160

Hurting
Posted on July 9, 2018 by David M Willis

160 thoughts on “Hurting”

  1. Ana Chronistic

    “also that would have to be a pile of like 300 tacos”

    “CHALLENGE ACCEPTED”

    1. Needfuldoer

      If anyone has the iron stomach to handle $450 worth of Taco Bell, it’s Walky.

      1. Ana Chronistic

        Sheetz now has Tac-OMG three-packs for like $4, so it could be ONLY $400

        (and I meant the “disappear into” being hiding in, yay clarity fail)

        1. AY

          this made me jump because Sheetz is in a pretty specific portion of the East coast, so…. hello, neighbor!

        2. Killer Klown

          Indeed. I only just got done educating some people on the glory of Shmuffins last Friday or so.

        3. ShinyNeen

          Oh, neat, Sheetz is a regional thing? I’m in that region!

          Haven’t tried their food yet though. Is it secretly good? Have I been missing out?

        4. Needfuldoer

          Is it anything like Cumbies? It’s been a long time since I visited the land of Sheetz.

        5. Ana Chronistic

          I just checked teh Googlez and they seem to be primarily Maryland but smattered through Northern Virginia and a little bit of Pennsylvania

          mostly I mentioned them b/c I had just happened to stop at one and saw they had dubious tacosTac-OMGs that were definitely Walky-quality

          should definitely have gotten a Shmiscuit

        6. Killer Klown

          They are good, yes; but more to the point they pioneered touchscreen ordering back in the 90s. You basically go in there and build what you want from the ground (bread) up, and put whatever the hell you want on it, however you want it – and they make it for you.

        7. Johnnyo

          There are no Sheetz in Florida and after 7 months of living here I am still ANGRY about it.

          Wawa’s good and all, but you can’t get a burger with mozzarella sticks on it there.

      2. smparadox

        I could handle $450 worth of Taco Bell. But then again, I can handle about 2000 mg of Ibuprofen without getting an ulcer…

    2. Godfather

      It is almost midnight and I NEED TACOS. THANKS.

      1. Ana Chronistic

        You’re welcome, person reading a Willis comic who really should expect this to happen regularly!

  2. Doctor_Who

    “Hey, stop displaying maturity and character development! I skipped class and took my fake ID out for a walk this morning, I’m falling behind!”

    1. Deanatay

      Billie: Okay, spite. Also, Spite. And furthermore, SPITE!!

      Walky: Love?

      Billie: SPIIIITE!!!

      1. Freemage

        The interesting thing to me is that Billie is so very wrong, but is acting from genuinely positive emotions–she wants Walky to feel better about himself and the situation, and if that means Dorothy has to be spited, then let the spite flow!

        It’s sweet, in an utterly deranged way, which is typical of Billie, really.

  3. AnvilPro

    Spite. Happiness. Basically the same thing.

    1. Kryss LaBryn

      Hey, as long as it gets you where you want to go…

    2. Lokitsu

      Schadenfreud. The greatest word in the German language.

      1. abysswatcher1993

        Making the world a better place!

      2. Reltzik

        I like it, but I prefer Lebensabschnittgefährte.

        1. butts

          Backpfeifengesicht is my go-to.

        2. Deanatay

          Gonna guess it has something to do with posteriors…

        3. butts

          perhaps I should’ve gone with “gedankedank”

        4. Deanatay

          Google translates it as ‘backpipe face’, so, maybe?

        5. thejeff

          Loosely translates as “face in need of a fist”.
          Face that needs punching.

        6. All-Purpose Guru

          Do you mean Lebensabschnittsgefährte?

          How about rindfleischetikettierungsüberwachungsaufgabenübertragungsgesetz?

        7. Roborat

          Ah german, the language that can have one word take up an entire page.

        8. smparadox

          Google Translatetranslates that word to “rinderkennzeichnungs- und rindfleischetikettierungsüberwachungsaufgabenübertragungsgesetz”.
          Which was odd, as it was set to translate German to English…

      3. ruhrow

        What about the English equivalent? Nobody ever gives epicaricacy enough credit 🙁

        1. smparadox

          Or Archantidisestablishmentarianism…

  4. butts

    Wow, Walky actually made some useful advice out of Billie’s spite-peddling. Well done.

