Judy Hopps

It was hard to be apathetic all the time, even harder to be pessimistic. Did becoming friends with Judy make him more positive, maybe. But if anyone were to point it out he’d deny it an heartbeat. On the other hand he did enjoy her company, she shot back at any of his apathetic or sarcastic quips with such a brutal force of optimism that made it hard to keep up the act. And it was an act, as loathe as he was to admit it. It was easier to act like you didn’t care, it made it less likely for people to figure out how to hurt you. 

Slick. He rolled his eyes at the nickname no matter how charming she might make it sound. “Hey I tried your tofu dogs or whatever it was. Beyond the horizon meaty stuff,” he said waving his hand around, “Wasn’t meat but it was very close,” he finished holding his forefinger and thumb close together. Hopping into the car next to her he immediately began fiddling with the radio, “Do you have any saved stations that don’t just play the same top 40 pop songs?” 

Judy turned the key in the ignition, a smile already forming on her lips as she clicked her seatbelt into place, checked the rearview mirror, and pulled away from the curb. “Yes, you did, and I’m very proud of you,” she retorted in a sarcastically sweet tone, glancing at him briefly before returning her attention to the road. “Are you happy now? Or do you also want me to give you a gold star for being open to new experiences?”

She wouldn’t go so far as to actually give out gold stars, but it did make her happy any time that Nick didn’t respond to something with immediate rejection. Glancing toward him again, Judy reached out in order to playfully slap his hand away from the radio. "No, don’t change it,” she protested as the song Next Mistake by Icona Pop started playing, smiling in a way that made it clear that it was a sincere request rather than sheer stubbornness. “I love this song.”

she wasn’t one for lone drinking but after the day she had she found herself in mount olympus, sitting at the bar and nursing a beer. jessie was scrolling through her emails on her phone when she saw someone slip into the bar stool next to her “hey” she offered a quick greeting when she looked up from her screen.

“‘Sup, Pride,” Judy greeted with a grin, before immediately leaning over the bar and flagging down the bartender. “Whatever she’s having, and make that two, thanks.” Dropping back down onto the stool, she turned toward her coworker and offered her another smile, just glad to be out of that uniform and in her regular clothes. It wasn’t that Judy hated her job, but... Okay, maybe she had started hating it a little bit. At least it seemed like she wasn’t the only one. “Tough day?” she asked, quirking an eyebrow.

Posey was so happy to be on her lunch break, not because she didn’t love her work but because some days got really busy and when they got busy she got anxiety and she wanted to escape but couldn’t because she had a duty to be a good retail assistant and so when Judy came, it really was a life saviour especially since she had brought her favourite; “Everything h-has been good, I’ve been w-working and at home. I share a p-place with Tiger now-.. he is kind of like my big b-brother he keeps an eye on me and e-everything. Oh and I’m w-working with like a d-doctor with my s-speech as well as dancing at N-Nani’s dance s-studio” smiling as her delicate fingers picked at the nuggets themselves; “W-What about y-you? You are you w-working today?”  

Judy speared some iceberg lettuce, as well as half a cherry tomato onto her fork, eating her salad while listening to Posey and nodding along with her words. “Tiger,” she repeated, holding her fork up into the air and staring off into the distance as she tried to match a face with the name. She could vaguely remember a blonde guy from the bookstore with that name. “He works here, right? About yay high?” She held her hand somewhere above her head---then again, most people’s height were somewhere above her head, anyway---before taking a deep breath and nodding. “Yeah, I’m working today. Because God forbid we let the citizens of Andromeda park in peace.” Rolling her eyes, she dropped her gaze to her salad. “I’m glad things are good with you, though. What kind of dancing are you doing?”

Bernard jumped back, knocking against shelving behind him. He flinched when he realized how tall the stack had gotten. “Need to get you a bell or something,” he grumbled as he moved t try and take some from her. Before he could however all the files came crashing down around them. Rushing forward he knelt next to her, placing a hand on your shoulder, “You all right?” 

Pausing as he looked over the the mess on the floor he shook his head, “Sorry about that, not like me to space like that,” he chided himself. Rubbing the back of his neck he mused over her words as he started collecting files. “I guess you’re right, only one way to really work through this,” he admitted, “Might try and see what she has going on tonight.”

