212

Asking
Posted on September 20, 2014 by David M Willis

212 thoughts on “Asking”

  1. Camachri

    D’aaaaaaawwwwwww

    1. Cheryl

      My heart just esploded! *SQUEEK*

      1. Jen Aside

        her little heart, it could explode

        1. MIB4u

          … Eels?

        2. Jen Aside

          I also have

          When you speak I hear silence
          Every word a defiance
          I can hear, oh, I can hear
          Think I’ll go where it suits me
          Moving out to the country
          With everyone, oh, everyone,
          Before we all become one
          Tell yourself that you’re lucky
          Lying down never struck me
          As something fun, oh, any fun
          Stabbing pain for the feeling
          Now your wound’s never healing
          ‘Til you mumble, “Is it bad?”
          Before we all become one
          Oh we all, we all become one
          Oh we all, we all become one
          Oh we all, we all become one
          Oh we all, we all become one
          Start breathing
          Start leaving
          Before we all become one
          RUN
          Oh we all, we all become…

        3. Metacube

          Finally another person who played Transistor. Despite all the criticism that game got (mainly for not living up to Bastion) it had some truly great music.

    2. Aisling

      Waaaaaaaa’d

      yay for yuri!

  2. An Average Loser

    Mark my words, Phallustrator, The Ultimate Porn Lord shall rise again, encapsulating our world with crudely drawn sets of flaccid phalluses and testicles once again!

    . . .

    That was the stupidest thing I have ever typed. Ever.

    1. AgentKeen

      Lol Dicks

      1. JustCheetoDust

        He called the dicks ‘phalluses.’

    2. sps48

      See, that’s what happens when you paste a precomment before reading the new comic.

      1. rachel

        man I was WONDERING wtf that was about, thank you as ever sps48.

  3. Jen Aside

    aww how can you be ruthless when you’re so adorbs =<

    1. Plasma Mongoose

      She needs her caffeine fix before she can go into proper Ruthless mode.

    2. nothri

      She’s like a weeping angel. Her heart is stone unless you aren’t looking directly at her.

      1. Deanatay

        She like Sarah that way – a bongo, unless no one is listening.

    3. Aeron

      Being snuggled by a voluptuous, drunk ex-cheerleader is a great defuser.

    4. Winter

      Ruth’s living up to her name for once and is being all merciful and ruth…ful.

      But I digress. DAAAAAAAWWWW

      1. Jen Aside

        Ruthmore?

  4. Mr. Random

    Okay, so this has the POTENTIAL to not be a fucked up relationship.

    1. newllend

      Depends on how stressed out both of them can get.

      1. Doctor_Who

        And with alcohol not getting within half a kilometer of either of them.

        It’s college, so not a chance.

    2. LeslieBean4Shizzle

      I remain hopeful.

    3. nothri

      People need to understand the difference between two people who are fucked up being in a relationship and a relationship that is fucked up. The two are not necessarily compatible.

      1. AngierHafai

        Not sure what you mean by “compatible.” Did you mean mutually inclusive by chance?

        1. paradoxrealm

          Possibly meant comparable…
          But yes, agreed.

        2. nothri

          Apparently it was late last night. Yes, I did mean something along the lines of “mutually inclusive”. Not sure what word I actually wanted to use, but whatever.

    4. Arkadi

      Indeed. If I didn’t know better, I’d be almost hopeful for these two ^^

    5. Philip Petrunak

      Most fucked up relationships aren’t fucked up 100% of the time. That’s how people convince themselves it’s not fucked up.

  5. MrSirk

    And everybody wins and everybody lives!

    1. Jen Aside

      “Everybody lives, Rose! Just this once, everybody lives!”

      1. caesaria82

        This line is actually always so funny to me, because it’s not like people were dying like flies before he said that. In the season with Nine not a lot of people actually died. So, like, thanks Doctor, but everybody living is really not as big a deal as you’re making it ;p

        1. That Damn Rat

          Spoken like someone who has never seen the classic series. In the old Who if you were an extra you didn’t stand a chance.

