Well, I'd been kinda trying to bumrush through the fluff so I can get to where everything goes to hell in a handbasket. Once I get to that point, I'll shift to a traditional en media res style where this fluff only comes up as brief flashbacks.
I've done this sort of thing before where I've written a scene or two as a sort of interim or introductory bit, and then cut them out entirely because all they really did was help me frame what was to come later on. But never on this kind of scale. Hopefully the second draft will look real good for it.
Also, I may just go ahead and change the MC's name anyhow, if only to keep things from being awkward.
I've done this sort of thing before where I've written a scene or two as a sort of interim or introductory bit, and then cut them out entirely because all they really did was help me frame what was to come later on. But never on this kind of scale. Hopefully the second draft will look real good for it.
Also, I may just go ahead and change the MC's name anyhow, if only to keep things from being awkward.