Dumbing of Age Book Twelve

Dumbing of Age

A college webcomic by David Willis
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harrison's firm has a lot of carla's parents' money
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July 1, 2026

Ding

by David M Willis on October 20, 2019 at 12:01 am
  • 01 - Birthday Pursuit
└ Tags: carla, harrison, jaime

Discussion (195) ¬

[ Comments RSS ]
  1. Ana Chronistic
    Ana Chronistic
    October 20, 2019 at 12:02 am | #

    “Mornin’, Sam”

    “Mornin’, Ralph”

    (legit, tho, only slightly less scary than elevator entrapment is being in one with someone talky)

    • Ana Chronistic
      Ana Chronistic
      October 20, 2019 at 12:02 am | #

      I mean, we work with attorneys, and I can vouch for they will take a lot of your money

      • Clif
        Clif
        October 20, 2019 at 12:42 am | #

        It’s okay. Her parents have a lot of money. I’m trying to recall how much Carla knows about the Raidah situation and if she will inadvertently spill the beans.

        • Sunny
          Sunny
          October 20, 2019 at 9:42 am | #

          As best I recall she doesn’t know and if she does she probably doesn’t care.

        • Z
          Z
          October 20, 2019 at 6:06 pm | #

          On screen has shown none at all. I don’t know if she even knows Jacob is related to him.

    • Br44n5m
      Br44n5m
      October 20, 2019 at 4:17 pm | #

      Mom n I walked into a hotel elevator that stunk like fart or trash. A floor later a Russian family walked in and of course did not know the smell was there prior to us. My mom has a lot of Russian coworkers so she could just barely get the gist of what the dad was saying, it had to do with “these Americans farted and it smells bad” which made the small kids he had with him giggle.
      I’d argue being falsely blamed for farts in an elevator is slightly worse than chatty strangers solely cause of the feel of judgement. Only slightly but still!

  2. ValdVin
    ValdVin
    October 20, 2019 at 12:03 am | #

    Harrison is a good egg. But we knew that already.

    • Raen
      Raen
      October 20, 2019 at 2:00 am | #

      “Good egg”? Very little of what we’ve heard of Carla’s parents suggests that…

      • Chris Phoenix
        Chris Phoenix
        October 20, 2019 at 2:25 am | #

        Huh??? We know they supported her transition, and gave (and continue to give) her really cool tech stuff to play with. If there’s anything bad about Carla’s parents, I’m not remembering it.

        In fact, if Harrison remembers her when she was short, that implies that her parents may have been OK with her transitioning before puberty. In which case they are all very good eggs.

        • Miri
          Miri
          October 20, 2019 at 2:47 am | #

          They built her her own Ultracar… They are wonderful eggs!

        • Shane Wegner
          Shane Wegner
          October 20, 2019 at 10:02 am | #

          Or Harrison saw her pre transition and is so chill with it that he only found the height difference worth commenting on.

        • DarkoNeko
          DarkoNeko
          October 20, 2019 at 12:26 pm | #

          Rather, some of the lawyer stuff may be the reason she’s been granted a solo room.

          • Dean
            Dean
            October 20, 2019 at 7:16 pm | #

            It has been suggested that Carla has a solo room because the college wants to avoid possible complaints from students or parents about sharing a room with a trans person.

        • Rogue
          Rogue
          October 20, 2019 at 4:49 pm | #

          They are loaded. People rarely get that way honestly and rarely pay their employees enough to reflect how much money they’re making their bosses.

          Anyways, Carla’s parents so far seem like one of the only semi-healthy parents in this so far and if anyone deserves to have rich as hell parents it’s the trans-woman who probably couldn’t have afforded to transition otherwise.

  3. SeanR
    SeanR
    October 20, 2019 at 12:04 am | #

    Oh, boy. She already outed Billy and Ruth.

    • Rezby
      Rezby
      October 20, 2019 at 12:17 am | #

      She’s definitely going to spill the Raidah beans to Harrison and I absolutely cannot wait to see that disaster unfurl.

      • King Daniel
        King Daniel
        October 20, 2019 at 12:28 am | #

        “Anyone else have any secrets causing more headaches than they’re worth, lemme know and I’ll goddamn rip that stupid bandaid for you, goddammit.”

        It’s in her job description.

        • Lokitsu
          Lokitsu
          October 20, 2019 at 12:36 am | #

          TY, I’d forgotten about that strip. I love that she’s willing to be paid in cookies.

          • Slartibeast Button, BIA
            Slartibeast Button, BIA
            October 20, 2019 at 12:51 am | #

            Her tax preparer does not share your love.

            • Deanatay
              Deanatay
              October 20, 2019 at 10:30 am | #

              “You have to pay taxes on your income, Carla.”

              *Carla dumps bag of cookie crumbs on desk*

      • Reltzik
        Reltzik
        October 20, 2019 at 6:55 am | #

        I question whether Carla cares enough about dorm relationship drama to have retained the slightest notion that Jacob and Raidah are an item.

        • Sam
          Sam
          October 20, 2019 at 9:28 am | #

          I don’t think Carla even knows who Raidah is.

  4. Doctor_Who
    Doctor_Who
    October 20, 2019 at 12:04 am | #

    So I guess the Carla/Malaya convo happened on a different roof? Because of Carla was just on the roof of this building, why would she be getting in an elevator heading up now?

