Technically Joyce said ‘im meaning she wouldn’t be talking about Booster. Then again that sounds similar enough to ’em that it might be negligible when spoken aloud.
In dialects with the pin/pen merger, ‘im and ’em are, in fact, perfect homophones.
Yotomoe
Don’t I know it. (I’m southern)
Cholma
Southern USA? Huh. For some reason I’ve always thought you were in Spain.
Dana
I was going with California, based on exactly nothing.
Yotomoe
You’re half right. I was born there.
StoneyB
Not in unstressed contexts such as this. Them reduces, but him does not (I’m Southern, too).
Uly
I don’t know what to tell you, but I have the pen/pin merger, and for me it’s the same in all contexts and has nothing to do with vowel reduction of unstressed syllables.
TCS
Interestingly, pin and pen sound the same for me, but ‘im and ’em are distinct! (“im” rhymes with “him,” but “em” sounds like “um”)
Yes, I believe that was Ana’s point. That “him” would not be referring to a girl or Booster or, in this case, Walky, since he just left. Well then, Ana pretends Dorothy is wondering, who else does Joyce even know that would be joining us?
Well Walky is leaving in panel 1 so clearly not him. Joyce was on good terms with Ethan pre-timeskip, though they have not been shown together since, and post-timeskip Ethan is…. *waves hand vaguely*
If it’s pistols, Joe’s fuckin’ toast. I don’t know why, but I feel like Dorothy is a crack shot with a flintlock. Sabres, I think Joe takes it just from reach alone, plus his much higher swing strength. Jousting, I feel like could go either way, since Joe’s a huge target but Dorothy feels more likely to be precise.
We don’t know a lot of Joe’s history. He’s seems to have taken the physical fitness trait at an early age. Maybe that has some minor stealth benefits. I kinda assumed he was a Fuckboi which is a bit of warlock class, but it’s unclear. Especially since he’s been showing signs of trying to change lately.
Leorale
Trying to change = Multiclassing.
It hasn’t come up in the campaign previously, but actually he’s had level 1 Rogue since he grew out his stubble.
Leorale
Ok I haven’t played in a while, but let’s try this anyway…
Danny’s clearly the Bard. Joyce is a Paladin (hope that doesn’t mean she gets penalties for losing her god). Dina’s a Wizard (one she learned that this involves research, not superstition). Mike was obviously a Warlock. Sierra’s a Druid, Carla’s an Artificer.
…Yep, this all checks out.
I think you can make the argument for Dina as a Druid. Her field of research is focused on the natural world, and turning into Dinosaurs is the high-level Druid’s speciality!
With Joe’s charisma stat? I would have pegged him as the party’s bard. Probably a College of Eloquence subclass with expertise in animal handling.
Because something something sex pun.
Leorale
Joe isn’t the party Bard — that’s Danny, subclass Ukulele Hipster.
Joe’s charisma is OK. He puts effort into looking jacked and rugged and all, but people are mainly annoyed by his pickup lines.
I could see Joe as a Fighter. Fighters are all about the equipment, and Joe knows how to use every machine in the workout room.
Good Dexterity, too, for acing his first attempt at drawing Joyce… and because something something sex pun.
Can I just note how much I love how SUBTLE and QUIET Joyce’s happiness is here? Compare to how manic and almost performative her happiness at “dating” Joe last time, or even Ethan, was before. This isn’t “Yay!!!1! I have a BOYFRIEND!” This is the rare contentedness of finding mutual joy in another’s companionship. It’s…just…
*Quiet, blissful squeeeeeeeee*
Cerusee
Yes! This is different, for Joyce! With Joe (first era) and Ethan, it really was about Finding A Man (and Jacob was [I could write for days but teal deer It Awww Complicated]). This time, with Joe, this is…they’ve been building feelings quietly for several months, and it’s mutual, and Joe actually, and finally, has made himself vulnerable to her to let her know how much he cares about her? They both know they like each other’s company! They wanna spend time together? SQUEE.
