340

Metal
Posted on January 25, 2023 by David M Willis

340 thoughts on “Metal”

  1. Ana Chronistic

    someone must’ve only done tumble dry

    1. Ana Chronistic

      Joyce has the same definition of naked as Max Brinly

  2. The Wellerman

    No turning back now Dorothy! Little do you know, you’ve just signed a Faustian deal! ✌️?

    Welp, here we go again! ??

    *plays “Shout” by The Isley Brothers on hacked muzak*

    1. BarerMender

      I never did like rock and roll, but I like that one.

      1. Straximus

        It’s only rock and roll, but I like it.

      2. Psychie

        As a rule, every rule has exceptions, except this one.

        As a rule, I dislike rap, but professor elemental is pretty exceptional as a rap artist.

        As a rule you don’t like rock and roll, but this is an exceptional rock and roll song.

        I’m always bothered by people who stan a music genre I dislike as a rule trying to insinuate I actually don’t dislike it because I enjoy specific exceptional songs or artists. Do you encounter that too?

        1. BarerMender

          I don’t think I’ve ever had that deep a discussion of it. The only argument I ever got is, “Stop trying to be special and get with the music of your generation!” Yeah, I’m from the ’50s. ’50s music stinks.

    2. Opus the Poet

      I’ currently listening to “Music To Strip By!” because I couldn’t find “The Stripper and other family tunes”. What can I say, I like that kind of jazz.

  3. BBCC

    We appreciate the redesign of the backdrop, Willis!

    And yeesh, it’s a good thing Daisy isn’t here.

    1. Doctor_Who

      She’s there in spirit.

    2. Sajuuk-Khar

      The more this arc is about laundry machines the more I imagine Daisy busting in in full Gordon Ramsay cosplay going “DOROTHY, YOU FUCKING DONKEY. HOW IN THE WORLD DO YOU EXPECT TO MAKE RISOTTO PLEASURE YOUR GIRL IN THIS MANNER?!”

  4. Sirksome

    Naked is less about nudity and more about perspective. If you think you’re naked you are naked. Also this is gay.

    1. Time Sage

      “Underneath my clothes I’m totally naked” is a phrase that comes to mind.

      1. Jamie

        I am always a skeleton clothed in flesh.

        1. nothri

          Just think of this as the incubation period of a skeleton waiting to hatch.

        2. Clif

          Yes, that helps.

      2. Yotomoe

        Underneath EVERYONE’S clothes they’re naked and yet those degenerates are just walking around outside!

      3. Decidedly Orthogonal

        “Underneath their clothes everyone is naked.” –A Character

        “I’m not!” — Jim Dial

    2. Paradoxius

      Look, it’s just a completely heterosexual session of mutual masturbation. You know when you just—in a completely platonic way—repeatedly and emphatically talk about how naked you are to your also straight friend who’s teaching you to pleasure yourself and you’re only content once she joins you. Just gals being pals.

      1. Paradoxius

        I really gotta change this gravatar. I don’t want to see Uncle Iroh saying these things.

        1. Taffy

          No no, keep it! It’s even funnier in his voice.

        2. Savail

          Once you said that, I started re-reading it with his voice. What have you done?

        3. RassilonTDavros

          Everything sounds better in Iroh’s voice. Everything.

        4. Needfuldoer

          Mako voiced him, right?

          FOOLISH SAM-OOH-RYE! THIS IS JUST GALS BEING PALS!

        5. Sajuuk-Khar

          Oh no, now I can HEAR him saying these things!!

        6. RickZarber

          It’s three in the morning here and this comment just made me laugh so freaking loud. Whoops.

        7. Barf Ninjason

          It’s pretty funny rereading that in Iroh voice, until you get to “Just gals being pals” and then it’s hilarious.

          ZUKO: This is *not* just gals being pals.

    3. BarerMender

      “Oh, you finally noticed.”

    4. anon

      I imagine in some places even if your genitalia is technically covered up you’d still be hassled about indecent exposure or asked to leave certain places other than beaches if you go out in public with just panties/underwear even if it’s nto a thong but i suppose it really depends/for the most part someone might not care as long as you’re not streaking past kids at a park lol

    5. vulcanodon

      In Joyce’s upbringing, likely a distinction exists between ‘clothes’ and ‘underwear’ so that she does perceive herself as being naked.”

      Actual nakedness is something from a bible verse since it is so seldom practiced. She heard; “Put some clothes on!” from a young age.

      I don’t think she’s operating on the naked/nekkid rule though. Where Naked means you ain’t got no clothes on, and Nekkid means you ain’t got no clothes on, and you up to somethin’.

      1. Felian

        wow, how has the naked / nekkid distinction passed me by?
        I learn new cursed things everyday!

      2. Laura

        Jitterbug Perfume, by Robbins?

        1. Laura

          “Honey!” exclaimed Patsy. “Good to hear your voice! Listen, I oughtta go pull my robe on ‘fore we commence. You caught me nekkid as a jaybird.”
          ” ‘Nekkid’ or ‘naked,’ mama?”
          “What’s the blessed difference? Are you making Yankee fun of the way I talk? The way you used to talk?”
          “No, no, mama, let me tell you. Naked means you just don’t have any clothes on. Nekkid means you don’t have any clothes on and you’re fixing to get into trouble.

          Tom Robbins, Skinny Legs and All

    6. Deviant

      How can it be gay when they both have socks on?

      1. Taffy

        Ah yes, the common stereotype of barefoot lesbians. Classic narrative trope.

        1. thejeff

          I was going to ask. I don’t have socks on. Does that mean I’m gay?

          But I’m a dude, so if it’s a just a lesbian thing that explains it.

        2. Charlie

          The joke is the idea of two people of the same gender being sexual together and almost fully naked except for that they’re wearing socks, and then saying “it’s okay, it’s not gay because we technically weren’t naked.” ergo, “It’s not gay because we had socks on”. It’s not the idea of if you’re wearing socks or not while you’re just chilling by yourself.

      2. Oz

        two girls sitting on driers, five feet apart cause they’re not gay

        1. Oz

          For once I am *delighted* at the avatar I was given

        2. BarerMender

          I know how you feel. I was thrilled when I was Ruth.

    7. Slartibeast Button, BIA

      Recalling the old Larry Niven line about how the difference between naked and nude is naked means “unprotected.”

      1. Opus the Poet

        I recall a Japanese character saying nude among family/friends is never naked.

  5. Alongcameaspider

    Dorothy in panel 1 is confusing to me.

    I would assume the person currently sitting on the dryer with her bare legs would know the temperature of the dryer better the the person who is not

    1. Regina phalange

      I mean, running dryers are usually pretty warm. This is clearly a parent-child classic dynamic:

      Kid: “The car seat is cold, mom.”

      Mom, knowing that car seats get cold overnight in winter but aware the kid is just whining because they don’t want to go to the dentist: “No, it’s not, buckle up.”

      1. GholaHalleck

        I am *shocked* anyone would say they have anything like a parent-child dynamic. SHOCKED.

        1. Fred

          Considering the parent child dynamics in most of the families shown and the general outrage going on in the comments the last week, I’d say this is a one of the best parent-child dynamics in DOA.

