334

Pretty girls
Posted on December 15, 2023 by David M Willis

334 thoughts on “Pretty girls”

  1. Ana Chronistic

    JesusWalky saves

    takes half damage

    1. anon

      lol lucking out with the accidental charm, idk if someone who wasn’t as ‘obsessed’ as lucy would , would react teh same way but i’d still prolly be a little bit upset, or at least need some time apart rather than continuing the convo

      1. Shade

        I mean it probably depends. I can understand insecurity and needing someone else to tell you that someone is actually interested in you. Because in the end, they still did it because they wanted to.

      2. Gbz

        I don’t see anything wrong with talking yo your friends about relationships. That’s how you learn.

    2. Devin

      Still better than the ongoing damage he’s taking each round he’s still in the church. Gotta get out!

      1. Schpoonman

        That’s the problem with damage reduction skills, DoTs bypass them half the time.

        1. Disastroid

          If he would just use the pillars to stay out of a direct LoS to the crucifix then the healers could keep him topped up. LEARN THE FIGHTS, WALKY.

        2. David DeLaney

          don’t STAND in the SOULFIRE jeez

          –Dave, but it feels so good when it stops

        3. deliverything

          Reminds me of https://youtu.be/GN6Cvq9fdKM (a song about Black Mages in FF14).
          For those not familiar: they get a spell that sets a location where they get a big powerup, as long as they stay in it, and spells with long cast times that they’d have to start again if they move, so you don’t want to move unless you have to, and sometimes you misjudge…

      2. Hexx

        Speaking as someone with religious trauma, yeah, I’d like you ALOT if I were willing to go to church with you. I do not approve of what happens in church. Sure some do some good things, but it’s essentially a weekly brainwashing session and for someone who escaped that brainwashing it’s REALLY creepy seeing it happen to other people.

        1. hedgie

          Hells, you’re better than me in that regard. I wouldn’t date anyone who even followed those religions.

    3. bcb

      Well Walky is humanity’s Savior.

      1. Opus the Poet

        Just not in this universe.

    4. Taellosse

      No shit! And against a truly impressive DC, too! He clearly rolled a nat20.

  2. NGPZ

    ? Get out man!!! GET OUT!!! GET OUT!!!

    1. RassilonTDavros

      GET OUT WHILE YOU STILL CAN!!!

      1. Cholma

        Quick! Before the Church Mouse fans notice you and demand autographs!

      2. NGPZ

        *plays “Sikiliza Kwa Wahenga” on hacked church speaker*

    2. Jo_Cubstar

      GIR!!! Nice gravatar lol also really hope he gets out fast

  3. Marvelman

    Huh! How about that? I thought they were about to break up.

    1. fireprincesslily

      Honestly they should… Lucy is in this way deeper than Walky and he’s basically told her as much.

      1. Imogen

        That doesn’t mean things are collapsing, necessarily! Some people just don’t feel romantic attraction as strongly or as quickly as their partners. The problem was not being honest about it. Walky has said he really likes Lucy and wants more time to get comfortable with Lucy.

        (Speaking as someone who often struggles to engage romantically at the same intensity as her partners.)

        1. Imogen

          can we try that again

        2. Imogen

          once more?

        3. Imogen

          no thank you!

        4. Imogen

          Sure!

        5. Azhrei Vep

          With feeling?

        6. Imogen

          Anyways, I just want to say that this ship has honestly grown on me a little over time. Mismatched intensity is a real relationship struggle I identify with! I kind of like the idea of deconstructing the idea of “they aren’t both instantly head over heels, it’s gonna go down in flames”.

        7. clif

          But, but, but … I had all this popcorn ready.

          Damn you, Willis.

        8. Holly

          Yeah, I am enjoying seeing a mature and nuanced representation of negotiating a new relationship. I’ve always thought this relationship has potential to become very strong and a genuine deep and respectful partnership if they can get through the various challenges of inexperience and trauma.

        9. dalniente

          Same! It’s been nice to watch. And now oh look, hey, communication and potentially understanding, potential to build a strong foundation. At this point I can see this relationship sort of petering out or solidifying into something really strong. Could go either way. I love it.

      2. Freezer

        I’m still of the idea that Lucy thinks “I want to bang Walky, therefore I must be in love with him.”

        I think once she realizes she’s infatuated and horny, not in love, she’ll either break it off herself (Because she actually believes in waiting) or she realizes she’s being silly buggers and does a sex with Walky.

      3. Shade

        I don’t think they should break up just because they’re at different levels of intimacy already. As long as everyone understands, that’s fine. Which it sounds like they’re on the same page now?

        1. thejeff

          They’ve still got more talking they should do and it could still blow up, but I don’t think it’s inherently doomed.

    2. Mendel

      yes, but then Walky overtly submitted to her and now she’s pleased again and backed out of her tantrum.
      Not a pattern that leads anywhere good.

      1. LiterallyJustSomeGuy

        I’m not sure what part of this could be considered submission or how it could be considered bad for Walky to be honestly talking about his feelings in direct response to Lucy’s side of the conversation. Is this one of those “alpha male” mentalities where acknowledging your female partner as a person with feelings and opinions is considered inferior to asserting your will over them?

      2. Schpoonman

        That is definitely not what happened.

      3. dalniente

        If by “overtly submitted” you mean “was honest,” maybe do some self-reflection, man.

      4. Barf Ninjason

        There’s no “submission” happening in this because, contrary to what certain lunatics might tell you, power does not inform every single human interaction. There’s no power disparity here, they’re not fighting for dominance, no one needs to either submit or conquer in order to express themself. Lucy misinterpreted something, Walky was afraid clarifying would hurt her feelings, she found out and clarifying hurt her feelings, he really did not want to hurt her and now he is both being as gentle as possible about said feelings and trying to clarify that he still does like her. He’s trying to reassure her, for god’s sake. If that seems submissive…yikes.

  4. Thag Simmons

    That is a fucking miraculous save right there

    1. Leorale

      Used an Inspiration to roll a 12; gets a +8 modifier from Vulnerability, it’s good!

      1. Thag Simmons

        this is a nat20

        1. Jerach

          I mean, literally not, but I get what you mean.

    2. UrsulaDavina

      Dammit everyone’s used a d&d reference before I could >:p

      I’ll just have to use a Pathfinder 1st edition reference Walky used wisdom as his dump Stat and a natural charisma of 16 and took up skill focus diplomacy adding a +3 t’s a class skill so another +3 and he ranked up his skill points to 8 he the put his attributes points at level 4 and 8 into charisma which bumps it to an 18 so with that and nat 20 he scored 38 against a DC 35 diplomacy check. So Walkys class is a Bard subclass of some sort. I don’t know what other feats or background skills he took so don’t at me.

      I also see why Pathfinder 1st edition isn’t for everyons.

      1. David DeLaney

        or, honestly, a sorcerer

        –Dave, the class is all about talking the world into causing magic to happen for you, yeah, like that, baby, wuv oo

      2. khn0

        try Rolemaster…

        1. UrsulaDavina

          Nah I love pathfinder 1st edition, but I once heard someone say that high level character in pathfinder is like a dissertation.

        2. khn0

          What you don’t want to play with Excel? :p

        3. Lee

          Accurate conclusion.

    3. Agemegos

      Nah. Easy save. She did it by setting a really low bar.

