Ask Wasty; The Ideal Selves AU

 

A Zootube video starts playing from a channel called "IdolPawz". The view count alone is staggering, with a number that rivaled the total population of Zootopia three times over. which explains just how it ended up on the trending tab. The intro is flashy and fast. Pink and blue ribbons bounce around the screen like a multiball pinball bonus before being overtaken by bursts of similarly colored halftone grunge splatters. Each hatched cluster of color appears with what sounds like paintball pellets colliding with fabric. Amidst the frenetic and lively display, speedy lines of scratchy, aggressive-looking Kanji moved across the screen so quickly it would be illegible even to native speakers. It was as if someone had put the very essence of fireworks as a concept into a 720p window. And all the while, this swirling, overstimulating display of graphics was set to music that sounded like an instrumental mixture of pop and metal music. 

The all-encompassing cacophony only lasted for about thirty seconds, the energy swelling and swelling before coming to a dramatic and powerful crescendo of graphics and music as the channel name smashed into place in the center of the screen, shaking the canvas that surrounded it as though it were earth-shattering.

And then, just as quickly as it exploded on screen, the graphics began to crossfade, transitioning to what looked like someone's personal bedroom that had been haphazardly turned into a set. The massive table, far too large for the diminutive red panda girl sitting at its center, resembled something more akin to an old dining room table rather than anything professional. It had clearly been made for larger mammals, and as if to compensate for the huge swath of negative space immediately surrounding the stocky, bearlike mammal seated almost below its edge, the remainder of her table surrounding her workstation was absolutely cluttered with a vast collection of boy band merchandise. Shirts, hats trinkets, limited edition cups, it all cluttered the table to the edge of the visible screen. The colorful and gaudy display, not satisfied with being limited to most of the tabletop, extended into the backdrop of the 'set', the walls covered from floor to ceiling with boy band posters so thick that the actual color of the wall was anyone's guess. It was a collage of sweaty, shirtless, masculine mammals frozen in a variety of dynamic poses. Jumping in mid-air, backs arched or hunched down low in a mock predator's stalk, the scene was about as active as your average comic book despite the dueling interests represented couldn't have been farther away from one another on the spectrum of geek. At the centerpiece of this shrine to pre-teen pop music culture was a large poster for a band known as "Caress of Claws".

The tiny mammal, dressed in a rather frilly, glittery, pop idol gown that matched the aesthetic of the average ice cream truck cleared her throat awkwardly. She took a moment to adjust her oversized microphone, appearing to have to fight to sheer volume of her poofy, glittery attire before clasping her hands together. It was clear she was doing her damnedest to appear calm and professional, yet her body language betrayed her performance. Her whiskers twitched and spasmed infrequently, and every few seconds she chewed at her lower lip aggressively. And, though the silence was brief if you listened closely, it was easy to make out the red panda's slow, deliberate breathing, as if she were trying to maintain a level of calm that was hanging on by a thread.

"He-LOO-!"

Her statement had briefly pitched into a near squeal before she stopped herself. She quickly tried to cover up the crack in her voice with a sharp, ragged cough, her eyes briefly widening with horror before slipping right back into the mask of professional stoicism with an ease that would have been commended by the news anchors at ZNN.

"Hey Idol fans, Mei XionMao here with another blood-blistering, pulse-pounding, pheromone dripping, swoon-inducing episode of the IdolPawz 'Paw'dcast!"

Mei paused for a moment, offering the viewer a smug smirk as she playfully bobbed her eyebrows. It was clear she was quite pleased with herself.

"See what I did there?" Her cheesy grin widened as she leaned toward the camera as if she was actively fishing for praise from an audience that couldn't exactly answer back at the time of recording. "PAWD-Cast?"

"It's even less funny when you won't just let the bad pun hang there..."

The dull, uninterested-sounding voice had come from off-screen.

Mei's muzzle frushed crimson, her brow furrowing as she snapped at the mammal to her side.

"I thought you were keeping your commentary limited for this episode Emiko!" Mei hissed bitterly. "You hate the boy band episodes!"

The camera blurred for a moment, the view drawing backward to reveal that there were actually more mammals seated boyband banquet table. Directly to Mei's right sat what appeared to be the source of Mei's anger, a skunk dressed in a dark hoodie with hard-to-read, scratchy kanji written on the front. Around her neck hung a pair of headphones so large they were more reminiscent of some sort of Sci-fi Starwolves breathing apparatus instead of a simple music device. Compared to her co-host, this skunk looked as though she had woken up two hours ago, and had chosen to wear whatever clothes she had found on her bedroom floor that didn't smell. She was slouched in her chair so deeply that she appeared almost fully reclined, her head slunk into her shoulders to the point that her forehead appeared almost level with them. She stared at her laptop with what appeared to be profound disinterest, her tired eyes laced with the barest hint of bags as she acknowledged her co-host. Apparently unable to muster the energy to meet the firecracker seated beside her's fiery gaze.

"Limited..." Emiko muttered with a sigh. "I didn't say I was like...taking a vow of silence or anything..." She gave a half-hearted shrug. "Besides, someone's got to run the technical stuff..." Emiko rolled her pale blue eyes with little effort. "Since someone refuses to learn it..." She grumbled at an almost inaudible level.

Mei maintained her glare for a moment before letting out an exasperated sigh, flashing a dull glare toward the audience. 

"Long-time viewers will remember my cohost, Emiko Sutoraipu, our Puppymetal correspondent." The red panda gestured a paw in the direction of the skunk with as little enthusiasm as Emiko seemed to hold for everything else.

"Yo." Without looking up, the skunkette flashed the camera a metal longhorn salute.

Shaking her head dismissively, Mei gestured to her other co-host, a toweringly tall hyeness seated to her left.

"And this is my other co-host who specializes in K-pop coverage, Roxxy Sauti..."

The lanky hyena offered a surprisingly shy wave while her other paw remained fixed to the front of her muzzle. Like Mei, she wore an equally snappy outfit, though her's was less focused on frills, and more on a smooth sheen. Her silvery mini-jacket and matching pants created a rainbow shimmer that danced along the fabric like sunlight on an oil slick as she stewed uncomfortably in her seat. The bulk of her face, awash with a mixture of nervousness and excitement, was hidden behind a draping swoop of dark black hair that featured a prominent bright blue highlight.

"M-Mostly Kpop, but that doesn't mean there aren't a few North-Mammalian and Zootopia-born boy bands that don't stir my very soul..." She murmured. A strange, the tail end of her statement being delivered with a gravity and seriousness that ran in direct opposition to her previous bashfulness. "Like today's special guest..."

"Yes! yes!" Mei chirped excitedly, clapping her paws rapidly before snapping back to her formerly composed demeanor. "Today we have  a super special ep-!"

Roxxy's sudden, almost maniacal giggling cut Mei off. "By Jasiri, I just can't believe we got an interview with-!" She shook her head, shrinking into her shoulders as her crimson blush deepened. "OH EM GOODNESS I CAN'T EV-!"

