Ask the Ruminerds; Weirdopolis Races

 Vernon: Welp, I guess y'all er' up now...seein' as how Dawn and me already answered thissun'...

Gus: *Places his hooves to his temples, massaging them softly* Cervidwen's Hooves, I'm not looking forward to crunching all these species stats if we play with these.

Talia: *Stabs claw downward onto the table aggressively, tapping it down at the end of each of her sentences as if to emphasize her points.* I am choosing big, strong ogre, *pauses for a moment* No cyclops police girl...I protect the weaker creatures of the city and make it my mission to crush and destroy all of these evil 'Bad Guys' you mention...

Vernon: I mean...iffin' yer playin' a cop...y'all gotta abide by...y'know...laws. Y'all can't be judge, jury, and executioner. Ya gotta stop at arrestin' 'em and let the legal system sort out the rest...

Talia: *Waves a paw out dismissively* Bah, no one will miss. No trial needed.

Broomie: *Snickers* Maybe a bounty hunter would suit you then?

Joel: That's mine, I call that! 

Broomie: Not that I was planning on that being my role, but I...uh...I mean, we can have more than one Bounty Hunter in the party...

Gus: As long as the whole party isn't bounty Hunters...that would be kinda boring...

Joel: As for my species...I'd want to be...*Scratches chin thoughtfully* Either a hydra, or like a classic Chimera...

Megumi: Ooh..We could be the same Chimera! You can be big head, and I can be the snake tail head!

Joel: I like that idea.

Gus: I don't- I'm not sure if I'm stating the sheets for one or two characters there...or how you'd even play...

Melanie: And who's going to be the third head? Y'know, the goat head?

Joel: *Glances at Broomie* How about it?

Broomie: *Shakes his head dismissively.* I'd rather be a Leprefaun if I'm honest...I already had a pretty firm idea I was happy with the moment Dawn and Vern shared this question with us, plus I'd rather have my own 'dedicated' character...

Joel: *Rolls his eyes* Really, you came up with something that fast?

Broomie: He's a bit of a prankster and a drunk with no real job, and in debt up to his ears with some bad fae folks. Mainly makes his money by cheating and gambling and acting as an informant to those willing to pay a pretty penny.

Joel: *Snickers* Mam', you get a prompt and you just hit the ground running don't you? *Shakes head* Oh well, I guess we'll have to take turns piloting the third head if Gus is okay with our choice.

Megumi: Well, I was thinking a fae for my backup, that is if co-playing a chimera with Joel was off of the able. Fairy demolition expert...loves blowing up stuff maybe a little too much. *Giggles*

Gus: How would that...work in the world? Are you a merc for hire, or doing legit work?

Megumi: I was thinking she work in construction, which is very different for Fae...sort of like mice here in city. All small scale, but also magical. Molding trees and plants into homes...but demolition is still demolition.

Kodi: Oh, I want in on this. I-

Val: I'll pass, dork...

Kodi: *Flustered* You're no fun!

*Val rolls her eyes and scoffs*

Gus: So you were saying Kodi?

Kodi: Yeti! The mysterious, massive forest ape with an actic flavor matching yours truly. *Stabs a finger toward his chest.* As for work...hmm...how about a forest ranger? Do you think Weirdopolis has a Forest Preserve?

Gus: I don't see why it can't...

Kodi: Expert survivalist, king of the campout, unmatched knowledge of the unforgiving wilds!

Val: *Snickers* Alright, settle down boy...

Vernon: I think that just leaves you and Mel Gus...

Melanie: As much as a 'bearded doe' is interesting, I tend to favor playing really different species from my actual one, so...I'm going to be a little standard here and go with a vampire bat noble...*Snickers* I know it's a little boring, as there are plenty of other systems accounting for Vampire Bats, and those infected by them...but I'm a fan of the whole...'Glamour' and 'seduction' angle...

Dawn: I see you too are a fan of "Anne Mice's" works...

Melanie: *Blushes slightly, a chuckle escaping her muzzle* Oh don't even get me started...That series was probably the hallmark of my burgeoning 'nannyhood'. *Laughs* Definitely fueled my sexual awakening.

Gus: I'd go for a highly scientific 'Lizardman'. The race that competes against the Illubaahnati and the greys for subverting mammalian society...at least as we know them anyway. In reality, they're just another race in Weirdopolis society, an old and wise one, but just that.

Vernon: *Shakes head, chuckling softly* Someone was payin' more attention to Ulric's ramblin's than I was growin' up, that's fer sure...that's more than I remembered about lizard folks.

Gus: I imagine my character being fixated on trying to understand the nature of the universe, which is only all the more complicated by all of the Wierd creatures existing alongside normal society. As well as more than likely working in a more official capacity trying to improve the defensive technology used to protect the city from outsiders overall. So a tech expert with lots of gadgets...and maybe natural camouflage like a chameleon. 

Vernon: I'm real interested in actually seein'...like not necessarily how some of our characters would get pushed together into workin' with some of them key figures in Dustin's thang...but what kinda circumstances could pull the entire group together fer some grandiose adventure...

Kodi: You know I'd want to train under King Sasquatch...and he'd sound just like Macho Mam' Randy Savage...*Laughs*

Vernon: I could see myself havin' to maybe be Mel's bodyguard too...dependin' on iffin' I gotta run my own bodyguard thang or work fer a firm.

