The world of Before the Fall

The world of Before the Fall is a furry alternate-universe where the technology and culture is very reminiscent to the 1990's. While it has been idealized, particularly when it comes to general social attitudes about alternate sexuality and gender identities, it is far from a utopia. There is accessible technology, including cellular phones, computers and internet, but that technology is far less ubiquitous and advanced than we know today. 

The setting is generally in and around a fictional, middle-sized-and-growing town called “Aardvark Heights”, located in the fictional Aardvark Mountains region of the similarly fictional Missouri, USA (short for Untied Scattering of Aardvarks). Big enough to have its own mall, but not big enough to have a 2-star hotel in town. 

The world of Before the Fall is, generally, sex-positive, and fosters rather than suppresses children's natural curiosity with a focus on education about consent and safe practices - with varying levels of quality, adherence and effort on the part of the instructors, usually parents. Generally speaking, STIs are not a particular concern in this world, but they do still exist. This does not mean this world is a sex-crazed fuck-paradise, and elements of taboo and embarrassment still exist around private parts, personal space and sexual behavior in general - just dialed back a bit for the sake of 'come on already we're writing furry porn here.'

Free-range parenting is normalized, and while it's rare to hear about much bad happening, bad things can and do still happen in the world. There are stories involving abuse, bullying, toxic ideologies and other dark topics at times, but they will be thoroughly labeled as such - and please don't let that dissuade you! Generally, we're here to have a good time, and these topics tend to provide contrast to an otherwise positive narrative.

Reducing the world to a few keywords, we could call this place; “Kid-core suburban summer-break-vibes coming-of-age nostalgia fiction.” The fiction part is important. These are fictional names and places, and do not represent any real people, places or events. In case that wasn't obvious by the whole ‘talking animal people’ thing. The ‘summer break’ concept is more of a ‘default state’ for the world and not a hard rule at this point; the ‘summer break’ concept was originally employed to give some guide-rails to the scope of stories I'd attempt at first, while I was still establishing my creative voice and vision for the world.

Fun fact: Aardvarks are fictional creatures in BtF and anyone even suggesting they're real is relentlessly cyberbullied.

 

What else is there to know on the way in?…#

Content with sexualized cubs will be one primary focus on this project#

This project is literally a 90’s-kid nostalgia vibe-fest centered around erotic storytelling. If you aren’t into that, you’re probably in the wrong place, though I definitely have some stories where all characters are of an age that any reasonable reader would consider them ‘of-age’. As with all things here on Inkbunny, use your blacklist.

Zoo stuff isn't going to be a primary focus on this project#

Though, it does exist in the world and with no small measure of irony, is the prominent feature of the first story I ever wrote. Yes, anthropomorphic animals keep four-legged animals as pets and livestock. Don’t think too hard about it.

Mammalian species are most common here…#

Ape Non-ape primates are deeply uncommon and while they can be well-adapted to life anywhere, they are only a tiny fraction of a percent of the population. But that doesn't mean avians and scalies are without representation.

The avians are much more populous in the temperate and tropical rainforests (save for some native Aardvarkian tribes and their descendants scattered around, at least) and desert canyonlands.

Scalies are found pretty much everywhere, in lower populations, but certain areas are well-suited for their cultural and biological preferences like the southern swamplands and desert regions to the west.

Ejaculation is awesome!#

So why do grownups get all the fun?! Well, within reason. Kids in the BtF universe are dry as a bone until three or four years old, then gradually start producing more and more ejaculate as they get older. This is not tied to reproductive viability, they're shooting ‘blanks’ until their teenage years, typically - though some variance is found here as well. Some specific species, specific bloodlines, and certain individuals will be capable of producing more or less and the upper limits and production rates can be very excessive by human standards. (See also: Heatwave Primer as the Heatwave AU adds on to this!)

Predator/Prey relations are difficult. #

In this world, predators (preddies, carnivores, carni's, etc. in-lore) possess natural abilities and tendencies that often freak out prey/herbivorous species. A few key notes are that predators rarely use their ‘true voice’ if they're being polite, and avoid following, chasing, surprising, or staring at prey species despite their natural inclination to want to. Similarly, they must be careful about their reflective retinas shining in the dark to prey species, as this too can provoke unwanted, instinctive reactions; a behavior that is considered deeply rude in polite society. 

Unlike certain other worlds where these differences are portrayed to darker extremes, in BtF it's more of a societal annoyance, as alluded to in the story Tent, save for during childhood when prey species tend to be more sensitive. That sensitivity extends to a point that, sufficiently frightened young herbivores from particularly high-strung species can even experience bouts of tonic immobility under extreme circumstances. Unfair stereotypes and prejudices against carnivorous species are readily found within this world and serve, with similar structures around economic class, as a backdrop for telling stories about discrimination and prejudice in the setting.

Physical genders defined. #

There are a few genders beyond the standard male/female that may appear in BtF. Please note that this list is not intended to suggest any opinions about individuals who would identify with an alternate gender who is not a fictional character within the BtF literary universe. These should also not be confused for social genders, of which a broader variety is available.

Intersexing, where a person’s primary reproductive anatomy doesn’t match their secondary sexual characteristics (Feminine figure + Breasts + A dick, or a Masculine figure + Vagina) is more commonplace here than any other alternative physical gender. They are known as Intersex Female and Intersex Male, and will be typically referred with the pronouns of their presenting gender, as would be expected of someone with their secondary sexual characteristics. Intersexed characters are often sterile, however a roughly equal number will possess primary reproductive traits which are incongruent with their physical reproductive anatomy. (Example; intersexed males still being able to ejaculate and even impregnate a female despite their female anatomical structure. Sorry to the dickgirls, I know exactly what this means for you.) Intersexing should not be confused for natural traits that mimic intersexing, such as a female hyena's pseudopenis.

Hermaphroditism, where a person either possesses both variants of primary reproductive anatomy either with Feminine secondary characteristics or Masculine secondary characteristics, are referred to as Herm or Male-Herm respectively. People possessing this genetic variant are extremely rare in BtF.

Null/Thirdgender, where species reproduce through means other than sexual reproduction, or with the required participation of a third gender in addition to the ‘genetic partner’(male) or ‘zygote host’(female) are merely theoretical, and would be the subject of great curiosity and study if discovered in the world.