Dumbing of Age Book Twelve
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Key

Posted on July 10, 2013 by David M Willis

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Tags: jennifer, ruth

Discussion (270) - “Key”

  1. AHR

    07/10/2013, 12:01 am
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    D’awwwwww they lurv each other

    1. Lumino

      07/10/2013, 12:42 am
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      Sexy tiems?

      1. AHR

        07/10/2013, 12:52 am
        • Reply Report comment

        More like fluffy tiems.

        1. ADHadh

          07/10/2013, 3:49 am

          Sexy fluffy tiems?

        2. Josh

          07/10/2013, 8:37 am

          Do want.

        3. Crimson Doom

          07/10/2013, 8:58 am

          Ruth avatar = fitting.

      2. Kirt Dankmyer

        07/10/2013, 10:19 am
        • Reply Report comment

        This sequence really shouldn’t be hot, yet it is. 🙂

        1. ALLxISxGONE

          07/10/2013, 3:58 pm

          I guess it just cant be helped… wait waht?

    2. Lord Geovanni

      03/31/2014, 12:47 pm
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      They’re in lesbians with each other

    3. Halloween Jack

      10/17/2014, 3:18 pm
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      aww yiss

  2. Mr. Random

    07/10/2013, 12:02 am
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    Awwww bonding through shared love of disdain for authority.

    1. JBO

      07/10/2013, 12:08 am
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      Soon Sal is gonna want to get in on that.

      1. Heavensrun

        07/10/2013, 12:38 am
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        . . . I’ll be in my bunk.

        1. BigMadDraco

          07/10/2013, 12:48 am

          It’s the Aslan gavatar that really sells it.

        2. Tachyon

          07/10/2013, 1:19 am

          And here I thought Firefly’s Jayne grew a beard. And a mane.

        3. Drunken Nordmann

          07/10/2013, 1:38 am

          A beardier beard?

        4. NightmareWarden

          07/10/2013, 4:41 am

          Silly Nordmann, Beards can’t grow beards!
          …
          They grow moustaches!

      2. Jenny Creed

        07/10/2013, 3:11 am
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        Can’t wait to see how those club meetings will go.
        Ruth: I declare this Anarchy club m-
        Sal: YOU’RE NOT THE BOSS OF ME!
        Billie: ANARCHY!
        Ruth: meeting o-
        Billie: I’m not as drunk as you think I am. Wait.
        Sal: See y’alls later. *jumps out window*

        1. Crimson Doom

          07/10/2013, 8:59 am

          And then, for the heck of it:

          “You wanna know how I got these scars?”

          And then:

          “CHIMICHANGAS!”

  3. piemanpie24

    07/10/2013, 12:02 am
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    Am I smiling? What? No. This is just gas. Willis isn’t making me emotional.

    1. NightmareWarden

      07/10/2013, 4:44 am
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      There there, baby pieman. *pats pieman’s back*
      Pieman: Buuuuuuuuuuuurp!
      Me: Great, now I’m deaf in one ear. What’s the hearing equivalent of a monocle? A hearing aid with a top hat or something?

      1. Zakrael

        07/10/2013, 5:29 am
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        Ear Trumpet, my good fellow. Stylish, sophisticated, and incredibly collectible.

        1. NightmareWarden

          07/10/2013, 10:20 pm

          That is a brilliant idea! Now I can proceed with my plans. Mua-ha-haaa!

        2. piemanpie24

          07/11/2013, 12:16 am

          Little known fact; Hearts Boxcars collects ear trumpets.

    2. Viredae

      07/10/2013, 4:57 am
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      Oh yeah, I got real teary-eyed on that last panel.

      1. Ivan

        07/10/2013, 7:37 am
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        you mean WET

  4. EvergreenFir

    07/10/2013, 12:02 am
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    Not quite the sexy I was hoping for, but it has potential.

    1. Yotomoe

      07/10/2013, 12:05 am
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      Just try to force the last panel into inuendo.

      1. EvergreenFir

        07/10/2013, 12:06 am
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        A baby’s sneeze could push that panel into innuendo.

        1. Yotomoe

          07/10/2013, 12:13 am

          But it would be a very adorable way to do so.

        2. Crotonhurst

          07/10/2013, 1:28 am

          Um…Chastity belt removal? Damnit my mind went straight to men in tights.

        3. 6Qubed

          07/10/2013, 1:59 am

          More like nimble fingers, if you know what I mean. Eh? Eh?

          (I mean handjobs.)

        4. Izzy

          07/10/2013, 10:26 pm

          Call the royal locksmith!

    2. Jenny Creed

      07/10/2013, 4:42 am
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      She taught her to pick the lock. . .to her heart.

      In her pants.

      Her heart in her pants.

      1. NightmareWarden

        07/10/2013, 4:45 am
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        You know what they say, the fastest way to a woman’s heart is through her pants!
        …
        So you’d better learn how to iron pants.

        1. Starscreamer

          07/10/2013, 8:12 pm

          I always heard it was through her rib cage…but mama always said Mr. Krueger was a little off…

  5. DanMan9820

    07/10/2013, 12:02 am
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    Now kiss.

    1. ReFlex76

      07/10/2013, 1:22 am
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      Touch . . . touch boobs.

      1. Resne

        07/10/2013, 3:14 pm
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        Dat sexual tension.

  6. Regalli

    07/10/2013, 12:02 am
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    … That may well be the first legitimately cute moment these two have had together. This universe, anyway.

    Yay!

    1. saltchocolate

      07/10/2013, 12:07 am
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      Both smiling in the same panel!

      1. Super Duper

        07/10/2013, 11:14 am
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        The universe is about to implode!

  7. Wonder Wig

    07/10/2013, 12:02 am
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    Awww It’s the key to her heart/TARDIS.

