Dumbing of Age Book Twelve

Dumbing of Age

A college webcomic by David Willis
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i almost ended the storyline on yesterday's strip so you're welcome
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May 12, 2026

Asking

by David M Willis on September 20, 2014 at 12:01 am
  • 04 - The Whiteboard Dingdong Bandit
└ Tags: jennifer, ruth, walky

Discussion (212) ¬

[ Comments RSS ]
  1. Camachri
    Camachri
    September 20, 2014 at 12:01 am | #

    D’aaaaaaawwwwwww

    • Cheryl
      Cheryl
      September 20, 2014 at 6:02 am | #

      My heart just esploded! *SQUEEK*

      • Jen Aside
        Jen Aside
        September 20, 2014 at 1:16 pm | #

        her little heart, it could explode

        • MIB4u
          MIB4u
          September 20, 2014 at 3:56 pm | #

          … Eels?

          • Jen Aside
            Jen Aside
            September 20, 2014 at 10:22 pm | #

            I also have

            When you speak I hear silence
            Every word a defiance
            I can hear, oh, I can hear
            Think I’ll go where it suits me
            Moving out to the country
            With everyone, oh, everyone,
            Before we all become one
            Tell yourself that you’re lucky
            Lying down never struck me
            As something fun, oh, any fun
            Stabbing pain for the feeling
            Now your wound’s never healing
            ‘Til you mumble, “Is it bad?”
            Before we all become one
            Oh we all, we all become one
            Oh we all, we all become one
            Oh we all, we all become one
            Oh we all, we all become one
            Start breathing
            Start leaving
            Before we all become one
            RUN
            Oh we all, we all become…

            • Metacube
              Metacube
              September 21, 2014 at 5:02 pm | #

              Finally another person who played Transistor. Despite all the criticism that game got (mainly for not living up to Bastion) it had some truly great music.

    • Aisling
      Aisling
      June 9, 2015 at 7:34 pm | #

      Waaaaaaaa’d

      yay for yuri!

  2. An Average Loser
    An Average Loser
    September 20, 2014 at 12:01 am | #

    Mark my words, Phallustrator, The Ultimate Porn Lord shall rise again, encapsulating our world with crudely drawn sets of flaccid phalluses and testicles once again!

    . . .

    That was the stupidest thing I have ever typed. Ever.

    • AgentKeen
      AgentKeen
      September 20, 2014 at 12:08 am | #

      Lol Dicks

      • JustCheetoDust
        JustCheetoDust
        September 20, 2014 at 7:57 am | #

        He called the dicks ‘phalluses.’

    • sps48
      sps48
      September 20, 2014 at 12:48 am | #

      See, that’s what happens when you paste a precomment before reading the new comic.

      • rachel
        rachel
        September 21, 2014 at 9:53 pm | #

        man I was WONDERING wtf that was about, thank you as ever sps48.

  3. Jen Aside
    Jen Aside
    September 20, 2014 at 12:01 am | #

    aww how can you be ruthless when you’re so adorbs =<

    • Plasma Mongoose
      Plasma Mongoose
      September 20, 2014 at 12:03 am | #

      She needs her caffeine fix before she can go into proper Ruthless mode.

    • nothri
      nothri
      September 20, 2014 at 1:13 am | #

      She’s like a weeping angel. Her heart is stone unless you aren’t looking directly at her.

      • Deanatay
        Deanatay
        September 20, 2014 at 8:58 am | #

        She like Sarah that way – a bongo, unless no one is listening.

    • Aeron
      Aeron
      September 20, 2014 at 1:26 am | #

      Being snuggled by a voluptuous, drunk ex-cheerleader is a great defuser.

    • Winter
      Winter
      September 20, 2014 at 7:21 am | #

      Ruth’s living up to her name for once and is being all merciful and ruth…ful.

      But I digress. DAAAAAAAWWWW

      • Jen Aside
        Jen Aside
        September 20, 2014 at 1:17 pm | #

        Ruthmore?

  4. Mr. Random
    Mr. Random
    September 20, 2014 at 12:02 am | #

    Okay, so this has the POTENTIAL to not be a fucked up relationship.

    • newllend
      newllend
      September 20, 2014 at 12:06 am | #

      Depends on how stressed out both of them can get.

      • Doctor_Who
        Doctor_Who
        September 20, 2014 at 12:07 am | #

        And with alcohol not getting within half a kilometer of either of them.

        It’s college, so not a chance.

    • LeslieBean4Shizzle
      LeslieBean4Shizzle
      September 20, 2014 at 1:03 am | #

      I remain hopeful.

    • nothri
      nothri
      September 20, 2014 at 1:14 am | #

      People need to understand the difference between two people who are fucked up being in a relationship and a relationship that is fucked up. The two are not necessarily compatible.

      • AngierHafai
        AngierHafai
        September 20, 2014 at 2:51 am | #

        Not sure what you mean by “compatible.” Did you mean mutually inclusive by chance?

        • paradoxrealm
          paradoxrealm
          September 20, 2014 at 5:21 am | #

          Possibly meant comparable…
          But yes, agreed.

        • nothri
          nothri
          September 20, 2014 at 4:24 pm | #

          Apparently it was late last night. Yes, I did mean something along the lines of “mutually inclusive”. Not sure what word I actually wanted to use, but whatever.

