Don't Interrupt Her

I'm really digging where this story line with Brun is going. So often autistic characters are relegated to white men who are robotic and/or rude and do everything wrong romantically. It's almost like... autistic people are PEOPLE. I really appreciate this.

Giselle Gauthier

Not just her face.

Jeffrey Nonken

Be nice, Faye...

Daryl Sawyer

Oh Faye, I have missed your face. ❤️

Mandy Hoskins

“On the other hand, I guess I should be glad she didn’t vibrate. I bet she could squarely hit 440 Hz”

Comics Ladybird

and I thought Meatsacks were complicated

Jeff Gedney

And all of these comments helping Jeph mull over next steps... Jeph? How far ahead are you at this point? Do you know the answer yet?

Narrator: Millie wants it to have been a date.

Bagge

Dates aren't necessarily romantic thing anyway. Not anymore.

The real question isn't whether it was a date; it's whether Millie _wants_ it to have been a date.

Yonatan Zunger

If Faye were still working at Coffee of Doom ... she'd be grabbing the Malaysian Battle Spatula.

Agreed, I think one of the criteria is both parties entering into it with the foreknowledge and mindset that it was a date. This was a proto-date with some date-like qualities. It's plausible Brun likes, but isn't attracted to or romantically interested in, robots or women or women robots or, hmm, technically it's possible anybody. I'm not saying she's ace or anything, but do we have any counter-data?

Shane Wegner

Better ask Brun

Bagge

If she's autistic or an aspie, it kinda does. When i met my husband, he was very no-touch to everyone. Within an afternoon, he was quite comfortable touching me, to the point of hugging me and sitting on my lap without asking. If Brun is that kind of touch-sensitive/avoidant, then connecting with someone like that could be the same way.

j k

Panel 2 is adorable.

Alan

Holding hands doesn't feel like Brun. This feels forced. Or maybe it feels rushed. Yea rushed is my final answer. Also out of nowhere, left field, other unexpected places. I don't have a problem with it other than the suddenness.

OK, a counter-balancing story. While in the Navy a buddy asked me to be his wingman, my mission being to separate his date's friend from his date and try to avoid pissing her off. I was asked because I was "nice" and "safe". I was socially anxious and inhibited, but I could fake a good-enough conversation. OF COURSE I was still a virgin, despite having been a Sailor for 3 years. Date or not-date? Definitely not-date. Not even 'blind date', because there was no hope for any future between us. I was on a mission, not a date. The thing is, despite the evening starting as horribly as could be expected (a truly funny story), the two of us wound up hitting it off. In a big way. To the ultimate embarrassment of my buddy and his date. Yes, we planned a next date (another great story), but not a double-date. After which I was no longer a virgin. And we always called that first evening our first date.

BobC

My spouse didn't realize that our first date was a date until months later. I mean, I asked her out to dinner, just the two of us, and she kissed me goodnight after I walked her to the door... but she had been thinking that it was odd that there was no-one else along on the "let's get dinner outing". She just hadn't been on a date in so long that she hadn't even been thinking that way. Even though I drove a couple of hours to her house, and brought a gift. That was over 30 years ago, and we've been married for over 25 of them. We've gotten a lot better at the whole communication thing. ;-)

Hugh Eckert

That was a DOUBLE PUN folks! Where's the love? Don't make me eat dates with thyme!

BobC

As I said before, they can be platonic BFFs who sleep on one another without pushing it past that.

Ack

It's like when you realise waaaaay after the fact that somebody was flirting with you and you totally missed it, only it's 'you went on a date and didn't realise'.

Reyn Goldfur

You're asking the wrong being, Millie. You need to be asking Brun, FFS! But first, you need to determine if you WANT it to have been a date (pleasepleasepleasesayyes).

Ian Wolfe

I'm certainly no expert, but the fact that they were holding hands when they separated has me thinking it's potentially likely.

Chris Hull

Now the possible polycule has evolved past a triad ^^ the more the merrier

Sandrock

Either that or: Why does EVERY sentient being in this town have to be so damn weird!

Grace Kieser

I had a feeling this was where this was going. Honestly though (on Brun's end at least), I think it was more of a friendly hang out. I feel like Brun was trying to be a good friend, but some of her actions could be misconstrued without her realizing it. That, and I feel like this is probably a typical hangout for Brun and Renee.

The Secret Sponsor

Oh, Millie...

Grace Kieser

It was technically a date, which is the best kind of date!

Grace Kieser

I can feel Faye's expression boring through the fourth wall and into my soul.

Dylan T

Tilly & Station was less a series of dates than a large data stream that ended with them confirming that they were compatible for each other. And then there were lasers.