    1. Plasma Mongoose

      07/10/2013, 12:06 am
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      Are you suggesting hat her heart is bigger on the inside than it is on the outside.

      1. nothri

        07/10/2013, 12:20 am
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        All we really know is that Ruth’s heart grew three sizes today.

        Which is why she’s in danger of a heart attack.

        1. Wonder Wig

          07/10/2013, 12:26 am

          Cardiomegaly is a serious issue. Claiming the lives of 7 grinches per year.

        2. EvergreenFir

          07/10/2013, 12:27 am

          viral cardiomegaly?

      2. 6Qubed

        07/10/2013, 2:01 am
        • Reply Report comment

        Wig might be suggesting that Ruth has a blue bOH GOD WHY IS IT BLUE?!

        1. ninja_jesus

          07/11/2013, 1:56 am

          Sexual frustration, maybe?

  8. Aaron S.

    07/10/2013, 12:02 am
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    But… who’s going to hold Billie responsible? Really, no jokes here. She’s just as likely as Ruth to fall off the wagon.

    1. Hythrain

      07/10/2013, 12:35 am
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      I think the idea is that Ruth will keep watch on Billie. Since Ruth talked about quitting together, I thought it implied that if Billie kept watch over her, she’d keep watch over Billie.

    2. marr

      07/10/2013, 1:56 am
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      I am guessing the RA can get into any room she wants to.

      1. partinobodycular

        07/10/2013, 12:57 pm
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        I was an RA. We had spare keys to every room in the building, in case someone locked themselves out, went home for the weekend and didn’t turn off their alarm clock, etc.

    3. ICSM

      07/10/2013, 9:25 am
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      Ruth.

      Even if she doesn’t have a copy of billie’s key or something, she just told us that she doesn’t need a key, because she can lockpick Billie’s door every time she wants

  9. Glib

    07/10/2013, 12:02 am
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    Sexitiems imminent

  10. Doctor_Who

    07/10/2013, 12:03 am
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    Bah. Ruth’s door lock is only Adept level. Billie can handle it, with just a couple of picks.

    Why yes, I did recently download Skyrim Legendary Edition, how did you ever guess?

    1. Mr. Random

      07/10/2013, 12:16 am
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      She’d only need one if she’s at 100. But Billie would never pick so many locks. It’d be an invasion of privacy.

    2. Dorky

      07/10/2013, 12:17 am
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      Ruth is actually a future version of the doctor. She is both female and ginger. everyone is happy.
      She doesn’t even need a key to her own room because she just uses the sonic screwdriver.
      Someone figure out a way that Ruth uses the psychic paper because i fricking love the psychic paper.

      1. Doctor_Who

        07/10/2013, 12:19 am
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        It’s her fake ID.

      2. Ghostforge

        07/10/2013, 1:18 am
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        love this!^

    3. ninja_jesus

      07/11/2013, 1:58 am
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      But is her sneak skill high enough to avoid detection?

  11. John

    07/10/2013, 12:03 am
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    Givin’ her a key to your place already?

    1. Yotomoe

      07/10/2013, 12:05 am
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      Well they did already make out.

  12. Luzahn

    07/10/2013, 12:03 am
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    Considering the look of Ruth as she says that last line, I think we’ve found Amazi-girl’s supervillains.

    1. John

      07/10/2013, 1:05 pm
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      In this issue: Amazi-Girl vs. Ruthless and the Alpha bongo!

      1. ninja_jesus

        07/11/2013, 1:59 am
        • Reply Report comment

        Holy shit, Ruthless and the Alpha bongo sound like a great super-villain duo.

  13. Taigan

    07/10/2013, 12:04 am
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    “…and if you want you can check on me before bed. And during the night. In fact, I’d probably be easier if you just stayed over.” <3

    Yeah, but I can dream.

    1. EvergreenFir

      07/10/2013, 12:06 am
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      I can totally picture a fanfic/fanart based on this… Billie walks into room. Ruth has headphones on, at computer enthralled in whatever she’s doing. Billie goes to sneak up on her… until she glimpses the screen and hears … Imma stop here

    2. Yotomoe

      07/10/2013, 12:06 am
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      I read that as “Check under the bed” as in check for monsters.

      1. Aizat

        07/10/2013, 12:08 am
        • Reply Report comment

        All right, Yotomoe. Roll the dice for monster check.

        1. Doctor_Who

          07/10/2013, 12:10 am

          You encounter a Beholder!…It’s Joe, hoping to “Behold” some girl on girl action.

        2. Mr. Random

          07/10/2013, 12:18 am

          Joe used bluff. Roll to see if it’s effective.

        3. Josh

          07/10/2013, 8:27 am

          Does a 13 pass?

        4. N0083rP00F

          07/10/2013, 8:36 am

          Sorry but the base DC is a 15 before modifiers.

        5. Mr. Random

          07/10/2013, 4:21 pm

          It fails. Instead of convincing them to continue, they decide to kick him out the window. Joe is forced to climb outside the building in order to make kiddy faces at the girls on the upper floors.

        6. Leorale

          07/10/2013, 6:50 pm

          He climbs out the window to check out the ladies on the upper floors — doesn’t he ever think about the consequences??

        7. HMRC4EVR

          07/10/2013, 12:18 am

          *bows before the PUNisher*

    3. DarkVeghetta

      06/21/2015, 2:33 pm
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      This is the first comment I’ve ever red on this site. Ah, those halcyon days, roughly 48h ago.

      1. DarkVeghetta

        06/21/2015, 2:34 pm
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        Taigan one, that is.

  14. Plasma Mongoose

    07/10/2013, 12:04 am
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    Picking locks are also very handy where chasity belts are involved.

    1. Aizat

      07/10/2013, 12:06 am
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      If your lock-picking skills are high enough that is.

