Hello!
First... for everyone (anyone?) who was waiting for the update, sorry it took so long. It was a very difficult chapter to write. The more we get into the plot the more I have to work out the kinks of the story and make sure (or try at least) everything fits together. While I have a general idea of the entire thing, it still takes a lot of thinking to flesh out the details.
This chapter is technically as long as the prologue and chapter one put together so I hope that's enough compensation for the long wait.
Well, lets get to the story.
Chapter 2
At least I had the first name on my list
Leave a light, a light on...
He hums softly as the sun finally disappears on the horizon, orange giving way to the phosphorescent green of the safety lights inside the train. None of the other passengers - spread thin in this wagon - seem to mind the darkness. Seats remain in the gloom or dimly lit by the screens of personal devices.
Amazonia is an okay place to live yet it can get a bit claustrophobic for those like him who grew up in open areas. Watching the rolling landscape filled him with nostalgia but now that the sun has set - verdant crop fields turning grey and dull - the magic is gone. He closes his eyes and carefully settles into the seat, thinking about another way to pass time.
Maybe I should check local news...
Just as he was about to grab his phone the breast pocket where he keeps it lights up and vibrates. He takes it out and puts on a set of earphones before answering.
"Hey Kozlov , how is office life treating you?" He asks in a quiet voice, the image of his co-worker sitting at a desk appearing through the phone's screen. As always, he's surrounded by the detritus of at least a week's worth of snacks and takeout.
"Can't say I don't like having the place for myself. Without you around nobody nags me about taking out the trash." Kozlov says and takes a swig from a coffee can.
"I'm sure the cockroach population is equally pleased..." He mumbles, shaking his head.
"Still on the train, right?" The goat asks as he flicks the can's tab somewhere off-screen.
"Yes, we left Bunnyburrow about an hour ago. Should be as much until we get to Zootopia." He answers, checking the time.
"Mhm… Bunnyburrow eh? So… How did it look? Nice place to live? Maybe… move in with the family?" Kozlov asks evasively.
He shakes his head with a half-smile.
"It's still too early." He answers.
"Don't worry pal, you'll get there." The goat reassures him.
"You are such a softie, Kozlov." Comes Ana's voice, her head still resting on his lap.
Should have known she'd be able to hear us anyway...
She sits up and leans against his side to get on the screen.
"Yeah, true heart of gold mine is… maybe that's why all the girls try to chip it away." Kozlov says with a shrug.
"Whatever could you have done to deserve that?" She says sarcastically while reaching for one of the earphones.
"How are you doing Ana?" Kozlov asks, moving the conversation away from that minefield.
"I'm good, just feeling a bit tired." She says, using his arm as a pillow.
" That so ?" Kozlov teases.
Ana lets out a mix between a snort and a chuckle.
"It's the medication you dirty goat." She says condescendingly.
"And that's enough of that… you got anything for us?" He jumps in, cutting the innuendo short.
"I'll have you know that while you guys were pleasantly riding that love train of yours I've been working my horns off so you can actually get something done once you get there. You have no idea how hard it is to work through the dumpster fire they've got going." Kozlov rants while pointing at the screen.
"How bad is it?" He asks, dreading the answer.
"I had to go through five different people just so I could get someone to ask the police for the copies you wanted. I'll probably have to go through another five just to get someone to go pick them up. They are literally stonewalling us with their incompetence." Kozlov says, he then flattens the coffee can and throws it away.
"What about my end?" Ana asks, her voice still in her half-asleep tone.
"Why do you think I had to go through so many people for a simple set of copies? From what I gathered, Bellwether shuffled out a lot of people appointed by Lionheart when she took over. Then she ended up in jail too so those guys went crying to the Council. Lo' and behold the politicians had already divvied up those positions among their supporters. Departments are now filled with whatever dregs are left over from Lionheart's administration, those from Bellwether's that escaped the chopping block and a bunch of party members with limited to zero experience. Nobody wants to sign on anything out of fear of losing their jobs and the closest thing to bookkeeping they have going is piling paperwork in a corner and letting someone else worry about it." Koslov explains as he pops another can of coffee and lays back on his chair with a tired look.
"How does the city even function?" She asks, bewildered.
" Poorly , I imagine." The goat shrugs and sips his drink.
He frowns.
"Sounds like I have a lot of legwork to do..." Ana says mid yawn.
"It has been six months . The Council has obviously been making some administrative decisions, otherwise the city would have collapsed by now. I'm not buying this incompetent act. We just need to stay clear of the politicking and do our jobs." He says, feeling his frown deepen.
Ana pokes his cheek, making him turn towards the window.
"You are gonna scare someone half to death." She chides playfully.
White green eyes glare back at him, a reflection of the safety lights and the phone's screen. The frown has expanded to his snout, it might have turned into a snarl by now if he wasn't so used to hiding his teeth all the time. The usual bristled fur completes the picture.
Actually… there could be one more thing.
"If only I had a moon to howl at ." He says, half joking half resigned.
She giggles and covers the phone's camera with a paw.
"Oh sure, I'll just wait in line. Don't let my voice in your ears stop you ." Complains the goat.
They show up again a moment later, Ana happily sitting on his lap and he looking remarkably less threatening .
" So… I was thinking I better go pick up those copies myself." He says, pretending not to notice the look Kozlov is giving him.
"We both know that's not what you were thinking…" The goat retorts.
Ana chuckles.
"Did you book the hotel?" She asks nonchalantly.
"Now she is being honest... I got you a room at The Olympic , cozy place just at the edge of our budget. It's on Peak Street, great view if the online brochure is to be believed. And - since we are in the topic of me making your lives easier - I also got you a dedicated driver. Old pal of mine owns a cab in Zootopia. He should be waiting at the station." Kozlov boasts.
"What about the dossiers? Did you manage to make them?" He says after giving him an understanding nod.
"Check your inbox, but don't expect much from them. As I said before, those guys at City Hall aren't particularly useful. I scrounged what I could from federal databases and the internet." The goat answers as he fiddles with the keyboard and mouse in front of him.
"That's more than enough, thanks for the help Kozlov." He says gratefully.
"Thank you Kozlov." Echoes Ana.
The goat takes a big swig from his drink.
"If you want to hang up just say so..." He answers uncomfortably from behind the coffee can.
" Softie… " Ana teases him.
" Yeah, yeah . I'm going home. Remember who arranged your little love nest when you pick a godfather." Kozlov says as he reaches for the keyboard and the call ends.
Hopefully it'll get to that…
He smiles and taps the email icon on the screen.
"Would you like me to forward these?" He asks when Ana tips his cellphone down so she can read too.
"Nop." She says, making herself comfortable on his lap.
