126

Walking
Posted on August 7, 2019 by David M Willis

126 thoughts on “Walking”

  1. Ana Chronistic

    well there’s panel 1

    1. LeslieBean4shizzle

      … yup.
      You are correct. That is indeed.

      1. butts

        damn sure is huh

    2. Alan

      Wow, Willis got that sidewalk really accurate.

      1. chris2315

        The “One Way” sign is on the wrong pole and now the whole comic is LITERALLY UNREADABLE!!!

      2. Clif

        Real sidewalks come in blocks and Ruth’s is completely smooth.

        1. Aaron

          Real sidewalks are poured concrete and are cut to give the illusion of slabs.

      3. Walky_Talky

        At first I misread “Seminary” as “Sematary” and totally thought Ruth was walking past their version of Pet Sematary.

        1. Deanatay

          *is now imagining a “Pet Seminary”*

        2. JasonAW3

          Monk Monkey, Bishop Cat-icism, Father Lizard…

          Yeah, it kinda works…

        3. Walky_Talky

          Pope Parrot IV

        4. jy3

          Saint Ungo the Well Endowed

    3. Delicious Taffy

      Judging by Street View, it looks like she’s walking over a mile just to get home. That’s gotta be a fun walk.

      1. Needfuldoer

        She detours past Canadian Apartments on W 1st St and gets a little wistful.

        The half-hour alone with her thoughts may be worse than the physical act of walking a mile.

      2. Marsh Maryrose

        It’s about 1.7 miles from the hospital to Read. When I was Ruth’s age, that would take me 20-25 minutes. Wouldn’t have seemed like a big deal to me back then.

        1. Norah

          Me either. As long as she felt physically ok after her allergic reaction, I don’t see the problem. She’s probably used to walking around the campus and to places nearby, since she doesn’t have a car.

        2. StClair

          Same.

    4. Keulen

      So where is panel two?

      1. Needfuldoer

        To the right of panel one.

        I found it. The intersection of W 3rd St. and S. Walnut St.

        1. Needfuldoer

          The street view link missed, just go west (left) a couple shots from there.

          The sign Billie’s walking past has a purple sign in it, but that looks like the right spot.

          Lotta realtors in the IU area.

        2. Matthew Davis

          I guess in the DoAverse Juan does not, in fact, sell.

    5. Kamino Neko

      Oh, it says Seminary… I…was reading it as an ad for Pet Sematary.

    6. Eromer

      If you zoom out there is a sign with an arrow pointing the opposite way as the one way sign that says “to 69”. I’m not even joking.

      1. Eromer

        You have to back down the street a touch…but its there…

        1. Eromer

          199 W 2nd St

          https://goo.gl/maps/mH6QGebxjy2Ycy1p8

    7. Doctroid

      I like how in Street View it says “to 69” and points the opposite way. Willis was probably wise to omit that.

    8. nlips

      Is this… a thing we’re doing now? 😛

      1. Ana Chronistic

        Patreon comment was bonus points for finding these in Google Street View

        1. avarisclari

          I would have got it instantly if I was on Patreon, used to work in the building behind the sign (it’s a grocery store)

    9. Felix

      InB4Crosswalk&truck.

  2. Madock345

    “One way” 🙁

    1. Jamie

      “or another” ?

      1. chris2315

        “I’m gonna find ya”

        1. Delicious Taffy

          “I’m gonna be the man who comes back home to you”

        2. Deadjolras

          “making my way downtown”

        3. Marsh Maryrose

          “I walk 47 miles of barbed wire”

          (Now tell me: who do you love?)

        4. wwwhhattt

          “And I will walk 47 more”

        5. TemperaryObsessor

          Just to be the man who walked 94 miles.
          Cause that’s my new high score.

      2. Fogel

        “This darkness has gotta give”

  3. Shane

    WORDS?!

    1. Clif

      The little light over Ruth’s heart says it all.

      1. Shane

        I don’t speak Lightish, but I see Billie has one too!

    2. Marsh Maryrose

      “What are words for
      When no one listens anymore
      What are words for
      When no one listens there’s no use talking at all”

  4. timemonkey

    So, did they finally break up?

    1. Dana

      I don’t think they can’t break up. It’d take too much actual communication.

