Dumbing of Age Book Twelve

Dumbing of Age

A college webcomic by David Willis
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awful lot of two-word strips these days, guess i ran out of single words i use
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May 12, 2026

Splitting off

by David M Willis on December 2, 2022 at 12:01 am
  • 02 – Turning Saints Into the Sea
└ Tags: becky, dorothy, joe, joyce, lucy, sal, walky

Discussion (146) ¬

[ Comments RSS ]
  1. Ana Chronistic
    Ana Chronistic
    December 2, 2022 at 12:01 am | #

    “Joyce knows people who aren’t girls, Walky, or Booster?”

    • darkoneko
      darkoneko
      December 2, 2022 at 12:10 am | #

      Jakob ?

    • Yotomoe
      Yotomoe
      December 2, 2022 at 12:32 am | #

      Technically Joyce said ‘im meaning she wouldn’t be talking about Booster. Then again that sounds similar enough to ’em that it might be negligible when spoken aloud.

      • Uly
        Uly
        December 2, 2022 at 12:51 am | #

        In dialects with the pin/pen merger, ‘im and ’em are, in fact, perfect homophones.

        • Yotomoe
          Yotomoe
          December 2, 2022 at 1:16 am | #

          Don’t I know it. (I’m southern)

          • Cholma
            Cholma
            December 2, 2022 at 1:37 am | #

            Southern USA? Huh. For some reason I’ve always thought you were in Spain.

            • Dana
              Dana
              December 2, 2022 at 1:47 am | #

              I was going with California, based on exactly nothing.

              • Yotomoe
                Yotomoe
                December 2, 2022 at 9:47 am | #

                You’re half right. I was born there.

        • StoneyB
          StoneyB
          December 2, 2022 at 7:56 pm | #

          Not in unstressed contexts such as this. Them reduces, but him does not (I’m Southern, too).

          • Uly
            Uly
            December 2, 2022 at 9:54 pm | #

            I don’t know what to tell you, but I have the pen/pin merger, and for me it’s the same in all contexts and has nothing to do with vowel reduction of unstressed syllables.

        • TCS
          TCS
          December 2, 2022 at 11:24 pm | #

          Interestingly, pin and pen sound the same for me, but ‘im and ’em are distinct! (“im” rhymes with “him,” but “em” sounds like “um”)

          • TCS
            TCS
            December 2, 2022 at 11:24 pm | #

            (them and him do rhyme, though)

      • Yumi
        Yumi
        December 2, 2022 at 6:14 am | #

        Yes, I believe that was Ana’s point. That “him” would not be referring to a girl or Booster or, in this case, Walky, since he just left. Well then, Ana pretends Dorothy is wondering, who else does Joyce even know that would be joining us?

        • Nono
          Nono
          December 2, 2022 at 2:03 pm | #

          Ethan?

          • Yumi
            Yumi
            December 2, 2022 at 3:37 pm | #

            I mean, have you seen Ethan lately?

            • Nono
              Nono
              December 2, 2022 at 4:38 pm | #

              Man’s gotta eat at some point.

    • Tan
      Tan
      December 2, 2022 at 2:55 am | #

      Well Walky is leaving in panel 1 so clearly not him. Joyce was on good terms with Ethan pre-timeskip, though they have not been shown together since, and post-timeskip Ethan is…. *waves hand vaguely*

  2. Doctor_Who
    Doctor_Who
    December 2, 2022 at 12:02 am | #

    Joyce: “You suitors you may now battle for my hand. Make it amusing, I grow weary.”

    • Thag Simmons
      Thag Simmons
      December 2, 2022 at 12:02 am | #

      You think she’d prefer pistols, sabres or a joust?

      • Doctor_Who
        Doctor_Who
        December 2, 2022 at 12:06 am | #

        Haven’t you heard? Joyce can handle being around naked people now.

        Greek wrestling it is.

        • Thag Simmons
          Thag Simmons
          December 2, 2022 at 12:07 am | #

          Bah! Boring, not enough blood

          • Nova
            Nova
            December 2, 2022 at 12:35 am | #

            Naked MMA it is.