    1. Jed!

      Semi-useful. Going to class is good, but if the point is just to “seem fine”, he won’t get much out of it. Granted, sometimes just by going to class, you start to pay attention and absorb the information, but it requires some active learning on the student’s part, especially given Walky’s position.

      1. Reltzik

        And sometimes you’re not fine and you won’t get much out of the class regardless of what you try.

  5. ShinyNeen

    It’s genuinely touching how considerate both Walky and Dorothy are for each other during this breakup.

    But also I’m worried that they will or are making each other even more guilty about the breakup? Are they seriously killing each other with kindness??

    1. All-Purpose Guru

      Maybe they should quit being idiots and get back together.

      1. Needfuldoer

        Dorothy would have to postpone some breathing to make room in her self-imposed schedule.

  6. Stephen Bierce

    *plays The Rolling Stones’ “Beast of Burden” on the hacked P.A. speakers*

    1. Ed Rhodes

      The superior Bette Miller version!

      1. Roborat

        Is that better than Bette Midler’s version?

  7. King Daniel

    Don’t let them in, don’t let them see

    1. abysswatcher1993

      Be the good boy mommy wanted you to be.

      1. Keulen

        Conceal, don’t feel, don’t let them know.

  8. Nono

    Can Billie give non-spite advice?

    1. abysswatcher1993

      She can give advice of how to not get drugged at parties. That is her only advice that helps.

      1. BBCC

        She gives pretty helpful advice if you do end up drugged at a party too.

        1. Reltzik

          And also advice for if you want to get drunk off your ass.

        2. thejeff

          Apparently breakups aren’t sufficiently terrible and horrific to fall into her purview.

    2. Keulen

      She also gives advice on using booze to solve your problems. Billie’s great at giving advice! /s

  9. Mkvenner

    I almost forgot they were friends.

    1. Jed!

      More like pseudo-siblings that have known each other since adolescence.

      1. BBCC

        They’ve known each other at the very least since they were five.

        Apparently the sibling bond didn’t carry over to Sal, but Walky and Billie are pretty set there.

    2. DailyBrad

      Yeah, they’re an odd couple of friends, but still childhood friends.

      There’s occasional jokes from Walky that Billie has some kind of attraction for him, and Joyce formerly shipped them (dunno if she’s since stopped), but Walky treats her as a sister. Given Billie’s drunken attempt to mack on Sal once, it’s kind of muddy water how the relationship works from Billie’s end. I’m guessing it’s probably mostly platonic on her end, too.

      1. Mkvenner

        I’m guessing it’s because Walky is the only person who would put up with her.

        1. cbwroses

          Nah. Billie was pretty popular in high school up until the drunk car crash deal.
          I think it’s more a “I knew you when…” Kinda friendship that got some life put back into it when she lost her social status.

        2. Needfuldoer

          She presumably had plenty of hangers-on in high school, but few (if any) actual friends who are anywhere near as close as Walky.

  10. Passchendaele

    damnit Walky, stop being responsible and caring instead of spiteful

    1. Deanatay

      Yeah, this is your ex, you’re supposed to hate them with a fury like the heat of a thousand exploding suns, regardless of the fact that just a few short weeks ago, they were the love of your life! C’mon, turn your feelings on a dime, like absolutely everyone else!

  11. Kernanator

    It’s hilarious that today’s It’s Walky rerun covers the same theme: Billie runs on spite.

    http://www.itswalky.com/comic/ahve-got-dna-from-space/

    1. ShinyNeen

      Consistent characterization!

    2. Reltzik

      She’s spiting mad!

    3. cbwroses

      I always liked this fight, particularly when Billie mentions Walky taught her how to fight (and kiss, though that’s a different scene altogether).
      I keep hoping that this version of Walky also knows how to fight and that we just need the right (or wrong) situation to bring it out of him.

      That aside, it’s good to see Billie trying to be there for her friend, even in a spiteful manner. It shows that their friendship isn’t just lip service.

  12. Schpoonman

    I no longer like Billie.

    1. butts

      What, this was what broke her for you?

      1. Schpoonman

        Hell, I’m not sure I’ve ever liked Billie in a vacuum. But her character has been tied so closely to Ruth for so long that some of my audience affection for Ruth rubbed off on her. But now she’s skipping class and therapy, breaking sobriety, trying to drag Walky down to her level…

        A year ago I finally kicked the most toxic friend I’ve ever had, and I think I’m gonna be flinching at shitty people like this for a very long time.

