She’s clearly feigning weakness by calling attention to her injury. I must quickly flip this chair out from under me while tumbling backward, and use it to block the attack. Then, I’ll jump out the window, flip off a tree branch, run across some rooftops, leap onto a truck, and ride away on top of it while giving a double middle-finger. Yeah, that should be good. I mean, that’s how I made my last friend, right?
Whew, glad I got that sorted. Okay, here goes!
Roborat
Why would you flip off a tree branch? What did that tree branch ever do to you?
HeySo
Always lumbering about, staring at me with that unchanging wooden expression.. surely, that gives you a kindling of an idea of what I suffered?
Here, I’ve kept extensive logs, you should take a look. Anyway, frankly, I was board of it, and I wanted to let it know, so I decided to try branching out into new methods of interaction. I couldn’t quite put a finger on how I wanted to handle things, but then I came up with this super handy approach. Boom, bam, another one bites the sawdust. It may seem like I’m palming all the credit, but I really do think only I could have grasped the situation quite as firmly, not to mention being willing to knuckle down to do what needed to be done. Anyway, I’ve rambled enough, so I won’t stick around any longer; I’ll leaves you to think of an appropriately sappy response.
Honestly, I think that was well-played. Sal is demonstrating precisely what she’s forgiving Amber for, which prevents Amber from minimizing what she’d done, while opening the door for Amber to forgive her in turn.
Sure. I think Well_Played is concerned about the redness of the final panel. I am as well.
Needfuldoer
AmbOS hit an unhandled exception error, and has very nearly gone into kernel panic.
Jallorn
I am anticipating some sort of, “You forgive me?” reaction.
Xenocide
Anticipating, but going fervently for a different outcome
Xenocide
Hoping* gosh darnit
DSL
The background of the last panel is red, but the characters are colored in the strip’s normal palette and not tinted red. Emergence/freeing from past trauma, perhaps?
Marsh Maryrose
I think the tinting just indicates flashback.
In the panel where Amber curb-stomps Blaine, there’s a red background but no tinting. (I think. The scene is in the middle of a rainstorm.)
Same when Ryan confronts Amber. Red panels, no tinting.
Also, just because they’re forgiving each other doesn’t mean Amber’s problems are solved. Anxiety, PTSD, DID, and anger issues just don’t work that way, and forgiveness can be a long and hard process by itself, never mind when both parties caused permanent damage to each other.
Regalli
I think even if Amber accepts this there’s still a decent chance being surprised by Sal will set off her fear reflexes for some time. And AG hasn’t been party to any of this, which will at MINIMUM confuse the shit out of her. (That one is easily another eight years of our time before we see anything resembling a resolution – even if Amber checked herself into a hospital in the next strip she’ll probably still be trying to manage things for the rest of the comic. I mean Ruth hasn’t even seen real effects from her antidepressants yet.) Also Blaine’s still around.
BBCC
YEP. I’m waiting on AG’s reaction here. A big part of AG’s identity is wrapped in the need to protect people from Amber’s rage. And, like, that’s still a problem, but it’s still got to be some sort of step forward if she makes nice with Sal.
Ivy
As much as Amber likes to play pretend, her and AG are the same person. So maybe she’ll need to get over her need to pretend they’re not sharing the same brain and experiencing the same things.
So what you’re saying is after this hard earned, heart warming page that shows the fruits of eight years of character development of these two characters they’ll both immediately backslide into hating each other! Amber’s gonna slap Sal’s hand, chairs will be thrown and round 2 starts!
BBCC
That is not what I said at all. What I said is that forgiving people can be a long hard process even when both parties agree they want it, and the fact they both caused permanent damage to each other and are struggling with trauma related to each other probably wouldn’t help. For instance, they can generally have made nice and Amber can still have flashbacks when Sal surprises her, or Sal can still feel resentful days her hand is giving her trouble. It’s not necessarily rational, but neither are people all the time.
Regalli
And even if they both forgive each other, I’m not entirely certain ‘friends’ was what they’d want under any circumstances but what they have here. They can make peace, make nice for Walky, and never get along. They can do that and live in the same hall. I’m not sure they can do both at once while also Sal fights crime with Amber’s alterego, but that’s another story.
