Ask Dorian; Pulling over his Pups.

 

Dorian: Two thangs I never did while them boys were growin' up. One, was use my position at the station to mess with them...

Audrey: *Chuckles* Ya'll saved razzin' 'em fer the house.

Dorian: *Raisies a second finger* And two, I didn't do them boys any favors iffin' they got into actual trouble themselves. Iffin' they were caught speedin' they got a ticket. Iffin' they got caught intoxicated, they ended up in the drunk tank fer the night...No slap on the paws.

Audrey: Dori wanted it ta always be clear to the rest of the North Meadowland's that just cause the boys were ours, didn't mean they was gonna get special treatment. *Chuckles* My Darlin' Dori was a public servant above all else...

Dorian: That said, I think Zach caught a parkin' ticket off duty once, other than that, *Winces* we had two...drunk in public issues with Yuri before he left fer school...

Audrey: I...try to be a little soft on them incidents cause it was so close to when yer Pa died Dori...Aldus meant a lot to Yuri and...even though I'm mad he went and drank underage...I get that he was hurtin'...

Dorian: Hey, ain't like I wasn't dealin' with it myself...still, Yuri spendin' those nights in the drunk tank was probably fer the best...made sure ta' keep him from makin' a few more dumb decisions while he was wallowin'...*Chuckles* Aside from callin' me every name in the book in the process...

Audrey: *Chuckles* I remember that, I swear them words ya'll told me...I don't think I'd ever heard curse words like that before or since 'iffin' I'm bein' honest.

Dorian: *Places a paw to his chest, flashing his mate a surprised glance.* Don't look at me! I ain't never heard most of them words he picked up before either...*Chuckles* What are they teachin' them pups in school these days?

Ask Yuri; Bike Repair Bandit

 

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

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

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

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

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

Ask Ada; The Success of Hyenas over Lions.

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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 Ada and Yuri; Nude Beach Trips?

 

FOUND AU Ask; Chore Free Marcus!

 

Zach: This is probably the weirdest thang a parent has ever said in terms o' havin' their pup not doin' a chore...but honestly, I'm burstin' up with pride here. *Chuckles*

Dawn: You should be! That's a major step for Marcus!

Yuri: Pretty soon the Pup 'ill be leavin' dirty clothes on his floor and fergettin' to put the seat up before takin' a leak like a normal teenage boy...

Ada: *Scoffs* Teenaga huh? Cause youse still forget ta put da toilet seat up all da time. Seriously, youse tryin' ta use da toilet or mark it? *Cackles*

Yuri: *Rolls his eyes* Ain't like I do it on purpose alright!

Vanna: We're both very proud of how far Marcus has come. He was just...so happy to tell us he decided not to do the laundry...*Vanna chuffs softly* It melts my heart to see him so happy...to know he's really starting to get comfortable with us, that he's..really starting to heal.

Zach: I mean, I know from yer book and the lamb hood y'all went through Dawn that those sort wounds never really leave y'all...the scars will always be there...but at least...'yknow...*Zach is seemingly struggling to find his words.*

Dawn: They aren't forgotten, but they can fade. You can heal, and in time start to feel normal.

Zach: Right! 

Dawn: Of course, being surrounded by mammals that unconditionally love you, and support you certainly helps mend those emotional wounds much faster. They can help you break that chain. The heavy manacles of abuse that keep your spirit shackled and allow you to find your own true happiness, and prevent the cycle from continuing...not that I think that was ever going to be an issue with Marcus.

Zach: Now iffin' we can get past the food hoardin' I'll feel even more relieved.

Dawn: When I was a little lamb, I did the exact same thing...

Zach: *Ears perk* Oh yeah...I actually fergot about that part! I remember readin' y'all used to hide whatever dry non-perishable stuff ya could get yer hooves on from outside yer house growin' up...cause...um...*Scratches chin thoughtfully*

Vanna: Because 'withholding food' is a common tactic used by abusive parents to control or punish their kittens. 

Dawn: My father often withheld food from me for failing to meet his 'expectations' such as 'being a letter grade lower on a test than I was expected to be', or 'questioning his authority' which went as far as merely asking why he wanted me to do something. *Sighs* My mom would sneak me up dinner when she could...and sometimes she'd get caught and...we'd both get a beating for it...but most times I stashed away turf tarts or Sam Hain candy and numerous other things as a form of...'insurance'...

Vernon: *Scoops Dawn into his arms and nuzzles into her head poof.* Honey Lamb...I'm so sorry...