Dawn: *Huffs softly, crossing her arms* Like I'd let you...You're full-time Puppy...The Flockness Monster needs twenty-four seven protection.*Snickers*

Gus: I'm guessing you guys slipped being a couple into the angle already? *Laughs*

Vernon: *Rubs the back of his head awkwardly* Not at first...*Chortle*

Joel: I could see you working alongside me and Meg too...or against us... depending on who's paying. *Laughs*

Vernon: I'll snap all three of them neck's er yer's clean off iffin' ya try to lay a paw on my scalie green queen. *Laughs*

*Dawn giggles, blushing slightly as she nuzzles into Vernon's side*

Gus: With some time, I could probably figure out a throughline that would pull us all together. Maybe a bunch of split team things leading up to bringing us all together for one, grand arc. That said, good luck with your world-building Dustin. Always fun to discuss this sorta stuff with a fellow creative.

Dawn: Absolutely, I wish you the best of luck. Maybe Weirdopolis could be as big as Game of Bones, or even Royal Blue someday...

Joel: Is...Royal Blue really that big? Or do you just have a soft spot for that series cause the writer said he was inspired by your and Vernon's family lineage and current relationship...

Vernon: *Crossing his arms* It's in the top ten, and Gus is making a campaign off o' that too, that's good enough fer me...*Chuckles*

Ask the Ruminerds; Weirdopolis and 'being different'.

 

Dawn: Well, removing my past trauma and my relationship with Vernon does cut...actually, it doesn't cut as much as I'd like from my answer. I do still have...quite a bit of prey baggage that isn't necessarily connected directly to my Father. Both from Predator and Prey alike...

Vernon: I'm sorry Darlin'...*Gives his mate a gentle side hug*

Gus: My health problems made me a bit of a target in high school...especially the fainting issue. *Shakes head and lets out a derisive snort.* Once Yuri let the entire student body know I had a fainting disorder, there was a good month and a half where I was getting spooked by the bigger pred and hel even some prey students at least three to five times a day. So they would watch me fall over and crack up while I spazzed out on the floor for a minute or more.

Vernon: I'm real sorry about that...*Sighs* Ya'll know how my brother is...

Dawn: Didn't you have medicine to suppress your fainting disorder?

Gus: *Nods* I did, and still do take it regularly. But the key word is 'suppress' in that sentence. And that's what it does... it makes it harder to get a faint out of me...but it still happens.

*Melanie plants a kiss atop Gus' head, wrapping an arm around his neck affectionately and nuzzling against his cheek.*

Gus: Thanks Mellomar. *Gus pets her hoof with his gently* Thankfully everyone started to lose interest after a while...but I was still razzed pretty regularly by predator and prey bullies alike. Predators because I was the prime example of 'weak, submissive prey' that pred supremacists love to point to. And Prey, because I was weak and strange and kept weird hobbies. *Chuckles* Plus my best friend was the biggest wolf in school...

Vernon: Hey I caught my own share of flack fer bein the resident "Sheepdog". I was the wolf who had exclusively prey friends, not even an omnivore among 'em. When it wasn't Yuri cracking jokes to my face about my "Nerd Herd", it was the other Pred students whisperin' about me, and leavin' little graffiti remarks in various places in the school.

Dawn: Aww...Puppy...*Pats his leg affectionately.*

Vernon: Thankfully I never got harassed fer' it outright though, aside from Yuri o'course, cause there weren't many mammals bigger than me in school, and my former reputation kept me outta the targetin' line...But prey folks outside of the club suspected I was cultivatin' a food supply by keepin' close the Beasts and Battlefields club...*Shakes head*

Joel: Seems like they were right after all, seeing as how you eat prey on the regular these da-OW!

*Megumi slaps Joel's snout, causing him to recoil back from her, scrunching his nose and rubbing the paw impact site.*

Megumi: Do not be rude. *Snickers*

*Dawn blushes slightly before doing her best to shake off Joel's incomplete comment.*

Dawn: A lot of the outside abuse I endured was more psychological. I went to an all Prey school after Vernon and I got separated. It was very traditional, so much so they actually separated the males and females. And if there was one thing the prettier, 'normal' prey girls loved to do, it was to spread rumors and badmouth a small, weak, little sheep like me. Especially when I'd turn up to class every few weeks in a new cast or sling...*Shudders* Just thinking about the vile stuff they used to say about me...about my family...

Melanie: Most mammals really don't consider just how bad bullying can be. They underestimate just what kind of nasty stuff kids already know about, and can use as ammo against other kids...I remember being told by some rich bitch nanny that my mother earned our family fortune blowing billy's in back alleys in a marathon. I was seven years old when this happened by the way...

Gus: *Winces* Yeesh..wait...is that the one who you punched hard enough she had to get her braces re-aligned?

*Melanie crossed her arms, a proud smile crossing her muzzle as she spoke.*

Melanie: The bullying stopped after that...save for the muttering about me being a psycho when they thought I couldn't hear them... *Chuckles*

Dawn: I wish I had been strong enough to do something like that to be honest...*Shakes head* I know it's not the most mature way of dealing with that sort of thing...but if it put a stop to my bullying for even a few weeks it might have helped...

