A queer romance about people attempting to build lives in a cold, post-apocalyptic world ravaged by hordes of undead.
Dumbing of Age
David M Willis
Joyce has been homeschooled her entire life until now, when she's suddenly a freshman in college! Things don't go well.
All Known Alternatives
Karolina 'Kajotko' Jankiewicz
Akane has only one way to get back home: collect the 42 keys to parallel worlds. Eri and Ben are just trying to get through the summer before university. When a magical key turns up in an old spare set, all three are forced to change their plans and fast.
Shaderunners
Alex Assan, Lin Darrow
A ragtag band of bootleggers open a speakeasy for bottled colour in the greyscale city of Ironwell.
Paint the Town Red
Windy, Winter Jay Kiakas
Winona runs a werewolf shelter with partner in crime, Odile in the Gothic city of Merlot. One day they take in an injured vampire, and soon unravels many of the dark secrets of Merlot.
Cyanide & Happiness
Explosm
Satire, dark humor and surreal humor.
Hemlock
Josceline Fenton
A witch accidentally marries a monster, and now she and her familiar has to navigate life around her monstrous husband and her even more terrifying in-laws.
Guilded Age
T Campbell, John Waltrip, Florence Machina
Welcome to the saga of the working-class adventurer! Enjoy the complete story with new annotations daily!
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I’d definitely say there is new ground to be explored with these two if it comes to that, but also I’ve learned not to jump the gun on assuming Jacob is being set up for a relationship with [x] character.
Honestly not sure if this relationship was really explored that much. It was near the end of the comic and more in the background then the forefront. Plus both Lucy and Jacob are VERY different then how they were in shortpacked. Lucy didn’t really have an extreme doormat there and Jacob doesn’t have any addictions here.
Well I just went back to check tags and I think Jacob and Lucy had a nice friendship at least. I had forgotten that Lucy and Ryu Ken had gotten together.
They had a nice friendship but it was really not explored very much. They only appeared in what, a couple dozen strips together at most, and most of those were pretty gag-heavy. They only had a couple meaningful conversations, focused almost exclusively around the lack of representation in the comics industry. There’s hardly any ground between them *to* rehash and I think what we’ve seen between them here isn’t even doing that
There’s a number of features of social media/forums that this place lacks and sometimes I wish they were here and other times I appreciate they do not.
It is a great pun on the two of them having “natural chemistry.” Technically, organic chemistry deals with any compound with hydron carbon and/or carbon-carbon bonds even synthetic ones, but punmenship takes priority in my books.
it’s a play on words, though not actually a pun, about how they are both embodied in organic form, and Jacob is experiencing shifts in his bodily and mental chemistry which he was not expecting.
plus he has a new friend now, and she seems fren-shaped
oh, and Organic Chemistry is the branch of chemistry dealing with molecules that contain at least one carbon atom. Inorganic Chemistry is the branch dealing with molecules that contain no (0) such atoms. This may seem imbalanced, and it is; there are FAR more carbon-containing molecules than all the rest put together. It is also a class taken in sophomore or junior year in college, a lot of the time by pre-meds.
Ehhh the whole “I need more self-respect” response is kind of a cop-out of self-reflection. It is like saying “My only fault was that I didn’t think I’m great enough”.
People should love themselves, but Lucy is missing most of her own failures in that relationship.
– Unrealistic expectations for pace/intimacy. You can’t start off in “I will marry you” from day 1.
– Not listening to Walky but instead projecting her own fantasies
I agree broadly that it’s an overused trope, but in this specific case Lucy absolutely DID need to get more self-respect. She allowed Wally’s garbage parents to drag her down and beg for their approval, and she followed Wally around like a lovesick puppy for months just *hoping* he’d ask her out.
Lucy’s lack of self respect damaged the chances of their relationship, in addition to the two other failings you listed (and which I could make a strong argument are also symptoms of low self respect).
I think she earnestly wants to feel comfortable being alone. She’s been alone and lonely before. If she’s taking time to think about how things should have gone differently with Walky, then all the better.
It’s hard to read Jacob’s face here, because the one eyebrow effect isn’t working for him in this strip (sorry), but I think he’s intrigued. I think he’s trying to make friends as much as find a romantic partner.
I said before they’d make a nice couple, but I’m rethinking that. Lucy’s still generally horny. Jacob would be like 1000 times more likely than Walky to just tell her he wants to take it slow, and that might be a deal breaker for her.
Seconded, I’m a bit impressed with Lucy’s fast growth here. I’m not sure if she’s intentionally poking Sarah or genuinely trying to win her over by sheer stubborness.
