413

Discreet
Posted on January 8, 2015 by David M Willis

413 thoughts on “Discreet”

  1. Idon'tcarenomore

    Hang in Joyce it may get easier, or not.

    1. Solenoid

      Most likely not. Becky enjoys giving Joyce that expression and will find every opportunity to put it on her.

      1. Kris

        Eh, Joyce will bounce back.

    2. Reltzik

      “It gets better” — not applicable to fundie religious conservatives having conniptions about LGBT visibility, tolerance, and rights.

      1. Kennerly

        It gets better…after the rapture.

        1. Plasma Mongoose

          But before then, you have to deal with the raptors.

      2. Kuraimizu

        interesting fact
        while the bible denounces male homosexuality as a sin,
        female homosexuality is never once mentioned.

        by proxy of this loophole,
        in a polygamous marriage the wives of the same man, could practice homo and bisexual intercourse, theoretically without it being a sin, as it is still inside the same marriage.

        1. Captain Napalm

          Romans 1:26 (pretty sure Willis has posted this like four times now).

        2. Kuraimizu

          seems I was misinformed,
          don’t know how I missed that one either.
          thank you for the correction.

        3. druth

          I love how the bible, and for that matter other religions such as the myth of Epimetheus, openly cites god as the source of evil and sin.

  2. Jupiterror

    becky still the best

    1. Cheryl

      Its Like a harry potter movie title;
      Becky MacIntyre and the giblets of lezbians

      1. Ubuntu4Ever

        MacIntyre or MacIntire? Do I detect a hint of S*P here?

    2. Freemage

      Eh, she’s being a bit of a jerk here, IMNSHO. Not the first bit–the “I want to be me, dammit” part is just fine. But pushing the, “I still want to do you, Joyce” angle is uncool. She’s not at Faz levels of horrible boundary-violation, yet, but she should probably get a bit of a course correction in the near future.

      1. sidpark

        ‘S what I thought. But maybe she’s trying to deal with the awkwardness by pretending like she’s so totally chill about it and that it’s hilarious.

        And just makes her best friend super uncomfortable as a side effect…ok, as the only effect. This isn’t working the way you think it’s working, Becky.

  3. AHR

    Super liberal? Oh, Becky, hun, bare minimum tolerance is not super liberal. Hun. Oh dear.

    1. Atomix26

      It’s “american liberal”

      1. Solenoid

        “Liberal Lite”, if you will. All of the invective thrown at you, but none of the stuff that actually originally precipitated it.

        1. Plasma Mongoose

          Now with 35% less traditionalism.

      2. parahaps

        “Anywhere except for western Europe liberal”

        1. caesaria82

          Hmmm. I live in Western Europe and we’re really not a liberal ~promised land~ or whatever. I mean, Western Europe is a safe haven for many who come here because they’ve been persecuted in their countries and then they have a great freedom here and that is fantastic, But there is still a lot of work to do. Like, where I live for example we don’t have same-sex marriage (we’ve had civil unions for a long time, but not marriage) and a conservative goverment, so… idk. The desirable height of ‘super liberal’ has definitely not been reached yet, we can always do more. Not that I don’t feel super lucky to live here. But Utopia this ain’t, either 😉

        2. Doom Shepherd

          And then people shoot up a newspaper office.

        3. Kelly

          Every place has it’s problems. I would really prefer to deal with your problems instead of ours (US) though. I need to make real plans to move…

        4. ditrysia

          In Argentina, “liberal” is associated with right-wing, conservative movements. Because it’s economic liberalism (not social) as opposed to interventionism.

        5. Freemage

          In America and Europe, the term for this sort of person is “libertarian”. libertarians usually pay lip-service to a handful of liberal ideas like pot legalization and gay marriage rights (though they also tend to want there to be no government involvement in marriage, making it a purely private contract between consenting adults with no affect in how they are treated by the law).

        6. Deanatay

          American political parties are a bit tweaked, compared to the rest of the world. We don’t really have a ‘conservative’ party – aka, land-based economics and a class-based society (although the Federalists and Whigs might have counted, back in the mists of history). Republicans are what the rest of the world would call ‘liberal’ – personal freedoms, laissez-faire capitalism, and minimalist government. The Democrats (used to) fall in what most nations would call ‘radical’ – social equality, wealth redistribution, and large nanny-state government.

        7. Plasma Mongoose

          In Australia, been Liberal means that you’re conservative/right-winged.

      3. BassBone

        Nah, come to California. Cities only, though. But not San Diego. Or anywhere in Orange County.

        1. gwalla

          San Diego is this weird mishmash of very conservative military & ex-military, and liberal surfer types.

    2. Yotomoe

      It’s comparitively. You know, how being rained on is pretty dry compared to be thrown in the ocean.

      1. Incomitatus

        I’ve lived in Scotland. I reject your example. I think I’ve been less wet jumping in Lake Michigan than walking home one night in Fife when the skies opened up on me…

        1. Coru

          Try living in Florida in the summer. I’ve lost so many cell phones to the rain gods 🙁

    3. Ed

      So I was actually wondering about that and did some Googling. At least in 2010, the Advocate ranked Bloomington as the 4th gayest city in the US.

      1. Plasma Mongoose

        Must be the name…

        1. Ed

          Funny, the name Bloomington kinda makes me think of Georgia O’Keeffe.

      2. Paul

        They ranked Atlanta number one and Iowa City number three, so I wouldn’t put too much stock in whatever metric they were using. Provincetown, MA didn’t even make their list! Albuquerque, NM was in the the top 15 but Boulder, CO wasn’t?!

        There seems to have been a lot of churn between their 2010 list and their 2012 list, too.

        1. Julez

          Any list of gayest towns and cities who leaves off P-town and Northampton MA is failing at their goal.

        2. CHugs

          If our rainbow-colored crosswalk doesn’t qualify Northampton for the list, then I don’t know what does.

        3. Kryss LaBryn

          Wait–no mention of San Fransisco?? Well now that’s just crazy talk.

        4. tyersome

          Maybe because its so common and generally accepted (though NOT universally)? It does take a pretty dedicated effort to stand out for any reason in the SF Bay Area, so someone would have to be pretty spectacularly flamboyant to get much notice … I mean once you’ve gone to Burning Man and seen some of the naked people high on multiple things you’ve never heard of being forcibly restrained to prevent them from accidentally adding some human torches to the Burn …

        5. Jody

          Atlanta is the Black Gay Mecca, so that may explain why it would be so high up on the list. Black Gays are pretty known for bringing the culture and being kind of “accessories”

    4. Magus65

      As Ethan would probably tell you if he could… “Everything’s relative”-Green Lantern after younger batman and old batman interrogate a criminal using good cop bad cop routine.

      1. otusasio451

        Ah, the Once and Future Thing. One of m favorite JLU episodes.

        1. JonRich

          I loved that show, and I loved that scene!

    5. Fred

      Yeah … I was thinking that’s probably the first time I’ve ever heard Indiana described as “super liberal.”

    6. Whittier

      As a former Bloomingtonian, I concur. “Uber-liberal” if you stay on campus, and only certain sectors, at that. Bloomington is liberal relative to the rest of Indiana, but I can’t overstate that word “relative.”

    7. John

      As a Vermonter, I found that kind of hilarious.

      1. Deanatay

        Go Green Mountain Boys! (And Girls!)

    8. hof1991

      The future is very unevenly distributed, even within families.

  4. otusasio451

    Coming oooooooooooooout,
    Coming oooooooooooooout,
    Can’t hold it back anymooooooooooore!

    1. otusasio451

      Coming oooooooooooooout,
      Coming oooooooooooooout,
      Explode out that clooooooooseeeeet dooooooooor!

      I don’t caaaaaaaaaaaaare
      About any bloooooooowbaaaaaaaaaack!
      Joyce’s best friend is baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!!
      And now she’s free to look at other girls’ racks.

    2. Anthusiasm

      Coming ooooooooooout,
      Coming ooooooooooout,
      Gonna slam that closet door!

      I don’t care what my church would say!
      Let the Joyce rage ooooooooooon!
      Bigots never bothered me anyway

      1. vmgx

        Disney! you need to make this movie!

        1. Cynthia

          But… but ‘Let It Gay’ practically *was* the movie. I mean, can Disney ship those two to me any harder? Not that I mind of course. Hot lesbians are good stories. :3

        2. Suitora

          They’re SISTERS.

        3. SilentRain

          this is a problem?

        4. StClair

          Not to fandom!

        5. The_Bionic_Doctor

          aw yissss

    3. nothri

      I am coming out so you better get this party started.

  5. Jen Aside

    “Wanted: cook who’s not too picky about me sticking my fingers in her food”

    1. Yotomoe

      “Wanted: Cook who’s not too picky about me sticking my fingers in her.”

    2. arank11

      “Wanted: Actress who can play the following roles: nurse, Catholic schoolgirl, French maid, and Joyce Brown”

      1. Jen Aside

        “also: giblets, so that I might touch them”

        1. Plasma Mongoose

          Sounds offal…

        2. Barf Ninjason

          honka honka

        3. tyersome

          (Well Becky lasted … about the average amount of time …)

          I’m not sure I can stomach what’s coming next …

        4. Dean

          Making that pun took real guts. I don’t know how you can liver with yourself.

        5. Plasma Mongoose

          Simple, I have the stomach needed to go for those puns.

        6. nothri

          I can see you really put your heart into it.