Vernon: Being a brute ain't a quick fix fer yer mental health either Honey Lamb...*Shakes head* Trust me, I'd know...

Dawn: It didn't really change in college, or even when I was a civil servant...I just had a bigger pool of mammals that mocked me more quietly. I was back to Pred and Prey alike mocking me, belittling my studies, my work...and all the while I had someone like Doug whispering in my ear that it was mostly predators treating me that way...feeding into my developing tunnel vision...*Sighs* But while there were predators that went out of their way to make me feel like weak, powerless prey...like Lionheart...it was largely prey mammals who were tearing me down with whispers and rumors...

Broomie: I mean...It makes sense statistically...what is the pred-to-prey ratio again? Nine to One in prey's favor?

Dawn: *Nods* Especially sheep. We're a pretty populated prey species compared to others. Probably in the top ten...

Joel: At the end of the day, being a predator or prey mammal plays a part in the reason some mammals will tease you...but more often than not, it's just because you're weirder than the status quo that will earn you the ire of your 'peers'... It was all that mattered when I got teased growing up. Then again, I also had the misfortune of growing up exclusively in the city, and Kuzco knows that's already putting you in a worse situation no matter how 'nice' the city is.

Vernon: Right, y'all was a city Alpaca...cause yer aunt right?

Joel: *Nods*, I never had a Dad, and my Mom died in a car accident when I was like one...I was in the car, but thankfully I lived somehow...

Dawn: O-Oh Joel..I'm so sorry...

*Joel holds up a hoof, shaking his head.*

Joel: It doesn't matter...I never got to know her so I really... can't miss her...I mean I can...but it's...*Shakes head again* I've already had to deal with that in therapy. Feeling guilt over not missing her as much as I felt I shoulda'. But...*Sighs* Anyway, my Mom lived in the Mesa Valley Federation territory, specifically Anacozona, and my only living relative was my Aunt Karla. Granted, my Aunt is awesome, and she raised me like I was her own Cria...but she lived in Zootopia, and so I had to grow up in the Zootopian public school system. Specifically the one in Sahara Central...

Val: Big Dune High?

*Joel Nods*

Val: Yeah, it's got a rep...not that I had issues...but my Dad...*Pfft*...

Kodi: It's probably one of the few times I've seen him get that weird...thousand yard stare while talking about it...other than when he talks about your Mom...

Joel: Alpaca's aren't rare in Zootopia... but there aren't a lot of us, and most of them live in the high mountains of Alpine Glade...so I was an oddity...Most mammals made fun of my gangly features and long neck, and the other mammals with long necks that should have been sympathetic mocked me for being a 'lesser version' of a camel. And once I got into Animalme the teasing got way worse. I had so many Mamanga's stolen out of my bag and ripped up, or dumped in the school toilets...*Sigh*

Broomie: I feel you...I had to stop bringing my comics in to read at Lunch in Meadwoland's Middle School because bullies would shred them up for kicks...Thankfully in High School having Sheep Dog in our group's back pocket stopped that from happening for the most part. *Chuckles*

Joel: I was ready to write off all mammals, Pred and Prey alike until I got to college...then I met these guys, *Gestures to the group* and my faith in mammality was slightly restored. *Chuckles*

Kodi: I can sorta relate to that...what with all the moving around as a pup I really started to feel like an alien in my own pelt...I was always just that weird wolf in the back of the class who was oddly close to his sister and then gone six months later...

Val: Well, we all know why you were close to Yukon...*Snrk*

Kodi: *Crosses his arms defensively* Hey! I-It's-look, I said before we were the only friends we got to have. Experimenting as teens aside we-we were all alone alright? Of course, we had to be each other's best friends!

*Val rolls her eyes but nods, however, Vernon simply offers a derisive snort.*

Kodi: Oh, what now? *Huffs*

Vernon: Still makin' wolves look bad Mam'...

Val: Oh please, you wolves just look bad in general...*Chuckles* Marshmellow's experiences are a drop in the bucket in comparison.

*Kodi's ears sag slightly, the wolf looking at his diminutive vixen with sad, pleading eyes. With a sigh, Val pats his arm affectionately.*

Val: *Sigh* And I don't think you look bad Kodi...at least, as bad as wolves in general.

*Kodi immediately perks up, smiling at his mate as his tail rapidly starts wagging.*

Val: And honestly...I mean it's not like I didn't have my own issues in school. 

Gus: *Feigns shock* Really, you? Queen antisocial?

*Val rolls her eyes, exhaling a sharp snap of air causing her quiff to bounce on her snout.*

Val: I had Ellie, that's all I needed. Other than that I laid low...I didn't want to deal with 'clique crap' and 'social politics'...though that didn't stop rumors. *Snickers* I am a fox after all, and one that tried to steer clear of dealing with others. Clearly, that meant I was up to something to both students and teachers alike. I can't tell you how many times I was getting grilled in the principal's office over something the staff was sure I had a paw in.

Gus: Again, unsurprising....*Snickers*

Val: Rut you stumpy, they were only right like...half the time...

Gus: Sure...half the time...

Val: If it were worse, surely my Dad wouldn't have been able to sue the school on two separate occasions and win?

Joel: Really? Was it a big payout?

