247

Arguments
Posted on May 13, 2021 by David M Willis

247 thoughts on “Arguments”

  1. Ana Chronistic

    is this one of those “I want to watch you fucking her” fetishes

    [I will NOT use the word for that for SEO reasons, sorry]

    1. Kyrik Michalowski

      Don’t you want that “SEO juice” to flow though? *said in creepiest voice possible*

      1. ReverendJ

        My google search is tainted enough, what’ SEO?

        1. Reltzik

          Search engine optimization. Basically doing stuff to try to convince Google and the like to point where you want it to point in response to certain terms, such as the one that Ana’s pointedly not using.

        2. CC

          I can think of at least five different times the comments got infested by the worst chuds of the internet because someone dropped a word or phrase in a comment and SEO got aggro.

          Also at least three niche references that were theoretically google-able but got absolutely buried with links to the comic that referenced them

          SEO doesn’t fuck around

        3. I am Nothing

          Hello!

        4. Needfuldoer

          Chuds. Why did it have to be chuds.

        5. Delicious Taffy

          I don’t understand. How does one of us saying a certain word cause Google to send the dregs of society here?

        6. Khyrin

          Comments contain [word]. Google notes that comment contains [word]. Dreg searches “[word] Porn Webcomic Free” on Google. Google thinks that semi-popular Free Webcomic with a pornlord side hustle David Willis may appeal to Dreg and serves a link to this page. Dreg clicks link. Dreg is (dis?)pleased by the content, sounds a metaphorical hunting horn, and more dregs scurry out from their boltholes to echo the first Dreg.

        7. RassilonTDavros

          “Dregs, responding to the call. They’re massing for an attack, and the ionic membrane’s down, so they can all get in. We need to evacuate.”

        8. Demoted Oblivious

          Sexually-Eroticized Optimization. It’s used to increase hits for marketting.

          Dorothy, I am VERY disappointed you didn’t go with, “Walky! I have a bone to pick with you. (and so does Lucy)

          Also: Threesome is written all over this. C’mon Yoto!

        9. I am Nothing

          The only solution to any love triangle is a threesome, regardless of context.

        10. Delicious Taffy

          At the very least, it puts everyone’s cards on the table.

        11. Sombrero

          Just wait for Amber and you will have a rectangle… and that means foursome, I guess.

        12. milu

          we should probably address your triangle obsession

        13. Reltzik

          Dorothy MIGHT be down for said threesome. I don’t think her tastes run that way, but she might be.

          Walky… probably not. He’d probably feel confused by why Dorothy was pushing the idea and pump the brakes.

          Lucy? DEFINITELY not. She’s so vanilla that even asking one obtainable guy on a date is something she’s needed three months (and counting) to work up to.

    2. Rose by Any Other Name

      I certainly hope so.

      I mean, that lower lip bite. Damn. Pretty sure Dotty is getting off on something here. It might be the altruism.

      1. Clif

        Sal was right.

      2. BarerMender

        I think Dorothy is realizing Walky will be better off with Lucy. She could give Walky hot sex, but Lucy offers love.

    3. Clif

      My guess is no; this is Dorothy.

    4. Tan

      I’ve been sitting with this for awhile, and I think ultimately it comes down to her idea of leaving him better off than she found him. See https://www.dumbingofage.com/2013/comic/book-3/01-if-the-shoes-split/fetishist/

      I personally think it’s at the expense of Lucy in this case, but hell, that’s Lucy’s mistake to make, and maybe it’s better to just get it over with already than to keep up with the pining puppydog routine.

      1. Steelbright

        I’m getting the sense that Dorothy kind of thought of Walky as up for grabs since she broke up with him and doesn’t think of him having anything going on, but now she’s suddenly realizing that he has a life and might have other people who are interested in him and don’t just want to be fuck buddies. And that’s making her feel bad, and kind of shocked, because he just kept living his life without her.

        So maybe she’s getting off on the feeling of “doing the right thing” and/or on nobly sacrificing herself and feeling horrible for having wanted something she (in her mind) wasn’t supposed to want.

        Definitely an interpretation pulled from personal experience, but hey, Dorothy is probably one of the fictional characters I relate to most on the internet. 😛

    5. Jack Faire

      Honesly I think those are mislabeled. The words people use don’t actually match up to what the words mean the terms imply a level of non-consent on one party

  2. Doctor_Who

    Panel 4: Dorothy does a deep soul search and realizes that, hot or no, she could never be with a man who believes humans are funnier than dinosaurs and monkeys.

    1. Clif

      But a smart girl like Dorothy would know that humans are the funniest thing around and the only reason that dinosaurs and monkeys can be funnier is that they are really humans underneath.

