323

Hungry
Posted on February 8, 2019 by David M Willis
January's second Patreon bonus strip is up, and it's got everyone: Carla, Ruth, Amber, and Rachel! All Patrons can go check it out here, along with the back catalog of... years and years of bonus strips.  Lots of bonus strips!  so so many And, hey, you can also upgrade to seeing tomorrow's strip a day early every day, if you want! That comes in handy sometimes.

323 thoughts on “Hungry”

  1. Ana Chronistic

    Billie, alcohol is not a lunch

    1. Doctor_Who

      It is when it’s Vitameatavegamin.

      1. Cholma

        Do pop out at parties? Are you unpoopular?

      2. Needfuldoer

        Ah yes, Miteaveta… Vitamota… Thish schtuff.

      3. Van Jealous

        And it’s TASTY, TOO!

        1. Skorpeyon

          ?????
          Just like candy!’

    2. C.T Phipps

      Sadly, Billie missed that Ruth resisted mimosas.

      Which is NOT drinking for Billie.

    3. Rabid Rabbit

      A Guinness is basically a loaf of bread in liquid, alcoholized form, so really, it can be.

      1. Oberon

        Only the domestic product. The export is subject to so much taxation that it is basically just an Irish Budweiser.

    4. Roborat

      True, but Guiness is pretty close.

    5. JA

      Not with that attitude it’s not.

  2. AnvilPro

    Billie what the fuck?

    1. JetstreamGW

      Billie’s kind of selfish. And not very self aware. And a bit of an asshole. And a touch stupid.

      1. LeslieBean4Shizzle

        Even so, I’m not entirely sure why she is having a temper tantrum here. Like, what Ruth said did not warrant Billie leaving in a huff. I was expecting BIllie to have, you know, words to say. This seems oddly petulant.

        1. JetstreamGW

          Because she’s an alcoholic, and she doesn’t want to admit that she has a problem, and she wants to keep indulging her vice, but her girlfriend is pointing out that they’ve goth got a friggin’ problem.

          So she’s being pissy.

        2. DailyBrad

          Shouting at people will tend to do that.

          Ruth had a point, absolutely, and this is serious, but so’s shouting at your S.O., so I can’t exactly fault Billie for not being in a super mood after that.

        3. Jess

          I mean, I’m frankly not sure that we can definitively classify Ruth’s speech in yesterday’s panel as shouting? At least not 100%. Things were bolded but not exclamation pointed, which to me at least would imply that there was some strong emphasis and Ruth can’t have sounded too happy, but that there at least possibly not voices raised. I’d say probably, even, but that might just be me.

          Regardless, that’s about the only defense for Billie that I’m seeing, and it’s not a very strong one. Billie has been very petty here. She’s put her wishes (though granted they are fueled by alcoholism and that’s a mess) against the needs of someone she loves, and then when called out on it resorted to more pettiness rather than understanding, tried to divert Ruth away from the seriousness of the situation, and finally made a snarky comment and turned the cold shoulder. This is not about Ruth. This is about Billie.

        4. C.T Phipps

          I think assuming Ruth is not shouting is a bit like assuming the Hulk is not angry.

          Yes, it is possible but there’s no real reason to believe otherwise.

        5. Needfuldoer

          A couple strips ago, Ruth said “and every time you bring it up, you put tht in jeopardy.” Billie has been on the defensive since that panel. Naturally, she had to pivot back to offense and get the last word in.

        6. Jess

          Okay, whoops, I missed an update somehow and now things make a lot more sense. I still think Billie is more in the wrong, maybe almost entirely in the wrong, but I retract most of my earlier statements as there was definitely some yelling.

        7. Robert

          It’s not so much “shouting” as giving the person you love a much needed reality check. Ruth was just trying to hammer home the point that consuming Alcohol while on medication is setting a dangerous precedent, and also because they are alcoholics then drinking even on its own merits wouldn’t be a brilliant move. And Billie just thought the best way to see through this discussion was to put the guard rails up and not give a rats ass.

        8. Alanari

          If you try to confront an alcoholic about his addiction and he is not willing to admit that his behaviour is a problem, something bad will happen.

        9. Rabid Rabbit

          I don’t think she’s having a tantrum. The sequence of facial expressions suggests to me that she’s trying not to break down into tears, which she can’t do in front of Ruth for various reasons. Ruth just snapped at her, and now she thinks Ruth’s genuinely, deeply mad at her, and she doesn’t know what to do or what to say. So walking off is her only option. But she has to say something as she walks off. And this is all she can think of.

        10. thejeff

          Throw on top of that her own self-loathing and it’s very likely she’s just hit “I’m toxic, I’ll destroy Ruth, I can’t do that.” (see Alice)

        11. Jurti

          And possibly spiral into the “I might as well destroy myself and everything I enjoy because why not…I’m shit and don’t deserve nice things” mental downward spiral that can happen with self loathing.

          And I know this is not the nicest thing to say, but sometimes I just want to shout, “Gawd, grow UP already, Billie!” What with the high school clique mentality and this obsession with popularity she has. Though I guess it all ties in to her self hatred (i.e. those things bolster her a bit since she doesn’t like herself)?

        12. Eldritch Gentleman

          I don’t think anyone has ever really stood up to Billie and she honestly has no idea what to do.

      2. Durandal_1707

        … a touch?

        1. JetstreamGW

          I’m being conservative.

      3. AnvilPro

        Also rude. Right now she’s pretty rude.

    2. saltchocolate

      This.^

    3. Lokitsu

      She’s also very self destructive. It’s not only past time that Billie got sober, but maybe time that she starts thinking about therapy and antidepressants.

    4. C.T Phipps

      Billie knew it wasn’t the case of Ruth asking her not to drink. It was going to be Ruth wanting her to stop drinking because she knew how serious a problem it was.

      Billie made a choice between the long painful road of recovery and continuing on.

      It just wasn’t the way Ruth wanted it to be.

    5. chalcara

      Looks like she just chose between alcohol and her relaltionship.

      1. InTheory

        When you tell an alcoholic you don’t want to drink with them, they often don’t love you anymore.

    6. Jenny Islander

      Alcoholism is what the fuck.

    7. geno

      So has like 40% of this comment section just been reading a totally different comic? This is Billie. She has never changed

    8. Ziggy

      Unlike Ruth, who has recognized her substance abuse for what it is, Billie is still swimming in denial (if you catch my little pun). In her mind, she believes that alcoholism is like the measles; once you get over it, it never comes back. Maturity, and self accountability, have never been in Billie’s repertoire.

      1. BBCC

        Is it actually impossible to get measles more than once, or is that just the ‘conventional wisdom’ like with chickenpox? I grew up hearing you only get chickenpox once and I had it three times.

        1. Vegetalss4

          Mostly you can’t get measles more than once, but there are a few other diseases which “reset” your immune system, so that you can get it again if you got them after you had measles.
          It might be the same thing for chickenpox or that thing might just be wrong.

        2. BBCC

          With chickenpox, apparently it’s rare but does happen, and I have a garbage immune system, so that one’s partially on me. 😛

        3. Seregiel

          Not just you, but outbreaks too. My elementary got it so bad we had a quarter of the school out and we were public and required vaccination records etc. heavy exposure can just decide “one of us! One of us!”

        4. BBCC

          The only funny thing for me was with my doctor. The first time, I had chickenpox absolutely everywhere, and my doctor said ‘Okay, but this was a bad case of chickenpox, so she’ll never have it again.’

          When I got it the second time, I had even MORE. We’re talking like, up my nose and in the corner of my eyes type shit. My doctor said ‘Okay, yeah, this is bad, but she’ll DEFINITELY never have them again.’

          I got a regular case the third time and my doctor just said ‘BBCC’ in a way that I still interpret as ‘kid, c’mon, work with me here’.

    9. Ragingagnostic

      Yeah, I found these last few strips creepy and awful. Billie is like a guy trying to pressure a woman into sex when she knows and has stated adamantly that she’s not going to have sex. But this is worse! They’re both alcoholics and that means NO ALCOHOL EVER. Robert Downey Jr.’s drug addiction nearly killed him and destroyed his career. He has made a terrific and unexpected comeback as Iron Man and, when he has to step out of that role, he might even go back to straight acting. But he knows and we know that, if he ever takes recreational drugs again, he is going to die. Why can’t Billies get this same message through her head? Is she uneducated, simple, blind or stupid? Now she’s acting as if their entire relationship is founded upon mutual drinking and that means it’s going to go on the rocks…pun intended.

