Just briefly, you have a ‘he’ instead of ‘she’ in the second panel. But also…
It’s awful telling that Steph only wants Dave in order to get back at Beth and Emrys considering how little she respects him. And maybe Dave is not doing well right now and that’s legit… but the sex cant be that good, especially since she clearly doesn’t plan to help him out.
I’d say she deserves what comes next… but the simple truth is no onw deserves that. She’s petty and spiteful, not actually evil. As much as I’m not on her side in these things, I’m not wishing ill on her. I want her to find peace.
Wow, another good page… Toxic meets Poisoned. I agree with some of the points Greg D made. But perhaps it’s simply my looking at it from the other side. Why the hell should she ‘help him out’ no matter how good or bad the sex is? No matter how ‘well off’ she is? That’s the stupidest thing I’ve heard in a long time, IF they were in a loving relationship then yes I would think she’d be trying to help him, but there never was anything affectionate about their getting together. Gorbi1985 called it better (imho), they are worse than that cheap ramen (when better ramen can actually cost less, depending on where you are). The fact that he’s probably going to steal her sapphire so he can get his fix seems to be what’s being telegraphed and it’s so accurate for his type. Dave couldn’t honestly love someone if he wanted to, since he has a much more toxic master to answer to. As much as I don’t like Stephanie, I don’t wish the possible outcomes here on anyone. He’s using, hard drugs, that usually leads to a ton of additional issues, not to mention possible diseases which he can pass to her. She’s unknowingly taking those risks and he not caring in the slightest as long as he gets his high is how dangerous it can be. Having known folks like him before I can say that he’s nowhere near realizing how bad his situation is, after all, he’s only lost his friends, his dignity and his good sense (okay, he may never have any good sense but hey, giving the benefit of the doubt here.). So like most junkies, he’s thinking he’s on top of it all and doing well just so long as he can get his fix. This is another situation we’ve got going in this story that could rapidly turn into a total train wreck.
In response to A Reader… I’m not suggesting Steph should help Dave. I’m saying she should have nothing to do with him at all this point. Probably never should have had anything to do with him ever. Just wanting to get back at Emrys and Beth cant be worth it.
Dave. π I just hope he hits rock bottom before he kills himself or ends up in prison. He’s not a bad person, but no one can help him until he can help himself, or at least tries to do it.
Stephanie is doing no one any favors, least of all herself or Dave, but I can’t pretend to understand what she’s been through or imagine how it alters her every day behavior. She burned the only person she’s met that was willing to give her a chance and now she’s trying to punish him for walking away from her abuse.
I hope there’s a light at the end of the tunnel for both of these folks, but right now I’m afraid that it’s an oncoming train. π
I can understand Steph being hostile to Dave, especially after learning he has no job, but I do wonder why she would have sex with him AGAIN (or, at the very least, let him sleep naked at her place) once her plan of making Emrys jealous backfired. Once he was no longer of use to her revenge scheme, there was no reason to keep him around.
So it’s HEAVILY foreshadowed that Dave’s going to resort to thievery to feed his drug habit. Steph will basically have to choose between having Dave arrested or try to help him. I never liked Dave, and I blame him for Mark’s downward spiral before his death, but I do think realizing how much Dave needs help COULD redeem Steph. But does she have it in her to care about anyone else? And if Dave WAS offered help, would he take it?
All great comments here! Yeah, poor Dave is just spiraling down the drain as most people caught in heavy drugs tend to do. Stephanie, although the plan of making Emrys jealous didn’t work, still has been seeing Dave once in a while. A bit of co-dependent behavior mixed with just letting things slide. Keep in mind that probably only a week has past since Stephanie confronted Emrys with Dave. (comic time) And Stephanie is not above having someone around to be a ‘fuck-buddy’ once in a while. Or she may think she can still use Dave somehow. These two are toxic and turbulent characters to say the least, which, in my opinion, makes them fascinating characters to write about.
“…fascinating characters to write about.”
You hit that on the nose – as well as fascinating characters to read about.
I also submit that redemption arcs need actions from which to be redeemed. These two have provided plenty – Stephanie’s abusive behavior towards Emrys, and Dave’s chasing a disastrous relationship with Beth’s sister – but neither has yet hit the rapid part of the slide downhill.
I think Dave will steal the gem, and leave the door unlocked. Later, heβll tell Stephanie heβd lost the key. It looks like Stephanie has a very expensive boyfriend. π
12 thoughts on “#981 Money for Nothing”
Greg D
Just briefly, you have a ‘he’ instead of ‘she’ in the second panel. But also…
It’s awful telling that Steph only wants Dave in order to get back at Beth and Emrys considering how little she respects him. And maybe Dave is not doing well right now and that’s legit… but the sex cant be that good, especially since she clearly doesn’t plan to help him out.
