“Babe, I am sorry, I overreacted, because I love you so much, because you are soooo cute and I want you all for myself…”
Iand it goes on and on in cycles until critical mass of “not okays” is reached…
I don’t think she is… yet. Now that he’s leaving? Oh, I bet she’s going to go off the deep end, become a stalker ex, find out he’s Analog, and join the Troll brigade.
And maybe have some of that serum as well and become a supervillain. 👀 Because obsessive narcs have been known to be self-destructive IRL.
Which could actually be interesting. The troll would be largely immune to her manipulation, frankly she’s not even int he same league. But to watch him “be manipulated” while all the time actually controlling her to piss off Ethan and Lucas? That’s a storyline.
While he was oblivious things were harmful but subtle, he was still being lured into danger. Now he’s escaping the danger, she’ll fight to keep him there. Not only is this far from over, this is where the dangerous part actually begins.
This is a big part of what people who say “why don’t abuse victims just leave” don’t understand.
Agreed, not only is this far from over, it’s actually the most dangerous part because if he doesn’t actually get away from her right now the door has just been opened to a much more extreme day-to-day.
This, 100%. Except a million times worse because this is a superhero universe, there’s Troll who is trying to get after him, and she has the perfect opportunity to gain superpowers of her own through Troll.
I don’t know about superpowers.
Troll is Tim’s version of The Joker, he looks… unusual, but other than that, as far as we can tell, is physically a regular human.
Eh…that is still to be determined. An unfortunate but common truth about abusive and controlling relationships is that victims frequently have an incredible capacity to rationalize not leaving the relationship. “Oh, it was really my fault.” “Oh, they’ve clearly been hurt before, so I just have to be patient.” “Oh, they’re a bit rough around the edges, but they can change!” “Oh, but it’s not always like that!” “Oh, but she says she loves me! So this is just her being afraid of losing me” “Oh but she apologized!” (To be clear, this one can genuinely be be progress, but… Read more »
Agreed, she’ll likely make some phony apology later and try and lure him back. Having realized she hasn’t quite gotten her hooks in deep enough to make him drop his long time friend.
It’s just the first of many break-ups, unfortunately, based on my experience. Now begins the apologies and over the top displays to win him back. Then the stalking. Him, his friends, his hobbies. Waking up with her in bed with him… This is, unfortunately, the GOOD times.
Night of Dragons
21 days ago
So is their entire rogue’s gallery gonna be angry unstable people who had messy social interactions with them? Lol.
(Just realized I wrote this in terms of a garage owner, not a dealership owner. Oh well.)
Specifically — probably not a lot. They couldn’t tell you what the exact chemical structures are or how they’d react with any given substance. But generally — probably more than most people. Especially when it comes to petroleum products. Don’t keep your brake fluid next to your chlorine tablets in the garage, kids!
You’d be surprised at who you’d think *should* know certain things, but don’t.
Having actually worked at a dealership as one of the mechanics (one that rhymes with toy versions of a certain green Star Wars character).. the service writers, and more than a few actual sales persons knew surprisingly little about how cars work. Led to more than a few conflicts with some of them when we had to break it to them that certain things were pretty much impossible, or would actually take way longer than they told customers.
Binary is a rather simple concept to grasp. Coding in it isnt the same as knowing theres only 2 choices 0 and 1.
Flars
21 days ago
Let’s see how Tim plays it out, my experience has been that at my “that’s not okay” she suddenly became the most mellow kitty and did a bunch of stuff for me that she never did before… just to return to her regular behavior a little later.
It’s a vicious circle that’s very difficult to break.
