Strangetown extras: From the archives

[strangetomato]

Updating all the images of the older chapters has been surprisingly fun. It's been ages since I've touched any of these chapters, even to check on my own story logic (yeah, I'm just a cowboy like that *struts*), and it's been nice to revisit them. I just reached chapter 10, and witnessed the first appearance of Jaxy and Zoe (Gunnar is there too, but he's so ignored *snicker* Oh, Gunnar, I'm sorry) and also the introduction of... *drum roll* Frances J.

I was pleased to see that most of the things I grew to love about him as I developed the character were present right from the start. I think I expanded on a number of things, but there he was... being his tentative, slightly dour self. I had forgotten that his reaction to meeting Tank had been to literally gasp at the sight of him! Then he thinks about singing god's praises on a mountain top, even though he does not actually believe in god. Yup, same ol' Frances J. aka Worthington aka Frank aka Franny aka Fran aka Francine aka Frances JULES.

He was always meant to have an important role in Tank's life, but that changed completely from my original intention. He also grew wings and flew away from me, demanding that I shine a spotlight on his life and flesh it out. I'm glad he did.

That was nearly two years ago. Can you believe it?

Comments

[peasant007.livejournal.com]

It's because of you that I love Frances, myself. Until S,HWC, he was just that weirdo who lived by himself in the rarely installed LFT college template.

Now, he's increasing his role in my own story and I have a picture of him (and his family) as my desktop, for God's sake. He does have a tendency to write himself, doesn't he?

[peasant007.livejournal.com]

http://i32.tinypic.com/33cuckj.jpg

In case you wanted to see.

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Is he in a relationship with Malcolm? That's awesome.

And Bigfoot! Heehee!

[peasant007.livejournal.com]

Yes, he is. They are very cute together :) The entire family is very fun to play. <3 Frances.

[pixelcurious.livejournal.com]

that's a great picture! xD

[smjosh1218.livejournal.com]

This is so cute. I remember when Tank met Frances and I instantly got gay vibes and I was hoping they would get together, but I'm glad that it changed and we got Beau and Frances became important and wonderfully adorable.

I love Franny.

And I'm amused at you not rereading your chapters. I reread mine all the time to make sure I'm being consistent. I thought everyone did. I guess I'm just neurotic.

[selenecorvino.livejournal.com]

Until I read your stories I hadn't really given Francis much of a thought. You've taken him beyond that solitary, moody, at times irritating character and created someone who is growing up emotionally.

[theafterimages.livejournal.com]

And we all love seeing what you've done with him. :) Funny how some characters just demand to write themselves.

[showercapfrog.livejournal.com]

FRANCES *smoogles him*

[pixelcurious.livejournal.com]

I have to admit to not being a member of the Frances Fan Club. It's not that I dislike him (not at all, I like him fine!) but I can't get worked up the way a lot of your readers do. Don't hate me, readers!

But I do appreciate his role in your story. It's interesting that he's changed so much from what you meant at first. Characters can really take on lives of their own.... that's one of the coolest things about fiction.

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Not a member of the cult? :P You must be convinced!

It's funny how people took to him like that, and it's not all because of this story, I'm sure. He took on a life of his own, like I said. There's just something about him. (Or, well... it's a cult. People just join any cult, right?)

I find him more interesting now that he has Beau as a foil, and how that in turn changes his role in Tank's life, giving him more confidence. He was never really meant to be much more than a vehicle for changes in Tank's character, and he still is and will be that, but he's just as much a character with a struggle to overcome in his own right, and I do see him working on that, more as a parallel to Tank's development than just a factor in it.

[pixelcurious.livejournal.com]

AAAAHHHH the VORTEX I cannot look away! FRANNY FRANNY FRANNY *mouth lols open, while eyes go as blank as Petchy's Glass Eyes*

Yeah, Beau really has made a difference in Frances' development. I also remember the amusing art show scene where Beau spurred Johnny into seeing that his little sister is an adult now. That was great. ^_^

[xel-squirgle-ox.livejournal.com]

YESSSS!!! YOU MUST JOIN TEH CULT!

(the high priestess demands it)

[a-gates.livejournal.com]

Wow! Franny poo has grown up so much, and still remained the same! <3

[sophie10.livejournal.com]

I killed Gunnar, it was very mean of me. But all he did in my game was sleep, eat and spontaneously hit on Zoe. I am amused that in his character bio there is a sort of hint that Jasmine and Zoe are gay.

[(Anonymous)]

I must admit, before reading your story, I didn't take too kindly to Frances. His bio didn't make him seem like a very nice person, but it was the fact that, in my first go with him, his LTW was to be a criminal mastermind, that really clinched it for me. I immeadiately began spinning stories of him being part of some sort of Mafia type family, and I've had a hard time seeing him any other way since.

[xel-squirgle-ox.livejournal.com]

One day I really should re-read your story. So what exactly are you doing with the pictures? Just updating them with your new defaults or actually making the poses look more natural?

Anyway, somehow I've managed to get myself a real-life Frances... In the form of a 6'7 black dude. XD

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

No, it's nothing as exciting as that. I'm just moving the images to my lj scrapbook and reposting them. It's just to deal with the bandwidth issue. I think it'd be kinda cool to update or reinterpret older stuff, but I should focus what time and energy I do have for this (and time is hrder to come by these days) to create new updates.

What? :P I need more details. How is he a Frances?

[xel-squirgle-ox.livejournal.com]

He's a cynical (closeted) gay snob with a dry sense of humor. There's just so many things that he's said and done that remind me so much of Frances. He also happens to be a business major with musical talent. :P

M&G dreads fix

[sophie10.livejournal.com]

http://www.modthesims.info/download.php?t=371227

Re: M&G dreads fix

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Thank you! ^_^