      1. thejeff

        Because she’s an alcoholic, she’s 18 and she’s in denial.

        That doesn’t require being “uneducated, simple, blind or stupid”. It’s not easy to get that through your head. Plenty of smart, educated people wind up with problems with alcohol.

        1. Axel

          Also unlike Ruth, she hasn’t been attending her therapy, so a third party isn’t in there impressing this on her in the same way

  3. DarkoNeko

    Aaah well.

    1. DarkoNeko

      But 11 minutes uh, the server time is sliding more and more 😀

  4. Electriccombines

    God dammit Billie 🙁
    Ruining Valentine’s day before it even arrives…

    1. JetstreamGW

      Valentines day? Isn’t it, like, October?

      1. Yumi

        We mean real world Valentine’s Day when we say things like this in the comments~

        1. JetstreamGW

          Comic time or riot!

    2. Jamie

      Isn’t the tradition that couples break up on Valentine’s?

      1. Needfuldoer

        Last Valentines Day, Dorothy put a textbook in front of the Monkey Master toy Walky gave her threw at her.

        So yeah, we’ll at least get some foreshadowing.

    3. Deadjolras

      There’s still a week left! Who knows what heartbreak awaits us?

      1. Greebs

        With that much lead time, it could be that this arc between Ruth and Billie was a red herring and the Valentine’s Day strip will be a completely different couple!

      2. Deanatay

        Amber: Walky.
        Walky: ZZZZZ
        Amber: WALKY!!
        Walky: ZZznh, huh.. oh, g’mornin! Here for s’more snugglin’?
        Amber: …Seems like you’ve already found someone for THAT.
        Walky: Huh, whaddya me – OH CHEEZ BILLIE’S IN MY BED AGAIN Billie whaddya doin here??
        *Billie stares moodily at wall, says nothing*
        Amber: Welp, I needed a good reason to break up with you anyway. Sleeping with a drunk busty girl in an ill-fitting cheerleader outfit does the trick nicely. *storms off*
        Walky: Amber, wa- oh, craps, Billie, should I get the RA again? Wait, she’s not your RA anymore, she’s your girlffriend, should I still call her? AMBER, HOLD UP!
        Amber (from hallway): Look, this relationship is garbage, right? So if you get to sleep around, I get to be insanely jealous. So FUCK OFF!!

        Hovertext: Happy Valentine’s Day!
        Walky:

        1. Deanatay

          Dunno where that last ‘Walky’ came from.

        2. geno

          That would be very out of character for Amber. If AG is in the drivers seat though

    4. Keulen

      I was sure Billie and Ruth would break up on the Valentine’s Day strip. Now I’m wondering what else could happen on that day’s strip instead.

  5. Phil

    Maybe lead with the card thing rather than the alcohol thing in that case, billie.

    1. C.T Phipps

      Mimosas are mostly not alcohol. As such, Billie assumed Ruth was choosing the alcohol heavy one.

    2. ruhrow

      The card thing IS an alcohol thing, though. The sentence is basically “I only picked this place because sometimes they allow me to drink alcohol at this restaurant even though I’m a minor.”

  6. Meagan

    This is terrible 🙁

  7. ScarletSabre

    Dammit, Billie. -3-

  8. Stephen Bierce

    I’ve got to have you
    I have no one to blame
    It’s just the two of us
    With nothing left to say…

  9. LeslieBean4Shizzle

    Who’s on the scooter thingy in the background? They aren’t tagged, so likely unimportant, but still…

    1. Yumi

      It’s me.

      1. Doctor_Who

        Oh great, now you’re not only in the shot, but you said something so you no longer count as an extra. We have to pay you now!

        1. Needfuldoer

          Calm down, Aloysius.

    2. Marsh Maryrose

      It looks to me like they are wielding a sword, poised to strike at whoever they are charging. Forget steampunk, we got medievalpunk here.

  10. meep

    Dammit Billie, it’s bad enough you’re still drinking, but starting in the middle of the day?

    1. Marsh Maryrose

      For Billie, the middle of the day is a late start.

      Beer: It’s not just for breakfast any more.

      1. C.T Phipps

        Mimosas are a breakfast treat!
        -My family of alcoholics

    2. Betty Anne

      I realized I had a problem when someone pointed out I was drinking peppermint schnapps at 10:30 AM.

      It’s a thing, for alcoholics.

      1. meep

        Well, Billie definitely is an alcoholic.

  11. Roger

    well that blows

  12. William Leonard Reese Jr.

    . . . .Oh dear. I know I said that what Ruth said was a long time coming but. . . well I do think that these two make a good couple, self destructive tendencies aside, and really hope that they work this out. Billie getting help for her own alcoholism and discovering that she does not NEED Alcohol in order to be her best most fun self. That she is not dependent on it.

    1. Eldritch Gentleman

      Well someone has to stand up to Billie and tell her no. Her parents didn’t teach her properly and now we are in this fine mess.

  13. Meta

    Billie u r being a dumbass

  14. Spruce Goose

    Good. In the long run this is for the best.

    Hell in the short and medium runs too.

    1. BenRG

      Yeah; I hope that Ruth doesn’t do anything stupid on the rebound.

      1. Geneseepaws

        The ONE thing I feared for Ruthless, was that the one who loved her, loved the bottle even more.
        OBTW! That’s just rain on my face.

  15. Catman

    Yikes Billie.

  16. Aaron

    Every time a relationship ends or is put on pause in this comic, I find myself feeling, “Yeah, that’s probably for the best.”

    This is no exception

  17. ninja_jesus

    Billie is still very much a child, and is trying everything possible to avoid personal responsibility in this. I really, REALLY hope her world comes crashing down on her. Let’s get some personal growth going.

  18. Yumi

    Aw, Ruth. ;.;

    Also, my college experience was so divorced from alcohol that I initially read Billie’s dialogue as being about dining halls.

  19. ValdVin

    The progression of Billie’s eyes in the panels 1-4 is amazing.

    And I like the implied time lapse between the last two panels.

    1. BenRG

      Agreed.

      Panel 1: Pleading; Panel 3: Resignation; Panel 4: Anger and rejection.

      1. Geneseepaws

        Brave Ms. Billie ran away. She bravely ran away, away, oh Brave Ms. Billie.
        She was not at all afraid to fall into a bottle, oh, brave brave, Ms. Billie.
        When the Reality reared its ugly head she quickly found a bottle instead,
        Oh, Brave, Brave, Brave Ms. Billie.

  20. Woomy

    Is this the appropriate way to react to my girlfriend not wanting to let alcohol control her life? ??‍♀️?

    1. DailyBrad

      No, but it’s an appropriate thing to do if your girlfriend screams at you in public for something that should have been a conversation earlier, before it boiled over into a shouted lecture.

      Not saying she isn’t right to be upset, she is, but we’ve seen Ruth’s home situation. She’s not exactly well-versed in healthy dialogues. I do hope being open and honest with Billie will be cathartic and productive enough to get her to keep doing it, though, regardless.

      1. C.T Phipps

        Ruth hates alcohol and hates the fact she’s addicted to it.

        Billie loves alcohol and if it wasn’t killing her AND ILLEGAL at her age, it would be a fun hobby like many people in Europe believe.

        It was also one of the few things they had in common.

        1. Khno

          It’s the second time I see this. I’m french, I’ve lived in Germany, I have (or had) friends from Italy, Belgium, Spain, Luxemburg, Serbia, Albania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Turkey, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Netherlands…. I still have to find anyone for whom it’s a hobby. I mean, I’ve drunk a glass or two with most of them, but it never was as a hobby. In some places it is cultural to go sit somewhere sunny and/or warm for a drink and to comment this drink, in some places this drink is an alcoholic beverage of a specific sort (and just one type, not two at the same time), but this is far from making alcohol or binge drinking a hobby.

