on to pile on. (And adding Mike and your mom was a joke, but I think everyone got that.)
You make an excellent point about the “wall incident” only being a week ago and the context it adds to this gesture.
I feel compelled to point out that while the kiss was uninvited and ultimately unwelcome, the slamming against the wall was a response to Billie grabbing her.
I think that “right now” at the very end of your post is the key to everything. Yeah, shit is fucked right now, but people hold out hope that m maybe these two can help each other overcome their… very significant problems.
That’s kinda the opposite of what she said. If that was what she was saying, it would’ve been more like “it should fit, the cross section of bigots and girls who are your size is unexpectedly broad.”
Oh god, that last panel. Ruth has it so bad for Billie. Like, ‘nearly as bad as Walky when he likes a girl’ bad. If they don’t kiss soon, I think she might just pop.
This is my favourite strip in the entire comic. Up until now I can’t say I had a favourite at all, no one strip stood out to me, but this one. Oh my. Ruth is absolutely adorable. Slightly crazy, but only in the most adorable way possible.
Also, although I prefer Shortpacked! and the Walkyverse in general over Dumbing of Age, Ruth being alive in this universe is a huge point in its favour. Enough Ruth comics and I might forget my sadness over the coming conclusion of Shortpacked!
Awww they’re so dysfunctional! Really Dotty and Walky have the only healthy relationship comic, but hopefully Danny and Amber look like they’re going to get there someday now that Danny is fully aware of Amber’s situation and Amber maybe will get some help.
Seeing as their relationship is defined by loveable but messed-up people continuously engaging in criminal/ethically dubious behavior, I’d personally go with “Bluth Co”.
Ruth loves Billie, started it out horribly by shoving Billie up against the wall and forcing a kiss on her. Billie backed her down on that. Ruth eased off and tried to drink herself to death. Billie stepped in to help her. End of line.
Billie may be sorry but I think she is about to fall. How can you resist someone who’d steal a cheerleaders outfit you can never show in public, just for you? Guess it’s the thought that counts. But, damn, they are cute.
As said many times here, probably the best relationship here after Walky and Dorothy.
I can put myself in Billie’s shoes and imagine a wide spectrum of responses. Nowhere on that spectrum would I feel motivated to confess to violating the alcohol-free pact in response to Ruth’s behavior. The closest I might come is to ask if this means breaking rules is okay, and then hide behind that if I was caught, later.
(On the uniform issue, at my most high-road response, I’d not accept stolen stuff; at my more passive-aggressive-evil than Ruth response, I’d not accept it just to see how far she’d go. At points between, the uniform might be retained, as seems to be happening here.)
I’m not saying she doesn’t need to come clean. But not NOW. In response to THIS stuff? Anytime but now.
I don’t know… The ethics of how the uniform was obtained aside, if Billie accepts the gift without confessing, it feels like she’s almost tricking Ruth. On the other hand, if she comes clean and says, “The reason I turned your other gift aside is because I don’t feel like I deserve it since I cheated on the drinking,” they can go forward from a place of honesty. If Billie maintains the lie much longer, it’s gonna be a lot harder to salvage whatever sort of relationship they have.
This is rather appallingly sweet. But I do like how Ruth still manages to call Billie fat in the first panel, at the same time as she castigates bigots.
This has to be one of tufts sweetest things I have ever seen. You can just feel, subtly, Billie’s heart starting to melt and break at the same time. Bravo Willis. Bravo Willis
I’m a little disturbed by how many people seem to genuinely think this is a sweet gesture. I mean, if we look at this from the outside in, Ruth has stolen somebody’s property, broken into another person’s room, and pinned it to the wall. Upon returning to the room, Billie sees the thing, and then Ruth is -there-, behind her, lending context to it. Like she was lurking and waiting.
This is kinda stalker behavior, guys. The fact that Billie seems to appreciate it (which doesn’t quite make sense to me, but people are weird) is well and good, and basically a dodged bullet for Ruth, but if someone pulled this and then had the cops called on them,you can bet your bippy the restraining order would be well justified.
Breaking and entering is not more okay because you want to be lesbians with someone than it is when you want to steal their most prized possession and torment them with it, and stealing doesn’t become okay just ’cause the person is a bongo.
That said, the last panel is still full of feels and I ship this so hard.
LOTS of things are stalker behavior if they’re unwanted and clearly rejected beforehand. While they’ve had a complicated relationship, as of their last encounter, Billie hadn’t told Ruth to leave her alone and never speak to her again. They’ve already crossed more boundaries than this in their relationship up to this point, without any serious objections, and this doesn’t seem out of line by the standard of their complicated interactions so far.
The theft thing is another issue, it’s clearly being handwaved by saying the victim was a bigot, which isn’t really a good answer. But it’s largely independent of their relationship.
Yeah, and what’s his face was disturbing the peace when he held up that boombox in 16 Candles.
If Billie didn’t want this it’d damn well be stalking and you’re 100% correct that a restraining order would be an acceptable response, but come on – the rest is just meh. Illegal, sure, but getting this out of whack because whoamg theft of something minor is just nitpicking.
As much as I want them to bone like a dinosaur exhibit, I am not convinced from Billie’s expression that she’s appreciating it (although the hand gesture seems to indicate so, I wonder if she’s so off-balance she’s just clutching for the nearest thing).
That said, it’s a comic, sometimes we have relatively minor criminal behavior played for laughs in romantic stories. Of course there are romantic gestures that are sweet in fiction and would be disturbing in real life. Willis writes extremely colorful characters, many with their own foibles, flaws, and quirks. Ruth wouldn’t be Ruth without the criminal behavior – it would be too much of a turn-around. And there’s always possible the criminal acts will become a serious matter later, but for now the drinking and emotional damage are the focus of serious drama for Ruth.