Dawn: *Kisses Vernon under his chin while stroking his cheek reassuringly.* It's okay Puppy...that was a long time ago now...

Wade: Jeeze...

Dawn: It's another reason why I'm so...small for my species...years of malnutrition thanks to not being allowed to eat properly... coupled with the frequent broken bones and wrenched muscles of course...

Zach: *Whines softly, his ears drooping.* D-Does that mean....does Marcus think we ain't gonna feed him? Does he think we-we'd do that? *Zach sniffles sharply*

Vanna: *Places a reassuring paw on Zach's shoulder.* I'm sure that's not why...

Dawn: It's more than likely habitual Zach. He was used to having to do it under his...original family, and like the situation with his incessant need to do chores, it's just something that will take time for him to work through...

*Zach whines again, and Vanna places a gentle kiss on his head.*

Dorian: I'm familiar with this stuff to some degree...but I ain't sure...is there anything they can do to sorta...help him with the fear over his food security Dawn?

Dawn: Well, I'm not exactly a Lamb Psychologist. But between writing my book and adopting lambs with Vernon I've done a lot of reading on the mental health and development of lambs. If I had to...try and offer some kind of advice, I guess I would sit Marcus down and make him aware that you know-and not in an accusing manner mind you, but that you know he's stashing aside food in his room and let him know that it's okay.

Vanna: *Quirks a brow in mild confusion* So are we...do you mean we should encourage it?

Dawn: I'm not necessarily saying to go out and buy him a mini-fridge or anything. *Chuckles* I'm just saying that you should let him know that as long as it makes him feel comfortable to have that cache of food, as long as it reassures him, then he should keep doing it.

Vernon: But y'all should also reassure him that y'all will never hold food from him as a form of punishment. And that he can take whatever he wants from the fridge whenever he wants...that the food in there is as much fer him as fer everyone...

Vanna: Even Zach's secret stash of sour candies he thinks he's hidden well behind the vegetable drawer.

Zach: *Ears stand up sharply* YOU FOUND 'EM!?

Vanna: Yes...for one, did you forget I'm a cop as well? I may not have a wolf's sense of smell, but I'm still quite good at sniffing things out. And two...I was craving something sour to top my ice cream with while I was pregnant with Rose and I've been skimming off the top of your hoard ever since...I can't believe you hadn't noticed. *Giggles*

Zach: *Scratches head, blushing slightly.* I er...I mean...I ain't exactly keepin' tabs...and sometimes...well...I just grab it without lookin' and don't even remember I did the next day...

Dawn: You're still eating sour candies?

Vanna: *Blushes slightly* It...stuck with me after pregnancy...I always used to hate it before...

Dawn: *Giggles* I'm the same way with raw fish now...I still love sushi despite loathing it before I was pregnant.

Vernon: Shame y'all didn't keep that taste fer hot wings while you were at it...Not even a week after Paige was born y'all was back to getting nauseous from the smell alone. Makes me miss when I could bring back a box of 'em and split 'em with ya...

Yuri: 'Split 'em?' Iffin' I recall y'all did complain a few times to us that ya'd buy the wings to split and Dawn would eat all of 'em...*Chuckles*

*Vernon's tail sags, the wolf standing stock still as Dawn looks at him in faux surprise and amusement.*

Dawn: You miss that huh? *Laughs*

Vernon: *Rubs the back of his head in clear discomfort* Well...I mean....at least I could bring wings in the house...and I could be close to ya without you gettin' revolted by me smellin' like hot wings...it was the better alternative. *Chuckles*

Ask Special; It's Enough Part 2/2

 

Ask Special; It's Enough Part 1/2

 

It's practically the next day, but here it is. I bring you a short little comic idea I had as a surprise special...something too short for a fic, but too nice an idea not to use somehow. So please enjoy this two-part ask special, "It's Enough", Featuring Ada and Yuri.

-Wasty

Found AU; Kirin Dice and his Casino

 

Dorian: I generally prefer to stay as far away from that District as I can...which is easy to do considerin' I'm purty much locked to the North Meadowlands when it comes to the reach of our District's Sheriff's office. Unlike the big four, there ain't really much bleed over in terms o' cases and patrols...*Huffs* Still, I wish that guy could just be livin' in that District too and save me the headache...I really, really hate that he's operatin' in any capacity in our quiet little community...even if his actual criminal activity goes on in the Nocturnal District exclusively...

Xavier: Are we all...certain he's still up to his old tricks? I mean...a Casino is technically legal to operate in the Nocturnal District...