BBCC
I really don’t know where that storyline is going to go. I don’t think this is going to be that story that goes ‘violence is bad!!! Even when you’re stopping rapists from enacting further violence!’ (at least, I hope not – I respect Willis enough to think that’s not where he’s going with this) but at the same time, that’s all about to get more complicated.
Regalli
I’m hoping it leans towards ‘punch a rapist when you have to, but OUTSMART a rapist if you can first and have a good support system in play so punching rapists isn’t your only outlet for Emotions.’ Still leaves the door open for big action sequences while also acknowledging there are options that aren’t the line AG and Sal both gave about anger needing to be let out away from good people. (I mean yes, but have you considered roller derby?)
And my comment was more ‘they may make peace, but progress doesn’t mean InstaFriends and even as the narrative pushes them together there’ll be bumps.’
Kris
My hope is that the dude bros get reported, reprimanded, or even expelled for generally causing mayhem on campus. They are the same guys that bullied Danny day one. And hopefully the administration will do the responsible thing and expell Ryan for being a rapist what with all these girls that have come out against him. Even hooded skeptic guy couldn’t believe they’re all lying! But that sounds like wishful thinking right now. I’m all for beating up rapists but that’s not a viable long term solution.
BBCC
@ Regalli – Yeah, that’s what I’m hoping for. A) Emotional support (and therapy for Amber, please, I will BEG), B) Fight smart. Look for ways to destroy them and try to pick times when it won’t blow up on you and your friends if it gets physical, and C) If all else fails, make them bleed.
@ Kris – When more legit channels can’t (or won’t) handle things or when you have very valid reasons to hesitate to involve them (like Sal being black with a record and not wanting to volunteer to assaulting guys) I think it can be the only way for there to be ANY consequences (especially when combined with a social media campaign that won’t be shut up). If it’s possible, I’d be down for them being expelled. And run out of polite society.
Kris
“Make nice for Walky?!” I’m sorry but you lost me. That idiot doesn’t even know what’s happened yet and I doubt he’d do the same for Sal. I don’t even give him credit enough to sympathize with Sal when/if he finds out the whole story. Make peace for themselves sure, but Walky can go suck on week old mcnuggets!
BBCC
Sal and Amber both care about him though (complicated as his and Sal’s relationship is), so they probably would take his feelings into consideration.
Regalli
I have a little hope Walky is trying to actively repair and rebuild his relationship with Sal, and that means ‘don’t get estranged if Sal says it’s me or the girl you’ve dated less than two days’. And I think Sal’s going to try and Not have to do that.)
Emily
Honestly, Sal shouldn’t even have to ask. “Maybe don’t date the girl who stabbed and harassed your sister” seems like something that you should just kinda know is a good move on your own.
BBCC
That requires him to know about that first.
Emily
Well yeah, I’m withholding judgement until he actually knows but if he continues to date Amber after finding out it’s certainly not going to help my view of him as a shitty brother.
BBCC
Sal might be okay with it, but if he doesn’t even have any misgivings, yeah, that’s gonna be fucked up.
Just off the top of my head, I’m dying to know how Joyce’s parents are doing, see story development for Jocelyn, some Joe, more Carla, more Leslie, more Dina, and more Becky&Dina.
I’m still waiting for Jocelyne to come out to Joyce. She hinted at it a couple books back, saying they should talk. Also I want to find out what happened to Jordan.
The last couple of books have been other characters, I vote we turn back to the Browns.
I’m bracing for that, since both of them are missing context. Sal doesn’t know how badly Amber got messed up by Blaine, she just knows Amber got scared and enraged after she took Ethan hostage. Amber doesn’t know Sal’s motivation or regret over what happened, she just knows she’s a violent criminal who hurt her best friend.
That would require both of them to open up more, and honestly I’m not sure if Amber’s ready for that. She hasn’t had an epiphany like Sal did a few strips back. I don’t think she’s ready to stop projecting her demons on Sal yet anyway.
I was just coming here to say that. While I definitely feel for Amber too, I can’t imagine having the courage and kindness to do what Sal’s doing here if I’d been in her shoes. She just gained a lot of points in my mind, and I already liked Sal a lot.