Get a clue Collin...
"Well… where do you want to begin?" He says while browsing through the different dossiers.
She gingerly moves her finger through the screen before tapping a file.
Judith Laverne Hopps, rabbit (sylvilagus floridanus), age 24…
"On TV they said she was a recent academy graduate, isn't she a bit old for that?" She asks.
He hums in agreement.
"I don't know the requirements to join the ZPD but there does seem to be a bit of a gap there. Apparently her application was under consideration for an abnormally long time. Maybe there's a college credit requirement?" He wanders.
"But here it says she took a paralegal course at the Bunnyburrow Community College. That should be more than enough." She argues.
An article he read some time ago pops into his mind.
"If I don't remember wrong, it was Lionheart's Inclusion Initiative that made it easier for smaller mammals to get into high risk jobs like law enforcement. " He recalls.
Ana shakes her head.
"So it was because she is a bunny… It's hard to believe a city that is supposed to be all about inclusion allowed that kind of segregation. There might not be biomes for every species back in Amazonia but at least when a mouse's house gets broken in we don't have to tear open the roof so a lion or a rhino can look at the crime scene." She says ironically.
"It does make the city's motto sound like lip service... The rest is pretty much what we've seen on the news. Who do you want to look at next?" He asks, scrolling to the end of the dossier.
"Might as well…" She says, tapping the next file.
Nicholas Piberius Wilde, fox (vulpes vulpes), age 32… Hmm, his mother filed a speciesism-related bullying complaint with the local police when he was eight but it didn't go through.
"This city is not getting on my good side…" She says angrily.
" Ana… don't blame the city. That kind of thing happens everywhere." He says in a calming tone.
She remains quiet for a moment.
"Okay…" She answers, grabbing his free hand with hers and hugging it to her chest.
Such a worrywart...
He entwines their fingers together and keeps browsing the dossier.
Attended West Peak High School , made local newspapers as member of the track team . A few visits to juvenile detention centers for minor misdemeanors. No employment history until he joined the ZPD… though he got a citation for selling wares without a permit once.
"Definitely not a model officer like Ms. Hopps but nothing truly worrying either." He says, closing the dossier.
"But he wasn't a cop when the incident happened. Don't you find it odd that he was involved in the first place?" She asks.
"I do. That's why I asked for a copy of the case file. There are more than a few holes in the story the news reported. I want to be well informed before interviewing Lionheart." He explains.
She looks up at him, her hand still in his. Her concerned eyes don't escape him yet his mind takes a different direction.
I wonder...
"I really don't like that Central is using you to clear the lion's name just so their pet project goes back to normal…" She says in a worried tone that brings him back to the topic at hand.
"Central does want the situation resolved but I doubt they care who sits in the mayor's office. If my report clears Lionheart then that's that, if it doesn't then they can pressure the Council to go ahead with the elections. I'll just present my findings. Let them do whatever they want with them. No politicking, remember?" He explains calmly.
"You say that but... it's not so simple." She insists.
"Honestly, I'm more worried about your job. You heard what Kozlov said. You'll be stepping on a lot of toes going through their paperwork. Negligence is the least of things I expect you to find. The way the city is now... it's like a breeding ground for embezzlement or worse." He warns her.
Ana sighs and faces forward again.
"If we are taking turns worrying about each other then I call first." She half concedes.
"You can't call dibs on being worried..." He protests halfheartedly.
"Sure I can. Now, let's see what Kozlov found on the naughty lion." She says shamelessly while searching for the former mayor's dossier.
Leodore Lionheart, lion (panthera leo), age 49, also educated in Zootopia, member of the wrestling team both in highschool and college, began his political career under the wing of mayor Swinton , broke off to make his own party, eventually beating his mentor at the ballot boxes. Has so far been re elected once, was in the process of getting the term-limit extended when he was imprisoned due to his involvement in the nighthowler incident…
"Betraying former allies, trying to stay in office as long as possible, covering up his blunders... About what you'd expect from a politician anywhere." Ana says with a shrug.
"It technically wasn't his blunder..." He says absentmindedly.
Though he did manage a hell of a cover up...
"What is it?" Ana asks, once more looking up at him from his lap, his fingers wrapped around her small hand.
I wonder if it'll be like this...
"Collin?" She cocks her head as his answer fails to come, which only enhances the effect.
They stare at each other for a brief moment. He finally snaps out of it when her expression turns mischievous, breaking the spell and making him look away in embarrassment. She turns around on his lap and lifts herself towards him, her free hand on his cheek. As he is trying to find the words to explain himself an alarm comes from her phone.
"We put them in your backpack, right?" He says, gently grabbing her by the waist and moving her back onto the seat.
"Mhm…" She hums playfully, fiddling with her pocket to stop the alarm but not taking her eyes off him.
He steps outside the booth and reaches into the overhead rack. A moment later he's back with Ana's pack and a large water bottle they bought at the Bunnyburrow Station during their short stop there.
"Here you go." He says, sitting back on his place and handing the pack over to her.
"You know… this could have waited." She teases while digging out the containers.
"Actually…" He whispers.
"Yes?" She asks, taking out their pills and offering him the larger ones.
Just tell her you dork…
"Looking at you on my lap… it made me wonder if that's how having a child would be." He says with an embarrassed smile.
She looks up at him with a mixture of shame and surprise.
"N-now I feel dumb…" She says, her eyes becoming a bit watery.
"Hey…" He soothes her, caressing her cheek.
"I did think it was a bit late in the game for you to be playing coy… b-but you've always been such a prude." She says in an attempt to jab at him.
"I am." He admits.
" Geez , at least fight me a bit…" She complains, nuzzling his hand.
"That's always a losing battle." He retorts, which yields him a nip.
Herbivore or not, that still hurts you know...
" Whatever do you mean ?" Ana questions incisively.
"Maybe that you are a bit feisty?" He answers with a smile.
"You mean argumentative ." She states proudly.
"Yes..." He gives in.
" Pushover… " She whispers, tenderly pecking the place where she nipped him.
He gives her one more caress before pulling his hand away, earning him a pouting look. It takes considerable willpower to stop himself from petting her a bit longer so he busies one of his hands fetching the bottle and the other picking up the scattered pills. She begrudgingly takes the smaller ones from him and pops them in her mouth, washing them down with a few gulps of water.
"Good girl." He teases, taking the bottle back from her.
"Collin…" She whispers as he's about to pop his own pills.
"Yes?" He asks, noticing her tone has grown worried again.
"If it doesn't work… remember what Dr. Watson told us..." Ana says with downcast eyes.
He takes her hand again.
