Disclaimer
copyright: I do not own these characters, they are all ren pics. however
I do own the story idea.
sex: no sex in part one or even much subtext to speak of…
just yet.
violence: not any real major violence in this part.
feedback: any feedback or questions can be sent to me at red_hope@yahoo.com
note: this story is for Susan. her,
MomBard, and I each have our constant debates with
Susan about the first name of
Series: Other Series Number: 11 Story
Number: 51
Janice versus Janis (Part I)
by Red Hope
"Hey, sweetheart… I have to run back to my tent quickly."
Melinda looked away from the area she was digging, straightening up from
being on her hands, and peered up at her friend above her. The smaller woman's
body was casting a shadow over her. "Alright,
Janice."
Janice started to turn but stopped halfway. "Having any luck
yet?" She pivoted back on her foot and raised an eyebrow at the
southerner.
"No, I ain't had any luck yet."
Melinda sighed slightly.
"Neither have I." The archeologist gazed about the dig site, a
faint sigh escaped her. "I'll be back." She disappeared down into the
camp.
The southerner watched her go momentarily. After pushing her glasses
back up on her nose, she went back to the careful digging she was doing. She
pushed her hand shovel into the dirt but it quickly stopped after about two
inches down. "Oh my," she uttered, "wonder what that could
be?" She continued digging carefully in the loose dirt. Not much deeper,
she came across a tiny figurine.
Melinda carefully wiggled the brownish figurine out of the dirt. Taking
the sleeve of her shirt, she gingerly wiped away the dirt that'd been stuck to
it. She then lifted it up a little higher into the sun light and looked over
it.
"Hey Mel."
Melinda suddenly broke away from her attention on the figurine, tucking
it away in her pocket. She furrowed her eyebrows and straightened up again.
"Back already, Janice?"
"Back?" The archeologist's own eyebrows knitted together. "From
where?"
"You said you were going to your tent." The southerner pushed
her glasses back up while staring curiously at her friend. "Yah ain't going?"
The archeologist shook her head. "I didn't know I was going."
She half laughed.
"Um… yah feeling okay, Janice?" The tall woman stood up from her spot, leaving her
shovel buried in the dirt.
"Yeah sure. Why?"
"Well, I reckon you said you were going to your tent but you said
you ain't."
"Mel, I never said I was going," hotly stated the
archeologist. "I've been on the other side of this mound with a few of the
other workers the entire time."
"But…"
"But nothing." The archeologist shook her head. "I reckon yah
been in duh sun tuh long," she tormented in her
fake southern accent.
The southerner drew the line at that point; she put her hands on her
hips. "Doctor Covington, I have yah know my southern accent ain't trashy as that. And second, I know what yah said so
yah ain't gonna tell
me," her eyes drifted past
"Mel, what's wrong?" The archeologist reached out and lightly
touched her friend's arm. "Mel?"
"Who the hell are you?" growled a deep female's voice.
The mirror image hastily went for her gun as well.
Both women lifted their guns simultaneously and the two guns cocked in
rhythm.
Melinda just dazed at the scene of the two women that were her friend.
Their guns just inches from each other, the woman directly in front of her with
her legs spread and both hands on her gun. The other with her right leg stepped
forward, her right hand up with her gun up, and teasing smirk on her lips.
"Mel, stay behind me," whispered
"Right," muttered the southerner under her breath.
"Sweetheart, get away from her," commanded the other
archeologist.
Melinda started to move, not sure what to do.
"No," growled the woman in front of Melinda, she repositioned
herself in front of her friend. "Don't move, Mel."
"This ain't getting us anywhere,"
cut in Melinda. "Tell us who yah are?" she questioned the
archeologist furthest from her.
"Come on now," she growled slightly, "I'm Janice
Covington."
"Um… okay." Melinda sighed and peered down at the smaller
woman directly in front of you. "And who are you?"
"Mel, I'm the same person." She slightly peered up into
questioning blue eyes. "
"Oh wait." Janice started laughing and shaking her head. "Let
me get this right… you're Janissss not Janiiiccee?"
The archeologist gave a menacing look to Janice. "Yes."
"Oh this is funny." Janice only shook her head again with a
few more deep chuckles.
"Wait," started the southerner, "you are Janis with an
's.'" She pointed to the archeologist right in front of her. "And you
are Janice with a 'ce' instead."
"You got it, sweetheart," confirmed Janice. "How'd I know
this would happen?"
"What would happen?" questioned Janis.
"The screw up," mocked Janice.
Melinda soon realized that several of the workers at the site were
becoming spectators on the two Covingtons. "Um…
ya'll, I reckon we might wanna take this into a
tent." She directed to all the workers.
Janice and Janis gazed about and noted the workers.
Janice huffed, her attention back on Janis.
Janis pressed her lips together for a second. "I think Mel is
right." Just to show some trust, she uncocked
her gun and slipped it back into her holster, but she never moved away from
Melinda.