Yeah, even as a big fan of the pairing, this felt a little… off. Not so much because it confirms Ruth’s moral compass as completely batshit – past behavior towards Billie makes it pretty clear she sees “punishing” people by hurting them/taking their stuff as perfectly justifiable.
I’m more thrown on account of reading Ruth’s attitude after the Big Kiss as “I like her, it doesn’t seem to be mutual, and I completely fucked things up/acted hugely unprofessionally, so I’m going to do the right thing, take a step back, and focus on getting myself to a less messed-up place.” Which, you know, is reasonable.
So I expected her reaction to Billie’s first rejection to be a despondent “nice going Ruth, you fucked up yet again” as opposed to this aggressive/weirdly needy “GODDAMN IT I WILL MAKE THINGS RIGHT WITH YOU EVEN IF I HAVE TO COMMIT A CAMPUS-WIDE BURGLARY SPREE.”
That it actually works as a cute relationship moment is a testament to how perfectly their horrendously messed-up emotional states and needs feed into one another, but it also feels like they’re backsliding into rather more unhealthy territory here.
This is so adorable! I also look forward tow atching the next bit of dysfunction (I feel it’s a little early for Billie to admit to Ruth that she’s cheating with Jack).
Still, I am feeling pretty happy! It’s Adorbs and great to watch. And where’s the fun without the drama? 😀
The ‘i’ve still been drinking’ bomb is gonna be dropped…probably this week…probably in the final panel of whichever comic its in…and for the impending cliffhanger, here is a pre-emptive: DAMN YOU WILLIS!
Kind of blown away that everybody in here seems to think this is cute or something. Am I the only one who is noticing that Billie is obviously scared and uncomfortable right now?
We’ll see what tomorrow brings (there’s about a solid week’s worth of strips before the new storyline begins and IU is overrun with hoodie dresses), but right now, I’m not getting the same read.
A lot of Billie’s personality seems to be driven by a lack of parental affection/attention, and what we’ve seen of her high school life sounds like she spent most of her time plugging that hole with friends, boys (and possibly girls), activities, and social standing – basically, anything that gets people to like, need, and validate her.
Problem is that all that evaporated after the big DUI fiasco, and her subsequent efforts to make herself Queen Bee at IU have been kind of a disaster. So she’s trying to make herself feel needed in other ways: dispensing romantic advice to Walky, fixing up Joyce’s wardrobe, playing substitute RA, and (yes) taking care of Ruth.
Thing is, much as she seems to get validation from having people rely on her, these have all been pretty one-sided relationships. Ruth’s gesture, messed up as it is, is also the first time anybody’s gone out of their way to do something nice for Billie in return (and feeds directly into those deeper emotional needs). There’s some complicated feelings at work in panels 3 and 4, but I think she’s more overwhelmed than scared here. The hand-holding is also kind of a giveaway.
I think it matters less if it is fucked up (cause stealing shit and giving it to your crush as a gift IS pretty fucked up, let’s not mince words) and more if this brand of fucked up compliments Billie’s brand of being fucked up. Which seems to be the case, if that hand holding is any indication.
Is Billie even sure that she wants a lesbian relationship? She seems to like Ruth when they don’t want to kill each other, but does she like like Ruth?
She returned Ruth’s first kiss pretty enthusiastically until she realized she was kissing RUTH, and when Joyce asked about whether she thought of girls romantically Billie said ‘EVERYONE does at some point.’
Right, but does she want a romantic or even physical relationship with Ruth. One kiss does not lead to a relationship or even sex. Billie seems largely into guys ripping her clothes off and with the exception of maybe Ruth, she largely wants to keep her clothes on around the ladies. I wonder if Ruth might find herself in the friendzone, because even all women will not be attracted to a woman at all times.
Why can I see there being an arc with the original owner of the uniform finding out she has it and coming after her for revenge under the mistaken belief that she stole it?
Go to Willis’ “It’s Walky” Tumblr page.
Right-click the page, then click on “view background image”.
Compare that picture to Ruth in panel #4.
Big eyes? Check.
Freckles? Check.
Hair color? Check.
Weird smile? Check.
Prominent ears? Welllll… maybe a half a check…..
Frightening, isn’t it?
My thinking is that all of Billie’s emotional relationships up to this point have been relatively shallow. Wanna guess how fast her ‘friends’ ditched her after the DUI and her getting kicked off the cheerleading squad? So someone who’s genuinely concerned with her happiness is a new experience for her. She’s not sure how to react. Plus there’s the mental baarrier of “She’s a girl and she likes me.” I have had a person of my own gender express a romantic interest in me, and I’ll admit I freaked out a bit. Processed it in the end, decided I wasn’t interested, and we managed to stay friends.
So I read Billie’s expression in the last panel as “I don’t know what to think about this” on so many levels.
That face…it’s like that weird smiley face thing dogs do, but usually a person’s tongue isn’t tooth-colored. That’s what makes it seem creepy to me. Not the actions, which are quite adorable when you consider the characters, but the facial expression.
Because breaking into student’s rooms and stealing things to blackmail them into completing some red tape paperwork is wrong, but breaking into student’s rooms and stealing things because they posted something you disagree with on the internet is heroic.
Ehh, I don’t think Blaine’s going to die, unless I seriously misinterpreted the state he was left in. Not mention Blaine has a history of physical abuse, and was behaving in a threatening manner. It wouldn’t be the world’s strongest case, but you could argue Amber attacked Blaine to defend herself and Danny.
