History Webcomic / DocRat

* Foreshadowing:
** Wilbur Fuzz is shown faking a heart attack for laughs and later mentioning that he sometimes fakes having emergency heart trouble in order to be seen faster. Guess what happens to him?

* LetsMeetTheMeat: The "I Want to Live" variant. See, there's intelligent {{Talking Animal}}s and nonintelligent normal animals. By tradition, prey {{Talking Animal}}s have large, ''very'' large families to keep the economy going and predator {{Talking Animal}}s ensure the preservation of the environment and other resources by...uh, making sure those families don't stay too large without wiping them out. A legal system developed which allowed predators to feed themselves and their families upon a certain number of "wild" prey per capita so long as they fill the proper paperwork later, while prey may continue expanding their families and the obligation falls upon them to keep themselves and their children from being eaten--usually by keeping vigilant at all times when outside the home. Prey also cannot seek retribution, legally, for lost family members, although they can apparently act in self-defense or in the defense of their family during an attack. A hawk, for example, swooping down on a baby carriage and taking a few rat pups from their horrified parents would be a perfectly legal set of kills. However, as time marches on, the tradition of eating "wild" prey has come into conflict with developing notions of morality, especially in light of modern science showing that farmed non-intelligent animals are exactly the same as wild-caught animals in every respect, including nutrition. Many predators have changed to farmed foods, but the tradition of eating intelligent prey (and the law tacitly supporting it) remains, costing thousands of innocent lives per year.

** Fortenflack Schlag has joined in this, initially being a lower associate of Boss Alpha Blutenstein, but beginning to show some backbone of his own following his son Quarrydog's confirmation. Interestingly enough, this would climax with Forty helping Brayden out of a pickle while his wife, Luella, is in labor with their daughter, giving him even more clout in Blutenstein's eyes.

* EndangeredSpecies: One of the more serious plot points surrounds the numbats, which are exceedingly rare, yet still hunted. Shirley Dryandra-Katanning early on had difficulty keeping both children ''and'' mates, though she did have four surviving children prior to initially shacking up with eventual current husband Brayden Katanning (Jackson, Janeece, Jarrad, and Taylor), and her mother Lily is still around (in spite of her smoking, which has resulted in COPD). At least Brayden, despite early issues, has come around, and lately seems to have the protection of the wolf pack through his boss, Fortenflack.

* InnocentlyInsensitive: Fortenflack, a lifelong wolf, although entirely well-intentioned, [[https://www.docrat.com.au/comic/recovery-lesson/ has some difficulty at first]] fully understanding quite how upsetting it is to be a prey animal who was literally seconds away from being messily and painfully torn apart and devoured by two predators before being rescued, although to his credit he's shown to catch on quickly in this and the following strips. And hey, net positive, it reminded him to pick up his wife's bag and insurance card.

** He would later hit the KarmicJackpot when Fortenflack [[BigDamnHeroes helps him out of a pickle]], saving him from being attacked by some felines while making a delivery.

* PreciousPuppy: Fortenflack and Luella's newborn pup, Grace, certainly counts.

* InnocentlyInsensitive: Fortenflack, a lifelong wolf, although entirely well-intentioned, [[https://www.docrat.com.au/comic/recovery-lesson/ has some difficulty at first]] fully understanding quite how upsetting it is to be a prey animal who was literally seconds away from being messily and painfully torn apart and devoured by two predators before being rescued, although to his credit he's shown to catch on quickly in this and the following strips. And hey, net positive, it reminded him to pick up her bag and insurance card.

** The prey have "Don't tell the herd", "Gone missing", "Walked out", "On the road" and the like for losing family members to the aforementioned predators.

