Dumbing of Age Book Twelve

Dumbing of Age

A college webcomic by David Willis
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we all go on dates in here
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June 14, 2026

Schoolwork

by David M Willis on December 31, 2017 at 12:01 am
  • 02 - This Is the Way that We Love
└ Tags: jennifer, ruth

Discussion (111) ¬

[ Comments RSS ]
  1. Ana Chronistic
    Ana Chronistic
    December 31, 2017 at 12:03 am | #

    GALASSO’S

    …please??

    • Yumi
      Yumi
      December 31, 2017 at 12:05 am | #

      And then a scenic walk by Blowjob Cat.

      • adjudicus
        adjudicus
        December 31, 2017 at 12:08 am | #

        Followed by a stroll past the stairs where Amber incapacitated druggo mcstabbed

        • MK15
          MK15
          January 1, 2018 at 8:00 am | #

          ‘Legend has it, before the cops hauled him away, a vengeful RA removed both his femurs.’

      • Mr D
        Mr D
        January 1, 2018 at 12:11 am | #

        *a-Hem*

    • Reltzik
      Reltzik
      December 31, 2017 at 12:59 am | #

      …. is there another place in town? I don’t think there is.

      • sporks5000
        sporks5000
        December 31, 2017 at 3:21 am | #

        As far as the comic goes, I don’t think so. But real world Bloomington? Oh wow there are so many delicious places to eat there.

        • Reltzik
          Reltzik
          December 31, 2017 at 7:36 am | #

          …. wait, a delicious PLACE to eat? Like, what, a gingerbread house?

      • Jack Spade
        Jack Spade
        December 31, 2017 at 10:55 am | #

        There’s the fountain that Becky got kidnapped at. And the one bar in town.

      • leadsynth
        leadsynth
        December 31, 2017 at 3:53 pm | #

        There’s that sushi place that Joyce enjoyed so much!

      • thejeff
        thejeff
        December 31, 2017 at 5:41 pm | #

        There’s the Chick-Fil-A Becky applied at (where the nice gay boy worked).

    • No Not That Sierra
      No Not That Sierra
      December 31, 2017 at 1:15 am | #

      Galasso’s, where they’ll be waited on by Becky. I predict shenanigans as Becky is exposed to yet another unhealthy relationship.

      …She is still working there, right?

      • Bagge
        Bagge
        December 31, 2017 at 2:40 am | #

        I think she’ll just go full Joyce on them.

        “Here is your order (now kiiiiiiiss her). Just let me know if you need anything else (aaaask her to take off her haaaaaat)”

  2. AnvilPro
    AnvilPro
    December 31, 2017 at 12:04 am | #

    “It is what the Hoo-mans do, yes?”

    • Screwball
      Screwball
      December 31, 2017 at 12:24 am | #

      According to what I hear. Haven’t had much opportunity to see it for myself, but it’s what I hear…

      Aaaand Daniel the Human is annoyed-glaring at me, so I’m gonna shut up now…

  3. laladoria
    laladoria
    December 31, 2017 at 12:04 am | #

    This is an amazing idea. I want to see this! I want to see them dressed up and pretty-fied!!!!

    • Yumi
      Yumi
      December 31, 2017 at 12:06 am | #

      I imagine it going as only one of them (based on this strip, Ruth) thinks of it as a dress-up worthy thing, so she tries her best to fix herself up and Billie just goes with what she has on.

      • Arawn
        Arawn
        December 31, 2017 at 12:17 am | #

        Nah, Billy was a cheerleader and most of them care about status enough that they’re more than capable of dressing up for a social outing much less a date with a girl she likes.

        Now, I think a casual comfortable date would be just as fun as a get dressed up and go out to a nice place to eat date.

  4. DarkoNeko
    DarkoNeko
    December 31, 2017 at 12:05 am | #

    yesss

  5. Schpoonman
    Schpoonman
    December 31, 2017 at 12:05 am | #

    *GASP* Ohmygodohmygodohmygod this is really happening.

  6. Zaidyer
    Zaidyer
    December 31, 2017 at 12:06 am | #

    “Stop, don’t go! Can’t you see our rapidly improving mental health is tearing this relationship apart?!”

  7. DailyBrad
    DailyBrad
    December 31, 2017 at 12:06 am | #

    I am unsure of if this is Ruth trying to go for some normalcy since they don’t have her position to worry about, or if this is a worry on her part that they may be drifting by not having things be the same way they were.