I see more and more that Sal is amazing for doing this while Amber…..Amber seems like she’s lost in her own hell and can’t seem to leave it or want to, she seems content in it.
288 thoughts on “Jumpsuit”
Ana Chronistic
“For… give? What language is that ?♀️”
Ana Chronistic
“It’s the language of FEELS”
Aeron
“Fehlz… sounds poisonous.”
Deanatay
“She’s extending her wounded hand towards me – some kind of obscure martial arts move, like that stork kick from the original Karate Kid?”
HeySo
She’s clearly feigning weakness by calling attention to her injury. I must quickly flip this chair out from under me while tumbling backward, and use it to block the attack. Then, I’ll jump out the window, flip off a tree branch, run across some rooftops, leap onto a truck, and ride away on top of it while giving a double middle-finger. Yeah, that should be good. I mean, that’s how I made my last friend, right?
Whew, glad I got that sorted. Okay, here goes!
Roborat
Why would you flip off a tree branch? What did that tree branch ever do to you?
HeySo
Always lumbering about, staring at me with that unchanging wooden expression.. surely, that gives you a kindling of an idea of what I suffered?
Here, I’ve kept extensive logs, you should take a look. Anyway, frankly, I was board of it, and I wanted to let it know, so I decided to try branching out into new methods of interaction. I couldn’t quite put a finger on how I wanted to handle things, but then I came up with this super handy approach. Boom, bam, another one bites the sawdust. It may seem like I’m palming all the credit, but I really do think only I could have grasped the situation quite as firmly, not to mention being willing to knuckle down to do what needed to be done. Anyway, I’ve rambled enough, so I won’t stick around any longer; I’ll leaves you to think of an appropriately sappy response.
adjudicus
+1 internets
Clif
Sal can’t forgive Amber. You can’t forgive garbage.
Well_Played
Uh-oh
Stu
Honestly, I think that was well-played. Sal is demonstrating precisely what she’s forgiving Amber for, which prevents Amber from minimizing what she’d done, while opening the door for Amber to forgive her in turn.
LeslieBean4Shizzle
Sure. I think Well_Played is concerned about the redness of the final panel. I am as well.
Needfuldoer
AmbOS hit an unhandled exception error, and has very nearly gone into kernel panic.
Jallorn
I am anticipating some sort of, “You forgive me?” reaction.
Xenocide
Anticipating, but going fervently for a different outcome
Xenocide
Hoping* gosh darnit
DSL
The background of the last panel is red, but the characters are colored in the strip’s normal palette and not tinted red. Emergence/freeing from past trauma, perhaps?
Marsh Maryrose
I think the tinting just indicates flashback.
In the panel where Amber curb-stomps Blaine, there’s a red background but no tinting. (I think. The scene is in the middle of a rainstorm.)
Same when Ryan confronts Amber. Red panels, no tinting.
AnvilPro
I have no idea what Dumbing of Age is even going to be about if Amber manages to finally put her past with Sal behind her
Regalli
Solid month of Dino Facts With Dina (and Becky, and new best friend Sal.) Followed by Carla’s pranking schematics.
Also Joyce I guess. And Walky’s drama. Maybe some more Billie.
Doctor_Who
So you’re saying it will be amazing.
Tacos
I vote for Sweet Dino Facts.
Keulen
I’m ok with this, especially if it has Dina talking about dinosaurs.
Ana Chronistic
Talking about, teaching about, theorizing the ill-advised DNA reconstruction of
…maybe not the last one (?)
Uly
Walky’s still failing math, Joyce is still troubled six ways from Sunday, Joe’s still learning to be a likable human being, Dina is still adorable….
BBCC
Also, just because they’re forgiving each other doesn’t mean Amber’s problems are solved. Anxiety, PTSD, DID, and anger issues just don’t work that way, and forgiveness can be a long and hard process by itself, never mind when both parties caused permanent damage to each other.
Regalli
I think even if Amber accepts this there’s still a decent chance being surprised by Sal will set off her fear reflexes for some time. And AG hasn’t been party to any of this, which will at MINIMUM confuse the shit out of her. (That one is easily another eight years of our time before we see anything resembling a resolution – even if Amber checked herself into a hospital in the next strip she’ll probably still be trying to manage things for the rest of the comic. I mean Ruth hasn’t even seen real effects from her antidepressants yet.) Also Blaine’s still around.