        7. Deanatay

          Aw, c’mon, she was only kidneying. Don’t vent your spleen on her.

        8. tyersome

          I’m sure PM has great intestinal fortitude … hopefully you don’t find that too galling.

        9. Kaoy

          Just don’t alert the pun police. They would give him a lung full.

        10. Plasma Mongoose

          These offal puns really are the sweetbreads of comments I have been looking for.
          ٩(^ᴗ^)۶ ٩(●ᴗ●)۶ (p^-^)p

        11. tyersome

          Yes, we really have quite a spleendid case of puncreatitis going on here.

        12. Twilightomens

          But seriously, what is a “giblet?”

        13. Plasma Mongoose

          giblets /ˈdʒɪblɪts/

          the liver, heart, gizzard, and neck of a chicken or other fowl, usually removed before the bird is cooked, and often used to make gravy, stuffing, or soup.

        14. sheikh mabuti

          OK Plasma,
          1. Where did you get that IPA font? I’ve wanted to use such on several occasions, but most places don’t speak Unicode.

          2. Per Urban Dictionary, “giblets” also means:
          a. Genitalia, either male or female, … or
          b. extra meaty bits associated with a womans [sic] labia.

          In context, and with a bit of erotic imagination, I had assumed b.

        15. Halloween Jack

          In the Urban Dictionary, everything refers to sex or genitalia in some way.

        16. Bagge

          A true reflection of how language is used! (…if you know what I mean, nudge nudge, wink wink)

        17. Thomas64

          You don’t need a special font for IPA symbols. Just copy and paste from wherever; dumbingofage.com does speak Unicode.

        18. Plasma Mongoose

          @sheikh mabuti (| ʃeɪk |)
          | ˌəʊˈkeɪ ˈplæzmə |
          wʌn | weə dɪd ju ˈɡet ðət aɪpiˈeɪ fɒnt | aɪv ˈwɒntɪd tə ˈjuːz sʌtʃ ɒn ˈsevrəl əˈkeɪʒn̩z | bət məʊst ˈpleɪsɪz dəʊnt spiːk ˈjuːnəkod |
          tuː | pɜːr ˈɜːbən ˈdɪkʃənri | ˈɔːlsəʊ miːnz |
          eɪ | ˌdʒenɪˈteɪliə | ˈaɪðə meɪl ɔː ˈfiːmeɪl | ɔː |
          biː | ˈekstrə ˈmiːti bɪts əˈsəʊʃieɪtɪd wɪð ə ˈwʊmənz ˈleɪbiə |
          ɪn ˈkɒntekst | ənd wɪð ə bɪt əv ɪˈrɒtɪk ɪˌmædʒɪˈneɪʃn̩ | ˈaɪ həd əˈsjuːmd biː |
          |
          ______________________
          IPA translation is thanks to PhoTransEdit‘s English to IPA text.

        19. Thomas64

          That’s awesome!
          *nerdgasm*

      2. Yotomoe

        Or any combination of the roles and Joyce Brown.

    3. otusasio451

      Wanted: some wimmins.

  6. Nono

    “Just don’t let anyone change you, okay?”

    1. TrueVCU

      SICK BURN

    2. Yotomoe

      “You’re a big girl now. You can change yourself.”

      1. Jen Aside

        “unless you’re into that”

      2. Plasma Mongoose

        Depends…

        1. Yotomoe

          I see what you did there.

        2. tyersome

          Clearly PM just wants to be Pampered …

        3. Ed

          Nah, he just needs some Huggies.

        4. tyersome

          … I’m letting this go until the diaper creme comes out …

        5. Plasma Mongoose

          (∩_∩)

        6. nothri

          O_O

          No wait, I should be smiling for this…

          OuO

          No…never mind. That looks retarded.

        7. Plasma Mongoose

          ٩(●ᴗ●)۶

          ❀.(*´◡`*)❀.

          ♥(ˆ⌣ˆԅ)

        8. nothri

          …..you win.

        9. nothri

          But be careful. Like my mother always said, if you make too many emoticons your computer will freeze that way.

        10. Ailorn

          The second one looks like it pulled its eyeballs out…

  7. TSB

    I think Becky is going to feel like such an asshole when she finds out what happened with Ryan.

    1. Anthusiasm

      Yeah in light of that the “major turn on” comment was slightly insensitive.

    2. Jen Aside

      I don’t think one has to do with the other

      unless you mean the stolen kiss, which was relatively harmless but I guess kinda assholey

      shit

    3. Tom T.

      Well, perhaps a bit abashed in general at not having asked Joyce anything about what’s happened in *her* life recently.

      1. Bagge

        They had that full day of montage. I think Joyce may have avoided a few topics though.

      2. Kris

        Telling your best friend you got sexually assaulted is kind of heavy on a first visit…but then you consider where the day went anyway. Still pretty heavy.

    4. showler

      The worst part will be when she realizes that Joyce needed her to be a rock as much as she needed Joyce to be a rock.

      Becky got what she needed, and in doing so she kind of ruined what Joyce needed.

  8. Doctor_Who

    Mary fits most of those qualifications, actually.

    1. LiaHansen

      Do we have to go over the Mary’s tush debate again?

      1. Doctor_Who

        I didn’t say ALL of them.

      2. arank11

        There was a Mary’s tush debate?

        1. Barf Ninjason

          Yes, tell us of this angry girl’s tush and any debates thereupon.

        2. Barf Ninjason

          Also, am I alone in thinking that “tush” is perhaps the least lesbian-sounding of all the many and varied moronic euphemisms for ass-butts?

        3. Kelly

          Assbutts? I don’t like Mary, but I don’t want an angel to Molotov cocktail her! That’s too mean!

        4. Paul

          Context, please?

          “Assbutt” sounds like an epithet that Faye in Questionable Content would use, but I don’t recall her ever resorting to Molotov cocktails.

        5. Ryan

          Which is actually pretty impressive, considering that Faye carries the ingredients for a Molotov cocktail on her person most of the time.

        6. Bagge

          She DID burn down her apartment building that one time…

        7. gwalla

          I’m pretty sure she’s actually used it.

        8. JWLM

          Although she did find a creative use for a toaster as an incendiary device…

        9. Kelly

          It is a Supernatural reference 😛

          Castiel called the archangel Michael an assbutt and then hit him with a Molotov cocktail made with Holy Oil (which basically “un-summons” angels). Cas isn’t very good at insults…

        10. Plasma Mongoose

          The Molotov Cocktail: The ultimate message in a bottle.

        11. chantecler

          where’s the like button when you need it!

        12. Screwball

          “Please, just tell me how you feel…”
          *Molotov cocktail shatters on head & ignites*

          Lovely…

          Like button requested…

        13. tyersome

          I don’t understand how do you get a frisbee into a bottle?

        14. Plasma Mongoose

          tyersome: Use a very small Frisbee and a very large bottle?

        15. tyersome

          PM: I’m so confused … doesn’t that making reading the message on the Frisbee difficult? And why are we putting the message on one anyway??

    2. Solenoid

      Trying anything with Mary is the surest route to disaster. I’ll get the popcorn.

      1. Kris

        Hey, maybe Becky’s the one that can change her. Can a little Becky love remove the stick from Mary’s ass? Stay tuned for the plot that will probably never happen. Bery?….yeah no one’s shipping that.

        1. Solenoid

          If you’re going to make a ship name, have some creativity. You put the names in the wrong order. It’s Macky. So they can get their mack on. Duh. =P (Still, surest route to disaster.)

        2. Kris

          As soon as I posted I was like “Macky! DUH! (facepalm)”

        3. Screwball

          If that’s how it goes, I’d imagine Becky probably would get the stick out of Mary’s ass, but would also probably stick something else in there…

          Man, you Humans do have a LOT of toys for that kinda personal time…

  9. Yotomoe

    “I wanted to change quicker! I gotta shave my head or something!”

    1. newllend

      Careful man that’s how midlife crisis happen.

    2. Screwball

      Naa, just gotta learn how to take off your shirt with both hands all sexy like they do on television. Just don’t get stuck… 😛

      That said, I’ve seen the Human I hang with take his off with 1 hand, he just grabs the back of his collar. Learned the hard way you gotta undo a few buttons first to do it with a checkered shirt tho…

      1. Screwball

        NOW I find the “take off your shirt with both hands all sexy like they do on television” address :P. What makes it worse is I looked for a while, then after posting I accidentally stumbled onto it… 😛

  10. Wonder Wig

    Does it say “Rack Center” over Joyce’s head? If it does, how appropriate.

    1. Yotomoe

      It SHOULD be over Billie’s head. Stupid sign. Doesn’t even know.

      1. astronomifier

        Hey, Joyce ain’t doing to shabby in that regard… it’s just that nobody wants to sexualize the super religious girl who thinks sex and tummy rubs are equivalent.

        1. Yotomoe

          I will totally do it, just to spite everyone. I don’t like Joyce, but I’ll do it.

        2. Kelly

          Only her subconscious thinks that.

          Anyway, while I am reluctant to talk about it much at the current time (both because of how she would feel about it in general and because of the incident at the party) , yeah, Joyce does have a large bust, and she is in fact really hot. Most DoA ladies are hot but Joyce ranks high even among them.

        3. Yotomoe

          Her bod is nice but her personality sends her down PRETTY low on the list :T.

        4. Kelly

          In that category I’d nominate Mary. She is hot, but her personality kills it.

