244

Pick-me-up
Posted on August 11, 2021 by David M Willis

244 thoughts on “Pick-me-up”

  1. Ana Chronistic

    “…while you’re watching”

    1. Ana Chronistic

      that, or she thinks those flowers are “space” and is just taking what Danny said she could

      1. Harmony

        Never expected her to be such a Tsundere…

        1. Sunny

          It really makes sense if you consider it a side-effect of how her mother acts. Every gift comes with the expectation that she later does something the gift-giver wants. Billie and Walky probably got her gifts for her birthdays, but those are an occasion and not quite the same thing as just being give a gift. Marcy’s family is pretty poor, and then there was the gas station and Sal being sent off to boarding school. It’s quite possible noone has ever given her a gift just because they wanted to do something nice for her.
          Under those circumstances I can really understand Sal being tsun about it. She has no experience and no framework for just accepting a gift and being happy. If Danny can just so much as get her started on working through that he will have given her a really great gift.

        2. Spencer

          It’s like if Shinji and Asuka were kind of healthier.

        3. Deanatay

          No how, no way, I won’t say it
          It’s too cliche, I won’t say it

        4. Spencer

          You swoon, you sigh

          Why deny it oh-oh

        5. Felix

          Why Danny it?

        6. Spencer

          omg

        7. Clif

          Oh, he has plenty of time yet to Danny it.

        8. Hinoron

          Really? She’s been pretty Tsundere since day one.

        9. Clif

          Day 1 http://www.itswalky.com/comic/college-ho-page-8/

        10. Hinoron

          Well that’s not even the same continuity.
          Let’s look at her previous relations in DoA instead.

          Mainly that English teacher’s aid comes to mind.

  2. Blibdoolpoolp

    Aint this a quaint little dysfunctional ship :v

    1. Doctor_Who

      One day, after many years of their relationship evolving down this path, he’ll propose…by buying a ring, offering it to her, getting rejected, and putting the ring in at the end of a hallway filled with deathtraps.

      She’ll naturally steal it, then claim his hand in marriage as her prize for besting him.

      1. Jamie

        This feels like some kind of genderswapped Atalanta, somehow. I’m down for it.

        1. Thag Simmons

          Eh, is it really the Atalanta myth if there weren’t a bunch of other suitors who tried and died before you? That’s kind of the best part.

        2. King Daniel

          Hang on, are we sure Jason’s still alive?

        3. Doctor_Who

          He’s been “dating” Ruth for a full day now, so let’s say 50/50 odds.

        4. Geneseepaws

          But does he still have his femurs?

        5. Clif

          As long as he takes her somewhere nice.

      2. Sirksome

        That would actually be a decent romcom idea. Kind of pushinf the classic tsundere dynamic to a comedic extreme.

        1. fridge_logic

          I don’t know how comic it has to be. Like it’s definitely comedic, but its also romantic that you believe so much in the strength of someone you like (in part for their strength) that you confidently put the embodiment of your love for them behind all those death traps with no doubt in your mind that they will clear them all safely and claim you.

          I figure it’s nice to have someone believe in you like that. Sweet really.

        2. I am Nothing

          Unless, of course, it doesn’t work out.

          Impaled by a spike trap and flattened by the giant boulder.

        3. Radiance

          Look, if you love someone you have to let them go.

          To hell.

        4. I am Nothing

          The wedding can be held there!

        5. Geneseepaws

          well, I’M not going to cater that event

        6. deliverything

          Well, someone has to! We’ve got 300 greek guys waiting to dine!

      3. ShellShockBP

        “Ah’m not marryin you! You’re marryin me.”

        1. Sirksome

          He’ll have to take her last name too! Daniel Walkerton doesn’t sound too bad.

        2. Clif

          As long as he doesn’t get caught writing it down to see how it looks.

        3. Deanatay

          Danny Walkerton…

          Danny Walkerton-Wilcox?

          Danny Wilcox-Walkerton!

          Ooh, Danny Wilkertox! Wiltercox?

        4. Spencer

          Danny Wilcox Walkerton?

          Damn he’s moving fast!

        5. Disastroid

          He walks the Walk, but can he cox the cox?

        6. Spencer

          Alternatively: Walkerton? I hardly know ‘er!

        7. darkgloomie

          I feel like Sal would be happier ditching her last name, tbh…

          Oooh, third option: she changes her legal name, and Danny takes that!

        8. John

          She could go with “Walters”.

        9. RowenMorland

          Classic reason for a breakup in Rimworld.

        10. King Daniel

          The statue depicts Danny Wilcox clowning with Sal Walkerton, holding a bouquet of pens in his hand. Ten fathers look on listlessly. The image gives an impression of vulnerability. This artwork was made to remember Sal stealing the flowers from Danny on August 11, 2021.

