Where'd that come from?

[asphaltcowgrrl]

I'm working on a fic for the first numbers challenge of the year. There's an inconsequential character aggravating an established character and, often in circumstances like this, I go with the first name that pops into my head. Which is usually the name of the artist I'm listening to, a character from a book I'm reading, whatever.

So, what's the name that just popped into my head?

VELMA.

Why, I don't even know. I haven't watched Scooby-Doo since the girls were little. And I haven't even seen any commercials for it lately. But WHAMMO, there it was.

I'm not calling her that, by the way. I'm going to go with Veronica, I think. But dang. I need a vacation. Hahaha.

Comments

[thatwasjustadream]

Oh, I think the Scooby gang is all right back there, hanging out in our brains, lol. x-)

I watched a Patton Oswald special where he makes a point about the weirdness of memory by breaking into song- a jingle from a Northern Virginia auto dealership that aired on TV back in the early 80s. The scary part was that I sang it right along with him. That's where I lived, then, and every word was right there! Apologies if I've already told that story, lol. I may have. It was an odd moment.

Veronica makes me think of Elvis Costello. I liked that song- kind of a story song.

[asphaltcowgrrl]

You're probably right. I watched it SO MUCH as a kid.

I can believe that. Those jingles really do worm their way into your brain and make a home for themselves. Hahaha - I don't remember ever hearing it before. :)

Interesting! Don't think I've heard that song before, will have to go look it up on Spotify now.

[cmk418]

I don't see the Scooby Doo Velma. I see a really old broad with a cigarette (that has a healthy amount of ash hanging from it) clenched between her teeth (almost like someone that Elaine Stritch would have played) And Veronica's the opposite.

[asphaltcowgrrl.livejournal.com]

I just cackled SO LOUDLY at my desk reading this, thank you.

And now I'm thinking about the woman in the afterlife in Beetlejuice.

The annoying inconsequential character isn't too much older than my character, so probably early thirties at the oldest. (She's relatively new to me so I have no idea how old she is at the moment lol).

I need to go catch my breath. I keep looking up and start to laugh all over again.

[severina2001.livejournal.com]

Isn't it funny, too, how sometimes if you try to change the first name that pops up, your brain absolutely REFUSES to accept any other name? You're like, "C'mon, it's just the guy behind the ice cream counter," and your brain is like, "I don't care. His name is HECTOR, not Steve."

[asphaltcowgrrl.livejournal.com]

YES! My character Travis Murphy shares a name with a fandom character, Travis Marks. I tried nineteen times to change his name and it kept coming back to Travis. So... Travis Murphy he stayed.

Now, I'm going to have to find a way to have an ice cream guy named Hector because this is amazing.

[severina2001.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad it's not just me. And now I really wanna meet Hector!

[asphaltcowgrrl.livejournal.com]

Definitely not!

Hector, well, he's something. Tallish, dark hair, dark eyes. Latino or Hispanic heritage, possibly even a Spaniard. He's got a wicked smile, a quick wit, and a resounding laugh. Señor Hector has also been known to sing while scooping out butter pecan, his favorite of the thirty-one flavors.

(I need a life...)

[severina2001.livejournal.com]

He's wearing a white T-shirt. I can't quite see what else, but they're not jeans. He only throws on his uniform shirt over the T-shirt, unopened, if the big boss comes in. And he flirts with *everybody*.

(Same.)

[asphaltcowgrrl.livejournal.com]

They're khaki (sorry, Jake from State Farm) carpenter's pants. And he has the tools of his trade stashed in the loops and pockets. An ice cream scoop at his hip, a container of animal shaped sprinkles at the other, but those he holds in reserve for his special customers.

(I shouldn't be doing this at work, they're going to demand a drug test if I don't stop laughing... out here... all by myself.)

[severina2001.livejournal.com]

OMG HE DOES. He can pull out those sprinkles faster than a gunslinger in a quick draw.

LOL There'd better be a Hector-centric fic after this. ;)

[shanachie-quill.livejournal.com]

I neeeed Hector in my life!

All our Baskin workers are teens.

[asphaltcowgrrl.livejournal.com]

And he is loved by all for it.

HECTOR: THE LEGEND OF COLDSTONE! Coming soon to a theater near you!

Or your inbox if I can get off my butt. LOL

[asphaltcowgrrl.livejournal.com]

Hahaha... maybe he'll surprise you and show up on your doorstep?

Sadly, they always are. This would have to be an independent, mom and pop store though. Hmm...

[sharpiesgal.livejournal.com]

SCP?

[sharpiesgal.livejournal.com]

I was wondering where Travis came from.

[asphaltcowgrrl.livejournal.com]

Not intentionally, no. Lord.

ETA: Dangit. The laugh and wit part fits though. Send help.

[asphaltcowgrrl.livejournal.com]

I had been trying to get away from fanfic, but hadn't written any original stuff in a long time. So, I took Wes and Travis and tried to create something similar, but not. And in the end, neither Travis nor Ethan are anything like their fanfic counterparts, with the exception that both Ethan and Wes are cops.

Probably more info than you wanted. :)

[sharpiesgal.livejournal.com]

It makes sense. :)

[sharpiesgal.livejournal.com]

When I'm done dealing with a redhead gunslinger. Don't ask.

[asphaltcowgrrl.livejournal.com]

Happy to hear it. Most of what comes out of my mouth doesn't. :D

[asphaltcowgrrl.livejournal.com]

Hahaha — wonder what he'd look like in a cowboy hat? Your redhead, not my inspector.

Glad to see you decided to get the ideas down. :)

[sharpiesgal.livejournal.com]

Should be interesting. Not certain gingerbread could pull off a cowboy hat.

Finally.

[asphaltcowgrrl.livejournal.com]

I would think so. :)

Eh, sometimes it takes some time. I mean, it's 2 PM here and I still haven't written anything.

[haldoor.livejournal.com]

I'm just amused you've gone from Scooby Doo to Archie...

[asphaltcowgrrl.livejournal.com]

I never really read Archie comics or watched Riverdale, so that didn't occur to me until much later. I think I scrambled for another V name. Hahaha.

[haldoor.livejournal.com]

LOL! ;-)

[shanachie-quill.livejournal.com]

Hahahha maybe. With my luck (and schedule) I wouldn't be home.

Right? I feel oooold sometimes when I go there. Hmmm that sounds nice.

[asphaltcowgrrl.livejournal.com]

That'd be my luck, too.

Lately, that's me no matter where I go. LOL

[shanachie-quill.livejournal.com]

LOL yeah

I feel that. I will admit we have an inordinate amount of older people working retail. But ya know... work and all I see are kids.