    2. cute carla

      somehow this now looks like things might go well… eventually

  5. Woomy

    Willis you forgot to put words in this comic

    1. Clif

      Dumming of Age 9: Seminary One Way

  6. BiOnyx

    “ONE is the loneliest number that you’ll ever doooooooo”…

    1. Stephen Bierce

      You have no right to ask me how I feel
      You have no right to speak to me so kind
      I can’t go on just holding on to times…
      Now that we’re living (living)
      Separate Lives

      1. BiOnyx

        “You can go your own waaaaaaaaaayy!”

    2. Needfuldoer

      Troubled times
      Caught between confusion and pain, pain, pain
      Distant eyes
      Promises we made were in vain, in vain, in vain

      *cough* Steve Perry’s range is way too high for me…

    3. ValdVin

      So just leave it alone
      Cause we can’t see eye to eye
      There ain’t no good guy
      There ain’t no bad guy
      There’s only you and me and we just disagree

      Not literally applicable, but the energy seems to be the same here.

  7. BBCC

    Oh, these two. I love them both so much but they keep making me sad. 🙁

  8. furious_tomato

    Ruth hates everything and everyone, especially herself, because she’s a coward. There, I said it.

    1. Delicious Taffy

      …What the hell are you talking about?

    2. Bryy

      Ruth has a mental health disorder. Get out of here.

      1. furious_tomato

        Ruth is a fictional character. I just hope that Dave doesn’t write her as giving up the fight, because that is not the message that people with depression need to see. If you write a character with a mental illness who always rejects and hurts the people who love her and who are trying to help her even if they don’t yet understand how to, it gives people the message that depression cannot ever be beaten and that love and support is worthless. It dis-empowers people with depression and the loved ones who try to help them. “Stay with your loved ones and watch them die because depression will always win” is a cowardly philosophy. Every day that someone with depression wakes up in the morning and admits to themselves: “I’m afraid I’ll never beat this, but I’m still going to try”, they are winning the battle.

        1. Delicious Taffy

          That’s a whole lot of words you typed, but they’re so irrelevant to what’s actually shown in the comic, you may as well have posted an excerpt from Charlotte’s Web. That’s not to say that your underlying point has no merit at all, it’s just that it doesn’t apply to this situation, in this context, with this character.

          Ruth isn’t getting love and support, she’s getting suicide pacts, lies, arguments, and threats. She’s not rejecting and hurting everyone who tries to help her, either. She’s just not buying what Billie’s selling. Ruth basically has her doctor and therapist as support, and that’s basically only for meds as far as we’ve seen.

        2. Alan in DC

          We’ve already seen a major share of breakups in other relationships in DoA. Its hard to be sympathetic to this one.

          In the alternate reality of the Walkyverse, Ruth died in a car/truck accident. Knowing that, it’s hard for me to get too attached to her in this plane of existence.

          Not to say there aren’t truths in what is going on here, and that there are lessons to be learned and attitudes which need adjustment … in real life.

          While I am sympathetic to her plight in this reality, I am treating Ruth as an actor playing a role. Sorry y’all, but Tomato is right: she’s fictional.

        3. Delicious Taffy

          Wow, the webcomic character is fictional? I never would have guessed. What a gigantic fucking surprise for all of us.

        4. Delicious Taffy

          Pack it up, everybody. Turns out, these internet comic strips aren’t real life. No reason to analyse or think about them in any way, everybody go home.

        5. 3-I

          … dammit, now i’m NEVER gonna get my Ultra Car DVDs.

        6. Alan in DC

          Willis Rule #3, DT. Keep it polite.

        7. BBCC

          If Willis thinks DT’s going too far, he’ll say something. Willis doesn’t play with the ban hammer for fun.

        8. thejeff

          She’s getting both from Billie – because Billie’s messed up and needs support as well.

          Billie’s reaction when Ruth shows up drinking at the bar is support. Even her attempt to cut Ruth off is based in her thinking Ruth will be better without her. Horribly messed up, of course.

        9. Diner Kinetic

          Yeah I didn’t take this plot development as bad for ruth- honestly, I took it as a good but painful step in the right direction where Ruth has separated herself from a legitimately toxic individual who does as much.to enable Ruth as help her. Billie has been there for support but she’s also continued to drink and as Ruth pointed out, tried to get Ruth to drink too. Billie *quitting* was always a gesture to win Ruth’s approval that Billie didn’t even follow through on- acceptance mattered more to her than self-improvement. As such, Ruth breaking up with Billie means Ruth won’t be dragged down by her ex’s inability to change, or worse let herself be hurt to make Billie take care of her. It’s a really good step forward for Ruth; Billie has acknowledged her flaws but desperately needs to get on Ruth’s level and start *changing* them. Willis didn’t give up on either charachter, this is just t the next logical step in their arcs.