Miyaa

BTW, in the interests of full disclosure, I would SO be Millie in this convo. ADHD does that to people. "Wait, that was a DATE??"

Yohannon

Brun once slept on their apartment floor after a night of drinking, so Faye met her at least once. But I don't think that she knows her well.

JD

You don't know it was a date until you text them about when the second one is?

Yohannon

I think that was Brun sleeping on Millie’s butt. 😎

Matt Grayson

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAH HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAH AHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHHAHAHHAHHAHA HHAHAHAHA

Joseph Bonnar

hmm does Faye actually know Brun? i can't recall if that link in this comic's convoluted social net exists or not

LH

OMG SO MANY SHIPS MORE SHIPS THAN THE ENDING OF TROS AAAAAAAAH i love it so much thank you Jeph

skinnybdink

No, but it might have been a meet-cute.

C. A. Bridges

@Jeph please do this

PlasticArmyMan

Schrodinger's date.

MiaKitty

Sorry, Millie. Only you and Brun can decide - together - whether that was a date. Faye can offer an opinion, but she can't speak for Brun. Hopefully Faye has the sense to say that, <i>instead of</i> offering any opinion.

awgiedawgie

Not a date BUT STILL ADORBS

Jeph, thank you for giving me such a good comic to bully several friends with.

And yet, at the same time, it might not have been a date at all.

awgiedawgie

Also: it makes sense that an AI would seek out the only person she knows in a Human/AI relationship for advice.

Munk33 Magic

Look. It was not a date. A date is when two people agree to get together to do something with a major motivation being establishing romantic compatibility. Brun's "We have to go get brunch." doesn't count. She's reading off of her Renee script. I met my wife in such circumstances. I then had to ASK HER OUT. THAT was the date. Millie's problem is making the first date clearly a date and not "just another walk" unless she doesn't want to date Brun (I put that as low probability). That doesn't mean that dating is the only way to slip into a romantic relationship. Faye and Bubbles never went on a date. Tillie and Station... uh.. I dunno... :-)

Matt Grayson

These 2 have gotten quite close in a short span of time. Then again, the fate of Millefeuille's butt meats was literally in the palm of Faye's hands, so that's bound to invite familiarity.

Kinda Squirrely

It couldn't be more of a date if it was a fruit that's popular to eat in the Arab world.

Rob McBobson

As someone who can be clueless... (and was when hanging out with man who is now my husband) this really could be either and the only way to know for sure is to ask the person you were hanging out with.

Katrina Urmson

Possibly so, but in reverse. I am sure Brun hasn't even considered this could have been a date, but Renee sees the potential that it might be!

SilverbackRon

Well, my calendar watch says it was both a good date and a good time.

BobC

But also "New profit stream!"

Jono Hayward

No, this was a first meeting between new friends. A date, at least here, will probably involve at least one buttock on fire.

z

Unfortunately with brun that probably wasnt. Just think of it as friends till you can ask her

Kyle Major

This is generally correct, but I've personally had a fun impromptu outing turn into a date halfway through. That involved an unexpected kiss, however, so I'd rule in this case you are correct. Also, I'm slightly drunk and therefor wordy as fuck.

Ted Van Roekel

Yes, dear, that was a date And Faye has that "How did I get roped into the whole "personal advice for robots" look on her face?

Michael Boettger

These situations give me so much anxiety. So much gets left unsaid... but Brun is so atypical that I don't see Faye's advice being much use. Brun likes friends and hasn't shown any interest in dating. I guess we'll wait and see.

TMN

Ooh! If Brun is off the market, Elliot can focus on Clinton!

Totes.

Alacrity Fitzhugh

Nah. A date needs to be a date from the outset. This was a fun impromptu outing that could possibly lead to dates in the future. ;P

My favourite part is that Brun is probably having the exact same conversation with Renee at this very moment

Jono Hayward

If Elliot is a cinnamon roll as well, maybe they should open a new bakery in town.

Michael Boettger

Tomorrow: Steve goes to the grocery store. He gets to the cereal aisle. They are out of cereal. But the next aisle over, they have all the toilet paper.

Miyaa

I can sympathize. Emotional cluelessness was my standard mode of operation back in the day.

Douglas E. Smith

Well? WAS it????

Agnes

(what time it is)

Alacrity Fitzhugh

Yes yes it was a date

BioYuGi

Faye is 110% done atm

Lord Crusade

Does anybody really know?

Alacrity Fitzhugh

god i love this comic so much.

runrin

oh god shes such a cinnamon roll PROTECT MILLEFEUILLE

Tamara Macadam

Yes. It was a date. It's just that neither party realized it.

Bailey Tighe