275

Traumatizing
Posted on May 17, 2016 by David M Willis

275 thoughts on “Traumatizing”

  1. Ana Chronistic

    you’d think Ethan would actually be hyper-aware of Jacob’s whereabouts at any given time

    (different kind of gay-dar in action)

    1. Ana Chronistic

      Ethaniel?

      Dethany?

      1. Edhead

        How about Big Nate?

        1. Edhead

          I’ve got it. Ethanol. They both get really drunk and start doing the sexing to each other.

        2. Dean

          Ethanny.

        3. Leorale

          Seecox.

        4. GoldStarz

          Only if you buy the Slipshine.

        5. Anon

          Hah! You get a gold star for that. I actually had to stifle a chortle, well done.

        6. N0083rP00F

          Just don’t smother it – chortles are a rare and endangered breed and there are so very few of them out in the wild anymore.

        7. kkiten

          Ethanny.

      2. DSL

        Dethany’s taken. http://onthefastrack.com/cast/

        1. Ana Chronistic

          (psst ThatsTheJoke.jpg)

          ((yay someone else recognized her!))

    2. linkman0596

      you mean the friendly compass?

    3. Bagge

      You know how you can distort a compass with a large enough magnet? Danny is that magnet!

      1. DarkVeghetta

        It makes so much sense now! xD

      2. Elise

        That is an adorable metaphor.

      3. N0083rP00F

        My little sister distorted my compass sitting on it, so it is a bit of a challenge to adjust it for different sized circles.

        1. Bagge

          um… in this metaphor Danny is… your sisters butt and Jacob is a… circle of a different size….

          let me get back to you on that one.

        2. JustShy

          I’m pretty sure your sister isn’t supposed to distort your compass.

    4. Some1

      This feels appropriate (Safe for Work)

      http://www.smbc-comics.com/?id=119

      1. Rukduk

        That is some damn good gaydar. Mine is…not so good to say the least. I mean, I accidentally walked into a gay bar once and didn’t realize it until I left four hours later. That was one of the most “Aha!” moments of my life. Felt like a fool for a good couple of days afterwards though.

      2. TheEighthShade

        Yo, I’m who quotes SMBC to prove a point, get out my swamp!

  2. Edhead

    CAN YOU FEEL IT?
    CAN YOU SENSE IT?
    HERE IT COMES!

    1. Edhead

      THE GAY-BOMB! IN FULL EFFECT!

      1. Wheelpath

        The threshold’s taken too many hits already, it’ll collapse under the effects of a working gay-bomb. EVERYONE BRACE YOURSELVES

      2. Sageress

        2016

        NEO-WALKYVERSE IS ABOUT TO E X P L O D E

    2. MatthewTheLucky

      There has been an awakening…
      in their pants.

      1. Doctor_Who

        In. Their. Pants.

  3. Mandy

    Good ol’ Jacob!

    1. modulusshift

      He’s not buying it. They protest too much.

      1. rezby

        they’re pretty clearly leaning inwards towards each other in panel 2 and if not for the interruption, would have gotten closer and closer and the strip would have ended with them kissing, and possibly also stripping.

        1. Marisa Mockery

          Dammit Jacob don’t be a cockblocker

        2. Needfuldoer

          Just the opposite, he just doesn’t want to be around when other people bang.

        3. Chaucer59

          Who said anything about blockage? Jacob just wants to know when to set up the secret camera.

        4. Riku

          “Advance notice to vacate”

        5. WubbGmbaa

          “Cool, just gimme a minute”
          *sets up tripod*
          *turns on camera*
          And that, kids, is how slipshines are made.

  4. Mr. Random

    SURPRISE!

  5. Russ

    He’s so sneaky!

  6. gkheyf

    i am so happy that he exists right now

  7. tim gueguen

    Jacob and Dina share the same superpower.

    1. Doctor_Who

      They trained at the same ninja academy.

      1. Ghostforge

        and it’s an open secret there that three students were chosen to be Power Rangers(c)!

        1. miados

          if its not from the dino zord saga dino will just opt out.

        2. Doctor_Who

          Man, Dina would have so many issues with that show. Only two of the zords were even fucking dinosaurs.

        3. NelC

          Wait, the zords fucked dinosaurs?

        4. TheEighthShade

          It’s an old meme, but it checks out. One internet for you sir!

        5. Roborat

          What were the others fucking?

        6. Tacos

          There’s like three different power ranger series with dinosaurs last I checked.

        7. SonicBlueRanger

          Did someone ask for Power Rangers Trivia? Yes there are three sets of Dino powers. Mighty Morphin had a Dino theme outside of three of them but still. Their Zords come from Zordon.

          Dino Thunder had all Dino’s getting their powers from Gemstones that were in (apparently one of) the Meteors that hit the earth and their Zords were created by Tommy who before this season was a forgetful Karate dork. Now he’s a paleontologist. Because.

          The Current set is Dino Charge. They gained their Powers from magic Space gems known as Energems (Side note the meteors that wiped out the Dinosaurs were part of a space bounty hunters collection). Their Zords come from IIRC An Alien guardian of the Energems named Keeper giving the Gems to Dinosaurs for safe keeping literally seconds before the Meteors hit earth. I think they Morphed The Dinosaurs into Zords but as good as the season has been I’m not too clear on that.

          This has been a post about something nobody but me cares about.

        8. Greenygal

          I wonder if Dina would like Dino Charge, or if the inevitable Getting Things Wrong would wear on her too much? Pretty sure she’d appreciate Shelby as a fellow dino enthusiast, though.

        9. Kamino Neko

          Only 3 of the 7 first season zords were actually dinosaurs – the T. rex, the Triceratops, and Titanus (a Brachiosaur). One more, the Pteranodon, was an archosaur (the same group dinosaurs belong to), and two of the remaining three were extinct mammals. The last was a dragon…nominally. He’s really a Godzilla.

        10. Kamino Neko

          (Also, looking at the Ranger Wiki, which I had to open to find Titanus’ name, I notice both the Pteranodon and Mammoth were properly named in Zyuranger, but misidentified as a Pterodactyl and Mastodon in Power Rangers…I can see the Pteranodon/Pterodactyl mistake, since people tend to misuse Pterodactyl for all Pterosaurs, and Pteranodon is the most iconic visually…but calling the Mammoth a Mastodon?)

        11. Orion Fury

          Bigger punch?

    2. AndroidDreams

      Judging by the redhead on the calender, they also share the same taste in girls *leaves*

      1. Doctor_Who

        Maybe Ethan hung that up when he was pretending to be straight. Now that Jacob knows, he can replace it with a poster of Chris Evans. Or something.

        I honestly don’t know what his taste in guys is, other than Batman.

        1. Spidergirl

          Well if Shortpacked is any indication, he may be fond of freckles.

  8. miados

    I can be just as oblivious as them except in a different way. I lost track of how often I was told something like “you realize she was flirting with you.”

    If i was there with them talking they would have had to notice me before I even register they were talking and probably ask what i missed.

    1. Suitora

      That’s how I got into my current relationship.