* LetsMeetTheMeat: The "I Want to Live" variant. See, there's intelligent {{Talking Animal}}s and nonintelligent normal animals. By tradition, prey {{Talking Animal}}s have large, ''very'' large families to keep the economy going and predator {{Talking Animal}}s ensure the preservation of the environment and other resources by...uh, making sure those families don't stay too large without wiping them out. A legal system developed which allowed predators to feed themselves and their families upon a certain number of "wild" prey per capita so long as they fill the proper paperwork later, while prey may continue expanding their families and the obligation falls upon them to keep themselves and their children from being eaten--usually by keeping vigilant at all times when outside the home. Prey also cannot seek retribution, legally, for lost family members, although they can apparently act in self-defense or in the defense of their family during an attack. A hawk, for example, swooping down on a baby carriage and taking a few rat pups from their horrified parents would be a perfectly legal set of kills. However, as time marches on, the tradition of eating "wild" prey has come into conflict with developing notions of morality, especially in light of modern science showing that farmed non-intelligent animals are exactly the same as wild-caught animals in every respect, including nutrition. Many predators have changed to farmed foods, but the tradition of eating intelligent prey (and the law supporting it) remains.

* DeadlyEuphemism: "Wild meat" for live TalkingAnimal prey vs. "farm meat" for farmed non-intelligent animal prey.

* LetsMeetTheMeat: The "I Want to Live" variant. See, there's intelligent {{Talking Animal}}s and nonintelligent normal animals. By tradition, prey {{Talking Animal}}s have large, ''very'' large families to keep the economy going and predator {{Talking Animal}}s ensure the preservation of the environment and other resources by...uh, making sure those families don't stay too large without wiping them out. A legal system developed which allowed predators to feed themselves and their families upon a certain number of "wild prey" per capita so long as they fill the proper paperwork later, while prey may continue expanding their families and the obligation falls upon them to keep themselves and their children from being eaten--usually by keeping vigilant at all times when outside the home. Prey also cannot seek retribution, legally, for lost family members, although they can apparently act in self-defense or in the defense of their family during an attack. A hawk, for example, swooping down on a baby carriage and taking a few rat pups from their horrified parents would be a perfectly legal set of kills. However, as time marches on, the tradition of eating "wild prey" has come into conflict with developing notions of morality, especially in light of modern science showing that farmed non-intelligent animals are exactly the same as "wild-caught" animals in every respect, including nutrition. Many predators have changed to farmed foods, but the tradition of eating intelligent prey (and the law supporting it) remains.

* LetsMeetTheMeat: The "I Want to Live" variant. See, there's intelligent TalkingAnimals and nonintelligent normal animals. By tradition, prey TalkingAnimals have large, ''very'' large families to keep the economy going and predator TalkingAnimals ensure the preservation of the environment and other resources by...uh, making sure those families don't stay too large without wiping them out. A legal system developed which allowed predators to feed themselves and their families upon a certain number of "wild prey" per capita so long as they fill the proper paperwork later, while prey may continue expanding their families and the obligation falls upon them to keep themselves and their children from being eaten--usually by keeping vigilant at all times when outside the home. Prey also cannot seek retribution, legally, for lost family members, although they can apparently act in self-defense or in the defense of their family during an attack. A hawk, for example, swooping down on a baby carriage and taking a few rat pups from their horrified parents would be a perfectly legal set of kills. However, as time marches on, the tradition of eating "wild prey" has come into conflict with developing notions of morality, especially in light of modern science showing that farmed non-intelligent animals are exactly the same as "wild-caught" animals in every respect, including nutrition. Many predators have changed to farmed foods, but the tradition (and law) remains.

* ExtremeOmniGoat: Nichaud the baby goat - [[https://crosstimecafe.com/Webcomics/DocRat.html?id=1246 but not her mom]].

* Foreshadowing: Wilbur Fuzz is shown faking a heart attack for laughs and later mentioning that he sometimes fakes having emergency heart trouble in order to be seen faster. Guess what happens to him?

** Allan is an alcoholic patient attempting to recover, although it takes outside help in the form of a particularly vocal flea of his for him to start taking it more seriously.

* ConLang: Lapine, the ''Literature/WatershipDown''-inspired secret rabbit language has its own grammar and syntax structures.

