189

Answering
Posted on February 5, 2023 by David M Willis

189 thoughts on “Answering”

  1. Ana Chronistic

    EPOCH FAIL

    1. Dana

      Like y2k?

      1. Taffy

        It’s pronounced “YIIk”

        1. Sajuuk-Khar

          I’m flagging this comment. I’m flagging YOU. How DARE you remind me that exists.

        2. The Wellerman

          “A delayed game is eventually good, but a rushed game is forever bad.”
          — Shigeru Miyamoto

        3. Taffy

          I will also flag Taffy, on solidarity.

        4. Sajuuk-Khar

          Thank you, Taffy. It’s good to know you—

          Waaaaaait a minute.

        5. Clif

          I too shall flag Taffy in solidarity. Though, in my case, it’s more of a squishy solidarity.

          Mostly I think it’s what Mike would have wanted me to do.

        6. Thag Simmons

          Well if everyone else is doing it, might as well

        7. Tan

          Flags! Flags on you, flags on your family, flags on your cow…!

        8. Fnord

          Mike would have wanted you to do it for a nickel.

        9. eh, whatever

          I’m flagging your entire ilk!II!

        10. Needfuldoer

          Ya-two-k?

        11. Taffy

          Yeek. As in “I’m Yiikin’ out right now!”

        12. MacareuxMoine

          thanks for clarification – I had no idea whether you wrote Yiik or YLLk.

      2. Owlmirror

        2038 is only 15 years away.

        It would be apropos if DoA is hosted on a 32-bit server, and suddenly everything is dated to 1901, assuming it doesn’t crash.

        Maybe the commenting system will fail, and only Ana Chronistic and Doctor_Who will be able to post.

        Ana: Huh.
        Doctor: Huh. I’m still posting after you.
        Ana: But you are still posting, even though everyone else is getting 503 server error. What’s your secret.
        Doctor: Um, Time Lord, duh? What’s your secret?
        Ana: Heh. Wouldn’t you like to know? (*Changes icon to Weeping Angel playing air guitar*)

        1. eh, whatever

          LOCATION: EARTH!
          LIFEFORMS DETECTED!
          EXTERMINATE!
          EXTERMINATE!!
          EXTERMINATE!!!
          EXTERMINATE!!!!

        2. Librain

          Nah, only her Ana Chronistic alt will be able to comment, the Jen Aside alt won’t come in until nearly 40 years later.

          (I’m sorry!)

        3. ValdVin

          Time-traveling comics which suddenly is like I opened up an actual Hearst paperin 190-aughts?

          I’m ready for it if only for comics printed in a space larger than a business card.

        4. Laurel Raven

          If only they had gone with an unsigned int, we could keep going until 2106

      3. Decidedly Orthogonal

        Pretty much. See also: server time drift.

    2. Yotomoe

      If it was a Cross Epoch, Goku and Luffy would be there.

      1. The Wellerman

        Speaking of which, such a shame One Piece left Toonami bruh 🙁

        1. Yotomoe

          Hopefully it’s temporary.

    3. RowenMorland

      Hey now, Magellan Island got a rewind to fix that.

  2. Imogen

    Lucy noooo

    1. Clif

      Relax. What could go wrong?

  3. Slartibeast Button, BIA

    I was there in the First Age of Dumbing ….

    1. Thag Simmons

      The Age of Dumbing is actually a halfway decent name for a fantasy pastiche.

      1. Needfuldoer

        Picture the Toedead car chase sequence except he’s got a flying dragon instead of a green Kia.

  4. Nono

    Oh no. Lucy is gonna be in for a crash… eventually.

    1. Sajuuk-Khar

      Not today, not tomorrow certainly, but eventually

      1. Masumi

        Yeah, no way anything happens tomorrow

        *hides under the couch*

        1. Masumi

          HAHA suddenly the perfect gravatar

  5. Abdomino

    Lucy is gonna get her heart broke, isn’t she?

    1. Thag Simmons

      Cut clean in half.