        2. Taffy

          It’s definitely one of the best, in that it isn’t one.

        3. TerribleTransit

          I’m begging you to please, please learn some nuance. You can have an interaction reminiscent of a parental one without the entire relationship warping into surrogate parenthood and giving you ineffable authority over the other person. Dorothy is a mom friend. She is not a mother figure.

        4. GholaHalleck

          I can have nuance, I just think Joyce treats/sees her more like a mom figure (especially after the Thumb Dad thing) then a mom-friend figure.

          Walky and Dotty didn’t have an Oedipus thing because Walky didn’t act like she was his mom.

          Dotty has to “fix” people. She tried to fix Danny, she tried to fix Walky, she’s trying to fix Joyce.

        5. Opus the Poet

          ToeDad, get the epithet right.

        6. fudo81

          Their mom/daughter dynamic has also been pointed out in-comic by Jennifer.

        7. Felian

          Jennifer, the relationship expert.
          Jennifer is not likely to have more nuance than commenters on here!

        8. Taffy

          But she probably has more booty than us, which I feel is more important anyway.

  6. Sajuuk-Khar

    tfw you have been promised Sin City but it turns out Dorothy took you to False Promises of Pleasure Chuck E. Cheese

    1. Doctor_Who

      Joyce: Huh, I always thought defiling myself would be more exciting and less…coin-operated.

      1. Zaxares

        I now have hideous visions of a dystopian-noir world where people rent coin-operated vibrators that are shared between members of the public. D: (… Possibly because all intimacy is banned and this sharing is the closest people can come to knowing the touch of another person?)

    2. Taffy

      Joyce looks at the camera and says “POGGERS” , then looks away and starts whimpering pathetically for some reason.

      1. Yet_One_More_Idiot

        Whimpering pathetically? Don’t you mean whimpering with pleasure? :3

        1. Taffy

          Maybe my reference has gone in-gotten. Look up “Chuck E. Cheese Poggers” for the relevant footage, I can’t be arsed to do a link.

        2. Yet_One_More_Idiot

          Sorry, your reference did go completely over my head, yes – I’m a Brit, we don’t have Chuck E Cheese’s over here. xD

    3. Reaver

      PLEASURE CHUCKY CHEESE!

  7. The Wellerman

    HD version of new background pretty please? :3

  8. William Leonard Reese Jr.

    . . . I don’t think I *ever* would have stripped to my skivvies(what an odd word) in the College Washing room.

    It was usually filthy and right by the elevator so I could just head back up stairs.

    And come on Dorothy, she’s *half* naked right now. Had my college’s Ruth actually bothered to do his job, and found kids half-naked in a public area, so much writing up would have been done.

    I sound so old saying Kids like that. But near a decade older now I have nothing but to call them that.

    When do kids stop being kids/teens? I’ve always been told that one becomes a “Young/Useless Adult” at age 21ish.

    1. Regina phalange

      Eh, college kids *are* kids. In that spirit…

      Girls regularly wear a t-shirt and underwear as pajamas, and it’s their residence hall. If an RA wrote me up for wearing a t-shirt and underwear in the laundry room, the university administration would be hearing from me. There’s no way it would be breaking any rules—it would be near impossible to create a rule to block underwear that wouldn’t also block women’s shorts—and it’s more coverage than people wear at the pool.

      1. DailyBrad

        Yeah, there’s like zero chance of them getting in trouble here, even if their RA *wasn’t* Ruth. Billie and Sarah have both walked around pantsless outside of their rooms before, etc.

        1. Taffy

          Pants are a tool of oppression and need to be abolished as the default.

        2. AbacusWizard

          Dismantle the pantsiarchy?

        3. Azhrei Vep

          Pants are an illusion.

          Like time. And Death.

        4. HeatherJean

          Especially the ones with tiny, or no, pockets.

        5. Mewzard

          Even Joyce has walked around pantsless, after being inspired by Walky. I don’t think it’d gain all that much notice.

    2. Bogeywoman

      I on the other hand would forgo pants frequently in the dorm (and associated facilities). I’m a lot less perturbed by nakedness than Joyce and a lot more anti-pants so I still go about in my undies regardless of who housemates have over or even to take the bins out/walk the dog and oh my god I’m turning into my nana

    3. BarerMender

      “Skivvies” started as a trademark.

      1. Needfuldoer

        So did dumpster, but it got Kleenex-ed too.

        1. Azhrei Vep

          Really? Huh. I knew about Skivvies, Kleenex, and Band-Aid, but Dumpster is a real shocker.

        2. Liquid Len

          So was Aspirin

        3. Taffy

          Can’t forget Bicycle. The cards came first.

        4. Leorale

          and Frisbee. Thermos, popsicle, velcro, zipper, Zamboni, tupperware, astroturf, styrofoam, xerox, kevlar, taser, rollerblades, Q-tip, trampoline, windbreaker.

          And jacuzzi, unless you’re a French prosecutor, then it’s a j’accuse-ee.

          ~the more you knowwww~

        5. BarerMender

          Back in the ’60s we said “Dempsey Dumpster.” “Ick, that’s garbage. Put it in the Dempsey Dumster.” It got shortened to dipsy dumpster before the first word was dropped altogether.

    4. Tawdry Quirks

      At the last university I attended, the laundry room had stacks of dryers mounted on one wall. Might have been deliberate to prevent this sort of thing.

      But my other university did have the style of dryers that could be sat on, but the furthest I could ever go was merely sitting on a dryer…it was way too busy in there at all hours of the day to have enough privacy to masturbate.

    5. GUIGUI

      To be fair, this is the washing room. It’s not totally unexpected to find student being on their last remaining clothes and thinking now is also a good opportunity to wash the clothes they are wearing, so they end up in underwear. You know this line of thought process has happened and you know it will happen again.

    6. Dara

      Jeez, in most of my undergrad dorms, we didn’t bother putting on clothes to go to the shower. Partly because there wasn’t a lot of extra room, partly for the same reason Joyce has the special shoes. So… yah. Nekkid in the hallways. Lots. nbd.

  9. Grimey

    I’m reminded of a show that used to be on MTV called Undressed. One mini-arc was about a girl who never really experienced orgasm so her best friend went through a checklist of suggestions. They did the washing machine and a few other things but it was finally a total body workout machine that did the trick.

    Maybe there’s something else entirely that would help Joyce here.

    1. anon

      one on one is one thing but i would not want that to be on television/recorded, assuming it’s more of a reality tv than a written script lol

      1. DailyBrad

        This was a scripted show, not reality, no worries on that front. Not an especially good show, granted, but a surprisingly high number of up-and-comers were on it from time to time, like Christina Hendricks before she was famous.

        1. Taffy

          Had to look her up, but for once I actually recognise a role she was in (Lois Lane in a cartoon movie). It’s fucking weird that her Wikipedia page has a whole category labeled “Comments on Her Body” though, right?

        2. Jamie

          Huh. Does that mean you’ve never watched Firefly? That’s where I know the name from.

        3. Taffy

          That’s the cult classic TV show that got like 8 episodes and a movie, yeah? One of those things that geeks get pissy about other people not knowing?

