Somehow I think there will be a job opening for an RA, regardless of Ruth’s medical outcome. How many weeks are we into the semester at this point in the story?
Yep. I was thinking the same thing: “that’s a good way to become an ex-RA.”
Also, I second the bonus for the 70s song ref! Billie! Do be a hero
Don’t let Ruth be a fool with her life
Billie! Do be a hero
Save Ruth and make her your wife…
Agreed. Also, her gurgling is a sign of life. (If on the other hand it were written something like “kkcccchh,” I’d be more concerned, because that’s standard comic-speak for “death rattle.”)
David
Yeah, it’s basically why that word balloon exists. Ease that tension away.
Josh
Yeah, I could really easily see her looking dead, especially with Billie’s reactions in panels 3 and 4.
I’m not sorry for my “funny” comment, but now I need a serious one, because holy shit Willis drew tears. TEARS. ON RUTHLESS’ FACE. THIS SHIT IS SERIOUS MAN.
Ruth could do so much better than Billie. Billie like-wise. No one is worth getting gasoline drunk over.
Hmm, I don’t think the “amazingly inappropriate” thing was targeted at you.
Skull025
It was. I said something stupid, he deleted it. No biggie.
I wonder where Willis will go with this? Is Billie going to take her to the hospital or try and take care of her herself? I mean, she could take Ruth to the hospital, but then the school would probably find out she was drinking. That’d be bad. So what will Billie do?
Yotomoe
I’m not sure what you do with someone with alcohol poisoning. Is it like food poisoning where they just need to barf and get some medicine or is it more serious?
Hermitix
I don’t know what you do with them either but I’ve read enough William S. Burroughs to know that you get them a doctor if they smell like pee!
Hermitix
(otherwise they might die)
John
I’m sure Billie knows. It’s part of her wealth of helpful knowledge pertaining to terrible and horrific things.
Mandy
It’s more serious – you call 911.
Throwing up and such, they’re usually going to be fine. Unresponsive, like Ruth, or unable to respond to simple commands, is past the point of “sleep it off,” they may literally be dying – call for help.
gangler
From the stories I’ve heard in principle it’s about the same. Load their stomach up with tar. Make them puke it up. Keep them stable while they recover.
That’s not to say alcohol poisoning can’t be very bad though. It’s just that there’s not all that much to do about it beyond what you would for any other kind of poisoning. Not like they’ve got some alcohol antidote to put in you.
At its worst it medical treatment of alcohol poisoning seems to involve lot of time spent restraining the patient during seizures, feeding tubes, preventing the patient from choking on their own vomit, restarting their heart whenever it has stopped, and just generally keeping the breathing.
I want to be very clear when I say that just barf and get some medicine doesn’t mean hold your friend’s hair while they throw up, give them some gravol and let them sleep it off. A hospital is still exactly the place to go. They will get you through the shit that would otherwise kill you.
Jelli
Well, given that Billie pulled the alarm and it’s not a drill, the fire department is going to show up and evacuate the building. I’m not sure how Billie is going to manage to take an unconscious Ruth out of the building without anyone noticing. I guess she could try hiding Ruth but someone is going to notice Ruth didn’t evacuate. Also, firefighters do not fool around when searching buildings.
Fun note: My college was one of the schools who’s fire alarm was not a prank! A very exciting night for us all.
Thomas
“Someone is going to notice Ruth didn’t evacuate.”
Especially since RA’s are probably the go-to person to take charge in case of a fire emergency. Someone needs to do a headcount. Other RA’s will notice her absence.
David
As I’ve said elsewhere, RAs have classes and they also leave the dorm to go eat or ride their bikes or go shopping. Ruth is not expected to remain in her room 24/7. She doesn’t get in trouble if the fire alarm goes off at lunchtime and she’s at Chick-Fil-A downtown.
Scott
>_> Why would a possibly gay person eat at Chick-Fil-A?
patrick
Because they are amazingly delicious. If I was gay, I would still eat there.
Ethan has already covered this earlier in the comic, actually.