Val: Good enough to pay for Ellie and my College...or rather, Ellie's college, my technical schooling, and his and Clover's new Jacuzzi and greenhouse...*Huffs*

Dawn: You act like your Father did something wrong indulging himself and my Mother. He did give you and your sister your family home to share when he moved in with my Mother...that's quite a big boon...

Val: I mean, *Huffs* yeah....but I could have used the remaining money as a starter loan for me and Amelia opening our own garage...

Talia: *Tch* Are all Zootopian pups so spoiled?

Megumi: I was infinitely grateful to inherit my grandmother's store...even if I did change exactly what I was selling out of it. She never had to do something like that for me.

Dawn: Not all Zootopian kits, just her...*Snickers*

Val: *Sneers at Dawn* Watch it Fluffball...

Talia: In Grussia, teasing was brief in my puphood...working family farm made me strong, and shows of strength from work kept other mammals out of fur. Most of my sad stories come from war, and horror of battle...it makes teasing pale in comparison...

*Broomie places a concerned hoof on Talia's paw as his mate grows quiet and somber.*

Val: *Pointing at Talia* That's the stare! The same one as my Dad! *She elbows Kodi playfully, only for the arctic wolf to gently grab her arm and glance down at her warily.*

Kodi: *Quietly* No that's a slightly different stare...one I'm well aware you don't 'joke' with a soldier about if you value your safety.

*Val turns her attention back to Talia, the wolf now glaring at her as a soft growl starts to emanate from her throat. Broomie's gentle reassuring pats have increased as Val shrinks into her shoulders.*

Megumi: *Megumi cuts the tension by clearing her throat.* Anyway...I was teased not only for being into Mamanga and Animalme but being an omnivore. Where I live Red Panda population is not so dense. There are more otters there, with chips on their shoulders due to the Red Panda's of old invading the land and driving one species of river otter to extinction...*Sighs* I am...not proud that my species did that while fleeing the Panda hordes...but I am also not my ancestors...still, it didn't stop me from being singled out.

Joel: Sorry to hear that babe...*The alpaca opens his arms, inviting Megumi to crawl up his neck, which she obliges and nuzzles into his fur.*

Megumi: We moved just before high school to a more Red Panda dense area, and things improved...but my Grandmother's store is still in that district so I'll often get glares from the local otters...still it is less bad now...*turning her attention back to Joel, Megumi smiles*

Megumi: And for the record, I happen to like your long neck Joel...

Joel: Yeah, cause you like nuzzling my legendarily soft, high thread count wool that Alpaca's are famous for...

Megumi: You act like I'm the only one here who likes their mate's fluff...surely I am not alone, right? *Megumi glances at the group.*

*Dawn, Vernon, Val, Talia, and Broomie all exchange nods of agreement.*

Vernon: Yer wool got nothin' on my Honey Lamb's...

Val: Take an arctic wolf's winter fur for a spin and get back to me...seriously, the comfort is practically orgasmic.

Talia: Broomie is softer than cloud, I will fight you...

Gus: Ugh...guys, how many times can we have this argument?

Vernon: As many times as we need to!

-------

Wasty: As an aside, I spent most of my childhood being picked on and teased. Ended up getting beat up a few times myself. I was a larger kid, but gentle, so I seldom raised a hand to anyone else despite my treatment. I never had friends at my grade level, and so I only really got to see them outside of school Laughably, it was actually in college that I realized that 'nerds' were a thing, and they had clubs because of how withdrawn and disconnected I became from schooling and my peers. However, even with that, I've never made more friends than I have doing what I do now.

As far as I know, I'm not on the spectrum myself. Never been tested but I lack a lot of the symptoms, and the others are covered by general neurotic disorders and OCD. That said, don't feel bad about having an odd comfort character. Dawn is just one of mine, and I've got stranger ones. We're all just trying to get through life trying to put more good in the world than bad. And we need all the little boosts we can get along the way, even if it comes in the form of said comfort characters.

Thanks for the ask.

Ask Gus and Melly; Mountain Climbing?

 

Ask Yuri; Bike Repair Bandit

 

Yuri: Yeah, he did...without my permission mind ya...

Ada: *Chuckles* Hey, it's running beddah ain't it?

Yuri: Well...yeah...but still...*Shakes head* That boy still needs his boundaries reinforced afor he get's himself in trouble...*Laughs* Next thang ya know he'll go to Itaily and fix the Leanin' Tower fer 'em...

Ada: *Pfft...* Seems like he's just like his Dad eh? Let's his enthusiasm run away wit him...

Yuri: Damn straight he does...but at least I don't gotta pay that snooty vixen a premium to keep my hog up to snuff thanks to the lil' gremlin'...*Snickers* So I can't be all that mad at 'im...

Ask Wasty; U.A.N.?

 

Wasty: The U.A.N. is the United Animalian Nations. It was founded around the same time as our own U.N., in response to the content-wide issue that was the Great Rodent Expulsion, or Exile. As I've mentioned previously, while WWII didn't happen, the Rodent Exile was fairly close to a similar dilemma in terms of mammalian morality and tragedy, albeit around a much more morally grey situation. After various Roaropean nations had adopted laws that deeply discriminated against mice, and Germammy outright expelled them (and may have rounded up and killed many), it was decided that the nations or Roarope, which would quickly expand to the world, needed to have some say in what was going on in their neighbor's countries, at least when it came to what could directly affect others. 

