Me too, and the fact that they both show up suggests that Danny will try to behave, but as I said before, I’m taking a big risk believing that Walky will at least listen to Dorothy correctly.
Definitely reminds me of a certain orbit of my high school friends when we’d all made it to college. It was complicated, but surprisingly not that awkward. We had a whole diagram.
Dorothy is both attracted to Walky and implicitly at least a little into girls, so she can indulge in both interests with Sal. Girl DOES love efficiency.
MANIFESTING THIS INTO EXISTENCE (i know that Sal was said to be straight back when the story with Marcie happened but. I’m also praying it’s like Joyce’s straightness when Becky.)
On the other hand, Dorothy was talking to Danny about the “Kinsey scale” (a measure of bisexual tendencies) she seemed to think she was basically a zero (indicating straight).
“… I dunno. Probably a zero, best as I can tell? I guess that estimate could change,” is not exactly a definitive statement. Especially given that she clearly wants to help Joyce with her laundry.
Mr D phone posting
It is more definitive a statement than “implicitly a little into girls”. I find that if someone states their preference, I’d rather believe them until they say or act otherwise.
Like when Ethan finally realized he was gay in Shortpacked.
J.Gawain
I agree so far as real people go. If someone IRL tells you their sexuality (or gender for that matter), you should absolutely take them at their word, but I think part of the appeal of fiction is speculating about the story and characters. Could your speculations be wrong? Sure, but that doesn’t mean it’s wrong or bad to think about.
Dot
This is a fine rule of thumb for real people but a little silly applied to fictional characters.
HueSatLight
Can you see into people’s dreams in real life?
GUIGUI
It’s the kind of statement people who are open minded and have come to have a better understanding how those things tend to work make, because “you can never be 100% certain”, but if she says she is zero she definitely never felt any attraction for women.
Daibhid C
..At that time.
I’m not a huge supporter of the good ship Joycethy, but I definitely see how people can see it.
Honestly, if Ruth and Jennifer were doing it for themselves they’d be anywhere but a karaoke place. It’s a bit clumsy, but this IS for Dorothy. She’s just having a hard time accepting help because SHE’S the fixer, SHE doesn’t ever need fixing! (spoiler, she could use a bit of help)
And in come both ex-boyfriends! Though at least she and Danny are on goodish terms. I do wonder, maybe Danny can help Dorothy with navigating what are CLEARLY just platonic feelings for her friend Joyce, much like how Danny was just really good buddies with Ethan and nothing more!
Now it’s Dorothy the one steadily spiraling, and grieving the loss of someone she used to know: Herself.
(DUN DUN DUN. Yeahhhh, I know – but it’s a real thing that happens, ok.)
Danny and her lost contact because Dorothy was… Well, he was codependent, and she was condescending. But now he’s really come into his own :3 I think they could truly be in a better position to meet as equals, and be friends.
It is still difficult for me to believe that Jennifer really wants to help in good faith, with Ruth I already remembered that she tried to advise Dorothy, something tells me that she agreed to this because she wants to make amends for what happened.
If Danny can help Dorothy’s platonic feeling, it could be.
But comes what I consider the most difficult, which is what Walky will say, yes, he has shown good progress, but the feeling of discomfort is quite great.
I love Dorothy, but it is true that she believes that she must carry the weight of the universe and that in the long run will be more fatal. This is scary, but here it can happen that now you accept help and that is not bad.
As much as Dorothy could use some support right now I think Dorothy is right about Jennifer doing this more for herself. Jennifer wants to feel like the problem solver but she doesnt know how and there’s no reason she had to have her ex girlfriend come along, this is well outside Ruth’s actual obligations.
Exactly, I even dare to say that if they manage to get Dorothy to recover, Jennifer will begin to give herself credits that make no sense and now everyone in the room (with Dorothy’s confidence already recovered) will make her see her defects, hehehe, it would be pleasant to see.
And now that I look at the strip again, Jennifer’s expression in panel three seems to say “hey, we’re supposed to help you, I do understand people and you’re an ungrateful brat, cooperate damn.”
Archieve
Jennifer Is definitely getting angry that her effort isn’t being rewarded, ill consider it good character growth if at the end of this she atleast admits that she might not have known how to help on this situation.
Archieve
I could see Walky and right calling her out in that regard, thougj would be interesting if Jennifer got called out by Dorothy for now having a thing for Walky. thats such an awkward triangle of unreceproccated feelings we have here, Ruth not over her ex girlfriend who is starting to feel attracted to her longtime pseudo sibling who still just thinks of her as a sister. Maybe Dorothy and Jennifer can bond over unrequited feelings for Walky.
The truth is that I don’t feel that kind of spark between Walky and Jennifer, but I remember that in flashbacks, Walky welcomed Jennifer when they were children, I insist that Walky still sees her as a sister, but Jennifer with her way of being so characteristic can spoil the appreciation that the boy has for her.