Anime-Mun
21 days ago
Wow, she actually thought she could turn him against essentially his brother. I know Lucas and Ethan don’t have biological relation but the way their friendship is Lucas might as well be his brother. Same with Scott but for other reasons. This shows full well that the closest of family is rarely blood. Also this situation is the reason the saying “Bros before Hos” exists. Nicole here wanted to monopolize Ethan’s time and not compromise on anything. Honestly I wouldn’t be surprised if he runs into one of Nicole’s ex boyfriends and we find that the whole “cheating” thing is… Read more »
I wouldn’t say “trying things” – as long as they’re supportive of your enjoyment, no couple needs to do literally everything together. Example: My wife isn’t golfing, I’m not going to the ballet. We have friends and family too, and I think it keeps things more balanced. We come together for the majority of activities, but it doesn’t have to be 100%, just reasonable. But yeah Nicole has only been around a few days? Weeks? While Lucas and Scott were Ethan’s main support when his sister died. They’re trauma bonded in a way that she’d have a tough time breaking.… Read more »
You know the phrase “blood is thicker than water”? Not many people know it’s a shortened (and twisted) version of “The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb”.
The bonds we forge in real life – be it in war or wherever – can be stronger than familial bonds. Lucas is most definitely a blood brother to Ethan.
Either that or she’ll somehow find out Ethan’s alter ego and end up joining forces with the Troll, because how dare Ethan hide something like that from her?
That’s 101 brainwashing behavior. Always check how far you can go. She now knows that she needs to make him more dependant on him before she can split him from Lucas.
It’s a constant switch between belittling and love bombing
I’d sooner expect a more elaborate guilt trip attempt over how sad Ethan made her, and how they can hopefully work together on being a better couple in the future.
And yeah, this isn’t over. Removing a barbed arrow always gets messy.
Last edited 21 days ago by GeorgeV
Nightdagger
21 days ago
I’m fucking proud of Ethan.
Now to see how this backfires.
Oyee
21 days ago
However surpising it is to me that Ethan is so mature about this conversation it’s also not. He has been consistently hinted at being at least moderately good at long-term romantic relationships and communication. What not with him having already been married once before the delivery girl and Nicole. Also I do like these “drama” parts. Not for the drama, but for them being a pretty plausible presentation of why some relationships go sideways and how it’s panning out for the guy. I definitely don’t feel them to be cringy, because I feel they play out rather naturally with Ethan… Read more »
Oh, you are correct, my bad. I think I got that mixed up with his sister
Ace5762
21 days ago
Attaboy
Apple Mackem
21 days ago
HE’S jealous? Wow. Projection if ever I’ve heard it right there. Besides anything else, to not so much jump as bound to the conclusion that there’s another woman shows a dire lack of trust.
In the words of the Lightning Seeds, Ethan, ‘put your foot down and drive…’
Robert
21 days ago
Oh, finally we can begin the manipulative stalker into restraining order story arc.
WereCatf
21 days ago
God, I despise her so much.
Faro
21 days ago
I just realized. She’s going to be the Harley Quinn for Trollface, isn’t she?
darkoneko
21 days ago
hahawow her gaslightning is getting worse
Paula
21 days ago
WeIl done, Ethan. I just wish she had been subtler. Toxic people, generally speaking, is much more insidious. This was a straight villain move.
Naustghoul
21 days ago
Oh do NOT for a minute think this is over. I have seen this a lot in the past (mine and others) he is in for a s&!t storm of manipulation, guilt tripping, and whatever we called it before it was gaslighting.
Pray for his save folder and online saves.
Omegarex24
20 days ago
Soo…the Harley to The Troll’s Joker? It’s all set up. Chemical vats, obsessional control, probably about to stalk Ethan.
Kenju
20 days ago
Watch her follow them and get sprayed with the Troll chems and become ‘The Toxic Ex’ or something like that lol
opesin
20 days ago
Sometimes insecurity is masked as toxicity
Danny
20 days ago
Okay, so, first: omg how did you describe my high school girlfriend? Second, totally a member of the troll army, and it’s gonna explode.
chargersfan
20 days ago
Am I the only one who noticed Ethan and Nicole’s clothes have changed?
This is presumably the same night as when we saw them just a few pages ago. The Troll’s message would seem to indicate it’s all happening in one day.