Thomas
Yes, Ethan still eats at Chick-Fil-A, but basically because he’s not ready to fully embrace his homosexuality. He doesn’t want to give up on things society says he can’t have as a homosexual. Chick-Fil-A is not exactly in that category, but he will not give it up simply because someone else says he ought to. Ruth’s case might be similar.
> Also, firefighters do not fool around when searching buildings.
Actually, considering that the alarm didn’t unlock all doors, what are they going to do? Just kick down every locked door in case there’s someone behind it?
Thomas
When firefighters arrive on the scene, there’ll possibly also an ambulance. Which means Billie probably did a very smart thing by setting off the fire alarm. Professional help will arrive soon.
Has it already been noted that this puts Billie in a similar situation as Sarah, when she got her roommate expelled for her own good? With the marked difference that Ruth is a far cry from being a popular girl. Which may mean Billie will be judged differently for it.
Kamino Neko
Ambulances come without fire trucks, too, so Billie could have accomplished that without committing a crime…
Mandy
“I called 911 because the RA didn’t come out of her room even when there’s no reason she should – oops she’s fine and now she hates me even more.”
versus…
“Someone pulled the fire alarm and when Ruth didn’t leave I checked on her and oh no help me fire department!”
The second option makes perfect sense for a panicking dumb college student. Removes any personal responsibility for being the one to summon help, and gives her a legit reason to be concerned for Ruth not coming out of her room.
patrick
Not if Billie explains that she smelled gasoline and that a fire would quickly follow? Maybe?
When I saw comments about tears, I was scratching my head as I couldn’t see any, I had to photoshop this comic by changing the brightness and contrast to be able to see the tears.
While it might be possible that it is the monitor’s fault, it is fair more likely due to the fact that I am legally blind (but not blind blind thank goodness)
Felix Kütt
so, perhaps partially color blind, perhaps? I have a nephew who’s got a light case of color blindness something to do with pinks and blues and such…
In my experience drunk people don’t actually get better looking. Maybe the alcohol is so thick the viewer is experiencing beer goggles? Ruth seems to be much better looking drunk and disheveled.
NaptownSnake
Nah, it makes perfect sense. She is dressed casually and not wearing her glasses. Most importantly, she isn’t scowling and projecting a hateful and aggressive attitude. Have you ever known someone like that ? If you can get them to let go of it, it can make them look like a whole different version of themselves.
If it is, then there’s a good reason she’s passed out. Either from being drunk, alcohol poisoning, or just the sheer shitty taste of that. Or, speaking from some experience here, probably all three of those.
192 thoughts on “Broop broop broop”
Wonder Wig
Billie! DO be a hero!
qka
+∞ for that 70s song reference!
Somehow I think there will be a job opening for an RA, regardless of Ruth’s medical outcome. How many weeks are we into the semester at this point in the story?
Cholma
Yep. I was thinking the same thing: “that’s a good way to become an ex-RA.”
Also, I second the bonus for the 70s song ref!
Billie! Do be a hero
Don’t let Ruth be a fool with her life
Billie! Do be a hero
Save Ruth and make her your wife…
Felix Kütt
just for reference to those like me who never heard it before:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cdFuMgMkBM
Bill
My God!! How young ARE you people??
And the version that went to #1 in the USA was by Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods.
Robbie C
Oh FUCK no. Those little bubbles better indicate that she’s alive (aka she’s okay.)
Plasma Mongoose
I believe they’re drunk bubbles.
Yotomoe
Can’t be drunk if you’re dead.
Plasma Mongoose
Unless you’re dead-drunk.
Wonder Wig
The drinking dead.
Goliath
I would watch the shit out of that.
Vabolo
http://25.media.tumblr.com/dc4f3f7f8c236f740fa812a65b516df1/tumblr_miqm2x5V9P1rfprkno1_500.gif
Goliath
True to my word I am watching the shit out of this.
Aras Pabedinskas
They could just be gas escaping the body. The jumled sounds too.
Davidus Rex
“This man’s drunk.”
“Dead drunk.”
“Dead right.”
Mr. Bulbmin
A reference to “Clue”? Vow of Silence in Non-Current Comics broken.