    In either case, I do hope they can work it out.

    • Leorale
      Leorale
      December 31, 2017 at 12:12 am | #

      I read it strongly as worry that they’ll drift apart.

      • notYash
        notYash
        December 31, 2017 at 12:16 am | #

        That’s what it seems like, but I feel like a date is also a good step into normalizing the relationship and taking it away from just being a weird suicide-pact/codependency thing

        • DailyBrad
          DailyBrad
          December 31, 2017 at 2:41 am | #

          Especially since this comes alongside her trying to have a more healthy outlook and dial back the aggression. So that might be a point towards the “Date is what normal people do, right, let us do the normal thing” camp.

      • Joyous ☿
        Joyous ☿
        December 31, 2017 at 5:23 am | #

        Mood

      • HeySo
        HeySo
        December 31, 2017 at 8:20 am | #

        It’s accepting that Billie is something good, and real, and hers. It’s about remembering Billie being there for her. It’s about wanting to have trust and hope that that special thing truly is hers, and that it won’t slip away. It’s about wanting to truly have it as her own, to be able to place weight on it and not find it fall out from under her.

        It’s about starting to breathe again, after so long holding her breath.

        It’s a…

        • Deanatay
          Deanatay
          December 31, 2017 at 10:28 am | #

          Note the eyes.

          In Panel 4, Ruth’s eyes have shrunk to pinpoints. This happens when she is withdrawing, crawling back into her shell, retreating from the world.
          But, in Panel 5, she realizes what she’s doing, and makes a conscious effort to come back out again, to engage with Billie, proposing a social and public activity.

          She’s fighting back, and it’s beautiful.

          A little creepy, too, the way she does it, but it’s very Ruth.

          • Jarawara
            Jarawara
            December 31, 2017 at 11:39 am | #

            Speaking of creepy – the scrollover text reads “we all go on dates in here”. I don’t know if that was just Willis making commentary on how many couplings there has been, but to me it read like a line from the movie ‘It’.

            Ruthiewise the Dancing Clown: “We all Float down here. We also date. And when you come down here, you’ll date too. You’ll all date down here!”

          • raker
            raker
            December 31, 2017 at 1:54 pm | #

            “Note the eyes.” I love this interpretation.

  8. Keulen
    Keulen
    December 31, 2017 at 12:06 am | #

    I will be so pissed with you if this date doesn’t happen Willis.

    • Yumi
      Yumi
      December 31, 2017 at 12:08 am | #

      It happens, but it happens during a time skip and becomes a noodle incident.

      • adjudicus
        adjudicus
        December 31, 2017 at 12:11 am | #

        In all honesty, I really hope willis does this. It’d be fascinating to see them get ready for the date, then skip right to the messy aftermath and let the readers find out what happened bit by bit from the secondhand accounts of other characters

        • darkgloomie
          darkgloomie
          December 31, 2017 at 4:59 pm | #

          The date will be the next slipshine.

      • butting
        butting
        December 31, 2017 at 12:11 am | #

        “We are NEVER going out for chow mein again!”

    • Wright
      Wright
      December 31, 2017 at 12:34 am | #

      I’m just glad that Ruth said “tonight”. If she said “Friday” or something, we might not see it until June.

  9. Dean
    Dean
    December 31, 2017 at 12:06 am | #

    Ruth is talking to the cricket here.

    • King Daniel
      King Daniel
      December 31, 2017 at 2:51 pm | #

      Tag the cricket?

  10. Rosicrucian
    Rosicrucian
    December 31, 2017 at 12:07 am | #

    Ruth is kinda adorable when the snark runs out?

    • Needfuldoer
      Needfuldoer
      December 31, 2017 at 7:29 am | #

      What do you mean, ‘kinda’?

  11. Danni
    Danni
    December 31, 2017 at 12:10 am | #

    what do dates with billie even look like?

    • Bagge
      Bagge
      December 31, 2017 at 2:41 am | #

      Drunk sex?

      • Io
        Io
        December 31, 2017 at 7:48 am | #

        *died laughing*

    • DailyBrad
      DailyBrad
      December 31, 2017 at 2:42 am | #

      Going by her sorta-ex from highschool, they probably didn’t look great even before Ruth and her bumped uglies.

