THIS IS SO GOOD! Alvin, growing up with Dave as a parent, would likely take on a lot of Dave’s mannerisms as an adult.
I recall him getting teased for saying “fellas” and “folks” in one of my fics and responding with “like it or not, I am my father’s son…and with that comes his old man talk.”
And Dave in the 2015 show is HEAVILY implied to be so hard on Alvin because he was a lot like Alvin as a kid.
I love that you delved into Simon’s psyche with a description of what was happening inside his brain. As well as him not quite knowing how to react when Alvin of all people lays down the law.
Theo got his well deserved apology!!!
Also, I hope Theo gets his cookies. What does Alvin have against oatmeal raisin? The raisins?
I am really invested in this story! You’re such a great writer!
AHHH — I adore your comments! I was already having a pretty good day today, but you just made it ten times more better! (5 messages in my inbox, I must be the luckiest person in the world!)
I definitely think that Alvin would mirror Dave a lot, especially as he grows older. Call it a matter of parental instincts or same values, but they definitely mirror each other a lot. People think Simon might be the one, but I disagree with that. And, yeah, it's one of the things I love about the 2015 show. Specifically when Alvin is just like: "Attitude. Attitude!" And doesn't even counter the fact that he has one, himself.
Simon would definitely think in facts, and it was a good way to add in things that I'm learning in school. So, it was a win-win, really. Simon can't wrap his head around the fact that his wild-child of a brother has become the person holding him back, grabbing him by the collar and forcing him to look at his crimes.
Theodore deserves all the apologies. Even in the show, he's treated rather...lightly or harshly, depending on what your consider it. They really delve into the joke of his just being naive. Something 90's Theo was, but he also had attitude and spunk.
Alvin and the burning dislike for oatmeal raisin comes from the fact that my cousins tricked me into eating an oatmeal raisin cookie telling me it was chocolate chip. I don't like raisins, and that was just betrayal.
I'll definitely keep them coming! I love when people leave comments too!
I think, as far as the 2015 series goes, Simon mirrors Dave too in a couple ways....most notably his temper. Simon's a lot quicker to blow up, similar to Dave. (While Alvin takes longer to reach the end of his rope.) The later 2015 seasons have Alvin showing quite a bit of patience and restraint in the face of some ridiculous situations. Alvin's definitely got a lot in common with both Simon and Dave. I think deep down he sort of realizes it...and it would scare him, but feel good at the same time.
HAHA. Some of my favorite 2015 show moments are the ones where Alvin has to save the day because SIMON is the one who did something dumb and reckless. Notably, Simon Saves The World, but I know there were other examples. I also love how Alvin calls Simon out on the way Simon treats Geizmo. "How is he supposed to learn emotional intelligence from you, when you don't have any?" Granted, Simon is a child raising a child so...he's just doing his best.
Theo gets so baby-fied in the 2015 show it's not even funny. I try to write Theo with a lot more depth to his personality. As someone who has been taken advantage of so many times, he's now a LOT better at detecting potential manipulation and lies. He's also feeling left out because Simon and Alvin become so similar, so he has to realize that just because his talents aren't "intellectual" it doesn't mean he's "the dumb brother."
I KNEW THERE WAS A STORY BEHIND IT! I love when authors do that! My version of Alvin would prefer oatmeal raisin to chocolate chip. He'd probably say something funny like " Iron is a tasty element." (because raisins have iron) Simon would roll his eyes.
Anyway, before I head out, I just wanna say if you enjoy Alvin and Simon surprising each other and forcing each other to acknowledge uncomfortable truths, then you'd have a blast reading my AU. It's heavily based on the 2015 show, but with twists.
Alvin being the exasperated brother and saving Simon from his own shenanigans are my favorite moments. 'Cause he's like, "Okay, Simon. I'm going to do damage control. Because I'm the person who does the most damage, but you're not control right now, so here we are." He's just so done, it's a mood.
It’s honestly frustrating how the 2015 show reduces Theodore to this one-dimensional, toddler character. They really missed the mark on who he could be. Theodore has always had so much more to him than just being the sweet, naive one. Sure, he’s kind-hearted and trusting, but that doesn’t mean he’s some clueless pushover. I wanted to scream at the show multiple times for it.
