Dumbing of Age Book Twelve

Dumbing of Age

A college webcomic by David Willis
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July 9, 2026

March

by David M Willis on November 9, 2014 at 12:01 am
  • 01 - When Somebody Loved Me
└ Tags: jennifer, ruth

Discussion (312) ¬

[ Comments RSS ]
  1. Camachri
    Camachri
    November 9, 2014 at 12:01 am | #

    When tensions are a-brewin’, you can always rely on Perverse Sexual Lust~

    • thebombzen
      thebombzen
      November 9, 2014 at 12:15 am | #

      If you order now, you’ll also get a sexy lesbian suicide pact, absolutely free!

      *Must be 18 years old or older to order*

      • Camachri
        Camachri
        November 9, 2014 at 12:20 am | #

        DonotusePerverseSexualLustifyouhaveapre-existingheartconditionPLSIncorporatedisnotresponsibleforanylossorinjurycausedwhileundertheeffectsofPerverseSexualLustconsultyourdoctoriftensionscontinueafterapplication.

        • Alan Hardman
          Alan Hardman
          December 7, 2014 at 1:59 pm | #

          That was amazing.

        • Jadedcynic
          Jadedcynic
          December 28, 2014 at 1:54 pm | #

          PLS can have serious interactions with other prescription medication, so ask your doctor before taking PLS.

          Due to a risk of sexy lesbian suicide pact, do not take PLS with alcohol…

          …whoops.

      • Dirk Strider's Splinter Hopeself
        Dirk Strider's Splinter Hopeself
        November 9, 2014 at 12:57 am | #

        *Plus seperate shipping and handling*

        • saltchocolate
          saltchocolate
          November 9, 2014 at 1:31 am | #

          Satisfaction guaranteed, or your virginity back.

          • Noeryu
            Noeryu
            November 9, 2014 at 3:01 am | #

            I dont believe you

            • saltchocolate
              saltchocolate
              November 9, 2014 at 8:37 am | #

              Guaranteed. 😀

              • The Dayman
                The Dayman
                November 9, 2014 at 11:45 am | #

                Act now with integrity, no regrets for 12 months!

        • Azukar
          Azukar
          November 9, 2014 at 3:17 pm | #

          Plenty of handling.

        • Aeron
          Aeron
          November 9, 2014 at 7:05 pm | #

          …oh, THAT shipping. Sorry.

    • Cheryl
      Cheryl
      November 9, 2014 at 4:10 am | #

      THE HELL WAS I SAYING AGAIN?!

      • Van Jealous
        Van Jealous
        November 9, 2014 at 7:48 am | #

        Gotta cut down on those “Groovy Bears”, Cheryl….er…a Carol…

        • a4lbi
          a4lbi
          November 9, 2014 at 12:49 pm | #

          YOU ARE NOT MY SUPERVISOR

  2. etybolik
    etybolik
    November 9, 2014 at 12:01 am | #

    Mary is an agent of the Lord. She has x-ray vision and can see through walls and stuff.

    • MrSirk
      MrSirk
      November 9, 2014 at 12:06 am | #

      None of what you said has yet to be disproven. She could be an angel sent to test us all.

      • Henry
        Henry
        November 9, 2014 at 12:12 am | #

        American from the East Coast going to school in Indiana, and I have yet to ever hear “Catty Cornered” or any of its variants. Odd.

        Also, I hope (and am afraid) that we’re going to see various funny images of characters in that garment that Billie is holding up.

        Starting with, let’s say… Jason.

        • Norah
          Norah
          November 9, 2014 at 12:17 am | #

          I grew up in Michigan and always heard “kitty-cornered”. What do they say in Canada,I wonder?

          • Kelly
            Kelly
            November 9, 2014 at 12:23 am | #

            out west I hear kitty-corner. I hate it though. I say diagonally across

          • Kladeos
            Kladeos
            November 9, 2014 at 2:04 am | #

            I’ve never heard this term before (in Canada).

            • jimbotherisenclown
              jimbotherisenclown
              November 9, 2014 at 3:38 am | #

              Out in southern Illinois, we say it ‘caddy-corner’.

              • TheSuicidalGiraffe
                TheSuicidalGiraffe
                November 9, 2014 at 8:52 pm | #

                In Northern Illinois is Kitty Cornered

                Also
                Nice to know other people in the state know this expression exists lol

            • Chris
              Chris
              November 9, 2014 at 3:58 am | #

              Middle of Canada (Winnipeg) I can assure you kitty-corner is common, though falling out of favour.

              • SinbadEV
                SinbadEV
                November 9, 2014 at 8:38 am | #

                I think the joke is that there is a stereotype that Americans often use idioms wrong. “Kitty cornered” is correct… nobody says “catty cornered” unless they also say things like “intensive purposes”.

                • Itama
                  Itama
                  November 9, 2014 at 12:06 pm | #

                  mmmaaayyybe…
                  gonna be honest though. as someone from the same canadian city as ruth, i’ve gotta say that we don’t use that phrase here. i didn’t even know it was a thing until today. we just say diagonally across.

                  i think she’s just surprised at a phrase that, lets be honest, sounds ridiculous if you’re hearing it for the first time.

                • TCS
                  TCS
                  November 9, 2014 at 12:33 pm | #

                  I’ve only ever heard catty-cornered (SC). I only found out that some people say “intensive purposes” in college. **shrug** We use it to mean diagonally across (touching), “across and over one” (not exactly diagonal, but land-parcel or buildings), or anything that’s tangential but at a funky angle.

                • MindLink
                  MindLink
                  November 9, 2014 at 6:56 pm | #

                  Actually, neither is correct, it’s really “cater-corner” http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/cater-corner Nothing to do with “cat” or “kitty”.

                • Totz the Plaid
                  Totz the Plaid
                  November 9, 2014 at 11:12 pm | #

                  South-East Michigan here, and it’s “kitty-cornered,” or, occasionally “kit-corner.”

              • Kladeos
                Kladeos
                November 10, 2014 at 2:57 am | #

                Wait I’ve never heard this in Winnipeg, where I’ve spent the past two months.

            • Disloyal Subject
              Disloyal Subject
              November 9, 2014 at 12:15 pm | #

              California here. It’s new to me

          • elbo
            elbo
            November 9, 2014 at 4:06 am | #

            ‘ Kitty-corner ‘ in Canada, though not something you hear often

          • onethousandnames
            onethousandnames
            November 9, 2014 at 1:54 pm | #

            From Michigan, grew up in a handful of other states, now living in Arkansas. I say kitty-corner; our stylebook at work says catty-corner. (And I thought that was super weird when I first saw it.)

          • ProfessorBlind
            ProfessorBlind
            November 9, 2014 at 5:24 pm | #

            In Canada they just say “across from Tim Hortons”

          • Hinoron
            Hinoron
            September 27, 2015 at 12:05 am | #

            Canadian’s say “kitty-cornered”, as the comic implies.

            I DO think “catty” is the correct adjective to describe Mary’s general direction, however. 😉

        • Blob Marley
          Blob Marley
          November 9, 2014 at 12:38 am | #

          Caddywompus is my favorite.

          • Jackson
            Jackson
            November 9, 2014 at 12:51 am | #

            Another caddywompus-er! We can be caddywompus buddies.

            • onethousandnames
              onethousandnames
              November 9, 2014 at 1:55 pm | #

              I always thought cattywompus (or caddywompus) meant all out of whack.