BBCC
YEP. I’m waiting on AG’s reaction here. A big part of AG’s identity is wrapped in the need to protect people from Amber’s rage. And, like, that’s still a problem, but it’s still got to be some sort of step forward if she makes nice with Sal.
Ivy
As much as Amber likes to play pretend, her and AG are the same person. So maybe she’ll need to get over her need to pretend they’re not sharing the same brain and experiencing the same things.
BBCC
Yeah, that’s absolutely not how DID works.
Fart Captor
She’s “pretended” that even when there was nobody in the room to pretend for, but go off
http://www.dumbingofage.com/2017/comic/book-8/02-this-is-the-way-that-we-love/douche/
Kris
So what you’re saying is after this hard earned, heart warming page that shows the fruits of eight years of character development of these two characters they’ll both immediately backslide into hating each other! Amber’s gonna slap Sal’s hand, chairs will be thrown and round 2 starts!
BBCC
That is not what I said at all. What I said is that forgiving people can be a long hard process even when both parties agree they want it, and the fact they both caused permanent damage to each other and are struggling with trauma related to each other probably wouldn’t help. For instance, they can generally have made nice and Amber can still have flashbacks when Sal surprises her, or Sal can still feel resentful days her hand is giving her trouble. It’s not necessarily rational, but neither are people all the time.
Regalli
And even if they both forgive each other, I’m not entirely certain ‘friends’ was what they’d want under any circumstances but what they have here. They can make peace, make nice for Walky, and never get along. They can do that and live in the same hall. I’m not sure they can do both at once while also Sal fights crime with Amber’s alterego, but that’s another story.
BBCC
I really don’t know where that storyline is going to go. I don’t think this is going to be that story that goes ‘violence is bad!!! Even when you’re stopping rapists from enacting further violence!’ (at least, I hope not – I respect Willis enough to think that’s not where he’s going with this) but at the same time, that’s all about to get more complicated.
Regalli
I’m hoping it leans towards ‘punch a rapist when you have to, but OUTSMART a rapist if you can first and have a good support system in play so punching rapists isn’t your only outlet for Emotions.’ Still leaves the door open for big action sequences while also acknowledging there are options that aren’t the line AG and Sal both gave about anger needing to be let out away from good people. (I mean yes, but have you considered roller derby?)
And my comment was more ‘they may make peace, but progress doesn’t mean InstaFriends and even as the narrative pushes them together there’ll be bumps.’
Kris
My hope is that the dude bros get reported, reprimanded, or even expelled for generally causing mayhem on campus. They are the same guys that bullied Danny day one. And hopefully the administration will do the responsible thing and expell Ryan for being a rapist what with all these girls that have come out against him. Even hooded skeptic guy couldn’t believe they’re all lying! But that sounds like wishful thinking right now. I’m all for beating up rapists but that’s not a viable long term solution.
BBCC
@ Regalli – Yeah, that’s what I’m hoping for. A) Emotional support (and therapy for Amber, please, I will BEG), B) Fight smart. Look for ways to destroy them and try to pick times when it won’t blow up on you and your friends if it gets physical, and C) If all else fails, make them bleed.
@ Kris – When more legit channels can’t (or won’t) handle things or when you have very valid reasons to hesitate to involve them (like Sal being black with a record and not wanting to volunteer to assaulting guys) I think it can be the only way for there to be ANY consequences (especially when combined with a social media campaign that won’t be shut up). If it’s possible, I’d be down for them being expelled. And run out of polite society.
Kris
“Make nice for Walky?!” I’m sorry but you lost me. That idiot doesn’t even know what’s happened yet and I doubt he’d do the same for Sal. I don’t even give him credit enough to sympathize with Sal when/if he finds out the whole story. Make peace for themselves sure, but Walky can go suck on week old mcnuggets!
BBCC
Sal and Amber both care about him though (complicated as his and Sal’s relationship is), so they probably would take his feelings into consideration.
