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A Jericho Fan Fiction Archive
Hawkins is right, the is so much better than tv. I love this chapter. Sam was so cute, like he was on a sugar high. I loved the songs and all the craziness. Excellent job :)
I love this! First, because Heather and Jake are married. The way you have Beck and Emily acting is Hilarious. I loved how you had Gail actually running out of the medical center and into a police car to get away from Gray. And, that Stanley and Bill are acting like her Bodyguards in Bailey's. But, there is nothing that can beat a pregnant Mimi. I thought she would've hit Beck instead of slapping him. I loved all the craziness. :)
So many funny details in this chapter. Some of my favorite were
- Eric's declaration of imminent domain on the jukebox
- Grays' choice for a rather...um...unique gift for Gail
- Eric's EGG initials
- Emily alternately insulting her "friends" while also asking for their help in putting together a wedding
- the wedding reception snacks (jalapeno poppers and cream puffs...representative of the bride and groom, anyone?)
So, will our blissfully drunk couple actually go through with the nuptials? Will each finally get what s/he deserves? I look forward to finding out. :)
Oh boy! It looks like Beck and Emily are taking the matchmaking of the others to heart! What a funny chapter! I'll be back this weekend to comment more fully, but just let me say for now that I enjoyed it very much. :)
What an enjoyable story! I had the chance to read it several days ago, but things have been so hectic with work that I’ve not had the opportunity to remark until now.
This installment was leg-slapping hilarious. There’s nothing so fun as a little gentle mocking, and this story does a great job with pulling those quirks characters have, as well as the perceptions we have about the characters, and capitalizing on them.
The Gail/Gray subplot was entertaining—if for nothing else than to see Eric squirm.
Of course, the bulk of the story related to the attempted matchmaking (with a cameo appearance by Mr. Stealth himself, Hawkins) of Emily and Beck. I really enjoyed the lengths that the characters went to, and I found the dialogue to be so witty.
I’ve pulled out a few of my favorite parts:
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"So our goal is to make him," said Bill, grasping the pepper shaker in his hand, "think she's deep, and her," he held the salt shaker, "think he's sane."
And so the delicious irreverence begins. I loved this. And how perfect was it for these comments to come from Bill’s mouth? He’s something of a contrarian/comic relief.
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"Jake and Heather's wedding was not anyone's fault," said Gail firmly. "It's not something anyone is going to blamed for. You don't blame people for something good! So let's just focus on our task at hand. The girls are going to talk to Emily. I know you can do it," she sent her daughter-in-law an encouraging smile. "And the boys are going to talk to him." She nodded her head in Beck's direction, wincing slightly as the army officer let out a long-drawn out sniffle.
Too funny! That was my thought, too, so I was cheering on Gail.
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Eric shook his head, asking, "Team Yente?" Mary hid a smile.
Fiddler on the Roof?
As they embarked on their mission, it brought a smile to my face to see them trying to garner their courage and will to do what they didn’t particularly want to do but what would be the least of all evils.
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"They say they'll call and they don't, they say they'll feed your fish while you're in Mexico with your mom and you find them dead when you get back," proclaimed Mimi.
"They forget your birthday or they say you're the best and then they write it on the locker room wall," sighed Mary.
"They shut your dress in the car door or they dump you for your best friend," added Emily.
I loved how you wrote this, that each of the women in the process of dishing men, revealed something very much in keeping with their personalities. Granted, with this being a satire, it’s a caricatured version, but it’s the little details like this that make this story one of quality.
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As Emily regained her balance, Mimi leaned in to whisper, "You know, I'd resent that but I agree with part of her assessment. She really has plowed through the available choices in this town."
LOL. Yeah, let’s see. Jake, Roger, an attempt at Gray. It’s true that Emily’s choices are severely limited.
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The three men pretended to scoff in disbelief. "You can. You once commanded a whole company! You were a leader. You can take charge again," said Eric, clarifying quickly, "Of your own life, I mean."
I think it’s a good thing that I wasn’t drinking something when I read this. I would have been spewing liquid all over my computer! Of course, the funniest part to me was Eric’s addendum. Yes, Eric, please don’t give Beck any ideas of leading other people again. Yikes. We know how well that turned out last time.