And if she’s genuine about needing time to be her own friend, more props to her
Lucy did make a point of saying she’s going alone; he probably took that as a setup to ask to join her. That she declined his offer probably isn’t what he was expecting. Given how uncomfortable he is with being objectified, I reckon he finds it refreshing to talk to someone who isn’t embarrassingly thirsty for him (at least not outwardly). It was a peculiar interaction, but not a negative one.
Hmmmmm, on the surface a true statement, but one wonders if she actually believes it or is trying to make herself believe it. One must also wonder if this is somewhat a learned pattern from her roommate.
Yeah, it’s not something you just suddenly change overnight, well usually. So it’s probably to reinforce it in her mind because she wants to be the kind of person able to do things on her own.
I mean, once she got that hit of reality, she must have said to herself “alright, we’ll use option two.”
And that option is to imitate Jennifer, because it seems that she is still on a pedestal.
And if it doesn’t work either……Raidah could be option three (Yes, many have already differed on that, but we are talking about Lucy and her innocent way of taking as an example…..certain people)
It is healthy to know how to do things by yourself, and yes that means trying out new things and that can be a bit scary, but once you’ve figured out how to have fun alone you will have a much easier time convincing friends to join you. Because you can make plans without making others feel pressured, and your plans won’t depend on others, so you will be executing more of your plans. This makes you more relaxed and it means you have more interesting stories to tell, simply because you’re doing more stuff. It also helps you figure out what it is you really like, which can be hard to figure out for a highly social person like Lucy, because she would normally adapt what she likes to the group.
I was thinking the same thing! About Sarah, anyway. I’m picturing her running straight past Lucy and top speed, then skidding to a halt as soon as she realizes that Lucy is talking to Jacob, and bending down in a completely unconvincing attempt to pretend she’s just tying her shoe for this entire conversation.
1. When Jacob said that when he was looking for a partner now they would probably be very similar to Joyce, Lucy does kind of tick a lot of the relevant boxes doesn’t she? Huh.
2. Lucy appears to have gone a direction of very healthy behavior which she is expressing in ways that I personally would find annoying to be around. It is frustrating looking at her doing this thing and going oh. Yeah, this is uncontroversial good and healthy and reasonable. And you probably are being a reasonably good friend to Sarah. And also my hackles would be raised as fuck by someone saying they were everyone’s friend and expressing this idea in this way instead of just saying “no I want some time for myself.” But I think she’s trying out something that’s good for her and I hope it goes well.
From the first point, I think she doesn’t even do it with that intention, but having so much resemblance to Joyce, I think that caught Jason’s attention, just look at the body language in panel two.
From the second point,
Yes, that way of expressing herself sounds too boastful and the fact that she claims to be friends even with herself….something tells me that this could have repercussions in the future in a not positive way.
Oh….I was serious, although looking at my comment, it seems like I’m trying to sound funny, believe me, when I try to be, it doesn’t come out very well.
I’m glad I’m not the only one finding the way she’s expressing herself here somewhat bothersome.
The perspective is fine.
The expression rubs me the wrong way.
Is it because people don’t normally talk like that?
Is she trying too hard to manifest it into being?
It’s not like there’s more people unfriendly to her than are friendly to her.
Other than Sarah, Jennifer, and Linda, everyone likes her to one degree or another (Raidah probably doesn’t, but she doesn’t know that and we technically don’t either).
Maybe she looked at herself through new eyes and didn’t like what she saw.
I was struggling to remember if and how Malaya and Lucy had ever interacted, and I was going to look it up, and then I thought “Does it matter? Even if they’ve never met, that’s probably true, as long as Malaya is vaguely aware of her existence.”
So then I looked it up anyway and “Oh, right, they were roommates, I’d completely forgotten about that” and also “Seriously, Malaya?” (Also, it turns out Marcie doesn’t like her either, but probably just because Malaya doesn’t.)
I have always found having a meal in a restaurant by yourself easier than doing something like watching a movie in the movie theater, going to an amusement park or playing miniature golf by yourself. I guess it depends on what you consider to be a “group” event or not.
That latter. I’ve been assured that going to restaurants and movies alone is one of those things that makes you a Horrible Person. Along with punctuating text messages and putting on you socks wrong.
It is about if you put on the second sock before putting on the first shoe. Sorry, I never remember which way is the one decent people use and which is the sinister rot destroying society.
Not having a car hasn’t prevented them from getting around just fine. It’s been established there are buses and things might even be in walking distance.
And I see absolutely no signal that she’s expecting him to follow her. She explicitly turned down his offer.