Wade: Although he had to use a weird loophole to get a hold of the land...that much alone should tell ya the fella ain't too keen on operatin' above board.

Xavier: I suppose...Gah...*huffs* I'll admit...nothing does frustrate me more in my line of work than those who argue 'technical legality' and habitual loophole exploiters.

Trenton: That kind of behavior certainly don't scream 'I'm a stand-up fella lookin' to do hard, honest work' that's fer sure...

Vernon: That's o' course is ignorin' what Tim told us...and the stuff we saw in that documentary...

Yuri: Please, y'all don't even need any o' that...you can tell by his smell alone. My Hunter's intuition kicked in the moment I first laid eyes on him...that ugly mug o' his made my hackles stand on end in an instant.

Dorian: At least y'all boys don't have him livin' right in yer back yard...*huff* Not only does he got me worried about our little community here...but with yer Ma's new litter on the way...I'm real worried fer them havin' to grow up with that vile mammal skulking around our quaint lil' district...

Vernon: Well at least he'll stand out, so they'll know to keep clear of him...

Yuri: *Laughs* Hard not to with a mug like his, and his trail of corporate sycophants surroundin' him. 

Wade: He honestly kinda looks like those old 'stranger danger' signs from when we was pups...y'know the shadow with the hat and mean squinty eyes? Same energy. Just...y'know without the wolf ears...

Vernon: And we'll be a stone's throw away from his backyard soon enough...y'all know Dawn and me were lookin' to move up to South Meadowlands fer the pups sake...We'll be right smack dab between his home and workplace...*Shudders*

Dorian: It's times like this when I wish I hadn't stopped them teen arsonists from burnin' the ol' Bellwether mansion down a few years back...would have saved us all a lot o' trouble...

Yuri: Though knowin' this guy, he probably would have built a new place on the ashes, seein' as the grounds were 'so rich with history'...*Scoffs*

Dorian: Well iffin' there's one thing I know about folks like Dice...it's that karma always catches up with 'em...one day fer sure it's all gonna come crashin' down right on top of him...and whether er' not I'll be there to see it, I don't know...but it's comin' hard and fast...and eventually there'll be nowhere left to run and hide.

Yuri: I just hope it's soon...the less time he has to stir up trouble in Zootopia, the better...though I'm sure when that check comes due he'll meet the gates of hades itself wearin' that same...unnervin' and insincere smile he's always got and schemin' up a way to scam Hel himself...

Vernon: Yer right about most o' that...'cept fer one thang...

Yuri: How's that Vermin?

Vernon: That smile is genuine...and that's the most terrifyin' thing about him...

Found AU ask; Just a typical, ordinary, average School.

Vernon: Does my experience count in this here discussion?

Zach: The fact that y'all were oblivious to the existence of stuff like this in middle and high school don't count fer squat...

Vernon: An 'espionage club', really? I still can't believe anyone would cook up somethin' like that...

Gus: Realistically it's just a fancy name for what was ostensivley 'puzzle solving club'. Espionage Club just sounds cooler.

Vernon: *Glares at Gus* 

Gus: What? I already told you I almost joined...but founding the BnB club was a task in and of itself, I didn't have time for any other clubs.

Dorian: It's what I'd expect out of an inner city school...although it still goes on out her in the country...that kinda stuff I mean...I just don't think it's as prevalent.

Vernon: Which is why we're lookin' into movin'....

Yuri: Please, that ain't gonna matter Vern. We all know this already, so why don't you? Trouble follows that lil' gal...You could move her all the way into the mountains and home school her exclusively and she'd manage to stumble onto an illegal coca leaf farm while playin' outside...if you pick up and move, that stuff is just gonna tag along fer the ride...*Chuckles*

Vernon: *Groans* Sometimes I really hate you Yuri...

Yuri: Hate me? Er' hate that I'm right?

Vernon: *huffs* Hate that yer right...

Wade: As fer what kinda techniques she picked up from us...I mean she picked up lots o' little stuff from all of us before Vernon put a cap on us talkin' police business around her...which, by the way, how's that workin' out?

Vernon: It hasn't helped much at all iffin' I'm bein' honest...*The wolf sighs, his tail and ears sagging sharply.*

Wade: I had a feelin'...

Zach: But the mammal she squeezed the most out of in terms of police techniques would be Pa...and to be fair, even what she picked up from us was stuff we learned from him so...

Dorian: Yeah, I didn't teach her that haymaker takedown though...I'm purty sure that was all Yuri...