    • Arkadi
      Arkadi
      September 20, 2014 at 6:11 pm | #

      Indeed. If I didn’t know better, I’d be almost hopeful for these two ^^

    • Philip Petrunak
      Philip Petrunak
      September 20, 2014 at 9:59 pm | #

      Most fucked up relationships aren’t fucked up 100% of the time. That’s how people convince themselves it’s not fucked up.

  5. MrSirk
    MrSirk
    September 20, 2014 at 12:02 am | #

    And everybody wins and everybody lives!

    • Jen Aside
      Jen Aside
      September 20, 2014 at 12:04 am | #

      “Everybody lives, Rose! Just this once, everybody lives!”

      • caesaria82
        caesaria82
        September 20, 2014 at 12:37 am | #

        This line is actually always so funny to me, because it’s not like people were dying like flies before he said that. In the season with Nine not a lot of people actually died. So, like, thanks Doctor, but everybody living is really not as big a deal as you’re making it ;p

        • That Damn Rat
          That Damn Rat
          September 20, 2014 at 12:47 am | #

          Spoken like someone who has never seen the classic series. In the old Who if you were an extra you didn’t stand a chance.

          • caesaria82
            caesaria82
            September 20, 2014 at 1:14 am | #

            I’ve seen very little of the classic series, that’s true. And I do know that the Doctor is clearly talking about all the people who’ve died in his 9 (10) regenations up to that point, but, like, Rose doesn’t know about any of those. And I did specify Nine’s season. Just… in recent years there has been SO much more death on this show, just in terms of volume, that’s really what made me say that. Nine’s season felt almost quaint in comparison when it comes to the death toll lol.

          • Blue
            Blue
            September 20, 2014 at 11:13 pm | #

            So true. One time I tried to play the ‘find a story where no one dies’ game and I could only come up with two, one of which was psychological horror and the other of which was incredibly depressing (though to be fair I haven’t seen everything, and idk if something like Mission to the Unknown was death-free).

            Applies to all of the show, really. There’s only a handful of stories where no one dies post 2005 either.

          • Roborat
            Roborat
            September 22, 2014 at 2:32 pm | #

            Yup, they were redshirts before there were redshirts.

        • Disloyal Subject
          Disloyal Subject
          September 20, 2014 at 12:47 am | #

          Until you consider that that’s his first regeneration since the Time War.

          • Mr. Random
            Mr. Random
            September 20, 2014 at 12:51 am | #

            And consider how many people the twelfth killed.

          • caesaria82
            caesaria82
            September 20, 2014 at 1:17 am | #

            In retrospect, yeah, totally. He’s just come off being The War Doctor. But at the time? I’m just saying, at the time Nine’s season aired I was a bit like, yeah, ok, no one died, big whoop xD

            • Deanatay
              Deanatay
              September 20, 2014 at 9:04 am | #

              I think it was Davies’ and Moffat’s way of expounding on the Doctor’s back story to new viewers, who may not have watched the old series. The line implies that the Doctor has a past full of death, and that a day where no one dies is like a splendid miracle to him.

              • Lieutenant Dan
                Lieutenant Dan
                September 20, 2014 at 2:20 pm | #

                One could almost call it… Miracle Day? 🙂

        • Eolirin
          Eolirin
          September 20, 2014 at 12:53 am | #

          In addition to what everyone else said, at least one person died in every single episode leading up to that. And almost if not every episode after it too for that matter.

          • caesaria82
            caesaria82
            September 20, 2014 at 1:10 am | #

            Maybe I’m just judging him by Eleven, who felt like a regular old killing machine compared to Nine, just in terms of sheer volume lol. I mean, you do have a point, people did die in Nine’s season. But it *feels* (at least to me) like it’s a lot less people than these days.

            • paradoxrealm
              paradoxrealm
              September 20, 2014 at 5:24 am | #

              So wait, that nearly entire space station invaded by dalek’s in the Parting of the Ways is not a lot of people?

            • Khyrin
              Khyrin
              September 20, 2014 at 8:47 am | #

              I always thought of it from a “I wasn’t able to save this ONE person that I actually met” being felt more keenly. One death is tragic. two thousand is a statistic and all that.

      • Evan Dark
        Evan Dark
        September 20, 2014 at 4:21 am | #

        Still my favourite season of Doctor Who.

        • Martin
          Martin
          September 20, 2014 at 6:14 am | #

          The weird thing, though? Way, way more characters actually died during the Ninth Doctor’s tenure than the Eleventh. It’s ironic that Moffat wrote The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances, because he has such a huge aversion to actual consequences for his characters. They never die – they always end up trapped in the past or stranded or something. Seriously, make an actual bodycount sometime. I never noticed until it was pointed out to me, and I was honestly surprised.

  6. Yotomoe
    Yotomoe
    September 20, 2014 at 12:02 am | #

    I don’t care if they just had “tragic drunk person sex”. They’re an adorable fuckin’ couple.

    • newllend
      newllend
      September 20, 2014 at 12:09 am | #

      They’re fun to watch aren’t they.

      • Sageress
        Sageress
        September 20, 2014 at 12:32 am | #

        Could’ve worded that differently when replying to a comment containing the phrase “tragic drunk person sex”.

        • Disloyal Subject
          Disloyal Subject
          September 20, 2014 at 12:48 am | #

          But why would he want to?

  7. Doctor_Who
    Doctor_Who
    September 20, 2014 at 12:02 am | #

    This would be so incredibly sweet if it weren’t also so incredibly self destructive.