I know that many assume that the Walky x Dorothy ship is gone, but I would like to see it at least seen from another angle and it could arise again, even if the probability is small, I take it without fear, but of course be the opposite and a friendship arises, it will also be welcome
There’s a lot of extremely uncharitable takes about Jennifer, I suppose because people love to hate her. I think you-all are trying too hard to make everything she does evil. I think she’s better written than that.
I think, like many of us, they at least believe they’re doing it for her. Most stuff like this is at least partially for ourselves too, and that’s not even always bad. They can definitely do a little bit of both at once…
167 thoughts on “Graded”
Ana Chronistic
I mean, you DID join them, Dotty, it’s on you
anon
and comic timing being one of walky’s superpowers too 8D
NGPZ
*plays “Pokemon Dance Mix” on karaoke system*
Poking on on on….
Poking on on on….
Nono
Nah it’s gotta be the Pokerap. Which is great since it tests Dorothy on her memory too.
SO YOU WANNA BE A MASTER OF (POKÉMON!)
Needfuldoer
He’s the leader of the bunch
You know him well!
Devin
Thanks you just gave me flashbacks lol
Roborat
On a related note, anyone tried Palworld out?
Marisa Mockery
Aw hell yeah this is my shit man *dance raves*
JA
/popcorn
DailyBrad
I wonder if this will make Dorothy loosen up a little, since it’s at least diluting the awkwardness.
Coatl
Me too, and the fact that they both show up suggests that Danny will try to behave, but as I said before, I’m taking a big risk believing that Walky will at least listen to Dorothy correctly.
Thag Simmons
Yes. Potentially loosen up like a catapult misfiring, but still
Sirksome
Geez this groups dating scene is like a snake eating itself.
HueSatLight
It was called floorcest when I was in school.
Steelbright
Definitely reminds me of a certain orbit of my high school friends when we’d all made it to college. It was complicated, but surprisingly not that awkward. We had a whole diagram.
Joe Helfrich
Also any LARP group that lasts longer than a year or two.
clif
Sounds like my SF group about 6 years in.
Needfuldoer
That sounds like it could be a book title…
Mr. Random
I wonder if Joyce is gonna pop up at an inappropriate time too.
Mr. Random
Ooooh, switched to the exact Joe gravatar at this point for added effect!
David DeLaney
is that what the kids are calling it these days
–Dave, “spung!”
Proxiehunter
Then Dorothy’s future love life can be here too.
clif
You mean Sal?
Tell me you mean Sal.
Thag Simmons
Alas, Sal is extremely straight
Aura
Poor Sal 🙁
Lan
But imagine Joyce’s delight if she got a karaoke invite from Dorothy
HueSatLight
Dorothy reacting to Joyce showing up would make 4-5 people in the room understand the source of half her angst. (Walky’s the maybe 5th).
Jacob Crawford
It might solve some problems if everyone in this room boned(with the obvious exception of the siblings
HueSatLight
“I mean, not David and Sally, obviously.”
bubba0077
I’ve been on the internet before, it is not that obvious.
Uly
Yes, haven’t we all heard of “twincest”?
Needfuldoer
Is that what people mean when they tell someone to go fuck themselves?
clif
No, that’s one of the many benefits of short range gate technology.
Needfuldoer
Now you’re thinking with portals!
shanunu
No that is specifically called “selfcest”
Mr. Random
No, that’s when it’s a clone with your memories.
What they’re describing is just masturbation with extra steps.
elebenty
Ergo, in Sirksome’s comment above, the snake eating itself is simply… uh, pleased.
Thag Simmons
I don’t recommend that one either, fucking them is a great way to make your relationship with your identical duplicate even more awkward
jeffepp
Does this mean that Sal and Dottie are gonna make out?
Doctor_Who
Dorothy is both attracted to Walky and implicitly at least a little into girls, so she can indulge in both interests with Sal. Girl DOES love efficiency.
Dante
MANIFESTING THIS INTO EXISTENCE (i know that Sal was said to be straight back when the story with Marcie happened but. I’m also praying it’s like Joyce’s straightness when Becky.)
Segnosaur
On the other hand, Dorothy was talking to Danny about the “Kinsey scale” (a measure of bisexual tendencies) she seemed to think she was basically a zero (indicating straight).
https://www.dumbingofage.com/2015/comic/book-5/03-the-butterflies-fly-away/kinsey/
John Campbell
“… I dunno. Probably a zero, best as I can tell? I guess that estimate could change,” is not exactly a definitive statement. Especially given that she clearly wants to help Joyce with her laundry.
Mr D phone posting
It is more definitive a statement than “implicitly a little into girls”. I find that if someone states their preference, I’d rather believe them until they say or act otherwise.
Like when Ethan finally realized he was gay in Shortpacked.
J.Gawain
I agree so far as real people go. If someone IRL tells you their sexuality (or gender for that matter), you should absolutely take them at their word, but I think part of the appeal of fiction is speculating about the story and characters. Could your speculations be wrong? Sure, but that doesn’t mean it’s wrong or bad to think about.
Dot
This is a fine rule of thumb for real people but a little silly applied to fictional characters.