Yuri: Well, iffin' I'm bein honest I picked that up from Ada's sister...*Chuckles*, although she was playin' her wrestler character at the time...Damn that was a great match...

Vernon: That's not the only move she picked up from one o' you...Dawn showed me some cuttin' room floor clips last week, and damned if I didn't see my lil' miss and her friend Paul sparrin', and she up and goes and pulls some sand out of her pocket and throws it in his eyes!

Zach: *Laughs* Rut me, no way!

Wade: Was Paul hurt?

Vernon: Naw, he was wearin' some of those science class goggles...he was fine...but they were literally practicin' deployin' 'pocket sand'. *Shakes head*

Yuri: See, that's what happens when y'all force us to shut our traps about somethin' yer pup is interested in...she ends up copyin' her Uncle Ully out o 'desperation...

Zach: Desperation er' not, I can't argue it ain't an effective tactic...*Chuckles*

Ask The Hunters; Musical Energy P2

 

Yuri: Metal, black metal...rock...Rammstien is my favorite. O'course I don't really listen on shift cause I that kinda music drowns out the police radio no matter how low ya set it. To be honest...I really only get to listen when I'm doin' chores... helps me tune 'em out and get through 'em quicker...o' course me and Ada don't exactly have overlappin' musical interests save fer rock...so I don't really get to play it loud in our apartment fer fun...

Ada: And duh neighbors dank you. *Laughs* And toos be fair, I does like some metal...just not da kinda pure noise dat black metal is...I'm more seventies and eighties metal...same goes for rap...

Yuri: Ugh rap...I still can't believe yer into that. Next yer gonna tell me yer into country like Zach and Trent...

Trenton: Hey, don't knock country till you try it. It's at least generally soft enough to listen to while on patrol without drowning out the police radio. Rascal Flaps, Keith Urbaahn, Bucks and Dam...all awesome artists...

Yuri: That all make me wanna tear my ears off...

Ada: Unlike Yuri, woikin' in da morgue is pretty slow and quiet...so music helps get trew da shifts dat really drag on...ya got ya classics like Metailica, Pink Boivid, Hiss...Denn for rap we's got Ram DMC, Snoop Dog, Dr. Hay, Public Animal...I's even got a soft spot for Erminem, at least his early stuff...Stan is my jam!

Yuri: Yeah, cause an Ermine is the kinda mammal I picture doin' rap professionally...

Vanna: As you probably already know, Dawn and I share a love of Suri Nicks, but...I'm also a pretty big fan of Disco music... and 80s stuff...

Qali: Ohh I love eighties music! That synth sound always makes my fur tingle...*Giggles* Crowded Mouse, Tears for Deers, Bahhkota, Ohhh...Pat Bennataur!

Vanna: *Squeals* Ohh Pat Bennataur! I love her! And Bunny Tyler!

Qali: AHHHH! She's so cool! *Starts singing* I need a heeeero...! I'm holdin' out for a hero till the end of the night! *giggles*

Vanna: *Joins in.* And he's gotta strong and he's gotta be fast and he's gotta be fresh from the fight! 

Ada:*Chuckles* Hey, eighties stuff ain't bad...Bunny Tyler could rock it.

Zach: I'm more of a rock and country guy...but I can dig the eighties stuff...plus it's always cute when I come home from a solo shift to catch my little Kitten dancin' along to her favorites while tidyin' up...*Chuckles*

Vanna: *Blushes* G-goofball...

Dawn: She also does karaoke with us...that said, after that little performance you, me, and Qali need to do a girl's night where we go karaoke together!

Qali: *Squeals in delight* That'll be soooo much fun!!!

Vanna: *Still Blushing* I-I mean...I wouldn't say no...

Qali: Oh...just to chime in...I do like some of Trenny's country songs too...and I tend to listen to music the most when trimming trees...it really helps make the work more fun and feel less overwhelming! 

Vanna: I tend to listen to my favorite music when I'm doing housework...although Zach and I will often listen to our favorites while on shift, just at a low volume.

Zach: It's basically background music...Y'all might find it hard to believe, but workin' the North Meadowlands is purty slow...it ain't like the city...

Yuri: I'll bet.*Snickers* Some might call it glorified pupsittin'. 

Zach: That said, I think me and Vern have a lot of overlap...Wade too when it comes to rock. Red Hot Canid Peppers, Metaillica, Gorillaz, Queen, y'know...sorta all over the place from the 70s to 90s and early 2000s. And me and Trent er' on the same page with country.

