116

Embarrassing
Posted on June 19, 2022 by David M Willis

116 thoughts on “Embarrassing”

  1. The Wellerman

    Ooooooo looks like we’re gonna get some dom action from Ruth. ?

    You know what this would go good with? Some Mother Bear’s Pizza.

    (never actually had any but I hear it’s supposed to be the BEST ?)

  2. Ana Chronistic

    bully for him

    1. Clif

      At least he knows the answer is yes.

  3. BBCC

    Only if Ruth gives you one, dude.

    You know that.

    1. Kyrik Michalowski

      At least he’s enjoying time with her, I think?

      1. mrnoidea

        He’s just along for the ride.

    2. Deanatay

      At least she asked first, that was nice.

      Wait

  4. shrub

    Is it just me or has cast gotten generally meaner since Halloween? (waiting for that flashback)

    1. The Wellerman

      Well then brace yourself and have some comfort food at the ready — I just can’t shake the feeling that before then, something TERRIBLE is gonna happen ?

      Mandatory Courage the Cowardly Dog meme:

      https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Eb0JKZoUwEA

      1. Taffy

        Jim Carrey, Jim Carrey, Jim Carrey, and Jim Carrey. “And then the unthinkable happened!”

    2. Doctor_Who

      Makes sense to me.

      Autumn/Halloween: Crisp but nice weather, horror movies, candy, Bobby “Boris” Pickett and Elvira.

      Winter/Christmas: Snow, Hallmark movies, gift shopping, Mariah Carey and Michael Bublé.

      The choice is clear.

      1. Needfuldoer

        Winter/Christmas: Snow, Hallmark movies, gift shopping, Mariah Carey and Michael Bublé Karen Carpenter and Johnny Mathis.

        FTFY

    3. Nono

      Well, it’s been a semester, including a break. Most of the cast have settled into a ‘comfortable’ dynamic with each other which means they’re also less likely to play nice.

    4. Sirksome

      They do seem to generally be a bit meaner/obnoxious post time skip. I personally think Mike kind of filled that role and post death the rest of the cast kind of organically became more abrasive because they’re saying stuff usually reserved for him which actually fleshes them out a lot more as characters. Dorothy’s a good example of this.

      1. shrub

        Dorothy is the one I can’t work out the most, that shes not only joining in on the not telling Joyce thing (which I get because shes stuck between Becky and Joyce) but that she was smiling about it

        I do like it that the story is not scared of shaking it up every now and then

        1. Deathjavu

          Dorothy’s just trying to build some resentment against herself so the Yale letter doesn’t hurt Joyce as much.

          (nah, that seems more like a Jennifer game to play)

        2. shrub

          It was sort of the smile you give when the lie isn’t hurtful, like “no we’re not planning a surprise party for you” sort of smile

          I can’t wait for the fallout of it though

    5. Justnobodyfqwl

      Yeah, it’s been one of the writing changes that I feel is pretty noticable- it feels very much like the “empire vs Jedi” debate from Clerks where this big change in the comic is the “dark” period where the innocence is lost and the cast is more prone to conflict and less happy with each other- or at the very least, the conflict has become a lot less big and abstract with suplexes and superheroes and now just kind of everyone snipes at each other a lot.

      I get why it’s happening, I just kind of think it’s been spread throughout the entire cast to the point where I feel like there’s no reprieve from it no matter who we focus on.

      I feel like it would be more striking if there was more contrast- like how for most of the first ten years, bllie/Ruth and Ethan/amber arcs would be angst and drama fests while Joyce would have storylines about parties or whiteboard dingdongs. It’s not that Joyce didn’t have drama or soap opera plotlines, but they’d get broken up more often.

      1. shrub

        We can assume its building up to something (and it’ll probably be glorious) but the getting there will be interesting

      2. Deathjavu

        Not sure I would hold up whiteboard dingdongs as a relief from drama-fests, considering the whole thing was basically Joyce having a mental breakdown.

        1. Azhrei Vep

          I also wouldn’t pair up “Joyce” and “Parties” as an example of relief from drama either.

      3. Azhrei Vep

        It’s okay Justnobody, we’ve still got Sal and Danny being totally wholesome and kind to one another.

        … FOR NOW.