"SHH! SHH!" Mei raised her palms, waving frantically as she tried to hush her increasingly frantic co-host. "Don't spoil the surprise!" 

Roxxy clasped her muzzle shut with a paw, but her trembling frame betrayed the whirling energy building within her. Mei rolled her eyes, letting out a sigh.

"So much for keeping this professional."

The little red panda closed her eyes, straightening her posture as she let out a slow and deliberate sigh. 

"Caress of Claws." She began, sliding herself aside and gesturing her paws dramatically to the poster at the center of her homemade shrine. "A boy band which stands up there with giants like N'Mink and the Backstreet Bucks despite only being relatively new to the Zootopian Boy Band scene."

"Ugh, the Backstreet Bucks..." Emiko rolled her eyes, feigning a gagging motion.

"Quiet Emi!" Mei hissed before returning to her presentational gesture at the poster behind her. "Just do the zoom please!"

Emiko sighs, and with a few clicks of her keyboard the camera blurs again as it zooms in order to better display the band poster, and the members standing proud and tall on the stage, each striking a powerful pose. There are five mammals, all predators, and all wearing matching blisteringly white shirtless vests and tight-fitted pants. The stood positioned left to right from tallest to smallest. A Polar bear stands at the far side, his arms crossed, eyes obscured by baby blue slatted shades. His pose was the least 'dynamic', and yet exuded an aura of pure 'cool' energy that was befitting of the baritone member of the band. Next to him, a Bengal Tiger stands in an arching pose, a claw pointed to the sky while he belts his heart out. Not to be outdone, dead center amid the cast of hunks stands a lithe, almost feminine-looking cheetah. His eyes are closed, muzzle twisted into a snarl so deep it forced his eyes closed as he wailed into the microphone wrapped in his paw. 

On the far right of the stage, almost blocked out by what appeared to be some creative 'marker work' clearly done by Mei herself, was a small, snowy white arctic fox. The smallest of the groups mammals was caught mid-strut. His smug, confident grin engaged the camera with the energy that only a mammal of vulpine descent could pull off convincingly.

But, what was most noticeable part of the poster, mostly due in part to Mei's creative use of emphasis with a circle drawn in red marker, along with several crude hearts floating around it, was the band's fifth member. A grey wolf stood between the arctic fox and cheetah, his back arched and paws curling inward as he howled to the heavens with all of his might. His reddish-brown head fur clinging to his muzzle as he bellowed upward.

The camera drew back to the hosts as Mei cleared her throat.

"And today..." Mei continued, her chest seeming to swell with pride as she spoke. "We actually managed to land an interview with not just one of the band members but..."

Mei began to blush, drawing into her shoulders shyly and averting her gaze. She raised her paw, wafting it rapidly toward herself as if she were trying to cool down the rapid flush that had built up so quickly beneath her pelt. "M-my personal favorite member." 

The little red panda coughed into her paw, doing her best to compose herself prior to the reveal. Her whisker twitched only intensifying as she struggled to keep it together. "We here at the Idolpawz crew are proud to introduce..." She bit her lip with an almost, eager anticipation. " The bad boy with the heart of go-."

"VEEJAY!" Roxxy cried! "OH EM GOODNESS! WE HAVE VEEJAY!"

"I WAS SUPPOSED TO INTRODUC-!" Mei was mid-snarl when she caught herself, quickly drawing back from her co-host as she straightened the hem of her cotton-candy colored jacket. Despite her attempt to look professional, the scowl on her muzzle remained.

"VEEJAY; the bad boy with the heart of gold." Mei uttered dejectedly, gesturing to Emiko.

In a few moments, the display shifted to a four-camera call, each of the three hosts appearing in their own camera window which sat squarely underneath the larger 'guest' window. Filling the above frame was the same wolf from the band poster. Unlike the girls, the wolf was lounging on a couch or bed draped in a deep green. The camera taken up by his face, his glimmering green eyes and broad, disarming smile taking center stage as he leaned his head against a paw. The rest of his body tapered into the background in a lazy repose, his fluffy grey and cream-colored tail lazily wagging as he mugged the camera.

"You're really too kind...is that what they're calling me now? The bad boy with the Heart of Gold?" He chuckled. "I don't think management ran that one past me."

"It-."

Mei is cut off by a shriek so loud it was a sure thing that it could be heard throughout all of Savannah Central by even the deafest of mammals. Mei and Emiko reflexively shrank into their shoulders, ears flat against their heads before turning their irritated attention to the source of the shriek, Roxxy. The lanky hyeness has her paws clapped to her muzzle, an aura of giddiness oozing from her quivering form.

"Sorry, sorry!" She murmurs sheepishly, her blush practically radiating through her fur as she trades glances with her significantly smaller co-hosts. Her breathing was sharp and fast, but still overall quiet as the fangirl seemed on the verge of hyperventilation. 

"This was supposed to be professional!" Mei snapped up at the towering hyena.

"I know! I know!" Roxxy whined, chewing at her claws nervously. "I-It's just, I mean...y-you're VeeJay! Talking to us! Oh Em Goodness-I can't-" Roxxy shook her head. "I need my inhaler!"

As the large member of the Feliformia family began frantically digging through a bubblegum pink backpack that had been previously hidden beneath the table, the wolf in the webcam video chuckled softly.

"It's fine. Trust me you aren't the first fan I've met whose default method of communication is shrieking." The wolf shook his head softly. "I'm always guaranteed at least one shrieker at a concert, granted that's because my Mom goes to almost every single show...though my brother Xavier has managed a few competitive shrieks of his own when we play shows in San Francisgoat."

Another, more subdued shriek comes from Roxxy, the hyenaess cutting herself off by taking a puff of her inhaler before continuing her girlish squeal of joy.

"ROXXY! COOL IT!" Mei hissed, The flustered felid quickly closed her muzzle with both paws this time, offering her diminutive cohost a meek smile.

"Ahem...you'll have to forgive Roxxy, but we are just...So, SO honored to have you here VEEJAY." Mei said cooly, doing her best to keep the interview on track.

"You girls can call me Vernon." The wolf smirked. "VeeJay's my 'stage name'. Management thought the nickname sounded more hip and cool."

Roxxy let out another, albeit almost whisper-quiet, giddy girlish shriek, which Mei seemingly chose to ignore.

"W-Well let's start there...." Mei rolled right into the interview process, holding a paw to her cheek as she tried to hide the growing blush of her muzzle. "M-Mr. Vernon...um....why VeeJay?"

"It's my first and middle name. 'Vernon James'. They just abbreviated it and then went with the phonetic pronunciation." The wolf replied, gesturing a paw toward the camera lazily.

"Awesome..." Mei swooned, seemingly forgetting where she was for the briefest of moments before snapping back to reality. The little Red Panda shook her head briskly, running her paws down her muzzle and face in a few, rapid and broad strokes before bringing her paws together and reassuming her stoic stance. She coughed awkwardly, quickly brushing her muzzle with a paw in a movement so quick that if you blinked you'd surely miss it. She had to be sure she wasn't drooling after all.