It wasn't entirely an Altruistic Mammaltarian perspective that led to the formation of the UAN. Some countries were simply worried about being overrun with another nation's 'trash'. But others were concerned about the rise of Specisim the rodent plague had caused, and were devoted to finding a solution to the issue of rodent overpopulation and disease vectors that didn't involve the extinction of entire species of sentient mammals. While there wasn't a clean solution, thanks to the UAN, it did help stabilize the region for a time, and kept Germammy from taking matters into its own hooves and marching into every country in Roarope to deal with the problem 'thier way'.

To this day the status of Rodents in Roarope is still precarious, with certain nations still having 'two child' policies or outright bans on any mammal classified as a rodent which led to the creation of several rodent-exclusive countries. And the problem is starting to show itself in North Mammalia and Zootopia where birthrates are currently unrestricted. For now, though, things are still uneasily balanced, largely in part due to the UAN keeping their thumb on the scales. 

Ask Dawn and Vern; Any "Saucy' movies based on you two?

 

Vernon: *The wolf is silent, looking wounded and staring off at nothing.*

Dawn: *Is equally downcast, remaining quiet for a few moments before letting out a sigh.* P-Predator Penetrating Prey...*Shakes head* Featuring Wooly Muffs as Pawn HellLeather...and Ugh...

Vernon: *Whines* Wilfred Wolfhard as...Virile H-Humper...*Head sags sharply*

Dawn: Needless to say, Yuri has been having a field day ever since that dropped.

Vernon: And why did they dress 'me' up like I just walked down from the Appawlachian Trail!?

Ask Vanna; Ever met any of Myra's Co-Stars?

 

Vanna: I think we've already established that I've at least met one of Myra's co-stars...

Myra: UGH! You're never going to let me live that down are you? *Shakes head* He was a nice guy!

Vanna: He was a PORN STAR!

Myra: *Rolls eyes* You're just like Mom and Dad sometimes I swear! It's legitimate work! *Snorts* Seriously, do you all just look down your snout at me? Does my line of work make me 'tainted' somehow?

Vanna: *Sigh* We've been over this Myra, you're free to work whatever kind of job you want to work...if you enjoy what you do...it shouldn't matter what how I feel...

Myra: But you still don't li-!

Vanna: What I don't like has very little to do with your job...Y-*Blushes* Look, I'm very...traditional...and you're very...VERY open...

Myra: *Places a paw on her hip, quirking a brow* So?

Vanna: *Slaps paw to her forehead* Okay, so while you're okay with being sexually open and free, I'm not...which is why I couldn't have seriously dated a porn star...

Myra: *Eye's light up in realization* OOOOhhhh....You don't want to share!

Vanna: *Sighs, shaking her head* Sure...I wanted a traditional marriage and a mate who would be faithful to me and me alone. Naturally, with a porn star, I'd...I mean...he'd go to work and sleep with other girls or guys as part of his job...I couldn't...*Shakes head dismissively* I couldn't deal with that.

Myra: Yeesh...fine, fine. *Chuckles* That's all you had to say you know. No need to complicate the whole thing Lil' Sis. At least I can respect that answer.

Vanna: As for Myra's other co-stars, I've only met a majority of them in passing. Myra's only lived in Zootopia for a little over a year now, so before that we almost never saw each other, and thus there weren't a lot of opportunities to meet her co-stars...*Winces* And even then...

Myra: It's okay Vanna, I know you aren't comfortable at those sorts of... meet-ups.

Vanna: Though I did recently meet...I forgot their names...Wilfred Wolfhard and Wooly Muffs...*Sighs* Though I'm sure that's not their real names.

Myra: Yeah, they're shooting that 'Predator Seeking Prey' 'parody as Pawn HellLeather and Virile Rumper over in Sahara Square. *Chuckles* Say, have you asked Dawn and Vernon if they'd be willing to meet them? Wilfred and Wooly are big fans...They'd die to get autographs.

Vanna: *Shakes head, clasping a paw to her forehead* Sweet Sawgrass...

Ask Ada; The Success of Hyenas over Lions.

 

Ada: Who exactly says dat?! Seriously, I want names!

Yuri: I don't think I've ever heard any mammal say hyenas had it better than lions unless they was bein' sarcastic. *Chuckles* Er' had recently suffered some form o' head trauma...

Ada: Seriously, us hyenas have been unda da thumb of loins since da dawn of Simbology. Even here's in da civilized world we still catch da judgemental eyes of da mammals who follow even da most basic rules o' dat religion.

Yuri: Well, to them yer all demons right? Scar's henchmammals. 

Ada: Exactly! At least unless dey practice Zoodoo...*Scoffs* At least dat religion recognizes da importance dat hyena's hold in da circle of life. But in mainstream Simbalogy, we exist outside da coicle. We are non-mammals.

Yuri: What'dya expect from a bunch o' aristocratic type lions terrified they was gonna have their precious remains 'desecrated'...*Chuckles* 

Ada: *Laughs* Yeah, I got news for ya's pal, every mammal, from da biggest elephant to da smallest shrew, craps demselves da moment they die...dere ain't no dignity or grace in deth...ya' self descrated da moment ya's took ya last exhale. *Cackles*

Ask Gus and Melly; Scapegoats?

 

Gus: Considering the term was popularized by Mammals who used it as a form of 'transferring sin' to another mammal, yeah, I'd call it offensive.