The archeologist however kept her gun raised as she considered
everything. Suddenly her evilest grin broke out across her lips. "Alright." She relocked her gun as well and put it
away. "How about my tent?" she taunted.
Janis rolled her eyes. "My tent then, sounds good." She glared
at Janice as she brushed past her, headed for camp.
Melinda shook her head at the two Covingtons
and followed behind them to the tent. Once inside, she remained in front of the
tent flap. She noticed how both of them acted exactly alike and concluded that
the only difference was just their names.
"Let's get this cleared up," demanded Janis once she turned
around, facing both Melinda and Janice.
Janice raised an eyebrow. "Well it's obvious what's happened."
"And that is?" questioned Melinda. "I ain't understanding."
Janice chuckled to herself and folded her arms against her chest, her
eyes locked on Janis. "She's around because she's pissed I took her
spot."
"Spot?" The southerner became even more confused.
"Oh come on, Mel." Janice half turned to face her. "The
writers screwed up."
"Writers?" Melinda started becoming more confused but then it
suddenly dawned on her. "Oh my…"
"Exactly," agreed Janis. "I'm back to take my spot as the
proper
Janice laughed while her head was shaking. "I don't think so. Why
you think the writers replaced you huh?"
Janis quickly stomped over. "Well at least I am not the
mistake," she growled once in Janice's face.
Janice's up lip twitched. "No, you're just the accident until they
made me."
"Oh get real," snarled Janis.
Janice started laughing at that statement. "If I
was real and not a fuckin' character."
"Oh my," repeated Melinda quietly.
Janis threw up her hands briefly and walked away. She then stopped and
whirled around. "You were a mistake and I'm back."
"You were never meant to be the
Janis felt her shoulders starting to sag. She peered over at Melinda
before focusing back on Janice. "You think this is your character? Then
why was my name in the script originally?"
"Then it was replaced by mine, Janis." Janice shook her head.
"You weren't good enough for the character. You got as far as the original
script. I'm in everything else," she started while walking towards Janis.
"I'm in the remade script, the guide, even in the recent Beauty and Brawns
cards." She laughed. "Hell I'm in all of the fanfictions…
you were a mistake."
Janis turned around to face her counterpart. "No, you were the
mistake. You think those writers would have used you?" She shook her head.
"Your name is Hebrew… what the hell does that have to do with Greek
history?"
"Its not Hebrew," snarled Janice.
"Actually, Janice," cut in Melinda, "It is Hebrew for
gracious god."
Janice huffed at Melinda's great help in the situation. "Well its
not like Janis is exactly Greek either… its
English."
"On the contrary, it's derived originally from the Roman god of
gates," interjected Janis.
"Roman god of gates huh?"
The southerner started nodding. "It is, Janice. The god of gates is
named Janus, he protected the gates of
Janis suddenly had a smug look. "According to history, he was
depicted as having two faces back to back."
Melinda furrowed her eyebrows after hearing that. She dug into her right
pocket and removed the tiny figurine she had found. "As a matter of
fact…." She walked over to the two archeologists. "I think this
happens to be a Janus." She held out the
figurine in the palm of her hand.
Janice narrowed her eyes at it. "That's… a Janus?"
"Uh huh," answered Melinda, "He was an extremely
important god. He was considered even more important than Zeus."
"I can understand the Fates being more important," said
Janice. "But not some god of the gates."
Janis chuckled before saying, "You see Janus
watched over the gates of
"And what the hell does that have to do with your name? We are
discussing a male god."
"Janis is simply the female version of Janus,"
stated Melinda in a matter of factly tone.
"Mel, you're not helping," lowly whispered the archeologist.
"She's just doing her job," reminded Janis to Janice.
The archeologist shook her head at Janis. "So you're telling me,
that the writers sat down and said lets choose Janis over Janice because of the
meaning?"
"Yes," simply answered Janis. "It's clear… even Melinda's
name is Greek."
Janice knew Melinda's own name was also Greek and it made her teeth
grind.
"My names means gentle and dark in Greek," softly whispered
the southerner.
"I know what it means," growled Janice.
Janis shrugged. "I'm the real archeologist to the stories. The
writers would have not chosen a Hebrew name. Janus
was the link to the past and the future… just as I am."
Janice grinned as she lifted her head. "But obviously you were not
meant for this character and were replaced by me."
Janis instantly then had her own devilish grin as she took a step
closer. "Alright then, we know what happens later in the fanfictions after the writers are done the one episode. Let's
just see who the best character for this role is. And I'm sure Mel will have
her opinion as well."
Janice laughed at her counterpart and held out her hand. "Alright then."
Janis smirked and took the hand, she briskly shook it.
"Oh my," whispered a worried Melinda as she held tightly to
the small Janus in her hand.
To Be Continued…
If you have your own opinion
already on who's the right