    • Slartibeast Button, BIA
      Slartibeast Button, BIA
      October 20, 2019 at 12:11 am | #

      Not necessarily, since she is not going from the first floor to an upper floor, she is going from one upper floor to higher upper floor.

      • Doctor_Who
        Doctor_Who
        October 20, 2019 at 12:13 am | #

        Weren’t they in the lobby when they saw Raidah, though? Or have I misunderstood the layout of this building.

        • Slartibeast Button, BIA
          Slartibeast Button, BIA
          October 20, 2019 at 12:18 am | #

          That is how I interpret it. They were in the lobby on the first floor. Harrison gets in the elevator and punches 3 or 4. The door opens on 2, Carla enters, elevator continues to 3 or 4.

          • CC
            CC
            October 20, 2019 at 1:22 am | #

            I’m willing to bet they just didn’t push a button and it went up to the roof (or w/e the highest floor is), and is about to go back down. Depends if he knows what floor Jacob’s room is supposed to be on

      • LeslieBean4shizzle
        LeslieBean4shizzle
        October 20, 2019 at 1:08 am | #

        … but she was on the roof. There is no floor higher than the roof.

        • Anon a Mouse
          Anon a Mouse
          October 20, 2019 at 6:25 am | #

          As someone else mentioned, I’m willing to bet he is just standing in the elevator right now because he doesn’t even know what floor to go to. It probably went up to the roof and is going back down now.

          • Clif
            Clif
            October 20, 2019 at 11:19 am | #

            Don’t you have to take a stair to reach Garbage Roof. Except in parking garages, very few buildings have an elevator to the roof.

    • showler
      showler
      October 20, 2019 at 12:23 am | #

      She fell off. It’s okay, the ground apologized.

      • Slartibeast Button, BIA
        Slartibeast Button, BIA
        October 20, 2019 at 12:26 am | #

        She used a RuTech(tm) grappling hook to land on the 2nd floor balcony. Or maybe the rocket boot skate attachement.

        • Needfuldoer
          Needfuldoer
          October 20, 2019 at 10:01 am | #

          Amber sees this, weighs whether to hire Carla as her version of Q (though she’d be more like W from Good Eats).

  5. Shiro
    Shiro
    October 20, 2019 at 12:05 am | #

    So how much of Carla’s height difference is due to the skates? Or has she always been Like That?

    • Cattleprod
      Cattleprod
      October 20, 2019 at 12:14 am | #

      I think the implication is that he’s worked for the Rutten family a while. Since she was younger, and therefore shorter.

    • showler
      showler
      October 20, 2019 at 12:24 am | #

      I cannot believe she has ever not worn skates.

      • Clif
        Clif
        October 20, 2019 at 11:20 am | #

        Accepted.

  6. Screwball
    Screwball
    October 20, 2019 at 12:05 am | #

    The unexpected meeting with a face from the past? It’s interesting when that happens. Heard they can get awkward. As long as Carla didn’t have a crush on him when she was younger…

    She totally had a crush on him, didn’t she?

    • King Daniel
      King Daniel
      October 20, 2019 at 12:09 am | #

      Carla’s ace and (more importantly in this situation) homoromantic so far as we know, so probably not.

      • He Who Abides
        He Who Abides
        October 20, 2019 at 12:29 am | #

        She might’ve had something approximating a crush when she was really little. I may or may not be speaking from experience, both mine and others.

        • He Who Abides
          He Who Abides
          October 20, 2019 at 10:33 pm | #

          Puppy love. Took me all damn day, but I finally remembered the term.

      • Screwball
        Screwball
        October 20, 2019 at 12:34 am | #

        I think I remember what those mean, Daniel the Human has tried teaching me. So that’s a “probably not”? But I thought that cause I did the “As long as” part, it was almost certainly a thing that happened…

        Then again, apparently I have a habit of being wrong, so I wouldn’t be surprised…

        • vivid grim
          vivid grim
          October 20, 2019 at 10:18 am | #

          she’s gay. that’s all that’s relevant here

    • Dean
      Dean
      October 20, 2019 at 7:18 pm | #

      I’m guessing it’s awkward because Carla is freaking out about being stoned while in an elevator with her parents’ lawyer.

  7. Foxhack
    Foxhack
    October 20, 2019 at 12:06 am | #

    Heh, I’m guessing Harrison’s been employed by Carla’s parents for a while so he saw her grow up over the past few years. Taking that into account, I thought he’d be a bit younger. (I’m assuming he’s 35ish?)

    • Agemegos
      Agemegos
      October 20, 2019 at 4:28 am | #

      It takes about eight or nine years to train a lawyer in the USA, right? And if Carla has grown that much it must have been about four years since he lawyered for her. Does that seem right? Harrison is at least about twelve years older than Jacob?

      Anyoe bet that Jacob’s birthday isn’t in late September?

      • Victor
        Victor
        October 20, 2019 at 8:37 am | #

        Law school is three years, an undergrad degree is typically four years though it can be done in less by a particularly motivated student. So someone who started college at 17 could be a lawyer as young as 23, though that would be unusual. It would be more typical for a newly licensed attorney who didn’t do something else first to be around 26.

        • BBCC
          BBCC
          October 20, 2019 at 6:39 pm | #

          It’s only three years in the states? Here it can be up to five.

          • Dellaran
            Dellaran
            October 21, 2019 at 12:51 am | #

            Well, three years *after* a four-year undergraduate degree.