        11. Spencer

          Sal strikes me as someone who’d want to propose herself but Danny would have this specific perfect vision of how he wants proposing to go.

          So they’d get into all these wild shenanigans where they try to one-up the other on proposals.

        12. thejeff

          Or she’d just bluntly ask him during the set up to his perfect romantic vision.

          I don’t really see Sal as wanting to do the complex perfect proposal thing.

        13. Spencer

          Shut up, I have a great idea for a romcom now.

          Two idiots trying to tie the knot but their egos keep forcing them to make wilder and wilder proposals.

        14. Delicious Taffy

          Greenlit, six seasons at 52 1-hour episodes each. You’ve got Steve Buscemi, Olivia Coleman, a 2D cartoon character voiced by Jim Cummings, and a sponsorship contract with Prairie Farms. Do with those resources as you will.

  3. RassilonTDavros

    Was really confused why Danny was smiling at the end… then I noticed Sal’s hand in the final panel.

    D’awww.

    1. eh, whatever

      He isn’t smiling. If anything, he’s looking a bit confused.

      1. thejeff

        Yeah, I don’t think Danny realizes yet that she’s snuck back around to take flowers.

  4. plasticwrap

    Someone help me figure out what’s happening in the last panel please

    1. bootshivers

      Sal is swiping from flowers from the bouquet.

      1. Nono

        Sally, no swiping!

        1. Clif

          But if she swipes them, he doesn’t own her.

        2. MrSmith

          Its already been agreed by the majority on here that Linda owns Sal

        3. MrSmith

          No it hasn’t and no she doesn’t.

        4. Jenn

          Are you having an argument with yourself?

        5. MrSmith

          Just making sure is all

        6. Clif

          It’s It’s only bad if you lose arguments with yourself.

        7. milu

          I lost a bet to myself once. Once! YEARS ago! And i STILL gloat about it! Even though I’ve PAID the trillion dollars and four cents, so maybe its time I moved on.
          I’m such a jerk sometimes, I swear.

    2. Shitbird

      Sal is grabbing a couple flowers while Danny isn’t looking

    3. King Daniel

      Sal snuck around and grabbed a few flowers from the bouquet.

    4. plasticwrap

      Is she stealing flowers?

      1. Rose by Any Other Name

        No.
        Danny offered the flowers. She is merely accepting his offer. Secretly.

      2. plasticwrap

        Oops, that was fast nvm

        1. Thag Simmons

          people got quick fingers

        2. Clif

          So does Sal.

        3. I am Nothing

          Oh ho.

        4. RowenMorland

          Additional unit!

    5. Bogeywoman

      Sal is behind the wall pinching a couple of flowers

    6. Linda

      Thank you, I totally missed that anything was going on there because I was staring at the other half of the panel… it’s me, I am the Danny.

      1. Chris

        You’re not the only Danny here.

      2. Wizard

        Don’t feel too bad. I had to look twice and zoom in a little to get it.

      3. thejeff

        I saw the hand, but couldn’t tell what it was doing at first. I didn’t identify the things in it as flowers.

      4. Roborat

        Yea, I missed it too, on the first read through.

    7. brionl

      It’s confusing because Damnyouwillis left off the obligatory “Yoink” sound effect.

    8. Demoted Oblivious

      Y’all are *WRONG*. No flowers have disappeared from the bouqette. Sal is secretly adding *more* flowers, because she secretly enjoys her blooming (hehe) relationship with Danny.

      I will die on this hill. ?

  5. MrSmith

    In the spirit of positivity, those are some good colours on Danny though its winter so he really should get another hat.

    1. Doctor_Who

      Don’t suggest that, he’ll somehow find a hat even worse than the last one.

      There will be earflaps. Do you want to be responsible for earflaps?

      1. MrSmith

        He’s ok with flat caps, just not with too wide a brim or you get into Goodies territory

      2. Chris

        I think he needs a cunning hat.

      3. Needfuldoer

        That or a toque with a pom-pom the size of a tennis ball on top.

      4. RowenMorland

        Straight up the red hunting hat from Catcher in the Rye?

      5. egg egg

        A hat that doesn’t keep your ears warm in winter is useless. Earflaps all the way.

        Praise pom-poms.

    2. Sam

      He should get a hat of a preferred video game enemy type that costs $40 to prove that he is a true dork.

  6. Shitbird

    Aww

  7. Nono

    You’d think Sal would be more familiar with… womanipulation.

    1. Delicious Taffy

      No way am I gonna Google that.

  8. crow

    Danny is being nice to manipulate Sal into liking him, what an asshole. Who does that?

    1. jonathan young

      perfection

    2. thejeff

      Even worse, it’s working.

      See how devious he is.

      1. Casi

        He’s as insidious as Root Beer.