"We can still adopt. You only worry about the side-effects. I'm not married to the idea of having a baby, I'm married to you ." He reassures her.
She brings his hand to her chest once more, remaining quiet for a while.
"You saying that with a straight face is a bit worrying already." Ana finally says, looking up at him with a grin.
Heat rises quickly to his face when he realizes how right she is.
"Y-yes, I suppose both of us being shameless would be pretty bad." He retorts, trying to hide his embarrassment.
Her expression turns mischievous again.
"You better not chew your pills down... they have an awful aftertaste ." She warns in a suggestive tone.
The phone's screen finally goes into sleep mode, as if telling him they'd be forgoing any further work for the rest of the ride.
The landscape changes without them paying much heed. From fields to hills to mountains capped with pines that might have given him memories of home had his mind not been otherwise engaged. It's not until noticing the city's lights reflected on the bay that they decide to take in the views. Ana rejects his offer to go up to the observation deck, unwilling to move from his lap.
"Giant building in the middle of an artificial island… What could go wrong? She says in an amused tone as they pass in front of the Oasis Hotel, its palm-like shape dominating the rest of Sahara Square's skyline.
"More than they probably considered." He comments, recalling the fate of a similar project .
"Kind of put me in the mood for dates." She adds playfully.
"No abusing room service." He warns, poking her cheek.
She chomps his finger.
Should have seen that coming…
While the train is fully climatized, he is still relieved when they cross the tunnel into Tundra Town. The snowy landscape reminds him of his family's holiday cabin. It's a sour sweet memory as his parents had to sell it to pay for his tuition. He had been secretly saving to buy it back but with their wedding and the treatment that plan has been delayed indefinitely.
"It's like they built the world's largest fridge just to leave the door open..." Ana comments, snuggling even closer to him.
"No wonder Zootopia is on it's own grid… the amount of power it takes to run this place must be insane." He says in amazement.
"Not that they care since Central is footing the bill anyway." She answers, hugging one of his arms to her chest.
"Would you like me to get your coat?" He offers.
"Who says I'm cold?" She asks with a smile.
They move into the rainforest district and find themselves shrouded in thick mist. Multicolored lights shine dimly here and there, marking the spot of shops and houses built into the huge trees. As the train swooshes by a hanging bridge, a startled group of pedestrians comes into view. They are making their way across while using phones as torches, their free hands gripping tightly on the ropes.
"That can't be safe..." Ana says with concern.
He hums in agreement, staring at the poor souls until they become engulfed in white once more. It's not long before they notice a road running parallel to the tracks. A line of vehicles with their hazard lights on snakes along its length.
"With visibility this bad they should have closed the roads already. Something must be wrong... this can't be normal." He states when they pass a flipped vehicle, a handful of emergency personnel diverting traffic around it.
"I guess Kozlov was pretty spot on…" Ana says, her tone attempting to be joking but still betraying a tinge of concern.
"Don't go and tell him that though." He quips, managing to get a chuckle out of her.
Sorry pal…
The fog only clears out halfway through the Canal District, finally allowing them to see the famous gondolas and ferries as well as the water-side shops, many of which remain open even at this hour of the day. Piers outfitted like cafés or restaurants serve those by the water while others lounge on bars built atop the decks of zeppelins floating lazily throughout the district.
"Looks like a nice place for a date…" Ana hints.
"I'll consider it next time someone asks me out." He answers nonchalantly.
She elbows him on the ribs.
"Me proposing first wasn't enough for you?" She points out reproachfully.
I'm never going to live that down…
Even if it's far from the first time she has milked that particular aspect of their history together, he still folds and tries to appease her. It eventually takes both a promise to take her to the canals once they have some free time and the removal of his ban on room service 'abuse' until her pouting face is replaced with a contented - nearly proud - expression.
At least pretend you were actually angry...
Neither Vole Garden nor Savannah Central are much different from what they have back in Amazonia, though the intricate highway network able to fit all sizes of cars is somewhat impressive even if they can't truly appreciate it at night. The wagon's lights turn on and the train decelerates as they near the station, signalling the end of their trip.
"I'll get the rest of our things." He says as they come to a stop, once more lifting her off his lap to place her on the other seat.
"I'm so hungry... hopefully the hotel isn't too far." She says wishfully.
"Kozlov said it's on Peak Street, didn't he? That shouldn't be too far from the station... I heard the halibut here is pretty good." He comments while pulling down their luggage.
"I'm placing a ban on fish inside the bedroom." She ordains, stepping out of the booth having shouldered her backpack.
"I don't suppose I can appeal that?" He says after a chuckle.
"Nop." She sentences.
They make their way out of the train and into the rather empty station. The few passengers that travelled with them disperse while they spend a few moments admiring the picturesque architecture, Ana being particularly delighted by the central boulevard and the aromatic flowers planted there. By the time she is done smelling the different types they are pretty much the only ones left at the platform.
"Guess I could go easy on Parks and Recreation." She says happily as they walk towards the mechanical stairs.
They ascend to the main area of the station and find it similarly deserted. Most passengers have moved on already, leaving behind only a few employees cleaning floors and a couple of conductors chatting over some drinks by a juice bar in a corner. Since their driver doesn't seem to be anywhere in sight they head outside.
"I had seen pictures but…" Ana says, clearly astonished as she takes in the eclectic architecture surrounding the central plaza.
"It makes the New Albion Opera House look conservative…" He adds, sharing her awe.
"City Hall even has a waterfall built into the facade!" She observes excitedly.
"They still have trams…" He reminisces fondly about riding on those when he was young.
It's a shame they got retired...
"Look, there's a crowd by the police station." She points out.
"Mhm… reporters . Lets steer clear, they don't seem to be here for us but better play it safe." He says, having spotted the camera crews.
"Do you think they even know we are here?" She asks.
"Central obviously told City Hall, yet with the council being in such a fragmented mess it's very likely they are still arguing about what to tell the public. Still, someone is bound to have leaked it to the press. If we weren't jumped right out of the train it means they have bigger news on their hands." He explains.
"You'd think a federal audit would deserve at least a couple minutes of prime time…" She complains with a puff.
"Not when there are reruns of Playmates in the same time-slot. They'd probably be more interested in the fact that we are a mixed couple… people love their soap operas." He jokes.
" Everyone's life is a soap opera... our's just has better characters." She claims, looking up at him with a cocky smile.
"You truly are shameless…" He says with a chuckle.
" Brazenly confident ." She proudly corrects him.
" That's about the same… come, let's find the taxi stand before one of those reporters gets wise." He suggests.
"I guess our debut can wait... Which way do we go?" She asks, looking around.