      1. milu

        a bold new thesis! dinosaurs and monkeys were really humans all along!

        it just… it explains so much

  3. Sirksome

    Dorothy might be too good a person. Like that is a character flaw.

    1. Shen Hibiki

      It can ALSO be self-serving.
      “I’ll do better without him but he’s tempting. BUT if he’s taken, I’m too legal to risk it, so I’ll be safe”

      1. Diner Kinetic

        Yeah that’s kind of my thoughts: I think if Walky wanted to date Lucy, he would’ve forever ago.

        1. Jason Rivest

          I don’t know why people think that. Walky has never been the initiator in either of his previous relationships. And he can be very oblivious sometimes. I think it’s very possible he had simply never noticed Lucy’s crush and never considered a relationship with her until now.

        2. thejeff

          Well, he did throw toys at both of them and he hasn’t at Lucy.

      2. Rabid Rabbit

        Suddenly, her and Danny makes sense. That was exactly his reasoning for wanting to find Ethan a boyfriend back in the day.

    2. Spencer

      I want to see it crash at some point but she keeps not snapping.

      I want blood.

  4. Hampsterpig

    That is… a choice, Dorothy.

    1. AntJ

      She’s setting herself up to choose Yale

      1. Akp

        This feels like a very astute observation.

        1. Jamie

          Nah. That’s just how she’ll justify it.

        2. Diner Kinetic

          huh, that’s an interesting way to look at it- cut other ties.

          Neat, think you cleared something up for me Hampsterpig

        3. RowenMorland

          Are these three comments just Walky’s inner monologue?

      2. PoliVamp

        I think you are correct

      3. RassilonTDavros

        …inevitably leading to heartbreak when Joyce accepts how she feels about Dorothy, I’m betting.

        1. Clif

          Won’t everyone be surprised when Dorothy finds out that Joyce was also accepted at Yale.

        2. Needfuldoer

          DoA season 3 sees the whole cast relocate to Yale, for increasingly outlandish and reach-y reasons.

        3. Khyrin

          Dorothy: Duh.
          Joyce: Applied for funsies. Qualifies for an obscure grant that gives her a full ride.
          Becksters: Largesse from a Liberal Senator.
          Dina: recommended for a fellowship with an archeolgy/paleontology dig in Connecticut.
          Walky and Sal: Cut the cord with momsie and popsicle; Sal is following Marcy, Walky is following Sal. Walky has a minor freakout when he realizes he’s the one maintaining the house while Sal keeps food on the table.
          Marcy: Moves to Connecticut to get out of the Midwest; gets job at a Private Security Firm alongside Sal.
          Malaya: Moves to be near Marcy; parents secretly own the Private Security Firm that hires Marcy and Sal.
          Lucy: accidentally smuggled in Dina’s luggage.
          Joe and Amber: Attend Southern Connecticut State University. Relocation at Richard’s insistence to keep them safe from Yuri’s revenge plot.
          Stacy and Richard: Relocate to Mechanicsville, Iowa.
          Faz: Sues for emancipation; shows up on Joyce’s front step.

        4. milu

          Season 4:
          Leslie is hired at Yale after writing a massively successful book on queer readings of pop culture classics.
          Robin, who loves a running gag, pulls all the strings she’s got and gets transferred to Yale just to surprise Leslie in the (considerably more wood-panelled) teacher’s lounge there. (she really did it just for the lulz, fo’shizzle!!)
          Carla has finally joined the roller derby team, and swiftly become something of a sensation and Yale has a really good roller derby team maybe?? and they scout her?! and she’s like “sure why not”.
          Ruth has dropped out of IU, she got into equine-assisted therapy as part of a rehab programme and decided to pursue that as a career and by pure sheer nonsense coincidence she finds an apprenticeship in New Haven, CT. She and Daisy are basically engaged by now so they move together.
          Billie Jennifer Jenny Jay Xworth takes a backpacking sabbatical and becomes increasingly politically radical and winds up in Yale as a cleaners’ strike breaks out and decides to stick around and help out.
          Booster just respawns as a Yale student. No one seems surprised and no explanation is ever given.

        5. Clif

          Applause!

          You guys make that look so easy.

        6. milu

          thank you, yeah, it absolutely definitely took me like 5 minutes haha ha

        7. Octo

          Sarah: Begrudgingly talked into transferring by Joyce. Joyce actually made some good points about how it would benefit Sarah, who now claims those are the ONLY reasons, nothing to do with other people
          Galasso: Opens a second location in New Haven, goes to oversee the start of the new business.
          Jason: Goes with Galasso to bartend at the new location. He had no say in this decision.
          Danny: Gets left behind. He’ll figure it out eventually.

        8. Needfuldoer

          This community is capable of some truly wonderful things.

