Ask Judy; Bunny Girl Outfit?

 

Nick: Lingerie, yes. Bunny outfit, no...because it's redundant. *Chuckles*

Judy: Exactly. If I put on lingerie, it's a bunny outfit by default...*Chuckles* These ears are built in.

Nick: What would I do? Have her put on another set of ears? *Shakes head* I'm not like Stay Puft and Puppy, I'm not looking to roleplay a sexy night with a four-eared rabbit alien.

Judy: While I'm sure they don't appreciate being put on blast for sexual roleplay, I'm with you on that one Slick. *Snickers*

Nick: Hey, I'll make it fair...we like a little 'light restraints' in our bedroom activities...

Judy: NICK! *Blushes softly* C-C'mon now...

Nick: And sometimes even I'll wear a bit of frilly lingerie if the mood catches me right...*Chuckles* I'm not ashamed to admit it. *Flashes Judy a smug smirk* There, does that make us even?

Judy: *Head in paws* *Mumbles*

Nick: What was that, Carrots?

Judy: Y-You do look pretty good in...some frilly stuff...*Chuckles*

Nick: *Laughs loudly* Of course I do! Foxes can make anything work, regardless of sex. We're a very aesthetically pleasing-looking species. *Smirks smugly* That said, I have absolutely worn a bunny outfit for Carrots. *Winks*

Judy: *Still blushing intensely* I hope my parents don't read this...

Ask the Foxes; Favorite Fruity Desserts

 

Nick: That's a stereotype.

Cameron: The chicken thing? *Chuckles*

Nick: No, the fact that we eat dessert with fried chicken. *Laughs*

Cameron: I default to the words of a great comedian for this one. "All these years, I thought I liked chicken because it was delicious. Turns out I'm genetically pre-disposed to liking chicken."

*Nick and Cameron share a laugh*

Nick: To be fair, the fruit thing is a fox stereotype too. *Shakes head* Ever since someone penned that 'Fox and the Grapes' story, foxes have always been associated with grapes...which is only half right...

Cameron: *Chuckles* So what's your Achilles 'peel'? *Cameron bobs his brows to emphasize his 'pun', only for Val to let out a groan in reply*

Nick: Oh Blueberries, paws down. *Laughs* My perfect day ends with a piping hot slice of some of Carrot's Mom's Blueberry pie served with a dollop of vanilla ice cream...*Runs his tongue across his muzzle, patting his stomach appreciatively before striking a rather conspiratorial expression and cupping a paw to the side of his muzzle. Nick leans in, speaking in soft tones.* Don't tell Carrot's, but Misses Hopps pie may be better than rutting, by Saint Robin's Quiver I swear it.

Cameron: *Rolls his eyes, chuckling softly* Well, I wouldn't go that far with my own favorite fruit, but I will admit it has worked its way into the bedroom once or twice...*Snickers*

Val: *Now clasping her paws to her ears* DAD!

Cameron: Oh hush Motobug, This conversation doesn't concern you...

Val: UUUUGGGGHHH...

Cameron: For my wife Marian, she was all about pears. *Shakes head* I always found them too bitter myself, too gritty, but she just loved a nice succulent pear on a warm summer's day. *Chuckles* Her personal favorite dish was a simple baked pear, and much like you she loved it ala mode.

Nick: And what about you old timer? *Snickers*

Cameron: *Rolls eyes* Old?! I'm what, ten years older than you at most? *Shakes head* No, but me? I'm all about Honey Crisp Apples...crispy, sweet, tart...*Laps at his own muzzle* So tasty on their own, but then you go ahead and slather them in caramel and....*Shudders* Makes my tail fray with pleasure with every bite.

Val: Are we done now, can we-?

Cameron: Of course Marian wasn't great at making caramel apples, though to be fair I wasn't any better at baked pears.*Chuckles* Though I'm blessed that Clover both likes apples as much as I do, and makes a mean caramel apple herself...not to mention she makes an amazing apple pie that's ju-!

Val: CAN WE BE DONE PLEASE!?

Cameron: Oh, Val...are you feeling left out? Did you want to chime in?

Val: *Crosses her arms and huffs* No...

Cameron: Val has always been big on strawberries, and my adopted daughter Ellie loves Raspberries. *Chuckles* Though granted she's not a fox...Oh, and Cassie. My youngest now, she's a sheep and she loves grapes, the green ones specifically...

Val: Hey, that wasn't like-! Me giving permission to tell everyone my favorite fruit on my behalf!

Cameron: *Shakes head* Vy-fly, you're twenty-two now, you really must outgrow these social tantrums you love throwing whenever I'm trying to socialize around you.

Val: Socialize fine, just leave me out of it!

Nick: *Shakes head* I don't think that's something you ever outgrow when it comes to your parents..Just the other day I whined, honest to the gods, whined, because my mom fixed my lapel in front of Carrots after we had lunch the other day at her place. *Chuckles* It was involuntary, it left my muzzle before I was even aware it was happening...

Cameron: *Sighs* Some things never change I guess...*Chuckles* I'll just have to wait until the day comes where Val has her own kits to whine at her about how she's 'embarrassing them'.

(20 Years Later)

Val: Well, Melody loves those nasty cotton candy flavored grapes, and Marian, being the 'drama queen' she loves to pretend she is, likes to say she loves red grapes, but in truth it's peaches.

Melody and Marian: MOOOoooOOOOOM!

Val: *Pauses, with a dawning horror* Saint Robin's Quiver...I'm my Dad...

Ask Nick and Judy; A lion named Sora.

 

Nick: I actually forgot about that kid for a long time...

Judy: It's not crazy, we deal with hundreds of perps daily, and a lot of those are poor little kits struggling to deal with their first time on some sort of illicit drug. 

Nick: Increasingly, unfortunately, with the number of night howler-based drugs growing year after year...I hate to admit that it's become...sort of a frequent sight...