        10. thejeff

          I guess Billie’s plan worked, even though it backfired.
          Ruth’s free of her, she can’t ruin her anymore and Billie can go off and be the toxic poison she knows she is.

          I’m not convinced.

    3. Needfuldoer

      Billie’s the one who’s too afraid of her own issues to even face them voluntarily, never mind actually do anything about them. Easier to just deny their existence.

      1. thejeff

        Billie has a mental health disorder too.

    4. temporalshrew

      Proof that when your take is too hot, the only one you burn is yourself.

  9. Bicycle Bill

    I know we here at DoA are calling it “blowjob cat”, but is there any verifiable evidence that the real-life citizens of Bloomington (or at least the students of IU) call it that?

    1. Bathymetheus

      Given its appearance, I would be astonished if they don’t.

      1. Doctor_Who

        When they’re being formal, it’s Fellatio Feline.

      2. Jhon

        Inflatable sex dolls often have faces that look like that. (Or so a friend told me…)

    2. David M Willis

      I didn’t name it Blow Job Cat. I got that name from the Bloomington residents who introduced me to it.

  10. butts

    billie be like ·.·

    1. Clif

      But is that really Billie, or it an imposter wearing a mask with no mouth.

      1. King Daniel

        It’s a Skrull impersonator

  11. lejwocky

    [muffled Simon and Garfunkel playing in the distance]

    1. hof1991

      And the leaves that are green turn to brown. And they wither in the wind. And they crumble in your hand. Hello hello hello hello. Goodbye goodbye goodbye goodbye. That’s all there is.

      Simon wrote some very angsty lyrics. And the leaves are turning in panel 1. But I don’t see DYW as a fan.

  12. Reltzik

    This update feels to Valentine’s Day to be happening in August.

    1. Reltzik

      *too

      1. Clif

        Any day can be Valentine’s Day. Especially Christmas.

  13. TrueVCU

    But what of Blowjob Cat?

    1. JessWitt

      Whither Blowjob Cat?

  14. CMasta

    “And they never saw each other again” is the happiest ending possible for these two

  15. DailyBrad

    Hope Ruth gets back on the wagon, and that Billie gets clean for herself.

  16. ShinyNeen

    Really digging the symbolism in this one

    Kinda need a bright spot in a moment like this : (

    1. Reltzik

      There’s a lonely pool of light from a streetlamp that Ruth’s not quite standing in. Does that count?

      1. ShinyNeen

        I mean, Ruth’s kinda past that bright spot right now, but hey hopefully she’ll come across another one soon.

        More worried about the lack of bright spots for Billie though.

      2. Clif

        Ruth walks away from the light and Billie walks in darkness.

  17. woobie

    Willis even shows us the storm drains of Bloomington.

    1. Clif

      I’m surprised no one has commented on the number of drain openings.

  18. Dean

    No, the other way!

  19. Xerxes

    everything in panel 1 is terrifying me

    1. Clif

      Even the Seminary sign?

      Or especially the Seminary sign?

      1. Chaucer59

        It’s only terrifying if it’s a Pet Seminary.

        1. C.

          https://www.theonion.com/are-your-cats-old-enough-to-learn-about-jesus-1819584265

      2. Reltzik

        Technically it’s Seminary PARK, but yeah, Seminaries are scary.

  20. mara

    As someone who draws architectural renderings for a living, I love everything about that first panel except the goddamn shadow of that light pole. The lightning is believable, and the framing really conveys the emptiness and loneliness of the moment. Bravo.

    1. Clif

      If you look at where the circle of light is, I think you’ll realize that the light itself has an offset that hangs off of the pole and then the light is angled back towards the base of the pole, so the shadow is completely credible. From the implied angle we should be able to calculate the height of the pole in shadow lengths.

      1. Luke Shumaker

        I don’t think that checks out. (Ana Chronistic identified the IRL intersection).

  21. Clif

    And they both walked safely home to their beds. The End.