      1. Jamie

        I cannot predict how much of a mess this fallout will make, so sure. Let’s go with clean.

      2. Pilgrim

        More like a ragged, ugly tear.

      3. StClair

        nothing about this is gonna be “clean”.

    2. Doctor_Who

      Any strip in which Jennifer is a voice of reason, like panel 3, is a portent of doom.

      So either Lucy’s in for relationship troubles, or an asteroid is about to collide with earth.

    3. Karla Jean

      It’ll be a useful experience for her.

      1. Jon S.

        The asteroid collision?

        1. Clif

          If she’s lucky.

      2. StClair

        as the comics tagline used to say, hope she survives it.

    4. True Survivor

      She might be the one for David, but traditional story structure demands the relationship be at least sorely tested. However, you are probably correct in stating that the relationship will end in failure. And yes while such an experience would be useful (my mom always told me you have to kiss a few frogs before you find your prince) it is still sad.

      1. Pilgrim

        The nature of humanity sorely tests all relationships. Better sooner or later.

    5. anon

      would be quite the twist if she initiated the break up lol

  6. Sirksome

    That relationship is gonna crash so hard. This is painful to read.

  7. Nono

    Wait it’s only been a week? Lucy honey please slow down.

    1. Sirksome

      But it feels like years. By that logic they should probably be engaged by now. What’s taking Walky so long?

      1. Nono

        He’s got a lot on his mind, he’s been failing math for like a decade.

    2. anon

      oof i’m all for friends saying i love you platonically but even friendwise that’d come on as a little strong (other than the cutesy-ness of little kids going, “yay, i love you!” after getting like a b-day gift or so)

      1. Needfuldoer

        He said it that way to her before the time skip.

        https://www.dumbingofage.com/2019/comic/book-9-comic/04-vote-for-robin/proselytize/

    3. Rose by Any Other Name

      Yup. Just a week.
      To be fair, Lucy’s argument almost has merit. Case in point: My wife and I were friends for four years before we started dating (and BFFs for two years). When we finally decided to try dating, things went VERY fast. Like, we were saying “I love you” after just a week of dating. But that’s because we already loved one another as friends, and so once the sex began, that platonic love quickly converted into romantic love.
      But yeah, we’d been best friends for two years. Lucy has known Walky a few months. Not the same thing.

      1. Nono

        Oh yeah, it’s totally understandable given a certain amount of time. But this is only barely faster than Ted Mosby.

        (Also, these guys aren’t even having sex yet!).

        1. Shadowsnail

          Walky’s going to meet the hell out of those kids’ mother, but then he’ll marry Aunt Lucy. It’ll be legen – wait for it –

      2. ValdVin

        But how old were you when you decided to try dating? DofA is still populated with teenagers, the majority of whom are college freshmen.

        Im not going strictly by years, either.. I myself was enough of an emotional neurodivergent case that if I weren’t I’d likely have married one of the women I’d dated before, at 26, meeting my wife.

        1. Bittersweet

          I mean, my husband and I met at 18 and 19 respectively and were friends for a year before dating. Everything dating went really fast (“I love you” after a week or so, physical stuff after a month), but we didn’t get married until 24. Still together at 26 and 27.

          I don’t think it’s gonna work out between Lucy and Walky, but strictly speaking the “I love you” after a week isn’t the problem. It’s the lack of being on the same page.

        2. thejeff

          In particular, it’s her thinking they’re on the same page because she was so eager to hear it she misunderstood him. And that they’re not communicating about it.

      3. zee

        Yeah, same, my guy and i started our relationship with an actual “i love you” confession after 4-5 years of friendship. That was also a couple weeks before I turned 20 so i was about these kids age too

        Though several years is a bit different than a few months

  8. Kyrik Michalowski

    Oh boy, can’t wait to see how that blows up. Hopefully it all gets thrown in Raidah’s face and she goes off to fuck herself somewhere else.

    I don’t enjoy Raidah if that wasn’t clear.

