“NOT.” Oh my freaking gods! I was *wondering* when the sixth word was going to make an appearance! **dies of laughter** You go, Bubbles! –excuse me, Captain Waters!
…..gotta say, though, I’ll remember Sweetheart’s response. My dad, who worked both as a government employee and as a random Jazz musician at varying (and occasionally simultaneous) times throughout his life, would be hugely amused.
I think Suzanne knows that – “the” sixth word, not “a” sixth word – but this is the first time she’s used it in this storyline. And it’s a perfect use – using her sixth word to negate the claim she only knows five words.
Actually yes, you did misread me; I was aware, and waiting for the sixth or seventh to show up. Better the sixth than the seventh, I suppose, considering Bubbles’ current level of payback if she gets piqued.
So, I went back through and checked. Even checked Nick’s blog just in case. But I didn’t find any mention of anyone telling him about Bubbles. He did hear her on the intercom at Annex One once, but he wasn’t there when Sweetheart suggested that Bubbles loan her the drone for the undercover mission at the Institute. And Bubbles was back at the safehouse when Nick picked up Dr. Lee and Shelby and Moustachio and Hitty on the Jersey Devil op. So this is indeed the first confirmed meeting between them.
Of course, Nick’s got sensors up the posthole, so I have no doubt he already figured it out, even if no one did tell him.
Let’s use it as a writing challenge. She’s an appliance, her vocabulary is limited to 5 (6, 7) words, make her an interesting and lovable character with a distinct personality and memorable interactions, GO!
When they say it can’t be done, just point them to SH.
Come to think of it, “visit Skin Horse” could be the answer to most assertions that some kind of comic writing can’t be done.
Also, I like how two of my favorite web comic characters from two of my favorite web comics are called Bubbles and are artificial beings that are very human in a good sense. Still, Bubbles from Questionable Content is cool, but this Bubbles is cooler.
With all Bubbles’s talk about “service” and “joy,” I kinda figured she would be Mrs. Two—that is, if they got married. What went on while she was offstage?
Was Ms. Waters’ speech habits inspired by “I am Groot”? I am aware that she has been doing this before the first Guardians movie came out, but I wonder if you got it from the comics. If not Groot, where did the idea come from?
Yeah, it well predates Groot’s entry onto the pop culture stage. It’s a classic gag that I’ve just always found funny. I may have first completely internalized it in my youth with the Librarian from the Discworld series.
But is she a romantic rival? Sweetheart knows that Bubbles dumped Unity, so I don’t think there’s any jealousy (but admittedly, I don’t understand women). Or is Sweetheart a little bitter because Bubbles hurt Unity’s feelings when they broke up?
That seems to be more what Sweetheart won’t admit. She’s always been protective of her, and she doesn’t seem to take too kindly when anyone does something that hurts — or even could hurt — Unity.
Sweetheart’s always been like this. It’s how she covers her underlying insecurities. She’s also always been very officious – I’m sure the mere thought of possible financial impropriety would set her on a witch hunt. When Tip defused the situation by getting Bubbles to confirm that she used her own money to purchase the ship, Sweetheart got defensive because she realized she had just embarrassed herself by implying impropriety where there was none.
I suspect Sweetheart probably suffers to some extent from imposter syndrome. She totally freaked out when Gavotte put her in charge of the team way back when. Then, ultimately, with Gavotte’s apparent demise, and Sweetheart as the heir apparent, she found herself in charge of a lot more than just one team. This would be a natural outgrowth of her innate tendency toward insecurity.
No doubt there was also some jealousy involved, since she knew Bubbles and Unity had dated for a little bit.
Oops, I thought Tip was the one who mentioned the stock payouts, but it appears to have been Shelby. In any case, it was an obvious attempt to deflect Sweetheart before she could dig the hole for herself any deeper, and make the situation even more awkward that it already was.
Right. I don’t think either the charities or Skin Horse (since AFAIK she does still work for SH — she just got transferred to the safehouse) have stock options. But she would have been wise to invest a healthy chunk of her winnings from Atlantic City, so I just assumed that was what Shelby was referring to.
Champagne? Sure. She (before she was Bubbles) was drinking wine at the Machine Union negotiations and in St. Charlie. Plus Bubbles had all those coffee dates with Unity. I know of at least once where we saw her with a cup in her hand.
Nick found out the hard way that the drone can’t handle food so well.
So everyone gets a complimentary parka. Except, of course, for Miss Factory-Installed Parka.
“NOT.” Oh my freaking gods! I was *wondering* when the sixth word was going to make an appearance! **dies of laughter** You go, Bubbles! –excuse me, Captain Waters!
…..gotta say, though, I’ll remember Sweetheart’s response. My dad, who worked both as a government employee and as a random Jazz musician at varying (and occasionally simultaneous) times throughout his life, would be hugely amused.
“Not” actually made its appearance quite some time ago. As did the seventh word, “destroy”.
I think Suzanne knows that – “the” sixth word, not “a” sixth word – but this is the first time she’s used it in this storyline. And it’s a perfect use – using her sixth word to negate the claim she only knows five words.
Could be. I admit I was pretty tired when I wrote that, so I may have misread her.
Actually yes, you did misread me; I was aware, and waiting for the sixth or seventh to show up. Better the sixth than the seventh, I suppose, considering Bubbles’ current level of payback if she gets piqued.
Oh, I forgot she had also learned “destroy.” I suppose she probably uses that one very sparingly.
When did that one happen?
At the Jersey safehouse.
http://skin-horse.com/comic/swiveled-in/
I just had a terrifying thought: Where’s Bubbles’s brain?