        2. caesaria82

          I’ve seen very little of the classic series, that’s true. And I do know that the Doctor is clearly talking about all the people who’ve died in his 9 (10) regenations up to that point, but, like, Rose doesn’t know about any of those. And I did specify Nine’s season. Just… in recent years there has been SO much more death on this show, just in terms of volume, that’s really what made me say that. Nine’s season felt almost quaint in comparison when it comes to the death toll lol.

        3. Blue

          So true. One time I tried to play the ‘find a story where no one dies’ game and I could only come up with two, one of which was psychological horror and the other of which was incredibly depressing (though to be fair I haven’t seen everything, and idk if something like Mission to the Unknown was death-free).

          Applies to all of the show, really. There’s only a handful of stories where no one dies post 2005 either.

        4. Roborat

          Yup, they were redshirts before there were redshirts.

        5. Disloyal Subject

          Until you consider that that’s his first regeneration since the Time War.

        6. Mr. Random

          And consider how many people the twelfth killed.

        7. caesaria82

          In retrospect, yeah, totally. He’s just come off being The War Doctor. But at the time? I’m just saying, at the time Nine’s season aired I was a bit like, yeah, ok, no one died, big whoop xD

        8. Deanatay

          I think it was Davies’ and Moffat’s way of expounding on the Doctor’s back story to new viewers, who may not have watched the old series. The line implies that the Doctor has a past full of death, and that a day where no one dies is like a splendid miracle to him.

        9. Lieutenant Dan

          One could almost call it… Miracle Day? 🙂

        10. Eolirin

          In addition to what everyone else said, at least one person died in every single episode leading up to that. And almost if not every episode after it too for that matter.

        11. caesaria82

          Maybe I’m just judging him by Eleven, who felt like a regular old killing machine compared to Nine, just in terms of sheer volume lol. I mean, you do have a point, people did die in Nine’s season. But it *feels* (at least to me) like it’s a lot less people than these days.

        12. paradoxrealm

          So wait, that nearly entire space station invaded by dalek’s in the Parting of the Ways is not a lot of people?

        13. Khyrin

          I always thought of it from a “I wasn’t able to save this ONE person that I actually met” being felt more keenly. One death is tragic. two thousand is a statistic and all that.

      2. Evan Dark

        Still my favourite season of Doctor Who.

        1. Martin

          The weird thing, though? Way, way more characters actually died during the Ninth Doctor’s tenure than the Eleventh. It’s ironic that Moffat wrote The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances, because he has such a huge aversion to actual consequences for his characters. They never die – they always end up trapped in the past or stranded or something. Seriously, make an actual bodycount sometime. I never noticed until it was pointed out to me, and I was honestly surprised.

  6. Yotomoe

    I don’t care if they just had “tragic drunk person sex”. They’re an adorable fuckin’ couple.

    1. newllend

      They’re fun to watch aren’t they.

      1. Sageress

        Could’ve worded that differently when replying to a comment containing the phrase “tragic drunk person sex”.

        1. Disloyal Subject

          But why would he want to?

  7. Doctor_Who

    This would be so incredibly sweet if it weren’t also so incredibly self destructive.

    1. Yotomoe

      Self destruction can be sweet too.

      1. MrSirk

        Like putting five cups of sugar in your cherry Kool-Aid!

        1. -Sentinel-

          Worse things than sugar have been put in Kool-Aid.

        2. MrSirk

          Like putting five cups of vodka in your cherry Kool-Aid!

        3. jeffepp

          Even worse things have been put in kool-aid.

        4. Yotomoe

          Like Salt instead of sugar.

        5. Lawzlo

          Common misconception: Jim Jones and the People’s Temple actually used Flavor Aid, a less popular competitor of Kool-Aid.

        6. SgtWadeyWilson

          I find that the worst thing to put into Kool-aid is hope, since it never tastes as good as it did when I was a kid.

        7. JustCheetoDust

          The Jonestown Massacre is a rare exception when name brand word association as a subtle threat to this nation’s free trade does less harm to the smaller company.

          I find that the worst thing to put into Kool-aid is hope, since it never tastes as good as it did when I was a kid.

          This doesn’t seem to be a problem with Country Time. Then again, I didn’t grow up with Country Time.