      Walky wasn’t trying to save the ‘ship. He was trying to get out of it without causing any hurt.

      1. Shade

        I don’t think he was looking to get out of the relationship at all, I think he’s just being honest.

        1. ktbear

          And the fastest way to get out of a relationship is by being honest.

  5. Jamie

    The Holy Spirit does, in fact, set people on fire. Fact.

    1. Reltzik

      Also, heretical books.

      (Source: This one woodcut printing from inquisition times.)

      1. clif

        I’m unclear if heretical books also set people on fire or if the Holy Spirit does, in fact, also set heretical books on fire.

        1. David DeLaney

          2por que no los dos?

        2. Reltzik

          Well, the woodcut showed the Spirit setting the books on fire, and similar woodcuts shows the Spirit setting people being burnt at the stake on fire, but given how imaginative the scenario is we might as well assume that the people spontaneously combust without any books or spirits involved at all.

          …. though, come to think of it, the powerful spirits is one of the more plausible explanations for spontaneous human combustion. I’m not sure what that’s a metaphor for, but I’m going to insist that it’s a metaphor for something.

      2. FlyingFish

        Like “The Art of the Deal”?

  6. Sirksome

    He somehow still saved it?! Noooo! I hate this ship so much!

    1. Thag Simmons

      Relationship continually baffles fandom by continuing to live

      1. Amelie Wikström

        Boy admits emotional investment in girl; everyone surprised.

        1. Amelie Wikström

          Okay, more like “implies”, but sure

      2. JA

        You ever know a person who you look at, knowing something of their life story, and go, “How the fuck are you still alive?” That’s Walky/Lucy right now.

        1. Opus the Poet

          I see a person like that every time I look in a mirror.

    2. Bittersweet

      Ughhhhhh I hate this ship so much. This is cute today, but everything else involving them has been so droll and dull and I just have very little faith in their ability to change it.

      1. Chase

        I feel like droll and dull contradict one another, unless you’re implying something I’m completely failing to grasp?

        1. Smallmoon

          to elaborate: Droll means “curious or unusual in a way that provokes dry amusement.” Possibly misunderstood to mean its opposite, as it is most often heard in entertainment coming out of the mouth of dry, sarcastic character with a clear tone of disdain, e.g. “Ah. a commoner treating their social better with contempt, how very droll…”

        2. Firseal

          Droll and dull can match precisely due to sarcasm – the person stating something is droll can be said in such a dry way that they imply that the thing is unusual or even something that draws interest, and thus gives a momentary spark of said interest, but they are still so bored of the situation and the quirk that the droll thing cannot sustain any interest.

          … just long-windedly noting I see no contradiction here, but then, I am pendantic.

        3. Bittersweet

          TIL I’ve been misusing droll my entire life, haha. Hardly the first word I’ve had that issue with.

      2. Mark

        Why should they want to change it?

        1. Li

          I mean they might not want to, but someone not enjoying the ship might still want the dynamic to change.

    3. True Survivor

      I for one like the them – I don’t think they are meant to be, but I think there strips are fun to read.

      1. Sirksome

        Good for them. At this point I hope they get engaged just to spite me. Maybe they’ll beat Becks and Dina to the alter.

        1. Firseal

          Then Lucy can meltdown on the honeymoon when Walky fails to live up to the impossible anticipated buildup she’s made of sexual marital consumation. Because the longer the stress builds up, the more this relationship resembles ancient Mount Vesuvius, and Lucy resembles Pompei.

          Walky can supress or ignore trauma and emotions – he’s doing an awful lot of it right now. When this particular relationship balloon bursts, he’s just going to shovel the angst, guilt, and grief down his subconscious, where it will play cards with the Mike Trauma, Childhood In Retrospective, Previous Broken Relationships (both familial and romantic), and the memory of that time he ate a nacho he found in a spider web. Lucy doesn’t seem to have any previous emotional callouses, coping mechanisms, or ways to deal with heartache. Volcanic relationship booms will devastate her. To be fair, the people saying “this is a positive step” may be right.

          But I’d still say not take the honeymoon to Italy.

    4. anon

      i mean i’m sure the sexual conversation will be brought back up unless he’s somehow also being like “Look i know you really ant to but i wanna take things slow” or so

    5. zee

      Haha! Suffer, ye fools!

  7. Yotomoe

    Lower the mainsail, Garbage Scow…It be yet anotherr false alarrrrm…

    1. Schpoonman

      Yarrr…

      1. True Survivor

        Avast! disappointment for many I am sure.

        1. Schpoonman

          I like WalkyxAmber, but I’m also a freak that likes WalkyxLucy. I basically can’t lose.

        2. Mym

          OhohoHoHoHohOHoHOHOHOHOHO
          Yes you can

          Walky is desired by /several/ women, and falls in and out of romances like a 90’s rom com star. (Nonsense ahead, so calm down entire comment section)
          You never know what ridiculous scheme will befall him next: Maybe Jennifer reverts back to Billie every time she drinks

          Maybe Dottie dresses up at her twin-cousin Lottie (Lorothy) and sweeps Lucy off her feet to get her away from Walky: Lucy and “Lorothy” fall in love.

          And to keep the rule of three: Carla breaks them up as revenge for being sent to briscoe

        3. Shade

          And Amber was just Amber the whole time which prevented that ship.

    2. Thag Simmons

      It was no false alarm, the mizzenmast be snapped in half and the hull’s taken water, but she’s not sunk yet

  8. shadowcell

    okay i can respect a good save

    1. clif

      It’s a sure sign of inhumanly enhanced abilities caused by demonic posession. This is confirmed by the pain and damage he feels from being in church.

      1. David DeLaney

        Bob the demon: yeah man, get us out of here, I need more of that down-home Taco Bell cookin’

        –Dave, a little bit of anti-heaven in his new home

  9. DailyBrad

    I am relieved, because holy shit was he casting things in like the least charitable light possible by mistake last time.

  10. Slartibeast Button, BIA

    Sneaking in a compliment under the waterline…

  11. Bin

    One dimension over, Danny told Lucy to get of her insecurities regarding cute boys and date Walky.
    Because Lucy sure as sin wasn’t going to make a move on her own.

    1. anon

      Did danny and lucy ever talk ? Idon’t remember it much but i don’t think she ever ‘forgot’ his name the same way joyce does lol

      1. GholaHalleck

        Alternate reality Danny is just a more personable ron swason.

  12. Schpoonman

    I’ve got many feelings about this. First, ay, buffer watch is currently on my birthday. I hope it’s something soul-crushing.

    1. David M Willis

      *looks*

      well, for… somebody

      1. Schpoonman

        Eeeeexcellent.

      2. NGPZ

        I hope that someone is Mary >:D

        1. Proxiehunter

          Carol or Linda are also acceptable.

        2. NGPZ

          Oh who am I kidding? The sheer amount of spite among cast members means it could be virtually ANYONE 0_0

        3. M!a

          It could also mean a bad day for the readers, or at least, any hoping for some specific development.

      3. Just_IDD

        My guess is my guess is Dorothy + Jacob because they actually have something in common. Sarah gets shafted, but not in the way she wants.

        1. GholaHalleck

          God I hope not, Jacob can do better.

        2. Shade

          Dorothy ain’t perfect but she isn’t that much of a mess. If anything the issue would be because she’s too close to the type of woman he felt he should date to meet his brother’s approval.

