Elliot Blows It

I hope it turns out that elliot is one of mrs augustus' booty calls.

Aaron Schulz

Good ...... this was way to forced

Eh, wasn't really feeling the Eliot-Clinton vibe anyway.

Wond'ring Lisa

Eh, at least COVID means a temporary break from these kinds of situations lol!!!

Sarah

Having a date when you're working is a pretty big fumble to start with.

Chris Crowther

So they fumbled. I really don't get why people are throwing the whole ship out with the bathwater. It's one awkward date. QC has had so many. It doesn't equal DOOMED ROMANCE. They'll talk. It'll be okay.

Victoria A Wilder

I've seen hanging out while working turning out very well for some people. But they did it very differently, including without any alcohol. Also, the job site this occurred at was a bookstore, and the SOs were regular customers who were more than happy to read while their SO was busy working.

Some Ed

Exposure tends to lead itself to complacency. Alcohol leads to bad decisions.

Some Ed

Also, I’m waiting for Clinton’s mom to be like, “you did what now? Go fix it.” or just reading Elliott very well and mitigating more damage.

LaPrimaNerda (Sarah Davis)

Buy $EIGHTSTRING, it's about to go through the roof with all the guitar demand!

ljdbjlasfbjk

(Unrelated: looks like the Marten twitter account got hacked, it's posting stock tips now.)

Dave Van Domelen

Poor Elliott. "It's not the earth the meek inherit, it's the dirt." And Clinton, I hope you have a hangover so big that Cosmo's license jingling sounds like a fire alarm.

Sleepy John

To be fair, Elliot KNOWS that when someone is being drunk and stupid, they're not going to remember anything you say to them anyway, so trying to talk to Clinton right now would be a waste of breath.

awgiedawgie

Inorite?! Can’t you just picture Cosmo and Hercules snuggling while Elliott makes soda bread and Ms. A jams on her bass?

KCkittysnores

I'm hoping it's Yay

Morgyn

This is, honestly, the best thing that could happen here. Separate before things get irreparable. If Clinton's lucky, he'll run into somebody who can explain why he's been a total ass-hat and he'll be able to course correct.

Justin Alexander

This is one of the awkward things that I identify with that makes me love this comic so much.

Jp

Well he was introduced being a super weirdo at Hanners so he has come a long way. Hes gonna fall back into jerky weirdness now and then it seems.

Aaron Schulz

It kind of reminds me of where Marigold started out socially. Slightly better maybe, but similar.

Sarah Manx

I am ALL for open and honest communication, but asking a second crush if they're into you while kind of on a date with someone else is just kind of tactless. If I were Elliot, I'd probably feel bummed, too.

Sarah Manx

sorry to see that crushed look in Elliot's eyes but really guys, hanging out while working is not very practical or conducive to getting to know each other. Give it time!

jimbo

Or, more to the point, fails to blow it..... XD

MercuryBuddha

This whole arc makes me so sad. Clinton opened with a story about him being an immature jerk online, and its all gone downhill from there.

Cass

Several months from now we all would be like "Yeah, Elliot and Ms. Augustus seems so logical now, no one could have fallen for each other more naturally!".

Evgeniy Semyonov

honestly I think the issue is how clinton brought it up to him, not that it happened at all

n.

My Yalliot predictions are getting more and more likely.

I’m autistic, and I have to be honest here... I would appreciate it if Clinton sneakily checked to see if my crush liked me back? Like. He didn’t even imply who might be crushing on Brun. Like. I can see ‘asking crush if they like me while on a quasi-date’ as rude, but trying to potentially wingman for someone or spare them a direct rejection... That doesn’t seem like a BAD thing to me. I mean, I would’ve done this as a high school or college student. I wouldn’t do it now, probably. But... I dunno. I don’t feel like Clinton has any idea why this would be a bad thing, and if Elliot also likes even-less-socially-savvy Brun... He’s gonna have a rough go of it if well intentioned social gaffes lead to complete shutdowns? He might need somebody better at reading people. Which...would be a bit unfortunate, since he’s cute with Clinton, but I think I was counting on the polycule to balance things out... I have no idea if this made sense. Might delete it when I wake up. I just feel bad for Clinton here. He tried to be helpful.