  8. Stephen Bierce
    Stephen Bierce
    October 20, 2019 at 12:06 am | #

    “Oh it was so AWFUL. There was blood on the floor, and on all the walls and the doors, and even some on the ceiling, and the man’s dog was lapping up the blood out of a puddle.” (…)
    “What the Hell was that?!”
    “Oh, that’s just my elevator story.”–Alfred Hitchcock, to another film director who took a ride in an elevator with him.

    • PlainMarie
      PlainMarie
      October 20, 2019 at 8:37 am | #

      Ha! Brilliant!

  9. DailyBrad
    DailyBrad
    October 20, 2019 at 12:07 am | #

    Harrison Williams makes him sound like a one-man law firm as it is.

    Wonder if Carla’s got skates on, that’ll definitely bump up the height, but she’s one of the tallest characters in the strip, anyhow.

    (Additionally, the only DOA character I’ve ever had appear in a dream of mine. Nothing too wild, she just invited herself over and helped herself to pizza out of my fridge. 😛 )

    • Doctor_Who
      Doctor_Who
      October 20, 2019 at 12:09 am | #

      We sure that wasn’t the actual Carla? I wouldn’t put it past her to break dimensions in order to swipe some pizza.

      • Cholma
        Cholma
        October 20, 2019 at 12:18 am | #

        Yeah, she’s like Ramona Flowers; she skates thru certain people’s dreams.

    • MeghanTheDreamCrusher
      MeghanTheDreamCrusher
      October 20, 2019 at 12:44 am | #

      Okay I gotta ask in your dream was she a cartoon character still or did she look like a normal human?

      • DailyBrad
        DailyBrad
        October 20, 2019 at 8:53 pm | #

        Cartoon still, everything looked sorta like someone threw a cartoon filter over everything, like cel shading.

  10. CrazyJ
    CrazyJ
    October 20, 2019 at 12:08 am | #

    Harrison Williams, the man with a last name as first name and a first name as last name.

    • Durandal_1707
      Durandal_1707
      October 20, 2019 at 12:13 am | #

      Maybe his parents are fans of obscure nineteenth-century presidents.

      (please let his middle name be Henry)

      • Delicious Taffy
        Delicious Taffy
        October 20, 2019 at 12:20 am | #

        “I died in 40 days!”

      • 3oranges
        3oranges
        October 20, 2019 at 12:38 am | #

        I mean, it seems weird to lionize someone who campaigned for keeping people that look like you as property, but then I rarely understand how anyone gets their support.

    • Screwball
      Screwball
      October 20, 2019 at 12:36 am | #

      Apparently Australians have a joke thing about not trusting people with 2 first names. Does that count here?

    • Keulen
      Keulen
      October 20, 2019 at 2:18 am | #

      Maybe his parents like Harrison Ford movies.

      • Needfuldoer
        Needfuldoer
        October 20, 2019 at 10:06 am | #

        Like Air Force One.

        Ford 2020: Get off my Plane!

    • Zee
      Zee
      October 20, 2019 at 12:01 pm | #

      That made me think of My Sister’s Keeper (the book, not the movie) and I almost started crying. The lawyer in that one has the same naming convention (Campbell Alexander)

  11. ValdVin
    ValdVin
    October 20, 2019 at 12:08 am | #

    Panel four: Jamie’s mouth opens and it looks like he’s saying “No problem”. Anyone else see it?

    • Slartibeast Button, BIA
      Slartibeast Button, BIA
      October 20, 2019 at 12:14 am | #

      Harrison’s legal work was paid for with genetic upgrade tech service.

    • ian livs
      ian livs
      October 20, 2019 at 12:14 am | #

      NOW I do. Why isn’t anybody flipping out? Baby’s saying words!!

      • Lokitsu
        Lokitsu
        October 20, 2019 at 12:42 am | #

        Harrison’s just showing off his mad ventriloquist skills.

    • BenRG
      BenRG
      October 20, 2019 at 2:58 am | #

      I’m not sure that’s his mouth open. I think he sticks his tongue out a lot. If I’m right, then he’s Carla’s idea of a cute kid.

  12. BBCC
    BBCC
    October 20, 2019 at 12:08 am | #

    HOLY SHIT

    Give me backstory! ALL THE BACKSTORY

    What happened?!?

    • Kyrik Michalowski
      Kyrik Michalowski
      October 20, 2019 at 12:09 am | #

      The backstory will probably be done in patreon(at least I imagine), which I desperately wish I could afford.

      • BBCC
        BBCC
        October 20, 2019 at 12:15 am | #

        I am on patreon and I will confirm or deny nothing.

        • He Who Abides
          He Who Abides
          October 20, 2019 at 12:26 am | #

          Unless approved by the Secretary, of course.

      • Ronnie
        Ronnie
        October 20, 2019 at 1:38 am | #

        Yup I live on disability pay and really wish I could become a patron without so much anxiety. One day…….

    • Deathjavu
      Deathjavu
      October 20, 2019 at 12:16 am | #

      Whatever anti-transgender law that Harrison got struck down, Carla (and her parents) were presumably one of the plaintiffs. That’s what I’m getting from what we know thus far.

      But yeah, we all want more details.

      • BBCC
        BBCC
        October 20, 2019 at 12:30 am | #

        I certainly do.

      • Keulen
        Keulen
        October 20, 2019 at 2:16 am | #

        I’m assuming it’s something like that as well, but I definitely want the details of this backstory.