      “She is simply asking me a bunch of questions about myself. She can’t be interested. I mean, I told her I was a trans girl. That’s usually a turn-off.”

      “We’re cuddling. I guess my brother’s friends are like this. (He’s friends with a lot of hippies) I should tell her that I’m going to feel awkward doing this because I think she’s really pretty. That will allow her to get out of a situation she’s uncomfortable.”

      “She moved my hand to her breast. That was probably an accident because she was making herself comfortable. I should move it away out of respect.”

      “She spanked my bottom. I’m sure she’s just teasing me. Or maaaaybe she’s interested? Nahhhhhh.”

      “She grabbed my downstairs underneath my pajamas. She’s interested.”

      1. Felgraf

        Okay that story is honestly just straight up adorable.
        (Also I wish you both happiness and such!)

        1. DarkVeghetta

          It SO is! ^_^ (Ditto on happiness and such!)

      2. Bagge

        Awwwwwww

        You got yourself a subtle one 🙂

        1. miados

          your avi saying that somehow makes the comment better bagge

        2. Bagge

          Becky knows ALL about subtle.

          (Actually she does, she only wishes she didn’t – and given the choice she regards subtle as someone else’s business altogether)

        3. Bagge

          …which makes it hilarious that she is the subtle one in her relationship.
          http://www.dumbingofage.com/2015/comic/book-5/04-walking-with-dina/misreading/

    2. AndroidDreams

      Im not the kinda guy to know when someones making a move on me, so the four times in the last five years that I’ve actually kissed a girl was when we were both extremely drunk and they were making eyes at me. I do have to add i dated two of these girls though. Yay 16-21 years!

  9. Stephen R. Bierce

    *plays Diana Ross’ “I’m Coming Out” on the hacked Muzak–because you knew*

    1. Stephen R. Bierce

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bduFnHxRY18 <- Have an extended spin.

  10. lia

    YOU CANT JUST GIVE US A CANON SHIP NAME AFTER THAT WILLIS

    1. Vonniesaur

      <3<3~Danthan~<3<3

    2. Deanatay

      Nono, this totally works – ‘Ethanny’ is the ship name, ‘Danthan’ is the synonym for ‘done f**ked up’.

    3. Orion Fury

      It’ll never catch on.

  11. timemonkey

    Jacob has gained Dina’s powers!

    1. Architex

      Dina <- Joyce
      Sarah <- Becky
      Jacob <- Dina
      ??? <- ???

      Tune in tomorrow!

    2. Chandra

      That, or Ethan and Danny both rolled 1’s on their Perception checks.

      1. kkiten

        +1!

      2. SgtWadeyWilson

        Wait, what do you mean the kobolds attacked us? We didn’t see any kobolds!

      3. Orion Fury

        -5 penalty due to distraction of someone that find attractive?

  12. MelanieWaffle

    Danning it up to a whole new level lol. New favorite comic!!!!

    1. Leorale

      Danning it up is dead. I propose Danthanning, which is when you don’t realize it but everyone can totally tell you aren’t straight.

  13. Rosicrucian

    So… Jacob’s cool.

    1. Deanatay

      Well, yeah. Your point?

  14. VizardJeffhog

    AND THERE GO MY WHEEZING LUNGS

  15. Saaaam

    Jacob’s approval > Amber’s disapproval

  16. Musely

    EVIL CACKLING.

  17. Architex

    Jacob is one big hunk of…well, hunk. Not sure how someone with such radiance gets by undetected.

    1. Deanatay

      They WERE a little distracted – by each other.

  18. inqntrol

    How the heck can you forget or not see that there’s somebody else in that room?

    1. Tom T.

      It’s going to be a running gag all week now, as they keep realizing that there are more and more people in that room. Tomorrow: Galasso.

      1. inqntrol

        “FOOLS! I leave.”
        “….Was that the owner of the restaurant near our campus?”
        “I think so. How did he get in here?”

      2. Dara

        After that, everybody’s going to develop Dinadar, and be unable to forget where Dina is at any given moment.

  19. shadowcell

    “sorry roomie but in the time it took you to say those words i already wrote a fanfic in my head where we’re having a threesome”

  20. quietpeas

    Okay they keep insisting it can never happen which makes me think it’s almost definitely gonna happen and probably soon. It’s like that sitcom thing where the guy’s like, “There’s NO WAY I’m doing X” and then cut to next scene…

    1. Uncertainty Moth

      Watch less TV

      1. Spidergirl

        Watch more.

        1. Sambo

          Appropriate reference:
          http://www.dumbingofage.com/2012/comic/book-3/01-if-the-shoes-split/jumpcut/

    2. Opus the Poet

      There’s a commercial about that trope.

    3. Omniscientearl

      Gilligan Cuts are the best cuts.

    4. Orion Fury

      Candlejack.

  21. Antonio

    Did he out Amber as Amazi-girl too?

    1. Bagge

      …yes, I think so.

      Oh dear.

      1. Cerberus

        I guess it all depends now on how much he cares about that fact and who he decides to tell, if anyone.

        1. Spidergirl

          Well, I do remember him stating that he was a “big fan” during the White Board Ding-Dong Bandit thing (good gravy that was a long time ago), so I can see him deciding to keep it a secret.

    2. Tan

      I feel like if he had been listening at “I want to be ground up into a powder and dumped into your bathwater”, that… Would’ve been a time to excuse himself. Therefore I assume that anything before that (which includes all Amazi-Girl mention) went unheard.

      1. HeySo

        Have you ever been in that kind of situation?
        No, when someone makes a heated comment like that, and the individuals involved are all caught up in each other, that’s the hardest, most awkward, weirdest time to interject.

        Rather, you wait for a moment when things seem a bit more relaxed and you can make a comment that doesn’t seem too jarring to insert into their conversation- which seems to be what Jacob did here.

        So, if it’s reflective of my personal experiences, Jacob was certainly listening for all of it.

        ..besides, he seems to be in a corner on the computer, without headphones on. That’d have to be something pretty engrossing for him not to have heard them, since he clearly didn’t have a way to simply slip past them while they were talking.

        ..I mean, other than that panel where they started feeling each other up, but I’m not sure shipper imaginings count for our deliberations. 😛

        1. Slartibeast Button, BIA

          Maybe people are always coming to Ethan to whine about their personal problems and Jacob has learned to tune it all out? Mostly.

        2. HeySo

          Wouldn’t you want to whine about your personal problems to Ethan? His chest was simply made to comfort your troubles away..

          ..er, I, ah, so I hear, anyway.

    3. Deanatay

      Eh, he said, “I’ve been thinking about Amber or Amazi-Girl or whatever…” It’s not really outing her, you may only realize he’s referring to the same woman in context. If Jacob’s distracted by something on his computer, he may not have caught it.

      1. HeySo

        The phrasing is vague enough that most people’d interpret it as “I was too caught up in girl1, girl2, and whatever other girl (but now I’ve realized my homosexual desires, please take me now, you handsome studmuffin, you)”

        Nevertheless, it’s one of those things that’ll niggle at your brain, so if Jacob ever has interest in Amazi-girl’s identity, it may affect his considerations.