        9. Lingo

          “What, like it’s hard?”

  5. RassilonTDavros

    …well, I’m not sure what I was expecting, but I can’t say it was that. Now I’m really curious.

    1. Clif

      The shoe hasn’t dropped though until we hear Walky’s reply.

      So, cut-away to different characters then?

      1. RassilonTDavros

        I think the overarching theme of this storyline is shaping up to be characters trying to help the people they still love, but no longer feel they can be with, to find new love. Whether it’s “to stop themselves from getting back with them” or “because they just really want them to be happy,” I’m not yet sure, but look at this storyline and tell me Dorothy doesn’t still love Walky deep down. Look at this strip, and tell me Jennifer doesn’t still love Ruth deep down, horrible as she is at it.

        So yes, I’m imagining we’re cutting away to another set of characters, since we need the Rule of Threes to kick in.

  6. NotThatDrew

    Huh… not how I expected that to go

    1. NotThatDrew

      Not sure if this is selflessness bordering on stupidity (in the sense of denying one’s own desire to give others a chance, a move I’m all too familiar with), or if this is Dotty thinking “if Walky is off limits, maybe I can get over him”

      1. Suzi

        Or her thinking “I can’t have him at Yale anyways, might as well make sure he’s with someone good”

        1. NotThatDrew

          I’m leaning towards Jamie’s response to Akp up above. I can absolutely see that being the justification she’ll use.

      2. Spencer

        Well, remember that the reason she broke up with Walky in the first place was her workload, and as far as we know that hasn’t changed. If she got back with him she’d just be putting him through that heartache of a breakup again.

        1. NotThatDrew

          True, but I’m also painfully aware that what the heart wants is rarely as logical as the plans the brain comes up with

        2. NotThatDrew

          Or at least at that age. I’m only half the moron I was at 18 when it comes to romantic relationships

        3. King Daniel

          To be fully-accurate, Dorothy is 19 here (possibly 20, if she had her birthday during the timeskip). 😛

  7. Robbie

    Sal called it

    1. Robbie

      https://www.dumbingofage.com/2021/comic/book-11/04-hompk/don-t/

      1. Clif

        This I think. Though I’m not sure it’s what she intended to say until she opened her mouth.

        1. Nicoleandmaggie

          Yep. Dorothy is mature, even when she doesn’t want to be. It also fits with her personality that she prefers the monkey/dinosaur over humans.

  8. Jane

    It’s painful, Dorothy, but you made the right choice here.

    (Assuming he’s interested in her, which isn’t necessarily the case)

    1. Diner Kinetic

      I’m… not sure if telling your ex who to date is ever the right choice, to be honest

      1. Clif

        It’s not a command. She’s telling him what she thinks.

  9. DailyBrad

    Part of me saw this coming, but I’m still surprised. Interesting….

  10. Mikey

    Ask! Her! Out! Ask! Her! Out! Ask! Her! Out!

  11. Johan

    Idk seems she wants him to choose her.

    1. Clif

      Maybe.

      It’s possible to want different things at the same time, too.

  12. Sam

    Not at all what I expected which makes it all the more intriguing.

    1. Clif

      Wait till you hear Walky’s answer.

      This is one of those times when I would actually use the Patron time-warp.

      And probably regret it afterwards.

  13. King Daniel

    Handsome, boy, does he know it
    Peach fuzz, and he can’t even grow it
    I wanna take him far away from this place
    Then I turn and see my sister’s face and she is…

    1. Jonah Sanville

      ~*helpless*~

      1. cbwroses

        +2
        1 for both of you.

  14. BBCC

    Dorothy is the goodest egg around. As Billie said, her jealousy metabolizes into kindness.

    1. Kyrik Michalowski

      If Dorothy metabolizes jealousy into kindness what else is she capable of? Turning sugar into protein inside her so she stays fit? Converting exhaustion and guilt into generosity and goodwill?

      We need answers.

      1. Clif

        Dorothy is a catalyst. But what reaction she’s catalyzing remains to be seen.

      2. BBCC

        Okay, those last two are canon. Remains to be seen about the first one.

  15. Lily

    Oh shit! (oh shit) (oh shit) (oh shit)

  16. GoldDragon387

    Sweet mother of Venus that’s a hell of a decision you’re making there dotty

    1. King Daniel

      Interesting choice of phrase there, considering that Venus was actually (at least one of, if not the only) motherless Roman deities, as the Romans adapted for her the Greek story of Aphrodite being born from the sea fully-formed. 😛

      1. Thag Simmons

        Only after the Olympians castrated their father and threw his private bits into the sea. I guess in that regard you could say her mother was the sea itself

        Greek Mythology is a fucking trip

        1. King Daniel

          That was actually the Titans, not the Olympians. 😛 (Requisite OSP Red video on Aphrodite)

          (Also recommend Red’s video on the Theogony for more on that whole deal with the Titans and the bath-bomb ballsack)

        2. Thag Simmons

          D’oh

      2. 3oranges

        And yet in the Iliad, there’s a whole bit where Aphrodite is consoled by her mother Dione. Ancient mythology: not always super consistent.