        4. Nono

          I think people mostly remember it for Nathan Fillion, who then went on to star in Castle. Also got a guest role in The Big Bang Theory and a recurring role in Modern Family.

        5. Taffy

          Oh, it’s got Castle in it? Well, there’s at least one actor I recognise then.

        6. Slartibeast Button, BIA

          I recall it more for Ron Glass (Shepard Book) aka Det. Harris from “Barney Miller.”

        7. Segnosaur

          Nathan Fillion – went on to castle and now The Rookie

          Jewel straight – regular appearances on stargate franchise

          Morena Baccarin – a role in the short lived series V, followed by a role in the deadpool franchise (as Deadpool’s girlfriend)

          Alan Tudyk… Probably the most successful of the firefly cast. Stars in resident alien, the transformers franchise, and probably any animated movie that has been released in the past 2 decades (wreck it Ralph, ice age, frozen, Zootopia, big hero 6, etc)

        8. Thag Simmons

          Thirteen, if I’m not mistaken. It’s a decent show and it definitely left it’s mark on the genre, you can find it’s influence in a lot of other media.

          It’s not the masterpiece that some geeks talk it up to be though, and it’s creator being a real piece of shit makes it hard to revisit now.

        9. Taffy

          *googles it* OH, the Buffy guy. If by “its influence”, you mean “constant awkward stammering and simple ideas being communicated in a borderline childish fashion that makes them lose all gravitas”, then yeah, I can feel that in lots of stuff.

        10. Rose by Any Other Name

          On that last point:
          Joss Whedon is a piece of shit.
          The show was created by hundreds of other people working hard and enduring Whedon’s awfulness to create art.
          The art they created deserves respect all the more for the terrible, oppressive environment under which it was done.

        11. Thag Simmons

          Firefly and Buffy are both solid shows that work pretty well on their own merits, but Whedon’s awfulness does taint them and it’s hard to look past if you know it’s there, he was so central to the development and branding of these shows.

          It’s why I have a hard time getting worked up about people blaming the dialogue in Buffy and Firefly (which I think works pretty well in context) for how insufferable some of their imitators can be. Whedon does not deserve to be remembered fondly

        12. deliverything

          One further note: Firefly was broadcast out of sequence, for some reason, which both made it harder to follow and gave fans an excuse for the series not being as successful as they feel it should’ve been.

          Speaking of fans: Leslie’s one. https://www.dumbingofage.com/2016/comic/book-7/02-everything-youve-ever-wanted/landlord/ shows a poster for the movie (with Jayne cut out, likely in response to his actor’s political views).
          My own opinions of it pretty much line up with those of Thag Simmons.

          By the way, for anyone who is a Firefly fan: check out Cowboy Bebop, maybe? Can’t guarantee you’ll like it, but there are definite similarities.

        13. Segnosaur

          They made 13 episodes, but not all of them were broadcast, at least during the initial run on FOX. (The DVD set does have all the episodes though.)

          And I am not necessarily defending Whedon. (He has a bad reputation for being abusive, likely deservedly.) But I am unaware of any problems on the set of Firefly. (I suspect it was because the cast was probably older and more tight-knit, so he wouldn’t be able to single out anyone for abuse like he did in other productions.)

        14. Clif

          Loved Firefly. Caught episodes of Buffy here and there, but never found it or its spinoffs compelling. Enjoyed an episode of animated Cowboy Bebop here and there. After the fact, discovered live action Cowboy Bebop. Not serious SF but an extremely compelling storyline. Binged it. Went to find season 2 and found it never got a second season because the animated Cowboy Bebop fans hated it.

          People. Can’t live without them. Sometimes it’s fortunate I don’t have access to weapons of mass destruction.

        15. Jamie

          I apologize for being polite in my question, then.

        16. Taffy

          lmao

        17. Clif

          We’ll forgive you this time, but don’t let it happen again.

        18. DailyBrad

          She’s probably most known for Mad Men. Yeeeeeah, she has what is often said to basically be an ideal “hourglass” figure, and she was getting tons of attention for it both from an objectification and body positivity standpoint, and got really fed up (understandably) with how much it’d dominate the conversation about her work.

  10. shrub

    Tomorrow’s comic should have Joe enter the room…

    1. Sirksome

      I want to assume if the dorm wings are gender split then they would have their own separate laundry rooms, so I’d be real interested in his excuse for being there.

      1. Dinajoyce

        Idk about Joyce’s campus, but mine generally had one laundry room per building, not per floor or wing. I fully expect Joe to walk in.

      2. shrub

        Joe wants to discuss their art class so he goes over to the wing and Carla, sensing a chance to cause chaos, directs Joe to the laundry

        Hilarity ensues

        1. Vanessa

          This seems a plausible story arc.

        2. Throwatron

          You know, I used to just think she was a shit-disturber, but I’m starting to think Carla actually is just right about everything.

        3. Azhrei Vep

          She can be both!

        4. Opus the Poet

          Being one does not preclude the other. She can (and has) been both sometimes in the same comic.

      3. Heavensrun

        I’m pretty sure if the laundry room was any kind of co-ed they wouldn’t be doing this, and Joyce DEFINITELY wouldn’t have taken off her pants.

    2. GholaHalleck

      It’s going to be whoever is the worst possible outcome. So Roz or Joe via Carla is also a viable option.

      I’d have said Mary before the the atheism, but now? Meh.

      1. Taffy

        If Roz shows up in the middle of another conversation that doesn’t involve her, to chime in with another unsolicited and judgemental opinion that isn’t even really related to what other were saying, I’m pretty sure there’s gonna be a repeat of the hallway scene in Xenogears.

        1. Sirksome

          It would be awfully hypocritical of Roz to have much to say about two consenting, young women discussing/exploring their sexual autonomy.

        2. Taffy

          And yet, I have no faith whatsoever that she wouldn’t find a way. She exists to scold others for not being as [adjective] as she is.

        3. thejeff

          While I kind of feel the same way, you can’t really blame Roz for coming to get her clothes out of the dryer. And depending on what’s happening when she shows, basically anyone is going to comment on it.

    3. Yotomoe

      He sensed a disturbance in the force.

    4. vulcanodon

      …and Joe bought his own drawing pad. Walks in, asks to sketch them, Joyce says ‘sure’ and Dorothy’s the one on the spot now

  11. Animedingo

    I feel like there were easier ways to accomplish this

    1. JustBeth

      The easy path is rarely the most interesting to read, though

    2. Segnosaur

      Maybe?

      It seems a bit weird to do it that way, but ;aundry machines are available, and Dorothy can introduce Joyce to stimulation without going right for manual manipulation or vibrators.

    3. Opus the Poet

      Except that Joyce has a phobia(?) about touching herself for self-pleasure.

  12. Axel

    Joyce looks a lot more comfortable after that ‘yes’

    1. Vanessa

      She looks pretty happy with this situation.

    2. DailyBrad

      Yeah, like she knew she could leave at any time, anyway, but having Dorothy confirm that in terms of expectations is probably a welcome thing.