    1. Sajuuk-Khar

      I mean, I can’t imagine Raidah trying to seduce Walky is going to be effective in the least, considering that her entire strategy towards life and relationships seems to be “social climber, cutthroat varietal” and Walky is…not impressed with all that shit, at all.

      Plus he was willing to tell her brother to cut it out, so one hopes he’d also tell Raidah to shove it. She’s much less important.

      1. System_Anomaly

        Huh, I’m looking forward to Walky now. Thanks, my hopes are up to see that

        1. Sajuuk-Khar

          Walky’s a dumb kid, but he’s a good kid, and as much as I know he and Lucy are headed for disaster he does care about her.

          Plus like, he’s seen cartoons. He knows a cartoon villain when he sees one. Raidah is only missing the M. Bison hat and the cape.

        2. Jamie

          Walky’s quite smart. He’s just reflexively hostile to anything that looks like what his mom wants, which starts with “hard work”.

        3. JBento

          To be fair, being hostile to anything Linda wants seems to be a good rule of thumb. And if you don’t believe me, maybe you’ll believe my unsurpising witness:

          Care to weigh in on the morality of Linda’s wants, BBCC?

        4. BBCC

          Fuck Linda’s wants. 😀

        5. Kyrik Michalowski

          This ^

        6. Wereg

          “For you, the day Raidah graced your morning was the most irritating breakfast of your life. But for me? It was Tuesday.”

      2. anon

        lol even if walky’s parents were well off, i imagine walky’s hardly a trust fund kid, or would still be expected to get a job or so and maybe only be ‘bailed out’ occasionally if he is struggling with rent or some kinda bill.

        irl , after graduation i can imagine someone like him becoming some kinda ‘youtuber’/cartoon reviewer or so, at least as a side hustle/hobby even if he ends up getting a semi-decent job

      3. Bryy

        waitwaitwait is Raidah’s confirmed to be to try to seduce Walky?

        1. Clif

          Only if it let’s her get to Joyce and Sarah.

        2. thejeff

          I don’t think outright seduction is her plan. It’s not clear yet what her plan is, other than that it’s probably aimed at Joyce and Sarah.

          Possibly “seduce” in the same way she’s seduced Jennifer over to her clique, rather than in a sexual way.

          Would be fun to see her learn about Joyce and Joe and try to literally seduce him to mess with Joyce.

      4. Needfuldoer

        Ooh, that’s a good point. Walky’s upbringing was upper-middle-class, but you wouldn’t know it from a first impression. He’s also more observant than he lets on.

        It would be hilarious if he immediately sees right through her.

        1. Archieve

          My personal hope is that Walky immediately knows Carl is just pretending to like the same things he does, makes up abunch of lies about his favorite episodes then revels offhandly that all of Carl’s “favorite: episodes are titles he just made up. Maybe a bit unrealistic since Walky wants to keep Lucy happy but it would be great if Radiah and Carl got a lesson in why it’s dumb to pretend to like a subject you refuse to learn about.

        2. Needfuldoer

          I could see him doing that, and Lucy giving them puzzled looks because she doesn’t recognize any of the titles either. Walky only reveals he made them up, and the suspicions he has for doing so, after breakfast when they’re alone again.

        3. Bryy

          This would actually track, and I’ve been hoping for Walky to upstage Raidah for a while.

      5. Steve C.

        Interesting. I hadn’t thought of that. I mean, since Walky’s main moves so far are toy throwing, bonding over how “garbage” he is with a fellow lost soul, and being pointed towards a woman by his ex, I figured that Raidah would be in the driver’s seat here. I’d be happy to be proved wrong.

    2. Lan

      I like Walky but inflicting him upon Raidah is gonna be the funniest thing we’ve seen in a while, especially with Jennifer determined to protect her status in the social circle

      1. Bryy

        It’s going to be the point of no return for Billie.

  9. Suet

    Carbon Dating of Age?

    I also saw you pass by with notable McNutter Asher but we don’t talk bout dat.