Bloomington does have a public transit system, and IU has its own shuttle service (because forget parking, you can’t even find a place to drive sometimes).
My first thought yesterday was “oh no” but I actually wonder if Lucy might pick up on Sarah’s obvious crush and try to help her get together with Jacob. She seems like the type who would love matchmaking and it might actually lead to a real friendship between her and Sarah
Nah, not something they’d have reason to avoid. Maybe extremely spicy food or they have something on the menu that makes some people go “ew” but is surprisingly tasty.
Out of the real restaurants west of campus, almost none of them are something that nobody she knows would want to go to, in particular. Like maybe everyone she knows just doesn’t feel like going that far away, or at least that far away with her.
Except the vegetarian restaurant; non-vegetarians can get really weird about vegetarian food.
I like that for her. But I also hope she informs Walky how she’s feeling about him at the next available opportunity, even if all she has to say is that she’s not certain where they stand or something.
Letting him hang out to dry for an extended period would be a little unkind.
You can think that all you want, but Walky isn’t sure, and that’s really what matters here. Clarity in relationship status is important, and if that was meant as a breakup without any further clarification that’s pretty uncool of Lucy.
And part of her realization in the Walky thing was her figuring out that she needs to be her own friend and not just people-please all the time or put up with things. So this is her putting that into action, and I like it.
Yeah she’s absolutely just working on her confidence and getting comfortable with her own company. It’s just a side bonus that that’s attractive to jacob
Well, part of that is that before now, she hasn’t seemed to want to be. She’s always been really keen, and concerned with becoming popular. Seeing this aspect of Lucy is new- but not bad! Just new. That’s nice. I like that we can see Lucy growing as a person and learning about what she likes/values, and not just going along to get along.
Right, but I don’t know why some of the commenters seem to think Lucy’s new willingness to be alone has to be a tactic to get a BOY instead of like… character growth? It was just weird to me.
Sigh. I am 0% interested in this ship, but it’s reasonable. As someone said yesterday: it’s just *boring*. Haha. (Not that I want Jacob/Sarah because WTAF Sarah?)
Yeah, I kind of feel like once Lucy and Jacob get together, they’ll be largely relegated to background characters with the occasional “Yes, this is still going fine. It’s … nice. Anyway, back to things that are actually happening.”
That’s kind of the problem with them as a pair. They’ve both been side characters, really only relevant as they interact with the main cast. Put them together and we’re not likely to see much of their interaction.
I wonder if Lucy will see anyone she knows at this place.
If she does, my money would be on Raidah.
Speaking of Raidah, how will she react to the situation of Walky and Lucy?
She was already interested in Walky(‘s looks) when he and Lucy were good.
Will she pour on her version of charm when she finds out they’re not so good anymore?
Probably not, but I do wonder.
I mean, stealing him from who? The girl who literally runs away from having a freaking conversation with him? That’s like “stealing” a book you find on the pavement, showing every sign of having been hurled there with force, with a post-it saying “I JUST CAN’T READ THIS” on the cover.
Not Sarah’s King, but Sarah’s unclaimed territory. Sarah’s undiscovered country. Sarah’s moonbase that she ain’t firing rockets at because she didn’t even start building at Cape Canaveral.o
the distance from where she started running to the right edge of today’s panels is about 350 feet / 100 meters, and no indication in the strips that she runs (or exercises) regularly.
I love Lucy. I fucking love Lucy. Call me a 1950s American sitcom bc I Love Lucy.
She’s girlbossing. She’s slay queening. She’s making a giant sculpted of bronze take interest in her without even realizing it. This is real hot girl shit. Bad bongo shit. Werk.
The danger seems to have been averted, Lucy has no interest in playing matchmaker for Sarah and Jacob and he seems to have had a very positive impression of Lucy. He seems to be interested in her at least as a friend, but probably even for more. Let’s see how he’ll continue his chat with Sarah, but the possibility that she may become jealous of Lucy and Jacob in the future are stronger.
a plague has hit our house
both children singing billie eilish's "what was i made for" but entirely in "meows"
we can't get them to stop
it's been weeks
please send help
The plantation burning reminds me of when the residential school burnt down in Shubenacadie.
I was very young. Not understanding why we were all there watching a scary looking building burning. Cars lined up all over both sides of the road. It seemed like the entire rez population (1)
Someone is citing the MA constitutional provision explicitly allowing the state to impede federal marshals enforcing the fugitive slave act, DAMN the average citizen is radicalized
you’re laughing. the largest antebellum plantation house burned down & there are brides who will not get to spiritually absorb the poisoned spectral energy of the land for their big day, & you’re laughing.