      1. Axel

        yeah, it’s a lot easier knowing “I can leave, AND Dorothy says it’s okay if I leave,” rather than worrying about whether your friend’s going to be mad at you, or make fun of you for being sexually repressed*, or gossip about it

        * Dorothy hasn’t done this but I think enough others have that it would be a concern

        1. Axel

          “gossip” is sort of the wrong word, but you know, report back to Joyce’s “other moms” or something

        2. Felian

          Yes, that did feel like a genuine “Yes you can leave and it’s ok“. That also made me feel better about this situation!

        3. Liliet

          It’s definitely confirmed like Joyce did not automatically think she was allowed to leave though. Like yeah the situation got better but it was PRETTY BAD before

        4. Axel

          yes thank you.

  13. aelfwine

    “it needed to be at least three dryers wide”

    To leave room for Jesus?

    1. a/snow/mous/e

      He is risen!

    2. Yotomoe

      Jesus REALLY enjoys sitting on dryers.

    3. Mark

      Because Joyce needs some distance to be comfortable in this rather uncomfortable situation, and Dorothy knows it. And maybe Dorothy wants that distance too.

    4. Felian

      thanks lol, i love it ;D

      Yes, Jesus enjoys sitting on dryers. Because Jesus is trans (no father for an Y chromosome) and since there was probably no gender affirming surgery back then, he should have the anatomy that may enjoy dryers!

      1. Slartibeast Button, BIA

        Also, Jesus did a lot of sitting on dryers before Jesus got that “walking on water” skill down pat.

  14. newlland(Henryvolt)

    I know this is the straight laced no nonsense character trying to educate the virgin former religious fundamentalist about sexual release so I should expect this to be awkward but it keeps getting more so the more and more it goes on…and oddly it’s too compelling to look away.

    1. Clif

      Train wrecks that are too compelling to look away are kind of the whole point. (Points to title).

  15. Taffy

    Oh gods, I can’t watch this.? Look how upset Joyce looks, she’s on the verge of tears right now. Just completely distraught and visibly unwilling to be here, it’s horrifying. This is true terror.

    1. Sajuuk-Khar

      The part where Dorothy shackled her to the dryer and then activated the proximity mines was the worst part, right? :<It was the worst part for me.

      1. shrub

        As James Bond demonstrated if you ignore enough noes you eventually get a yes

        1. Taffy

          And if you ignore enough mines, you eventually get a hospital bill

        2. Jamie

          What happens if you ignore enough hospital bills?

        3. Sajuuk-Khar

          Then you ruin your credit score.

        4. Taffy

          Fuck credit, conceptually. Mine and my partner’s credit has been ruined for us by other people, because we both made the mistake of trusting those people when we were barely old enough to drive, let alone make an informed financial decision. There’s no education provided about the system and how it works, aside from finding out you’ve already lost the game before you drew your first card, so we’re doomed to live without.

          Eat at Arby’s.

        5. Lone Duck

          I was with you up to ‘Eat at Arby’s’. I mean, I do, but that’s like telling people to ‘Smoke Menthols’. You’re supposed to do it in secret shame, as per the Bible.

        6. Taffy

          My gods will hear my prayers in the open, not from behind a locked door with the lights off and scented candles lit nearby.

        7. Opus the Poet

          I see you follow a certain Twitter account (did Elon kick them off yet?).

        8. Taffy

          Wait, what Twitter account? Did dril say something similar?

        9. Thag Simmons

          well, if you’re lucky

        10. Taffy

          It’s either that or an Englishman starts singing Country Roads to distract the guards.

        11. Clif

          “As James Bond demonstrated if you ignore enough noes you eventually get a yes.”

          It’s been a good many years since I’ve watched a Bond film, but was Bond getting noes actually a thing?

        12. Heavensrun

          Yes, in some of the early films. There’s at least one that is pretty unambiguously just a rape scene. It’s jarring to watch now.

        13. Mark

          He got one No in the first film.

      2. Taffy

        I actually thought the mines were a nice touch, comfort-wise. By escalating like that, Dorothy is subtly allowing Joyce to decide that a little bit of “sitting still for a few minutes” is preferable as an option. It’s a classic negotiation tactic, especially in the animation industry.

        1. Slartibeast Button, BIA

          The mines threaten a derail by attracting the campus activists concerned with banning mines, instead of the campus activists concerned with sexual behavior.

          (Also, the campus activists concerned with banning mimes may show up in error.)

          (And the meme ones.)

    2. anon

      I mean, her face kinda looks amused at the last panel, but I can imagine her feeling awkward afterwards too

      1. Taffy

        Awkwardness builds characters.

    3. The Wellerman

      There’s no way Joyce is doing this from her own free will! Dorothy must be using totally EVIL Satanic mind control on her! Truly diabolical!

    4. Vanessa

      Lol

    5. Amós Batista

      Joyce’s autistic. So, she’s a child that not be real about what she is feeling. She’s totally immature and must be protected.
      Even she’s looking excited, clearly she’s desperate. And adult must help her with situation.

      Kappa

      1. Icalasari

        I almost snapped at you til I realized you were being sarcastic

    6. Hoboturtle

      Honestly the comment section has been so hostile lately that I didn’t pick up your sarcasm at first

    7. Liliet

      Did you notice how Joyce asked if she’s allowed to leave? Not even because she was going to, just because she wanted to get the answer?

  16. Axel

    The dryer so far seems to be having no effect, which is what I expected, because this really doesn’t seem like it would work

    1. anon

      i mean, we don’t know how much time has passed since then but i imagine it’s not quite that strong /shaky considering all the ones in between otherwise it’d probably be a pain to have multiple dryers running at once for its intended purpose

    2. brionl

      I don’t know. That last panel looks like she’s starting to enjoy it at least a little bit.

      1. Laura

        She’s pretty tightly wound. When one has that much touch hunger it doesn’t take much to start to unwind. Sometimes less is more.

      2. Segnosaur

        The second panel also shows Joyce with a half-smile, and she kind of Stammers when she says “ok”. So maybe it is having an effect.

      3. shoopdawhoop

        I took that to be a “Well at least I’m not the only person doing something stupid now” reaction

    3. Gunslinger

      I feel like Dorothy planned this to be a “warmup” for Joyce. It’s mildly stimulating which gets her body and mind going in the right direction, and it’s a somewhat public place which might soften her taboos on expressing her sexuality.

      1. Taffy

        A warmup is exactly what I feel like this is. I don’t know where all this “public masturbation” talk is coming from, honestly. As if Joyce was gonna feel a mild tingle and immediately jam her hand down her underpants in full view.

    4. shoopdawhoop

      Seems like getting off on a tumble dryer is a Goldilocks scenario, the settings have to be just right for it to work

  17. Cholma

    I don’t know how she does it, but I have my doubts that Joyce even *showers* naked. I think she might be more comfortable with just a sponge bath.

    1. anon

      well, she has those shower jug shoes carla engineered for her lol

      1. Jamie

        That’s not about nakedness, though. That’s about a shared college dorm shower having gross shit on the ground.

    2. Yotomoe

      Somehow showering in clothes seems naughtier. All that wet clothing clinging to your body.

    3. Heavensrun

      Joyce: THERE ARE DOZENS OF US!