        3. GholaHalleck

          She’s a smothering overachiever tossed into a bigger pond where her specialness isn’t so special anymore, while currently having crisis’s of purpose, sexuality, and morals.

          She is a train-wreck barely holding to the rails.

        4. dalniente

          All of that is just the current state of affairs, it’s not who she is as a person. She’s loyal, dedicated, enjoys having fun. She’s a good friend. Sure, she’s cut adrift and floundering right now, but that doesn’t mean she sucks. And Jason has a strong enough sense of self that a floundering partner wouldn’t pull him under, and he wouldn’t be likely to let himself be smothered.

          I dunno. I think Dorothy needs to work on herself before she starts dating anyone, but I do still think the two of them might have potential even if they get together before she’s on solid ground again.

        5. Coatl

          I agree, every time she appears, there are always unpleasant comments towards her, of course she has made mistakes, but it seems that they are looking for a way, even a tiny detail, to turn her into a villain.

        6. Coatl

          I like the idea, but many have differed because of that believer/atheist detail, but a friendship is also acceptable, I know it is speaking too soon but it is possible that Jacob can help Dorothy that there are other ways to help others without the need to be president.

    2. Schpoonman

      I avoided most of the clusterfuck yesterday, but one thing that did occur to me was you could slot Lucy into this: https://www.dumbingofage.com/2018/comic/book-8/03-faz-is-great/telltale/ strip and replace Jason’s lines with stuff about Lucy gaslighting Walky and Walky’s lines would remain accurate.

      1. Schpoonman

        “Get on the motorcycle, Sal, or Walky will have to wear the mouse costu–oh, she’s already gone.”

    3. Schpoonman

      I’m an absolute nutter who likes WalkyxLucy (they’re nice together. That’s it, that’s all I need), it’s incredibly cathartic to get to see one of the fleeting moments of characters with their heads screwed on straight with the ones that I like.

      Props to whoever called Walky reiterating that he does like Lucy/finds her attractive/what-have-you. I’m not surprised that Lucy believes Walky, but I think I’m a little surprised she’s believing him this quickly. I would have expected there to be a little more falling action.

      1. GholaHalleck

        I think she knows he’s incapable of actual falsehood.

      2. Mark

        I’m happy for them, but they’re only half-way out of the minefield. They’ve successfully passed Love, but they still have Sex to navigate.

        If Walky can continue being honest, they can make it to safety, but there’s still plenty of Dramatic Tension to be passed and it could go either way.

        1. thejeff

          They’ve only barely discussed the Love bit either, since they were distracted by the mention of Dorothy.

  13. Yotomoe

    “I have to leave. My skin is starting to burn”

  14. Nono

    Willis rubbing his hands evilly while predicting how many people would be demanding for their imminent breakup yesterday.

  15. Grimey

    No…I think we might actually save this ship in both opinions of it and how things can change once everyone is a bit more honest with themselves. Lucy can temper…Herself, and Walky can open…uh, a bit more.

    Or maybe we close shop here.

    1. anon

      it def would go against most of the commenters expectations if they did work out in the long run, even if they break up once but i guess at least it gives walky a chance to learn and grow for next time tho i imagine it’d prolly be a long pause for him if things did end with lucy after the stuff with his parents are resolved , hopefully he’d be able to tell off his mom for once and being like “even if things don’t work out i’ll still respect lucy more than you”

      1. DailyBrad

        I guess the question is what the “long run” would entail. Like, do I think the two remain together until the strip ends entirely? Unlikely, but also, who knows when that will even be?

        1. David DeLaney

          just make it till Willis starts another connected strip

    2. bemisawa

      For me, it was yesterday’s strip that I realized this ship might actually deserve to be saved in the first place. Until the start of this conversation, I thought Walky was more or less in this relationship against his will (but too conflict-avoidant and avoidant of hurting Lucy’s feelings to do anything about that), but Walky’s explanation recast the situation in the light of “he knows she’s got stronger feelings for him than he does for her, even though he does actually quite like her, and he’s both stressed out about the misheard ‘I love hamburgers’, and feels like having sethird dates with Lucy when they’re at these radically different places would be exploiting her feelings for him.”

      1. GholaHalleck

        Still say he’s got some unrealized trauma because every time he’s done the sexy times, his relationships have crashed and burned soon after.

        1. Nedlum

          Fairly sure Walky and Dorothy were together for a longer time after having sex than before having sex.

        2. GholaHalleck

          Dotty also kind of threw him away because it became more then just sex buddies.

        3. Li

          Really don’t understand the take that she threw him away at all, much less “because it became more than just FWB”. Dorothy was clearly open to more; Walky was the one who reminded her that she would be transferring to Yale soon so they shouldn’t get too attached. She asked for a break when her grades took a hit, and he granted it, while also privately thinking he needed to break up with her because he was “dragging her down” (his words, or a paraphrase of them), but another problem was that he either didn’t want or didn’t feel like he COULD be honest with her about his own problems (his grades, his burgeoning realization that his parents had always Been Racist to Sal). When they finally did break up, it was at least nominally because Dorothy didn’t think continuing to take pauses was fair to him, and she said he deserved someone who could give him their whole heart — meanwhile, he still hadn’t been fully honest with her about everything that was troubling him.

        4. thejeff

          What hadn’t he been honest about? They’d talked about both the grades and Sal by that point.

          Partly the break up was, as you said, because she thought it wasn’t fair to him and partly it was her realizing she couldn’t actually go through with the pauses: They were on pause for about a day before she jumped him again. She needed to make a more drastic break to have one at all.

        5. Li

          I mean I do not think he was honest with her about wanting to break up with her because he felt like a failure who was holding her back, as an example.

          idk I might be misremembering, it’s 13 years worth of content.

      2. Shade

        See I already read that as being where they are, but hearing how you read it explains a lot of the hostility I saw for the ship that didn’t make sense to me before.

  16. Sirksome

    Also I don’t know a good time to comment this but I do not get Lucy’s hair. It’s like a flat top mullet or something. How would that look in real life? I’ve tried image searching similar styles and found nothing close to it. What is it?

    1. not someone else

      I think it’s supposed to be loose curls swept down and out and the top just looks flat due to cartoony stylization. I think the extra brown wavies are supposed to mean “her hair is curly here too” and she’s just got like, straight edges instead of it being in her face?

    2. Leorale

      I think Willis said one time that it’s loosely based on a twist-out, but that it then got boxy over time in the art style.

  17. Pylgrim

    For all the people who wished this ship had gone down in flames right here, do consider that it would have only been so at great emotional damage to Lucy. Even if you believe that these two shouldn’t be together, there are much better ways to end it.

    1. Coatl

      They are saved, for now, but as you mention, Lucy’s emotional damage could be the prelude to something that Walky is not going to like in the long term, just look at his expression in the last panel.

    2. Li

      I mean. I’m not one of them but for a fair few folks, great emotional damage to Lucy was a bonus.

      1. David DeLaney

        i cannot read these few here without hearing “eMOtional DA-mage!!”

    3. zee

      If you hadnt noticed from the “she’s an evil manipulative abuser [insert slur, ableist or otherwise]” comments yesterday, there’s a non-zero amount of people who would be super down for that

      1. Matt

        I mostly saw that from one person, very repeatedly and very angrily, with like, a few milder ones

        1. Schpoonman

          The “schizo” comment was not from the big problem commenter, for the record. There was a number of uncomfortable takes beyond the sea lion.