        But no, it seems quite unlikely to have formed an intuitive association… though sometimes the brain makes those all on its own, whimsically, so who knows.

        I guess the real question is, how much would Jacob care, even if he did pick up on it? 😛

        1. Orion Fury

          and vs or, and the next sentence does seem to indicate only one person, going by different names. So if he was listening…

        2. HeySo

          And indicates synchronized/inclusive thought, meaning he’s thinking on specific individuals (“and whoever else is wanting to cause me girl stress” or “and whoever else she claims to be”). Or indicates separated thoughts, meaning he could simply be expressing an “or any other girl” sentiment, rather than just “or whatever else she’s called”).

          The grammar still works about as ambiguously either way- in fact, ‘whoever’ makes *far* less sense when applied to a single individual, where you’d normally use ‘whatever’- the only way whoever actually makes grammatical sense (as that relates to identity rather than naming, as whatever would) is if he’s questioning her identity/identities. Which, yes, he has reason to do, but Jacob wouldn’t know that.

          Ergo, I’d push that the Amazi-girl connection is a very unlikely one to make- but more importantly, if I can “misinterpret” the meaning, then it stands to reason someone else could, as well.

        3. HeySo

          You’re totally on point with the matter of the following sentence, however, so yes, looks like the cat is out of the bag. :X

  22. Skizz

    Best literal laugh out loud moment in weeks. Good one.

  23. Plasma Mongoose

    Someone forgot to close the closet door…

  24. Cerberus

    I give it one book before they’re making out. Also, yay for mellow supportive Jacob.

    1. Needfuldoer

      He really isn’t interesred in other peoples’ affairs. It doesn’t matter who his roommate wants to bang, he just wants notice so he can let them have at it in private. A good stance to take!

  25. JessWitt

    Jacob’s so chill about all this.

  26. Kris

    Jacob minds his own business.

    1. Uncertainty Moth

      They’re way lucky he doesn’t care

  27. Skizz

    Sooooo, anyone think they are actually agreeing not to hook up? Or just agreeing not to let Amber find out when they do.

    #subtext

    1. Cerberus

      I think we’re seeing their moral codes and their mutual chemistry flirt-wrestling for dominance.

    2. Spencer

      The former. Definitely the former. That’s basically the whole point of this and yesterday’s strip.

      Now that they’ve cleared the air with each other, it’ll be a way healthier and structured relationship than Danny crashing headlong into a new one because that’s just what he does and Ethan just passively going along with it.

      1. Bagge

        I really hope you are right – the last thing Danny need is another secret relationship

        1. Cerberus

          Oh, I agree that the former are very much winning and that’s a good thing for both of them in terms of building a nice healthy beginning to any potential relationship. But the former is at least doing some coy eye glances at the chemistry and making a google calendar note for later.

        2. Lumin

          Indeed. They may be saying how bad it would be, but those aren’t smiles of total horror. 😛

        3. Spencer

          Hey Cerberus, can I ask you a question about DID? I’m curious about the way Amber acted as Amazi-Girl with last time.

        4. Cerberus

          Definitely. 🙂 What’s the question?

        5. Spencer

          Thanks.

          So basically I’ve been thinking about how Danny’s trying to get Amber to stop being Amazi-Girl. To him he wants Amber to stop risking her life, but it also made me realize that Danny is, essentially, asking for the Amazi-Girl alter to stop existing. I think the way Amber and Amazi-Girl both react to yelling at Danny, Amber immediately becoming horrified and engaging in self abuse, while Amazi-Girl feels completely vindicated in tearing him down as long as she has solid enough reason kind of says that Amazi-Girl has reached a point where she’s not just Amber’s coping mechanism, but is starting to develop her own set of rules and actions based in how she is, inherently, always moral and just, and that she and her mission matter more than anything.

          So what I’m asking is, can an alter develop a distinct enough personality to the point where they would rebel against reintegration if they feel they deserve to exist more? Could Amazi-Girl fight back against reintegrating her personality into Amber, despite that being the goal in healing? Can an alter try to harm the “original” personality?

          I appreciate you taking me up on this, and if these question at all make you uncomfortable, please feel free to discard them.

        6. Cerberus

          Oh very much so. And when that happens it becomes really tricky to get integrated, because now part of your brain is now actively resisting that process. And an alter can definitely try to do a full takeover for whatever reason (the “protection” of the other alters, they think they are the original one and deserve to have the brain “back”, they feel they were hard-done and were being attacked, whatever reason).

          And we might be seeing things going down that path, cause right now, Amazi-girl is convinced she’s going down the only correct path and everything else is an attack meant to harm her and she’s in the mindset that Amber is “weak” and “needs” her to fully take-over for long stretches and make unilateral decisions “for their best interest”.

          So yeah, right there with being worried for her.

          Also, yeah, an alter can not only try to harm another alter, but can actually succeed in that effort, usually in the form of emotional abuse.

  28. John

    Sorry, Ethan, I’m pretty sure he already knew. Everyone does.

    1. JessWitt

      Just like that Kevin Kline movie, “In and Out”.

  29. Jacques Cornelius Parrot III

    I love how chill Jacob is. He’s like, “Hey, if you guys are gonna have sexytimes, just warn me so I can get out of your way.”

    1. Bicycle Bill

      And isn’t that the way it should be?  What business is it to him, or you, or me , or anybody else, who bumps uglies with whom?

      1. DSL

        Until you have to vacate the room you pay for, frequently and at a moment’s notice. Gets old.

  30. MM

    Unfortunately or fortunately?

  31. Reltzik

    Awwwww.

    The ship has now been officially named “Danthan”.

    I really liked “Seecox”, too.

    1. Deanatay

      ‘Danthan’ isn’t the ship name, it’s the new word for screwing up royally. It used to be ‘Danning it up’, but now that’s he’s with Ethan, they screw up much more royally together, so now it’s ‘Danthanning it up’.

    2. Deanatay

      I believe the ship name is ‘Ethanny’, and has been for a while.

    3. Slartibeast Button, BIA

      Many Danthan shippers … died to bring this slipshine about.

  32. J.A.J.

    “Danthan,” huh? I actually prefer “Danethan”; anything to make those vowels match up.

    1. pyrpyr

      The best name for this ship was Secox (based on their last names).
      By naming this ship, Willis has denied us this pun-ful opportunity ;_;

  33. David M Willis

    i thought you left

  34. Marisa Mockery

    YUUUUUUSSS

  35. Rukduk

    And the door strikes again. Either that, or Jacob’s been taking ninja lessons from Dina.

    1. inqntrol

      Or his handsomeness gives him invisibility powers.

      1. Kamino Neko

        Got to be good lookin’ ‘cuz he’s so hard to see.

        1. Kryss LaBryn

          I understood that reference! [/Captain America]

        2. Rukduk

          Come together. Right now. Over me.

          I love the Beattles.

    2. Bagge

      Danny and Ethan should have taken lessons from Becky.

  36. potatoguy

    Not sure if this is them being ironic or Willis trolling us…

  37. Xailenrath

    If he’s been there this whole time, they’ve also outed Amber as Amazi-Girl!
    (Provided Jacob was even actually paying attention before that last bit.)