Regalli
I have a little hope Walky is trying to actively repair and rebuild his relationship with Sal, and that means ‘don’t get estranged if Sal says it’s me or the girl you’ve dated less than two days’. And I think Sal’s going to try and Not have to do that.)
Emily
Honestly, Sal shouldn’t even have to ask. “Maybe don’t date the girl who stabbed and harassed your sister” seems like something that you should just kinda know is a good move on your own.
BBCC
That requires him to know about that first.
Emily
Well yeah, I’m withholding judgement until he actually knows but if he continues to date Amber after finding out it’s certainly not going to help my view of him as a shitty brother.
BBCC
Sal might be okay with it, but if he doesn’t even have any misgivings, yeah, that’s gonna be fucked up.
Vulcanodon
Just off the top of my head, I’m dying to know how Joyce’s parents are doing, see story development for Jocelyn, some Joe, more Carla, more Leslie, more Dina, and more Becky&Dina.
Mr D phone posting
The next six months of strips we won’t see either Walky nor Amber.
And then Willis will post the longest Slipshine he has everdrawn.
shadowcell
Ninja Rick killing spiders
AS IT WAS FORETOLD
AntJ
I’m still holding out to meet Jordan, and Joyce is an inexhaustible supply of material
Pinkie
I’m still waiting for Jocelyne to come out to Joyce. She hinted at it a couple books back, saying they should talk. Also I want to find out what happened to Jordan.
The last couple of books have been other characters, I vote we turn back to the Browns.
JohnF
More naked Ethan! The Great Faz finally cops a feel and runs away crying for Billie. Lots to come yet…
Deadjolras
I want to know how the Joyce-Jacob-Raidah-Sarah-Joe situation will unfold!
Mordecai
Also I’m betting Clint is gonna be the final antagonist
King Daniel
Why is that last panel red
Lux
My guess is because it’s related to Amber’s PTSD.
DinaWho
*Han Solo voice* I have a bad feeling about this…
Kris
Because this is technically an act of violence!…..Or like traumatic for Amber or something. Probably more the second one.
Kris
Or, and here me out here……Sal kicked Amber in the shins while she offered that handshake.
poofdepoof
It feels me with apprehension… Ugh I really really really do not want Sal to get hurt here, she is trusting Amber SO much
Marsh Maryrose
You don’t have to be a Patreon subscriber to guess that Amber’s about to blow up in rage. “YOU forgive ME?! You BONGO!”
Rex Vivat
I’m expecting something like that, but hoping for a positive reaction.
Needfuldoer
I’m bracing for that, since both of them are missing context. Sal doesn’t know how badly Amber got messed up by Blaine, she just knows Amber got scared and enraged after she took Ethan hostage. Amber doesn’t know Sal’s motivation or regret over what happened, she just knows she’s a violent criminal who hurt her best friend.
That would require both of them to open up more, and honestly I’m not sure if Amber’s ready for that. She hasn’t had an epiphany like Sal did a few strips back. I don’t think she’s ready to stop projecting her demons on Sal yet anyway.
FacelessDeviant
Its Ambers ptsd. I am hoping its so she can overcome it.
begbert2
Amber grabs the outstretched hand and throws Sal headfirst into the wall. “Oops, sorry! Reflex! …Sal? Sal?”
Cue the coma storyline.
Roborat
The sun just went nova.
BBCC
However Amber responds, I’m proud of Sal here.
Lux
Same!!!!!
Regalli
It takes a lot. *Sheds a happy tear.*
Geneseepaws
You’re not crying, I’m cry…. Wait! How does that meme go again? Crap. Offers you an apology and a kleenex brand tissue.
lilyliv
I was just coming here to say that. While I definitely feel for Amber too, I can’t imagine having the courage and kindness to do what Sal’s doing here if I’d been in her shoes. She just gained a lot of points in my mind, and I already liked Sal a lot.
ditrysia
Honestly. She’s doing so well here, and she’s being so CALM even in the face of Amber’s threats. She’s grown so much.
mister gray
I see more and more that Sal is amazing for doing this while Amber…..Amber seems like she’s lost in her own hell and can’t seem to leave it or want to, she seems content in it.
newllend(henryvolt)
This will only go either good or bad.
pjeseb