Meanwhile, Steve Eats Cereal

Saame

So, just sitting here... lurking on the page... waiting for Jeph to post...

Joshua Roberts

Baye is Bae.

Joshua Roberts

I still can't believe we all missed out on the chance to call them "Baye".

Evelyn

More likely Melon will discover it as she eats her way through the empty cereal cartons...

I want a split strip, above, Steve munching away, and below, Faybles ... you get the idea....

Openness and connection between bared souls makes you feel like you’ve got a jar stuck on your head?

Jon Guyer

I want to know, if at any point one of them shouted "That's right, spell my name, bitch!"

Stephen Ray

I did kind of like the lips, but as I didn't notice their departure I can't exactly say they made much of a difference. Incidentally, thanks for sending me back on a mini archive trawl, because I've been thinking about this foreshadowing strip <a href="http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=3605" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=3605</a> which if I recall correctly, I had somehow managed to not twig to what Claire was hinting the first time around.

Mark

I love the last two panels so much.

They've come a ways: <a href="http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=3003" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=3003</a>

erutan

Pop quiz - lips or no lips? On re-reading the Faybles arc, I noticed Jeph stopped drawing lips (again!) about 100 strips ago. I like the characters without - like Murphy-Veigelt says, the eyes have it.

The comic's been a study in expressive eyes lately.

Griffon

Well, at least he MENTIONED Steve eating cereal. I'm sure he'll get around to it... eventually.

awgiedawgie

I have to admit I was actually looking forward to Steve eatin' cereal. I am thrilled with Faybles but the girls need their privacy.

Rebecca

Noooo!!!!!!!!!!! How dare you Jeph! I saw the title in my inbox and got so excited that we were finally going to see STEVE EATING CEREAL! And then yo do this. How could you?

Alex Borders

"Also, if a helicopter disrespects you I will strongly object... as in, I will object. And I am strong."

Bagge

Both of you have travelled long hard roads to move on from things. Travelling a long road *toward* something might not be as difficult as you fear.

Thomas Boys

I'm sort of hoping that this arc ends with Bubbles hugging Faye and saying that "I can't promise but, as long as it is up to me, we're going to be alright."

Ben Russell-Gough

Yes. Everything considered, she is holding up exceptionally good. Given her insecurities with close people leaving (dad), moving on (Marten), betraying (Sven), just being "not the one" (Angus) and uncomfortably changing with time (Dora), she's handling the situation much better than she could have been.

Evgeniy Semyonov

It doesn't help that she didn't really HAVE a relationship with Sven and that Angus actively tried to avoid these questions through humour (probably feeling no more at ease with them than Faye did).

Ben Russell-Gough

The first time she met Marten, Bubbles was a walking stack of social anxieties and was so scared of him and the party that awaited her on the other side of the door that it was taking all her emotional strength not to run away at 'hello'.

Ben Russell-Gough

That's the thing about every high - There's the down afterwards to deal with. That said, I can't blame Faye for her fears: There is no doubt that the intensity of this has caught her unprepared and it's enough for frighten or overwhelm anyone.

Ben Russell-Gough

*Now* Bubbles likes him! First time they met she picked him up by the neck!

Marc Pengryffyn

Melon snuck in through the tunnel and stole his BREAD supply. For Roko. In case.

You've been just ripping out my heart like this is a game of mortal kombat, Jeff

Stoodmuffin

but you're right

Stoodmuffin

Hair-down Bubbles is best Bubbles don’t @ me.

Populuxe

Seeing as how Faye was never so passionate with Sven or Angus I'd say there's definitely something here and she should fuckin go for it.

Brent Catherman

Yes, yes, but what about Steve? Did he buy new cereals or did Melon eat it all? Draaaaaama

Bagge

Loved the misdirection in the title, Jeph!

Andrew Mitchell

Please make this happen Jeph!

Andrew Mitchell

Love your new avatar. :)

Andrew Mitchell

I said the same thing last month!

Grace Kieser

I really was looking forward to a comic about Steve ^^

You guys, I have to share this because I think you'll understand. Today my wife sent me this text. There's a spiderling on my phone. And I teared up thinking of how she's actually picked up some of my love of spiders through osmosis, and of how much I love her. And I know that Bubbles and Faye are the reason I teared up, because I've been tearing up every goddamn time I look at this strip or even think about it, especially this exchange: "Is that why you checked for my armor?" "I-I was scared you left. I knew you wouldn't go anywhere without it." My wife and I have experienced loss during the last three or four years that has broken my heart. I've been numb and sad. And a big part of why the story of Bubbles and Faye has me tearing up is that it resonates with our relationship. This comic strip has gotten through some of my sadness and numbness and helped me remember how much I love her and why I fell in love with her in the first place. We were, and continue to be, what the other needed. And she knows I'm not going anywhere. And I know I don't need my armor with her. Goddamn, I've never felt this way about a piece of art before. I feel like this is my chick flick, you know?

Ol' Firebones

Founding member, Rubenesque Robots Appreciation Society

Olivia Irene

“Fuckin’ go for it” is the official “there ain’t no gettin’ offa this train we’re on” of Faybles.