    1. Stephen Bierce

      Hot Mesozoic

  10. BBCC

    More importantly, Lucy, *I* am looking forward to you two having breakfast with them tomorrow.

    1. SuperZero

      Not having. Doing.

      1. Jamie

        Pancakes will happen.

  11. DailyBrad

    She’s moving too fast, but she’s right in that being friends first can speed some of these things along.

    1. Needfuldoer

      They met during “Flyin’ to the Red”, which was October 14th.

      https://www.dumbingofage.com/2018/comic/book-9-comic/01-flyin-to-the-red/telecom/

  12. Cmasta1992

    I love Lucy (no points!) and I just know she’s destined for a cruel dose of reality and I hate it

    1. Sporky

      That’s what every Dumbing of Age character is destined for.

    2. Thag Simmons

      it’s for the best that it happens soon

    3. anon

      better now than in like your 30s-40s. i mean nothing wrong with being a ‘late bloomer’ or only getting into dating or having an interest later in life but i imagine it’d be easier as a learning experience when you’re a big younger as opposed to a 30 year old (tho depending on the situation hopefully youd have other stuff to focus on after a break up to go through with it)

  13. JessWitt

    Oh right Walky was invited by Raidah to breakfast for some reason. I hope it’s an unfortunate experience for her.

    1. Thag Simmons

      I suspect it’s going to be an unfortunate experience for all involved

    2. Sajuuk-Khar

      Raidah wants to try and obliquely use him for sex/networking purposes, also I think maybe as part of a plan to kick Jennifer out of the friend circle because she is Tiresome to Raidah

      1. Yotomoe

        Sexworking purposes as it were. I didn’t read Raidah as wanting to bone Walky…
        but I’ll ship it anyway.

        1. Sajuuk-Khar

          Yoto! No! Don’t ship that evil! That leads to the Dark Side, and Walky being introduced to either a riding crop or a very boring seminar about his 401k where he gets an extremely lackluster handjob!!

        2. Yotomoe

          You must realize. Most of my favorite ships are evil and terrible.
          And both of those things sound hot as hell.

        3. Sirksome

          DON’T YOU PUT THAT EVIL OUT THERE YOTO-BOBBY! DON’T YOU PUT THAT EVIL OUT THERE!

          Seriously though I don’t ship it but Raidah x Walky could be good for her at least. She reads a lot like Dorothy in that she could really benefit from learning to relax. Walky’s the perfect guy to teach her life isn’t all about networking and judging people.

        4. JBento

          Not gonna lie, the way the world is going, a secure retirement plan sounds VERY sexy. Tell me more about this *fans self* 401k…

      2. Bryy

        Raidah’s entire master plan revolves around an entirely headcanon’d version of these people’s friendships.

        1. Needfuldoer

          So you’re saying she’d fit right in here with the comments?

        2. Bryy

          Yes.

    3. anon

      Love-blindness aside, I think Lucy has a good head on her shoulders. We don’t know how well she’s doing academically and not as overly ambitious as Dorothy but I imagine she’d also be one of the ppl who’d have a fairly promising career for herself post graduation. I’m sure Raidah would probably also associate with ppl ‘above average’ as opposed to all ‘elite’ status because some skills can get you pretty far even if you’re not a trust fund kid with a safety net/parents funding your future prospects

      1. JBento

        Of everything she’s done, what has suggested to you that Lucy has a good head on her shoulders?

  14. Doc Harleen

    I know this is going to be an unpopular opinion, but I feel about Lucy similarly to how I felt about Ted in Schitt’s Creek the first time he dated Alexis. Like, there’s nothing wrong with her? She’s fine? But like… meh.

    1. Rabbit

      Her worst sin is being kinda bland

      1. Yumi

        Which can be a pretty big sin for a fictional character, depending on the reader/viewer.

      2. BarerMender

        Her worst sin is imposing herself, making everything about her, about seeing everything how she wants to see it. Walky didn’t say he loved her? No matter. She’ll just force him into her story the way she wants him. Other people’s wants? Don’t matter.

