AUTHOR’S NOTES
Chapter One: Moving Day
Owen is only semi-autobiographical.
I haven’t said it outright, but JTU takes place in Canada, so all prices are in Canadian dollars. I don’t want to take the time to figure out the exchange. I’m purposely leaving the location vague, though, kind of like the names of Calvin’s parents.
Owen works at a video store because I wanted a job for him I know something about, and I could either have him work at a video store or work with the mentally challenged. I used the video store because I wouldn’t have to take his job seriously, and I could use some funny stories from work.
Jim was initially meant to appear once in the phone call, but I ended up liking him so much that I’ve kept him around. Besides, it helps to establish Owen’s life outside of the apartment building.
Kevin suggested Bat Out of Hell as the CD to use for the initial run, and I used it because I personally like it, so it’s easy to imagine why Owen does. It also helped shape Owen’s personality by giving him a love of classic rock.
I wish my apartment came with a broadsword. I know “There can be only one!” would have been the more appropriate line, but I like the line from The Princess Bride better.
Owen doesn’t share my dislike of cell phones.
Chapter Two: Meet the Neighbours
I rarely get so groggy I confuse reality and dreams.
The phrase “lesbian in a man’s body” is taken from a joke my brother made once.
The “squid incident” is a tribute to Bill Watterson. Shame on anyone who doesn’t know what I mean!
The line about the miso soup is taken almost word for word from a real conversation. It makes a great introduction to any rambling improvised story.
Although Owen and I are attracted to the same type of personalities in women, our preferences are otherwise very different.
Owen got his collection of electronics by spending his inheritance from his grandfather.
The exchange between Owen and Jim about not
knowing the girl’s name is outright self-parody of my reaction to “Mystery
Girl”. I’m still mocked about that regularly.
Chapter Three: The Chicken, the Blonde, and the Closet
This is where we start to get into the main plot of Part One.
P.T. doesn’t stand for what you think it stands for. I’m not saying what it’s short for yet, though. That’s my little secret.
Owen’s movie collection surpasses my own. People who have seen my collection know how impressive that is. We have similar tastes in movies, including being huge anime fans.
The first physical appearance of Kexrouth! He’s probably my favourite character in all of JTU. He can alter his appearance to human form at will, including variations on his clothing.
Chapter Four: Roommates
Kexrouth tries to keep up with trends so he doesn't give himself away too easily.
The name Kenrick is middle English. I've misplaced the book that has it's meaning. I wanted to give him an archaic human name to keep the aura of strangeness.
The inaugural run of any electronics system should be done with someone's favorite movie, CD, etc. so that there will be no regrets. Thus, Owen's favorite movie. We're both big fans of Hayao Miyuzaki, although I like Princess Mononoke better.
Owen's Grandfather was an easy going sort of guy. He wanted everyone to remember him fondly, so in his will he asked that the inheritance money be spent on something fun.
I'm not making a secret of the fact that Beth is set up to be Owen's love interest.
Kexrouth is more comfortable in his natural form, although he has no limit to the amount of time he can maintain a human guise.
Phil was a neurotic man, but I think anyone who lived their life never knowing when the next demon attack might pop out would become a little unstable.
The name Kenrick is also easier on the tongue.
Chapter Five: The New Girl
The first two parts of this chapter were taken from the original draft of "Just Another Troubled Tuesday", which was a chapter inspired by my own experiences working in a video store. It didn't work in text, though, so I just recycled what I could.
Owen and Jim made Kenrick into an anime fan very quickly.
Vicky is inspired by a co-worker of mine that everyone dreaded working with. Some of you probably know who I'm talking about.
Indian is Owen's favorite type of cooking, and Tandoori chicken is his favorite dish. It's great stuff!
The ribbing between Owen and Jim about being attracted to anime characters is similar to those that occur between my roommate and I, although we tend to "debate" the merits of redheads vs. brunettes. The appearance of Avrianus is my stance on that particular subject.
Avrianus! The only character who could
rival Kenrick as my favorite. Her appearance is partially a composite
of four female celebrities, Maaya Sakamoto (the eyes), Gigi Edgely (my
secret, but it is something above the neck!), Yuko Sasaki (her voice),
and Alyson Hannigan (her smile). Avrianus's appearance was designed
to my own personal standard of feminine beauty, for which I need make no
explanation or apologies.