      2. Shiro

        “we’ve seen Ruth’s home situation. She’s not exactly well-versed in healthy dialogues.”

        Hopefully that’s something they’ll work on in therapy

        1. Yumi

          Though, we’ve seen her home situation since she was 16. The model could have been a lot different for most of her life.

        2. DailyBrad

          I hope so, but we don’t really know. Obviously, one or both parents could have been cut from a similar cloth.

        3. Woomy

          Didn’t Ruth’s grandpa say she was like her father as a way to put her down?

        4. King Daniel

          There is that, and it could be taken as just him not thinking dry highly of him – Mr. Hughes is an abusive prick – but Ruth’s father wasn’t exactly the best person in the other ‘verse (like, he was literally named Dick Lesse – Ruth’s surname was changed to “Lessick” in this ‘verse partly to make the “ruthless” pun less immediately apparent). Without any information from Ruth herself as a primary source, we don’t know what her parents were like in this universe.

        5. Shiro

          True. I think it’s safe to say that this kind of anger and way of dealing with it didn’t come from nowhere, though. Regardless of origin, anyway, still something therapy can probably help with

        6. alice

          are you saying that raising your voice after constant belittling and ignoring of your needs isn’t “healthy dialogue”? should she calmly sit billie down and gently walk through the details of her needs? no, when someone is fucking you over sometimes it’s not reasonable to be expected to remain calm. It’s not like Ruth’s out of control or being violent or intimidating (here). if they wanna repair the relationship they can debrief later after they’ve had a chance to calm down and billie has hopefully reflected on how she’s been why ruth was so angry.

        7. Shiro

          I think in this situation Ruth was more justified than usual, but she does have a pattern where she’ll let something stew and stew til it bursts out of her angrily. It’s not healthy communication and will hopefully be something they can work on for the future.

        8. DailyBrad

          Ding Ding. I’m not tone policing so much as pointing out that Billie has to pull teeth to get Ruth to tell her anything until it’s already, well, this. That’s not healthy, and no amount of Billie being a shit retroactively makes it healthy.

      3. alice

        billie has been constantly inconsiderate and belittling, what matters is that ruth finally had enough and called her on it. billie’s got plenty of issues that can pretty well explain why she’s acting this way, but don’t pretend she’s reacting in a fair or reasonable way here. When you’re an asshole to your girlfriend and she reacts appropriately, you either apologize, or leave in a huff, calm down, and accept that you looked like an asshole leaving in a huff and go apologize.

        1. Ntrovert60

          This. Every day with matinees on weekends.

      4. Emily

        Soooooo Ruth is expected to swallow her frustration and anger at Billie for her shitty behaviour for the sake of “healthy dialogue” but Billie is justified in walking away in a snit (completely terminating any possible dialogue) because Ruth got mad at her for said bad behaviour and isn’t expected to swallow her feelings and be mature? How does that work exactly?

      5. Schpoonman

        Stop tone policing, John.

        1. DailyBrad

          Stop screaming at your loved ones, Blaine.

        2. Deadjolras

          Don’t compare fellow commenters to monstrous, abusive characters, DailyBrad.

        3. DailyBrad

          I wasn’t the first one to get to name calling, but fair play, that was too much.

          Still, don’t scream at your loved ones, please folks. Saying this from someone who has been in some pretty fucked up relationships.

    2. Kamino Neko

      <Captain America> I get that reference! </Captain America>

    3. Alanari

      It’s actually better than most reactions you get when you try to get someone you love to stop drinking. It usually ranges from invalidating your perception (it’s not that bad, don’t be so sensitive) to aggression.

  21. ivy

    I don’t get Billie at all. Obviously she’s an addict and an entitled rich girl, but she also was so committed to Ruth she stayed with her even when Ruth was actively pushing her away, tried to keep her up and moving when Ruth was nonfunctional depressed, and was willing to take on her asshole grandpa. But being told not to pull someone into alcoholism because it might kill her is the hill she’s decided to die on? Especially Ruth, who she spent plenty of time angsting over? My head is spinning.

    1. JetstreamGW

      She’s an addict. That’s literally all the explanation needed.

      1. ivy

        Yes, I figured this was going to be why it’s hard for me to understand her behavior.

        1. krveale

          *Most generously,* I think this could be read as “I don’t know who I am if I don’t drink, and if I drink I can’t be with you?”

          I think that may be part of what’s in play, but there’s A Bunch of Other Stuff Too, that can be summarised as “is addict.”

        2. Alanari

          Just think if alcohol being your best friend and worst friend at the same time. The one thing that makes everything a little bit better and your life bearable. And being terribly afraid of not being “allowed” to drink anymore because you can’t imagine how to handle life sober.
          Most alcoholics rather give up their own children than alcohol. I expected exactly this from Billie.

        3. BenRG

          For addicts, the substance is the be all and end all of their existence and certainly is more important than any relationship, no matter how close. Billie literally lives to drink, so Ruth no longer willing to support that behaviour in any way (even for the sake of her own health) is interpreted as a betrayal and an assault on Billie’s own self-identity.

          Basically: “So, you’re too good to share in my leisure pursuits anymore? Well screw you then! I’m out!”

        4. thejeff

          Ruth is also an alcoholic. Was that true of her, even when she was still drinking?
          If not, is it necessarily true of Billie now?

          It’s a struggle and a conflict, but it’s not always so cut and dried.

    2. Miri

      That bit where feeding an addiction literally becomes the primary driving force in somebody’s life, overriding and destroying pretty much anything and everything else: health, education, career, relationships… But it’s horrible to think Billie is at that stage, at 18…

      1. Hazel

        She’s not yet at that stage I believe. I don’t think there has been mention of her failing any classes, and she cares about the her new neighbours think of her (too much but still). Still an alcoholic that has work to do on NOT being an alcoholic >:(

        1. BBCC

          I don’t recall mention of Billie failing any classes but she’s probably not doing well – she skipped at least one math class to go drinking.

    3. C.T Phipps

      Ruth abused her, intimidated her, and destroyed her stuff. She’s also continued yelling at her and treating her like shit. Throw in the fact she wants a dramatic change in Billie’s life and you have good breakup material.

      It’s just…you know, alcohol is killing Billie.

    4. Needfuldoer

      At the end of her lecture, Ruth came across like she was insinuating Billie was holding her back. “Every time you bring [alcohol] up, you put [my recovery] in jeopardy.” Of course Billie would get defensive and snipe back with something, she’s the self-described ‘alpha bongo’ after all.

      1. thejeff

        self-described ‘alpha bongo’, but also self-described ‘poison’ who ruins everything she touches.

    5. Zaxares

      Then again, keep in mind that this is a relationship that Ruth basically gaslit Billie into from the start. A lot of people seem to forget that Ruth coerced Billie into this relationship. I honestly don’t know how or why Billie actually ended up developing feelings for Ruth, but in my opinion, this break-up is by far the best thing to happen to both of them. Ruth needs to focus on her recovery and therapy, and Billie needs to get out of a relationship she never should have been in in the first place. (Not to mention that she also needs to realize that her attitude towards alcohol is dangerous and self-harming, and she can’t do that as long as she’s in a relationship that’s basically all about “let’s indulge our vice together”.)

      1. Emily

        Oh this whole relationship has always been a dumpster fire the reason for why has just changed.

      2. Oz

        Ruth coerced Billie into this relationship? I never saw that, what are you talking about?

        1. thejeff

          Way back when.
          Coerced is probably too strong, but there was definitely bullying to start with and then the forced kiss.

        2. CJ

          Well, after the forced kiss Ruth spiraled down because she felt guilty about that and Billie somehow came back for her. So no, Ruth didn’t coerce Billie into a relationship.

  22. Tacos

    What the hell Billie?

  23. Sporky

    Yikes

  24. Miri

    Did… Did Billie just walk off from Ruth because foregoing her lunchtime drinking is something she’s unwilling/unable to do?!

    I *know* she’s an alcoholic but dang, that’s kinda upsetting…

    1. C.T Phipps

      No, it’s giving up alcohol forever. Ruth hates alcohol and Billie knew she’d have to give it up.

      Because…well, Ruth doesn’t want Billie to die.

      The Lesbian Suicide Pact is done.