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Emily seemed torn between amusement and suspicion. "Beck? The army man? The one you held secret meetings to talk about behind his back?"
"He was doing his job, I was doing mine," shrugged Mary, quickly searching for a way to further commit to her role. She hopped onto the stool beside Emily, swiveling to look at the Major. "He's a man in uniform. That's something."
Mimi had stepped towards the bar between them, leaning her elbow against it, one hand on her stomach. "He's strong. He's seen the world."
"Maybe," said Emily, her tone still indicating disbelief.
"Oh, come on, look at him!" said Mary, hoping Emily would follow her instructions and not see the expression on her own face as she forced out her next words. "He's got that - that smoldering thing going on!"
Beck did indeed look like he was feeling something intense as he clutched at his chest and squinted his eyes.
"Told you that spinach dip was iffy," Mimi whispered into her friend's ear. Mary widened her eyes at Mimi, who quickly said out loud, "Yeah, what a hunk!"
Mary and Mimi make a dangerous team, don’t they? They know just which strings to pull, and they’re playing Emily like she’s a marionette. Human nature is fascinating. Many people will claim that they don’t care what others think, when in truth, other people’s opinions are very important. Well, Emily certainly has never claimed to be in the “I don’t care” camp.” They’re smart to talk up Beck. Maybe if Emily hears enough good things, she’ll believe them.
The aside about the dip, though, was just priceless.
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"He really needs someone now. Think of how it'll feel, being needed. And then, when he lets you in, you can change him. You can help him be even better than he was before," Mary added.
Oh, yes, because women who go into relationships thinking they can change me are always so successful. ;)
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"You know what they say," Mary quickly picked up. "What you do when you get thrown off a horse."
"Sue the stables?" Mimi couldn't help whispering, adding "Yeah, you pick yourself up and get back on again!"
"But that's just it!" said Emily, seemingly pleased to finally discuss this with someone. "I can't get on again. She's taken my -"
"Not the same horse!" exclaimed Mary.
I loved this. Cute exchange!
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"Yeah," agreed Mimi. "That's the whole beauty of surviving bombs, war, and disease. Live through it, you might find yourself someone you never even thought to look for before."
This was so tongue-in-cheek. If I were in their situation, I don’t think that I would have a sense of humor about it, but seeing how this is satirical in nature, I thought it was hilarious.
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"Come on man, say it with me. I am a strong, confident man. I am a strong, confident man," Bill repeated.
For some reason, I’m having visions of John Edwards standing in front of the mirror to comb his hair for a 10 minute stretch trying to get every last strand in the right place.
Just the thought of Bill saying this like a mantra and attempting to give Beck a pep talk tickled my funny bone.
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Beck mused. "She looks familiar."
"Maybe because she's a contributing citizen often seen around town?" suggested Eric.
"She has a memorable mugshot?" came from Stanley.
LOL
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"And, she was one for following the rules if I ever did meet one. I can honestly say I never caught her in the hallway without a hall pass, not even once." Mrs. McVeigh nodded emphatically.
Stanley grinned as he whispered to Eric, "That's because she'd learned to forge every teacher's name by fourth grade!"
Oh goodness! Now they’re bringing in the big guns like Mrs. McVeigh and Sean! The dichotomy between the Emily they present to Beck and the real Emily was amusing. Wonder if/when Beck starts to find out about her, he’ll see the real her.
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"Mr. Hawkins, do you want to...dance?" asked Mary finally.
An amused look flashed over Hawkins' features as he took in her expression, and his eyes flitted over to the table that Mimi was subtly indicating.
"Don't you know he's married?" asked Emily, peering over her wine cooler to look at Mary. After a moment, she let out a laugh, throwing her head back. "Right, never mind."
Burn, Mary, burn! This was one of the rare occasions when I found myself cheering on Emily.
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"And that's only one side to him," Mimi continued. "He's got a sensitive side too. I remember back from that time...This one day, I was sitting outside the med centre, crying and wondering what was going on and where everyone was, and the major came over to me. I was expecting another reasonable offer," she grinned at Mary, "But, he offered me a stick of Juicy Fruit. He can really be very thoughtful."