  38. rachel

    ahahahaha friggin’ awwwwww this is super cute. and will STILL end in smooches. amber might demand it!

    1. Idontcarenomore

      Amber will demand it??????
      Ah yeah, after she ninja’s all over their prone bodies.

  39. Idontcarenomore

    True enough. If Jacob was there the whole time, then he may well have caught the Amazi-girl is Amber notation.
    He doesn’t seem concerned about it if that’s the case.

    I like the way the two of them are facing up to their need for each other, and what that need will do to Amber. Very nice. Lets see how long they can hold out.

  40. CriticalQuit

    Thank goodness Danny and Ethan are self-aware enough to know how bad them dating would absolutely destroy Amber.

    1. Adam Black

      Hmm yes Self-awareness is an amazing trait.

      For example, have you considered how many millions ( yes millions if not more ) Gay men have been told their relationship will destroy some straight person. Especially an ex girlfriend or a mother?

      ( Im guessing no )

      When you publicly praise single gay characters for sacrificing their feelings on the never-ending altar on straight peoples feelings ( thank goodness . It would “destroy” some straight woman ) how much self-awareness is that?

      1. Ashley

        That’s not what’s happening here. First of all, it’s not like Ethan WANTS to be with Danny, he just admitted he found him hot in a similar way he might find Jacob hot. Danny, on the other hand, probably has a deeper connection with Amber but decided to come out to Ethan to practice the honesty he would like Amber to practice. Neither of them are sacrificing their feelings.

        1. Adam Black

          Actually It is.

          This is is the passive-aggressive side of emotional abuse.
          “You cant do X, because it will hurt me, … forever.”

          this has a name, its “internal oppression”.
          Ethan and Danny have both internalized this from Amber.

          Amber needs Danny to be ‘that perfect boy’ .
          ( cant drink. Cant talk to people I never told you, or else ) .

          Ethan Has to be ‘that Perfect Gay’ because it “traumatized” Amber.
          Its even built into the narrative for Readers to internalize and and project it outwards.

          This Page is an example of the “The Perfect Girl/Gay” stereotype which Willis successfully demolished in the last book of that title.

          Both of them have a “deep ” connection to Amber . But Amber is holding her deep feelings for Danny out at arms length, and Demanding with either emotional abuse or breakups that Danny only Date “Amazigirl”,
          wherein Amber can use her mask as Amazi-girl to use Danny for sex.

          Amber is starving Danny for Positive affection in their relationship, unless its sex. Thats the deal he unknowingly made.

          The connection Danny made with Ethan is based on positive regard for Danny. Its not attached to strings shame guilt and control …until right now because Amber.

          The audience gets rewarded for having their Gay Stereotypes confirmed and doesn’t have to ask themselves why they have unreasonable saintly demands of the Gay characters.

          That you get these stereotypes confirmed, lets you fill in the confirmation bias that this isnt a ship. and This hasnt been step for 15 months.

          Of course they are sacrificing their feelings. They want to bang.

          And they are going to stay “very good friends” .
          They are not allowed to act on their feelings cuz it will hurt a straight person. Thats F-up up.
          Its do F-up up it turned Amber into a Moral crusader fighting this, seemingly for Ethan.
          …. But
          Then when she tried to break up Danny x Joyce and it was revealed that this was about her trauma over Ethan being gay and her angry that Ethan ‘would do this another girl’

          Everything about this match says Hookup And Boyfriends. More so Than Ruth-billy.

          Hopefully Willis will address this in a later storyline. Amber need Therapy on this, or Ethan needs to stop being her friend, indefinitely . Its toxic.

        2. Minotaur

          So this would mean they’re doing something that’s at the very least good for Danny (taking it slow rather than jumping into a relationship) for a bad reason?

        3. Minotaur

          O wait, that’s only if you assume that Ethan is using a lot of hyperbole when he says this can never ever ever happen… 🙁

        4. Endy

          Honestly I kind of thought it was obvious that “excessive hyperbole” was happening here. They’re both saying what they’re saying while gradually leaning closer and smile-blushing. It’s as plain as day that they’re both thinking about it, even if they’re claiming it can “never” happen.

          I completely agree with Adam Black on this one. I like(d) Amber and I want her to get better and make steps towards mental health, but that doesn’t mean I want Danny and Ethan sacrificing their own feelings for her sake. Do they need to get together right just now? Of course not, that wouldn’t be good for Danny, first of all.

          But I legit feel like it should happen.

        5. Oysteinthenoisy

          Superb, Adam! I love how Willis keeps going back to killing and dying throughout the comic. So Ethan and Danny will kill their attraction for each other rather than fatally wound Amber by having a relationship. (Potential fatal wounding)

        6. Turbanous

          There is also a “cultural rule” that Danny and Ethan seem to be respecting at the momen. The rule being that you (Ethan) do not immediately start dating/sexing your friend’s/best friend’s (Amber) ex (Danny). Especially not on the same day as a break up.

          This “rule” pops up a lot in real life and in a lot of media this is the goto generator of interpersonal drama, sometimes kicked off by a simple conversation or chance meeting.

          Ethan alludes to this when he emphasizes “next” is his description of the timing of Amber’s boyfriends. Danny is even aware of this “rule”, and respect of that seemed to shape his approach about being clear and honest about his feelings for Ethan.

        7. Orion Fury

          Holy fucking shit. I didn’t get any ‘you can’t be Gay because of the Straights’ thing here. I only took is as ‘Our mutual friend is in a bad place, and if the two of us pursue a relationship at this time, it would bring her more pain, which matters to us since we’re her friend and decent human beings. Once she’s in a better headspace, then we can see if there’s anything more.’

          But maybe I’m wrong. It happens.

        8. Ashley

          JFC, that is a lot of extrapolation out of two guys choosing to put the option to date aside for the benefit of a common friend.

      2. Derek

        It’s less about sparing Amber as a straight woman and more about sparing Amber as a massively traumatized person with unaddressed/undiagnosed mental illness. Can we maybe agree that Ethan and Danny are trying to be good people because they’re trying to prevent the further upset of a mentally ill person (regardless of whether this upset is warranted or not) until they can figure out if and how she can get the help she needs?

        1. Adam Black

          tell you what?

          We can do that… if you first mourn for the death of my exlover, ( and Transformer-fanatic, robotics researcher whos not alive to read this comic )
          who also developed a serious mental illness .. AFTER coming out to his mother, and being told the exact same bullshit you just fed me.
          ( Dont tell your dad. He has mental problems, It will Kill him )

          Tell you what, we can walk together to his grave and you can tell me all about how brave it was he spared the feelings of His Dad and didnt come out until —he was in a mental institution himself.

          The exact story thing you are telling me , Ive heard it 1000x time.
          It will “KIll Straight person” , but somehow its always the gays that buried.

          You think its incidental that Amber has mental problems, but LGBT people have them at much higher rates because of this trope.

          Maybe I’m being unfair to you by personalizing this …?
          Maybe.

          Or Maybe you should challenge-back the toxic idea that any Straight person will be damaged by Gay person coming out. or single gay men having a relationship.