        1. thejeff

          Billie’s never been sober. Never stopped drinking. Never went to therapy either.

    2. newllend(henryvolt)

      Well on one hand most of the advice she just gave made since also you can’t entirely blame her for being mad on behalf of her oldest friend who just had his heart broken since he can’t do it himself.

      But on the other hand she probably isn’t registering the idea that its probably hard for Dotty as well but that’s an easy misconception since she was considering dumping him any day now.

      1. GenJen

        I’d say also because Dorothy and Billy aren’t really friends, just in the same friend group. She doesn’t have the time or effort to care about Dottie’s feelings, her childhood friend is in pain. I’d probs give the same advice to my best friend if the person they were heads over heels with dumped them. Like, this isn’t atypical advice for a friend to give after a breakup. I don’t why people act like this is just a Billy thing. Back in College My ex broke up with me and we were in 3 clubs together (Both officers in one), D&D group at her house, and shared a few friend circles. Friends gave the same advice and it comes from a good place.

        Maybe Billie should’ve waited a biiiitttt longer. Give him some more time to wallow.

        1. Inahc

          like TemporalShrew said, “advice for bad breakups doesn’t work for amicable ones.”

        2. Emily

          This isn’t even good advice for a bad breakup.

        3. Sam

          I would say this is bad advice regardless. It all about being spiteful and focuses on the ex’s feelings that you’re supposedly supposed to be pretending to not care about. If you’re not supposed to care about them, you should be allowed to feel your pain, just reminded not to let it consume you and drive you away from every day life.

  13. QueerCat

    I’m almost impressed with Walky here. This is weirdly mature for him. Is this really someone in a convincing Walky costume

    1. Sporky

      It might be a little hard to believe, but Walky just cares about his friends

    2. King Daniel

      Could this possibly be the Duke of Thingley?

      (fun fact: the place-name “Thingley” comes from Old English þing léah, meaning “the meadow where the people meet in assembly”.)

    3. Reltzik

      No, this is Responsible-Walky. Walky can be Responsible-Walky, in a sulky, ineffective, fall-on-his-sword-because-he-can’t-find-any-better-way-to-do-it way. He just HATES that so he tries to avoid situations where he has to be Responsible-Walky like the plague. But every now and then he gets stuck with the job anyway despite his best efforts.

      1. thejeff

        He does this pretty regularly, actually.
        It’s kind of funny how people seem to completely forget and be shocked by it everytime.

    4. Jago

      Walky is a good friend/boyfriend. And a manchild. You can be both. That’s the thing that makes these characters feel real, they’re not one-dimensional. (Or not all of them)

  14. Mr. Random

    Spite: It makes the world go round.

  15. Defensor

    Billie gives terrible advice.

    1. Wizard

      Her advice is actually pretty decent. It’s her motivation that’s terrible.

  16. abysswatcher1993

    I like that Walky truly cares about his loved ones, unlike Billie who was willing to cooperate in a suicide pact for “love”. Extreme situations show the true colors of people.

    1. thejeff

      Billie cares too. It’s just that she’s also a depressed alcoholic, so her ways of showing it aren’t great.

      1. abysswatcher1993

        Like Rick Sanchez.

  17. BBCC

    Billie, this isn’t working, Walky doesn’t do spite (at least, not to the degree or ways that you do).

    And Walky, you deserve all the tacos.

    1. abysswatcher1993

      It depends on what tacos. Quality tex mex tacos, old fashioned good mexican tacos, or the genereic taco bell tacos?

      1. BBCC

        WHATEVER TACOS HE WANTS.

        1. ShinyNeen

          Right!

          … s-so, probably the Taco Bell ones?

      2. Marsh Maryrose

        I can only assume that either a) you know nothing at all about Willis, or b) you are trolling him.

      3. Lingo

        Porque no los todos?

      4. APersonAmI

        That’s a trick question.

  18. Goki

    Walky is way too good for Dorothy……..

    1. cbwroses

      As much as some people dislike Walky, you can’t really call him a bad boyfriend. Heck, he’s even being a decent ex boyfriend.
      Personally, I’d like to see a little more bitterness about the whole situation. He’s coming off as a bit too nice.

