Dumbing of Age

Nono

January 25, 2015 at 12:01 am | #

She’s a sleepcuddler!

Plasma Mongoose

January 25, 2015 at 12:01 am | #

What is wrong with Billie is the last panel?

JustCheetoDust

January 25, 2015 at 12:03 am | #

Insomnia?
- Plasma Mongoose
  
  January 25, 2015 at 12:05 am | #
  
  Is it even night time?
  - JustCheetoDust
    
    January 25, 2015 at 12:09 am | #
    
    Time of day be damned, I just wanted to reference one of many short-lived Dave Attell projects.
    - Saine
      
      January 25, 2015 at 3:27 pm | #
      
      It appears to be midday. Light is shining through the window in the second panel.
Barf Ninjason

January 25, 2015 at 12:06 am | #

Just gnawin’ on a quiet desperation sandwich. Adrift in the modern world, y’know; wanted to talk to her girlfriend; couldn’t. Lousy thousand natural shocks the flesh is heir to.
- Totz the Plaid
  
  January 25, 2015 at 12:09 am | #
  
  Well, RuthXBillie IS a consummation devoutly to be wished…
  - Kryss LaBryn
    
    January 25, 2015 at 1:01 am | #
    
    To die, to sleep…Perchance to dream, aye, there’s the rub.
    - ThisOneOne
      
      January 25, 2015 at 1:10 am | #
      
      For in the sleep of death, what dreams may come.
      - Blue
        
        January 25, 2015 at 2:04 am | #
        
        When we have shuffled off this mortal coil must give us pause.
        
        StClair
        
        January 25, 2015 at 4:45 am | #
        
        There’s the respect that makes calamity of so long life.
        
        jpic89
        
        January 25, 2015 at 7:39 am | #
        
        For who would bear the Whips and Scorns of time
        
        Haven
        
        January 25, 2015 at 11:27 am | #
        
        You know the rules, and so do I!
        
        AustKyzor
        
        January 25, 2015 at 3:58 pm | #
        
        Go to your room, Haven!
- Halloween Jack
  
  January 25, 2015 at 12:52 pm | #
  
  To be, or not to be? Fuck if I know, what am I, the fuckin’ Answer Man?
Dreadhawk177

January 25, 2015 at 12:09 am | #

She realized how gassy she was, and doesn’t want to leave bed or wake Ruth.
nothri

January 25, 2015 at 12:11 am | #

Billie either crawled into bed with Ruth cause she was feeling all lonely and in need of cuddles….or Ruth sorta stealth enveloped her without waking up like a child hugging a toy and Billie is surprised at this. I am uncertain which scenario is correct, though I suspect the former.
- T Campbell
  
  January 25, 2015 at 12:13 am | #
  
  The look of surprise on Billie indicates the latter. Not sure why this one’s confusing some folks.
  - nothri
    
    January 25, 2015 at 12:26 am | #
    
    See, I can’t tell if that’s surprise or confused sadness.
    - Ed
      
      January 25, 2015 at 12:32 am | #
      
      She kinda looks worried.
      - Kryss LaBryn
        
        January 25, 2015 at 1:02 am | #
        
        Looks guilty to me, although I have no idea why.
        
        RandomRedMage
        
        January 25, 2015 at 6:30 am | #
        
        Because shes spent the entire day denying that she likes girls. she feels bad about it. D:
        
        Gangler
        
        January 25, 2015 at 7:02 am | #
        
        No, she was pretty open about the fact that she likes girls. She’s just not a lesbian.
        
        desolation0
        
        January 25, 2015 at 12:20 pm | #
        
        Is she feeling guilty that she’s in this relationship with Ruth, and isn’t a lesbian, and would end up breaking Ruth’s heart if it got more serious?
        
        bleeters
        
        January 27, 2015 at 12:12 pm | #
        
        More serious than ‘I won’t leave, I don’t care about literally anything else’?
      - Gangler
        
        January 25, 2015 at 1:22 am | #
        
        I was thinking uncomfortably horny? Body thinks its go time but head knows it’s not.
        