Like many, people, I’m not quite sure how I feel about his yet. On one hand, I feel like straight couples get to have all sorts of romances- and Ruth is not behaving anymore outrageously than a the leading guy in a romantic comedy. On the other hand, I have problems with certain rom-coms for that very reason. A part of me really relishes the fun/messed up relationships, and I enjoy seeing a queer couple fill that role for once, even if I don’t think its a realistic model for a healthy relationship.
Well, it’s not a healthy relationship. It’s a messed up relationship between two messed-up people who are trying to find some happiness and connection with another person, but who don’t currently have the ability to form healthy relationships.
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Dawww!
And then she admits about the drinking.
Wait, when was she drinking, again?
At the end of the Freshman Family Weekend storyline.
(Oct. 23, 2013) http://www.dumbingofage.com/2013/comic/book-3/04-just-hangin-out-with-my-family/nightnight/
Exact same thought, Opus. Followed closely by yaaaay!
THIS IS THE CUTEST THING OVER OMFG
You have no concept of how much I agree with this statement.
Isn’t it?
Oh man this is the beginning of a horribly unstable relationship, isn’t it?
The best kind!
“Becoming”?
Wait, I thought you said becoming. “Beginning”?
haha nice.
I meant it in the traditional dating sense, but I see where you’re going here. These two have had “bad ending” written all over them for a loooooong time now.
It ends with the two of them and Amber going all “Death Proof” on Blaine
Hang up the chick habit, hang it up daddy or you’ll never get another fix.
… he’s addicted to chick tracts?
Like broken heart bad or murder suicide 3 years down the road bad? Ruth is kind of obsessive.
This series most stable relationship is Walky and Dorothy.
OH GOD IT’S AS TRUE AS IT IS TERRIFYING
ONLY CAPS CAN CONVEY THIS REALIZATION
GOOD USAGE FINE SIR
and they are not super serious…
That’s what they keep saying to themselves but they seem to be falling quit hard for each other.
But it’s probably that “what happens happens” attitude that is their ward against drama. Because they’re both not overinvesting/overanalysing it. Danny Amber and Ruth could learn from them.
I swear I see you everywhere.
And it’s in the way of my ship, so it MUST GO.
That’s why I heartedly recommend threesomes as a ship. Plenty of room for everybody!
there is always Dina, Riley and their never ending love of breakfast cereal
DinaxRileyxCereal? I ship it.
Pretty much EVERYTHING in this comic is just an awkward pretext to fucking, “get’n it AUN!” or other various horizontal shenanigans, isn’t it?
(I think I finally figured it out!)
Not everything. Joe for instance just skips the pretext and moves straight to the fucking bit.
Mike just needs $0.05…
Well, of course it is. It’s a college strip.
Honestly, this is probably a violation of Ruth’s RA contract.
Stealing from various rooms? You don’t say!
Ruth is a violation of Ruth’s RA contract.
A horribly unstable relationship – BASED ON SEX!!
And then a truck comes through the wall, right?
Ruth probably stole the truck in this universe. Which is why she’s still alive.
She predicted the truck.
The truck posted slurs on its Facebook wall.
It’s official. Billie has dumps like a truck.
She’s not AIMING for the truck!
No , but the truck is aiming for her
You make me want to see Ruth and Billie cosplaying as Buzz and Woodie, now.
Ruth turns into the truck.
Aren’t we supposed to avoid major spoilers for Willis’ other works? Not everyone has ready his other comics yet.
It’s been over a decade since that story arc, and we even got past it on the rerelease w/ Author commentary site. I think we can safely put Ruth’s adventure with the truck into “Rosebud” territory.
I assumed it was okay given how freely it was discussed in previous comment sections, and how Willis himself spoiled it in several DoA hover-texts.
As far as hover-text comments, “nobody gets hit by a truck” isn’t much of a spoiler for past comics. It at best tells you that a character gets hit by a truck in one of his comics, not who. I hadn’t even put that much thought into it, I assumed “hit by a truck” was a trope on TV Tropes (I was thinking of “Dropped a Bridge on Him”) and thought that comment was metaphorical.
Well, whatever, damage (however small) has been done. I re-read Willis’ rules and he never said “no spoilers for old comics” so I was in the wrong.
Rosebud was a truck!
And….flashbacks to The Wicker Man had just commenced…well that and the review of it.
THE TRUCKS! OH GOD NOT THE TRUCKS! NOT THE TRUCKS! AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH~
I’m just glad I wasn’t the only one who immediately thought of wicker man
The original, or the horrible, horrible remake?
Oh…. MY.
sooner or later Ruth will learn to express herself in ways that aren’t prosecutable
sooner or later
Where’s the fun in that?
Maybe Amber, too.
hahaha! This line forced me to sign up so I could tell you I literally laughed out loud at this! SO perfect. I want a universe where I can quote this line in more contexts.
I’m still not entirely sure how Billie’s taking this.
I know, right? Like after last strip, I’m still nervous about what happens next.
Whatever the result, I fear someone will be decked in the face.
No need to be nervous. Just relax and let it happen.
I think she went from this: 0_0
To this: T_T
That’s… unbelievably… sweet…
That is the nicest crime anyone has ever committed for another person. This is a fact.
OMG Ruth’s a Stealer!
And she isn’t even from Pittsburgh!
Swiper quit swiping!
What you did there<——*sees it*
She doesn’t even LIKE football!
I don’t get i~ ……ohhhhhhhhhh -gets it-
Come on…make out. Make out now.