    2. Yotomoe

      07/10/2013, 12:08 am
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      Takin’ em off is easy. IT’s putting them back on that’s the hard part.

      1. Aizat

        07/10/2013, 12:09 am
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        Wait, I thought chastity belts require a lock pick skill of 50 or higher?

        1. Josh

          07/10/2013, 4:12 am

          I’ve always assumed that!

        2. Josh

          07/10/2013, 4:13 am

          Or I’ve been seriously screwing up my rolls.

        3. Roborat

          07/10/2013, 3:01 pm

          If that is what you have been screwing, you are doing it wrong.

    3. EvergreenFir

      07/10/2013, 12:09 am
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      Still sailing the SS JoycexBillie? Or just a comment on chastity belts in general?

      1. NightmareWarden

        07/10/2013, 4:50 am
        • Reply Report comment

        What would a chastity belt do that Joyce’s words can’t?

        1. ninja_jesus

          07/11/2013, 2:03 am

          Keep its integrity?

  15. Estron

    07/10/2013, 12:05 am
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    Huh.

  16. Lu86

    07/10/2013, 12:05 am
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    Awwww!!! So cute!

  17. Blue

    07/10/2013, 12:05 am
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    Words cannot describe how cute this is. Halp.

    And this may be the least dysfunctional they’ve ever been together.

  18. Aizat

    07/10/2013, 12:06 am
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    All you need is a screwdriver, a crapload of bobby pins and a magazine on lock-picking.

    1. TPman

      07/10/2013, 12:07 am
      • Reply Report comment

      Alternatively, fire axe.

      1. ICSM

        07/10/2013, 9:28 am
        • Reply Report comment

        Or just fire, really.

    2. Yotomoe

      07/10/2013, 12:08 am
      • Reply Report comment

      No Screwdrivers! They gave up drinking!

      1. Plasma Mongoose

        07/10/2013, 12:11 am
        • Reply Report comment

        Sonic Screwdrivers on the other hand…

        1. Mr. Random

          07/10/2013, 12:19 am

          Unless it’s a wooden lock…

        2. HMRC4EVR

          07/10/2013, 12:19 am

          Sonic? Who uses Sonic?? (well, he does, but still…)

          Laser Screwdrivers are the way to go!

        3. AgentKeen

          07/10/2013, 12:24 am

          I’ve always wanted to open up a Sci-Fi bar with a Sonic Screwdriver on the menu.

        4. Mr. Random

          07/10/2013, 12:40 am

          What would be the Sonic part?

        5. Ghostforge

          07/10/2013, 1:20 am

          its stirred in a vitamix at high speed

        6. Jenny Creed

          07/10/2013, 3:13 am

          It can be a Screwdriver served in a crystal glass, with good sound.

        7. N0083rP00F

          07/10/2013, 8:39 am

          A squeeze of Blue Hedgehog?

        8. AgentKeen

          07/10/2013, 10:47 am

          That’s something I try to figure out every so often, but still haven’t come up with a good idea.

        9. Roborat

          07/10/2013, 3:03 pm

          Maybe an ultrasonic sound generator used to mix the drink?

        10. Leorale

          07/10/2013, 6:52 pm

          Doesn’t need to be complicated. Just something that turns the drink blue.

        11. Jenny Creed

          07/11/2013, 2:53 am

          I thought about that but how do you turn orange juice blue? They’re opposite colors! D:

        12. The E-man

          07/10/2013, 11:46 pm

          There’s a place in NYC called the Way Station which has three Sonic Screwdriver cocktails: 10th, 11th, and River’s Red Setting. The cocktails are here.

          I believe that at one point the bartender used a light-up sonic screwdriver to “sonic” the drink when serving but I only heard about that and never seen it myself, so I’m not sure if it’s true.

    3. Lu86

      07/10/2013, 2:26 am
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      Mentats also help.

      1. Luke

        07/10/2013, 4:32 am
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        As does a nice hat.

    4. Valdrax

      07/10/2013, 9:20 am
      • Reply Report comment

      Or, in a dorm situation in which you *know* there’s a master key somewhere, making a good old bump key will do.

      And hey, Billie now has two keys that fit the same make of lock…

  19. GoogerGeigwr

    07/10/2013, 12:06 am
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    My boner is imminent.

  20. DJTsurugi

    07/10/2013, 12:06 am
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    ~watches Willis play with dolls of Ruth and Billie making them kiss each other~

    1. Doctor_Who

      07/10/2013, 12:11 am
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      Pfff! Willis? Own dolls? In what universe?

      1. Badtux

        07/10/2013, 1:49 am
        • Reply Report comment

        Please. They’re called “action figures”.

    2. Buckybone

      07/10/2013, 12:12 am
      • Reply Report comment

      Really? The rest of us just make them fuck.

  21. Amanda

    07/10/2013, 12:07 am
    • Reply Report comment

    SECRET BEST FRIENDS YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYY

    (secret best friends who sometimes make out, licky-style)

    1. Josh

      07/10/2013, 8:28 am
      • Reply Report comment

      With their penises?

  22. TPman

    07/10/2013, 12:07 am
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    I have yet to test it out in real life, but I have a hunch that a set of lock picks would make a great romantic gift.

    1. NightmareWarden

      07/10/2013, 4:52 am
      • Reply Report comment

      “I can’t just give you the key to my heart; you have to poke around in there until it opens involuntarily.”
      I recommend you see a chiropractor for that hunch, it ain’t gonna help nothin’.

    2. Roborat

      07/10/2013, 3:08 pm
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      Well, I gave a set to Vette, and she seemed to like them, so you may be right.

      1. Roborat

        07/11/2013, 2:48 pm
        • Reply Report comment

        Hmmm. I suspect I may have been too obscure with this joke.

  23. Kernanator

    07/10/2013, 12:07 am
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    Who has written all of the cutes? It’s Willis!