        1. Jason

          This chat widget needs likes.

  9. Sirksome

    All according to his master plan I assure you! The seed has been planted, the bird in flight, the first line crossed, and the first box checked. Let the manipulation begin!

  10. Thag Simmons

    Is now a good time to mention that I really don’t get the appeal of giving someone flowers? It might have made sense for an older paradigm, I guess.

    1. crow

      While I don’t find cut flowers particularly useful, I have never had a love interest give me flowers, and I would probably like it if someone did because it would show that I am someone they think is worth buying flowers for. Or any gift, really. I’d just like to be thought of?

      1. Thag Simmons

        I guess?

        If they can’t go in a garden they’re just a pretty thing that’s going to quickly wither away. It’s not a great gift.

      2. MrSmith

        Interesting, I occasionally buy my wife flowers and she seems to like them, at the very lest she’ll put them in a vase but does she like the flowers or does she like that I bought her something thats supposed to represent positive feelings.

        1. crow

          Damn, that’s a tough one. If only there was an easy way to find out.

        2. MrSmith

          But if I just ask her she’ll manipulate me with her feminine wiles or something

        3. Delicious Taffy

          Careful, down that path may await smooching.

        4. MrSmith

          Well I’d hope so, we’ve been married nearly 12 years but I don’t want to rush her.

      3. Demoted Oblivious

        aww… no more *CAW* (translation…) Mrs Crow? (Or Mr or non binary or appropriate sign of respect)

    2. Nono

      I would say there’s a few layers:

      1. They’re pretty

      2. If they remembered someone’s favourite flower or arrangement, points for attention to detail.

      3. Language of flowers. Some people are into that I guess.

      4. They can be easily accompanied with other things. Chocolate, a poem, mixtape, etc.

      5. They’re not a super cheap gift, but they’re not going to break the bank. So it can show commitment without buying like jewelry.

      1. Demoted Oblivious

        A parfait’s got layers. I don’t know anyone gonna say “I don’t like no parfait”

    3. Viktoria

      Some people like flowers for the decor or the smell(my mother is one of those).
      The other reason is that it is a gift. You stopped, spent time picking out, and then spent money on, a gift that specifically says “I like you”. The gift is one the other person is supposed to own for ~1 week, displayed where they will be reminded of it, and then discard with no other effort on their part. It’s sort of a very specific ‘generic gift’, and if someone is looking for a nice message, it’s a clear way of doing that with minimal confusion.
      (unless the other person is Sal)

    4. Andy

      My wife likes tulips. Sometimes I buy her tulips because she likes them. Do they wilt? Sure, but she likes them.

    5. Sam

      I guess it depends on if you actually like flowers and the idea of small gifts to begin with but my mother likes displaying flowers she gets, they are pretty. I’ve never been given flowers but I like them and I like being given small gifts and flowers smell nice.

    6. carms

      I *thought* I didn’t get flowers, for the stated reasons, but actually, having flowers and being able to put them somewhere you can appreciate them is lovely. they look nice, they smell nice, they’re a visible reminder of people wanting to give you flowers.
      Even condolence flowers- i kind of expected to hate getting flowers when we had a death in the family, but in reality, walking into a house that smells lovely is just. a nice sensory experience. it didn’t mean I wasn’t grieving, but it made the physical context of my grief a bit more pleasant.

    7. Lumino

      My mom gardened, so when I buy any women flowers, they are usually potted, not cut. Cut flowers die too quickly, a small little pot of violets will brighten up a room for the whole season.

    8. Keulen

      I’d rather be given something that is a bit more useful and not gonna die fairly soon, but I wouldn’t mind getting flowers either since they’re pretty and the gesture would be nice. I’ve never been given flowers though, since in American society men usually aren’t given flowers by their SO as a gift.

    9. egg egg

      I never cared for the idea of receiving flowers until my now-husband gifted me some for a Valentine’s Day while we were dating. No one had given me flowers before, which is something I very enthusiastically told him. They were pretty to look at for the 2 weeks they lived on the counter.

      And as for growing your own flowers… I am not very good at that. I tried to grow some chamomile, thinking it would be as easy as my vegetable garden, but they made some baby sprouts and then promptly died. And the other flowers I transplanted have had very mixed results. Flowers are hard, wtf.

      1. Delicious Taffy

        Flowers are easy. Just remember to feed them people parts until they’re big enough to start talking.

    10. Johan

      Flowers are pretty and smell nice and it’s nice to have.

  11. Josh Spicer

    A mix of sad to see and absolutely adorable.

  12. BBCC

    I love the little smile in the last panel. I think he might be the second person who actually speaks Sal.

    On that note, I hope whoever called Sal protesting they aren’t dating and yet continuing to do the date-y thing anyway feels very proud of themselves because this looks like it could end up being bang on.