        2. zee

          Yeah but Jay has been generally open about his desire to see Lucy thrown in a volcano

  18. Joe Moose

    On one side, he finally got some long-lingering thoughts out of him.

    On the other side, he knows he is probably in trouble in the future.

    Yet on another side, Lucy will probably let the past minute stew in her mind and give her some kind of paranoia (the destroyer).

    1. Coatl

      That face in the last panel clearly says “GET ME OUT OF HERE!!!!”

  19. Kyrik Michalowski

    Huh, that was unexpected. Looks like the Lucy×Walky ship continues to sell. Although I get the feeling that Lucy will be looking for sex less, because of all of this. Which is probably a good thing in the long run; even though we all want the slipshine.

    So whose relationship are we homing in on next? Back to Carla×charlie? Joyce×Joe? Sal×Danny?(Please be Sal and Danny.)

    1. not someone else

      Special bonus Asher x Ethan?

    2. Mym

      I already said “Faz” yesterday, and I’m still hoping

      1. anon

        is faz even legally an adult yet? tho it would be interesting if this iteration of him had a healthy relationship with another romantic interest

        1. Shade

          “I the Great Faz have bought you flowers with absolutely no ulterior motives just to brighten your day.”

        2. thejeff

          “If you examine this printout Faz has brought, you will see that is legal for you to sex Faz in the state of Indiana.”

      2. Council

        As in, Faz with Faz?

        1. Mym

          Yes

    3. Golden Yak

      Maybe Lucy will just chill out a tiny bit. The next crisis can be when Walky admits he’s nervous about being someone’s first time.

    4. Nono

      Do we even want the slipshine? Even among straight couples I think people would be hankering for Joyce/Joe or Sal/Danny more.

      Maybe we can have a poll to see which milquetoast couple will get a slipshine, Walky/Lucy or Ruth/Jason.

      1. Sajuuk-Khar

        EXCUSE YOU, RUTH/JASON IS NOT MILQUETOAST

        THEY ARE HOT KINKY TRASH UNTIL PROVEN OTHERWISE

        (please, Willis, I want to believe)

        1. Miri

          We already know handcuffs have featured. Ruth clearly dommes him.

        2. Bash

          The sex is kinky as shit, but they’re underwhelming as a couple mostly because they’re never on screen together.

        3. Li

          I mean I’m just deeply not interested in Jason, personally. Maybe him being Robin’s co-TA will help??? I feel like his bartending visa-noncompliant job and being Ruth’s boyfriend weren’t doing much to anchor him to the strip. Penny was more interesting, so it’s a shame that she’s just gone forever while he lingers.

          Dunno, it’s a weird situation. Can’t even tell myself “at least Ruth is in a better place after the breakup”, because she’s not; she’s still drinking, and I can’t even tell if they’re supposed to be happy together or even like each other that much.

    5. anon

      would be nice, assuming it doesn’t have the opposite effect of walky saying “i’m dumb” and makes her think that she needs to take the lead more often or so tho i’m sure she might be ok with like a heavy makeout session

    6. zee

      Dawg we are so starved for sal x Danny content it’s not even funny ?

  20. Bruno

    This is the most chemistry they’ve ever had actually

    1. Dara

      Ooh, dead on. Absolutely correct, it really is.

      1. bemisawa

        Agreed!

      2. Nono

        The one strip where Walky says ‘I love that you get that about me’ had some chemistry, I thought.

        And then Lucy torpedoes it next strip

        1. Mark

          Yeah, lots of chemistry doesn’t produce fireworks.

    2. Li

      Yeah, this strip isn’t bad, as a naysayer. I also thought they were cute when they were hatching their terrible sitcom plan to make his parents like her. I like them when they’re on the same page; it’s just that they’ve rarely been on the same page.

    3. Agemegos

      They have the chemistry of oil and water, with nothing to keep them in emulsion but the social strictures trammelling Lucy’s libido.

      Lucy wants a partner-in-life to strive for social betterment with. Walky wants a chill friend to goof off with. Striving and goofing off are irreconcilably different.

      1. Bruno

        That can be worked on. Lucy’s expectations would be unrealistic for anyone, not just Walky. There’s real potential here if they both learn to communicate their expectations and set boundaries with each other in terms of that. Which they are doing here. It doesn’t have to happen in the next 5 seconds.

  21. Blume

    Nat 20! I’m surprised :OO, I wonder how it’ll be for them from now on now that things are out in the open.

    1. Mym

      It was the constitution check that saved

      1. Blume

        This should’ve and could’ve gone so much worse! But we’ve still got time lol. It’s kind of up to Lucy at this point, I put my faith in her so I hope it won’t end up like ‘Actually, she’s now going to set up many kooky hijinks to make him love her! And sex is still going to be pushed intensely!’

        I want this to spawn some introspection in this house, but “This is Dumbing of Age, not Smarting of Age”. Willis always surprises me with their directions, but it just usually works so they’ve got my trust too.

    2. sakamism

      This is what happens when you roll a nat 1 in charisma and then a 20 right after

  22. Golden Yak

    Swish!

  23. goggleman64

    Damn Willis, that’s straight-up heartwarming.

  24. Sirksome

    I don’t know folks. I feel like a lot of flags were raised here on both sides and Walky somehow side stepped them all by saying Lucy’s pretty. At least it’s cleared the air a bit…I guess.

    1. Devin

      At least it’s probably going to get him out of the church. That’s progress.

      1. Nono

        Or he’s put himself in a Groundhog Day loop and keeps finding himself back in the church, with Lucy asking why he doesn’t love her anymore.

        The only way to break the loop is to break up with her.

        1. Coatl

          It would be something interesting to see.

        2. Mark

          Or marry her.

    2. Schpoonman

      I think he’s cleared the air as much as can be expected in the foyer of a church. He wasn’t calling her pretty to try to defuse her anger, he was reinforcing the fact that he does like her/find her attractive, and changing the context of “Dorothy told me to ask you out” from “I wouldn’t have asked you out if I hadn’t been prodded” to “She pointed out that you were interested in me, letting me more confidently ask out the girl in whom I was interested”. There’s more conversation to be had, definitely, but in the 10 seconds this strip conveys this all shakes out.

      1. Sirksome

        Hmm. I’m still unsure on his rational for needing Dorothy to suggest asking out Lucy. Trying my best not to misremember I don’t recall him having a problem pursuing relationships with local pretty girls, Amber and Dorothy, even if his courting rituals needed some refinement. I think there’s another reason Lucy didn’t register with him as a romantic companion he either doesn’t realize or won’t admit. Mainly that he just wasn’t that into her.

        1. Schpoonman

          He mostly started spending time with Amber like he did Lucy until she suggested Taco Bell, which he pushed back on as a too-soon date since he’d just broken up with Dorothy. Dorothy was also the one to more aggressively pursue him than the other way around. She brought the toy back, kissed him when he asked if she liked him, and then knocked on his door to kiss him again (at which point she met Mike). He’s like his dad, for better and worse.