            • Wizard
              Wizard
              December 2, 2022 at 1:03 am | #

              Pankration! Basically bronze age MMA. Actually choking your opponent to death was an automatic DQ, so it was possible for a dead guy to win a match.

              • ValdVin
                ValdVin
                December 2, 2022 at 7:22 am | #

                So two dead guys can advance to the next round and be scheduled against each other?

                That’ll mess up a lot of brackets

      • Taffy
        Taffy
        December 2, 2022 at 12:08 am | #

        If it’s pistols, Joe’s fuckin’ toast. I don’t know why, but I feel like Dorothy is a crack shot with a flintlock. Sabres, I think Joe takes it just from reach alone, plus his much higher swing strength. Jousting, I feel like could go either way, since Joe’s a huge target but Dorothy feels more likely to be precise.

      • Freezer
        Freezer
        December 2, 2022 at 8:24 am | #

        This is AMERICA! Bare knuckle boxing, of course!

        • thejeff
          thejeff
          December 2, 2022 at 2:14 pm | #

          Sledgehammers in 5 feet of water.

          • Taffy
            Taffy
            December 2, 2022 at 8:34 pm | #

            Dorothy is canonically 4’3″, so that’s a little unfair.

            • David M Willis
              David M Willis
              December 2, 2022 at 9:27 pm | #

              5’4″!

              • The Wellerman
                The Wellerman
                December 2, 2022 at 10:49 pm | #

                You have GOT to list all the characters’ heights somewhere!

              • Thag Simmons
                Thag Simmons
                December 3, 2022 at 12:01 am | #

                Eh, it’s only a 1′ margin of error.

    • bagge
      bagge
      December 2, 2022 at 12:05 am | #

      Becky and Dorothy are already doing that.

    • Sirksome
      Sirksome
      December 2, 2022 at 12:06 am | #

      Hmmm. I wonder who clears? Joe and Dorothy rank pretty close in the DoA power rankings.

    • Yotomoe
      Yotomoe
      December 2, 2022 at 12:32 am | #

      I just got a mental image of Joe Powerbombing Dorothy.

    • Slartibeast Button, BIA
      Slartibeast Button, BIA
      December 2, 2022 at 1:30 am | #

      In this webcomic, surely duels would be insult contests.

      • StClair
        StClair
        December 2, 2022 at 1:41 pm | #

        “How appropriate, you fight like a cow.”

        • Needfuldoer
          Needfuldoer
          December 2, 2022 at 2:44 pm | #

          Pretend this comment is an upvote for the reference.

    • Tawdry Quirks
      Tawdry Quirks
      December 2, 2022 at 2:05 am | #

      My vote is for fighter jets for the duel.

  3. Sirksome
    Sirksome
    December 2, 2022 at 12:02 am | #

    Wait, how high is Joe’s stealth stat?

    • Thag Simmons
      Thag Simmons
      December 2, 2022 at 12:03 am | #

      Low but he probably got a critical success

    • Reltzik
      Reltzik
      December 2, 2022 at 12:06 am | #

      Circumstance bonus for dramatic reveal.

    • Doctor_Who
      Doctor_Who
      December 2, 2022 at 12:08 am | #

      He gets a -2 for being Large, but his class most likely is Rogue, so it’s a class skill.

      • Sirksome
        Sirksome
        December 2, 2022 at 12:30 am | #

        We don’t know a lot of Joe’s history. He’s seems to have taken the physical fitness trait at an early age. Maybe that has some minor stealth benefits. I kinda assumed he was a Fuckboi which is a bit of warlock class, but it’s unclear. Especially since he’s been showing signs of trying to change lately.

        • Leorale
          Leorale
          December 2, 2022 at 1:04 am | #

          Trying to change = Multiclassing.
          It hasn’t come up in the campaign previously, but actually he’s had level 1 Rogue since he grew out his stubble.

          • Leorale
            Leorale
            December 2, 2022 at 1:13 am | #

            Ok I haven’t played in a while, but let’s try this anyway…
            Danny’s clearly the Bard. Joyce is a Paladin (hope that doesn’t mean she gets penalties for losing her god). Dina’s a Wizard (one she learned that this involves research, not superstition). Mike was obviously a Warlock. Sierra’s a Druid, Carla’s an Artificer.
            …Yep, this all checks out.