      1. GoblinScribe

        Walky has a deep inferiority complex rooted in knowing he’s never lived up to his mother’s expectations (and thus never actually earned the disproportionate favor he gets over his sister). He fundamentally doesn’t think he was good enough for Dorothy, and that’s been exacerbated by the breakup.

        He’s not being “nice”, he’s being submissive because he thinks he deserved to be dumped. Kinda like Dorothy isn’t exactly being “responsible”, she’s cutting herself off from people and working herself to death.

        1. BBCC

          Except until recently he WAS living up to those expectations. The problem is that his math grade is currently taking a sledgehammer to his self perception and making him question his fundamental worth because the Walkerton parents are shit parents who make things like grades and work and all the appearances of being a happy, successful mainstream American family the be all end all.

          God do I hate them.

      2. Emily

        I mean I guess that depends on how important basic personal hygiene is to you in a significant other. Like he’s a nice enough guy when he’s not peddling tedious machismo nonsense but god is he physically gross.

        1. Goki

          Even at his worst, he is still way too good for her.

  19. TemporalShrew

    … Billie, advice for bad breakups doesn’t work for amicable ones. Please, please stop.

    Or I guess at least keep giving the right advice for, ironically, the “wrong reasons.”

  20. mrnoidea

    BILLIE! Vengeance is not sweet advice!

    Seriously though, shit like that can lead to toxic thoughts. The best “vengeance”– in any scenario — is to be happy with yourself again.

    1. GenJen

      Honestly, even if it seems mature, i’m not sure if that’s the right mindset for Walky to have. Billie’s isn’t either for sure, but both focus too much on how the ex feels. He’s gotta show up because he can’t let one person’s actions, no matter how special that person is, de-rail things.

      Can’t say Bille is necessarily in the wrong here, at least in attempt. The hardest breakups to process are the one where it seems like nothing was wrong and there’s obvious mutual attraction still lingering. Hard to really help a friend get over that.

      …But wooee. I’ve been there. If you can afford it, take a class off.

      1. thejeff

        Walky can’t afford to. OTOH, he already wasn’t going, so what the hell.

        Yeah, this breakup is going to take awhile to play out, for both of them. I’m still not actually convinced it’ll stick. Though it’s possible Walky will have moved on before Dorothy bottoms out and realizes this wasn’t really a fix to her problems.

        1. Purple

          I think he’s talking about wanting to skip Gender Studies (which is next and Dorothy is also in), not Math.

  21. JessWitt

    I think Billie needs a new prescription for her glasses, if that’s how she sees Dorothy.

    1. Sam

      Billie has needed a new prescription for years as she sees a lot of things incorrectly.

    2. Emily

      It’s a pretty good sign of how absorbed in her own drama Billie is that she thinks this is how Walky feels about the breakup.

    3. Mancuso

      I think what Billie needs is a monumental kick in the butt. The drunk-driving incident and the ton of horrible (and mostly self-inflicted) crap she’s been through ever since have clearly taught her squat. On a wider spectrum, I think being too popular in high school is one of the most psychologically stunting things that can happen to a human being, so there’s that.

  22. Lingo

    For some reason, in panel 2 they look like little kids to me. Which is sweet, because it reminds me that they are childhood friends.

  23. Cody C.

    Billie, no. Just, no.

    Go home, Billie. You’re sober.

  24. Inahc

    hmm. now that I think about it, Billie’s advice today sounds suspiciously similar to Kevin’s advice to Steven.

  25. Koms

    Honestly is no one going to make the taco double entendre joke? It seems inappropriately apt.

  26. Bagge

    I… I kinda think those were the right reasons, Billie.

    1. GoblinScribe

      In fairness, his answer is kinda crummy too. Spite is a bad reason, but so is “I have to be healthy for her sake.” At least she’s telling him to be healthy for his own sake, even with bad motivation.

      1. Sam

        Billie’s is ‘I have to be healthy to spite her’. That is not for his own sake, that is just to be counter to Dorothy.

      2. Bagge

        True. Both Walky and Dorothy are doing a piss-poor job of separating themselves from the other right now… Dorothy does an even worse job then Walky – he at least focuses on his own math problems as well.

        Billie’s advice is not very good IN REASON, but the RESULTS would at least be a step on the right way.