        Walky had a similar moment sharing Dorothy’s bed, but the boner left a little bit less up to interpretation.
      - Rowen Morland
        
        January 25, 2015 at 3:43 am | #
        
        Not like she seemed at all worried before when she was being followed by Becky.
  - begbert2
    
    January 25, 2015 at 2:39 am | #
    
    Given that Ruth is in exactly the same pose the panel prior, except that Billie has slid herself and the cover under Ruth’s arm, there’s is no possible way that Ruth just sleep-reached out to hold her. This is Billie feeling retroactively awkward and guilty.
- Orangey
  
  January 25, 2015 at 4:05 am | #
  
  I saw it as Billie getting in an tucking her arm over her, so when Ruth wakes up, she’ll have someone to cuddle. Ruth was crying when Billie left earlier, so I reckon she’s worried and is just trying to find ways to comfort her.
  - maarvarq
    
    January 25, 2015 at 7:40 am | #
    
    That’s more or less what I thought, except I thought Billie was after some comforting of her own, and was feeling embarrassed/guilty about helping herself, as it were.
  - jadedcynic
    
    January 25, 2015 at 9:57 am | #
    
    Ruth’s eyes are still wet; I think Billie’s still trying to cope with caring about someone with deep depression.
Ed

January 25, 2015 at 12:21 am | #

Maybe Ruth just pissed herself. Or farted.
TachyonCode

January 25, 2015 at 12:51 am | #

She’s getting the Z.
- AustKyzor
  
  January 25, 2015 at 4:03 pm | #
  
  It’s like the D, only it takes place on the dreamscape and Leonardo DiCaprio’s butt is flying around making loud farts that sound like this
Arianod

January 25, 2015 at 4:05 am | #

She has the sads.
Kris

January 25, 2015 at 8:07 am | #

I think she’s worried about Ruth who looks like she cried herself to sleep.
- Deanatay
  
  January 25, 2015 at 8:56 am | #
  
  It looks to me like Ruth fell asleep doing homework. These are college students, remember.
  
  I think the awkward look on Billie’s face is due to worry – she’s seeing a lot of circling vultures in her sky, right now. What’s-her-name, religious girl who knows about her and Ruth. Becky, who seems determined to out her to the entire school. Walky and Joyce, who keep asking questions about her ‘boyfriend’.
  
  Was it Paul who denied Jesus thrice before the cock crowed? That’s kinda how Billie’s feeling, right now.
  - Kris
    
    January 25, 2015 at 9:20 am | #
    
    When you lay it out like that Billie has a lot to worry about. Ruth was crying though right? Did I misread that?
    
    Also I feel I must inform you that said religious girl is Mary…she’s “important” now.
  - No Name
    
    January 25, 2015 at 12:22 pm | #
    
    It was Peter who denied Jesus.
    - Nicknack Paddywhack
      
      January 25, 2015 at 2:28 pm | #
      
      Classic Peter.
      - AustKyzor
        
        January 25, 2015 at 4:04 pm | #
        
        No wonder Jesus dumped him for John
  - Nightsbridge
    
    January 25, 2015 at 11:19 pm | #
    
    I don’t think so. She’s got a little notpad in one hand and a phone in the other. When I see that I remember Ruth on the phone going ‘yes sir.’
Halloween Jack

January 25, 2015 at 12:53 pm | #

She has deep feelings for another human being, and it’s freakin’ her shit out, big time.
Mitsukara

January 25, 2015 at 9:42 pm | #

She’s worried about Ruth, and looking over at her with concern.

DrDarkheart

January 25, 2015 at 12:01 am | #

Wet pillows are awkward to sleep on.

Eric

January 25, 2015 at 12:02 am | #

Doing calculus to 2359 means NEW RUTH AND BILLIE STRIP YAAAAAY!

Shanunu

January 25, 2015 at 12:02 am | #

Billy reminds me of my roommate who says she’s not a lesbian, she just likes girls.

Plasma Mongoose

January 25, 2015 at 12:04 am | #

I understand completely, I like girls but I wouldn’t call myself a lesbian either.
- nothri
  
  January 25, 2015 at 12:33 am | #
  
  I like girls as well, but I would also not call myself a lesbian….cause I’m a guy.
  - Ray-Ray
    
    January 25, 2015 at 1:45 pm | #
    
    I’m a guy, vut consider myself a lesbian.
    I don’t even like the sight of my own penis.
    - AustKyzor
      
      January 25, 2015 at 4:06 pm | #
      
      I like girls so I call myself a lesbian trapped in a man’s body
Mhm

January 25, 2015 at 12:05 am | #

I completely get what you mean, but to be fair she could be bi rather than lesbian and still like girls. We all know that girl, though.
- Leorale
  
  January 25, 2015 at 12:29 am | #
  
  I may have been that girl, too. In college I identified as “bi-curious”, and I didn’t internalize the bisexuality label until after I graduated. No rush.
  - LeslieBean4Shizzle
    
    January 25, 2015 at 1:54 am | #
    
    This discussion reminds me of a friend of mine. She once told me “I’m straight – I just like having sex with women.” I, needless to say, raised an eyebrow at that (being one of those women) and I told her it is possible to be bisexual but hetero-romantic (ie, only interested in romance with the opposite sex). And then she was like “Oh, yes, that. I’m that.”
  - maarvarq
    
    January 25, 2015 at 7:43 am | #
    
    I can’t hear the term “bi-curious” these days without hearing Roxy Richter in the Scott Pilgrim film proclaiming herself to be “bi-FURIOUS!”