        • barefootbiker
          barefootbiker
          November 9, 2014 at 4:00 am | #

          I’ve heard “Kitty-Corner,” but we in the Upper Midwest (Minnesota, which I’ll admit has quite a few quirks of its own) typically just say “diagonal.”

        • AllyLegit
          AllyLegit
          November 9, 2014 at 9:09 am | #

          No, I’m from Long Island and I’ve always heard catty-cornered (though I’ll admit I thought it was caddy-cornered until this discussion.

        • TsunamiJane
          TsunamiJane
          November 9, 2014 at 10:08 am | #

          Pennsylvania, a few folks say “catty-cornered” or “caddy-cornered.”

        • Azukar
          Azukar
          November 9, 2014 at 3:19 pm | #

          And this thread, dear children, explains the evolution of languages.

      • Pantheon the Mantheon
        Pantheon the Mantheon
        November 9, 2014 at 12:20 am | #

        Only if Angels only serve to spread misery. Somehow, I doubt that. I also somehow doubt that an angel would stoop as low as blackmail when dealing with sinners. If I recall my bible study correctly, they seemed to be fond of destroying cities…

        • MrSirk
          MrSirk
          November 9, 2014 at 12:40 am | #

          We don’t know what Mary does with her free time (besides spy on people apparently) She could give blood and donate to the poor. Maybe she’s just a bongo whenever we see her.

          • nothri
            nothri
            November 9, 2014 at 2:03 am | #

            Well, we know what she doesn’t do with her free time. Get dressed before noon.

            • nothri
              nothri
              November 9, 2014 at 2:07 am | #

              Or 3:00 for that matter.

          • David
            David
            November 9, 2014 at 1:32 pm | #

            Angels don’t have blood.

        • Mad Scientist
          Mad Scientist
          November 9, 2014 at 1:44 am | #

          So…you don’t watch Supernatural, then?

        • Deanatay
          Deanatay
          November 9, 2014 at 9:51 am | #

          Not all angels exist for the same purpose. Some are guides, some are punishers, some are testers.

          • The Other Mike
            The Other Mike
            February 2, 2015 at 3:35 am | #

            And some weep.

    • Kernanator
      Kernanator
      November 9, 2014 at 12:11 am | #

      That’s super, man.

  3. Idon'tcarenomore
    Idon'tcarenomore
    November 9, 2014 at 12:01 am | #

    omg I love the faces

    • LeslieBean4Shizzle
      LeslieBean4Shizzle
      November 9, 2014 at 12:04 am | #

      So cute! So wonderfully cute! ^^

  4. David Herbert
    David Herbert
    November 9, 2014 at 12:01 am | #

    Always appeal to the ever wondrous lady boner.

    • Pantheon the Mantheon
      Pantheon the Mantheon
      November 9, 2014 at 12:23 am | #

      That somehow sounds like a card combo from cards against humanity.

  5. Link
    Link
    November 9, 2014 at 12:02 am | #

    Hey! I use the term catty-cornered…

    • MrSirk
      MrSirk
      November 9, 2014 at 12:04 am | #

      Yeah, what’s wrong with catty-cornered?!

    • A5PECT
      A5PECT
      November 9, 2014 at 12:04 am | #

      I live on the east coast of the US and I’ve never heard of the term before.

      • Durandal_1707
        Durandal_1707
        November 9, 2014 at 12:05 am | #

        I’ve heard of *kitty*-corner, but not *catty*-corner.

        • Marc in MN
          Marc in MN
          November 9, 2014 at 12:12 am | #

          I live in Minnesota and have always said kitty-corner. I can’t speak for the rest of the state though. 😉

          • Ninty
            Ninty
            November 9, 2014 at 12:17 am | #

            Also from Minnesota, and I’ve never heard catty-corner. Only kitty-corner.

            • DanMan9820
              DanMan9820
              November 9, 2014 at 2:29 am | #

              A third Minnesotan, I can confirm that I’ve never heard “catty-corner”, but I have heard “kitty-corner”.

              • Barf Ninjason
                Barf Ninjason
                November 9, 2014 at 3:28 am | #

                I am from California. (Hi Minnesotans, thanks for the Replacements) and I’ve also only ever heard “kitty-corner.” “Catty-cornered”: never ever not ever never.

                Let us obviate this issue by henceforth only referring to this peculiar directional description as “gring-bong-ba-diddly-oh’d,.” Like so: “The bank? Oh it’s just across – well, it’s gring-bong-ba-diddly-oh’d to that shoeshine station yonder. That should clear everything up.

                • Raibean
                  Raibean
                  November 10, 2014 at 4:01 pm | #

                  I’m from California and it’s “catacorner” here.

              • Kat
                Kat
                November 9, 2014 at 6:19 pm | #

                I’m in MN as well- born and raised in Chicago and back in the Midwest after a 10 year period of living in OH, FL, CA and GA and I’ve only hear “kitty-corner.” I’m not 100% about the Ed at the end either.

                • SomeGuy
                  SomeGuy
                  November 9, 2014 at 10:48 pm | #

                  Am I seriously the only person in America who’s ever heard the term “catty-corner” before? Family is from Florida and Kentucky, mostly, and I’m currently residing in Ohio.

                • Marc in MN
                  Marc in MN
                  November 9, 2014 at 11:16 pm | #

                  Wow, lots of Minnesotans here. haha

          • Laurie
            Laurie
            November 29, 2014 at 1:05 pm | #

            I’m in WA, I say “kitty,” but I met someone once who was also from WA and said “catty.”

      • jhaman
        jhaman
        November 9, 2014 at 12:58 am | #

        High five, I’m from DC and I’ve only heard it the past few months since I moved to Illinois.

      • Questionor
        Questionor
        November 9, 2014 at 3:09 am | #

        I grew up in Brooklyn and have known this term since I was a kid.

        • Questionor
          Questionor
          November 9, 2014 at 3:11 am | #

          but kitty-corner is weird to me, I’ve heard it before once or twice but it’s just weird

          • Dorje Sylas
            Dorje Sylas
            November 9, 2014 at 9:42 am | #

            I’m feeling the Catty-Corner variant is something in and around the north east US. Or maybe just in an around New York. My folks used to be from the New York area until their families moved out to Cali when they were young. It was always “Catty-Corner” for me growing up. Kitty-Corner sounds strange to me as well.

      • Yoohoo
        Yoohoo
        November 9, 2014 at 5:44 am | #

        East Coast, DC area, and I’ve heard catty-cornered. Might be the southern roots – then again my mom’s ppl are from Illinois too.

        I guess it’s like “cutting the wheel” when driving – though I’ve heard that in the northeast too

        • NotPiffany
          NotPiffany
          November 9, 2014 at 8:59 am | #

          I’ve heard catty-cornered from my folks, who were born in Ohio and Philadelphia. I heard both catty-cornered and kitty-cornered in Dallas, but mostly catty-cornered.

          “Cutting the wheel,” however, is a new one on me. What’s it mean?

    • Michael Steamweed
      Michael Steamweed
      November 9, 2014 at 12:06 am | #

      Some northern places use “cater-corner.” I think many American regions slogged “cater” to “catty.” Kinda catty of us? 😛

      • Itama
        Itama
        November 9, 2014 at 12:07 am | #

        i’m canadian. so far as i know cater-corners are not a thing either.
        i think ruth might agree.

        • Mr Ak
          Mr Ak
          November 9, 2014 at 12:48 am | #

          Australian, and I think you’re all talking gibberish.

          • airyu
            airyu
            November 9, 2014 at 1:38 am | #

            I’m Californian and I agree with the Aussie over there.