    2. Sirksome

      I never watched Schitt’s Creek so maybe I don’t get this. There’s nothing inherently wrong with Lucy’s feelings though. Everyone has their own pace. Her expectation s are just a bit unrealistic, but that’s also partially Walky’s fault for not correcting her. They’ll both learn something from this relationship.

      1. Rabbit

        Oh yeah. That’s basically what I’m saying. Nothing wrong with her, but I just kind of find her… boring?

    3. True Survivor

      Well, I like her and besides, she’s a character whose tenuous perch high upon the happiness tree predicts a wonderfully dramatic fall (which is great to see in stories but horrible in real life).

    4. anon

      She’s a nice friend/girlfriend. doesn’t mean it’d be soulmates level.

      tho in some cases, it would be interesting/possible for an old flame to meet a decade later and hook up again. (though i feel like some ppl would probably just do a fling/one night stand as opposed to another attempt)

    5. Axel

      maybe they’ll be more successful the second time they date, then have a heartbreaking parting of the ways because they realize they’re going different places in life

    6. Bittersweet

      Yeah, I know what you mean. Every time she shows up my eyes just kinda start glazing. She’s… easily the least interesting person in the cast. It’s even worse when it’s her and Walky because they have no chemistry together. He’s less funny around her and she is just pitiable at worst and completely bland at best. When she’s around Billie it’s a little better because they have more tension, but even then it’s not terribly much.

      Like, this should have tension since this is obviously going to lead to a blowup. Yet I am barely able to care because her and Walky’s relationship has nowhere to go. It’s not gonna get worse, she’s a good person. It’s just gonna either break up or continue to slog along. It’s not interesting (to me.)

      More power to people who are super invested in her and their relationship arc, glad y’all are enjoying it. It’s just not really my thing.

  15. RassilonTDavros

    Ooooh, I am looking forward to how badly that’s gonna go.

  16. Sajuuk-Khar

    When you’re an Alpha Sweetie you don’t got TIME for things like “sarcasm” or “unfortunate realities of life”

  17. Grayfinity

    Well, Jennifer knows. Whether or not she’ll confront Walky about it… that’s another story.

    Because, be honest, there’s no way she’s going to drop this like it’s nothing.

    1. Sajuuk-Khar

      Oh for sure. I don’t think there’s any portents of doom for Lucy x Walky at Breakfast necessarily, because Raidah is a dipshit whose reach exceeds her grasp by miles. But this is certainly planting seeds for the future of the plot, and the flowers of Lucy x Walky, well, they ain’t roses. More like red spider lilies.

  18. True Survivor

    Mr. Willis is just taking a hammer to the fourth wall this week. Though, I suppose he is at about the time in man’s life when he feels compelled to start doing home improvement projects. The siren song of Home Depot cannot be denied.

    1. Needfuldoer

      Or Lowes, depending on price, proximity, and stock.

  19. Ty34er

    Oh, Lucy is just… Dumb

    1. Raja

      she is a kiddo (18, maybe 19?)

      and I know I was def dumb that age

      er. dumber than I am now

    2. Sporky

      check the name of the comic again

  20. Yotomoe

    I think Lucy definitely has an issue with linguistics and comprehending words.

    1. Yumi

      Well, see, she can’t see the speech bubbles, and that throws her off.

    2. Needfuldoer

      The trouble with tribbles homophones.

  21. miz

    i know this is the most annoying kind of comment but…i miss the old lucy. you know, from shortpacked? her defining character traits in *that* comic were being totally comfortable with herself and not needing anyone’s approval, so comparing it to this version who is just SO insecure and SO desperate for validation, it’s like…i know that this lucy is younger and it’s a different world, but since SP lucy came first, it FEELS like watching her completely regress. or rather, it’s hard to even see them as the same person. aside from “being a nerd” and being generally nice, they really have nothing in common. it’s almost like, why even bother? why not just make a new character? but, eh.