        8. Romanticide

          We tend to call that combination in Mexico “aguas locas” (crazy water). Is the kind of stuff drunk people prepare when there are only cheap ingredients available XD God help you if the only vodka available is “Oso negro”

        9. John

          My college roommate used to make what we called “death punch”, which was a gallon jug of cherry Kool-Aid made with a bottle of 151 rum and the balance with water. It would get people way drunker way faster than expected, and caused horrific hangovers.

      2. Kernanator

        Sugar Implosion!

    2. newllend

      But that fact that they’re both so self destructive is what makes this good, they give each other a little bit of peace and stability.

    3. Rutee

      Eh, I’m not buying that the relationship is insanely self destructive. The only one of those that I can buy that with is Ethan/Joyce, and then only for Ethan. Nearly everyone has self destructive tendencies, but the relationships aren’t it.

      1. That Damn Rat

        pretty much, Ruth and Billie may be kind of broken, but together they can fill the missing parts of each other to enough for one whole functional human being.

        1. Katrika

          Except that they’re prone to exactly the same kinds of issues, so it’s insanely easy for them to get caught in a negative feedback loop with each other.

        2. nothri

          They clearly need to deal with their personal shit, individually or together, but that’s not the same thing as the RELATIONSHIP being self-destructive. They won’t last as a couple if they can’t deal with their problems, but the two of them being together has yet (for me, anyway) to be proven as definitively a bad thing.

        3. Jenny

          It’s not like they even have to be in a serious relationship. I doubt they even know what they’re doing. I think they really just need each other because they’re the only people who understand each other’s scars. They’re attracted to each other because it at least feels better to be broken with someone, than be broken alone.

        4. Katrika

          Oh, I agree, I’m just saying that I understand why it would be self destructive IF they started relying on the other to ‘fix’ them.

    4. Marc in MN

      Meh, some people never shake their demons in life. They might as well find someone who is equally haunted and try to eek out a little happiness.

      After all, the stable people (or rather, the people who think they are stable) would just send them packing with a to-do list of things they need to fix “before they can ever be in a relationship.”

    5. Nogre

      I think Ruth forgiving Billie is one of the least destructive things that’s happened to these two.

  8. airyu

    That last panel is the sweetest thing ever.

    1. Emperor Kiva

      The whole thing is sweet

    2. Gigafreak

      Billie will continue to wake up in new places.

  9. BeckHop

    DAMN YOU WILL—wait, that’s not right.

    Th-thank…you…Willis?

    1. Jen Aside

      WILL YOU DAMNIS

    2. abacuswizard

      In the old message board days it was occasionally BLESS YOU WILLIS.

      1. saltchocolate

        I’m going with that one today!

    3. Deanatay

      I can see that was hard for you, Beck. Good job!

  10. Barf Ninjason

    Is anyone else surprised that Billie saved the contact as just “David Walkerton” and not something like, “Fuckin’ Walky”?

    1. Jen Aside

      Gotta be honest, it took me a minute to parse the first panel even with “David Walkerton”… [I don’t smartphone]

    2. HMRC4EVR

      Well, it could have been that way before her and Walky started getting along better than in the past. She saw it one day recently and decided to make it right

      1. Gigafreak

        Some address book interfaces present a field for a first name, and a field for a last name. Typing off-the-cuff would probably have Billie enter “David” and “Walkerton” instead of “Fuckin'” and “Walky.”

        Plus the latter runs the risk of some ridiculous Siri-related misunderstandings. “Call the fucking cops!” “Address book updated: Fuckin’ Walky is now known as Cops Walky.”

        1. Jen Aside

          haha Siri does not sell me on joining the smartphone age

    3. Nogre

      They have been good friend in the past. It sounds like it’s just high school where Billie being a cheerleader got in the way of their friendship for a bit.

  11. Emperor Kiva

    Nice strip

    1. Yotsuyasan

      Where? It looks like they’re both clothed in today’s comic.

      :p

      1. Emperor Kiva

        Has anyone ever said you’re an ass?

        1. rachel

          HAS ANYONE EVER TOLD YOU A HELMET

  12. Rawrlicia

    *Hearts everything forever* Oh I hope they can help each other out…please oh please oh pleaaase.

