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On a warm early afternoon, with the bustle of the city rising up to the balcony of his flat, Legosi stood, glancing down at his phone, at the stream of messages spewing forth from WhatsApp
“You're popular” Louis said, from inside the apartment, idling drinking his tea as he heard the constant clicks from the app on Legosi's' phone, signalling one message coming in after another.
“It's not important” Legosi said, in his usual mono tone way, glancing back at Louis before skimming over his apartment... again.
He was sure he had tidied the place up thoroughly, doing so the second Louis had sent him a text asking if he could pop over to catch up.
Catching his glance, Louis gave his now familiar faint grin and said “You keep glancing around the flat as if I should be offended. Its nice”
Legosi, ears subconsciously falling flat in embarrassment “I know it's not as nice as the apartment you had at school”
Louis nodded, conceding the point. The residents he had been given when attending high school had been extravagant, not even for a student. “That was a scholarship residency. Since my father passed away...” Louis said, pausing at the tiny self made reminder of his fathers death the previous year “I'm on a trust fund. Father specifically wanted me to live through University on a restricted budget. My residents I share with 3 other students is about as big as your dorm room back at Cherryton High”
Louis stretched out, leaning back from his sitting position on the floor as he let his head fall on Legosi's bed. “Despite the location, this is pleasant. You have good neighbours.... odd, but good. And back to your popularity. Need to go somewhere?”
“No NO” Legosi said, hurriedly holding his arms out as if to stop Louis from leaving. “I like it when you visit. It doesn't happen often and... it's really nice when I get to spend time”
Louis' grin faltered slightly at the abrupt and very Legosi like frankness he had just been thrown. Louis generally thought to himself from time to time that, he honestly believed he had gotten to open up a bit since he days at high school. He didn't try to look down his nose at people, didn't try to give off the air of superiority that had been drilled into him since his adoption. He sometimes liked to use his interactions with Legosi as examples of his internal change, in how they behaved together... but Legosi would every so often just throw out a raw totally upfront and honest comment about something like their new found friendship. It didn't both Louis about the meaning behind it. He shared it. He just...
… dammit I just cannot bring myself to be as unrestrained as you Legosi. Its a personality quirk that is annoying and annoyingly charming at the same time.
“It's just the guys” Legosi continued, not noticing the slight change in Louis.
“Guys?” Louis asked, taking another sip of tea.
“My old dorm room friends, Jack, Collot, Voss, Miguno and Durham.” Legosi answered. “You know Jack don't you? He's taking the same course as you in the year below”
“Yes, the overly friendly Labrador. We've spoken on occasion” Louis said easily.
“Well they were just saying they were heading to Bstrike” Legosi
“Oh” Louis said, unable to stop a grin from forming. “To… um... play that ball catch game I've heard about”
It was an interesting sight Louis thought, seeing a many hundred pound giant of fur and muscle pout. It would have looked out of place on any wolf other than Legosi.
“I hate it when people bring it up, like we are doing something shameful” Legosi said, huffing.
Noting his friends expression, Louis put his tea down before continuing. “I didn't mean to make fun. But you must admit, out of all the things beasts do in there, it does seem to be kind of the odd one out”.
Legosi, slightly placated, replied with “Well, what do deer do in there?”
“Well” Louis started, using his lecturing tone before staring blankly ahead and shutting his mouth.
“Well...?” Legosi asked
“... I don't know actually” Louis admitted. “I never went there as a child. Father never took me . I assumed he thought it was too... bestial”
“Well, you can google it” Legosi said, sitting down, interested in what someone like Louis would do in his spare time in a place like Bstrike.
Bstrike was an establishment where beasts could... well, be beasts. A place all species of all varieties could scratch that particular itch that society as a whole typically said was not acceptable. The building was filled with giant rope scratching pads for the felines, thick hammocks for the marsupials to make them think of time in their mothers pouch and even the infamous Catch and Retrieve area for canines. A room entirely filled with a box that shot out balls every so often and would shout out congratulations if you got the ball back to it as fast a possible. Legosi had no idea why, but the concept of just handing a ball back to something was ridiculously satisfying.
He had trouble though thinking what deer would do. Deer, in beast society, typically where reserved and serious, most going or atleast aiming for management roles or legal roles. Basically anything that required a suit and that they could brag about in bars.
Louis glanced at his phone for a while before looking back at Legosi, somewhat annoyed. “Cannot find anything. Nothing concrete anyway.”
“Well.... if you cannot find out online... why not try first hand?”
Cut to an hour later
“It's so cool you're joining us Louis-Sempai” Jack said, grinning broadly, tail wagging as the others in the group followed shortly behind, catching up with Legosi.
“If I'm honest, it's mostly out of curiosity”Louis said, looking around at the interior of the Bstrike building. “I tried to find out what other deer do here to unwind but every forum effectively said 'none of your business'”
“Well its not a huge surprise. There are hundreds of species out there. Usually one city has around 20 Bstrikes, each one usually offering services for a different species. We are just lucky that this place caters for both Canines and Deer, along with a couple other species.” Jack chipped in.