      1. Miri

        That’s slightly less heartbreaking? Can Billie please start some form of therapy/recovery program and embrace the idea that she needs to give up alcohol one day at a time – every day for the rest of her life?

        1. timemonkey

          Even if you got her to agree she’d just lie about it and keep drinking. Just like she did last time, she didn’t even try.

        2. Needfuldoer

          She’s supposed to be in group therapy, but she doesn’t go. That would mean admitting there’s a problem.

  25. Yotomoe

    Hot damn. Billie just made herself the most easily hateable person in this comic currently. That’s impressive, knowing what competition she’s up against.

    1. Shiro

      Nah, pretty sure the Evil Parents Crew and Mary still got her beat. Billie’s a dumb kid making bad life choices and acting selfish, she’s not actively out to destroy people’s lives (and when informed she was inadvertently trying to do so, she reacted immaturely but didn’t continue)

      1. Yotomoe

        I did specify currently. I feel like all the other people you mentioned have either not shown up or done much noteworthy things in like…half a year or more. And currently, Billie is ditching her depressed girlfriend that she’s embarrassed of because she realizes she can’t drink with her (and that reluctance is due to both addiction AND her medication). That’s like…a next level dick move.

        1. Shiro

          Mary was just on panel January 1st telling Lucy, a perfect stranger, that she was going to hell. I do agree that Billie is not being the world’s best person at the moment, but I’m more on the side of sympathy and support for everyone in this strip than condemnation

        2. Yotomoe

          I know this is weird to say, but I’d rather a complete stranger tell me that I’m a piece of shit that has no right to live than a loved one to tell me that they don’t like me.

        3. Shiro

          You are absolutely free to hold that opinion but you’re leaving out quite a bit of context.

        4. Bryy

          Let’s not mince words: Mary was not only willing to let Ruth DIE, but was the one that instigated that situation in the first place.

        5. BBCC

          And then after Ruth was taken to the hospital, Mary asked Billie to let her have Carla to ‘get rid of her’.

      2. newllend(henryvolt)

        Selfish, inconsiderate, and self-destructive, all of that brought out of her over her dependency for liquor. I wonder what would be a breaking point for her to go into Sobreity.

        1. Geneseepaws

          I was going to say, “kill someone,” but then I remembered. I have no answer other than “No Idea.” I am not sure what they ar feeling is love, or just infatuation sex, but seemed hella strong there for a while. It looked like they were doing each other some good there, for a bit.

    2. DailyBrad

      I honestly was more annoyed at Billie strips prior to this. Walking away after getting screamed at in public is actually one of the healthier decisions she’s made in this comic strip.

      Billie is perhaps the most frustrating character now that Amber’s kinda/sorta putting the pieces together to living a healthier life, but I don’t hate her. It’s hard to when the person she’s hurting most winds up being herself.

      1. Shane

        I see this “screamed at” phrase more than once here. Like others said, I don’t think slightly emphasizing one’s point when it goes unheeded is “screaming”. And the “in public” thing doesn’t seem super applicable, it’s not like there’s a crowd gathering around.

        Billie: “Let’s let alcohol run our relationship.”
        Ruth: “I need these suggestions.”
        Billie: “Why? We can drink slightly less and still be in control, that’s fine.”
        Ruth:” I _need these suggestions to stop_!”

        Ruth had to intensify her message a bit because Billie was refusing to hear it at a completely normal, completely conversational tone.

        Walking off in a huff due to not liking the message hardly constitutes “Well! Your screaming verbal abuse stops now!” I very much disagree that Ruth’s message constitutes screaming.

    3. Miri

      Addiction is a mental illness. Partly because it causes people to self-destruct and damage their relationships and the people around them. Yes, Billie can be an entitled, insensitive, irresponsible brat – but her behaviour here is basically textbook “scary-serious addict” – hating somebody for being unwell and unable to see how horrifically skewed her priorities are as a result seems pretty harsh when their competition includes Blaine, Toedad, Sir, Linda…

      1. C.T Phipps

        Ruth is not exactly the best person for walking Billie through her own crisis. She’s violent, loud, and aggressive.

        1. ego

          disagree vehemently. ruth is under extraordinary duress and is absolutely being sabotaged by her romantic partner. still she found it within her to stay strictly on message, and in fact delivered her message (= stop trying to kill me!) with the minimum force required to make it *plausible* that billie would stop talking over it.

          “you are literally doing the thing i explained puts me at risk of death RIGHT NOW” isnt the sort of (accurate!) observation to be delivered in the placating tones of a parent addressing a small child

        2. C.T Phipps

          My sympathy for Ruth is lessened by the fact Ruth encouraged a lot of Billie’s worst behaviors, fostered responsibility for her care onto Billie (or at least Billie took it upon herself to try to save ruth’s life), and violently abused her before their relationship.

          Ruth can’t take the moral high ground after that. It’s like the fundmanetalist who cleans up their act after being an abusive alcoholic and then gets judgemental of his family’s ‘sinful’ ways.

        3. thejeff

          Except Ruth isn’t being judgmental. She’s holding on by her fingertips and trying to keep Billie from prying at them.

      2. Yotomoe

        Well firstly, See above on what I meant by “currently”. Ie. Toedads and Blaines need not apply.
        Secondly, even though her actions are understandable doesn’t exactly make them excusable. And it’s not limited to this moment here where she abandoned Ruth. It’s her whole behavior. Not wanting to be seen holding her hand, not showing any sort of empathy towards Ruth at all really, and now she’s choosing Alcohol over her. Addiction or no, Billie’s being a pill.

        1. Emily

          Like mental illness is not an excuse to treat your partner (or anyone) like crap. It’s an explanation but at the end of the day you have to take responsibility for your actions, change your behaviour, and try to make amends not just wallow in it and pretend you’re incapable of change as an excuse.

      3. alice

        yeah i’m really glad plenty of people are saying this in the comments. my reaction was “holy shit, what an asshole” until i saw this and just, gave it another go around in the ol’ noggin. it’s a scary scene, not a “fuck you billie” scene. although i do think her behavior deserves plenty of criticism, a lot of the comments section seems to jump right right to “well she’s a bongo i guess”. because apparently people can’t ever hurt one another without being Evil

        1. thejeff

          That’s definitely the tone around here these days. It’s kind of wearing me down.

          And you see it on both sides – a lot of the defense of Billie today seems focused on Ruth “screaming at her” or being generally violent and the relationship starting out abusive.

          These kids have problems. They’re not monsters.

        2. BBCC

          Part of me gets this but at the same time, folks are different. They have different lines where they can or can’t forgive a character (or at least, not until they’ve shown signs of change). And sometimes people say a character’s a bongo but do still like them generally.

          People say things when they vent – but yeah, I get it can be tiring.

        3. thejeff

          I get it. It just seems a lot more intense in the last little while.

          Over pretty much everything.

        4. Emily

          A lot of character arcs have kinda been hitting a climax recently and by a climax I mean characters making really bad decisions.

        5. BBCC

          Yeah, this. Plus, when you’ve been watching them develop for years, it wears you down.

        6. Emily

          Yeah for real. I was a lot more understanding of these character’s shortcomings years ago but the dissonance between in universe time and real time makes it hard to maintain perspective. It’s hard to remember that technically it’s only been like what 2 months for these characters when I’ve been watching them make the same awful decisions for like 6 years.

        7. BBCC

          Like a month and a half yeah. A lot of stuff is coming to a head lately, which is nice, but there’s also the long, long road to fixing it which is…still nice to read but also sometimes makes you wanna scream in frustration. XD

  26. Synnerman

    Alright Ruth, time to move on. Not dying is more important than being with Billie.

  27. Shiro

    Totally off topic, but I’m replaying Slime Rancher and I feel like Mochi Miles is Carla’s alt-universe twin. Proof:

    -Heir to a big tech company
    -Snarky and abrasive
    -“Kneel before your goddess” type boasting
    -Ponytail

    For reference: image

    Granted I like Carla a lot more, but possibly because she’s got backstory

    1. Shiro

      Oh boo, did the pic not work?