    • Yotomoe
      Yotomoe
      September 20, 2014 at 12:02 am | #

      Self destruction can be sweet too.

      • MrSirk
        MrSirk
        September 20, 2014 at 12:04 am | #

        Like putting five cups of sugar in your cherry Kool-Aid!

        • -Sentinel-
          -Sentinel-
          September 20, 2014 at 12:15 am | #

          Worse things than sugar have been put in Kool-Aid.

          • MrSirk
            MrSirk
            September 20, 2014 at 12:36 am | #

            Like putting five cups of vodka in your cherry Kool-Aid!

            • jeffepp
              jeffepp
              September 20, 2014 at 12:45 am | #

              Even worse things have been put in kool-aid.

              • Yotomoe
                Yotomoe
                September 20, 2014 at 1:01 am | #

                Like Salt instead of sugar.

                • Lawzlo
                  Lawzlo
                  September 20, 2014 at 2:14 am | #

                  Common misconception: Jim Jones and the People’s Temple actually used Flavor Aid, a less popular competitor of Kool-Aid.

                • SgtWadeyWilson
                  SgtWadeyWilson
                  September 20, 2014 at 2:14 am | #

                  I find that the worst thing to put into Kool-aid is hope, since it never tastes as good as it did when I was a kid.

                • JustCheetoDust
                  JustCheetoDust
                  September 20, 2014 at 8:40 am | #

                  The Jonestown Massacre is a rare exception when name brand word association as a subtle threat to this nation’s free trade does less harm to the smaller company.

                  I find that the worst thing to put into Kool-aid is hope, since it never tastes as good as it did when I was a kid.

                  This doesn’t seem to be a problem with Country Time. Then again, I didn’t grow up with Country Time.

            • Romanticide
              Romanticide
              September 20, 2014 at 2:11 am | #

              We tend to call that combination in Mexico “aguas locas” (crazy water). Is the kind of stuff drunk people prepare when there are only cheap ingredients available XD God help you if the only vodka available is “Oso negro”

            • John
              John
              September 20, 2014 at 1:30 pm | #

              My college roommate used to make what we called “death punch”, which was a gallon jug of cherry Kool-Aid made with a bottle of 151 rum and the balance with water. It would get people way drunker way faster than expected, and caused horrific hangovers.

      • Kernanator
        Kernanator
        September 20, 2014 at 12:04 am | #

        Sugar Implosion!

    • newllend
      newllend
      September 20, 2014 at 12:14 am | #

      But that fact that they’re both so self destructive is what makes this good, they give each other a little bit of peace and stability.

    • Rutee
      Rutee
      September 20, 2014 at 12:46 am | #

      Eh, I’m not buying that the relationship is insanely self destructive. The only one of those that I can buy that with is Ethan/Joyce, and then only for Ethan. Nearly everyone has self destructive tendencies, but the relationships aren’t it.

      • That Damn Rat
        That Damn Rat
        September 20, 2014 at 12:48 am | #

        pretty much, Ruth and Billie may be kind of broken, but together they can fill the missing parts of each other to enough for one whole functional human being.

        • Katrika
          Katrika
          September 20, 2014 at 1:08 am | #

          Except that they’re prone to exactly the same kinds of issues, so it’s insanely easy for them to get caught in a negative feedback loop with each other.

          • nothri
            nothri
            September 20, 2014 at 1:19 am | #

            They clearly need to deal with their personal shit, individually or together, but that’s not the same thing as the RELATIONSHIP being self-destructive. They won’t last as a couple if they can’t deal with their problems, but the two of them being together has yet (for me, anyway) to be proven as definitively a bad thing.

            • Jenny
              Jenny
              September 20, 2014 at 11:46 am | #

              It’s not like they even have to be in a serious relationship. I doubt they even know what they’re doing. I think they really just need each other because they’re the only people who understand each other’s scars. They’re attracted to each other because it at least feels better to be broken with someone, than be broken alone.

            • Katrika
              Katrika
              September 20, 2014 at 1:31 pm | #

              Oh, I agree, I’m just saying that I understand why it would be self destructive IF they started relying on the other to ‘fix’ them.

    • Marc in MN
      Marc in MN
      September 20, 2014 at 11:51 am | #

      Meh, some people never shake their demons in life. They might as well find someone who is equally haunted and try to eek out a little happiness.

      After all, the stable people (or rather, the people who think they are stable) would just send them packing with a to-do list of things they need to fix “before they can ever be in a relationship.”

    • Nogre
      Nogre
      September 20, 2014 at 1:02 pm | #

      I think Ruth forgiving Billie is one of the least destructive things that’s happened to these two.

  8. airyu
    airyu
    September 20, 2014 at 12:02 am | #

    That last panel is the sweetest thing ever.

    • Emperor Kiva
      Emperor Kiva
      September 20, 2014 at 12:03 am | #

      The whole thing is sweet

    • Gigafreak
      Gigafreak
      September 20, 2014 at 12:14 am | #

      Billie will continue to wake up in new places.

  9. BeckHop
    BeckHop
    September 20, 2014 at 12:03 am | #

    DAMN YOU WILL—wait, that’s not right.

    Th-thank…you…Willis?

    • Jen Aside
      Jen Aside
      September 20, 2014 at 12:05 am | #

      WILL YOU DAMNIS

    • abacuswizard
      abacuswizard
      September 20, 2014 at 12:11 am | #

      In the old message board days it was occasionally BLESS YOU WILLIS.