"Oh, yeah, your management actually sent us 'approved questions'." Emiko chimed in. "They seem like a bunch of uptight hard asses..."

"EMIKO!" Mei snapped at the skunk. However, Vernon just chuckled, clearly amused.

"I don't necessarily blame them for that, I don't envy their job one bit." He said with a snicker. "That said, you can just throw those out if you want. Half the reason I love doing interviews with smaller, less structured shows is because it's nice to have a real conversation when I can."

"What's the other part?" Emiko asked, never looking up from her laptop.

"Any excuse to talk to genuine fans is always a delight." The wolf flashed his trademark grin, flicking a bit of his chocolate-colored head fur out of his eyes with an almost aloof indifference. " Talkin' to fans, making them happy with what i do, it...honestly what keeps me going."

Another quiet squeal emanated from Roxxy, the Hyena now using her jacket to cover the entirety of her face to stifle her shrill shrieks of ecstasy. Only one eye seemingly peeped out from the shrouded safety of her makeshift tent.

"Okay, settle down tea kettle..." Emiko chuckled.

"That's so cool that your Mom goes to most of the shows." Mei replied cooly.

"Well, she feels she's pullin' double duty for my Father..." Vernon winces slightly. "He's not too keen on my...choice in career. But I mea-." 

"One of the first things on the "No go' list was not to ask you about your family..." Emiko interjected. " Was that a management call, or a you call?"

"EMIKO!" Mei snarled, glaring at the skunk to her side. Emiko never broke gaze with her laptop, completely unphased by her co-host's hateful gaze. However, as Mei maintained her glare, Emiko's unbothered demeanor would eventually falter. A defeated sigh escaped her muzzle. "I just...figured 'rebels' usually butt heads with their parents and all..." She scoffed. "I know I do..."

Vernon laughed. "No, no it's mostly management. Though a little bit of it is to keep my family out of the public eye. Still, from management's perspective, they really don't like me telling everyone I grew up rural, on a farm no less."

Mei let out a soft gasp of shock. "On a farm? Really?"

Vernon chuckled. "Yeah, it doesn't sound as good as having grown up on the streets of Zootopia proper." The wolf shook his head dismissively. "They've actually tried to insinuate I grew up on Pack Street, which is known for being a rough pred neighborhood. But even my Wikipawdia page says I grew up in the Meadowlands."

"Woah, talk about the sticks." Emiko uttered in mild surprise. "Did you have a North Meadowlands accent?"

"EMIKO!" 

"I did actually. Hated having it even before I got scouted at my school talent show." The wolf shrugged. "It took a lot of hard work with multiple speech therapists to get rid of it. And if I'm being totally being honest...it still creeps back up whenever I actually get angry."

"Y-you mentioned your Dad didn't approve?" The timid question had come from the shuddering mass of shy yeen to Mei's left. Her blush had grown so fierce she was starting to look like a ripe tomato with fur.

"My Dad's a Sheriff, my other six brothers work in law enforcement, and he wanted me to grow up to work as his deputy." The wolf laughed. "Last thing he wanted was to have a son prancing around on stage half-dressed with a bunch of girls pawing at him and his bandmates." The wolf shook his head with a dull, dismissive laugh. "I can't tell you how long it took just to get him to understand that a boy band and a male stripper aren't the same thing."

Mei and Roxxy grew flustered almost as soon as the word 'Stripper' had left Vernon's muzzle. Mei now joined the hyena in trying to hide her flushed face as she turned away from the camera and covered her muzzle with a paw. Even Emiko, despite her impassivity seemed to don a light blush of her own as her gaze shifted away from the laptop camera. The wolf seemingly didn't notice, electing to continue with his small rant.

"He's learned to accept it, but actually going to the shows isn't really his thing." The wolf chuckled. "Knowing him, he would probably voluntarily take it upon himself to work security because he wouldn't know what else to do with himself in that sort of setting."

"So far you don't sound like as much of a bad boy as advertised." The goth skunk murmured.

"Emiiiiko..." Mei's usual rebuke had given way to a whine, the tiny red panda slumping onto the table in defeat. "You said you wouldn't do this..." She groaned through the wood. "We'll never get a big-name guest again!"

Vernon simply chuckled, choosing to ignore Mei's mini-meltdown and answer Emiko earnestly. "Well, I think most of my 'trademark rebelliousness' is aimed at my managers." He shook his head. "Sometimes I'll totally agree with them, like when it came to losing my rural twang, or picking up playing guitar. But most of the time I'll butt heads with them worse than an ornery billy goat."

"What kind of stuff did you disagree with them on, can you talk about it?" Roxxy interjected, seemingly finding her voice as Mei remained slumped in her defeated heap.

"Well, they won't be happy for sure." He snickered. "I know I'm going to get an earful after this interview is done, but generally we fight about anything they try to foist on me that I feel is trying to make me fake who I am."

Pulling her head from her arms, Mei sighed. "What do you mean?"

"Like the stuff about growing up in the city on Pack Street, or starting a rumor that I had been in a knife fight over a she-wolf once." The wolf rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. "There's a very specific image they want to cultivate with me, with all of us really. They really want to make my puphood and teenage years more dramatic then they were."

"R-Really?" Roxxy asked, peeking out from her hoodie cautiously.

The wolf held his paws out defensively. "Not to say I didn't...well, my teenage years were rough. But being a bit of a rough and tumble teen at a rural middle school doesn't sound as dramatic as being one of the toughest, baddest wolves in Pack Street Public School." The wolf winced. "It just doesn't seem as...threatening I guess. But it's not like I didn't get into some nasty scraps in Meadowlands Middle and High School. Just cause I grew up country doesn't mean it was a walk in the park. Especially when I made it my mission for a while to make my life as difficult as possible, as well as my parent's lives, and the lives of those around me."

"What's the most egregious and shameful lie they wanted you to take part in?" Emiko now seemed vaguely interested in the conversation, sitting up straight in her seat and leaning forward slightly with the barest hint of anticipation in her expression. "Willing to share something juicy?"

"This is so far off the rails it's not even funny..." Mei groaned. Emiko simply dismissed her co-host with a paw.

"Oh hush, let me have some fun." Emiko replied with a smug smirk before turning her attention back to Vernon. "So, juicy tidbits?"

"Trying to force me to date a girl for 'appearances sake' for one." The wolf replied without hesitation. "And more recently, trying to convince me to break up with a girl I really care about."

All three girls' eyes widened slightly, and both Mei and Roxxy joined Emiko, leaning forward with eager anticipation and the juicy gossip that possibly awaited.

"Do tell..." Emiko mused, a smirk crawling across her muzzle.

"You're dating someone!?" Roxxy's question was almost a whine, drabbling from her muzzle with a defeated, dejected tone.

"Your managers wanted to control who you date?" Mei asked.

Vernon nodded softly. "Granted the manager who was pushing me and Chris' sister together was sacked."

"The 'VEESARI' thing wasn't real!?" Roxxy asked, looking more relieved than anything else.

"For those unfamiliar, you mean your bandmate Chris Clawleighe? And his sister? Sari Clawleighe?" Mei asked.