Me if I ever see Tony Hawk: Hey you’re Tony Hawk the famous skateboarder. That’s right I recognise you. Won’t be able to get any content out of this will you, you piece of shit
How to read all 28 issues of my Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane run on Marvel Unlimited:
1: The first four issues were published as the miniseries "Mary Jane."
www.marvel.com/comics/serie...
today in #9chickweedlane i learned we have to be shown children learning and relearning what sex is, for Reasons, even though they already clearly know and have prepared nuanced questions about it!
also that Gran must hate, if she's still alive, how Old Juliette is the same but with gray hair
one of my favorite things is when a commenter explodes WHEN DO THESE CHARACTERS GET THERAPY but directed towards a character who canonically has a regular therapist
Dana Simpson 
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I’d say rehashing old Shortpacked! ground, but I’d like to think Willis has some other twisty ideas in mind for us
Sarah: *glares through binoculars from several blocks away*
Her last line is spoken through a megaphone.
*phone rings*
*it’s Sarah*
I’d definitely say there is new ground to be explored with these two if it comes to that, but also I’ve learned not to jump the gun on assuming Jacob is being set up for a relationship with [x] character.
Honestly not sure if this relationship was really explored that much. It was near the end of the comic and more in the background then the forefront. Plus both Lucy and Jacob are VERY different then how they were in shortpacked. Lucy didn’t really have an extreme doormat there and Jacob doesn’t have any addictions here.
What did Lucy have in Short packed?
She was the successor of the mantle of Amazi-Girl.
I’d honestly forgotten about that.
Well I just went back to check tags and I think Jacob and Lucy had a nice friendship at least. I had forgotten that Lucy and
RyuKen had gotten together.They had a nice friendship but it was really not explored very much. They only appeared in what, a couple dozen strips together at most, and most of those were pretty gag-heavy. They only had a couple meaningful conversations, focused almost exclusively around the lack of representation in the comics industry. There’s hardly any ground between them *to* rehash and I think what we’ve seen between them here isn’t even doing that
….wait thats right they did date in shortpacked
I completely forgot about that
Ever wish you could delete your own comment because you didn’t fact check
There’s a number of features of social media/forums that this place lacks and sometimes I wish they were here and other times I appreciate they do not.
*are not.
See? An edit feature would be nice.
I didnt know they were both taking “Organic Chemistry”
I’ve got absolutely nothing to top this, damn.
Pika? Organic chemistry? I don’t get it.
It is a great pun on the two of them having “natural chemistry.” Technically, organic chemistry deals with any compound with hydron carbon and/or carbon-carbon bonds even synthetic ones, but punmenship takes priority in my books.
Si, makes more sense if you a carbon-based lifeform i guess LOL
Well, now I have to wonder what elements your people are based on
I wonder if it’ll ever be a problem that people don’t know how to write “yes” properly in Spanish.
I have yet to set that up since I upgraded my OS earlier this year.
Add the ‘ to everyone’s i key if it bugs you so much.
When two people get along they’re said to have “chemistry” together. If it occurs upon first meeting then it’s natural or “organic.”
it’s a play on words, though not actually a pun, about how they are both embodied in organic form, and Jacob is experiencing shifts in his bodily and mental chemistry which he was not expecting.
plus he has a new friend now, and she seems fren-shaped
oh, and Organic Chemistry is the branch of chemistry dealing with molecules that contain at least one carbon atom. Inorganic Chemistry is the branch dealing with molecules that contain no (0) such atoms. This may seem imbalanced, and it is; there are FAR more carbon-containing molecules than all the rest put together. It is also a class taken in sophomore or junior year in college, a lot of the time by pre-meds.
this has been a –Dave Mansplains Minute
There are a few carbon-containing molecules that count as inorganic, e.g. all the carbon oxides.
Beautiful. I want you to know you’ve made the world a better place with that comment.
Let’s hope that it ends better than taking actual organic chemistry.
If it wasn’t for carbon, Sarah wouldn’t date at all.
Well, well. Lucy is not interested in this gentleman. Perhaps she feels Sarah has dibs.
It could also be, and I’m just spitballing here, that she is barely 24 hours out of her previous relationship.
That’s preposterous. They were in the same panel together, that means it’s destiny for them to fuck each other in the mouth.
You make a good argument.
More importantly, she learned something about herself coming off that relationship.
Ehhh the whole “I need more self-respect” response is kind of a cop-out of self-reflection. It is like saying “My only fault was that I didn’t think I’m great enough”.
People should love themselves, but Lucy is missing most of her own failures in that relationship.
