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Lop is a character taken from a story/comic called Rabbit Round! that I've been planning out over time. Though the base of the story is all there, there are also many things about the setting and logistics that I am figuring out. This post will just house some disconnected snippets and bits relevant to RR! and Lop.

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There are three types of Rabbits -- technically, they are referred to as "hares," "lop-eared rabbits" and "cottontails." However, most people refer to them in colloquial terms as "ups," "downs" and "shorts" in reference to their ear shapes. All three are distinct strains of Rabbit, with different DNA structures.

► Hares / Ups have their DNA derived from jackrabbits, and are much stronger and hardier than other Rabbits. Their ears tend to be very long, pointing straight up, and can be angled in whatever direction is desired. Usually with a tawny, brownish coloring. They generally have the toughest immune systems, and therefore have a small chance of coming out safe after exposure to the Shope Papilloma Virus.

► Lop-ears / Downs have their DNA derived from cashmere lop rabbits, and are generally rather weaker than other Rabbits in terms of health and strength. Their ears are generally long and hang downward, usually at least to shoulder-length; Downs also tend to have longer, shaggier hair. However, Lops also have terribly weak immune systems, as well as having a higher percentage of recessive genes. As a result, Lops are the rarest of the Rabbit strains, and are in grave danger of dying out.

► Cottontails / Shorts have their DNA derived from cottontail rabbits, and are average in terms of abilities and weaknesses. Their ears are short and fluffy, pointing straight up, and can be freely angled; their fur tends to cover a wide range of hues, but mostly muted, earthy colors. Their immune systems are average, but individuals to come out safe from exposure to the Papilloma Virus are extremely rare. However, Cottontails have the strongest genes, and are the most common of the Rabbits.

Though Rabbits can interbreed, half-breed Rabbits do not exist; offspring will always carry the traits of the parent with the stronger genes. Cottontail genes override Hare genes, which override Lop-eared genes. Marrying and having children between Rabbits is slightly unconventional, but many will accept it without problem. Lop-eared rabbits are slightly more hesitant to allow interbreeding, as they don't want their strain to become extinct.

Rabbits can also interbreed with humans, as their DNA is still mostly human DNA. However, the offspring will never show any Rabbit traits, and will appear and function basically the same as a human. It's generally frowned upon when a Rabbit has a child with a human.

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Rabbits are largely vegetarian. Although they can handle very small portions of meat, it doesn't do very much for them, and they find the taste fairly unpleasant. Large portions of meat can make them violently sick.

Some Rabbits, especially Hares, are able to train themselves to eat meat in gradual amounts until they can have a similar diet to normal humans. However, this takes at least several months to implement, and the taste of meat is still unpleasant to most. Rabbits who value high physical strength (i.e. laborers and brawlers) will take this route, but most Rabbits don't see the need to do so.

OTHER RECOMBINANTS.

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Recombinants aren't created through a "breed an animal with a human" method, but rather by combining the genetic material of a donor egg cell and a donor sperm cell, and then slicing out and replacing sections of the resulting genetic sequence with rabbit genes. The original, first-generation recombinants never knew their parents, as the scientists in charge of the project kept such information under tight lockdown. Though first-generation recombinants were raised by project members, future generations were raised by other recombinants -- by now, very few members of the original generation of recombinants are alive.

Most recombinant species, Rabbits included, have had their surnames derived from places where their animal genetic donor lived. This is why most recombinants have fairly boring surnames (Underbrush, Westfield, etc.)

tentative

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Unnamed half-siblings from Fal. Elder is a cottontail, younger is a hare. (Mother was a hare, first father was a cottontail, later father was a hare. Maybe some sort of family fight from mother's side to chase away first father? "Should go marry a nice young hare instead," etc.)

Elder has/had a relationship with Jack. Younger is jealous. Hideous.