Judy: It doesn't help that it's starting to get used in legitimate medication now, as it only muddies the waters in terms of policing the use of it...but I'd rather see it synthesized into medication that can help mammals even if it means it also trickles down to the drug trade...

Nick: Needless to say, he had to be very specific when he introduced himself as one of the newest recruits in the bullpen a few months ago. I honestly couldn't place him for a full minute.

Judy: As it turns out, he aggressively cleaned up his act after we had to take him in. No drugs, no drinking, burying himself in his schooling. He was devoted to turning his life around. 

Nick: Apparently, we inspired him to not only better himself, but to take up the blues himself, and become a ZPD officer. He also profusely apologized for sucker-punching me. *Chuckles* 

Judy: You were so blase about that. He was practically crying and yet that trademark smirk of yours didn't waver in the slightest. *Laughs*

Nick: Carrots, surely you remember how many black eyes I've gotten working as your sidekick?

Judy: *Furrows her brow, crossing her arms and looking slightly hurt by Nick's words.* Partner. *She corrects him*

Nick: *Rolls his eyes, shaking his head dismissively* Right, Partner...What I'm saying is, if I held a grudge with every mammal who ever gave me a black eye, half the city would be on my dung list.

Judy: *Laughs* As if I'm not right there with you...it's a wonder we only have two close-call injuries between us all things considered.

Nick: Never a dull moment when you're part of the ZPD's finest...especially when your partner is 'Judege Dread'...

Judy: *Rolls eyes* If we have to go with one of those nicknames, I'd prefer 'RoboHopps'. *Snickers* It just rolls off the tongue better...

Wasty: I should clarify, I meant no disrespect in that ask. I just wanted to make a joke while trying to find a way I could fit a 'Sora' into my Zootopia. I'll admit I'm not a fan of the series, it's just too much of a lore mess for me. But I'm glad others can enjoy it. That said, I sometimes forget some folks can take a gag like that seriously because I'm just so sure of its apparent joke nature that I'm sure it'll land with everyone. Not that everyone will find it funny, just that they'll get it. And I'm sorry if the portrayal upset you.

Thanks for the 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...

Ask Nick and Judy; Hopps Holiday Feasts

 

Ask Nick and Judy; Visiting Family

 

Judy: Not usually...*scratches the back of her head awkwardly* I mean, my parents stop by occasionally to check in on us...

Nick: With about twenty of your siblings minimum. *Snickers*

Judy: But when it comes to holiday get-togethers, the Hopps family burrow is the central meeting place for the family. It's pretty much assured at least one hundred-plus Hopps intend to visit home for the holidays, and then you have to take into account how many of my siblings are still living at home, even with a few no-shows, that's a drop in the bucket in terms of taking off the overall 'occupancy pressure'.

Nick: Essentially, it makes it impossible to have a 'Hopps Family Holiday Gathering' At 'Casa De Wilde-Hopps'. Our apartment just doesn't have the room, not even taking into account the building codes...

Judy: Even twenty-plus visitors is *Offers a wincing, sheepish smile* is kinda pushing things with the landlord...as well as the fire department. So we're pretty much locked in when it comes to visiting Bunnyburrow for holidays rather than the other way around. 

Nick: At least when we aren't no-shows ourselves. *Laughs*

Judy: *Sighs* I hate when we can't visit, but being a cop is pretty demanding...sometimes the scheduling won't allow for visiting my folks on the actual holiday. Sometimes we come shortly before, or after, or just try to make up for it when the next big holiday comes around.

Nick: When we head out for a Hopps gathering for like, Harvest Feast or Yule, we'll usually bring my Mom along so she's not alone for the holiday...*huffs* When she isn't with that wolf...

Judy: *Snickers* Still got a chip on your shoulder about Tiernen? 

Nick: *Crosses his arms, looking up and away from his diminutive mate with a grouse.* I'd prefer to not talk about him for the time being...him and his...weird Roaropean foodstuffs...

Judy: Don't tell me this is about that little stomach bug you had.

Nick: *Stabs the air with an indignant finger.* I still think he dosed those weird little chicken sausages he made so I'd get the runs! I swear he's got it out for me!.

Judy: *Rolls her eyes*, I wouldn't know, I had the veggie version of those 'banger' things, which was very nice of him to go out of his way to think of me.

Nick: *Snorts* Et tu Carrots? *Scoffs* Everyone's against me when it comes to this guy!

Judy: *Shakes head, letting out a chuckle* Anyway...when work kind of puts a hitch in our plans, we'll usually have our holiday with Nick's Mom, or invite her here along with the few stray other Hopps that live nearby and can't make it to the Burrows for similar reasons...It may not have that same...completely warm and encompassing nostalgic feeling that going back to the burrow for the holidays has, but it's got it's own charms that are starting to grow on me...

Nick: It's a lot quieter, that's for sure...

*Judy Snickers*

Ask The Foxes; Fried Chicken?

 

Nick: Honestly I don't get where this comes from. You show me one predator, just one, regardless of species who doesn't like fried chicken! Hel, chicken in general!

Val: I prefer hot wings personally...or a roast...My dad makes a killer bird for Yule Dinner...

Nick: But come on, Vernon? What about you?

Vernon: *Chuckles* I like my wings and thighs as much as the next pred. Spicier the better.

Nick: *Gestures toward Vernon* See! every pred likes chicken meat...it's universal...

Val: Even some prey for that matter...those that can stomach it anyway...

Vernon: I know my Honey Lamb was big into wings while she was pregnant...I do miss the freedom of bein' able to bring some home without the smell grossin' her out. *Laughs*

Nick: The thing is, the old stereotype got started because the foxes in Roarope were nomadic, and oftentimes when they couldn't scrounge up enough food for the caravan...they may have stolen some livestock here and there. Chicken was easiest to kill and carry a bunch of...but little did my ancestors know that was going to set a precedent.