  13. Citizen Octopus

    Y’know, if you’re angry that folks are being nice to you, then you’ll ALWAYS be angry.
    That (or a stimulus/emotion combo very similar) is a lesson it took me a very long, very painful time to learn. I do hope Sal is smarter and more well-adjusted than I was.

  14. Dave Van Domelen

    Sal is stealthy, but Danny isn’t exactly rolling 20s on perception checks.

    1. Thag Simmons

      I would make a joke about perception being Danny’s dump stat, but they kind of all are.

      1. MrSmith

        Well hes not unintelligent, wisdom on the other hand…

        1. Clif

          Today he’s doing fine.

          I wouldn’t bet on tomorrow, but today he’ll pass for wise enough.

        2. Thag Simmons

          That’s fair actually, he does seem pretty smart with math and computers

      2. Deanatay

        Wait, are we talking SDCIWC stats, or SPECIAL stats?

        1. Clif

          It’s perfectly possibility to have SDCIWC stats that are Special.

          Works with either extra high or low luck stats, or more commonly with cheating.

        2. deliverything

          I don’t know, but Sal clearly uses FASERIP.

  15. BlackScarabFilmZ

    Getting a lot of Jeff the Spider from Billy and Mandy vibes from their relationship, except Danny isn’t as needy.

    1. Schpoonman

      Sal’s also a little more open to being around Danny than Billy was with Jeff.

  16. Zack Oak

    Dangit Danny, don’t make me like you.

    1. Dr. T

      What’s wrong with liking Danny? In general, he’s good people, even if Ethan might never forgive him about what he said about Mike. Granted, it was unbelievably insensitive but only three characters (Ethan, Amber, and AmaziGirl) were relatively certain that Mike had redeeming qualities and even they seemed to wonder at times.

  17. Wagstaff

    It’s not a wonder she thinks people just can’t be nice for being nice.

    Her whole environment is distorted around the distorted idea that the reward for good comes from authority, from power ever others, from a supreme deity.

    But those who think deep, realize that the reward of a good action cannot be given by any power, but that it is the natural result of the good action.

    Our reward for doing good is in the nature of things, and not in the comprise of any power, not in the comprise of the supernatural, not even the comprise of the infinite.

    We should not strive to be loyal, faithful servants to any person, god, government, culture, color or creed.

    We should be good, intelligent, free individuals.

    1. Bysmerian

      I feel like you’re confusing Joyce and Sal again. I’ve never gotten the impression that Sal’s family was religious at all, especially given some early comments from Walky.

      1. Clif

        Joyce and Sal were switched at birth and, unbeknownst to themselves, each is actually the other.

      2. Wagstaff

        Sal was raised under the false impression that good is by definition putting up a facade for selfish benefit, that niceness is always manipulation.

        Her mother, and many others like her, think that good is the sole product of authority because they keep learning from bad example. And some of the most insidious examples are found in and perpetuated by the institution of religion. Especially the major monotheistic religions.

      3. egg egg

        While I agree that the Walkerton family doesn’t seem religious, there was that time when Walky had a stint as a child actor and appeared in one of Joyce’s propaganda shows.

        Also, who knows how religious Sal’s boarding school was? The Meet the Parents weekend had Sal dressing up in an outfit I’d expect from a religious boarding school.

        1. Spencer

          I’m pretty sure it was a Catholic boarding school, yeah. Sal was expected to find Jesus, not leather.

        2. thejeff

          “Why not both?”

          It might just be that Catholics have a reputation for that kind of boarding school though. I don’t think there’s any other evidence the Walkerton’s are Catholic or much more than nominally religious at all. The Hymmell video certainly wasn’t Catholic – most likely it was just a child actor opportunity as far as Linda was concerned.

        3. Bysmerian

          I’m inclined to agree re: the Hymmel bit. Walky remembering it barely-to-not-at-all implies that it wasn’t really a mark of pride or even particular significance for him or his family.

        4. C.T. Phipps

          Sal is one of those people who would note Jesus was anti-authoritarian, pacifist, hated the rich, and loathed hypocrites. In short, she’s probably someone who even if not a theist has respect for him as an anarchist philosopher.

          Joyce would find Sal’s view like a Lovecraft protagonist and Blue Screen of Death–even if she’s not religious anymore.

        5. Wagstaff

          Well, she DID call out Booster on “psychological sooth-saying”; vast networks of distortions like that don’t just leave our heuristics overnight. It’s more of a “purge ’em when you find ’em” kind of game.

  18. ADLegend21

    incredible.

  19. powerpowerpow

    I mean y’all can use my gravatar to judge how happy this makes me.

  20. LiterallyJustSomeGuy

    I didn’t notice Sal’s arm until after I read the hovertext. Awww, Sal likes flowers. (No one can know.)