      • vitalProximity
        vitalProximity
        October 20, 2019 at 2:52 am | #

        Do we have any actual evidence that Harrison worked on getting this kind of legislation repealed, or is this just popular fanon? Just curious, cuz I totally am on board with this being a thing, but I’m not sure if people are just assuming this or if it’s actually indicated somewhere…?

        • Axel
          Axel
          October 20, 2019 at 3:12 am | #

          Yes, I don’t have the link but they talked about it when Jacob, Raidah, Joyce, and Dorothy were having pizza

          • Axel
            Axel
            October 20, 2019 at 3:14 am | #

            the link was actually easy to find, I didn’t realize it was the most recent Raidah scene other than two days ago

            http://www.dumbingofage.com/2018/comic/book-8/04-of-mike-and-men/laws/

            • vitalProximity
              vitalProximity
              October 20, 2019 at 5:03 pm | #

              Aha! Excellent, perfect, thank you Axel! 🙂

        • Agemegos
          Agemegos
          October 20, 2019 at 4:43 am | #

          Evidence is that he worked on getting them struck down (i.e. by a court), not repealed (i.e. not by a legislature).

          • Axel
            Axel
            October 20, 2019 at 4:43 pm | #

            I don’t think that’s been clarified, but you could skim the Jacob comics between that link and now. I think there are one or two about how much it is to live up to, and there might be something in there

            • thejeff
              thejeff
              October 20, 2019 at 7:10 pm | #

              Well, the strip you linked above says “legal team that struck down”, so I think it’s pretty clear.

              • Axel
                Axel
                October 20, 2019 at 8:48 pm | #

                I wasn’t sure if that was too colloquial to be clear

              • Axel
                Axel
                October 20, 2019 at 8:49 pm | #

                Oh! I misread Agemegos (thought they were asking me to clarify, rather than making a statement. Nevermind then.

      • Eve
        Eve
        October 20, 2019 at 4:16 am | #

        Considering Carla’s rich parents, even if they weren’t the plaintiffs, they may have helped fund them to get that law struck down.

      • Opus the Poet
        Opus the Poet
        October 20, 2019 at 8:13 pm | #

        Carla may have been a or the Jane Doe of the case.

    • Andy
      Andy
      October 20, 2019 at 12:37 am | #

      Maybe also helping with any name change /amended birth certificate paperwork that some transgender people can get for their new name.

      • Delicious Taffy
        Delicious Taffy
        October 20, 2019 at 12:49 am | #

        You can do that? I didn’t know you could get your old paperwork changed. That’s really cool.

        • Kamino Neko
          Kamino Neko
          October 20, 2019 at 1:26 am | #

          In at least some jurisdictions, it’s possible, yeah.

      • MeghanTheDreamCrusher
        MeghanTheDreamCrusher
        October 20, 2019 at 12:52 am | #

        I mean the only reason you’d need a lawyer for that is if the court tried to challenge you somehow

        Otherwise getting your name changed is pretty straightforward

        You basically just fill out some documents show up when you’re told and boom name changed, go get your new social security card and driver’s license

        (Provided the process varies state by state, so maybe Indiana makes it overcomplicated somehow)

        • BBCC
          BBCC
          October 20, 2019 at 1:31 am | #

          It can be much harder when you’re trans, though. Officials can be dicks about it.

          • MeghanTheDreamCrusher
            MeghanTheDreamCrusher
            October 20, 2019 at 12:30 pm | #

            I am trans

            • Yumi
              Yumi
              October 20, 2019 at 1:26 pm | #

              What state are you in? Your description of the process seems simpler than what I’ve heard from friends who have gotten their name changed, though I agree it’s not something most really need a lawyer for.

              • MeghanTheDreamCrusher
                MeghanTheDreamCrusher
                October 20, 2019 at 1:50 pm | #

                Oklahoma

                The only shitty part is you’re required to publish the fact that you’re having a legal name change in a newspaper.

            • BBCC
              BBCC
              October 20, 2019 at 1:32 pm | #

              Apologies for not realizing that. I’ve known lots of trans people who got kicked around on changing their name, sometimes taking up to a year to get it done on all their documents.

              • MeghanTheDreamCrusher
                MeghanTheDreamCrusher
                October 20, 2019 at 1:56 pm | #

                Lol you’re good
                Probably should have mentioned that in the first comment in hindsight

                But anyone going through a year of BS is absolutely absurd and I feel awful for them :/

                • BBCC
                  BBCC
                  October 20, 2019 at 3:42 pm | #

                  Apparently it took a lot of time, money and, yes, threatening a lawsuit to finish. It was bullshit.

  13. Kyrik Michalowski
    Kyrik Michalowski
    October 20, 2019 at 12:08 am | #

    What a delightful distraction, with Carla and Harrison I can almost forget about the problems going on downstairs.

    • Delicious Taffy
      Delicious Taffy
      October 20, 2019 at 12:22 am | #

      They make pills for that, now.

      • He Who Abides
        He Who Abides
        October 20, 2019 at 10:37 pm | #

        I prefer drinkable amnesia, thank you very much.

  14. Shane Wegner
    Shane Wegner
    October 20, 2019 at 12:08 am | #

    “There was a time when it was so. That Era has passed!”

  15. Rex Vivat
    Rex Vivat
    October 20, 2019 at 12:14 am | #

    Oh. OH. So that’s how he ended up striking down those transgender laws.