Vernon: Ya mean aside from foxes bein' shifty theivin' types?

Nick: *Rolls eyes* We did what we had to do. And the cartoons back in the first half of the century didn't help either...

Vernon: You ain't the only one whose species suffered thanks to species stereotypes in old cartoons. *Laughs* Thanks to them, most mammals think wolves are big dumb brutes with the lung capacity of a hurricane who scoop up pigs and sheep to take home and turn into a stew...

Nick: *Chuckles* Okay, maybe those old cartoons weren't all bad...

Vernon: *Huffs* They don't air 'em anymore fer a reason Red.

Val: Pft...that's no fun.

Nick: That said, the fried chicken thing isn't as common as the...egg thing.

Vernon: Oh yeah, I've heard that one...is it true they almost used foxes fer Estara instead o' bunnies cause y'all love stealin' and hidin' eggs so much?

Nick: *Rolls eyes* We don't 'hide' eggs. Ancient foxes used to create 'food caches', essentially scattering bits of food around a territory to eat later. We don't really do that anymore...

Vernon: But do ya like eggs is the question?

Nick: Again, who doesn't?

Val: Soft-boiled, runny yolk, with a pinch of salt...that's the good stuff.

Nick: I prefer a nice omelet, heavy on the cheese. *Chuckles* maybe with some jalapeno mixed in if I'm feeling a little...spicey. *Snickers*

Vernon: I like mine sunny side up and runny...even if the yolk gets all stuck in my muzzle fur. *Laughs* Love soppin' up the excess with fresh toast.

Nick: *Chuckles* Sounds like you got a little fox in you after all Pup...

Val: Shame he missed out on getting to put a little wolf in this fox when he had the chance...Made me have to give up and find a different wolf for that...

Vernon: VAL!

Ask Nick and Judy; Judy's Virginity

 

Judy: *Huffs, blushing intensely* That's...really rude! Just going and asking a doe something like that!

Nick: *Opens his muzzle, only for Judy to stare daggers at him*

Judy: NICK, DON'T, EVEN-!

Nick: *Holds up his paws defensively.* Hey, hey, relax, relax Jude. I wasn't going to out you or anything...

Judy: DON'T PHRASE IT LIKE THAT! NOW YOU MADE IT SOUND LIKE I WAS A VI-I! *Judy places her head in her paws and groans*

Nick: I'll keep this as clean as I can and tell you there's two competing stereotypes when it comes to bunny bumpkins. One is the very conservative, wait-till-marriage types who believe holding paws is considered first base. And then there's the second group who says all that same stuff, and sleeps with half the bucks in town on the sly.

Judy: You're making it worse! *Judy groans, muffled through her paws.*

Nick: Now with Judy, I'll just say I was not her first, but I'm in the low single digits...*Quirks a brow* Is that safe to say? Or is that too much?

Judy: *Her head remains buried in her paws* I-I dunno...*Huffs*

Nick: What if I reveal my body count? Will that help?

Judy: *Says nothing, but nods into her paws.*

Nick: *Pulls Judy into as side hug, petting her head as she switches to burying her face into his chest, the tod shakes his head* I'm three, counting Judy. *Feigns a look of surprise* Shocking I know, scandalous even. A handsome tod like me with such a low count? Surely I should have been drowning in-

Judy: *Bumps Nick with her head softly, letting out a clearly irritated grumble*

Nick: *Nick chuckles* Sorry, I know, laying it on thick... *Shakes head* Really though, I've always been a romantic at heart that took the whole dating scene very seriously. That's mostly my Mom's fault. Even though my Dad died when I was very little, they were always so happy together. And even after he was taken from us, my Mom never really stopped loving him. *Shrugs* I guess...I dunno, that inspired me as a kit. I wanted what they had, and so I didn't-...*Sighs, running a paw through his head fur* Of the many foxish traits I leaned into in life, being a serial date, rut and dumper wasn't my style. Which I'll have you know was quite hard at times. *Chuckles* Being a charmer wasn't simply a fox trait I leaned into in order to take advantage of others, I'm just naturally charming.

Judy: *Her snickering is muffled, and while she doesn't pull her head out of his chest, she wraps her arms around him, hugging him tightly.*

Nick: What!? I am. *Laughs* Charmed you didn't I?

Judy: *Finally pulls head out of Nick's chest* More like wore me down Slick...*Laughs*

Nick: *Feigns offense* Carrots, honestly. You're own mate swoops in to stand up for you, and you mock him for it...for shame...I am wounded Carrots. *Draps paw over his eyes and leans back dramatically.* Stabbed in the back with a Carrot shaped knife!

Judy: *Ribs the tod in his side while chuckling* Knock off the schtick Slick. You're only amusing yourself.

Nick: *Laughs* Why can't I amuse myself? Besides, you laughed.

Judy: *Rolls eyes*

Nick: I will say, Judy was my first in terms of going outside of my species..so technically I was a virgin there.

Judy: *Elbows him harder, flashing him a glare* NICK! Shush!

Nick: *Quirks a brow* What!? It's true, why is that- Oh...did you think I was imply-...?

Judy: *Clasps paws over Nick's muzzle* Shhh! Garret listens to the podcast, I don't want that getting back to him or Sha-...*Judy's ears flatten, and she withdraws her paws only to clasp them over her own muzzle* 

Nick: Oh...You thought I was talking about...no, no Carrots...I was just talking about me, I wasn't even thinking about your first time...

Judy: *Looks horrified, blushing and sweating heavily* S-Sweet cheese and crackers! Delete this! Nick how do you delete the file!? Is it this button!?

Nick: No...that would be the send button...

JUDY: NOOOOOOO! It can't send while it's Rec-?

Ask the Cops; The Dumbest Lawbreaker

 

Nick and Judy: Weaselton.

Bogo: *Groans* Weaselton...

