Author's note: While I love the Jem-verse and I enjoy well-done Jem fic, I just couldn't wrap my brain around writing the main characters. I did one story on the Limp Lizards. That got me started thinking about how in the original series, we see so little of the 'world' other than Jem & Co. Possibly as a side effect, my stories are turning out a bit dark. I apologize for not keeping to the light and optimistic tone of the original series. I will say that in the end, there will be happy endings. The journey, however, might have a few detours.
Disclaimer: Not mine, none of it, sadly. Depending on date and exact content, everything in the Jem-verse is or was the property of Hasbro, Christy Marx, Sunbow, Integrity Toys and probably a few other companies or writers out there. No profit is being made from this. As a side-note, it appears that the Jem-verse may actually overlap the Hasbro cartoon world(s) of G. I. Joe, The Inhumanoids and the Transformers, as apparently at least one character appeared in all four series.
Credit: Cover art by Strydersyd whose artwork can be found at strydersyd dot deviantart dot com.
~~Aftershocks~~
Nandy work up slowly, stretching, and then as she turned, she realized that she'd overslept. The Godzilla clock on her bedside table said half-past nine in the morning. With a few muttered cuss words, she bounded out of bed, pulling off her pj's and throwing them in the general direction of the hamper. She would have liked to have a long shower, but that was going to have to wait.
By the time she got to Growth Music, she was only a few minutes late. "Sorry. Sorry," she waved up the stairs to where Clancy Gerstan, the owner and half-time manager was standing next to the cash register. There was a pile of mail near him on the counter and he was reading a copy of Cool Trash. Probably the most recent issue, which would have just come out.
"I overslept," She added. "I can stay late if you need me to."
He was usually a fairly lighthearted guy, so she was surprised when he looked up from the magazine with an uncharacteristically serious look on his face. He slowly set the magazine down. "Is there something you need to tell me?"
Something about his tone made her nervous, and she tried to think of what it might be. She'd requested the days off for the Limp Lizard's next few coffee shop gigs, and in a burst of completely over-the-top optimism, even the dates for the Cochella concert. She'd worked out shift trades, and it looked like they would all work, so that shouldn't be a problem.
"I don't think so." She said hesitantly.
"Something about your band?" He said it as if he was offering a hint.
"Well we," got shut out of the final round of the Battle of the Bands, was the first thing that came to mind. She shouldn't be so angry about that. It was just the way things worked. The Misfits and the Holograms were both really good bands, and it didn't hurt that their equipment probably cost more than Nandy's father's whole house. Anyway that wasn't anything she wanted to talk about. "We still haven't heard back from Cochella." She said. She was pretty sure that whatever he wanted to talk about, that wasn't it.
He held out the magazine. "Have you read this yet?"
She started slowly up the stairs. "I haven't seen that issue yet. Is there an article on the Battle of the Bands?"
He didn't answer. He just held it out silently and then waited while she looked for herself.
The photo mostly showed Eric Raymond, complete with one of the "Eric Raymond Presents" banners in the background. Behind him, and very slightly out of focus were the Limp Lizards, apparently taking down their instruments. No smiles, and the only fans in the photo were looking the other way. It was a picture of defeat. The caption below it read: "Not Quite the New Blood He Hoped For" and then in smaller print, "from left to right, band members, starting with sisters Nandy and Cassie Ray, Emma Monniker and Sylvanna (Lane) Lima."
Below the photo was a short paragraph.
Recent entry into the Battle of the Bands, the Limp Lizards failed in their attempt to redeem themselves after an offensive showing at a local children's shelter. As one counselor described it, "the lyrics [they played for the children] were completely inappropriate ... they were told in no uncertain terms never to play ... here again". Well maybe the apple didn't fall far from the tree. It turns out that Cassie Ray's real name is Cassandra Johnson. Her birth mother, Rebecca Mojoko nee Johnson, couldn't attend her daughter's public debut into the competitive world of music because she was in jail on vagrancy and solicitation charges.
Nandy could feel the heat in her cheeks. It took all her willpower not to just rip the magazine into pieces.
When she didn't say anything, Mr. Gerstan said slowly. "Maybe you might want to take some time off." His tone sounded off, somewhere between embarrassed and disgusted.
When she looked up, he looked extremely uncomfortable. That did nothing for her temper.
"If you want to fire me because of some idiotic blurb in a magazine that lives on made-up scandal, then just go ahead and do it." She threw the magazine onto the counter. It skidded across the glass and landed near the trash. Poetic justice, she thought.
"And if you want to know what Haven House thinks of us, then pick up a damn phone, or better yet go over there yourself and just ask them."