            • gwalla
              gwalla
              November 9, 2014 at 3:08 am | #

              Californian born & bred and I say catty-corner (but not “catty-cornered”).

            • Gadgeteer Smashwidget
              Gadgeteer Smashwidget
              November 9, 2014 at 5:33 am | #

              Texan here and completely confused by all of this.

              • pyrophobia
                pyrophobia
                November 9, 2014 at 9:01 am | #

                Masshole here, never heard either term before until my Californian wife said “kitty-cornered”. May as well have been rubbish before that.

          • The Aussie Bloke
            The Aussie Bloke
            November 9, 2014 at 2:14 am | #

            Couldn’t agree with ya more, mate.

    • Itama
      Itama
      November 9, 2014 at 12:06 am | #

      i’m from the same city as ruth and i have no clue what that even means….

    • newllend
      newllend
      November 9, 2014 at 12:08 am | #

      The hell does that even mean?

      • Link
        Link
        November 9, 2014 at 12:09 am | #

        It means “in a diagonal direction”. Like if you’re at the 7-11 on the southwestern side of the street and you need to get to the Target on the northeastern side, that’s catty/kitty cornered.

        • newllend
          newllend
          November 9, 2014 at 12:27 am | #

          why such a complicated name for something so simple

          • Yet Another Laura H.
            Yet Another Laura H.
            November 9, 2014 at 12:56 am | #

            NewllEnd, it’s because the concept implies geographic relations to a street or hallway. “Diagonally” actually has more syllables, if you count, as does, “across from, but not laterally across from. Sort of up and to the left, right across the hall.”

          • PlainMarie
            PlainMarie
            November 9, 2014 at 8:33 am | #

            Rather, it’s a simple name to describe a complicated arrangement. It’s that place that’s diagonal from, no, the other diagonal, I mean across the corner, no , not on the same side of the street, oh hell, it’s kitty-corner. See? Corner+ a kitty. You know how they never walk in a straight line. No, actually, it appears to be old French.

            Merriam-Webster says: in a diagonal or oblique position . Origin of KITTY-CORNER: kitty-corner alteration of cater-corner, from obsolete cater four + corner. First Known Use: 1838

            It was very common when I was growing up in Kentucky.

            • pyrophobia
              pyrophobia
              November 9, 2014 at 9:03 am | #

              You win 10 internets for this excellent sleuthing! Love, an etymology nerd.

            • StoneyB
              StoneyB
              November 9, 2014 at 12:27 pm | #

              It’s much older than that: it shows up on the title page of one of the Martin Marprelate pamphlets in 1589.

        • MrSirk
          MrSirk
          November 9, 2014 at 12:37 am | #

          My teacher’s used to say it all the time in elementary school especially when assigning new seating placements. I kind of just grew up with it. I live in SoCal if that matters.

        • Kladeos
          Kladeos
          November 9, 2014 at 2:05 am | #

          I would just say across… Maybe diagonally across.

      • thebombzen
        thebombzen
        November 9, 2014 at 12:12 am | #

        According to Google, it means diagonally opposite. I’ve never heard this IRL though.

    • IAmDeltaS
      IAmDeltaS
      November 9, 2014 at 12:09 am | #

      I’m from the western United States and I have NO idea what that means.

      • Darth Cariss
        Darth Cariss
        November 9, 2014 at 12:13 am | #

        I’m from the western United States and I know exactly what it means, and have heard it used plenty of times.

      • fogel
        fogel
        November 9, 2014 at 12:15 am | #

        It’s a phrase here in the region south of the Great Lakes and Billie is from Indiana, so it fits that she uses it, but evidently Ruth is mistaken to think it’s a general Americanism.

    • AgentKeen
      AgentKeen
      November 9, 2014 at 12:22 am | #

      I always used this (I usually drop the ‘-ed’, and just say ‘catty-corner’), but thought it was spelled ‘caddy-corner’ (like the golf club carrier, as opposed to a feline). I saw an article about regional differences in using it or some other variation, and asked my parents about it. Apparently, my mom insists that it’s ‘kitty-corner’, and I never remember her saying it. I have no idea where I picked it up (maybe my grandparents?).

      A fun alternative is ‘catty whompus’ (sp?), but I only say that when I’m purposefully trying to sound silly.

      • gwalla
        gwalla
        November 9, 2014 at 3:11 am | #

        I think that’s getting it confused with “gallywhompus”, which means “chaotic, askew, out of alignment”.

        • Gadgeteer Smashwidget
          Gadgeteer Smashwidget
          November 9, 2014 at 5:35 am | #

          This is hands-down my new most favorite word.

        • AgentKeen
          AgentKeen
          November 9, 2014 at 10:56 am | #

          I don’t think it’s as common, but I know at least a few people that said it was their go-to word instead of the other options.

          http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/catawampus

    • David Alexander McDonald
      David Alexander McDonald
      November 9, 2014 at 12:23 am | #

      I’m from England, living in the US southwest, and I say “kitty-cornered” with some regularity.

    • artemi
      artemi
      November 9, 2014 at 12:39 am | #

      Ohio checking in. Catty-corner is totally a thing around here, folks.

      Course, Willis LIVES in Ohio, so I guess that isn’t too surprising…

    • Dirk Strider's Splinter Hopeself
      Dirk Strider's Splinter Hopeself
      November 9, 2014 at 12:56 am | #

      NY suburbs checking in- Never heard of it till now, but totally using it.

    • saltchocolate
      saltchocolate
      November 9, 2014 at 1:41 am | #

      Okay, it should be clear by now that catty-corner(ed) is a southern thing. Though perhaps not exclusively, it seems.

    • ninja_jesus
      ninja_jesus
      November 9, 2014 at 1:54 am | #

      I live in Hawaii. Never even heard of the term until today.

      • FairyGothMama
        FairyGothMama
        November 9, 2014 at 2:25 am | #

        Southern Michigan. Kitty-corner.

    • Kay
      Kay
      November 9, 2014 at 2:54 am | #

      Missouri checking in. Always used Catty-Corner, though pronounced more like Caddy-Corner here.

      • Zandar
        Zandar
        November 10, 2014 at 10:58 pm | #

        St. Louis, I use caddy-corner.

    • Benjy
      Benjy
      November 9, 2014 at 4:34 am | #

      I’ve lived all my life in Indiana and I’ve never heard of “catty-cornered” until now.

    • taylorbelle
      taylorbelle
      November 9, 2014 at 7:20 am | #

      it’s a colloquialism and like tomato/potato it’s pronounced differently in different places. I did a report on it in grade school. comes from Middle English catre-corner

    • The E-man
      The E-man
      November 9, 2014 at 1:23 pm | #

      The Harvard Dialect Survey asked people across the US and made this map which seems to say that kitty-corner is more Northern US, catty-corner is more Southern US. Both seem to be more based in the Eastern US but that’s probably because they had more responses from the Eastern US than the Western US (as can be seen in this map of all participants). Though whether that’s a result of less people responding in the Western US or the surveyors contacting more people in the Eastern US is your guess as well as mine.

      (As for me, I’m from New Jersey and I use catty-corner.)

    • Mary
      Mary
      November 11, 2014 at 1:15 am | #

      Massachusetts here, I’ve heard kitty-corner used, but its not exactly common. I think people here know what it means though

  6. MrSirk
    MrSirk
    November 9, 2014 at 12:02 am | #

    Billie raises a fair point.