    1. Yotomoe

      07/10/2013, 12:09 am
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      I’m imagining you holding up Willis like a baby and saying that in a baby voice.

      1. Kernanator

        07/10/2013, 12:12 am
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        Which is funny, since he’s at least 10 years older than me.

      2. Ghostforge

        07/10/2013, 1:20 am
        • Reply Report comment

        arrg… now me too

      3. ICSM

        07/10/2013, 9:31 am
        • Reply Report comment

        I imagined a dog called Willis.

  24. Jack Faire

    07/10/2013, 12:08 am
    • Reply Report comment

    I like that this time we get to see their friendship develop.

    1. Doctor_Who

      07/10/2013, 12:12 am
      • Reply Report comment

      My Little Billie: Friendship is Breaking and Entering.

  25. Deemah122

    07/10/2013, 12:09 am
    • Reply Report comment

    BROTP!!!!

  26. NerdHerder

    07/10/2013, 12:09 am
    • Reply Report comment

    MY EMOTIONS

    1. Aizat

      07/10/2013, 12:11 am
      • Reply Report comment

      THEY ARE TOYING WITH

      1. Makkabee

        07/10/2013, 7:34 am
        • Reply Report comment

        WAKKA WAKKA WAKKA!!

        (Oops. Wrong Frank Oz voice)

  27. Plasma Mongoose

    07/10/2013, 12:09 am
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    What do they use for locks in IU these days, key-cards?

    1. Yotomoe

      07/10/2013, 12:12 am
      • Reply Report comment

      Noone locks their door. EVER.

      1. shanaleigh1994

        07/10/2013, 12:51 am
        • Reply Report comment

        Most of the girls do

      2. Ray Radlein

        07/10/2013, 3:33 am
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        Back when I was a Freshman (n.b.: not at IU), we never locked our dorm room door for about the first two-thirds of the year, until someone finally got too paranoid about security, and we decided to lock our doors after all.

        That was the day someone broke in while we were all in classes and stole a bunch of stuff.

        In retrospect, the perpetrator (a janitor with a passkey, IIRC) had probably viewed the unlocked door as a sign that someone was home up until that point.

        The police eventually caught the guy and got a bunch of our stuff back, but only after the insurance company had replaced my really nice camera and lenses with a not-quite-so-nice camera and lenses. Dammit.

        1. eddy_h

          07/10/2013, 5:22 am

          That must have been an older and more trusting time … on moving into our first year dorms (2000/2001 year) one of the first things we were told was to not leave your door open or unlocked unless you had line-of-sight/were within earshot of it and were e.g. just grabbing something from the shared kitchen or in and out of the bathroom… (ie there wouldn’t be time enough for someone from outside to gain access to the corridor, find and enter an unlocked room, grab something valuable and escape). Theft from student bedrooms is a massive problem, apparently – at least in the 21st century (and one presumes the late 90s)… and insurance against it is big business.

          However we loosened up a bit when the entry doors gained electronic locks (all the rooms themselves still cylinder locks), as by then we all knew and trusted each other fairly well (…discounting that one guy who got expelled early on for trying to rape his (co-ed) neighbour) and so with less chance of unknowns wandering in we could treat it more like a holiday youth hostel or the like. The worst we personally suffered was someone drunkenly letting in some guys from the floor above who then raided our fridge and stole all the sausages … and a kettle, weirdly.

          Careless floormate in my third year did end up losing their laptop, however.

          For some reason I never felt that paranoid about the old jalopy I bought for my third year. Often didn’t bother locking it, and certainly not the tailgate (figured it wouldn’t be too hard to climb in through there, break the steering lock and hotwire it if I really needed to, and it wasn’t obvious it was unlocked despite the side doors being locked). Never got touched. Shoulda kept all my stuff in it… 🙂

        2. Ray Radlein

          07/10/2013, 4:38 pm

          It was older, all right (1979), but I refuse to believe that we were any more trusting back then. Shit was fucked up and shit even then.

          We lived in an apartment-style dorm, with four separate bedrooms, a kitchen, living room, and split bathroom. Which meant that if we were each in our rooms, someone could easily walk in the unlocked front door, through the living room and kitchen, and out the back door, without any of us even knowing, if they were quiet (which, of course, college students pretty much never are). Which people occasionally did, to cut through the dorm rather than walking around it (of course, we did it to other similar rooms ourselves at times). But then, we didn’t keep stuff worth stealing out in the living room, for the most part. And no one was really desperate enough to steal our pots and pans.

          Of course, if we had been four women, we might well have locked our doors by default. Or maybe not; I don’t recall the female equivalent dorm rooms being particularly hypervigilant in that way (though we would certainly not barge in unannounced to cut through their rooms, that’s for sure).

    2. Valdrax

      07/10/2013, 9:23 am
      • Reply Report comment

      Better question: Even when they did have metal keys, did none of them have a prominent “do no copy” on them?

      Then again, I guess that mattered more before self-service key copying machines became a thing. Thank you everyone for tuning in to today’s episode of “Now I Feel Old.”

      1. Quinctia

        07/10/2013, 1:52 pm
        • Reply Report comment

        Unless that “do not copy” head is on a key blank that’s unusual, there’s not going to be too much hassle getting it copied. Otherwise, how on earth does the owner of a building get the key in the first place?

      2. Dara

        07/10/2013, 8:01 pm
        • Reply Report comment

        That was my first thought, too. My dorm room key (and the key to the dorm mailroom) had ‘Do Not Copy’ stamped onto the head, so that if you take it to a copier, they won’t do it. But I didn’t know they have self-serve key-copy machines now since I’ve never gone to have a key made.

        1. Valdrax

          07/10/2013, 8:54 pm

          Many stores competing in the same niche as Wal-mart have them, and nearly all stores in the same niche as Home Depot and Lowe’s have them.