        5. Yotomoe

          She’s ok I guess. Not very hot IMO.

        6. Paul

          Most DoA ladies are hot
          College girls are pretty much the standard by which hotness is measured. Adolescence is finally over and aging has yet to set in. Enjoy it while it lasts.

        7. Kelly

          Well, also drawings generally have an advantage over real life 😛

        8. Paul

          nobody wants to sexualize the super religious girl
          Sez you.

        9. Tenn

          That needs to be a line in DoA: The Musical.

        10. Screwball

          … it’s just that nobody wants to sexualize the super religious girl who thinks sex and tummy rubs are equivalent..

          I may not have hung around you Humans & you’re “Internet” long, but even I know there’s PLENTY of people out there with Religious School Girl fetishes…

        11. Thomas64

          But that’s only because of the Catholic Schoolgirl Uniform™. Not because of their actual beliefs.

        12. Screwball

          I don’t know, I hear there’s also the whole “innocent & doesn’t know what not to do” angle too. All the “fun” of teaching them about more adult things. Not my kinda fun, but to each their own, as you Humans say…

        13. John

          I’m pretty sure Becky’s proving you wrong right in this very strip.

        14. Betty Anne

          Joyce is super cute. I just don’t go getting my bi all on about her because she’s not comfortable with sexytiems, and I respect that even in fictional characters.

          Also: Yes, tits. I still admire tits. :3

      2. newllend

        That’s because it wouldn’t fit,it wasnt big enough to go over them

  11. 0kami

    Wanted: Happy ending for all characters.

    (Make of that what you will)

    1. Portmanteaust

      Even Blaine?

      1. grantimusmaximus

        Nah… but Galasso could use some happiness in his life.

        1. Kelly

          True. At least here his wife is alive, I am glad of that.

        2. Matthew Davis

          Actually, does this mean that in the Walkyverse Pamela’s cancer was somehow Alien-related?

        3. David M Willis

          No more than it means that most of DoA’s cast being 20 years younger is somehow Alien related, with sibling birth orders and birthplaces and entire backstories altered also being Alien related.

          I mean, the Head Alien is a resourceful guy, but I don’t think it’s in his power to make Danny be the firstborn rather than his brother Randy. Or why he’d bother.

          The Dumbiverse is not a splinter universe from the Walkyverse.

        4. showler

          And, even aside from all that, I don’t think cancer is a genetic inevitability.

        5. Kelly

          A few come close I believe with certain mutations. But the vast majority of the time, no. Inherited genetics increases the chances, but that is it. Also maybe she did get cancer (or will) in this universe, but they will catch it early and be able to stop it. All kinds of options.

    2. Solenoid

      “Happy Ending for all Characters”, the poly Slipshine.

    3. Atomix26

      I think that would be a slipshine.

    4. Screwball

      With all the DoA Slipshines going up, plus Joe’s…exploits…, I’d say a few people are getting “Happy Endings”, some with more frequency… 😛

  12. TrueVCU

    Joyce then goes to Dorothy for advice.

    And by advice I mean *REQUISITE LESBIAN EXPERIMENTATION*

    1. Bagge

      “Dorothy… What is a giblet?”

  13. astronomifier

    Becky has some very strange turn-ons tbh…

    1. grantimusmaximus

      More like incredibly specific.

  14. Emoroffle

    Damn you Willis! Our emergency hug supplies are running low as it is.

    1. grantimusmaximus

      Many bothans died getting us those hug supplies. Let’s not waste them.

  15. John

    Giblets, Becky? Giblets??

    1. LiaHansen

      the giblet is the most savory part of the lesbian

      1. Plasma Mongoose

        Hannibal approves this message. 😀

    2. LeslieBean4Shizzle

      Yeah, I was a little bit “wat” about that too. Of all the perfectly pleasant terms for breasts, why giblets of all things?

      1. grantimusmaximus

        To be fair, she’s pretty new to it. Her frame of reference isn’t too far beyond Joyce’s, lest we forget the warnings of lustwolves.

      2. John

        I’m not even sure that’s what she was referring to.

        1. Lawzlo

          I assumed she meant “vagina” too, but then I did a google image search on giblets (never had that kind of family), and then I thought about chicken giblet vaginas (yes, I know they have cloacas, shut up), and now I’m feeling kinda ill…

          Also not helping; my current moderate degree of intoxication.

        2. LeslieBean4Shizzle

          … okay, ew! That’s even worse! Blarg.

        3. tyersome

          Please tell us you didn’t just spill your guts …

  16. newllend

    The world waits for no one Joyce !

  17. Lordess of Madness

    Billie’s not telling Walky to piss off anymore or acting all depressed like the world hates her! Poor Joyce. And walky’s not wearing his hoodie!

    1. Plasma Mongoose

      Well she’s getting laid after all, so that helps.

      1. newllend

        This just in, Billie and Ruth win an award for being the #1 hottest Cannon couple In DoA to be fantasized about while thinking about a 3-way

        1. Kelly

          Cannon? FIRE! *BOOM!*

      2. Lordess of Madness

        It always does…

  18. Hollister Dixon

    I feel bad here, because I KNOW Joyce will bounce back, but I can’t help but feel a twinge of anger at her desire to silence her friend.

    I understand her in the last panel, but I can’t agree with the mindset.

    1. caesaria82

      I know the feeling. I know it must be a struggle for Joyce to change her mindset, with her upbringing and all, but maaaaan, she’s said some really awful things and every time my dislike for her grows over this stuff, I have to remind myself that this is a process for her. Agonizingly slow process for my taste, but you can’t help that and gotta give her time.

    2. b

      While I completely agree that Becky shouldn’t be silenced, I think it’s the hitting on and propositioning that’s making her so uncomfortable- especially with her current mindset. Regardless of sexuality and rights, the new and constant unwanted advancements would still mess with her, even more so when you remember she was looking forward to a simple, easy friendship in the midst of her religion and morality crisis. Too soon to tell whether or not the loss of her “crutch” will be a good or bad thing, however

      1. Nono

        Yeah, Joyce is uncomfortable even with the idea of men sexualizing her. It’s going to take a while to get comfortable with women – let alone Becky – doing it as well.

        1. Portmanteaust

          Yeah, especially given the compressed timescale of the comic, I’m sure Joyce is feeling pretty overwhelmed with everything.

    3. lipstick_suckerpunch

      It is sad that Joyce is trying to silence her new found freedom to express who she really is. But Becky is also being rude as well and kinda creepy. Clearly Joyce isn’t interested in Becky in that way but Becky keeps making sexual comments at Joyce’s expense when she knows she is uncomfortable.

      1. PlainMarie

        ^^ This is what’s bothering me.

      2. SolegitRR

        Seriously. I get that Becky feels like she can finally be herself, but honestly for the last couple pages I’ve felt really uncomfortable about her actions and her apparent lack of concern for Joyce’s personal space. This isn’t exactly the same situation as having a weird creeper dude harassing you, but it’s definitely not okay. either.

      3. gwalla

        Yeah, she said she’d “back off” but…

  19. Plasma Mongoose

    “Let me touch her giblets”

    I know that girls are sometimes called chicks but the last time I checked human womenfolk didn’t have giblets.

    1. Yotomoe

      You’re just not looking hard enough.

      1. Plasma Mongoose

        I would but I don’t have access to an endoscope.

    2. Screwball

      alright, I guess someone’s gotta ask, who’s the Avatar today Plasma Mongoose?

      1. Plasma Mongoose

        If you are referring to the girl with long purple hair and white dress, that would be Sumire Hikami from Data Carddass Aikatsu!
        I haven’t watched this anime, I just found the original pic of her on one of the ‘boorus and edited in the “radioactive absinthe green” background.

        1. Solenoid

          You do the green background on purpose? D=

        2. Screwball

          Yes, that would be the girl I meant, thankyou Plasma Mongoose. Ever consider adding a little bit at the end of at least 1 message, a short sig with who it is & where from?

          Probably for the same reason I got a green border on mine Solenoid, much easier to spot when scrolling at speed. Helps find replies real quick, rather than re-read everything…

  20. Yotomoe

    Becky touches herself to concerned Joyce faces she’s got in her phone. It’s super creepy and flattering and creepy.

    1. Plasma Mongoose

      If you listen to this song at the same time, it becomes 20 times creepier.

      1. a4lbi

        Saving this link because of reasons.

      2. Eliot

        Given that he’s just been sent down for historical child sex offences, try about 10000000 times creepier.

    2. Brulnog

      *Ring Ring*
      Who is it?
      MASTURBATION.

    3. John

      Becky doesn’t have a phone. She uses Joyce’s phone. Which just makes it creepier.

      1. Yotomoe

        One day Joyce will notice the secret folder on her phone.

  21. Brulnog

    This… cannot end well.

  22. Viktoria

    I’m actually really worried about Becky. This is a normal response to being out from under her dad’s oppressive thumb, but it’s an over correction, and I worry that it’ll screw her up more in the long run.

    1. Hollister Dixon

      I don’t know about anybody else, but when I came out, I spent an unfortunate amount of time being all “HEY EVERYBODY, GUESS WHAT?!?! QUEER PERSON, RIGHT HERE!!! CHECK ME OUT!!!” I was maybe 15 at the time, which isn’t too far from her age (~18?).

      I feel like Becky is doing a very similar thing, only heightened because she had to bury it for so long. When you don’t have to hide yourself anymore, you start looking for ways to REALLY not hide it. Or, at least, I did.

