Original DA Upload Date: April 4, 2021
While the Christians and Kirk Cameron types are celebrating the ressurection of he who is without sin, let’s we secular folks honor the pacifist vegetarian hippies of the animal kingdom!
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‘Leporine’s Day’ has been part of Grunvale lore since pretty much the beginning. I always knew I wanted it to be the Grunvaliverse’s secular alternative to Easter, except they celebrate the accomplishments of leporines, and to a lesser extent leverines (hares) and ochotonines (pikas). However, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, I decided to also make Leporine’s Day the celebration of the in-universe eradication of the myxoma virus, the real-life virus responsible for myxomatosis, a disease that affects rabbits and is often lethal.
Yeah, that’s right. Angus’ band is named after a virus. A bit of dark humor for ya. 😋
Anyhoo, in the Grunvaliverse, I canon that the myxoma virus was a pandemic that deeply affected leporine communities around the world for nearly twenty years after WW2 (coinciding roughly with our universe’s polio pandemic and introduction of the Myxoma virus to Australia in the early 1950s). Then in the early 1960s, a Myxoma vaccine was introduced by Jonas Salk (the same figure who, in our universe and the Grunvaliverse, developed the polio vaccine), and, thanks to worldwide immunization efforts, the disease was eradicated across the world soon after.
However, as myxomatosis only affects leporines, just as it does in our world, it didn’t cause the societal shutdown that COVID-19 has. However, leporines were only allowed to go out when there wasn’t a local outbreak, and when they did, were often attacked by ignorant racists who bought into anti-leporine conspiracy theories. And as a result, life was misery for them. But they always tried to seek joy, whenever it would come up, and in whatever form it came in!
On a strict 2017 timeline, Joan Ketcham would’ve been born in late 1949 and thus be old enough to remember the days of the myxoma virus. Or maybe not, because I see her as the type that’d do drugs and drink excessively. As a twenty- and thirty-something, of course. It’d probably kill her to have that kind of lifestyle in her old age. But Sally and her sisters-in-law were all born after the era of myxoma the virus, and during the era of Myxoma the band. And in Sally’s case, she even ended up marrying the son of the band’s drummer and co-lead singer.
Speaking of Sally’s sisters-in-law… well, you’ve figured out they’re the ladies standing behind Sally and Joan. Let’s talk about them, from left to right!
Roxanne Sumner – Shaun’s wife, a track-and-field coach. She prefers to be addressed as ‘Coach Roxy’ and often shows affection in aggressive manners like noogieing and tight hugs, which neither Sally nor Shaun particularly likes. However, Sally still loves her, even seeing her as the sister she never had. After all, she was the lucky lady who ended up with her twin.
Ivy Snowfield-Ketcham – Richard Jr.’s wife, a theater manager. She has a passion for the theater, and has even directed and wrote a few plays herself. She is also a huge Andrew Lloyd Webber fan, which Harry and Angus often mock her for.
Amy Ketcham – Russell’s wife, a police officer on the Denver, Colotterado police force. She is one of the most respected officers on the force, both by her colleagues for her keen observation skills, and the public for being opposed to the use of brutality. She is one of the few members of the Ketcham family who is not a leporine (she is an ochotonine/pika).
Ebony Forrester-Ketcham – Randall’s wife, a roller derby racer, and Margo’s inspiration for getting into the sport. Her skate name is ‘the Crimson Bruiser’, and she is one of the few members of the Ketcham family who is not a leporine (she is a leverine/hare).
Since Leporine’s Day is now also a celebration of the race conquering a virus prevalent in the 1940s-1960s, all of the Ketcham ladies are in period-appropriate attire. Both because it’s traditional to the holiday, and because I love ladies in retro attire. And Dolly Wyler-Voronov is taking their group photo, as she’s the one who’s done all of their hair and make-up for Leporine’s Day. I felt I would throw in her reflection in the mirror for a little attention to detail. Doesn’t she look cute in a bunny costume?
That’s all for this one, everyone. Happy Easter!
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Grunvale is owned by me. You’re free to draw fanart of it, as long as you link me to it.
This artwork was made at a resolution of 5076×2160 (aspect ratio 2.35:1).
The Gallery of Stormy Adler 