  13. SDHero

    …Yep, still shipping this so hard that you could basically end the comic here and I wouldn’t complain >_>

    1. -Sentinel-

      But that would mean Ethan and Danny never get a chance to kiss…

      1. Shaggy_Donahugh

        It looks like Mike is having introspective thoughts about his own life…

      2. Rutee

        Acceptable casualties. But yes, bring us moar.

  14. Sionyx

    Looks like Ruth has the maturity to maybe make this relationship not be a trainwreck. Here’s hoping.

    1. Shade

      I would almost be with you. Except there’s a difference between being mature and being, you know, not depressed, which seems to be Ruth’s problem (and for the life of me, I can’t figure out why. I feel like her reasons have been mentioned, but not sure where). Billie is immature, an alcoholic, and depressed. All of which are a really bad combination.

      1. Regalli

        Dead parents caused by drunk driver, her own spiral into alcoholism and guilt because of it, a relationship with her grandfather that is hinted to be very, very ugly, and probably some brain chemistry shit on top of that. Depressed people don’t always need reasons to be depressed, though Ruth certainly has plenty. Often you just wake up and for no apparent reason, your brain thinks you should feel like shit for being you. And then you stop remembering how to feel anything except like shit, not for any reason but just because you exist and what are you adding to the world, really. And then it just sort of gets worse from there, and you’re really tired all the time because you don’t have any energy and it takes too much effort to get up and what does it matter, really, since we’ve already established you’re a worthless piece of shit, and then you just sort of curl up into a ball of your own misery.

        Depression really, really sucks, is what I’m saying.

        1. StClair

          Amen.

        2. Doctor_Lantern

          This is one of the best ways I’ve seen of describing what depression is like, run-ons not withstanding. Although, the run-ons actually kinda add to the explanation rather than hurting it.

        3. Kryss LaBryn

          Have you seen “Adventures in Depression” and “Depression Part Two” from Hyperbole and a Half? Having gone through my own bout of depression many years ago, I have to say she really nailed it. It’s a couple of great links for people who just don’t get it.

        4. Kryss LaBryn

          Sorry; messed up that first link there. “Adventures in Depression“.

        5. Opus the Poet

          Another one http://www.depressioncomix.com/

        6. Regalli

          Thanks. Yeah, run-ons are a bit of a problem for me sometimes. But stream-of-consciousness sentences do sum up just how constant it is. And the lack of energy/care required to go back and break things up a bit. (I’m only just now mostly out of my last spiral, so the thought process is still pretty fresh in my mind.)

          And Kryss, seconding the love of Hyperbole and a Half’s depression posts with as much enthusiasm as possible. The first time I read the part two post I just thought “Yes. This is it. This, right here, is EXACTLY what it feels like.”

        7. Gadgeteer Smashwidget

          So. Much.

          THIS.

      2. Darwin

        Depression doesn’t need a reason. It can be triggered by one thing, many things, or no things at all. It’s a malfunction in the chemical and electrical makeup of the brain. That’s why depressed people can’t just ‘get over it’. They have to either be taught how to cope with the extremely painful and destructive lows, or they need chemical assistance to regulate their brains back into proper function. It’s not ‘the blues’. It’s an illness no less than the flu or explosive diarrhea, only not as funny.

        1. Nogre

          Very much so. This question of “Why are you depressed?” isn’t really the right question. It’s like asking “Why do you have the flu?” Virus or brain chemical imbalance, the root cause is still the same kind of deal.

          Also, explosive diarrhea can be very, very not funny. D: (Though I must admit, the word “diarrhea” is a funny word.)

    2. TJ Baltimore

      Better a trainwreck than a truckwreck, as far as Ruth is concerned, amirite?

      (I may not be right.)

      1. John

        I’ve said it before: As long as no one’s dead, they’re doing better than in the Walkyverse.

    3. Arkadi

      Keep hoping. But remember: the Willis giveth, and the Willis taketh away.

  15. Idon'tcarenomore

    Thank you.

  16. Thomas64

    And sometimes, some people, who are racked with guilt, don’t actually need forgiveness… They need to come to the realization that they shouldn’t be feeling guilty in the first place.

  17. AgentKeen

    It’s not healthy, but at least it isn’t quite as soul-crushing as before?

    1. Regalli

      Well, at least slight improvement’s still improvement in some form. I’ll take it.