      3. thejeff

        Given that the entire he was planning on breaking up with her – before she said it first, was for her sake, it’s not really that surprising he’s still focused on that.

      4. Zee

        What are you talking about? Spite is the best reason for anything ever

  27. BenRG

    Billie, I really think that I’m beginning to centre in on why you have so few friends and you’ve had such a lot of problem making meaningful social connections.

    1. Emily

      Is it because she’s a self-absorbed asshole?

      1. BenRG

        Curiously enough, no. The problem is that she has somehow convinced herself that basically selfish and antisocial behaviour is somehow praiseworthy. She has somehow failed to connect this with her social problems, nor has she made the connection that the one semi-healthy close relationship she’s made at IU was when she failed to follow her own ‘rules’.

        1. Emily

          I don’t see how that’s not the same thing just with more detail.

    2. thejeff

      Could it be because she’s a suicidally depressed alcoholic? Whose issues are deeply rooted in emotional neglect and abandonment by her parents?

  28. GoblinScribe

    Can Walky or literally anyone please hear what Billie is saying and call her out already because she needs HELP from her BROTHER RIGHT NOW

    1. GoblinScribe

      Also, guys, Walky’s reason is just as bad as Billie’s, if not worse. He’s basically saying, “I have to pretend to be healthy for my ex-girlfriend’s sake.” Walky’s self-worth has never been lower than it is right now—if anything, Billie is trying, ineffectually, to shock him out of it.

      Walky and Billie actually have a lot in common in terms of self-hatred. The difference is that Walky’s self-hatred is based in a sense of inferiority given to him by his mom (and his “perfect girlfriend”), and Billie’s comes from a shitton of toxic habits and coping mechanisms. Both of them feel like burdens on those they care about. Billie lashes out by becoming more toxic in various ways, or by cutting herself off. Walky makes himself a martyr and decides he “wasn’t good enough”.

      Walky really isn’t okay, guys. Neither is Billie. This comic is a great case study in two very bad coping techniques.

      1. BBCC

        That’s not QUITE where his insecurity comes from. He doesn’t feel INFERIOR per se (except compared to Dorothy). The root of his self esteem problems comes from him struggling lately and the way that’s affecting his self image – he’s the good child, the ‘smart one’ who skates by without trying, the lighthearted goofball. His grade in math is kinda taking a sledgehammer to all three of those (because in his home, goodness also entails good grades and his worrying about it is making him CONSIDERABLY less lighthearted) and now he has no idea what to do or what he’s worth now.

        1. ischemgeek

          I think it’s more than that – I think Walky had a sense that his favoritism from his parents was largely unfounded even as a kid, and I bet he had some guilt over how he could loaf off and do well while others busted their asses for Cs.

          Walky hasn’t ever had to work hard for anything in his life – and he knows it but doesn’t want to examine what it means, because of the ramifications for everything else in his life.

        2. ischemgeek

          Like, when I was a kid, I knew for damn sure my sister was the favorite. Thing is, she knew it too and didn’t ever want to admit it. It’s easier to cast yourself mentally as the underdog or the justified victor.

          Honestly, she got out worse off than me after all was said and done. Like for me, it lit a fire and a motivation to prove them wrong. For her, it convinced her that no matter what she achieves she didn’t deserve it, that our parents somehow pulled strings. She pulled herself out of three different promising careers because whenever she starts to succeed, she convinces herself she’s a fraud and pulls up.

          I’m queer, I’m trans, I was the scapegoat growing up, I’m autistic and chronically ill, and I’m closeted so I’m read as a woman in an industry where the male:female ratio is north of 9:1. Shit’s always been stacked against me, so when I succeed, I know it’s me. My sib doesn’t have that.

          Likewise I think Sal is in the same boat. She’s always been expected and set up to fail. And I won’t lie – that’s damaging as fuck.

          On the other hand, when she succeeds, she knows it’s her success and not someone letting her play T-ball when everyone else is playing hard ball. Walky’s eyes have been opened to how easy he’s had it, and he’s questioning everything in his life up till now – which isn’t to make light of Sal’s situation, but more to point out that favoritism often hurts the favorite even more than the scapegoat.