Wonder Wig

January 25, 2015 at 12:02 am | #

I applaud you for restraining to one Z per bubble instead of the more commercial three Zs of descending sizes.

Giovanni

January 25, 2015 at 3:02 pm | #

And a saw cutting through a log would have just been going way too far.
- DSL
  
  January 25, 2015 at 7:04 pm | #
  
  Indeed, that would be Zzzelling out.
Mitsukara

January 25, 2015 at 9:43 pm | #

I guess ZZT would be too much to ascii for.

otusasio451

January 25, 2015 at 12:02 am | #

Ruth never stopped being depressed today, huh?

Bagge

January 25, 2015 at 12:06 am | #

I don’t think she has stopped being depressed for as long as we have know her.
juan

January 25, 2015 at 12:07 am | #

obviously was taking a sexy selfie for billy also probally still tired after what happened the night before
Watson The Snail

January 25, 2015 at 12:11 am | #

Well, the last time we saw her, she was crying at her desk for some unknown reason. But then, it’s hard to gauge time passage at the moment.
- Kris
  
  January 25, 2015 at 8:10 am | #
  
  Seems Billie went to her morning class so I’d say maybe two to three hours tops.
  - jadedcynic
    
    January 25, 2015 at 10:03 am | #
    
    Ruth had said “I won’t be able to drink myself to death in the fifty minutes you’ll be gone” or similar – the class is around an hour.
    
    In an hour, she’s gotten some shocks from her friends and acquaintances, and come back to some she really cares about…who IS STILL unceasingly crying, even in her sleep. She hasn’t had much experience with SERIOUS depression, and Ruth’s behaviour (which is actually on an *up* swing) worries her.
    
    …geez, I really am champing at the bit at this ‘much slower than real life’ pace; it could take Billie years of constant interaction to get to the point where she could really understand what Ruth’s going through, and how best to help her (if they even remain together that long); as someone who has undergone that, watching someone else START that journey in Super Slo-Mo is just torture…
    - jordebear88
      
      January 26, 2015 at 10:10 am | #
      
      Agreed. This comic hit me super hard. If you’ve been there, there’s no confusion about exactly what’s happening in this scene. I’ve been Billie in this comic, years ago with my ex-wife. I hope things work out better for her than they did for me.

newllend

January 25, 2015 at 12:03 am | #

SHIT! I just realized I missed a opportunity for a hand boning joke last page

Mitsukara

January 25, 2015 at 9:44 pm | #

Couldn’t you just post it on the previous page’s comments? Old ones don’t close.
- newllend
  
  January 27, 2015 at 5:23 pm | #
  
  Wouldn’t have been as , something like that hast to be right then and there on the spot, also computer malfunction was so bad made me double post without even knowing.

dmaxx

January 25, 2015 at 12:03 am | #

Awwww…. Hmmm is ruth’s waterwork leaking or is it just me? >_<

Opus the Poet

January 25, 2015 at 12:04 am | #

This is so sweet.

Shanunu

January 25, 2015 at 12:04 am | #

Billie reminds me of my roommate who says she’s not bisexual, she’s just attracted to both men and women.

Dante

January 25, 2015 at 12:07 am | #

Bisexual isn’t the only sexuality where you’re attracted to both men and women.
- Random832
  
  January 25, 2015 at 8:06 pm | #
  
  Okay now explain how it isn’t the name for the wider category which includes all forms of sexuality where one is attracted to both men and women.
  