      1. Gigafreak

        My aunt came out as lesbian to me like three weeks ago. (For reference: She’s at least in her 40s.)

        The rest of my family already knew. She basically tried to catch each family member alone individually, for potential damage control purposes. (I was just among the last to know because I’m antisocial and difficult to get ahold of, let alone to catch while isolated.)

        So I guess some folks break through the closet door like the Kool-Aid Man screaming OH YEAH at the tops of their lungs as you and Becky did, whereas others prefer to sneak out like a silent but deadly fart ninja as my aunt did.

    2. jadedcynic

      What? B-but “can finally shout it to the mountains without blowback”??? Why would there be harsh consequences to being open and honest about oneself…in a Willis comic?

      1. oldFart

        It’s Indiana–that’s a pretty conservative state, isn’t it? Some vehemently anti-gay politicians got elected there just last November, IIRC. I know, it’s a university, and a university town, but it can’t be that isolated from the surrounding culture, can it?

        1. tyersome

          I was making the same assumption, but after reading a comment above, I now remember visiting friends in Athens Georgia (sometime in the 90s) and being pleasantly surprised by how unterrible it was … but they did say that if you went 15 minutes in an direction you were also going back 50 years (or something to that effect) …

          So, bubbles of tolerance and sanity do happen in unlikely places …

        2. drs

          I don’t know what all the townies are like, but Monroe County votes heavily Democratic, and when I started grad school there, there were lots of signs with rainbows and saying “say no to hate”. So (a) lots of people are gay-friendly and (b) there had probably been a hate crime at some point that stimulated the signs.

          Campus had GBLT and Secular Society student groups, I knew a bunch of queer students in the gaming group, when I left there was a cafe run by a pretty obvious transwoman. So yeah, fairly liberal even objectively, and vastly so by the standards of where Joyce or Beck are from, and probably by where Becky’s just been.

          I’ll point out that the Kinsey Institute (sex research) is based at IU. Also a theatre department good/big enough to attract students from beyond the Midwest. (If an undergrad wasn’t from Indiana or an adjacent state, they were probably music, folklore, or theatre IME.)

          Other facts: the restaurant selection is fairly diverse: Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Ethiopian, Afghan, Tibetan (set up by the nephew of the Dalai Lama.) And the public library is pretty awesome given the size of the town.

    3. Joe

      Last-strip Becky was fine. This-strip Becky is a little worrying.
      I agree that she shouldn’t have to be “discreet” if she doesn’t want to, but actively enjoying making Joyce uncomfortable is a little much.

      Woo 3-dimensional characters?

  23. caesaria82

    Becky is just so… cathartic. Everything about her radiates relief and the ability to finally breathe easy and it’s really a damn good feeling to read and see this unfold. Becky’s mere presence just makes me so happy.

    1. Plasma Mongoose

      I just hope that Becky’s breath of fresh air doesn’t end up turning into an ill wind.

      1. caesaria82

        You and me both.

        1. grantimusmaximus

          *insert fart joke to ruin the mood*

        2. caesaria82

          I always think of farts when I read the word ‘wind’ too, no worries lol.

        3. tyersome

          You gassers are so full of hot air …

  24. Bagge

    You know a joke is only funny if everyone is laughing, right Becky?

    That said – good for you. Welcome to a place where you can be yourself. I’m sure you’ll have your fair share of giblets. (but never mind an online ad – I think you should go with an old fashioned news paper. hem hem)

    1. Yotomoe

      That’s not true. A joke is funny so long as 1-3 people find it funny. Everyone else can just shove off!

      1. Betty Anne

        I love you, Yotomoe. :3

  25. JessWitt

    Change is hard, Joyce. But don’t sweat it.

    1. Yotomoe

      Cash is much softer.

      1. David D. Davidson

        Know what else is softer?

        My heart knowing someone made this joke.

      2. Plasma Mongoose

        Bitcoins are virtually as light as air.

        1. Yotomoe

          nonexistant things usually are.

      3. Opus the Poet

        Just the folding kind, coinage is still kinda stiff.

        1. tyersome

          I’d put in my two cents worth here, but I can’t come up with anything that fits the bill.

        2. Kryss LaBryn

          Well, it’s to your credit that you tried.

  26. timemonkey

    Welcome to growing up, Joyce. Where nothing is as it was and you find out it was never how you thought it was to begin with.

    Also, Becky, it’s great you feel all free and shit but learn to respect some boundries, Joyce didn’t need to hear half of that shit.

  27. Very Good Karma

    Becky is being kinda mean to Joyce. I get that she’s under insane levels of stress and is possibly in the middle of a breakdown even as we speak, but still, I feel it needs to be mentioned. Becky is now admittedly consciously antagonizing someone who’s been willing to put aside deeply held beliefs in order to accommodate the new reality Becky has presented her with, and has is taking significant risks bending school rules in order to provide her with food and shelter until this emergency passes. While I can appreciate how liberating this all feels for Becky, she ought to be a little more sensitive to what she’s putting Joyce through.

    1. Yotomoe

      You’re right. Becky should let Joyce control her life. After all she’s used to people not letting her be herself because it makes THEM feel weird. A BLOO BLOO BLOO.

      1. timemonkey

        She could show some respect at least.

      2. Plasma Mongoose

        Becky does need to keep a low profile since she’s both a runaway and not allowed to live on campus as she’s not a student and all.

      3. Greenygal

        There is a middle ground between “letting Joyce control her life” and “openly announcing that she’s pushing Joyce’s buttons because it’s a sexual turn-on.” I feel it is not a terrible imposition on Becky to ask her to refrain from the latter.

        1. Yotomoe

          That may be so, but I’m pretty sure that’s not really what Joyce is really upset about.

    2. Aslee

      “You should shut up about being gay because it makes homophobic people uncomfortable!”

      … Really. Reaaaaaally. I get that Joyce is a sympathetic protagonist, but saying that Becky is being mean because she’s acknowledging the fact that’s she’s gay is the most ridiculous thing ever.

      1. Bagge

        Um, no that’s not the problem. The problem is that Becky goes out of her way to push Joyce’s buttons just to get a reaction out of her.

        1. Yotomoe

          It’s only pushing Joyce’s buttons because she has issues with gay people. If I hung out with a guy and kept usin’ Black guy slang and it made him uncomfortable I’d just say, “Deal with it, BRO”

        2. caesaria82

          You’re so on point in your comments sometimes, I just felt like telling you that. This a great example. Just. Keep up the good work.

          /stops being weird now and leaves :p

        3. Adam Black

          No , Stay;
          I was weird with Yotomoe-praise first.
          I made it safe.

          The ice was broken.
          I alerted him months ago to the fan-club.
          He is on a roll today .

        4. Yotomoe

          *Blush*
          I have fans that agree with the words I say.

        5. Marie

          The pushing Joyce’s buttons by shouting about being a lesbian is fine. Telling someone that their discomfort is turning you on, however, is not okay, regardless of sexuality.

        6. Yotomoe

          That’s more of a case-by-case basis thing rather than a solid rule, because I wouldn’t give a single shit if a gay friend said that to me.

        7. Marie

          Really? I’d be super grossed out, even if I was attracted to the person.

        8. Yotomoe

          Well that’s because I’m good at taking a joke. All I do is joke around. I don’t like it when people take life to seriousely. Don’t they know they’ll never get out alive?

        9. tyersome

          I don’t know Yotomoe, are you dead certain about that?

        10. Yotomoe

          I’m gravely sincere about it.

        11. Adam Black

          Dammit, Now thats exactly what I want to say to you.
          ( I don’t really, I think. maybe. )
          I have an intuition you blush easily ,like Joyce.
          i’m just kidding — probably.

        12. Marie

          I have a lot of people I’m comfortable sexually joking (or not joking) around with, but if they knew I was uncomfortable with something (which Becky acknowledged) and told me that was getting them off, I’d probably punch them. I suppose it’s just a reading thing, since we can’t hear her tone- while Becky’s trying to goof around in panel 4, obviously, the wording of panel 3 felt more malicious than silly to me. Not horribly, rape-level malicious, but well beyond friendly jesting.

        13. Gigafreak

          It’s a boundaries thing. Each person has different boundaries, but they must be respected– the willful refusal to respect boundaries is the hallmark of a creeper.

          Becky is definitely pressing against Joyce’s boundaries with the “super major turn-on” comment. More importantly, though, the very next thing she says indicates that she’s backing off from them again– she’d rather get her turn-on from someone who’d respond to a wanted ad specifically requesting it.

        14. Kitty

          I will say, unfortunately this something I’ve experienced a lot from both sides. I got hit on by guys who kept flirting with me after I told them I was gay. And I got hit on a lot of girls who kept flirting after I said I wasn’t interested. It’s incredibly uncomfortable and shows a huge lack of respect for boundaries. And it often made me a little scared because I felt like, if they couldn’t respect my requests that they back off, what other requests would they ignore?
          It’s not about being able to take a joke, it’s about expecting your friends to respect your feelings. Joyce respected Becky’s coming out and handled Becky’s confessions very well. But Becky is (understandably) completely focused on herself. And while she totally deserves that, she’s also not being a great friend right now and she’s crossing into being creepy.

        15. Marie

          Thank you, this is what I’ve been trying to say.

        16. Adam Black

          You have to look Why her uncomfort turns becky on. It’s because Joyce is modest and overly innocent to a fault. What started as childhood teasing became love.
          becky adores that Joyce is bashful . and this is how.