        1. Clif

          Dum, duh, duh!!!

    6. Pylgrim

      Most college kids their age don’t get “friend is murdered” as a rite of passage.

      1. Pylgrim

        (Much as slasher films would have you think)

    7. Stephen Nedland

      I would definitely say that Jennifer, and Joyce have gotten nastier, pettier. It is clear that both of them are have a hard time dealing with trauma/emotional/psychological issues, and are just not seeking any help for it.

  5. Thag Simmons

    Alright, let’s make that “I have a boyfriend!” statement out of date!

  6. Doctor_Who

    How much street cred can you possibly get by bullying Jason?

    Dude got shoved into his locker so much back in school that it’s the address on his driver’s license.

    1. Andy

      I don’t think it’s about street cred. I think it’s about resetting and getting back into the mindset she wants to be in.

      Also, apologies for reporting you. Fat thumbs.

      1. Doctor_Who

        No worries, the gruel is very tasty, and I’ve started befriending the rats.

        1. Clif

          Goodbye gruel rodentiphile.

      2. Thag Simmons

        Yeah, Jason is both a sub and not someone she has actual authority over

    2. Taffy

      Doctor Who burnin’ that shit down like it’s Gallifrey on a Wednesday night, damn. Got some dang ol’ crosshairs in Jason, aye? Blondie’s gettin’ served like breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

      1. Doctor_Who

        He beat me to the last silk bowtie at Saks. I will have my revenge.

  7. Joe Moose

    Oh my.

  8. Kyrik Michalowski

    I’m concerned with Ruth going to her “alpha wolf” mode and causing more issues.

    Also, is it just me or is Ruth still in love with Billie/Jennifer?

    1. Dunedon

      I’m pretty sure it’s still mutual.

    2. Deathjavu

      No, weren’t you listening, she screamed “I’ve moved on!!” down the hallway after Jennifer walked by, and Jennifer basically blew up in response. They’re definitely both 100% over each other, completely, utterly, unmistakably.

    3. Thag Simmons

      This was not a clean break for either of them

  9. Sirksome

    This worried me Ruth was relapsing back to her old self but she seemed to catch it. Jason might actually be good for something. I never would’ve guessed.

    1. shrub

      The question is whether Ruth is a bully at heart and she has to change her nature or if its learned behaviour which she can unlearn

      Either why it won’t be easy for her but the signs are good

      1. Robbie

        I think it’s a (toxic) coping mechanism for her. Aka a learned behavior. I think she can learn a new way to cope with difficult emotions.

      2. Thag Simmons

        I don’t think there’s really a difference there

    2. DrunkenNordmann

      She’s not the only one – Jennifer seems to be back to her “recapturing her old popular girl glory days” behavioural pattern as well.

  10. StClair

    Ruth, no.

    1. Cmasta1992

      Ruth YES

  11. Vukodlak

    Just take hour licks blonde British Naoto.

  12. Nono

    News flash: Ruth is a worse dom than Dina.

    1. Zach

      She’s got consent down. That’s not nothing.
      Also recognizing what she wants and is after from others.

      1. Yotomoe

        Aftercare is key!

    2. Deathjavu

      Yeah…but in Ruth’s defense, almost everyone is worse than Dina on multiple axis.

    3. BarerMender

      Oops. I flagged by mistake. But worse than Dina? Isn’t everyone worse than Dina?

  13. UrsulaDavina

    This seems like a healthy realtionship dynamic.

    1. Mturtle7

      I mean honestly, I think it’s a HUGE improvement over her relationship dynamic with Billie. …Progress?

  14. Lady Duffman

    Slowly dawning realization that the froshs in her care aren’t intimidated by her?

    1. Sirksome

      I think she’s actually just trying not to abuse power. That was part of her pre time skip character arc.

      1. Lady Duffman

        Me, trying not to sound like the villain from Metalocalypse: We shall watch as these events unfold…

    2. Thag Simmons

      More that’s trying to make them less intimidated by her and taking out her anger on them is a good way to fuck that up

  15. RassilonTDavros

    See, Ruth’s learning. Bully people who aren’t under your authority, and you won’t have to worry about abuse of power!