Trenton: I'm also big into blues...one of my favorite bands is actually Blues Labrador...Run around was stuck in my head from most of the late nineties...ooh and Hook...course it helps those were popular radio singles I heard constantly growin' up...O'course I like some of the more classic bands too like Eric Clopton, B.B King...hell even Billie Howliday iffin' ta want to talk oldies...

Wade: I think my favorite genre is ska...So like Reel Big Fish, Mighty Mighty Bossicones, The offspring, Reliant Hay...I love the mix of horns and guitar and stuff...it's real upbeat and keeps me super perked up on some of the longer shifts. Plus Gizzy likes them too...

Giselle: Oh I love ska, Skaand, while I don't want to sound completely Roarupe-centric, Kittish punk and Irelambish folk. The clash, Dead Cannideys, Sex Pistails, The Grrumble Strips, The Hogues, Petless Eric, the Ramoone's...I could go on and on...those bands made up the soundtrack of me' teenage years... and aside from gettin' to share 'em with me little bobby, I also get to play them at work when my turn comes up to pick the in-store music. Makes the shifts just fly by...

Xavier: I know I'm going to get grief over this, but I'm a big fan of...pop... specifically nineties pop.

Yuri: He means boy bands and eye candy artists...like Gazelle fer instance...

Vernon: Hey, don't be too hard on Gazelle, she's a nice lady...even iffin' her music can be hit and miss...*whispers* Don't tell her I said that...

Dawn: Relax Vernon, you know I'm worse off as I used to hate her music. If she should be mad at anyone, I'd be first in line...but I've grown to love her catalog...

Malcolm: Fair, but in Xavey's case he's gone as far as lovin' the Mice Gals, backstreet Baah's, N' Mink, Rocky Marten. Oh, Britney Shears too!

Yuri: *Chuckles* The signs were all there huh?

Xavier: I'm also a fan of classical and orchestral music. So Goatzart, Beethooven, Baa'ch...I tend to favor listening to classical at work during my down time, and save the 'pop' musicians for home...it...*blushes* makes me look more professional.

Malcolm: There's some overlap between us when it comes to pop...long time Gazelle fan...ooh, and Bear! Can't ferget Mawdonna either...she's a classic...otherwise I got an overlap with Trent on country songs...what can I say, I may live in the city, but I'll always be a country boy...*Laughs* I tend to listen to my favorites while doin' housework, and o' course I have a lot of them songs on a playlist fer the speakers at work...customers seem to like 'em...

Yuri: What about you freakazoid? Still into that bleep blorp crap?

Honey: Hey, it's called Techno...and I think Ully's got great taste.

Ulric: I also like dubstep...

Honey: And that's where we diverge...

Ulric: It makes me feel like it's the future...

Honey: *Snickers* He needs his 'super hacker' soundtrack while he's 'investigating' leads...

Ulric: Calf Punk is probably my favorite...

Vernon: Heh, I think Joel like's 'em too...

Ulric: Damoode, uh...Eifshel 65...then for Dubsteb I'd have to lead with Skrillrex, and then Buriheel, and Aviisea...to name a few. also video game soundtracks...so I share that with Vernon i think...I like that chiptune sound....

Honey: we share a love of techno and video game sound tracks, there's a lot of shared bands there, and i've gone so far as to drag Ully to concerts with me...with mixed results.

Ulric: It can be overstimulating at times...emotionally overwhelming.

Vernon: I could see that, I don't think my ears could handle a crowded concert hall, even iffin' I like the band. I ain't fixin' to make myself deaf like Yuri...*Chuckles*

Yuri: That reminds me, we gotta Rammstaien concert comin' to Seaotter in about a month...we should definitely go. *laughs* If we can get our schedules lined up that is..

Ada: if I can's get outta dead duty, den sure handsome, I'd be dere wit bells on...*Giggles*

Vernon: What about y'all Ma? You and Pa?

Audrey: Aww, well you know I've always loved Rick Springhopper...if I hadn't tithed yer father I'd probably still be after that Kangaroo... *Giggles*

Yuri: Oldwyn's great grey muzzle...I remember him, that fella was like our pack's patron saint. *Chuckles*

Audrey: Otherwise I'm on the same page as Vanna, Qali and Dawn...Love Suri Nicks and Bunny tyler...the eighties were mah era. *giggles*

Dorian: And I'm into classic rock and country...Led Shepplin, Bun Jovi, Baahston, Fleetwood yak...that sorta stuff...then with country y'all get Glen Cambull, John Denfur, Billy Nelson, ooh...and Kenny Rogfurs....*chuckles* you remember Kenny Rogfurs don't y'all Darlin'?