Will Weaver

Fuck n go for it

Julia Allen-Hesse

The way Bubbles holds her arms in front of her certainly works to keep the comic PG-13, but it also has the advantage of making her look like she's trying to make herself look smaller and less intimidating, both physically and emotionally. Making herself less scary is exactly the response I would expect her to give to Faye's "this is scary."

Populuxe

Want Bubbles Poster (a-natural)

Yes. They did indeed do the fuckin part.

Dylan T

Now this makes me feel like a cat who found a big open jar of sour cream. Not because of physical nudity, but because of openness and connection between their bared souls. Thanks, Jeph, this (again) exceeded my expectations and (again) had me update my definition of favorite strip of this story arc. Maybe even of whole QC.

Evgeniy Semyonov

Why did I wait so long to join Patreon? Getting to see these early has been the highlight of my week!

Michael Altarriba

I'm savoring the through of a strip with just Marten and Bubbles hanging out on the couch. Bubbles looks thoughtful, turns to him and delivers a monologue about how she's sorry she started their relationship by physically intimidating/assaulting him, and ending with her appreciation and awareness that, without his love and support, Faye wouldn't have been capable of entering into their relationship. And they hug, and Marten is totally unafraid.

Ol' Firebones

Meanwhile, Steve has been crushed under a mountain of empty Horsey-O's boxes. His mangled body waits for Martin to discover it. His coffin will be a giant cereal bowl, with a spoon as a headstone.

Somehow I think he'd find a Bubbles Bear Hug pretty intimidating all the same

Olivia Irene

Fuckin' go for it!

Gary Walker

Yay, Marten will no longer assume Bubbles wants to crush him like an ant

MikeT

Faye's expression in the 5th panel is wonderful.

Bruce Steinberg

Many hetro couples don't have a clue what they are doing the first time yet figure it out.

OK, stupid question, if Faye's never been with a woman before, how did she know what to do? Has Bubbles been sexual with ... anyone before? I mean I doubt that they were having crazy passionate makeouts, got naked, then googled "human woman robot woman sex how" .. although now that I think of it, all the awkward fails and consequential giggles would be amusing to watch.

Unanimous D

"the creature"? Did you get that from the Aubrey/Maturin novels, by any chance?

Ol' Firebones

Indeed, fuckin go for it buddy.

I would suspect Bubbles has enough self control to avoid major damage. Cracked ribs at worst...

Boob smoosh measured in metric tons... the girl's a champion smoosher.

Noise

Enamored and unarmored. I do not deserve to see anything so beautiful as this, but I understand that Jeph is using nudity to convey emotional openness and its concomitant vulnerability. (And also to practice drawing knees, the creature.) I will let myself look one more time and go away.

More bed-head smiling Bubbles please!

She was exceptionally adorable more or less from the start.

Ol' Firebones

Awwww! I was *just* thinking we were due for a strip where Bubbles expresses her appreciation for Marten. 😄

Ol' Firebones

Hard Same

Readergeek

DAMN YOUR MISCHEVIOUS TITLE also fuck yeah Faye go for it

R L

Yeah, putting that genie back in the bottle would be easier said than done.

Mitchell Sealy

Things I didn't know I needed in my life: Bubbles in full-on "Draw me like one of your French girls" pose

Olivia Irene

This storyline really brings a tear to my eye. And was Bubbles ALWAYS this adorable or have you just been slipping in more and more cute all subtle like?

Voltaire has your back. <a href="https://youtu.be/odHivt77qkk" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/odHivt77qkk</a>

5099 5618

This is one of the realest relationship conversations I've seen Faye have.

Jeepers, I am not used to these early posts... Now I gotta wait until Saturday night. But, YAY!!

Shawn K. Younkin

Bubbles is gonna crush Marty with a hug.

Joshua Roberts

Somehow I feel like the phrase "fully functional" needs to be expressed here.

Nobilis Reed (personal)

They're good for each other and their friends support them. Whatever the future holds, I think it's better they face it together.

Diptych

We like Marten too, Bubs

I am feeling weirdly conflicted about this comic.... In one hand, plot progression, and more Faybles! But on the other hand, I was a little disappointed when I opened up the comic after seeing the title and not seeing Steve eat cereal... Jeph, how you're dealing with this in a way that in no way follows past progressions is messing with me! I don't know how to feel about things that I've been waiting to see for gods knows how long now!!!!

Julienne Ignace

It's good advice, their are risks in everything but they are practically already lovers all they need to do is accept

Kyle Major

Jeph you are one magnificent bastard with that title

Lord Crusade

Listen to the man, Faybles! Marten is very wise. Well, this time, anyway.

Celine Chamberlin

I am half disappointed and half happy he didn't cut to Steve eating cereal.

Scott Vogel

Oh, you! *punch*

fixxnfoxy

SMOOSH

Operation Brownie Pockets is a free game you play in real life

That title scared me

Cody Renton

Jeph, you’re so evil. And I’m so damn happy.

Will Weaver