        3. BBCC

          I don’t know about that – until Sal screamed it in his face, I think Walky was under the impression his parents treated them equally, but he did more to make them proud like get good grades and not get arrested. He might feel that way NOW but I don’t think it was there as a kid. I think he tuned a lot out because it made it easier to pretend everything was fine. NOW he’s dealing with things like imposter syndrome and self image and self worth issues. Fun times being the golden child, eh, Walky?

        4. ischemgeek

          Could be.

          My sister denied it loudly at the time but nowadays admits she knew it and never wanted to question it (for basically the same reason Walky never thought to question Sal’s treatment), hence why I’m a bit skeptical of Walky’s claim of ignorance. I think he knew but didn’t want to open the can of worms by questioning the explanation he’d been given. OTOH Walky could just be that oblivious.

  29. Eldritch Gentleman

    The more I hear from Billie’s mouth the more I wonder just how shitty her life has been. Because she clearly shows that she has no idea how Dotty would react to Walky being hurt.

    1. Zee

      Tbh you’re right, I’m super curious about billies past. Someone linked to the comic showing that she knew exactly what to do in case someone was drugged so….yeah I’m curious

      1. Eldritch Gentleman

        Not to mention her rampant alcoholism. Stuff like that doesn’t come out of nowhere. Ruth’s came from her absolute shit of a grandfather and her parents dying. What’s Billie’s story I wonder.

        1. King Daniel

          IIRC, we know Billie’s parents have been effectively absent for a long time (“My dad’s on every business trip known to man, while my mom’s doing business on every man known to her”), that her dad only knows how to show his affection through large gifts of cash, and that he also had all the homeless people expelled from their town for…reasons.

      2. thejeff

        Head cheerleader. Alpha bongo.

        Apparently she took good care of her flock of cheerleaders or at least kept getting them out of the trouble they kept getting themselves into.

      3. thejeff

        The reference I was thinking of:

        “I’m an Alpha bongo. I scope parties for roofies. I sneak friends into abortion clinics. I take down abusive boyfriends.”

    2. CJ

      No wonder she is drinking.

  30. BBCC

    So I was looking at the shelves goodreads readers put Dumbing of Age on.

    Apparently these books are ‘anti Christian atheist’ books now.

    My personal favourite is ‘glorious blasphemy’.

  31. stoodmuffin

    I miss more Billie/Walky stuff. That isn’t just “Hey, dork.”

    I mean, she’s doing that here, a little bit, but she’s trying for a lot more.

    I think Walky I generally being sweet, but he COULD trip into “nice guy” town? I get why Billie wants him to be mad, but I think he generally just wants that. For Dorothy to be happy. Even if you have a point, Billie, I think he’s doing it for all the RIGHT reasons.

    He isn’t just being a sappy doormat, hiding pain through insincere empathy. he isn’t being “weak” or “uncool.” I think he’s just generally giving a shit about her.

    Which, I think, Billie knows. I think her comment is her being aware of it, and that messes her up cause she really doesn’t know what that’s like.

    I mean, her “GOOD” relationship was/IS super messed up? So, like, a none hostle break, what’s that? Walky not being a LOSER dork, but a SAPPY one. I think it’s hard for Billie to swallow? That big old heart of Walky’s.

    1. stoodmuffin

      Man, writing this in the wee hours of the morning made me think of 8 different ships?

    2. Zee

      I mean, he’s not doing it for the right reasons though. Being healthy for your ex’s sake is *bad*.

  32. C.T Phipps

    This reminds me a lot of FRIDAY THE 13TH: THE FINAL CHAPTER of all things. Crispin Glover’s best friend is trying to get him to stop pining for his ex-girlfriend and focus on getting someone new. Ironically, his sensitive devotion gets him time with one of the girls they meet–and they’re put off by his friend’s chauvinism.

    And then Jason kills everyone/

  33. KingMonster

    Geeze, Walky! Don’t try to disappear into a pile of tacos!

    If you do, someone might see it and post Stuffing/Weight Gain pictures of you on Deviant Art!

    Don’t go down that road!

  34. Victor

    Billie is not wrong.

    Dorothy did not have to use him as a plaything. She did not have to then tell him she loved him. She did not have to then dump him.

    Walky is a doofus. But this is not his fault. He’s got the right to be angry.

    1. CJ

      Dorothy didn’t play with him. She just learned that doing fun-only relationships isn’t really her thing. He was part of the learning process. That not a comfortable position to be in. But heck, they are 18, it’s normal they don’t know all this about themselves already.