– Unrealistic expectations for pace/intimacy. You can’t start off in “I will marry you” from day 1.
– Not listening to Walky but instead projecting her own fantasies
I’m just annoyed how fast she just fizzled out on Walky. It just seems an unhealthy jump to the opposite extreme.
She liked the chase more than she liked the catch, I suppose.
I agree broadly that it’s an overused trope, but in this specific case Lucy absolutely DID need to get more self-respect. She allowed Wally’s garbage parents to drag her down and beg for their approval, and she followed Wally around like a lovesick puppy for months just *hoping* he’d ask her out.
Lucy’s lack of self respect damaged the chances of their relationship, in addition to the two other failings you listed (and which I could make a strong argument are also symptoms of low self respect).
I think she earnestly wants to feel comfortable being alone. She’s been alone and lonely before. If she’s taking time to think about how things should have gone differently with Walky, then all the better.
It’s hard to read Jacob’s face here, because the one eyebrow effect isn’t working for him in this strip (sorry), but I think he’s intrigued. I think he’s trying to make friends as much as find a romantic partner.
I said before they’d make a nice couple, but I’m rethinking that. Lucy’s still generally horny. Jacob would be like 1000 times more likely than Walky to just tell her he wants to take it slow, and that might be a deal breaker for her.
Seconded, I’m a bit impressed with Lucy’s fast growth here. I’m not sure if she’s intentionally poking Sarah or genuinely trying to win her over by sheer stubborness.
And if she’s genuine about needing time to be her own friend, more props to her
Lucy did make a point of saying she’s going alone; he probably took that as a setup to ask to join her. That she declined his offer probably isn’t what he was expecting. Given how uncomfortable he is with being objectified, I reckon he finds it refreshing to talk to someone who isn’t embarrassingly thirsty for him (at least not outwardly). It was a peculiar interaction, but not a negative one.
That first panel reminds me of pre-Toedad Joyce for some reason. You guys see it right?
…not until you said it but then I absolutely did. Yeah. Joyce has a very similar expression and I can see it but not where it was.
It isn’t just you. Lucy, on meeting Joyce, accidentally made Joyce think she was mocking her because the two just had that much in common.
They’ve moved apart, but there is serious overlap.
This makes that Linda is a racist shit all the more damning. She would love Joyce.
Yes, but not Black
DebbieJoyce.also, Joyce as Walky’s girlfriend? that’s just weird, man.
Can you imagine?
Ewww. Serious ick!
Oh would ya look at that, it’s the reason I heavily side eye Lucy’s most dedicated haters!
Every so often one of them blows a dogwhistle SUPER hard and it’s really awkward.
And just like that, he’s shot down forever, with no hope of further connection.
The rest of this whole chapter is going to be Jacob striking out.
That would be so funny, not gonna lie.
Hmmmmm, on the surface a true statement, but one wonders if she actually believes it or is trying to make herself believe it. One must also wonder if this is somewhat a learned pattern from her roommate.
Does more than one wonder this?
Which statement exactly?
“I’m going by myself and that’s fine, actually.”
Yeah, it’s not something you just suddenly change overnight, well usually. So it’s probably to reinforce it in her mind because she wants to be the kind of person able to do things on her own.
It’s a good start for personal growth.
Fake it ’til you make it is a solid strategy for personal growth
It feels like she’s trying to prove a point. Mayhaps making an effort to leave behind her old ways of acting desperate for friends?
I don’t know, but from the way she is expressing herself, it seems that she is reinforcing that way of looking for friends.
Yeah, it just reads to me as trying to make that point to herself more than anyone else.
Could be.
I mean, once she got that hit of reality, she must have said to herself “alright, we’ll use option two.”
And that option is to imitate Jennifer, because it seems that she is still on a pedestal.
And if it doesn’t work either……Raidah could be option three (Yes, many have already differed on that, but we are talking about Lucy and her innocent way of taking as an example…..certain people)
It is healthy to know how to do things by yourself, and yes that means trying out new things and that can be a bit scary, but once you’ve figured out how to have fun alone you will have a much easier time convincing friends to join you. Because you can make plans without making others feel pressured, and your plans won’t depend on others, so you will be executing more of your plans. This makes you more relaxed and it means you have more interesting stories to tell, simply because you’re doing more stuff. It also helps you figure out what it is you really like, which can be hard to figure out for a highly social person like Lucy, because she would normally adapt what she likes to the group.
The first part of making something true is convincing yourself. Even if she doesn’t believe it right now she is taking steps to make it real.
This one wonders also.
I love the implication that Sarah just couldn’t actually continue running, she is unable to excise herself from this conversation.