The wolf nodded. "Chris and Sari didn't want it either, but the suits thought dabbling in an interspecies romance that was still 'safe' would look good for my 'rebel image'." Vernon rolled his eyes along with his wrist." Plus they thought they could farm drama by making it seem like Chris wouldn't have wanted me to date his sister, and that we'd be at each other's throats. It was so-" The wolf shook his head. "Let's just say I'm glad they got fired."

"What do you mean by safe?" Emiko asked, her paws now resting neatly below her chin as she remained leaned up on the table, fingers intertwined as she listened intently.

Vernon flashed the camera a rather dull, half-lidded expression. "An interspecies relationship, any really, I think most would call controversial when it comes to the music and media world. It's still sort of a taboo there, even if it is 2015." The wolf gestured at nothing in particular with his paw. "But, two different species of predators isn't as...outrageous as say...a predator and prey couple. It's not the kind of coupling that will have parents boycotting shows and getting our songs pulled off the radio. So it's seen as 'marketably edgy' by the higher-ups." The wolf frowned. "Which is why, conversely, management is pushing for me to break off my current relationship before it goes public and is, as they put it, 'beyond damage control'."

"Oh Em Goodness..." Emiko cooed, wafting a paw at herself in a pantomimed display of being hot under the collar. "Does that mean it's a prey mammal? The Bad boy is a full-fledged crosser?"

"Is it Gazelle!?" Mei asked, seemingly having given up on the facade of professionalism as she twisted her claws anxiously. "Ultimate power couple!" She practically squeed.

Roxxy's mood, however, had soured completely. The yeen's arms were now crossed, her head sagging dejectedly. It was clear the idea of Vernon dating anyone was almost sacrilegious. At least, if one had to guess, if it wasn't her anyway.

The wolf chuckled. "No, no, it's not Gazelle." The wolf leveled his gaze at the gaggle of girls, a wry smile crawling across her muzzle. "But...it is a prey mammal..."

"OH EM GOODNESS! OH EM GOODNESS!" Mei squealed, clapping her paws together. "It's just like 'You preyed on my heart!' Mei's eyes went wide, a sudden pang of realization running down her spine as she clasped her paws together tightly. "Is that why you wrote it!?"

Vernon rubbed the back of his neck, the faintest hint of blush forming on his muzzle as he averted his gaze from the camera. "Well, me and Chris wrote it together...but my parts were largely written for her..."

Mei's squeal was loud enough to rival Roxxy's introduction to Vernon. Conversely, Roxxy let out a blubbering wail.

"Ladies, ladies..." Emiko placed her paws out, gesturing at the girls to her side to reign it in. Her tone was calm, laced with the barest hint of amusement and mischief. "We've got a groundbreaking scoop on our paws here. But that said, we need to milk it for just a little bit..."

"Wait, WHAT!?" Mei whined, flashing the skunk pleading eyes. "We can't drag this out! I need to know!"

The spirited red panda grabbed the hem of her co-host's hoodie, shaking the skunk aggressively as she stared into her very soul with hopeful eyes.

"THE WORLD NEEDS TO KNOW!" She spat.

Emiko pressed her friend away, taking a moment to wipe the flecks of excitable spittle that had followed Mei's dramatic declaration off her whiskers and snout.

"Yes, I agree...but we're overdue for a sponsor break." Emiko replied, gesturing at her laptop. "We can't afford to delay the spot, especially considering just how prime the meat of Veejay's interview is proving to be. Can you imagine if we were live-streaming right now? The numbers we're going to pull when this goes live are astronomical!"

Vernon laughed. "You sound like my manager." He admitted.

"Can you sit with us while we do the ad read Vernon? " Emiko asked. "It'll take like, thirty seconds tops."

"I'm in no hurry. You girls do you, get your hustle on." He replied with a charming, toothy smirk.

That smirk seemed to earn a legitimate blush from the skunkette, Emiko quickly averted her gaze, once again fanning herself with a paw. Although this time it didn't appear to be an act.

"Right, well let's Um-" Emiko coughed awkwardly, slinking further and further behind her laptop to hide the creeping crimson on her face. "Let's talk about 'BandMake', the go-to site for making merch for your indie band at affordable prices..."

(Part 2 Maybe)

Glitz And Chips AU; The Hunters

 

WT: I'd imagine most, though not all the Hunters would live away from Zootopia. Maybe a pawful in other North Mammalian Megacitites, but I imagine a majority of them have chosen to turn their snouts up on the invasive monitoring and large-scale corruption that settles into such places and instead choose to live outside those corrupt spheres of influence even if it means being left to the 'wolves' so to speak.

I figured I'd take a page from Shadowrun here, and other 'future dystopia' stories and have it that some sort of...disaster wiped out a lot of the mammalian population. What remained mostly clumped into these megacities, and while it would give them access to technology beyond their wildest dreams, the trade-off was being ruled over by corporations and monitored constantly. Those who turned their nose up at such a thing are basically homesteaders, out in the overgrown ruins of the abandoned places and building small towns and communities there. Of course, that puts said communities at risk of being raided by others, unable to get help during a plague, or being attacked by god knows what.

Dorian and Audrey would be steadfast homesteaders, with Dorian leading the New Meadowlands Militia in order to protect the burgeoning community and do their best to keep Zootopia from reincorporating it. Zach and Vanna would be a part of this Militia as well.

Ulric would probably live in the city, working as his own sort of...deep underground hacker/detective along with Honey. He'd probably see himself as an almost Neo figure, though whether he can live up to that sort of mantle is up to your imagination.

The west coast would be in a state of disarray, with no megacities to spare save for a few built-up coastal import points. This is because the Juan De Fuca and San Andreas Fault ruptured at the same time during the 'disaster' and basically ruined the western coastal cities. This allows me to place Yuri, Xavier, and their mates into the Zootopian Megacity. Xavier I figure would still be a lawyer, working diligently and tirelessly to fight back against a corrupt legal system to the best of his abilities. Malcolm would be a bartender at one of those literal 'speakeasies', secret internet dead zones where people could congregate without the city's eyes and ears. I imagine restaurants, much less individually owned ones, are functioning in the Megacity. It's all chains and pre-processed corporate-owned joints. Anything resembling an actual restaurant is staffed by robots owned by the greater corporate entities.

Ada would still be working at a hospital, and probably still a friend of the family. But Yuri would more than likely be dead. Despite how much of an ass Yuri can be, he was still a moral mammal. He'd want to join the ZPD and help protect the smaller and weaker mammals in the city. The issue is, of course, Yuri is both stubborn and brazen. He'd quickly become a thorn in the side of the more corrupt mammals in the ZPD, and he'd be disposed of similarly to what was attempted on Hopps and Wilde. Or perhaps maybe he'd go down in a blaze of glory, killing one of the bigger politicians or CEO's and become a martyr for the growing discontent of the city.

