08-04-14 Threw quite the tantrum

[Spidrift]

I don't think it's the costume letting Ruby's confidence come out and play. I think it's the situation. She's not in a situation with a guy she's on a date with or drooling over.

But she's quite often been not on a date and not distracted by the sexy - but this is the first time we've seen her quite this cool and sharp. (And it suits her.)

But let's split the difference; I'll grant it's not the costume as such that's making Ruby confident, but the costume is a symbol, and maybe a mask. We know that Ruby doesn't get out enough, and spends too much time watching old TV. Now she's out in public, but in a situation where she feels fairly comfortable and in control - partly because she's playing a TV detective, complete with goofy disguise. She could manage this without the costume, but it would be harder and scarier. If the costume helps, I hope she keeps the costume around until she no longer needs it.

Especially as it does make good comedy.

Oh puh-leeeeeaaaaze. If flirting was cause for a freak out, my marriage would have ended a long time ago. Half of my interaction with you guys is flirtatious.

Angel is being quite clever here; the trick is to sow doubts. Jerzy was fending Angel off by talking about Dillon, but then Jerzy made the mistake of using the word "serious" - and Angel knows just how badly Dillon does "serious".

So Dillon flirting with other people isn't the problem as such; it's a symbol - of Dillon being unreliable.

Get over it, the rule is "no touching".

It's fortunate for Dillon that Angel doesn't know that he broke that rule - by copping a feel of Andy. If Angel had that bit of information, Jerzy would really be getting something to think about.

Dillon has a point there though. It WAS just one date, nobody ever gets serious after just one date.
If Angel had asked Dillon now it would probably be a completely different response.

But they've only had one more date in the intervening period. There hasn't been some big time jump; if you work through the comic, I think that you'll find this is only a day or two later.

I don't know whether Dillon would, other things being equal, call his relationship with Jerzy "serious" now. It probably depends on the phase of the moon or something. But the problem is, Jerzy just called it serious (and Dillon liked hearing that). Which meant that he walked into a trap he didn't know was there, because Angel had heard Dillon say that the relationship wasn't serious - and that was only a day or so ago.

Angel sure knows how to twist words in their favour.

Angel is quite smart, actually. Smart enough not to lie when the truth works more than well enough.

[Katai]

Jerzy deserves better. He should ask Gary out.

[Bambikles]

But if Jerzy and Dillon break up, they'll still be neighbours. A good side is that Jerzy wouldn't disappear of the strip, the bad side is it could lead to a bunch of unpleasant strips.
I dunno, if we want Dillon to change, Jerzy is the best that can happen to him. If they break up, I'm almost certain Dillon con't learn the lesson, whatever it is supposed to be.

Hey, didn't notice Ruby's wearing a wig until this strip !

[Fluffy]

However, he may have an issue that Dillon doesn't consider their relationship serious (best ting is, Angel isn't making things up - Dillon did tell her he and Jerzy weren't serious when she confronted him about flirting behind Jerzy's back).

Dillon has a point there though. It WAS just one date, nobody ever gets serious after just one date.
If Angel had asked Dillon now it would probably be a completely different response.

But as Angel asked when that went down - if Dillon didn't consider his relationship with Jerzy as anything serious (even after one date), why was he so upset at the idea of Jerzy finding out about his flirting with other guys? (and, well - you saw how he reacted to having logic thrown in his face).

I think Dillon considered his relationship with Jerzy as being on the serious side (even that early on) - he just wants to have his cake and to eat it, too without having to deal with the consequences.

[Spidrift]

Hey, didn't notice Ruby's wearing a wig until this strip !

Is she? Or is that just her own hair, combed into a deliberate mess? What's she done with her own hair if that's a wig?

By the way, if Dillon and Ruby are looking for Jerzy's faults, I think that they've found them. Fails to make clean breaks with dangerously obsessive former lovers; deliberately forms "serious" relationships with unstable flirtatious flakes; has no way to handle the former when they attack the latter... Let's face it, he chases attractive partners without regard for their dangerous flaws. That looks greedy to me.

[zaprzapb]

Get over it, the rule is "no touching". You can still talk to people.

Then what category do you put cybering, sexting, and phone sex into then? Is that still just flirting since there's no physical contact?

[Geeno]

I'm sure that Angel loves the ambiguity. There's a lot of evidence of a twisted sense of humour there.

THIS!

Oh puh-leeeeeaaaaze. If flirting was cause for a freak out, my marriage would have ended a long time ago.

Mine, too. A bunch of times over, actually.