          If Joyce could grow with Becky and not resent her, they are finr.

        17. Marie

          See, this reasoning resounds with me more, and makes sense, along with that Becky probably thinks Joyce’s hangups are only based in religion. Thinking about it that way makes Becky seem more sympathetic, but the first couple readings just read as Becky being really… off.

        18. Kitty

          I have people who like to push my buttons because they think it’s funny to see how I react. It’s not and it’s incredibly upsetting. While people probably think it’s innocent, it makes it feel like your feelings don’t matter and aren’t important. It’s unbelievably hurtful. So, yeah, can sympathize with Joyce here.

        19. ninja_jesus

          It’s that too, but she also has a history of pushing Joyce’s buttons and making her uncomfortable.

        20. Bagge

          Personally I believe that Becky is just trying to be funny. She knows she has Joyce’s support. She doesn’t feel the need to teach her a lesson. This is just another way of saying poop to get an awesome Joyce-face (but Joyce is not laughing).

        21. Spencer

          Pretty much. Becky likes riling Joyce up, so she probably doesn’t view it as any different as too what she’s usually does. Hopefully he realizes there’s a difference between burping a lot and expressing a desire to sloppily make out.

        22. Bagge

          The way I read it, Becky is going for this, which may result in this, but then land in this. Unfortunately Joyce is a bit too close to this for comfort.

          I think a better move for Becky would be to go with something like this instead.

          However, that said I absolutely think she should keep doing this as much as she like.

        23. Kryss LaBryn

          True, but it sounds like that’s been the status quo forever with them. It’s just that now she’s saying “I’m a lesbian!” instead of “Poop!”

    3. Bagge

      Yeah, and she’s doing it for the sake of a joke. I just hope she calms down soon and realizes that these things are affecting Joyce a bit deeper than ten words for “poop”.

    4. lipstick_suckerpunch

      Thank you! I absolutely agree. She also keeps making sexual references at Joyce’s expense. How inappropriate is that?

  28. Luzahn

    You know, it probably isn’t the most respectful thing, but I really just want Becky to keep hitting on Joyce forever.

    It’s really adorable.

  29. Em

    …Well that was a little creepy Becky but okay. And it seems a tad guilt trippy to me.

  30. jams

    Not super happy about Becky sexualizing Joyce this way.

    1. Marie

      Yeah, and it’s too bad, because otherwise I’ve been really agreeing with her on this owning yourself thing

    2. Ed

      It’s funny, I was thinking of how Joe hit on Sarah, and I’m pretty sure he stopped after Sarah made her non-interest clear just once (maybe twice?).

      I mean, I get it, Becky is super relieved that everything is not awful and she can be open about herself. She’s just being really exuberant. But it’d be nice if she considered her best friend’s apparently deeply-held discomfort with being sexualized by anyone, much less someone sister-like.

      1. Matthew Davis

        Joe (even in his Roomies incarnation) always struck me as someone who is really hypersexualized but it’s about the sex, not about the conquest. If a girl isn’t interested then he’s fine with that because she’s not a prize. The good time is, but not the partner he’s having said good time with.

    3. Kas

      Seriously, same. I love Becky and I think she has every right to scream her sexuality from the highest mountain if she wants. But she knows she’s making Joyce uncomfortable and well, she’s sexually harassing her. I hope someone says something about that and stops her.

    4. Lee

      100% agree, i’m gay and i know there’s a different power dynamic at play here, but being openly, non-consensually sexualized by anyone can feel icky and dehumanizing.

  31. LiaHansen

    aw joyce

  32. Brulnog

    Oh, and CH-CH-CH-CHANGES!

    1. ninja_jesus

      TURN AND FACE THE GAY

      1. grantimusmaximus

        JUST WANNA TELL THEM I’M A LES-BI-AN!

        1. tyersome

          Just gonna have to do a different woman

  33. ozaline

    She hasn’t changed Joyce, you just didn’t really know her…

    With a lot of queer people the real person is there hiding behind a mask, when you have to govern your every reaction to suit other people you’re not really living.

    Rock on Becky, Rock on!

    1. David D. Davidson

      When you parade around a campus that probably isn’t exactly as liberal as you would want it to be, shouting in an act of “freedom”, you’re not exactly doing the right thing either. Especially when you know your friend has grown up with the same upbringing that she has publicly announced repeatedly to everyone she knows and this is nearly causing a breakdown for her. Also especially if you shouldn’t even be at this campus in the first place. Incredibly especially when you’ve just run away from your family and they may be called to come and get you.

      1. Nightsbridge

        Becky is probably technically a legal adult right now.

        1. Nightsbridge

          By which I mean, her parents probably do not have the legal backing to force her anywhere. They probably do have ownership over all her things and means of making a livelihood, but that’s another thing entirely.

  34. Knifleman

    Heh, blowback.

    Also, what’s up with Walky’s face?

  35. Spencer

    As much as I love Becky (as should every sane and just person in the universe), I wish she would dial down the flirtations directed at Joyce. It’s pretty clearly making her uncomfortable.

    Other than that, it’s awesome to see her bounce back from her depression in “When Somebody Loved Me.” Living in the environment she had been for so long and Joyce telling her she wants her to stay, surrounded by open and accepting people, must be such a huge relief off her shoulders.

    So this would also confirm that Becky hasn’t turned her back on her religion as well, right? That’s cool. I’d like to see more openly religious and gay characters in fiction, if only to combat the assertion that the two groups have to be opposed.

    1. ninja_jesus

      Not to start a religious debate and all, but I think some papal recognition of homosexuality would probably convince a whole ton of people that it’s okay (at least, people outside of the US). After all, he IS the “progressive” pope.

      1. David D. Davidson

        He has, actually.
        http://ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/pope-homosexuals-who-am-i-judge

      2. Twilightomens

        I wish people wouldn’t use what the pope says as justification for their morals. The pope is just a guy.

        1. ninja_jesus

          The pope is a religious leader with a lot of social and political influence. Nowadays the position has lost a bunch of power, but he still has the ability to persuade people within the Catholic faith. Yes, he’s “just a guy”, but his position has been in existence for centuries.

        2. Matthew Davis

          If you’re Catholic and really truly believe (and buy the concept of Papal infallibility because of said beliefs) the Pope has a lot more power than being “just a guy.”

          By those lights, Francis’ current actions really can shift the opinions of a ton of people (as well as cause fractures in the faith, which is why elements in the Vatican are trying to get him to tone it down).

    2. David D. Davidson

      I despise that notion. I am a Roman Catholic and I had a gay pot-smoking friend in high school. Did I give a shit? No.

      Loud minorities are the only groups that should be condemned.

      1. Doom Shepherd

        “Loud minorities are the only groups that should be condemned.”

        Bet you’re glad you weren’t around in the 60’s, especially in the South.

      2. David D. Davidson

        He was an atheist, though, so I should probably quit while I’m ahead.

      3. John

        “Loud minorities are the only groups that should be condemned.”

        I’m trying to come up with a way to interpret this that isn’t terrible, and failing.

        1. tyersome

          … well it sounds pretty bad … maybe loud like the “Moral Majority” of the 80’s (which was neither and tried to make up for it with volume)?

        2. Spencer

          I think he meant “vocal minority,” the fringe elements that tend to be the loudest and grab the most attention.

        3. Betty Anne

          Eh, it’s still a blanket statement. “Vocal minority” encompasses everything from the civil rights protesters of the 60s to feminists to parent groups in Texas pushing to ban science textbooks to the two assholes in Paris. The latter two should be condemned, the former two not.

  36. Ashley

    I remember that rush of being able to “be myself”.

  37. historyman68

    When I came out, all my straight male friends were:
    a) pretty thrilled. After all, we were in the high school Gay-Straight Alliance.
    b) not into being hit on all the time by me.

    So I learned to stop it. Becks should tone it down a bit.

    1. Yotomoe

      I can see how that’d make some people uncomfortable. Personally I’d be super fucking flattered. (My only gay friend isn’t into black dudes…)

      1. Twilightomens

        There will be other gay people to hit on you! Fear not!

  38. ninja_jesus

    Compare and contrast to Ethan: Ethan’s discovery of his homosexuality kinda crept up on him, and ruined a night of what was supposed to be romance, followed by tons of drama and the defending of Ethan from his parents by Amber.

    Here, Becky discovered it (or maybe she always knew, I’m not entirely sure) during her college years where experimenting with a girl lead to being caught, punished by the school, and being pulled out of school altogether by an oppressive father.

    We haven’t reached the apex of this yet. Becky’s father is sure to come after her, and this time it’ll be Joyce’s turn to defend her best friend.

    Personally, I think Mary will play a pivotal role in this, either by A or B. Ruth and Billie may be involved as well, and definitely Ethan and Amber/Amazi-Girl.

    1. JessWitt

      I’m eager to see Ethan and Becky meet up – if only so they can be better people by their real selves.

  39. Dave

    Am I the only one who finds the bluntness of Becky’s flirting a bit uncomfortable? I’m chalking it up to the excitement of newfound freedom, but still… I dunno how I’d take a comment like that if I were Joyce.

    1. ninja_jesus

      If it were me, I’d make my discomfort known.

      1. StClair

        Joyce has.
        Becky apparently enjoys it.

        True friendship, right there.

  40. Clif

    And just think, Joyce, this is a sign from God that you asked for.