      • saltchocolate
        saltchocolate
        September 20, 2014 at 8:05 am | #

        I’m going with that one today!

    • Deanatay
      Deanatay
      September 20, 2014 at 9:13 am | #

      I can see that was hard for you, Beck. Good job!

  10. Barf Ninjason
    Barf Ninjason
    September 20, 2014 at 12:04 am | #

    Is anyone else surprised that Billie saved the contact as just “David Walkerton” and not something like, “Fuckin’ Walky”?

    • Jen Aside
      Jen Aside
      September 20, 2014 at 12:06 am | #

      Gotta be honest, it took me a minute to parse the first panel even with “David Walkerton”… [I don’t smartphone]

    • HMRC4EVR
      HMRC4EVR
      September 20, 2014 at 12:07 am | #

      Well, it could have been that way before her and Walky started getting along better than in the past. She saw it one day recently and decided to make it right

      • Gigafreak
        Gigafreak
        September 20, 2014 at 12:19 am | #

        Some address book interfaces present a field for a first name, and a field for a last name. Typing off-the-cuff would probably have Billie enter “David” and “Walkerton” instead of “Fuckin'” and “Walky.”

        Plus the latter runs the risk of some ridiculous Siri-related misunderstandings. “Call the fucking cops!” “Address book updated: Fuckin’ Walky is now known as Cops Walky.”

        • Jen Aside
          Jen Aside
          September 20, 2014 at 2:25 am | #

          haha Siri does not sell me on joining the smartphone age

    • Nogre
      Nogre
      September 20, 2014 at 1:06 pm | #

      They have been good friend in the past. It sounds like it’s just high school where Billie being a cheerleader got in the way of their friendship for a bit.

  11. Emperor Kiva
    Emperor Kiva
    September 20, 2014 at 12:04 am | #

    Nice strip

    • Yotsuyasan
      Yotsuyasan
      September 20, 2014 at 5:46 am | #

      Where? It looks like they’re both clothed in today’s comic.

      :p

      • Emperor Kiva
        Emperor Kiva
        September 20, 2014 at 7:50 pm | #

        Has anyone ever said you’re an ass?

        • rachel
          rachel
          September 21, 2014 at 9:56 pm | #

          HAS ANYONE EVER TOLD YOU A HELMET

  12. Rawrlicia
    Rawrlicia
    September 20, 2014 at 12:05 am | #

    *Hearts everything forever* Oh I hope they can help each other out…please oh please oh pleaaase.

  13. SDHero
    SDHero
    September 20, 2014 at 12:06 am | #

    …Yep, still shipping this so hard that you could basically end the comic here and I wouldn’t complain >_>

    • -Sentinel-
      -Sentinel-
      September 20, 2014 at 12:17 am | #

      But that would mean Ethan and Danny never get a chance to kiss…

      • Shaggy_Donahugh
        Shaggy_Donahugh
        September 20, 2014 at 12:34 am | #

        It looks like Mike is having introspective thoughts about his own life…

      • Rutee
        Rutee
        September 20, 2014 at 12:44 am | #

        Acceptable casualties. But yes, bring us moar.

  14. Sionyx
    Sionyx
    September 20, 2014 at 12:06 am | #

    Looks like Ruth has the maturity to maybe make this relationship not be a trainwreck. Here’s hoping.

    • Shade
      Shade
      September 20, 2014 at 12:22 am | #

      I would almost be with you. Except there’s a difference between being mature and being, you know, not depressed, which seems to be Ruth’s problem (and for the life of me, I can’t figure out why. I feel like her reasons have been mentioned, but not sure where). Billie is immature, an alcoholic, and depressed. All of which are a really bad combination.

      • Regalli
        Regalli
        September 20, 2014 at 12:52 am | #

        Dead parents caused by drunk driver, her own spiral into alcoholism and guilt because of it, a relationship with her grandfather that is hinted to be very, very ugly, and probably some brain chemistry shit on top of that. Depressed people don’t always need reasons to be depressed, though Ruth certainly has plenty. Often you just wake up and for no apparent reason, your brain thinks you should feel like shit for being you. And then you stop remembering how to feel anything except like shit, not for any reason but just because you exist and what are you adding to the world, really. And then it just sort of gets worse from there, and you’re really tired all the time because you don’t have any energy and it takes too much effort to get up and what does it matter, really, since we’ve already established you’re a worthless piece of shit, and then you just sort of curl up into a ball of your own misery.

        Depression really, really sucks, is what I’m saying.

        • StClair
          StClair
          September 20, 2014 at 1:15 am | #

          Amen.

        • Doctor_Lantern
          Doctor_Lantern
          September 20, 2014 at 1:49 am | #

          This is one of the best ways I’ve seen of describing what depression is like, run-ons not withstanding. Although, the run-ons actually kinda add to the explanation rather than hurting it.

          • Kryss LaBryn
            Kryss LaBryn
            September 20, 2014 at 2:47 am | #

            Have you seen “Adventures in Depression” and “Depression Part Two” from Hyperbole and a Half? Having gone through my own bout of depression many years ago, I have to say she really nailed it. It’s a couple of great links for people who just don’t get it.

            • Kryss LaBryn
              Kryss LaBryn
              September 20, 2014 at 2:48 am | #

              Sorry; messed up that first link there. “Adventures in Depression“.