Melanie: For those not in the know, Simbologists liked to use 'Scapegoats' to attach their 'sins' to, they would then kill the goat in question, and by their logic, the goat would go to the underworld carrying their sins with it. Therefore they would be cleansed of all sin thanks to ritualistically murdering a goat.

Gus: *Shakes head* Granted that practice died thousands of years ago, and the term is more or less just a generalized thing now so it's not...as offensive. But its origins are...*Shrugs* Why lions decided to pick goats for that purpose, I'll never know. But I think we can all agree at this point that old-world lions suck.

Melanie: A lot of modern-day lions suck too if we're being honest...*Chuckles* At the very least I'm sure Dawn would agree with me there. 

Ask Finnick and Gazelle; First Kiss?

 

Finnick: Awkward? Angry? Fiery? 

Gazelle: Muy Caliente. *Chuckles*

Finnick: A lot of my time working as Gab's undercover bodyguard is strictly confidential. Even if her stalker is behind bars for life, it's...still considered too recent and too...ugh...how do I explain? It's like, it maps out a lot of the security standards in place to protect Gazelle, so it can't be made public for that reason. So we have to be careful with...how we retell it...

Gazelle: Basically Mi Pequeno Amor had been my guard for a few months by that point. And he was very...well, he started to be very...how do I say this? Telling me how things were 'going to go' when it came to my security.

Finnick: Because you were being too lax with your fans! Letting them get too close! *Pfft* We still barely had an idea of what that nutcase looked like and you were just letting every fan of yours within box-cutter swiping range!

Gazelle: I refused to punish the rest of my fans for the actions of one!

Finnick: Natural selection at its finest folks!

Gazelle: *Waves a dismissive hoof at Finnick* Ay, Pequeno dictador!

Finnick: It wasn't like it was a permanent requirement! Just until we caught the guy!

Gazelle: *Rolls eyes* We're just back in the same argument again. So overprotective...*Giggles*

Finnick: Of course I was! It was my job and...well...

Gazelle: After he caught me hugging two fans and posing for a picture, he shut down the fan event, and we got into a heated argument in my dressing room, during which my Pequeno Dictador decided he was going to 'set the ground rules'. *Scoffs* Like I was a little faun again being dressed down by my father.

Finnick: And when she pointed that out to me...well... dug myself a deeper hole.

Gazelle: "If you're going to act like a kit, I'll damn well treat you like one!" *Shakes her head dismissively.* So much anger, so much of compensating, eh?

Finnick: I'm small! Of course I need to overcompensate! *Laughs*

Gazelle: *Chuckles* At least you can admit that now.

Finnick: I made it worse by calling her a fake activist, among other things, telling her a temporary suspension of all that virtue signaling with her fans was more than worth keeping her alive in my eyes...even if I knew better by then...or at least, had seen enough working under Gabby to know I had her pegged wrong...and to...well, start feeling things.

Gazelle: And the more heated we got, the more we drew closer to each other.

Finnick: Voices getting louder, bodies getting closer... until I'm standing on her lap, right up in her face. I think the last thing I said was something like..."I'm not losing my job over you, if you got a death wish, you can make it happen when the case is wrapped!" Or something like that. 

Gazelle: Followed by "Gods, why is it that one of the few good ones has to be so damn dumb!" *Snickers* I think that's the best backhooved compliment I've ever gotten.

Finnick: I think you said as much...something like "How can such a little mammal be so mean and so kind at the same time!?" 

Gazelle: *Laughs* Something like that...

Finnick: Then we were just glaring at each other, panting and staring daggers until...I guess...I dunno...all that anger and arguing just forced something to the surface I was trying to suppress...

Gazelle: We both were, for...different reasons...For you, it was not letting any sort of emotional attachments get in the way of your job...and for me it was...

Finnick: You were afraid I'd think you easy...as loose as I assumed all pop star celebrities were.

*Gazelle nodes, frowning softly.*

Finnick: But then...it just...one minute we were glaring daggers at one another, the next we were deep in each other's muzzle...

*Gazelle begins to blush, wafting a hoof near her neck as if trying to cool herself off.*

Gazelle: Muy, Muy Caliente. *Giggles* We tried to stop ourselves but...the passion was too great. We blew through our first kiss, and all the bases before we could even begin to get ahold of ourselves...

Finnick: *Chuckles* I don't regret it...I regret how we got there, but not what happened...

Gazelle: I wouldn't change it for the world Mi Pequeno Amor. For all the harsh words, it...it got us to our happiness...

Finnick: Things were a bit complicated after that, both of us still processing our feelings, and what we did...but we...we figured it out.

Gazelle: And in the end, it was for the best...still is...*Kisses Finn on the top of his head.* Te amo Mi Pequeno Amor...Te amo...

Finnick: Te Amo to you too...

Ask Wasty; Hybrids, Hybrids Everywhere.

 

Wasty: Well, if it was so sudden. As if Paige was like the last, tenuous strand holding everything back, and her birth just opened the hybrid child floodgates. If suddenly, for no discernable reason, everyone could have hybrids without complication, I'm pretty sure all of Animalia would go into full panic mode. Granted there were already some hybrids at that point. Zorses, Ligers, etc...along with some historical anecdotes that hinted at broader cross-species combo's that were deemed fiction by historians. But if it just seemed like suddenly everyone could have hybrids regardless of the species gap, most mammals would probably see it as mystical in some way. Numbers of mammals who consider themselves religious would swell suddenly, and flock to the various churches and things like that seeking an answer in faith as science struggled to work out why all of this was happening so suddenly.