  12. butting
    butting
    December 31, 2017 at 12:10 am | #

    wait

    dates == schoolwork?

    MY WHOLE EDUCATION WAS A LIE

  13. Stephen Bierce
    Stephen Bierce
    December 31, 2017 at 12:11 am | #

    *looks over a horribly huge pile of 1970s soft rock/adult contemporary*

  14. Black
    Black
    December 31, 2017 at 12:12 am | #

    Amazing what you can do in a relationship when you’re not in a suicide pact, huh?

  15. QueerCat
    QueerCat
    December 31, 2017 at 12:15 am | #

    This is how awkward I am with a dude I mess around with. Sometimes it is easier to fuck and bongo about things than it is to have normal conversation and dates…and then when you WANT a normal date or something it is now ruined because you’ve built one kind of relationship to the point where doing anything different with someone and fixing things to be better seems impossible.

  16. BBCC
    BBCC
    December 31, 2017 at 12:16 am | #

    This could be very very cute, go very very wrong, or be very very much a bit of both.

    • JessWitt
      JessWitt
      December 31, 2017 at 12:35 am | #

      Mostly cute, but a bit wrong. That’s my realistic expectations for today.

  17. Passchendaele
    Passchendaele
    December 31, 2017 at 12:16 am | #

    I’m worried by the underlying motivations but eeeeeeeee *more excited screaming*

    • missilentmurmur
      missilentmurmur
      December 31, 2017 at 2:01 am | #

      I am reassured, based on my own learning. This is advanced stuff that Ruth is doing here. 1) Realizing early on her need for more quality time together. 2) Being upfront and constructive about it. 3) Not trivializing or backing out when questioned.

  18. Pablo360
    Pablo360
    December 31, 2017 at 12:16 am | #

    Omigod are they going to hold hands and look at pictures of dinosaurs

    • Fire_daws
      Fire_daws
      December 31, 2017 at 9:10 am | #

      No, they’re going to backpack through Europe and get manicures.

  19. MM
    MM
    December 31, 2017 at 12:17 am | #

    Quick! Throw a toy at her head!

    • Danni
      Danni
      December 31, 2017 at 12:30 am | #

      small brain: throw toy at head
      medium brain: watch toons together
      expanded brain: get drunk together
      galactic brain: be emotional support
      cosmic god brain: lets play with toys

  20. Miguel
    Miguel
    December 31, 2017 at 12:29 am | #

    Hurrah

  21. Mr. Random
    Mr. Random
    December 31, 2017 at 12:29 am | #

    Awkward, but roughly how I went on my first date.

  22. JessWitt
    JessWitt
    December 31, 2017 at 12:38 am | #

    First date! The big milestone as a newly out couple!

  23. Deadjolras
    Deadjolras
    December 31, 2017 at 12:38 am | #

    Forget about going on a date. After that last panel, I’d marry Ruth on the spot.

    • Meta
      Meta
      December 31, 2017 at 1:04 am | #

      winning smile

  24. Sporky
    Sporky
    December 31, 2017 at 12:39 am | #

    best Ruth face

  25. Delicious Taffy
    Delicious Taffy
    December 31, 2017 at 12:54 am | #

    Ruth is so Peridot, it hurts.

    • Meta
      Meta
      December 31, 2017 at 1:03 am | #

      That’s real

    • Inahc
      Inahc
      December 31, 2017 at 2:42 am | #

      🙂

    • ValdVin
      ValdVin
      December 31, 2017 at 5:48 am | #

      Panel five: “Feel my unbridled rage passion!”

  26. Reltzik
    Reltzik
    December 31, 2017 at 12:58 am | #

    It’s a bit late to ask her out, Ruth. The two of you are ALREADY out.

    • Koms
      Koms
      December 31, 2017 at 5:17 am | #

      I see what you did there. o_O

  27. Cerberus
    Cerberus
    December 31, 2017 at 1:17 am | #

    Comic Reactions:

    I said a long time ago that if Billie and Ruth was ever to have a chance to survive, they’d have to figure out the transition from co-dependence towards a more healthy dynamic and I think we see here some signs that both are trying in their own way.

    On Billie’s end, we see her making time for Ruth but avoiding the temptation to sequester herself permanently in Ruth’s sphere and check in while letting her know that she’ll be okay with some time and space. That she has built that ability (through therapy and medication) to survive the quiet with her thoughts.