They will… over at Slipshine.
Oh you are just the worst.
Ruth and Billie are my new favourite thing ever.
Implying they haven’t been your favourite thing since the fire alarm strips?
What?
Does this seem kind of REALLY MESSED UP to anyone else?
Would it be fun to watch if it wasn’t?
“All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” -Leo Tolstoy
More simply: Stable is boring.
(I tried to think of a better short way to say that, but the quote is already pretty short.)
Happy families are a myth. Every family is dysfunctional in some way or another. If not immediate family, then extended family.
YES, it is AWFUL. It just screams dysfunctional relationship.
…and I will read the goddamn shit out of it.
I think this phrase sums up the entire comic.
You win the internets.
I absolutely second this!
A Winnar Is You!
In comparison with the Amber-Blaine-Danny mess? No, not especially.
Oh, please compared to that Joyce and Ethan are normal.
Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Nononoshhhhhhhhhhhhh
This. Right here.
It is, but it’s also kind of adorable.
Messedorbale.
I’ll second that.
agreed
Let’s see, we have a gay guy and his willing beard, a dipshit in a love triangle with a girl and her alter ego that borders on being a split personality, a manwhore and a girl who filmed having sex with him to make a political statement, the English guy diddling his student, and Mike and your mom. Really, I think Ruth/Billie may be the second LEAST messed-up relationship of this whole damn strip (behind Walky/Dorothy).
Hey, what Mike and your mom have is special!
Only because he paid with a 1926 S Buffalo Nickel.
Buffalo: a greeting between two nudists.
This is how beautiful what Mike and your Mom have truly is.
I’m not sure I would say that Joe/Roz or Mike/your mom are more messed up than Ruth/Billie?
The only ‘bad’ thing about Joe/Roz was that she filmed it for a ‘political statement’, except that statement was basically ‘My body is mine, and sex-positive is a good thing.’ The taping was completely ok with Joe (she asked), both were willing, and neither seem to have much in the way of regret of the situation or act.
On the other hand, we have Ruth/Billie, who, within a week, have gone from ‘act of sexual harassment by slamming one person against the wall and kissing her’ to ‘in a relationship based on helping each other stop[ drinking cause one of them almost died’ to ‘I’m stealing things for you because I can’t show affection except for with violence, rule/law breaking, and abusing my authority.’
And like MM said, what Mike and your mom have is special; don’t be a prude, man.
(Sorry, that was way long and a bit hostile sounding, but I’m getting a bit worried by how much ‘aww’ is going around for something that’s so messed up, Not saying I don’t ship it, but it’s just a train wreck right now.)
Joe/Roz probably doesn’t even really count as a relationship either. I was just piling on to pile on. (And adding Mike and your mom was a joke, but I think everyone got that.)
You make an excellent point about the “wall incident” only being a week ago and the context it adds to this gesture.
I feel compelled to point out that while the kiss was uninvited and ultimately unwelcome, the slamming against the wall was a response to Billie grabbing her.
(not that kissing someone after something like that isn’t still messed up, but well, hey, hello Ruth!)
Can you ship a train wreck?? Metaphysical dilemma!
Yes, but you need a REALLY big ship.
Train wreck? Wouldn’t this be more of a SHIPwreck?
I think that “right now” at the very end of your post is the key to everything. Yeah, shit is fucked right now, but people hold out hope that m maybe these two can help each other overcome their… very significant problems.
For some reason I always thought it more likely that the student was diddling the English guy, but either way…
Somewhere Leslie’s dysfunctional lesbian relationship sense is tingling, and she doesn’t know why.
Oh, indisputably.
Messed up how?
You mean how Ruth is making up for the damage done by her earlier emotional lashing-out at Billy by emotionally lashing out at random other people?
Nah, sounds fine
A booze-hound and a klepto, truly a match made in heaven. 😀
Now they can steal all the booze they want…
and have sex… eventually…
And by eventually…you mean when Half-Life 3 comes out?
I WISH you can do that in Grand theft Auto
Half-Life 3 Confirmed
I’ll believe it when I hold the disc in my hands or the game in my Steam account.
Well, maybe. After all, lechery, sir it provokes and unprovokes; it provokes the desire, but it takes away the performance.
That should be made into an RPG.
A rocket propelled grenade? Why?
There have been worse pitches for a buddy cop movie, I’m sure.
Billie, you missed. You are either six inches too low or six inches too high, depending on what you were going for.
Yea DW-if she was aiming for the Land of Milk or the Land of Honey she really shouldn’t have taken that left turn at Ft. Wayne.
dangit she DID steal it |=o
Also, guess Billie isn’t listening to the “Bigots are fat like you” part? \=’
Yeaaah i kinda got a weird vibe from that comment too…
Nahhhhhhh, Ruth meant it’s not easy to find someone who’s both a bigot AND curvy to steal from.
That’s kinda the opposite of what she said. If that was what she was saying, it would’ve been more like “it should fit, the cross section of bigots and girls who are your size is unexpectedly broad.”
Well played, sir.
“unexpectedly broad, just like the cross section of your ass.”
just look at Ruth’s face. she is coveting that hand like nobody’s business.
yesssss…. finallyyyy… my precious.
her precious life-heat. in my hands.
Ruth haz a kitty face!
I really thought she’d have figured out what happened when she left last time, maybe that’s why Danny’s been so smooth lately he gave it all to her.
People are weird.
Especially their mouths.
They’re weird.
That’s what makes humans so unique. The weird part….the mouth thing I don’t know about that.