Hurya!
alicemacher
Agreed. Also, her gurgling is a sign of life. (If on the other hand it were written something like “kkcccchh,” I’d be more concerned, because that’s standard comic-speak for “death rattle.”)
David
Yeah, it’s basically why that word balloon exists. Ease that tension away.
Josh
Yeah, I could really easily see her looking dead, especially with Billie’s reactions in panels 3 and 4.
TheBenenator
I thought the term was, “boozles”? Y’know, “booze bubbles”?
Somebody
Since when does a corpse say “mrghl”…or anything for that matter? The spill on the floor does kind of look like blood, though.
Piccolo
Ruth’s tears D:
rachel
seeeeeriously :(:(
Kennerly
Get a test tube, they might cure cancer!
Arkadi
Got it!
Felix Kütt
they do! but only optic cancer! :((
Skull025
I’m not sorry for my “funny” comment, but now I need a serious one, because holy shit Willis drew tears. TEARS. ON RUTHLESS’ FACE. THIS SHIT IS SERIOUS MAN.
Ruth could do so much better than Billie. Billie like-wise. No one is worth getting gasoline drunk over.
Skull025
(I am sorry for my “funny comment.”)
Audiophillie
Hmm, I don’t think the “amazingly inappropriate” thing was targeted at you.
Skull025
It was. I said something stupid, he deleted it. No biggie.
I wonder where Willis will go with this? Is Billie going to take her to the hospital or try and take care of her herself? I mean, she could take Ruth to the hospital, but then the school would probably find out she was drinking. That’d be bad. So what will Billie do?
Yotomoe
I’m not sure what you do with someone with alcohol poisoning. Is it like food poisoning where they just need to barf and get some medicine or is it more serious?
Hermitix
I don’t know what you do with them either but I’ve read enough William S. Burroughs to know that you get them a doctor if they smell like pee!
Hermitix
(otherwise they might die)
John
I’m sure Billie knows. It’s part of her wealth of helpful knowledge pertaining to terrible and horrific things.
Mandy
It’s more serious – you call 911.
Throwing up and such, they’re usually going to be fine. Unresponsive, like Ruth, or unable to respond to simple commands, is past the point of “sleep it off,” they may literally be dying – call for help.
gangler
From the stories I’ve heard in principle it’s about the same. Load their stomach up with tar. Make them puke it up. Keep them stable while they recover.
That’s not to say alcohol poisoning can’t be very bad though. It’s just that there’s not all that much to do about it beyond what you would for any other kind of poisoning. Not like they’ve got some alcohol antidote to put in you.
At its worst it medical treatment of alcohol poisoning seems to involve lot of time spent restraining the patient during seizures, feeding tubes, preventing the patient from choking on their own vomit, restarting their heart whenever it has stopped, and just generally keeping the breathing.
I want to be very clear when I say that just barf and get some medicine doesn’t mean hold your friend’s hair while they throw up, give them some gravol and let them sleep it off. A hospital is still exactly the place to go. They will get you through the shit that would otherwise kill you.
Jelli
Well, given that Billie pulled the alarm and it’s not a drill, the fire department is going to show up and evacuate the building. I’m not sure how Billie is going to manage to take an unconscious Ruth out of the building without anyone noticing. I guess she could try hiding Ruth but someone is going to notice Ruth didn’t evacuate. Also, firefighters do not fool around when searching buildings.
Fun note: My college was one of the schools who’s fire alarm was not a prank! A very exciting night for us all.
Thomas
“Someone is going to notice Ruth didn’t evacuate.”
Especially since RA’s are probably the go-to person to take charge in case of a fire emergency. Someone needs to do a headcount. Other RA’s will notice her absence.
David
As I’ve said elsewhere, RAs have classes and they also leave the dorm to go eat or ride their bikes or go shopping. Ruth is not expected to remain in her room 24/7. She doesn’t get in trouble if the fire alarm goes off at lunchtime and she’s at Chick-Fil-A downtown.
Scott
>_> Why would a possibly gay person eat at Chick-Fil-A?
patrick
Because they are amazingly delicious. If I was gay, I would still eat there.
taekwondogirl
Ethan has already covered this earlier in the comic, actually.