I agree with you, Theo’s been through enough to know when someone’s trying to pull the wool over his eyes. He’s been taken advantage of, and it’s made him sharper, more aware. He’s not the same innocent kid anymore; he’s learned to see through the lies and manipulation that used to trip him up. I mean, he has Simon and Alvin as his brothers, both of those people sell schemes (well, plans in Simon's case) like money. He's used to it enough to know when he's being fooled. He's probably the most likely one to say: "Been there, done that." When someone tries to pull the same thing on him. He likes to think about the best in people, something that he differs from with his brothers who are far more eager and willing to be skeptical, but even he knows when to take a step back. That kind of experience should be part of his character, not erased in favor of making him the perpetual baby of the group.
And let’s talk about the whole “dumb brother” label. Just because Theo’s talents aren’t wrapped up in intellectual stuff like Simon’s or flashy antics like Alvin’s doesn’t make him any less valuable. He’s got a different kind of intelligence, one that’s just as important but often overlooked. The show tends to downplay this, but Theo’s got creativity, empathy, and a knack for understanding people in ways that Simon and Alvin sometimes miss. He’s got depth, and it’s time he got the recognition he deserves for it. It’s about time Theo stepped out of that shadow and showed that he’s more than just the “cute one.” He’s got his own strengths, his own story, and it’s a disservice to water that down for the sake of an easy stereotype and money. Like, I have so many feelings about it.
(SORRY! I'M JUST REALLY MAD ABOUT THAT BIT.)
Ah, you have really good intuition. I tend to give some bits of my personality to characters cause it's fun and it makes me take a trip down memory lane while I'm doing it. My cousins did this to me when I was 11, and I'm still not over it. Betrayal is hard to get over and needs to be paid in installments. (Though I did change the Wifi password and made one of 'em loose a sock).
I'd love to check out your story. I've been planning to for a while, ever since you first mentioned it, but life has been obsessed with kicking me down with anatomy of cockroaches and oblique motion, so it's been a rough while. But rest assured, I will read the hell out of your AU once I have the chance. Be prepared for long comments.
YES YES YESSS! YOU GET IT! I love when Alvin is just fed up with situations. And when he’s stepping in to fix things. Whether it’s something he did that backfired or something someone else did, he’s got the PLANS! He prides himself on the ability to think fast and he’s great in a crisis…most of the time. He is The Ideas Guy.
There’s a couple episodes where they actually write Theo decently! So I know they CAN, they just choose not to 90% of the time. Like Artsy Smartsy? The Crush? Theo is SO good in those! Why couldn’t we have that helpful, super emotionally intelligent Theo ALL THE TIME!?
I still write Theo as a kid (it’s explained further in my fics as to why) but he’s definitely still got maturity to him. He might enjoy “childish” things, but he’s knowledgeable enough to pick up on a LOT of things before his brothers do. He is basically the glue that holds the family together. He’s typically the one to call the family meetings too. And while he can sometimes still slip up and trust the wrong people on occasion, it’s not very often. Usually, he’s the one pointing out uncomfortable truths too…pretty bluntly at times. And even when he doesn’t understand a situation, he still tries his best. I love him so much.
Alvin and Simon are both good at making plans! But I think they differ in one key way. Simon gets stuck on one plan and it takes him longer to swap to another if plan A fails. Alvin is FAST and FLEXIBLE. He can come up with a backup plan and then another backup plan in record time. Alvin points out in my universe that he uses (used to use?) the same Scientific Method steps for scheming that Simon uses for inventing. Just casually blows Simon’s mind.
I think Theo’s so good at understanding people because he’s very much focused on the present. He notices what’s actually going on, instead of thinking he knows exactly what’s going to happen. Alvin thinks ahead on a train of insane troll logic, jumping to wild conclusions. Simon thinks ahead and overestimates his own intellect sometimes, so he misses crucial details.
My version of Theo has heightened senses that help him pick up on things, but can also leave him overwhelmed. Occasionally, he says ridiculous and funny stuff in a conversation because he was focused on something else in his surroundings and he missed some of the words from the conversation…leading to him misunderstanding it. But as he learns to hone his skill of perception, he gets better at ignoring irrelevant stimuli. Headphones are still a must though. His hyper-sensitive ears can hear Alvin and Simon fighting from every room in the house.
Haha. You’re valid! You’ll definitely find out what irks me most about Alvinnn! when you read my fics.
“Betrayal is hard to get over and needs to be payed in installments.” Haha, I love this. It sounds like something my Simon would say. And Eleanor too. I put a few little hints of myself into the characters too. Actually, I’m so connected to them at this point it’s hard to tell if I adopted the trait/preference because of the character or if they got it from me.
