I imagine it going as only one of them (based on this strip, Ruth) thinks of it as a dress-up worthy thing, so she tries her best to fix herself up and Billie just goes with what she has on.
Nah, Billy was a cheerleader and most of them care about status enough that they’re more than capable of dressing up for a social outing much less a date with a girl she likes.
Now, I think a casual comfortable date would be just as fun as a get dressed up and go out to a nice place to eat date.
I am unsure of if this is Ruth trying to go for some normalcy since they don’t have her position to worry about, or if this is a worry on her part that they may be drifting by not having things be the same way they were.
That’s what it seems like, but I feel like a date is also a good step into normalizing the relationship and taking it away from just being a weird suicide-pact/codependency thing
DailyBrad
Especially since this comes alongside her trying to have a more healthy outlook and dial back the aggression. So that might be a point towards the “Date is what normal people do, right, let us do the normal thing” camp.
It’s accepting that Billie is something good, and real, and hers. It’s about remembering Billie being there for her. It’s about wanting to have trust and hope that that special thing truly is hers, and that it won’t slip away. It’s about wanting to truly have it as her own, to be able to place weight on it and not find it fall out from under her.
It’s about starting to breathe again, after so long holding her breath.
In Panel 4, Ruth’s eyes have shrunk to pinpoints. This happens when she is withdrawing, crawling back into her shell, retreating from the world.
But, in Panel 5, she realizes what she’s doing, and makes a conscious effort to come back out again, to engage with Billie, proposing a social and public activity.
She’s fighting back, and it’s beautiful.
A little creepy, too, the way she does it, but it’s very Ruth.
Jarawara
Speaking of creepy – the scrollover text reads “we all go on dates in here”. I don’t know if that was just Willis making commentary on how many couplings there has been, but to me it read like a line from the movie ‘It’.
Ruthiewise the Dancing Clown: “We all Float down here. We also date. And when you come down here, you’ll date too. You’ll all date down here!”
In all honesty, I really hope willis does this. It’d be fascinating to see them get ready for the date, then skip right to the messy aftermath and let the readers find out what happened bit by bit from the secondhand accounts of other characters
This is how awkward I am with a dude I mess around with. Sometimes it is easier to fuck and bongo about things than it is to have normal conversation and dates…and then when you WANT a normal date or something it is now ruined because you’ve built one kind of relationship to the point where doing anything different with someone and fixing things to be better seems impossible.
I am reassured, based on my own learning. This is advanced stuff that Ruth is doing here. 1) Realizing early on her need for more quality time together. 2) Being upfront and constructive about it. 3) Not trivializing or backing out when questioned.
small brain: throw toy at head
medium brain: watch toons together
expanded brain: get drunk together
galactic brain: be emotional support
cosmic god brain: lets play with toys
I said a long time ago that if Billie and Ruth was ever to have a chance to survive, they’d have to figure out the transition from co-dependence towards a more healthy dynamic and I think we see here some signs that both are trying in their own way.
On Billie’s end, we see her making time for Ruth but avoiding the temptation to sequester herself permanently in Ruth’s sphere and check in while letting her know that she’ll be okay with some time and space. That she has built that ability (through therapy and medication) to survive the quiet with her thoughts.
On Ruth’s end, we see her still scared of letting go, but trying in her way to not interfere with Billie taking time on her own and be supportive of Billie’s needs and not smother her and she’s also made a huge leap forward in her growth.
That Panel 4 is her fighting off her demons, Grampus “sir”‘s voice telling her that Billie will wise up and leave her, that screaming voice she’s internalized through his repeated abuse.
Panel 5 is her winning. And Panel 7 is her pushing herself into something new, something very healthy. A request for a date.
Cause it’s something Billie has requested wanting and which Ruth in her depressed state couldn’t imagine doing. For her to push for a traditional date is her stepping out of her comfort zone and trying with support to be more rounded and appreciative of her relationship.
And Panel 7 is how hard that is, how loud the voices of self-doubt are. Even though she knows Billie loves her, part of her does fear that it is temporary or dependent on the unhealthy dynamic or that her Grampus “sir” is right. She’s half-behind the door, ready to run if her greatest fears manifest, but also half-out of the door, not retreating, standing on faith that something beautiful is there and will still be there through her recovery.
Their origins are horrible. But this moment isolated from that is beautiful and a sign of a really positive step in their relationship.