  21. Delicious Taffy

    Huh. Maybe he’s not as dense as I thought.

    1. DailyBrad

      His density is honestly pretty overstated. I think he rises to the occasion more often than not.

      1. Delicious Taffy

        I admit I may have been uncharitable toward Danny, yesterday. There was a lot of that going around.

    2. RacingTurtle

      Or maybe he is that dense, but that’s all right. Some very nice things are dense. Maybe a sweet, perfect pound cake made with Good Egg.

      1. Delicious Taffy

        Great now I want pound cake.

        1. Clif

          https://www.amazon.com/Fresh-Brand-Vanilla-Pound-Cake/dp/B08M7DHY95/ref=sr_1_2_0g_fs

        2. Delicious Taffy

          The listing says it’s unavailable, you absolute tease. ☹️

        3. Needfuldoer

          This one should always be available, it’s an official upload:

          https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=y6HXTbyqQ4E

  22. Yumi

    I let out a loud “Ha!” at the last panel.

    1. JessWitt

      Same!

  23. DailyBrad

    That’s a cute punchline to cap it off, and very Sal.

  24. Sirksome

    You know if Sal doesn’t get her shit together soon Danny might get snatched up. He’s one of the more decent available guys that’s not directly related to her. Joe is a project, Ethan is gay, and Jacob is probably hanging with Ethan in not made an appearance yet ville. Also he has dating criteria which is a little cringe. And I’m not sure if she swings nonbinary. All I’m saying is pining for Asher is a lost cause and sweetboy Danny has prospects.

    1. Delicious Taffy

      Could you clarify on the “dating criteria” part? I’m not sure I get it and don’t want to make any assumptions.

      1. Sirksome

        I guess Jacob has some kind of checklist a girl needs to meet to be a dating prospect which is stupid and his brother even kind of criticized him for it.

        https://www.dumbingofage.com/2019/comic/book-10/01-birthday-pursuit/checklist/

        It’s why he was dating Raidah. She passed but the irony was his brother liked Joyce who checked none of those boxes and so did he. He might have abandoned the idea by now though but we won’t know until he shows up again.

        1. Delicious Taffy

          Oh yeah, I’d forgotten about that, though I really hope it’s not as literal a checklist as it sounds. Everybody’s got deal breakers, of course, and far be it from me to shame people for being choosey, but having a point-by-point list of what a potential partner must have seems like a recipe for serial disappointment.

      2. justin8448

        I think Sirksome means that Jacob has a list of things he wants in a partner, which (in Sirksome’s opinion) isn’t a good way to go about romance.

        If I recall correctly, Jacob’s last words to Joyce were something like “My new list is going to look a lot like you, minus some things.”

        1. Sirksome

          It’s like his brother said it’s good to have goals but why cut yourself off from the unexpected. You’ll never know what or who you’ll miss out on.

        2. Spencer

          I mean, it’s not weird to be like “this is what I value in a romantic partner” is it?

          It’s weird if Jacob made a list of mechanical benefits and detriments comparing Joyce and Raidah so he could figure out which one he wanted to date, but I kinda figured Jacob just meant it “a list” as the kind of person he likes.

        3. thejeff

          The original checklist seemed more than that, since it seemed to be ticking off qualities he thought he should like, rather than what he actually wanted. Ones that might please his brother, possibly.

          He’s likely still a bit too structured about it, but now he’s at least aiming for his own interests, judging by his last comments about it.

    2. Segnosaur

      Sal was with Jason for a while. Ok, it was more or less just a sexual thing, but she seemed rather… peeved… when she found him in Ruth’s room.

      So maybe she sort of has a thing for the skinny, smart/nerdy types.

      1. Dr. T

        That was never an actual relationship, especially from her perspective.

        1. eh, whatever

          So she tries to believe.

        2. Spencer

          You’re both correct.

          They spontaneously had sex twice in the heat of the moment and had two actual conversations afterwards, and that’s basically as close as Sal gets to having an emotional connection with someone who isn’t Marcie.

      2. eh, whatever

        Perfectly fitting avatar.

    3. Yumi

      Yeah, but maybe she doesn’t realize she’s in a comic strip and thinks there are more options at this major university. (No, she’s hung up on Asher.)

      1. Delicious Taffy

        It would be amazing if Sal got a boyfriend and he turned out to just be Some Guy who’s nothing but a background character.

        1. Yumi

          “Ah got a boyfriend!” *gestures to a guy so far in the background that no details can be made out* “Fine, ah’ll introduce you to ‘im.” *the “camera” refuses to follow*

        2. Delicious Taffy

          It’s like 3 panels of distant silhouettes and speech bubble full of indecipherable squiggly lines.

