Probably That Second One, Yeah

It's probably just an autopilot mode for that backpack kid dance aka the Money Dance ;-)

Natalie Wagner

Seems a little uncharacteristic of Faye, but then, she is still bubbling over with new relationship energy (pun intended :D)

David Howe

Love the little Claire and Faye dialog at the end :3

Abhimat Gautam

I have to admit... I figured he was just an asshole.

David H. Adler

It’s ok, Bubbles. I’ve had to build a bed frame from scratch after an evening of extracurriculars. #HighFive

Lightsabr2

I just now noticed that Bubbles is wearing Faye's shirt and it's such a cute girlfriend thing <3

Smuggles.

Thomas Boys

Agreed!

Matt Grayson

Though I have a hard time imagining that Bubbles isn't upset, I like your interpretation. I am also apprehensive about how Faye will "be dumb and weird and fuck up a lot". There will be tension between "I'm used to havin' her to myself" and "I just want Bubs to be happy". As Bubbles comes out of her shell, Faye's fear of people leaving her will crop up. I suspect that will be the main problem they will have to deal with. <a href="http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=3664" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=3664</a>

Ol' Firebones

I'm getting the impression that Faye's reaction is "Holy crap, she's even more awesome than I thought!"

Ack

Bullying is all about power. The reason it's hard to fight bullying back is because usually the victim bears no power against the bully. That is not the case between them two. Bubbles clearly is on the powerful side of that equation, so it doesn't affect her heavily. It is annoying, but easy to dismiss by her.

Patty

Bubbles has reclaimed the landscape between fume and destroy. She fought back with appropriate force and was not upset by the experience. The big test for Faye is that this isn’t exactly the Bubbles she’d fallen in love with. I am massively relieved by her final panel reaction. It could have been worse.

Matt Grayson

And the necessary comment on Bubbles in that last panel... Smug Bubbles is smug. I shall go home now, occifer Raccoon.

Bubbles is an AI, like Pintsize. She likely understands him on a level humans cannot. It could make a difference on how she feels.

Churchill (formerly TeaBear)

Not from a religious aspect, but from a quantum view of reality, you can argue that humans are, too. It is said that, on the quantum level, the Universe acts as though it has intelligence, favoring certain outcomes over others when it comes to matters that should be random chance.

Churchill (formerly TeaBear)

I think I would be bothered if *I* were in Bubbles' situation, but this seems like one of those cases where Bubbles is a very different person than I am. I find conflict of any sort to be very traumatic, but my take is that Bubbles avoids conflicts to be polite but has no problem engaging once she's made the decision that conflict is necessary. Which makes sense to me, for an AI that wanted to serve in the military. "Don't fight unless you have to, but if you do fight, do it well, and move on with your life when the fighting is over."

I'm curious as to whether anyone else is bothered by this strip. I've been having a hard time putting my finger on why I feel so unsettled. I think it's because I'm projecting my own history onto Bubbles. In my experience, confrontations with bullies and assholes leave me feeling toxic, no matter how well they go. Even if I feel like I "won", no one won. I was left roiling inside, and I feel like Bubbles must be roiling too. Probably just me.

Ol' Firebones

Sorry, Ma'am, but ever since the 28th Amendment was ratified, all the AI Companion matching services have been closed down as a violation of laws against sentient slavery. If you're really interested in getting an AI friend, may I recommend you go to Grindr or some other friend/date-finder site?

Ben Russell-Gough

Perhaps the most surprising thing about this strip is that he calls her "ma'am"! She sure made an impression.

Ol' Firebones

She's said that she thinks that Marten was 'lucky' for having a relationship with Dora but that can be taken several ways.

Ben Russell-Gough

One espresso, coming up!

David Paul

Hey, pardon my wondering... do we know if Claire's into girls? I can't recall if it's been mentioned for sure.

Diptych

It would be weird if AI's DID think exactly like humans. We are the (confused) product of Evolution. They are the product of Intelligent Design... (Please don't let this start a firestorm.)