    1. anon

      Wasn’t the lucy in that canon an adult? or at least slightly older? Either way it’ll be a learning experience and will be better equipped to handle the next boyfriend.

      she does need more self confidence (walky was the one that had to ask her out after being prompted by dorothy) but also being fine being alone as well, even if you want a relationship, as they say, ‘you should already be whole/don’t look for your other ‘half”)

      1. miz

        yes, i said that, that i know she’s younger here. but *i’m* older. the characters are separate, the worlds are separate, but still, from my perspective, i’ve watched the character “lucy” be confident and self-assured for years and then abruptly get worse and lose it all. i know, intellectually that it’s because of a cosmic comic reset. but emotionally, it still feels a little sad sometimes. i guess it’s harder to watch her be so insecure when you know how strong she *could* be.

        also, it has nothing to do with relationships. lucy in SP! got a boyfriend, yes, but it really wasn’t that much of a focus for her. i mean that she was completely confident in who she was and what she liked, standing up to the likes of malaya from day one and declaring flat out that she had nothing to prove to her or anyone else. and she stuck to that, always. in dumbing of age, lucy has EVERYTHING to prove to EVERYONE, all the time.

        1. Mark

          Maybe think of it as “this is how Lucy came to be the person you remember.” We’ll see whether that makes any sense as the story unfolds.

          It’s confusing to be a time traveller.

      2. miz

        also, for the record SP! lucy was 20. i assume she’s 18 here?

    2. Jamie

      I feel like that’s the case for a lot of the characters, though.

    3. Nono

      This Lucy is at least in better standing compared to her SP! version than Robin.

  22. Sirksome

    Honestly. If I were to make a super prediction right now. I’d say that Lucy x Walky is going to fail and Lucy on the rebound will fall right into Jacob. She’s basically Joyce with less baggage. Everything Jacob found appealing in Joyce is present in Lucy and he’s looking for that dedicated, down for life girl. That’s clearly Lucy. If Jacob isn’t already dating someone for the shock value, he’ll end up with Lucy. Freeing Walky up for Dorothy, the girl he really loves and who still loves him.

    1. UrsulaDavina

      Honestly that would be one of the more healthier relationships

    2. Sajuuk-Khar

      I would dig that whole setup, I think it would be neat. I don’t know that I can believe in it because I think it would be neat, and that’s usually a bad sign.

      Also I hope them breaking doesn’t happen over breakfast because Raidah does not deserve the credit. That girl has no skills and no class.

    3. shrub

      Its a bad mix, can you really see Lucy as the wife of a high-priced lawyer or senator or whatever it is Jacob will end up as

      He needs someone that can go with him to that level and Lucy isn’t that

      1. Sirksome

        I’ll take “Things Raidah would say.” for 500$!

        1. shrub

          I guess it depends on what Jacob really wants but if he wants a high-flying career he’d be better of with someone that wants to support a high-flying career

          Is that what Lucy wants?

        2. Sirksome

          I don’t understand this argument. Joyce wants to be an educator which is pretty far from a high flying career path. Jacob was still very down and even introducing her to his brother like they were engaged. We don’t know what Lucy wants for her life really. Her two main motivations have been a desire to bang Walky/fall in love with a nice guy, and be the popular and reliable person in her friend group.

          I’m not saying they would automatically work together, just that Lucy’s desire for love and commitment lines up with exactly what Jacob is looking for in a partner now. The whole status angle was Raidah’s argument and that relationship failed.

        3. Bittersweet

          I *see* your point. I’ve had to be a big pusher for my husband’s career and it’s hard, and he doesn’t have one of the glamorous careers. There’s a level of cutthroat you have to be to survive as a wife in those situations, and Lucy (and tbh I) does not have It. She’s supportive, but I’m not sure she has that critical edge to her that people in those careers need to not end up blowing a tire early and spinning out without advancement. Support and criticism are both important.