        1. Demoted Oblivious

          Ancient mythology and religion: not always super consistent.

        2. King Daniel

          As Red mentions in her video on Aphrodite I linked above, later ancient Greeks reconciled that by essentially having two Aphrodites (Aphroditoi?) – Aphrodite Pandemos being Dione’s daughter with Zeus, and Aphrodite Urania being the motherless daughter of Uranus’s castration. (There’s also the little-known Aphrodite Areia, Aphrodite’s oldest incarnation – worshipped as a war goddess in only a handful of locations, her being portrayed as militarily-incompetent in the Iliad was probably done to retcon out that early aspect of hers.)

        3. Clif

          I’m feeling out of my depth here.

          We will worship Aphrodite.
          Though she’s pretty wild and flighty.
          She will meet us in her nightie.
          And she’s good enough for me!

          Give Me That (Real) Old Time Religion doesn’t mention which version of Aphrodite, but was the only reason I knew how to pronounce the name, which looks like it should rhyme with Afro-kite.

        4. King Daniel

          Well, “meet us in her nightie” prooobably rules out Aphrodite Areia at least – as a goddess of love and war, Aphrodite Areia wore armor. 😛

        5. Delicious Taffy

          Who says the nightie isn’t over the armor?

        6. milu

          who says the nightie isn’t chainmail?

        7. thejeff

          Oooh, chafing.

        8. milu

          what is this thing and how does it have so many bloody verses

        9. Jhon

          You get to make up your own.
          hint, hint

        10. milu

          my ironic cult of Satan
          nevermore shall be abatin’
          now that Nas X’s done usurped ‘im
          he is good enough for me!

  17. Sirksome

    Just so we’re clear here the “important discussion” Dorothy wanted to have with Walky wasn’t about her getting into (insert ivy league college here) but was about her arbitrarily deciding not to bone him and encouraging him to date a romantic rival? Cause she could’ve just hung out with Joyce and saved herself a walk.

    1. Thag Simmons

      This does not seem to be the conversation she initially intended to have

      1. Clif

        She was unclear on the conversation she wanted to have, until the next to last panel.

    2. darkgloomie

      The serious conversation she was tempted to have was likely no-strings-attached sex “but for real this time”. Doubt she was ever gonna tell him she’s transferring to Yale (maybe)

      1. thejeff

        Far more likely she was going to suggest getting back together – even if still with the “I’ll be leaving” caveat. Not sure why people keep thinking she only wants sex.

        1. Sirksome

          I think it’s mostly because Dorothy showed rekindled interest in Walky because of his increase in attractiveness. It’s easy to relate that to wanting him physically more than anything else even if that might not be the entire case.

        2. thejeff

          Perhaps, but I find it very out of character for Dorothy – the increased attractiveness might push her to seduce him again, but it would quickly turn into a relationship thing again.

  18. Suitora

    Dorothy is doing one of three things…

    1. She’s being selfless and realizing that she can never give Walky what he needs in a relationship, no matter how much she loves him.

    2. She wants Walky to date Lucy so she sees him as off-limits and isn’t tempted by him.

    3. She wants to watch, as suggested by an earlier comment.

    1. HeatherJean

      3a. She’s a masochist, as evidenced by her pre-dawn jogging and, well, pretty much everything, and will get off watching Walky & Lucy if they work out.

    2. Needfuldoer

      I think it’s a combo of 1 and 2. She can’t take him with her to Yale so their relationship would always have a sell-by date, and she’s freeing herself of that temptation by pointing him at someone else.

  19. Marisa Mockery

    Good on you, Dorothy.

  20. Juan Pablo Nunez Rojas

    here’s hoping walky says no I want you, and dorothy just crumbles

    1. Jamie

      Weirdly, this is both Joyce logic and anti-Joyce logic.

      1. Clif

        Of all the possible outcomes, this is one of the least likely. And yet I can’t help hoping that Walky has one of his “Rain” moments.

      2. RassilonTDavros

        Joyce Logic: Shooting your clone in the brain is a-ok!

        Anti-Joyce Logic: Clones are just as real as the origi– gets shot in the brain

        1. milu

          scientific regress goes “blam”?!

  21. Jonah Sanville

    OH

  22. Kyrik Michalowski

    I was not expecting this at all, Dorothy has ckmpletely blindsided me. I have nothing else to say on the matter except: Good luck Walky, I’m sure Lucy won’t pass out from glee and shock.