Wade: Even I know who Weaselton is...we've picked him up a few times in our district. One of them times that idiot got his tongue stuck to a lamppost while tryin' ta make off with some ol' lady sheep's purse.

Nick: Seriously? *Laughs* How?

Wade: Well, based on the witness testimony, and the evidence at the scene, seems like he tried ta yank the purse away, and whipped around to run without fully gettin' his bearin's while tryin' to flee as fast as his legs could carry him. He barley made it two steps before collidin' face-first into the pole, and his maw was wide open.

Judy: Knowing Duke, probably because he was laughing like a maniac...

Wade: By the time me and Mavsa got to the scene, the ol' ewe had been wailin' on him fer a good ten minutes with her cane...*Snickers* She couldn't really hurt him all that much considerin' the gal was kickin' around her nineties, but even weak little thwaps can start to wear y'all down after ten minutes...

Nick: What about you Finn?

Finnick: *Scratches chin thoughtfully.* Hmm...still you Nick...

Nick: *Nick feigns being slighted* Ouch, Francis you wound me...

Finnick: *Growls* Keep my first name outcha mouth Wilde...I've only gotten better at taking down mammals ten times my size since joining the ZPD. I won't even break a sweat dealin' with you...

Nick: *Laughs* Hey, what I lack in physical strength I make up for in being charismatic and quick on my feet...

Judy: *Gets between the two tods, holding her paws out to keep them at a distance from each other.* Alright, alright, guys. You're both pretty, so please stop winding each other up. I don't want to have to arrest two of my fellow officers.

Nick: Fine, fine...I'll save my barbed wit for another target for now...like the other Hunter Officers perhaps?

*Dorian glares at the tod, causing him to shrink into his shoulders.*

Nick: *Coughs* N-not you of course Sheriff...

Dorian: A 'course not Officer Wilde...but do try and cut my boys some slack alright...y'all should know by now what with bein' a fancy city cop how hard police work actually is...

Nick: R-Right...yessir...*Gulps*

Dorian: Up where I'm from we got a few...dim bulbs flickerin' in and out of the station every so often. The Baah'ly Brothers fer one...usually startin' bar fights er' vandalizin' folks crops...they've even tried their hooves at hoaxin' a few crop circles which got my boy Ully's hackles up...Then there's old George Boarson's son, Billy Boarson...that boy ended up on the sex offender registry thanks to stickin' his willy in a buncha places it don't belong, and several o' those times we got called to pull the poor idiot out of whatever he got himself 'stuck' in.

Judy: *Cringes* Do I want to know this?

Dorian: He's purty harmless...mostly got caught with his pig pecker in a bunch of inanimate thangs...Although there was one time he tried to get frisky with one of ol' Shetland's Ostriches... *Winces* That was the one that got him bumped up from local sex pervert to registered sex offender...As well as a nasty talon scar on his face fer his trouble...

*Yuri and Trent look at each, a mixture of disgust and amusement on their faces as they stifle a laugh*.

Wade: What's so funny?

Yuri: Nothin' nothin'...just *Snrk* Got a bunch o' jokes about Billy Boarson stuffin' bird hittin' my brain all at once. *Pft*

Trenton: *PFFT*Thank the gods it weren't just me... remember the ol' rhyme they had kickin' around when we was teens...

Yuri: *In a sing-songy tone* Billy Boarson boffed a bird.

Trenton: *Now joining in Yuri's tenor* Although I'm sure it sounds absurd.

Yuri: He grasped and gripped while the big bird squirmed. And sprayed its feathers with ropes of-.

Dorian: *Cuts Yuri off* Alright, alright, I know how it goes...I know we're all cops here, but try to keep the gutter talk to a minimum boys...

Yuri: *Rolls his eyes* Psh, fine...I'll just talk about my dumbest perps...most of which are o' course, gang members...Usually pups so y'all expect 'em to be dumb.

Dorian: Anythin' serious?

Yuri: Not from the young ones. Usually, they get busted fer spray paintin' er' dealin' nip er' toad drops er' lichen gum...I've picked up a number of 'em just walkin' down the road with a crate o' booze, lookin' nowhere near eighteen...Then me and Lance get to listen to them struggle to make excuses fer themselves 'er adamantly declare they're adults but fergot their wallet. The dumbest stories they're just prayin' we'll take at face value and let 'em off...

Trenton: How long do you let them go on for before taking them in?

Yuri: As long as it takes to hang themselves, which don't take long fer 'em to do... Of course, we let 'em go longer iffin' it's real funny. *Chuckles*

*The assembled cops laugh knowingly*

Yuri: We also got a homeless guy called ol' Gus, kind of a crotchety old jaguar who spends most of his days proletizin' about the end times on street corners...*Laughs* Kinda reminds me of Ully actually...just without a handler in Honey. 

*Dorian snorts, clearly unimpressed by Yuri's comparison of Ully to a crazy homeless mammal*

Yuri: We take him down to the station from time to time iffin' he has one of his more aggressive days, er' needs to sleep off some booze fer the night. Dumb as a box o' rocks but loves to talk to anyone who will listen, so me and Lance get subjected to a lot o' his crazy stories...

Trenton: Sounds more sad than dumb...

Yuri: Well, one o' my favorite dumb perp stories features Gus just walkin' into a carrot phone store and yanking a tablet out of its stand. Then he goes out the nearest corner and just plops down there to toy with it...So we get called out, and he tells me, Lance, and the manager standin' there, watchin' him use the tablet that he always had it. Despite the fact he'd never got past the lock screen...and the metal brackets and torn USB cable were still hangin' off the damn thang...

Dorian: Sound like them kids you was talkin' about earlier...

Yuri: Yeah, well those kids wouldn't have been as dumb as to start writin' a grocery list in Sharpie on the tablet, thinkin' that's how tablets work.

*The cops share a laugh*

Wade: What about you Trent?