Love that last panel, with Billie still in D’awww shock and Ruth in the middle of a hand-holding induced orgasm.
I’m in the middle of a seeing-fictional-people-holding-hands induced emotional orgasm.
“Emotional”
“”E”motional”
“I accept this gift if only because it will keep you from committing any more theft in the near future.”
How do you know you like someone? When you’re willing to commit crimes for their benefit.
I would do anything for love.
Even that.
Meatloaf would disagree.
Stop stealing stuff? That’s just crazy talk!
That’s not crazy talk. This is crazy talk, ahbapsfubweufabdasjfndaweroubandajs;dnurabnsdja sbdufabsbus.
kxdijwef\cnur? wsdbhcjbfech ruhcrcim ridjehyncdyrdiehdyn.
aasasa?alsabdsali;efh;bdz.,ndbvausebfdnBZ
Swdjmcf3nuh5yue ec2rcrfcnc. Ijmeodc3rfhnujEFVGiuj erfRTGBeofkcqd.
You leave his mother out of this! Ashdkcifjfnfbmeowpq!
He did what with his hand? Asksasnaisfn[asdjlsdznxzl!
Sorry sorry! I meant to say ekotojffok6f5tf4drf3 not ec2rcrfcnc.
I’m just…… gonna go now….. you guys have…. fun? [Backs away slowly before breaking into a dead sprint]
Darmok and Jilad at Tennarga! Shaka when the walls fell!
(sorry for using Darmok again but so rare to use it in a conversation)
This is why “SQUEEEEEE!!!!!” was invetned, I’m pretty sure.
JUST F*CK ALREADY!
I’m a tad disturbed by Ruth’s face in the last panel.
last panel of http://achewood.com/index.php?date=09072007 is the first thing I thought of
Her FAAAAAAAAAACE!
Oh, no… I like them together, that’s great, and yay for the future Billy and Ruth perform a sex, ok, yippee.
That being said, kind of needy on Ruth’s part, and I’m hoping Billy sets her straight, and -throwing hands up in air in frustration-
I dunno.
I just don’t want these two particular kids getting hurt from each other. I like ’em.
But perhaps they both have compatible kinda issues?
It’s almost inevitable they’re gonna hurt each-other, just a little bit.
I mean, they both have hella issues, guilt/fear/anger/self loathing etc.
But, Ruth needs a “friend”, and Billie needs to be needed.
They’re both one step away from crazy cat lady mode, and…
*Insert obvious pun*
So long as they get they get the argument out the way right now, it could kinda be a trust building thing.
I like how what you just said could essentially be applied to the Joyce/Ethan relationship.
I did not intend that, but yeah it works really well :-/
That said, Ethan/Joyce are mostly together to relieve perceived pressure from outside the relationship.
What happens When/If, they realize/start to feel, that nobody (worth listening to) gives a crap about their choice in partner is anyone’s guess.
With Billie/Ruth the problems are decidedly internal.
*Insert less obvious pun*
(P.s Sorry for confusing grammar, hard thought to type out :P)
Well, it’s not quite chucking a toy at Billie’s head, but I guess it’ll do.
Well, that’s mother f*cking adorable.
Now KISS
Oh god, that last panel. Ruth has it so bad for Billie. Like, ‘nearly as bad as Walky when he likes a girl’ bad. If they don’t kiss soon, I think she might just pop.
Oh no…
-goes and hides from the figurative truck that’s about to hit-
Is that a toothy grin on Ruth’s face? It’s cute….which is not the word I would usually associate with Ruth.
Toothless.
Unless Ruth shoots plasma from her mouth(which would be pretty awesome), Toothless she ain’t.
If she’s Toothless, that makes Billie her Hiccup.
Make your own training/riding jokes…
She’s Canadian. It is a beaver grin.
I leave it to you to make the various filthy extrapolation from that thought.
FANGIRL TO HUSTON WE HAVE VISUAL CONFIRMATION OF THE SHIP. I REPEAT WE HAVE VISUAL CONFIRMATION OF THE SHIP.
Ruth is TRYING and it is WORKING
Ruth is TRYING and it is WORKING
Which has a nicer ring to it? Billie performa a sex or ruth performs a sex? I prefer the later.
I’m just being optimistic before the inevitable sad turn of events.
billie preforma a sex is best
*preforma a sexa
That’s sweet in a terrible, terrible way.
THIS IS SO SWEET I HAVE DIABETES NOW.
And Sick Walky is the perfect avatar for that comment.
Like her heart
Billie performs a sex? Billie performs a sex.
Ruths face has made my weekend.
This is my favourite strip in the entire comic. Up until now I can’t say I had a favourite at all, no one strip stood out to me, but this one. Oh my. Ruth is absolutely adorable. Slightly crazy, but only in the most adorable way possible.
Also, although I prefer Shortpacked! and the Walkyverse in general over Dumbing of Age, Ruth being alive in this universe is a huge point in its favour. Enough Ruth comics and I might forget my sadness over the coming conclusion of Shortpacked!
Second porn comic idea: billy and Ruth do the do
Awww they’re so dysfunctional! Really Dotty and Walky have the only healthy relationship comic, but hopefully Danny and Amber look like they’re going to get there someday now that Danny is fully aware of Amber’s situation and Amber maybe will get some help.
There should be an “in there” between relationship and comic. I blame lack of sleep.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJccxKyWwJg
This is basically my reaction.
My reaction: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEtm_Q2LK9g
My reaction: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTCmu2oofRw
*Recognizes that there is a horribly unstable relationship in play here*
*Deep breath* KISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSsss
Well after in-depth analysis I have only now realized the toothy grin wasn’t because of Ruth’s delightful angle of observation
This is so adorbs I might plotz.