  16. LiterallyJustSomeGuy

    Ruth, it’s okay to be upset with the way Billie is treating you. You don’t need to blame yourself for her bad behavior.

    1. Icalasari

      We technically don’t know why Billie hates Ruth so much, it could actually be a reason that would make us all disgusted if we didn’t know just how broken Ruth is over all this

      Not saying we can’t have empathy for Ruth, just that the reason may be bad enough that we’d only maintain empathy because we know just how messed up Ruth is right now

      1. Thag Simmons

        Part of me wonders if whatever Rachel’s issue is came out at Halloween. Because we don’t know how bad that one was, just that Rachel really hates Ruth over it

        1. Needfuldoer

          She didn’t like her all that much before Halloween, either.

          They were roommates at the beginning of their Freshman year. Remember how they met?

          https://www.dumbingofage.com/2019/comic/book-10/01-birthday-pursuit/resort/

        2. Thag Simmons

          What I mean is that whatever happened between Ruth and Rachel might have been the trigger once Jennifer learned about it, depending on how bad it was

      2. Needfuldoer

        Jennifer pushed Ruth away “for her own good” at least a couple times, so what the hell is she supposed to think?

        “You stupid motherfucker, you were supposed to get better! You were supposed to leave me behind!”

        – Jennifer Billingsworth, about 3 in-universe months ago

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

        1. Needfuldoer

          And if that wasn’t enough evidence:

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

        2. Needfuldoer

          Seriously, the more I revisit that arc the more I think “what the hell did you WANT, Jennifer?!”

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

        3. thejeff

          I said back then that Jennifer wanted Ruth to get better and be happy and she wanted to keep drinking. She thought at one point that Ruth would be fine without her, so if they broke up she could keep drinking without hurting Ruth. That failed so she chose to keep Ruth and quit drinking.

          And of course it makes perfect sense to be upset here – she was the toxic one, so she needed to push Ruth away for her own good. She can’t comprehend Ruth doing the same, because she was the one who was poison.

  17. newlland(Henryvolt)

    Is there relationship not still Ruth holding Jason hostage and Jason coming down with Stockholm syndrome?

  18. Reed

    see ruth you can’t do it at your job that’s abuse of power! …if you do it in your relationship it’s just a kink.

    1. Darkoneko

      or, y’know, domestic abuse.

      1. Sirksome

        That’s why she asked first. All Jason needs is a safe word and they’ll be good to go! Remember kids, bully consensually.

        1. Yotomoe

          Ain’t nothin’ wrong with a little femdom.

        2. The Wellerman

          Doesn’t even have to be that intense. Gentle Femdom is very much a thing. ?

        3. Taffy

          Everybody talks about how The Lord of the Rings would have been solved so much faster with big eagles, but all they needed was a hot goth woman in high heels with student loans to pay off to defeat Sauron.

        4. Guy Sensei

          Unless of course she uses her Betraying Her Authority Smile.

  19. DailyBrad

    It’s just not the same when Jason says, “Go Leafs”. Probably since he insists it must be “Go Leaves”.

    1. Mturtle7

      Yeah, that’s relationship-ending material right there.

  20. Slartibeast Button, BIA

    It’s femur withdrawal….

    1. the illerman

      This just tickles my funny bone. I thought about scrolling past but I knew I had to call attention to it, in the hopes that it would bring the same joy to others as it did do me.

      In my mind’s eye, I see a picture of a kitten with a mournful expression; above it is text that reads, “it’s femuw wiwdrawl….”

  21. True Survivor

    Is it just me is or is it weird that Jason always appears to be in Ruth’s dorm latterly (and never his own) and simultaneously does not seem to have any of his own objects or different clothes there. I mean even if he has only been there for a few hours it does not seem he brought a book or anything. Also he is just standing there when Ruth enters. Its … a little creepy.

    1. Bagge

      I mean, we wouldn’t want their relationship to be weird now, would we?

    2. Sam

      Well, to be fair, this relationship has existed for barely a few days, so it would be more weird if his stuff was everywhere in her room. But we did see in one of his more recent strips that he had a desk with a book and laptop on it in her room.

      1. thejeff

        Though the desk has been there since the Billie days. The laptop is probably his.