            • Inbar Fink
              Inbar Fink
              December 2, 2022 at 8:24 pm | #

              I think you can make the argument for Dina as a Druid. Her field of research is focused on the natural world, and turning into Dinosaurs is the high-level Druid’s speciality!

              • Leorale
                Leorale
                December 3, 2022 at 1:03 am | #

                Excellent point, Druid Dina happily accepted.

      • Thag Simmons
        Thag Simmons
        December 2, 2022 at 2:45 am | #

        Joe is absolutely not a Rogue. He’d be one of the martial classes, probably fighter or maybe a paladin

      • Psi Baka Onna
        Psi Baka Onna
        December 2, 2022 at 12:53 pm | #

        With Joe’s charisma stat? I would have pegged him as the party’s bard. Probably a College of Eloquence subclass with expertise in animal handling.

        Because something something sex pun.

        • Leorale
          Leorale
          December 2, 2022 at 4:05 pm | #

          Joe isn’t the party Bard — that’s Danny, subclass Ukulele Hipster.

          Joe’s charisma is OK. He puts effort into looking jacked and rugged and all, but people are mainly annoyed by his pickup lines.

          I could see Joe as a Fighter. Fighters are all about the equipment, and Joe knows how to use every machine in the workout room.
          Good Dexterity, too, for acing his first attempt at drawing Joyce… and because something something sex pun.

    • foamy
      foamy
      December 2, 2022 at 1:21 am | #

      Joyce’s been teaching him teleportation.

      • StClair
        StClair
        December 2, 2022 at 1:41 pm | #

        I had the same thought.

  4. Cmasta1992
    Cmasta1992
    December 2, 2022 at 12:03 am | #

    Oooh dunno if Dorothy’s ego can handle this

  5. Nova
    Nova
    December 2, 2022 at 12:03 am | #

    AWWW send help, Joyce invited Joe to come walk with her and Dorothyyy.

  6. anonymsly
    anonymsly
    December 2, 2022 at 12:03 am | #

    Awwww! Joyce invited Joe to lunch! (I assume!) Look how happy he looks! Look at that smile!

    • Rose by Any Other Name
      Rose by Any Other Name
      December 2, 2022 at 12:09 am | #

      **emits a joyful SQUEE that increases in pitch slowly until it becomes inaudible to humans**

      • The Wellerman
        The Wellerman
        December 2, 2022 at 12:25 am | #

        Basically me right now too 😂😂😂 —

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9FFfuqMWnw

    • Amós Batista
      Amós Batista
      December 2, 2022 at 4:37 am | #

      But, isn’t the main idea only Joe and Joyce go lunch alone?

    • Cerusee
      Cerusee
      December 2, 2022 at 9:02 am | #

      He’s happy to be around her! She’s happy he’s around her! It’s a perfect match!

      • Sarah Lea
        Sarah Lea
        December 2, 2022 at 12:38 pm | #

        Can I just note how much I love how SUBTLE and QUIET Joyce’s happiness is here? Compare to how manic and almost performative her happiness at “dating” Joe last time, or even Ethan, was before. This isn’t “Yay!!!1! I have a BOYFRIEND!” This is the rare contentedness of finding mutual joy in another’s companionship. It’s…just…

        *Quiet, blissful squeeeeeeeee*

        • Cerusee
          Cerusee
          December 2, 2022 at 9:15 pm | #

          Yes! This is different, for Joyce! With Joe (first era) and Ethan, it really was about Finding A Man (and Jacob was [I could write for days but teal deer It Awww Complicated]). This time, with Joe, this is…they’ve been building feelings quietly for several months, and it’s mutual, and Joe actually, and finally, has made himself vulnerable to her to let her know how much he cares about her? They both know they like each other’s company! They wanna spend time together? SQUEE.

  7. thakoru
    thakoru
    December 2, 2022 at 12:04 am | #

    I’m imagining that last panel with, like, a horror movie sting, maybe some ominous JJBA doom text floating around.