    1. Clif

      No, no. Instead that would be the cue for Lucy to start seeing his flaws.

  23. Blibdoolpoolp

    Did not see that coming

  24. Mr. Random

    I still say that if you have the monkey do the laughing at the start and have a human do the dropkick, that makes it all the better, highlighting the absurdity in each.

    1. Clif

      But without the Law Prof you couldn’t call it Lawsome.

      1. King Daniel

        The monkey/dinosaur version was called JAWsome.

        1. Clif

          And without the dinosaur you couldn’t call it Jawsome.

        2. King Daniel

          Monkeys aren’t lampreys, they have jaws too

        3. milu

          some lawyers even have jaws!

  25. Brasca1

    Good on Dorothy! But I’m not sure if Walky is really into Lucy

    1. Clif

      Maybe we’ll find out when Walky opens his mouth.

  26. Ray

    Looking at him right now…. she’s willing to consider a three-way…..

  27. Yotomoe

    https://imgur.com/a/oXbMW45(NSFW)
    ok ok I’m not made of stone. I feel like it could use a redraw but I’m not gonna spend too much time on it.

    1. Yotomoe

      https://imgur.com/a/oXbMW45 sorry the (NSFW) isn’t part of the link 😛

      1. Kyrik Michalowski

        I wholeheartedly think this is amazing and I love the little details. Well done my man.

      2. NotThatDrew

        …I stand by what I said yesterday. This would absolutely work on me (once I recovered from the possible concussion caused from hitting the ground)

      3. LiterallyJustSomeGuy

        That really looks like Lucy! Well done, well done! Love it!

      4. Clif

        Thank you for your fan service.

        1. milu

          seriously!!!

      5. Bagge

        Jennifer gives good advice.

        Or, at least advice.

        Good on Lucy for following through.

        Excellent image!

      6. Keulen

        Perfection *chef’s kiss*

      7. RowenMorland

        So close to perfection, but shouldn’t it be Billie pointing at Walky and then Lucy doing the crotch to the face and Billie laughing, and then each day you switch Walky for a different character?

      8. Wizard

        Best takedown ever.

    2. BarerMender

      It’s a blank page.

      1. BarerMender

        Oh, now I see it.

        1. Yotomoe

          Clearly your mental content block was on 😛

        2. BarerMender

          Yeah, but then it broke down. Brain said, “Nope. Naked Lucy is too much. Take it, libido.”

        3. StClair

          “It doesn’t look like anything to me.”

    3. Rabid Rabbit

      It’s the motion lines on the nipple that really make it.

      1. Tawnee

        No results found on Google. Congratulations! You may be the first person in human history to have used that sentence.

        1. Demoted Oblivious

          Now THAT is a good use for Turn-it-in!

        2. Yotomoe

          I can’t imagine that’s true. There’s so many hentai with FANTASTIC nipple motion lines.

        3. milu

          maybe google for all its spectacular tentacularity doesn’t reach that far deep into the freakiest fringes of the interboobs.

    4. Jhon

      … prolonged silence while picking self off floor

      Yoto is not made out of stone.
      He is made of win.

      1. milu

        he’s made out of juices!

  28. TomHCinMI

    I’ll bet that was unexpected.

    1. Clif

      Wait until next strip when Walky is back in Lucy’s room saying, “Turns out that Dorothy came all the way over here because she wanted to tell me that I should ask you out. Have you ever heard anything so weird.”

      Or not.

      1. Needfuldoer

        And so a little seed of doubt starts to grow in Lucy’s mind. “Is he actually interested on his own, or only because his ex made the suggestion?”

        1. Clif

          While being unphased that he thinks the idea of asking her out is weird.

  29. Sirksome

    I don’t know. Maybe it’s just me but I think I would’ve preferred Lucy actually speaking up and pursuing her attraction to Walky instead of Dorothy essentially serving him up to her. Like no one’s character really advances here, Dorothy of course does the “right” thing and Walky is still potentially available for Lucy without her actually working for it. We’ll see how this play out I guess, there’s always and a chance for something unexpected, but I’m kind of meh on this so far.

    1. Rabid Rabbit

      If Walky’s reaction is “Why would I do that? Are you suggesting that men and women can’t just be friends? Can’t I just be appreciating her because she’s smart, without trying to get into her pants?” I would be delighted.

    2. ktbear

      I saw it more as a win/win for Dorothy. Either way she’s done the right thing and people will appreciate that while at the same time discovering whether their relationship is more than just friends.

    3. Delicious Taffy

      I like the idea that when Walky goes back in, Lucy asks him out instantly and flinches, and he just says “Yeah, okay. Funny thing, Dorothy was just suggesting I ask you out.” Then Lucy faints/explodes and Jennifer just rolls her eyes and puts on headphones.

