So the rest of this was written for Endnote's regarding my recent first chapter, so if it sounds phrased oddly, that's why. And not spell checked.
UNFILTERED SPOILERS FOR SAID FIC BELOW.
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Writing Caine was interesting, considering he's still in a high role (principal), yet still hovered by higher up's (most of this chapter was written before episode 6 so THE COMMITTEE wasn't an inspiration for the school board, as obvious as it may sem). I feel like I got his personality down pretty close, and hope to set up his own shortcomings more directly if the chance ever comes up.
Gangle feels underutilized to me for this chapter. Now I know it's not a huge deal due to (SPOILERS), but that doesn't make it feel any less true to me. You don't get a lot of her personality here, and while I intend for this to be read by fellow TADC enjoyers, I'd hope anyone going in fandom blind can find some enjoyment by reading this as such (though to be honest anyone going fandom blind should prob have a wiki up for visual/name reference but that's just me).
The best we can really see of her here is the final scene she has alongside Jax. You can chalk it up to Jax being the POV here and therefore not letting her have much of a chance to shine, and while that may be accurate, this work is still about THEM. TOGETHER.
Ribbit's character wasn't super hard to pin down for me, and BEFORE ANYONE COMPLAINS NO HE'S NOT GONE FROM THE FIC. I won't go into any more detail than that, but trust me frog enjoyers you will get to see more of him… eventually. I did concept him actually dying at the end, but I don't enjoy out-of-the-blue "shocking for the sake of it" in my fanfiction so you all are were saved from that.
If Ribbit is vastly different in canon (IF we actually get to see a flashback of the frog) then I will do jack shit cause this is alternate universe. Some elements may carry over, but I wouldn't hold my breath over it. For voice headcannon imagine Rigby from Regular Show. That's it that's his voice.
Oh boy Ragatha, poor girl got put through a lot both in canon and likely in here too! The little jab Jax does about her being a doll isn't meant to be a dig at Bunnydoll shippers mind you; I appreciate all ships, but I do have preferences (I mean, your reading a Ribbun fic so-). I see Jax and Rag's relationship as something else entirely which will be covered within this fic, but I can't spoiler it of course, so you all get to work with that.
Pomni… I'm gonna be honest she's a bit undercooked in this chapter. And that's cause I'm pantsing (look it up what it means if you don't know) a lot of this work and sadly Pomni just didn't fit with what I had in mind for other characters. Any role she could have played I wanted another character to do instead, so she got a bit shafted in terms of importance. Things may change, but I can't gurantee much for any of the Pompom enjoyers.
Zooble feels too antagonistic here. Now it IS all Jax's fault for making them act that way here, so I can't expect to get an honest view of her personality, but it still sucks. She is fun to write though. Really fun. Also if the tag's didn't give it away yes their gonna play an equally big role to Jax and Gangle. Not as much of course, but they will be there.
The references this chapter were a bit low, and trust me I would include more if I felt it could be more natural to slot in, but I don't wanna put them above the actual story. I'm not gonna point them out for every chapter unless I think it's too obscure for most to get, or if it's more of a homage than anything else. For this first one though Yeah sure let's go!
"I contemplated long and hard about it…
…For about two seconds. "
This is a Randy Feltface reference. More on how the joke was phrased than the actual word-for-word in this case, but I think it's funny.
Jax's fourth wall breaking isn't inherently a reference, but Ferris Bueller & Deadpool are the two I would say influence them the most.
"Hmm… Yeah, I suppose I am worried for nothi-Jax looks it's Caine!"
Toy Story, of course. This was a late addition reference when I was writing and I'm not sure if it lands super well on Jax falling for it, but I felt it was funny enough to work.
"Mhm! Imagine if we skipped to right now instead! All of that effort just- just gone! Now that would be lazy, and anyone who would do such a thing are as such!"
There was a whole super prose-heavy, Ultrakill inspired piece that was meant to go right before this, but I felt it was a bit much for the scene at hand. Maybe I'll post it if anyone's curious, cause I'm still proud of it in spite of it being scrapped.
"Your gonna give Luffy a run for his money in the tear department if you keep that up Crybaby. Fix that." / "…That's the golden ticket here," I say as I choose some items for my tray, "which you unfortunately didn't get from a Wonka bar."
I'm lumping these two together since their the most direct references, considering Jax outright says them. Luffy One Piece, Wonka Bar Charlie's Chocolate Factory.
"I've told you not to do that."
I would have made this more specfic if it weren't more convoluted in doing so. But this line was taken from "I told you about those stairs bro!", which I think is from Homestuck? But don't quote me on that.
"What did I tell you to do?" He chastised.
I lift my head from the table so my response wouldn't be mumbled. "…Be more careful."
"And what did you do?"
"…Chucked her mask."
Gravity Falls, Episode 1 Season 2, Scary-oke. A little more expanded on, but otherwise the reference.
BANG!
"Boom baby!"
Emperor's New Groove baby! I had this reference in my head for a while, and I think it's great.
And that's the last of the references I can fully remember putting in intentionally!