Also, I like Jacob. Just, general observation.
headcanon: Lucy has verbal tentacles, the better to beFriend you with
–Dave, things are getting more Juicy
out of breath, and she keeps using it up by yelling.
I was thinking the same thing! About Sarah, anyway. I’m picturing her running straight past Lucy and top speed, then skidding to a halt as soon as she realizes that Lucy is talking to Jacob, and bending down in a completely unconvincing attempt to pretend she’s just tying her shoe for this entire conversation.
Yeah, pretty much, or like she’s winded despite it being like 20-30 feet tops.
~350 feet. Sarah crossed paths with Lucy around the intersection of E Third St and S Ballantine Rd.
Two thoughts.
1. When Jacob said that when he was looking for a partner now they would probably be very similar to Joyce, Lucy does kind of tick a lot of the relevant boxes doesn’t she? Huh.
2. Lucy appears to have gone a direction of very healthy behavior which she is expressing in ways that I personally would find annoying to be around. It is frustrating looking at her doing this thing and going oh. Yeah, this is uncontroversial good and healthy and reasonable. And you probably are being a reasonably good friend to Sarah. And also my hackles would be raised as fuck by someone saying they were everyone’s friend and expressing this idea in this way instead of just saying “no I want some time for myself.” But I think she’s trying out something that’s good for her and I hope it goes well.
From the first point, I think she doesn’t even do it with that intention, but having so much resemblance to Joyce, I think that caught Jason’s attention, just look at the body language in panel two.
From the second point,
Yes, that way of expressing herself sounds too boastful and the fact that she claims to be friends even with herself….something tells me that this could have repercussions in the future in a not positive way.
I believe she should act even more boastful. She should claim to be friends with every single living thing in the universe.
If she doesn’t abuse it and corrupt her, it could be
Are you doing a bit? Asking because I can’t tell when someone is trying to be funny from when they are serious most of the time over text.
Oh….I was serious, although looking at my comment, it seems like I’m trying to sound funny, believe me, when I try to be, it doesn’t come out very well.
Yeah, describing it as her “being corrupted” sounds just a tad too ridiculous to take seriously, no offense.
Don´t worry
Give her time. It’s been like, a day. I’m sure once she’s done pushing herself in this healthier direction she’ll settle for something more balanced.
“Lucy appears to have gone a direction of very healthy behavior which she is expressing in ways that I personally would find annoying to be around.”
Yep! But TBF I would find Lucy intolerable, and she’s a perfectly fine human – just not my kind of human.
I’m glad I’m not the only one finding the way she’s expressing herself here somewhat bothersome.
The perspective is fine.
The expression rubs me the wrong way.
Is it because people don’t normally talk like that?
Is she trying too hard to manifest it into being?
It’s not like there’s more people unfriendly to her than are friendly to her.
Other than Sarah, Jennifer, and Linda, everyone likes her to one degree or another (Raidah probably doesn’t, but she doesn’t know that and we technically don’t either).
Maybe she looked at herself through new eyes and didn’t like what she saw.
And Malaya.
I was struggling to remember if and how Malaya and Lucy had ever interacted, and I was going to look it up, and then I thought “Does it matter? Even if they’ve never met, that’s probably true, as long as Malaya is vaguely aware of her existence.”
So then I looked it up anyway and “Oh, right, they were roommates, I’d completely forgotten about that” and also “Seriously, Malaya?” (Also, it turns out Marcie doesn’t like her either, but probably just because Malaya doesn’t.)
She is imitating Jennifer here, that’s why it’s so annoying.
Going to a meal by myself to someplace new to me and being happy to do so is one of the few social graces I’ve mastered.
Or is that an anti-social grace?
*asocial
given there is nothing about that that’s intrinsically against the concept of social order
As long as the new place isn’t a cannibal restaurant that serves politicians.
“But I dont wanna eat politician!”
Serves politicians as the customers or as the food?
Hopefully not as food. You don’t know where it’s been. :/
I have always found having a meal in a restaurant by yourself easier than doing something like watching a movie in the movie theater, going to an amusement park or playing miniature golf by yourself. I guess it depends on what you consider to be a “group” event or not.
That latter. I’ve been assured that going to restaurants and movies alone is one of those things that makes you a Horrible Person. Along with punctuating text messages and putting on you socks wrong.
That doesn’t make any sense at all.
Exactly!
The people you know sound really needlessly prescriptive of behavior that has nothing to do with them.
I dread to think what could possibly qualify as putting your socks “wrong”.
It is about if you put on the second sock before putting on the first shoe. Sorry, I never remember which way is the one decent people use and which is the sinister rot destroying society.