      Here, trying again

  28. Yumi

    Earlier tonight I saw some Tic Tacs and suddenly had the memory of being around ten and eating Tic Tacs and pretending they were medication that could fix me. That connects better to yesterday’s comic, but.
    It’s something I could see a younger Ruth doing, had she beentounger when she lost her parents, or if she had been depressed before then.

  29. C.T Phipps

    I support an unconventional mostly non-sexual relationship with Carla (who is ace) and Ruth (who is bisexual) now. Low pressure but all of the romance until Ruth is through the start of her treatment.

    1. Yumi

      Romance in itself can be pressure

    2. Shiro

      But then we have the same issue where Carla can’t be under Ruth’s direct supervision

      1. C.T Phipps

        Pudding head is very clear that the rules exist to be followed in public.

        1. Shiro

          Regardless, I don’t think it’d be a good life choice for anyone at this juncture

    3. Emily

      Not sure a different self-centered, abrasive jerkass is what Ruth needs right now. Though, I guess at least she’s not an alcoholic.

    4. BBCC

      Carla and Ruth could be really cute tbh, depending how they handle the initial awkwardness of Carla’s role in getting Ruth in therapy. Like, it was a net good thing for Ruth, but it also outed her as bi and an alcoholic to the whole wing.

      1. BBCC

        Except yeah, wait until Carla’s out of the dorm.

  30. DailyBrad

    Guessing Billie and Ruth both have a lot to digest right now without lunch adding to it.

    I hope Billie gets her shit together, obviously, but I also hope Ruth gets her anger under control. Feels like the only time she opens up to Billie, it’s to scream at her or chuck her across the room.

  31. newllend(henryvolt)

    So hears the possible ultimatum she might have to deal with. Either lose everything dear to her for the second time to keep her booze or try to go dry in order for someone she loves to not be put in a postion where they haft to cut her out of their life.

    Though maybe it is possible for Billie to still be a drinker and not also be an enabler but she’s doing a good job of that now.

    1. Shiro

      At the end of the day, maybe taking a break wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world for these two? The level of codependence they had going on was not healthy, even when you remove alcohol from the equation. Maybe they can start over with less of a life or death aspect to the relationship

      1. newllend(henryvolt)

        Yeah it definitely seems that the relationship dynamic here changed the minute one of them realized they didn’t want to drink themselves to death.

    2. C.T Phipps

      From a family of alcoholics: generally, you shouldn’t hang around people who drink if you possibly can.

      Certainly, not when trying to quit drinking.

    3. newllend(henryvolt)

      *but she ain’t doing a good job of that now.

  32. Deadjolras

    BILLIE used TELEPORT! BILLIE ran from battle!

  33. Hazel

    NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

    goddamn it billy

  34. kitty

    biwwy and wuth

  35. Dana

    I was kind of hoping the action would move to someone else tonight. I didn’t need to see this now. 🙁

    1. Shiro

      Hope you’re well ♥

  36. C.T Phipps

    Billie at 18 is not equipped to handle her own sobriety let alone the sobriety of a friend who also suffers depression plus suicidal tendencies. It was always doomed her wanting to be a fixer or a suicide pact.

    Its why I never quite shipped them as I felt they needed to both get their shit together before making a serious go at a relationship.

    1. dalniente

      This is exactly what I was thinking! Billie sees herself as a fixer. “Head cheerleader” might be invalid, now, but “problem solver” isn’t, at least in her eyes. She really does seem to like helping people with their problems (even when her help isn’t requested or wanted)…maybe because it’s one of the few times she feels like she’s worth anything good? Idk, shot in the dark there.

      Trouble is, she’s addicted to alcohol, and highly resistant to anyone pointing that (or any of the problems with it) out. This is just one more time her good things and “fixer” identity have run up against the alcohol……and the addiction is winning, as it so often does. She can’t be the fixer she wants to be until that’s addressed. Like you said: it was always doomed. And it’ll continue to be doomed until Billie wises up and realizes she needs help. Ruth at least has always known her shit was shit, and is now finally getting it together. But Billie still thinks (wants to think? or does she truly, genuinely think she doesn’t have a problem?) her shit is daffodils.

      I want to ship them, but…I sort of think it’s going to take a near-death experience before Billie figures out she needs help. I hope I’m wrong.

      1. thejeff

        Except that’s not Billie either. It’s an image she tries to project, especially when she’s feeling better. She gets validation from her more successful “problem solver” bits.

        But she also thinks of herself as poison who ruins everything she touches. The self-loathing is very much there as well.

      2. Classic Appa

        She had a near death experience. It didn’t help.

  37. abysswatcher1993

    Billie, you fucked up. You fucked up big. Well, since Walky x Dorothy, Walky x Amber, Dany x Amber and this ship have sunk, then I can predict Willis is going to sink another beloved pairing.

    Dina x Becky?

    This is going to eb painful.

    1. DailyBrad

      Probably not them. Not really sure what they’d break up over. At worst, maybe Becky would be overworked or something, I forget if she’s started any kinds of classes yet.

      1. Needfuldoer

        No classes for Becky yet; we’re still in the middle of a semester.

        Plenty of shifts at Galasso’s!

    2. newllend(henryvolt)

      They actauly seem to have a functional thing going for them though.

    3. Emily

      I’ll literally just stop reading. Becky is enough of a Tragic Lesbian already.

    4. BBCC

      I’m guessing Valentine’s Day will be either Ruth and Billie breaking up or Walky and Amber officially breaking up.

  38. C.T Phipps

    It’s very easy to sympathize with Ruth here but, bluntly, Billie is a victim too and Ruth is not realizing she can’t yell her girlfriend to get better.

    1. Yumi

      Her yelling was about not wanting her girlfriend to make her worse. She wasn’t saying that Billie couldn’t drink, but that she shouldn’t undermine Ruth’s decision not to. Billie seems to take what Ruth said as limiting her, too.

      It’s probably best for Ruth not to be involved with someone with Billie’s drinking habits right now, so in a twisted way Billie’s kind of right, but Ruth’s yelling wasn’t about Billie’s addiction.

      1. ninja_jesus

        I would hope Billie sees Ruth’s stance as limiting her too. Billie’s smart enough to catch that implication.

      2. C.T Phipps

        I could be wrong but certainly Billie took it as implicit Ruth didn’t want Billie drinking either.

        1. Yumi

          Sure, Billie took it that way, which is an interesting look at their codepency– see yesterday’s “we’ll back off the booze”– but what Ruth said (and especially the parts she may have been yelling) were about her and not wanting Billie to try to get her to drink.

        2. C.T Phipps

          Given Ruth has tried to get them to stop drinking together before, I think it’s not exceeding reading to believe she did mean it even if she didn’t say it.

        3. Yumi

          I dont think it’s out there to think that she would want Billie to quit drinking, but I do think you’re off about viewing this as “Ruth is not realizing she can’t yell her girlfriend to get better.”

        4. TemperaryObsessor

          I think Ruth would like Billie to get better. But that’s not what she’s yelling about.
          But what she’s actually asking is for Billie not to casually suggest drinking as the solution for everything. Not to openly choose the places they hang out based on where the good alcohol is. Basically to acknowledge that drinking is not an option for Ruth and talk to Ruth as if that’s the case.
          What she probabibly needs right now is Billie to essentially pretend not to be drinking at least for now, not in a deceptive way but in a I don’t want to constantly remind Ruth alcohol exists way.

    2. Deadjolras

      Many here have already pointed out to you in these past strips that this argument has been less “Billie, stop drinking!” and more “Billie, stop trying to get me to drink!”. I understand that Billie, being an addict, thinks the two are the same request and so she feels threatened by this perceived ultimatum, but they’re actually different things.

      1. C.T Phipps

        While that may be literally true.

        1. Ruth can’t hang around people who drink if she wants to stop.
        2. Ruth would want Billie to quit because…well, it’s killing her.
        3. They agreed to stop drinking together before.

  39. chris73

    I am so glad this happening, there was no way it was going to work out between them (given how they met and the various mental health issues)

    All that would have happened is Ruth likely would have relapsed big time and they both would have continued down a long, dark path but now, hopefully, Ruth can continue to get better

    So if this is the beginning of a Valentine’s day break up then it’ll be a happy one (maybe not for Billie)

    1. Yumi

      Maybe not for Ruth either. She’s still at an unstable place, and there’s definitely the possibility of backsliding and relapse either way.

