Nitty-Gritty Dirty Little Freaks
What? It's on the radio right now (OMG I LOVE YOU RADIO. MOST OF THE TIME). And it kinda-sorta fits...don't you agree?
Anyway. Author's note nao.
Jackie is around ten in this flashback. Yes, she has a Prince Charming doll. Yes, the movie Blossom and Big Sis Amanda were watching MIGHT HAVE BEEN Moulin Rouge. Yes, she's a total closet romantic. As a closet romantic until I was about fourteen, I know this (how do I know? Because when I was fourteen I was finally comfortable admitting in public I thought certain guys and movie actors were attractive to me. Unless I got my definition wrong...?). Does it come out in writing as well as I would like? Unfortunately, I don't think it does. Urk.
Cheerful Brick usually means bad news. In this case, I'd say he was just trying to really wake the Gals up and psych them out a little. Get them a little more paranoid, a little more aware, a little more focused. Either way, it was great fun. Jezebel's "space gnomes" line? I totally said that when I was rudely awoken in a similar manner. Except it wasn't a Cthulhu doll (although I want one dearly). Janey's sleeping habits? My brother, almost exactly. If we can't find him, chances are he's conked out under his bed. He's fallen asleep under there several times and been totally unaware until he got dragged out.
Remember the uniforms. Remember the absent Professor. Do the math.
Okay, I'm, like, completely in fits about the first bank robbing scene. It's so much cooler in my head than I managed to get down on paper; but the things I really wanted to capture were A) Jackie's sense of grandiose speech-making, B) the Gals' invincibility (at least towards man-made non-Chemical or Antidote X weaponry), and C) Jezzie's rather sadistic attitude when under attack by someONE and not someTHING. Plus, I wanted an excuse to showcase their strength; Jackie pinching the gun shut is one of those little details that makes me shiver every time.
The old lady getting mugged. Classic. No Gangreen Gang this time, but they may or may not show up later; I'm undecided. Definitely they'll be around in the sequel that I'm NOT PLANNING OUT BECAUSE I'M FOCUSING ON THIS STORY RIGHT NOW....
The monster. It might surprise you that creating monsters is harder than it looks. This particular piece of work I knew had to be special, something a little freaky that is kinda made of bits of PPG Canon monsters and a little dash of my own Quilly Juice. I'm quite proud of it. His name is Phillip. He was very proud that he was the first to be tested against the Gals. He was welcomed back with a hero's honors. Obviously his energy sphere and its generating capabilities are a formidable defense in and of itself, but Phil needed a little extra juice for those rare occasions when someone broke his shield and left his weakling little body defenseless. Hence the sonic scream (though I can assure you it's nowhere near the Girls, Boys, Gals, or other assorted offspring's). I have this thing in my head where the offpsring, the Gals in particular, aren't hurt by much except when Chemical or Antidote X are present in some way, shape, or form. For instance, the bullets? Pinged right off. Didn't make a dent. The lasers? Put Jackie in a world of hurt for a few hours. Maybe everyone's like that and I'm overthinking this, I dunno.
Moar Duke equals moar cheesy dialogue and a little more character development. The wonderful person on FFN made the observation that Jackie is mean. This is true. She grew up with Brick, for pete's sake. By association Jackie has her mean moments. She can also be stubborn and unreasonable, but remember that closet romantic part of her. Once you crack her open, she melts. Duke is getting closer to that gooey center. I actually really like where Duke and Jackie are going; Duke has got to be one of my favorite guy characters so far. PS JACKIE'S CLOGGED INBOX IS SOMETHING TO REMEMBER. And if you think she's being watery-kneed and melty right now, just wait. It gets better.
And, AND, Hermeown, She Who Is Most Awesome and Lets Me Beta Her Wonderful Fic Haunted and Once Worked a McJob, caught my Big Mac goof. So I fixed it. It is now properly packaged in a box. I am slightly hungry...Jackie's order is what I usually get.
So. Stuff later. Next chapter may or may not shock you...depends on how much you like Janey. And Rob. And a new guy who is even more Gary Stu than Duke Morbucks, if you can believe it (yes, I am good enough at what I do to not make a Gary Stu by accident. Come on now). UNTIL NEXT TIIIIIIIIIME.
On an unrelated note, I saw Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides yesterday. Despite a few minor blegh moments, I really enjoyed it. If they stop there, my life will be complete. :D (Seriously, one more would be overkill unless they make it UBER AWESOMENESS NO OTHER PIRATE MOVIE COMPARES.)
On yet another unrelated note, possibly a Him playlist from me, seeing as how we are getting closer to the time when the dear old thing will make his debut appearance in Quilly writing. You may enjoy it. :D