    On Ruth’s end, we see her still scared of letting go, but trying in her way to not interfere with Billie taking time on her own and be supportive of Billie’s needs and not smother her and she’s also made a huge leap forward in her growth.

    That Panel 4 is her fighting off her demons, Grampus “sir”‘s voice telling her that Billie will wise up and leave her, that screaming voice she’s internalized through his repeated abuse.

    Panel 5 is her winning. And Panel 7 is her pushing herself into something new, something very healthy. A request for a date.

    Cause it’s something Billie has requested wanting and which Ruth in her depressed state couldn’t imagine doing. For her to push for a traditional date is her stepping out of her comfort zone and trying with support to be more rounded and appreciative of her relationship.

    And Panel 7 is how hard that is, how loud the voices of self-doubt are. Even though she knows Billie loves her, part of her does fear that it is temporary or dependent on the unhealthy dynamic or that her Grampus “sir” is right. She’s half-behind the door, ready to run if her greatest fears manifest, but also half-out of the door, not retreating, standing on faith that something beautiful is there and will still be there through her recovery.

    Their origins are horrible. But this moment isolated from that is beautiful and a sign of a really positive step in their relationship.

    • Inahc
      Inahc
      December 31, 2017 at 2:41 am | #

      🙂 she asked for a thing! Yay!

    • Bagge
      Bagge
      December 31, 2017 at 2:52 am | #

      Just that Ruth has the strength to take this scary, next step shows she is in a better place than a few days ago.

      Maybe it’s not to late for them for manicures in Europe, after all.

    • thejeff
      thejeff
      December 31, 2017 at 9:45 am | #

      I hope you’re right.
      I’m afraid this is more Billie trying to escape the earlier awkward silence and Ruth desperately grasping for a way to keep her coming back.

      • Cerberus
        Cerberus
        December 31, 2017 at 12:08 pm | #

        Well, I mean, Billie does get nervous in silence and Ruth does desperately want her company, but this feels like a healthier evolution of those things.

  28. NinjaNick
    NinjaNick
    December 31, 2017 at 2:24 am | #

    Wiigii!

  29. Saaaam
    Saaaam
    December 31, 2017 at 2:30 am | #

    Hard to go from suicide pact to healthy relationship

  30. Pl0x
    Pl0x
    December 31, 2017 at 3:03 am | #

    Oh no Ruth so adorable.

  31. Bagge
    Bagge
    December 31, 2017 at 3:04 am | #

    Would you look at that – Malaya won an award!

    https://twitter.com/jephjacques/status/947168370415362048

  32. Mal
    Mal
    December 31, 2017 at 3:09 am | #

    billy looks the happiest (most content?) she ever has and so does ruth and honestly this is great *KNOCK ON WOOD KNOCK ON WOOD KNOCK ON WOOD*

  33. Biblioholic
    Biblioholic
    December 31, 2017 at 3:10 am | #

    Yikes, Bilie should hopefully pick up on how Ruth might have felt threatened by the new distance they have… even though she’d probably accept the date anyways, for an excuse to go out

    Or is she gonna be like no what we’re still kind of on low key mode and object? Ooh dang the tension!

  34. @zombieundergrnd
    @zombieundergrnd
    December 31, 2017 at 3:20 am | #

    And with that, the cheshire cat slowly faded from view …

  35. Derek
    Derek
    December 31, 2017 at 3:21 am | #

    I’m surprised Billie is still keeping up with her schoolwork after she was basically planning to die

  36. Zaxares
    Zaxares
    December 31, 2017 at 3:25 am | #

    Ruth, that is NOT how you make a “I’m excited to be going on a date with you!” smile. That looks more like a “Imma be packing my Rohypnol!” smile. 😛

    • Delicious Taffy
      Delicious Taffy
      December 31, 2017 at 4:09 am | #

      I’m sure there are non-sinister reasons to carry Rohypnol.

      • Bast
        Bast
        December 31, 2017 at 2:21 pm | #

        Annoying parents?

  37. BenRG
    BenRG
    December 31, 2017 at 3:26 am | #

    Ruth in panel 8: “I did it! I actually asked Billie out on a date! I can’t believe that I actually did it! Woohoo!“

  38. Tyramisu
    Tyramisu
    December 31, 2017 at 3:42 am | #

    Calling it now. Billie stands up Ruth for her new “friends” at her new dorm.