          Walky also just does not come across to me as someone willing to pursue a relationship he doesn’t actually want. He’s pushed back against both Dorothy and Lucy for wanting him to dress nicer, but it didn’t mean he wasn’t interested in Dorothy. His dialogue when Dorothy suggests he ask Lucy out all implies that there is interest on his end, but he doubts there is on Lucy’s end, hence “This is why you girls gotta kiss me so I know what’s goin’ on!”

          Oh, shit, that’s something that never clicked to me at the time. Both Dorothy and Amber kissed Walky first. Both pairings’ first kiss was on-screen but Lucy and Walky’s (almost certainly) wasn’t.

        2. Coatl

          As far as I know they already kissed
          https://www.dumbingofage.com/2023/comic/book-14/01-everybodys-looking-for-nothing/respectable/

        3. Schpoonman

          Yes, but that lacks a lot of the fanfare that a first-kiss-for-the-couple would, especially if it’s Lucy’s first kiss. Dorothy and Amber have full strips dedicated to each one, the first time we see Lucy and Walky kiss on-screen it’s one panel and a farewell.

        4. Sirksome

          You make some good points. He’s never been the dominant partner in the relationship, but I do think he’s shown initiative when starting them. I just think he was already getting what he wanted from Lucy though. That being a friend. He said multiple times, even to her brother Lyle he wanted someone to watch cartoons with. Even now I think that’s what he really wants and romance didn’t factor as possible because he wasn’t looking for it. He wants someone to do nothing with which he just found with Amber as a platonic friend. All the romance/sex stuff were just potential perks Dorothy highlighted to him by noting Lucy’s infatuation.

          Unlike for example Joe who had a very clear romantic crush and desire for Joyce before dating her, Walky never displayed those emotions and I truly doubt he ever planned on asking Lucy to date.

        5. Li

          I can +1 this.

          Again I really like “the pining is mutual, they’re just idiots” as a trope. I don’t feel like we got any indication that Walky even registered Lucy as pretty before he said as much to Dorothy.

          This is another reason why I think the shirt lick keeps coming up; it’s been our one real moment so far of Walky definitely thinking of Lucy in some Not Just Friends way.

          That we didn’t get to see their first kiss doesn’t help matters, and it makes me a little bit suspicious. Kind of a big deal, especially if it was Lucy’s first EVER, to leave to our imaginations.

        6. Mark

          Uh-oh, I smell an impending flashback. In the middle of a fight.

        7. Li

          That would be interesting!

        8. VolticEXE

          Important to remember; those were both Pre-Mike’s Death. When they got back to the college some months later, he’s still clearly struggling with being more open now & having that emotional vulnerability.

          Lucy’s been helping him be more open but recovery like that can take ALOT of time, but he’s atleast trying. There’s just alot that can go wrong between his Survivor’s Guilt messin’ with his head & his usual Walky-isms.

        9. thejeff

          His rationale was this is why you girls gotta kiss me so I know what’s goin on.

    3. TerribleTransit

      Definitely too early to say the ship is saved, yeah. They still have a lot to talk about. They’ve defused the situation enough that I think they can talk, rather than scream, about it now, but whether that conversation happens now or later it needs to happen before the relationship gets really in the clear.

    4. DashWallkick

      Things are not good but she at least understands that Walky *does* value her and simply was oblivious about her affection, not that she was some kind of rebound.

    5. Mturtle7

      He re-contextualized his clumsy explanations from the last strip so Lucy’s understanding went from “He only started dating me because he was pressured into it by his ex” to “He didn’t realize this relationship was a possibility at first, but jumped at the chance once he did”.

      Calling her pretty probably had more to do with Lucy’s sudden forgiveness than she’d care to admit, though. Humans just be like that, sometimes!

  25. Shorduie

    You got off easy now Walkerton, but you are on thin fucking ice

  26. BBCC

    Excellent save, Walky! Success defusing her anger. These crazy kids might just get to make it.

  27. UrsulaDavina

    Critical success on your persuasion roll there Walky.

  28. Dday

    Ooooh, nice save!

  29. k

    The Willis giveth, and the Willis taketh away.

    Still, however I feel about this couple, I have to admit I was riding on an emotional high from the last few days. Incredible job on the energy and confrontation there, Willis. Well done. It was delicious and very enjoyable.

    1. k

      Yessssssss I got my good egg Danny back in the gravatar roulette!!

    2. Nicoleandmaggie

      Looking for that first sentence response so I could agree with it.

  30. Acebender

    How on Earth did that end well

    1. Reltzik

      It hasn’t ended well until they’re out of the church.

      1. Agemegos

        And they’re not out of the relationship either.

    2. Sajuuk-Khar

      Just think, now they might have sex before breaking up for the exact same reasons as were laid out today, and it’ll make everything so much worse

      1. thejeff

        But at least now it won’t be under the false assumption that they’re both in love.

        1. Mturtle7

          Lucy right now: “He’s TOTALLY in love with me, but he’s too shy to admit it! If I just sleep with him asap, a love confession will DEFINITELY follow!”
          I mean, hopefully not, but I’m just saying, this kind of thinking wouldn’t exactly be beyond her.

        2. thejeff

          It’s still better than “He’s already said he’s in love”.
          If she is that deluded about it, at least it’s all on her.

  31. Kelli217

    OH the man’s got game.

  32. Suet

    That’s a save that Dennis Eckersley would be proud of.

    Now, Walky, just say “I Love You” or this ship will be the next Theseus.

    1. anon

      i think he pretty much established that it was too soon for him ,so saying it again within like, even 48 hours prolly would be unbelievable for him

  33. AbacusWizard

    Oooh, nice save! The bookies report that the odds of this relationship surviving to see the Monday sunrise have just tripled!

  34. Warcodered

    I’m really completely surprised, if he really actually survived this, and let’s be real it could still somehow blow up and never count out a fake-out of this working out, but that would do wonders for this relationship. Them finally at least knowing where the other stands would be a huge step forward.

  35. Taffy

    Good thing she’s an easy audience

  36. Koms

    I wonder if Walky wants to get out of church ASAP because it reminds him of Mike’s funeral and he’s trying hard not to deal with it? His shiny eyes in the last panel may be tears. Or maybe I’m overthinking it. The lack of breakfast nuggets is making him cry

    1. Sere

      Simpler: a fundie kidnapped him to save his daughter, and Blaine threatened both his ex and at the time current romantic interests and a bunch of other kids. It doesn’t need to be Mike, the church kidnapped him. Plus… he remembers being one of those church mouse boys now. I’d imagine that’s traumatic for anyone

    2. Matt

      I mean some of us just think churches like that seem culty, and even when they aren’t actively harmful, very uncomfortable for us to be around/a part of.

      Having personal trauma around that might only serve to amplify that feeling

      1. Li

        I’m gonna say “culty vibes”, because he really seemed okay in the building until the lyrics they were all singing started creeping him out.

    3. dalniente

      I’m wondering if he has some deeper religious… I don’t know if I’d say “trauma” without knowing what it is, but some kind of stress associated with the kind of church Becky would go to. He was in that Hymmel the Hymnal video that Joyce watched as a kid, saying the line about all the good things we do are God working through us, or something. That may have stuck with him on a deeper level than even he realized. I know I experienced stuff as a tiny kid that I barely remember, that got into my head. It’s possible.

    4. Warcodered

      Walky didn’t really resonate with a lot of the messaging which definitely didn’t help. Beyond that he doesn’t deal well with being bored and has shown clear signs of having some form ADHD which wouldn’t deal well in that environment either.