    • LeslieBean4Shizzle
      LeslieBean4Shizzle
      November 9, 2014 at 12:03 am | #

      I think Billie raised at least three points.

    • Doctor_Who
      Doctor_Who
      November 9, 2014 at 12:04 am | #

      I thought she was raising a negligee? Or is that a camisole? A chemise?

      Ladies, your sexy underwear is too complicated. And the sexiest choice is “None”.

      • Link
        Link
        November 9, 2014 at 12:08 am | #

        Said by a man who spends most of his life in a spinning, blue box. The art of wearing less by wearing more is one that men simply refuse to master.

        • AgentKeen
          AgentKeen
          November 9, 2014 at 12:24 am | #

          Says the kid that likes to show off plenty of leg for his Princess.

          • Dirk Strider's Splinter Hopeself
            Dirk Strider's Splinter Hopeself
            November 9, 2014 at 12:56 am | #

            As a bisexual, I fully support the leg-showing.

        • Blue
          Blue
          November 9, 2014 at 1:12 am | #

          …did somebody say the Master?

          • NotPiffany
            NotPiffany
            November 9, 2014 at 9:05 am | #

            He loves it when you say his name.

            • Yotsuyasan
              Yotsuyasan
              November 9, 2014 at 11:10 am | #

              Except (s)he can’t really continue using that name, now can (s)he?

              • Abel Undercity (@AbelUndercity)
                Abel Undercity (@AbelUndercity)
                November 9, 2014 at 3:21 pm | #

                Tell her she can’t. See what it gets you. 😉

                • Yotsuyasan
                  Yotsuyasan
                  November 9, 2014 at 4:46 pm | #

                  She said herself that she can’t! Hey, if she still wanted to be called “The Master,” I wouldn’t be dumb enough to argue with her.

                  (Unless she demanded I say something nice to her. Then I’d tell her to piss off. Hey, I’ll probably die either way, may as well go out on my own terms!)

        • NotPiffany
          NotPiffany
          November 9, 2014 at 9:04 am | #

          Now, that’s not necessarily true; some guys like rocking a suit.

          Admittedly, male underwear tends towards the utilitarian.

    • Yotomoe
      Yotomoe
      November 9, 2014 at 12:50 am | #

      She probably raised quite a few of the reader’s fair points.

      • Swoop
        Swoop
        November 9, 2014 at 11:34 am | #

        Do you speak entirely in sexual innuendo?

  7. Itama
    Itama
    November 9, 2014 at 12:03 am | #

    a woman after my own heart…..
    …
    …
    😉

    • Itama
      Itama
      November 9, 2014 at 12:12 am | #

      no i don’t have any cue who i’m talking about.

      • Kelly
        Kelly
        November 9, 2014 at 12:25 am | #

        Mary, clearly

        • rachel
          rachel
          November 9, 2014 at 12:36 am | #

          mary performs a HORRIFYING JUDGMENT OF HER FELLOW (WO)MAN. how thrilling

          • Dirk Strider's Splinter Hopeself
            Dirk Strider's Splinter Hopeself
            November 9, 2014 at 12:55 am | #

            It’s SUPER EFFECTIVE!

          • nothri
            nothri
            November 9, 2014 at 1:48 am | #

            Worst. Slipshine. EVER.

            • Itama
              Itama
              November 9, 2014 at 9:59 am | #

              i think you mean BEST, sir.
              everyone loves a twist ending.

  8. March
    March
    November 9, 2014 at 12:04 am | #

    Well played, Billie.

  9. Emperor Kiva
    Emperor Kiva
    November 9, 2014 at 12:04 am | #

    Mary needs to mind her own damn business. One day, her being nosy will get her shot.

    • thebombzen
      thebombzen
      November 9, 2014 at 12:13 am | #

      Being nosy will get her punched… in the nose.

      • Emperor Kiva
        Emperor Kiva
        November 9, 2014 at 8:15 am | #

        Either that or punched then shot

        • David
          David
          November 9, 2014 at 1:38 pm | #

          Or a shot in the punch.

          • The Other Mike
            The Other Mike
            February 2, 2015 at 3:52 am | #

            Nah, Mary probably doesn’t go to that kind of party.

    • fogel
      fogel
      November 9, 2014 at 12:17 am | #

      Mary delenda est

  10. Michael Steamweed
    Michael Steamweed
    November 9, 2014 at 12:04 am | #

    “Your textile-based rejoinder has convinced me, moreso than any ethos, logos, or pathos ever could.”

    • Link
      Link
      November 9, 2014 at 12:07 am | #

      “But if you were to pursue the course of persuading me further, you could deign to demonstrate the deviant discourses we could discuss while you donned the dark design.”

  11. Alexander Krizak
    Alexander Krizak
    November 9, 2014 at 12:05 am | #

    I picked up “kitty-cornered” during the short time I lived in the States, and now I’ll use it up here in Alberta to give directions and people are like, “What huh?” A shame, as it’s a really useful concept.

    • Jesse Conlang
      Jesse Conlang
      November 9, 2014 at 4:33 am | #

      I live in Alberta, and kitty-corner is an old-person thing in my family at least.

    • jimbo
      jimbo
      November 9, 2014 at 10:13 am | #

      i find that “diagonal” works just fine

  12. HorchataShake
    HorchataShake
    November 9, 2014 at 12:06 am | #

    I really hope delicious justice is served to the bongo mary.

    • Emperor Kiva
      Emperor Kiva
      November 9, 2014 at 12:07 am | #

      Me too

    • timemonkey
      timemonkey
      November 9, 2014 at 12:07 am | #

      Being May I a kind of punishment in and of itself.

    • Yotomoe
      Yotomoe
      November 9, 2014 at 12:49 am | #

      Delicious Justice? Like dipping her in chocolate?

      • Dirk Strider's Splinter Hopeself
        Dirk Strider's Splinter Hopeself
        November 9, 2014 at 12:55 am | #

        I was thinking caramel.

        • Yotomoe
          Yotomoe
          November 9, 2014 at 12:55 am | #

          Don’t involve the Walkertons in your SHAMEFUL LUST.

          • Dirk Strider's Splinter Hopeself
            Dirk Strider's Splinter Hopeself
            November 9, 2014 at 8:02 am | #

            I dunno, something makes me think Walky would be down for sexy lesbian suicide pacts, just saying.

    • Pinja
      Pinja
      November 9, 2014 at 7:14 am | #

      It can’t, Mary is serving justice to Ruth for hitting her.

    • pyrophobia
      pyrophobia
      November 9, 2014 at 9:16 am | #

      Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your comeuppance grow

  13. newllend
    newllend
    November 9, 2014 at 12:06 am | #

    It was completely worth it, fuck you if anyone disagrees.

  14. caesaria82
    caesaria82
    November 9, 2014 at 12:07 am | #

    Ruth blushing is my new favorite thing <3

  15. LimeTH
    LimeTH
    November 9, 2014 at 12:09 am | #

    I’ve never heard the phrase “Catty Cornered” before in my life before reading this comic and I’m American. What does that even mean?

    Also hell yes it was worth it!

    • caramelundqueer
      caramelundqueer
      November 9, 2014 at 1:08 am | #

      I’ve heard kitty cornered before.

  16. Nonagon
    Nonagon
    November 9, 2014 at 12:09 am | #

    I’m with Ruth here. Reminds me of the time I visited Florida and everyone stared at me bug-eyed for having no idea what a roly-poly is. Americans have some weird phrases.

