While the story is officially over, I thought it would be a shame to leave this universe behind without seeing what the characters spent all their time working on (besides getting Yang and Blake together). So, without further ado, I present you with a little piece written by each of our characters. See if you can match each to its respective author!
Designed by Faunus
Behind the scenes of your favorite movie or television show, a supporting cast brings the characters to life through makeup and costume design. What many outside of the entertainment industry don't know, however, is that this field of work is increasingly pioneered by some of the best and brightest Faunus minds.
The most recent entry in The Dust Chronicles featured an all-Faunus crew tasked with makeup and costume choices for the cast. Sunflower, the longest-running musical showing downtown, has a rotating crew of Faunus helping with the exorbitant makeup necessary to bring the environment to life. Even pop artist Cheyenne's new music video turned to a group of Faunus to create realistic costumes from a time period hundreds of years ago.
How have Faunus become so prominent in this particular field? "I'm not really sure," says Cora Jasper, creator of the adventure outfits worn in The Dust Chronicles. "This has always come fairly easily to me, and I can only guess because I had all different types of friends growing up."
Could experience with multiple species really be such a benefit? "Imagine playing dress-up with a bear and a raccoon," explains Brielle Atticus, who just helped Sunflower win an industry award for best makeup. "Changing their appearance takes quite a bit of imagination and ingenuity...and a lot of makeup."
If you talk to any Faunus working in the costume department, they'll attribute their savvy more to early learning experiences than innate ability. And, as a group, they're quick to point out that they compose only a small subset of the greater entertainment industry.
"Working with fellow Faunus has been a dream," Cora says. "But there are still too many areas where Faunus are underrepresented or flat out non-existent."
"It's better than nothing," Brielle echoed in a similar sentiment. "But if you want to move into another position, even just a half step away, good luck."
And therein lies the issue - closed doors abound even as great strides have been made. However, there is hope that times are changing, no matter how slow. Just last week, a Faunus-run team won an esteemed industry award for best costume design. And, for the first time ever, a Faunus was named the lead costume designer of an upcoming blockbuster film.
For some, the change can't come fast enough. Others hold a sense of gratitude that there's been any change at all. In a world that revolves around creating the most convincing mask, there's blossoming hope that the masks won't apply to those behind the scenes much longer.
A Lion of a Campaign
For most, the adage 'politics is life' invokes the terrors of public speaking and accountability to the masses. For others, it rings true as a philosophy followed through thick or thin - a calling that, once heard, is impossible to shake.
"I've run for office...eight times now, I think."
Theodore Kane, a lion Faunus with a prodigious mane and roar of a laugh, more than looks the part of a leader - he feels it.
"In grade school, I 'presided' over the playground. Created rules everyone had to follow or else risk losing privileges." He chuckles at the memories, which were corroborated by several of his classmates, who remain friends with him to this day. "I've always felt most comfortable in front of the group, not behind."
Now a husband, father, and successful businessman, Theo has submitted his candidacy for office time and time again, with similar results. The county clerk, Naomi Amara, knows him by first name, and knows exactly where his records are stored.
"You can't help but root for him," she says, but Theo's far-from-sterling political record demonstrates that rooting isn't enough. For a man who's experienced minimal difficulties leading in his personal life, public office remains an unsolvable enigma.
"I took a break this year to take a step back, reevaluate, and spend more time with my family."
The Kane household is raucous but orderly, as overseen by Theo's wife, Lynnette. "Convincing him to take a year off was worse than bath time around here," she explains while signing forms and stuffing lunchboxes for their two young boys. "He's a great leader - smart, fair, judicious. He was born to lead. All he needs is a chance."
That chance eludes Theo even as he's garnered growing support amongst Faunus. When asked what's holding him back, however, he's not keen on singling out his race.
"I don't think that's it," he contends. "If a leader is good enough, people will follow. I just need to...sharpen my claws, as my pop would say."
It's that persistent nature - that innate call to rush to the front of the class - that compels him to try again next year. "We're gearing up for something big. With a year off, we have more time to prepare for the next election, and I think it's going to be the one."
His wide, confident smile makes it impossible not to believe him. Or, at the very least, makes it impossible not to root for him.
One Gray Morning
Last Thursday, in the dead of night, a crime occurred in downtown Vale. Someone or someones broke through the front window of The Treasure Chest, tripping the alarm before ransacking the inside. The burglars turned over shelves, broke merchandise, and emptied the registers before moving on to the office, where they used a sledgehammer to break apart the small safe hidden under a desk.
By the time the owners arrived, the robbers were gone, and the police had yet to show up.