Last we've got Wade and Giselle, and Trenton and Qali. I imagine Trent and Qali make a go of defending the outer burrows, and homesteading there. And Wade, after seeing what happened to Yuri making him feel stuck as to what he can do, decided to cut and run to join Trenton and Qali in defending the Burrows. Some would call that cowardly, but he chose that in order to protect Giselle and get her out of the city along with him. Ada was already a widow, and he couldn't risk the same thing happening to Gizzy. In the Burrows, Trenton heads up the defensive militia, with Wade as his deputy, similar to the situation with Dorian and Zach. Qali is a trap designer and layer, using her small size, agility, and dextrous paws to shore up defenses against neighboring towns and the city at large, and Gizzy is a farmhand.

Thanks for the ask!

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 Wasty; Alternate Dawn's Revisited

 

Wasty: Oh man...I mean, I could go on, and on, and on, on alternate Dawn timeline ideas. Granted a large swath of the Dawn's have simple explanations. Flapper Dawn, 50's Nurse Dawn, Southern Belle Dawn, Western Show Girl Dawn, those ideas are all in the realm of "Dawn and Vernon, but born in earlier time periods/different countries". Granted that alone would make their backstories quite different from Dawn Prime. In fact, a lot of what I imagined showgirl Dawn's life leading up to her becoming the head of a dancing troop while running a saloon that does shows rolled into my friend's Western Style Dungeons and Dragon Campaign's sheep gal Dolly. (A lot of the dancers also offered 'brothel' services, which Dolly didn't participate in, but also didn't exactly try to prevent it either) Also the farther you go back, the more social pressure would be applied to Dawn and Vernon's cross-species relationship being accepted. Naturally, Flapper Girl Dawn would have less family and social conflict regarding such a relationship with Vernon when compared to Southern Belle Dawn. But Flapper Dawn would be worse off than 50's Nurse Dawn.

Now, Dominatrix Dawn, or 'Pawn Hell-Leather' is just a throwaway nod to Hyenatig's "Bootopia" parody. Essentially porn universe Zootopia. Tig was someone I was in contact with at the time, (Still on good terms, just don't chat a lot) and I had done some commissions set in her 'Bootopia' universe for others. Granted I never commissioned anything myself, so no "Porn Universe" Vernon exists. But if he Did, I'd probably call him "Virile Humper" Or something like that. I can't begin to tell you how a porn universe would function without collapsing into a mound of hedonistic chaos, but that Dawn is what she is.

Nudist colony Dawn I'd imagine is from a version of Animalia where covering one's shame simply never became a thing. Sure, clothes are a thing, mostly worn for fashion's sake, or for keeping warm for those of thinner pelts. But in that world, the bulk of mammals came to see themselves as being born naked, and therefore it was natural and was meant to be what the gods intended. Personally, I like clothes, though based on my experiences at a nude beach, you get used to seeing everyone naked very quickly, and you pretty much stop thinking about it. Though that still wouldn't spare you from the embarrassing feeling of everyone seeing you get a boner, or get wet, especially when you're a teen and are dealing with hormones, but again, it is what it is.

Then there's Genie Dawn, and her Master Vernon. This timeline is somewhere between Aladdin and I Dream of Genie vibe-wise, with a splash of 'The Mummy' in there in so far as Vernon is a treasure hunter. I imagine Vernon finding the lamp, and like the titular Aladdin, using his initial wishes to try and impress a wolfess of high distinction back in Kingland he always had unreciprocated feelings for. However, the more time he spends with his Genie, getting to know her and confiding in her, the more his priorities begin to shift, and soon both he and Dawn find themselves smitten with one another. Thus, Vernon's last wish is for Genie Dawn to be released from her Genie shackles and the pair finally get together. Freed Dawn would of course still have genie powers, and the pair would live their lives together adventuring through the ancient and magical world of Animalia in search of other ancient treasures.

Nun Dawn is one of my favorites, alongside showgirl Dawn. Specifically, because I've got a habit for habits. That said, I've thought more about her than the others. In her universe, she works alongside caprid pastor Vernon Hunter (How he became a caprid pastor I still have no idea), one of the few wolves to hold such a distinguished position. At first, Dawn has her misgivings about a wolf being a caprid priest, but the longer they work together, the closer they become, and the more feelings develop. Their growing love tempts them into breaking their vow to their beliefs in order to indulge in their forbidden yearnings. (Which I believe I've established caprid priests can marry, but it's still a cross-species marriage which would be very taboo in the time period.) Will they get together? Won't they? it's very bodice-ripper romance either way.

Also it's worth noting I had a ton of other alternate Dawn ideas since then. Some just excuses to dress Dawn up in era fashions, and others more thought-out extended 'what-if' scenarios. These range from something as simple as "What if Dawn had never been separated from Vern growing up." Which I've dabbled in before in a few asks. To more complicated concepts such as "World War 2 happens closer to the version of it we know, (With the rodent eradication expanding into full-on cervine supremacy) and Dawn and Vern are running a bar in Prance that doubles as a resistance and smuggling outpost as the Stagzi's begin their advance on the country." Admittedly, that one is pretty dark and somber, and not all the Hunters are alive to tell their unique tales in that one. First, the Stagzi's descended on rodents and the 'unclean', and then quickly came after the godless predators, which led to the deaths of a few Hunters who were serving under the Germam' flag.

Thanks for the ask!

Ask the Author: A more Lighthearted Post Apocalypse Bellhunterverse AU

 

Wasty: Yeah, that was pretty grim. So I'm up for taking another shot. That said, I probably wouldn't go full OOo, or however you say it. I do prefer these sort of scenarios to be just...a teensy bit more grounded. Whereas the world of Adventure Time is all over the place in terms of rules and what one can stumble across. I prefer to keep my wild and broken nonsensical worlds to realms one step above single solar systems. (Aka Multiverse and Beyond)

That said, I could definitely jive with an Animalia that was preceded by humans. And humans being, well humans, destroy themselves in atomic hellfire, or maybe it was something entirely beyond their control...perhaps something from space that wiped out humanity and stimulated the cells across the remaining mammals to evolve to a human-like state over time. It depends on how much I'd want to go with a 'Don't make the mistakes we did" angle with Animalia's former civilization.

That said, despite the options provided, there's just something so alluring about the idea of Dawn and Vern being ancient dungeon delvers. Digging deep within the submerged and buried cities once inhabited by humans to find valuable treasure to sell off to the highest bidder. Is it sketchy? Probably. Morally grey for sure. But I can see them regularly getting wrapped into the mystery of the ultimate fate that befell the humans, and eventually becoming more transfixed with what became of them over the treasures themselves. There would also be all sorts of little micronations around Animalia, from simple one-mammal despots who lord over a commune holed up in an old human casino, to actually established kingdoms. I could easily see the aforementioned despot contracting Dawn and Vern to retrieve a treasure for him, only for the misadventure to end with his dictatorship toppled and the treasure scattered to the winds.

It would definitely have a bebop feel, with Dawn and Vernon being more heavy on the snark when it comes to chatting back and forth, but still just as in love. That said, I don't think they'd have kids for quite some time, as that would require settling down for a while, which is something neither of them would be ready to do. After all, Adventure Awaits!