Lucas did say two pages ago “Ethan turned in early again.” It would seem that last night, Ethan left and went to play Valorant with Nicole, and this night is when Lucas found the Troll’s latest message.
Mr. Comment
20 days ago
Calling it now. Her kitchen knife will reveal that Ethan never lost his respawn power.
foducool
20 days ago
aw yiss, broke out of this spell
Baal
20 days ago
I am gonna laugh my butt off if he discovers he still has his re-spawn powers by Nicole being the one to kill him, not a supervillain. Yes, it would also be very disturbing and a terrible example of the ultimate danger of abusive relationships, but darkly funny nonetheless.
Del Cox
20 days ago
I’m sure I’m informing no one of this fact, but yeesh, you can’t even tell someone to make that choice about a vacuum cleaner and expect it to end well. Nicole is oblivious.
Kevin Greenbaum
20 days ago
All I can say about the ending of this one is thank god for patreon because waiting till monday like I normally do would frustrate me. I know I can just use that but it’s my safety net of moments like this where I really wanna know what happens sooner than later.
It never ends well
20 days ago
“Ethan, I’M PREGNANT!!!”
Nik
20 days ago
Aaand . . .
The refrigerator light goes on.
Omians
20 days ago
You have the Troll
now the new villain comes into play. The Controlling Stalking Ex.
Finvair
20 days ago
FINALLY he sees the problem. Way to go, bud! I’ve been the oblivious idiot on things like this enough times that its just so satisfying to see some bullet-dodging going on.
Cypher
20 days ago
Is it a sign that the troll is green as a dead yoshi, and she is wearing green today?
jonathan corbett
20 days ago
There are a LOT of women who think their man should like them and ONLY them. “You’re in a relationship with ME, dumbdumb! You better NOT need ANYONE else in your life, girl OR boy! Now get in line, before I have to PUT YOU ion line. Because NOBODY escapes from ME!!!”
Jeff
19 days ago
I gotta say, Congrats Tim on this traumatic story line. Look at all the people you’ve triggered with past relationship nightmares. We’re all a bunch of wounded ducklings here working through previous emotional damage… lol
Shona-SoF
19 days ago
Finally. And I do get that Ethan wasn’t completely blind. He was giving her a chance to show that she could grow. It’s sad that she couldn’t.
Hopefully she doesn’t pull some half-baked apology to get back in his good graces.
Crestlinger
19 days ago
Ahh so cathartic to see this escalate to those Worthy of being buried in the dirt vertical face down with a rare plant on top so the police don’t ask questions.
Robert 'CockRoach' Archer
18 days ago
So a thought occurred to me in a world where someone randomly pops out like this besides the theories of ‘are they cheating on me’ etc how many relationships i wonder in this world strained by one or even both couples having secret identities that neither reveals to the other? also wonder then how many are hero/villain couples and dont know it! Sorta like some weird DC OC fanfic material there lol
will scott
18 days ago
proof that deep down Ethan not an idiot and has a strong sense of family/righteousness.
will scott
18 days ago
too early to say finally i think. clear this is turning point on a major arc
lul
18 days ago
guess we’re gonna find out if ethan still has his powers or not
ears
18 days ago
> I’m not going to be the only one fighting for us.
Lady, you’re fighting him. You’re literally fighting the “us”, not for it.
Marvin
16 days ago
Oh! I’m curious if that little wakeup call has an impact that lasts.
24
Well! Glad to see that’s all cleared up and over. Certainly we won’t be hearing any more from Nicole. All nice and done.
You wish….
“Babe, I am sorry, I overreacted, because I love you so much, because you are soooo cute and I want you all for myself…”
Iand it goes on and on in cycles until critical mass of “not okays” is reached…
Or… A super-villain in the making.
I’ve been suspicious that shes been in league with the Troll the whole time.