    • Delicious Taffy
      Delicious Taffy
      December 31, 2017 at 4:41 am | #

      *FOR Ruth, TO her new friends.

    • Omymel
      Omymel
      December 31, 2017 at 5:31 pm | #

      That’s what I’m scared of. Her new dorm thinks Billie was just manipulating Ruth, they don’t know that there were/are feelings. If she does get ready for a date, I imagine there will be all sorts of cheerleader-hype questions about her date, and she won’t have the guts to be honest. I don’t see it ending well

  39. Nobody
    Nobody
    December 31, 2017 at 4:27 am | #

    That was adorably awkward from someone nicknamed ‘ruthless’

  40. Lulu
    Lulu
    December 31, 2017 at 5:00 am | #

    What a ruthless way to ask on a date…
    Adorable.

  41. TomHCinMI
    TomHCinMI
    December 31, 2017 at 5:02 am | #

    Ruth is nervous. I would be too.

  42. wynne
    wynne
    December 31, 2017 at 5:45 am | #

    Sometimes they do homework!

    I want these kids to make it.

  43. erejnion
    erejnion
    December 31, 2017 at 7:19 am | #

    D’awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  44. Reltzik
    Reltzik
    December 31, 2017 at 8:44 am | #

    Measuring Ruth’s mental health by how green her eyes are, she’s healthiest either at the height of panic or when wearing an awkward shit-eating grin.

    ……..

    … I’m pretty sure this says deep things about humanity. I’m less sure that I want to know what they are.

  45. Vulcanodon
    Vulcanodon
    December 31, 2017 at 9:25 am | #

    YES! A nice date! Lovely. They can be awkward and have pizza and walk around campus together or something. This is good.

  46. Deanatay
    Deanatay
    December 31, 2017 at 10:20 am | #

    Yesss, nice Billiess musst go on dateses with us. Yes, Precious!

  47. Joe Moose
    Joe Moose
    December 31, 2017 at 11:13 am | #

    Say yes, dammit! DO IT!

  48. Liliet
    Liliet
    December 31, 2017 at 11:52 am | #

    Oh thank god. That is a MUCH better way to get your beau to spend time with you than trying to induce her to never leave your room by BRINGING EXTRA FURNITURE like jfc

    • Rosicrucian
      Rosicrucian
      December 31, 2017 at 3:23 pm | #

      Well in all fairness Billie basically moved in while they were still hiding it.

      They’re both trying to figure out where they stand now.

      • thejeff
        thejeff
        December 31, 2017 at 5:43 pm | #

        And I think they’d talked about just technically moving to the other hall and her basically moving back in with Ruth. (Or was that just us here?)

  49. Spencer
    Spencer
    December 31, 2017 at 1:49 pm | #

    Aww, the abusive little psycho thinks she’s people.

    • King Daniel
      King Daniel
      December 31, 2017 at 2:46 pm | #

      What the fuck.

      • Rosicrucian
        Rosicrucian
        December 31, 2017 at 3:22 pm | #

        Some people can’t handle multifaceted, flawed characters.

    • Delicious Taffy
      Delicious Taffy
      December 31, 2017 at 5:07 pm | #

      You’ve got some odd takes on these characters, sometimes.

    • Inahc
      Inahc
      December 31, 2017 at 5:55 pm | #

      Spencer is back! 🙂
      …and saying mean things. 🙁

      I wonder if zoelogical still exists too, haven’t seen them in ages iirc.

    • StClair
      StClair
      December 31, 2017 at 10:55 pm | #

      Spencer, are you doing the thing again where you’re taking people’s opinions about the characters as judgments about you?

  50. BrokenEye, the True False Prophet
    BrokenEye, the True False Prophet
    December 31, 2017 at 3:47 pm | #

    Ruth, you smooth devil you

  51. Robin
    Robin
    December 31, 2017 at 4:12 pm | #

    I think this is what they call projecting?

    • Robin
      Robin
      December 31, 2017 at 4:37 pm | #

      @Spencer

      Comment didn’t reply correctly

  52. Los
    Los
    December 31, 2017 at 5:45 pm | #

    I’m perfectly aware that Ruth would wanna run me through a meat grinder toes first for saying so but that was about the cutest thing I’ve ever seen

  53. Tarkara
    Tarkara
    December 31, 2017 at 10:22 pm | #

    Oh hey its me and my fear of them not coming back

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