318

Blood in the water
Posted on January 27, 2025 by David M Willis

318 thoughts on “Blood in the water”

  1. Jen Aside

    Zero hesitation!

    speaking wonders of Jason

    1. Rose by Any other Name

      Ruth: “Honestly, any excuse will do. I’d also dump him for a free pizza.”

      1. Doctor_Who

        Jennifer’s down a boyfriend, she can afford pizza, maybe they’ll just make a trade.

        Be hilarious to see Jason’s reaction to that.

        1. Rose by Any other Name

          It would be.
          It would be even more hilarious to see Jennifer dating Jason. They would be so awful together.
          I love this idea.

        2. Reltzik

          Polycule! Polycule! Polycule!

        3. VicMortimer

          I know, right?

          Seems like the obvious choice. And it would be good for all of them.

          Oh, right. It would be good for all of them. Willis would never do it.

        4. Wilde

          These three are all fucked up, and I don’t think together they will be MORE functional than two of them. Jennifer hasn’t shown interest or willingness to grow or communicate in healthy ways, so there are few poly dynamics I can see her working with.

          Now, if by “better” you mean more entertaining to watch for us trash goblins in the comments, I 100% agree.

        5. Reltzik

          I also 100% agree!

        6. Stephen Nedland

          Oh hell yes! I keep trying to will it into existence, with Joe/Joyce/Dorothy, but I’ll take Ruth/Jennifer/Jason.

        7. Thag Simmons

          They wouldn’t even last a day

        8. Lilith Rose

          Oh, they’d last indefinately if it were presented as a one-upmanship of who could stay the longest without breaking up.

          “We all know this is a horrible idea… but we’re all horrible people. Anyone hooking up with us is making a horrible mistake. But can we prove our superiority to anyone else who would hook up with us? The challenge is how well can each of us make even a bad idea work. The first one to cry uncle and break up is inferior to the others, and we form this pact ahead of time, knowing the one who breaks up first will always be the inferior of the other two.”

          If this preceded the relationships, it would be the most stable triad polycule ever.

        9. Michael Steamweed

          This is a _horrible_ idea. The suffering! The sex!

          *gets chips and popcorn ready

        10. AnonGrouch

          Making the polycule an act of competition is the single most ‘them’ shipping possible. I say do it because God that would be hilarious to read.

        11. Matthew Davis

          Meanwhile Amber, over in the corner, looking at her phone: “Look, I know I said the roof is where you can be garbage, but there has to be _some_ standards.”

    2. Proxiehunter

      Does he have much going for him aside from a British accent and (according to Sal at least) a dick the size of a pint glass?

      1. Nullset

        Access to the bar.

      2. justin8448

        He is, in fact, tall. Some people (Sal) are apparently into that.

        1. Gilthwixt

          Some people win the genetic lottery and still manage to lose at everything. It’s quite sad, really.

      3. Francoinblanco

        They bonded over problems with their influential family

      4. zee

        Some sexy ass eyebrows

        1. Wizard

          I think a little more punctuation might help, because now I’m picturing “ass eyebrows” and they’re not sexy at all. Or maybe it’s just me.

      5. GoblinBagsSumo

        …Intelligent?

    3. GoodbyBallad

      The new (ish?) profile pic disturbs me. Congratulations.

      Also, I don’t really think this is Jason’s fault.

      1. Michael Steamweed

        Good eye. Just saw it. Oh gods. :O

        1. clif

          I have no idea what y’all are talking about, but I have decided to believe that Mike’s profile pic has just mysteriously reappeared in the supporting characters.

        2. Michael Steamweed

          Professor Brock making out with Professor Brock.

        3. clif

          Okay. That probably meets some definition of disturbing.

    4. staszu13

      Jason likes Sal. He seems to have a thing for doomed relationships

  2. Lingo

    Happy Dumbing Day 2025! Dumbing Day is celebrated on any real-life dates that happen to correspond to the current in-story date of DoA, one of which is (probably) today, January 27!

    Tradition demands that you celebrate Dumbing Day by doing something the characters did since last D-Day (1/23/24). So this year, why don’t you sing karaoke, fuck your trauma, drunkenly suggest watching your “platonic” best friend have sex, steal booze just to prove a point, defuse a party emergency and get laid, literally hide your boyfriend in the closet, plan your “platonic” best friend’s not-quite-sex acts, clothesline a costumed dumbass, send titty pictures to your “platonic” best friend, carve the shape of yourself into the surface of an unhinged, unfair world, or touch a penis?

    1. Lingo

      If those suggestions are too intimidating, here are some more: Start using some fucking profanity, practice destigmatizing physical contact, wash a friend’s bedsheets, cook your girlfriend some mac & cheese, sneak into a bar while underaged, get drunk for the first time, masturbate in the shower, try to get your students to write your class textbook, break your frenemy’s video-game record with your bad hand, talk to a rhyming cartoon character on a poster, unintentionally break into a bank vault, draw naked people, come out as transgender, or declare yourself nobody’s mama!