Eeeee. I love twisted but loving pairings. Mega OTP.
Cruelest of ironies, this is exactly the situation in which Billie could use a drink to calm her nerves.
Ruth… Such a romantic.
So is this ship the Rullie, or the Bith?
Rullie. Bith sounds like a Star Wars alien.
Many Biths died to bring you this cheerleader uniform.
Rullie sounds like Scooby Doo’s talking.
My laugh came out as a bark. Unexpected!
Bith IS a star wars alien. They’re the dudes playing the space-clarinets in the Mos Eisley Cantina
I’m going for Rubi. Not the way it usually works, I know, but it sounds that much better than the alternatives.
This ship is so aruthabillie!
Seeing as their relationship is defined by loveable but messed-up people continuously engaging in criminal/ethically dubious behavior, I’d personally go with “Bluth Co”.
Ruth…. you’ve done a good thing. And for that you are redeemed.
Well thats sweet in a…Blackmailing, thieving, delinquent sort of way
Ruth will keep stealing things until she steals Billie’s heart.
Oh god.
Oh god no.
She’s going to admit to still drinking.
Nyooooooooooo
Yay for blackmail!
HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA!
Ruth is my new favorite character!
Now… KISS!
That SMILE!
It’s only going to go downhill from here, but that smile! (Also: RUTH I LOVE YOU.)
Oh….oh Ruth….I think you need help. Because I’m pretty sure this is how 90% of horror movies start.
Oh, but it’s so sweet!
“keep stealing stuff till you do.”
*singing* If that aint love, then I don’t know what love is
NA NA NA! NANA! NANA!
Ruth is a cat at heart. She’s going to keep leaving mice until her efforts are appreciated.
That is the most true thing i’ve heard all day
I demand this on Ruth’s character profile!
If she were a cat she’d be forcing her butt into Billie’s face.
There’s still time.
omfg this is so cute
Put a smile on my face. Adorable.
Now kiss.
Ruth loves Billie, started it out horribly by shoving Billie up against the wall and forcing a kiss on her. Billie backed her down on that. Ruth eased off and tried to drink herself to death. Billie stepped in to help her. End of line.
Billie may be sorry but I think she is about to fall. How can you resist someone who’d steal a cheerleaders outfit you can never show in public, just for you? Guess it’s the thought that counts. But, damn, they are cute.
As said many times here, probably the best relationship here after Walky and Dorothy.
AwwwwwRuthisasociopath
I haz feels
Billie really needs to come clean NOW.
^ This.
No, she can shower later.
^ Not this.
I can put myself in Billie’s shoes and imagine a wide spectrum of responses. Nowhere on that spectrum would I feel motivated to confess to violating the alcohol-free pact in response to Ruth’s behavior. The closest I might come is to ask if this means breaking rules is okay, and then hide behind that if I was caught, later.
(On the uniform issue, at my most high-road response, I’d not accept stolen stuff; at my more passive-aggressive-evil than Ruth response, I’d not accept it just to see how far she’d go. At points between, the uniform might be retained, as seems to be happening here.)
I’m not saying she doesn’t need to come clean. But not NOW. In response to THIS stuff? Anytime but now.
I don’t know… The ethics of how the uniform was obtained aside, if Billie accepts the gift without confessing, it feels like she’s almost tricking Ruth. On the other hand, if she comes clean and says, “The reason I turned your other gift aside is because I don’t feel like I deserve it since I cheated on the drinking,” they can go forward from a place of honesty. If Billie maintains the lie much longer, it’s gonna be a lot harder to salvage whatever sort of relationship they have.
Or Billie could stop drinking, right now. Problem solved!
Man, this is about to go really well or really, REALLY badly.
This is rather appallingly sweet. But I do like how Ruth still manages to call Billie fat in the first panel, at the same time as she castigates bigots.
My desire for their lips meet only increases with each panel. But, yes, please stop stealing things, Ruth.
This has to be one of tufts sweetest things I have ever seen. You can just feel, subtly, Billie’s heart starting to melt and break at the same time. Bravo Willis. Bravo Willis
Bloody Fookin Autoconnect
I’m a little disturbed by how many people seem to genuinely think this is a sweet gesture. I mean, if we look at this from the outside in, Ruth has stolen somebody’s property, broken into another person’s room, and pinned it to the wall. Upon returning to the room, Billie sees the thing, and then Ruth is -there-, behind her, lending context to it. Like she was lurking and waiting.
This is kinda stalker behavior, guys. The fact that Billie seems to appreciate it (which doesn’t quite make sense to me, but people are weird) is well and good, and basically a dodged bullet for Ruth, but if someone pulled this and then had the cops called on them,you can bet your bippy the restraining order would be well justified.
Breaking and entering is not more okay because you want to be lesbians with someone than it is when you want to steal their most prized possession and torment them with it, and stealing doesn’t become okay just ’cause the person is a bongo.
That said, the last panel is still full of feels and I ship this so hard.
But really, guys. Boundaries.
LOTS of things are stalker behavior if they’re unwanted and clearly rejected beforehand. While they’ve had a complicated relationship, as of their last encounter, Billie hadn’t told Ruth to leave her alone and never speak to her again. They’ve already crossed more boundaries than this in their relationship up to this point, without any serious objections, and this doesn’t seem out of line by the standard of their complicated interactions so far.
The theft thing is another issue, it’s clearly being handwaved by saying the victim was a bigot, which isn’t really a good answer. But it’s largely independent of their relationship.
