“Uh, we had a slight relationship malfunction, but uh… everything’s perfectly all right now. We’re fine. We’re all fine here now, thank you. How are you?”
I don’t care what you smell you big furry oaf, just get in there!
Lieutenant Dan
It’s not wise to upset a Walky.
Adept
I mean what the hell Lucy? You burnt that bridge with a napalm strike. There’s nothing for you here.
Daniel M Ball
The breakup wasn’t THAT bad. There is still (remains) a possible ‘just friends’ or neutral status, these are TEENAGERS for christ’s sake. No pregnancies were involved, no heavy financial interties, no jointly held properties, just ‘dated, found out it didn’t work’ and go. (then again, when I was college age, I kinda didn’t have any feelings at all that way, I was far too involved with painting miniatures and laying down head-trips for my stoner friends at the game table, with dice…)
thejeff
Yeah, it’s definitely possible to recover from this and still be friends or just neutral, but it’s literally the next day and that’s awkward. Going to take a bit of time to adjust
TerribleTransit
Heck, it was only nebulously a breakup at all. I wouldn’t put money on it, but “Hey, I was and am upset about things but still like you and want to see if we can work through it” is a theoretically plausible trajectory for these two. Very long odds, but weirder things have happened.
This is David Walkerton, he’s slightly less socially adept at eighteen than I was-and I had to learn my social skills in the Army because I didn’t HAVE any. that said, do you REALLY think he’s going to think of that, and not ‘what he’s doing at this very moment’?
‘cuz I don’t.
Ooooof, and on a Valentine’s Day strip of all times.
How ya’ll celebrating anyways?
Even if you don’t gotta partner to spend it with (I Know I don’t), ’tis a good day to practice self-love and treat yourself to something special regardless! <3
Mmmmm… ngl tho I more a French toast kinda girl :9
imma treat myself to home-made pot brownies for sure, followed by a medley of watching movies and retro game playthroughs, looking at spritesheets and nostalgic dinosaur stuff online, and coding a video game about dinosaurs because Dina ??
Its awkward cause I got up this morning and she’s still on the 13th so we chatted before I had to go off to work. She’s prolly going to get up in an hour and we’ll chat some more before she has to go to work. And that’s most likely to be that. Distance relationships can suck in that way.
V-day was always kind of a strange day for me. The V-day after my partner passed I was in a super bad way.
Today I just took extra meds, read a bunch of funny memes online, hardly worked at all, wrote stories to send to a friend, and stuffed myself on chocolate and sushi. It was a sad day, but it’s almost over. And it’s also a day to feel grateful, in spite of everything.
2/14 will be a better day. I got my V-day sadness out of the way ahead of time. We’ll be all right.
??? Warm fuzziness to everyone who wants some, and respectful distance maintained for those who prefer to preserve their space.?
Chinese food, a big heart-shaped box full of Reese’s chocolates, ᵃᵍᵍʳᵉˢˢᶦᵛᵉ ˢᵉˣ, large doses of Delta-9, and a marathon of the entire live-action Resident Evil movie series. So basically a normal night but with more drugs.
The live action RE movies were my old guilty pleasure. Even made a point of watching the at the cinema.
then the final movie was bad enough that it went from “guilty pleasure” to “Jesus no, abandon ship, jump overboard”
Celebrating is a debatable term. I’ll be getting up and working all day… since I work in a restaurant, well, it’ll be a nonstop marathon hell-scape on what is normally my day off. On the up side, week off soon.
We celebrate Valentines day almost every year with me fixing us Chinese food in memory of the day some 30 years ago she invited me out for hamburger. Don’t ask.
I was recently working on a piece of digital art, a psychedelic train, to see if I could and she looked over my shoulder and said, I really like that one.” So she’s getting a matted print.
I’m going to hang out with my husband and watch him play The Quarry. We usually have a tradition of ordering a pizza but we hung out with hubby’s bff last night and had pizza. So I think I’ll make Mapo Tofu tonight. :3
A good question indeed. Everyone’s been talking like these two are already broken up but let’s be real they definitely haven’t figured that out yet. Prospects certainly don’t look good though.
It doesn’t matter if anything has actually happened. If it’s been even slightly hinted at as a possibility, people will leap on it like starving hyenas. Joyce’s autism diagnosis (didn’t happen), Walky and Lucy breaking up for certain (not quite yet), Booster having any appealing characteristics beyond the occasional kinda-nice outfit, whatever else.