      1. Yumi

        Okay, these include some more manageable suggestions– was getting worried with the first list, though by the end I think there were some I could pull off.
        But also could I go with going on a coffee date with someone?

        1. Lingo

          Yep, anything they did! I just think my suggestions are funnier 😀

        2. Yumi

          Actually, I think I’m going to go with “wear dinosaur themed clothes.” I’ll awkwardly layer other things with it sk I’m not too cold in a short-sleeved shirt.

      2. NGPZ

        alright then

        “I ain’t NOBODY’S mama” XD

      3. Michael Steamweed

        Well, I can do four of both those lists. The rest either aren’t feasible or are ill-advised.

      4. Kazuma Taichi

        well dang it, I already played the egg-cracking card so that’s one’s not on the table

    2. HueSatLight

      Look up your first crush on facebook. A nice time of not feeling mortified for any of dozens of reasons.

      1. Lingo

        Ding!

    3. pixiekhatt

      I didn’t realize that we’ve been basically observing 4-5 days of story (minus time skips) in a year of our time. At this rate, we’ll be finished in… a couple decades? Assuming there will be some more time skips and that we’ve gone through a quarter of the story so far…

      1. Lingo

        Two decades would place us in about mid-April at this rate!

    4. Forte Issimo

      … I’m a freshman. At this rate I’m going to be finished with my undergrad before they’re finished with their second semester.

      1. Lingo

        Pretty sure Willis has said that never finishing the freshman year is the plan.

        1. Needfuldoer

          It took a real decade for about two months to elapse in-universe. (At one point I figured real time and DoA time average around 66:1, so two months for us is one day for the characters.)

          At that pace, even if there’s a big time skip every 10 real years, freshman year will last for the foreseeable future.

    5. NGPZ

      what would count towards “carve the shape of yourself into the surface of an unhinged, unfair world”?

      could one hypothetically do this by making a video game?

      *and no, that ain’t a metaphor for masturbating XD

      1. Lingo

        I’m not sure. Ask Jocelyne, I guess!

      2. Needfuldoer

        You know that kid’s game where somebody lays on the ground and you trace around them with sidewalk chalk?

        It’s like that but you use a chisel instead of chalk.

    6. Charlotte

      I really didn’t think it was only 4 days! I’m stunned.

    7. Forvisk

      I’m going to buy a Transformers toy them. Thanks, i needed a reason to.

    8. Bruno

      Hang on, I’m kind of caught up on the fact that they’re only four days apart.

      1. Bruno

        blowjob cat no

    9. zee

      Lucy’s a part timer did she go to work at any point in the last year? Cuz I can do that

    10. ValdVin

      Thanks for putting this out for us. I’ve been waiting for DofA to get to something like Valentine’s Day salon since the January semester started and never knew when it might happen.

      My nephews are almost Willis’ age. I have no idea if I’ll see the end of the IU school year.

      1. HueSatLight

        I hope they have an “in case sun goes out” switch to unlock the whole buffer. Give me something to do while the world takes a few days to end.

    11. EtchJetty

      I think taking estrogen counts as “carving the shape of [my]self into the surface of an unhinged, unfair world”. So I’ll do that tonight! Happy Dumbing Day.

      1. Morleuca

        thank you for the reminder

  3. pickonecard

    Billie, she’s Being Nice To You.

    1. James

      Sounds fake

    2. Jeremiah

      “Sounds fake but okay”

    3. Insanenoodlyguy

      Billie doesn’t like herself! Billie, don’t let her get away with being nice to the Bongo!

  4. MK15

    I think I can put my distaste for Jennifer aside to “aww” at this!

    1. Thag Simmons

      I don’t know if that’s the proper reaction to this

      1. GholaHalleck

        God right? Even Ruth deserves better then to be Jennifer’s silver medal.

      2. Clif

        I’m not sure what the proper reaction is. I’m not sure Jennifer knows.

        But if I had the look-one-day-ahead patron option, today is the day I would use it.

        1. Clif

          Who are we kidding. Tomorrow is going to cut back to the elevator.

        2. Wraithy2773

          Steve’s got some cereal to eat, that’s for sure.

        3. Michael Steamweed

          Steve’s getting hungry; he hasn’t had cereal in a while.

      3. Mturtle7

        For a number of reasons, one of which is that Ruth was the one who dumped Jennifer in the first place! Like, there are plenty of other reasons, but that one kinda stands out to me and I’m surprised more people aren’t mentioning it.

        1. poofdepoof

          first thing I thought of as well

  5. Dante

    EXQUISITE TOXICITY. Zero hesitation, no regrets.

    1. Clif

      YES!!!