** Flopsy Jagermond's presence at the Bungaree has been as welcome as one would expect from a wolf present at a rabbit gathering, but when a massive wagon filled with carrots comes hurtling down the hill at a tent filled with young rabbits, Flopsy hurls himself in front of it, saving the children at a cost of serious injury. It's touchy, but he lives to enjoy the respect and admiration of the lapine community.

* MalignedMixedMarriage: Flopsy (Formerly Fangripp) (wolf) and Jasmine (rabbit) Jagermond , face trouble from their families and their cultures at large.

* WhatTheHellHero: In one arc, Ben had an ingrown incisor that was life-threatening--as in, growing back into his mouth and ''about to puncture his brain''--and elected to wait on dealing with it until work at the practice started picking up again and he could better afford getting treated, brushing off the concerns of Mary and Gizelle over his health. [[https://www.docrat.com.au/comic/mary-gives-ben-the-hard-word/ Mary made her distaste for his stupidity]] crystal clear once he finally gets the tooth snipped.

* NotThatKindOfDoctor: As a doctor who deals specifically with the problems of rabbits, [[https://crosstimecafe.com/Webcomics/DocRat.html?id=1030 Doctor Brazzleberry has no experience]] treating the dislocated shoulder of a predator three times his size. Fortunately, Ben has a much...[JustForPun broader]] clientele.

* AllAPartOfTheJob: [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#721 CPR, rescheduling patients. . . .]]
* TheAlcoholic: Allan is an alcoholic patient attempting to recover, although it takes outside help in the form of a particularly vocal flea of his for him to start taking it more seriously.

* AndroclesLion: Referenced, then defied. They don't try it on Charmane, despite [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#646 the thorn in the paw.]] Instead, [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#646 Mary overbandaged her for it]] to ensure she didn't take retribution. She hasn't been heard from since Ben sacked her.

* BadLiar: Ben's whiskers twitch when he lies. The bigger the lie, the more his whiskers twitch, as demonstrated [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#1194 here]]

** This is later {{subverted}} when they try to save Flopsy and Jazmyn from an illegal hunt [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#1362 but get separated from their backup, Pat the Tiger.]] Fortunately, a lucky GroinAttack [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#1371 from Ben]] to the wolf that was originally supposed to fight Flopsy neutralized the threat.

* TheBigDamnKiss: [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#678 Ben and Danni's first kiss]] lasted four strips.

* BiggerIsBetterInBed: It was implied around the time of his and Daniella's engagement that Ben...[[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#908 isn't exactly small]] in that aspect.

* ButWeUsedACondom: Danni was on the Pill when she and Ben first got married, but [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#1155 that didn't stop her from getting pregnant.]]
* CallBack: [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#1 The first strip]] has Ben writing up a rather scathing report on a "Mr. Smith", who's disappeared by the time he's done. Later, [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#682 we meet Mr. Smith:]]

** During their fancy night out, [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#1502 they freak out the waiters again:]]

* CallingTheOldManOut: Jarrad, age 7, [[http://www.docrat.com.au/default.asp?id=strip&thisItem=1746 to his mother]] after she finally goes too far with her homophobic attacks on Julian, the man who just saved Jarrad's life:

** Also, [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#230 this strip]].
** Apparently it's [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#1234 a cultural tradition]].

* CoolOldLady: Mavis the Koala and Lily Dryandra have their moments, but the overall prize goes to Lorna Lappin. Sassy, doesn't take any crap from ''anybody'', rabbit Elder...[[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#1645 and rather nasty]] [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#1456 with that cane of hers.]]

** Several run-ins with the rabbits and wolves eventually led Ben to figure out [[spoiler:Daniella [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#1380 had lost two children in the past.]]]]

* DepravedDentist: After Ben and Danni are in a relationship, Danni is forced to stop being Ben's Dentist. So she sends him to her associate, Doctor Bell - who happens to be an Anglerfish! See [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#739 here]]

* DidYouJustHaveSex: Gizelle and Siobhan, their respective receptionists, [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#987 quickly figured out]] after Ben and Daniella's first time together.