Who’s staring at people’s feet enough to even notice that? Pretty sure that makes someone a pervert.
I’m pretty sure caring that much about how someone else does it makes them the weirdos here. Who cares how you get dressed??
wow wow wow she rejected an occasion to have lunch with hunk Jacob.
…I guess she’s still hurt over walky after all
she totally is expecting him to follow her there helplessly
–Dave, it’s not like ANY of these folks, except of course Carla, have an auto of their own yet
Sarah trailing, also helplessly, at a varying distance
I don’t know where you’re getting that. She said no thank you to his offer. Said bye. Said she’d tell him how it went.
I’m banking on – she really is just trying to have lunch alone.
Not having a car hasn’t prevented them from getting around just fine. It’s been established there are buses and things might even be in walking distance.
And I see absolutely no signal that she’s expecting him to follow her. She explicitly turned down his offer.
“There are buses and things might even be in walking distance.”
I thought this was set in America, where that kind of thing is recognised as socialism.
(Like the British right isn’t just as weird about the “fifteen-minute city” thing…)
Colleges (and to an extent the cities around them) are one of the few places most Americans have ever lived in a walkable environment.
Bloomington does have a public transit system, and IU has its own shuttle service (because forget parking, you can’t even find a place to drive sometimes).
Aw I’m glad you’re still doing the signature parting-shot bit, I missed it
She met the guy 10 seconds ago????
My first thought yesterday was “oh no” but I actually wonder if Lucy might pick up on Sarah’s obvious crush and try to help her get together with Jacob. She seems like the type who would love matchmaking and it might actually lead to a real friendship between her and Sarah
the thing is, Jacob is a lot more interested in Lucy than in Sarah lol
Update on my current situation:
I finally got a real human to respond to my Discord Help ticket.
With all the information I’ve given them, including screenshots, phone-number, account IDs, etc, they are currently investigating further.
Really hoping I can get my account back
Fingers crossed.
I hope you can.
Good luck homie, sorry I forgot to check back and respond yesterday
Fingers crossed for you. And demons wave to this hacker!
I’m just curious what the restaurant is.
We find out in the next update and it’s like, Olive Garden. Or maybe chick-fil-A
Nah, not something they’d have reason to avoid. Maybe extremely spicy food or they have something on the menu that makes some people go “ew” but is surprisingly tasty.
So like, the opposite of the bigot chicken place.
I hope it’s Pluto 9571. Walky probably would have gone there, but nobody else would.
Out of the real restaurants west of campus, almost none of them are something that nobody she knows would want to go to, in particular. Like maybe everyone she knows just doesn’t feel like going that far away, or at least that far away with her.
Except the vegetarian restaurant; non-vegetarians can get really weird about vegetarian food.
So Pluto 9571 is looking good.
That actually tracks with Walky eating what could have been a salad.
or a strip club
“I am everybody’s friend, including my own” is surprisingly profound.
Lucy is trying out that trendy “self-confidence” thing. It look really good on her.
Lucy is doing ok!
I like that for her. But I also hope she informs Walky how she’s feeling about him at the next available opportunity, even if all she has to say is that she’s not certain where they stand or something.
Letting him hang out to dry for an extended period would be a little unkind.
I still think “I will see you in class” was meant as a breakup.
You can think that all you want, but Walky isn’t sure, and that’s really what matters here. Clarity in relationship status is important, and if that was meant as a breakup without any further clarification that’s pretty uncool of Lucy.
I’m trying it too. Kinda solitary, but it’s worth it.
I’m down with this version of Lucy. She’s a little smug about it but i think she’s doing something that will ultimately be good for her
As long as you don’t abuse it and don’t allow yourself to be corrupted, it may work.
***As long as she doesn’t abuse it and doesn’t let herself be corrupted, it might work.
The smuggness indicates a self-awareness of the change that she’s going through, and that self-awareness is a good thing.
I’m guessing the actual smugness will fade as she gets used to it.
SARAH REJECTS YOUR SOCIALIZATION.
Eyup, he’s interested
Lucy with the skill play to leave a little wanting. I love this. Get it girl
I like this more being her genuinely wanting to try out doing things for and by herself. I don’t think getting on with Jacob even crossed her mind.
This. People are really sure that Lucy can’t possibly want to be alone for an hour or two.
And part of her realization in the Walky thing was her figuring out that she needs to be her own friend and not just people-please all the time or put up with things. So this is her putting that into action, and I like it.