      1. Clif

        Also, have you noticed how Jenifer is occasionally accidentally right about the things she says? https://www.dumbingofage.com/2025/comic/book-15/02-the-one-where-jocelyne-returns/coincidence-2/

        1. Michael Steamweed

          Why, yes, Joyce does pull, actually.

          (joe affirms this)

        2. Dante

          [Cackles]

          She’s only ever right when it’s an accident, or when she doesn’t wanna :’33

  6. Nono

    Man I wish Ruth wasn’t so relatable right now.

    (Well except the part where she currently is dating someone, but they may be for the best.)

  7. Ray Radlein

    Don’t ask a question you don’t want to hear the answer to

    1. Wendy

      Words to live by, for real.

    2. Proxiehunter

      Especially don’t ask a question if either answer is going to upset you. I don’t think “No” would have gone over any better.

    3. Clif

      Thank you for saying this so that I didn’t have to.

  8. Wendy

    Ruth has plenty of flaws, sure, but lack of self-awareness is clearly not one of them.

    1. justin8448

      Ruth is painfully, excruciatingly aware.

    2. Mturtle7

      I suspect that she is VERY self-aware about everything about herself that she would consider negative and self-deprecating! But she might have some trouble being aware of anything else. Just a thought.

  9. RacingTurtle

    They are terrible and I love them, your honor <3

    1. Reb

      I welcome the return of my toxic college lesbian-couple (I know they’re both bisexual).

  10. NGPZ

    CoolioAhhHereItGoes.gif

  11. Kyrik Michalowski

    Billie/Jennifer continues to amaze me with how shitty a person she can be.

    Who would want to get together with her? Ruth feels like the only person who would.

    1. Kyrik Michalowski

      Time to roll.

      1. Kyrik Michalowski

        Nope

        1. Kyrik Michalowski

          Also no.

        2. Kyrik Michalowski

          Losing faith I’ll ever find Sal.

        3. Kyrik Michalowski

          I might have to roll in yesterday’s comic so people don’t have to scroll through all my attempts.

        4. EpochFlame

          couldn’t you just use sal as a gravatar or does that spoil the fun

        5. Kyrik Michalowski

          That would spoil the fun; it is low stakes gambling.

        6. Adam Black

          hmm

        7. Clif

          Roll in yesterday’s comic? Who would do that? https://www.dumbingofage.com/2025/comic/book-15/02-the-one-where-jocelyne-returns/blast/#comment-1849021

        8. Michael Steamweed

          Ahh, so you’re the reason why Willis cuts off comments in back issues at some point.

        9. Rose by Any other Name

          Well, at least you have a pipe now. Finding things is always easier with a pipe.

        10. Rose by Any other Name

          Damn – wasn’t fast enough.

    2. Sirksome

      To be fair, Ruth is also the last person who has any high ground to get with Jennifer considering she’s the one who sabotaged that relationship. Jennifer regressing so much is a direct response to Ruth……Maybe they kind of deserve each other?

      Also BIG MONEY! LETS GET SAL! NO WHAMMYS! I BELIEVE IN YOU!

      1. Charles Phipps

        I mean Jennifer is no longer drinking. No matter how awful she is treating people, that alone means she’s progressed.

        1. Jeremiah

          Again, she already started to stop drinking before the break up, that had nothing to do with anything here.

      2. Nymph

        [insert obligatory comment pointing out that someone’s mental state after you break up with them isn’t your fault]

        1. Sirksome

          True. Which is why I didn’t say that. Just that Jennifer reacted by regressing. Ruth initiated the breakup. So her being so willing to get back together is a bit hypocritical of her. Something Ruth has admitted to. My point is that they likely deserve each other because in some ways the breakup made them both worse.

        2. Charles Phipps

          Did they? Both seem non-suicidal. I think at the very least they’re both better off mentally away from one another.

        3. Yumi

          But they also didn’t seem suicidal by the end of their relationship with each other.

  12. Sirksome

    I don’t like them much as a couple but I also hate Jason and want him to suffer so this is a tough choice for me.

    1. Kyrik Michalowski

      Why do you hate Jason?

      1. Sirksome

        He’s a tool and pretty self absorbed, and he treated Sal less than as kind as she deserved and that’s without even factoring in the problematic sex stuff. He was also just kind of bad at his job.

      2. John Campbell

        Basically all he’s done in the comic is fuck one of his students, get fired for fucking one of his students, and be a condescending douche.

      3. HueSatLight

        He’s an ass and all, but I just don’t like him for no particular reason.

    2. HueSatLight

      The ultimate dilemma.

  13. Ray

    Bonus points for unexpected honesty

    1. Clif

      Beautiful whiplash in the last panel.

    2. Confused Cat

      “Unexpected honesty” is exactly what I wanted to comment on this.

  14. Davus

    I don’t know if Ruth would even have to drop the boyfriend, depending on Jennifer (and her boyfriend, ofc.)

    1. Nymph

      Jennifer doesn’t have a boyfriend though?

      1. Thomas

        Yes, but is she aware that her relationship status has changed?