        3. Clif

          Stop giving Willis ideas.

          Unless, you know, they’re ideas I approve of.

        4. Needfuldoer

          His voice is a muted trombone but everyone understands him anyway, like the adults in Peanuts.

          Or maybe Woodstock’s muttering.

        5. Daibhid C

          The Sal/Norbville shipping starts here!

          (Norville has his own drama, but nobody cares.)

          (Norville’s drama is that he used to date a girl who looked a bit like Amber, but ironically, in this case she turned out to be gay. Also, he misses his dog.)

        6. Delicious Taffy

          That’s a cool Josie and the Pussycats reference.

        7. Spencer

          When Sal went to see Asher and got into a fight with him and his weird snob friends, she never imagined the man of her dreams was among them.

          Yes, Carl.

    4. Thag Simmons

      I mean, Tony’s around and seems decent enough

      1. Clif

        It would almost be like keeping it in the family.

        1. Spencer

          Oh god that’d be hilarious. Sal meets Tony, gets a good vibe, hits it off, and then “your dad was married to my mom?”

  25. Matty

    D’awwwww

  26. Juanoku

    She does care

  27. Some1

    Ok, so considering his relationship with Sal, and how his own parents are, Danny is pretty much guaranteed a “calling the old man out” scene right?

    1. Delicious Taffy

      I would absolutely love to see that. Sometimes it seems like we forget how his parents’ subtle(ish) shittiness has probably influenced his personality.

  28. Robbie

    That Danny is a good egg

  29. JessWitt

    The tsundere is strong in this strip.

    1. Keulen

      I’ve been sensing some tsundere vibes from Sal for a while now.

    2. Spencer

      Danny and Sal are the tradition Tsundere relationship where one’s calm and the other is prickly.

      This is in contrast to Joe and Joyce, who are both Tsunderes.

      1. zee

        The dual tsundere is the best form of tsundere
        (Say you’re a ranma ½ fan without saying you’re a ranma ½ fan)

        1. Spencer

          Dual Tsundere is such a hard balance because it’s hard to get the abrasive behaviour from both ends without it feeling grating, if not abusive.

          Fortunately Joe and Joyce are extremely good at being abrasive until they suddenly pull out the longing looks and meaningful ellipses laden speeches about how the other is really wonderful.

  30. drs

    Sal reminds me of a girl I dated briefly. She was late for a date but had a reasonable explanation, so I accepted it calmly, which seemed to freak her out, like my not turning into Angry Male was unexpected and inexplicable.

    As far as I could tell our social backgrounds were… very different.

    1. Delicious Taffy

      Did the rest of the date go well? After the initial shock, of course?

    2. Wagstaff

      From what you’ve told me, I feel very sorry for her. For it seems she was also nigh starved of models of genuinely healthy people.

  31. Rabid Rabbit

    Oh dear. Danny has graduated from the guy who always said the wrong thing to the guy who always says the right thing.

    The problem is, people who always say the right thing are almost as annoying.

    1. khn0

      you’re wr.. wait, you’re r… wait… listen, I don’t know anymore.

  32. Felgraf

    Yeah, like, as I said yesterday:
    She is sending really, REALLY unclear messages on her boundaries. I think I would be a little confused as to what was okay and what upset her were I in Danny’s position and age.

    Especially after he’s gone ‘Oh, alright, no worries, if giving you this is bothering you, I won’t’
    *Sal then goes and takes the thing*.

    She is saying one thing, doing another, and *meaning* a third.

    1. Delicious Taffy

      I’m starting to think he actually does understand her and his usual doofiness has just painted this particular interaction in a weird way. Like I said northward, maybe I misjudged him here. Wouldn’t be the only one.

      Sal’s definitely sending some… Interesting signals, but Danny’s lack of temper about it seems genuine.

    2. temperaryobsessor

      I think she’s acting like a tsundere.
      And yea thats definately an unclear message.
      Frankly her stealing from him would give him way more leverage than simply accepting his gift if he was that type of person.

  33. JediMB

    I fully expected Sal’s shouting to get to Danny on this page, so I’m impressed and amused by his continued positivity.

    I did imagine he’d tell her he likes her, though, so I at least got that part right.

  34. BenRG

    There is something sadly sweet about this!

  35. Varangian

    Hey. Hey BBCC. Hey.

    You completely fucking called it, like, BULLSEYE.

    Oh, Sal. <3 And Danny, buddy, you’re a good egg.

  36. PB

    Danny is being a real good egg at last and Sal is suspicious because nobody has ever been good to her for nothing and HUG THEM BOTH

  37. Rabisch

    Awwwww. I love this kind of complicated and confused relationship between a nice person and a person unable to trust or open because of some family issue ♡♡♡. I blame “Hey Arnold” for this. The relationship between Arnold and Helga was something amazing, sad, hilarious and very, VERY, complicated. Last panel is so sweet ♡.