SQUEEEEE! YAAAAAY! I’M SO EXCITED! AND I AM SO PREPARED FOR LONG COMMENTS!
I feel you on life kicking ya down. I’m in this job placement program and it’s sucking up all of my time with repetitive etiquette nonsense. (I had to re-write 36 practice interview questions 3 times to make sure I sounded boring and devoid of personality.) The program isn’t what I expected it to be. I feel like they’re trying to change everything about who I am and how I act and telling me that if I don’t conform to a tiny professional box, then I’ll get fired. I’ve been so stressed and anxious since joining the program, I only wrote one mini story since. I have a script for another, but I can’t seem to get in Jeanette’s mindset enough to add the narration. I am stuck in the program until I get a job, so it’ll be a long haul, but rest assured I will find some way to write! I’m very resourceful…like Alvin haha.
I hope that your life gets a bit easier to handle and you’re able to enjoy life more. It’s no fun being stressed out 24-7.
Ugh, that job placement program sounds like a nightmare. It’s so frustrating when they try to squeeze all the personality out of you. Hang in there, though! I know you’ll find a way to keep writing, no matter what. You’re resourceful—just like Alvin! I hope things get smoother for you too, and that you can find a way to break out of that tiny box they’re trying to shove you into.
You've really just nailed my thoughts on everything, it's genuinely so surprising that I feel like I have nothing to say. About the character traits, I totally get you, 99% of the time my personality is based on some random character than I either a) created, b) read, c) watched in a TV series. It's like that meme that says: "My personality is the last book I read." It does make for great character growth, though.
I hope to see you in the future chapters! Can't wait to see more of your work, as well.
It’s been turning up in my nightmares too. I am tempted to just quit, but I also have issues with quitting something once I start. I get to be myself outside of the program, as long as I’m not too stressed to remember how. Losing myself in a story is great stress relief which is why I write and read so many fanfics.
I wanna make more art too. That’s good for stress relief.
I DID MANAGE TO COMPLETE THE MINI TALE YESTERDAY! It was awesome! So I can still do it, I just gotta budget my time more and try and control the motivation.
My personality/personalities have been all 6 Chipmunks and Chipettes since middle school. It’s been interesting seeing how they all grew and changed with me overtime, and sometimes in ways I didn’t expect. A lot of my old therapists and these two job coaches call it “maladaptive daydreaming” but it’s not maladaptive at all. I understand the world better and I understand myself and other people better when I view it through the lens of my special interest. (which is AATC) My newest therapist actually sees The Chipmunks and Chipettes as what they really are! Which is helpful and something that should not be squashed out of me to make me appear more “normal.”
You will definitely see me in future chapters! I constantly check AO3 for updates on my favorite fics!
I'm so sorry for responding so late! I kept on meaning to answer, but then would get waywarded in the middle. I keep on getting random story ideas that I know will steer me away from the plot, and the itching urge to finish old story ideas as well as rewrite, well, literally everything. But I don't have the time to do any of that as I have continuous Monday tests to prepare for of 720 marks that have nothing to do with old nostalgia and fiction — but, eh. I've been in this cycle before, might as well let it run it's course.
Sorry for ranting, I just really needed to let it out.
I completely understand how you feel. Reading Fanfiction — and manhwas once I get addicted to it again — are so dopamine inducing that I can't freaking stop. It's just so relaxing to lose yourself in a story with your favorite characters, especially when there are so many talented writers. You get ideas, your drafts are filled yet again, and we all know how that ends. Forget drugs, these are the real addictions.
I'm so glad you're finding time to manage stuff. I wish I could say the same, but it's mostly my fault for poor time management, so as soon as I get a hang on that, it'll work out (or so I think). Also, I'm happy that you've found a therapist that seems to work for you. I like psychology a lot, and I do think that people are so often eager to shove people into a diagnostic box, so they can "cure" it. Not all things are bad, even if they seem like they have all the symptoms. And oftentimes, it does more harm than good to try to squeeze people into the "perfect" mold that society has held in pedestal for ages.
I'm so glad you're not letting them squeeze your spirit! You're a real one!
Yessss! That suuuucks! My idea list keeps going but my OCD and Autistic brain bits won’t let me begin new stuff with stuff hanging unfinished, even though I can write down ideas and dialogue for it. My goal is at least one post every week, but I may have to cut that down to every other week. It all depends how stressed and overwhelmed I am.