    • Rex Vivat
      Rex Vivat
      October 20, 2019 at 12:23 am | #

      Er. Anti-transgender laws, that is.

  16. ARoseJess
    ARoseJess
    October 20, 2019 at 12:17 am | #

    I wish I could always be this direct with other humans…I have to avoid it at work, usually But, so much YES.

  17. Pacce
    Pacce
    October 20, 2019 at 12:23 am | #

    Whoa is Carla… shrinking away from him?! This is a dang first, someone Calra is wildly uncomfortable just to be near.

    • Chris Phoenix
      Chris Phoenix
      October 20, 2019 at 2:29 am | #

      He almost certainly knew her pre-transition. That’s probably one of Carla’s few vulnerable spots.

      • Miri
        Miri
        October 20, 2019 at 3:12 am | #

        One of my friends has a trans child (I think she’s 7 or 8). She had a substitute teacher at school last week, who read out her old name on the register… All but one kid (who grabbed her hand and pulled her out to report it to some pastoral care adults) *laughed* (these kids have parents who complain that it’s not fair she competes in races with other girls because she’s faster than them and clearly that’s because she was AMAB even though she’s way too young to get any sort of testosterone advantage etc… Her mum spends a lot of time in Mama Bear mode because the school sucks at handling this sort of thing or her oldest child’s health issues with anything like compassion, sensitivity, thoughtfulness…)

        When her mother complained, the school tried to handwave it away. She’s sorting out a deed poll name change because the poor kiddo is utterly traumatised and distraught about the experience and she wants to do whatever she can to stop it from happening again.

        I can imagine that even if Harrison was nothing but kind, respectful, considerate etc that seeing him (especially unexpectedly) would uncomfortably remind Carla of painful experiences and encounters…

  18. Delicious Taffy
    Delicious Taffy
    October 20, 2019 at 12:35 am | #

    Yet another successful social interaction. Every one’s a win.

    • Delicious Taffy
      Delicious Taffy
      October 20, 2019 at 12:44 am | #

      Here’s a thought. Carla seems to have her legs bared pretty frequently, and they don’t seem particularly fuzzy. Do you suppose she shaves, waxes, or got laser hair removal? Because I know this person who’s been considering a leggy sort of “feminine” cosplay, and if they like how it feels, they might start having their legs out more often.

      • Romanticide
        Romanticide
        October 20, 2019 at 1:30 am | #

        Carla’s family might have enough money for whatever hair treatment, I am betting laser but mostly because that would be one I am seriously thinking on looking up.

      • Mouse
        Mouse
        October 20, 2019 at 1:38 am | #

        Waxing will last longest but it is incredibly painful. Shaving is the most common. You have to add it to every shower to every other shower, though.

        • vitalProximity
          vitalProximity
          October 20, 2019 at 2:48 am | #

          Depends on how fair and/or fine your hair is, actually. If you have really light leg hair you can usually get away with a few days between shaves, but if it’s dark brown/black, or if it’s fairly coarse, yeah you gotta do it as often as you said because the stubble shows up really clearly. Also laser would actually last the longest (I think it’s permanent?), but I understand it’s fairly painful, and I know you need several treatments spread across several months.

          Honestly, Carla probably does whatever she prefers, which I know is a super generic and unhelpful statement, but most people I know shave because it’s not painful, but I also live somewhere that people where shorts about 2 months out of the year, so it may make sense to do something more efficient in warmer places.

          I’d say your friend should start with shaving and see how that goes. If it’s too obnoxious, try waxing and move from there. They can also try depilatory cream/gel, but try it on a small area first because many types can cause a burning sensation, and if you have sensitive skin they can cause some pretty unpleasant irritation as well. It does work very well for some people though – you just rub it on, let it sit for a few minutes, and then rinse it off.

          • CJ
            CJ
            October 20, 2019 at 4:21 am | #

            Laser should make it permanent but it doesn’t work with too light hair. Biggest trouble with laser is that you have to keep out of the sun for the half year to year the treatment takes.
            Some companies sell diy ipl laser devices so that’s cheaper then regular treatments. But any burns you get are on you.

            • Delicious Taffy
              Delicious Taffy
              October 20, 2019 at 5:20 am | #

              Yeah, my sibling has been getting lasered for almost 2 years, and I’ve gone along to their appointments a few times. Those summer sessions were really a pain, because they had to avoid getting the areas all sunburnt.

          • Delicious Taffy
            Delicious Taffy
            October 20, 2019 at 5:40 am | #

            I showed them your message and got some feedback. Thanks for bringing up so many options, too. It’s been really helpful.

            Shaving has had nice results, the last few times. Razor burn and red spots sorta make it a (literal) pain in the ass though, I’m told. They also have thick, dark hair that takes an eternity to trim down prior.

            Due to certain insecurities, they don’t have much confidence trying wax. Unless there’s like, a covert waxing kit that won’t be immediately obvious as being what it is.

            Depilatory goo seems tempting, but if sensitive skin is gonna lead to burns, they might need to skip it. Certain body washes (mostly the industrial degreaser marketed as men’s 3-in-1 soap) make their skin feek basically raw.

            • Sol Karas
              Sol Karas
              October 20, 2019 at 7:24 am | #

              They make hair removal creams for sensitive skin, if that’s a concern, and all of them will say to test on a small area first to make sure.