Chapter Six: The Kenrick Conspiracy
The titles for the chapters are all variations on the titles of movies, books, songs, etc. The strange thing is, most of the movies I haven't seen, and have no great desire to see. I'm pointing this out because the title of this chapter is from a fairly obscure movie that I do recommend, The Fuma Conspiracy. It may be a little hard to get a copy, but it's well worth it.
I'd keep it a secret if I had a demon living in my closet, even if I could prove it. Of course, that's IF I had a demon in my closet.
The Macinallys were a dependent of the Buchanan clan (or a sept, I'm not sure). Owen is well versed in the clan's history, thanks to his Grandfather. He also speaks fluent Scot's Gaelic, which he won't use in the course of the story unless I can find a translator.
Julie is another character that I had no intention of bringing in beyond a limited scope, but will probably show up again because I like writing her.
If you can't figure out Andy and Tim on your
own, it's probably best I don't explain.
Chapter Seven: There's Something About Avrianus
I hope Avrianus doesn't come across as a ditz. She's shy and nervous, but not a ditz.
The reason the place attracts odd people is I write about odd people! It's as simple as that. Of course, I can't tell that to Owen...
I have a lot of fun writing for Avrianus, about as much as I do writing for Kenrick. Both of them have somewhat offbeat personalities, I have an easier time thinking "what would (s)he do?".
I'm 100% in agreement with Jim. There's absolutely nothing wrong with clumsiness.
Avrianus and Kenrick's reactions won't be explained
for a while.
Chapter Eight: Owen the Chicken Slayer
I have a theory that any event can be celebrated with pizza, anime, and ginger beer. I've put this into practice many times.
I'll generally use any excuse to get Avrianus or Kenrick into the story.
Kenrick can't leave the apartment because he'll die without the magical energies from his home dimension. The apartment building is saturated with them, but anything farther away than a couple of blocks isn't safe for him.
The lounge tends to become a rumour mill.
I can't figure out why there's still a social stigma against women asking men out. It's downright stupid to think everything should be one sided, if you ask me.
Kenrick can "summon" his weapons, which include a bow, broadsword, and partisan (a type of spear-like polearm). His home dimension uses weapons similar to European weapons of the Renaissance, close enough that I use the same names. Phil used a broadsword because Kenrick taught him that weapon.
Like Owen says, he has no training because
he's never needed any.
Chapter Nine: Kenrick
Every demon army needs its cannon fodder.
The demon attackers are based on a monster from AD&D. They don't look like Kenrick because they're as different from him as humans are from iguanas.
I'm sure I'll remember my first demon attack.
And no, I'm not going to explain the nickname "P.T." yet.
I think Murray is right about his recruiting practice. For a rent of $275 a month, I'd be willing to face the occasional demon horde.
It's been a long time since I've tried to write an action sequence, so I hoping the pacing of this is right.
The name Belfarius will be turning up again.
In the next chapter, for instance.
Chapter Ten: Three Men and a Demon
This is the second chapter that I've done that
isn't humorous. Reading Kenrick's story, it's hard to make it funny,
and I don't want to try. I do promise that the next chapter will
be getting back to comedy.
Chapter Eleven
This chapter isn't named yet because of a contest to name the chapter. As soon as I have a winner, it will be named.
I liked the idea of a renaissance era world
of demons. Most of the time in fiction, the demons are either primitive
or dark ages level of technology. I wanted to make Belfar a more
'cultured' sort of demon, without basing them on the demons of Asia.
Chapter Twelve: Hillview Babylon
The name of this chapter is another fairly obscure one. It's named after an anime called Tokyo Babylon, which was written by CLAMP, the creators of numerous other anime and manga. The anime focuses on a hero who tends to get wrapped up in all sorts of strange occurences, much like Owen does in this chapter. I did have another purpose in choosing the name, and that is that Tokyo Babylon is also the prequel to the much more well known X-1999 series, and does have some foreshadowing, although much more subtle than I used.
Just to clarify, because my "sounding board" pointed out that it could be misinterpreted, the future Owen IS wearing pants.
Owen's sword is named Baldwin after my flail. The name means "bold friend", which I personally believe is a good name for a weapon.
Kenrick's pet is being introduced primarily to set up for a line in Part Two. See, more foreshadowing!
Owen is really starting to adjust to life at
Hillview. Of course, things are just going to get stranger...
Chapter Thirteen: The Date
I love the discussion of courtship differences that Owen and Kenrick have.
You won't find any spoilers here about just
what the connection is between Owen, Beth, and Mr. Allebarr.