  37. Bryy

    I do not like the cutoff.

    1. NGPZ

      Who said this ain’t the eye of the hurricane? ?

      1. Taffy

        It’s the most recent strip, which means it’s the end of the story. That’s how people think it works around here.

        1. thejeff

          It’s not necessarily all resolved, but it’s in a far better place than it was yesterday.
          I think they probably should talk more – specifically about the love issue and the misunderstanding, but it also wouldn’t surprise me if they walked away for now.

        2. Taffy

          If it’s not all resolved, why is “Carry On Wayward Son” playing?

  38. shrub

    Not a bad save by Walky though he should probably have a think about if Lucy is right for him or vice versa

    1. Vukodlak

      Well they’ve been dating a week so… maybe give him some more time.

      1. shrub

        Well they seem to be on a different page when it comes to sex and religion, they seem to have very different ideas about the nature and intensity of the relationship and Lucy seems like she’s one more bad call away from a nervous melt down

        But apart from that it’s all smooth sailing

  39. Reltzik

    So, it turns out that the conversation actually HAD hit rock bottom yesterday and Walky managed to successfully dig his way out of the hole. Exactly as I predicted yesterday.

    … and I wasn’t being the least bit sarcastic with that prediction. Not the least bit sarcastic at all.

    …..

    (Disclaimer: “Extremely” is distinct from “the least bit”.)

    1. Li

      Haha. ?

  40. DarkoNeko

    ….I really, really didn’t expect this to end on a happy note T_T wow

    1. Agemegos

      “Nothing ends, Adrian. Nothing ever ends.”

  41. Crytter

    I spent years of my life following Willis. Trying to predict his strips drove me madder.

    1. Warcodered

      Feels almost like a direct response to the almost uniform predictions of this relationship being dead as a rock. Though I wouldn’t be surprised if that meant it dies in some other way though this would have clearly contributed.

      1. thejeff

        I’ve been thinking for the last couple days that this relationship seems so obviously set up to fizzle out that it’s probably endgame. 🙂

  42. IniquitousKing

    Walky gets to spend whatever time remains in this relationship walking on eggshells. Yaaaay c:

    Wonder how many times the ‘you’re pretty’ line will work.

    1. TerribleTransit

      He’s BEEN walking on eggshells trying to deal with Lucy’s mismatched expectations without hurting her feelings. Now that bandaid’s been ripped off and he can finally relax and speak/act how he really feels.

  43. Lanie

    Ok, but if we actually see these two have an open and honest conversation about where they are emotionally, I will stop trying to fight this ship. I just want Lucy to see Walky where he’s at, and I want Walky to plainly tell her where he’s at.

    And I want the weird pressure to bone after the “third date” to be put well and far away.

  44. Kim

    I Luc’ Walky!

  45. Francoinblanco

    Noooo my popcorn my drama! Confound these burst of honesty, it drive me to drink!

  46. Dante

    Messianic level save. I didn’t think it could be done o_o

    That said his anxiety hurts to watch and still speaks of ill omens. I could literally hear his voice going tenser and higher in my brain.

  47. Cukie

    I hope that Lucy is approaching this from now on with the understanding that they need to talk to each other about what they are and what they want to be.

  48. Queezle

    Huh… did not see this coming. I guess both of them have some things to think over now, regarding their relationship (or they could just ignore this and act as if it never happened, in keeping with the name of the comic). I hope Walky gets a break for the rest of the day. He deserves it.

  49. Schpoonman

    Oh no, Walky’s second line in panel 4 has me hearing Dashboard Confessional’s Hands Down, send help.

    1. Bash

      Note to self, do not go back and listen to sappy songs you liked as a teenager.

      1. Schpoonman

        I’ve been listening to A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out a bunch lately, it’s too late for me.

  50. Li

    Not enormously surprised. Very much still unsure if this is real progress or just a stay of execution for the ‘ship.

    I dunno, I think I wanna hear a real list of things he likes about her. Not just “smart, pretty, into nerdy things”, but something more personal. He might like how supportive she’s been wrt his web comic, he might admire how she handles conflict, anything. I’d even take “I really like making you smile”.

    (Yeah, yeah, I know Walky’s not the most in touch with his feelings, but there ARE ways to get around that, and anyway I’m still allowed to want things I probably won’t get, haha.)

    1. Li

      Also if they could have an honest conversation about sex and get on the same page about it that would be great……..

    2. Mark

      Consider that Walky has just received a substantial reward, promptly given, for digging into his feelings and sharing them with Lucy. That’s gotta be reinforcing.

      1. Li

        Did he? (Is it getting to leave the church?)

  51. sdrainbow

    oh no

    1. Agemegos

      Just so

  52. TheCozburger

    Walky with the slide…….SAFE!!

  53. PirateTawnee

    Well whaddya know, the horse learned to sing.

    1. Agemegos

      Did you ever track down a source for that other than The Mote in God’s Eye? I couldn’t find it in Herodotus.

      1. PirateTawnee

        best I can do is it may be either Persian (which is fair, given the character in Mote is Persian-coded) or Chinese in origin.

  54. Amós Batista

    That’s why I don’t like hot people.
    The person may be an asshole; just one compliment and any guard your have is dropped immediately.

    1. joe

      Well, we wouldn’t get along then. 😉

  55. Serendipity

    holy shit, genuine vulnerability from walky

  56. VolticEXE

    People saying this is a “save” but I mean. He’s just being emotionally honest, something he’s clearly been struggling with since Mike.
    I don’t think he’s ever tried to lie to her about his feelings, but once he knew there was a misunderstanding he didn’t know how to resolve it.
    He’s trying though, & he’s always been.

    1. Needfuldoer

      Yes, Walky can be very trying at times.

    2. Daibhid C

      I’m never sure what anyone means by “save” but … she was angry with him and now she’s not. That.. feels like he saved something? Is it only a “save” if it’s done via intentional manipulation?

      1. Bash

        It doesn’t have to be manipulative, but it does imply doing something deliberately. This feels like Walky just got lucky while being honest.

        1. Mturtle7

          It was absolutely deliberate, in that he noticed Lucy was angry about what he said, and this tried to explain himself further. And, completely going against expectations, he managed to not choose the worst possible phrasing for his explanation! That’s what they (or at least, I) mean by a “save” here.

  57. Esolo

    …goddamnit, they’re not going to break up, are they?

    1. Arianod

      Hopefully! This is where they could end it with minimal emotional damage to both of them; I don’t think they’ll have a better chance.

    2. lyzyrdwyzyrd

      SAME. I HATE THIS SHIP SO MUCH.

      1. zee

        Suffer

        1. Schpoonman

          Obama: “Then perish.”

    3. Li

      I mean, they’re not gonna break up right this minute, anyway.

      Walky successfully defused one of the time bombs here. “I didn’t just not enjoy this, I think you’re in a creepy cult” is another. If we assume the only thing inhibiting his interest in sleeping with her is nerves about being her first time, that’ll probably go okay. If wanting to spend the morning with Amber ignoring her texts was a one-time thing, that’ll probably be okay…

      Then there’s the Raidah thing, where I imagine Lucy would jump at the chance to have lunch with her again but Walky would Not.

      But yeah, not gonna break up right this minute.