    • Paradox
      Paradox
      December 2, 2022 at 11:43 am | #

      Yeah, take away the context, and that last panel looks like the opening scene to a Law & Order: SVU episode

  8. bagge
    bagge
    December 2, 2022 at 12:05 am | #

    She’s already taking her boyfriend to meet her mom, huh?

    • True Survivor
      True Survivor
      December 2, 2022 at 12:13 am | #

      This made me smile, thank you.

      • StClair
        StClair
        December 2, 2022 at 12:43 am | #

        Made me laugh. Thanks also.

    • Tan
      Tan
      December 2, 2022 at 5:53 am | #

      Delightful comment, would read again

      • bagge
        bagge
        December 2, 2022 at 11:36 am | #

        Delightful answers, all of you. Thanks so much! 🙂

    • Barf Ninjason
      Barf Ninjason
      December 2, 2022 at 10:03 am | #

      Dammit, I came here to say that

      • bagge
        bagge
        December 2, 2022 at 11:37 am | #

        It bears repeating

    • Kyrik Michalowski
      Kyrik Michalowski
      December 2, 2022 at 5:48 pm | #

      I couldn’t stop laughing at your comment for like 5 minutes. Now it makes me giggle when I say it out loud. Thank you

  9. Reltzik
    Reltzik
    December 2, 2022 at 12:05 am | #

    Dorothy was never overly fond of Joe. I don’t think she ever missed him.

    • anonymsly
      anonymsly
      December 2, 2022 at 12:57 am | #

      I think she’s low level friendly with him – he’s the lifetime bff of a dude she dated for years. She’s generally at least tolerant, even if she never seeks out his company.

  10. Stephen Bierce
    Stephen Bierce
    December 2, 2022 at 12:07 am | #

    The Rain is ‘Tess’, the Fire is ‘Joe’…and They Call The Wind ‘Mariah’…

    • Mano308gts
      Mano308gts
      December 2, 2022 at 12:11 am | #

      Now that’s a good song.

      You listen to the Kingston Trio version of it, or some newer version?

      • Stephen Bierce
        Stephen Bierce
        December 2, 2022 at 2:04 pm | #

        My Dad was a Marine and he served in Korea. They sang it over there.

  11. Nono
    Nono
    December 2, 2022 at 12:09 am | #

    I can’t tell if the lack of smile on Dorothy’s face when she said ‘oh so it’s just us two today huh’ means she’s still mad about yesterday or not.

    • poofdepoof
      poofdepoof
      December 2, 2022 at 12:26 am | #

      Oh interesting

    • Turniphead
      Turniphead
      December 2, 2022 at 7:56 am | #

      Good point; she’s not smiling in any panel where she’s alone with Joyce- only the one where she’s saying so-long to the others. Maybe the realization of having bitten off more than she wants to chew with Joyce has kicked in.

  12. darkoneko
    darkoneko
    December 2, 2022 at 12:09 am | #

    The sheer power of belief made him materialize behind them

  13. BBCC
    BBCC
    December 2, 2022 at 12:12 am | #

    *delighted cackle* Oh god, yes, please, tell her!

  14. RacingTurtle
    RacingTurtle
    December 2, 2022 at 12:12 am | #

    Aww, he’s so happy to be here!

    • RacingTurtle
      RacingTurtle
      December 2, 2022 at 12:17 am | #

      Huh, Dorothy has no idea about Joyce and Joe’s low-level ongoing friendship, let alone anything else, if I recall correctly

    • Puppeteer Nessus
      Puppeteer Nessus
      December 2, 2022 at 1:09 am | #

      His expression is GREAT

  15. Audkitten
    Audkitten
    December 2, 2022 at 12:16 am | #

    This is cute. Thank you 🙂

  16. DailyBrad
    DailyBrad
    December 2, 2022 at 12:17 am | #

    This is going to be interesting.

  17. Caro
    Caro
    December 2, 2022 at 12:17 am | #

    this isn’t going to end well but i just love seeing joe and joyce happy about each other’s presence

  18. AbacusWizard
    AbacusWizard
    December 2, 2022 at 12:19 am | #

    panto audience: HEEE’S BEHIIIIIIIND YOOOOOOOOU

  19. True Survivor
    True Survivor
    December 2, 2022 at 12:21 am | #

    Is it just me or is it kind of jarring when the backgrounds disappear halfway through a strip and then reappear only to disappear again? They are very nice backgrounds, but I kind of wonder if it would be easier on the reader if once they disappeared they didn’t come back? What do you guys think? (I don’t really know, I’m not an art visual arts person.)