            • Opus the Poet
              Opus the Poet
              September 20, 2014 at 12:49 pm | #

              Another one http://www.depressioncomix.com/

          • Regalli
            Regalli
            September 20, 2014 at 3:00 am | #

            Thanks. Yeah, run-ons are a bit of a problem for me sometimes. But stream-of-consciousness sentences do sum up just how constant it is. And the lack of energy/care required to go back and break things up a bit. (I’m only just now mostly out of my last spiral, so the thought process is still pretty fresh in my mind.)

            And Kryss, seconding the love of Hyperbole and a Half’s depression posts with as much enthusiasm as possible. The first time I read the part two post I just thought “Yes. This is it. This, right here, is EXACTLY what it feels like.”

        • Gadgeteer Smashwidget
          Gadgeteer Smashwidget
          September 20, 2014 at 2:58 am | #

          So. Much.

          THIS.

      • Darwin
        Darwin
        September 20, 2014 at 12:10 pm | #

        Depression doesn’t need a reason. It can be triggered by one thing, many things, or no things at all. It’s a malfunction in the chemical and electrical makeup of the brain. That’s why depressed people can’t just ‘get over it’. They have to either be taught how to cope with the extremely painful and destructive lows, or they need chemical assistance to regulate their brains back into proper function. It’s not ‘the blues’. It’s an illness no less than the flu or explosive diarrhea, only not as funny.

        • Nogre
          Nogre
          September 20, 2014 at 1:15 pm | #

          Very much so. This question of “Why are you depressed?” isn’t really the right question. It’s like asking “Why do you have the flu?” Virus or brain chemical imbalance, the root cause is still the same kind of deal.

          Also, explosive diarrhea can be very, very not funny. D: (Though I must admit, the word “diarrhea” is a funny word.)

    • TJ Baltimore
      TJ Baltimore
      September 20, 2014 at 6:38 am | #

      Better a trainwreck than a truckwreck, as far as Ruth is concerned, amirite?

      (I may not be right.)

      • John
        John
        September 20, 2014 at 1:34 pm | #

        I’ve said it before: As long as no one’s dead, they’re doing better than in the Walkyverse.

    • Arkadi
      Arkadi
      September 20, 2014 at 6:13 pm | #

      Keep hoping. But remember: the Willis giveth, and the Willis taketh away.

  15. Idon'tcarenomore
    Idon'tcarenomore
    September 20, 2014 at 12:08 am | #

    Thank you.

  16. Thomas64
    Thomas64
    September 20, 2014 at 12:08 am | #

    And sometimes, some people, who are racked with guilt, don’t actually need forgiveness… They need to come to the realization that they shouldn’t be feeling guilty in the first place.

  17. AgentKeen
    AgentKeen
    September 20, 2014 at 12:08 am | #

    It’s not healthy, but at least it isn’t quite as soul-crushing as before?

    • Regalli
      Regalli
      September 20, 2014 at 12:45 am | #

      Well, at least slight improvement’s still improvement in some form. I’ll take it.

      • StClair
        StClair
        September 20, 2014 at 1:16 am | #

        Same here.

    • Nogre
      Nogre
      September 20, 2014 at 1:34 pm | #

      What’s unhealthy about Ruth forgiving Billie?

  18. MissQuinn
    MissQuinn
    September 20, 2014 at 12:09 am | #

    I desperately want them to make this work. To get sober together and have a happy, functioning relationship where they support each other because of their mutual understanding and use their similar issues to keep the other from going off the deep end and make each other better people. But seeing as this is Dumbing of Age, they’re probably going to drink themselves to death, enable the others bad habits and probably crash and burn.

    • Camachri
      Camachri
      September 20, 2014 at 12:11 am | #

      And it will be glorious to watch.

    • Disloyal Subject
      Disloyal Subject
      September 20, 2014 at 1:05 am | #

      Close enough.

  19. Ikaru
    Ikaru
    September 20, 2014 at 12:12 am | #

    Aw, happy feels for once. Well, bittersweet happy, but I’ll take it.

    • newllend
      newllend
      September 20, 2014 at 12:17 am | #

      I think they both just Need each other

    • JessWitt
      JessWitt
      September 20, 2014 at 12:57 am | #

      Happy nervous feels for me. Nervs feels should be a thing actually.

      • Ari
        Ari
        September 20, 2014 at 9:09 am | #

        I’m pretty sure that’s just called “hopeful”.

  20. Gigafreak
    Gigafreak
    September 20, 2014 at 12:13 am | #

    So does Ruth need Billie’s forgiveness, or does Ruth need Ruth’s forgiveness, or both?

    Anyway, let’s enjoy the current sweetness because the next chapter has an ominous title. (Oh hey, the chapter after that one has been named. Let the speculation begin!)

  21. Xailenrath
    Xailenrath
    September 20, 2014 at 12:13 am | #

    Say it with me, Audience:
    “AAAAAWWWW!”
    🙂

    • Gigafreak
      Gigafreak
      September 20, 2014 at 4:22 pm | #

      Awwdience.

  22. dailybrad
    dailybrad
    September 20, 2014 at 12:13 am | #

    Billie has fallen into a lot of pits in college and highschool before that, but Ruth is tossing her a 1-Up. Really hoping Billie takes her up on it.

  23. Malchus
    Malchus
    September 20, 2014 at 12:18 am | #

    It’s a genuinely sweet moment …

    … where’s the catch? There’s always a catch. YOU’RE NOT FOOLING ME!

    • dailybrad
      dailybrad
      September 20, 2014 at 12:41 am | #

      The catch is that sadly, they are still trying to beat booze, as well as Ruth and her depression, and Billie with her own emotional problems.