111 thoughts on “Schoolwork”
Ana Chronistic
GALASSO’S
…please??
Yumi
And then a scenic walk by Blowjob Cat.
adjudicus
Followed by a stroll past the stairs where Amber incapacitated druggo mcstabbed
MK15
‘Legend has it, before the cops hauled him away, a vengeful RA removed both his femurs.’
Mr D
*a-Hem*
Reltzik
…. is there another place in town? I don’t think there is.
sporks5000
As far as the comic goes, I don’t think so. But real world Bloomington? Oh wow there are so many delicious places to eat there.
Reltzik
…. wait, a delicious PLACE to eat? Like, what, a gingerbread house?
Jack Spade
There’s the fountain that Becky got kidnapped at. And the one bar in town.
leadsynth
There’s that sushi place that Joyce enjoyed so much!
thejeff
There’s the Chick-Fil-A Becky applied at (where the nice gay boy worked).
No Not That Sierra
Galasso’s, where they’ll be waited on by Becky. I predict shenanigans as Becky is exposed to yet another unhealthy relationship.
…She is still working there, right?
Bagge
I think she’ll just go full Joyce on them.
“Here is your order (now kiiiiiiiss her). Just let me know if you need anything else (aaaask her to take off her haaaaaat)”
AnvilPro
“It is what the Hoo-mans do, yes?”
Screwball
According to what I hear. Haven’t had much opportunity to see it for myself, but it’s what I hear…
Aaaand Daniel the Human is annoyed-glaring at me, so I’m gonna shut up now…
laladoria
This is an amazing idea. I want to see this! I want to see them dressed up and pretty-fied!!!!
Yumi
I imagine it going as only one of them (based on this strip, Ruth) thinks of it as a dress-up worthy thing, so she tries her best to fix herself up and Billie just goes with what she has on.
Arawn
Nah, Billy was a cheerleader and most of them care about status enough that they’re more than capable of dressing up for a social outing much less a date with a girl she likes.
Now, I think a casual comfortable date would be just as fun as a get dressed up and go out to a nice place to eat date.
DarkoNeko
yesss
Schpoonman
*GASP* Ohmygodohmygodohmygod this is really happening.
Zaidyer
“Stop, don’t go! Can’t you see our rapidly improving mental health is tearing this relationship apart?!”
DailyBrad
I am unsure of if this is Ruth trying to go for some normalcy since they don’t have her position to worry about, or if this is a worry on her part that they may be drifting by not having things be the same way they were.
In either case, I do hope they can work it out.
Leorale
I read it strongly as worry that they’ll drift apart.
notYash
That’s what it seems like, but I feel like a date is also a good step into normalizing the relationship and taking it away from just being a weird suicide-pact/codependency thing
DailyBrad
Especially since this comes alongside her trying to have a more healthy outlook and dial back the aggression. So that might be a point towards the “Date is what normal people do, right, let us do the normal thing” camp.
Joyous ☿
Mood
HeySo
It’s accepting that Billie is something good, and real, and hers. It’s about remembering Billie being there for her. It’s about wanting to have trust and hope that that special thing truly is hers, and that it won’t slip away. It’s about wanting to truly have it as her own, to be able to place weight on it and not find it fall out from under her.
It’s about starting to breathe again, after so long holding her breath.
It’s a…
Deanatay
Note the eyes.
In Panel 4, Ruth’s eyes have shrunk to pinpoints. This happens when she is withdrawing, crawling back into her shell, retreating from the world.
But, in Panel 5, she realizes what she’s doing, and makes a conscious effort to come back out again, to engage with Billie, proposing a social and public activity.
She’s fighting back, and it’s beautiful.
A little creepy, too, the way she does it, but it’s very Ruth.
Jarawara
Speaking of creepy – the scrollover text reads “we all go on dates in here”. I don’t know if that was just Willis making commentary on how many couplings there has been, but to me it read like a line from the movie ‘It’.
Ruthiewise the Dancing Clown: “We all Float down here. We also date. And when you come down here, you’ll date too. You’ll all date down here!”
raker
“Note the eyes.” I love this interpretation.
Keulen
I will be so pissed with you if this date doesn’t happen Willis.
Yumi
It happens, but it happens during a time skip and becomes a noodle incident.
adjudicus
In all honesty, I really hope willis does this. It’d be fascinating to see them get ready for the date, then skip right to the messy aftermath and let the readers find out what happened bit by bit from the secondhand accounts of other characters
darkgloomie
The date will be the next slipshine.
butting
“We are NEVER going out for chow mein again!”