  Not wanting to be called something doesn’t actually make its definition not apply to someone.
  - fit-to-flip
    
    January 26, 2015 at 2:23 am | #
    
    No, self identification is important.
    - Random832
      
      January 26, 2015 at 8:37 am | #
      
      This is basically a rejection of the idea that there are objective facts. You are, basically, saying that Ethan and Danny are straight.
Scoops

January 25, 2015 at 12:08 am | #

You tried it a second time because you realized the first one wasn’t too hard to reconcile?
- JWLM
  
  January 25, 2015 at 12:23 am | #
  
  Careful — there are a lot more flavors of non-binary sexualities than there are flavors of the binary sexualities.
Dante

January 25, 2015 at 12:09 am | #

Rude
Shanunu

January 25, 2015 at 12:54 am | #

Whoops. The first time I sent it I kept getting an error and assumed it didn’t go through. How EM-BARRASSING. No, but really, she is apparently just normal bi, but says the word sounds too gtoss to describe herself as such.
- curiousg
  
  January 25, 2015 at 7:03 pm | #
  
  I can understand that. I mean, calling yourself “gay” or “lesbian” instead of “homosexual” removes focus from the word “sexual”. But there’s no real alternative label for bi people that doesn’t have that focus (unless you count “bi”, but that immediately brings “bisexual” to mind anyway).
ChocolateRat

January 25, 2015 at 1:09 am | #

I don’t think Billie has ever said she wasn’t bisexual though. All she said was that she wasn’t only into women.

Bagge

January 25, 2015 at 12:04 am | #

Awwww. Comfort and company. This strip is almost more adorable than sad.

newllend

January 25, 2015 at 12:05 am | #

Shit ! I just realized I missed an opportunity for a hand boning joke last page.

JustCheetoDust

January 25, 2015 at 12:06 am | #

I have a Regular Show reference for that, but I’m not sure if “hand boning” was intentional or a misspelling of “hamboning.”
- OpticianOfUrza
  
  January 25, 2015 at 3:40 am | #
  
  I thought the same. Hamboning will save your life some day, don’t you know.
  - JustCheetoDust
    
    January 25, 2015 at 10:54 am | #
    
    Words of wisdom from Trash Boat.

dmaxx

January 25, 2015 at 12:05 am | #

Awww… Hmmm is ruth’s waterwork leaking or is it just me? >_<

Dmaxx

January 25, 2015 at 12:11 am | #

For some weird reason i got server timeout when i tried to post and said i already said that when i tried again but did appear even though i refreshed the site many times so sowwie anout the dub, stupid ipad-_-“
- Dmaxx
  
  January 25, 2015 at 12:14 am | #
  
  Damn typos, meaned “did not appear” and “about the dub” not “anout” xD
Ed

January 25, 2015 at 12:16 am | #

Upon further examination, it does sort of look like she might be crying in her sleep. Google tells me this happens to some people.
blackhat64

January 25, 2015 at 12:29 am | #

Why the waterworks, tubbo, were they out of pie?

Totz the Plaid

January 25, 2015 at 12:06 am | #

Okay, I seriously hope tomorrow’s comic explains Billie’s expression in the final panel, because I don’t get it.

brionl

January 25, 2015 at 12:09 am | #

It’s either drool-soaked pillow to the ear, or “Huh, maybe I am a lesbian after all.”
- jadedcynic
  
  January 25, 2015 at 10:07 am | #
  
  …or worry for her bedmate who’s still crying.
  
  To be honest, I’d say it’s a mix of all of them. David likes heaping all manner of stressors from all directions on people…kinda like real life.
answerer

January 25, 2015 at 4:15 am | #

Ruth is crying in her sleep. look close
David

January 25, 2015 at 6:10 am | #

Let me guess: medically relevant cloud of alcohol?

zmm

January 25, 2015 at 12:08 am | #

that best not be regrets XD

Watson The Snail

January 25, 2015 at 12:08 am | #

I wonder if Billie woke Ruth up temporarily with the crinkle from sitting on that piece of paper.

jadedcynic

January 25, 2015 at 10:09 am | #

Ruth was holding a…calculator or phone in the first frame; I’d assumed that along with pulling the covers up over her (Ruth’s feet were on top of the blanket, Billie also cleared away the papers.

Of course, now I wonder if that was a phone and if it turns out to be significant – maybe Ruth had called someone, and the conversation caused her to cry herself to sleep?

Vivvav

January 25, 2015 at 12:10 am | #

I feel like there are a lot of strips where Billie and Ruth just kinda do something intimate but nothing actually happens to move the plot around or provide a punchline.

kevlulz

January 25, 2015 at 12:19 am | #

I’m surprisingly okay with that. I like that they’re relationship is just kindof an easy, comfortable thing
- gwalla
  
  January 26, 2015 at 12:04 pm | #
  
  TBH nothing about this relationship seems easy or comfortable.
Disloyal Subject

January 25, 2015 at 12:24 am | #

Aside from Billie’s surprise at being engulfed by Ruth’s blanket, it’s cute, and cuteness his its own justification.
Ed

January 25, 2015 at 12:25 am | #

It’s nice to see them relatively at peace with themselves (well, maybe not the last panel). I wouldn’t want to see DRAMA! every time they make an appearance.

alicemacher

January 25, 2015 at 12:16 am | #

I’m wondering whether the pad of paper on the bed, in the first panel, is signifcant.

alicemacher

January 25, 2015 at 12:17 am | #

Second panel. Darn.
Entropy

January 25, 2015 at 12:23 am | #

Or Ruth’s phone, which was in her hand and is probably now in Billie’s.
Yet Another Laura H.