Same! The timing of her appearance and relationship treatment with everything happening gave me sus tingles
I don’t think she is… yet. Now that he’s leaving? Oh, I bet she’s going to go off the deep end, become a stalker ex, find out he’s Analog, and join the Troll brigade.
And maybe have some of that serum as well and become a supervillain. 👀 Because obsessive narcs have been known to be self-destructive IRL.
Oh hell, is she going to be the Harley Quinn for the Troll?
That’s *exactly* what I’m suggesting.
Which could actually be interesting. The troll would be largely immune to her manipulation, frankly she’s not even int he same league. But to watch him “be manipulated” while all the time actually controlling her to piss off Ethan and Lucas? That’s a storyline.
Wait for her following him , finding their secret and being a problem in the fight with the troll…
Oof. Stay me or your secret identity is everywhere…
Nicole’s Harley Quinn to Troll’s Joker in the making?
Yes. That’s what I’m thinking.
Lol. That’s not how that works. Rejection just fuels their desire more.
90% chance she kills him.
Oh thank gawd.. Ethan finally woke up.
This is far from over.
While he was oblivious things were harmful but subtle, he was still being lured into danger. Now he’s escaping the danger, she’ll fight to keep him there. Not only is this far from over, this is where the dangerous part actually begins.
This is a big part of what people who say “why don’t abuse victims just leave” don’t understand.
Agreed, not only is this far from over, it’s actually the most dangerous part because if he doesn’t actually get away from her right now the door has just been opened to a much more extreme day-to-day.
This, 100%. Except a million times worse because this is a superhero universe, there’s Troll who is trying to get after him, and she has the perfect opportunity to gain superpowers of her own through Troll.
I don’t know about superpowers.
Troll is Tim’s version of The Joker, he looks… unusual, but other than that, as far as we can tell, is physically a regular human.
Sure, but you know what they say: the first step to solving a problem is recognizing that there *is* a problem.
Eh…that is still to be determined. An unfortunate but common truth about abusive and controlling relationships is that victims frequently have an incredible capacity to rationalize not leaving the relationship. “Oh, it was really my fault.” “Oh, they’ve clearly been hurt before, so I just have to be patient.” “Oh, they’re a bit rough around the edges, but they can change!” “Oh, but it’s not always like that!” “Oh, but she says she loves me! So this is just her being afraid of losing me” “Oh but she apologized!” (To be clear, this one can genuinely be be progress, but… Read more »
Agreed, she’ll likely make some phony apology later and try and lure him back. Having realized she hasn’t quite gotten her hooks in deep enough to make him drop his long time friend.
It’s just the first of many break-ups, unfortunately, based on my experience. Now begins the apologies and over the top displays to win him back. Then the stalking. Him, his friends, his hobbies. Waking up with her in bed with him… This is, unfortunately, the GOOD times.
So is their entire rogue’s gallery gonna be angry unstable people who had messy social interactions with them? Lol.
you mean the entitled handicapped kid that could hack reality and started stealing stuff because he felt he was owed?
That was surprisingly quick. After the BG3 he finally noticed in earnest, and I’m glad with such a big choice he’s woken up.
However, she might not let go.
Not that surprising when you consider all video games can trace their roots back to binary code.
Cars trace their roots back to chemical reactions, that doesn’t mean that driving makes me understand chemistry terms.
You also probably don’t run a car store.
How much do car store owners usually know about chemistry?
(Just realized I wrote this in terms of a garage owner, not a dealership owner. Oh well.)
Specifically — probably not a lot. They couldn’t tell you what the exact chemical structures are or how they’d react with any given substance. But generally — probably more than most people. Especially when it comes to petroleum products. Don’t keep your brake fluid next to your chlorine tablets in the garage, kids!
It varies by owner
Enough to get Teslas off their lots?
enough to be able to help with understanding why specific fluids do specific jobs and cant be interchanged without making your car cry chocolate shake
You’d be surprised at who you’d think *should* know certain things, but don’t.