Okay, but by narrative conventions, we can effectively know what the results are of Joyce’s diagnosis before it happens, because this is a story and not real life. Like, why bring it up, why make it a plot point, if the conclusion to the arc is just “Oh, no, you’re neurotypical, you just had a bad childhood”? A thing we already know, a thing that this does nothing to reiterate?
If the narrative actually focuses on the diagnostic process (which it probably never will), then the only satisfying conclusions are either “yes, she has autism”, or potentially “no, but she has OCD or some other neurodivergence instead (or in addition to).” And if we know that those are the narrative outcomes, and we know that the former is more likely than the latter, and we also know that the diagnostic process prolly won’t be shown because it’s narratively redundant, then readers can just safely assume that Joyce is autistic. That that was the point of bringing it up in the story.
what the hell Oracle? “homophobe”? also, misgendering. stay classy ?
Uly
What Taffy said is that since Joyce hasn’t been diagnosed yet it’s somehow jumping to conclusions to talk as though she’s autistic. Except it’s not, for the reasons stated. There’s no point bringing it up in story only for it to go nowhere. Everybody understands that but the two of you.
nicoleandmaggie
Checkov’s diagnosis?
Uly
Pretty much?
Adam Black
It can be ambiguous. esp with other diagnosis. That was already discussed, and can be the point. Plus one more need to unpack something post religious upbringing.
Plus its autobiographical, and diagnosis criteria probably changed in 20 years.
yeah other than letting everyone know or wanting some distance, walking to class together isn’t exactly a romantic thing in a group setting but even if they do walk together i assume they’re still gonna be in the same class, tho i imagine it’d be too late to change seats (unless it’s a first come first serve thing even if college tech doesn’t have seat assignments like some places, i imagine most ppl just ‘choose’ one themselves)
She said specifically, “See you at math tomorrow”. Which couldn’t really be avoided, since neither of them are going to drop the class, but also implies not before then and thus not walking there together.
And while walking to class together isn’t exactly romantic, it’s awkward as hell. At the start of a breakup, assuming that’s what this is, every contact is. But this is public, with friends, in a context where they’ll have to make small talk, but can’t actually hash out what’s going on between them.
If Lucy’s here to stake a claim on her place in the friend group, it’s a really aggressive move. It’s also possible she’s just going along with her routine, not realizing how awkward it’ll be. This is her first breakup, I believe.
There’s some uncertainty. “I need to be brave enough to know when I deserve better,” leans towards finality, but it’s still a little ambiguous.
He did not seem to be expecting her, and he did tell Sal they “kinda blew up”. And then he ran into Dorothy at karaoke.
192 thoughts on “Good question”
Ana Chronistic
“Uh, we had a slight relationship malfunction, but uh… everything’s perfectly all right now. We’re fine. We’re all fine here now, thank you. How are you?”
Ryan
Boring conversation anyway. I think they’re going to have company.
Decidedly Orthogonal
I don’t care what you smell you big furry oaf, just get in there!
Lieutenant Dan
It’s not wise to upset a Walky.
Adept
I mean what the hell Lucy? You burnt that bridge with a napalm strike. There’s nothing for you here.
Daniel M Ball
The breakup wasn’t THAT bad. There is still (remains) a possible ‘just friends’ or neutral status, these are TEENAGERS for christ’s sake. No pregnancies were involved, no heavy financial interties, no jointly held properties, just ‘dated, found out it didn’t work’ and go. (then again, when I was college age, I kinda didn’t have any feelings at all that way, I was far too involved with painting miniatures and laying down head-trips for my stoner friends at the game table, with dice…)
thejeff
Yeah, it’s definitely possible to recover from this and still be friends or just neutral, but it’s literally the next day and that’s awkward. Going to take a bit of time to adjust
TerribleTransit
Heck, it was only nebulously a breakup at all. I wouldn’t put money on it, but “Hey, I was and am upset about things but still like you and want to see if we can work through it” is a theoretically plausible trajectory for these two. Very long odds, but weirder things have happened.
The Oracle
What’s he going to do? Eat chips about it?
NGPZ
Chips are delicious, but he might also lampoon you in his totally awesome webcomic Law-esome
anon
i would’ve expected walky to be even later on purpose to avoid them. or at least send a courtesy text or so
Daniel M Ball
This is David Walkerton, he’s slightly less socially adept at eighteen than I was-and I had to learn my social skills in the Army because I didn’t HAVE any. that said, do you REALLY think he’s going to think of that, and not ‘what he’s doing at this very moment’?
‘cuz I don’t.
thejeff
Far more reasonable to expect Lucy to not show up. She’s the one coming from another dorm to meet them to walk to class.