146 thoughts on “Splitting off”
Ana Chronistic
“Joyce knows people who aren’t girls, Walky, or Booster?”
darkoneko
Jakob ?
Yotomoe
Technically Joyce said ‘im meaning she wouldn’t be talking about Booster. Then again that sounds similar enough to ’em that it might be negligible when spoken aloud.
Uly
In dialects with the pin/pen merger, ‘im and ’em are, in fact, perfect homophones.
Yotomoe
Don’t I know it. (I’m southern)
Cholma
Southern USA? Huh. For some reason I’ve always thought you were in Spain.
Dana
I was going with California, based on exactly nothing.
Yotomoe
You’re half right. I was born there.
StoneyB
Not in unstressed contexts such as this. Them reduces, but him does not (I’m Southern, too).
Uly
I don’t know what to tell you, but I have the pen/pin merger, and for me it’s the same in all contexts and has nothing to do with vowel reduction of unstressed syllables.
TCS
Interestingly, pin and pen sound the same for me, but ‘im and ’em are distinct! (“im” rhymes with “him,” but “em” sounds like “um”)
TCS
(them and him do rhyme, though)
Yumi
Yes, I believe that was Ana’s point. That “him” would not be referring to a girl or Booster or, in this case, Walky, since he just left. Well then, Ana pretends Dorothy is wondering, who else does Joyce even know that would be joining us?
Nono
Ethan?
Yumi
I mean, have you seen Ethan lately?
Nono
Man’s gotta eat at some point.
Tan
Well Walky is leaving in panel 1 so clearly not him. Joyce was on good terms with Ethan pre-timeskip, though they have not been shown together since, and post-timeskip Ethan is…. *waves hand vaguely*
Doctor_Who
Joyce: “You suitors you may now battle for my hand. Make it amusing, I grow weary.”
Thag Simmons
You think she’d prefer pistols, sabres or a joust?
Doctor_Who
Haven’t you heard? Joyce can handle being around naked people now.
Greek wrestling it is.
Thag Simmons
Bah! Boring, not enough blood
Nova
Naked MMA it is.
Wizard
Pankration! Basically bronze age MMA. Actually choking your opponent to death was an automatic DQ, so it was possible for a dead guy to win a match.
ValdVin
So two dead guys can advance to the next round and be scheduled against each other?
That’ll mess up a lot of brackets
Taffy
If it’s pistols, Joe’s fuckin’ toast. I don’t know why, but I feel like Dorothy is a crack shot with a flintlock. Sabres, I think Joe takes it just from reach alone, plus his much higher swing strength. Jousting, I feel like could go either way, since Joe’s a huge target but Dorothy feels more likely to be precise.
Freezer
This is AMERICA! Bare knuckle boxing, of course!
thejeff
Sledgehammers in 5 feet of water.
Taffy
Dorothy is canonically 4’3″, so that’s a little unfair.
David M Willis
5’4″!
The Wellerman
You have GOT to list all the characters’ heights somewhere!
Thag Simmons
Eh, it’s only a 1′ margin of error.
bagge
Becky and Dorothy are already doing that.
Sirksome
Hmmm. I wonder who clears? Joe and Dorothy rank pretty close in the DoA power rankings.
Yotomoe
I just got a mental image of Joe Powerbombing Dorothy.
Slartibeast Button, BIA
In this webcomic, surely duels would be insult contests.
StClair
“How appropriate, you fight like a cow.”
Needfuldoer
Pretend this comment is an upvote for the reference.
Tawdry Quirks
My vote is for fighter jets for the duel.
Sirksome
Wait, how high is Joe’s stealth stat?
Thag Simmons
Low but he probably got a critical success
Reltzik
Circumstance bonus for dramatic reveal.
Doctor_Who
He gets a -2 for being Large, but his class most likely is Rogue, so it’s a class skill.