          Dont that put on me. ( I know you , you dont mean to )
          But that does.

          I’m not carrying that for any straight persons feelings.

        2. Charles Phipps

          It is monstrous and horrific that your lover was forced into that position by society, his parents, and the environment. Homosexuality should be celebrated like heterosexuality as something beautiful and a part of people. I long for the day such stories are a thing of the past and viewed with the same horror as the Inquisition. I don’t think that’s what’s intended here but I can understand why the comic is effecting you that way.

        3. de Combys

          First of all, sorry for your loss. I lost my childhood friend in a similar manner so I get how it feels.

          I agree with you that if this was a straight relationship, there would be more people saying that it should happen. The opinion uniformity here is frightening.

          Also, if they get together, it has… Nothing. To. Do. With. Amber.

          If she tries to take it personal, it’s her problem and NOT getting together because of her is called being enabling. Good friends of her in that situation should live their own lives and try to support her when she has trouble with it. That is all.

        4. Charles Phipps

          On my end, I think it’s notable that if you’re friends with someone and they have a profoundly bad breakup that you shouldn’t try to get together with their ex if you still want to be friends with them. If Danny and Ethan want to break off ties with Amber so be it. I also think, if Amber reconciles with Danny but not so romantically, that she should be happy for them. This is a complicated situation which HAPPENS ALL THE TIME IN REAL LIFE without any element of sexual orientation being involved. It also does led to a lot of broken friendships as one of the chief ways friendships break up is friends befriend the boyfriend or girlfriend of another friend only for things to go south. Then you have to choose.

        5. Derek

          Wow that sure is a shitty thing that happened, and I’m sorry. I was thinking more of along the lines of Amber’s lovers getting together (which can be upsetting regardless of the gender and sexuality of the exes) more than the gay/bi aspect. Amber is not a homophobe, Danny and Ethan getting together wouldn’t upset her because it’s two dudes together, it would upset her because it’s her two exes together.

          Ultimately, I think Danny and Ethan are being nice to try to spare Amber’s feelings. you’re right, it’s not their duty and they should not be forced to bury their own feelings for the sake of Amber (especially since it’s so dubious that it will help her anyway), what I see here is that they’re going the extra mile for her when they don’t have to and that’s nice of them. Is it a healthy approach? that’s… dubious at best

        6. Scott

          The pressure to not act on a particular romantic and/or physical desire to spare an ex and close friend is one faced by straight people as well and whether it right to give more weight to real existing close relationships than a possible one, is not always clear. My opinion is that it is noble to make sacrifices for those you care about, which means that sacrificing a few nights of fun and or the possibility of a relationship is for me the right thing to do. Of course this cuts the other way at a certain point as feelings become deeper and more solidified but it appears to me that Danny and Ethan aren’t close to that line. I myself have had romantic feelings and chemistry with women which, other than casual flirting, we didn’t pursue because of friends/ex’s.

          It is tragic that your ex’s story is a common one as gay people have had the unjust burden of pressure to hide or not act on their deepest feelings. Which understandably makes lgbt people suppressing feelings for the sake of a straight person a sensitive issue. I ashamedly didn’t initially think about how societies pressure on the lgbt community to hide makes sacrificing a relationship for others a bigger deal and I’m thankful you pointed it out to. However that does not make any suppression of feelings by people who happen to be gay for the sake of someone who happens to be straight, automatically the wrong decision. I say this because not pursuing the possibility of a romantic relationships with one particular person you have chemistry with is not the same thing as not pursuing any or hiding a fundamental aspect of yourself from your father. You seem to be discounting any feelings straight people have about gay relationships. Yes, there are bigoted beliefs and expectations that cause family/friends to be hurt when gay people come out or simply having relationships and I agree that it is toxic to think of the gay people not hiding as causing this real pain rather than the beliefs themselves. This however is not true for any straight person hurt by a particular relationship between single members of the same sex as you imply. A woman could understandably be hurt if her brother got together with her bisexual ex she still loves. Even outside of bisexual relationships a straight person could be hurt, for example if her best friend got together with someone they know purposefully sabotaged her career.

          You are right that there clearly is some unfair pressure, at least for Ethan and many readers, coming from the desire to spare her from the fear that any romantic aspirations she has are doomed due to the guy being unaware he’s gay. Many people who have more than one serious relationships end for the same reasons each time develop similar fears of whatever situation caused them reoccurring. While desiring not to contribute to a friend’s phobia is understandable, they are sometimes unreasonable to accommodate. It is especially unreasonable to be expected to avoid this phobia, due to the undue pressure gay men already have to not act on their feelings. However as neither of them nor any comment I’ve read has indicated that Danny should abstain from all relationships with men, there is more to this situation. It is Danny getting together with Amber’s ex and closest friend.

        7. Insanenoodlyguy

          All this said, they aren’t wrong. Your old ex-boyfriend who still says he’s your friend hooking up with your new ex-boyfriend, especially if it’s literally the same day one breaks it off with them, is not being a good friend, to the point of “fucking evil.”

          That Danny can appreciate this fact doesn’t make him wrong. Danny is not remaining in the closet for the sake of Amber, he just came out. Ethan is not going back into the closet for the Sake of Amber, he’s not sleeping with his best friend’s new ex for the sake of the friendship. IF this was a straight pairing, and say, Ethan was a girl and Amber’s best friend, nothing would be changed about the situation. Dating your friend’s ex, especially fresh off a bad breakup like this, means at a time that this is the last person your friend wants to be involved with, you are making sure they are still involved in at least an ancillary fashion in their social life. It sucks that it reminds you of this bad situation from your own life but it’s a different thing.

        8. monkyvirus

          I think it’s really off that Ethan selected the word “traumatized” I mean it does sting when your bf turns out to be gay because as the girl who “turned them gay” you can get bullied and made to feel like shit. However, you get over that pretty quickly when you realise their homelife made dating a girl, any girl, their only option (this was my first bf) or you know they just did what they thought they were supposed to and it backfired. With Ethan I get the impression it was a bit of both.

          As someone mentally ill I really hope no one would ever say this about me. Like yeah X might upset me but just warn me / don’t make me do it. Waiting a bit, like a month IRL, and discussing it calmly with her “Amber, I think I’m bisexual and I would like to ask Ethan out, I just want to make sure you know beforehand” should be all you need to do before your conscience is clear. I think Ethan makes things worse by being a little too considerate, he’s so busy handling Amber with kid gloves he doesn’t actually help her confront anything.

        9. Spencer

          FWIW Amber herself has been pretty stringent that Ethan’s guilt is unfounded, even though she was deeply hurt losing both a romance with the person she’s relied on for support her whole life, and probably the one good set of parents she’s ever had who now blame for her for turning their son gay. Ethan internalized a lot of the abuse over his coming out, apologizing over and over for being gay and dating a woman to become straighter so he could placate his parents, and now he’s starting to distance himself from those views. Amber was deeply hurt by it, but she also recognizes that it’s not Ethan’s fault and so has all these hurt feelings with no place to direct them, which is a Really Bad Thing in Amber’s case.