    4. Mturtle7

      Think about it, dude – by allowing these two to date, Willis has stumbled across an ENTIRELY NOVEL way to upset the fandom. He’s had plenty of toxic relationships, clandestine/forbidden relationships, self-destructive relationships, sickeningly sweet relationships, etc., but he’s never portrayed an extremely-mediocre-but-just-barely-stable relationship before!

      In 5 years, Lucy and Walky will still be together, the audience will still be seething about it, and Willis will still be savoring that inexhaustible supply of salt.

      1. Esolo

        …

        …….

        ………..

        FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

  58. Sajuuk-Khar

    Now who’s gonna pay Sal $25 plus smug satisfaction?! WHOM, I ASK YOU, WILLIS—

    Danny. No. Put your wallet away, Danny.

  59. bagge

    Good talk.

    Now please go somewhere and talk about incompatible relationship goals

    1. Sajuuk-Khar

      Get Thee to a Coffee Shop

  60. Acher4

    Was… was that an actual save (and a honest one)?

    Wow!!! Niiiiice 😀

  61. Arianod

    So this is how it ends? Well, it could have been much, much worse.

  62. DashWallkick

    (lowering my ‘they broke up’ gif slowly)…. Awwww.

  63. eh, whatever

    Day saved first thing in the morning. I like that.

  64. Andrews

    Even though it doesn’t scan, I am hearing Walky’s last panel in the tone of Mr Burns at the end of his song: ‘I really like my vest’

  65. Zaxares

    Nice save, Walky. You’re not out of the woods yet, but you’ve at least managed to escape the Spiked Pit of Doom (for now). 😉

  66. eskimolos

    Anybody else getting a sense that we may be in for another time skip soonish? (At this rate, in the next year or two) We’re getting to a point where, at least for now, everything is starting to stabilise for most of the main cast, and without Major Drama for one of these cute losers, we’re probably just gonna… hop forward a month or two? So we can explore something like Joe/Joyce’s relationship seeing more legitimacy and the question wafting to “who will initiate the road to sexier times?” Or some new thing in that realm, maybe with secondary cast focus.

    Given not a lot has honestly been going on with the death of both villain dads and the retirement of amazigirl, it’s still felt really oddly intense since the last time skip, probably since everyone’s dynamics shifted dramatically, a lot happened off-screen to facilitate everyone being somewhere else and I guess, allowing fresh interpersonal storylines to be told with those characters.

    1. Bash

      I think something is going to happen with Dorothy.

    2. Blume

      Maybe soon? We do still have Sarah, Dorothy, and Jennifer stuff left, I believe. Or maybe we actually will leave them on that sour note and see how they are after a timeskip… That’d be sad :((

    3. AK

      I mean I think a number of things are pretty in flux right now. Something going well doesn’t make it stable, and something being stable doesn’t make it uninteresting. Like I don’t think Joyce and Joe are going to break up, but I’m very interested to see how both of them navigate the beginning of this relationship. And Dorothy, Sarah, Jennifer, Ethan, and Carla (I’m not used to Carla being at the center of interpersonal drama, this is weird) are all either at the beginning or the middle of actively evolving situations. Plus this situation is not exactly resolved. And all of those plot lines happening will inevitably push over more dominos for other characters too. Also Joyce’s family drama is kind of a shoe waiting to drop. I would not expect a time skip anytime soon.

      1. eskimolos

        I think it’s more for the expectation of something new to happen for several of these people *every day*. Yes, situations are in flux, but for instance Ethan is grieving and has had One kiss with Asher, in actual world events something may not happen with that again for weeks or months, and grieving is a process that is probably going to take more than a few months for Ethan and Amber. It’s been a good chance to visit and flesh out others in the cast, and sure this comic could just be about Joyce and Joe’s life together every day for the rest of time and I’d probably be okay with that, but eventually Willis wants to hit milestones right? Everyone was so excited we were about to have a Halloween plotline, then the time skip happened and maybe to throw us a bone, Willis set an important flashback during Halloween. But maybe we want to get to Valentine’s sooner than three years from now, or maybe there’s a desire to do a final exams plotline, maybe having summer break be a way of showcasing where each character is in their lives outside of school, of course with the last time skip it’s likely the case any expected time away from school for more than a day or two probably will be cause for a time skip.

        1. thejeff

          We might skip a couple days at some point – there were a couple of those in the 1st semester. I doubt we’ll see anything bigger.
          The main reason we got the last one was Mike’s death. He wasn’t going to spend years of real time writing characters completely distraught from that.

  67. YordleJay

    Damn. Smooth Walky

  68. Disastroid

    This sitcom is called “I Love That About Lucy”.

  69. Armadillo

    Gotta say, there are a looooot of people in the comments who are just… irrationally angry about these two dating. Seriously, there is nothing going on between them that merits this kind of intense dislike. They’ve been dating for a week and the biggest problem this relationship has could be solved with a single honest conversation (which isn’t Walky’s forte, I’ll admit, but the point still stands).

    1. lyzyrdwyzyrd

      I don’t like Lucy. She’s boring and annoying.

    2. Agemegos

      The biggest problem with their relationship is that they want directly opposite things. Lucy wants a life partner whom she can strive together with for continual social betterment. Walky wants a chill friend to goof off with.

      That nothing wrong with either of them. They just aren’t well suited to each other.

      1. Big Z

        I think that’s what Lucy thinks she wants, and has been trained to want, but speaking as someone who entered college as a very performatively religious dude trying to hang on to it, I’m not super convinced it’s what she ACTUALLY wants.

    3. Sajuuk-Khar

      I mean, I love both of these kids just fine, but Agemegos is right, they’re not matched well, and I don’t know if you can solve Lucy’s desire for a big romantic relationship with Walky’s desire to be relaxed and casual about this with a conversation.

      It’d probably make things easier and better for sure, but fix it? Nah.

    4. Li

      Hey, not to defend the more vitriolic people, but: no one needs to be “rational” about their shipping preferences.

      Frankly if we as a whole could let go of the idea that we need a reason to dislike characters or ‘ships, fandom would probably be a much nicer place to be. Saying “there’s nothing going on here that merits this kind of intense dislike” is the same mentality that causes folks to go on for paragraphs about how the ‘ship they hate is secretly abusive due to a two-year age gap between consenting adults, or because of the power imbalance apparently inherent to one of them being the Mom Friend. That way lies madness.

      Like, we should all check ourselves a little bit to make sure we aren’t being more hostile to characters who are marginalized (female, characters of color, queer, ND, etc) — but we should also allow ourselves space to say: “this character has never done anything wrong, but I don’t like them, and that’s okay”.

      Heck this happens in RL too. Nobody wants to be That Jerk who dislikes other people for no reason, but someone’s people just grate on each other; and that’s morally neutral. As long as you don’t treat real people badly bc of it, it’s okay to dislike them “irrationally”.

    5. Mturtle7

      The fact that most of the fandom is far more outraged by Lucy and Walky’s relationship than, say, Sal and Jason’s relationship, or Ruth and Billie’s relationship, is absolutely HILARIOUS to me.

      I mean, I understand why it’s happening – passionate but toxic/forbidden relationship are interesting, mediocre and mildly awkward relationships aren’t – but it’s still REALLY funny.