              Also multiple-care-products-in-one are all garbage and should be avoided at all costs. I have yet to run across one that didn’t suck. It’s more expensive to buy individual things, but overall your hair/skin/whatever will thank you.

            • Hellsing
              Hellsing
              October 20, 2019 at 9:37 am | #

              Have they tried electrical razors? I personally liked them better, because 1) quicker 2) no sharp edges. But my aim is usually “less hair” rather than “completely smooth”. My tip, if there’s a lot of hair to begin with (i.e. haven’t shaved in a long time), is to start with an electric and then do “analog” shaving on top of that. It’s a lot easier to shave stub than to shave grown-out hair.

            • vitalProximity
              vitalProximity
              October 20, 2019 at 5:32 pm | #

              Not sure if my other comment will make it through because of links, so tl;dr – there’s also the new “Finishing Touch” hair remover thing that uses some alternative technique to remove hair and is supposedly painless. Seems pretty legit but I would definitely read some independent reviews first – I don’t personally know anyone who’s tried it, but I’ve also never heard anything bad about it? Anyway they make one for facial hair but I think there’s also a larger one to use on legs and stuff.

              • Kat
                Kat
                October 20, 2019 at 8:37 pm | #

                And do not make my mistake. If the Nair doesn’t get close enough the first application, wait a day or two before applying it again. Chemical burns on your entire legs are the worst.

      • Chris Phoenix
        Chris Phoenix
        October 20, 2019 at 2:31 am | #

        Nair is also a thing. I’ve never tried it, but my mother used to use it.

        • Miri
          Miri
          October 20, 2019 at 2:54 am | #

          A thing that smells like the devil’s armpit probably does.

          Waxing legs isn’t too bad – better than epilating a few months’ growth #lazy But yeah she probably waxes or has had laser, and epilates as needed between times.

      • Eve
        Eve
        October 20, 2019 at 4:18 am | #

        I admit sometimes in comics I assume the hair is there, it’s just the comic doesn’t go into deep enough detail to draw it.

        Or she may just not have much leg hair, some peoples leg hair grows in fairly light and if it’s light on her pale skin it may just not show up well.

        • Delicious Taffy
          Delicious Taffy
          October 20, 2019 at 5:43 am | #

          If Carla’s one of the lucky ones with less-visible leg hair, I’m gonna drink a hamburger out of frustration and envy.

          • Needfuldoer
            Needfuldoer
            October 20, 2019 at 10:13 am | #

            Isn’t she a natural blonde, and just dyes it that dark red? I thought her hair was really light in the flashback strip where she got her custom Ultra Car model.

            • BBCC
              BBCC
              October 20, 2019 at 1:34 pm | #

              It was.

      • Charlotte
        Charlotte
        October 20, 2019 at 2:52 pm | #

        This made me think whether any (female) character in this comic has ever been drawn with leg hair, and I don’t think so (please show me if I’m wrong). And I don’t think he’s depicted all male characters with explicitly hairy legs.
        But that doesn’t have to mean that the characters canonically all shave, just an artistic choice not to explitly draw the hair — possibly because drawing any sort of body hair in the style Willis uses immediately makes the hair stand out a lot and marks them out as being very hairy, when in reality it doesn’t for everyone. Many people have relatively light or fine leg hair, just like arm hair (which, again, most characters in the comic don’t visibly have — do any of them?).

        If you saw me stand in an elevator in shorts in real life, I’m pretty sure you’d have a hard time telling whether my legs are shaved without getting creepily close to me.
        Doesn’t help with your actual practical de-hairing question, just something your post made me think about.

      • ego
        ego
        October 20, 2019 at 4:03 pm | #

        it’s *Carla*.

        lasers.

        • vitalProximity
          vitalProximity
          October 20, 2019 at 5:35 pm | #

          Aaaaaaaahahaha… EXCELLENT point. She probably demanded to personally inspect their set-up before beginning and made a couple of tweaks to improve the efficiency.

      • Opus the Poet
        Opus the Poet
        October 20, 2019 at 8:28 pm | #

        I’m a cyclist who used to use many different ways to de-fur my legs because it’s easier to clean up the many small cuts that arise from riding without fenders allowing tiny bits of glass or flints to spray back on your legs without hair being in the way. Spray or creme depilliants leave smoother legs, but shaving is quicker. My Lady Remington mowed miles of hairs before I put fenders on.

  19. Shanunu
    Shanunu
    October 20, 2019 at 12:35 am | #

    Jaime is actually the one talking in this comic

    • Slartibeast Button, BIA
      Slartibeast Button, BIA
      October 20, 2019 at 12:40 am | #

      Jamie is actually an alien invader, Harrison is his mindwiped manikin.

      • Dean
        Dean
        October 20, 2019 at 8:00 am | #

        ‘Carla, start the reactor! Free Mars!’

    • Needfuldoer
      Needfuldoer
      October 20, 2019 at 10:18 am | #

      Does that mean he’s Quato, or is he Krang?

      • Opus the Poet
        Opus the Poet
        October 20, 2019 at 8:54 pm | #

        More like Krang in this depiction.

  20. tim gueguen
    tim gueguen
    October 20, 2019 at 12:38 am | #

    This strip is a lie. Carla was born at that height.

    • Lokitsu
      Lokitsu
      October 20, 2019 at 12:44 am | #

      I think I can speak for her mom when I say “OUCH”

      • Slartibeast Button, BIA
        Slartibeast Button, BIA
        October 20, 2019 at 12:49 am | #

        Especially if, as per showler above, she was wearing skates.