Trenton: Eh, my job ain't got much to tell...I'm a trooper, not a cop. So most o' my dumb perps tend to come in the form of folks lyin' to get out of a speedin' ticket. I can't tell ya how many times I've had bunnies tryin' to convince me, totally stone-faced and serious that 'clearly my radar gun is broken, cause they were only goin' 55...' Meanwhile, I'm flippin' through the highway cams up the road catchin' stills of these folks blowin' past everyone else like it's a fast and furrious movie...

Dorian: It's really somethin' just how many folks will try to convince y'all, right to yer face, that they didn't break the law...it's like they got no other option but goin' fer broke...

Nick: I think that's the universal sign of a dumb perp. 

Judy: At the very least a desperate one...

Finnick: Actin' like you didn't try your paw at that sorta crap when we worked our side hustles...

Nick: *Shrugs* Hey, I didn't necessarily think they'd go for it! I just figured maybe I could charm my way out of the situation...it worked...*Winces* Well sometimes...Till Carrots ruined my streak of good luck anyway...

Judy: More like dumb luck...

Nick: Hey, I'll take any luck I can get...*Laughs*

Ask Judy and Nick; The 'C' word pass

 

Nick: Only in the bedroom...

Judy: NICK!

Nick: And only usually when cuffs are involved...

Judy: NICHOLAS P WILDE!

FOUND AU Ask; Swiner 49er!

 

Vernon: Look, okay...I'm tryin' to make a sorta peace with Lily bein' a natural in term's of takin' to crime solvin' and law stuff. I don't wanna make the same mistakes my Pa made with me, 'er my Grandpaw made with him...

Dawn: But...?

Vernon: *Whines softly* I jus-why does every case she's gotta trip into be some big honkin' conspiracy er' cold case e'r whatever with real, dangerous criminals?  *whimpers* Is it too much to ask she finds someone's lost chameleon er' parrot or somethin'? Somethin' that won't scare me half to death to hear about? Least til she's an adult?

Nick: Something more like a Nancy Ewe book mystery rather than something likean episode of CSI; Maimew Mice?

Vernon: Yes! That, please...At this rate my lil' princess is gonna put me in an early grave with all the heart attacks she's flirtin' with given me...I need a break here!

Dawn: As much as I also don't want to...dampen Lily's enthusiasm, or quash her natural talent. I have to agree with my Puppy on this one...*winces slightly* Our lives can be pretty hectic as is, and it would help if Lily solved a case or two that wasn't groundbreaking from time to time...

Judy: Well, I wouldn't exactly call the 'Swiner 49er' a really 'groundbreaking' case. It was really more of a cute little urban legen-.

Nick: Jealous you didn't solve it when you were a kit huh Carrots?

Judy: *Groans, placing her head in her paws.* YEEEESSSSS...*She hisses*  I honestly didn't think it was real! So I barely ever acknowledged it as a kit! *Shakes head* If I had any inkling the whole thing was an actual crime that was ongoing, you bet I would have been all about solving that as a kit!

Bonnie: To be fair, we assumed just as much.

Stu: Granted, I think that ol' billy wasn't actually playin' the part of the ghost until after me and Bonn had kits of our own...Before that it was just an endurin' myth that had kicked around since the 'Goldrock Den' drainage tunnel eruption in...oh, 1889 I think it was?

Bonnie: 87'.

Stu: Right, anyway folks would swear they saw a ghost skulkin' around in that old house ever since. Supposta' have been one of the miners who got kilt in the disaster floatin' around his old home...It's been around so long most of us adults took to ignorin' it.

Nick: I suppose that's what made it such a viable hideout for those chips, and what made it so easy to scare the occasional nosey pup or kit away from by the ol' mam' when they got too close. The local police wouldn't follow up on anything like that...but by that logic, I suppose it means Lily wasn't in any real danger.

Judy: The suspect wasn't exactly armed bu-.

Vernon: I'm just sayin' I want to be able to take my eyes off my pup fer two seconds and know she's gonna be there when I look back...without havin' to resort to...*Growls* the leash...*Glares in Nick's direction* or a chip...fer that matter...

Nick: *raising his paws defensively.* It was a harmless suggestion, that's all.

Vernon: Eventually my poor pup is gonna wander into something way over her head, and she...could get real hurt...and I- *Whimpers*

Dawn: *Petting Vernon Comfortingly* There, there Wolfy...I know...

Vernon: That's why I want to discourage her from doin' this stuff...but I mean...I don't wanna turn her away from what she wants to do...I just want her to be safe...*Shakes head* Last thing I want is her sniffin' fer another local mystery and stumblin' into a gang's drug peddlin' operation, er' some crazy serial killer's trap basement...*Whines*

Dawn: I know Puppy, I know...*Dawn cooes sweetly* Maybe I can ask Dr. Gnu for advice on how to handle this...I know he's not exactly a child psychologist, but he may have something we can work with...

Vernon: *Nods weakly* T-that sounds good Honey Lamb...T-thanks...

Dawn: *Giggles* Thanks? We're in this together Puppy Love, I'm just as worried as you are! *Dawn pats the wolf gingerly on the knee.* Let's go inside for a little while and you can try and wind down...that's more than enough blog questions for the moment.

Vernon: *Nods* A-Alright...

Dawn: Besides, everyone knows where we stand on the other half of this question. If you guys want to answer, you can...just, wait till we're out of earshot.

*Dawn and Vernon make their way off the porch, and into the burrow, Vernon ducking significantly low to enter the Hopps home before the pair disappear inside.*

Nick: Pretty sure we answered this one too before...it comes up a lot whenever Lily's exploits make the local news.

Judy: Or international news for that matter.

Stu: She's really solvin' cases that big on the regular?

Judy: *Nods* Oh yeah, it actually has the top brass at the ZPD arguing a little bit...they aren't too happy big cases are being solved by a middle schooler...it's not a great look for us.

Stu: Dang, she sounds like a real prodigy. 

