24-07-18 SDB-Minew says

Discuss Ma3 here!

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worldshaking00
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Re: 24-07-18 SDB-Minew says

Post by worldshaking00 »

Spidrift wrote:
Tue Jul 24, 2018 4:18 pm
Oh gods no. Fuck that idea.
Quite vehement.

Nothing is written in stone, yet, with Ma3 itself on hold. Combined with the fact that Jung & Gary are good friends, I don't see why Gary has to be ostracized from the SDB strip. In fact, I feel it is wasted potential using him as a throw-away gag/sighting. It is titled Sticky Dilly Buns after all, not The Ruby Chronicles. Even more than Ma3, SDB should be centered about Dillon... or at least should be if the title is to be believed. Granted, Ruby and Angel and their dramas have been center stage for quite a long time. Is that making Dillon just the main thread that tied SDB back to its parent strip Ma3? Maybe.

Would it interfere with Andy & Ruby's relationship to introduce Gary as a friend-of-a-friend to Ruby? Maybe, and maybe for the better. Gary helps people see to the truth of their problem. See Tracy and Zii most recently. And as I mentioned before, Gary talking with Ruby could be seen as a sort of litmus test to the depths of feelings he has for Ruby. It might make Gary once again the doormat for the script, but why not once more before the strips conclude?

As far as being used as a human vibrator, I agree that using him as such wouldn't work narratively. But let's look at Gary. Setting aside the Limbo-like status of Ma3 right now, he is stuck in a FWB relationship with Peggy that doesn't show signs of improving. Didi & Zii are still together, and with Gary being honorable he isn't going to try to break apart their relationship. He has no other prospects on the horizon. So if it helps move the plot along for Ruby, then why not introduce Gary to Ruby properly and respectfully? No hanky panky required, just simple coffee talk.

Some would argue that Ruby would feel that she was being unfaithful to Dillon. Dillon seems to have gotten over his crush of Gary. I am sure he may have wondered how things would have been with them as a couple, but it wasn't meant to be. If Dillon can get over Amber using Gary, adult minds should be able to take Gary as fair game. Some could also argue that since Gary has been with Amber (even if not exactly full-on sexually), that there is good enough cause for Ruby to nix him on the spot. Once again I would point out that adult minds should be able to realize that Gary himself - while duped for part of it - was happy for the opportunity. Gary is mostly innocent, and should only be getting a bad rap from Ruby because of comedy scripting & because of his Amber-Amber lusts before becoming more mature. In fact, he's actually a reasonably damned good prospect now... if his partner can deal with his nerdisms. Both Amber & Dillon can attest to his sweetness and caring virtue. And Gary isn't a hand-me-down or discard from either of Dillon or Amber; he actually had serious potential for both of them should the stars have aligned differently. Adult minds clearing away the preconceptions and misplaced emotions would see that Gary isn't the worst.

If the creative team doesn't want to do so, fine by me too. But if they are going to put chocolate into the peanut butter, might as well enjoy the combined snack and not complain about it (Reese's peanut butter cup reference for those who don't remember or are unaware of their ad campaign ages ago.)

[/takes off FIRRIB cultist uniform]
"Be excellent to each other." - Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure
"Like my old grand daddy used to say, 'The less a man makes declarative statements, the less apt he is to look foolish in retrospect.'" - Chester Rush, Four Rooms
Chivalry isn't dead, it just followed wherever being lady-like went.

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Spidrift
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Re: 24-07-18 SDB-Minew says

Post by Spidrift »

I'm 100% sure that Giz and Dave have plans for Gary over in Ma3. He's not been backed into a corner there; he has a whole heap of unfinished business, with the relationship with Zii in particular having been teased and developed over a period of years. And Ma3 is coming back in August, according to the note at the top of this strip. That hardly amounts to Ma3-as-Ma3 being in limbo; it's just on a short hold. You'll have your reader-identification geek back in a fortnight or two, never fear.

And yes, Ruby has taken over Dillon's comic. That's what happens when you introduce a character with issues and complexities to a comic that's supposedly built around a writer-beloved character who really just needed one brisk shove to settle into a stable state. Quite how dragging in a different character from another comic, who's on the home straight of his own character story, is supposed to fix that eludes me.

If you really can't bear to read a comic without bloody Gary in it, there are 1200+ past Ma3 strips. I suggest reading through those between now and August.
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Spidrift
"Brevior vita est quam pro futumentibus negotium agendo."
-- Motto of Hogshead Publishing of fond memory, and wise words to set your Foes List by.
Avatar misappropriated from the wonderful XKCD.