Yeah, and what’s his face was disturbing the peace when he held up that boombox in 16 Candles.
If Billie didn’t want this it’d damn well be stalking and you’re 100% correct that a restraining order would be an acceptable response, but come on – the rest is just meh. Illegal, sure, but getting this out of whack because whoamg theft of something minor is just nitpicking.
As much as I want them to bone like a dinosaur exhibit, I am not convinced from Billie’s expression that she’s appreciating it (although the hand gesture seems to indicate so, I wonder if she’s so off-balance she’s just clutching for the nearest thing).
Eh, I’m terrible at reading people.
I’m hoping she’s reaching back to find out where Ruth is so she knows where to throw the mother of all bongo slaps.
I get the impression she’s moved by the gesture, but also feels horribly guilty about cheating on their sobriety pact.
That said, it’s a comic, sometimes we have relatively minor criminal behavior played for laughs in romantic stories. Of course there are romantic gestures that are sweet in fiction and would be disturbing in real life. Willis writes extremely colorful characters, many with their own foibles, flaws, and quirks. Ruth wouldn’t be Ruth without the criminal behavior – it would be too much of a turn-around. And there’s always possible the criminal acts will become a serious matter later, but for now the drinking and emotional damage are the focus of serious drama for Ruth.
Yeah, even as a big fan of the pairing, this felt a little… off. Not so much because it confirms Ruth’s moral compass as completely batshit – past behavior towards Billie makes it pretty clear she sees “punishing” people by hurting them/taking their stuff as perfectly justifiable.
I’m more thrown on account of reading Ruth’s attitude after the Big Kiss as “I like her, it doesn’t seem to be mutual, and I completely fucked things up/acted hugely unprofessionally, so I’m going to do the right thing, take a step back, and focus on getting myself to a less messed-up place.” Which, you know, is reasonable.
So I expected her reaction to Billie’s first rejection to be a despondent “nice going Ruth, you fucked up yet again” as opposed to this aggressive/weirdly needy “GODDAMN IT I WILL MAKE THINGS RIGHT WITH YOU EVEN IF I HAVE TO COMMIT A CAMPUS-WIDE BURGLARY SPREE.”
That it actually works as a cute relationship moment is a testament to how perfectly their horrendously messed-up emotional states and needs feed into one another, but it also feels like they’re backsliding into rather more unhealthy territory here.
aaaaaaAAAA BILLIE SAY SOMETHING (maybe something about you drinking and not covering this over because you got a nice present please please pleasee)
Something terrible is going to happen. I can feel it.
So, is Willis now just accelerating the romantic arcs of all the couples he wants to draw over at Slipshine?
Because if so, I approve wholeheartedly and unequivocally.
This is so incredibly creepy.
This is so adorable! I also look forward tow atching the next bit of dysfunction (I feel it’s a little early for Billie to admit to Ruth that she’s cheating with Jack).
Still, I am feeling pretty happy! It’s Adorbs and great to watch. And where’s the fun without the drama? 😀
The ‘i’ve still been drinking’ bomb is gonna be dropped…probably this week…probably in the final panel of whichever comic its in…and for the impending cliffhanger, here is a pre-emptive: DAMN YOU WILLIS!
Well. This seems like the makings of a healthy relationship.
To Billie’s credit it seems like she WAS sticking to the schedule before Family Day, which t be fair was the day all the shits hit all the fans.
http://www.dumbingofage.com/2013/comic/book-3/04-just-hangin-out-with-my-family/removed/
Willis, you’re doing this to sell us more porn aren’t you? AREN’T YOU?
WELL WHERE IS IT?!
Stay on target…
It’s no good, they can’t maneuver!
Stay on target…
Another great “D’Aww…” strip. Who knew Ruth had it in her?
Geeze, creeper expression there Ruth…
4th panel Ruth: pretty much my expression whenever I have physical contact with my girlfriend.
(doesn’t even have to be of the sexual kind lol)
Um…
Kind of blown away that everybody in here seems to think this is cute or something. Am I the only one who is noticing that Billie is obviously scared and uncomfortable right now?
We’ll see what tomorrow brings (there’s about a solid week’s worth of strips before the new storyline begins and IU is overrun with hoodie dresses), but right now, I’m not getting the same read.
A lot of Billie’s personality seems to be driven by a lack of parental affection/attention, and what we’ve seen of her high school life sounds like she spent most of her time plugging that hole with friends, boys (and possibly girls), activities, and social standing – basically, anything that gets people to like, need, and validate her.
Problem is that all that evaporated after the big DUI fiasco, and her subsequent efforts to make herself Queen Bee at IU have been kind of a disaster. So she’s trying to make herself feel needed in other ways: dispensing romantic advice to Walky, fixing up Joyce’s wardrobe, playing substitute RA, and (yes) taking care of Ruth.
Thing is, much as she seems to get validation from having people rely on her, these have all been pretty one-sided relationships. Ruth’s gesture, messed up as it is, is also the first time anybody’s gone out of their way to do something nice for Billie in return (and feeds directly into those deeper emotional needs). There’s some complicated feelings at work in panels 3 and 4, but I think she’s more overwhelmed than scared here. The hand-holding is also kind of a giveaway.
I really like your point of view!
No, you’re not. This is creepy as hell.
I don’t think she’d have put her hand on Ruth’s if what Ruth did was making her scared or uncomfortable.
I think it matters less if it is fucked up (cause stealing shit and giving it to your crush as a gift IS pretty fucked up, let’s not mince words) and more if this brand of fucked up compliments Billie’s brand of being fucked up. Which seems to be the case, if that hand holding is any indication.
