Chapter Text
Gusts of wind knocked against the walls of the drama club as a Red Deer studied in the studio of the building. A large personal room for the main actor only. He’s played the main role many times before but there were always mistakes to fix, mistakes that needed to prove how perfect this club is to the newer students.
Sheets of paper laid in front of Louis as he questioned himself who would suit what role. Being the major lead of the club, it was his job to see how this cast could improve, what needed to be changed, which average actors can easily be replaced. Tao definitely couldn’t handle the show: he’s out.
Crossing out the name of the actor, he looked around through the limited number of animals who could take the character with a villainous form in some shape or way. Even just their gaze could help their chances on taking this next part, but there weren’t many to go off of. He could probably pull someone from the art department, but they’re there for a reason. This next show had to be perfect, otherwise everyone would see through their club and judge how horrible they are. Two spots needed to be filled in and-
knock knock knock
A slight voice came through with a crack.
“Excuse me, Louis?” Ugh, Legosi.
Louis stood up and strode to the door, partly wondering if he could just not respond at all, but decided against it. Turning the knob and looking upwards at the wolf, he imagined the scene flawlessly from memory with Tao replaced by Legosi, it was perfect. His daunting eyes, large form, tall stature, unpleasant face, that wolf would’ve fit the role easily. Was he even an actor though?
“Louis?”
“What do you want, Legosi?”
“I wanted to get confirmation with some lighting adjustments I made.. would you care to hear?” The wolf looked anxious to be talking to him at all, seeming like a child trying to confront their crush.
Louis backed away from the door to allow the latter to come in, staying silent as he walked back to the desk.
“I was wondering if.. for one of the fighting scenes, we could switch the colored filters..”
The deer was beyond distracted from both the unnecessary hand gestures he made while talking and thoughts of what he would look like on stage. He works on the lighting crew, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t want to become an actor. Just maybe..
“which I really believe could highlight the battle since it isn’t exactly-”
“Have you experienced in any acting before?” Louis interrupted him from his long orate that he was going to respond with yes in the end anyway.
He stuttered in response. “Uh-u-uhm, no, I haven’t. I work a part of the production crew if you-”
“Can you act?” His voice was now firm and demanding, truly hoping he could get the actual horror image of a ghoul like him into the play. He would have to put him through very long practices but it’ll all be worth it in the end when the drama club keeps its reputation for being the best.
“I haven’t really tried before, but I’m probably guessing n-”
The cervid cut him off once again by throwing one of his spare scripts at him, already flipped and folded to the page with the character in mind. Legosi looked at it apprehensively, not wanting much to do with going up in front of hundreds of animals.
“Louis, I don’t have much knowledge with things like this, I only know how to maintain the lights.”
“Give an attempt,” he ordered, waiting and watching for it to unfold.
Reading the script and sweating, Legosi responded quite plainly, like an elementary school play. “You.. lose the girl or lose your soul..” A small growl glittered in his throat but the aggression ended there.
Louis sighed, only having one more idea to bring his image to life. “Show your teeth when you deliver and show more hostility.”
“T-that- that’s not allowed!” The other stammered, really wanting to avoid this conversation. What even sparked the deer to think of this? “Baring your fangs to an herbivore is considered-”
“I’m NOT just an HERBIVORE.” Louis was stood up from his chair and now tightly squeezed to crumple a sheet of paper he held. Getting called out for being weak was one of his greatest disturbances. He wasn’t weak. He refused to accept he couldn’t fight for himself.
“I’m sorry to agitate you, I’ll get going.”
The wolf turned around, but he couldn’t let him escape. He quickly walked around the desk to the slow ambling canine by the door frame. He prowled close by thinking of all the actions he could take, and the many more harming decisions he could do to take his frustration out.
The wolf had noticed his sudden appearance behind him guessing that he would want the door shut, but never expected being shoved against the wall by it. He was held down with a hand forcing the entire deer’s weight on his chest. Legosi easily could use his strength to take him aside and walk off, even so he was as frozen as a statue, jittering in fear.
“I want to see your fangs,” Louis stated prominently. He wasn’t scared of carnivores like him, or anyone in general. He was raised to know it’s either you live for the world or live to be eaten, and he wasn’t just livestock anymore.
Legosi stood and stared straight back at him showing his agitation through his eyes. Blank. Panicked.
A hand slithered up to his muzzle and forced his jaw open. What the hell was he doing?
“I’m sick of you cowards who can’t use their own strength. Show me who you really are.”
Fingers slipped in between his teeth, asking to be bitten down on. He didn’t know what to do in a situation like this so he stayed silent.
Louis was getting annoyed at his persistence. He forced himself deeper to feel a sharp tooth poke at his index finger. “SHOW ME WHO YOU ARE.” The threat boomed out his throat as a wolf struggled under his control. He had the strength to escape, but he couldn’t understand why he didn’t use it.
They stood in their position with an atmosphere too thick for either of them to make another move. Prey and predator, but the roles had reversed.
The door creaked open suddenly to reveal a brown mongoose, finally, something to break the tension.
“Hey, Louis, I was wondering if..” Kai saw the scene play out. A wolf pinned to the wall by a smaller deer looking straight into his eyes. What would the context of this be?
“What did I tell you about knocking Kai.” Louis’ hand retreated from realizing the reality of the situation. It was a one-sided argument that lasted longer than it should have. His head was turned toward the window across the room to clear the fact he did this at all, completely ignoring the presences in the room.
The confused animal slowly backed out the door sending his apologies, a wolf following the direction. The door was shut seconds after coming in leaving a deer alone to think on his own.
He has it all: strength, power, structure, and he only hides it in the shadows. Why couldn’t he be born a wolf like him. Why couldn’t he be a carnivore. Why couldn’t he be something he accepted.