"Towards the street on our left. There's a parking area for police patrol cars on our right, even if this place lacks much symmetry to begin with it makes sense they'd put a similar one next to the station as well." He says, looking in that direction.
"I would be lost without my Basil ." She says playfully, grabbing onto one of his cuffs since his hands are full with their luggage.
His deduction is proven right when they make a turn on the corner and are met with a large parking lot clearly intended to accommodate those commuting or working at the station. They walk past what he presumes is the other side of the massive wooden door they saw by the juice bar and find a sign marking the spot as the taxi stand. One lonely car is parked at the end of the designated area with a trolley seemingly abandoned by its side. There's a sizable cardboard on top of the latter that has 'The Lovebirds' haphazardly written on it.
" Kozlov… " He groans.
Ana giggles, more amused at his reaction than the sign itself.
The driver's door opens and a meerkat hops out of the car. He looks just as you'd expect a chauffeur to, tight black suit with matching shirt and tie along with white gloves and a cap. The only thing out of place is a collar covering most of his neck that has a metal grille under the chin.
"Mister Collin and Mevrou Ana?" The driver asks in a synthetic voice, his left paw pressed to the collar on his neck.
Oh…
"Yes, I'm Collin Scott. This is my wife, Ana Zimmer. Thank you for waiting." He says with a bow of his head.
"Hello!" Ana chimes in.
"Good evening. I am Jengo . Apologies for not meeting you inside, kaptein Kozlov said it might alert the press." He explains, his accent thick even through the electronic voice box.
"Pleased to meet you Mister Jengo. Would you open the trunk please?" He requests.
"Just Jengo is goed. Allow me to handle your luggage. Please, make yourselves comfortable." The meerkat offers, pointing towards the car with an open paw.
"I-If you insist…" He answers, unsure if the small mammal can deal with his suitcase.
He opens the door for Ana and they both board the car, finding it a bit too luxurious to be called a taxi. Looking into the driver's seat he notices it has been adapted for Jengo. It has pedal extenders and both a custom seat and wheel. There's also a flowery smell inside yet nothing like those car fresheners cabs usually have. It's intrusive yet not unpleasant.
"Mmm… how nostalgic." Ana says after taking a deep breath.
They hear the trunk opening and see Jengo deftly moving their baggage inside, handling even his suitcase with surprising ease. Once he's done he folds the trolley and tucks it in as well, joining them in the car a few seconds later.
"Die Olympic is close. We should be there in a few minutes." He says and starts the engine.
"Is that jasmine I smell, Jengo?" Ana asks.
"It is iquwa . I hope it does not bother you." He answers as they move out of the parking lot.
"Not at all. It reminds me of granny's llankon tea… She always brews it during wintertime." She says with eyes closed, clearly enjoying the aroma.
"Is your grandmother inyanga ? Ah… medicine woman?" Jengo asks, his interest seemingly piqued.
Ana giggles softly.
"You could say that… She's a machi . I suppose it's a mix between a medicine woman and spiritual guide. To be honest she just knows a lot of home-remedies… it is never certain if they'll make you feel better or have you running for the bathroom." She jokes, even though her tone makes it clear she's really fond of her grandmother.
"Sometimes the body rejects medicine when the spirit is not ready to heal." Jengo answers solemnly.
"That's exactly what granny Millaray would say…" Ana agrees with a smile.
Jengo indulges Ana's small talk like a professional chauffeur. She gets him to talk about his homeland and his life in Zootopia, though the meerkat surreptitiously skips over the reason for migrating to such a far place. In regards to his connection to Kozlov - who he keeps referring to as 'kaptein' - it seems they served together at some point, though the driver keeps details as light as the goat does when asked about his past. Ana catches on quickly, diverting their conversation back to more comfortable topics. Her curiosity is still far from sated when they pull up on The Olympic.
"Please, go ahead and check in. I will park and bring along your luggage." Jengo offers as a sharply dressed elk valet opens the car's door for them.
They disembark and find themselves in front of an imposing building that towers over every other in the block. The design is old fashioned - probably built way before they were born - yet it has endured the test of time astoundingly well with both the paint and heavily adorned columns looking completely immaculate. Even the steps leading up to the entrance - built with slabs of black granite with golden veins - don't have a single scratch on their surface.
"There's no way this is in our budget…" He whispers, taken aback.
"Maybe it's one of those places that just looks nice on the outside?" She answers hesitantly.
Another elk employee opens the huge tinted glass door for them. They find themselves in a vast lobby with tall ceilings flanked by columns engraved in classical patterns. Elephant sized chandeliers are reflected on a beige marble floor that has been polished to such an extent it might as well be a giant mirror. Extravagant sofas, divans and furniture he doesn't even know the name for have been prepared for guests to lounge at, often surrounded by either expensive looking pieces of art or beautifully manicured plants sitting inside delicately crafted pots.
"P-Perhaps it's surprisingly cheap?" She ventures.
"What was Kozlov thinking…" He groans while rubbing his eyes.
"Well… the boss did pull us from our vacations." She starts in a justifying tone.
"Ana…" He protests.
"And we did cut our honeymoon short to help with the Washakie case…" She continues.
" Ana… we'd be hypocrites if we stayed here." He explains, knowing she's bound to feel the same way.
" Agreed. It'd be an unethical use of public funding. So ... maybe we should pay for the room ourselves?" She suggests, looking up at him and tugging on his cuff like a child asking for a treat.
He takes a moment. Not to consider if he should agree or not - that option fled the table the moment she brought up their honeymoon - but simply to admire how deftly she trapped him.
That cabin just keeps getting further and further away...
"Why you even bothered with the puppy eyes I don't know." He says in defeat.
Ana smiles gleefully and pulls him down into a hug.
"I wanted to save begging for later..." She whispers into his ear.
"Is everything in order?" Comes Jengo's voice as he joins them with their luggage in tow.
"Y-Yes… we are just a bit travel-worn." He explains while straightening up.
" Mhm… nothing laying down for awhile won't fix." She says innocently.
He hurries them to the front desk before she can conjure up any more innuendo. The receptionist - another elk in even fancier clothing - quickly finds their reservation and hands them their room's card. He has half a mind to ask what the cost is but decides against it, adhering to the old saying of 'ignorance is bliss' . They ride the elevator for a considerable long time until they finally stop on one of the upper floors. A short walk through the hallway puts them in front of their door. Ana bounces giddily on her heels as he opens it.
"Sweet summer's bounty…" She mumbles, her excitement curtailed by utter amazement.