HueSatLight
Can you see into people’s dreams in real life?
GUIGUI
It’s the kind of statement people who are open minded and have come to have a better understanding how those things tend to work make, because “you can never be 100% certain”, but if she says she is zero she definitely never felt any attraction for women.
Daibhid C
..At that time.
I’m not a huge supporter of the good ship Joycethy, but I definitely see how people can see it.
MM
Also, there’s this a few strips later: https://www.dumbingofage.com/2015/comic/book-5/03-the-butterflies-fly-away/upended/
Null Set
Alt text “Dorothy is a superheroromantic heterosexual”
Thag Simmons
I am not confident she would have the same self-assessment if asked at this point in the story.
anon
statistically i’m sure one college student there has dated someone and their siblign at some point
Dday
“or otherwise”
Warcodered
Have to backtrack and double check but feels like Dorothy is really great at being right and wrong all at the same time.
Steelbright
Haha you know that’s true, one of her great awful qualities
Coatl
Alright, it’s happening, it’s now or never.
Doopyboop
Honestly, if Ruth and Jennifer were doing it for themselves they’d be anywhere but a karaoke place. It’s a bit clumsy, but this IS for Dorothy. She’s just having a hard time accepting help because SHE’S the fixer, SHE doesn’t ever need fixing! (spoiler, she could use a bit of help)
And in come both ex-boyfriends! Though at least she and Danny are on goodish terms. I do wonder, maybe Danny can help Dorothy with navigating what are CLEARLY just platonic feelings for her friend Joyce, much like how Danny was just really good buddies with Ethan and nothing more!
HueSatLight
I hadn’t thought of the parallels with Danny+Ethan before. I think you’ve got something there.
Dante
Now it’s Dorothy the one steadily spiraling, and grieving the loss of someone she used to know: Herself.
(DUN DUN DUN. Yeahhhh, I know – but it’s a real thing that happens, ok.)
Danny and her lost contact because Dorothy was… Well, he was codependent, and she was condescending. But now he’s really come into his own :3 I think they could truly be in a better position to meet as equals, and be friends.
Coatl
Indeed
David DeLaney
next panel: Ethan materializes, looming behind Sal
–Dave, Asher smolders, half-hidden behind the doorframe, next to Dina
Coatl
It is still difficult for me to believe that Jennifer really wants to help in good faith, with Ruth I already remembered that she tried to advise Dorothy, something tells me that she agreed to this because she wants to make amends for what happened.
If Danny can help Dorothy’s platonic feeling, it could be.
But comes what I consider the most difficult, which is what Walky will say, yes, he has shown good progress, but the feeling of discomfort is quite great.
I love Dorothy, but it is true that she believes that she must carry the weight of the universe and that in the long run will be more fatal. This is scary, but here it can happen that now you accept help and that is not bad.
Archieve
As much as Dorothy could use some support right now I think Dorothy is right about Jennifer doing this more for herself. Jennifer wants to feel like the problem solver but she doesnt know how and there’s no reason she had to have her ex girlfriend come along, this is well outside Ruth’s actual obligations.
Coatl
Exactly, I even dare to say that if they manage to get Dorothy to recover, Jennifer will begin to give herself credits that make no sense and now everyone in the room (with Dorothy’s confidence already recovered) will make her see her defects, hehehe, it would be pleasant to see.
Coatl
And now that I look at the strip again, Jennifer’s expression in panel three seems to say “hey, we’re supposed to help you, I do understand people and you’re an ungrateful brat, cooperate damn.”
Archieve
Jennifer Is definitely getting angry that her effort isn’t being rewarded, ill consider it good character growth if at the end of this she atleast admits that she might not have known how to help on this situation.
Archieve
I could see Walky and right calling her out in that regard, thougj would be interesting if Jennifer got called out by Dorothy for now having a thing for Walky. thats such an awkward triangle of unreceproccated feelings we have here, Ruth not over her ex girlfriend who is starting to feel attracted to her longtime pseudo sibling who still just thinks of her as a sister. Maybe Dorothy and Jennifer can bond over unrequited feelings for Walky.
Archieve
*Ruth not right
Coatl
The truth is that I don’t feel that kind of spark between Walky and Jennifer, but I remember that in flashbacks, Walky welcomed Jennifer when they were children, I insist that Walky still sees her as a sister, but Jennifer with her way of being so characteristic can spoil the appreciation that the boy has for her.
I know that many assume that the Walky x Dorothy ship is gone, but I would like to see it at least seen from another angle and it could arise again, even if the probability is small, I take it without fear, but of course be the opposite and a friendship arises, it will also be welcome
HueSatLight
There’s a lot of extremely uncharitable takes about Jennifer, I suppose because people love to hate her. I think you-all are trying too hard to make everything she does evil. I think she’s better written than that.
Steelbright
I think, like many of us, they at least believe they’re doing it for her. Most stuff like this is at least partially for ourselves too, and that’s not even always bad. They can definitely do a little bit of both at once…
thejeff