I have so much cooking to do today

[essbeejay]

Time for my weekly distraction from rl! Hm, where's TEF at now? Ch7 is in round 2 of beta and ch7a is back with me for editing. I suspect I'll be making big edits to ch7a. As always, I've been delaying work on TEF, which makes me go "Grrr self" but I have been super-rl-productive today so I feel less torn up about it than I usually do! Part of the reason may be because the other night I managed to make BIG IMPORTANT NOTES about two BIG IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS that will happen in the last chapter. The ending's been weighing heavy on my mind recently (even though I've still got 7 giant ass chapters to write before I actually get there), so it gave me a great sense of relief to get something down on paper for it. At least I have a starting point now!

Here, have another TEF trivia post. I believe we're on chapter 4?

Did you seriously already forget about that guy from the basketball team? Because that literally happened, like, five seconds ago.

I fucking love Robin, you guys

• Blossom started, her jaw dropping. "Oh my God. Prom. I totally forgot." - You could potentially argue that I nearly forgot about Prom in TEF myself. The truth is I had plans to put Prom in there (and this scene was written early on, before most of the fic) but didn't actually set it up in the previous chapter. I think it worked out since there's too damn much going on in this thing anyway. Besides, I like that we get to be reminded about Prom, just like Blossom.
• "Oh, come off it," Blossom chided. - I didn't catch this any time at all when I was revising, but reading over it now I'm surprised that I haven't been called out on the very British phrasing here.
• "I can think of a couple dozen guys who've got you on their list," Robin commented casually, and made a noncommittal wave of her hand behind Blossom. "Like Kris, for instance..." - Okay guys believe it or not I had totally forgotten about the super gay hairdresser Kris I'd written in "A Skirt for Sunday Evening" until mathkid pointed it out. I left it the same because, hey, different character, and also because I'm lazy at coming up with names. Also because I like the name Kris spelled with a K.
• A couple of girls sitting near the door called out, "Hey, Brick!" as he passed, and he met their eyes briefly and twitched his lips in a small semblance of a grin. - I know I wrote this and all, but I always look back at this and go, "But would he really bother looking? Really?"
• "I don't know what I'd do without a free block," Buttercup declared with a contented sigh, perched cross-legged on the end of a table in Townsville Mall's food court. - Buttercup and the Boys have free blocks. Bubbles and Blossom do not. Maybe next time I do a trivia post I'll post the class schedules I worked out for everybody.
• "Guys, they're doing a zombie movie marathon this Saturday by the cemetery," Floyd said excitedly. - This is based on the Cinespia Cemetery Screenings they do in L.A.. No, seriously.
• ...that band The Fosters are coming to town... - One of my little references to McCracken's second show, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends.
• "It's an old kung-fu movie from the seventies," Lloyd interjected, "dubbed over by the audience." - This is a combination of two things - what was formerly known as Kung Fu Theatre at the Alamo Drafthouse based in Austin, TX, and the Hentai Dubbing event that occasionally pops up at anime conventions. Which, contrary to what my personality and nature may imply, I have not actually attended. My otaku friend assures me it is hilarious. I know no one believes me.
• Even if he'd been angry at the time, Mitch never should've told her that they liked her. - This is not saying anything against guys, but I feel like if you're a girl who had guy friends in high school, you always eventually find out that every one of those guys you hung out with on a regular basis had a crush on you at some point.
• She kept her gaze level as she reached for Butch's soda, popped the lid off to sniff at it, then claimed it as her own, seconds before a triumphant Butch reappeared. - I gotta be honest, I have no fucking clue why I made Buttercup smell Butch's soda. I just thought it was funny. Every time I read it I laugh and go "Why the fuck is she doing that? GOD BUTTERCUP YOU'RE SO WEIRD." (It's probably because she wants to make sure it's not drugged or spiked, knowing Butch.)
• Based on his school activities, he would have a good deal of experience with speaking to a crowd, Blossom reflected. - This was originally a really boring scene; basically all Kris did was ask and Blossom said "Let me think about it." Oh and they flirted. AND IT WAS HORRIBLE. (Another scene that was written early, and one that definitely needed work.) Team Awesome set me straight and Blossom wound up stepping up and getting all hyper-analytical. I love it; it's probably one of my favorite scenes of this chapter now. I love my betas ♥
• "Eeeeyah!" Then a WHOOSH, followed by 110 pounds of superpowered teenager plowing into Blossom at full speed. - 110 pounds! Damn I made Bubbles a small girl.
• Blossom turned and was met with a very cross Principal Keane staring them all down – a magnificent feat for a woman that just came up to Blossom's chin. - Originally, waaaaaay back, I thought about making Blossom a tall girl. I wound up leaving the issue of her height alone because Brick is supposed to be taller than the average guy, and the taller Blossom got the taller Brick would've had to be, and then that would just be silly, two freakishly tall super-powered teenagers walking around and, you know, probably knocking things over with their long clumsy limbs, Brick especially, so I decided to kill the beanstalks and just let it be. Also, I liked the scene between them later at Prom too much.
• He was a jerk. A complete, utter, jerk. And she would never even think of being interested, not in a million years. - The original line went something like: He was a jerk. He didn’t deserve her. And, come to think of it, the only reason she wished he had asked was so she could tell him so straight to his face. I still miss the rhythm of the line, but Blossom wasn't at this point yet wrt Brick and it needed the edit. (Once again, thank the betas.)