  22. Bagge

    🙁

  23. JessWitt

    Didn’t hit me how hard living apart would be for Billie and Ruth until this strip.

    I fear the worst from this late night walk. Prove me wrong.

    1. BenRG

      Surprisingly good stuff could occur, such as Ruth or Billie coming across Blaine and Asher plotting together. Billie would go ‘teen sleuth-snoop reporter’ and just eavesdrop. Ruth would forcibly eject the trespasser and likely intimidate Asher into ‘fessing up.

  24. Keulen

    I’m assuming both of their routes lead back to the dorms, yes? I’m hoping neither of them get lost or anything else.

  25. BenRG

    If this were an animated show, I’d expect there to be some really wistful and mournful background music to be playing at this point.

  26. Moon

    I’m laughing and idk why sorry

  27. Lacuna

    I read the alt-text in the voice of Will Ferrell as the pigeon nazi from the Producers.

  28. Rotunda

    For those who like geography:

    Billie: NW corner of 3rd and Walnut:

    https://www.google.com/maps/@39.1646747,-86.5338229,3a,75y,356.58h,86.07t/data=!3m5!1e1!3m3!1sF3oSOBdxvp8Vipl1wHRiEg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DF3oSOBdxvp8Vipl1wHRiEg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dsearch.TACTILE.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D96%26h%3D64%26yaw%3D68.116486%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100

    Ruth: SW corner of 2nd and College:

    https://www.google.com/maps/@39.1613173,-86.5350084,3a,75y,245.33h,91.87t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s5QMC0hjbZDtp2ffwPCo-XA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

  29. etherealdesiign

    well this definitely has no deeper symbolism or meaning besides a couple ‘a gals walkin home!

  30. TheFlamingonator

    that one way street better go to Disneyland because that is the only thing Ruth deserves, some great, non-alcoholic fun

  31. Rabisch

    How many chances are there for Ruth to meet Blaine now?

  32. ziggy78eog

    Today’s comic makes me kind of sad.

    1. BenRG

      I think that was the intent.

  33. Pacce

    For the best. They are awful for and to each other. Congrats on making new NOT be hopeful for a wlw couple.

  34. Macunaima

    I think this is the most symbolic thing I have ever seen Willis do. Lights over both Ruth and Billie’s hearts: they still care for each other. Ruth in darkness. To her left, there is light, to her right, darkness. A One Way sign points into the darkness. It can be read as her or Billie’s fear that there is only one way: a descent into depression and maybe suicide. Or it can be read as, well, that’s one way: there are others. A red light to Ruth’s right, in the direction the one way sign points, warns her to not go that way. Nor does she turn toward the light, and Billie. For now, she walks her own path forward: noting is decided except that she will keep moving. The cheesy seminary sign in the background is a reminder that religion really can’t help with these difficult moments: at least not churches.

    Also, the red maple tree leaves echo Ruth’s hockey team and her homeland, both of which are intertwined in darkness: the thing that causes her problem and the superficial thing she used to use to get through life (perhaps a link to her lost parents?)

    Meanwhile, Billie is completely lost in her darkness, which is why Ruth can’t turn towards her, even though the light is in that direction. Her surroundings are completely sterile: she might as well be wandering through a maze because there are no indicators that one way is better than another. She is essentially drifting.

    Ruth knows her problems are deeper and can only be addressed through long term processes that include therapy and meditation. Billy thinks her problem is alcohol: it isn’t. It is something far deeper which she hasn’t even begun to address yet and that is why her resolution to stop drinking will fail.

    But the light both characters carry above their hearts indicates that there is hope for them as friends, if not a couple. They do truly care about each other.

    Well done, Willis! Pretty deep exposition for two comic strip panels!

    1. Macunaima

      Oh, and don’t forget the little gutter at Billie’s feet.

    2. Luke Shumaker

      I’m pretty sure that’s a Sycamore tree, not a Maple tree.

  35. Lawzlo

    Billie follows the left-hand path (slow metal music playing).

  36. Remmington Steele

    Walking after midnight

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWeCdxZlU5E

  37. Old Fart

    AnaChronistic’s link shows up as a pure, black page on my device. Which is completely appropriate.

    1. BBCC

      It’s a google street view of the real life street in Bloomington that panel one is based off. Google seminary square bloomington, you’ll see it.

  38. HeySo

    :hums: Can you tell me how to get, how to get to Sesame Street?

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