I’d say she deserves what comes next… but the simple truth is no onw deserves that. She’s petty and spiteful, not actually evil. As much as I’m not on her side in these things, I’m not wishing ill on her. I want her to find peace.
Gorbi1985
Those two together are more toxic than a cheap Vietnamese instant noodle soup which costs 10 CZK (50 cents).
A Reader
Wow, another good page… Toxic meets Poisoned. I agree with some of the points Greg D made. But perhaps it’s simply my looking at it from the other side. Why the hell should she ‘help him out’ no matter how good or bad the sex is? No matter how ‘well off’ she is? That’s the stupidest thing I’ve heard in a long time, IF they were in a loving relationship then yes I would think she’d be trying to help him, but there never was anything affectionate about their getting together. Gorbi1985 called it better (imho), they are worse than that cheap ramen (when better ramen can actually cost less, depending on where you are). The fact that he’s probably going to steal her sapphire so he can get his fix seems to be what’s being telegraphed and it’s so accurate for his type. Dave couldn’t honestly love someone if he wanted to, since he has a much more toxic master to answer to. As much as I don’t like Stephanie, I don’t wish the possible outcomes here on anyone. He’s using, hard drugs, that usually leads to a ton of additional issues, not to mention possible diseases which he can pass to her. She’s unknowingly taking those risks and he not caring in the slightest as long as he gets his high is how dangerous it can be. Having known folks like him before I can say that he’s nowhere near realizing how bad his situation is, after all, he’s only lost his friends, his dignity and his good sense (okay, he may never have any good sense but hey, giving the benefit of the doubt here.). So like most junkies, he’s thinking he’s on top of it all and doing well just so long as he can get his fix. This is another situation we’ve got going in this story that could rapidly turn into a total train wreck.
Crypto
Oh no, I see Dave stealing the jewel to pay for his drugs. That won’t end well.
Greg D
In response to A Reader… I’m not suggesting Steph should help Dave. I’m saying she should have nothing to do with him at all this point. Probably never should have had anything to do with him ever. Just wanting to get back at Emrys and Beth cant be worth it.
Gorbi1985
BTW What can you fuck up that hard at graveyard, that you get fired???
Josh
Given what we know about Dave my money says he got stoned and didn’t show up for work several days in a row.
Thracecius
Dave. π I just hope he hits rock bottom before he kills himself or ends up in prison. He’s not a bad person, but no one can help him until he can help himself, or at least tries to do it.
Stephanie is doing no one any favors, least of all herself or Dave, but I can’t pretend to understand what she’s been through or imagine how it alters her every day behavior. She burned the only person she’s met that was willing to give her a chance and now she’s trying to punish him for walking away from her abuse.
I hope there’s a light at the end of the tunnel for both of these folks, but right now I’m afraid that it’s an oncoming train. π
Corey C.
I can understand Steph being hostile to Dave, especially after learning he has no job, but I do wonder why she would have sex with him AGAIN (or, at the very least, let him sleep naked at her place) once her plan of making Emrys jealous backfired. Once he was no longer of use to her revenge scheme, there was no reason to keep him around.
So it’s HEAVILY foreshadowed that Dave’s going to resort to thievery to feed his drug habit. Steph will basically have to choose between having Dave arrested or try to help him. I never liked Dave, and I blame him for Mark’s downward spiral before his death, but I do think realizing how much Dave needs help COULD redeem Steph. But does she have it in her to care about anyone else? And if Dave WAS offered help, would he take it?
Bohemiannightsthecomic
All great comments here! Yeah, poor Dave is just spiraling down the drain as most people caught in heavy drugs tend to do. Stephanie, although the plan of making Emrys jealous didn’t work, still has been seeing Dave once in a while. A bit of co-dependent behavior mixed with just letting things slide. Keep in mind that probably only a week has past since Stephanie confronted Emrys with Dave. (comic time) And Stephanie is not above having someone around to be a ‘fuck-buddy’ once in a while. Or she may think she can still use Dave somehow. These two are toxic and turbulent characters to say the least, which, in my opinion, makes them fascinating characters to write about.
John Gardner
“…fascinating characters to write about.”
You hit that on the nose – as well as fascinating characters to read about.
I also submit that redemption arcs need actions from which to be redeemed. These two have provided plenty – Stephanie’s abusive behavior towards Emrys, and Dave’s chasing a disastrous relationship with Beth’s sister – but neither has yet hit the rapid part of the slide downhill.
ChrisH
I think Dave will steal the gem, and leave the door unlocked. Later, heβll tell Stephanie heβd lost the key. It looks like Stephanie has a very expensive boyfriend. π
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