          By the same token, he’s still not willing to allow Amber to walk over him. He chose to date Joyce. He chose to dive back into the closet. I would call these incredibly dumb decisions, but at the end of the day it’s up to Ethan, and no amount of screaming and table flipping is going to change his course.

          And agreed on that last bit. Ethan is too devoted to Amber to constructively criticize her.

      3. alana

        since when is danny gay

        1. BenRG

          He’s bi and realised it a couple of chapters back.

    2. Palamdrone

      It would only destroy her as long as she’s single. As soon as she has a new steady boyfriend, they can be together.

      1. Insanenoodlyguy

        not necessarily. When you want an EX out of your life (this was definitely not a “lets stay friends” breakup. Does your being in a new relationship help when your best friend is dating that ex, thus keeping them in your personal life unless you cut out that friend?

        1. Spencer

          Well, remember that Amber shifted to Amazi-Girl when she did that. It’s fairly likely that once she gets her head on straight she’ll want Danny back in her life.

  41. Teddae

    I thought I posted a comment, maybe it was deleted or something i dunno.
    Anyway, my favorite word is now danthan lol

  42. caesaria82

    LMAO. This is hilarious.

  43. Jesse

    Jacob was behind the black… or blue… or white. Some kind of surrounding colour.

  44. Some1

    Danny: Dina teach my your ways!

    Dina: You must learn to harness the power of bi-ness!

    Danny: What must I do?

    Dina: Focus your powers, and become invisible, the true power of all bi people!

    1. Leorale

      I love picking up my friend’s hat and swooshing it about so that he thinks it’s floating.

      1. Some1

        What if your a 2 or 2.5 on the Kinsey scale? Do you get the invisibility powers? Are you just sorta transparent?

        1. Leorale

          Are lots of people unaware that Kinsey 2s and 2.5s even exist? Yep! Invisibility powers for everyone.

        2. Dean

          Translucent, like a jellyfish.

    2. Slartibeast Button, BIA

      Wait, what is that telling us about Jacob?

      1. Some1

        Jacobs Powers work a bit differently, he’s not bi (as far as we know) but he is so handsome that he can make light bend around him. Unlike bi people’s who’s power comes from being between planes of reality (as I’ve said before)

        1. Some1

          Shit… I am now Daisy

        2. Slartibeast Button, BIA

          Give me your answer, do.

  45. Kelli

    I laughed in several different ways when I read this. “Eeeheehee ha HA ha heh heh heh…” Usually a sign that I REALLY thought something was funny. 😀

  46. Ashley

    Just when I thought it couldn’t get better, it did.

  47. Bagge

    I just LOVE their dynamics in the first two panels. They joke and laugh together, are embarrassed together, smile together…. have we ever seen Danny being this relaxed with anyone else? Or Ethan for that matter.

    Heh, I bet Jacob has been making increasingly loud noises until he just gave up and started talking in the last panel. Becky level awareness, these two dofuses.

    1. Bagge

      I bet Ethan got really disappointed about the pinup calendar at some point…

    2. Cerberus

      Yeah, they’ve got a lot of nice mutual chemistry and seem to bring the best out of each other. I don’t think they should jump into things now, but I think this relationship could be really healthy and healing for both of them if it happens down the line. If it doesn’t, the friendship alone is doing wonders for making them both feel more comfortable in themselves.

  48. Nena

    That made me giggle.

  49. Raen

    Jacob didn’t know Ethan was gay? …why?

    1. Lapin

      He probably knew and/or didn’t care. Ethan is still in the “If I don’t tell anyone, no one knows” phase, as well.

    2. Mr.Morningstar

      Well until recently Ethan was still sorta in the closet?

      With Joyce breaking it off with him I think he’s a bit more open but probably wont say anything unless someone asks.

      Kinda like me in that respect.

    3. Dean

      I’m hoping this leads to a long-overdue discussion about the appropriateness of working out in a shared living space. IU does have a student gym, Jacob.

      1. Insanenoodlyguy

        As long as he’s observing appropriate hygene, what’s he doing wrong? Cause his being dead sexy is Ethan’s problem, not his. Don’t you buff-shame!

  50. Owlmirror

    I suspect that, as with Sal by the steps when AG confronted Danny, Jacob zoned out when Danny was talking about AG and Amber.

  51. Palamdrone

    And more than that, you told him Amber is Amazigirl.

    1. Sunny

      Eh… Danny dropped a strong hint, but didn’t actually say as much. And considering what all came after that and that they only mentioned Amber later, Jacob may have forgotten it already due to his short-term memory being overwhelme before that tidbit could transition into long-term memory.

  52. Carms

    Next panel: you’re gorgeous too Jacob.
    Yea like damn

  53. Resulli

    Jacob’s pretty chill about all of it but I suspect Ethan will fuck it all up by questioning whether Jacob’s okay with having a gay roommate or not. 😛

  54. The E-man

    I’M DYING THIS STRIP IS AMAZING 10/10 A+ THANK YOU WILLIS

    1. de Combys

      You’re expressing it so well.

    2. ChrisHerself

      “Comments left in the form of ebay feedback” needs to be a thing.

  55. Rani

    So now we’re all rooting for Danny, and Amber’s a heel.

    WILLIS!

  56. Achallenger

    the only thing that could improve this strip is if the bat akwardly fluttered itself out of akward town in panel -2

  57. RIP12081990

    This is starting to remind me of how I wound up in my current relationship let’s just hope Amber and polygamy don’t become involved

  58. Mr.Morningstar

    so is jacob being like, the opposite of a cockblock?

  59. zmm

    that is anaccurate college kid response. well responsible college kid

  60. BenRG

    JACOB: “Do what you need to, guys. Just don’t interrupt me; I’m on a flow with the argument in this essay!”

    Additionally… Guys, have you considered Amber’s feelings in this? How would she react to the news, especially if it was let slip that Ethan and Danny are attracted to each other? Would she feel guilty that she was keeping them apart? Would she try to act as matchmaker (horror of horrors)? Would she find it strangely arousing and try to set up a threesome with them (remember that DoA Amber had adventures along those lines)?

    Overall, all speculation aside, I can only say this: The Amber/Ethan/Danny triangle promises to be the most tangled of Gordonian Knots in Dumbing of Age!

    1. thejeff

      Yeah, I think they have. Most likely she’d feel guilty over keeping them apart and take it as more confirmation of how horrible and worthless she is. Both for keeping them apart, but also as more proof that she didn’t deserve Danny in the first place.
      She would also find it arousing, which would confuse and screw her up even more.
      That’s all based on her issues before this latest crisis. The new improved Amazi-Girl might also see it as some kind of Sal-inspired betrayal.

      1. Insanenoodlyguy

        At this point, I think she’d take it like this. “They are all against me now!” Later she might feel bad about it, but her first instinct would be to take it as betrayal.

    2. DSL

      “Guys, have you considered Amber’s feelings in this?” — That’s, uh, kinda what they’ve been doing last couple of strips.

    3. Kamino Neko

      This whole conversation is about Amber’s feelings…

      1. BenRG

        Or rather one set of assumptions about Amber’s feelings. Maybe they are 100% wrong about what thing would distress her more?