      Even if they are there for each other, they have a long, painful road ahead of them.

      • TheZachariah
        TheZachariah
        September 20, 2014 at 1:18 am | #

        But the catch of the catch is that for the first time, both of them have someone to walk that road with. And a reason to walk back that road.

  24. alicemacher
    alicemacher
    September 20, 2014 at 12:18 am | #

    Let us all savour this sweet, gentle and loving moment until the next time something miserable happens. That is the Way of the DoA Reader. Amen.

    • nothri
      nothri
      September 20, 2014 at 1:22 am | #

      ::savours::

  25. -Sentinel-
    -Sentinel-
    September 20, 2014 at 12:19 am | #

    I like how Walky takes 25 minutes to add: “Okay fine I’m asking”.

    • saltchocolate
      saltchocolate
      September 20, 2014 at 8:12 am | #

      I’m just glad that Walky is also going to be there for Billie. He’s a good guy.

  26. Tim C.
    Tim C.
    September 20, 2014 at 12:23 am | #

    I so want the both of them to be okay. Hell, the genius of the strip is how the characters are all likeable in some way.

    • TJ Baltimore
      TJ Baltimore
      September 20, 2014 at 6:42 am | #

      I see your assertion and raise you a Mary, a Ryan, a Faz, and a Blaine. (And to a lesser extent: Joyce’s parents and Sal/Walky’s parents.)

      • Jenny
        Jenny
        September 20, 2014 at 12:05 pm | #

        And Ethan’s parents

        • Jen Aside
          Jen Aside
          September 20, 2014 at 1:22 pm | #

          On the other hand, Galasso is not supposed to be likeable but is THOROUGHLY likeable!

  27. Mightionny
    Mightionny
    September 20, 2014 at 12:26 am | #

    “They’re sharing a drink they call loneliness, But it’s better than drinking alone.”

    • newllend
      newllend
      September 20, 2014 at 12:30 am | #

      That impossible, I heard it can’t be shared.

      • nothri
        nothri
        September 20, 2014 at 1:23 am | #

        Oh it can. But only between a waitress practicing politics and business slowly getting stoned.

        • SgtWadeyWilson
          SgtWadeyWilson
          September 20, 2014 at 2:24 am | #

          How does a whole business slowly get stoned? I was lead to believe that lager groups get stoned faster, like a contest… or do they not have enough for everyone, and therefore take turns?

          • Kryss LaBryn
            Kryss LaBryn
            September 20, 2014 at 2:50 am | #

            Lager groups don’t get stoned faster, but some groups of stouts do.

        • nothri
          nothri
          September 20, 2014 at 4:02 pm | #

          *man

  28. zmm
    zmm
    September 20, 2014 at 12:26 am | #

    Ok.. can we just leave those two together and growing happy? haha. Though whenevver someone gets a happy end they seem to get written out (as per the walkyverse stuff). So I guess it’s unlikely.

  29. Bagge
    Bagge
    September 20, 2014 at 12:27 am | #

    Maybe, maybe one day these two will share a tender moment without having their shields up when both of them are both sober and awake. One day.

  30. Stephen Bierce
    Stephen Bierce
    September 20, 2014 at 12:29 am | #

    *plays Don Henley’s “Heart Of The Matter” on the Muzak*

  31. Shadow12000
    Shadow12000
    September 20, 2014 at 12:30 am | #

    See? Mind-broken sex doesn’t always lead to worse situations. It really depends on the personalities involved in the first place. In fact, sex is a huge stress relief mechanism, she likely REALLY needed this.

  32. Shaggy_Donahugh
    Shaggy_Donahugh
    September 20, 2014 at 12:31 am | #

    This is the cutest/saddest/most tragic thing I have seen in a long long time. Damn you Willis for my tears.

  33. CommentSpawn
    CommentSpawn
    September 20, 2014 at 12:35 am | #

    “Oh and alcohol. That’s the second thing we’ve always had in common.”

    • nothri
      nothri
      September 20, 2014 at 1:24 am | #

      Same problems. Same coping mechanisms.

  34. caesaria82
    caesaria82
    September 20, 2014 at 12:39 am | #

    I believe in these two crazy kids :3

  35. Rutee
    Rutee
    September 20, 2014 at 12:42 am | #

    Bring her in gently, lasses. She’s taken a beating… but we’ve made port. Get the goods unloaded, we’ll make a fortune 😀

    These feels. I know we’re not done with drama, but these feels <3
    I'm sure the wife will enjoy when she's up too <3

  36. EvergreenFir
    EvergreenFir
    September 20, 2014 at 12:50 am | #

    Yea!!!

  37. Winter Heart
    Winter Heart
    September 20, 2014 at 12:50 am | #

    I wish to know more on this development

  38. Khaner
    Khaner
    September 20, 2014 at 12:58 am | #

    Huh. For a second, that looked like a healthy relationship.
    We all know what the Demon Willis will do, though. It will most likely involve hearts being smashed.

  39. Sapphire
    Sapphire
    September 20, 2014 at 1:08 am | #

    WILLIS – I am dead serious about this. Dead serious.

    If I sent you nudez as thanks for this being created/posted, would you be creeped out or appreciative?

  40. TheZachariah
    TheZachariah
    September 20, 2014 at 1:16 am | #

    Wow

  41. Foxhack
    Foxhack
    September 20, 2014 at 1:16 am | #

    This comic would’ve been so damn awesome if only the site wasn’t showing me ads for Garth Brooks’ new album.