** The father of Daniella's first set of ratlings (who were subsequently eaten) [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#1518 dumped her when she got pregnant,]] [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#1519 and used all his pull to keep her out of his life.]]

* ExtremeOmniGoat: Nichaud the baby goat - [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#1246 but not her mom]].

* FromTheMouthsOfBabes: A very serious example: while Ben still had a black eye from his fight with Willard, a piglet he was examining [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#677 asked if his dad was angry at him.]] Ben called Mary in, with the implication that a call to social services was to follow.

* GenderBlenderName: Roy, a snake medical intern involved in Mel's birth, is female. Her full first name is Roisin, which is an Irish female name.
* HeartWarmingOrphan: [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#734 Pippie]]

* HonorBeforeReason: This is ZigZagged in Ben and Danni's mugging. Initially, [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#899 Danni is the one to say they should just surrender their belongings]] instead of fighting, primarily because their attackers were armed. Of course, per BondVillainStupidity, [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#900 that ended up all for naught]] and they had to fight anyway. By the end, [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#905 Danni wanted to kill them,]] and Ben became the voice of reason, insisting they wait for the police. This, of course, led them to find out the muggers were the same individuals who attacked Julian.
* HopeIsScary: [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#1674 Hope hurts!]]

* InterruptedSuicide: After Flopsy's big secret comes to light ([[spoiler: He and his pack ate Jaz' first husband]]) he tries to throw himself off a cliff. [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#1307 Ben isn't having any of that.]]

* LongestPregnancyEver: Danni was pregnant with her and Ben's ratlings for ''years''. She found out she was pregnant [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#1155 in November 2010,]] and [[http://www.docrat.com.au/comic/the-birth/ gave birth in January 2015.]]

* LudicrousGibs: [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#1570 When watching a horror film,]] Ben quips, "Huh. Nobody's got an artery there."

* MassiveNumberedSiblings: Rabbits. Rats. Other creatures. And yet, they've got ''nothing'' on [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#1161 flies]]. (Has a tragic side, too.)
* MilestoneCelebration: There hasn't been particularly special strips for "kiribans" like the [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#1000 1000th]] strip. But a special color strip was made for [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#2555 the strip's 10th anniversary]] which was celebrated as Ben's birthday.[[invoked]]

* MistakenForAfterlife: Doc himself, [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#674 in the dojo:]]

* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Danni had this reaction [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#991 when she smacked Ben]] after he joked about "[[SeriousBusiness secret bunny business]]" to her. He didn't know that [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#992 a previous boyfriend of hers was a rabbit]] and his family forced him to break up with her, something she still felt bitter about at the time.

* NobodyPoops: Averted [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#1124 here.]]

* NotThatKindOfDoctor: As a doctor who deals specifically with the problems of rabbits, [[https://crosstimecafe.com/Webcomics/DocRat.html?id=1030 Doctor Brazzleberry has no experience]] treating the dislocated shoulder of a predator three times his size. Fortunately, Ben has a much...broader clientele.

* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: Ben's father, Winston, suffered dementia, usually responding to everything with "That's nice", with the occasional inquiry about his wife, who's been dead for years. [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#988 But when he first met Daniella,]] he had an exceptional moment of clarity:

* PercussiveTherapy: When they get rejected from further reservations with Mondo Venezio for accruing two no-shows, Daniella [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#1478 takes a bat]] [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#1479 to her training dummy]] and ultimately [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#1481 beats its head off.]]
* PerfectSolutionFallacy: Discussed, including Ben paraphrasing Voltaire's quote on the trope page, [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#734 when he and Wilbur discuss the latter's cardiac arrest.]][[note]][[DontExplainTheJoke A common description given by patients who have received CPR is that it feels like a large animal sat on their chest]].[[/note]]