        1. NGPZ

          She thinks/needs Asher to come crawling back to her, she thinks it’s a game 9_9

      2. Aura

        I think ‘her boyfriend’ there is referring to ‘Ruth’s boyfriend’, not ‘Jennifer’s boyfriend’ 🙂

  15. Opus the Poet

    There is still an interest there, in both directions.

  16. Jeremiah

    Jennifer wasn’t ready for honesty!

    1. Yumi

      She was so prepared for denial and an argument

      1. Clif

        She could still salvage an argument.

    2. DashWallkick

      Ruth channeling Mike right now by seeing Jen say something hoping for conflict she could juice some gratification out of, and she’s utterly denied it because this arc is about bashing Jennifer over the head with “this is not going to get better until you look in a mirror.”

      FWIW I hope she never does, her mental spiral is deeply entertaining.

  17. Dana

    My ship is coming in!

    1. Rose by Any other Name

      Damned but unbroken. Let’s, as the other 40 years old say, fucking go.

    2. Clif

      Is it?

  18. DailyBrad

    Kudos to Ruth for being honest, but man, you made your bed, Ruth.

    I wonder where it goes from here.

    1. Arianod

      You just said it yourself!

    2. Nymph

      I mean, she didn’t bring it up and she isn’t pushing for it.

  19. chaostails7

    Oh boy. I bet that’s super uncomfortable

  20. Chaucer59

    An utterly snark-free declaration of desire? Does not compute! Data fails to process in customary channels. Scanning for sardonic wit—negative. Scanning for passive aggressive countermeasures—negative. Scanning for double entendre—negative. Complete Taming of the Shrew metafailure. Does not compute. Danger Willis Robinson. Danger.

  21. RassilonTDavros

    Oh no, I’m feeling hope again, my one weakness

    1. Clif

      Damn you Willis.

      I know you’re toying with us and yet….

    2. Yarrr

      They could still get together and split up again!

      1. Michael Steamweed

        And The Breakup Pt2 could involve high explosives. Much better than last time.

  22. Yumi

    Part of me wants to be like “oof, poor Jason,” but I ultimately do not care enough to really mean it.

    1. Clif

      Jason will be alright. He has Walky to coach him through.

      1. Nymph

        Yeah, he’ll find another 18/19yo to cross lines with soon enough.

  23. Joe Moose

    Remarkable how quick that was

  24. StClair

    Too much truth.

  25. Smooti

    Love how they’re still somehow the messiest couple despite having been broken up for months. Hate to see Jennifer Jennifering but damn their dynamic compels me so

  26. Reltzik

    I halfway suspects that Jason knows this already.

    1. Michael Steamweed

      He is happy to say yes to the sex without any other demands on him.

    2. Mturtle7

      See, I’d LIKE to think this, but I’m also very very worried that Jason is much, much, too full of Ye Olde British Repression to actually be aware that this is just a casual fling/sub-dom playtime for both of them. He is not the most self-aware guy, to put it mildly.

  27. BBCC

    Ooof. Just….oof. Sweetie.

    1. BBCC

      No. We do not have blowjob cat gravs in this account.

      1. Sirksome

        BJ cat seems pretty common in the reroll. I wonder what some of the rarer ones are? Sal seems pretty hard to find or most people rolling for her are just unlucky.

        1. Nono

          I haven’t really seen an Asher yet I think.

        2. clif

          Oh, no. He’s there.

        3. clif

          Er, there.

          Fumble fingers on the tablet.

        4. Clif

          I have a bad feeling about this.

        5. Clif

          No apparently I just can’t type on the tablet.

          Either that or I keep lousy notes.

        6. Clif

          Or I keep jumping universes. We can’t rule that out.

          No, I really can’t type on the tablet. Assuming this is Asher. Otherwise it’s a Damn You Willis situation.

        7. Clif

          Yay!

        8. HueSatLight

          I’d bet they’re all 1/36 chance. Except the super-rare Arnold.

      2. SocietyPilled

        Wait how are you rerolling?

        1. Yumi

          Change the capitalization of your email address in the box for it. Differently capitalized versions of the same email will each roll for a Gravatar from the pool.

        2. SocietyPilled

          Waow

        3. Michael Steamweed

          Attempt #1.

  28. ian livs

    Genuinely break up with him if you feel that way, that’s not good for any parties involved

    but also: toxic yuri toxic yuri toxic yuri

    1. Doopyboop

      Agreed, I was actually about to write my own comment about this. If that’s all it takes to break up with him, why even date him?

      1. Yumi

        I think it depends on what his understanding of the relationship is. If it’s similar to hers, and they’re aware of where they stand, then it’s fine. If he thinks they’re really trying to build a bond or something, though, then yes, end it.