  61. Darkoneko

    Jacob is so chill.

  62. Reltzik

    Gee, he’s sneakily there without anyone realizing it. Also he didn’t mean to be sneaky and had every right to be there. That… reminds me of someone.

    ……..

    So, two things.

    1) Jacob/Dina wasn’t a ship until now.
    2) Jacob/Dina is a ship now.

    Not my fault, just the way ships work.

    1. Dean

      Never happen. Neither one of them would notice that the other one was there!

      1. Reltzik

        SOOOOO many potential storylines with that!

  63. Spencer

    Hmm. I wonder if Jacob/Amber will be resurrected here.

    There’s not a lot of dudes in the series to begin with, and as far as dudes Amber regularly hangs out with except for Danny that she could date that consists entirely of Mike. Jacob has a lot of the same qualities that Amber was attracted to in Ethan and Danny, being constantly friendly and supportive (to the point where he’s basically a Friend Martyr for Sarah, constantly trying to push at her walls and even when he gave up on that he was still trying to defend her from Raidah’s criticism and defuse the tension at the party), he’s a huge fan of Amazi-Girl, which could either prove disastrous if Amber were to get it back in her head that Amazi-Girl was a healthy thing to pursue, but on the flipside could also be used to encourage Amber that, for all the damage she was causing herself she still did some good, and he’s a character that can be easily further developed with her, since being Ethan’s roommate makes it really easy for them to hang out.

    1. Spencer

      (forgot to add this part)

      On top of that, unlike Danny and Ethan, who are too passive to constructively criticize Amber, Jacob has a backbone. Because of Mike, Amber now has it in her head that she was searching for victims to abuse, and when Amber resurfaces from her current Amazi-Girl state, I’m pretty sure she’s going to double down in guilt over how her perfect, golden alter was verbally abusing Danny because he didn’t fall in line. Jacob is someone who is nice and friendly enough that Amber doesn’t have to worry that she’s going to be ensnared by her own Blaine, while simultaneously being big and confident enough that he can’t be victimized in any way by Amber; not that Amber would ever try to, but more that she doesn’t have to worry that she actually could, the way she now has it in her head that wanting a good partner was always just a hunt for a victim to smack around.

      Plus, they both have basically the same views on relationships. They want something real and supportive and long lasting. They both want a relationship that can be something serious and will last a long time.

      Also? Dude is fucking hot. Have you seen that manchest? hhnngg

      1. BenRG

        He’d need to dump Raidah first.

        1. Spencer

          That is a sacrifice I’m willing to make.

        2. Spencer

          Also I’m just spitballing; it’d be years and years before Amber develops a relationship with someone again, and that’s if Ethan and Danny are going to remain serious about this and she doesn’t end up back with Danny (since, hey, technically he and Amber never dated), which I don’t think is likely at this point, since much like how Amber doesn’t really have any viable potential love interests outside of Danny, Mike, and Jacob, (and Mike is absolutely a no-go in this verse both because of Shortpacked and also because he’s just generally a shit person) Ethan literally has nobody except for Danny, at least until my constant pestering for more Sayid pays off, anyway.

      2. Bagge

        Hmmmm. I’m not so sure of that. Jacob has been pretty clear to distance himself from complicated ‘stuff’. He had no interest in Roz, her decided that Sarah was too much trouble and he left the party with a few wisecracks as soon as things got complicated and made sure to let Raidah know that he wants something low-stress.

        That’s totally OK and his choice, of course, and he is not as obnoxious about it as Joe, but I doubt he would be interested in someone with as much ‘stuff’ as Amber.

        …because attraction (if there indeed is an attraction in this universe) has never made people do reckless things before, right?

        1. Spencer

          Well, he has no interest in Roz because Roz isn’t interested in a relationship, and that’s what Jacob wants,. That, and it’s his eventual frustration with Sarah that convinced me why Jacob could be a good partner, because he wouldn’t put up with Amber pulling away or lashing out at him. He has too much self respect to throw himself at people to get them to like him the way that Danny submits himself in his relationships because that’s what he thinks he needs to do.

          At the same time, while he has gone all “sorry for whatever” with Sarah, he’s still concerned about her. When Raidah started cutting her up, Jacob was quick to leap to her defense, talking about how while Sarah can be difficult she’s still a good person who mostly directs her pain inward, and even after finding out that Sarah actually punched Raidah, he still seemed concerned about her when she was putting on airs of being completely happy and peppy.

          Plus, I just went back and checked and Jacob didn’t say he wanted a low-stress relationship, but that he wanted a low-stress event for his second date with Raidah.

          I don’t think he’s attracted to her yet, really what kind of hooked me onto the idea was that it was a Walkyverse relationship that didn’t go anywhere, like Walky/Dorothy and Ruth/Billie, and the lack of any viable love interests for Amber now that she and Danny seem to be pretty done.

  64. Sir Robin

    It seems that Jacob has been learning stealth skills from Dina

  65. Lumpy Frogsnuggler

    Am I the only one who thinks Amber sort of deserves to find out her ex-boyfriends are together? Like maybe she’ll finally learn that she shouldn’t use intimidation and emotional abuse to get her boyfriend to do what she wants? I really want her to be told “You broke up with me in a deliberately hurtful way, so I struck up a relationship with someone who’s actually nice to me and doesn’t deal with his problems by punching strangers in the face.” Then she responds with violence/threats of violence (of course) and is then told “You sound like Blaine.” At which point she FINALLY seeks help.

    1. Spencer

      I’m pretty sure Danny and Ethan aren’t going to NTR her.

      They can get her help without, y’know, making her feel like a shit person, which is a thing I am reasonably certain the two of them are super devoted to not doing.

    2. thejeff

      Yeah, cause beating Amber up about how horrible she is would be the best way to help her. She knows that. She knows it’s what she deserves.
      Blaine convinced her of that long ago.

  66. Saki

    Aww I love this. XD
    Jacob’s chill reaction is one more confirmation for Danny that it’s okay to be bi, and Ethan now doesn’t have to actively come out to his roommate.
    And guys. Your “never ever ever” dating? I don’t bi it. There’s one to many “evers” in there.

    1. John

      You don’t bi it, but Danny will!

  67. Tomas

    The phrase, “advance notice”, makes me think of a computerized voice repeating, “You have five minutes to reach minimum safe distance.”, with sirens blaring in the background.

    1. JBento

      Well, in both cases, it WOULD precede a bang…

  68. Lan

    Is Jacob like me in this strip and not caring about orientation because he just kinda wants to do his own thing? I mean my own thing usually consists of watching bad movies and window shopping for future furniture.

  69. SonicBlueRanger

    Dude what is your issue with this? I’m honestly curious here. Do you have a reason outside “I’m not interested in Gay relationships?”

  70. SonicBlueRanger

    We’ll just be friends. Friends who occasionally fuck. But y’know as buddies.

    1. Bagge

      “Is there even a word for that?”