    1. Twilightomens

      Hahaha YES

      1. TheZachariah

        Oh BURN

  41. brasca1

    Giblets? Well that’s a new euphemism to add to the list if only I could figure out what she was referring to.

    1. 0kami

      My guess as to what she’s referring to…

      Chesticles. Built-in flotation devices. Bazongas. Jumblies. Love Pillows. Chi-chis.

      1. Dave

        Oooooooooohhhhh myyyyyyyyyyyyy

    2. gwalla

      Girly bits (nonspecific)

  42. The Wizard

    C’mon Becky, tone it down notch now. Its good that you are finally open with it, but don’t start to be obnoxious with it.

    1. vlademir1

      Oh so very much that. There is a difference between being out, open and proud and ramming your sexuality down everyone’s throats.
      That said, we’re talking about a teenaged girl whose been repressed by basically everything in her life for many a long year, so a short term run of outbursts like this is understandable so long as it doesn’t become a longterm habit.

    2. Noah Brand

      This is a relatively common phase when folks first come out. About various things, but especially sexuality. It’s like getting a lot of built-up stuff out of your system. It can be a little annoying, but it doesn’t usually last.

  43. Kris

    Love: It’s constantly trolling your partner for giggles.

    1. Aolbain

      Especially if said partner isn’t, in fact, your partner but someone who explicitly said they weren’t interested…

  44. Yotomoe

    Becky, darling. You can do so much better than poor Joyce. Try Daisy. All around improvement!

    1. Kris

      Seriously she’ll probably make you breakfast just for light eye contact. Girl is pent up!

  45. Kabo

    Becky is starting to look like a bit of a dick.

    1. Kris

      She’s just repressed. All those years of hiding who she is. The emotion has to go somewhere. She’ll come down off the high and realize exceptance generally mean no one cares. As for Joyce well..sometimes friendship’s not easy. Hopefully this will blow over before it escalates.

    2. Paul

      Becky is starting to look like a bit of a dick.

      THIS. She is making an effort to make Joyce uncomfortable, while Joyce is skipping meals so that Becky can eat. Forget all the sexual identity stuff, that is just plain wrong.

  46. Kaunisenkeli

    Oh, Joyce, it seems sudden to those looking in from the outside, but Becky’s been waiting for this moment. Admittedly, a little discretion can be a wonderful thing, but she’ll find the balance in time. Even for how sudden it must feel to you, you’re doing wonderfully, just stick to the path of accepting her for who she is.

    1. Zaxares

      I know. And I really hope that this marks the start of a better, brighter time for Becky.

      But at the same time, she’s pushing Joyce too fast, too soon. I’ve seen friendships and relationships end in real life over similar things (although not due to LGBT reasons). As I said before in the past, I REALLY hope that this doesn’t end in the destruction of their friendship. :/

      1. Kaunisenkeli

        I hope their friendship weathers this period, too, and that brighter times are ahead for Becky. Somehow, I think the image someone mentioned a few days (or was it a week or so ago, I can’t remember), showing the whole gang plus Becky enjoying fun times at Galasso’s pizza place, will prove prophetic, but maybe that’s just hope speaking.

  47. Bill

    Full of feels for Joyce.

  48. Orangey

    I was gonna be all ‘argh becky stop hitting on Joyce’ but to be fair, I don’t think Becky fully realises how uncomfortable this would make Joyce – I mean, sure she does it to wind her up, but she does a lot of things simply to wind Joyce up, so this isn’t much of a surprise.

    I do get where Joyce is coming from though, it is not fun to have a friend who likes you when you don’t like them back. Especially when you just want them to /be/ your friend and then they keep hitting on you. Plus this is such a huuuuge change for Joyce to adapt with, so I’m not surprised she isn’t dealing with it as perfectly as you could. Agh.

    tl;dr: i get both where becky n joyce are coming from, am not hatin’ on either

    1. ahuh

      I think Becky also has absolutely no idea just how terrified Joyce is of her own sexuality and how Ryan made things much, much worse.

      Also, why do I get the impression that Joyce knows something we and/or Becky don’t? Like “Please be discreet…because at least one person in this dorm would be happy to screw you over and has an enormous amount of leverage over the two people most likely to protect both of us*, and frankly the more visible you are the more likely she is to hear about you, so please be discreet until we can either make your long-term presence a fait accompli, find someplace to stay that you and only you have control over, or get some leverage over her first”.

      *Depending on how much Joyce has figured out about what Mary knows.

      1. John

        I don’t think Joyce has any idea what Mary suspects. She knows Billie’s in love, but I’m pretty sure she thinks it’s with a guy, and that Billie’s put her girl-on-girl “mistakes” behind her, and she seems kind of confused about why Mary keeps talking about how homosexuality’s a sin around Billie.

        1. Matthew Davis

          This is probably true, but I really like ahuh’s interpretation because Joyce is sheltered, not stupid. I have to think that she recognizes Mary for what she is and is purposely trying to put the best spin on it because that’s what she is. This is, however, still the same person who when push came to shove cut a rapist and told her parents to back the hell off based on her understanding of her beliefs and faith. She’s got a core of iron, and I don’t think Mary will come out on top should she try something.

        2. John

          Joyce certainly knows that Mary’s a b-word. And she’s definitely proven that she will cut a b-word. I just don’t think she has any inkling that Mary has any sort of leverage over Ruth.

  49. Lause

    To all the people hating on Joyce – remember what she had gone through in these couple of weeks in comic time. No wonder she just wanted her friend to come visit and spend time with her without having to endure some next drama event. On top of that she tries to fight her upbringing and religion for Becky, but let’s be honest- Becky doesn’t help Joyce at all, she pushes her and that only makes the matter worse.
    Also – btw – Good God, could we let go of the Becky arc and like never see her again? I can’t stand her. (And today’s comic is one of the reasons why)

    1. Jess

      +1

  50. IJ

    So when is Becky going to stop sexually harassing Joyce?

  51. Yonadav

    It’s really getting hard for me to see these sexual harassment goes on. It pains me to Joyce like this, not just because I love her character.

  52. acher4

    Ohhh, now i feel for Joyce.
    I love Becky, but it seems that to Joyce, Becky is slowly turning into almost a different person from the one she knew all these years.
    :/

    1. Vancore

      More like Quickly.

      1. TheZachariah

        Yeah, same. I can get the whiplash and confusion of thinking your friend is a certain person for YEARS and then all of a sudden over the course of a day it’s totally changed.

        That said, the remedy is to suck it up. But it is surely a foul medicine to swallow.

  53. StClair

    “But Joyce, it’s so cute and funny (and hot, did I mention hot?) when you make that face that says ‘I’m really not comfortable right now and I wish you’d stop’!”

    1. TheZachariah

      “You’re cute when you’re angry. Also, please put down the frying pan, I take it back, please don’t hurt me.”

  54. cj95

    Considering how Joyce has temporarily solved Becky’s housing problems, she’s being kinda a big jerk with all the unwanted flirting comments.

    She “loves” putting what expression on her face….unhappiness?

    1. Aolbain

      Yeah, sure, lets go out of my way to make the person who is currently skipping meals to feed me uncomfortable.

      1. Aolbain

        Sorry, didn’t mean to respond to anyone.

  55. Charles Phipps

    Poor Becky. She’s going to have to get STUDENT LOANS if she’s going to stay here.

    Welcome to DEBT PEONAGE.

  56. Mary

    Repression and then suddenly having the freedom to not be repressed, very much unaware of boundaries due to said upbringing, 18 years old and likely horny as hell regardless of her feelings for Joyce… and plus a stable of their friendship has been pushing Joyce’s buttons to get a rise out of her… a lack of boundaries and all that sets a bad precedent for what is and isn’t appropriate.
    I’m not inclined to hate on Becky here. Sure the constant flirting does cross a line, but the two of them have a friendship where the dynamics were getting a rise out of Joyce and boundaries were never really a thing… it’s looking like it’ll become a thing soon enough though.

  57. Kam

    the word Giblets should have been McNuggets.

    1. Boomwolf

      Would they sell as good?

    2. Nono

      Fifty. McNuggets.

      1. Cacturne

        Ten bucks.
        Or in your mom’s case, a nickel
        -Mike

    3. Victor Riley

      I’m curious why Becky has a fetish for fondling internal organs like the heart, liver and gizzard.

  58. Les

    Yep, don’t think Joyce is ready for anyone to be touching her giblets yet…

  59. apostateCourier

    I was going to say a thing, but then the alt text said it for me.

  60. showler

    Oh, right. Becky doesn’t know about what happened to Joyce yet.

  61. Crumplepunch

    Hitting on Joyce after she’s made it clear she’s not interested isn’t cool.

    But Becky could eat an entire baby at this point and still be my favourite character on balance.

    1. Shawn L.

      “Hitting on Joyce after she’s made it clear she’s not interested isn’t cool”

      Yeah, she’s still got her ‘shipping goggles on. If the unsustainability of housing Becky in the dorms doesn’t bring things to an end, the unwanted advances will.

    2. Bagge

      Eat ALL THE BABY!!!

      Is that on Galassos’ secret menu?

    3. Screwball

      There are those out there where eating babies is part of their unique… “charm”…

      1. xKiv

        And then there are Baby-Eaters.

    4. GLaDOS

      “I am the Baby-Eating Becky of Bath and Wells!”