LOL. I love the creativity here.
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"And you know, he really is a big teddy bear," broke in Stanley. "I heard from Jimmy, one time the major stopped the guys from driving their tank over a caterpillar -"
"She's saying something!"
"He's looking kind of mad."
"No, that's his intensely interested look," interjected Stanley.
With much prodding, it looks like the conspirators are going to get Emily and Beck to at least look at each other twice. Here’s to hoping that when they do, it won’t end in a complete ruination of everyone’s New Year’s Eve. Emily and Beck—well, they deserve each other.
Cute story! I’m looking forward to reading what else you have in store for us.
This really was a fun read! First of all I have to say that I liked how you included characters from both of your fanfics in this chapter. My favorite reference was to the Jericho Record and Lindsey Davis. It seemed appropriate to me that she seems to be the reporter of social events for the paper. I just loved that Heather and Jake were married and really enjoyed reading the details you provided about their wedding. I have to say I did enjoy to see Emily and Beck suffer in this chapter but I did feel sorry for Mary, Eric, Stanley and Mimi because they had to deal with them. I felt bad for them that nothing they tried seemed to worked.
I like the exaggerations of both Beck's and Emily's characters. It doesn't surprise me that Beck had a melt down and you did a very good exaggeration of it in your story. I find it oddly appropriate that the reason he had a break down was because Jake and Heather got married. His reaction to Jake and Heather's marriage was so over the top that I did not feel sorry for him at all. I don't blame Mimi for slapping him, like her I would definitely find it unsettling to have his hands on me like that.
I really like how you portrayed Emily in this story. Although her reaction was a little extreme (even for her), I thought, it was easy for me to picture being exactly that way. Good thing Mary was there to wrestle those darts that she threw haphazardly after glaring at probably every couple in the bar.
I liked the glimpse into Eric's and Mary's relationship in this part of the story. I liked how you let me know where there were at in their relationship in between the main events of the story. I also liked Mary's thoughtfulness in making an amaretto sour for Gail because she felt bad for her for having put up with Gray's pursuit of her.
I can't think of a more unlikely couple than Gail and Gray. I just laughed at the whole idea of Gray thinking he might have a chance with her. Even more funny was when Emily wanted to start something up with Gray and he told him he was fixed.
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"You're married. Someone wanted to marry you. You get to live happily ever after. Even if it is with Eric Green." With a nod, as if she were approving such a match, Emily held up a dart. "Married to Eric! Mary married Eric! And when you had a bouquet to throw, you threw it at her! But what a surprise, you're one of them now, those oh-so-happy Greens! I should'a known you'd stick together. So you can't talk, about problems!"
I found it ironic that Emily thought that Eric wasn't a good catch while she doesn't seem to be a good catch either (but I'm sure she thinks she is a great one!)
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"She's drunk too! Plus, she keeps trying to assassinate my customers with darts when she isn't busy spouting off anti-marriage rhetoric and being disgusted by post-bombs romance and vilifying the entire Green family. And, she's got a copy of the paper, too, only she's drawn a mustache on Heather and horns and a tail on Jake."
This line really made me laugh. It's something that I can imagine Emily doing!
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"Eric, you've got to do something," she insisted. "We don't have the Super Bowl or March Madness or NASCAR or the World Series anymore. We don't have golf anymore, even though, really, you and your Dad were the only ones who ever watched that. What we do have is New Year's. This is our biggest night," Mary reminded, wringing his hand between both of hers. "But as long as we've got these two here, being all mopey and mean and trying to kill people, we're never gonna do the business we should be doing. The business we need to be doing."
"Okay then," he declared, his expression hardening with determination. "I'll take care of it," he decided, shrugging out of his coat and handing it to his wife. Mary was right; sure, he was still deputy mayor, and some day when Gray Anderson died or retired, he'd probably get to take his place as Jericho's mayor, but what little economic security they had in this new world was all tied up in the tavern and they had to protect that.
I really liked this paragraph. It reminded me of all that was lost when the bombs went off and how important it was to hold on to what they still have.