Having actually worked at a dealership as one of the mechanics (one that rhymes with toy versions of a certain green Star Wars character).. the service writers, and more than a few actual sales persons knew surprisingly little about how cars work. Led to more than a few conflicts with some of them when we had to break it to them that certain things were pretty much impossible, or would actually take way longer than they told customers.
Ask any greasemonkey how much knowledge is hidden behind the glassy eyes and teeth veeers of car salesmen. Genius bar syndrome is real.
Can’t you just be proud of Ethan like the rest of us
Binary is a rather simple concept to grasp. Coding in it isnt the same as knowing theres only 2 choices 0 and 1.
Let’s see how Tim plays it out, my experience has been that at my “that’s not okay” she suddenly became the most mellow kitty and did a bunch of stuff for me that she never did before… just to return to her regular behavior a little later.
I’m sorry you experienced that.
Been there, experienced that.
It’s a vicious circle that’s very difficult to break.
Wow, she actually thought she could turn him against essentially his brother. I know Lucas and Ethan don’t have biological relation but the way their friendship is Lucas might as well be his brother. Same with Scott but for other reasons. This shows full well that the closest of family is rarely blood. Also this situation is the reason the saying “Bros before Hos” exists. Nicole here wanted to monopolize Ethan’s time and not compromise on anything. Honestly I wouldn’t be surprised if he runs into one of Nicole’s ex boyfriends and we find that the whole “cheating” thing is… Read more »
I wouldn’t say “trying things” – as long as they’re supportive of your enjoyment, no couple needs to do literally everything together. Example: My wife isn’t golfing, I’m not going to the ballet. We have friends and family too, and I think it keeps things more balanced. We come together for the majority of activities, but it doesn’t have to be 100%, just reasonable. But yeah Nicole has only been around a few days? Weeks? While Lucas and Scott were Ethan’s main support when his sister died. They’re trauma bonded in a way that she’d have a tough time breaking.… Read more »
You know the phrase “blood is thicker than water”? Not many people know it’s a shortened (and twisted) version of “The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb”.
The bonds we forge in real life – be it in war or wherever – can be stronger than familial bonds. Lucas is most definitely a blood brother to Ethan.
Friends are relationships you pick out yourselves. Family are people you are stuck with by pure chance.
You can be really close to family, but it’s not a necessity.
You guys do realize she’ll make a big apology with bells and whistles and Ethan will fall for it, right ?!
This aint over yet
Either that or she’ll somehow find out Ethan’s alter ego and end up joining forces with the Troll, because how dare Ethan hide something like that from her?
It ain’t over by a longshot.
That’s 101 brainwashing behavior. Always check how far you can go. She now knows that she needs to make him more dependant on him before she can split him from Lucas.
It’s a constant switch between belittling and love bombing
I’m not sure if apology is really her style.
I’d sooner expect a more elaborate guilt trip attempt over how sad Ethan made her, and how they can hopefully work together on being a better couple in the future.
And yeah, this isn’t over. Removing a barbed arrow always gets messy.
I’m fucking proud of Ethan.
Now to see how this backfires.
However surpising it is to me that Ethan is so mature about this conversation it’s also not. He has been consistently hinted at being at least moderately good at long-term romantic relationships and communication. What not with him having already been married once before the delivery girl and Nicole. Also I do like these “drama” parts. Not for the drama, but for them being a pretty plausible presentation of why some relationships go sideways and how it’s panning out for the guy. I definitely don’t feel them to be cringy, because I feel they play out rather naturally with Ethan… Read more »
I’m pretty sure you’re wrong about this.
Oh, you are correct, my bad. I think I got that mixed up with his sister
Attaboy
HE’S jealous? Wow. Projection if ever I’ve heard it right there. Besides anything else, to not so much jump as bound to the conclusion that there’s another woman shows a dire lack of trust.
In the words of the Lightning Seeds, Ethan, ‘put your foot down and drive…’
Oh, finally we can begin the manipulative stalker into restraining order story arc.