January 25, 2015 at 1:07 am | #

Thank heaven. I thought I was the only one. Let’s hope, she said, traumatized by Ruth’s demise in an earlier strip, that it is not “I have taken the whole bottle because you deserve better.”
Marie

January 25, 2015 at 4:28 am | #

I thought ‘note?’ but I can’t imagine Billy wouldn’t have read it in that case. Perhaps copying something off her phone?
jadedcynic

January 25, 2015 at 10:12 am | #

Dang, I wish I’d read down further when commenting the same sort of thing (the phone in Ruth’s hand)

And remember the last thing Ruth said the last time we saw her: “I’ve got too much shit to do to die today.”

hmmmm….

(and David has a nasty tendency of {unintentionally, maybe} leading us to jump to conclusions and overthink things…)

The Wizard

January 25, 2015 at 12:19 am | #

Never realized that Billie was a sleepist, just hoping into bed with random people while they are sleeping. I should’ve saw it coming when she did it to Walkerton, but I gave her the benefit of the doubt.

Kryss LaBryn

January 25, 2015 at 1:06 am | #

You know, I’ve tried, but found that hoping myself into someone’s bed rarely works. Too bad.
- The Wizard
  
  January 25, 2015 at 2:18 am | #
  
  It worked for her it seems, Billie has herself a baby Ruth now. While being able to say she slept with her associates man, without Dorothy being able to retaliate. Billie has been secretly making power moves without any being able to fight back lol.
- Marc in MN
  
  January 25, 2015 at 9:56 am | #
  
  I see what you did there.

Idon'tcarenomore

January 25, 2015 at 12:23 am | #

I’ve developed into a fan of this relationship. But sometimes I don’t get a particular stip. Like now.
It’s nice that Ruth is reaching out, even if asleep. But, why is Billie with that expression?
Willis always has meanings behind his characters moves and expressions, and I don’t get this. Billie may be would be irritated as doesn’t want hugging, or maybe happy because she does. But this…surprised is closest and that’s not quite it…darker than surprise? Regret?

Solenoid

January 25, 2015 at 4:30 am | #

Empathy. She knows Ruth’s hurting inside. That knowledge in itself is sad for her.
jadedcynic

January 25, 2015 at 10:16 am | #

1) I dunno if Ruth did anything – her arm’s just about in the position it was when Billie first entered,

2) as Solenoid noted below, I *think* it’s Billie coming back from class and finding Ruth still in the throes of her depression.

3) and I *might* be reading into it, but also not knowing how to help or ‘make it all better’ (a lot of people don’t realize that serious depression is like a mountain sitting on top of you; you don’t just ‘fix’ it in the short term…but you can chip away at it and make it a little smaller and easier to deal with over the long…which, given this comic’s pace, will probably be drawn by David Willis, Junior.

beege

January 25, 2015 at 12:23 am | #

I can now cross ‘see Ruth being adorable’ off my bucket list.

Bagge

January 25, 2015 at 1:13 am | #

There have been a few instances of Ruth being adorable before, but rarely for more than a few minutes or when both her and Billie are awake at the same time.
- Screwball
  
  January 25, 2015 at 12:20 pm | #
  
  I’m wondering if you realized what you’re links spelled out Bagge, & it might not be a coincidence. Ruth has always been…unwilling for people to know her adorable side, & it’s seems to be very much so.
  Strip 1 – Asking
  Strip 2- Four
  Strip 3 -Murder
  By posting those links, in Ruth’s eyes, you may be asking four (for) murder… LOL
  - Bagge
    
    January 26, 2015 at 3:53 am | #
    
    O crap, I didn’t notice that. But it does seem to be a fitting response to calling Ruth adorable.
    