      1. StClair

        Same here.

    2. Nogre

      What’s unhealthy about Ruth forgiving Billie?

  18. MissQuinn

    I desperately want them to make this work. To get sober together and have a happy, functioning relationship where they support each other because of their mutual understanding and use their similar issues to keep the other from going off the deep end and make each other better people. But seeing as this is Dumbing of Age, they’re probably going to drink themselves to death, enable the others bad habits and probably crash and burn.

    1. Camachri

      And it will be glorious to watch.

    2. Disloyal Subject

      Close enough.

  19. Ikaru

    Aw, happy feels for once. Well, bittersweet happy, but I’ll take it.

    1. newllend

      I think they both just Need each other

    2. JessWitt

      Happy nervous feels for me. Nervs feels should be a thing actually.

      1. Ari

        I’m pretty sure that’s just called “hopeful”.

  20. Gigafreak

    So does Ruth need Billie’s forgiveness, or does Ruth need Ruth’s forgiveness, or both?

    Anyway, let’s enjoy the current sweetness because the next chapter has an ominous title. (Oh hey, the chapter after that one has been named. Let the speculation begin!)

  21. Xailenrath

    Say it with me, Audience:
    “AAAAAWWWW!”
    🙂

    1. Gigafreak

      Awwdience.

  22. dailybrad

    Billie has fallen into a lot of pits in college and highschool before that, but Ruth is tossing her a 1-Up. Really hoping Billie takes her up on it.

  23. Malchus

    It’s a genuinely sweet moment …

    … where’s the catch? There’s always a catch. YOU’RE NOT FOOLING ME!

    1. dailybrad

      The catch is that sadly, they are still trying to beat booze, as well as Ruth and her depression, and Billie with her own emotional problems.

      Even if they are there for each other, they have a long, painful road ahead of them.

      1. TheZachariah

        But the catch of the catch is that for the first time, both of them have someone to walk that road with. And a reason to walk back that road.

  24. alicemacher

    Let us all savour this sweet, gentle and loving moment until the next time something miserable happens. That is the Way of the DoA Reader. Amen.

    1. nothri

      ::savours::

  25. -Sentinel-

    I like how Walky takes 25 minutes to add: “Okay fine I’m asking”.

    1. saltchocolate

      I’m just glad that Walky is also going to be there for Billie. He’s a good guy.

  26. Tim C.

    I so want the both of them to be okay. Hell, the genius of the strip is how the characters are all likeable in some way.

    1. TJ Baltimore

      I see your assertion and raise you a Mary, a Ryan, a Faz, and a Blaine. (And to a lesser extent: Joyce’s parents and Sal/Walky’s parents.)

      1. Jenny

        And Ethan’s parents

        1. Jen Aside

          On the other hand, Galasso is not supposed to be likeable but is THOROUGHLY likeable!

  27. Mightionny

    “They’re sharing a drink they call loneliness, But it’s better than drinking alone.”

    1. newllend

      That impossible, I heard it can’t be shared.

      1. nothri

        Oh it can. But only between a waitress practicing politics and business slowly getting stoned.

        1. SgtWadeyWilson

          How does a whole business slowly get stoned? I was lead to believe that lager groups get stoned faster, like a contest… or do they not have enough for everyone, and therefore take turns?

        2. Kryss LaBryn

          Lager groups don’t get stoned faster, but some groups of stouts do.

        3. nothri

          *man

  28. zmm

    Ok.. can we just leave those two together and growing happy? haha. Though whenevver someone gets a happy end they seem to get written out (as per the walkyverse stuff). So I guess it’s unlikely.

  29. Bagge

    Maybe, maybe one day these two will share a tender moment without having their shields up when both of them are both sober and awake. One day.

  30. Stephen Bierce

    *plays Don Henley’s “Heart Of The Matter” on the Muzak*

  31. Shadow12000

    See? Mind-broken sex doesn’t always lead to worse situations. It really depends on the personalities involved in the first place. In fact, sex is a huge stress relief mechanism, she likely REALLY needed this.

  32. Shaggy_Donahugh

    This is the cutest/saddest/most tragic thing I have seen in a long long time. Damn you Willis for my tears.