        1. Sam

          I honestly couldn’t remember if the desk was always there. But the laptop or book or both are likely his and are likely the only things of his there and all he can carry because he doesn’t have a laptop case. Which would have more space for carrying books.

    3. Azhrei Vep

      he does have a desk. That’s … something?

      And it doesn’t seem that weird to me. During the brief time my brother roomed with me before he got his own place, his girlfriend practically lived with us too … but maintained all of her stuff at her own place that she only seemed to go back to in order to access said stuff. Some people are just like that.

  22. Reltzik

    Jason, I think you already know the answer to that question, but in case you don’t here’s a hint: You’re wearing suspenders and a bow-tie, and you’re not Alfred Pennyworth.

  23. Bagge

    I really hope he’s into it because it is what he gets

  24. Mr. Random

    Why am I just now getting the sense that he gets off on that sorta thing?

    1. Mturtle7

      Look at his relationship with Sal.

      Now look at this relationship with Ruth.

      …consider, the common elements. Is there a pattern here?

    2. Blue

      He gets off on hating it.

    3. Taffy

      He’s got the White Man’s fetish for feeling like the victim in scenarios he deliberately creates and/or invites. Heyooooo

  25. a/snow/mous/e

    Don’t stop bully-ving

    1. mrnoidea

      Hold on to the feeling!

  26. anon

    Canadian Bullying Brit (Gone Wrong/Sexual) lol

  27. Taffy

    Ruth is hot, y’all.

  28. Shadowsnail

    Ruth is feeling less than (Ruthlessthan).

  29. Rabisch

    Poor Ruth, at least she has Jason now. She knows he will be with her even in the worst moments ♡. Let’s hope Jason like this kind of situations.

  30. Imogen

    I can honestly say I don’t think I would ship Jason with so much as a deciduous shrub.

  31. Felian

    Consensual bullying? fine by me.

    1. Needfuldoer

      Some people pay good money for that!

  32. AGV

    Tune in for the next strip, where we’ll learn wether Jason is offended over not having a choice or Ruth having to ask

  33. Wakeangel2001

    fine, just don’t expect me to be all “step on me mommy” about it…

  34. reblaw

    I know that a lot of this is scoped around the dorms, especially Joyce’s floor, but is anyone else getting the impression that Jason may be homeless and basically living with Ruth?
    (Also, my thoughts on yesterday’s comic are “holy hell, Ruth hasn’t made much progress, she may not be drinking in excess as much but the self-loathing that lead to it sure hasn’t left”)

    1. reblaw

      Additional comment: it seems Ruth’s stagnation is kind of contrasted with Billie/Jennifer who seems to be reinventing herself for the better.

      1. StClair

        We’re still at the “ooh, ahh” part, and haven’t gotten to the “running and screaming.” /ianmalcolm

      2. thejeff

        I think the contrast is intentional, but for Jennifer the “seems” is doing an awful lot of work. It’s pretty clear that neither of these two is doing that well.
        We’ll see what happens when Jennifer’s new circle of friends comes crashing down.

  35. Stephen Nedland

    Of course, you have a choice, Jason; you have every right to say no. Now, old Ruthi would have completely ignored your choice, and just bullied you anyway, but new Ruth is trying to be more respectful, so there may be a chance she will listen.

  36. Keulen

    As long as Jason’s ok with it, this seems fine.

  37. AlaninDC

    Please don’t Slipshine these two…

    1. The Wellerman

      Don’t worry. If it does happen, I’ll spare you the eye bleach by letting you know of important story-relevant events or quotes within ?

  38. Blue

    Oh no Ruth!

  39. Yet_One_More_Idiot

    Ruth, if Jason agrees to LET you bully him, it’s not really bullying…it’s foreplay. ;D

  40. Laura

    Happy Father’s Day, Willis, and to all the Dads and Pops and Papis and Fathers out here reading! Thanks for resisting the urge to become evil masked supervillains! ;-D

    1. Laura

      (And of course, “Fathers” here includes all those who stand in nurturing roles: no matter whether one nurtures humans, animals, plants, communities, projects, or ideas, or even – ESPECIALLY – oneself.)

      1. Laura

        *Plays idea-conceiving focus music on the hacked muzak*
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCXX91QnZSg

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