“I’m all right,” Judy replied with a small smile, starting to pull together some of the files that she could reach from her place on the floor. After forming a small stack, she pushed herself onto her knees and continued collecting documents into two separate piles, eventually offering Bernard one of them along with another reassuring smile. “And it’s okay. You’ve clearly got a lot on your mind.” Actually, he clearly had one thing, or rather one specific person on his mind, but she didn’t feel the need to clarify that.

Standing up straight, Judy brushed down her uniform with her hand before looking back up at him. “Tonight sounds like a good plan,” she agreed with a nod, using both of her arms to solidify her grip on the files to prevent the same thing from happening again. “Better to figure it out sooner rather than later, right? And, you know... If it helps, I know I haven’t been here for that long, but it doesn’t take a long time to see how great the two of you are together. I can’t think of anything that you shouldn’t be able to work through if you just talk about it.”

With his mind elsewhere Bernard was barely glancing at the files as he continue handing them off one by one to Judy. Pausing he drummed his fingers on the box, his thoughts racing faster than he could say them. “We’ve been partners for seven years now, I can’t remember the last time I actually had to ask her what’s going on with her,” he admitted. Handing her a few more files he ran a hand through his hair, “You’re right, it just…I guess I’m a little nervous to find out what’s going on.” Turning to look her in the eye he blinked in confusions at just seeing a stack of files. “Uh Judy?” 

Judy was getting a little overwhelmed, and her ability to multitask was being seriously tested as she struggled to both balance the pile of files that was beginning to tower over her, at the same time as she tried to pay as much attention to Bernard and his worries as they deserved. All things considered, perhaps the evidence room had not been the optimal time to bring up Bianca. “I’m here!” she called out from behind the pile, turning on the spot so that she could look at him, only to lose her balance as well as her precarious grip on the pile and send them both flying to the floor.

“Aouw,” she mumbled to herself as she pushed herself into a seated position, rubbing the spot that took the brunt of the fall before looking up at him. She might have been on the floor, but at least she could see him properly now. “I get that you’re nervous, especially if this is all out if the ordinary for you. But you’re best friends for a reason, right? How bad can it be?”

Judy wishes that she could take Nick home to meet her family. She doesn’t mean to bring him up in conversation with them, because she knows that the less questions they ask about him the better, but he’s kind of become her best friend so his name tends to come up a lot whether she intends it to or not.

🍻 - For something bad/mischievous you did as a child or teen that your parents don’t know about

She didn’t do a lot of bad or mischievous things growing up, but she did get into the habit of covering for her dumbass brothers when they did. Okay, she might have also occasionally participated in the stupid things that they did. And maybe she instigated them a few times. Once or twice. Fireworks might have been involved.

🌜 - For a ‘weird’ habit or tic that no one knows about

Answered here. She also taps her foot when she’s nervous or impatient, but pretty much anyone who has spent any amount of time around her would know about that. And she eats peanut butter on celery sticks. Which is a perfectly legitimate snack.

💃 - For a talent that they like to keep hidden from others

📲- Talk about someone/something you dislike, but only pretend to like

Judy doesn’t pretend to like her job as it currently is, but she probably does pretend to dislike it less than she actually does. Mostly, she puts on a brave face and attempts to find enjoyment in it because she’s trying to keep a positive attitude, but it’s getting increasingly deflating to feel like she’s going absolutely nowhere in her life.

🌟- For a secret wish or desire of theirs

Honestly, her life is practically an open book. She wants to be taken seriously as a cop and that’s not a secret. She wants her family and friends to have the best lives that they possibly can and that’s definitely not a secret. She’d like to find love someday, but she isn’t in a rush and she’s also not particularly secretive about that either.

CLOSED STARTER FOR @officercarrots​

Pree didn’t know it yet but the reason why the woman in front of her seemed so familiar is because she had been hanging around her employment place recently you see Magnificent Furs and Radcliffe Records were right next door to each other - much to the dismay of Roger - and so when there were people who were friends with the employees next door they hung around both entrances so every time Pree would finish work she would see Judy and smile in her direction, also because she was sure she was friends with Anita but she wasn’t a hundred percent sure, so when the time came around for her to finish again Pree couldn’t help but smile and go and talk to the other; “Hey-… I’m Priscilla, I think you’re one of my sisters friends right?”

