[Report This]Date: February 29 2024 10:44 PM Title: Ch 5. The Popcorn Tub Gambit
Well, it looks like Jackie takes after her mama. I wonder if those special suits for tinies ever made it stateside?
One thing I really loved about this chapter is that we delved a little deeper into that other side of Jackie that started to show itself internally last chapter. She's starting to get a little bolder and even flirty, and it's nice to see her open up. Her gently putting him on the rim of her popcorn bucket without asking permission surprised me as much as it did Pierce but in a good way. And that his concern wasn't that she did this but whether or not to round first base and head for second shows that he wasn't too worried about her taking charge like that.
I also loved that she used her incredibly delicate movements around tinies for evil for once, stealing Pierce's food. I wonder if Pierce would have really gone in after those fries if Jackie had leaned down and opened her mouth.
As for Pierce, seeing him start to gain some confidence at the backend of the date was nice. I enjoyed his uncertainty about everything pre-gambit, but mainly because I was expecting him to move past it by the end of the date, which he seemed to do at the McDonald's (maybe it was the presence of his long lost McRib that gave him more confidence?).
Even though Pierce and Jackie were the focus of this chapter, Javi may have come away the most likable from it. The more we see of him, the more he bucks those jock and player stereotypes and comes off as laid back but more than willing to help his friends, even if their only problem is shyness. The reveal at the end of the chapter that he was masterminding the popcorn tub gambit (love the name, by the way) from both sides of the date was as endearing as it was hilarious. It also made me wonder if this was actually a thing or if he was trying to make it one. And that he had to make sure that Jackie tipped Pierce the right way was really funny, too. I really enjoyed his banter with both of them at the bookends of the chapter, actually.
I also appreciated all the little worldbuilding things included here: tinies using a cash app to pay for things on the big side of town, the concession stand having large sizes for tinies (and workers with enough common sense to know to distinguish the two on their own), tinies having their own seating section in big theaters, and even the classic "sneak in the tiny" strategy being used by their big friends. I don't think most of that (everything but the cash app, most likely) would have even been imagined for the future by the characters in Mixing Sizes. Their society really has come a long way in a short period of time.
And lastly, I had to laugh at the basketball segment. I'm not sure if you're unfamiliar with the game or intentionally wrote the scene to be humorous, but it turned out amazingly! My favorite part was when Pierce watched the ball "rebound to the other side of the court." You did get right that if someone shoots the ball perfectly it does usually come back to them, though, so props for that.
And I'm not laughing at you; I'm laughing with you, but just facing your general direction. Oh, you're not laughing? Well, this is awkward.
But in all seriousness, this chapter was a fun one, and I liked the decision to focus all of it on Pierce and Jackie. A lot of anticipation has been building in this relationship, and giving this date a whole chapter to itself was a fun tease for what's surely to cum.
Author's Response:
I think for introverts like Jackie and Pierce, the first steps into a relationship can be really nerve wracking, especially initializing the relationship and going on that first date. But once they start forming that connection and falling into the flow of things, nerves give way to familiarity and the relationship can truly start flourishing. Jackie can be very confident when she's in her comfort zone which I plan to explore plenty as we progress through the story. And if you're going to be dating a giant woman, then you better be willing to let her take charge from time to time (or potentially all the time lol).
Glad you're liking how Javi is shaping up because he is going to finally get the spotlight next chapter (possibly the next couple chapters). My plan for this story is to mostly have each chapter focus on a subset of the main cast, not necessarily giving everyone an even amount of time to shine, but ensuring every one gets their due in between much bigger chapters focusing a little bit on everyone (like the con chapter coming between a Lynn/Alena heavy chapter and this Jackie/Pierce one).
And, uh, yeah, obviously any inaccuracies during the basketball segment were intentional errors to serve the narrative. Duh. It's not like I haven't played basketball since middle school and can't even point out what mistakes I supposedly made lol. Look, not every chapter can be an overindulgent love letter to my actual hobbies. Sometimes I gotta bring up sportsball.
I have some fun plans ahead regarding Jackie's "special inheritance." For now, let's just say that the market has evolved from when Jess and Drew were in their heyday.