  30. John

    this makes me happy. I want lucy to be happy.

    1. NotThatDrew

      The thing is I can easily see this backfiring on everyone. All it’d take is one “so why did you choose to ask me out” question catching Walky off guard to not only potentially bring a relationship between him and Lucy to a bitter end, but also sour and friendship with Dotty

      1. NotThatDrew

        *any

        Really need to start proofreading my comments before I hit post

      2. Clif

        That’s only one of many ways for this to backfire.

      3. thejeff

        Easily covered by a “sometimes I’m so oblivious I didn’t realize you were interested. she had to point it out to me.”

  31. LiterallyJustSomeGuy

    Dorothy’s “I’ll figure it out when I get there” sure has gone… somewhere. I wonder how Walky will respond

    1. Clif

      Badly is the way to bet, it being Walky, but this is one of those weird transitional moments where things can go in odd directions.

  32. ktbear

    Oh thank goodness, for a moment there I thought I wouldnt be able to comment cause it’d have been the 70th. Not that I have anything worthwhile to contribute…

    1. Clif

      Is there a rule against making the 70th comment?

      I wonder who broke it?

      1. King Daniel

        If someone makes the 70th comment, what would the number of comments be just prior to that?

        1. Clif

          LXIX

        2. King Daniel

          Commendatus

      2. Needfuldoer

        Everyone knows posting the 70th comment isn’t nice.

        1. Clif

          And yet, day after day someone does it.

  33. Undrave

    Dotty is too good for this world…

    1. King Daniel

      Roll, Perfect Cinnamon

      1. RassilonTDavros

        I’m assuming you meant to link to this, since the link you posted just goes to today’s comic.

        1. Clif

          Today’s comic is a perfectly valid link for “Roll, Perfect Cinnamon” though.

        2. King Daniel

          I meant to do that!

    2. Keulen

      Little did we know that The Onion was actually describing Dorothy in this article:
      Beautiful Cinnamon Roll Too Good For This World, Too Pure

      1. RassilonTDavros

        I think that article is where the phrase originally came from, IIRC.

  34. Kravis

    And then bang her brains out!

    1. Clif

      I’m sure that was implied. Just not the main point.

  35. Bagge

    “If I can’t have you, at least I can coach your future relationships”

    1. Clif

      Well, she could have him. Easily. And she wants him. Just not more than other things.

      And so she will go to the uttermost West and remain Dorothy.

      1. Bagge

        Yale should be east, right…?

        *pedantry of the day brought to you by Bagge*

        1. King Daniel

          If you go west long enough, you end up in the east.

          That, or Dorothy goes to 180°W and ends up at a nondescript location in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

      2. Zaxares

        This. Judging by Dorothy’s body language in the first panel, she WAS planning to flirt with Walky. But Walky’s response has not been reciprocal. He’s keeping her at arm’s length, standard social graces. But I think the real kicker was Walky’s remark in panel 3 “Shouldn’t I? She’s smart.” I think that made Dorothy remember why she and Walky wouldn’t make a good long term match. She aims for great things; she needs somebody who can match her wits, talent and ambition. Someone who will challenge her as much as she challenges them, and make them both stronger and fitter for it.

        Walky is… not that person. He does not have the ambition or drive. This is not casting aspersions on him; desiring only to live a quiet, peaceful life filled with small joys and happy memories with the one you love is just as admirable and noble a life goal. But it would not be what Dorothy wanted, and if they wound up together I think in the end Dorothy would wind up resenting him for “holding her back”.

        1. Sirksome

          That’s a lot to consider in one brief moment in deciding not to pursue some casual sex with your ex-boyfriend. I don’t think she’s worried about Walky holding her back. Part of the reason she developed feelings for Walky was his complete faith in her career goals over someone like Danny who didn’t. Walky even knew they were only meant to be short term. If anything like most people have brought up Dorothy is just worried she won’t be as available because of her studious nature and eventual transfer to Yale as Walky deserves. (Even though they never had a conversation about that).

          But Walky “holding her back” or the idea that she’s looking for her equal or someone to challenge her? I don’t think that register’s with her at all. She just doesn’t want someone to latch onto her like a barnacle as Danny would, which Walky has already proven he won’t do.

        2. thejeff

          Absolutely none of that has ever shown up in Dorothy’s comments about Walky or about possible partners. It has nothing to do with why she broke up with him .
          Maybe she would end up resenting him for holding her back, but there’s no reason to think she’s even considered that.

        3. Emily

          That’s how I interpreted it as well.

        4. Emily

          I mean, the part where she saw that Walky isn’t reciprocating her flirting.