  62. Steve

    Is this gonna be the arc where Joyce learns that friends can grow in different directions and don’t need to stay friends? It’s a very helpful lesson to learn and if it can be learned in college all the better.

    1. ahuh

      Or that friends can grow in different directions and stay friends. That’s a good lesson too.

  63. lordhaw

    Becky seems to cause eye shrinkage cause Joyce’s usually big bright eyes are now dots…Joyce is really feeling bad at the moment in contrast to Becky’s relief of being able to let it out.

  64. Kandy Kelz

    Oh NO I can’t see today’s strip — not cool work browser not cool

  65. beetnemesis

    I never really understand why people seem to love Joyce so much. Sometimes she’s OK, but, to me, she’s just… boring. Both as a “person,” and as a “character.”

    As a “person,” she’s always the one nervous about everything, mildly complaining, mildly disapproving. In any sort of situation beyond watching cartoons, she’s a downer.

    As a “character,” her arc just seems pretty obvious. She starts off super conservative but a good person at heart, and is slowly opening her mind to new experiences as she meets them. Standard conflict between the values she was brought up with and the fact that she sees good in everyone. Badaboom.

    The problem is, as admirable as that character development is, it’s super boring to me. This storyline’s going to either end with Joyce being more accepting that Becky is out, or Joyce being unable to get over her hangups. The first one is the “good, but predictable” answer. The second one would just make me more annoyed that Joyce is the/a protagonist.

    It’s possible that something will come out of left field to make Joyce more interesting (5 bucks on psychotic break!), but I can’t really think of anything that will make me care. Either she predictably becomes a better person, or she stays an annoying one.

    1. tyersome

      … and yet you read a comic written by someone who says she is autobiographical …

      1. beetnemesis

        Oh yeah, I know. And again, I think that Joyce’s character development is admirable, for an actual human being. It’s just that I’m not too interested in reading about it, maybe even BECAUSE I know she’s semi-autobiographical, and therefore it’s even more predictable how she’ll turn out.

        I read DoA because I like all the other characters. I don’t even hate Joyce, I just don’t find her very interesting. Don’t you think it’s telling how everyone latched on to Becky, even before she came out?

        1. Betty Anne

          FWIW, I like Becky, but I like Joyce better than Becky, both before Becky came out AND after. I have a hard time with loud friends – I have one, I love her to bits, but I can only be around her for short amounts of time. Joyce is exactly like the friends like to hang out with most – quiet, willing to have lengthy discussions, willing to agree to disagree, comes back once she finds out you’re different but still a good person. Plus Joyce is cuter, and this is coming from someone who has a thing for redheads. :p

    2. Tenn

      *pouts*

    3. Barium

      I love Joyce because I feel like I AM Joyce. I was also raised very conservatively, am attending college now, and am struggling with a lot of the same issues Joyce is. Willis totally gets sheltered homeschoolers in a way that most people don’t, and I like reading about people from my background. Joyce’s story is very encouraging and it gives me hope that things can still work out ok and that people will still love me despite all my weirdness. I can’t speak for any other readers, but they may be or may have once been in a similar situation.

      1. beetnemesis

        Yeah, that’s definitely reasonable. It must be nice to see a homeschooled character who is not evil, creepy, or completely out of touch with reality.

  66. Onions

    I think Becky is reacting to Joyce.
    Joyce tried to shut her up because “things like that” should be kept a dirty little secret, I guess. That would be annoying and hurtful to Becky, freshly liberated as she is. Her taunting is a little bit smackdown and a little bit defusing, because she turns it into a well established “Becky teases Joyce for being scandalized” territory.

  67. Alexx

    Awww, it’s okay Joyce. Just keep reminding yourself that you’re doing the right thing. Change can be hard to work through, but you’re on your way!

  68. dreadedseamonster

    Aww, it looks like Becky’s in that stage that so many baby queers go through where she just came out so she’s overcompensating and has no sense of boundaries because it feels SO GOOD to finally have it out in the open. I think Willis has actually captured it pretty well, I and a lot of my friends went through that stage and I remember being sexualized really similarly to how Joyce is being treated.
    I know it’s weird and tough, Joyce, but this will be over soon enough, and Becky will feel really embarrassed and guilty.

    1. Halloween Jack

      Becky will feel really embarrassed and guilty.

      And then the extracting of favors will commence, aww yiss.

  69. Ailorn

    While I think Becky has the right to flaunt her orientation and not have to hide it anymore, I agree with you guys who think she needs to back off on flirting with Joyce. Joyce is going way out of her way changing her thinking and helping her friend and could benefit from having a breather. Also it’s really not cool to flirt with your friend when they have clearly stated they aren’t interested in you in the same way. Constantly being harassed and reminded how this person wants more of you than you are comfortable with is really detrimental to trust. What if Becky is just being Joyce’s friend to eventually get in her pants or to mooch off her? I really wish this relationship was more two sided recently.

  70. Victor Riley

    I empathize with Joyce… she’s having to force her worldview to change much more quickly than she’s comfortable with, and is realizing she’ll need to deal with other, similar, areas (as Sarah pointed out, her gay boyfriend) in a more open-minded fashion. That’s a lot to deal with in a short period (and this is like, what… the second or third week of the semester of their first year?).

    She wants Becky to keep it quiet, because then on some level, she can at least feel like things are more like they used to be, when life was all Happy God, Purity Rings, and she had no need to question the Bible and what it says.

    Becky should be backing off a bit… on Joyce. She does have every right to go for the “liberation flaunt” to the world, and Joyce shouldn’t be trying to hide or censor her… but Becky should also understand that Joyce isn’t quite that liberated yet. Having the same background, she knows what mindset Joyce is coming from.

    While strangers in our life can go F-off… we should try to be more sensitive to those whom we care about, and who legitimately care about us, especially when you finally found out who those people are. (Just my opinion.)

  71. Minder

    Becky, as much as I find your motivations/actions sympathetic, it’s kind of uncomfortable that you keep reminding Joyce how sexually attractive you find her, and how much she turns you on after she already turned you down.

    And, um, it’s really uncomfortable how her discomfort at that seems to turn you on even more.

    1. Eric

      Yes, if a guy was to do that it would be considered sexual harrasment. Teasing her friend is one thing, but Becky should back off on direct sexual comments to Joyce.

      1. gwalla

        It’s, um, still considered sexual harrassment in this case too. Sexual advances after the subject has clearly stated that they are unwanted is pretty textbook. I don’t think Becky yet realizes that “putting that face on” Joyce this way is not the same as doing it by saying “poop”. Hopefully she realizes that soon for both of their sakes.

  72. Cypherfox

    We have the luxury of watching in extreme slow motion, debating, and discussing their every word and motion, and in some cases seeing into their heads or more private self-mumblings. But here’s the thing… Becky’s still teasing, and doesn’t know she’s going too far. In her mind it’s settled, and so any teasing is residual. Joyce is still coming to grips with it, so while it seems like she’s trying to suppress her friend, she’s just trying to deal.

    And we can condemn either side (and folks above me do, in excruciating detail) but in the midst of a fast-paced morning walk to Math class, this conversation probably took 30-90 seconds. It’s a testament to David Willis’ writing that he’s captured how people actually interact, not just how they should interact.

    Becky’s a little too forward with Joyce still, ebullient over her new-found self-awareness, and says a few things that are over the top…but that can and will be forgiven and forgotten (except by Mike, because he remembers everything). Joyce’s hesitation is equally real and it’s not because she’s an asshole, but because change is hard, but she’ll adapt.

    Real people don’t obsess over these moments the way we can and do, because they’re flickers in the stream of life.

    The reason a butterfly flapping its wings doesn’t REALLY bring a monsoon is that small local effects are dampened by larger processes. Those two are portrayed as having a nearly lifelong friendship, and I’m sure that the ripples will die down as the larger flow of their friendship takes over.

    That long diatribe said, I’m SHOCKED that Walky hasn’t made an insensitive joke to Joyce yet, about their relationship. 😉

    1. Bagge

      That’s an important reminder. The standards we hold them to is not very realistic in real life situations. As an idealized mirror we may learn something from the discussion, but we should remember the time involved (and the confusion of a stressful social situation, that didn’t exactly help Joyce last strip).

      1. StClair

        Nicely said, both of you.
        And if I may offer my own contribution: remember, per the title of the comic, these are college freshmen. They don’t know nothin’. We’re observing the process by which some of them learn.

  73. TehGengerNenger

    So I sent a definition for ‘exploding out of the closet’ to Urban Dictionary, here’s hoping it goes through.

    1. TehGengerNenger

      It went through

  74. Eric

    Her hee, poor Joyce. In time she’ll get used to it, but right now its like getting yanked out of bed and thrown into the deep end of the pool while being told its time for her first swimming lesson!

  75. Jess

    I’m really excited for when Becky finds out what happened to Joyce.
    Not only will she be pissed, but it’ll make her feel like shit for that kiss as well as for all this unwanted flirting.
    That being said, I’m really not a fan of Becky, if anything because she doesn’t know when to stop pushing.

  76. Perpetual Sighs

    Eh. I really liked Becky before this strip. She keeps pushing her attraction to Joyce, which is strange because Joyce has made it clear that she loves Becky as a friend ONLY, and simply isn’t interested in dating her. Becky is lucky to have a caring and sacrificing friend to turn to, and she’s taking it for granted. Platonic friendship is something she needs right now more than anything, and she’s jeopardizing it.