      While I think they could benefit from this, they could also not, especially short-term (which is long-term in this comic).

      1. chris73

        Oh absolutely, I just mean with Billie, hopefully, gone Ruth has a better chance at succeding, she might still relapse but shes got a decent chance now

        1. thejeff

          Or Ruth slides back into depression over breaking up (the meds aren’t working yet and breaking up’s always a major stressor) and starts drinking again so she can get back together with Billie.

          So instead of the traditional Valentine’s Day breakup, we get a horrific reunion.

        2. Emily

          God that sounds incredibly tedious and uninteresting.

        3. thejeff

          I don’t actually expect it.

          But then “Ruth breaks up with Billie and once rid of the asshole has a chance to recover” doesn’t sound that great to me either.

        4. chris73

          Sounds pretty good for Ruth though

        5. Emily

          That’s generally what happens when you remove toxic influences that try to drag you back into unhealthy behaviours though. I’d prefer Billie get her shit together and make an effort at dealing with her own alcoholism but if she refuses to then Ruth shouldn’t let her drag her down to rock bottom with her.

        6. Jhon

          “horrific reunion”? Still a few days left till Valentines’s. Maybe Billie will see the error of her ways and we’ll have a Wonderful Reunion.
          (hey lemme dream)

  40. nlips

    RIP lesbian suicide pact… Ruth has chosen life.

    1. Adrianna

      Gotta say, as someone who was once in a lesbian suicide pact relationship, I would not recommend. Very bad. Glad Ruth has an easy out now that we know things aren’t gonna work

    2. Bagge

      That sums it up neatly. And Billie fells she can’t

  41. JessWitt

    Ruth no, don’t starve yourself. You might need food to go with your pills.

    1. Yumi

      Well, she definitely needs food. I kinda took her last line with the assumption that her meds are decreasing her appetite, which isn’t great.

      1. Needfuldoer

        She could also be making an excuse for herself to deal with Billie dropping their lunch plans.

  42. BigDogLittleCat

    Goddammit Billie. On behalf of you as well as Ruth.

  43. BarerMender

    I’m thinking Lucy might talk some turkey to Billie.

    1. Yumi

      I could see Lucy saying something about Billie being “a bit of an alcoholic” or something and Billie objecting, and then Lucy saying, “Well, everyone I talked to who knew you seemed to think you were…”
      (Though Billie has accepted the alcoholic label in the past, but in memory only in connection with Ruth, like it’s a shared trait but not something serious.)

    2. BenRG

      Given previous events in Forrest Hall, it’s quite possible that Billie may have Lucy thrown out (yes, thrown out of her own room) so that she doesn’t have to listen to what she doesn’t want to hear.

  44. ktbear

    So… what are the odds that Ruth will start drinking if she looses Billie? I mean, what else has she got to live for? Okay, there’s her brother but that was the case the first time she tried to drink herself to death.

  45. Questionor

    I cannot comprehend Billie’s reaction here at all especially with the comment about the restaurant. Has she decided that she’s just bad for Ruth? (Then why make that comment). Is she trying to gaslight/guilt Ruth into doing things her way? (i.e. go back to drinking) If she was angry at Ruth for whatever reason, panel 4 seems out of place. So confused….

    That said whatever caused this reaction, it’s probably better for Ruth in the short and long run

    1. Yumi

      I sort of read it as “My real motivation for having lunch with you today was just to drink anyway,” said as a way to hurt Ruth whether or not that’s actually how she feels. Ruth is upset with her, and she doesn’t know how to deal other than hitting back.

    2. Lexi

      She’s in a relationship that was founded on the basis of the two of them being alcoholics, and now Ruth is breaking that foundation and getting very angry that Billie (Who Ruth *knows* is an alcoholic) isn’t also quitting drinking cold turkey with her. As destructive as alcohol is as a common interest, it was *their* common interest, and Ruth has essentially dropped a bomb on the foundation of their relationship.

      So at first Billie feels guilty, and upset, and then, because she’s a teen and terrible at handling emotions and just Billie, her mood is swinging towards defensive and anger. “I feel like shit, and Ruth is making me feel like shit, ergo, Ruth is calling me shit.”

  46. Ninjabuttocks

    Fuck, I’m sad now. 🙁

  47. Bagge

    🙁

  48. Bagge

    Someone better call Dorothy – Billie will do A LOT off drinking in the murder cave.. and she will need a friend there to stop her from wrapping another car around a tree 🙁

  49. someguywithakatana

    Billie, I defended you.

    You’re really making me look like a jackass right now.

    Billie, stop.

    1. poofdepoof

      Since I’m not looking at the nature of your defense, I can’t say for sure, but — I think seeing the good in someone without other evidence doesn’t make you look like a jackass.

  50. Josh Spicer

    Pretty sure Billie’s taking some time to think about shit.

  51. Alanari

    Well, so much for the stability of their relationship.

  52. stoodmuffin

    WHAT. WHAAAAAAAT. GOD. DAMN IT.

  53. Ophidiophile

    That moment when you realize the two loves of your life aren’t compatible with each other.

  54. FacelessDeviant

    I never thought someone could be an alcoholic at such in the low 20’s. Thats rough :/

    1. Alanari

      Well, Billie isn’t real. She is what Willis wants her to be. But yes, if you start early, you can be addicted at a pretty young age. Especially if you drink for self-medication.

    2. BMG

      It’s really not even that much of a stretch by any standard either you’re very young or you’ve lived a truly blessed or closed off life, seen kids younger then that way more messed up on far worse drugs and actions, I can’t remember if Billie even had much of a tragic backstory all I can remember is her being a self important brat with a delusional pride in her image. Sometimes people cope in shitty ways and they get stuck

    3. Fuchs Sakemann

      Unfortunately, I remember friends in high school who were practically this way. It’s not that rare in some areas where there’s a heavy drinking culture, but many of them are very good at hiding it.

    4. chalcara

      There are seven and nine year olds addicted to alcohol, especially when their parents were alcoholics, or they’re in a group where drinking is cool, or (close/extended) families ply them with alcohol to cover up other types of abuse.

      Alcoholism really doesn’t know no age.

  55. BenRG

    Ruth, if getting drunk is that important to Billlie then I think that a cooldown is in order here so she can decide what’s #1 on her priority list.

    That said, there is an air here of a child shouting: “Well, if I can’t have my way, then I’m not going to play! So there!” So, I’m not taking her reaction too seriously. Once she gets over her strop she’ll start thinking about what’s happening and that’s when she’ll decide what’s really important to her.

  56. Keulen

    Damn it Billie!

  57. Icalasari

    Well hopefully Billie will think this over and develop and grow

  58. PB

    Noooooo Billieeeeee

  59. Danielle

    this was a long time coming but still sucks to see happen

  60. Dev Non

    Really confused at all the people trying to tone-police Ruth when a. only a handful of her sentences ended with exclamation points (so I don’t understand where this narrative of “Ruth screaming at Billie” is coming from) and b. Ruth tried to tell Billie no and Billie kept pushing her on it. But suddenly Ruth isn’t allowed to raise her voice at all?

    Billie is not the victim in this exchange.

    1. Rabid Rabbit

      She snapped at Billie which, yeah, doesn’t equate to screaming at her. I don’t think either of them counts as a victim.

    2. LauraS

      We’ve seen it before in this comments section. Some people just can’t handle women expressing anger.

      1. C.T Phipps

        Generally, no, I don’t like people screaming at people period. Man or woman.

        Especially abuse victims and alcoholics.

        1. thejeff

          Nobody’s “screaming at” anybody here.

        2. Emily

          Like, we’ve seen Ruth screaming at Billie and this is not how it’s formatted. Screaming in DoA is big bubbled lettering not occasional bolding of words for emphasis.

    3. thejeff

      Partly what LauraS says, but partly I think that if you’re sympathetic to one of the characters, there’s a tendency to paint the other in a worse light so you’re favorite looks better.

    4. JBento

      Even is she is screaming at Billie, If “repeatedly trying to kill me” isn’t a valid reason for screaming, I dunno what to tell you.