    • newllend
      newllend
      November 9, 2014 at 12:21 am | #

      “roly-poly” you know that cute little bug that rolls up in a ball when you poke it, the name seems to fit.

      • CptNerd
        CptNerd
        November 9, 2014 at 12:26 am | #

        “Doodlebugs” is what I always heard them called. But then I heard “catty-corner” when I was growing up, too. In the 60’s.

        • AgentKeen
          AgentKeen
          November 9, 2014 at 12:31 am | #

          I hadn’t heard doodlebugs before, that’s a new one.

        • AgentKeen
          AgentKeen
          November 9, 2014 at 12:35 am | #

          Relevant: http://harvardpress.typepad.com/hup_publicity/2013/06/who-says-what-where-dictionary-of-american-regional-english-online.html

          I use ‘catty-corner’, but have generally lived in one of the white-ish areas (where both are used).

          • AgentKeen
            AgentKeen
            November 9, 2014 at 12:36 am | #

            Annnd, I don’t know why that was a reply, whoops.

        • kelticat
          kelticat
          November 9, 2014 at 1:23 am | #

          My family called them pillbugs.

        • PlainMarie
          PlainMarie
          November 9, 2014 at 8:35 am | #

          I’ve heard them referred to as roly-polys and doodle bugs. I’ve occassionally heard pill bug.

    • David Alexander McDonald
      David Alexander McDonald
      November 9, 2014 at 12:25 am | #

      Here in Arizona we have a little pest called a kidding bug. Officially it’s the cone-nose bug, but its behaviour got it nicknamed. Vicious little bastards, too — their bite leads to necrosis.

      • Kelly
        Kelly
        November 9, 2014 at 12:52 am | #

        Oh, we call them assassin bugs.

        • Jules
          Jules
          November 9, 2014 at 2:04 am | #

          Where I’m from, we call them “nope-bugs”

    • AgentKeen
      AgentKeen
      November 9, 2014 at 12:29 am | #

      Sure, there’s the roly-poly aka pill bug, but then there’s also the firefly aka lightning bug. At least the names are descriptive.

    • Kelly
      Kelly
      November 9, 2014 at 12:50 am | #

      In the west they are pill bugs, not rolly-pollies

    • Swoop
      Swoop
      November 9, 2014 at 12:44 pm | #

      I call them freedom-rollers

  17. nothri
    nothri
    November 9, 2014 at 12:09 am | #

    Billie used lingerie. Its super effective.

  18. Wack'd
    Wack'd
    November 9, 2014 at 12:09 am | #

    I’m American and even I raised an eyebrow at “catty-cornered”.

  19. Emoroffle
    Emoroffle
    November 9, 2014 at 12:11 am | #

    I think we just saw Ruth’s brain do a hard reset.

    • saltchocolate
      saltchocolate
      November 9, 2014 at 1:43 am | #

      ^ This!

      • David
        David
        November 9, 2014 at 1:42 pm | #

        After a hard reset, everything is like once before. That’s quite the opposite from nothing ever being the same again.

  20. dailybrad
    dailybrad
    November 9, 2014 at 12:13 am | #

    I’ve always known that underwear is the solution to all problems.

    • Yotomoe
      Yotomoe
      November 9, 2014 at 12:48 am | #

      It saved the world from Emporor Pilaf.

  21. Equuizzicals
    Equuizzicals
    November 9, 2014 at 12:17 am | #

    Is that like a regional thing? Cause I’ve never heard that term in my life.

  22. Adam Black
    Adam Black
    November 9, 2014 at 12:18 am | #

    I had to look that up.
    From archaic English ‘Cater’ for Diagonal , from the French quatre meaning four

    Cater would be a useful word, but Im not “catty-cornering” .
    That sounds like your living room was attacked by a Hello-Kitty throw pillow decorator.
    ( That might make a good super-villain )

    I am sticking with “diagonally across”

    • Kelly
      Kelly
      November 9, 2014 at 12:53 am | #

      hear hear

    • Chris
      Chris
      November 9, 2014 at 4:09 am | #

      Ah, that quatre corner thing makes sense. From the Harvard Press link given above, it sure looks like catty-corner radiated out from Louisiana.

      • PlainMarie
        PlainMarie
        November 9, 2014 at 8:38 am | #

        Which explains why it’s so common in Kentucky, I suppose! That Lafayette fellow got around. Fayette County, Ky, Lafayette high school, and other random French names mispronounced and changed into local dialect. Witness Ver-sales.

        • Peter Sadlon
          Peter Sadlon
          November 9, 2014 at 11:20 am | #

          Here in Florida you hear almost all of them, though I was raised on catty-cornered.

          • a4lbi
            a4lbi
            November 9, 2014 at 12:48 pm | #

            kitty-cornered! :3

    • NotPiffany
      NotPiffany
      November 9, 2014 at 9:12 am | #

      Of course you don’t. Catty-corner is an adjective, not a verb.

  23. Khaner
    Khaner
    November 9, 2014 at 12:19 am | #

    Ruth is slowly going to turn into The Mountie
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_r06TGDxYo

    • David
      David
      November 9, 2014 at 1:58 pm | #

      I think rather this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9NAu3sPJFk

  24. Nick J.
    Nick J.
    November 9, 2014 at 12:20 am | #

    Willis, please, I’m beggin’ ya here, whenever you do a Ruth/Billie Slipshine
    comic, pleaaaaaaase draw Billie wearing those undies. Pretty please?
    With sugar on top?

    • Dirk Strider's Splinter Hopeself
      Dirk Strider's Splinter Hopeself
      November 9, 2014 at 12:54 am | #

      Seconded.

    • saltchocolate
      saltchocolate
      November 9, 2014 at 8:45 am | #

      Willis, even if you do a Slipshine of them, you simply must give us one panel of Billie in that negligee in the regular strip! If you don’t, that’s what I’d call a strip tease.

      • pyrophobia
        pyrophobia
        November 9, 2014 at 9:18 am | #

        Ba-dum TSSSSSSSSSSSS

  25. JessWitt
    JessWitt
    November 9, 2014 at 12:22 am | #

    That’s some negligee-able evidence right there.

    • OnyxIdol
      OnyxIdol
      November 9, 2014 at 7:06 am | #

      Oh You rascal.

    • Kim
      Kim
      November 9, 2014 at 7:48 am | #

      😀

    • PlainMarie
      PlainMarie
      November 9, 2014 at 8:38 am | #

      :)!

  26. Kevin
    Kevin
    November 9, 2014 at 12:24 am | #

    After all that criticizing Billy’s weight, Ruth is sure all-in on her…

    Remember, all women are most attracted to whatever stereotype they complain about the most.

    …and all men make sexist blanket generalizations.

    …

    • Yotomoe
      Yotomoe
      November 9, 2014 at 12:48 am | #

      I do a combination of both, thank you very much! tch, men.

    • Dirk Strider's Splinter Hopeself
      Dirk Strider's Splinter Hopeself
      November 9, 2014 at 12:51 am | #

      Was the last part meant to be ironic as well?

    • Heatth
      Heatth
      November 9, 2014 at 1:13 am | #

      It thought it was well established Ruth was all-in on Billie since the start? And that was precisely why she antagonized her so much?

      • Gangler
        Gangler
        November 9, 2014 at 1:20 pm | #

        She antagonized Billie because her parents were killed by a drunk driver leaving her with strongly held views pertaining to Billie’s irresponsible drunken antics.

        She also happened to find Billie attractive, which for the moment has been pushed to the forefront of their relationship. There is no known causal link between the antagonism and the attraction though.