  18. Derek

    THIS was Dorothy’s grand plan? seriously? seriously??
    that’s so incredibly lame and ineffective; Joyce would really be better off with Roz as a teacher, even counting their previous animosity.

    1. Taffy

      I really don’t think she was building it up as a “grand plan”. This really seems (to me) like a very basic introduction with the lowest possible stakes and a built-in “out” if anyone happens by. The only ones framing it as anything more than that are down here in Comments Hell.

      1. Vanessa

        Seems to be working! Joyce is looking a bit relaxed now.

    2. newlland(Henryvolt)

      If it wasn’t for her and Walky fucking and Danny going on record and saying they got physical I would be convinced that Dorothy was a virgin aswell.

      But maybe this is the only reason Joyce isn’t scared off by this enough to go along with it, it’s not too lewd, awkward and kind of idiotic but not to lewd.

      1. Axel

        Maybe not a virgin but definitely I get the feeling she hasn’t done this (washer/dryer thing) before. Part because I don’t believe it will work, but also because I can’t imagine Dorothy making it a point to ride her parents’ washing machines while they’re not home. Though, on the other hand, it kind of sounds like the sort of thing Danny would have considered kinky pre-Amazigirl.

        1. Opus the Poet

          When you get to my age you find out lots of things that don’t seem like they would get people off, really do get (some) people off. There is a sex toy called the Purple Wand that is basically a low-powered Taser (without the darts). I have seen both genders getting off to it.

          BTW I’m 64.

        2. Clif

          Youngster.

        3. Axel

          tbh I’d love a violet wand. Washing machines just don’t seem like a great pervertable* to me. I know everyone’s different but I don’t see how it would really provide stimulation unless you just really like your ass to be shaken or something.

          *everyday object used or modified for sex/kink, ie a wooden spoon for a paddle, electric toothbrush (minus bristles) as vibrator, any generally phallic item as a dildo, etc)

    3. anon

      I mean, assuming she’d actually have a plan or give her a toy as opposed to setting her up with a previous hookup for a one night stand though

    4. Mark

      I think it’s desperation, not grand strategy. Inside Dorothy’s head there’s a little robot waving its arms and shouting “Danger, Dorothy Keener! Danger!” and she’s trying whatever she can think of quickly. Sometime in 2027 or so we may learn what set the robot off.

      1. Jason

        I assumed Joe did. But on the other hand, the last scene we saw of Dorothy right before this was with Walky, so…

    5. Segnosaur

      We don’t know if it was her whole plan or just a part of it.

      Perhaps she thought some sort of mild stimulation might be a good introduction for Joyce before she goes further with manual stimulation and/or toys.

  19. lawoot

    …and now, Joyce develops a kink for public masturbation, especially in Laundromats…

  20. Bicycle Bill

    Further proof that Joyce is still a delicate flower.
    Dorothy, on the other hand, is an unshucked ear of corn.

    1. NullSet

      Country girls make do

      1. Taffy

        ಠ⁠_⁠ಠ I’d almost forgotten about that, you fiend.

  21. Suet

    “If I wanna be roughed and tumbled alone, I’d just attend one of my other clases, or go to the amusement park”

    Hopefully this takes away the afraid part of Naked and Afraid from Joyce?

  22. John Campbell

    Seriously, girls, just go somewhere private and fuck.

    1. Sajuuk-Khar

      Many people are saying this.

    2. Taffy

      But not so private we can’t see it.

      1. Yotomoe

        Go somewhere with an open Fourth Wall and Fuck.

        1. Taffy

          It’s in the Bible.

        2. Council

          I love the new faceclaim btw. It’s very on brand for you.

        3. Taffy

          The new what? I’ve always had this icon.

        4. Clif

          You can go back in the archives and check. Taffy has always had this icon.

      2. Amós Batista

        Now I’m in shame, because I’m feeling like Peeping Tom for watching, everyday, a female dormitory

    3. Slartibeast Button, BIA

      And:

      LOCK

      THE

      DOOR

  23. poofdepoof

    This is like the beach arc all over again right? As in — anyone else remember the pinup of Joyce on the washing machine years and years ago?

    1. The Wellerman

      I remember it like it was yesterday! ?

    2. Adept

      I… don’t, but now I want to find it. I got curious.

      1. Adept

        Found it. That’s pretty amusing.

    3. lia

      ohhhhhh thats what i was remembering, i was rly confused abt this i couldve sworn id seen it before

  24. Cmasta1992

    I dunno if Joyce has O’d before but I do not think Dorothy has game planned for Joyce’s first one to be with her face to face.

    1. pope suburban

      I don’t think she has, since when Sarah expressed skepticism on the subject, Joyce did not disagree with her. Becky seems to feel that’s likely the case as well, and she has known Joyce the longest, and for the longest time they shared everything with each other. Sure, it’s possible that Joyce is keeping it a secret, but I don’t think it’s very likely.

    2. Opus the Poet

      She’s had the female equivalent of a wet dream, but never one while awake (that we know). There was a dream of her and Joe(?) together and her parents came in through a door in the floor (attic?). Anyway like most non-prophetic dreams it got surreal.

  25. Keulen

    Joyce, you’re still wearing a shirt, socks, your glasses, and I assume underwear. That doesn’t sound like naked to me.

  26. ESM

    Is Dorothy telling Joyce to get naked here?

  27. NinjaNick

    Okay, HALF naked.

  28. hausu

    Is there a word for when you ship two characters simply because the fall out would be magnificent?

    1. Taffy

      Doomshipping?

      1. Florence

        This is me! All aboard the doomship!

        1. Slartibeast Button, BIA

          Needs more Boaty Bits.

          (Extremely obscure SF reference.)

        2. Opus the Poet

          Boaty McBoatface reporting for duty!

      2. The Wellerman

        *DOOM music starts playing* ???

    2. Hoboturtle

      I have personally heard someone refer to shipping as “There’s a story that can be told between these two.”

      And sometimes the best stories are tragedies

  29. JustBeth

    I love that Joyce asks if she can stop. She needs assurance that she *can* enforce that boundary, even if she doesn’t want to (yet). And Dorothy immediately saying yes helps Joyce feel like this is happening under her own power.
    Plus, even if she hadn’t asked or Dorothy had insisted she had to stay, Joyce is a grown ass woman who can make her own decisions and walk out on uncomfortable situations (which we’ve seen her do plenty of times in the past).

    1. Mark

      It occurs to me that Joyce’s choice not to walk out gives her a bit of power here. “Okay, Dorothy, I’m going along with your creepy plan. Now it’s your turn: tell me what’s your real beef with Joe. I know his reputation, but your reaction seems…personal. Why is this so important to you?”

  30. Yotomoe

    Cute.
    Hot.
    …y’know what. Both.

    1. Needfuldoer

      What exactly was she worried about yesterday?

  31. Yotomoe

    https://imgur.com/a/Wzol06u
    Drew this based on Joyce’s comment yesterday.

    1. hazel

      This is so good, sincerely peak humor

      1. Clif

        Perfection.

    2. Sajuuk-Khar

      Beautiful. Canonical. No notes. May Carla, whom is great, bless you.