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However, Eric couldn't help but feel a little sorry for Emily. He'd tried to make things up to April, and he felt that they had made their peace before she'd died, but still ... helping Emily come to terms with Jake's choice - even if it had been more than a year since their rather spectacular break-up - would be like doing a little extra penance ... kind of like taking out a small, karmic insurance policy.
I'd say that if Eric can help Emily come to terms with Jake's choice would be so difficult it would be more like taking out a large, karmic insurance policy rather than a small one!
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"Are you sure?" asked Mary. It amazed her every time she saw Stanley pick himself up and reach for happiness again whenever he got knocked down by life. After Emily's earlier ranting about happy couples, she wasn't sure it would be fair to subject Stanley to such negativity, as he was still grinning over his wife's adept handling of the incident.
I like the nod to Stanley in this paragraph with Mary's amazement of how Stanley picked himself up and reached for happiness when he was knocked now.
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"Why don't you just go back to your stupid happy wife and your stupid happy baby and your stupid happy life!" she spat.
Stanley blinked. For a moment it looked like he might become as irate as her, but instead, he smiled. "Think I will. Thanks. And you have a happy year."
He spun around and walked away, Emily looking on in shock for a moment before turning back to her empty glass.
I just loved this. It was exactly what Stanley would have said and done and just like Emily to be shocked at his reaction.
I'm really looking forward to finding out what the plan is.
I really enjoyed this first installment of Auld Lang Syne. I'm such a fan of details that make the characters seem real. The thoughts that Beck had about his family--particularly his daughter and her aversion to change--were alternately humorous. Humorous because they were so true to what kids do and sad considering that Beck's family is lost to him. This first part really helped to set the stage for his worsening condition as he considers all that is lost to him, thanks to a grainy, photocopied "newspaper" article written by a fifteen year old.
And as a Jake/Heather fan, let me just say how happy I am that they got married. Heehee. And is it bad of me to be glad that Beck and Emily suffered? Well, if it is, I guess I'm bad. Now, back to my thoughts on the chapter....
"You're married. Someone wanted to marry you. You get to live happily ever after. Even if it is with Eric Green." With a nod, as if she were approving such a match, Emily held up a dart. "Married to Eric! Mary married Eric! And when you had a bouquet to throw, you threw it at her! But what a surprise, you're one of them now, those oh-so-happy Greens! I should'a known you'd stick together. So you can't talk, about problems!"
I can't say that I was particularly surprised to see Emily wallow in self-pity. The sad thing is that she has quite a bit to offer someone if she weren't so unpleasant to be around. Her meltdown with Mary here had me cracking up. Guess she thinks Eric is no prize. LOL. Ironic considering that at the moment, Emily is not much of a prize, either.
Oh, and I love how Mary wrestled the darts from Emily after a near miss of other tavern patrons.
"She's drunk too! Plus, she keeps trying to assassinate my customers with darts when she isn't busy spouting off anti-marriage rhetoric and being disgusted by post-bombs romance and vilifying the entire Green family. And, she's got a copy of the paper, too, only she's drawn a mustache on Heather and horns and a tail on Jake."
LOL. I loved this! So witty, so funny.
Actually, there were several lines that I absolutely heehawed over. Mimi telling off Beck was another part that I enjoyed.
"You can stop crying over my friends' picture, stop creeping people out, and stop scaring away my friend's customers!"
And this was soooo something that I could see Stanley doing.
"Why don't you just go back to your stupid happy wife and your stupid happy baby and your stupid happy life!" she spat.
Stanley blinked. For a moment it looked like he might become as irate as her, but instead, he smiled. "Think I will. Thanks. And you have a happy year."
Gray's pursuit of Gail--as well as Eric's seething over the mayor's interest and Gail tried to dodge her would-be suitor--also cracked me up. Yet when Emily approached Gray to start something up with him, I just busted out laughing, particularly when Gray told her that his third wife insisted that he get fixed. Muahahaha.
I love this. It's outlandish, but it's quality outlandishness. I'm looking forward to Mary, et al. trying to plan and carry out (what I assume is) a match between Beck and Emily, two losers--*clear throat*--losers in love, that is.
This was great! I'll be back tomorrow with more detailed feedback, but for now, just let me say how much I enjoyed it. :)