    So…. in unrelated notes I’m eaten by wild dogs now.
    - Screwball
      
      January 27, 2015 at 12:09 pm | #
      
      *Pokes remains with stick*

Idon'tcarenomore

January 25, 2015 at 12:26 am | #

Okay that didn’t post but gave me a you posted twice msg must wait…but still didn’t post it.
So: one more time. Billie looks not happy in last panel.
I’ve come around to being a fan of this relationship, hoping it works for both their sakes, they need each other.
It is sweet that Ruth is reaching out, even if in her sleep.
But, Billie doesn’t really look surprised. Or sad. Regretful is closest I think and as Mr. W. always has a reason for his characters emotive faces…..

Ed

January 25, 2015 at 12:30 am | #

My take is that she’s worried, because even though things feel comfortable right now, she might feel that this relationship is not exactly 100% healthy, and is worrying about how it might get messed up in the future.

Idon'tcarenomore

January 25, 2015 at 12:28 am | #

Okay that didn’t post but gave me a you posted twice msg must wait…but still didn’t post it. Done it twice now. ‘max. exceeding 30 sec….never seen this in years of posting…so, if dons’t go this time giving up tonight.
So: one more time. Billie looks not happy in last panel.
I’ve come around to being a fan of this relationship, hoping it works for both their sakes, they need each other.
It is sweet that Ruth is reaching out, even if in her sleep.
But, Billie doesn’t really look surprised. Or sad. Regretful is closest I think and as Mr. W. always has a reason for his characters emotive faces…..

Yotomoe

January 25, 2015 at 12:34 am | #

That’s when Billie realized that Ruth had peed the bed.

Idon'tcarenomore

January 25, 2015 at 12:37 am | #

Damn. I apoligise for all the posts not at all what I meant to do. And maybe so, she may be worrying about the future or …I wonder if her weird confrontation with Becky has anything to do with it.

jadedcynic

January 25, 2015 at 10:19 am | #

Blame teh intarweebs; to be fair, I’m not a big fan of David’s ‘no-edit-feature’ comment section, but to each their own.

But yeah, Billie’s got things going at her from different directions – Becky challenging her to think seriously about her relationship, having to keep said relationship secret from her life-long friends, and then coming back to said relationship and finding the one she cares about so incomprehensibly sad and being unable to help.

Billie’s got a few reasons to frown…

AnvilPro

January 25, 2015 at 12:45 am | #

I’m more of an “R” man myself, but “Z” is pretty cool too

Marvelman

January 25, 2015 at 12:46 am | #

What is that look on Billie’s face?

Derek

January 25, 2015 at 12:48 am | #

Ruth is so cute!

Charles Phipps

January 25, 2015 at 12:56 am | #

I think Billie isn’t ready now for Ruth’s level of commitment and need. Unfortunately, Ruth is ready to fall in love with Billie while Billie is NOT looking or WANTING that kind of relationship.

Which SUCKS because Ruth is trying to use her as a liferaft.

Which sucks x10.

Ed

January 25, 2015 at 1:03 am | #

Well, Billie does have a pair of large flotation devices. Sorry! I’ll go now.
- jadedcynic
  
  January 25, 2015 at 9:26 pm | #
  
  @Ed – wot, her buttocks?
  
  @Charles Phipps – erm, “just a fling” to Billie? Well, looking back, she would disagree
  
  It’s pretty serious for BOTH of them; that said, it’s been going on for what, a week or two in ‘comic time’, so it might still burn out…in a few more months (which would be approximately a DECADE for us)
  - jadedcynic
    
    January 25, 2015 at 9:29 pm | #
    
    Damn HTML! Here’s the links I tried to do refer to:
    
    http://www.dumbingofage.com/2014/comic/book-4/04-the-whiteboard-dong-bandit/never-2/
    
    http://www.dumbingofage.com/2014/comic/book-5/01-when-somebody-loved-me/far-2/
    
    http://www.dumbingofage.com/2014/comic/book-5/01-when-somebody-loved-me/playmates/
Rabid Rabbit

January 25, 2015 at 1:07 am | #

But it’s Billie who keeps sneaking into Ruth’s room and who seemed most broken up by the breach between them. (I admit she had a lot of other things going on.) It seems to me that you could easily argue for the opposite relationship.

Charles Phipps

January 25, 2015 at 12:57 am | #

I think it also helps to realize as far as Billie is concerned, they just had a fling and now Ruth is considering her a reason to live. From the time perspective, Ruth is going from zero to ten.

Billie is maybe ready for one.

Oh crap.