  33. CommentSpawn

    “Oh and alcohol. That’s the second thing we’ve always had in common.”

    1. nothri

      Same problems. Same coping mechanisms.

  34. caesaria82

    I believe in these two crazy kids :3

  35. Rutee

    Bring her in gently, lasses. She’s taken a beating… but we’ve made port. Get the goods unloaded, we’ll make a fortune 😀

    These feels. I know we’re not done with drama, but these feels <3
    I'm sure the wife will enjoy when she's up too <3

  36. EvergreenFir

    Yea!!!

  37. Winter Heart

    I wish to know more on this development

  38. Khaner

    Huh. For a second, that looked like a healthy relationship.
    We all know what the Demon Willis will do, though. It will most likely involve hearts being smashed.

  39. Sapphire

    WILLIS – I am dead serious about this. Dead serious.

    If I sent you nudez as thanks for this being created/posted, would you be creeped out or appreciative?

  40. TheZachariah

    Wow

  41. Foxhack

    This comic would’ve been so damn awesome if only the site wasn’t showing me ads for Garth Brooks’ new album.

    … it’s not a joke. Garth Brooks won’t let me daaaaww at this comic. DAMN HIM.

  42. Aolbain

    Aww?

  43. Archivist

    That profile photo. ~Nostalgia~.

  44. Captain Hat

    You know what, these kids are gonna be alright

  45. nothri

    I’m glad Ruth addressed that. It was bugging me that her anger seemed to vanish about when they hooked up. Still very broken people that need to work out a lot of things, but its nice that they can find a moment of peace.

    Not that I wouldn’t mind seeing Billie apologize officially, mind you, but this is nice too.

  46. Farmer_10

    This changes nothing. It’s a nice moment, but we all know how this started.

  47. acher4

    Ohhhh, sweetest moment 🙂

  48. Cypherfox

    Thank you Willis.

    There’ll be tempests and tears and depression and beers, but it’s the barest of hope you’ve given this fox that this tenuous ship won’t be dashed on the rocks.

    1. Lawzlo

      That was beautiful, man.

  49. Sandbridge Kid

    For just one tiniest moment, for just a moment, let’s let them have this one encounter in bliss. That’s our lives: terror, dread, ennui, entropy, anxiety, and sometimes Hell on Earth, interspersed with fleeting moments of joy, mirth, and happyness. And the the Wheel of the Dharma turns right back on.

    Cue Carl Orf’s “Carmina Burana” followed by Barber’s “Adagio For Strings”

  50. thatindianguy

    I want this to work but I’m also certain they’re going to need professional help to avoid turning into train wrecks.

  51. JA

    the drama hurricanes have transformed into a fine spring breeze which brings the scent of flowers

  52. hmq

    Oh god, I want so bad for them to support each other and get better. It has the potential to be very destructive but also the potential to be their saving and I want to believe they can still save each other.

    1. Dorje Sylas

      Its a start, in that they can both admit their problems to each other. If they don’t, or try to back peddle from where they are, it’s going to end badly.

      The next step is much rougher. The seeking and sticking with getting help. This will require a very obstinate and intrusive 3rd party they both can respect. They could play that part for each other… except when they both snap, as almost happened. Which took Walky being pushy to get Billy going again and prompt Ruth.

    2. JA

      not really a fan of couples getting together to save each other. not a good idea even in real life 🙂 just my two cents

      1. Jen Aside

        Sometimes, though, it’s, “Who ELSE is gonna save them?”

        1. JA

          i’m not opposed to them being together. 🙂 they.. deserve (?) each other i guess

  53. MrMyerst

    “The trick is to find somone whose demons play nicely with your own”
    -A gem of Facebook wisdom.

    But still, it’s sadly true- and while neither billy nor Ruth are functional by any stretch of imagination, and any relationship they have will at first be just that written large, they could work incredibly well together.

    For now. *tries to ignore incoming truck*

    1. Gadgeteer Smashwidget

      Too soon.

      RIP Walkyverse Ruth

  54. Tenn

    My face is not able to convey my feelings for this.

  55. Charles Phipps

    I hope this story ends with one of them cheating with Malaya. Why? Because I am evil and spite incarnate.