Found Ask; Genderswap; Daughter Experience

 

Zelda: Oh it's just...it's indescribable...I just...it's like now I understand everythin' my Ma and Pa used to tell me when I was growin' up...

Varun: The stuff you used to turn your snout up at?

Zelda: *Giggles* And say, 'Havin' pups sounds gross! I never wanna have a pup!' to! *Blushes* Granted, I did get outta' havin' to carry one myself...one way er' the other...*Giggles* Or at least I thought I had...

Varun: Yes, Ryan was quite a little unexpected surprised...our own little miracle. *Chuckles*

Zelda: Though I think it made Vera a lil' bit cross with me...*Giggles* Thought I was takin' the shine off the miracle she had with lil' Petey.

Varun: It isn't like we were trying to get pregnant, we just won the birth lottery as they did...granted although we did have lower odds without the whole 'night howler' exposure with Don helping to boost their chances. *Laughs* She also asked you never to call him 'Petey' If I recall.

Zelda: *Pfft* I think it's cute...sides' I'm his aunt, I get ta pick a pet name fer 'im...Vera's just bein' a lil' snooty like she can get from time to time.

Varun: Well, Peter is her pup after all...she should get some say in nicknames for him...and I understand she's concerned with 'Petey' following him into adulthood...Being a hybrid he will already have it quite hard as is...

Zelda: She's just over frettin' is all. Vera's always been the more emotional of us gals...takes after Pa somethin' fierce...

Varun: *Quirks a dubious brow, holding a prolonged and judgmental stare at his mate.*

Zelda: What?

Varun: Are we trying to rewrite history today Mi Corazone?

Zelda: *Suddenly grows flustered* Are y'all sayin' I fret over Marigold more than Vera frets over Pete and her other pups?

Varun: *Varun gives his mate a dull glare* You thought her little group of friends were a gang of troublemakers and stalked them with police equipment in an effort to prove it. Not to mention the incident with the trail cam. Even my little interview with Akio pales in comparison your H-.

Zelda: *Flashed Varun a harsh, Hunter Family Glare* My what? 

Varun: *Sighs and shakes his head* Alright, I will move on...

Zelda: That's better.

Varun: *Ahem* As for your actual question... I'd say Marigold straddles the line between being a "Daddy's Princess" and a 'Mommy's girl". Though regretfully I don't get to spend as much time with her as I'd like compared to Zelda.

Zelda: Well, that'll change once my maternity leave is up. *Giggles* Sides, I'm...kinda goin' a bit harder in the paint with Mother-Daughter time to make sure Marigold don't feel neglected with Ryan in the house...I think I broke the bank a bit on shoppin' fer clothes and baseball gear...

Varun: *Chuckles* Well, that's largely your and Micha's funeral when it comes to the baseball gear...I tend to only bruise from Marigold's 'dangerous lumber', whereas you and my brother...

Zelda: *Hisses through her fangs.* Ooh, yeah...how is Micah's arm?

Varun: Still in a sling...thankfully he'll recover, and it won't affect his gymnastic abilities. As much as he's worried about future injuries jeopardizing his Animalympic career, he refuses to miss an opportunity to bond with his niece.

Zelda: Yeah, Micah has really taken to Marigold. Maybe even more so than yer folks...which is sayin' somethin' cause they love her to death.

Varun: I think Micah sees a lot of himself in Marigold. He was...I mean he grew up feeling quite out of place in his own hide, being a rather small, svelt, almost feminine-looking tiger which isn't very common for males of our species...to top things off he had me as his brother, who is built like a brick wall...

Zelda: *Squeezes Varun's pecs* I'll say...*giggles*

Varun: That fostered jealousy in Micah, and it strained our relationship for a long time. *Shakes Head* It's only really thanks to having Marigold that we've managed to come to terms with one another and become closer because of it. That said, he, more than anyone else in the family doesn't want Marigold to be discouraged when it comes to...well anything...and he told me that 'If that means I wind up in traction, so be it. I refuse to break that little doll's heart'!

Zelda: Awww....Micah's such a sweetie. 

Varun: Still, I'd prefer my brother doesn't get permanently maimed practicing with Mari, He's worked quite hard at his career, and he's slated to be in the Animalympics next year. He deserves a win.

Zelda: I'm sure we can get the rest of the family to fill in fer him durin' the lead up to the summer games...

Varun: *Laughs* If only it were so simple...no he made me promise I'd do what I could to keep him from playing with Marigold for at least three months prior to the games...

Zelda: Keep him? *Laughs* He's that determined?

Varun: My brother has determination in spades. *Chuckles* Much like you with your crusade to dig up dirt on Marigold's friends, he will not turn down a game with Marigold come hell or high water. *Shakes head* I'd warn Mari not to ask him, but knowing Micah, he'd propose a game himself, especially if Mari seemed to need cheering up.

Zelda: *Giggles* Well I'm sure my 'Brick Wall' can keep him at bay...

Varun: I don't know...not only is he small, but he's agile. I may need the rest of the Hunter boys for a task that great. *Laughs*

Found AU Yuri's Ballgame Tickets

Zach: Really decided to tempt fate on that one huh?

Yuri: *Seated with an ice pack on his groin in his and Ada's apartment, staring up at the ceiling kind of disoriented.* How was I supposed even begin to guess the was havin' a 'fan at bat day?' *Groans* "Let alone that out o' every mammal there Marcus would get the winnin' ticket..."

Ada: *Walks into the room, passing Yuri a fresh ice pack, which he proceeds to swap with the old one and pass it back to her.* Luckily we was aimin' to adopts anyway, cause I tink dat one took da factory offline entirely...*Chuckles*

Yuri: *Let's out a groaning, strained but sarcastic laugh.* Yeah, gettin' his in the pup factory is so funny, just like the cartoons and what not, totally harmless...

Ada: *The Hyena drops the amusement, looking genuinely sympathetic and concerned.* Still dat bad huh? I'm sorry, I was just tryin' to kinda ease da tension is all...

Yuri: I know Darlin'...*groans* I know...it's just....

Ada: Maybe we should head down to da emergency room? *Winces uncomfortably* I mean, I did 'check' dem and all, and I don't tink youse got a rupture but...

Yuri: Iffin' it's still this bad in a half hour I'll take ya up on that Babe....*hisses as he shifts in his seat.* Cause it's still blindin' right now...

Vanna: We are so sorry...

Yuri: I-I'ts fine....Just...iffin' we have to head over to the ER, tell Marcus...I 'unno...we went to get groceries er' somethin'...er Lance needed us over his place to help with somethin'...*Groans* Last thang I wanna do is ruin the boy's day...

Zach: I mean, it's not like Marcus isn't already worried about you...despite you tryin' to 'walk it off'....

Yuri: Yeah, but it'd probably devastate 'im iffin' I end up going to the ER and he found out...don't want the boy blamin' himself...even if he's dangerous lumber like Wade was... 