    • Clif
      Clif
      October 20, 2019 at 12:49 am | #

      Wearing roller skates.

      • Delicious Taffy
        Delicious Taffy
        October 20, 2019 at 12:54 am | #

        Um, fuckin’ ouch?

  21. Slartibeast Button, BIA
    Slartibeast Button, BIA
    October 20, 2019 at 12:39 am | #

    We are in October, right? Wouldn’t wearing shorts on the roof be a bit chilly?

    • Delicious Taffy
      Delicious Taffy
      October 20, 2019 at 12:47 am | #

      I know a lot of people who wear shorts the whole year ’round, and they never seem to mind. I’m assuming they have very warm thighs or something.

      • tim gueguen
        tim gueguen
        October 20, 2019 at 12:58 am | #

        I actually saw a guy a couple of years ago wearing no shoes when it was below freezing, and there was ice and snow on the street.

        • Agemegos
          Agemegos
          October 20, 2019 at 4:36 am | #

          I used to do that when I lived in Canberra.

      • StClair
        StClair
        October 20, 2019 at 1:19 am | #

        It seems to mostly be a matter of what you’re acclimated to.

    • Mouse
      Mouse
      October 20, 2019 at 1:36 am | #

      We are. The comic follows its own time line. With so many characters, a week can take several months to show.

      • thejeff
        thejeff
        October 20, 2019 at 8:15 am | #

        The rule of thumb is basically one week per year.

    • Needfuldoer
      Needfuldoer
      October 20, 2019 at 10:20 am | #

      ‘Today’ is October 18.

      It’s probably still hitting 60 during the day. There’s wind up at roof level, but with the sun out it shouldn’t be too bad.

      • thejeff
        thejeff
        October 20, 2019 at 2:24 pm | #

        Since today is only the 20th – the forecast for today in Bloomington is 75. Nice and warm.

  22. Danielle
    Danielle
    October 20, 2019 at 1:08 am | #

    well this is interesting!

  23. abysswatcher1993
    abysswatcher1993
    October 20, 2019 at 1:32 am | #

    Carla’s parents must be really rich and powerful to lobby against a a transphobic legislation… that is good, but also worrisome that someone rich and powerful can change the laws that easily… the USA needs more checks and balances, and the same applies to other countries.

    • abysswatcher1993
      abysswatcher1993
      October 20, 2019 at 1:35 am | #

      I mean, I am all for using pragmatic methods to do the right thing.

    • BBCC
      BBCC
      October 20, 2019 at 2:06 am | #

      The lawsuit was probably challenged on legal grounds and overturned in court. Happens with legislation all the time (well, not ALL the time, but it’s not unheard of).

    • BenRG
      BenRG
      October 20, 2019 at 2:57 am | #

      The law has never been anything other than what the rich and powerful or a sufficiently large mob have ever wanted it to be. That’s a historical fact.

      • abysswatcher1993
        abysswatcher1993
        October 20, 2019 at 3:29 am | #

        Yes, but let’s not lose ourselves in some Leviathan kind of morality. Human rights always exist, it’s just that they aren’t recognized by assholes in pathetic brand suits and their expensive cars made with imported pieces. Accepting the “might makes right” philosophy will only make you become bitter, numb and easy to be an enabler of horrible behaviors.

        • drs
          drs
          October 20, 2019 at 7:45 am | #

          A universe where human rights exist but are unprovable and we argue what they are, is indistinguishable from a universe where human rights are a social construct and we argue about what they should be.

          • Clif
            Clif
            October 20, 2019 at 11:34 am | #

            Well, yes, but which one do you want to live in.

            • thejeff
              thejeff
              October 20, 2019 at 2:29 pm | #

              Since they’re indistinguishable, it makes no difference.

          • abysswatcher1993
            abysswatcher1993
            October 20, 2019 at 2:54 pm | #

            It doesnt matter. Wat matters is to believe that they exist and make them true. Jegus, I love the story by Terry Pratchett.

          • Miri
            Miri
            October 20, 2019 at 8:53 pm | #

            I mean arguably social constructs exist; they just may not be permanent and can change from period to place with culture? If the here and now says breaking them is taboo they’re still things you will be ostracised for ignoring…

      • TemperaryObsessor
        TemperaryObsessor
        October 20, 2019 at 10:54 am | #

        Yea that is why we need to advacate to put more power in the hands of the suficently large mob and try our best to each the next generation to be better than us.

    • CJ
      CJ
      October 20, 2019 at 4:14 am | #

      Having laws and people who are payed to uphold those is huge progress over no law and the strongest does whatever he likes until he is not the strongest any longer.
      Unfortunately the people payed to uphold the law are not free of bias and also are not omniscient, so to have a check on them, you need lawyers and judges (who also are not omniscient and biased, but sometime in other directions). It’s not ideal. Especially as upholding the law is a dangerous and not very well payed job, it attracts some people who are more into the power than into the law.
      But I haven’t seen anyone come up with a better concept yet.
      No law = the strongest do what they want, the week bite the dust all the time
      human induced law = the week bite the dust some of the time, the strong sometimes bite the dust, too
      ‘God’s’ law = some crazy humans say they know what god wants and do whatever they want, so everybody bites the dust

    • Agemegos
      Agemegos
      October 20, 2019 at 4:37 am | #

      Who said it was easy? Raidah and Jacob seem to think it was a huge accomplishment on Harrison’s part.