  61. Reltzik

    Billie, you’re better than this.

    … nevermind.

  62. All-Purpose Guru

    Wow. Now I don’t like Billie at all. No redeeming qualities whatsoever.

    1. geno

      I wouldn’t even go that far. Billie has several redeeming qualities. Basically a fact of life that all humans no matter how shitty have good qualities. Nothing is ever that cut and dry. Billie is either gonna backslide, or come around with either Walky, Lucy, or maybe Sal. I have little hope for her getting better in time for Ruth to care, but she has great qualities that will be worth being around once she deals with the major issues in her life. Redemption is a long and painful journey.

  63. Lone Duck

    Dangit, now Billie won’t go to Lucy’s movie night! She’ll probably go out drinking and have a random hookup with some asshole dude.

    1. BenRG

      Either that or end up on Garbage Roof and have a completely unexpected (and life-changing) encounter with someone else up there just before she tries to literally fly away from her problems.

      1. C.T Phipps

        Oddly, I’d like to have her befriend Jason.

        1. geno

          I can’t see Billie listening to any rational human being for the foreseeable future.

  64. ischemgeek

    Billie is doing that thing some alcoholics do where they try to feel better about how much they drink by getting others to match their drinking.

    1. Eldritch Gentleman

      Kinda like Joker
      “I’m obviously not that bad if Everyone does what I do”

      1. ischemgeek

        Yes exactly!

        And like if you haven’t been friends with an alcoholic who has that pattern it doesn’t seem bad like how the more subtle emotional abuse tactics can seem not that bad if you’re not experienced with the impacts of things like gaslighting.

        IDK if folks know how upsetting it is to realize that someone you consider a friend sees you as more of a ticket to free booze than a friend. Or to realize that you’re not keeping someone with a drinking problem safe by going with them, you’re enabling them and putting those in their family at risk.

        This person was a single parent to a preteen/early teen and I was too naive to realize what I was doing to their kid by enabling that kid’s parent and I will never forgive myself for assuming this person had arranged care for their kid and sending that person home for an 11YO to care for. By the time I realized and reported it, CPS said that the kid was too old.

        Bad things happen when good people do nothing. I did nothing out of naivité, and a child grew up neglected as a result.

        1. Sam

          That’s not your fault, that’s your ex-friend’s fault for choosing to act that way. You thought what most people would think of a friend: ‘they probably arranged childcare because that is the responsible thing to do and what I would do.’ Part of human nature is we try to see the best in people close to us.

          And then it turned out your ex-friend didn’t do the responsible thing. True, enabling them likely didn’t help, but at the time, as you said, you didn’t know better and when you did realise it, you did try to do something about it!

        2. ischemgeek

          Oh I hold my friend responsible too (and in fact more responsible than me) – but fact is that I was a grown ass adult and I feel like adults are responsible for looking out for kids regardless of biorelation. I had red flags I was choosing to overlook even then, so I should have taken the responsibility of asking.

          That said, I have a very strict standard for myself. That was a mistake, I made it, to some degree willfully (ignorance of a problem is only a defense imo if it wasn’t willful and mine was at least half willful), and I have learned from it. I will not make it again.

    2. thejeff

      Or you know that thing some people do where they like to share their hobbies with their partners.

      It just blows up because her hobby is self-destructive and Ruth’s trying to get away from that.

      1. Emily

        An addiction is very distinctly not a hobby.

        1. ischemgeek

          Yeah what Emily said.

          I used to be friends with an alcoholic. I stopped going out to drink with that person because they would use me as cover for their drinking – pressuring me to match drink for drink and when I couldn’t keep up, insisting that I cover half the tab anyway. This person never takes me up on non drinking activity offers (which I do still extend from time to time) and complains bitterly that I am no fun because I don’t want to blow my fun budget to get drunk, babysit someone who is fall down puking drunk, and watch this person inevitably try to start a bar fight or something of the sort. I have had the don’t want to get drunk conversation. I have tried placing limits, I have even tried offering other activities. When I did the person reacted like Billie: ignore (pretend that the limit isn’t there), pressure (we should go drinking! You’ll drink with me, right? Let alcohol make the fun. Etc), then punishment/guilt trips (only reason I picked this place is cuz of the booze so whatever. Guess there’s no point. Implications being you ruined their day and it’s all your fault). Next is tantrums and ranting and more pressure.

      2. ischemgeek

        There is a big difference between what I am talking about and sharing a hobby. What I am talking about is trying to get others to match your destructive behaviors so you don’t have to examine them. Often this can look like sharing a hobby but it is not the same. For one, if my friend doesn’t like the hobby, I don’t make socialization contingent on the hobby I know they don’t like. I go do the hobby, and also make time for the friend.

        It’s like the difference between a respectful argument where both parties have enough maturity to admit wrongdoing if it exists and make amends with each other after, and one person blowing up at the other and then needling the other to blow up back so they don’t feel bad about not apologizing. Both look similar from a distance (people arguing) but the former is healthy and the latter isn’t.

        1. thejeff

          It could be – and I’m certainly not saying your experience wasn’t like that.

          I’m just not sure it’s what’s going on with Billie and Ruth. That she’s trying to make Ruth drink to justify her own drinking. I’m not sure Billie’s even at a state where she feels the need to justify her drinking.

          She likes drinking. She liked drinking with Ruth. It was a thing they bonded over, a major part of their early relationship. She wants that back. That’s understandable in the abstract, even without bringing alcoholic manipulation into it.
          It’s certainly not healthy. Self-destructive as hell, but then it was even when Ruth was fully on board with it.

        2. ischemgeek

          That’s fair.

          My experience definitely makes me very cautious around habitual drinkers. Just because willful ignorance on my part (it took so long for me to realize what my friend was doing to their kid because I didn’t ask questions that I wasn’t sure I wanted to know the answer to) led to bad things. I am more likely to see more problematic drinking than most people.

        3. TemperaryObsessor

          People only have so much time so a not too close friend socialization might only really be a priority because they share a hobby.
          The difference between healthy hobby sharing and you must share my negative behavior sort of depends on how the break up is treated. Do they accept that you decided to move on with grace or do they throw a tantrum or guilt you or try to reason you out of quitting the behavior you feel is hurtful.

        4. ischemgeek

          Yeah this.

        5. TemperaryObsessor

          Thanks
          Steven Universe had a good episode where Amethyst did this to Greg.

  65. Jay

    Billy. You made the wrong choice. I disappoint. Why cant any of my ships just sail and be happy and improve each other. What’s with these guys and giving up the moment things get rough

    1. BenRG

      Well, as the title of this comic suggests, 18-year olds are not exactly brilliant at making good choices when it comes to major life events.

      1. Jay

        I KNOW BUT STILL. AT LEAST 1 COUPLE

        1. Emily

          You should ship Dina and Becky they’re doing pretty alright for themselves. Probably why they have no screen time now that I think of it; they’re too low drama (I have no idea if that is a proper use of a semicolon).

        2. Bathymetheus

          As someone whose use of grammar, syntax and punctuation was rigidly policed as a child, I can say that I approve of this use of a semi-colon.

        3. Jay

          Okay. 1 ignoring the titanic.

  66. BenRG

    I wonder how long a time gap there is between panels 5 & 6? I ask because Billie is out of sight and that must have taken 15+ seconds unless she broke into a run. Just how long did poor Ruth just stand there, trying to get a handle on the fact that Billie has just dumped her?

    1. Sam

      She hasn’t dumped her. She has just stormed off. We are still to see if this will actually break them up.

      1. BenRG

        Ruth will interpret it as being dumped and, strangely enough, so will Billie. It’s in-character for them to assume rejection because of their own intrinsic worthlessness.

  67. JBento

    You… you know you can go somewhere they let you drink alcohol and NOT drink alcohol, right? You can still have lu- oh, right, raging alcoholic, nevermind.

  68. Schpoonman

    I may freak out if I see one more person police Ruth’s tone.

    Alcohol almost KILLED her, Billie KNOWS that, and she STILL tried to get Ruth to drink.

    All of you fuck off with that bullshit.