    1. Spencer

      …

      Oh my god she is Helga.

      1. Wagstaff

        Nah, Helga’s mother was much too lethargic all the time to do any real abuse; and her father was too obsessed with beepers to care about anything else. I know it’s kind of like how a bunch of paper cuts on the legs is better than a flesh wound, but still.

        1. Needfuldoer

          They both always referred to her by her older sister’s name more often than not.

          I always read Miriam as an alcoholic, and they used “smoothie“ in dialogue as a Nickelodeon-friendly find-and-replace for “margarita”.

          There was that one episode where she took Helga on a road trip and entered a mechanical-bull-riding contest, and it turned out she’s not as terrible when she’s lucid. It’s been a while since I saw that episode, but as I recall, Bob didn’t go. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that she was more engaged when he wasn’t around…

  38. Bagge

    Now throw a toy in her head

    1. Spencer

      Sal will throw a $5 gift card at Danny’s head to pay for the flower she took.

      It is the Walkerton way.

      1. milu

        Yeah if anyone’s likely to pull the toy to the head maneuver here I’d say it’s Sal
        Cos Danny literally just said he likes her. Without even like, getting flustered or turning it into a joke. Bless his bisexual face

        1. thejeff

          But he followed immediately with “you’re cool”, which goes a long way to disarm any romantic connotations.

        2. Spencer

          It’s hard to tell if Danny’s completely platonic here or if he’s romantically into her (he sure as hell didn’t say he was totally uninterested that one time he hit on her) but learned enough by now that he knows coming off that way to Sal would upset her and get in the way of his intention of just doing something nice for her because he wants to.

          I’m leaning towards the former, mostly.

        3. Schpoonman

          I think Danny’s largely approached his friendship with Sal platonically, but the second she blushes at him in his line of sight his head’s going to explode. Remember that before the timeskip when Sal responded positively to his absurd overture that he went full Plankton “I don’t know. I never thought I’d get this far.”

        4. milu

          Yeah, he absolutely had no idea what to do with the fact that his silly joke was actually a plausible pass at Sal XD …am I truly in a position to laugh.

          Anyway I like to think the experience was significant enough that he’ll be less flabbergasted this time around. Does that mean he’s now flirting-flirting… Maybe not

        5. milu

          @thejeff: that’s true.

          It still feels like an impressive achievement for an 18-year-old boy.

          …or am I projecting

  39. darkoneko

    oh gee

  40. Spencer

    David Willis’ entire 24 year writing career was for the sole purpose of developing and honing their craft to a degree that now they could write a college webcomic where everyone wants Danny and Sal to hook up.

    1. newlland(Henryvolt)

      It all comes full circle.

  41. TheFlamingonator

    Can someone with a keen eye for fliwers tell me what the heck kind of flowers Danny has?

    Or are they a DoA specific breed

    1. JepMZ

      I don’t. But it’s probably carnations or marigold

    2. King Daniel

      Some of them might be Allium species; they’re most famous for being grown for food – onions, garlics, leeks, chives and so on are all alliums – but some of them (while technically edible, I suppose) are primarily grown for their beautiful flowers instead.

      1. King Daniel

        And by “beautiful flowers”, I mean stuff like this. Not far off at all in appearance from what Danny’s holding in the comic, though allowing for artistic license of course they could be something else.

  42. thumb

    Danny has become powerful since the time jump. So incredibly well done.

    1. Spencer

      He has reached Ultra Instinct Good Egg.

  43. Brumagem

    Adding Sal to the “In Desperate Need of Therapy” list. It’s pretty sad when distrust turns to paranoia.

    1. Schpoonman

      She’s been in desperate need of a therapist for a long time.

    2. Needfuldoer

      I thought she was already on the ‘In Desperate Need if Therapy list…

  44. Deanatay

    If you’ve given a gift, you’re obligated, and the giver can hold it over your head for the rest of your life.

    If you STEAL it, you’re a badass, and the owner is a sucker.

    The choice is obvious.

    1. milu

      I think you nailed it

  45. Kravis

    Except that harmless dick, right, Sal?

    1. Spencer

      I’m kinda thinking about something vis-a-vis Joe and Joyce (my other Flag Ship), but if Sal started getting closer to Danny I think she’d start resenting too things about it.

      One is that someone would have a comment and Sal hates those. Sal can’t get emotionally intimate with Danny because otherwise now those people have expectations of her, let alone Danny’s own expectations, whatever they are.

      Two, and I think this is the real pisser for Sal, is that Linda and Charles would love Danny because he’s nice, hard working, respectful, white perfectly normal, just the exact kind of guy their unruly daughter had to find to straighten her out.