Ada: Aww...Mookies...*She cooes sympathetically, petting Yuri's forehead.*

Zach: Yer a good Uncle Yuri...*Zach chuckles, shaking his head* And a good brother...

Yuri: *Flashes a smug smirk.* Tellin' me what I already OW-! *Cringes visibly, clenching his teeth as he shifts on the couch.* A-aw forget it...*Huffs*

Zach: Ya can tell it's bad when Yuri can't even get a good jab or self-congratulations in. *Chuckles* As fer how the rest o' Marcus' uncles felt about the ballgame, and the...incident after the fact...well, only some of them were a little cheesed off...They didn't care fer Yuri gettin' one up on them in the fight fer favorite Uncle.

Vanna: Not that they have...all that much room to argue considering at this point they've all gone a little...over the top trying to bribe Marcus' favor.

Zach: So them tryin' to call out Yuri fer bein' 'sneaky as usual' don't hold as much weight compared to their own bribin' attempts. *Chuckles*

Vanna: That said, they almost all unanimously changed their tune when they saw Yuri *Ahem* catch Marcus' pop-fly on tv. It was pretty much all sympathetic calls and check-ins after that...

Zach: Honestly, I did expect a few of them to say Yuri deserved it, and laugh at him...but I guess either we're all startin' to finally mature, er' it was just that bad of an injury to garner nothin' but sympathy from their side o' thangs.

Yuri: Yep...*Laugh turns into a cough* Nothin' like a possibly ruptured testicle to bring out the brotherly love.

Found AU; The Meadowlands Six and Metal Music

 

Dawn: I don't think that's too much of a surprise...

Vernon: Course, we got some experience with that sorta thang between both Alice and Trevor...*Chuckles* Alice is still strugglin' with admittin' she likes dance more than sports...and Trev...well, lookin' at him now no one would expect the boy to be writin' the kinda stuff he does...though I get a sneakin' suspicion once he starts goin' through puberty the dark clothes and hoofnail polish will start showin' up like with Ully's goth phase...

Yuri: Everythin' he grew out of except the hair...Ully's still got that saggy drape o' messy fur over his eye...I dunno why he thinks that looks good...

Zach: I don't think Ully 'thinks' in them sorta terms. *Chuckles*

Dawn: The overall point I'm trying to get to though is that lambs, especially in their teenage years, can sort of...well, they're figuring themselves out...so really, nothing should be too shocking...

Dorian: There's also the simple life lesson o' never judge a book by its cover.

Dawn: *Giggles* Exactly. Whether it's a phase or not remains to be seen, but Marcus seems to enjoy it for now, and it isn't hurting anyone...

Vanna: I will admit, it is quite a contrast to his classical music interests. *Vanna is bouncing Rose on her knee as the little hybrid babbles away happily*  But I wasn't all that surprised upon discovering it. Marcus is sensitive, but also very passionate. And I think Punk-rock allows him to vent those passions and maybe even traumas from his past in a very visceral and cathartic way.

Zach: Sometimes y'all need to get a scream er' too out to cleanse the soul. *Chuckles*

Vanna: We're just glad it makes him happy...

Zach: And glad he ain't leanin' into the idea of becomin' a professional baseball player. *Chuckles*

Dorian: As fer the recent recording of Marcus and Aiko...I wasn't aware that Ully bein' the one to record it was the story we was goin' with now...*Flashes a judgemental glare at Zach*

Zach: H-Hey, I didn't! *Huffs* I admitted and apologized fer it...

Yuri: We know you did, so where exactly did this change to the story come from?

Zach: *Twiddling his fingers nervously* W-well...I mean...I...may have been workin' on a cover story just...in case Marcus finds out...

Audrey: *Shakes her head* Oh Zach...

Zach: What!? I can't have him know I-I mean Rose-I mean...look, it was Ully's trail cam! *Whines* It's just easier to say he was filmin' fer catsquatches and caught them by accident....iffin' it comes up I mean...

Dorian: Fer shame son...*Shakes head* Fer shame...

Zach: It would be embarassin' enough fer the boy iffin' he found out that was taped, and his family saw it fer that matter! Imagine how much that might hurt our relationship if he finds out it's my fault it got recorded in the first place!

Yuri: *Crosses his arms* He'd probably never trust you again...

Zach: *Whines*

Dorian: As much as I'm loathed to go along with this...I'll admit I don't want to take a chance of that boy losin' trust in his Pa considerin' how fragile that sorta bond might be fer him right now...so I think it's a half decent cover I suppose...provided Ully will go along with it.

Zach: Fingers crossed...*Whimper*

Dorian: That said, you pull a stunt like this again, and you ain't gonna get any backup from the rest of us. I'll see to that myself...

Zach: *Ears flatten* I told y'all, I didn't do it on purpose! I wasn't tryin' ta-!

Yuri: Would you give it a rest already?! Just keep yer head down and accept yer blame. Sweet Sawgrass! You not filmin' that boy on purpose is a harder to swallow pill than it bein' Ully accidentally doin' it.

Zach: *Crosses his arms and huffs* F-fine, fine...Ugh, where's the trust in this family...?

Yuri: *Snorts* Iffin' that ain't the pot callin' the kettle if I ever heard it...*Laughs*

Found Ask; Genderswap; A Guiding Paw

 

Vera: Phew, that's a lot ta' cover there...*Laughs*

Don: Indeed. You left us a miniature interview rather than a question or two. *Chuckles* I'm not sure I'm fully prepared without some time to gather my notes.

Vera: Iffin' ya want the shorter answer, we ain't super concerned about...*Vera hesitates* Most of the pup's interests. I mean ta say we encourage 'em to pursue what they want to pursue and reassure them there ain't nothin' wrong with them interests.

Don: Leon aside? *Snickers*

Vera: *Glares at Don* You know how I feel about that whole...interest in cop stuff! I don-.

Don: Exactly how Doreen felt about you going into architecture?

Vera: *Huffs* It's not the same thang!

Don: It is exactly the same thing Puppy Love.

Vera: I-I'm not sayin' he can't 'er nothin'! *Whines as her ears start to sag* I just...I don't want my sisters 'er Ma groomin' the boy toward that field...

Don: *Rolls his eyes.* Not to drift too far away from Alex or Tiff, we've spoken to Alex and tried to make him comfortable about pursuing dance if he wants it. As someone who most rams would consider not...traditionally masculine, I've tried to impart to Alex that being 'masculine', being 'ramly'  is...well, there's no right or wrong way to do so.

Vera: We also pointed to Uncle Gazelle as a prime example of bein' both a handsome fella considered masculine by a whole lotta folks, but also bein' a heartthrob dancer and singer/songwriter. *Vera Blushes softly* Of course, explainin' Alex doesn't have to be dancin' in tight pleather pants with his shirt off...

Don: Our little Tiff got a similar talk to sort of nip any feelings of discomfort she might have in the bud about being interested in all things that most would consider dark and off-putting...

Vera: Though I ain't sure I'm lookin' forward to Tiff's inevitable goth phase when she hits er' teens...*Chuckles* Well, I suppose as long as she stays her polite little self, and stays respectful to us, I can tolerate the heavy makeup and the broodin'...