    … it’s not a joke. Garth Brooks won’t let me daaaaww at this comic. DAMN HIM.

  42. Aolbain
    Aolbain
    September 20, 2014 at 1:16 am | #

    Aww?

  43. Archivist
    Archivist
    September 20, 2014 at 1:19 am | #

    That profile photo. ~Nostalgia~.

  44. Captain Hat
    Captain Hat
    September 20, 2014 at 1:26 am | #

    You know what, these kids are gonna be alright

  45. nothri
    nothri
    September 20, 2014 at 1:30 am | #

    I’m glad Ruth addressed that. It was bugging me that her anger seemed to vanish about when they hooked up. Still very broken people that need to work out a lot of things, but its nice that they can find a moment of peace.

    Not that I wouldn’t mind seeing Billie apologize officially, mind you, but this is nice too.

  46. Farmer_10
    Farmer_10
    September 20, 2014 at 1:53 am | #

    This changes nothing. It’s a nice moment, but we all know how this started.

  47. acher4
    acher4
    September 20, 2014 at 1:56 am | #

    Ohhhh, sweetest moment 🙂

  48. Cypherfox
    Cypherfox
    September 20, 2014 at 1:56 am | #

    Thank you Willis.

    There’ll be tempests and tears and depression and beers, but it’s the barest of hope you’ve given this fox that this tenuous ship won’t be dashed on the rocks.

    • Lawzlo
      Lawzlo
      September 20, 2014 at 2:16 am | #

      That was beautiful, man.

  49. Sandbridge Kid
    Sandbridge Kid
    September 20, 2014 at 2:07 am | #

    For just one tiniest moment, for just a moment, let’s let them have this one encounter in bliss. That’s our lives: terror, dread, ennui, entropy, anxiety, and sometimes Hell on Earth, interspersed with fleeting moments of joy, mirth, and happyness. And the the Wheel of the Dharma turns right back on.

    Cue Carl Orf’s “Carmina Burana” followed by Barber’s “Adagio For Strings”

  50. thatindianguy
    thatindianguy
    September 20, 2014 at 2:44 am | #

    I want this to work but I’m also certain they’re going to need professional help to avoid turning into train wrecks.

  51. JA
    JA
    September 20, 2014 at 2:49 am | #

    the drama hurricanes have transformed into a fine spring breeze which brings the scent of flowers

  52. hmq
    hmq
    September 20, 2014 at 2:57 am | #

    Oh god, I want so bad for them to support each other and get better. It has the potential to be very destructive but also the potential to be their saving and I want to believe they can still save each other.

    • Dorje Sylas
      Dorje Sylas
      September 20, 2014 at 3:34 am | #

      Its a start, in that they can both admit their problems to each other. If they don’t, or try to back peddle from where they are, it’s going to end badly.

      The next step is much rougher. The seeking and sticking with getting help. This will require a very obstinate and intrusive 3rd party they both can respect. They could play that part for each other… except when they both snap, as almost happened. Which took Walky being pushy to get Billy going again and prompt Ruth.

    • JA
      JA
      September 20, 2014 at 3:57 am | #

      not really a fan of couples getting together to save each other. not a good idea even in real life 🙂 just my two cents

      • Jen Aside
        Jen Aside
        September 20, 2014 at 5:50 am | #

        Sometimes, though, it’s, “Who ELSE is gonna save them?”

        • JA
          JA
          September 20, 2014 at 7:36 am | #

          i’m not opposed to them being together. 🙂 they.. deserve (?) each other i guess

  53. MrMyerst
    MrMyerst
    September 20, 2014 at 3:07 am | #

    “The trick is to find somone whose demons play nicely with your own”
    -A gem of Facebook wisdom.

    But still, it’s sadly true- and while neither billy nor Ruth are functional by any stretch of imagination, and any relationship they have will at first be just that written large, they could work incredibly well together.

    For now. *tries to ignore incoming truck*

    • Gadgeteer Smashwidget
      Gadgeteer Smashwidget
      September 20, 2014 at 3:20 am | #

      Too soon.

      RIP Walkyverse Ruth

  54. Tenn
    Tenn
    September 20, 2014 at 3:59 am | #

    My face is not able to convey my feelings for this.

  55. Charles Phipps
    Charles Phipps
    September 20, 2014 at 4:01 am | #

    I hope this story ends with one of them cheating with Malaya. Why? Because I am evil and spite incarnate.

    🙂

    • Yotsuyasan
      Yotsuyasan
      September 20, 2014 at 5:56 am | #

      Damn you, Phipps!

  56. Leonou
    Leonou
    September 20, 2014 at 4:13 am | #

    Praise be to the (Porn)Lord !

    At least a perfectly happy strip ….. and so cute.

  57. blegh
    blegh
    September 20, 2014 at 4:46 am | #

    aww ruth being sweet is so sweet. this storyline is still upsetting though.

  58. fudo81
    fudo81
    September 20, 2014 at 5:27 am | #

    Whose forgiveness does Ruth need? And for what? Hmmm.

    • Bleeters
      Bleeters
      September 20, 2014 at 6:08 am | #

      She did kind of treat Billie like dirt when they first met.