Wright
I’m just glad that Ruth said “tonight”. If she said “Friday” or something, we might not see it until June.
Dean
Ruth is talking to the cricket here.
King Daniel
Tag the cricket?
Rosicrucian
Ruth is kinda adorable when the snark runs out?
Needfuldoer
What do you mean, ‘kinda’?
Danni
what do dates with billie even look like?
Bagge
Drunk sex?
Io
*died laughing*
DailyBrad
Going by her sorta-ex from highschool, they probably didn’t look great even before Ruth and her bumped uglies.
butting
wait
dates == schoolwork?
MY WHOLE EDUCATION WAS A LIE
Stephen Bierce
*looks over a horribly huge pile of 1970s soft rock/adult contemporary*
Black
Amazing what you can do in a relationship when you’re not in a suicide pact, huh?
QueerCat
This is how awkward I am with a dude I mess around with. Sometimes it is easier to fuck and bongo about things than it is to have normal conversation and dates…and then when you WANT a normal date or something it is now ruined because you’ve built one kind of relationship to the point where doing anything different with someone and fixing things to be better seems impossible.
BBCC
This could be very very cute, go very very wrong, or be very very much a bit of both.
JessWitt
Mostly cute, but a bit wrong. That’s my realistic expectations for today.
Passchendaele
I’m worried by the underlying motivations but eeeeeeeee *more excited screaming*
missilentmurmur
I am reassured, based on my own learning. This is advanced stuff that Ruth is doing here. 1) Realizing early on her need for more quality time together. 2) Being upfront and constructive about it. 3) Not trivializing or backing out when questioned.
Pablo360
Omigod are they going to hold hands and look at pictures of dinosaurs
Fire_daws
No, they’re going to backpack through Europe and get manicures.
MM
Quick! Throw a toy at her head!
Danni
small brain: throw toy at head
medium brain: watch toons together
expanded brain: get drunk together
galactic brain: be emotional support
cosmic god brain: lets play with toys
Miguel
Hurrah
Mr. Random
Awkward, but roughly how I went on my first date.
JessWitt
First date! The big milestone as a newly out couple!
Deadjolras
Forget about going on a date. After that last panel, I’d marry Ruth on the spot.
Meta
winning smile
Sporky
best Ruth face
Delicious Taffy
Ruth is so Peridot, it hurts.
Meta
That’s real
Inahc
🙂
ValdVin
Panel five: “Feel my unbridled
ragepassion!”Reltzik
It’s a bit late to ask her out, Ruth. The two of you are ALREADY out.
Koms
I see what you did there. o_O
Cerberus
Comic Reactions:
I said a long time ago that if Billie and Ruth was ever to have a chance to survive, they’d have to figure out the transition from co-dependence towards a more healthy dynamic and I think we see here some signs that both are trying in their own way.
On Billie’s end, we see her making time for Ruth but avoiding the temptation to sequester herself permanently in Ruth’s sphere and check in while letting her know that she’ll be okay with some time and space. That she has built that ability (through therapy and medication) to survive the quiet with her thoughts.
On Ruth’s end, we see her still scared of letting go, but trying in her way to not interfere with Billie taking time on her own and be supportive of Billie’s needs and not smother her and she’s also made a huge leap forward in her growth.
That Panel 4 is her fighting off her demons, Grampus “sir”‘s voice telling her that Billie will wise up and leave her, that screaming voice she’s internalized through his repeated abuse.
Panel 5 is her winning. And Panel 7 is her pushing herself into something new, something very healthy. A request for a date.
Cause it’s something Billie has requested wanting and which Ruth in her depressed state couldn’t imagine doing. For her to push for a traditional date is her stepping out of her comfort zone and trying with support to be more rounded and appreciative of her relationship.
And Panel 7 is how hard that is, how loud the voices of self-doubt are. Even though she knows Billie loves her, part of her does fear that it is temporary or dependent on the unhealthy dynamic or that her Grampus “sir” is right. She’s half-behind the door, ready to run if her greatest fears manifest, but also half-out of the door, not retreating, standing on faith that something beautiful is there and will still be there through her recovery.
Their origins are horrible. But this moment isolated from that is beautiful and a sign of a really positive step in their relationship.
Inahc
🙂 she asked for a thing! Yay!
Bagge