    • Tenn
      Tenn
      November 9, 2014 at 5:19 pm | #

      It’s true. I treat blankets differently depending on their gender. It happens less since I became aware of it, but old habits die hard.

  27. ColdOnMars
    ColdOnMars
    November 9, 2014 at 12:40 am | #

    Secret lesbian dorm sex and lingerie? This is too much like my life for comfort.

    • Yotomoe
      Yotomoe
      November 9, 2014 at 12:47 am | #

      …go on…

    • Dirk Strider's Splinter Hopeself
      Dirk Strider's Splinter Hopeself
      November 9, 2014 at 12:51 am | #

      Your life sounds AWESOME.

    • David
      David
      November 9, 2014 at 2:02 pm | #

      So “ColdOnMars” actually is a cacophemism for “HotOnVenus”.

  28. Plasma Mongoose
    Plasma Mongoose
    November 9, 2014 at 12:43 am | #

    Ruth is thinking with the wrong head. 😀

    • Yotomoe
      Yotomoe
      November 9, 2014 at 12:45 am | #

      …I certainly…I certainly hope not.

    • Dirk Strider's Splinter Hopeself
      Dirk Strider's Splinter Hopeself
      November 9, 2014 at 12:52 am | #

      What other head? I mean, I thought that was a penis-haver only thing?

      • Plasma Mongoose
        Plasma Mongoose
        November 9, 2014 at 1:08 am | #

        The clit counts as a head since it’s the female version of a guy’s bell-end.

        • Dirk Strider's Splinter Hopeself
          Dirk Strider's Splinter Hopeself
          November 9, 2014 at 8:01 am | #

          Thanks! I was a bit confused- Sorry if I came off as a bit superior-feeling. I tried to word my comment as “I’m genuinely confused” but it came off more as “haha im confused u silly butt how does that even work” which is a bit more jerkish than I would like. Thanks for the little education lesson. Meat Cleaver.

          • Plasma Mongoose
            Plasma Mongoose
            November 12, 2014 at 12:30 am | #

            Meat Cleaver: Grown up Beaver’s porno name?

            • Commenter
              Commenter
              November 15, 2014 at 5:47 pm | #

              !!!! Ooh — you are wicked! But I guess Beaver Cleaver itself is a pretty porny name, so we shouldn’t be surprised if he ended up in porn. They should have done an episode in which Ward sat Beaver down for “The Talk”.

    • Suitora
      Suitora
      November 9, 2014 at 12:56 pm | #

      Actually, I’m taking a guess the blush was because Ruth’s embarrassed since those are HER panties, not Billie’s.

  29. artemi
    artemi
    November 9, 2014 at 12:44 am | #

    I suppose this is why Willis said that Mary HAD to be in that specific room when he was giving us the general floor plan like two years back. For “reasons” lol.

  30. Yotomoe
    Yotomoe
    November 9, 2014 at 12:45 am | #

    Oh man. That looks super sexy. People would probably love to see me draw Billie wearing that. Wouldn’t ya?
    Oh well.

    • Dirk Strider's Splinter Hopeself
      Dirk Strider's Splinter Hopeself
      November 9, 2014 at 12:53 am | #

      EXPLAIN THIS CRYPTIC “OH WELL” AT ONCE.

      • Yotomoe
        Yotomoe
        November 9, 2014 at 12:57 am | #

        <abbr title="I'm being coy cuz I want to draw it but I also need money for commissions."Oh, It's nothing.

        • Yotomoe
          Yotomoe
          November 9, 2014 at 12:57 am | #

          whoopsie.

          • gwalla
            gwalla
            November 9, 2014 at 3:26 am | #

            THE JIG IS UP

            • Tenn
              Tenn
              November 9, 2014 at 5:25 pm | #

              THE SQUARE DANCE IS DOWN

        • Kelly
          Kelly
          November 9, 2014 at 4:20 am | #

          Sent you an ask

    • ninja_jesus
      ninja_jesus
      November 9, 2014 at 1:47 am | #

      You diabolical tease.

  31. CisoSecond
    CisoSecond
    November 9, 2014 at 12:53 am | #

    Sliiiiiiiipshiiiiiiiine~

    • Dirk Strider's Splinter Hopeself
      Dirk Strider's Splinter Hopeself
      November 9, 2014 at 12:54 am | #

      Sliiiiipshiiiiiiiineeeeeeee

      • timemonkey
        timemonkey
        November 9, 2014 at 6:44 am | #

        fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck nooooooooooo

        • Dirk Strider's Splinter Hopeself
          Dirk Strider's Splinter Hopeself
          November 9, 2014 at 7:58 am | #

          yeeeeeeeeeeeeeees fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuucking (you walked right into that one)

    • Tenn
      Tenn
      November 9, 2014 at 5:26 pm | #

      Scrooooooooooooooooge! I am the ghoooooooooooost of Slipshines paaaaaaaaaaaaaaast!

  32. Dirk Strider's Splinter Hopeself
    Dirk Strider's Splinter Hopeself
    November 9, 2014 at 12:53 am | #

    Also, Ruth’s hand shifting when she sees it- Nice detail, Willis!

  33. Jacob Newburn
    Jacob Newburn
    November 9, 2014 at 1:01 am | #

    Who the fuck outside the 1950’s has ever used the term “Catty Cornered”?

    • Ikaru
      Ikaru
      November 9, 2014 at 3:24 am | #

      …I have.

    • Rob P
      Rob P
      November 9, 2014 at 6:17 am | #

      Here you go!

      http://harvardpress.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341d17e553ef0192aaf808a5970d-pi

  34. Boomwolf
    Boomwolf
    November 9, 2014 at 1:05 am | #

    Oh, the lesbian hanky panky is real

    • Swoop
      Swoop
      November 9, 2014 at 2:12 pm | #

      no it’s a myth. Like Bigfoot or pirates.

  35. Lanval
    Lanval
    November 9, 2014 at 1:26 am | #

    Speaking as a fellow Canadian to Ruth, what the hell does Catty Cornered mean?

    • Jules
      Jules
      November 9, 2014 at 2:00 am | #

      Adjacent to, basically.

    • Reltzik
      Reltzik
      November 9, 2014 at 2:16 am | #

      Nope. On opposite corners.

    • chase
      chase
      November 9, 2014 at 10:09 am | #

      I’m in the USA and I’ve never heard catty-corner used either. It’s always been kitty corner.

  36. Eukie
    Eukie
    November 9, 2014 at 1:28 am | #

    “Ruth skips a class”?

    I worry a bit that these two will develop a habit of using sex (and sexual intimacy, etc.) to avoid having to address their problems to each other, though.

    • saltchocolate
      saltchocolate
      November 9, 2014 at 1:47 am | #

      God forbid!
      :: gets popcorn::

    • Bagge
      Bagge
      November 9, 2014 at 7:34 pm | #

      To be fair, that’s about the least unhealthy coping mechanism we have seen them using so far.

  37. nothri
    nothri
    November 9, 2014 at 1:50 am | #

    I have a hot and skimpy outfit. Your argument is invalid.

    • Swoop
      Swoop
      November 9, 2014 at 12:57 pm | #

      that’s how I won all my debates in high school.

      • David
        David
        November 9, 2014 at 2:26 pm | #

        Heck, Cicero wore a tunic and the stuff Socrates ran around in beggared description. Heck, when people reprimanded Diogenes for running around masturbating naked in public, he said he’d only wish one could fight hunger by rubbing one’s belly.