Needfuldoer
Fine: Everything
The matter: Nothing
JA
Who is this? What’s your operating number?
NGPZ
Ooooof, and on a Valentine’s Day strip of all times.
How ya’ll celebrating anyways?
Even if you don’t gotta partner to spend it with (I Know I don’t), ’tis a good day to practice self-love and treat yourself to something special regardless! <3
Doctor_Who
Going to a concert tonight.
Kim
Oooo! Who’s playing?
David DeLaney
no, Who’s _attending_, they just SAID so
–Dave, manfully resisted the urge to answer “Yes!”
True Survivor
Tomorrow morning I think I shall have pancakes. I like pancakes. Are you doing anything special?
NGPZ
Mmmmm… ngl tho I more a French toast kinda girl :9
imma treat myself to home-made pot brownies for sure, followed by a medley of watching movies and retro game playthroughs, looking at spritesheets and nostalgic dinosaur stuff online, and coding a video game about dinosaurs because Dina ??
CallynD
I’mma try to get a random made up for Valentines Day Pokemon.
ktbear
Its awkward cause I got up this morning and she’s still on the 13th so we chatted before I had to go off to work. She’s prolly going to get up in an hour and we’ll chat some more before she has to go to work. And that’s most likely to be that. Distance relationships can suck in that way.
Ana Chronistic
LDRs suck, it’s like not being in a relationship at all, but without the freedom to pursue anyone (unless you’re in an open relationship I guess)
Nathan
I was gonna spend it with my queerplatonic partner, but I’m sick so we might not
Laura
Hope you recover smoothly and thoroughly!
The Oracle
There has to be a catchier name for that.
cbwroses
I might bake some cookies from scratch for the second time.
Laura
Thanks, NG! Happy Pal-In-Time Day, Pals o’ Mine! ?
V-day was always kind of a strange day for me. The V-day after my partner passed I was in a super bad way.
Today I just took extra meds, read a bunch of funny memes online, hardly worked at all, wrote stories to send to a friend, and stuffed myself on chocolate and sushi. It was a sad day, but it’s almost over. And it’s also a day to feel grateful, in spite of everything.
2/14 will be a better day. I got my V-day sadness out of the way ahead of time. We’ll be all right.
??? Warm fuzziness to everyone who wants some, and respectful distance maintained for those who prefer to preserve their space.?
To each according to their needs and wishes.
Bash
Valentine’s day is Persona Day for me.
HueSatLight
Listen to Love Below and do annoying paperwork.
Taffy
Chinese food, a big heart-shaped box full of Reese’s chocolates, ᵃᵍᵍʳᵉˢˢᶦᵛᵉ ˢᵉˣ, large doses of Delta-9, and a marathon of the entire live-action Resident Evil movie series. So basically a normal night but with more drugs.
Mr D
The live action RE movies were my old guilty pleasure. Even made a point of watching the at the cinema.
then the final movie was bad enough that it went from “guilty pleasure” to “Jesus no, abandon ship, jump overboard”
Taffy
Yeesh, was this ever premature.
The Oracle
Haha!
vlademir1
Celebrating is a debatable term. I’ll be getting up and working all day… since I work in a restaurant, well, it’ll be a nonstop marathon hell-scape on what is normally my day off. On the up side, week off soon.
Clif
We celebrate Valentines day almost every year with me fixing us Chinese food in memory of the day some 30 years ago she invited me out for hamburger. Don’t ask.
I was recently working on a piece of digital art, a psychedelic train, to see if I could and she looked over my shoulder and said, I really like that one.” So she’s getting a matted print.
Laura
That is so sweet.
Laura
Good luck!
Decidedly Orthogonal
My love is in hospital in another country. ? I’ll be spending the day with my kids to show them they’re loved and deserve feeling loved.
Laura
Sending hopes for you and your loved ones.
??❤️?
Nicoleandmaggie
My youngest (in middle school) is planning to wear all green. I approve.
Max Void
treating myself to a doctors appointment for prescription refill and what steps to take on possible tendonitis or carpal tunnel of the wrists.
yay!
Mark
Rolling out at 05:30 to do a database migration.
egg egg
I’m going to hang out with my husband and watch him play The Quarry. We usually have a tradition of ordering a pizza but we hung out with hubby’s bff last night and had pizza. So I think I’ll make Mapo Tofu tonight. :3
Bruceski
Telling myself I love me in my favorite way: a large amount of turkey.