  77. Kathleen

    People are saying things like Becky’s being “not cool” or is “kinda creepy” or a “little” out of bounds. No.

    Becky is being mean and rude and creepy, full stop. She needs to stop and properly apologize. You may have reasons for a behavior, but that doesn’t change its effect on people.

  78. Tenn

    My feelings for both these girls are currently oscillating wildly between sympathy and disapproval, and I love it!

  79. Betty Anne

    Wanted: A chance to give Joyce friendship hugs. She needs the cool down time.

  80. Zobot257

    I’d like to state here that while I am glad Becky is having her chance to express herself and not have to hide who she is, I really feel bad for Joyce here. She’s really gone out of her way to support Becky, because she sees Becky as her best friend. And while Becky may feel the same way about her (remains to be seen) she’s NOT being very respectful or sensitive to Joyce’s feelings.

    Look at what we’ve seen of Becky in Dumbing of Age so far. The introduction comic, and then a phone call, and now all this. She hasn’t had much screen time, and most of the time she’s had in this recent appearance has been her thinking of herself. She came to see Joyce, yeah, but she thought Joyce had the same feelings of attraction she had. Also that Joyce was the last person from her old life left she could turn to for any sort of support, but you can’t deny that feelings of attraction didn’t play SOME part in it.

    Think about it with emotional ties removed. Becky is squatting at Joyce’s place of residence, illegally, and is eating her food (using her meal plan). And Joyce is clearly a bit uncomfortable with how she’s acting. She’s not being a good guest, and she’s not even considering Joyce’s feelings. Part of “coming out” at least for me, was trying to understand how the people who knew me FELT when they learned that I wasn’t heterosexual. Trying to respect their feelings and help them adjust to it. To show them I wasn’t that much different than who I was to them before. Helping them be comfortable with it, so I could stop hiding that part of me from them.

    Becky hasn’t done ANY of that. She could have approached Joyce with romantic solicitations a NUMBER of better ways, she could have asked Joyce how she felt about this, and she could have tried to think about how her choices and actions are affecting her “best friend”‘s feelings and life. Becky so far has proven herself a sponge and a bit self-centered, and she’s going to have to work to redeem herself in THIS reader’s eyes and prove she’s anything BUT a sponge.

    1. StClair

      Exactly. Thank you.

  81. Adam Black

    A lot of fans reading just arent getting these last pages.

    Becky has the same repressed background as Joyce — from we know probably a lot worse.

    Becky has lost her family, which is a terrifying fear for for anyone coming out.
    She has been hiding and probably ashamed of her sexuality her whole life.

    After a lifetime of shame and repression put on her, She gets to be out and proud for one single day in her life, without people ragging on her, criticizing her or holding her back. I dont mean Joyce, I mean the fandom! ( Granted she doesnt know you are doing this, and would probably enjoy watching you squirm )

    But other LGBT fans are reading this, and that reaction comes across as hetereosexist .

    She has earned this.

    Yes, it makes Joyce uncomfortable — and maybe you — but nowhere as uncomfortable as lying and repressing would , and has been to Beckys entire life.

    Let the poor girl be a happy lesbian screaming it to the world , for one single day.

    People who are complaining dont understand the emotional burden they expect Becky ( and other LGBT ) people to live with.

    Heterosexuality is always out, nearly always socially acceptable , its on every channel, every radio station, there is never an expectation that speaking about it is placing a mental health burden on listeners.

    Not a Single fan complained When Walky loudly announced in class he liked girls . Willis even lampshaded the lack of negative reaction “coming out as heterosexual” with Dorothy .

    This is actually one of the least annoying and most fun coming-out events I’ve ever seen or read , in-person or print.
    Thanks Willis.

    If this was real-life , this gets to go on ALL day, even all week, without hundreds of demands Becky create a new closet .

    I hope every single comic for the next 3 months has Becky Jumping up and down that shes a happy Lesbian.

    If thats makes you uncomfortable, maybe its YOU who ought to consider the emotional burden of hiding and repressing your thoughts and desires . Then try it.

    If you accept LGBT as equals Its not possible “flaunt it” ( short of actual public sex ) .

    TLDR; Stop Raining on Beckys Pride Parade People.

    1. WeezerLuvr3030

      A lot of fans grieve when their best friend of all time tells them the basis of their ultra-important friendship was different than what it was purported to be all along. So, a lot of fans understand the burden perfectly well, and might even locate that the friendship in the first place was an excessively burdensome closet door. Which just hurts all the more; to find out our friend was burdened by the friendship we depended on so much. At least for some fans. Even some queer fans.

    2. Tunasammich

      *slow clap*

    3. Charles Phipps

      I’m happy for Becky, don’t get me wrong. I’m uncomfortable with unwanted sexual advances and hope Becky will get it through her head that Joyce is uncomfortable for reasons other than what she thinks.

    4. Aolbain

      “I’ve had it though, so I get do whatever the hell I want, up to and including sexual harasment”?

    5. Kathleen

      We’re not mad at Becky screaming she’s a lesbian- we’re mad she’s making statements like, “i like doing this thing to you that’s been a friendly platonic staple of our friendship bc it’s super hot. Did I mention I’m turned on by you, my friend, i am horny for you, best friend. Haha you are embarassed, that’s my kink.”

      Not mad she’s saying she’s a lesbian, mad at the way she is directing her gaze at Joyce.

    6. Bagge

      *Opens mouth*
      *Closes it*
      *Opens mouth again*
      *Closes it*

      Yeah, you’re right.

  82. Less

    Okay, Becky is being upsettingly creepy here towards Joyce, though. She should be out and proud and whatever and good on her for that, but making so many unwanted sexual advances on Joyce and making fun of her for her reaction (after she’s made it expressly clear she’s not interested) it is really not okay; it’s crossing personal boundaries in a really awful way. Joyce doesn’t get to set boundaries for what Becky tells other people about herself, but she gets to set boundaries for how Becky treats her. I really, really hope that gets addressed, and signs point towards probably; but I guess that’s the problem with reading things as they update and not archivally. :/

    1. bunivasal

      Joyce’s reaction hasn’t been to Becky’s advances, though. When Becky says she likes “putting that look on Joyce’s face” she’s referring to Joyce being scandalized, i.e. embarrassed by proximity to both sexual self-confidence and homosexuality.

      If Becky were straight, she would enjoy getting the exact same reaction out of Joyce by yelling “I love cocks! Bring me your wieners, that I may feast on them!” Maybe not those words, exactly.

      It’s a little creepy that she wants to fuck someone exactly like Joyce, but she’s not even the only person in that panel who frequently voices their desire to fuck someone who doesn’t want to fuck them back. (JOYCE) (IT IS HER) (ETHAN DON’T WANT HER COOCH) (FER REALS)

      1. Less

        Yeah, she’s reacting to putting that look on her face and then calling it a turn on. If she’d just been poking fun at Joyce about it, that’d be fine. It’s the weird advances she’s making that are putting me on edge. I’m not condoning Joyce’s behavior towards Ethan either; all of it’s cringe-worthy.

  83. GoogerGeiger

    Why do people like Becky, exactly?

    1. Spencer

      Becky was a minor character with a lot of significance to Joyce, and there had been some mystery as to why we hadn’t heard from her in over a year. She suddenly pops out of the blue as the more sane, rational, and adjusted variant to Joyce and then on, she was consistently funny, charming, adoring of Joyce and accepting of her new friends, and her interactions with Walky were golden.

      In my opinion, what really made people focus on her was Sarah’s suspicion as to why Becky unexpectedly showed up. Suddenly, every single thing she had to say was under the microscope as people tried to figure out what her deal was. Was she in love with Joyce? Is she here to spy on her for her parents? Did she undergo some traumatic incident at Anderson? Essentially, we had a character with a mystery at the core, so it was easy to get invested in her. When she finally comes out to Joyce and runs away, the extremely emotional moment where she reveals what happened, and Joyce ultimately letting her stay with her, we were having some payoff in a character we were all, in a way, compelled to care about. Now that Becky’s been confirmed to be sticking around, we want to know what’s going to happen to her. We’re too hooked into her story (which, personally resonates as something fucking horrendous that happens to far too many LGBT kids) to wave her off.

      1. Spencer

        That, and it helped that “When Somebody Loved Me” was almost totally focused on Joyce and Becky, so we were able to get into her head much more easily than we have with other characters since the perspective switches so often.

    2. Kathleen

      I think it’s the girl who likes poop jokes! Wow transgressive and fun! Part

  84. Jade

    First off, I want to say this is probably the only webcomic I visit where the comments page is just as fun as the comic itself (other than Erfworld). I finally read to the bottom of the page D:

    Everything I’d want said about Becky and Joyce’s current behavior has already been said, but is anyone else hoping for a confrontation between Becky and Mary? Not that I enjoy violence overall, but it would feel rather satisfying if someone’s pious smugness got smacked around a bit is all I’m saying 0:)

    1. OmegaDez

      Yup, the comment section here is quite an adventure.
      And some of the regulars here have been “invading” my own webcomic’s‘s comment section, making it quite lively as well.

      David Willis attracts good people.

  85. Bearpelt

    She’s being a little creepy towards her friend, to be honest. I mean, Becky KNOWS that being hit on is making her uncomfortable. Yes, partly because of learned homophobia, but also partly because it’s unwanted.

  86. OmegaDez

    *Mike Vanish!*

  87. Hotsauce

    She’s not changing Joyce, she’s just not hiding any more.

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