          I’ve always liked that you can get the funky painted keys to help tell them apart better.

  28. Brian Lynch

    07/10/2013, 12:09 am
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    And then we can make out all licky-style.

    1. Brian Lynch

      07/10/2013, 12:10 am
      • Reply Report comment

      Ah – I should add for Dumbing Of Age – only fans, that that is a Shortpacked reference, and is not as dirty as it sounds.

      1. VMtheCoyote

        07/10/2013, 12:18 am
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        I get that it’s a Shortpacked reference, but I’m pretty sure it is -exactly- as dirty as it sounds.

        1. Brian Lynch

          07/10/2013, 12:26 am

          Fair point.

        2. Ghostforge

          07/10/2013, 1:22 am

          i always interpreted “licky style”as just frenching

        3. NightmareWarden

          07/10/2013, 4:53 am

          Wait, then how is “licky style” any different from “heavy petting”? Isn’t very compassionate and steamy kissing=frenching?

        4. NightmareWarden

          07/10/2013, 4:55 am

          Why the balls did I put “frenching” there? I could have used either of the above words, yet I chose frenching. It must be a message from the universe! Get on it, Billie and Ruth!

  29. saltchocolate

    07/10/2013, 12:10 am
    • Reply Report comment

    So is Ruth going to keep an eye on Billie, too? She’s already got a key to Billie’s room…

  30. Yotomoe

    07/10/2013, 12:10 am
    • Reply Report comment

    And by “Pick a lock” I mean…pick a lock.
    But then we can do sexy things. Like learn how to “pick a lock”

    1. EvergreenFir

      07/10/2013, 12:19 am
      • Reply Report comment

      “Picking locks”
      “Breaking and entering”
      Everything sounds dirty in quotes

      1. Mr. Random

        07/10/2013, 12:22 am
        • Reply Report comment

        Let’s see. “Eat lasagna” , then “make some tofu”, “take a shit”, “make sweaty passionate love”. Yep. All of them.

        1. Yotomoe

          07/10/2013, 12:24 am

          woah, we both did tofu…what are the odds?

        2. Mr. Random

          07/10/2013, 12:38 am

          1/06102013

        3. Drazisil

          07/10/2013, 1:39 am

          That’s 1/07102013. Even better. 🙂

      2. DrunkenGator

        07/10/2013, 12:23 am
        • Reply Report comment

        “Hard time”
        “Stock Index”
        “Fahrvegneugen”
        … you may be on to something…

        1. NightmareWarden

          07/10/2013, 4:57 am

          Is…is that an Animaniacs reference? From the Animaniacs movie?

      3. Yotomoe

        07/10/2013, 12:23 am
        • Reply Report comment

        “Eating Tofu”
        “Riding Bikes”
        “Punching Rabbits”
        “Stretching my legs”
        we were “Caught in a snowstorm”

      4. nothri

        07/10/2013, 12:32 am
        • Reply Report comment

        “Pulling the fire alarm.”

      5. Mo

        07/10/2013, 12:49 am
        • Reply Report comment

        “Playing with my Monkey Master.”

      6. Ghostforge

        07/10/2013, 1:25 am
        • Reply Report comment

        not exactly, if its something that is a carnal act and is the textbook term for it quotes just make it sound like you dont believe they will/are/have done said thing

        1. Makkabee

          07/10/2013, 7:38 am

          “Fucking so hard that Joyce had an orgasm.”

  31. Gram91

    07/10/2013, 12:12 am
    • Reply Report comment

    I wonder if Billie realizes the same conditions may apply to her.

    1. Yotomoe

      07/10/2013, 12:17 am
      • Reply Report comment

      She may wake up with a Ruth in her bed. The best thing to wake up to
      THE BEST PART OF WAKING UP, IS RUTHLESS IN YOUR BUNK

      1. AgentKeen

        07/10/2013, 12:27 am
        • Reply Report comment

        I can see it now, Ruth sneaking in through the door in the middle of the night, Sal sneaking in through the window. They look at each other and just agree to pretend neither of them saw anything…

        1. John

          07/10/2013, 3:08 am

          I’m imagining Ruth sneaking in and crawling into bed with Billie while she sleeps. And then Sal coming through the window to find Billie and Ruthless sleeping innocently spooned together with content little smiles on their faces, and just blinking, turning around, and leaving again.

          That and Joyce’s reaction to coming in to get Billie up for class and finding them like that…

        2. Platinakettu

          07/10/2013, 5:51 am

          It would be awsome if this ever happened.

      2. nothri

        07/10/2013, 12:34 am
        • Reply Report comment

        It pisses me off that I love this comment so much. So goddamn terrible, and yet….

      3. Gram91

        07/10/2013, 12:37 am
        • Reply Report comment

        It could go the other way around as well

    2. EvergreenFir

      07/10/2013, 1:10 am
      • Reply Report comment

      are you saying… it can go both ways? **rimshot**

      1. Ghostforge

        07/10/2013, 1:26 am
        • Reply Report comment

        Daaaaaanggg.

      2. Dinstow

        07/10/2013, 2:08 am
        • Reply Report comment

        Daaaaaanggg.

  32. Totz the Plaid

    07/10/2013, 12:13 am
    • Reply Report comment

    I’ve never tried it, but I know, theoretically, how to pick a lock.

    1. Aizat

      07/10/2013, 12:14 am
      • Reply Report comment

      So do I. Thank you Fallout New Vegas.

    2. Josh

      07/10/2013, 8:32 am
      • Reply Report comment

      You poke a lock-pick into it and wiggle it around until it opens right? Skyrim taught me something!

    3. Crimson Doom

      07/10/2013, 9:07 am
      • Reply Report comment

      You take a battleaxe and chop the door open.