    🙂

    1. Yotsuyasan

      Damn you, Phipps!

  56. Leonou

    Praise be to the (Porn)Lord !

    At least a perfectly happy strip ….. and so cute.

  57. blegh

    aww ruth being sweet is so sweet. this storyline is still upsetting though.

  58. fudo81

    Whose forgiveness does Ruth need? And for what? Hmmm.

    1. Bleeters

      She did kind of treat Billie like dirt when they first met.

  59. Yotsuyasan

    Thank you, Willis. This has to be my favorite strip you’ve done in ages. I ship these two fiercely, and while I’d hate to see “Instant Perpetual Happiness!!!” for these two (as that would be rather unrealistic and unsatisfying), giving us a genuine tender moment between them gives us readers who are into this pairing hope.

    I really hope we continue to see the two of them grow together, as individuals and as a couple. Sure, with the occasional bump on the road. But between those bumps having some measure of happiness together.

    (And please, please don’t have given us this happy moment because the next time we see them a sixteen ton weight falls from the sky, crushing one or both of them to a pulp. Don’t make me say, “Damn you, Willis!” ‘Cause I will say it! I will!)

    Incidentally, a bit belated, I suppose, but I hope you had a happy anniversary. May there be a plethora more to come!

    1. Kladeos

      Amen.

  60. TJ Baltimore

    This is the most poignantly tragic beauty I’ve ever seen. Bless you, Mr. Willis!

  61. OnyxIdol

    For the moment, there is a waff inside me. I wonder how long that’ll last.

  62. apostateCourier

    Y’know, this comic actually gives me hope for these two fictional characters. The ability to forgive isn’t a thing everyone has.

  63. Tapio Peltonen

    You’re all missing the really important detail about this strip.

    The really important detail is: WHERE CAN I BUY THAT LAMP?

    I need that lamp! Because of reasons!

    1. Yotsuyasan

      Perhaps something here may suit your needs?

  64. beege

    Okay now I feel like these two have a chance, which is nice. But Joyce is probably going to do something awful when she (inevitably) sees them together, which is awful.

    This feeling is known as being ‘Willised’.

  65. Darwin

    Even after the horribleness that got them to this point, Ruth demonstrates some amazing maturity. This is still going to end poorly. This short, sweet moment will likely make that horrible end that much worse.

  66. Andrea

    Where can one find these mysterious chapter names you speak of?

    1. Blackbird

      Click on the archives tab just under the comic. The archives are separated by chapter. The first two of book 5 are already named. (I assume they get official names when Willis uploads the first strip in each new chapter.)

  67. blackhat64

    I feel like these two kind of have an Amber/Mike (from Shortpacked!) thing going, except not quite as violent.

  68. Opus the Poet

    While we have a relatively positive comic let me see who else I can be as my avatar.

    1. Opus the Poet

      Joyce. Hmm, interesting, but I wonder how I’ll use that.

      1. Wait, so I can put anything here?

        ?????

        1. Opus the Poet

          Yes, you can, Jen Aside. You can also use different e-mail addys to get different avatars as long as they are valid addys. Gmail lets me use myname@gmail.com for a base addy and then use myname.1, myname.2, myname.3 etc to send some mail directly to spam if a bot manages to bet hold of the e-mail addys of various sites.

        2. JWLM

          In fact, the email I use here is distinct from all other emails (‘Why is this site unlike all other sites?”) just so that I could block spam if someone broke in here.

      2. gwalla

        Um, that’s Dorothy, dude.

  69. Mr. Random

    test.
    >><<

  70. etybolik

    How magnanimous of you, Ruth, for forgiving the person you abused

  71. Kugai

    This has the potential to be a beautiful relationship

  72. Edgewit

    The one thing they have in common? What about Breakfast at Tiffany’s?

  73. Switch

    I’m still fairly certain she is contemplating suicide.

  74. Tufto

    And everything goes to hell in 3…2…1…

  75. Thomas

    Aww… This TRULY was the strip we’ve all been waiting for. ^_^

    And OF COURSE Ruth keeps a diary. I can’t explain it, but it seems very much in character.

  76. Clif

    I hope Ruth remembers to say all this when Billie is awake.

  77. OmegaDez

    <3

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