He expected a luxurious room. It is luxurious alright - on par with what they have seen in the hotel so far - but it's far from being just a room and more like a loft. The first thing to catch his eye is the wall-sized picture window looking out into the city and the balcony on the other side. A large living area populated with stylish sofas and low tables has been set up right in front of it, allowing guests to enjoy the view comfortably from inside as well. Next is the bed, big enough to fit mammals much larger than they and with an exquisite canopy frame that seems to be a mix between classical and contemporary styles. To its right are a pair of sliding glass doors leading to a walk-in closet that could fit their entire wardrobes twice over and to the left another door that probably leads to an equally extravagant bathroom. There's even a small - comparatively - bookcase and a sleek looking desk prepared for guests who need to get some work done. The incredibly mushy carpet and oversized tv are just the cherries on the cake.
"I wouldn't be surprised if we found after eights under the pillows…" He jokes, hoping to push away the image of their savings hemorrhaging away.
"I believe the hotel buys amedei , Mister Collin." Jengo says matter-of-factly as he unloads their luggage from the trolley.
I don't even know that brand...
"Collin… you… you can have fish if you want." Ana mumbles as she comes out of her shock.
"I'll make sure to wash my teeth afterwards." He reassures her.
She gives him a conspiring smile.
"Why don't you order us some dinner? I'm going to take a bath and change into something more comfortable... Thank you Jengo." She says, grabbing her suitcase and giving the meerkat a curtsy.
"My pleasure, Mevrou Ana." He answers with a respectful nod.
"Just Ana please. Good night!" She says with a wave and goes towards the bathroom.
"At what time would you like me to pick you up tomorrow, Mister Collin?" Jengo asks, having moved the trolley out of the room again.
"I doubt City Hall opens much earlier than nine so half past eight should be fine." He answers after some consideration.
" Verstaan . Here, my number is there should you change your mind." The meerkat takes a small card from within his jacket and hands it to him.
"Thank you Jengo, you've been most helpful." He takes the card and shakes his gloved hand.
"You are welcome. I am familiar with the hotel's menu... the salmon caviar rolls would be an excellent choice." He suggests.
"I was thinking about grilled halibut but that's actually a great idea. Sushi is much less fragrant than cooked fish and I could order vegetarian pieces for Ana." He agrees pleasedly.
Jengo looks up at him for a second and tips his cap.
" Just so . I hope the lady finds my recommendation to her liking. Have a pleasant evening, sir." He says with a bow.
He bids Jengo good night and heads for the phone by the bed, sitting down and undoing the first buttons on his collar with a relaxed sigh. Before making the order he takes a moment to remember which pieces Ana liked the most last time they had sushi. As an extra precaution he requests their meals be brought in separate plates.
Might as well, if I eat that lemongrass and mango one again I might choke.
Once that's done he decides to unpack some essentials from his suitcase. His laptop appears to have survived the trip intact - much to his relief as he's unlikely to buy a new one anytime soon - and his suits still look presentable. He takes the computer and his cellphone to the desk and plugs them in to recharge.
Ana must have taken hers to the bathroom…
There's a fair chance he might not be allowed out if he goes in there so he instead fetches the remote and sits on the bed, turning on the TV and searching for local news.
"... is completely false. Our officers only did their duty. That they managed to bring the situation in Little Rodentia under control should be commended , not looked at as an act of favoritism. I consider it downright insulting that you would. The ZPD always acts with the best interests of Zootopia's citizens in mind." A burly buffalo dressed in an officer's uniform answers angrily into a microphone, he's being interviewed in front of the station.
The image switches to a studio with a handful of panelists.
"So claimed ZPD's Chief Bogo a few minutes ago. I personally find him both compelling and justified in his anger yet let's hear from today's guests." Comments a moose who appears to be hosting the show.
"I find Chief Bogo's statement questionable to say the least. Let me remind the audience how easily he yielded to Bellwether's demands during her takeover. Even allowing several members of the force to be removed from their posts due to her anti-predator policies. Furthermore, there are also those leaflets that were found after her imprisonment that suggest they intended to make Officer Hopps the 'face' of the ZPD." A white lioness panelist says.
A banner under her reads 'Kanya Sarmonti - Zootopia's Finance Director' .
"And well deserved that would have been! Honestly Miss Sarmonti, that you would put Officer Hopps' integrity to the question is vexing to say the least . Had we a live audience you would certainly be booed for merely suggesting it." A zebra retorts crossly.
The banner for him reads 'Gray Burchell - Zootopia's Planning Director' .
"Miss Hopps has certainly become the city's sweetheart. This picture of her taken today while helping direct traffic in Little Rodentia is already trending on most social media." The moose adds as he turns towards a screen behind them.
It kind of looks like she's… must be my imagination.
"I'll ask that you don't put words in my mouth Gray, I never questioned Officer Hopps' integrity. However , her reputation makes her a target. There are those in the city that will try to use her to advance their own agendas." Kanya insists.
"Was it not Lionheart himself who put her in the limelight as some sort of publicity stunt ? He just wanted a token bunny to cater to the prey demographic! Would not have been the first time either! After all, that's what motivated your party to choose Bellwether as his running partner in the first place! What a catastrophically hilarious backfire that was." Gray says with a scoff.
"Mister Burchell... I wouldn't call the Night Howler incident 'hilarious' by any definition." The moose chides him.
"Y-Yes, of course. My apologies, a slip of the tongue." The zebra quickly apologizes.
"Officer Hopps' introduction to the ZPD was thanks to the Mammal Inclusion Initiative and her own efforts. It seems to me you are the one questioning her integrity now, Gray." Kanya pushes, taking advantage of the zebra's blunder.
"Who's putting words on who's mouth now, Kanya? For the record , our party supports the Mammal Inclusion Initiative and celebrates its success. Too long have mammals - especially those in the prey demographic - been neglected by a system that reeks of speciesism. A flaw that no administration has dealt with in the past but that we hope to finally root out for good." Gray answers in an accusing tone.
"Save your campaigning for the billboards." The lioness quips dismissively.
"That you have the gall to say that when your cronies are withholding all funding for the elections is astounding !" Gray cries angrily.
"Those cronies , as you call them, are hard working city servants. Until there's no official call for elections, no funding will be provided. Not for yours or any party." Kanya responds firmly.
"I think we are getting a bit derailed here. What we need is a third voice in this debate and I have the right mammal for the job. From his party's headquarters in Vole Garden, it's the man of the hour himself. Good evening Mister Sunday, thank you for joining us." The moose says dramatically as he turns towards the screen again, Officer Hopps' picture replaced by an image of a vole in a grey suit.
"Thank you for having me." He says politely.
His banner reads 'John Sunday - Zootopia's Economic Development Director, Rodent Rights Party Leader '.
"Mister Sunday, I'm told you have been following the show. What is your take so far?" The moose asks.