"She told me the alarm was a waste," Howard Gray says while sweeping up shards of glass the next morning. "I thought the sound would scare someone off, at least..."
According to the couple, the police eventually showed up, took their statement along with several photographs of the damage, and left with the promise of opening an investigation. The Grays aren't holding their breath, however, while starting the rebuilding process on their own.
"Oh, we've seen this happen plenty of times before. You just...never expect it to happen to you." There are still tears in Mrs. Gray's eyes as she cleans off one row of shelves and moves to the next. "We've been here for eleven years without incident, but now we have to think...should we reopen? Or should we quit while we're still ahead?"
"There's an active investigation," Officer Winston states from the downtown police precinct. "We don't have additional information at this time." When pressed to explain what exactly will be done to find the culprits, he responds with "an officer has been assigned to the case" and not much else.
'Not much else' is a stinging response to an incident that turned two lives upside down.
"We don't expect to get that money back or find out who did this," Mr. Gray admits. "That's just the way it is."
Now, the Grays are just one more case added to the hundreds of crimes against Faunus that are still under investigation. With some of those cases going on years old, it might be fair to question exactly how active they are or what efforts are being made to solve them.
Maybe one day the culprits will be found, but until then, the Grays are more concerned with the unexpected decision they face. After eleven successful years running their small business, do they start over? Or do they close up shop for good?
As the neighborhood wakes up, many stop and stare at the destruction that occurred overnight. It's a small badger, however, who carefully approaches the store and finds the owners cleaning inside.
"Can I help?" he asks and, as Mr. Gray walks over with a spare broom, Mrs. Gray's eyes fill with tears.
"Maybe we'll re-open after all."
Floundering with Flounder Ball
To someone who's never seen or played Flounder Ball before, it probably looks like a bunch of people aimlessly running around while one person holds a soccer ball. But that's the point - no one knows what's happening during a game of Flounder Ball. At least, most of the time they don't, hence why they 'flounder.'
"It's the best game I've ever played," claims Everett Brown, captain of the Vale Foulers. "And I've played them all."
The Foulers practice every Tuesday night, keeping their skills sharp while also pinpointing their opponents' weaknesses. One of the best parts about Flounder Ball isn't running around the field trying to figure out what's going on - it's gaining intimate knowledge of your opponents and using that knowledge to put them at a disadvantage.
"There's a starting set of rules," explains Liam James, captain of The Vale Victories. "Every game begins with the same three: goals are worth one point, can't hold the ball longer than ten seconds, and try not to physically harm one another. Emotional harm is a gray area."
The starting rules might sound standard and organized, but that's only the beginning of the game.
"What makes Flounder Ball so awesome is that the rules change," Liam says during the intermission of a match. "Once someone scores, the trailing team gets to create a new rule. That's where things get interesting."
"Only non-dominant hands, can't talk, can't shoot from closer than ten feet, can't make eye contact with spectators," Everett lists off on his fingers. "Can only run backward, or sideways, and have to crawl on your hands and knees - it's all on the table. But the rule applies to everyone, so you've gotta be careful."
It's a delicate balance, where one team tries to target an opponent's weakness while not handicapping themselves.
"Last week, the Foulers thought it'd be smart to make everyone run backward." Liam laughs and shakes his head at the memory. "Little did they know, their pal Oz couldn't run backward to save his life. Ended up forfeiting the point just so they could repeal the rule."
And therein lies the fun of Flounder Ball - everyone's floundering. No one knows what they're doing, but everyone's having fun.
"We have a league that plays every Thursday," Everett adds before returning to a game. "Anyone's welcome to join - human, Faunus, kids, grown-ups, whoever. We don't mind. The more people losing their shit out here, the better."
A New Voice
Consider, for a second, the last person you met - the last person who was a stranger up until the moment you introduced yourself, or they introduced themselves, or someone else introduced the two of you. How would you describe them? Funny? Intelligent? Witty? Shy? Talkative? Dry?
Chances are, you would use at least one of those words, but something is missing. Something you probably thought without thinking, or said without realizing. The most fundamental description applicable to each and every one of us:
Human or Faunus?
One of those terms - but not both - apply to us all, and they come before any of the descriptions listed above. At the end of the day, we can become more intelligent, we can become funnier, but we can't become more - or less - human or Faunus. Those words, and those alone, define us for our entire lives.
But should they? Should they be more important than someone's humor, intellect, or wit?
We don't believe so, which is why we at The Vale Voice are embarking upon a new journey. Searching for a new set of descriptors, some might say. Challenging the status quo, others might argue.