    3. Taffy

      We do enjoy some quality Carla, from time to time.

    4. Amós Batista

      Have you done this in one day? That’s impressive, and the art is perfect.

      1. Yotomoe

        I did it in one hour before I went to lose a Tekken Tournament.

        1. Taffy

          Did you at least lose well?

        2. Yotomoe

          Made it to the semifinals.

        3. Taffy

          Hot dang, that’s always good.

        4. Opus the Poet

          That’s not a loss, that’s coming up short on wins.

    5. The Wellerman

      Splendid! 🙂

  32. Acher4

    Friends don’t let friends have mindnumbing, unexpressed, unhealthy hornyness,
    So friends learn friends how to have the best dryer “fun”,
    but most importanly,
    friends also move one dryer next in the line, to leave important personal space open. 😛

  33. The Oracle

    Oh wow, I guess Joyce isn’t a hapless autistic child incapable of realizing she’s being molested by her manipulative pervert friend. What a fucking surprise, all the hysterical shit-slinging and personal insults weren’t remotely called for and people got too worked up over a scene that wasn’t even finished yet.

    1. Sharaku

      My dear. This is the internet! Reacting hysterically before getting all of the basic information on the subject is just part of the game.

      The sad sad game…

    2. Jamie

      Man, you must have missed the last dozen instances of the comments sections blowing up over stuff.

      1. Clif

        What makes you say that?

    3. Big Z

      Alternately: Joyce’s mood whiplash here is honestly pretty unbelievable, and the whole situation is still fucked up and weird.

      But whatever, enjoy your ship.

      1. Segnosaur

        Maybe the dryer is having the attended effect (combined with seeing her friend join her on the dryer so she is not alone in the experience.)

      2. The Oracle

        First off, I’ve been reading Joyce as kind of nervous but ultimately down, so I’m not seeing a “whiplash”. That may be where we’re reading differently.

        Second, it’s not “my ship”, please don’t project that onto me.

  34. Lars

    What? It’s the first time the title “Metal” appears and its used to discribe mear steal. What a disappointment – I was waiting for the Transformers – KISS – DoA Crossover 😛 \m/

  35. GUIGUI

    *looking at that alt-text*
    I also see that Dorothy is respecting the urinal rule of keeping one device apart from other user. Good respect of personal space.

  36. Amós Batista

    Never got so excited in this comic, I almost reactivating my Patreon. But I can’t, because I have to wait the end of the month. And everybody knows January have, like, 90 days…

    1. Amós Batista

      The hypocrisy of all is I just forgot the deactivate the Slipeshine subscription since Dina history.

  37. Risky

    So far this is just a frame for frame recreation of basically every college dorm I’ve ever been in. I’ve seen more half-naked people in college public spaces than at the beach.

  38. Needfuldoer

    Watch Dorothy’s plan backfire because Joyce doesn’t get into it until they start talking about Joe.

    1. The Wellerman

      THIS

    2. Taffy

      That would honestly be really funny.

      1. Sajuuk-Khar

        God, that would be hilarious and also Dorothy would become the Joker.

        1. The Wellerman

          Eh, piss in the ocean, the US Government is already full of clowns. ?

        2. Opus the Poet

          Some with worse schemes than a cartoon villain.

        3. Taffy

          Motherfuckers watched Captain Planet and said “Pssh. Amateurs. I can do better than that.”

    3. Adept

      That might be perfect. The brain is the most important sex organ, after all.

  39. Lone Duck

    So, ladies, feel free to correct me, but I wouldn’t think my first step toward masturbation would be sitting on a community dryer? Anyone can walk in there with laundry. Granted, Dorothy isn’t a licensed sex therapist (Yet!) but public masturbation feels like A: a misdemeanor crime and B: advanced fetish for nouveau masturbators.

    1. Imogen

      Eh, it’s more interesting this way. On an in-character front, it’s a minor risk, and probably the worst-case scenario is some embarrassment. Public sex is a pretty complicated topic, but as long as you’re putting forward a good-faith effort to avoid people seeing you, it’s pretty much fine. People don’t use the laundry room that often, especially if this is during classes.

  40. Metz

    Off the (obvious) topic. Can anyone else “smell” the scenes?
    That laundry room smell… Just me? Ok nvm. 😀

    1. Azhrei Vep

      Well, I couldn’t before. Ugh… curse you for inflicting this on me!

      1. Metz

        sorry not sorry 🙂

  41. JBento

    “it had to be at least three dryers wide” suggest to me that someone is going to walk in and, completely non-plussed, is going to start doing their laundry in the middle dryer.

    1. Slartibeast Button, BIA

      Now I want to filk “Two Dryers Down.”

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNrgb3yjJdM

  42. vulcanodon

    “You’re going to find leaving rather difficult, Joyce, now that I’ve taken your pants!!! (diabolical laughter)

    This plan still lives up to the name of the strip. Everyone thinks it’s fine now; I think Dorothy got real lucky. She could easily have ended up hurting her friend.

    1. Slartibeast Button, BIA

      Now I want the DoA version of Bowman blasting himself into the airlock without a helmet.

    2. Laura

      Well, I mean, exactly. She’s put her pyjama pants in the wash. What’s she going to wear when she leaves to go back to her room? Heck, what’s she gonna wear when somebody walks in?

  43. Shade of Blue

    Christ, there’s going to be so much teeth gnashing today and probably moving forward as well.

    Just because something is not SA doesn’t mean it can’t be bad or weird.

    Dorothy’s motivations are to stop Joyce from wanting Joe. She doesn’t want to do this out of any real concern for Joyce, it’s so she can remain in control of their relationship, which she has seen as her role from the beginning. These are weird and bad reasons to be participating in what is a very critically formative moment for Joyce.

    A healthy way to do this is a conversation, a vibrator and a pat on the back, see you later. In my mind, shes doing this so she can *be there and be in control of Joyce* lol. It’s not cute or fun!

    1. Shade of Blue

      And before anyone bothers to say “it’s about college, they can be dumb!”

      A main part of my point is that they are BEING dumb, immature and weird. They’re incomplete people and this is about their development. Many situations these characters get into are prickly as a cactus for this reason.

      We don’t have to cheer it on. Some of us would rather be crying out “nooo” in slow motion as the train wreck happens, even if it is pointless.

      1. vulcanodon

        Probably is pointless; they’re gloating “Look, she smiled, so it’s OK! Awwwww…”

        1. Shade of Blue

          Yes, as though nobody has ever smiled and nodded and thought they wanted something only to be confused and disappointed after the fact.

          Critically missing from any defense of this interaction is that Joyce is in the middle of being deprogrammed of a cult-followers mindset. She is still susceptible to authority figures and Dorothy has become an authority figure in her life, like it or not.

        2. zee

          I mean people have been calling Dorothy a literal predator it’s only normal for people to lash back

        3. Axel

          how many people have actually said that? I’ve seen maybe one or two people say she’s a predator, and at most one or two more say Dorothy is intentionally doing this unethically for control or whatever. Everyone else who I’ve seen complain, myself included, is saying she’s going about this the wrong way, and that although she probably means well the way she set this up is asking for trauma.