      …what do you MEAN, the point is to be subtle?!

  33. SUGauthor

    07/10/2013, 12:13 am
    • Reply Report comment

    That’s a relief, I’ve been worried about her, but I REALLY doubt Billie can quit alcohol.

    1. NightmareWarden

      07/10/2013, 5:00 am
      • Reply Report comment

      I heard the best way to quit an addiction is to pick up another one. You know Billie, you wouldn’t be the first one in your dorm to get addicted to some “freckled ass”…
      Trust me, I’m a doctor.

  34. AJBulldis

    07/10/2013, 12:13 am
    • Reply Report comment

    THIS IS THE BEST THING EVER.

  35. ShadowMaskPrime

    07/10/2013, 12:15 am
    • Reply Report comment

    Walky, you’re missing the “OTP” and “Shipping” tags…

  36. Raen

    07/10/2013, 12:16 am
    • Reply Report comment

    Ruth and Billie, sittin’ in a wagon.

  37. alicemacher

    07/10/2013, 12:17 am
    • Reply Report comment

    I’m getting a little farklempt… tawk amongst yourselves… ;__;

  38. Ridureyu

    07/10/2013, 12:18 am
    • Reply Report comment

    Silly Billie, you don’t need to check on her, just move in!

    But anyway… it’d be adorable if they became a couple. Also adorable? They stay friends, platonically, since everybody else is guaranteed to go bed-hopping around. Sometimes a good, close friendship can be awesome, too… though I’m betting on a month of in-story time, tops, till they’re a couple. Dumbing Of Age has way too many heterosexuals for a Willis comic!

    1. vsophi

      07/10/2013, 12:32 am
      • Reply Report comment

      It might be cute on the surface, but it’s not like everything’s all better now. They both still have pretty intense issues.

      In other news… Man, Ruth is so attractive with developed eyes. ; w ; <3

  39. null

    07/10/2013, 12:26 am
    • Reply Report comment

    I don’t usually ship BUT I SHIP THIS HARD

    1. Ghostforge

      07/10/2013, 1:28 am
      • Reply Report comment

      YES so do i *looks around nervously for the heteronormative gestapo*

      1. saltchocolate

        07/10/2013, 1:37 pm
        • Reply Report comment

        No worries! They don’t even bother policing Willis’s comics anymore.

      2. DarkVeghetta

        06/21/2015, 2:48 pm
        • Reply Report comment

        Those can’t get in here… there’s a magic lock on the front door that only opens if you have lesbian porn in your heart.

  40. Lazarus

    07/10/2013, 12:28 am
    • Reply Report comment

    50/50 chance Billie goes to use the key and finds out it’s actually a key specifically made to fit no lock in the dorm.

  41. Kamino Neko

    07/10/2013, 12:29 am
    • Reply Report comment

    And the SS Billieruth sails again!

    … Hmm. Needs a better ‘ship name.

    Psychobillie?

    1. ProfNekko

      07/10/2013, 12:31 am
      • Reply Report comment

      Freakout!

    2. alicemacher

      07/10/2013, 12:40 am
      • Reply Report comment

      You heard Kamino Neko, ‘shippers. Make it so. 😉

    3. Ghostforge

      07/10/2013, 1:29 am
      • Reply Report comment

      SS Billessik?

    4. CianM1301

      07/10/2013, 9:21 am
      • Reply Report comment

      SS Rubi?

    5. saltchocolate

      07/10/2013, 1:40 pm
      • Reply Report comment

      I was playing around with their full names, and realized that one possible mash-up is Worthless (Billingsworth/Lessick) . . . and that made me sad. Here’s to the self-esteem of both of them!

    6. NightRaven

      07/10/2013, 1:40 pm
      • Reply Report comment

      Worthlesse ?

    7. xKiv

      07/10/2013, 9:32 pm
      • Reply Report comment

      Ruthifer?

  42. RickZarber

    07/10/2013, 12:30 am
    • Reply Report comment

    I really like that Ruth is subtly mentioning the time she broke into Billie’s room and stole a treasured personal belonging in order to damage it and cause emotional pain and yet this is still somehow flirting.

    Like, no sarcasm, I love it.

  43. fishamaphone

    07/10/2013, 12:33 am
    • Reply Report comment

    Holy shit, I had not prepared myself for these feels. Agh, I don’t know what to do with them. I think I might explode.

    *pwof!*

    1. turkishproverb

      07/10/2013, 9:12 am
      • Reply Report comment

      Crap. Now I have to clean this up. Why people can’t hold their feels, I’ll never know…

  44. nothri

    07/10/2013, 12:40 am
    • Reply Report comment

    I am pretty okay with this development. Closest Ruth can come to admitting she was wrong and thanking Billie for saving her life.

    Granted, its no angry make out session, but I am pretty okay with it.

  45. Hythrain

    07/10/2013, 12:44 am
    • Reply Report comment

    This comic… and my… but you… I’m having difficulty making coherent thoughts. This was just amazingly adorable. This wasn’t what I was expecting at all! Damnit, Willis, you’ve pulled on my feel strings once again!

  46. shanaleigh1994

    07/10/2013, 12:50 am
    • Reply Report comment

    Read Hall still uses metal keys, it’s the dorms on the other side of campus that use those cards

    1. eddy_h

      07/10/2013, 5:23 am
      • Reply Report comment

      DANG IT I was about to claim firsts on saying that it doesn’t use metal keys no more, too.

      (I don’t even know, I just grepped the comments and found no mention of it… before now)

  47. Comrade

    07/10/2013, 12:55 am
    • Reply Report comment

    I’m surprised so many people are commenting about how adorable it is and whatnot. I mean, my first impulse was that Ruth had some kind of ulterior motive or was planning to humiliate Billie somehow or… well, suffice to say, I’m not the most apt when it comes to elabourating my sentiments through text, but I figured she had some kind of devious little plan in mind. But apparently I’m in the minority on that? :v

    1. EvergreenFir

      07/10/2013, 12:59 am
      • Reply Report comment

      I feel odd for not having too many feels and simply jumping to the PMHP

      All aboard!