        1. Doopyboop

          It’s hard to gauge exactly but I think Jason does know Ruth is hung up on Jennifer (and they’ve both addressed that) and he still wants to date her. She has enough interest in him that she wanted to help him become a TA again so he wouldn’t feel pressured to be with her or feel like there’s any weird power dynamics between them. So I honestly can’t say for sure if they’re both actually trying to build a relationship together or if they’re both just… keeping each other occupied?

          My ace ass could NEVER.

        2. ian livs

          ^Same. Maybe I’m just way, way too demi for this.

          Like, I’ve been in a straight-up FWB relationship (okay, it eventually evolved into dating) but while I *get* that companionship is better than being miserable by yourself, whatever’s going on here… just bewilders me, lmao

      2. Regret

        Because sex is more fun than crying yourself to sleep. And if you’re honest about what you both expect out of it, there’s nothing wrong with that.

        1. Doopyboop

          Couldn’t be me.

      3. Nymph

        There’s nothing wrong with having relationships that aren’t meant to be forever. Nothing wrong with having a little fun together that doesn’t mean anything.

        1. thejeff

          There’s a difference between “aren’t meant to be forever” and “would drop for your ex in a heartbeat.”

        2. Taffy

          Yeah, one is hotter.

        3. Sirksome

          Yo! Sweet Dino (aka masc presenting Dina) grav!

        4. Nymph

          In the sense that squares and rectangles are different, sure. That’d be why I included the “having fun together that doesn’t mean anything” part to be more clear.

    2. morhek

      Aren’t the only together because he needs a Green Card?

      1. Doopyboop

        Well not really, because they’re neither married nor engaged to be married. He also seems to have secured himself a work visa by TA-ing for Robin, which Ruth did help him with. As far as I can tell, they decided to hook up out of mutual interest.

        1. Mark

          Additionally, there was speculation that part of his compensation was University housing and, when he became unemployed, he also became unhoused.

          Shelter in time of need, and an attractive woman who finds him desirable? Worse deals are available.

        2. Tan

          Jason explicitly has his own place (albeit with worse heating than the dorms). See final panel of https://www.dumbingofage.com/2022/comic/book-13/02-turning-saints-into-the-sea/gettingstarted/

    3. Charles Phipps

      He’s just there to avoid loneliness and he’s not even there willingly.

      I mean, she actually kidnapped him.

      1. Lingo

        So did Sal. As much as he objects, that seems to be his kink.

        1. Thomas

          The gentleman doth protest too much.

    4. Slartibeast Button, BIA

      Toxic Yuri must be be a band name already.

      1. clif

        You would think.

        1. clif

          But you know you want to do it anyway.

        2. clif

          This reply does not go here.

      2. Morleuca

        https://toxicyurilovetriangle.bandcamp.com/album/toxic-yuri-love-triangle

        1. Tesset

          Oh fuck yeah

  29. Dot

    Billie wanted a denial that she could argue with. She’s feeling insecure and seeking the comfort of that dynamic that they used to have. Instead, she gets frank honesty that could lead to a mature and emotional conversation which is the last thing she wants right now. Let’s see how she gets out of this one!

    1. Lingo

      A cunning trap!

      1. StClair

        like Sarah’s hugs!

        1. Clif

          Much worse.

    2. Insanenoodlyguy

      Oh that’s easy. “So you are just trying to come at me again, like I thought. Fuck you.” Just cause she didn’t think Ruth would admit she was right doesn’t make her any less right. With that you can easily walk away.

      1. Dot

        Except Ruth clearly isn’t going after her, and Billie knows it.

    3. DashWallkick

      Cutting right to Ruth’s heart with a familiar bit of drama and chaos, and she gets hit with “yeah.” She did not plan on that.

    4. Nymph

      “Let’s see how she gets out of this one!”

      By sprinting, I imagine.

  30. Suet

    You miss seeing Amazi-Girl one day…

    So are they or aren’t they?

    1. Clif

      Wait for it.

      1. Michael Steamweed

        Hey look it’s Amazi-Girl!

        1. Clif

          Sh!

  31. Charles Phipps

    Jennifer, I say this once, you can do better.

    She’s also back to drinking.

    1. Essex

      i feel like ruth is the one who can do better, anyone can do better than jennifer

      1. Thomas

        Malaya, Mary, Raidah… are they better options than Jennifer? Deep down, Jennifer is a better person than Mary & Raidah, but she sure hasn’t shown that for a while.

        1. Bittersweet

          Honestly, kind of. I don’t recall any of them treating their active partners terribly bordering on/crossing the line into abuse. Mary maybe with the Halloween thing, but I don’t remember how Dudebro felt about that. They might be worse people, but I don’t know if they’re worse partners.

          I don’t want to say Jennifer’s abusive, but the crap she pulled with Asher is 100% what I would call abusive behavior if someone did it to me. I’m only not counting the Ruth stuff because it was a trainwreck all the way down and it was mutually terrible on both sides (with Ruth starting it).