      1. Spencer

        Fucking html tags. That last paragraph is supposed to be:

        Two, and I think this is the real pisser for Sal, is that Linda and Charles would love Danny because he’s nice, hard working, respectful, white perfectly normal, just the exact kind of guy their unruly daughter had to find to straighten her out.

  46. InTheory

    I doubt Danny actually said “Nevermind,” the title of a Nirvana album, which would be a complete non sequitur here. He probably said “Never mind,” the phrase indicating one should disregard previous statements or events. Although in Danny’s case, he may have meant the absurdity, you neverknow.

    1. milu

      I hole-heartedly agree with you’re sentiment. The english language is going to the dogs and people scarcely seem to notice, nevermind care!

      1. InTheory

        Your exactly right!

    2. Spencer

      If a member of the commentariat successfully points out a spelling or grammatical error they should be allowed to decide the topic of the monthly Patreon bonus strip.

  47. OBBWG

    Danny is watching her walk away and she somehow sneaks up beside him and steals the flowers? How did she…? But she was… But…

    Yes, I know. It’s Sal plus comic strip logic and rule of funny, but still….

    1. thejeff

      Possibly a bit more time passed than is apparent – letting her circle around out of sight.

      Besides, she’s Batman.

      1. Eldritchy

        Nanananana BatSal!

    2. Needfuldoer

      Or he’s letting her think she’s stealing them without him noticing, thus accepting his gift on her terms.

  48. Wakeangel2001

    technically if anyone enters your field of view or utters a single syllable to you they are manipulating you, since you will be forced to react to whatever the stimulus was. That’s what paranoia does, it makes mundane experiences and interactions into some nefarious 4-D chess game stacked against you.

    1. Wagstaff

      Well malignant intent is really what matters most to Sal, and it can be hard to determine with such limited data.

      Abusive people, people who manipulate, have actions and words that often conflict. The actions reveal the person.

  49. Daniel M Ball

    Let’s see, Wilcox.

    1. She rejected you.
    2. you keep trying.
    3. welcome to sensitivity and sexual harassment re-education, don’t bother struggling, it only makes your electrocution therapy look funnier.

    1. Spencer

      hahaha good job pal you punked us with your incredible sarcasm

    2. Spencer

      Like I’m pretty sure you’re actually serious and I have no idea how to process that so I’m, I dunno, trying to will sarcasm into reality?

      How do you even write this in a strip where Danny explicitly says, outright, using words that are processed using his vocal chords with clear and understood contexts from within the English language that he’s not going to push anything because he intended to make Sal feel better and she didn’t appreciate it, so he’s backing off in that regard and letting her approach this how she wants.

      AND THEN SHE STEALS A FLOWER BECAUSE SHOCK AND HORROR SAL ACTUALLY WANTS ONE. BECAUSE HER ISSUE ISN’T GIFT GIVING IT’S THAT SHE DOESN’T KNOW HOW TO PROCESS GETTING A GIFT THAT ISN’T A MOVE TO STAKE A CLAIM ON HER.

      GOSH

      1. Daniel M Ball

        Spencer, what’s ‘romantic’ and ‘cute’ in fiction gets you reported to the authorities in real life for stalking and harassment. That’s why the comic strip is fun-it isn’t anything remotely approaching reality. (come on, superheroes?)

        but all the good jokes were exhausted, sorry I hurt your feelings.

        1. Spencer

          Nothing is more indicative of harassment than offering a gift, seeing it isn’t appreciated, and then explicitly stating that it’s totally fine and he won’t broach the issue any further and that he appreciates the friendship they have now and on Sal’s terms.

          Like, “she rejected you, you keep trying” is literally the thing these last few strips have emphasized that Danny has not been doing! You’d actually have to try to read a narrative as bad you are here.

        2. Demoted Oblivious

          Uh… Danny’s just sitting on a wall and had flowers. When Sal approached *him* they talked and he offered her the flowers, and then she left and he let her be. Seriously dude, there *is* an area which allows you to talk to a woman without being #MeToo.

  50. Torrent29

    Just ask her out Danny! Don’t do these dumb romantic gestures!

  51. Switchchris23

    I had to come back to reread this panel because I didnt notice she stole some white flowers in the last panel, so todays panel confused me lol.

  52. Byron Orpheus

    I just worked it out. In the live-action adaptation of Dumbing of Age, Sal will be played by Stephanie Beatriz, who plays Detective Rosa Diaz on Brooklyn 99.

    For that matter, the characters map pretty well:
    Walky: Jake Peralta
    Joyce: Amy Santiago
    Danny: Charles Boyle
    Becky: Gina Linetti
    Jacob: Terry Jeffords
    And I shouldn’t have to say it because it’s so obvious, but…
    Dina: Captain Raymond Holt

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