Am I the only one who thinks that this is a good example of how AIs don't think like humans? Bubbles and Pintsize seem to have said something to each other in these past two strips that a human can't interpret from the same words!

Ben Russell-Gough

If so, she might have replied to Claire: “you have no idea” :)

Andrew

FAYE! We gotta know... Did Bubbles do that thing with her hips? <a href="http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=3725" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=3725</a>

Actually, I'm not expecting Faye to wear Angry Bear again. Why? "It looks better on her!"

Ben Russell-Gough

That was pretty well played by Pintsize too! It's easy to forget just what a skilled actor he is and just how many layers of illusion he carries around with him. Never make the mistake of believing that you have Pintsize all figured out! It's a sign of how far Claire and Faye have come that they now feel able to gush together when, previously, Faye could barely tolerate Claire's presence and Claire was constantly wrestling with her for social dominance (although very unsuccessfully).

Ben Russell-Gough

Huh? Marten says "That was impressive". It's Faye who replies to Claire with "I know".

Jim and Rachel Trigg

Here's hoping she does the same to the next pack of bigoted teenagers.

Brent Catherman

I'm mentally paralleling Marten's cheerful "I know" to Claire being a dork, now reversed to Faye's girlfriend being a cool badass ^_^ It is a good image.

Cole Blackblood

That's dangerously close to a squeee, Claire

Bagge

Standard doorways in the US are 6'8". Bubbles' looks to be an inch or so shy of that door. That's make the rest about average sized.

Grace Kieser

I expect that is exactly how he wants it.

Ian Wolfe

So, I'm curious -- is Marten like 5ft tall? And Claire and Faye like 4'9"? Or is that just an exceptionally tall doorway?

Brad Knowles

One day, he will have his revenge: <a href="http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2126" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2126</a>

Captain Button

It's wonderful, that's what it is.

Diptych

I can never know exactly what to expect from Pintsize.

*Tannhauser

Abhayakara

She has that new robot girlfriend smell too! (smells like wd-40 and ky jelly)

Gary Walker

“Ta.” Love it.

Will Weaver

I guess he figured it was safe now that there wasn't going to be any blood/coolant/shrapnel-shed.

kaitou

If Pintsize, whose head is hard, can have facial expressions, then Bubbles can have variable seams. Seems fair...

Matt Grayson

Hey! Martin changed his shirt. :D

Joseph McGrath

Something odd and fairly pedantic just started bugging me. For a long time, I assumed those were physical seams at Bubbles's (Bubbles' ?) leg joints like the one at the base of her neck, but learned from 3747 that they are not. Which tells me that she wears pants that have been very oddly constructed.

Dave Miller

Hello, I'm calling to inquire as to where I can find out how to apply to find an AI companion similar to Bubbles. What's that? You say she's one-of-a-kind? And that no other AI could ever come close to her? Yes, I understand, she really is quite unique. Thank you for your time.

Celine Chamberlin

I think, judging from past comics, he's a bit more durable than he seems.

Chuck Dee

Bubbles has seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. She watched c-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser Gate.

Kevin Hicks

I love how Pintsize respects Bubbles' verbal ass-kickery. :)

Bruce Steinberg

I do wonder how well Pintsize would manage the landing after a solid six foot fall; probably not at all well.

I confess, I wasn’t sure how cool Faye would be with the more assertive Bubbles. Glad to see, as you say, Happy Faye

Matt Grayson

I love Happy Faye in the last panel so much!

Meredith Roman

Um. Bubbles’ eyes in the first frame are kinda freakin’ me out. O_o

Jason Rock

Next time Faye puts on her favorite shirt, the sleeves are gonna be droopin' from having had to deal with Bubbles' shoulders.

Bubbles is the only romantic partner who can keep up with Faye, and vice versa.

Populuxe

Well played to you too, Pintsize. Now I don't know whether to pity you or not. ...wait, when did you become House?

darklion

Claire and Faye agreeing and smiling about something!? WHAT IS THIS!?

Nicholas Lopez