      2. Mturtle7

        They can both do better, that’s how mutually toxic relationships work!

    2. Jeremiah

      Honestly I think getting sober just highlight that the drinking was not actually Jennifer biggest flaw.

      1. IntangibleMatter

        Drinking was to Jennifer as Bojack Horseman’s childhood was to him. Has it caused some of your problems? Yes. Is it responsible for everything you keep blaming on it? God no, at some point you need to recognize that a lot of the problems are you just refusing to be a better person at the end of the day.

        1. Jeremiah

          Exactly!

        2. Sporky

          I mean, Bojack Horseman’s alcoholism ALSO fits all of your criteria. Actually he has like 5 different examples of something that caused some of his problems but ultimately didn’t absolve him of just being shitty.

  32. AGV/Ruby

    “Honestly, what were you expecting me to say?”

    1. Charles Phipps

      I am willing to bet $5 that Jennifer will say she’s in a relationship she’s not breaking up because it hasn’t sunk in that Asher has dumped her after thinking she dumped him.

  33. Josh Spicer

    Somehow Jennifer did NOT expect lol

  34. I Know Why The Mowed Lawn Screams

    I always knew in my heart that Ruth/Jason was never going to work out in the long run, but i will miss their toxic girlfriend/miserable little henchman dynamic once they break up ?

    1. Charles Phipps

      If Jason and Walky are not a thing, I support him and Jocelyn!

      Yes, I have a thing for crack ships (see TV tropes).

      What can I say?

      1. Queezle

        It’s a trap! If I go look this up on TV tropes, next thing I know I will have lost two hours having read useless information, mostly about media I have not read/watch and no intent to ever read/watch.

        1. Clif

          But you know you want to do it anyway.

  35. Taffy

    Tempting, ain’t it Billie?

    1. Clif

      I certainly hope so.

    2. Opus the Poet

      How did you get the fantasy Dina grav?

      1. Taffy

        Willis’s Tweeter

    3. Michael Steamweed

      Ooh sexy hot Dina in suit and tie! (and retaining trademark hat)

      Becky’s swooning already.

      1. Clif

        Yes, I imagine she is as well.

  36. Pocky

    there’s gonna be another Jason poll that the results won’t matter again, huh? lol

  37. BassBone

    Jennifer, you’re the worst.

  38. Freezer

    Bille’s social skills would make Dr. House say “Damn, you’re rude.”

    1. NGPZ

      for reals, how the FUCK does that guy even keep his license?

  39. DashWallkick

    Jennifer’s complete and total refusal to admit she’s a chaotic, dramatic, insecure mess is so entertaining I can’t even put it to words.

  40. Maddie B

    Yes.

  41. Kyulen

    Much as I liked seeing them together when they were a couple, I’m not sure I’d want to see Ruth and Jennifer get back together now.

  42. 0xKruzr

    poor Jason.

    1. Mr. Random

      I think they’re more fuck buddies than really dating, so he’d probably be fine.

      1. clif

        But it’s nice to see someone pretend to be concerned about Jason.

    2. Pergola

      I never saw anything between the two, so the hookup surprised me. ‘fuckbuddies’ probably covers it.

  43. darkoneko

    …. WELL

  44. Amelie Wikström

    Speaking plainly about what you want? Showing some basic concern for your peer when she might not feel good? But how is that gonna cause any drama?

    1. Jeremiah

      I’m sure they find a way, I believe in them.

    2. Sporky

      You think admitting point-blank you would leave your current significant other for an ex ISN’T gonna cause drama?

      1. Amelie Wikström

        Not according to Jennifer’s face in the last panel. I imagine if Ruth said she’d leave her husband that face would be ecstatic, but here she realizes the relationship she’s meddling in is barely anything and it takes all the wind out of her melodrama sails.

  45. bwooom

    Let’s get them back together now that they’re totally different and see what happens. I won’t even promise that it’ll be good I’m just curious.

  46. Charlotte

    Genuinely surprised at the lack of hesitation!

    1. Michael Steamweed

      Ruth’s getting medication and therapy. And sex. So she’s got much less instinctive need to lie or play games.

  47. cmasta1992

    Jennifer.
    Honey.
    No.

  48. IntangibleMatter

    As someone who wants people to be in healthy relationships, this is very bad.

    As someone who ships Jennifer and Ruth, however, LET’S FUCKING GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

  49. Sajuuk-Khar

    I WILL EXPRESS SINCERE SYMPATHY FOR JASON

    1. Sajuuk-Khar

      fucking lmao you know what I will take Lucy saying this

  50. Rabisch

    Ruth, please no. You’re better than this! Come back with Jennifer will destroy all her progress.

    1. Adept

      Whose progress? Jennifer / Billy is worse than ever. Ok, maybe she’s not drinking, so that’s something I guess.

      1. Sol

        She started not drinking before they broke up though, so it’s not like that was spurred by the breakup.