    • Axel
      Axel
      December 2, 2022 at 12:28 am | #

      I kind of like the transparent panels, and if the background is all the same (they’re moving in this one, but sometimes the characters are all just standing in a hallway or whatever) it breaks it up a bit.

      • huesatlight
        huesatlight
        December 2, 2022 at 12:55 am | #

        especially with a background as busy as this. The lamp looks like it would hit the speech bubbles odd too.

      • egg egg
        egg egg
        December 2, 2022 at 9:59 am | #

        I don’t think they’re actually walking, considering their legs are in the same pose in each panel.

    • Slartibeast Button, BIA
      Slartibeast Button, BIA
      December 2, 2022 at 1:37 am | #

      SPOCK: What my instruments read is totally unbelievable, Captain. Twice, for a split second each time, everything within range of our instruments seemed on the verge of winking out.

      • Needfuldoer
        Needfuldoer
        December 2, 2022 at 2:20 am | #

        Reverse polarity to the main deflector matrix or something, that should stabilize reality.

        • Mark
          Mark
          December 2, 2022 at 6:23 pm | #

          Try cross-circuiting to B.

    • Sam
      Sam
      December 2, 2022 at 4:16 am | #

      Personally, I like it. In my mind, it feels like it naturally pulls your focus along from panel to panel.

    • Airyu
      Airyu
      December 2, 2022 at 10:57 am | #

      It’s done in so many comics I don’t notice anymore, for emphasis and a little bit or breather room, but I can see how it might be distracting as well

    • Cerusee
      Cerusee
      December 2, 2022 at 9:07 pm | #

      Idk if it’s just you, but it doesn’t bother me at all. It’s like a visual punctuation mark to me, or a little palate cleanser for my optical cortex. It helps to break up the monotony of a repeated image, and make it fresh again? Like, uh, if you’re eating oatmeal, and you find a raisin or an almond in there.

  20. brionl
    brionl
    December 2, 2022 at 12:23 am | #

    Meiosis?

  21. poofdepoof
    poofdepoof
    December 2, 2022 at 12:25 am | #

    🥹

  22. Qube
    Qube
    December 2, 2022 at 12:42 am | #

    dang he steps lightly for such a big guy

  23. Jess
    Jess
    December 2, 2022 at 12:46 am | #

    You know. It occurs to me that Dorothy has known Joe for longer than the comic run. Since she dated Danny in highschool and Danny has known Joe since grade school.

  24. EpochFlame
    EpochFlame
    December 2, 2022 at 12:50 am | #

    dorothy’s reaction should be priceless

  25. Wereg
    Wereg
    December 2, 2022 at 12:58 am | #

    And back to my favourite scheduled program

  26. hazel
    hazel
    December 2, 2022 at 1:05 am | #

    I’m sure everyone is going to be normal about this development.

  27. Tim C.
    Tim C.
    December 2, 2022 at 1:21 am | #

    I love redemption arcs. Joe and Joyce would be a good thing at this point.

  28. Pan
    Pan
    December 2, 2022 at 1:29 am | #

    He’s right behind me, isn’t he?

  29. Dana
    Dana
    December 2, 2022 at 1:53 am | #

    Joyce officially has an ‘im.

  30. I Know Why the Mowed Lawn Screams
    I Know Why the Mowed Lawn Screams
    December 2, 2022 at 1:56 am | #

    y’know, considering that Dorothy has a little bit of shared history with both Joe and Danny, it’s gonna be fun seeing that factor in whatever shenanigans happen next. Would love to see Dotty bring up some horrible high school Joe lore (and vice-versa).

    • Needfuldoer
      Needfuldoer
      December 2, 2022 at 2:06 am | #

      Hopefully, she doesn’t spend the whole arc skeptical that he’s not High School Joe anymore.