"I feel ashamed to be honest. Your audience has bared witness to the fruitless bickering going on daily inside the Council. Much to my regret, this is but a glimpse into the endless squabble that our debates have turned into. Zootopia deserves better and will demand better should we continue to behave like this." Sunday says worriedly.
"Ever the demagogue, Mister Sunday forgets himself in platitudes. As much as he forgets the danger in which his reckless campaigning put Little Rodentia today." Kanya points out.
"I don't believe owning to our mistakes is a platitude, Miss Sarmonti. But I did forget myself today. It was only thanks to the invaluable efforts of the ZPD and the great community of Little Rodentia that I was saved from the failing bureaucracy we have turned City Hall into. That we could not successfully coordinate a simple political rally even when notice was given a month in advance is nigh to unforgivable. We should consider ourselves truly lucky that a tragedy was avoided, which is why I am looking into the situation at the Rainforest District with utmost concern." He explains in a regretful tone.
"Fabienne Growley has a report on the matter and an interview with the city's public works director coming after the debate folks, so stick around." Chips in the moose.
"I would like to ask Mister Sunday not to blow the problem with the tree-pipe systems out of proportion. It is fear mongering at its worst." The zebra pleads.
"I will have to agree with Gray here. Get past all his sweet talking and owning to his mistakes and Mister Sunday is just another politician in campaign, hoping to endear the electorate. Our audience should keep in mind the contents of the speech he gave today. The RRP's agenda is what's truly fear worthy." The lioness adds.
"There were some strong words in your discourse Mister Sunday. Many of our non-rodent viewers have expressed their concern at their… inflammatory nature. There's no doubt your voter base has been addressed but what of the rest of Zootopia's residents? What can they expect from Mayor Sunday?" The moose questions.
"Peter, we inhabit the most beautiful and diverse city in the world. Zootopia is a shining example of cohabitation and inclusion, one at which all other cities look at as the future of our society. My campaign is not centered around taking away rights or putting one species over the other. Rodents want to stand proud along the other mammals of our great city. Not above, but certainly not below either. What is truly worrisome is that some people still fear being equals ... In regards to what non-rodents can expect of my leadership, I can tell you one thing for certain. Should they choose me, I will not become the Mayor of Little Rodentia. I will be Zootopia's Mayor. And as such I will do my best to keep this shining beacon of coexistence and progress safe and sound for the future generations." The vole says passionately.
"Like most demagogues, Mister Sunday speaks a lot but says little. The promises he made to the rodent population today will require resources to accomplish. Resources that will have to be pulled from other areas. Favoritism is favoritism , no matter how you embellish it. And since we are in the subject, perhaps he'd like to comment on Officers Hopps' opportune intervention during his rally today." Kanya questions incisively.
"To both of your statements I will say the same. Nonsense . First, as the city's Economic Development Director, I am aptly prepared to meet the challenges arising from my campaign promises. Second, and I will repeat this as many times as necessary, Officer Hopps, Wilde, Grizzoli, Delgato and every other member of the ZPD that helped Little Rodentia today acted with utmost dedication, going above and beyond their duty in the safekeeping of its citizens. I simply do not comprehend where this accusation of favoritism comes from. Was not Chief Bogo appointed my Lionheart himself? Even if your allegations of collusion with Bellwether had any ring of truth to it, why would he favor my party? Again, nonsense ." Sunday finishes.
"Since you mentioned collusion... You were seen exchanging pleasantries with the notorious Tundra Town crime-boss, 'Mister Big' . Care to comment?" Gray asks with no lack of malicious intent.
" Absolutely . Mister Big approached me twice today. Once before the event to complain about being stuck in traffic and later to congratulate me on the speech. Do not mislead the audience with your conspiracies, Burchell. It only adds to the poor image the citizenship has of all of us in the political class. An image, I should sadly add, that is well earned." He explains calmly.
"Your never-ending genuflexion is tiring, Sunday. It is politicians that engage in subterfuge like you who give us a bad reputation." The lioness complains.
The zebra jumps in before Sunday can answer.
"Your hypocrisy is revolting . How can you say that when you still support Lionheart? Do you actually believe he had the city's best interests in mind when he tried to cover up the night howler case?" Gray accuses her fervently.
"I was half hoping you were watching a cartoon…" Ana jokes as she sits beside him, a towel around her shoulders. She has changed into a pair of knee-high shorts and her old Amazonia Kickers t-shirt.
"I don't believe it. I know it for a fact . Did the situation not get worse after the events at Cliffside? Up to that point the population had been kept safe . Once Mayor Lioheart was imprisoned we had twenty seven maulings in a week . And that's not counting those who suffered violence due to the anti-predator sentiment that spread throughout the city. This is the reason Officer Hopps quit the ZPD, because she realized she had done more harm than good. I fear what Zootopia might have become had she not so valiantly sought to correct her mistake." Kanya states staunchelly.
"New shampoo?" He asks, sinking his muzzle into the fur between her ears.
"Hotel sample. What's for dinner?" She says, scooching closer to him.
"Sorry Miss Sarmonti but I'm still unsure as to what your actual opinion of Officer Hopps is. One the one hand you claim she has shown favoritism towards Mister Sunday's party but on the other you uphold her as an icon of integrity. You understand how the audience might find this contradictory." The moose interjects.
"As contradictory as the idea that holding people against their will is keeping them safe." Gray adds ironically.
"We hold people who are dangerous to themselves or others against their will as a norm, Gray. And I never said I doubted Officer Hopps. What I did say was that there are those in the city that will try to use her well earned reputation to their advantage. Like Sunday here or Bellwether and Bogo before him." Kanya explains.
"Sushi." He answers, his voice muffled by her hair.
"Done whetting your appetite? I'd like to dry off." She teases.
"I suppose it is my turn to agree with Mister Burchell. You are a hypocrite, Miss Sarmonti. Our audience may be used to politicians flinging accusations at each other like rubber knives but claiming that our Chief of Police is in collusion with one of the city's most nefarious criminals cannot be anything else than fear mongering." The vole condemns while shaking his head.
"That's truly precious coming from the mammal who said a fancy fence is akin to a concentration camp. And I never accused Chief Bogo of collusion. Those are your words, not mine. Perhaps if you spent less time apologizing and feeling sad for everything you'd be able to contribute something other than lip service to this debate." The lioness retorts sharply.
"The train ride made me hungry enough already." He teases back, grabbing the towel and gently wiping her head.
" Mmm… I'll hold you to that." She whispers, enjoying his pampering.
"Let us keep things civil, please . Miss Sarmontia, I am once more lost. What is the nature of your grievance with Chief Bogo?" The host asks, trying to keep the situation from escalating.