Morgan Bauman

Yeah I don't remember him knowing that.

Devin Forbes

Nooooo

Billie Thompson

Maybe I'm just in denial. I think this can still be saved, but when one person is shy and hesitant to just level with the other person, and the other person is being drunk and stupid...it's not gonna work out. Back off and regroup.

Daniel S

It never ceases to amaze me how true to life the QC universe is. Even the more far-fetched plots with robots, omniscient AIs, and so on always seem to brightly illuminate the human condition. I suspect this is because Jeph is a master storyteller.

Sigh

Nicolas Demers

I wondered what would happen if a Clinton just wasn’t that into men. This I guess.

Shane Wegner

Instead of anyone being too good for anyone else, maybe it just didn’t work out with attraction.

Shane Wegner

Clinton, stop acting like your sister!

Chris Driggers

Plot twists coming:. Clinton can't stay at his Mom's because she has a friend over. Meanwhile, Yay is visiting Hercules when Elliot gets home, depressed about the evening's evens. In the course of things, Elliot mentions that Clinton's mom has a dog. Turns out Cosmo is Yay's missing dog and in the end it's Yay, Elliot, and Mrs Augustus!

That Blair Guy

Clinton has always been a bit of an ass. I love that his character is slowly developing away from a total ass, but it's going to be a looooooong process. I just had a frightening thought. What if Yay finds out, gets mad, and takes control of Clinton's hand? Hilarity ensues?

Tim

I think there is still time to repair the damage, it's early in the relationship. First Clinton needs to understand that he fucked up.

Tim

Go Clinton, go!

Bagge

When did Clinton find out that Elliot had a crush on Brun?

Potato Moses

I read it like Elliot is shrugging as Clinton hops his short ass off the bar stool.

Maybe... Maybe this is like a rom com... And they'll still manage to end up together? Maybe? :(

Just Jupiter (Chelsea)

Looks like interfering with other people's love lives with the best of intentions is an Augustus family trait!

Brendan Jones

LOL- last time went right for him when was in a bar THAT BURNED DOWN?

Shawn K. Younkin

Good. Elliot's too good for Clinton, and now he knows it.

At least Clinton's a happy drunk?

fluffy

I mean, you’re not wrong.

KCkittysnores

They’ve been siblings for twenty one years at least. This is far from his jackassiest move.

KCkittysnores

Now I'm just sad. :(

FeyOne

That does not make me feel better! Sorry, Jeph. 😞

I'm starting to think he didn't take it that well.

Cley Faye

I get that Clinton is fucking it up. But he's got poor social life skills at all and tried having a couple drinks to loosen up after the last time he got semi-pressured to have a drink and things worked out. It's not the right choice but it worked for him last time and now he's gonna get a talking to. He just doesn't know what he's doing and he doesn't seem to drink ever so he's completely out of his depth.

LuckyMag7

Elliot blows it? No. Clinton blew it already. Elliot's just giving him a graceful exit. Hopefully Clinton sobers up and realizes what an ass he was being.

awgiedawgie

Guys, these strips were made weeks ago. It’s not like Jeph is a time Lord.

Miyaa

Shall we christen the good ship Yalliotles?

Bruce Steinberg

I think Jeph has grown tired of fulfilling all of our wishes. Um... I HATE MELON STRIPS (looks around furtively and hopefully)

Kenneth Carlile

Drunk Clinton has the decision-making capability and emotional awareness of a sea sponge. Elliot has far too much experience dealing with people in that state, and also the backbone of said sponge when it comes to emotional stuff. Confrontation right now would be very bad. It can wait til Clinton's sober.

Michele Williams

Yeah I’m very much in Elliot’s corner here. Telling a very drunk person that they hurt your feelings is only going to end with the drunk causing a scene - ie, the exact thing you can’t really do while at work.

KHawk

Everyone assumes Claire will be the one to murder Clinton, but I think their mom will the be the one to give him the, “Clinton, you are an idiot” tough-love speech.

KHawk

I want to believe!

Samantha Yeaman

Dammit, Clinton.

AAAAAAAAAARRRRRGGGGG!!!!!!!!!

Ian Wolfe

I feel for Elliot here, you can't tell a drunk person they hurt you emotionally while they're drunk or while you're at work, that won't end well. I think it's resolvable...I hope. We'd better not get turkeys or cereal for the next week, damn it. I need a resolution here.