      -> Cue Billie “actually…”

  71. Charles Phipps

    In real life, if there’s a bad breakup, you tend to have to choose which friend you can remain friends with. You certainly can’t date the ex. If you do that then you shouldn’t be surprised when your friend no longer wants to be friends with you.

  72. 1958Fury

    Their dorm rooms always look so much bigger than mine were.

    1. Noclevername

      Amen. In my dorms you had to find the window to know whether you were in the room or the closet.

  73. Kirbilius Clausius

    Panel 3, two comics ago – another character knows Amber = Amazi-Girl?

  74. Frost Magi

    Holy damn it’s been a while since I commented. DAMN YOU WILLIS!!! I know what people are gonna say too, “Amber/Amazi-girl is broken, they shouldn’t do it!”

    Well sorry, but fuck Amber/Amazi-girl, she’s being a bongo right now. Danny x Ethan has to be a thing now. Even if only a Slipshine is made about it, it needs to happen.

    1. Frost Magi

      Apparently bongo is replaced with bongo, who knew

      1. Frost Magi

        B itch is replaced with bongo… weird

        1. Bagge

          There was an… incident a while back, and thus the bongo-filter was installed.

        2. Sam

          Joyce approves of this filter.

          And so do I cause I burst out laughing when I read “…she’s being a bongo right now” above.

        3. Frost Magi

          I also find it to be quite humourous. Honestly. Fuck, slut, c**t (I censored that one on purpose, sorry to the ladies for that one), shit and a slew of other swears is okay. But bit ch isn’t… priceless XD

    2. Saki

      Yeah… No. First off, if they were to “be a thing now”, they wouldn’t be a thing for long. The guilt would burn it all to the ground very quickly even before Amber came even close to finding out. This would compromise any real shot at a real relationship for them in the future. This way they can be healthy and reasonable, and once Amber reaches a place where she can be okay with it, or reasoned into being okay with it, they can become a real, long-term, thing.
      Also, you’re asking for Ethan to fuck up his lifelong friendship with Amber over a crush. Remember, when Ethan and Amber weren’t talking, he felt like he’d lost a limb. Crushes do not outweigh that kind of friendship.
      And lastly, geezus, just because someone’s being awful doesn’t mean they deserve to be broken into a thousand more pieces than they’re already been. You might wanna take a page out of Danny & Ethan’s book of empathy.

      1. HeySo

        Besides, a 3-way relationship would solve their sexual interests (assuming Danny can Dan It Up as needed *ifyouknowwhatImean*), while still letting the three of them have the non-sexual relationships they want to have with each other.

        Of course, monogamous relationships are hard enough, and here we’ve an emotionally unstable individual, a backboneless individual, and a perpetually vacillating individual.

        The odds aren’t exactly in favor of a smooth development in that direction. 😛

      2. Frost Magi

        I am normally very empathetic. In this case however, Amber did something that is inexcusable in my books. That and my vindictive nature doesn’t help either, but besides the point.

        Amber broke Danny’s heart almost as bad as Dorothy did, if not worse. Danny’s heart was in the right place in trying to get Amber/Amazi-girl to open up more and be okay with him dating both sides of her considering (to be perfectly real and honest here) they are THE SAME PERSON. Yes, two sides to the same coin, but the same coin nonetheless. In this situation, there could have been more communication on the situation (ie. he speaks with Amazi-girl half about it first and reasons with her that it might help bring her closer to being 1 whole person instead of two halves of the same person) and has her realize that him dating both halves would not actually be a bad thing. Instead, she decides that it’s a FUCKING terrible idea just has the time of her life beating her other half up over it.

        Ethan is really much better suited for Danny in the long run than any relationship Danny has had thus far. They both have had their struggles (with Amber and with their respective sexual orientations) to the point where they can empathize with each other entirely and be the best possible couple (romantically speaking and with more togetherness) in the entire strip. Granted that the best two right now are Becka (Becky x Dina, in case) and Dorky (Dorothy x Walky) but Ethan and Danny together would vastly outweigh them in actual good structure of a relationship.

  75. Aquatus

    For some reason, Jacob strikes me as the type who is straight, but likes to tease someone like Ethan.

  76. trlkly

    Shippers rejoice. We’re at a Chekhov’s Gun level here. You don’t get that specific with the denial without meaning it’s going to happen.

  77. thomas wrobel

    You know, maybe all three of them could come to a arrangement…..

  78. Riku

    I wonder if Jacob is going to start behaving differently around Ethan now

  79. Dev

    For a second in panel three I thought they were holding hands subconsciously and laughed really hard because I thought they were already failing at what they just agreed to.

    I do love how Jacob is apparently totally cool with this too. At least for as much as we’ve just seen, that is.

    1. Aquatus

      Ethan’s homosexuality doesn’t seem to hold up as a secret for longer than five minutes into any discussion regarding it. Chances are good Jacob figured it out a long time ago.
      Hence, the totally intentional teasing on his part (though he’s still het in my book).

      1. Dev

        That is a good point.

  80. Dirka

    Best arc ever.

  81. brumagem

    Accidental coming out is the best coming out.

    1. Slartibeast Button, BIA

      Will you still say that after tomorrow’s Brown family dinner?

  82. jepmz

    Even Jacob is a shipper :0

  83. WubbGmbaa

    I definitely like “Danthan” better than “Ethiel”.

  84. EchoKid

    You know, everyone here is jumping to the conclusion that they’re broken up but they’re not officially yet. Amber just yelled not to touch her while in a rage. And Danny mourned that there were massive problems and sees this relationship suddenly at the end instead of in the beginning. Don’t get me wrong, I think they should totally break up because Amber is abusive and Danny tends to take the path of least resistance (which means I’m very afraid that in the unlikely event Amber apologizes he might rationalize her abusive behavior).

    1. Greenygal

      I think “Don’t touch me. Not ever again.” constitutes a breakup. Amber may change her mind about that later, and I don’t know what Danny would do if she did–I doubt he does, either–but as things stand that statement is pretty definitive.

      1. Spencer

        If Amber apologized for her actions (which is difficult since Amber did it as Amazi-Girl, and Amazi-Girl is always just and correct) I’m reasonably certain Danny would take her back, since he’s previously stated that he’s used to being verbally abused and that it isn’t a big deal to him. What I think is more likely is that, once the dust settles and Amber starts to move towards a more positive healing system, she won’t want to get back with him because of her own guilt.

        Between that line, it happening at the same place as Danny’s breakup with Dorothy, and Danny having that chat with Ethan where he lamented about how it all went down, I think this is meant to be permanent, at the very least a significant stopping point for both characters that would take a long time to develop from. I don’t think it’s impossible, but I wouldn’t bank on them getting back together anytime soon.

    2. kkiten

      nnoono, you are foregetting Amazi-Girl called him “our ex boyfriend” not “your ex boyfriend” Danny is exed.

      1. EchoKid

        Right! I guess I just never consider breakups to be real until everyone’s calmed down and confirmed it. In high school my boyfriend and I broke up in angry fights a lot and never meant it once we calmed down (yes I realize they’re in college but they’re also freshmen).

  85. Micki

    3rd panel! Ethan’s hand…so close to where Danny’s hand presumably is…:D

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