Nick: To a comical degree I'd say. So much so that had I not seen the aftermath of a lot of these, I'd think it was something straight out of a kits series.

Judy: I...hate to say I honestly don't blame Vernon for trying to pull Lily back just a smidge. And considering my upbringing, I think that speaks volumes...

Bonnie: *Grimaces slightly* I know we weren't all that encouraging of your dreams sweetie...and we're still sorry for that...

Judy: And I wasn't even out there stumbling over cold cases and smuggled gold...If my kit was doing that weekly, you bet I'd probably try to distract them with cartoons about princesses and stuff. 

Nick: A little research into Princess Isabelle would have helped ol' Puppy in the long run though...I'm sure that was a very uncomfortable watch once Isabelle was made the sheriff as well as a princess...*Snickers*

Judy: Dawn's told me plenty of times before that when Vernon's worried or nervous, he tends to act before he thinks...She says "His heart's bigger than his head sometimes."

Nick: That's not a stretch, wolves have brains the size of walnuts.

Judy: *Tries to stifle a snicker while scolding the fox* NICK!

Nick: What!? *Laughs. *It's true, I saw a video that proves as much on Zootube...Then again, the host was also trying to sell 'all-natural brain vitality' pellets for a good portion of the video so...y'know, take it with a grain of salt.

The Only Thing Hopps Have to Fear (Special)

 

This was a commission/blog post for my Askdawnandvern blog. We were discussing Zootopia stuff in the Patreon Server and the talk went in the direction of the Hopps family, and sheer size of rabbit families in general. I think we were specifically talking about the tithe in aLAW, and mammal marriages. Particularly the bouquet toss and the showdown between Ada and Melly. That drifted to talking about the brutally violent event a bouquet toss at a rabbit wedding must be like,  and me joking it would look like the Doom box art.

So the commission was pitched pretty immediately, and I was paid on the spot without my consent. Lol.

In context, I'd imagine all bunny bouquet tosses at weddings are like this, and the Hopps family are no exception. In context I'd imagine Judy would warn Nick about this, which of course the tod would not take seriously at all. Judy would go on to reassure him she doesn't take the whole 'bouquet' traditional seriously anyway, and that she's not pushing him to marry her. She actually intends to stay out of the toss altogether. But much like with the bouquet landing in Clover's lap by chance or fate in aLAW, the bouquet ends up in Judy's lap. In that instant, it's like a switch flips, and suddenly the doe is all in on defending the bouquet and her mate as the bouquet brawl continues. Now Judy stands against the horde, protecting her prize, (both the bouquet and Nick) from the encrouaching mob of Hopps doe's looking for that wedding blessing. Can Judy run out the traditional '10 minute fre-for all' timer and secure that tod? Well if anyone's got a shot, it's Judy. After all, a Hopps doesn't know when to quit...but I suppose that goes for most of the other girls too doesn't it?

(DOOM MUSIC INTENSIFIES)

Thanks for the Comm!

-Wasty

Ask the Blog; Happy New Year Wishes~!

 

Nick: Well this one got here pretty late huh? Tell me puff-and-stuff, you got any Yule well wishes letters hiding back there?

Dawn: *Winces* I'm sorry, really...we've been kind of...well...

Vernon: We've been havin' trouble keepin' up as o' late what with Paige and the pups...

Dawn: And the book tours, and the speaking engagements, and the podcast...

Nick: *Chuckles* Hey, hey, relax you two...I was kidding. 

Judy: We know you have a lot on your plate, and hey...sometimes stuff just slips through the cracks, right?

Dawn: I...suppose....*Adjusts glasses* Still, I wish we had a better grasp of keeping up with these more 'time-sensitive' submissions...

Vernon: Maybe we need to hire y'all an assistant?

Dawn: *Winces* Based on personal...experience, I think I'd prefer to avoid hiring on an 'assistant' thank you very much...

Ask the Ruminerds PLUS; Weirdopolis or Fictionpunk?

Vernon: Phew, that's a purty weird, wide net to be castin' in terms of who yer askin'...I mean, I'd expect a question like this fer me and the other Ruminerds...but Gazelle? And Finnick? I don't really even know that fella...

Dawn: I do know about Finnick quite well...but only by virtue of writing his and Gazelle's stories for my sequel book; "The Crosser Diaries". But other than that, I can't say I really...know him in a sense that was...well, I wouldn't say we're on "Nick and Judy" terms. Finnick seems like a very private mammal who doesn't like being bothered...and as for Gazelle, I'd feel weird to be bothering her with a question like this...no offense.

Nick: Afraid it's too small a question for her, or afraid she's gonna steal this guy's ideas and take them to some big movie studio? *Chuckles*

Judy: Nick, don't joke like that! Gazelle would never steal from someone!

Nick: The chapter on Gazelle's faun-hood in Dawn's book would beg to differ Carrots. And that's straight from the antelope's muzzle.

Judy: *Huffs and crosses her arms* Well that...um...I mean...look she doesn't now! And she did that to survive!

Gus: Adding to Dawn's 'no offense' remark, even if Gazelle wanted to steal an idea like that, I don't think she'd know who to take it to in order to sell it. Now me stealing one of these settings for a BnB campaign, that's far more likely. *Snickers*

Melly: *Raises and skeptical brow* Really? C'mon Gussie...You're better than that...

Gus: What!? It's not like I'd be selling it or something, it'd just be a space to play in for our group. If it wasn't for this little conversation with Dawn acting as a stenographer to post it on her and Vernon's 'dear tabby' blog, this hyena guy would never know I intended to use it.

Broomie: What makes you think he's a hyena?

Gus: 'Laugh'lin...with a surname like that, how can he not be?

Melly: *Lets out a snorting laugh* *Shakes her head* Gus, that was terrible...

Gus: *Smirks* It was worth it...

Megumi: Didn't he say his name was pronounced 'lawf'lin...?Why would that...uh...? I am sorry, I'm confused...