Most of the time, if I’m not writing, I just roleplay on Discord as the characters. Which reminds me, do you have any social media that allows you to send audio in DMs? Discord is usually my go to. I ask because a lot of my fics contain musical moments. (With Journey To Excelsior having the most haha) and I would love to be able to share the physical songs that I messed with to make sound chipmunky with you as you reach each song sequence in the fics!
Rant away, my friend! Letting it out helps us move forward I think!
Yesss! Even when I am not motivated to write, I read and then the act of reading sparks new ideas and motivation. Luckily, I also get ideas while doing mind numbingly boring chores while rocking out to my headphones.
I have a suggestion! If you’re struggling with time management due to the low dopamine, try cold showering in the mornings to wake you up! I recently started and it’s been 3 of the most magical and productive weeks of my life. I’m still stressed, but I feel more on top of things and I have had so many random schedule changes that I was able to roll with and account for when before they would have totaled my delicate system! I also somehow managed to find time to write, between everything that NEEDED to be accomplished. I have this thing I’m working on changing where I can’t let myself have fun until all the work is done (which it never is) so Alvin’s really inspired me to realize it’s okay now and then to take a break and do something fun that isn’t ridiculously productive. In a lot of ways, I need to reconnect with my classic Alvin side just like 2.0 does.
You like psychology? Hehe. So does Jeanette. There’s a LOT of psychology stuff in my fics! Ahhhh I know you’re going to enjoy it!
Thank you! It is tough, but I shall preserve. I do love a challenge! I wish you the best with those awful tests too!
So sorry for responding so late...again. I want to promise it won't happen again, but life's been swinging a bat at me lately, so I fear that'll be a lie. I do have a discord! Same ID as my AO3!
I find myself getting SO much inspiration from reading stories, particularly other fanfics, it could be some random line and then I have an entire plot. What I usually do is that I scourge all pieces of media before giving up because my needs are too hyperspecific and then write down whatever. I need to stop doing that because I end up with so many unfinished fics that I still wallow in guilt over. When I first started writing fanfics about two years ago I promised myself that I wouldn't start something before finishing another - it didn't take long for that to break. I just have way too many plot bunnies and a lot of them die their temporary deaths in AO3 drafts before hitting me back again months, or sometimes, years later.
I really appreciate your suggestion, but I'll have to wait a couple of months to try it. It's super cold where I live - due to heavy monsoons - and the mornings are freezing. And I have a paper immune system, thank you so much for your suggestion, though!
I remember reading somewhere that the problem with goals/targets is that you postpone your happiness/fun until you complete it. But the problem is, it's rarely that simple, and as such, you end up more stressed. So, it's always okay to take a break. That's something I need to do myself.
I know I'm going to love your work. Thank you for your luck with the tests, the last one didn't go all that well. I'm hoping that this one will. Disappointment is not something I do well with. All the best to you too!
That’s okay! I get it! My OCD will kick my butt if I don’t reply ASAP, but I also understand not all people are like that. I never expect an immediate response! It’s always nice to hear from ya whenever!
I friend requested you on Discord! I’m ChipmunkedWeirdo!
SAME! It works with TV shows too! Inspiration is always lurking! I find I’m getting more inspired now that I’m out and about doing more things, but also I have less time to write now that I’m doing more things so the inspiration just sorta gets written down for later. I’m hoping to get another mini tale done! I don’t like having to schedule my writing time because I never am in the mood to write if it’s scheduled, so I sorta just wait for a few hours in a row of free time. I probably should schedule it, but ADHD says no.
I promised myself I wouldn’t start a new fic without finishing a fic first, which is how mini tales was born. It’s my RANDOM SHORT IDEA DUMP. I have a new multi-chapter fic idea but I am gonna limit myself to 6 chapters max. It’s about Alvin….again. I really need to give the others more spotlight so hopefully they’ll get a multi chapter fic after this next Alvin-centric one. (Which is totally not inspired by me venting about my job coaches…okay, it is)
Oh yeah haha. I have no idea if it’ll still work in winter or if I’ll need to switch to room temp showers. I did read that it boosts endurance and the immune system though! And I definitely have felt less sick since taking them. Hope the weather gets less cruddy for ya!
It is so true! My friends and I all fall into the same trap. I just always worry that if I don’t complete my goals fast enough, I’ll get bored with them. But I am learning how to give myself downtime to chill. That’s where the roleplay comes in. It’s technically still work/character building practice but it’s less structured and allows for a more chill mind.
Aw that’s a bummer! Fingers crossed for the next one! It’s never fun when you fail, but remember what Theo says! Failure is just a step on the way to success!
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