  31. Needfuldoer
    Needfuldoer
    December 2, 2022 at 2:07 am | #

    Are Dorothy and Joyce going to address “yesterday’s” friction?

    https://www.dumbingofage.com/2022/comic/book-13/01-bring-me-to-life-drawing/disappear/

    • Amós Batista
      Amós Batista
      December 2, 2022 at 4:44 am | #

      She’s not look so happy when she figure out she’s alone with her. I believe Dorothy is, at least, discomforted.

    • Tan
      Tan
      December 2, 2022 at 4:55 am | #

      Considering that directly led to Joyce & Joe’s evening together, seems likely to come up shortly

  32. Rabisch
    Rabisch
    December 2, 2022 at 2:57 am | #

    I wonder if Dorothy will be happy, worried or jealous about this unexpected development. Good thing she’s the first to be informed.

  33. Megan Rivera
    Megan Rivera
    December 2, 2022 at 3:20 am | #

    Joe is officially bigger than Joyce and Dorothy put together.

  34. BlueHoundoom
    BlueHoundoom
    December 2, 2022 at 4:05 am | #

    Next Vol title: “Street Corners Ain’t Gonna Loiter Themselves.”

  35. Suet
    Suet
    December 2, 2022 at 4:07 am | #

    You really can’t miss ’em, anybody over 5’9″/175cm is a beacon.

    Jennifer “escaped”? Eeeeeeeelaborate

    • Sam
      Sam
      December 2, 2022 at 4:12 am | #

      Jennifer ran out the class at 20 mph to make sure no one could bother her, follow her or interact with her.

  36. Steelbright
    Steelbright
    December 2, 2022 at 4:38 am | #

    How is this so wholesome and so awkward at once

  37. Yakumo
    Yakumo
    December 2, 2022 at 4:38 am | #

    BRAHAM! Where Joe, ironically, had been the third wheel with Danny and Sal, now Dorothy is the third wheel with Joyce and Joe! Been planning this for literally years (like a number of things, but still)?

    • Yakumo
      Yakumo
      December 2, 2022 at 4:39 am | #

      Stupid autocorrect. Should have started BwaHA!

  38. Chris (The other one)
    Chris (The other one)
    December 2, 2022 at 5:42 am | #

    As a total non-sequitur to all of the emotional “crap” being dealt with better by everyone else… I must say that Joyce has a terrific sense of color coordination. That teal life puffy vest sets off very nicely against her salmon sweat suit. Or whatever colors they are supposed to be… obviously I’m no where near as color-knowledgeable.

    • Chris (The other one)
      Chris (The other one)
      December 2, 2022 at 5:43 am | #

      well crap, meant to strike out the word Life, but I’m obviously also code challenged.

    • Cerusee
      Cerusee
      December 2, 2022 at 9:02 pm | #

      Yeah! Joyce’s taste in clothing is pretty square, but she seems to have a good sense of color.

  39. Stephen Nedland
    Stephen Nedland
    December 2, 2022 at 7:32 am | #

    I am so here for a Joyce/Dorothy/Joe triad, as would Joe.

  40. George the Archon
    George the Archon
    December 2, 2022 at 8:10 am | #

    Re: hidden text. I guess this strip’s title could be hyphenated?

    • Amós Batista
      Amós Batista
      December 2, 2022 at 9:35 am | #

      I really can’t perceive any difference if it’s cooler to put hiffen or not.
      Also, about alt-text: Willis, what’s about a five-words-title?

      • George the Archon
        George the Archon
        December 2, 2022 at 11:41 am | #

        Wouldn’t be cooler – it would pass as one word though. 🙂

  41. BowlerHatGuy
    BowlerHatGuy
    December 2, 2022 at 8:32 am | #

    Wow. How did dorothy not hear the high pitch howl of a star trek teleporter at work? There is nothing stealthy about those things.

    Maybe shes distracted about how to tell her best friend shes leaving after this semester.

  42. Segnosaur
    Segnosaur
    December 2, 2022 at 9:24 am | #

    Joe and Joyce have been spending too much time together. He has absorbed her ability to magically teleport.

    • Mark
      Mark
      December 2, 2022 at 6:27 pm | #

      Maybe he’s been studying Dina, and was there all along.