"While the degree of cooperation Bogo showed towards Bellwether does worry me, I know better than accusing him of any crimes without proof. However, there's more than enough evidence pointing towards my actual qualm with him. That is... his incompetence . And before anyone becomes scandalized or blows my words out of proportion, let me explain. It took Officer Hopps less than forty eight hours to solve a case Chief Bogo had been working on for weeks . With all the resources of the ZPD at his disposal, I might add. That alone is enough to question his capabilities, but let us go even further. After Cliffside, there were twenty seven attacks, most in broad daylight. Witnesses aplenty. Again, even with the full might of the ZPD backing him, Bogo was incapable of finding even one solid lead. Then Miss Hopps returns - a civilian at the time - and rids us of Bellwether's machinations in a single day . Tell me Peter, and I encourage your audience to consider it as well… Is Chief Bogo up to the task?" Kanya asks in a cornering tone.
"I ah… well, I can't claim to know the inner workings of the ZPD. But surely he did not spend all that time playing on his phone, right?" The moose jokes, trying to deflect the question towards his other guests.
"Of course not! That line of thinking is easy to have as an outsider but I am sure Chief Bogo did all he could at the time." Gray says.
"Miss Sarmonti oversimplifies the intricacies of the night howler case to her advantage, failing to mention that both Lionheart and Bellwether meddled in the investigation. I do not know why she so zealously seeks to discredit our Chief of Police. It is detrimental both to the peace of mind of our citizens and our standing as one of this world's greatest cities." Sunday counters.
"Room service." Comes a voice after a soft knock on their door.
"I'll get it." He says, getting up.
"Just for the record, this does not count as you cooking." She jokes, spreading the towel on top of the bed as a makeshift tablecloth.
"Zootopia's standing might be brought to the question sooner than we thought. Our sources claim a team of auditors from Amazonia arrived today to 'reign in' City Hall. Before we give the floor to Fabienne I'd like to ask our guests what their take is on this... 'intervention'? Mister Sunday, you joined us last so you get to go first." The moose says, looking at the screen.
"Hearing them bicker like that I'd say intervention is the right word." He says ironically, setting the plates on the bed.
Ana chuckles and pops a piece in her mouth.
"It is worrying. I hope it's us in the political class who bear the brunt of Central's ire and not the city. It's our fault that the situation has devolved to such a point where an audit was deemed necessary." Sunday says in a regretful tone.
"Mister Burchell?" The moose queues.
"Let us not over dramatize this, Peter. While it is true that Zootopia is reliant on Central's support for many things, an audit is not the end of the world. I encourage our citizens to remain focussed on their daily lives and not let it bother them." Gray says dismissively.
"Miss Sarmonti?" The host asks, turning towards the lioness.
"It's a great opportunity to sort out the mess some politicians have thrown City Hall into. I look forward to working with them. The citizenry should be glad to know we'll soon regain both our tranquility and rightful mayor." Kanya states proudly.
"Thank you all for your time. Well folks, we were not able to agree on much but there does seem to be one thing we are all in accordance with... Officer Hopps' position as the city's sweetheart is well earned . Please stick around for Fabienne and an update on the situation at the Rainforest District after the commercials. Good night!" The moose finishes as the screen shows the bunny's picture again.
Ana snorts loudly, covering her mouth to prevent her food from flying off.
Guess it wasn't my imagination after all…
"I'm downloading that right now." She says excitedly, taking out her cellphone.
He fetches his own phone from the desk and sits back on the bed, popping a piece of salmon in his mouth before opening the mail Kozlov sent him again.
Winston Bogo, buffalo (syncerus caffer), age 47… also educated in Zootopia and also a member of the wrestling team in both highschool and college. Top of his class in the academy. Geez, his service sheet is a string of medals followed by promotions one after the other. Appointed Chief of Police during Lionheart's first term…
Someone with his record can't be incompetent…
Still...
There were fourteen missing mammals initially…
Fourteen people who went savage without anyone noticing…
Even if relatives and bystanders were bribed to keep quiet after the fact...
How did Lionheart's men get there first every time?
They must have known who was going to be targeted...
No. If they knew that beforehand then in all likelihood they would have known who was behind the attacks in the first place. Bellwether's plan would have fallen apart much sooner…
If they didn't know beforehand yet always managed to beat the police to the scene…
Then…
Ana sighs, leans over the sushi and takes away his phone.
"Working hours are over Mister Scott." She chides him, shoving a piece of sushi in his mouth.
Why did it have to be the lemongrass one?
"Yes ma'am." He says subserviently, making an effort not to choke.
Notes and References
At the beginning of the chapter Collin is humming the end of the song "Midnight" by Coldplay.
Kozlov's name comes from the russian word for goat. Was I too lazy? I like how it sounds but later found out that the big bear that carries Mr. Big around is also named Kozlov… I really don't want to change it though.
This isn't as much as a footnote as it is an admission of guilt and some writing advice - if I may be so bold as to give it. When Collin sees his face on the window while on the train I made a terrible mistake. My initial take had him having about the same reaction he had in the prologue. Upon rereading I realized that meant the character hadn't grown at all in nearly 15 years. In the same way you can't have a character without flaws, you can't have one without growth. While I'm still not sure how much he has changed, I wanted to make it clear that he has.
I debated internally for a long time about how to portray the moments where Ana and Collin are being intimate. In the end, I opted to be very 'hands-off' with the approach, letting it breeze by without much mention and hoping each reader would fill the vacuum with whatever they wanted.
I got the name for The Olympic from New York's Roosevelt Hotel. The connection is a bit of a stretch, coming from the Olympic National Park where President Roosevelt nicknamed the Olympic Elk as Roosevelt Elk.
I'm still not sure what Judy did between leaving highschool and entering the academy. That's a solid six years of vacuum we have in her story. In my mind she spent that time getting ready to be the best cop possible, which is why I mentioned that she took paralegal studies. This is, just to be clear, guessing. Any of you guys have a better idea?
West Peak Highschool got its name from West Hill Highschool, one of the institutions William Shatner attended when young. Since Nick's middle name was given in honor of Captain Kirk I thought I'd honor the trend and keep adding to it.
The mention of Nick making the news as a member of a track team is only half my invention. According to one of the movie's makers, he did in fact belong to the track team at his highschool and that's where he knows Flash from.
Swinton was originally going to be the mayor of Zootopia in the early drafts of the movie. I think it's a shame her character didn't get a chance to appear since she looked pretty interesting so I decided to at least add her as a reference in Lionheart's dossier.