John

January 25, 2015 at 3:32 am | #

If Ruth’s gone up to ten, I think Billie goes up to at least eleven.
- Solenoid
  
  January 25, 2015 at 4:43 am | #
  
  http://www.dumbingofage.com/2014/comic/book-5/02-threes-a-crowd/goodnews/
  
  The strip before your link. Kind of suggests that what we’re seeing in this strip is the bad news… the “I couldn’t deal with being awake anymore and went back to bed” sort of situation. Estimated in-comic elapsed time from linked strip to current strip: 1h, 30min (bare minimum time to get ready for lecture, attend, and abscond to Ruth’s room) – 2h, 30min (More realistic for getting ready for lecture). It’s still morning.
  - Regalli
    
    January 25, 2015 at 11:49 am | #
    
    Ah, depression. Ah, constant inability to deal with the world at large. Ah, side effects including longterm exhaustion. Poor Ruth. Poor Billie.
Spencer

January 25, 2015 at 9:45 am | #

There’s no way Billie thinks this is just a fling. She practically broke down with guilt when Ruth found out she was still drinking, she said she’d hover around Ruth to make sure she didn’t kill herself, and she was pretty adamant about never actually leaving Ruth’s dorm room. It’s not emotionally healthy, but the two of them are depending on each other for support.

Jeremy

January 25, 2015 at 12:57 am | #

If you look closely you can see Ruth is crying in her sleep and that is what I think billy is concerned about.

Sam

January 25, 2015 at 8:06 am | #

Agreed- that and the fact in an earlier strip Ruth said “the fact that I’m up and can cry is a good thing” and now what, 2 hours later she’s back in bed.
Em

January 25, 2015 at 10:24 pm | #

I thought I was just imagining that! So she really IS crying.

advancecasette

January 25, 2015 at 12:59 am | #

Eh, Billie has always sort of struck me as a worrier. Her look in the last panel doesn’t seem strange to me at all, Ruth has been crying. She’s concerned.

advancecasette

January 25, 2015 at 1:07 am | #

Ruth never seems to mess around on her phone. It only seems to come to be in her possession when Unknown Malevolent Stranger upsets her by calling

Bagge

January 25, 2015 at 1:09 am | #

Well spotted, extremely worrying.
Bill

January 25, 2015 at 3:38 am | #

Which might explain why Ruth appears to be crying, as noted by Jeremy above.

Just Me

January 25, 2015 at 1:11 am | #

Billie is still bothered/troubled by her interaction with Becky. She claimed she wasn’t a Lesbian, maybe now she is wondering if that is true of not.

That is the way it looks to me.

Aolbain

January 25, 2015 at 1:24 am | #

Bisexuality is a thing you know
- Charles Phipps
  
  January 25, 2015 at 1:38 am | #
  
  Yeah, I think Billie is entirely comfortable with the fact she’s bisexual. She likes dudes and ladies and has since high school. I like to think the Walkertons have also been an environment which she was raised (because her own parents didn’t do it) that this was no big deal.
Tunasammich

January 25, 2015 at 1:40 am | #

Ruth has tears in her eyes. Billie is worried about her depression. If this isn’t the case, and she’s questioning her sexuality, I’ll eat a bowl of live crickets
- Jess
  
  January 25, 2015 at 7:20 am | #
  
  You can never take that back.
  That promise is here forever.
  WILLIS LOOK AT THE COMMENT! I WANNA SEE SOMEONE EAT CRICKETS!
  XP

advancecasette

January 25, 2015 at 1:57 am | #

I really don’t think willis would do a slipshine if billie wasn’t sexually attracted to ruth guys

grantimusmaximus

January 25, 2015 at 2:02 am | #

Remember kids, Billie always has this image of “Problem Solver” in her head, and now she’s running up against a problem like depression that can’t be solved with cleverness or plucky gumption. She want’s to DO something and all she can DO is love and support Ruth… and that can’t fix the problem. It can help, though. Billie wants an action though, and there’s no quick fix for this one. HENCE THE CONCERN.

jadedcynic

January 25, 2015 at 10:22 am | #

Bingo.
- Screwball
  
  January 25, 2015 at 12:26 pm | #
  
  *Ding ding ding* Give that man a cookie…
  - grantimusmaximus
    
    January 25, 2015 at 11:48 pm | #
    
    YAYCOOKIES

Sam

January 25, 2015 at 2:07 am | #

Is…is Ruth crying in her sleep? D:

Great, now I’m crying. Over freakin’ Ruthless.

Aeron

January 25, 2015 at 2:20 am | #

Thanks for making me see it too, now I’m sad.

Aeron

January 25, 2015 at 2:21 am | #

“Ruth I know you’re awake, you’re just saying ‘Zeeee, Zeeee, Zeeee’ over and over again.”