It’s not exactly a healthy relationship, but my heart’s in the right place.
Thag Simmons
Well, nobody’s yelling yet. Let’s call that a promising start
Reltzik
Yeah, it’s better for everyone if they just fume in silence.
Claire
Perfect Valentine’s Day strip, you’ve done it again.
True Survivor
He’s a genius.
Nathan
Sarah already starting to feel better as she senses the emotional blood in the water.
Armadillo
A good question indeed. Everyone’s been talking like these two are already broken up but let’s be real they definitely haven’t figured that out yet. Prospects certainly don’t look good though.
Carms
With THIS strip on THIS day, they DUN sir
Thag Simmons
I mean it’s theoretically possible, but I don’t think it’s happening.
Taffy
It doesn’t matter if anything has actually happened. If it’s been even slightly hinted at as a possibility, people will leap on it like starving hyenas. Joyce’s autism diagnosis (didn’t happen), Walky and Lucy breaking up for certain (not quite yet), Booster having any appealing characteristics beyond the occasional kinda-nice outfit, whatever else.
Coatl
But it had already been clarified in previous strips that it was a possible autism, a diagnosis was never given to prove that Joyce had it.
Taffy
I only speak English.
Taffy
Oh goddamn it. This is the wrong website entirely, I have to stop commenting when I’m smashed.
Clif
In celebration of this Valentines day, I will henceforth answer random comments with the phrase, “I only speak English. “
The Oracle
You would, too.
Jeremiah
Please do, I think it make you sound like an asshole.
Tesset
Okay, but by narrative conventions, we can effectively know what the results are of Joyce’s diagnosis before it happens, because this is a story and not real life. Like, why bring it up, why make it a plot point, if the conclusion to the arc is just “Oh, no, you’re neurotypical, you just had a bad childhood”? A thing we already know, a thing that this does nothing to reiterate?
If the narrative actually focuses on the diagnostic process (which it probably never will), then the only satisfying conclusions are either “yes, she has autism”, or potentially “no, but she has OCD or some other neurodivergence instead (or in addition to).” And if we know that those are the narrative outcomes, and we know that the former is more likely than the latter, and we also know that the diagnostic process prolly won’t be shown because it’s narratively redundant, then readers can just safely assume that Joyce is autistic. That that was the point of bringing it up in the story.
milu
what the hell Oracle? “homophobe”? also, misgendering. stay classy ?
Uly
What Taffy said is that since Joyce hasn’t been diagnosed yet it’s somehow jumping to conclusions to talk as though she’s autistic. Except it’s not, for the reasons stated. There’s no point bringing it up in story only for it to go nowhere. Everybody understands that but the two of you.
nicoleandmaggie
Checkov’s diagnosis?
Uly
Pretty much?
Adam Black
It can be ambiguous. esp with other diagnosis. That was already discussed, and can be the point. Plus one more need to unpack something post religious upbringing.
Plus its autobiographical, and diagnosis criteria probably changed in 20 years.
Coatl
Well, first of all, she said “see you tomorrow.”
The day has already started and she shows disinterest….and that already scared Walky.
With everything that happened, I think that at least he should show his face.
anon
yeah other than letting everyone know or wanting some distance, walking to class together isn’t exactly a romantic thing in a group setting but even if they do walk together i assume they’re still gonna be in the same class, tho i imagine it’d be too late to change seats (unless it’s a first come first serve thing even if college tech doesn’t have seat assignments like some places, i imagine most ppl just ‘choose’ one themselves)
thejeff
She said specifically, “See you at math tomorrow”. Which couldn’t really be avoided, since neither of them are going to drop the class, but also implies not before then and thus not walking there together.
And while walking to class together isn’t exactly romantic, it’s awkward as hell. At the start of a breakup, assuming that’s what this is, every contact is. But this is public, with friends, in a context where they’ll have to make small talk, but can’t actually hash out what’s going on between them.
If Lucy’s here to stake a claim on her place in the friend group, it’s a really aggressive move. It’s also possible she’s just going along with her routine, not realizing how awkward it’ll be. This is her first breakup, I believe.
HueSatLight
There’s some uncertainty. “I need to be brave enough to know when I deserve better,” leans towards finality, but it’s still a little ambiguous.
He did not seem to be expecting her, and he did tell Sal they “kinda blew up”. And then he ran into Dorothy at karaoke.
Coatl
Damn, now that you mention the karaoke thing, I’m curious to know what happened next.
Because to be honest, it could have been the perfect opportunity for Walky to see Dorothy from a new perspective.
Bash