Sirksome
We don’t know a lot of Joe’s history. He’s seems to have taken the physical fitness trait at an early age. Maybe that has some minor stealth benefits. I kinda assumed he was a Fuckboi which is a bit of warlock class, but it’s unclear. Especially since he’s been showing signs of trying to change lately.
Leorale
Trying to change = Multiclassing.
It hasn’t come up in the campaign previously, but actually he’s had level 1 Rogue since he grew out his stubble.
Leorale
Ok I haven’t played in a while, but let’s try this anyway…
Danny’s clearly the Bard. Joyce is a Paladin (hope that doesn’t mean she gets penalties for losing her god). Dina’s a Wizard (one she learned that this involves research, not superstition). Mike was obviously a Warlock. Sierra’s a Druid, Carla’s an Artificer.
…Yep, this all checks out.
Inbar Fink
I think you can make the argument for Dina as a Druid. Her field of research is focused on the natural world, and turning into Dinosaurs is the high-level Druid’s speciality!
Leorale
Excellent point, Druid Dina happily accepted.
Thag Simmons
Joe is absolutely not a Rogue. He’d be one of the martial classes, probably fighter or maybe a paladin
Psi Baka Onna
With Joe’s charisma stat? I would have pegged him as the party’s bard. Probably a College of Eloquence subclass with expertise in animal handling.
Because something something sex pun.
Leorale
Joe isn’t the party Bard — that’s Danny, subclass Ukulele Hipster.
Joe’s charisma is OK. He puts effort into looking jacked and rugged and all, but people are mainly annoyed by his pickup lines.
I could see Joe as a Fighter. Fighters are all about the equipment, and Joe knows how to use every machine in the workout room.
Good Dexterity, too, for acing his first attempt at drawing Joyce… and because something something sex pun.
foamy
Joyce’s been teaching him teleportation.
StClair
I had the same thought.
Cmasta1992
Oooh dunno if Dorothy’s ego can handle this
Nova
AWWW send help, Joyce invited Joe to come walk with her and Dorothyyy.
anonymsly
Awwww! Joyce invited Joe to lunch! (I assume!) Look how happy he looks! Look at that smile!
Rose by Any Other Name
**emits a joyful SQUEE that increases in pitch slowly until it becomes inaudible to humans**
The Wellerman
Basically me right now too ??? —
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9FFfuqMWnw
Amós Batista
But, isn’t the main idea only Joe and Joyce go lunch alone?
Cerusee
He’s happy to be around her! She’s happy he’s around her! It’s a perfect match!
Sarah Lea
Can I just note how much I love how SUBTLE and QUIET Joyce’s happiness is here? Compare to how manic and almost performative her happiness at “dating” Joe last time, or even Ethan, was before. This isn’t “Yay!!!1! I have a BOYFRIEND!” This is the rare contentedness of finding mutual joy in another’s companionship. It’s…just…
*Quiet, blissful squeeeeeeeee*
Cerusee
Yes! This is different, for Joyce! With Joe (first era) and Ethan, it really was about Finding A Man (and Jacob was [I could write for days but teal deer It Awww Complicated]). This time, with Joe, this is…they’ve been building feelings quietly for several months, and it’s mutual, and Joe actually, and finally, has made himself vulnerable to her to let her know how much he cares about her? They both know they like each other’s company! They wanna spend time together? SQUEE.
thakoru
I’m imagining that last panel with, like, a horror movie sting, maybe some ominous JJBA doom text floating around.
Paradox
Yeah, take away the context, and that last panel looks like the opening scene to a Law & Order: SVU episode
bagge
She’s already taking her boyfriend to meet her mom, huh?
True Survivor
This made me smile, thank you.
StClair
Made me laugh. Thanks also.
Tan
Delightful comment, would read again
bagge
Delightful answers, all of you. Thanks so much! 🙂
Barf Ninjason
Dammit, I came here to say that
bagge
It bears repeating
Kyrik Michalowski
I couldn’t stop laughing at your comment for like 5 minutes. Now it makes me giggle when I say it out loud. Thank you
Reltzik