      2. Rabisch

        I know. I was talking about Ruth’s progress. Jennifer looks pretty much like a lost cause.

        1. Charles Phipps

          Jennifer was doing well until she torpedoed her relationship out of a weird desire to spice things up.

  51. Shakes

    I’m down for this if Jennifer will get over that bi denial she’s been spouting.

  52. Dare

    Oh poor Ruth. I’ve been her.

    (Fortunately for everyone involved, I got over it.)

  53. Mr. Random

    God DAMN Ruth.
    Have a LITTLE self-respect.

    1. Adept

      I mean, that seemed very honest.

  54. Needfuldoer

    Ruth, no.

  55. GUIGUI

    I think she surprised herself there.

    Also, if there is someone that will react to drama as if there is blood in the water, it will be Booster, not Ruth.

  56. zee

    I really like Thai Becky and wanna stick with it but someone has a rotten girl Miku grav and it’s making me, as a host to the teto cognito hazard I mean as a teto fan, feel competitive

    1. zee

      ***this Becky. But now I wanna see someone draw Becky as Thai

      1. zee

        Test

        1. zee

          Yusssss

    2. NGPZ

      was me, LOL

      was first thing I thought of when my gay brain put together

      “shameful” + “lesbian” + “suit and tie”

      XD

  57. ValdVin

    I misread that panel and thought it was about Jennifer’s dumb boyfriend. Anyone else weighing if Jason or Asher is the better person for one of these two disaster recovery areas to date?

  58. J.Gawain

    No, Ruth, you’re supposed to vehemently deny it. Maybe get really close and glare into my eyes.

  59. Deanatay

    “Yes, he is dumb. And to the other thing, too.”

  60. Azhrei Vep

    Come on, Ruth. You’re better than this.

    … Now.

  61. Ike

    Honestly Ruth, you can do better.

    1. Ike

      What an ironic gravatar.

  62. Michael Steamweed

    That’s not the own you think it is, Jenn.

  63. John

    No, Ruth! You can do so much better!

    1. DashWallkick

      She knows that. Which is why she’s just saying “I absolutely would throw it all away for you.”

  64. Yeet

    If Jennifer really felt like that wrt panel one and wanted it to stop a nice loud “Fuck off” accompanied by not staying outside Ruth’s building to finish the conversation would probably do it

  65. AnonGrouch

    I feel like this is a really hard pairing for people to ‘get’ but at the end of the day a lot of the bullshit Jennifer does is out of a constant need to feel perfect and better than someone else. She clearly cares about people, she isn’t a sociopath, but she can come off as one due to feeling like she constantly needs to not show weakness and vulnerability which of course effects every single relationship she has.

    Caring about someone else can lead someone down a path of radical self improvement, or it can enable your worst tendencies. I feel like Ruth’s love for Jennifer has made her a generally better person over the strips. It’d be interesting to see Jennifer improve because she is generally an interesting, flawed character with the capacity to do great good. I think that’s why she is generally so unlikeable in the first place. She’s easy to see how the situation could be better because she is so bad at every step of the way. I’m not saying relationships are the best way to achieve growth, but hey, if that’s how it gets written I’m here for it. I like these characters a lot.

    1. Charles Phipps

      I mean you could argue that all of Ruth’s improvement is due to leaving Jennifer and vice versa. Because they were only improving because CARLA forced Ruth into therapy.

      1. Jeremiah

        Ruth was already improving during their relationship, in fact that things were better was part of her flawed reasoning to break up. And I don’t see any way Jennifer has improved since the break up, outside of getting sober, which afaik she was already doing before that. She in fact regressed in most of her positive development.

        1. Charles Phipps

          Jennifer needed to get away from toxic people and did. Just because we like them doesn’t mean that they weren’t utterly wrecking her. It’s only when she started regressing with Asher to her Billie behavior that everything went to crap for her.

        2. Joyfulldreams

          Wow. *That* is a spicy hot take. ASHER was the toxic one, and Jennifer is better off without him? Lmfao?

        3. Charles Phipps

          No, I meant Walky and the others. She joined the group to get away from her old friends and seems a lot less likely to suffer breakdowns like she is with her old friends.

        4. thejeff

          She joined the group that secretly despises her and is only using her for their own ends and Walky is the toxic one?

        5. Jeremiah

          That is literally not true. The main cast are flawed yes, but they were absolutely no “wrecking her” in any way. Getting into Raidah groups was the regressing into her “being the popular group is all that matter and make you better that others” mentality.

    2. thejeff

      And that “constant need to feel perfect and better than someone else” is rooted in her deep self-loathing. Her understanding of her self as toxic and poisonous, dangerous to everyone she gets close to.
      Remember that’s why she was able to be with Ruth in the first place. They were both already beyond help.

      1. thejeff

        I never thought of this before, but is that tied to why she keeps pushing Walky away? She acts like it’s because he’s a nerd and would ruin her social status and to some extent that’s part of it, but could it run deeper than that?