• She stood at the windows for a moment, enjoying the warmth of the afternoon sun and the view of the sky as it started to redden, setting itself on fire at the edge of the world. After a few protracted glances at it, Buttercup took a deep breath and wandered over to the closet. - I love Buttercup so much, you guys. I love her so freaking much. And I love how this scene came out but at the same time I wish it had come out ten times better, because that is how much I love her.
• "I made it to the second round of Melody auditions!" - LYNNE IS NOW OFFICIALLY CHANGED TO MELODY, and again, thank xxlonelyxgrlxx for the catch! Now. Melody is referring to Ariel's daughter from Disney's Little Mermaid sequel. Yeah, I know it isn't any good. But Melody is one of Tara Strong's favorite roles. And if you're a PpG fan, you'd better know who the hell Tara Strong is...
• "So is it okay if I donate them to The Princess Project?" - A for real charity! More on the Princess Project here.
• "No, green doesn't look good on me," Bubbles protested, then turned to Buttercup, who was finishing up the table. - This is probably reaching, but I intended this as a callout to McCracken's first ever PpG drawing, before they even were the PpG.
• The rest of the table tuned Blossom out as she embarked upon another lecture about consumerism and wastefulness that lasted the entire meal. - I regret that this makes Blossom sound so naggy, because I actually think it's a pretty important issue and ******** **** ****** *BZZT* STOP TUNING ME OUT YOU GUYS. Seriously, though. Blossom's got a point.
• Suddenly another bowl was placed before her with a clatter, and Bubbles stared at the second serving in surprise. Without so much as a glance, Buttercup took the empty bowl out of her hands, walking it over to the dishwasher. - I really really like this scene, too. I need to write more sisters interacting scenes, they always make me feel so good.
• Brick's, on the other hand, was completely black, save for the bright splash of red that was the necktie cutting down the chest and disappearing behind the black vest. - This image - a completely black ensemble where the only colorful item is the tie - stems from a magazine ad that I saw when I was a little girl that is apparently going to stick with me for life. I don't remember what they were advertising (although I do know it wasn't men's clothing - how's that for irony?), but that ensemble really made an impression on me, and to this day I think it is one of the classiest, sexiest formal outfits a guy can wear, and definitely my personal favorite. So I put it on Brick. (He's my favorite Rowdyruff. You understand.)
• Buttercup was busy trying to balance her open soda can on one edge without spilling any liquid, unconcerned as the rest of the boys interrogated Butch. - I AM SURPRISED BY HOW MANY PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY DO THIS WITH A SODA CAN
• "I just... I was just wondering if I could talk to Kris for a minute." ... Brick blinked and looked around, furrowing his brow... He wondered where the funny feeling was coming from. - Do I need to point this out? I don't explicitly state this, but Brick's heightened ability to sense impending... "negative effects" to his person is a result of... wait, I guess I'll save that for a later chapter, when he actually shows up. NEVER MIND.
• There was the tiniest of chips on the gold rimmed porcelain, only visible if you were really, really looking. - HI, I'M A METAPHOR
• Neither Jim nor Faust would be here today, so it was just the two of them... - You all know who I'm referring to with Faust, right?
• Brick rolled his eyes. "Whatever you say, Gertrude Stein." - God damn it, self, this was supposed to be Gloria Steinem. Gertrude Stein works, but still. BLARGH.
• Bubbles was right about Boomer; on Tuesday he outsang the other two by miles. He so had this. - Something I totally forgot to mention in ch3 trivia! In my early early head version, for his first audition, Boomer sang "Out Tonight" to Bubbles from Rent. Yeah. This was only in my head version and I never intended to write it in, hence the other two songs mentioned at the end of the ch3 trivia.
• Bubbles rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to the table. After a second, she reached out a hand to sift through the papers. Brick didn't stop her. - I really like how Brick just lets her mess with his stuff at this point.
• "Bubbles!" Dr. Wendell called. "You and Boomer. You're up." - Following on the Rent thing, in my head version Bubbles and Boomer sang "No Day But Today." Actually, I never changed that selection for the written version. Hm. WELL NOW YOU KNOW WHAT'S IN MY HEAD.
• "Just a bit. Maybe? Possibly? Somewhere deep down inside that six sizes too big heart of yours?" - A very loose reference to The Grinch. Six sizes just sounded better. Besides, it's probably something Boomer would get wrong anyway.
• Her hands kept going all clammy in his, and his body felt warm against hers, and she wondered what soap he used, or aftershave, or maybe it was his shampoo she was smelling... - Actually I am pretty sure Brick is not shaving yet, but you never know.
• "Why would I want fish when I could have filet mignon?" Boomer retorted. - I don't know if anybody got this, but this kind of indirectly ties back to the title.
• Bubbles sank to the floor, resting her back against the lockers as she stared at her knees. "I can't believe you forgot," she said, numbly. - Can I be honest? Frankly, I think Bubbles is over-reacting. Not that the reaction doesn't suit her character, but I personally am not a girl for dates and generally think it's a bad idea to place so much weight on a specific day to the point where you are emotionally destroyed when things don't meet your expectations. I understand that it's different for everyone, though, so I'll get off my soapbox.
• "Downtown. 360 Degrees." - This is based on the restaurant from the movie.
• Boomer was at the piano, those bright blue eyes of his focused on Bubbles as he shot her a crooked grin. "You give your hand to me..." - Boomer sings the classic You Don't Know Me to Bubbles. Personally, the version in my head is Bublé's cover. Also, the song selection is significant on multiple levels.
• There was a line from one of the movies about the juice being worth the squeeze. - The movie is The Girl Next Door. Not one of my favorites, but that line stuck with me, so it showed up here.

Ugh God this chapter is so long and it feels like someone's trying to hammer a nail into my right temple. Back to rl for a bit. I'll finish up ch4 trivia another time.