          THAT BEING SAID, while that would be a major issue irl, I don’t think it’s an issue for a Lucy/Jacob ship in the comic. He wants a sweet supportive wife, she’s ride or die for everyone on the planet. It would be the most boring, but healthiest relationship in the comic ngl. Plus, outside of Walky there’s not many dudes presently for Lucy to end up with (although I could see her arc leading to a “I choose myself” scenario which I think would actually be more satisfying this time, and I say that as someone who typically dislikes those endings because I am a shipper and I cannot help but ship.)

      2. Mark

        I don’t see Jacob as a high-priced senator, but politics does things to people….

    4. Nono

      I’d say Lucy would need to get all the ‘big first time crush’ feelings out of her system first, if Jacob is going to really put his nose to the grindstone to be a lawyer that’s gonna be a lot of time spent uh, not being a completely dedicated boyfriend. Which can be hard for the partner if they’re very attached to the relationship.

      1. Sajuuk-Khar

        I think there’s a good chance she’s with Walky long enough to get most of those feelings out of her system. Also that she takes that breakup about as well as being punched in the jaw, but what can you do?

    5. Rabbit

      Honestly I feel like that’s the express and only reason for her to be introduced here. It’s the only thing I can think of. Maybe bonus drama if he realizes he still likes Joyce but she’s finally courting with Joe.

    6. Lan

      I dunno. You said she’s “Joyce with less baggage” but a lot of Joyce’s baggage is what drew Jacob to her in the first place. She was able to display a courage and sense of Justice that Lucy, frankly, hasn’t had reason to display. Jacob didn’t like Joyce because she was a bubbly, hyper-positive Christian girl, he liked her because she still held her head high in spite of all the reasons she had to put it down. I know people like to treat Lucy like another Joyce but, imo, the similarities between them seem kinda surface level

      1. Sirksome

        Not that kind of baggage. The baggage in that they both lied about being together to his brother and Joyce was intentionally trying and succeeding in sabotaging his relationship with Raidah. Jacob couldn’t overlook that or they’d likely be dating right now.

        1. Lan

          That’s a fair point but, to that end, it still seems to me that the things which drew Jacob to Joyce the most aren’t things that Lucy has demonstrated yet. I guess it depends on what Joyce-adjacent things Jacob has in his new list now, since I imagine “stood up to her best friend’s dad as he held a gun to her” is gonna be a pretty tall order to fill, but I am curious to see how he and Lucy would get along

    7. thejeff

      It might be a decent relationship, but it would also be a boring one, from the reader’s perspective. And one that likely pulls Lucy farther out of the main cast.

  23. Yotomoe

    Man I gotta be honest. I just find Jennifer so aesthetically appealing, whenever she pops up I wanna draw her like a million times.

    1. Sajuuk-Khar

      Jennifer got the curves, it’s true

      1. Amós Batista

        Noo, Yoto was talking about her in a respectfully and gentle way. ?

        1. Yotomoe

          I’ve never been respectful or gentle.

  24. Steve

    It really does feel like years. Almost 11, in fact. (Looks at camera)

  25. DarkoNeko

    Lucy’s not even denying that it was about bragging XD

  26. SuperZero

    Fun with homophones!

    1. Bryy

      In other unrelated news, I actually looked up the real Blowjob Cat today.

      It’s terrifying.

  27. newlland(Henryvolt)

    Well I guess that is a better start to a strong relationship than most.

  28. Saria

    Oof, I tend to feel Lucy in uncomfortable ways, especially considering the reaction she gets in the comments. I think I was kind of her in college – I had always been shy and I wanted to break out of that and make more friends in college, so I pushed myself to put myself out there, be friendly and talk to people more.

    And I’ve always found it rather weird and sad how the world tends to work, in that -trying- is inherently a bad thing, it’s not a good look. ‘Oh, you are -trying-? How pathetic, if you need to try you don’t deserve it’. Like the attitude Jennifer has (ironic considering her old insecurities and efforts) and quite a few people in the comments. Why is trying such a bad thing, if life doesn’t just come together for you and you need to work it yourself? Even the dating Walky (which my aro/ace spectrum self luckily didn’t deal with), while she’s definitely rushing it too much, she cares and is trying to make it work (with a wrong view of what that entails and the speed of the goalposts, sadly).