Aww….
…YEAH!
My brain’s about to explode because I really have no way of processing this comic.
This pairing is going in all sorts of bad directions but I want it to work out.
I just
I
http://imageshack.com/a/img534/8359/8hp5.png
Just…
Fantastic.
*applauds*
I would end up doing that XD
Aww Ruth is broken in the cutest way evah. ^-^
Is Billie even sure that she wants a lesbian relationship? She seems to like Ruth when they don’t want to kill each other, but does she like like Ruth?
She returned Ruth’s first kiss pretty enthusiastically until she realized she was kissing RUTH, and when Joyce asked about whether she thought of girls romantically Billie said ‘EVERYONE does at some point.’
Which sounds like a safer way of saying ‘I have.’
Right, but does she want a romantic or even physical relationship with Ruth. One kiss does not lead to a relationship or even sex. Billie seems largely into guys ripping her clothes off and with the exception of maybe Ruth, she largely wants to keep her clothes on around the ladies. I wonder if Ruth might find herself in the friendzone, because even all women will not be attracted to a woman at all times.
Why can I see there being an arc with the original owner of the uniform finding out she has it and coming after her for revenge under the mistaken belief that she stole it?
And then Billie and Ruth break her.
Break her down, or break her in?
…
Breakout!
this is my otp
Don’t like the Billie/Ruth ship? WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOU? THAT’S NO GOOD.
THE SEDUCTION IS COMPLETE
It’s not complete ’til there’s a special on Slipshine.
I said the seduction, not the consummation
D’awwww.
Go to Willis’ “It’s Walky” Tumblr page.
Right-click the page, then click on “view background image”.
Compare that picture to Ruth in panel #4.
Big eyes? Check.
Freckles? Check.
Hair color? Check.
Weird smile? Check.
Prominent ears? Welllll… maybe a half a check…..
Frightening, isn’t it?
“That’s the most beautiful thing anyone’s ever said to me. TwT ”
Those two simply deserve each other.
This gave me a happy that I didn’t even know I needed today. ^-^
My thinking is that all of Billie’s emotional relationships up to this point have been relatively shallow. Wanna guess how fast her ‘friends’ ditched her after the DUI and her getting kicked off the cheerleading squad? So someone who’s genuinely concerned with her happiness is a new experience for her. She’s not sure how to react. Plus there’s the mental baarrier of “She’s a girl and she likes me.” I have had a person of my own gender express a romantic interest in me, and I’ll admit I freaked out a bit. Processed it in the end, decided I wasn’t interested, and we managed to stay friends.
So I read Billie’s expression in the last panel as “I don’t know what to think about this” on so many levels.
Don’t forget the guilt. That’s the cherry on the cake.
That face…it’s like that weird smiley face thing dogs do, but usually a person’s tongue isn’t tooth-colored. That’s what makes it seem creepy to me. Not the actions, which are quite adorable when you consider the characters, but the facial expression.
Because breaking into student’s rooms and stealing things to blackmail them into completing some red tape paperwork is wrong, but breaking into student’s rooms and stealing things because they posted something you disagree with on the internet is heroic.
Protagonist Syndrome.
That’s how a lot of people think.
The vast majority of people like to think of as the hero of their own story but chances are they aren’t.
That’s how a lot of people think.
The vast majority of people like to think of themselves as the hero of their own story but chances are they aren’t.
Willis confirmed SJW.
Did we even need this comic to confirm that?
wha
I feel like Ruth i trying to be quirkily endearing, like in a romantic comedy, and she hasn’t quite realized that real life doesn’t work that way.
Okay… away with the overanalysis. Let’s just enjoy the moment.
I sure as hell do.
In the future, I can see Amber and Ruth ending up in the same prison cell.
Nah, this is really more the province of jail.
Ruth’s adorable face enables me to temporarily disregard the fact that she is being creepy and dysfunctional. Ruth’s adorable face for president!
Yeah, that face mean Billie’s about to tell Ruth off or say somethin’ that means not all is fluffy flying hearts. I know. I feel it. in my water.
People seem to object more to Ruth’s theft than to Amber’s attempted murder and Danny’s aiding and abetting.
Ehh, I don’t think Blaine’s going to die, unless I seriously misinterpreted the state he was left in. Not mention Blaine has a history of physical abuse, and was behaving in a threatening manner. It wouldn’t be the world’s strongest case, but you could argue Amber attacked Blaine to defend herself and Danny.
Well, yeah. Theft is wrong. Killing Blain, not so much.
I think it’s because it is unrepentent theft. “If you still don’t like it I’ll keep stealing stuff until I find something you do.”
Amber, on the other hand, has indicated that she regrets her rage against Blaine. Maybe not for the best of reasons, but it’s something.
Like many, people, I’m not quite sure how I feel about his yet. On one hand, I feel like straight couples get to have all sorts of romances- and Ruth is not behaving anymore outrageously than a the leading guy in a romantic comedy. On the other hand, I have problems with certain rom-coms for that very reason. A part of me really relishes the fun/messed up relationships, and I enjoy seeing a queer couple fill that role for once, even if I don’t think its a realistic model for a healthy relationship.
Well, it’s not a healthy relationship. It’s a messed up relationship between two messed-up people who are trying to find some happiness and connection with another person, but who don’t currently have the ability to form healthy relationships.
Ruth’s body is ready. *wink wink*
I’m going to call this as Billie being touched and horrified on several levels all at the same time.
Oh panel two… So many people in this comic need to go to counselling.