With new members joining Animalia, especially among certain members of society (ranging from 'hippies' to 'upper classes'), there was a lot of new things to get used to. While this was mainly among new members adapting to their new forms needs, such as clothes, diets, etc., it was also Animalia adapting to new things and suggestions from their new members. While this was relatively minor in most cases, occasionally there was a big thing discovered.
But because of the Coronavirus, there wasn't much movement going around. But as was always the case, even during big things like war or pandemics, life must go on.
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Jioni was currently playing with a large ball of yarn (5 to 6 times larger than a standard ball of yarn) while being observed by a few scientists taking note on her behavior.
"So this is one of those who were unfortunate enough to get a lobotomy when the process was dying out?" asked the first scientist.
"Yes." answered the second, "While she was fortunate enough to survive and still be capable of moving around, she ended up losing most of her memories. That's why she chose the name Jioni, because she can't remember her original name."
"But it seems that the lobotomy damaged a little more than her frontal lobes." said the first, taking the appropriate notes.
"That might be part of the reason why Daisy views Dan as her big brother after her conversion and she was 'adopted' by Brawn and Snowflake, even though she's technically old enough to be Dan's grandmother." reported the Second, remembering when Dan first met Daisy.
"And it might also explain why 'Jioni' here has a bit more of the 'cat' part of her new instincts being dominant, such as being distracted by fish, mice, balls of yarn, laser pointers..." acknowledged the first, taking some more notes on some of the behaviors Jioni exhibited.
"Right." said the second, adding more information to the "former lobotomy patents" folder for Project Phoenix Volunteers files.
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Meanwhile, an entirely new 'district' had been added to Lyre/Animalia, mainly due to the influx of rich and "super-rich" members of Animalia. While they appreciated the temporary housing of Habitat Homes, they obviously felt that they still had to maintain a "proper image". Fortunately, one of their number turned out to be an expert at architecture and design and had no problem designing new mansions for them. While they had to get someone else for landscaping and planning, they didn't complain too much.
The Animalia Construction Crews also didn't have to mind building larger buildings, after a certain incident of someone driving a luxury sport car into their wet concrete did inspire them to make clear, somewhat joking signs that made it clear that the new "rich district" was not complete, and therefore off limits.
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Evelyn was on guard for the fake elevator prank that she had been nailed with, but this time it was a completely different trick room that lead her to her third punishment, which was apparently the 'jawbreaker'. Her laying on her bed with her arms and tail restrained was a little surprising, but the jawbreaker's squishy jelly core was a bit more, but her punishment was revealed to be the side-effect of the jelly core. In the aftermath of the third punishment, Evelyn was shocked and a little scared to learn that the fourth punishment that she was to face was a 'themed' one tied to her crime.
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While there was a bit of a surprise that someone of a similar species would challenge Mr. Hyun for Ling, there was actually a lot of, quote-unquote, 'obligations' before a formal match could be arranged but with Coronavirus going on, it wouldn't officially start for a while. That didn't really matter for Ling and Mr. Hyun because Mr. Hyun could begin training for his match. He was both doing weight training and martial arts training because he intended to make that smug idiot eat his words. But what was surprising for him, at least, was the fact that "deer-style" martial arts wouldn't be quite as effective for him, though Thurston didn't hesitate to explain why.
"Most of 'our' styles involved use of antlers at least at first. But for someone like you, Antlers aren't really an option." he had said. "But the most important lesson from Golden Mountain Dojo is to 'learn the path, then create your own'. Who knows, maybe you'll end up creating an entirely new style especially for water deer."
So Mr. Hyun was focusing on his training, and it was having a surprising effect on him. While he was still shorter than his opponent, he was getting bigger muscles at a surprising rate (to him at least), which might explain (partly) why chairman Kim wanted to use Animalians as super-soldiers, even though that plan was now officially "shot".