Joel: *Whispers in Megumi's ear.*

Megumi: *Eyes widen as realization washes over her.* *The little red panda begins laughing hysterically* Oh-HO-HO! HA-! LAUGH! Because H-hYena's laugh...you said his n-naHAHAme wrong on purpose as part of the joke! *Continues cackling*

Gus: *Flashes Joel a half-lidded gaze.* She really didn't get that?

Joel: *Smirks* She's very good when it comes to Zootopian and Animalian culture and humor in general...but every once and a while something doesn't get through the internal translator just right, and stuff like this happens....*Laughs* I do so love these little 'lost in translation' moments...

*Megumi's laugh trails off as the little panda wipes a tear from her eye.*

Megumi: *Phew*...I need to catch my breath...that caressed my ribs...

Gus: *Quirks eyebrow* Uh...what?

Joel: Tickled babe, the expression is 'tickled my ribs".

Dawn: We're getting way off track. Dustin wanted to know which of these if novelized, we'd rather read.

Gus: Allow me to reframe it for the group if you would Dawn? Guys, which of these settings would you rather play in?

Joel: Fiction Punk...

Megumi: Because you want to rub shoulders with your anime heroes...*Snickers* Or 'super simian Joel'...

Joel: *Places a hoof finger up to his muzzle and hushes Megumi loudly* You promised you'd keep that a secret! *Joel whispers to his mate*

Gus: Oh please, we all know about super simian Joel...we've seen your secret commission harvesting art page...

Joel: *Looks flustered* M-Megumi! You to-!?

Broomie: She didn't do anything, you left yourself logged into Gus BnB computer in the office and forgot to log out. And well...*snickers* There was no way I was gonna keep gold like that to myself.

Joel: *Huffs* I t-thought it was one of those...logs out from the guest systems on idle deals! *Snorts in irritation* CHIKUSHOU!

Gus: I'm voting Weirdopolis.

Vernon: Same...I feel y'all got more creative freedom with that one...with the fiction one y'all gotta...pull from cartoons and books and movies and such...I dunno if I'm keen in playin' in a world like that Ready Player One movie...and as a book...well, I mean I feel that Fiction Punk thang is better served by bein' in a visual medium.

Dawn: It's a difficult call with Fiction Punk...as much as I like it...if you lean heavily on established characters across media interacting you tend to end up leaning toward fan service, and it may hurt the concept...at the same time, a world of original characters, such as fake cartoon and book characters...well not only would you have trouble getting an audience if you didn't have one already...but you'd have to really work out exactly what makes different fictives stand apart from one another...like toony cartoons or superheroes, or...whatever else. Sort of like species traits...

Vernon: So...Weirdopolis?

Dawn: I'd vote Weirdopolis yes.

Melanie: I'd agree with the rest of you...the whole cryptids element really kinda hooks me in from the jump as I'm a bit of a 'conspiracy, urban legends, and cryptid' nerd.

Vernon: *Snickers* Don't let Ully hear you say that...

Melanie: *Laughs* I won't, believe me! I've heard their podcast...and seen their live streams... Ulric would give Alex Roams a run for his money.

Megumi: I do like the creepy and strange concept more...it seems very intriguing.

Joel: Oh sure! Everyone just vote me down! *laughs*

Vernon: What about y'all...I mean...I wager yer probably not interested in this kinda stuff...but...

Judy: As far as books go...I'd lean Weirdopolis...

Nick: As far as your little backroom fantasy games go, we'd go neither. *Chuckles* Though I'd say Fiction Punk would make for a good film...although...I'm not sure what you'd have to do to distance yourself from ol' Roger Rabbit...

Dawn: That's another fair point I guess...Not to discourage you, Dustin, please don't take any of this that way...they're both fun ideas! But if I'm forced to choose...

Nick: He asked for an answer, if he didn't like it, he shouldn't have pitched it to us in the first place.

Judy: Nick, be nice!

Nick: *Rolls eyes* Fine Carrots, fine...

Dawn: Perhaps I can get Gazelle's opinion sometime in the future, but for now I hope that is enough feedback for you Dustin. Good luck in your writing endeavors!

*The group falls silent for a moment*

Megumi: So...is he actually a hyena, or...?

Ask the Foxes; Slitted Pupils

 

Val: I really don't know about that sort of stuff...history and biology aren't my strongsuit. Basically if I can't ride it, I'm not interested.

Cameron: You are talking about the pupil thing right? Not the fact that arctic foxes tend to have slanted eyes compared to their non-arctic counterparts?

Nick: I've actually kind of wondered about that myself...it's one of those things you keep telling yourself you'll look up, and then you just never do, y'know?

Qali: Oh, well I can answer that! I mean I think I can...*scratches chin thoughtfully* I remember in middle school they said evolutionists thought arctic foxes eyes became more slanted and squinty due to it helping to keep snow out of them in the blustery and frigid tundra weather. Sorta like how our ears are smaller to help us better regulate our body heat compared to normal foxes and Fennecs.

Nick: When your eyes are actually open, they're almost as big as Carrots...I can't imagine any amount of squinting or slanting could keep those eyes from going snowblind...*Chuckles*

Cameron: Evolution is fast and sporadic in Animalia, at least since the whole 'mammalian awakening period' or whatever they called it back in highschool at the onset of the ice age. After that point, mammalian evolution started moving double-time...I wouldn't be surprised if arctic fox eyes were smaller at the height of the primal age only to have grown larger since then as they moved away from daily survival and attraction of mates became more important...but I couldn't tell you...there's a reason I'm a graphic designer and not a biologist or evolutionary scholar.

Val: But you're the one who said you knew why red foxes were occasionally born with slit eyes...

Cameron: Just because I said I wasn't a biology student, doesn't mean I didn't pay attention in school my little Motobug. *chuckles* I paid attention in class, especially when my species came up in discussion that wasn't totally negative.