        Now if that does not render all arguments invalid, I don’t know what does.

        • Swoop
          Swoop
          November 9, 2014 at 2:56 pm | #

          All the great men and women of history are perverts. That must be what Willis is going for.

        • gwalla
          gwalla
          November 10, 2014 at 2:12 am | #

          Diogenes was the greatest of all trolls.

      • Bagge
        Bagge
        November 9, 2014 at 7:35 pm | #

        For Billie I think that’s canon

  38. Dierna
    Dierna
    November 9, 2014 at 2:08 am | #

    I grew up in Germany and only know of the term Kitty Corner. Never heard of it as Catty Corner…

    • Reltzik
      Reltzik
      November 9, 2014 at 2:12 am | #

      I grew up in the US and I only ever heard of kitty-corner. Indiana is weird. People from Indiana are weirdos.

      • fogel
        fogel
        November 9, 2014 at 11:57 pm | #

        No, that’s Hoosiers. However, ARE you talking about people FROM Indiana or people IN Indiana. I have a sense that pretty much all of the famous people from Indiana left. Some of us ended up here through no fault of our own.

  39. chris73
    chris73
    November 9, 2014 at 2:08 am | #

    The sooner these two break up the better it’ll be for both of them

    • Reltzik
      Reltzik
      November 9, 2014 at 2:15 am | #

      I dunno. Yeah, sure, there’s all sorts of disfunction and potential issues here, but you really do have to factor in the negative consequences of breaking up before you can weigh options and say that one’s better than the other.

      So, how many megatons are we talking about when these two break up?

      • chris73
        chris73
        November 9, 2014 at 4:05 am | #

        Ruth is verbally abusive, emotionally abusive , physically violent and thinks nothing of invading peoples spaces but imagine if Ruth was a guy doing all those things.

        • Dirk Strider's Splinter Hopeself
          Dirk Strider's Splinter Hopeself
          November 9, 2014 at 7:58 am | #

          1. He’s called Mike.
          2. You ignore the fact that Billie’s pretty fucked up herself. They’re two people who’ve stumbled on the block of life, and are trying to improve themselves together.

        • Eukie
          Eukie
          November 9, 2014 at 2:48 pm | #

          How many of those abuses are she engaging in now that they’ve been trying to have a relationship, or trying to be nice to each other, though? If you’re going to find reasons the relationship is bad for them, I think things they are actually doing to each other, or things they are likely to do, rather than things they are did are the most relevant.

          Like, say, “they seem to try to brush over their problems by bribing each other with physical intimacy” or “they’re enabling each other to not seek help for their alcoholism or depression”.

        • Rutee
          Rutee
          November 9, 2014 at 4:58 pm | #

          That’d be Mike, one of the most popular characters in the strip. And that isn’t what I hate about Mike either (Which is the way he’s treated as a mastermind and free from the consequences of his actions. This isn’t nearly as much a thing in DoA, so Mike doesn’t bother me nearly as much here).

          Like, seriously, you’re not touching the real problems. They’ve been pretty great to each other so far after working out their mutual attractions. The problems relate to the possibility (pretty strong) of enabling each other’s problems and the (currently nominal) difference in power; the latter I’m not as sure on, because even before sleeping together, Billie had enough to end Ruth too, if they really wanted to go after each other.

  40. Reltzik
    Reltzik
    November 9, 2014 at 2:12 am | #

    No, Ruth, no! You’re the older woman here! You’ve matured out of your teenage years! You’re not supposed to be ruled by your hormones any more!

    • Dirk Strider's Splinter Hopeself
      Dirk Strider's Splinter Hopeself
      November 9, 2014 at 7:54 am | #

      Everyone always is- How do you explain half the wars that’ve ever happened?

  41. fishamaphone
    fishamaphone
    November 9, 2014 at 2:35 am | #

    “In Which Ruth Slowly Turns Into Jason”

  42. DJFlare84
    DJFlare84
    November 9, 2014 at 2:47 am | #

    Hard to imagine these two almost killed each other at the start!

    • Dirk Strider's Splinter Hopeself
      Dirk Strider's Splinter Hopeself
      November 9, 2014 at 7:55 am | #

      They are. In a sexy lesbian suicide pact.

    • Israfel
      Israfel
      November 9, 2014 at 1:22 pm | #

      Sometimes love, right where you hating most kate monster.

  43. Cypherfox
    Cypherfox
    November 9, 2014 at 4:02 am | #

    Grr to folks who want them to break up. I slip these two more than any couple in the DOAverse.

    And I learned kitty corner from my mom who was east/west coast. I don’t use it much, but when I do it’s the perfect phrase.

    • chris73
      chris73
      November 9, 2014 at 4:07 am | #

      Ruth is verbally abusive, emotionally abusive , physically violent, demeans her in front of her peers and thinks nothing of invading peoples spaces, if Ruth was a guy doing all those things I doubt you’d be as supportive.

      • timemonkey
        timemonkey
        November 9, 2014 at 6:37 am | #

        And even if she’d really moved beyond all that there’s the emotionally dependant, self-destructive, suicidal alcoholic thing to consider.

        • Dirk Strider's Splinter Hopeself
          Dirk Strider's Splinter Hopeself
          November 9, 2014 at 7:53 am | #

          Except Billie suffers from that too- They’re two fucked-up people trying to get better together and at least spare others the trouble of dealing with them. I see no issue with it.

          • timemonkey
            timemonkey
            November 9, 2014 at 5:30 pm | #

            There’s no stability, they’\re going to drag each other down and destroy themselves. When you put two alcoholics together they don’t get better, they drink. When you put two depressed people together they don’t get happy, they remain depressed.

            • Dirk Strider's Splinter Hopeself
              Dirk Strider's Splinter Hopeself
              November 9, 2014 at 6:18 pm | #

              But what are they doing right now? They’re collaborating and planning for more long-term aspects of the relationship (Pre-Marital Hanky Panky is part of a relationship) They’re working on drinking together. They’re being happy together. You’re saying something’s going to fail while all signs point towards a modicum of success.

      • David
        David
        November 9, 2014 at 2:27 pm | #

        At least Ruth does not copy and paste arguments.

  44. beege
    beege
    November 9, 2014 at 4:07 am | #

    I love it when fanon becomes canon.

  45. Gigafreak
    Gigafreak
    November 9, 2014 at 4:10 am | #

    I really shouldn’t be so surprised that Billie would bring a thing like that to college.

  46. Pyr05
    Pyr05
    November 9, 2014 at 5:30 am | #

    I love how she can get it out of her clothes pile without looking.

  47. Trooth
    Trooth
    November 9, 2014 at 5:46 am | #

    Of course, Mary makes ANY corner catty …

  48. Pinja
    Pinja
    November 9, 2014 at 7:13 am | #

    I’m still supportive of Mary’s plan for vengeance.

    • Swoop
      Swoop
      November 9, 2014 at 2:58 pm | #

      For real? vengeance for what?

  49. lordhaw
    lordhaw
    November 9, 2014 at 7:26 am | #

    Catty cornered eh? We say kitty cornered up here in Canada…though I have to admit it’s not used often. Of course, how often do you need to talk about something diagonally across from you?

  50. Ruck Bogers
    Ruck Bogers
    November 9, 2014 at 8:18 am | #

    I can safely say this is the first time I have ever heard “catty-cornered.” I have heard “kitty-cornered” before.