God, I despise her so much.
I just realized. She’s going to be the Harley Quinn for Trollface, isn’t she?
hahawow her gaslightning is getting worse
WeIl done, Ethan. I just wish she had been subtler. Toxic people, generally speaking, is much more insidious. This was a straight villain move.
Oh do NOT for a minute think this is over. I have seen this a lot in the past (mine and others) he is in for a s&!t storm of manipulation, guilt tripping, and whatever we called it before it was gaslighting.
Pray for his save folder and online saves.
Soo…the Harley to The Troll’s Joker? It’s all set up. Chemical vats, obsessional control, probably about to stalk Ethan.
Watch her follow them and get sprayed with the Troll chems and become ‘The Toxic Ex’ or something like that lol
Sometimes insecurity is masked as toxicity
Okay, so, first: omg how did you describe my high school girlfriend? Second, totally a member of the troll army, and it’s gonna explode.
Am I the only one who noticed Ethan and Nicole’s clothes have changed?
This is presumably the same night as when we saw them just a few pages ago. The Troll’s message would seem to indicate it’s all happening in one day.
Lucas did say two pages ago “Ethan turned in early again.” It would seem that last night, Ethan left and went to play Valorant with Nicole, and this night is when Lucas found the Troll’s latest message.
Calling it now. Her kitchen knife will reveal that Ethan never lost his respawn power.
aw yiss, broke out of this spell
I am gonna laugh my butt off if he discovers he still has his re-spawn powers by Nicole being the one to kill him, not a supervillain. Yes, it would also be very disturbing and a terrible example of the ultimate danger of abusive relationships, but darkly funny nonetheless.
I’m sure I’m informing no one of this fact, but yeesh, you can’t even tell someone to make that choice about a vacuum cleaner and expect it to end well. Nicole is oblivious.
All I can say about the ending of this one is thank god for patreon because waiting till monday like I normally do would frustrate me. I know I can just use that but it’s my safety net of moments like this where I really wanna know what happens sooner than later.
“Ethan, I’M PREGNANT!!!”
Aaand . . .
The refrigerator light goes on.
You have the Troll
now the new villain comes into play. The Controlling Stalking Ex.
FINALLY he sees the problem. Way to go, bud! I’ve been the oblivious idiot on things like this enough times that its just so satisfying to see some bullet-dodging going on.
Is it a sign that the troll is green as a dead yoshi, and she is wearing green today?
There are a LOT of women who think their man should like them and ONLY them. “You’re in a relationship with ME, dumbdumb! You better NOT need ANYONE else in your life, girl OR boy! Now get in line, before I have to PUT YOU ion line. Because NOBODY escapes from ME!!!”
I gotta say, Congrats Tim on this traumatic story line. Look at all the people you’ve triggered with past relationship nightmares. We’re all a bunch of wounded ducklings here working through previous emotional damage… lol
Finally. And I do get that Ethan wasn’t completely blind. He was giving her a chance to show that she could grow. It’s sad that she couldn’t.
Hopefully she doesn’t pull some half-baked apology to get back in his good graces.
Ahh so cathartic to see this escalate to those Worthy of being buried in the dirt vertical face down with a rare plant on top so the police don’t ask questions.
So a thought occurred to me in a world where someone randomly pops out like this besides the theories of ‘are they cheating on me’ etc how many relationships i wonder in this world strained by one or even both couples having secret identities that neither reveals to the other? also wonder then how many are hero/villain couples and dont know it! Sorta like some weird DC OC fanfic material there lol
proof that deep down Ethan not an idiot and has a strong sense of family/righteousness.
too early to say finally i think. clear this is turning point on a major arc
guess we’re gonna find out if ethan still has his powers or not
> I’m not going to be the only one fighting for us.
Lady, you’re fighting him. You’re literally fighting the “us”, not for it.
Oh! I’m curious if that little wakeup call has an impact that lasts.