* ReadTheFinePrint: [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#686 Some fine print was included in the dialogue]] between Ben and Daniella on one of their early dates.[[note]]Just read the comic. All the included fine print would require its own page.[[/note]][[labelnote:another note]]In case you're curious, "Terrine" is a French paté cooked in pottery and served cold.[[/labelnote]][[labelnote:further note]]This one was included solely to point out the OverlyLongGag in the comic itself, since the comic itself adds three levels of fine print to the base conversation, and actually sets up future plot points, including both their previous relationships.[[/labelnote]]

** When [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#690 the Black Saturday bushfires occurred in 2009,]] Jenner incorporated them into the plot with one of Ben's patients, Colin, losing a brother and almost his entire family in the bushfires, and later [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#735 adopting his remaining niece, Pippie.]]

* ReallyGetsAround: A sad example. Danni went through a period where her life went the shreds and she had a number of physical relationships to try and heal her emotional pain before getting it together.

* RomanticCandlelitDinner: [[http://www.docrat.com.au/default.asp?thisItem=758 Doc recommends it -- and the bird takes his wife out for a candlelit dinner on a buffalo's back.]]

** The [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#899 first time]] sees Danni worrying Ben is going to break up with her, when it turns out he's going to pop the question. She realizes this when they get mugged on the way there, and she discovers what was among his effects:[[labelnote:context]]Daniella thought Ben was going to break up with her, as [[CallForward a previous boyfriend had done]]. As it turned out, he was going to ask her to marry him.[[/labelnote]]

** After they get married, [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#1146 they make it to Mondo Venezio]] on their second attempt. They discuss a few things, and Danni glosses over a couple past children (which we'd learn more about later). The next morning, she ends up with morning sickness, leading directly to them finding out she's pregnant.
** Their third attempt to go to Mondo Venezio [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#1345 is interrupted]] when they end up having to intervene with a situation involving Jazmyn and Flopsy.
** The fourth time, [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#1477 Ben is refused a reservation]] because he had accrued two no-shows. Flopsy finds out, and pulls some strings with Lord Lockley to get them an all-expenses-paid first-class dinner night at the restaurant.
* SecondSuperIdentity: [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#841 Captain Kerpow's secret identity is Awesome Possum, another crimefigher.]]

** Doc and Daniella's first time together. After Daniella makes her intentions clear, the next strip shows nothing but [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#986 two rat tails forming a heart shape.]]
** On their honeymoon, the scene switches from [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#1053 the couple drinking Nettlefrisk Tea]] (implied to be a ''very'' strong aphrodisiac) to [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#1054 them lying next to each other, utterly exhausted.]]
* SexySilhouette: The premonition of TheirFirstTime: [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#985 the strip before their]] SexyDiscretionShot shows their silhouettes at dinner, and Danni looks like she's about to jump over the dinner table at Ben.

** To ''Webcomic/KevinAndKell'' [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#1143 here]], as part of the MagicGenetics incident.

** [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#1016 When Daniella found out]] that [[spoiler:Flopsy]] would be at the Rabbit Bungaree, happening at the resort next to the hotel where they would be for their honeymoon.
** And [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#1605 this one]] when Ben got confused by a goat pharmaceutical salesman saying he was "[[RougeAnglesOfSatin workshopping statin]]".
* StarCrossedLovers: Danielle's first serious relationship was with a rabbit, who taught her about a good portion of the incredibly secret rabbit culture with an eye toward marrying her and breaking down the walls together. However, pressure from his family led him to break it off instead, leaving her heartbroken.
* STDImmunity: Averted. [[https://crosstimecafe.com/Webcomics/DocRat.html?id=950 this strip]], according to WordOfGod is the prelude to Daniella informing Ben about her (controlled) herpes.