While he is working and clinton is drunk right before what likely will be a real rush is probably not the time. This whole hangout/date was a bad idea for these reasons.

Fuzzy Logik

EVERYTHING IS GOING WRONG

EnterTheHero

And it's not even Tuesday!

Alex Borders

Wow. There's a lot of deep stuff here. However, my reaction to this strip? D### it! Now I want tacos. I apparently have the emotional depth of a rock. Sorry, guys.

Alex Borders

This ship must earn it's passage.

Bacon Lord

Why

Daniel Burnett

My ship has not only sunk, it has exploded into a million pieces of shrapnel and then been reduced to a fine spray of dust, ash and tears.

Samantha Yeaman

Awwww, Elliot... I would... yeah. Be a lot like this, actually. :’(

Katrina Urmson

The 19th Angel is Claire when she finds out Clinton broke her yaoi fantasy.

Mr. Ifrit

I so wanted this to go well.

Natalie Scott

No! You gotta tell the truth you idiot! Craaap.

Thomas Halpin

Hello coast guard, I'd like to report a ship in distress.

Dean Reilly

Oh, Clinton. I have a feeling that bow is in for many regrets in the morning. Both physical, and mental

Crystal Rivet

LOL- whut?

Shawn K. Younkin

Clinton's mom should definitely not make him pancakes.

Jackie Horn

don’t be silly, we obviously know the answer is yes

JD

This has caused me physical pain. Clinton, STAHP. Elliott, noooooo. 🤦‍♀️

Rosilin

Elliot yes! Don't let assholes walk all over you!

Now the big question is will Claire find out and kill her brother.

Sero

Also <3 <3 to Elliot. Maybe he should just hang with Hercules, who seems to be solidly not prone to human follies

Melody Lu

See, this kind of thing? This kind of thing is why I'm happy to leave the concept of "getting drunk" to other people.

Rob McBobson

Did people just forget - JEPH IS MEAN TO ELLIOT!! At least Clinton asked if there was something wrong. If someone is clueless that they hurt you and they can see that they did something wrong and ask what they did - just tell them.

Shawn K. Younkin

That last panel looks like it was meant to be a slightly closer camera framing, but because of the blackboard in the background between the last two panels is the same height, it just looks like everyone got shorter. Maybe worth a quick edit?

Melody Lu

I struggled a little with this too. My understanding is: Clinton made Elliot feel like he was a second choice after Brun, and took away his ability to speak to Brun himself. Basically he put Elliot on the spot very suddenly/insensitively with personal issues. Today I guess the issue is that Elliot isn’t being honest with Clinton and is letting Clinton think everything is fine. Oh, also Clinton is oblivious that Elliot is very anxiously waiting on an answer from him.

JD

Oh. Yeah. Claire is literally going to murder him.

schmod

Honestly, this is probably for the best. They can talk when Clinton’s sober and clear things up.

Eric Sieck

oh nooooooooooooo o o o o *bangs head against a wall because look at these two idiots but mostly Clinton*

Morgan McCauley

in the next issue Elliot will get to Clinton’s and they’ll have a big DnM where they resolve everything *nods*

JD

Clinton seems oblivious to whats going on. I blame the alcohol. But poor Elliot, he looks crushed.

Michael Boettger

Like man he questioned his sexuality, give the ginger a mulligan on this one

Corpus Callosum

Wow, they both blew it! That's a bold play, Cotton!

Grace Kieser

I have social intelligence issues, why is the stuff Clinton did yesterday bad and why is the stuff Elliot did today bad?

orangejuicenut

Clinton you dumbass!

Joel Bateman

“Everything’s definitely coming up Milhouse” 😬😬😬

doorbender

Saw this coming, honestly. Jeph likes to toy with us. ;P Lol

Lex

Because Clinton is a moron.

Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh. The ship's in rough waters, cap'n!

Poor lightweight Clinton

WHY.

Jono Hayward

CLINTON.

Jono Hayward

Damn, Clinton...

Raven Razor

ELLIOT.

Jono Hayward

aw baby :(

Tamara Macadam

what is happening why is it all going wrong

Cody Renton