Nick: So enlighten us old mam', my hackles are standing on end with anticipation...

Cameron: Pft...old Mam'...I have half a mind to...*Holds up paws and shakes head* No, no, it's not worth it...*Ahem* Anyway, the 'slit eye' or 'cat's eye' as it's often referred to in foxes manifests for two reasons...one reason is of course that sometimes lingering ancient strands of DNA thought to be gone will happen to manifest for one reason or another out of the blue in mammals. My co-worker Derrick suffers from a similar condition, in that he was born with single solid hooves for paws instead of the more common 'hoof fingers' among ungulate prey, similar to ancient horses.

Val: Oh yeah! Kodi has one of those...things...

Cameron: He does? Huh...I've never noticed...what kind of Genetic Holdover Deformity does he have...?

Val: Uhhh...*Sweats* It's...uh...well it's uh...his....ears are weird...yeah, that's it! It's really subtle, you'd never notice!

Cameron: Huh...in what way?

Val: Hey, so that slit-eye thing right?

Cameron: Ah right...I suppose I'm getting off track...

Val: *Phew*...

Cameron: Anyway, so yeah I'm not exactly sure of the term, but I believe it's something like 'Genetic Holdover Deformity' or something similar...but the other reason is that it's a more common genetic trait in far eastern foxes and some native species...

Nick: So...like Japandese foxes?

Cameron: Correct...and some tribes of native North Mammalian Foxes. Similar to Roaropean sheep, our evolutionary development favored the round pupil. And since Roaropeans came to displace a lot of North Mammalian foxes through colonization and intermarrying it's...well it's less of a common trait than it was....but it's still fairly prevalent in Japanda. I remember reading in some magazine in a waiting room that roughly forty percent of the fox population in Ursa have the slit pupil.

Nick: huh, that's kinda interesting...

Val: Ehh...your mileage may vary...I know mine does...and the half pint fell asleep standing up...

Qali: *Snore-* W-What, I'm awake! *Rubs eyes* S-sorry! I-I'm just really worn out...

Val: It's okay squirt, I got bored too...

Qali: Don't call me SQUIRT! *Huffs* A-And besides, I-I wasn't bored...I j-just...Work's been heavy at the tree farm okay! *Crosses arms defiantly* 

Ask Wasty; Cyberpunk Deco AU (Glitz and Chips)

 

WT: A lot of good ideas there. Seriously. If I had to take a crack at them I'd think maybe we'd have a bit of a placement reversal. Like, Nick is already working for a corrupt version of the ZPD, although he's on the shallow end of the corruption. He had ideals, dreams, all of which get dashed when he managed to get into the ZPD and see what it was really like. But rather than walk away, he resigns himself to the role for a time, accepting it as the 'way the world is' and trying to do good where he can. It's when Judy joins the force, and he's forced to be her partner that he begins to shift back to his former self. Judy reminds him a lot of himself when he first joined, but unlike him, she refuses to give in to corruption and aims to be the one to clean the organization up.

Nick tries to talk her out of it, telling her it's not worth the trouble and to keep her head down for her own safety. Of course, Judy declines, saying she didn't become a police officer to 'play it safe' and collect a paycheck. Naturally, Judy ends up ruffling feathers in the ZPD, and Nick is warned to keep a leash on his pet or they'll 'deal with her', but those threats still aren't enough to dissuade Judy who continues to press her luck until it finally runs out. It's only thanks to Nick overhearing the plan that was already set in motion to kill Judy, and his split-second moral decision to act, that saves the poor rabbit from a gruesome 'gas leak explosion' death in the locker room. However, both mammals are still left maimed despite Nick's efforts to push her out of the way of the blast. For Judy, the attempt on her life costs her both legs below the knee, and for Nick, the blast costs him his sight.

The two are rushed to the hospital and stabilized, but only have a short time to recover before both have to flee in order to escape the ZPD looking to 'finish the job'. Nick stumbles blindly out of the hospital with only Judy to guide him, the bunny slung over his shoulder, as the pair make their escape. But the duo ends up running from the ZPD's grasp right into the arms of a mysterious mammal who leads them into the sewers. This tall, gruff, and imposing creature reveals himself to be none other than the formerly 'disgraced' Chief of the ZPD, Bogo. Bogo now works for an underground shadow agency seeking to purge the city of its corporate overlords who control the ZPD and government and restore it to its former non-dystopian system.

Judy and Nick agree to join, and are suited up and kitted out with augments to fix Judy's legs and Nick's eyes, and the pair become rogue agents, working to undermine and overthrow Zootopia's overlords at every turn. As for their relationship with Dawn and Vern, I imagine that Nick already knew the detectives while in the ZPD, and went to them for use as informants. Judy's brief interaction with them while on the force always left her wary, as the pair seemed sketchy to her. Well, as luck would have it, the reason they both came off as sketchy is that they too are part of the organization that Nick and Judy would join after their brush with death, acting as one of their sets of eyes and ears on the surface and feeding false leads to the ZPD when it came to cases involving 'terrorists'. Also, while solving smaller, more personal cases to try to involve the ZPD as little as possible, if any case led to the corpos or ZPD directly, Dawn and Vern would pass it to Bogo to be handled by one or more of his agents.

Naturally, Nick and Judy working as basically secret agent rogues means Judy doesn't get the siren hat. Not exactly stealth is it? But that said, I can see Judy having a sort of... espionage deco flare to her outfits. Something form-fitting with a singlet bottom to allow her bionic legs to be fully exposed... With Nick, I see him in sort of the more classic trenchcoat kinda thing over a fine suit, topped off with the traditional detective hat...all black of course to hit that noir aesthetic and make his augmented green eyes and tie really pop. At the time of writing this, I haven't yet drawn them, but I have a mostly clear mental image...so these elements will surely be in the finals.

Hope you guys liked the really rough, off the cuff ideas. Thanks for the ask!

-Wasty