      1. thejeff

        Which leaves her where? Because I think that avoiding relationships entirely isn’t her thing either, even if she seems determined to give that another go.
        She made a comment, right before she hooked up with Walky in the beginning about it being “self-sabotage” and distraction.

        So what has she actually learned?

      2. CJ

        That sexual attraction can be a thing that overrides her good sense for some time but not for long, probably. If she weren’t so exhausted from overwork and took some time to think about the relationship in terms of what happened with herself in it, not about that is bad for Walky to be janked around (which she knows and told him).
        As to her work-life-balance: She is still in the process of learning her ideas about it don’t work. Right now, she doesn’t have a clue how to manage her work and no clue at all how to have a relationship.

    2. King Daniel

      Also, Dorothy was clear from the outset that their relationship would not last forever, as she has her sights set on Yale while Walky’s plans for the future include living in a Kickstarter-funded trampoline park.

  35. Teddae

    I’ve never wanted to hug walky more than right now. I’ve been there and it really sucks.

  36. C.T Phipps

    This is a SCARY thought but maybe Dorothy is the reason Dan is the way he is about relationships.

    She’s Danning Walky up big time.

    1. JBento

      His parents are the reason Danny is the way he is about relationships. Not that I think Dorothy handled the part of that relationship we know about well, but Danny’s parents are only not terribad if compared to Blaine.

      1. King Daniel

        Yeah, don’t forget how Danny’s mother – when Dorothy was sixteen – gifted Dorothy with a picture-frame-for-two engraved with scripture extolling marital virtue, and kept calling her a “treasure” over and over again…

    2. ischemgeek

      No, Dorothy just has a type for guys who are willing to be supportive and take a back seat to her ambition. Unfortunately, because of how guys in North America are raised to view themselves as the top priority career-wise in any relationship, it means her type leans towards dudes with major confidence issues and no personal ambition.

      Dan has no self-confidence whatsoever due to his parents. Walky’s self-confidence was totally a house of cards built entirely on his self-image as the genius who can loaf off and still achieve.

      1. Puckish Rogue

        Its a small sample but both Danny and Walky are/were both boys, no real ambition, no real backbone and perfectly willing to go with whatever Dorothy decides

        Hope that’s just coincidence

  37. Vulcanodon

    I doubt Dorothy would take any satisfaction in Walky’s pain. After class, however, his request for tacos is approved.

  38. ischemgeek

    Poor Billie.

    Seriously, stuff like this sheds a light on exactly how messed up her home life must’ve been growing up. You don’t assume everyone will take sadistic pleasure in others’ pain during breakups/rough patches unless that’s what you’ve seen modeled.

    Frex: I struggle with believing my genuine emotions will ever be accepted as genuine by others because as a kid any time I showed emotion other than rage or docile happiness, I was told, “I know your game. Stop trying to manipulate me, it won’t work. Quit crying or I’ll give you something to cry about.” My reaction is to take myself away when I’m upset because if I show anyone I’m upset, I believe I’m in danger and that nobody will believe I’m actually upset.

    Billie has shown that she has that same level of conviction that others will be sadistic to their partners in rough patches. What does that tell you about her home life?

    It tells me that her parents are really really shitty at modelling healthy conflict resolution.

    1. Inahc

      yeah… when I was growing up, being sad was allowed (and sometimes mandatory), but anger was not. eventually I didn’t think I had anger, it was suppressed so far down. I had to relearn how to access those feelings, and how to turn them into something more useful than incoherent self-sabotaging rage.

      also, I had to tell a friend something they didn’t want to hear a couple of days ago, and my body is still reacting as if this is some life-and-death situation 😛 holy fuck.

      1. Saihla

        Congratulations!! You did a hard thing!

        1. Inahc

          I *started* a hard thing 🙁 haven’t finished out how to finish it yet. and it’s hard to think when my brain is flooded with adrenaline unless I dissociate away the part of me that remembers it.

        2. Bathymetheus

          *offers internet hug*

  39. Larkle

    I wonder if this is going to be a foreshadowing of a Billie-Ruth break-up.

  40. Elsendor

    sobs he’s so good how is he so good

  41. dragonladycelis

    I need a keyboard.to comment properly… But I love this comic so much!!!

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