          I didn’t see evidence that Dorothy feels Walky isn’t a good match for her. I think she is trying to be realistic about what her goals are and where they are taking her, and trying to protect her feelings and the feelings of others in the process.

          My take on the pairings:

          Dorothy/Walky: I think they really love each other, the break-up hit Walky really hard, Dorothy is avoiding/repressing her feelings in the name of her career.

          Amber/Walky: chemistry!!! they’re super hot for each other, they are compatible and good friends, but they are both pretty depressed/dysfunctional.

          Lucy/Walky: Lucy has the hots for Walky, Walky sees Lucy as a kid?/buddy?/hanger-on? does he even see Lucy? Walky is so preoccupied with a tonne of traumatic stuff that happened in a short amount of time, and I don’t think he has considered Lucy much.

  36. BenRG

    So, is Dorothy getting everything organised before she leaves?

    1. Clif

      She has a whole semester yet.

      So maybe so.

    2. Amos Batista

      Oh, I knew this day would come… This Dorothy’s moves makes sense now.

      1. Clif

        Are you saying that Dorothy keeping her acceptance at Yale secret makes sense now?

        Could you explain why you think that?

    3. Emily

      I’ve been thinking the same.

      -Took Joyce to get glasses
      -Helping Joyce/Walky with their comics
      -Tying up loose ends with Walky

      seems like a pattern possibly

  37. JediMB

    When you read a comic and just go “AW” out loud.

    You’re a sweetheart, Dorothy.

  38. Varangian

    Man, I fucking CALLED this, I knew it would be like this

  39. PB

    Huh. I’m impressed with Dorothy. And Walky, for proving he actually WAS listening to Lucy.

    1. milu

      i mean he actually went and redrew the comic on her advice, so i think he must’ve been listening. it would’ve been dickish of him to pretend like that was his idea— which thankfully he didn’t

  40. eskimolos

    I mean having been Lucy in this situation, this honestly isn’t what I wanted and it was really, really demoralizing being in a relationship with someone who was generally ambivalent to my existence as Walky seems to be. Walky’s shown zero interest or investment in Lucy, more going along with her because she seems so interested and invested in him. They might date, but I can’t personally see a path in that relationship where Lucy finds validation and/or catharsis that doesn’t also reflect poorly on her self-esteem.

    1. Reltzik

      Walky showed plenty of investment in the relationship when he dressed up as a superhero and saved her from a late-night harrasser.

      He might not actually be invested, but Lucy took it that way.

  41. Edwin I Callahan

    That’s only true if you’re talking about Harvard Law.

    1. Edwin I Callahan

      I was actually trying to reply to Lingo farther up the thread. I should know better than trying to do anything at quarter to 5 in the AM.

      1. Lingo

        Well I see you response in any case 🙂

  42. Keulen

    I didn’t see this coming. I was expecting Dorothy to try to get back together with Walky. She clearly is still interested, especially now that his hair makes him hotter or whatever. Didn’t think she’d try to get Walky with Lucy.

    1. CJ

      The hair stroking in first panel definitely is flirty and also her posture. But she seems to realize that Lucy is invested in him in a way she is not, and chooses to let got and give him a shove in the right direction.

  43. Rabisch

    After this strip. I respect for Dorothy. She really care about Walky ♡.

  44. thumb

    I like Dorothy and all, but this feels too much like she’s *giving* him to Lucy, which I’m not a fan of. I think what rubs me the wrong way is how much her actions feels like a sort of “look after yourselves once I am gone” thing, when she’s still keeping back that she’s leaving. It robs them of the context of her actions which, since she is getting in everybody’s business because of that context, I think they kinda deserve to know.

    1. CorporateDronesDontHaveMissiles

      Fair, but I think this ‘tying up loose ends’ bit is nice because we haven’t seen much of ‘what’s Dorothy doing about Yale’ since the letter, and if this is actually going in the direction we’re both reading, it’s a nicely subtle attempt to say something about it.

  45. Sombrero

    Dorothy Keener: Providing Unsolicited Advice since 2010.

  46. darkoneko

    “So i’m not smart ?”

    1. Spencer

      If you’re so smart, why aren’t you the president?

  47. akemi

    I think with this, Dorothy has officially solidified herself as the the only “good person” in the entire strip, the only one willing to think of someone other than herself.

    1. Jabberwocky

      I wouldn’t say she’s being entirely altruistic here – if Walky’s off the market, that’s less temptation and distraction for her and one less reason to stick around rather than transferring to Yale. Girl wants to be a politician, doubtless she’s taken that into consideration.

    2. Jhon

      It’s all a ploy. Gentleman that he is, Walky will deny interest in Lucy. Then Dotty will pounce.