To us, this is about shining a light past the word 'Faunus' and illuminating what lies beyond. What else can Faunus be? What else can Faunus do, and how do they do it? Are they funny, smart, witty, or intelligent? Are they dry, boring, or shy?
Many of you might stop here. Many of you might not care. But, if you want to see what's behind that first descriptor - if you want to see what else Faunus can be - we hope to have what you're looking for.
Rather than report the news, as we've always done, we will report on Faunus - whether that be Faunus events, Faunus ways of life, or simply interesting facts about a group that can't escape their description any more than humans can.
We hope that, through depictions you might not have seen or heard before, you can add new words to go along with 'Faunus.'
Human or Faunus...but what else?
Keep reading to find out.
Somewhere to Call Home
In the middle of a quiet neighborhood street lies a spacious home that, from a distance, looks no more special than the houses beside it. The moment you step inside, however, you're greeted by the sound of laughter and children playing. Six children, to be exact. All Faunus - and all foster children.
Welcome to Ms. Woodley's home.
A Faunus herself, Ms. Woodley has opened her heart and home to dozens of Faunus children over the years. The memories of each child line the wall of her office, each story kept in a blue binder on a bookshelf filled with them.
"My husband and I always wanted a big family…" she provides as a reason for her lively household. "After he passed away, I thought to myself - why not?"
While Ms. Woodley's reason for becoming a foster parent might not be unique, her entirely-Faunus group of foster children is.
"We're fortunate to have a great system of foster parents," says Audrey Zimmer, head of Vale's Department of Child Services (DCS). "Over 80% of our foster children stay with a single foster before being adopted or returned to their families.
Diving into those numbers, however, reveals a different reality - foster stability is typically reserved for human, not Faunus, children.
"The system is broken," states Ms. Woodley. "Fosters can decline a child for any reason, at any time, which negatively impacts Faunus more than human children. Other fosters just don't want Faunus."
Through no fault of their own, Faunus children often find themselves moved from house-to-house, which - as DCS is quick to point out - can negatively impact their emotional development and overall happiness.
"We use a blind system to prevent bias," Audrey states when asked. "But we can't penalize parents if it's not a good fit. A bad foster experience could result in a loss of that particular foster parent for good."
So what's the solution? How do we prevent Faunus children from being passed from home-to-home during the most formative years of their lives? How do we provide them with safety and security while they wait for a permanent home?
"We need to make sure our fosters take their job seriously," Ms. Woodley suggests. "And there needs to be more follow-up to ensure all the children are being appropriately taken care of. That follow-up needs to be done by people who genuinely care about what's best for any children - human or otherwise."
Along with these suggestions, the addition of more foster parents willing to care for Faunus would be a tremendous help - both to fill the gaps in the system and ease the strain placed on these young children's lives.
Until something changes, however, Ms. Woodley will continue bringing in as many children as her house can hold - Faunus or otherwise.
Letter from the Editor
If my job has taught me anything, it's that we always have more to learn. From childhood, through adulthood, all the way to our very last day, there's always something new to discover - if we're accepting of it.
That's the hardest obstacle to overcome - acceptance. As we leave school and embark upon our careers, we grow more resistant to change and the daily lessons life throws our way. We think we've already learned enough, that we already have life figured out, or that we don't need the reminders of how little we truly know. But, if you can accept that you'll never stop learning - about life, about yourself, about others - you'll find endless ways to better yourself.
My life has been devoted to improving Human-Faunus relations, yet it was only recently that I learned one of my most valuable lessons yet. This particular lesson was delivered the hard way, through a mistake that could have been avoided had I only been willing to accept change. This lesson is so simple to say yet so difficult to grasp that I felt compelled to share it with anyone willing to open their minds for just the next few minutes of time.
We all have flaws.
Even we, as Faunus, are capable of judging someone based not on their character but on their appearance. Sometimes, we're guilty of treating humans the very way we don't want to be treated. Sometimes, we're hypocritical.
This isn't a condemnation of Faunus, or humans, or anyone who's ever acted in one of these ways. It's a reminder that there's always more to learn. And, more specifically, that we shouldn't lose sight of a common goal - equality for everyone, human and Faunus alike.
For those of you willing to listen - for those of you open to change - I offer nothing more than a reminder. We should accept our human counterparts. We can't fix inequality by lowering their position, by dragging them down to our level, but rather by lifting ourselves up. With our human allies giving us a hand, we are capable of anything - together.
But first, we must be willing to accept change, and open our hearts and minds to the new ideas and lessons brought our way. You never know what you may learn, and you never know how it might change you for the better.