How it was perceived would depend on the religion, with some preaching it as a miracle, and proof of a covenant of peace the gods intended all mammals to share. Others would see them as demonic heralds, signs of the end of days. 

Those who weren't swayed by religion would still have their own fears over the whole situation. In the last fic I plan to do, "The Bellwether Legacy", by the time Paige is twenty and hybrids are becoming more of a thing now that technology is helping close the species gap more efficiently and safely. There are rising concerns from both predator and prey that hybrids will cause massive problems for those 'pure-blooded' mammals, which leads to extremist prey and pred organizations getting deeper and deeper hoof holds into the public discourse. For the prey, their primary fears are that stealth predator traits will be buried in mammals that visually pass for prey. If such genetic combos prove unstable in terms of mental health, pure-blood prey fear they'll be attacked by prey-passing hybrids nestled among them. A bunch of ticking time bombs, ready to snap at the drop of a hat. From the predator perspective, with predators being outnumbered 9 to 1 by prey mammals, they fear all predators will be forcibly bred out of existence in a pro-hybrid world.

Naturally, in your scenario, these groups would crop up much faster and earlier than what I had planned, which would only add to the chaos.

I imagine the insanity, coupled with the fact that Paige was seen at large, for better or worse, as the catalyst for this whole situation, would force the Hunters to move to the North Meadowlands, or maybe even go into full-on hiding. Dawn would probably find that ironic, the fickle nature of her public pariah status ultimately forcing her and her flock to do what she felt like she might have to do after her initial parole period. Paige's early years would be more insulated, with contact limited to her blood relatives and adopted siblings, as well as being home-schooled exclusively for her own safety. She realistically wouldn't start connecting with other hybrids until she was an adult, as her parents would be forced to keep a somewhat tight leash on her until the chaos surrounding the public discourse about hybrids calmed down, at least to a degree. Of course, Paige's stubborn and rebellious nature, inherited largely from Vernon, would probably see her take a very public role as a hybrid advocate. Connecting with Hybrids across Animalia, and aggressively fighting for their right to exist. In that scenario, I could see her ironically end up becoming the mayor of Zootopia in the long run.

As for the treatment of hybrids, it would be all over the place. Seeing as the existence of hybrids would have moved way faster than the legal precedents and rights legislation. Early on there'd be a lot of terrible things going on both in public and private. After all, the preexisting number of hybrids (Zorses, Ligers, etc.) was such a minor trifle that there would be very little, if any, legal precedents on the books. Thus, you'd have Hybrid children being aborted en-mass, treated as slaves or livestock until hard, legal precedents were set canonizing them as actual recognized species of mammals. Discrimination would run rampant. But as the laws catch up, things would simmer down to some degree, at least until Paige forces her way onto the public stage and stirs everything up again. It would take a lot of fighting, coordinated, and on a global scale to ensure that hybrids would have the same rights and privileges as any other mammal in most countries. And even then it would take decades to accomplish these feats and see the world return to some semblance of normalcy again.

So realistically, it would be way more chaotic than the more 'slow burn' I had planned. And many more innocent mammals would be hurt in the fight for hybrid rights. Of course, Zootopia would be at the forefront of change in both scenarios...but social cohesion would have unraveled faster, and for a longer period during those first few years. Martial law might even have to be declared. Whereas the slow burn would prevent the city from ever descending into such extreme levels of chaos.

Also, I'd have to come up with an explanation, even if I never reveal it for the sake of the in-universe logic, as to why suddenly everyone could have hybrids out of the blue when they couldn't before. Was it magical? Holy? Some weird X-men moment where a bunch of dormant genes just kick on all at once? I want to keep the story as grounded as I can for a story about talking animals, and all of that is just too unbelievable for the world I'm trying to craft.

Thank you for your ask!

Ask Dawn, Vern, Nick and Judy; Harvest Feast Visits

 

Dawn and Vernon's Answer

Vernon: Iffin' yer talkin' about before the Harvest Feast trip...it coulda' gone better...granted it wasn't much of a visit on my part, cause I only saw Ma Bellwether for a few minutes on her way out...and I got kinda...distracted.

Dawn: S-sorry...

Vernon: It's alright Darlin'...it's all water under the bridge now I s'pose...*Sighs* Not that I'm all too keen re'treadin' an old argument, but fer context Clover kinda dropped in my lap that she read the more 'explicit parts' or 'Predator Seekin' Prey', which forced Dawn to admit she approved the more detailed version of the chapter fer public printin'...thanks to the proddin' o' that 'Publisher' o' her's...

Dawn: *Winces with visible guilt.* I-I...well..*Sighs* I mean I've already admitted I was totally in the wrong for that. As much as my Publisher sort of... sweet-talked me into going with that version, at the end of the day I made the call...and then couldn't bear to tell Puppy what I had done until I had my back against the wall so to speak...

Vernon: At the time I was mad fer a while...not just cause my bedroom performance was on public display...*Chuckles softly* Even iffin' it was a glowin' review. But I was more upset that Dawn kept another secret from me after that big talk we had at the Ranch back when we was tithed...