  51. PlainMarie
    PlainMarie
    November 9, 2014 at 8:42 am | #

    And Willis is all like: get a load of the lingerie, and everyone else is like: what the hell is catty-cornered? lol The word nerd in me is entertained.

    • Bagge
      Bagge
      November 9, 2014 at 7:37 pm | #

      I wonder if word nerds are a common problem for internet pornlords.

      • PlainMarie
        PlainMarie
        November 9, 2014 at 11:28 pm | #

        We are distractible that way.

        • Bagge
          Bagge
          November 10, 2014 at 6:52 am | #

          I suppose that’s why Roz over in shortpacked spend equal amount of time alphabetizing things in individual zip bags as talking about sexy times.

  52. Jason
    Jason
    November 9, 2014 at 9:29 am | #

    …I have never, EVER heard the phrase catty-cornered. Or kitty-cornered. It is confusing to me.
    Seriously, where the he’ll does it come from?! It just means “across from”, or “diagonal”, I’m assuming from context. Where do cats or corners come into it?!

    • samlh
      samlh
      November 9, 2014 at 10:05 am | #

      http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/cater-corner

  53. Rabid Rabbit
    Rabid Rabbit
    November 9, 2014 at 10:47 am | #

    I rather like the copy-and-paste Billie face in the last three panels. I’m not quite sure why it amuses me so much, but it does.

  54. Potatamoto
    Potatamoto
    November 9, 2014 at 11:03 am | #

    Ruth’s panel 4 face quite tickles me, particularly combined with Billie’s face in panels three through five!

    My parents both use the term kitty-cornered, though it never really found its way into my general usage. I did, however, pick up the word ‘cattywampus’ from them, to describe something as being unaligned or in disarray. I probably snagged that one because it’s a much funnier word.

  55. Osaru Sensei
    Osaru Sensei
    November 9, 2014 at 11:21 am | #

    Panel 4 Ruth reminds me of myself whenever my gf dresses up.

    Probably why I like this ship so much; it reminds me so much of us two.

    • Swoop
      Swoop
      November 9, 2014 at 12:55 pm | #

      Without the alcoholism and Suicidal ideation, right?

  56. kitties!
    kitties!
    November 9, 2014 at 12:59 pm | #

    I grew up on/used “kitty-cornered” and AFAIK haven’t come across other variants until now.

    Also I lived in FL so anything goes. *shrugs*

  57. Alexx
    Alexx
    November 9, 2014 at 1:00 pm | #

    Looks a little small, Billie is gona have trouble fitting into th—*ANIME NOSEBLEED INTERRUPTION*

    • David
      David
      November 9, 2014 at 2:29 pm | #

      Oh come on. No nightwear is so small that you’d get nosebleeds from it.

      • Alexx
        Alexx
        November 10, 2014 at 1:45 am | #

        Depends on if the straps break and hit my nose!

  58. xscythe7x
    xscythe7x
    November 9, 2014 at 1:14 pm | #

    As an American, I have never ever used, nor even heard, someone say “catty-corner”

  59. Kinoko
    Kinoko
    November 9, 2014 at 2:28 pm | #

    I spent half my life in England and the other half in California. I’ve never heard of this “catty-cornered” or “kitty-cornered” thing, what the hell?

    Though thanks to the comments section, I now know what it is!

  60. Plasma Mongoose
    Plasma Mongoose
    November 9, 2014 at 4:22 pm | #

    As an Aussie, kitty-cornered sounds like a slang term for trapping pussy, which considering Ruth is involved might be perfectly applicable here. 😀

  61. Rani
    Rani
    November 9, 2014 at 4:40 pm | #

    I’m going to start using catty-cornered in everyday speech, and shoehorning reasons to use it where-ever I can.

    And it’s perfectly clear Ruth has been waiting for a corset to enter her life. A while. A long while.

    Delenda est Mary.

  62. Rutee
    Rutee
    November 9, 2014 at 4:52 pm | #

    Billie is impressively composed, considering she had the perfect answer.

    Also, I’m Meriken, and I’ve never in my life heard of ‘catty-corner’. I’m from South Alabama (Northwest Florida) so that’s probably part of it.

  63. Kathleen
    Kathleen
    November 9, 2014 at 5:23 pm | #

    I’m from the Pacific Northwest America, and my mom uses “kitty-corner.” Never heard the other version.

    Just for the record.

    • Shadow Eagle
      Shadow Eagle
      November 10, 2014 at 7:35 am | #

      I’m from New England, and we say kitty-corner too. Never heard of catty-corner… must be a more senior corner.

  64. Bagge
    Bagge
    November 9, 2014 at 7:33 pm | #

    As second dates goes, I think we have a winner

  65. Nrrfhrrdrr
    Nrrfhrrdrr
    November 9, 2014 at 8:26 pm | #

    So, Mary only saw Billie leave Ruth’s room, right? If she didn’t actually hear them do anything or see them do anything romantic or sexual, she has no real proof. Billie can say she was talking to her about a roomie problem or something, right? RIGHT? I CAN’T LET ANYTHING BAD HAPPEN TO THIS COUPLE I LOVE THEM PLEASE LET ONE GOOD THING WORK

  66. Yotsuyasan
    Yotsuyasan
    November 9, 2014 at 9:17 pm | #

    Oh my cheese! Someone just said “catty-corner” on Food Network! Making that officially the second time ever I have ever heard that phrase, as opposed to “kitty-corner.”

    What is this, some “catty-corner” revolution?

    • ninja_jesus
      ninja_jesus
      November 12, 2014 at 7:29 pm | #

      Someone also said Kitty-Corner in the Rooster Teeth Podcast. I fear it may be a pandemic.

  67. Slinx
    Slinx
    November 9, 2014 at 9:57 pm | #

    Worth it.

  68. Marc
    Marc
    November 9, 2014 at 10:18 pm | #

    That totally works on me too. I know when my girlfriend wants to get frisky, because she brings out the matching underwear. Yep.

  69. John
    John
    November 9, 2014 at 11:15 pm | #

    Knowing this commentariat, and considering the contents of this strip, I’m absolutely amazed how many of the comments are about “catty-corner” rather than of the form “Ruth and/or Billie perform a thing involving lingerie!”

    • Yotsuyasan
      Yotsuyasan
      November 9, 2014 at 11:44 pm | #

      I would love to see them perform a thing involving lingerie, but I would very much like to see them both get themselves into a slightly more healthy mental state, first. Assuming they can survive the hell beast that is Mary, I truly believe that they can eventually actually be quite good for each other, although I fully expect some further internal hurdles to overcome, first.

      But once they are in that better place together, by all means bring on the sexy times! And include Billie wearing that thing she just showed Ruth!

  70. NICK TYRANNO
    NICK TYRANNO
    November 10, 2014 at 12:26 am | #

    I was so far behind and just caught up. So glad I did. Some of the best characters around. Great work.

  71. Shadow Eagle
    Shadow Eagle
    November 10, 2014 at 7:38 am | #

    “americans…” – uh, is Ruth not an american??

    • averystrangeplace
      averystrangeplace
      November 10, 2014 at 8:25 am | #

      Nah, she’s Canadian! Which is why she’s so much cooler than all the other characters, obviously.

      • Mada
        Mada
        August 27, 2015 at 1:53 am | #

        There’s also the irony that while Ruth is Canadian, Billie’s British-Chinese…so……yeah.

  72. Raibean
    Raibean
    November 10, 2014 at 3:54 pm | #

    Everyone here says “cat-a-corner”
    I guess that’s San Diego for you?

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