      1. nothri

        07/10/2013, 1:25 am
        • Reply Report comment

        PMHP?

        1. Kernanator

          07/10/2013, 11:25 am

          PREMARITAL HANKY-PANKY!

          http://www.dumbingofage.com/2011/comic/book-1/06-yesterday-was-thursday/pmhp/

    2. Hythrain

      07/10/2013, 1:21 am
      • Reply Report comment

      I think it’s because, with everything that’s happened lately, and with the expressions Ruth shows, it doesn’t come off like she has an ulterior motive; she genuinely wants to quit drinking. It likely also helps that this “quit drinking” arc is something Willis already did with Ruth and Billie, so in many ways it carries a lot of nostalgia in that regard (And hopefully without the same bloody end)

    3. nothri

      07/10/2013, 1:27 am
      • Reply Report comment

      Shrug. Girl almost died. I’ll give her the the benefit of the doubt. Innocent until proven shitty, in my book.

  48. ShaggyDonahugh

    07/10/2013, 1:14 am
    • Reply Report comment

    Ok, I teared up with happiness…whether that’s from the nickel I earned or this panel I’m not entirely sure.

    1. Ghostforge

      07/10/2013, 1:31 am
      • Reply Report comment

      the answer is YES.

      1. ShadowMaskPrime

        07/10/2013, 9:31 am
        • Reply Report comment

        Given your (randomly selected?) Avatars, I know what you’re spending that nickel on…

  49. Wilkie

    07/10/2013, 1:15 am
    • Reply Report comment

    IU does still have metal keys! You have to swipe your ID to get into the building, but your bedroom door gets a regular key. (Also I’m wondering if Ruth even had to pick Billie’s lock – as an RA she can get into anyone’s room she wants to.)

  50. Uniqueantique

    07/10/2013, 1:17 am
    • Reply Report comment

    Interesting and complicated. Mr. W. never gives a straight shot. Which leads to some damn fine arcs and a very interesting read.
    The two of them have a long way to go, will be interesting to see what develops. I’m thinking it won’t be expected either way. And I agree with the statement that maybe Ruth is keeping an eye on Billie. Ruth will likely quit drinking before Billie does. Ruth knows she has a problem, Billy does too but I don’t think Billie “really” believes she has a problem. Sort of an ‘oh yeah, I can quit anytime” mindset.

  51. TrueVCU

    07/10/2013, 1:21 am
    • Reply Report comment

    And thus began the DEADLY ALLIANCE

    1. nothri

      07/10/2013, 1:28 am
      • Reply Report comment

      Suddenly I hear bond music in the background.

      1. TrueVCU

        07/10/2013, 1:32 am
        • Reply Report comment

        Suddenly Ruth has a posh british accent

      2. Ghostforge

        07/10/2013, 1:33 am
        • Reply Report comment

        is it wrong that my mind immediately upon reading your post said Octopussy?

  52. Osaru Sensei

    07/10/2013, 1:53 am
    • Reply Report comment

    hngh.

    …So… many cute… Ruth… faces! *faints from ODing on ecchi-flvored kawaii*

  53. Iggzy

    07/10/2013, 2:17 am
    • Reply Report comment

    I love you Willis,

  54. Ryuusei924

    07/10/2013, 2:29 am
    • Reply Report comment

    thank GOD. i finally have more reason to fangirl.

  55. mathiasmindblade

    07/10/2013, 2:58 am
    • Reply Report comment

    Shipping at the Shipyard!

  56. MechaMaidFan7

    07/10/2013, 3:00 am
    • Reply Report comment

    I came here to read “D’awwwwww” comments and to write my own. I’m not disappointed.

  57. Raoullefere

    07/10/2013, 3:03 am
    • Reply Report comment

    Sniff So touching. ‘Course, I still want someone to kick Ruth inna Australia…

    …but maybe not quite as hard.

    1. John

      07/10/2013, 1:03 pm
      • Reply Report comment

      Ruth just handed Billie the keys to a shiny new Australia?

      1. Lamachine

        07/10/2013, 1:36 pm
        • Reply Report comment

        I wasn’t aware it was laundry day, though…

  58. acher4

    07/10/2013, 3:22 am
    • Reply Report comment

    omgomgOMG!
    I LUV this!
    😀

  59. Doctor Lantern

    07/10/2013, 3:25 am
    • Reply Report comment

    In the words of Peter Griffin: “Now hug… good, good. Now smell her hair a little…”

  60. itches

    07/10/2013, 4:06 am
    • Reply Report comment

    So this seems too good to be true. Remember who makes this comic.

  61. Josh

    07/10/2013, 4:15 am
    • Reply Report comment

    DAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!

  62. StClair

    07/10/2013, 4:52 am
    • Reply Report comment

    “Or if you want to come over for… y’know… any other reasons…”

  63. Beachfox

    07/10/2013, 5:16 am
    • Reply Report comment

    *deep breath* *SQUEEEEEE!* *does the gay hands thing*

    http://www.shortpacked.com/2010/comic/book-11/01-no-thanks-to-eharmony/giddy/

  64. CathyGarrett (@CathyGarrett)

    07/10/2013, 5:40 am
    • Reply Report comment

    Nope. Still hate Ruthless.

  65. Tualha

    07/10/2013, 6:10 am
    • Reply Report comment

    Awww. FWIENDS.

  66. Volkai

    07/10/2013, 6:55 am
    • Reply Report comment

    <3

  67. Yarrr

    07/10/2013, 7:19 am
    • Reply Report comment

    I like it. They make good friends. This could work out better if they don’t actually end up in a relationship.