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worldshaking00
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Re: 24-07-18 SDB-Minew says

Post by worldshaking00 »

Despite my sarcastic cultist commentary, I think my last sentence summed up my ability to bear a comic without Gary in it. I assume most of the readership would also be able to suffer the Gary withdrawal, bloody or otherwise. And I am well aware of the announced August return of Ma3. I assume most of us saw that announcement and that most of those people can enjoy the diversion. None of these characters are saints and every one of us has a favorite. Pretty sure all of us can agree on that. Thanks for the re-reading Gary suggestion, @Spidrift. I don't recall mentioning to you that there were Ruby-centric strips to tide you over during the long SDB hiatus, so it is a little snarky to make that suggestion. Just sayin'. I respect you, your opinion, and your comments in general. As a Dalek maths teacher might say, "Reciprocate!"

My point is that Gary is exactly as you have described, "in the home straight" of his own character story. Why does his friendly demeanor (or Heaven forbid, potential insight) preclude meeting the sister of a friend or the unrequited love of another friend? Is Ruby that fragile or inflexible? Or is it the fact that SDB and Ma3 are merging/co-concluding that is anathema? I really hope Ruby is able to achieve positive character development. My favorite times in all of the Pixie Trix comics occur when a character - any character - breaks their mold and grows. If she can't, she has greater problems than her anger at Amber or her inability to 'sex up' Andy. Admittedly, her anger at her sibling probably is a root cause for Ruby being...well... Ruby. If Gary is indeed destined for Zii or another Ma3-specific character, having a vouched for friendly neighborhood Gary help out Ruby wouldn't hurt Ruby one bit. Well, at least until she overcame her preconceptions and social awkwardness (once again, more of the growth thing). Nor would it hurt Gary any more than Gary being Gary usually does... accursed script and all that nonsense. Gary could reveal to Ruby his past obsession over Amber and how he was able to see past her porn image and as the beautiful intelligent woman she is. It might help Ruby overcome her own hangups. And if both strips aren't completely supposed to be apart from the other, then maybe... just maybe... a nerdy-yet-pretty uptight girl might meet a geeky-yet-decent sensitive guy. Weirder things have happened in the parent strip (notably Yuki and Matt).

Hypothetically speaking, having Dillon find happiness/closure/raison d'être in playing matchmaker for Gary/Ruby would help to drive the comic back into Dillon's corner. I can still see SDB being his comic; but like good actors should, the spotlight is shared with the other performers. A little meta, perhaps. The creative team could be allowing these other characters' dramas to help steer the course of the strip, yet at the end it is Dillon to the rescue. In my mind, I could envision Amber and Dillon both gushing over Amber & Gary's happiness. Hell, I can even imagine a far future strip at their wedding and Amber & Dillon fighting over catching the bouquet! Could the creative team have Ruby get 'fixed' with the help of characters who solely reside in the SDB postal code? Sure! But why use Zii and not Gary, especially if Gary & Zii might eventually hook up permanently? Yes, Zii & Amber have a past and it was Zii's sexuality that pushed Amber into the porn life. But Ruby can associate with Zii on an adult level (literally on many levels). Therefore there is potential for the characters to have meaningful dialogue. That's all I am saying at base level. No hanky panky needed, but 'fan-wank' readers can imagine.

Agree to disagree, I suppose. We'll see over the course of the next year or so. :-B
"Be excellent to each other." - Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure
"Like my old grand daddy used to say, 'The less a man makes declarative statements, the less apt he is to look foolish in retrospect.'" - Chester Rush, Four Rooms
Chivalry isn't dead, it just followed wherever being lady-like went.

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Udyr
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Re: 24-07-18 SDB-Minew says

Post by Udyr »

This strip is just so adorable :x such a sisterly moment.
eeeek!

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brasca
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Re: 24-07-18 SDB-Minew says

Post by brasca »

The only Menage a 3 character I can think of that would be a good match for Ruby is Jung, but he’s happily attached to Ramona.

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Spidrift
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Re: 24-07-18 SDB-Minew says

Post by Spidrift »

Hmm. Ruby may need to talk frankly about sex with Andy, but is generally a bit repressed. She has, however, previously developed techniques for working round her repression in specific circumstances. Andy, for his part, may have some kind of hang-ups on the subject, details TBD. I wonder if we’re about to see a brief reappearance of Rudy after all? Not for the actual sex, but for the initial discussion?
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Spidrift
"Brevior vita est quam pro futumentibus negotium agendo."
-- Motto of Hogshead Publishing of fond memory, and wise words to set your Foes List by.
Avatar misappropriated from the wonderful XKCD.

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Error of Logic
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Re: 24-07-18 SDB-Minew says

Post by Error of Logic »

I'm a bit late to reply to this comic, but... I really, really liked it. ^_^
Amber's flexing her "big sister muscles". Ruby is climbing up the walls over this, and Amber found a way to communicate with her younger sister that sidesteps their problems.
That, and she's taking one for the team.

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