Yeah she’s absolutely just working on her confidence and getting comfortable with her own company. It’s just a side bonus that that’s attractive to jacob
Well, part of that is that before now, she hasn’t seemed to want to be. She’s always been really keen, and concerned with becoming popular. Seeing this aspect of Lucy is new- but not bad! Just new. That’s nice. I like that we can see Lucy growing as a person and learning about what she likes/values, and not just going along to get along.
Right, but I don’t know why some of the commenters seem to think Lucy’s new willingness to be alone has to be a tactic to get a BOY instead of like… character growth? It was just weird to me.
Incredible hearing? Is Sarah a Bionic Woman?
Maybe she doesn’t use earbuds.
I’m so happy for Lucy
All aboard the SS “Jacucy” ship!
Sigh. I am 0% interested in this ship, but it’s reasonable. As someone said yesterday: it’s just *boring*. Haha. (Not that I want Jacob/Sarah because WTAF Sarah?)
to be fair, Sarah doesn’t want Jacob/Sarah either, or at least is trying to prevent it
Yeah, I kind of feel like once Lucy and Jacob get together, they’ll be largely relegated to background characters with the occasional “Yes, this is still going fine. It’s … nice. Anyway, back to things that are actually happening.”
That’s kind of the problem with them as a pair. They’ve both been side characters, really only relevant as they interact with the main cast. Put them together and we’re not likely to see much of their interaction.
I can’t help but read Lucy’s dialogue as a bizarre double entendre. My guess is she’s having lunch at the Y.
sarah stop listening
I wonder if Lucy will see anyone she knows at this place.
If she does, my money would be on Raidah.
Speaking of Raidah, how will she react to the situation of Walky and Lucy?
She was already interested in Walky(‘s looks) when he and Lucy were good.
Will she pour on her version of charm when she finds out they’re not so good anymore?
Probably not, but I do wonder.
I don’t recognize where Dorothy and Walky are eating and narrative law says there’s a 69% chance it’s the place Lucy’s been eyeballing.
In my headcanon Sarah kept running and is just yelling at increasingly loud volumes, she is now about as loud as a plane engine.
Ha, ha, very amusing!
Honestly if I could be as confident in doing things in public alone as Lucy is here, my school experience would’ve been a lot better.
Honestly good for her. Genuinely good f’ Lucy.
Floozy
Oh Lucy’s sooo stealing him, you go girl, get you someone normal, Walky needs someone that can control his stupidity like Dotty anyway.
I mean, stealing him from who? The girl who literally runs away from having a freaking conversation with him? That’s like “stealing” a book you find on the pavement, showing every sign of having been hurled there with force, with a post-it saying “I JUST CAN’T READ THIS” on the cover.
Ooh, she ain’t touching Sarahs’ king
Not Sarah’s King, but Sarah’s unclaimed territory. Sarah’s undiscovered country. Sarah’s moonbase that she ain’t firing rockets at because she didn’t even start building at Cape Canaveral.o
Jacob’s radar went way up when she said she was fine with her own company. Lucy is a lot like Joyce… minus some stuff.
Why didn’t Sarah keep running?
She did, she is just using progressively bigger megaphones to voice her opinions.
There was another human to talk to the human, takes off a lot of pressure
Runner’s stitch.
the distance from where she started running to the right edge of today’s panels is about 350 feet / 100 meters, and no indication in the strips that she runs (or exercises) regularly.
Nice to see Lucy start prioritizing herself a little over others
I love Lucy. I fucking love Lucy. Call me a 1950s American sitcom bc I Love Lucy.
She’s girlbossing. She’s slay queening. She’s making a giant sculpted of bronze take interest in her without even realizing it. This is real hot girl shit. Bad bongo shit. Werk.
I just wanted you to know this made me giggle.
That made me smile
You’re so right for this
I got an honest chuckle out of Sarah’s response in the last panel!
The Jucy ship is ready to set sail. All’s aboard that’s come’n aboard.
Proud of Lucy :,)
Aaaaaand that seals the deal that Lucy and Jacob are going to get together.
Go Lucy! That’s the kind of empowerment I like to see.
But she is apart from it?
The danger seems to have been averted, Lucy has no interest in playing matchmaker for Sarah and Jacob and he seems to have had a very positive impression of Lucy. He seems to be interested in her at least as a friend, but probably even for more. Let’s see how he’ll continue his chat with Sarah, but the possibility that she may become jealous of Lucy and Jacob in the future are stronger.
I’m imagining Lucy staying a part of Joyce’s friend group AND dating Jacob and wow Sarah’s eyes keep flashing like Electric Soldier Porygon.
Lucy grown a little and I’m happy for her.
There’s hope to “try-harders”.
Aww yes, self care!!! <3