1551 Literal.

This page was going to end differently, but the idea of someone standing there the whole time, listening to their conversation, made me laugh so hard I put it in instead. I don’t know if anyone but me will find this funny, but I was thinking about it while I was doing other stuff and laughing to myself. I briefly thought about having the person off camera be one of the other cast members, but decided it would be better if it was just a throwaway character. Although if she proves useful I may use her again. Also, in one version Kayla responds, but I thought it was funnier if she just stood there in silence in the end.
I hate to throw any character away offhandedly. I actually thought of using the girl Reggie tries to help early in the comic, but thought she might have been a little too below average to believably be in Jessica’s class. I actually intended for her to come back at some point, but was put off because I thought I made her seem so dim it might have been tedious. Now I think I could make it work, but if I decide to use those ideas is anybody’s guess.
Most of the background characters have, at the very least, a framework of a biography so I know how they’ll react in situations I might need them for. The three slacker kids who only have nicknames, for example, have little bios that I can use for reference. They aren’t set in stone because they don’t need to be. Emo Snape is probably a mix of Kiowa native, Mexican, and white. His exact mix was never decided on. His name, in my head, has always been Raul. Vermin is probably a Vietnamese white mix, but I’ve never settled on a name. Rooster is just your garden variety European white and his given name in my mind is James. Which would make two background characters with that name. Of course I’ve known a handful of James’ so that’s true to life. All three of them have bad home lives in one way or another. Snape has no dad, for example. Rooster has somewhat abusive parents. Vermin feels like a disappointment. It’s never come up, but they also know Jolene. I wanted to explore that a little but it was just one more thing in the sea of story ideas I want to use.
(When I was in college I was friends with 3 Brians who lived in one apartment. They made a little sign for the door that was Brian to the third power. When one moved out they changed it to Brian to the second power. I used to play Super Bomberman with them while they were high. The thing about James made me think of it.)
Its better to have too many ideas rather than not enough, but I always wish I could get to them faster. It’s a lot for one person to do though.