      1. milu

        walky and gentleman in the same sentence? are you high

    3. darkoneko

      not really ? Lucy is mostly thinking about Walky 😀

  48. Josh Spicer

    Good girl Dorothy.

  49. Spencer

    Headcanon: Dumbing of Age Dorothy was killed before the start of the series and replaced by her doppelganger from Smart People Always Do The Right Thing.

    1. Jhon

      You read that? It’s boring.

    2. RassilonTDavros

      Alternative Headcanon: Walkyverse Dorothy and Dumbiverse Dorothy were swapped at birth by a time-travelling Head Alien II.

      It would certainly explain why the Dorothy we see in Joyce and Walky! just makes bad decision after bad decision.

      1. Spencer

        Oh heck

  50. Lumus

    Oh come on, Dotty. If Lucy was interested, I’m sure she’d have shown some sign of it by now.

    1. Clif

      If those are the next words out of Walky’s mouth, you win.

      1. milu

        it would be 100% hilarious and 100% appalling

        1. Delicious Taffy

          Something for everyone, a comedy tonight.

  51. Sam

    I feel like I should make a second comment now solely to point out that there isn’t one correct path of action here superior to all others as it is really up to Walky and Lucy whether this is appreciated or not but Dorothy giving Walky a push isn’t inherently going to be unappreciated by Lucy and Lucy currently doesn’t seem to have the courage to be willing to do anything herself.

    Telling my partner that I loved him took some encouragement by others because I didn’t know if he was interested or not and he was not brave enough to tell me about his feelings first. I’m glad they encouraged me to say something. This is Dumbing of Age so it probably won’t go that smoothly but I could see it being appreciated if Walky is actually interested and oblivious and it will at least be appreciated by us as readers if he flat out says what he feels about it so we know.

    1. Bagge

      There is one correct path of action superior to all others, but Lucy didn’t feel up to take it when Jennifer suggested it, which has to be respected.

      1. milu

        lollll that was the correct and superior-to-all-others comment to leave in response to Sam u_u

        i agree with you Sam, but your opinion is too measured and rational for this comment section, we must have our hysterics sorry

        anyway, GOOD JOB on snagging one of the good ones who’ll actually take a hint and say something. that was swell of him! (i HATE me when i find myself in OBVIOUSLY reciprocal flirting situations and neither has the gonads to say anything and then the moment passes?! ugh.)

        1. Sam

          Haha, well I literally sent him a message telling him I loved him and the fact he was able to pick up exactly what I meant is part of what I love about him! As soon as he knew that I loved him, he didn’t hesitate to say it back and we’ve been together ever since. Even if we don’t talk much every day, just having him present is one of the best parts of every day.

          Oh right, yes, hysterics, I know how to express this exact thought so those who only speak in hysterics understand: INERTIA BAD!!! DOROTHY SMASH!!!

        2. milu

          oh ok, well i don’t know what your friendship was like thus far obviously, but you telling him you loved him almmmmmoooossst sounds like YOU were the one who took the first step actually?? lol whatever, it takes two to tango anyway! you sound so pumped about it, it’s a pleasure to read! bless you!

  52. hof1991

    We should be surprised with Dorothy’s choice here. She took a beat and made a brave decision. It’s in character for her, but still a sacrifice for his sake. People are talking threes company and I’m getting emotional.

  53. Subjektivity

    I love dotty

  54. Hoboturtle

    Yes! Lucy is good and she deserves whatever it is she wants

    1. Clif

      Dorothy is better and she deserves it more.

      Oh, wait. Are we talking about Walky here?

  55. Caninse

    Dotting taking the high road. Good on you.

    1. milu

      well, that high road wasn’t gonna dot itself.

  56. JessWitt

    Dorothy being Walky’s wingwoman is unexpected. But if anything that position should go to Dina.

    *ba dum tss*

    1. milu

      i mean, she does have her eye on the WEST WING, ba dum tss!

      1. JessWitt

        Ooh good one!

  57. Rainhat

    Well, that was decent.

  58. Juanoku

    Well that’s unexpected, but not altogether unpleasant

  59. Jammy

    Ok, pretty torn on if this is a good idea or a terrible idea. For Walky, amazing idea. For Lucy? I see a quick win and then diminishing returns.

    1. C.T. Phipps

      I suspect Lucy just wants a friend she’s attracted to. Not every romance must be seeking a superior being.

      1. Svankensen

        Yes, this. Seriously, try stuff out. Walky is a lot of bad things, but he is not a bad person.

        1. Jammy

          Don’t get me wrong, I love Walky, but the thing he needs to try is studying and passing his classes. I don’t know if Lucy having to babysit him is going to be an equal relationship.

  60. Toes14

    I did NOT see that coming.

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