Audrey: *Nuzzles up to Dorian* Mhh...I remember...Lady was our tithin' song...

Dawn: Aww...that's so sweet...

Found AU Ask; Progress with Marcus

 

Dorian: Well, the obvious place where the boy's still stalin' is his incessant need to do chores and work on Zach and Vanna's behalf...but I think that's somethin' that the poor boy's gonna be stuck with fer a while.

 Zach: To be fair...it's kinda a hard line to walk fer me and Vanna...I mean, y'all don't want to not give yer teenaged pups a chore or two to instill responsibility and structure into 'em...

Vanna: Though I'd say Marcus has had more than enough responsibility instilled into him for a lifetime...in the cruelest possible ways...

Zach: But y'all want him to be able to look after himself when he grows up...to take care of his own pups and pack...Still...if I ask him ta' clean his room, 'er wash the dishes, er' take out the trash...I'm real scared he's gonna fall right back into overdrive, and I'm gonna catch him redo'in wallpaper fer the whole house, 'er Winterizin' the sidin'....*Shakes head*

Ada: Wells, disregauwdin' Marcus' incessant need to please his folks, and possible chronik OCD, I tink da kid has made a lotta progress...

Trenton: Yeah, he really seems like he's grown real comfortable with everyone...

Audrey: More than comfortable! That boy fit right into our pack like he'd always been a part of it. It's like it was meant to be!

Vanna: It's such a relief to see him really start to open up and just...thrive. Whether he's playing in his band with his friends or just watching him interact with his cousins...it just... makes my heart swell with joy...

Zach: Even watchin' er' playin' sports with him, despite the risk o' bodily harm...I mean...it's worth the trip to the ER just to see that boy smile.

Vernon: Me and Dawn know how that feels, we feel the same sorta joy and pride lookin' over our pups.

Audrey:*Laughs* Now y'all know how it felt raisin' y'all...there wasn't a day that went by where me and yer Pa's heart wasn't burstin' with love just watchin' you boys thrive...and now I'm burstin' with pride all over again seeing y'all rear pups of yer own...

Zach and Vernon: Thanks Ma. 

Audrey: That said, I think y'all were worried fer nothin', all four of y'all took to bein' parents like a fish to water. And I know in my heart y'all can handle whatever trouble y'all come across along the way.

Zach: Well...I wouldn't say me and my Kitten don't still have our worries and misgivin's and all...but I don't think I'm too alone in sayin' I think we've grown a bit more confident in terms o' raisin' Marcus. 

Vanna: It's true...of course, a lot of our initial fears evaporated rather quickly as soon as we got to know Marcus.

Zach: Yeah, I think our fears quickly shifted from 'are we ready fer this?' to ' How can we do  our very best by this boy?'

Vanna: And at this point...despite my Goofball sometimes taking his...parental paranoia too far, I feel like we've adapted to something...well...something comfortable. Something that works. And I really believe that we are doing our very best.

Zach: I take offense to that...

Yuri: This from the fella who was seriously talking to me about usin' a tracker anklet on the boy.

Zach: You were supposed to keep yer trap shut about that!

Yuri: Honestly, I'm surprised Vernon weren't the one to tap me about that first, mostly cause Lily's the one always pullin' Hoovdini's on him and Dawn.

Wade: That's because he asked me about sneaking one out of the station fer him.

Dawn: Puppy!

Vernon: *Ears splay against his head* Wade, I was merely considerin' that! And you promised you'd keep that muzzle o' yers shut over it...

Dawn: A tracking device!? She's our Daughter, not Princess Calibre!

Vernon: I-I mean we'd only use it fer when she's bein' pupsat! Or when we take 'er to the park!

Dawn: *Shakes head* I'm disappointed in you...at least we could have talked about this in private before you decided to go to Wade...I-I'm not necessarily against keeping tabs on Lily with something....a bit less intrusive than a leash....but a tracking anklet?

Vernon: Well, I thought it was better than a chip implant...I mean, that's literally what ya use on pets...er' Ully...

Yuri: Ha!

Zach: Oh Mam', looks like yer in the doghouse now there Vern...

Vanna: Well, that would make two of you then...because don't think I'm not upset with you for considering tracking our kitten without consulting me...

Zach: *Ears splay against his head* I-I just wanted to make sure the boy was safe!

Vanna: *Holds up a paw* We will discuss this when we get home.