Don: *Shakes head*Because you handle the bugs in jars so well my dear?

Vera: *Huffs* Hey, I only yelped the first time! I've gotten better with 'em since then! 

Don: And we return to Leon...which we sort of discussed....though not how closely he stuck to Vera...

Vera: *Chuckles* Hey, I didn't mind. I love that lil' cuddle bug. It's gonna break my heart iffin' he starts to drift away from me cause he gets 'too old' fer snugglin' up to his Mama.

Don: Would you really hate if he became serious about police work? Is it that much of a sticking point for you Puppy?

Vera: *Whines softly* I mean, I ain't gonna lie...you know I'd support Leon with whatever he wants to do...I just, I'd be worried about him...

Don: We already worry about all of our Pups...

Vera: I know, I just...Police work is dangerous...I grew up seein' the aftermath with Momma, and my sisters and...I don't know if I can take it...*Sniffles* I don't wanna stifle my boy, but I just...I want him workin' somethin' safer...

Don: Wolfy...*Don caresses Vera's cheek reassuringly.*

Vera: I know, I know...I don't want ta' turn inta Zelda over this...I just...I want to protect my little Knight in shinin' armor...

Don: But you also want Leon to pursue what makes him happy right?

Vera: *Sighs* I do...

Don: I'm just asking you to be careful...while I'm not asking you to heavily encourage him if you are worried, and hoping it's a phase, be careful not to discourage him because of your fears...He's going to be an adult someday, with his own life, and he needs to live that for himself...like you did.

Vera; *Whimpers* You know I would never put whatever his interests are down...*Scratches back of her head* At least, as long as it's organic I guess..not planted by Ma and my sisters.

Don: And if he decides that's the career he wants, you'll support him?

Vera: I...I will....*Sniffle*

Don: I love you Puppy Love...

Vera: I love you too Honey Ram...*Vera swabs her eyes clearly trying to tamp down her tears*

Don: As for Sir Callibre, I'll admit it was quite a shock...I don't think I'd ever seen a Prench Komodo Dragon before...so I just assumed he was a little monitor lizard...

Vera: I'm just glad the pups took to a reptile rather than a bird...I can handle a reptile. *Sniffles slightly despite her chuckling*

Don: Still, he's going to be quite large...and already he favors crawling up into my head wool and perching there...Not to mention he's quite hard to remove without the lambs or Vera to extract him. *Laughs* The gods know what that's going to be like once he's fully grown.

Vera: That boy could grow to the size of an elephant, but he ain't never gonna outgrow my glare...*Snickers*

Don: *Laughs* Yes, but you're not home all the time.

Vera: It works through the phone, just muzzletime me and I'll get him off yer poof in two seconds flat...*Giggles*

Don: I certainly hope that works...we'll need to field test it the next time you're at work. *Chortles*

Vera: Anywho, to answer yer last question, the pups were purty excited when they found out they was gettin' a little brother, especially Leon. 

Don: Though Alex I feel, was a little nervous that you being pregnant meant that we would be giving them back to the orphanage...

Vera: *Shakes head* I don't wanna say that's ridiculous cause...I don't know what that sorta struggle is like fer an adopted pup... but we made it real clear that we wouldn't give them up fer the world. They was just as much our pups as lil' Petey. As far as I'm concerned, I birthed all them pups. *Chuckles*

Don: *Chuckles* If that's so, then my goodness you were quite busy before I came along.

Found AU; Genderswap; Marigold fitting into the Family

 

Varun: Initially we were quite worried when it came to Marigold attending public school. Being the only one of her species that was...previously unknown, we were certainly fearful that the bullying could be...quite extreme.

Zelda: I mean, it ain't like we got a few...Hmm...How do I say this without it bein' taken' wrong...*Zelda scratches her head.* Um...

Varun: The North Meadowlands is largely populated by wolves and sheep, with other caprine, cervines, and canids filling in the gaps. But occasionally you'll find a mammal family you wouldn't normally expect to see out here...such as a tiger like myself...

Zelda: Right! I guess what I was tryin' to say is that the more...exotic species o' mammals out here are few and far between.

Varun: And thus, among kittens those odd mammals out will get teased more than others...it's just the way kittens are sometimes...

Zelda: So with lil' Mari, we were real scared that she'd get it worse than everyone else...even with me and my Big Cat as her parents... Thankfully Marigold fell into a real nice group o' pups real early on when we adopted her. Before she even started goin' to school no less!

Varun: *Chuckles*

Zelda: *Puts her paws on her hips and glares at the large tiger.* And just what is so dang funny?

Varun: A 'nice group of pups' huh? *Shakes head* I didn't think you were a fan of revisionist history Mi corazón lobo.

Zelda: *Huffs* A-alright, maybe I was a little...untrustin' of them when they first showed up, but I-.

Varun: *Cutting Zelda off* You thought they were a gang, and that they wanted to corrupt Marigold. You tried filming them without their knowledge or consent multiple times in order to prove that.

Zelda: *Crosses her arms and pouts* I was lookin' out fer Mari's best interests! 'Sides, like yer one to talk, considerin' that talkin' to ya gave her lil' boyfriend Akio...

Varun: *Furrows his brow* He's not her boyfriend. *Varun huffs slightly* Besides, Marigold is much too young to be thinking about such things...

Zelda: Considerin' we've caught them almost kissin' twice now...I th-th-...*Realization is hitting Zelda midway through her rebuttal, and the wolf shifts from annoyance to bawling uncontrollably at the drop of a hat.* Mah-Mah-Mah Baby girl's growin' up! *Begins to bawl*

Varun: *Rolls his eyes* And here come the waterworks...*The large tigress chuckles before opening his paws and allowing Zelda to throw herself into his grip as she buries her muzzle into his chest.*

Zelda: It's too fast! *Whine* She's growin' up too fast! *Whimpers*

Varun: I know Mi corazón, I know...but that is the nature of life itself...and hey, Ryan has just begun his own journey for us to walk with him through. 

Zelda: *Buries herself so hard into Varun's chest her words are nearly totally muffled* I-I just want more time is all! *Hiccups. Snorts* Oldwyn's great grey muzzle! This must be what Pa felt like watchin' us grow up! *Whine*

Varun: I must admit, my heart aches with pride and sorrow with every milestone I see Marigold break. it's bittersweet. But at the end of everything, we are her parents, and we always will be...

Zelda: *Grips Varun tighter* Oh Darlin'!

Varun: And if it's any consolation, Akio doesn't seem like a bad boy. *Huffs Slightly* He clearly cares for Marigold.

Zelda: *A few stray laughs slip out between sobs.* And h-he survived yer interrogatin' session and still came back...

Varun: *Nods, looking mildly surprised.* Indeed he did...though I'm not sure he fully understood what I was trying to convey...that, or perhaps I've lost my touch...

Zelda: *Pulls back from Varun, giving him a dull glare.* I think y'all made it purty clear what you meant when y'all put yer revolver on the table Darlin'...