@ Spidrift: I don't think the costume is allowing her the freedom to snark, so much as it was the straw that broke the camel's back. She's been urged into this absurd costume at Dillon's behest, and it is just a complete fail parade. I would not be at all surprised to find out that she's relishing Dillon's discomfort. Oh, so tasty, mmmm, a few more tears please? Needs salt.

[Tython]

Hey, didn't notice Ruby's wearing a wig until this strip !

Is she? Or is that just her own hair, combed into a deliberate mess? What's she done with her own hair if that's a wig?

http://www.stickydillybuns.com/strips-s ... _it_my_way

yup a wig

[Optimus Kate]

Then what category do you put cybering, sexting, and phone sex into then? Is that still just flirting since there's no physical contact?

I think there's a big difference between flirting and those examples... but since you ask, sexting and cybering is like on the same level as watching porn, to me. I know a lot of people wouldn't agree with that, but that's all it really is to me. Spank material.

I can't give you an answer for phone sex since I never had it.

It's fortunate for Dillon that Angel doesn't know that he broke that rule - by copping a feel of Andy. If Angel had that bit of information, Jerzy would really be getting something to think about.

Wait, what? When did Dillon cop a feel on Andy?

[Odd Man Out]

oh certainly. but if someone else's flirting makes you jealous enough to go undercover and spy on your boyfriend, then that's a bit hypocritical.

Lmao oh definitely, it's hypocritical. However, what I hope happens (unlike the people who think Dillon should be flayed alive) is that Jerzy doesn't care at all, because again it's just flirting, and Dillon realizes he shouldn't care either. It's a learning experience and I hope it brings them closer together and helps Dillon get over his issues with this.

Hey, he doesn't have to be alive for the flaying.

I just don't think Dillon is capable of learning. He doesn't have the patience for introspection or detached thought it would take.

[JoybuzzerX]

I don't think it's the costume letting Ruby's confidence come out and play. I think it's the situation. She's not in a situation with a guy she's on a date with or drooling over.

But she's quite often been not on a date and not distracted by the sexy - but this is the first time we've seen her quite this cool and sharp. (And it suits her.)

But let's split the difference; I'll grant it's not the costume as such that's making Ruby confident, but the costume is a symbol, and maybe a mask. We know that Ruby doesn't get out enough, and spends too much time watching old TV. Now she's out in public, but in a situation where she feels fairly comfortable and in control - partly because she's playing a TV detective, complete with goofy disguise. She could manage this without the costume, but it would be harder and scarier. If the costume helps, I hope she keeps the costume around until she no longer needs it.

Especially as it does make good comedy.

Much like Spider-Man, she now has a mask on! Without the mask she's quieter and more self conscience. With the mask on, she's basically become the internet troll

Quote tree pruned. The DAMNed

[Spidrift]

I don't think the costume is allowing her the freedom to snark, so much as it was the straw that broke the camel's back. She's been urged into this absurd costume at Dillon's behest, and it is just a complete fail parade.

We didn't see exactly how they came up with the costume, but actually, I suspect that the final design is at least as much Ruby's idea as Dillon's. The first name that she thought of when Dillon suggested playing detectives was Columbo, and look, here she is in a sloppy overcoat. Dillon would have wanted her to do something far more cute and stylish, but she wants a barrier against the world, so she's buried herself behind a lot of props.

Actually, she has good instincts. If you're obliged to wear a disguise, go for something that disguises you.

(Of course, this being Ruby, a long blonde wig, crop top, and hot pants would make her really unrecognisable. But she has limits.)

I would not be at all surprised to find out that she's relishing Dillon's discomfort.

I'm sure of it. Dillon keeps bouncing her into embarrassing situations by being all cocky and acting like he's in command of the situation and knows what's best; now he's being embarrassed himself, and all the things about him that confuse her are being flagged as faults. It would take a much better person than Ruby to refrain from gloating.

Wait, what? When did Dillon cop a feel on Andy?

Here and here.

[Fluffy]

I think, in order to cope a feel, Dillon would have to be the one making excuses to touch Andy. The links you gave aren't exactly examples of such a thing happening, as Dillon isn't touching Andy; but the other way around.

He is, however, taking advance of these innocent swimming lessons in order to flirt shamelessly with the naive instructor by not so subtly presenting himself to him.

[Spidrift]

Touching is kind of reflexive; Dillon can't be touched by Andy without touching him. Or to put it another way, if Andy and Jerzy had a "flirting but no touching" rule, I don't think anyone would think that Dillon could get round it this way, even if it is Andy applying the physical pressure.

(And Dillon can certainly feel Andy there, and is clearly enjoying it.)

[Optimus Kate]

Copping a feel is grabbing someone's junk. Next.