  43. Hof1991
    Hof1991
    December 2, 2022 at 9:26 am | #

    Dorothy has known Joe for a decade or so. She’s no gonna go for the brand new version. He’s been a horndog so as long as she’s known him.

    • Fuzzy
      Fuzzy
      December 2, 2022 at 1:31 pm | #

      If she’s known him for a decade, he’d have been eight. Joe doesn’t strike me as the type to have always been a hornball, it seems like a thing he’d pick up as a teenager.

      • Needfuldoer
        Needfuldoer
        December 2, 2022 at 2:40 pm | #

        He’s probably been a hornball since the day he first noticed how pretty ladies are.

        Besides, he’s had a hornball example around his entire life. Even if Danny and Dorothy only started dating in high school, they’re from the same town. Assuming all three grew up there, they must have crossed paths in school before then.

        • Axel
          Axel
          December 2, 2022 at 5:18 pm | #

          I dunno, my town had at least 4 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 2 high schools. Tons of people I didn’t meet until high school, or even a couple years in (either because we never saw each other, or because they transferred in by moving or simply by changing high schools within the district)

    • Cerusee
      Cerusee
      December 2, 2022 at 9:01 pm | #

      I don’t think Dorothy would do that, but even if she did, I think she’d be pretty willing to listen to Joyce if Joyce was like “hold up, this is what I like about Joe”. Dorothy’s thing is not…pigeonholing people into boxes and refusing to accept the possibility of personal growth, y’know? I think she’s not having an easy time with Joyce this semester, but if Dorothy thought people were incapable of change or growth, she’d never have befriended an extreme teen Christian fundamentalist who held a number of moral values incompatible with Dorothy’s values in the first place.

  44. poyo
    poyo
    December 2, 2022 at 10:55 am | #

    GOD i want them to work out so BAD

  45. Airyu
    Airyu
    December 2, 2022 at 10:57 am | #

    Why is Becky talking to only Dorothy like Joyce can’t hear her?

    • Andrews
      Andrews
      December 2, 2022 at 12:21 pm | #

      Dorothy and Becky are stood next to each other in the preceding strip as everyone else comes out the building, so carrying on a conversation?

  46. BowlerHatGuy
    BowlerHatGuy
    December 2, 2022 at 12:01 pm | #

    Joe shouts “GOOD MORNING”

  47. Romanticide
    Romanticide
    December 2, 2022 at 3:29 pm | #

    Well this is going to be a surprise for Dorothy

  48. Axel
    Axel
    December 2, 2022 at 5:21 pm | #

    I’m concerned there’ll be a “you don’t have to have sex to prove you’re an atheist, Joyce! (especially because you’re not actually an atheist you’re just acting out)” from Dorothy in particular.

    • Axel
      Axel
      December 2, 2022 at 5:21 pm | #

      the bracketed part being several of her friends’s opinion, not mine

    • pope suburban
      pope suburban
      December 2, 2022 at 6:53 pm | #

      I agree this seems distinctly possible, especially if Joyce finds out about Dina and Becky. Unless they loosen up a little on the “Joyce the naif” thing, I can see Dorothy and maybe a few others thinking that any attempt at romantic/sexual interaction with Joe is some kind of acting out or trying to imitate Becky. I don’t think it would be at all, but then again we know about how Joyce and Joe have been getting close as friends, and how long Joyce has been an atheist, and how aware Joyce is that her friends won’t let her change. This situation is ripe for misunderstanding. I would love for Sarah to be the one to resolve this though; her joke about “pratfalling into an orgasm” suggests a refreshing lack of expectations or hangups, and I think she’s really well-suited to tell everyone to chill the hell out.

      • Alex
        Alex
        December 2, 2022 at 10:45 pm | #

        I thought that was Ruth going against her RA training and telling Joyce she wasn’t actually asexual, that someday she would pratfall into her first orgasm and bang half the town.

        • Axel
          Axel
          December 3, 2022 at 2:09 am | #

          I’m not sure who used this wording, but they both said something to this extent (Sarah fairly early on, Ruth comparatively recently, and also Jacob said so to Sarah once (something like ‘one day she’s going to snap and suck a thousand dicks,’ to which Sarah said ‘I used to think that’)

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