Yuri: *Laughs* Better make room in that doghouse fer one more Hunter...to answer that follow-up question you have. Yes, Ully tried to take samples just today...and after I tuned him up over it, Ma put him to work cleanin' the whole ranch...without any help.

Audrey: *Shakes her head* Speakin' of, I best go check on yer brother...if I go leavin' him alone fer too long he might make a bigger mess outta them chores then before he cleaned 'em...

Ask Special Collection; The Hunter Pack; the next generation Pt 2

 Moving on to sheet number two, or as I like to call it the 'Hunter-Dabu' pack sheet, as I ended up using the whole sheet to cover all Yuri and Ada's pups.

Yuri, Ada, Omari, Dakarai, Jabari and Piper Hunter;

The emergency trio, as dubbed by my Patreon backer Unformed8. The triplets Omari, Dakarai and Jabari are the first to be adopted by Yuri and Ada under limited griping and most part from Yuri. We've already seen them as adults in a previous ask, so here I get to show them off at around the age they were adopted, which is around 4.

These boys have a complicated and nearly tragic story that saw them being taken by the state and put up for adoption. As I've discussed in previous posts about Hyenas in my AU, and their cultural background, the root of their species is highly entrenched in a matriarchy with males considered second-class citizens. These beliefs run deep and are impossible to shake with some, especially the old mates tales surrounding the birth of multiple sons at once. Twins, triplets, and beyond that are made up of all males are seen generally as an omen, a curse if you will. And unless the parents kill them off, they will be stricken with bad luck for the rest of their existence. In the case of these three little ones, their birth mother was a fierce believer in that tale, and decided to bundle them together in a weighted burlap bag and toss them into a river to be rid of them shortly after they were born. Thankfully, she was caught before throwing the bag over the bridge and the boys were saved.

Ada of course, doesn't believe in such things, and finds treating males as anything other than equals appalling. So naturally, when her and Yuri go looking to adopt, and she sees these boys, knowing how hard they would have it, and then what led them there, she refuses to leave without all three of them, much to Yuri's chagrin. They had agreed to one pup after all, just one. but there was no arguing with his mate. By this point they were tithed, and there was no other way out. Although Yuri's misgivings were short-lived, as though he continues to gripe and complain over the next few years after adopting the boys, he takes to fathering them with gusto.

The name 'emergency trio' should give you some idea that these boys tend to get into trouble more often than not, though usually, they aren't trying to, they just seem to have a natural talent for making messes. Generally, most of these 'incidents' are led by Dakarai, (At least when Piper's not involved.) the unofficial leader of the bunch, as he tends to be the idea guy despite his other brothers being more of the brains of the operation.

Omari is probably the softest of the trio. Kind, sweet-natured and soft-spoken, even as a cub. He spends a lot of time in his own head, thinking a lot as well as asking his parents tons of questions. He's also the Mama's cub of the group, and just likes being hugged and snuggled by Ada. As an adult, he is inspired to follow in his mother's pawpads into the medical field and eventually becomes a pediatric cancer doctor. he also develops a childhood crush on Malcolm and Xavier's daughter Elizabeth, though it takes him until quite late into his teenage years to confess his feelings. Elizabeth surprises him by returning his feelings in kind...but it still takes a few more years for them to get together in an official capacity as Yuri actively fights it due to his discomfort with the loose familial relations and what he thinks will give more ammo to outsiders about wolf families being backward hicks. But eventually, he relents and gives his blessing.

Jabari starts out as the more sporty brother. Into organized basketball, and football (soccer). But when it comes to computers and technology he proves to be exceptionally proficient at it at a young age. By age nine he becomes the household password bank and computer expert, as his mind is like a steel trap when it comes to remembering them, and if he can't he's very good at finding his way around them. His teenage years are spent building bigger and better pc set ups, and running an on again off again pc repair shop from his bedroom, and as an adult he goes on to become a tech support genius. He still plays sports from time to time, but generally, he reserves that for home visits so he can play against his brothers and Dad. Otherwise he's become more of a desktop jockey, doing the minimal amount of physical fitness to keep healthy and in shape during his down time.

Lastly Dakarai, the extrovert and loudmouth of the pack. He's got snark in spades like his adopted Mom, and is constantly getting himself scrapped and chewed up doing all sorts of dangerous things for his age. He's into more non-organized sports activities, such as skateboarding, mountain biking, snowboarding, etc...and the more organized sports he tends to favor are the brutal ones, like hockey, which he and his Pa bond massively over. He's also the one to drag his brothers into dumb and dangerous situations on the basis that they'll be 'pretty cool'. Of course, his Pa being a police officer is really inspiring to him, and he lives to hear stories about his Dad working the mean streets of Seaotter. But as he gets older, while his loud mouth and boisterous personality remain intact, his ideas about following directly in his paws pawpads begin to skew in favor of forging his own path.