Dr. Watson, as mentioned by Ana, is based on the real life geneticist and zoologist, Dr. James Watson. I honestly can't do him enough justice on this note to portray the extent of his achievements in his field. I thought that it'd be appropriate for someone with his expertise to be the one in charge of creating a treatment that would allow two different species to interbreed (not that the real Watson has ever delved into this particular area). I considered several other specialists like Doctor Mario Capecchi but eventually opted for Watson as he seemed to fit best.
The project Collin remembers when talking about the Oasis Hotel is the Palm Jumeirah artificial island in Dubai. It was built by the Nakheel Company (the name stands for palms or palm trees in arabic) and is said to be sinking at a rate of 5mm a year. For the sake of fairness, this is refuted by the company. Still, I thought it was an interesting reference to include.
Out of curiosity, I did some research on the flowers you see at Savannah Central station when Judy first arrives at the city. While it's hard to tell the actual species, the blue and purple coloring leads me to believe they could be perennial geraniums and some breed of berberis. To be honest, it was just a way to occupy my mind while I jumbled possible dialogue lines. You never know what might inspire you I suppose.
New Albion was to become the name for the city of Sydney before Captain Phillip changed his mind. I needed a real world reference so the reader could understand what Collin was talking about but was hesitant to use real cities so I went with this. Hopefully it got the point across.
Ana's 'I would be lost without my Basil' line is a bit of a twisted reference. I was jumbling between two alternatives, one being a simple 'sounds like a plan', while the other was 'To Dinner! And Beyond!" (referencing Buzz Lightyear). In the end I didn't feel like either was good so I discarded them. Some research brought me to 'Basil of Bakerstreet', a Disney movie from 1986 about a mouse detective that's inspired by Sherlock Holmes. However, the quote itself isn't from the movie but from Sherlock Holmes himself, talking to Watson. So it's a bit of a reverse quote… It's a mess to be honest but I like it.
As Collin noticed, Jengo is a meerkat (suricata suricatta). His name means 'one with reddish complexion' in afrikaans (his native tongue). He was supposed to have a special font to showcase his voice but I figured it might cause problems when uploading the story so I had to discard that idea. His character went through a few iterations as I considered his role in the story and the kind of personality I wanted to give him. I can't say much without spoiling things but just consider the first concept was an arctic fox from Denmark based on Hans Bjelke (from Jules Verne's Journey to the Center of the Earth).
Iquwa is a local way to call the 'araujia sericifera' plant in South Africa.
Llankon is a mapudungún expression meaning "the abscission of flowers, leaves and fruits" (by natural means).
Millaray is a mapuche name, it means 'golden/silver flower' or maybe 'fragrant flower/pleasant aroma of subtle fragrance'.
The Washakie case is actually a real thing. Look up Washakie Renewable Energy, LLC, Clean Air Act Settlement.
I love After Eights… if you never tried them and you like chocolate and mint I strongly suggest you go buy a box right now.
Amedei or Amedei Porcelana costs about ninety dollars a pound, it's considered to be the most expensive chocolate in the world.
Did you know? Salmon is an excellent source of protein - essential for stamina -, omega 3 fatty acids (proven to elevate serotonin and enhance your mood) as well as vitamins A, B, D and calcium, all known to improve your libido. Their eggs are among the world's greatest aphrodisiacs.
Kanya Sarmonti gets her name from two different white lionesses. Kanya, born in 1994 at the Philadelphia Zoo and Sarmonti from the Johannesburg Zoo, who joined the Siegfried and Roy stage act at Las Vegas in 1995.
Gray Burchell gets his name from the english naturalists, William John Burchell and his fellow countryman, zoologist John Edward Gray. I suppose it'd be funny if he had fifty stripes… Actually, pretend I didn't write that please.
Chief Bogo's dossier is pretty much entirely made up. He has no official first name so I used one from Idris Elba's (his voice actor) sons. The same goes for his age, in this case I just used the actor's.
Introducing... Outtakes!
Over the course of the chapter I had a few ideas that didn't make the cut but still liked. I selected a couple for you to check out, hopefully you find them entertaining. There were many other rewrites but the chapter was taking too long to finish so I opted to focus on the main story.
Outtake 1 - Too cute?
[ The following was the original dialogue between Ana and Collin as they pass in front of the Oasis Hotel. It got discarded because we already had enough waff at this time in the chapter. I opted instead to show the 'down to earth' side of Ana .]
" Collin and Ana going by a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G " She sings as they pass the Oasis Hotel, it's huge palm-like structure sticking out from the rest of Sahara Square.
" Really ?" He asks, looking down at her.
She plants a kiss on his nose.
"Yep." She says amusedly.
Outtake 2 - Movies and Games
[ These were the original lines said by Ana and Collin when they entered the Rainforest District. I cut them because it felt like I had forced the scene into it .]
"You don't think there's any crazy religious person on the train, right?" Ana jokes.
"I'd be more worried if we started hearing an air raid siren to be honest." He retorts.
[ If you are wondering, Ana is referencing 'The Mist' by Stephen King, while Collin is talking about the Silent Hill game series .]
Outtake 3 - Collin is a battered husband
[This is just an alternative dialogue I changed to keep the mood consistent. I'd like to use the idea at some point though.]
"Collin… you… you can order fish if you want." Ana concedes nervously.
"You know… it doesn't help if my accountant is having second thoughts." He teases.
"Don't think I won't kick you because Jengo is here…" She warns.
The meerkat lets out a snort.
"You wouldn't laugh if you knew how much it hurts. She's still the record holder for most red cards taken in our university's football team." He complains, which prompts Ana to go through with her threat.
I should have known better…
[Yet another version had Ana not warning Collin and just waiting until Jengo looked away to kick him. Keeping the meerkat as stoic as possible was one of the reasons the dialogue got cut.]
This took nearly an entire month (or was it more?) to write. Boy am I tired...
Perhaps the most difficult aspect of this chapter was figuring out Ana's and Collin's interactions. Since their relationship is so close to what people hope for Nick and Judy I wanted them to have the best chemistry possible. Please, do tell me if I got even close. I suppose we should also address the elephant in the room... and it's not Francine this time... Collin and Ana are adults, they are married and they want to conceive, so of course they have sex in their minds. As I said in the notes, I do not want to be explicit, this is not that kind of story. However, I did try to play heavily on the innuendo, I just hope I did it tastefully.
I particularly enjoyed the joke about Judy's picture going viral. In my mind she's standing atop one of the buildings of Little Rodentia while looking fiercely at Nick and flipping him the bird. That this would be misinterpreted as her trying to help direct traffic was my intention from the beggining but the fact that it became a trending topic just occured to me on the moment. Would love to see some artwork of this!
Anyway, that's all for now folks.
Next time we go back to the golden duo as the fallout from the day starts to show itself!