    I just hope she finds a few nice, good friends who are receptive to her good intentions like it did. Dang her situation can feel too real

    1. Mark

      Trying is not bad. “The world” is imaginary; it’s just people. Some people tear others down — they are not worth your time. Some people build others up — they should be encouraged in turn, and anyway they’re more fun.

    2. StClair

      Yeah, IMO, it’s not so much that she’s trying, it’s that she’s pushing so hard and fast on something that most of us see as a doomed quest, and may well get hurt when it fails to meet her hopes.

  29. Björn

    I’m beginning to think that Lucy has some kind of hearing impairment. And that this has greatly assisted her in maintaining that cheerful outlook throughout her life.

    1. JBento

      Rose-tinted hearing aids.

  30. Maggie

    Sometimes I forget how little time has passed in this comic.

  31. foducool

    this girl has a hearing problem

  32. Masumi

    Prediction: Lucy is gonna repeat this brag at brunch, Walky implodes and eventually corrects her, heartbreak ensues.

    1. Zaxares

      I’ll put $10 down on your prediction.

    2. Sajuuk-Khar

      If anything of the sort happens, and I am not convinced it will/do hope it won’t, because again, Raidah does not deserve the credit she would feel she earned, I’d think it would be Jennifer, not Walky, that blurts out some unfortunate truth bullets.

    3. thejeff

      That’s going to happen, but I hope it doesn’t happen at brunch.

  33. RedComet

    Jennifer is a pretty mean person these days, regardless of how annoying she finds Lucy.

    1. timemonkey

      She always was, she literally started as a bully. Her nicer side was mostly aimed at Joyce, whom she’s not interacting with much these days.

    2. Sporky

      “These days”? Have you read this comic at all?

      1. RedComet

        Fair enough haha though I feel like it fluctuates from arc to arc and character to character. She at least usually puts on a nicer face for people who aren’t Walky. I hate that she’s just ignoring Lucy in public despite Lucy helping her with their dorm mates.

        She doesn’t have to like Lucy. I don’t always. But she’s being so openly rude. Some of Lucy’s “extra” intensity is probably due to compensating for this awkwardness.

  34. Plaaaa

    I wonder how many months after Walky breaks up with her that she’ll think they’re still a couple.

    1. Lan

      Odds he does the same “we’re on pause” thing that dorothy did except, instead of pining for each other, he’ll move on and she’ll be left without closure and an expectation that they’ll be back together one day?

      1. Adept

        Ouch :/

  35. Eldritchy

    Lucy is like that first blast of sunlight in the morning when you get up and part the blinds, Too much and you want to go back to bed XD

  36. Adept

    I’m kinda with Billie on this one.

  37. BOOSTER SHOT

    So, who’s gonna give us the edit where 5th panel Jennifer is staring directly at us?

  38. bagge

    stop leaning on the fourth wall, Lucy

  39. Nicoleandmaggie

    Lotta meta humor this past week.

    1. Taffy

      Is this really meta though

    2. Nicoleandmaggie

      I’ll say.

      1. Yumi

        I… um…

  40. Alex

    I for one am looking forward to breakfast.

  41. Archieve

    As much as I feel this incoming lunch has the potential toa relationship nuke for Walky and Lucy I’m still praying thst walky talking some of his insecurities out beforehand has the potential to subvert expectations.

  42. Rabisch

    I just love Lucy’s optimism

  43. Farmer_10

    Lucy, no. Damn it, Willis. Don’t do this to her.

  44. nothri

    And here is where I declare my allegiance with Britain, despite being an ugly American through and through. Why? Because they pronounce ‘Epoch’ as Ee-pok rather than how they say it here, which is indeed the same as epic. And the British are right. You know, because it HAS A GODDAMNED ‘O’ IN IT AND NOT AN ‘I’.

    And yes, I am unreasonable twitchy about this. This may or may not be due to a child hood incident where I said a word like it is spelled rather than pronounced and the other kids were being little kids about it.

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