Thomas
Yes, Ethan still eats at Chick-Fil-A, but basically because he’s not ready to fully embrace his homosexuality. He doesn’t want to give up on things society says he can’t have as a homosexual. Chick-Fil-A is not exactly in that category, but he will not give it up simply because someone else says he ought to. Ruth’s case might be similar.
http://www.dumbingofage.com/2011/comic/book-2/01-pajama-jeans/extolling/
Thedge
> Also, firefighters do not fool around when searching buildings.
Actually, considering that the alarm didn’t unlock all doors, what are they going to do? Just kick down every locked door in case there’s someone behind it?
Thomas
When firefighters arrive on the scene, there’ll possibly also an ambulance. Which means Billie probably did a very smart thing by setting off the fire alarm. Professional help will arrive soon.
Has it already been noted that this puts Billie in a similar situation as Sarah, when she got her roommate expelled for her own good? With the marked difference that Ruth is a far cry from being a popular girl. Which may mean Billie will be judged differently for it.
Kamino Neko
Ambulances come without fire trucks, too, so Billie could have accomplished that without committing a crime…
Mandy
“I called 911 because the RA didn’t come out of her room even when there’s no reason she should – oops she’s fine and now she hates me even more.”
versus…
“Someone pulled the fire alarm and when Ruth didn’t leave I checked on her and oh no help me fire department!”
The second option makes perfect sense for a panicking dumb college student. Removes any personal responsibility for being the one to summon help, and gives her a legit reason to be concerned for Ruth not coming out of her room.
patrick
Not if Billie explains that she smelled gasoline and that a fire would quickly follow? Maybe?
Plasma Mongoose
When I saw comments about tears, I was scratching my head as I couldn’t see any, I had to photoshop this comic by changing the brightness and contrast to be able to see the tears.
NaYa
Might wanna check your monitor calibration if it’s that invisible…
Plasma Mongoose
While it might be possible that it is the monitor’s fault, it is fair more likely due to the fact that I am legally blind (but not blind blind thank goodness)
Felix Kütt
so, perhaps partially color blind, perhaps? I have a nephew who’s got a light case of color blindness something to do with pinks and blues and such…
Somebody
Seriously, you’re blaming it all on Billie?
Audiophillie
Aww, she looks so cute when she’s intoxicated beyond belief.
Kernanator
It’s that uncomfortable position. Falling off of beds adds a +1 to Cuteness!
Plasma Mongoose
In a different context, Ruth’s pose would have been fresh blackmail material for Billie to collect.
Aleostax
In my experience drunk people don’t actually get better looking. Maybe the alcohol is so thick the viewer is experiencing beer goggles? Ruth seems to be much better looking drunk and disheveled.
NaptownSnake
Nah, it makes perfect sense. She is dressed casually and not wearing her glasses. Most importantly, she isn’t scowling and projecting a hateful and aggressive attitude. Have you ever known someone like that ? If you can get them to let go of it, it can make them look like a whole different version of themselves.
Aras Pabedinskas
Man, this comic is really knocking on the 4th wall, isn’t.
Null Set
Episode as in “this whole situation”
Volkai
Is it?
AndaisQ
is that a bottle of listerine in the corner
JebJeb
If it is, then there’s a good reason she’s passed out. Either from being drunk, alcohol poisoning, or just the sheer shitty taste of that. Or, speaking from some experience here, probably all three of those.
Hermitix
I thought listirine had a chemical component thingie that forces you to vomit it back up.
JebJeb
I don’t think so. The taste is what probably does that.
Mandy
Isn’t blue food coloring and a Listerine bottle a pretty standard way to hide alcohol in plain sight?
Lokitsu
Yup. Pour out most (but not all) the mouthwash then add blue or green food coloring and your favorite hard alcohol.
Packy
No, the “HRMGHL” indicates she’s alive. I’m also pretty sure she’s far from OK.
Plasma Mongoose
What happened to our earlier mouth 2 mouth comments??
Audiophillie
I was wondering the same thing…
Yotomoe
I have suplied a third. Everyone watch it closely so we can see where they’ve been going.
Yotomoe
It’s already gone!!!!