Despite his outward bombacity, and seemingly wild nature, deep down he's a caring and thoughtful guy, and the prospect of actually hurting anyone, even a criminal rubs him the wrong way, which is what eventually pushes him into fire-fighting. Naturally, Yuri isn't happy about his son's ultimate choice in career, mostly because he knows he's going to get razzed by not only his brothers, but his fellow officers at the precinct over it till the end of time. But Yuri learned enough from his Pa, and his brother's own experience with breaking away from 'the family business' to know no vocation is worth cutting ties with the ones you love.

The problem with Piper

Initially, the troublesome trio was all Yuri and Ada were meant to get, making him tied to Dawn and Vernon in terms of the number of cubs they were raising. However, again...I felt that strange pang, that weird sense that Yuri and Ada's household needed another pup. An even four making him the biggest Hunter family of the seven. So what to do, what to do? I started rolling through the species in my head. Should it be another wolf? Something small and meek that Yuri can't figure out how to raise right? It didn't take too long before the answer hit me like a ton of bricks.

I've long established both in asks, and my two-part 'Queen of the Dead' fic where Yuri first meets and charms Ada into dating him that he absolutely hates otters. He's 100 percent speciest to otters, and isn't shy about saying it. So naturally, I had to drop an otter pup in his lap.

Enter Piper, a maybe six or seven-year-old otter whose family was involved with one of the city's biggest crime families, albeit at a low level. I imagined them as not being directly involved with any plots, but more suppliers of stuff to those in the actual gang in order to get by and raise their daughter while trying to keep the nature of tier jobs hidden from her. Of course things go south when the mafia decides it needs to end their former partnership with Piper's parents abruptly and brutally, leaving Piper as the only survivor and witness to her parent's murder. Unfortunately for Yuri, he and his partner Lance are the ones to take the case, and summarily Piper is dumped into his lap as he is charged with being the pup's bodyguard until the court case.

Naturally Yuri gripes and moans and complains, but the longer he's forced to act as a surrogate parent to young Piper, the more attached he grows, until eventually, at the conclusion of the case and the subsequent collapse of the city's biggest organized crime outfit, Yuri goes out of his way to get Xavier's help to make sure him and Ada could secure adopting Piper. Much like Ada had been with adopting the boys, Yuri was adamant about adopting Piper, and wouldn't take no for an answer. Though, unlike Yuri, Ada didn't argue or put up a fight, and happily adopted Piper into their pack. 

Despite appearances in the sketches, as you can imagine from the ask featuring her as an adult and mentions here and there that Piper is a spitfire and a troublemaker. The kind to insult and egg on adults and larger mammals without a shred of fear or anxiety. That spitfiery nature of hers is what would end up endearing her to her adopted father the most, as he saw a lot of himself in her. Being older than the troublesome trio upon being adopted, as well as her personality has her leading the boys around by the nose a lot of the time, at least when they were little. And if the boys were to live up to their namesake as the 'emergency trio', there was a guarantee that at least half of the situations they got into growing up had been the result of Piper leading them there and then bailing when it looked like things were about to go south, leaving her 'dumb brothers holding the bag.

Piper is a bit of a bully like her Dad, always ready with a put-down or mean spirited remark when it comes to her brothers, and especially her cousins Grace, Paige or Lumi (Trenton and Qali's daughter). Naturally, that attitude, especially in her teenage years, sees her getting into a lot of scraps and scuffles, some of which those 'same dumb brothers' of hers had to bail her out of, but she never backed down. She never let anyone see her cry if she could help it. Of course, a lot of that is fueled by having seen her parents murdered, and the mental scars it left her with.

As an adult she mellows out a bit more, still with an edge similar to her adoptive Dad, while having fully adopted her adoptive mother's accent, but she's closer to her cousins and brothers for the most part. Piper's nature and knack for getting in way over her head sees her pursue a career in hard journalism, covering wars, corrupt political dealings, and all sorts of scandalous exposes that see her get more hate mail than even her aunt Dawn. But while it's a dirty job, someone's got to do it, and Piper just so happens to revel in it.

Okay, I've got about...three sheets left...and it's late, so we'll pick this up tomorrow. Hope you enjoyed these looks into my thought process and character conceptualization, and I hope you like what you've seen so far. Until tomorrow...

-Wasty