    3. Tesset

      This might be the only comment I’ve seen in here that actually gets why I found late-stage Ruth/Billie so fun. Like, the toxic, secret mess early on was extremely fun, but seeing it resolve into something that felt like it was making the characters *better* was a really good resolution/extension of that, and then it felt like it got kneecapped arbitrarily for the shock factor of “why aren’t Billie and Ruth together???” after the time skip

      1. thejeff

        It felt like that at first, but as we saw how it happened and saw more scenes like this between the two of them it’s felt more inevitable to me. The stuff between them hasn’t just been dropped, it’s been looming over them ever since. For better or worse, it’s going to get addressed before they get any real resolution.

  66. ac

    delicious toxic yuri

  67. Delavan

    RUTH. RUTH NO. NO RUTH NO.

    1. Nymph

      RUTH YES!

      1. clif

        We can hope.

      2. ZerglingOne

        Definitely read this in Team Four-Star Vegeta’s voice.

  68. Bryy

    So, uh, Jennifer, you probably are not gonna like New Ruth.

  69. Charles Phipps

    A reminder that Jennifer and Ruth almost got each other killed and Carla was the one who forced Ruth on medication.

    1. Jeremiah

      I mean, not quite, Ruth fell into a suicidal depression when they got into a fight, Jennifer didn’t actually get there,. Carla also didn’t do that, Ruth got medical attention that give her medication, if anyone forced her it would probably be the school.

      1. Charles Phipps

        I mean Carla dragged her to the doctor and Jennifer complained about her forcing her into the light.

        1. Jeremiah

          Could you actually give me a spruce on that?

        2. Charles Phipps

          I think this is the strip.

          https://www.dumbingofage.com/2016/comic/book-6/04-it-all-returns/grossthings/

        3. Jeremiah

          Okay yeah, like I said, it is not quite that, she was involved and ultimately she facilitated things by making Jennifer realized how bad things were and make her go help her but that is far from having to force Ruth to get therapy or take meds, she didn’t get involved that far.

        4. clif

          I don’t think that strip says what you think it does.

        5. clif

          It was actually Rachel alerting the residence manager that saved them from their lesbian suicide pact. https://www.dumbingofage.com/2016/comic/book-6/04-it-all-returns/chloe/ and a couple of strips after.

    2. Tesset

      Yeah, and it was glorious and beautiful and fun to read, what are you missing? >.>

  70. thumb

    On the one hand, sucks to be Jason.
    Somewhere on the same hand but maybe close to the outside, I’m pretty sure he knows.

    1. Tesset

      Yeah, but “sucks to be Jason” seems to be his only story role in this one, so if he wants some panel time he better be willing to have his life get measurably worse 😛

  71. pyrock_mania

    This sure derails the narrative Raidah’s been using to stroke your ego, huh Jennifer?

  72. Taigan

    Possibly that was more honesty than Jennifer was prepared for?

  73. Sibre

    Have Ruth’s reasons for dumping her in the first place changed all that much? Or is she just admitting weakness here?

    1. Zamperla

      Weakness, genuinely. See also them fighting and her admitting to Jason that it could have been worse: she could have kissed her.

  74. Joy

    Nope! Nope. After Jennifer’s recent concussion I want Ruth as far away from her as possible. If it weren’t for that I’d be for them getting together again, but, nope, please stop and go away.

    1. Joy

      …trying for a new icon

      1. Joy

        Again

  75. Joy

    Again (I want it to be a woman!)

    1. Joy

      Dorothy is good enough actually, let’s go with her.

  76. Joyfulldreams

    This entire thing is giving serious Juri and Shiori from Utena vibes.

    But unlike in Utena I want these two to get back together so BAD.

  77. Buck Ripsnort

    Did EITHER one of them expect what just came out of their mouths?

  78. Michael Steamweed

    Their own mouth? Yes. The other’s mouth? No.

  79. Zamperla

    One of the more fascinating Billy moments. Immediately contextualizes Ruth asking after her as overtly predatory. Tries to set up a fight. Not really ready for the response she gets.

    Anyhow: yeah they need to not. in the words of Becky: TERRIBLE couple.

  80. StClair

    Another comic, another roll.

  81. StClair

    eh.

    1. StClair

      last one today.

  82. mancuso

    One part of me knows that this is a comic strip and I shouldn’t get invested. Another part of me knows that all of this is just Willis screwing with us. And yet, a tiny part of me keeps wondering why Billie needs to be such an absolute shit stain all the time.

  83. Scolopendra

    PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE

  84. Thing2

    Billifer is just sooooo unhappy.

  85. Juanoku

    PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE

  86. Taigan

    I don’t know if Jennifer and Ruth getting back together is in Willis’ game plan, but if it is the chapter where it happens will have to be titled “You’d Have To Stop The World.”

  87. StClair

    (testing one out at the end)

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