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A Jericho Fan Fiction Archive
I am loving this and can't wait to read the proposal/nightgown chapter. What a freakin' plot twist for me Joe known Collins.
I can't wait to see season two.
Sid
I'll try not to keep you waiting too long for the proposal! Yes, Joe does know Collins and more on that as the story goes on. Thanks very much for your review!
I love Gray come-upance!
Another excellent chapter Skyrose!
I love how you always intertwine scenes that have such specific personal development for characters with scenes that show us things that have implications for the bigger picture.
I liked the development of Heather's character here as she prepared to take a big step forward in her relationship with Jake. I have to say I really liked the exchange she had with Olga. It's nice to see a friendly face in Cheyenne, reinforcing that although it's a dangerous place where the people responsible for so many deaths are still in power, it's also a city populated with many people who haven't lost their humanity.
Chavez's trip to the farm was very intriguing. Kind of creepy, in a way. You've captured very well, I think, the atmosphere of a place where everyone is overly enthusiastic on the surface, so much so that I can't help but feel an undercurrent of uneasiness.
I really liked the showdown between Eric and Gray. Eric is so in character- true to his convictions, trying so hard to fill his father's shoes and protect the town, and finding it just out of his control. I feel for Gray, just a little bit. I think he really believes he's doing the best he can, and is completely lost. Too bad he had to accept defeat instead of asking for help earlier.
I enjoyed reading this, and can't wait to see what happens next!
Penny,
Thanks for your review!
Heather is ready and really wants to take this next step with Jake. Despite this she sees her challenge as convincing Jake that this is what she wants. The only way she sees to do this is to take the initiative and she is a little nervous about this. Olga provides her the support and encouragement she needs to carry through on her plans. I like your take on Cheyenne that while it's a dangerous place where the people responsible for the attacks are in power, there are still people in the city who haven't lost their humanity.
You are right that the farm is creepy and you should be uneasy. All the enthusiasm you see on the surface of thinks hides the more seamier things going on at the farm which you'll find out about as Chavez proceeds with his investigation.
Eric is trying to fill his father's shoes and watch out for the town. I think that he showed some growth, maybe step out of his father's (and Jake's) shadow a little bit, in Season 2 and I tried to capture his growth in his dealings with Gray in this chapter. I do think that Gray is doing the best he can for the town, but on the other hand I think that if he can he's going to make sure he's going to be taken care of in the process. Sometimes, this logic, as it does here backfires on him.
Thanks again for the review!
What an interesting installment! Things really seem to be gaining momentum (not that this story has ever been slow... it's been just right!) and I can't wait to see what's coming. Of course I have very good idea what's coming in a few hours. :-D
I really enjoyed how you wrote Heather's shopping trip and am very glad she ran into Olga, who seems to almost serve as a fairy godmother. I do feel bad for Olga, though, stuck selling lingerie to the likes of Tara. I cringe, too, at the thought of Tara "entertaining" Valente!
Heather's shopping trip kind of lulled me into a false sense of security, but that soon started to wear off thanks to the "off-ness" of Chavez's visit to the too-perfect farm, with the too-perfect family. I fear for the Johnsons. I do hope that Chavez checks on them again, or I worry they will be "disappeared". I was also a little saddened over Jones' obviously bad opinion of the refugees/Feemies, but I suppose it is inevitable in the dog eat dog world they're living in.
The scene with Eric and Gray was great too. Gray's chickens really do seem to be coming home to roost and he's certainly not getting even half of what he deserves. He sells the farmers out for mere trinkets to people he doesn't trust within a mile of his salt mine! Talk about a double standard. I'm glad Eric's standing up to him. And I loved this ending:
"You want me to help you out? You have got to be kidding me!"
"I don't know where else to turn. You're the only lawyer left in town!" Gray pleaded, his concern for his problem overriding the frustration the he felt for having to depend on a Green to solve his problem.
The corners of Eric's lips curled upward, but his smile did not reach his eyes. The effect sent a cold chill down Gray's spine
"No way in hell. Lots of luck, you're going to need it," Eric said derisively before storming out of the office.
All I can say is "Go Eric!" If Gray's frustrated having to ask a Green for help I wonder how he'll feel if the Jennings and Rall steals his mine! And I for one can't wait to see how this turns out.
Thanks for sharing!
Marzee,
I'm glad the pace of the story is working for you since I did have some concerns that the story was moving a little too slow. Dare I say, that you are right about what you expect to be happening in just a few hours?
I think you are right that Olga is like a fairy godmother to Heather. On the other hand, Heather is like a breath of fresh air to Olga. It's not too often that someone from Heather comes into the shop, the majority of her customers are very much like Tara. For Heather, I cringe too when I think of Tara and Valente together. I really like Olga and am trying to figure out a way to work her into a subsequent chapter.
You are right the farm is a little too good to be true. The 'all too perfect family' is meant to disguise the seamier things that are going on at the farm but more on that later.
While at some level I think Gray wants to his best by the town, his wants and needs come before his position as mayor. It's the reason why he made the deal with RJ Land and why he's asking for Eric's help now that RJ Land is coercing him into buying services for the salt mine. I saw a little growth in Eric in Season 2 and was trying to highlight this growth by having him stand up to Chavez.
I really enjoyed your review. Thank you!
Oh, I love this story so much, Skyrose! I'm always amazed at how you are able to juggle different storylines that complement each other and intersect. There's so much going on in this portion of the chapter!
I loved the scene with Heather and Olga. I thought it was telling that Olga could see that Heather is classy (what a contrast to Tara who uses her sexuality to advance her career!). The interaction between them was very cute. I enjoyed seeing Olga offer Heather encouragement. I think Jake is going to be in for a nice surprise! I can hardly wait for them to meet up again later in the day.
The scene with Chavez going to the farms really unnerved me. The Cheyenne farms look to be slavery in disguise. The fact that Jones is putting on a show for Chavez with this so-called perfect family in their perfect house with their perfect accessories and perfect children reminds me of the old adage that if something looks too good to be true, it usually is. Collins certainly acknowledged the tour was a farce. Through this all, I kept wondering how much Tomarchio knows of what is actually happening in his “country.” Is Tomarchio an ineffectual figurehead being maneuvered like a marionette puppet? Or is he aware of these less than honest (at the best) and evil (at the worst) things going on around him?
Grrrr at Gray. It was good to see Eric take him to task. It was good to see Gray squirm. I just hate that others are going to suffer from his greed and incompetence.
Fantastic job, as always!
SandraDee,
Thanks for the great compliment! I am glad to hear that the different storylines complement each other. I find this one of the challenges with writing this story so I'm glad to hear it's working.
I had alot of fun writing Olga, I think Heather needed a woman to interact with that saw her for what she was, was sympathetic to what she was going through and would give her the encouragement she needed. I think you can look forward to seeing Olga again in a subsequent chapter. You are right, Jake is going to be in for a nice surprise!
The scene where Chavez visited the farm was met to unnerve you. The image that Cheyenne Farm presents to the outside world is definitely too good to be true. The implication that the farm look to slavery in disguise is accurate but they way it all plays out remains to be seen as your questions abot Tomarchio.
Gray should be squirming, he made a big mistake - one that will come back at him. I did enjoy writing a slightly different - more assertive Eric. With Jake done there someone has to keep Gray in line!
Thanks for your review!