      1. dalniente

        It really has been hilarious to watch. I’m sitting here like “oof, this is awkward but understandable and realistic for both of them, still mostly healthy, that’s cool, they’re trying,” and then I check the comments and people are like “wow Lucy really needs to kick Walky directly in the nuts.” It’s not quite popcorn-worthy but it’s getting there!

  70. Osopescado

    *sigh* … okay fine

  71. torrent29

    Masterful save.

  72. David DeLaney

    if you’re gonna stay with her, Walky, you’ll need to learn to cope with her … cycles

    –Dave, collecting the tears of alternating commenters for use as an esoteric material metacomponent

    1. David DeLaney

      also Walky saves, Hasbro crit-fails

    2. Taffy

      Cycles?

      1. David DeLaney

        from totally believing her current Walky fanfic is what’s going on
        to “omg you spoiled EVERYTHING”
        and back

        –Dave, they’re not really monthly

  73. sonofevil

    He told her she’s pretty. Everything is forgiven.

  74. Comic.phile

    You know what? As of this strip I’m rooting for them. Lucy has no experience, Walky has so self esteem, but they are TRYING damnit, and finally communicating/finally listening to each other. I hope this is the start of a great relationship. (Notice I say start, because it’s not even week 2).

    1. daeranilen

      Hugely agree. Until this moment, I did not think they had any chance of making it long-term at all. I understood why Walky was avoiding being honest with Lucy – I too worried she might overreact to the truth! – but if you can’t tell your partner how you feel, you’re not going to get very far. This is genuinely the best possible outcome of this conversation. I’m so proud of both of them, and I hope they continue to grow together.

  75. RF

    Holy crap, Walky actually said the one right thing to say.

  76. WizardPantaloon

    God dammit.

  77. Yeet

    Honesty good, not addressing the vast gulf in emotions bad.
    So, like, a passing grade I guess, but not by much.

    1. zee

      They’re still in public and walky is clearly distressed and wants to go home. They have time for that later

      1. Yeet

        while you’re not wrong I’m not sure he has a fantastic track record with following up on important things without somehow being made to blurt it out

  78. Big Z

    What a SAVE, Walky. Especially since it’s clearly true.

  79. Taffy

    I still want her to beat the daylights out of him.

    1. egg egg

      Lucy can have some violence, as a treat.

    2. Proto

      Hell, same

    3. Schpoonman

      Save it for Mario Kart for “cheating” on her with Amber.

  80. zee

    Wait… You mean Lucy’s not an evil bongo demon???? She’s not just gonna scream and throw a public fit to punish poor innocent walky for not falling into her manipulative gaslight gatekeep girlboss trap??? She can be…reasoned with?!!

    1. milu

      Adam “stinky horseshit” Black has been awful quiet today.

  81. poyo

    NOOOOOO LUCY !!!!!!!!!!

    see this is why its good to date casually in high school. you learn that a boy thinking youre pretty does NOT make him your soul-mate.

    1. eskimolos

      I mean in all fairness this whole blowup happened because she felt insecure that Walky was actually into her (she calls it love, but yeah she’s infatuated with him and suddenly realised he is not on the same page) – him asserting he found her so pretty he wouldn’t have had the guts to ask her out basically gives her what she was seeking, reassurance and validation for something about her he likes in a “more than friends” way.

      But yeah more experience would likely have made this whole situation easier. I think a lot of people (myself included) have been rooting for breakup because it doesn’t feel like a lasting relationship can form if feelings and communication styles are so imbalanced.

  82. smolgrlboi

    yeah it’s a good save for now but…. y’all two gotta talk about some shit.

    also I wanna say that a lot of ppl seem to be characterizing Lucy/Walky naysayers as like super hateful or something. And ofc stuff gets heated in the comments, but at least for me I don’t like it *for either of them*. Lucy and Walky want different things from this relationship, and it’s unfair to *both of them* that this imbalance in emotions hasn’t been addressed. I’m not the biggest fan of Lucy I’ll admit but I also empathize with how she’s treating this relationship because I also used to jump in the deep end a liiiiittle too fast, and she deserves someone on her level and Walky deserves someone who’s on his.

    1. Coatl

      It’s gratifying to hear these types of comments, I’m not a fan of Lucy either, but I don’t hate her, it just bothers her the way she acts. Regarding Walky, I get the feeling that even though he told the truth, it seems like he only half told it because Lucy was pressuring him.

    2. Li

      Yeah, that’s about the page I’m on, too.

      I also think I’ve personally talked so much about this ‘ship because, unlike some other ‘ships I’ve liked much less, with Walky/Lucy I feel like the narrative has been littered with little indicators that they’re not gonna work out, and I’ve found cataloging and discussing those things with people to be pretty interesting.

      Honestly, I dunno that I’d talk much about the ‘ships I like less than this one here; it would feel unproductive and needlessly mean, to me, to comment on other ‘ships when all I have to say is “I don’t like this.”

      Like if I’m gonna do that, I’m just gonna keep it among friends, instead of making Willis read a bunch of comments like that.

  83. Marvelman

    Maybe Walky is secretly the anti-Christ?

  84. Aussir

    Well, I think Lucy has been demonstrating some immaturity here – not for *feeling* what she understands as love, but for not having a mature sense of the time they’ve been dating, etc.

    However, as this comic demonstrates, that doesn’t have to be a death sentence for the relationship.

  85. Urainkhali

    Sigh. This is why one does not push one’s religion up their partner’s nose.

    1. Li

      She didn’t, tho. She’s never pushed it on anyone. She’s apologized like twice in the comic for incorrectly assuming someone else was Christian. Coming here was very much his idea.

      1. Wraithy2773

        And nothing about this situation has anything to do with religion, at least beyond Walky being generally uncomfortable in church. At most, the setting had him a bit off balance and it caused him to put his foot in his mouth a bit, but the nature of the brief row was about the “Love” ambiguous situation.

      2. Mark

        Pretty sure she thought of this mostly as a get-to-know-another-side-of-me, social occasion.

        (And possibly a replacement Third Date.)

        1. Li

          Heh, the in-comic debate over whether this or that activity counted as the third date has been kinda fun.

          It’ll be interesting to see where the conversation goes once they’re out of the building and alone.

  86. Dev

    I keep giggling at the thought that he’s babbling because he still feels like he can’t lie in church.

    1. Mturtle7

      OH MY GOD

      Thank you, headcanon accepted. Completely plausible, and absolutely GLORIOUS.

      1. Dev

        You’re welcome! Happy to help!

    2. Li

      Pffff that’s v cute. (Sincerely.)

  87. Adept

    Good save, but I still hate this relationship.

  88. Jdorr

    Excellent foot removal Walky, sorry I doubted you

  89. thumb

    I’m glad he’s able to squeeze so many bad memories to associate with church in the little time he’s giving it. A true champ.

  90. Juanoku

    Walky has perfected the hole dodging dance by this point

  91. Victor Riley

    Yeah, I feel that first panel.

  92. Rabisch

    Lucy knows Walky is an idiot. But he’s her idiot. Nice.

  93. Hinoron

    “Why such a rush to leave?”
    “I feel my soul start to sizzle, like an egg cracked on a sidewalk in summertime. It might not cook as fast as a frying pan, but after a couple hours, I’m over-easy.”
    “…I’m going to pretend that metaphor made sense.”
    “And that’s why I believe you when you say you love me.”

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