As an AI, she doesn’t actually have a brain. But whatever she does have was installed into the drone’s body by Dr. Lee.
Bugger. The comments keep discarding the link. One more try.
http://skin-horse.com/comic/tracking-enemy/
So… I guess someone must have told Nick about it eventually.
http://skin-horse.com/comic/soldiers-and-stuff/
(That’s probably explicitly in the canon somewhere.)
If so, I missed it, and I was watching for it, as I mentioned http://skin-horse.com/comic/soldiers-and-stuff/
So, I went back through and checked. Even checked Nick’s blog just in case. But I didn’t find any mention of anyone telling him about Bubbles. He did hear her on the intercom at Annex One once, but he wasn’t there when Sweetheart suggested that Bubbles loan her the drone for the undercover mission at the Institute. And Bubbles was back at the safehouse when Nick picked up Dr. Lee and Shelby and Moustachio and Hitty on the Jersey Devil op. So this is indeed the first confirmed meeting between them.
Of course, Nick’s got sensors up the posthole, so I have no doubt he already figured it out, even if no one did tell him.
I love how much Bubbles can get across with her limited vocab.
I love that Unity – of all people – can understand what Bubbles means when she talks.
http://skin-horse.com/comic/stuff/
I love how, even though she’s the ship’s Captain, she still has the mind of a water cooler, so she’s the one pouring the champagne.
Wine service is her only joy.
Let’s use it as a writing challenge. She’s an appliance, her vocabulary is limited to 5 (6, 7) words, make her an interesting and lovable character with a distinct personality and memorable interactions, GO!
When they say it can’t be done, just point them to SH.
Come to think of it, “visit Skin Horse” could be the answer to most assertions that some kind of comic writing can’t be done.
Y’know, that could be a very good Nanowrimo Dare.
I accept!
First, say: ‘”Impossible”? There’s an imagination-sucking parasite on your head and it’s starving!’
Then point them to the rest of SH.
Also, I like how two of my favorite web comic characters from two of my favorite web comics are called Bubbles and are artificial beings that are very human in a good sense. Still, Bubbles from Questionable Content is cool, but this Bubbles is cooler.
Not just cooler, but water cooler.
I wish they could meet. I bet Bubbles would LOVE access to a robotic community.
Er, SH Bubbles.
It’s “Ms.” Waters? So what happened in her relationship with Killbot Number Two?
Ms. doesn’t mean she’s not married, you’re thinking of Miss.
With all Bubbles’s talk about “service” and “joy,” I kinda figured she would be Mrs. Two—that is, if they got married. What went on while she was offstage?
Shaenon and or Jeff,
Was Ms. Waters’ speech habits inspired by “I am Groot”? I am aware that she has been doing this before the first Guardians movie came out, but I wonder if you got it from the comics. If not Groot, where did the idea come from?
Yeah, it well predates Groot’s entry onto the pop culture stage. It’s a classic gag that I’ve just always found funny. I may have first completely internalized it in my youth with the Librarian from the Discworld series.
Ook.
Geez, Sweetheart. Take the cattiness down a notch.
Yeah, you’re a dog.
She’s a romantic rival, even if Sweetheart won’t consciously admit it to herself.
(But what of Killbot? Well, she wasn’t along on that trip, so she might not know that Bubbles is (possibly) spoken for).
But is she a romantic rival? Sweetheart knows that Bubbles dumped Unity, so I don’t think there’s any jealousy (but admittedly, I don’t understand women). Or is Sweetheart a little bitter because Bubbles hurt Unity’s feelings when they broke up?
That seems to be more what Sweetheart won’t admit. She’s always been protective of her, and she doesn’t seem to take too kindly when anyone does something that hurts — or even could hurt — Unity.
Sweetheart’s always been like this. It’s how she covers her underlying insecurities. She’s also always been very officious – I’m sure the mere thought of possible financial impropriety would set her on a witch hunt. When Tip defused the situation by getting Bubbles to confirm that she used her own money to purchase the ship, Sweetheart got defensive because she realized she had just embarrassed herself by implying impropriety where there was none.
I suspect Sweetheart probably suffers to some extent from imposter syndrome. She totally freaked out when Gavotte put her in charge of the team way back when. Then, ultimately, with Gavotte’s apparent demise, and Sweetheart as the heir apparent, she found herself in charge of a lot more than just one team. This would be a natural outgrowth of her innate tendency toward insecurity.
No doubt there was also some jealousy involved, since she knew Bubbles and Unity had dated for a little bit.
Oops, I thought Tip was the one who mentioned the stock payouts, but it appears to have been Shelby. In any case, it was an obvious attempt to deflect Sweetheart before she could dig the hole for herself any deeper, and make the situation even more awkward that it already was.
Am I right in thinking that charities don’t actually make stock payouts? Perhaps Shelby meant something else.
She was filthy rich beforehand, remember?
Right. I don’t think either the charities or Skin Horse (since AFAIK she does still work for SH — she just got transferred to the safehouse) have stock options. But she would have been wise to invest a healthy chunk of her winnings from Atlantic City, so I just assumed that was what Shelby was referring to.
Sick burn, Bubs
The irony of a water cooler delivering a sick burn.
Scalding, if you will.
*And* she’s drinking champagne. Can the drone handle it?
Champagne? Sure. She (before she was Bubbles) was drinking wine at the Machine Union negotiations and in St. Charlie. Plus Bubbles had all those coffee dates with Unity. I know of at least once where we saw her with a cup in her hand.
Nick found out the hard way that the drone can’t handle food so well.
Heh, Bubbles is serving bubbly.
Yeah that’s my reason too.