*Dawn frowns, rubbing her neck uneasily.*

Dawn: I'm so sorry...

Vernon: *Shakes head* Again, water under the bridge n' all Honey Lamb...I was mad at the time, but I realized...y'know...like with yer therapy sometimes we're gonna slip up and make mistakes...it ain't easy to just commit to somethin' like that without fail...just promise you'll go easy on me when I slip up Darlin'...

Dawn: So only two days of getting the cold shoulder rather than three? 

Vernon: *Chuckles* Iffin' we had some time alone earlier on Harvest Feast we probably woulda' made up sooner...But between the awkward train ride with Clover up ta' the Ranch, and my Ma and Pa swoonin' and crackin' jokes over us havin' our first 'real fight' as a tithed couple it didn't really give us a chance ta talk privately till before bed...

Dawn: As embarrassing as it was for you, I'm glad your parents were able to take the whole situation in good spirits...my Mother was on edge all day, afraid she had broken us up...*Shakes head* But considering her previous marriage, I suppose it's not a totally unexpected reaction...

Vernon: I'm just glad she's doin' better now, Val's Pa seems to do a pretty good job of keepin' those hooves of hers on the ground...

Dawn: *Chuckles* Sort of like you do for me...

*Vernon pulls Dawn into a gentle side hug, pressing down through her wooly poof and planting a kiss on her scalp.*

Vernon: Already told ya' I forgave ya, *Chuckles* Ya don't need ta keep up the flattery.

*Dawn snuggles down into the wolf's side, letting out a contented sigh.* 

Dawn: Oh I'm aware...you made it very clear that evening that things were back to normal...*Giggles*

Vernon: Yeah, that breakin' o' the house rule was all on me that time...It may have suspended 'er guest room privileges fer a decade at minimum, but it was more than worth it.

Dawn: *Blushes intensely and swats at her mate* Bad Puppy! I- I could barely look Audrey in the eyes the next day when I apologized...I-I was so...so ashamed. Even with you trying to take the blame for the whole thing. *Shakes head* But as Audrey's told me before...it takes two to tango...

Vernon: Well...it ain't like y'all told me ta' stop... *Snickers* In fact, y'all demanded a lot o' the opposite.

Dawn: PUPPY HUSH! 

Nick and Judy's Answer

Nick: We didn't visit my Mom, so much as we dragged her along to the Hopps Family Farm while we visited Judy's folks.

Judy: It made sense. It's a lot easier to take on one extra fox, than to expect one hundred or so more rabbits to cram into a train car, and then into mine and Nick's modest little apartment. We'd fill up one whole train car, standing room only, if the entire Hopps family had to travel to Zootopia all at once. *Snickers*

Nick: I still don't get how one mammal can have so many kits and just be able to...*Sighs* Never mind...some things weren't meant to be known by foxes I suppose.

Judy: My Mom's got a lot of grit, and nothing can keep her down for more than a second. I get my trademark resilience from her. *Snickers*

Nick: Your Mom is a machine Carrot's. Between having all those kits, and still managing to do anything else around your family's farm just blows my mind. I know your brothers and sisters help out a bit, but... geez...

Judy: Well, Dad helps out too...*Laughs*

Nick: Just visiting for a few days is like being caught in a perpetual black Friday rush at the Savannah Central Mega Mall. How that Doe is able to keep her sanity dealing with all of that on the daily...well...let's just say she should write a guidebook. It'd be a service to the rest of us. *Snickers*

Judy: *Chortles* So, is that your way of saying you had a good time?

Nick: Of course I did, *laughs* as exhausting as it was with all those grabby kits swarming me...Plus your Mom's cooking is only second to my Mom's.

Judy: Misses Wilde is a great cook, even if prey-style cooking is new to her...but, I think most mammals prefer their own Mom's cooking by default. *Snickers* We're all conditioned since birth to love...or at least tolerate our parents' cooking.

Nick: Thank your Mom and Dad again for letting me bring my Mom along on the trip. It...It did her a lot of good. 

Judy: Oh you know they didn't mind. *Shakes head* My mom was practically chomping at the bit just to have a 'co-conspirator' when it came to prattling on and on about you and me, and the fastest way to get us hitched.

Nick: That should make me regret the decision all the more...but the whole headache of having to field that sort of conversation for the rest of the visit was more than worth it to see my Mom smile. 

Judy: *Giggles* It was adorable seeing her with my little brothers and sisters. Unlike you, she never seemed to get tired...

Nick: *Laughs* Oh she's just good at hiding it...lest you forget how she passed out on the train ride back. Still, she handled it better than I could...*Laughs* Maybe it's not just Bonnie, but a superpower all Moms have...

Judy: Don't sell yourself short Slick...you still sneak fewer naps than my Dad does on the regular...*Chuckles* He actually learned how to sleep with his eyes open from one of his old friends who served in the North Mammalian Standing Army just to be more stealthy about it.

Nick: *Ears stand up sharply, clearly surprised.* Well...now that conversation I tried to have with him in the den makes a lot more sense...he just stared through me the whole time while I tried to make conversation.

Judy: No, he was awake for that...he's just still mad about the 'Ferris Wheel' incident...

Nick: Ahh...*Laughs* Right, right...