Injury Man

January 25, 2015 at 2:45 am | #

Nah, she’s from Canada.
Zeddd, Zeddd, Zeddd.
- M-M
  
  January 25, 2015 at 7:10 am | #
  
  +1 internet for you, eh!
- fogel
  
  January 25, 2015 at 7:16 am | #
  
  This is America. There should be laws mandating that people sleep English when they come here, eh?
  - jadedcynic
    
    January 25, 2015 at 10:24 am | #
    
    Indeed me ol’ chap; can’t have any of these silly Colonials muddying up the Queen’s English now, can we? {/sarcasm}
    - Solenoid
      
      January 25, 2015 at 4:28 pm | #
      
      Now I wish your grav was Jason.

Marvelman

January 25, 2015 at 3:12 am | #

I think Ruth (and maybe Billy) should seek professional help.

Charles Phipps

January 25, 2015 at 3:13 am | #

Ruth absolutely needs professional help. Sadly, the best thing for Billie to do is step away.

barefootbiker

January 25, 2015 at 3:57 am | #

Has anyone considered the possibility (however faint) that Billie’s expression is just a reaction to Ruth’s snoring? I’ve definitely been on both ends of that look because of the difficulty of sleeping with loud snorers.

Marie

January 25, 2015 at 4:08 am | #

I feel like the alt text is a direct reference to Friday’s QC (2881)

Shadow12000

January 25, 2015 at 6:18 am | #

That hovertext…

OnyxIdol

January 25, 2015 at 6:18 am | #

My interpretation is that Billie draped Ruth’s arm around herself.

Charles Fee

January 25, 2015 at 6:33 am | #

I think her expression is a reaction to either the fact she just got into bed with someone who’s asleep, or the fact there’s clearly a note on the bed in panel 2

jadedcynic

January 25, 2015 at 10:27 am | #

I would argue that Ruth, being a college student, would almost ALWAYS have notes around her…but, yeah.

I’d thought she was holding a calculator in her hand, but it’s a phone (trim around back-camera visible)…

…last time we saw her really go into the deep end, she had just talked to someone on the phone…

…per the notes, she was writing as her desk when Billie woke up, and made the comment “I got too much shit to do to die today”.

I’ve overthought minor things in Willis-comics before, but this seems to be a lot of little signs to something…

Saki

January 25, 2015 at 8:53 am | #

Could the atltext be hinting at Ruth not being asleep in the 3rd panel…?

Neonix

January 25, 2015 at 9:12 am | #

Do I see tears or is it just me?

Spencer

January 25, 2015 at 9:19 am | #

This is the most adorable toxic co-dependent, suicidal couple I’ve ever seen/

jadedcynic

January 25, 2015 at 10:32 am | #

Just a thought: Ruth’s left handed. (per here If she was writing notes in her bed (before/just-after/while talking to someone on the phone) why would she lie on her LEFT side? Was she sitting up before she ‘got tired’? Why did she move from the desk (where she was writing when Billie woke) to the bed?

And WHY CAN’T I STOP SPECULATING ABOUT A SIMPLE WEBCOMIC?!?

No Name

January 25, 2015 at 12:19 pm | #

SIMPLE? HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

No Name

January 25, 2015 at 12:20 pm | #

That was supposed to be a reply to jadedcynic.
- jadedcynic
  
  January 25, 2015 at 8:59 pm | #
  
  Blame Willis’s WP comment section
  
  But yeah; offhand remark without analysing everything (which is kinda the point )
  
  …and apt avatar is apt *thumbs up*

BL

January 25, 2015 at 12:37 pm | #

oh lord i just read that title as “truck”

jadedcynic

January 25, 2015 at 8:56 pm | #

O_O

Wow…even a conspiracy theorist couldn’t justify that Willis did that deliberately but…just wow

*pats BL’s shoulder sympathetically*

Halloween Jack

January 25, 2015 at 12:54 pm | #

So glad that was a phone in Ruth’s hand and not a glass.

Machine of Slight Discomfort

January 25, 2015 at 7:37 pm | #

Don’t google iFlask then. :-p
- Plasma Mongoose
  
  January 25, 2015 at 8:22 pm | #
  
  I just did, thanks for that.

Tenn

January 25, 2015 at 5:12 pm | #

People be like “What’s that look on Billie’s face? I do not recognize this emotion. I see no reason for this emotion. She must be reacting to something that has happened since she last saw Ruth, because she cannot still be feeling something she felt before. It is very mysterious!”