        4. zee

          Admittedly i had a specific commenter in mind. And that one or two were saying it, a *lot*. It was in like every other thread

      2. oh no

        It may not be titled “Smarting of Age,” but I can still cringe!

        This beat in the storyline is stressing me out. /srs

        1. Adept

          Strange, I’m finding this kind of heart warming right now.

        2. oh no

          It’s kinda like we’re two different people or something!

        3. Adept

          I’m just wondering why this “stresses you out”. Not only is it fiction, but it’s harmless activity between consenting adults.

    2. Taffy

      Potential harm that’s been avoided is less important to me than real harm that hasn’t, is all. You’re right that something not being the worst doesn’t make it all roses and sunshine, but I’ll take “bad and weird” over somebody being actually SA’d any day of the week. Bad and weird can be talked through and resolved at leisure, but assault is a stain that’s not coming out any time soon.

      1. Shade of Blue

        I guess that’s fair. Lemme say this though, just as an example, not trying to say F U or make anyone feel bad here.

        I lost my virginity as a teenager to an older person. There was weed and alcohol involved, provided by them. I was interested in sex but pretty much completely helpless in the situation and had no ability to exert myself, because of my inexperience, desire to have sex, and ofc being high. I could’ve said no, but I didn’t. I wouldn’t call it r*pe or SA, because I did in fact consent and wanted to have sex, but because of the inherent imbalance of power in the situation it turned out really “bad and weird” for me.

        I wont get into any grisly details but I ended up with post coital depression for over a decade. In spite of everything I ended up seeing this person off and on for several years before they got bored of me.

        The dynamic between these two isn’t exactly the same, but elements are definitely there concerning trust, authority and a huge disparity in experience and motivation.

        Again, not SA. But trust me when I say Bad and Weird can be just as scarring.

        1. Big Z

          That’s where I’ve been coming from the whole time too, honestly–I’ve seen this EXACT dynamic (pushy one browbeats hemming-and-hawing introverted one into doing something) turn into some terrible regrets and long-lasting bad feelings more than once.

          Hell, it feels incongruous for Joyce to have abruptly gone to “smiling in half the panels” after days worth of angsty, embarrassed, and generally unhappy facial expressions.

        2. TerribleTransit

          A lot of how bad this all is comes down to how you read character motivations and dynamics, because what we’ve seen so far leaves a lot open for interpretation. Dorothy obviously hasn’t looked at the camera and explained her reasons for this session, so it’s hard to tell if it’s intentional attempts to control her, genuine desire to help, or somewhere in between (or entirely something different), and any of those answers paints her actions in a worse light. Likewise, we don’t know if Joyce is feeling pressured or feels like she can’t exert herself here — I think the evidence is in favor of her being relatively in control of the situation but it’s far from a solid conclusion — and that has a huge bearing on how weird and bad the situation is.

          Taking everything in the best possible light, the situation is still weird, but not necessarily bad — and yeah, potentially weird and cute and sweet. If you’re reading the situation less charitably it’s definitely bad. You clearly have very good reasons to read it in a worse light.

        3. Sirksome

          I do think this plot could have benefitted from a strip more blatantly affirming Joyce’s consent to the situation even if it broke the pacing a bit, but I just can’t get behind this being an abuse or coercion over Joyce. I think that intentionally ignores all the history between these two and infantilizes Joyce who is fully within her faculties to make decisions. Dorothy doesn’t have the purest motivations for this and her methodology is questionable if we’re being generous, but she’s not the type who would or even could push Joyce into something she was uncomfortable with. This isn’t like getting glasses, or birth control pills, which were things Joyce knew she needed but, just needed a push to initiate. Joyce can stop this. She’s not being pressured to continue and I think that makes a difference here.

        4. Shade of Blue

          Taking Dorothy’s entire history with Joyce into account is actually exactly why I think this interaction Weird and Bad. I know a few people here are denying it to high heaven, but Dorothy is 100% an authority figure in Joyce’s life. She’s been doing things for Joyce like a parent in charge of a child, and when other people interfere she gets insecure and, more recently, angry.

          It might be kind of subtle, but look at the way Dorothy is talking to her now: I’m going to teach you. Go pee. Come with me. Take off your pants. The machine isn’t cold, stop complaining, you aren’t naked, everything’s fine. Joyce is consenting, yes, but let’s not forget that she’s still in the process of being deprogrammed from a cult mindset. She has been raised to listen to people who talk to her like this. Seriously, who gets commanded to go pee and immediately complies?

          This just ain’t healthy, gay or straight.

        5. shrub

          Thank you for putting this better than I can, it’s not healthy, gay or straight

        6. Big Z

          As has been usual in these threads, you articulate my concerns significantly better than I myself have been able to.

        7. Opus the Poet

          I see it as helping a sexually repressed to the point of not being able to masturbate person find relief without actually touching her “naughty” bits, so she can continue with the technically-true narrative that she never touches herself. And the technicality of it is as important to her as anything else in this arc. In Joyce’s mind her “purity” is still intact, she has not touched herself, nor allowed anyone else to touch her.

        8. vulcanodon

          She didn’t look into the camera, but Dorothy was pretty clear about at least two motives.

        9. vulcanodon

          (a href=”https://www.dumbingofage.com/2023/comic/book-13/02-turning-saints-into-the-sea/relieve/”>pretty clear about at least two motives<\a)

        10. vulcanodon

          OK this is ridiculous I must need coffee goddammit pretty clear about at least two motives

      2. Big Z

        As I said on the thread yesterday, the issue really is that this is so on the borderline of what’s acceptable that even with a good end it caused a lot of us to get heavily weirded out.

        Dorothy IMHO is doing the sexual equivalent of smoking at the gas station. So far it hasn’t blown up, but she’s being WAY more cavalier about things than I personally think a decent human ought to be.

        And I maintain that there’s a section of this commentariat that is ignoring the weird/risky entirely solely because they like the ship.

        1. Taffy

          I can agree that Dorothy’s walking some kind of fine line, with this. One false move and it goes from “Dorothy and Joyce are totally just charging their crystals together” to “Dorothy what the fuck are you doing stop that. hey! ?? down! no!”. So far, though, I trust her not to fully cross that line.

        2. not someone else

          Honestly this entire storyline is so fucky for me that just seeing people finally disagreeing while having a good faith conversation is making me feel a lot better, annnnd also making me think I might actually be being triggered by this and not just put off-balance. Which is good input. So, you know, thanks to you both.

          I kinda wish I could set some kind of alarm that tells me what day this particular part is over so I can read it all at once with the benefit of hindsight and not risk forgetting about the comic entirely!

        3. Cheshrin

          New storyline is supposed to start around February 14th ish, according to Twitter a bit ago.

        4. Big Z

          I USED to have that trust for pre-skip Dorothy, but post-skip Dorothy is a lot pushier than I think I’m personally comfortable with.

    3. Adept

      Shade of Blue, read what you wrote:

      “Dorothy’s motivations are to stop Joyce from wanting Joe. She doesn’t want to do this out of any real concern for Joyce, it’s so she can remain in control of their relationship, which she has seen as her role from the beginning.”

      I understand that you have strong feelings about this, but the above is just your personal read. You headcanon if you will.