** When [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#900 Ben and Daniella get mugged]] and robbed, and the muggers decide taking their things isn't enough:

** Ben and Danni's [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#861 conversation at a restaurant.]] HilarityEnsues, as Ben teaches Danni how he made a game out of it: Garçonification.
** Also [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#1743 this]]. "He's a very sick man[[note]]from a snakebite[[/note]] and they had to take him away[[note]]to a hospital[[/note]]."
** [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#918 This exchange between Ben and Pat]] when they're racing to stop the release of Julian's attackers:

** Wilbur is also [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#2778 occasionally prone to this]]...

* WackyMarriageProposal: With the originally-intended engagement pre-empted by a mugging, the ball finally got rolling [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#912 when Ben casually referred to Daniella as his fiancée]] during an argument with her family. As they were leaving, [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#913 he affirmed it quickly]] by asking her for real:

* WhatTheHellHero: At the end of an arc where Ben had an ingrown incisor that was life-threatening--as in, growing back into his mouth and ''about to puncture his brain''--and waited until a lack of patients ended to see a dentist, [[https://www.docrat.com.au/comic/mary-gives-ben-the-hard-word/ Mary made her distaste for his stupidity]] crystal clear.

* ZombieApocalypse: [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#723 Fought on a video game]] -- to turn into a walking dead the next day.

* ThrAlcoholic: Allan is an alcoholic patient attempting to recover, although it takes outside help in the form of a particularly vocal flea of his for him to start taking it more seriously.

* HeroicSacrifice: When Boss Alpha Blutenstein has to launch his rule change before he's ready (thanks in part to ''Ben's'' attempt at a HeroicSacrifice), he is immediately challenged by members of his pack. His son Alfon comes to his rescue by issuing his own challenge, which takes precedence, and ''losing'', therefore settling the matter. For his efforts, Alfon ends up dishonored and outcast, a FateWorseThanDeath in wolf society.

* StarCrossedLovers: Danielle's first serious relationship was with a rabbit, who taught her a

* NightmareFuelColoringBook: A five year-old child, the only survivor of a family of six who died in a brushfire [[[[https://crosstimecafe.com/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=16235 expresses her feelings here]].

* ShotgunWedding: It's implied that Ben's first marriage was this, as it's mentioned that he and his ex were young and felt it was the responsible thing to do. His daughter's also twelve and he's ambiguously thirty-something when we find out.

* TheseHandsHaveKilled: Part of Flopsy's guilt regarding him taking Jazmyn's first husband. Allen also experiences this when he kills the snake that bit Julian, and was threatening Jarrad and Ben.

* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: The paramedics solemnly invoke this over a heart attack.

* ShotgunWedding: It's implied that Ben's first marriage was this, as it's mentioned that he and his ex were young and felt it was the responsible thing to do. His daughter's also twelve and he's ambiguously thirty-something, as well.

* GoodPeopleHaveGoodSex: Danni ''did not'' regret Ben insisting they wait to have sex, if the strips around their implied first time--after they became engaged--is any indication.

* TattooedCrook: An elephant.

** The bushfire season of 2020 would have its own arc with Ben and Daniella being involved in field medicine, and it begins with Colin getting a new psychiatrist referral for himself and Pippie.

** When [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#690 the Black Saturday bushfires occurred in 2009,]] Jenner incorporated them into the plot with one of Ben's patients losing a brother and almost his entire family in the bushfires, and later [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#735 adopting his remaining niece.]]

** After they get married, [[https://crosstimecafe.com/speedreader/doc_rat.html#1146 their second attempt to go to Mondo Venezio]] succeeds. They discuss a few things, and Danni glosses over a couple past children (which we'd learn more about later). The next morning, she ends up with morning sickness, leading directly to them finding out she's pregnant.

** More on Wilbur Fuzz's cardiac arrest: in addition to averting the "reliable" part of CPRCleanPrettyReliable, it's noted when Ben visited Wilbur in hospital during his recovery that he coded[[note]]went into cardiac arrest[[/note]] three more times before he was fully stabilized.

** More on Wilbur Fuzz's cardiac arrest: in addition to averting the "reliable" part of CPRCleanPrettyReliable, it's noted when Ben visited Wilbur in hospital during his recovery that he coded[[note]]went into cardiac arrest[[/note]] two more times before he was fully stabilized.