It was a testament to how much she liked Nick as a person that Judy, a dedicated vegetarian since her teens, was willing to drop by Magnificent Furs as often as she did. Today it had been a quick stop, just long enough to drop off a cup of coffee and attempt to restock his dwindling patience and willpower with another rendition of Encouraging Words From Judy. Although, all things considered, she suspected the coffee was probably more effective.

Stepping out of the store, she pulled her phone out of her pocket and scrolled through multiple notifications for her family group chat, before looking up and greeting Priscilla with a warm smile. “I am,” she replied with a nod, putting her phone away. Of course she knew exactly who Pree was, given that there was probably nobody more important in Anita’s life than her little sister. “I’m one of her neighbours, actually. The nice one that she’s friends with, not the angry ones who argue so loudly that we can both hear them through our walls.”

The thing with grief was that it took time, and this wound was still fresh. He wanted to heal but he wasn’t ready yet, he wanted to hold someone but he couldn’t let anyone know his pain. He had his aunt that much was true but he also felt so alone without his brother. His friends noticed that he wasn’t feeling well but they couldn’t help him, no one could take away the misery. There were days where he wished he had been in the explosion as well, because then he wouldn’t have to miss everyone. He already lost his parents why did he need to lose his brother too? It wasn’t fair. 

He nodded. “I didn’t plan to stay this long-” It was true he planned to be here for a few hours, but after crying he was so tired that he just fell asleep right there and then. He didn’t want to make his aunt worried either. He just needed to be here. “I don’t want to go home yet.” He whispered softly.

@officercarrots​

Judy smiled and nodded understandingly in return. Hiro seemed like a good kid, so she knew that he hadn’t meant to stay out until the morning or make his aunt worried enough to call the cops. On one hand, she felt for his aunt and wanted to let her know that her nephew was safe and sound and that she didn’t need to worry; but on the other hand, she felt for him and she didn’t want to force him to go home until he was ready. After weighing the two options, she decided that there was probably a compromise to be struck here.

“That’s okay,” she replied gently, offering him another reassuring smile. “How about this? I’ll call your aunt and let her know that you’re safe, and that you’re with me, and then I’ll buy you some breakfast before taking you home. How does that sound?”

Posey and Judy knew each other from previously, they went on one date together and honestly Judy was perfect, she was sweet and kind and amazing but Posey was Posey and when Posey got her feet in too deep or just felt off or uncomfortable - she ran - and it wasn’t Judy’s fault, sometimes the smallest things could trigger the small blonde so really it was probably for the best for if she didn’t do it on the first date she would have done it later on.

But now they were really good friends and Posey - even though time to time she did feel bad - she couldn’t help but love and adore the other for who she was as the person leaning on her in those times in need; “O-Oh my-…” jumping and lightly crashing into a near by book shelf as the other surprised her, smiling sheepish as she dusted herself off; “Chicken N-Nuggets? J-Judyyyyyyyy” smelling them from a mile away sounding out the ‘y’ syllable in her name “I l-love you so much right now’ hugging the c-chicken nuggets to her c-chest. “Best d-day ever”

Perhaps being not-a-college-student in the small college town of Andromeda didn’t provide quite as many opportunities for dating as her last home, but Judy had always taken a fairly lighthearted approach to the whole thing that had stuck with her since her college days; if she thought someone was cute and interesting, she asked them out, and if it didn’t work out, she didn’t stress too much about it. Life was too short to get hung up on things like that, and it wasn’t like shifting her mental model from ‘potential romantic partner’ to ‘friend’ was particularly difficult for her after one date. Or ever, really.

"Don’t mention it,” she replied with a bright smile, pulling her salad out of the bag and making herself comfortable before digging into her food. “So, how are things? How’ve you been since we last saw each other?”

Deciding that a good meal and a friendly face were the perfect pick me up, she dropped by a couple of different places to buy lunch for herself and Posey (a salad and some freshly pressed juice for her, and a whole lot of chicken nuggets for her friend) before making her way to the bookstore. “Surprise!” Judy greeted with a warm smile as she walked inside, placing the bag of food on the counter. “Your food is here. Not that you ordered food, but consider me your unsanctioned delivery service.”