      You are not the author of the comic, so you can’t actually speak with such a voice of authority about what is going on, and especially about what the underlying motivation of a character is.

      Take several steaps back, take a deep breath, and consider that your own bad experiences may be significantly colouring and distorting what you see happening in the comic.

  44. ValdVin

    So, what’s the etiquette here? Is it rude to sit on someone else’s dryer load for this purpose? Do you owe them some quarters?

    1. Taffy

      In the old days, the trade value was roughly equivalent to a decent combo meal at most fast food places. Now, you’re more likely to get a rare Yu-Gi-Oh! card for your deck.

  45. AlaninDC

    What did girls ever do before there were electric dryers?

    Horses. At full gallop.

  46. Adept

    This is kind of adorable now.

    1. Taffy

      I’ve thought it was kinda cute from the start, but try saying that when the overall #discourse is so overwhelmingly negative and consent-themed.

      1. Joy

        I agree with you. :3

      2. Acher4

        So true. It felt quite cute from the start.

  47. Softsful

    FUDGE, I forgot, she’s patient, and willing to call my bluff!

  48. Joy

    Joyce doesn’t want this to stop but needs to know she has the option. Joyce: valid.

  49. AC

    two girls getting off in the laundry room, one dryer apart ’cause they’re NOT gay

  50. Doopyboop

    Interesting how Joyce ‘needed’ to take off her pants, but Dorothy gets to keep her shorts on.

    1. Opus the Poet

      It’s about warmth as much as vibration, less insulation the better, at least at first. Since she complained about it being cold it may need a bit for the heat to get to the outside.

  51. Derek

    I’m still not over Dorothy recommending Joyce pee before this.
    there’s a higher chance for a bacterial exposure to the urethra if someone uses their fingers/penis/toy to touch the vulva; that’s it.
    Merely riding the dryer with your underwear on doesn’t increase your chances of exposure any more than doing strenuous exercise with your underwear on.

    I’ll chalk this up to Dorothy being an overprepared dork, which is on brand for her. Now I have to wonder if she read that peeing before (and after) decreases chances of an UTI and from then on she always did it, regardless of if there was touching or insertion

    1. TerribleTransit

      She may also have more intensive activities planned, or at least a wants them to be available as a contingency if the dryer is insufficient.

      1. Imogen

        Also, it’s a good habit to get into no matter what. This isn’t just about fun on the dryers–Dorothy is teaching Joyce how to masturbate in general.

        1. Derek

          I’m sorry, that’s just ridiculous, there’s no tactical advantage to peeing beforehand if the masturbation method is sitting on a vibrating surface. Like I said in the above comment: peeing is useful when there’s a chance of bacterial transfer from the vulvar area to the urethra, that’s it.

          when teaching someone sex ed, it’s important to explain WHY an action is useful. If one just says “it’s good to do this” with no reason why and then expects the person learning to just follow this advice blindly; then it’s no different from having a superstitious habit like throwing salt over your shoulder.

        2. Opus the Poet

          As an old dude I can’t upvote this enough, get into good habits when self-pleasuring, or even sex (that I can’t see Joyce doing for years because she has so much negative programming on the subject).

    2. Dandi Andi

      Forgive my ignorance. As someone with a penis, I’m not fully educated on such matters. I had thought the idea was to pee *after* masturbating since the urine would help to flush and foreign material and bacteria away from the urethra that might have been introduced by dirty hands.

      I had assumed that the purpose of having Joyce pee before hitting the dryers was so that Joyce, who might never have had an orgasm before, doesn’t have the anxiety of a full bladder while trying to get off. When I first started learning to masturbate, I definitely had some concerns about not knowing exactly what those feelings were signifying.

      1. Derek

        I would have assumed this too if Dorothy had not specifically mentioned lowering the risk of getting UTIs

        1. Dandi Andi

          Yup. I’ve now gone back to look and you are correct. Thank you for the correction.

  52. Rabisch

    Look like this whole activity is starting to become comfortable for Joyce. Let’s hope this will become an important moment in her life and in her friendship with Dorothy, not some sort of catastrophe. But I kinda hope the weird couple of roommates Mary and Roz will come to clean their clothes together very soon and being disappointed because they are using THEIRS dryers.

  53. Imogen

    It’s happening it’s happening it’s HAPPENING

    So, here’s the current theory: Due to a sequence of events that renders Dorothy emotionally vulnerable (which, um, it’s quite possible “mutual masturbation on the dryer” is gonna contribute to that), she winds up impulsively kissing Joyce just as some combination of Dina/Becky/Joe walks in. Becky is messed up by this, which messes up her and Dina (Dina has a longstanding anxiety that she’s just the rebound that has never really been addressed). Joyce is confused, messing up both Joyce and Joe and Joyce and Dorothy…

    … just in time for Valentine’s Day.

    I’ve been speculating some version of this for a long time, but it has never looked so plausible.

    1. Rose Red

      oh my goodness I love this theory and now I’m excited about this potential storyline

  54. Derek

    this arc plus the birth control pill one makes me think that Dorothy has a lot of surface knowledge about sex ed that she follows to the letter but never looks deeper into.
    She knows it’s good to take birth control pills consistently and ideally at the same time every day, but she doesn’t stop to question whether it’s urgent that Joyce begins taking her medication while she’s in the bleeding part of her cycle (it’s not)
    She knows it’s good to pee before sex or masturbation but she doesn’t explain (or doesn’t know) that it’s because one can inadvertently introduce bacteria to the urethra

    Like the things she’s teaching Joyce are true in the same way “mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell is true”: she’s correct, but her teaching methods don’t lead to actual understanding. This makes sense if Dorothy treats facts about life how you’d treat a multiple choice exam: there’s one correct answer and you don’t need to worry why it’s correct, you only need to know that’s the right one to succeed

    1. Axel

      I think this is a really good read

    2. shrub

      Not a bad summation

    3. ButWhyASpoon

      Honorary Degree in Webcomic Comments awarded.

    4. zee

      To her credit, she grew up in Indiana

  55. foducool

    I thought when dorothy said she’d teach her about masturbation, it’d be a more… hands on approach

    1. ButWhyASpoon

      “Watch me. Do what I do.” does not require Touch.

      1. The Wellerman

        Yeah, it seems that flew over lots of folk for some reason. ?

      2. foducool

        never said anything about dorothy touching joyce, but touching WOULD be involved ^^

  56. crow

    Willis, you know how you’re always roasting the legs guy for blatantly putting his fetish in his comics?

  57. thumb

    Joyce is right

  58. Owlmirror

    Oh, Joyce.

    You’re not alone.

    You’re never alone.

    Ceiling Cat is watching you . . . masturbate.

  59. Sean Smith

    Sometimes it feels like fifty percent of the readership don’t like any of the characters.

    1. Alongcameaspider

      I mean let’s be honest, if they were all real people the amount of people in the cast I’d willingly hang out with is like 3 people

    2. crow

      I think Walky seems like a chill dude

  60. DJTsurugi

    was anyone else hoping for a more “hands on” approach? ~<3

    1. DarkoNeko

      No.

    2. Amós Batista

      YES

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