    • Shane Wegner
      Shane Wegner
      October 20, 2019 at 10:07 am | #

      They are, they run a company for high end, uh, motor stuff? Whatever was on that jacket?

      • BBCC
        BBCC
        October 20, 2019 at 3:39 pm | #

        They’re tech giants, apparently.

      • Bathymetheus
        Bathymetheus
        October 20, 2019 at 11:40 pm | #

        There are Rutten cell phones in this universe. And Carla is good at programming them.

  24. JessWitt
    JessWitt
    October 20, 2019 at 1:34 am | #

    Truly a small world.

  25. BenRG
    BenRG
    October 20, 2019 at 2:55 am | #

    So, Harrison is Carla’s human rights lawyer, huh? That’s interesting. She seems a bit nervous to see him. I wonder: Is he a sort of an unintentional trigger? A reminder of bad times, even though none of it was his fault?

    We know that Harrison made his name through some landmark civil rights case. Maybe it was something associated with Carla’s transition? It might explain why the fact she’s a transwoman is such an open secret in the dorm if the case of ‘Girl C’ was a huge thing and probably widely debated in the media.

    • Lensipensi
      Lensipensi
      October 20, 2019 at 3:38 am | #

      Maybe just because she is stoned?

      • Catman
        Catman
        October 20, 2019 at 4:20 am | #

        Yeah, that’d probably do it.

        • StClair
          StClair
          October 20, 2019 at 11:44 pm | #

          She also probably smells pretty strongly of weed at the moment, for those who care about such things.

  26. Bagge
    Bagge
    October 20, 2019 at 3:14 am | #

    NEWS: KIDS GROW UP!!!

    • Sporky
      Sporky
      October 20, 2019 at 3:28 am | #

      Really? Sounds fake

    • JBento
      JBento
      October 20, 2019 at 10:54 am | #

      This is the kind of cutting-edge reporting I crave!

      • Clif
        Clif
        October 20, 2019 at 11:39 am | #

        CONSPIRACY! Fake News!

        After all, I reached 70 without ever growing up.

        • Delicious Taffy
          Delicious Taffy
          October 20, 2019 at 2:48 pm | #

          Crooked Hillary is spreading bad information! She’s telling your kids they’re gonna get taller, somebody’s gotta stop the lies!

  27. BenRG
    BenRG
    October 20, 2019 at 4:03 am | #

    Does anyone else think that maybe Carla is going to introduce Malaya to Harrison? It’s just a feeling I’m having right now.

    • CJ
      CJ
      October 20, 2019 at 4:16 am | #

      Malaya doesn’t need a lawyer at this point, she needs someone she feels comfortable to talk about her gender stuff. Which is difficult given she is Malaya.

  28. Eve
    Eve
    October 20, 2019 at 4:20 am | #

    No wonder it took him a panel to recognize her if she’s like a whole foot taller.

  29. TheFlamingonator
    TheFlamingonator
    October 20, 2019 at 5:07 am | #

    Interesting dynamic… he is comfortable using her first name, while Carla refers to him as Mr Williams

    this is not at all what i expegted but BOY am i looking forward to more interactions

    • thejeff
      thejeff
      October 20, 2019 at 8:17 am | #

      Not uncommon for a kid-adult dynamic if he knew her when she was smaller.

  30. Rabisch
    Rabisch
    October 20, 2019 at 6:40 am | #

    Awww. Jamie like her♡

    • Bagge
      Bagge
      October 20, 2019 at 7:26 am | #

      Jamie is cool!

      • Rabisch
        Rabisch
        October 20, 2019 at 7:58 am | #

        The coolest!

    • BBCC
      BBCC
      October 20, 2019 at 1:35 pm | #

      Jaime is a good baby.

  31. thejeff
    thejeff
    October 20, 2019 at 8:19 am | #

    If she doesn’t know that Jacob is his brother (and why would she?), she’s got to be wondering what he’s doing in her dorm. Does it have something to do with her?

    • Needfuldoer
      Needfuldoer
      October 20, 2019 at 9:38 am | #

      Maybe Harrison started working for the firm the Ruttens keep on retainer when he was fresh out of school. If that was 8 or 9 years ago, he could have met Carla when she was 11 or 12.

      • Needfuldoer
        Needfuldoer
        October 20, 2019 at 9:40 am | #

        Fake edit: Harrison could have mentioned “oh my little brother’s about your age” before, too. Carla and Jacob don’t interact too much, though.

  32. DarkoNeko
    DarkoNeko
    October 20, 2019 at 8:43 am | #

    Small world.
    Also, it’s totally the rollers, but he’s too gentlemanly to look down

    • Kaz
      Kaz
      October 20, 2019 at 10:58 am | #

      Dude, his hand is at her shoulder height. You imagine her with rollers the size of her head?

      • Beef
        Beef
        October 20, 2019 at 2:47 pm | #

        Hell yeah Carla goes hard

  33. Dutch
    Dutch
    October 20, 2019 at 9:47 am | #

    This made me laugh like nothing else has today.

    Damn you willis

    • Clif
      Clif
      October 20, 2019 at 11:44 am | #

      No. no. You have to save your “Damn you Willis”s until you need them.

      You will need them.

  34. Felian
    Felian
    October 21, 2019 at 4:20 am | #

    Jamie smiles at the door bell going DING. That’s just so TODDLER of them!

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