  68. Alexis

    07/10/2013, 7:25 am
    • Reply Report comment

    Stupid Willis, in IU, everyone’s psychically interfaced with the Hive Key now!

    GET with the TIMES!

    1. Mrelegos

      07/10/2013, 1:37 pm
      • Reply Report comment

      By the time the gang reach Spring Joke, this comment will be accurate

  69. Hoboturtle

    07/10/2013, 7:25 am
    • Reply Report comment

    This was heart warming until the last panel which made me fear for everyone’s safety. Nogfemurs will be safe

    1. partinobodycular

      07/10/2013, 12:53 pm
      • Reply Report comment

      Phew, I was really worried for my nogfemurs for a minute.

  70. David

    07/10/2013, 7:32 am
    • Reply Report comment

    By “discreetly pick a lock”, she is referring to her vagina.

    I am a detective.

    1. Tomas

      07/10/2013, 8:25 am
      • Reply Report comment

      Thank you, Captain Hammer.

    2. David

      07/10/2013, 2:37 pm
      • Reply Report comment

      Anybody have an idea whether the default gravatar is based on a hash of the “NAME” or a hash of the “EMAIL” or both? I’m just wondering about the likelihood of having the same default avatar when one shares the same displayed name.

      This is the first time I’ve seen a name+gravatar collision and I’d be idly curious to know its likelihood.

      In other news: David, if you are collecting and displaying insects like you are collecting innuendo, I’d recommend buying some pins instead of the rather prominent nails you drive home. They make it hard to focus on what you want to highlight rather than on the bloody mess you make.

      1. John

        07/10/2013, 5:05 pm
        • Reply Report comment

        It’s based on a hash of the email. I collided with another John over on BBR (in an odd coincidence, that was with Sarah, too), and switched to my full name to distinguish. Didn’t change the email, and kept the Sarah grav. (Though added gravs and the accompanying reshuffle since has given me Billie over there now, too.)

        I’d guess the odds of colliding with someone else you share a name with are roughly 1:[number of random gravatars available], assuming, without knowing the details of the hash, that each possible result has roughly the same probability.

  71. Pjotroos

    07/10/2013, 7:36 am
    • Reply Report comment

    It’s never easy to write something heartwarming and not cheesy. Well done, mr Willis.

  72. clodia

    07/10/2013, 8:29 am
    • Reply Report comment

    What a sweet moment!

    I don’t trust it.

  73. Notebooked

    07/10/2013, 8:43 am
    • Reply Report comment

    There she is.

  74. RTH2

    07/10/2013, 10:39 am
    • Reply Report comment

    That is, sincerely, one of the sweetest moments I’ve ever seen. The look on Billie’s face sells the whole exchange.

  75. Robert

    07/10/2013, 10:45 am
    • Reply Report comment

    Hindsight is Mad Dog 20/20

  76. The Coslar

    07/10/2013, 11:20 am
    • Reply Report comment

    Is it awful that I like Ruth less now? Ruthless was my favorite character, but take the “less” out and she’s just less. That made sense in my head, I swear.

  77. Arkadi

    07/10/2013, 4:09 pm
    • Reply Report comment

    Is this how it’s going to be? Bill and Ruth being insanely cute together, like the most perfect couple of supervillains???

    1. Gargamel

      07/10/2013, 4:42 pm
      • Reply Report comment

      I could imagine Harley and Pamela having a similar scene.

      1. Arkadi

        07/11/2013, 1:35 pm
        • Reply Report comment

        Exactly!

  78. Whittier

    07/10/2013, 5:07 pm
    • Reply Report comment

    Billie and Ruth come to their senses. Now I’m waiting for Joyce, Ethan, Sal, Jason, etc, etc…

  79. Aaron Bourque

    07/10/2013, 5:08 pm
    • Reply Report comment

    She gave her a thing to stick in her hole.

    1. Anon

      07/10/2013, 10:37 pm
      • Reply Report comment

      Definitely one of the best (and truest) comments I’ve read. You deserve much more recognition than this meager offering, but it’s all I got. Thank you.

  80. BranTheQuixotic

    07/10/2013, 6:03 pm
    • Reply Report comment

    Whaaaaaat.

    I want to be really happy about this but I don’t know if I can because I fear Ruth will be randomly jerkass to Billie again soon, leaving her once again confused and frustrated.

    …And then they make out? Maybe? But even then that would just complicate matters.

    I don’t think we’re done with them being at each other’s throats yet, though I hope I’m wrong…

  81. Rideps1

    07/10/2013, 7:30 pm
    • Reply Report comment

    … D’AAAWWWW YOU WILLIS!

    Or something like that.

  82. Imperator

    07/10/2013, 10:07 pm
    • Reply Report comment

    Everyone is a lesbian for Billie. No. Exceptions.

    1. Arkadi

      07/11/2013, 1:36 pm
      • Reply Report comment

      Even the guys.

      1. averystrangeplace

        11/11/2013, 12:42 am
        • Reply Report comment

        ESPECIALLY the guys.

  83. koraelus

    07/10/2013, 11:09 pm
    • Reply Report comment

    omg… I want them to get married now so bad.

  84. The E-man

    07/11/2013, 12:09 am
    • Reply Report comment

    I got all the way to the bottom of the comments and NO ONE has made a “closet key” joke? I am disappointed.

  85. OmegaDez

    07/11/2013, 11:11 am
    • Reply Report comment

    <3

  86. Bill M.

    07/12/2013, 9:52 am
    • Reply Report comment

    Even though I ship this… I get the feeling Admiral Ackbar’s got something to say.

  87. Angrymang

    09/29/2013, 2:29 pm
    • Reply Report comment

    The Billie/Ruth dynamic is one of my favorites in the whole comic.

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