    1. ego

      there is a social norm in america (at least) that people who are mistreated have a moral obligation to say so only in a tone and at a volume that makes them convenient to ignore. very very few people hold that position consciously but we are definitely in “62400 repetitions make one truth” territory

      i feel this poison is bound up with gender roles, but have no science to back that up.

      but yes. fuck all the way off, everyone, if you please.

      1. ego

        edit: it parallels gender bullshit, it doesnt originate there. my observational data are not an even cross section of human experience, my bad.

        1. Schpoonman

          I don’t know if it’s gendered as much as it’s not a SWCM (Straight White Cisgender Male) who ARE allowed basically whatever tone they want. I’ve gone out of my way to avoid hearing or even seeing images out of anything American Right politics has produced in the last four years (That Orange Racist Fuck makes me physically ill), but in this instance I think of the accounts of Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearing.

          The shitstain threw a fucking tantrum and so many people went “Uuuhh, you’ve been accused of a horrific crime, what the fuck are you on about?” and then we had a citizen executed while his First Amendment Rights were shit on.

          Meanwhile, Billie has been trying at least all morning and maybe longer to hand a glass of bleach to Ruth and when Ruth FINALLY tells Billie to STOP TRYING TO KILL HER, Ruth has crossed a line?

          Holy shit, I am livid right now.

        2. Drunk Mike

          Who was executed?

        3. Schpoonman

          Domineque Ray. Can’t figure out a link, NPR has an article on it.

        4. avistel

          I’m inclined to believe he did it, honestly, but then again, I’d like to see with how much decorum and calm you’d handle being accused of being of being a rapist in public. My guess is, not well, based on how your unhinged your post reads to me.

        5. Emily

          Wow, could you get any more smug and condescending?

        6. avistel

          Couldn’t get any more right either though, could I?. The way I see it, the other two don’t matter if you’ve got the cold, hard, nasty truth on your side.

        7. Emily

          You don’t though. You have a completely baseless assumption about a random stranger that you pulled entirely out of your ass. “I think this is how you’d react” is not anything in the realm of truth it’s just your opinion. Of course, your variety of smug “I am oh so rational and logical” idiots often make the mistake of conflating their opinions with facts. So yeah, you’re just presumptuous jerk not the tell it like it is hardass you want to pretend you are.

    2. C.T Phipps

      You lose the right to claim yelling is appropriate when the subject is an abused alcoholic you have gaslit and abused.

      When people yell at my wife, who suffered abuse as a child, no matter the reason–they can go fork themselves.

      1. Schpoonman

        That is not how it fucking works. Ruth is not beholden to whatever shit Billie throws her way because they hurt each other in the past.

        1. Schpoonman

          If your wife KNOWS I have a drinking problem, and to paper over her own weaknesses she keeps shoving drinks in my hand, you be absolutely certain I’ll tear her a new asshole, and that she deserves every syllable.

          Prior abuse is not a fucking excuse, even when tables are turned.

        2. C.T Phipps

          Sorry, just can’t get behind yelling and screaming at a fellow alcoholic and abuse victim.

        3. Emily

          You’re exaggerating what happened.

        4. thejeff

          Just to be clear, you’re upset about the recovering alcoholic raising her voice to the alcoholic who’s been trying to get her to fall off the wagon – even though that will likely lead her back to her suicidal depression spiral?

          Now, if Ruth was actually clearly screaming at her, that might be understandable. But we’ve see Ruth yell at her before and this clearly wasn’t that.

  69. ApandaAmanda

    How do I unship? What is it called and how can it happen?

    1. ego

      it’s called scuttling. you do it with explosives.

    2. Betty Anne

      It’s called “FIRE!” AKA Fuck That Ship

  70. hof1991

    Good to see Ruthless being…Ruthless. Stand up and demand what she needs to stay alive. She can survive without Billie. Would prefer not to have to make that choice, but she does have to make that choice.

  71. BBCC

    Oh, Billie, honey, no, don’t be like that.

    Poor Ruth.

  72. geno

    Seriously I was kinda kidding up above, but like a large portion of this comment section seems to have no understanding of who Billie is. Is this the shipper goggles thing on tvtropes in full effect?

    1. thejeff

      Which portion?
      Is that the portion who thinks she’s just an alcoholic asshole with no concern for others or any redeeming features whatsoever?

      1. Zee

        Or is it the ones who think she’s just a victim that Ruth was “verbally abusing” in the last couple strips
        (Note. I just mean the last couple strips, not the comic as a whole.)

  73. JMP

    Billie…..they might have started their relationship on the basis that they couldn’t do each other any more possible harm than they do themselves and that they’re less dangerous to each other than to others, but that’s no longer the case. Ruth said it; they’re alcoholics, and alcohol is off the table for Ruth for probably the rest of her life. Billie is a threat to that.

  74. Zellgato

    i can’t tell if this is billie accepting it and suggesting to go somewhere else. Just.. ya’kno billie angry style.
    or if this is her walking away.

    and clearly. Ruth can’t figure out which one she meant either given her comment but is assuming walking away

  75. Doopyboop

    I’m amazed at the people in the comments who think Ruth is screaming at Billie here. Like, okay. She has yelled at her in the past. Obviously. Chief example I can think of is when her granddad was in the picture, Billie tried to fight him, and Ruth yelled at her for not doing what she wanted. That was Ruth yelling at Billie.

    Now, was her voice a little raised? I’m sure it was. But there’s a different between “can you PLEASE stop trying to get me to drink?! I’m on medication and it’s important for me that it is effective!” and “I THOUGHT FOR ONCE IN YOUR LIFE YOU COULD DO WHAT I ASKED!”. I mean…guys… C’mon. http://www.dumbingofage.com/2017/comic/book-7/03-the-thing-i-was-before/patriarch/ Just look at the text here! This is her yelling at Billie, absolutely. And it was wrong. Understandable since obvy Ruth is stressed, but wrong. And Billie had no problem telling her she was being a bongo after the fact. But in this circumstance, Ruth is within her right to raise her voice. There are many times where I, in an attempt to assert myself over people who’re kinda stepping on my toes or insisting I do whatever it is they want, will find myself raising my voice because sorry, sometimes people ain’t gonna get it til you do. If your voice isn’t raised, if your language isn’t firm enough, then people don’t take it to mean ‘no’. Ruth has indicated she doesn’t want to drink, and yet Billie keeps pushing, hence this argument here. I feel for Billie, because obviously if this were an easy choice it wouldn’t be an addiction, but I’m not going to make Ruth sound like some screeching harpy for the grand old crime of…not wanting to drink alcohol. It’s her choice and Billie needs to respect it.

    1. Lexi

      I may have been one of the people to imply that this was yelling, and you’re right, it’s not. The problem here is something much more insidious. Ruth is right, and reasonable, and that truth is something that hurts Billie, and she can’t just dismiss Ruth’s tone for why she doesn’t like this new development.

      She’s upset because she feels guilty, and it doesn’t matter how factually correct Ruth is, Billie still doesn’t like it, and is lashing out over it.

      1. Doopyboop

        And to be honest, if this was reversed, I’m sure Ruth would lash out too. And in fact has in the past (such as the comic above obviously). Here’s hoping these two are able to pull through and get to an understanding!

  76. Solenoid

    At least there’s always

  77. Ryan

    Billie sucks.

  78. Nevermaker

    Is this really the same girl who said she’d die for Ruth just earlier today? Dang Billie, get your priorities straight.

  79. mister gray

    Billie you ass your breaking Ruth’s heart!

  80. Zee

    Ruth: *raises her voice slightly to get Billie to listen to actually listen to her since Billie isn’t taking this seriously* if I drink it could kill me. You constantly trying to get me to drink again is extremely dangerous for me.

    Some of y’all: rUth iS sCrEamIng aT biLIiE tHiS iS aBusE

    (Note, I know Ruth has been abusive in the past, but I’m specifically referring to the past few strips. We’ve seen Ruth scream at Billie before. This ain’t it.)

  81. Dovahqueen

    Oh dear…. There relationship has never really seemed healthy to me at all, and I don’t think it would make me too sad to see it end, but I’m so worried that the end of their relationship would send one of them spiraling again. Alcohol is a hell of a force once it get’s hold of you.

  82. Axel

    somehow I missed this page, so here’s my late ‘yikes, billie’

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