  59. Yotsuyasan
    Yotsuyasan
    September 20, 2014 at 5:55 am | #

    Thank you, Willis. This has to be my favorite strip you’ve done in ages. I ship these two fiercely, and while I’d hate to see “Instant Perpetual Happiness!!!” for these two (as that would be rather unrealistic and unsatisfying), giving us a genuine tender moment between them gives us readers who are into this pairing hope.

    I really hope we continue to see the two of them grow together, as individuals and as a couple. Sure, with the occasional bump on the road. But between those bumps having some measure of happiness together.

    (And please, please don’t have given us this happy moment because the next time we see them a sixteen ton weight falls from the sky, crushing one or both of them to a pulp. Don’t make me say, “Damn you, Willis!” ‘Cause I will say it! I will!)

    Incidentally, a bit belated, I suppose, but I hope you had a happy anniversary. May there be a plethora more to come!

    • Kladeos
      Kladeos
      November 12, 2014 at 7:30 pm | #

      Amen.

  60. TJ Baltimore
    TJ Baltimore
    September 20, 2014 at 6:46 am | #

    This is the most poignantly tragic beauty I’ve ever seen. Bless you, Mr. Willis!

  61. OnyxIdol
    OnyxIdol
    September 20, 2014 at 7:02 am | #

    For the moment, there is a waff inside me. I wonder how long that’ll last.

  62. apostateCourier
    apostateCourier
    September 20, 2014 at 9:35 am | #

    Y’know, this comic actually gives me hope for these two fictional characters. The ability to forgive isn’t a thing everyone has.

  63. Tapio Peltonen
    Tapio Peltonen
    September 20, 2014 at 9:53 am | #

    You’re all missing the really important detail about this strip.

    The really important detail is: WHERE CAN I BUY THAT LAMP?

    I need that lamp! Because of reasons!

    • Yotsuyasan
      Yotsuyasan
      September 20, 2014 at 12:52 pm | #

      Perhaps something here may suit your needs?

  64. beege
    beege
    September 20, 2014 at 10:29 am | #

    Okay now I feel like these two have a chance, which is nice. But Joyce is probably going to do something awful when she (inevitably) sees them together, which is awful.

    This feeling is known as being ‘Willised’.

  65. Darwin
    Darwin
    September 20, 2014 at 12:01 pm | #

    Even after the horribleness that got them to this point, Ruth demonstrates some amazing maturity. This is still going to end poorly. This short, sweet moment will likely make that horrible end that much worse.

  66. Andrea
    Andrea
    September 20, 2014 at 12:15 pm | #

    Where can one find these mysterious chapter names you speak of?

    • Blackbird
      Blackbird
      September 20, 2014 at 4:01 pm | #

      Click on the archives tab just under the comic. The archives are separated by chapter. The first two of book 5 are already named. (I assume they get official names when Willis uploads the first strip in each new chapter.)

  67. blackhat64
    blackhat64
    September 20, 2014 at 12:46 pm | #

    I feel like these two kind of have an Amber/Mike (from Shortpacked!) thing going, except not quite as violent.

  68. Opus the Poet
    Opus the Poet
    September 20, 2014 at 12:53 pm | #

    While we have a relatively positive comic let me see who else I can be as my avatar.

    • Opus the Poet
      Opus the Poet
      September 20, 2014 at 12:55 pm | #

      Joyce. Hmm, interesting, but I wonder how I’ll use that.

      • Wait, so I can put anything here?
        Wait, so I can put anything here?
        September 20, 2014 at 7:56 pm | #

        ?????

        • Opus the Poet
          Opus the Poet
          September 20, 2014 at 9:44 pm | #

          Yes, you can, Jen Aside. You can also use different e-mail addys to get different avatars as long as they are valid addys. Gmail lets me use myname@gmail.com for a base addy and then use myname.1, myname.2, myname.3 etc to send some mail directly to spam if a bot manages to bet hold of the e-mail addys of various sites.

          • JWLM
            JWLM
            September 20, 2014 at 10:35 pm | #

            In fact, the email I use here is distinct from all other emails (‘Why is this site unlike all other sites?”) just so that I could block spam if someone broke in here.

      • gwalla
        gwalla
        September 21, 2014 at 1:04 am | #

        Um, that’s Dorothy, dude.

  69. Mr. Random
    Mr. Random
    September 20, 2014 at 2:00 pm | #

    test.
    >><<

  70. etybolik
    etybolik
    September 20, 2014 at 3:47 pm | #

    How magnanimous of you, Ruth, for forgiving the person you abused

  71. Kugai
    Kugai
    September 20, 2014 at 7:22 pm | #

    This has the potential to be a beautiful relationship

  72. Edgewit
    Edgewit
    September 20, 2014 at 7:59 pm | #

    The one thing they have in common? What about Breakfast at Tiffany’s?

  73. Switch
    Switch
    September 20, 2014 at 10:40 pm | #

    I’m still fairly certain she is contemplating suicide.

  74. Tufto
    Tufto
    September 20, 2014 at 10:46 pm | #

    And everything goes to hell in 3…2…1…

  75. Thomas
    Thomas
    September 21, 2014 at 7:02 am | #

    Aww… This TRULY was the strip we’ve all been waiting for. ^_^

    And OF COURSE Ruth keeps a diary. I can’t explain it, but it seems very much in character.

  76. Clif
    Clif
    September 21, 2014 at 9:03 am | #

    I hope Ruth remembers to say all this when Billie is awake.

  77. OmegaDez
    OmegaDez
    September 22, 2014 at 11:18 am | #

    <3

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