“On that note, we are on this floor” Collot, the English Sheepdog said over to Jack and Louis. “I'm not 100% but usually I see Deer on the higher levels”
“Oh, there's some luck. There's someone who might be able to help you” Jack said, pointing Louis to a Deer businessman, fully dressed up as a typical big city middle manager, from black suit to a modern brief case.
He looks around 40. So I guess this place isn't just for kids, Louis thought, relief palpable.
“Ok. I still don't know if I need anything.... gym cloths are something” Louis mumbled. He had meant the comment only to himself, before remembering he was around a small crowd of dogs (plus one looming wolf), all with excellent hearing.
“I wouldn't worry about it. It doesn't look like he has something like a tracksuit in there. And if you do need one, you can either skip on this and head straight for the baths upstairs or quickly buy one” Legosi offered.
“Alright...” Louis said, turning to the pack. He had to use a lot of self control not to make a snide comment on the groups soon to be activities. “I'll meet you upstairs then in the mixed species baths in an hour”
By the time he had uttered the last word, most of the pack where through the door, obviously desperate to get in line for one of the “Fetch” rooms. Legosi stood around however.
“I don't know if this will help but the first time I came here, with Jack and some other dogs from school a few years back, I was sceptical. I had no idea if I would like it until I gave it a proper go. I don't know what you guys do in your section of Bstriker but.... I don't know, keep an open mind”
Louis grinned, both happy at Legosi's bumbling attempt to calm him with his speech, and the implication that he had something to be worried about at all.
“They're deer. As having been one for a good 19 years, I think I know what to expect” Louis said, in an not unkind tone, as he waved Legosi off to catch up with his other friends.
Seeing him nod and go through the Canines section of the floor, Louis looked over and power walked to catch up with the businessman he had seen earlier.
There was no point lying or being embarrassed. He would just ask this stranger for some basic information on the floor so he could prepare himself.
“Hello?” Louis called out “Excuse me?”
The deer, almost as tall as Legosi with long winding antlers, turned to Louis in mild confusion.
“Yes, can I help you?” He asked, in a rather light tone.
“Yes, urm. This might sound strange and a bit abrupt but...” Louis started.
The look of confusion slowly gave way to a broad grin “Are you new here?” he asked
“Yes” Louis replied, almost sounding like he was apologising and a bit relieved. “I've never... had the chance to come here.”
“Thats fine, thats fine” The Deer said, gently placing his hand on Louis's shoulder as he guided on to the level for there kind. “You're a good age to have your first session. Horns fully grown”
Louis nodded politely. The term 'Horns fully grown' was just one of those phrases adult Deer used as a marker for growing up. It didn't signify adult hood, but at least one of the stepping stones to it.
“My names Aki” The deer said, offering his hand. “I work at Defensive Measures. A company that supplies body armour for the police units around the country. Middle Management.”
Louis replied back “I'm Louis. I'm at university at the moment, studying . 2 nd year”, shaking the offered hand quickly.
'Middle Management' Louis thought with an internal snigger. Just like how Canines had their own social habits, such as near aggressive embraces, the urge to smell one another as a way of catching up and other things, deers had their own odd social queues.
For instance, for deers, social standing between two strangers would usually involve adding something like their job title to their introductions, or make some statement suggesting how wealthy you were (for example, clearly indicate if you were wearing a Rolex or something or mention you sports car if you owned one). This was nothing more then a way of measuring their worth to one another. It was considered odd and a bit vulgar to other species, but to deer, top earners were instantly held in greater esteem over low level pen pushers.
However, in today's modern world the system had become horribly intricate, as Louis' father had told him. For instance, Louis was now considered the junior of the pair, between him and Aki, not because of his age but because he was still a student and not an earner. If Louis however subtly added that he was the sole air to a fortune and major stocks in a high value business, Louis would then take over the senior position...
… but it was also considered polite not to mention something inherited or been given, so the socially responsible thing to do was to not mention it straight away but mildly add it to conversation but also add subtle clues with body languages to say you were happy to remain junior to-
'… the whole thing is ridiculous' Louis thought. ' Just something to show the pettiness inside one beast species. Deers have always tried to put on a show of nobility and self importance... like I did in school'
“Everything OK Louis?” Aki asked, leaning down slightly to meet Louis eye to eye.
“Yes yes” Louis replied kindly. “Sorry, just a little hesitant. Before we reach the Cervidae room, can you explain to me what to expect? I would prefer not to make a fool of myself first time visiting”
“Oh don't worry” Aki said with a rather reserved smile “If you are unsure, stick with me. I'm aiming to be first up. Just watch first to get your eye in, then I suggest you give it a go”
“Urmm. Give what a go?” Louis asked, uncertainty popping into his voice. He saw Aki about to answer him before he nearly walked into the approaching door.
“Ah, here we are” Aki said simply, opening both doors and offering Louis to enter first.
Louis did hesitantly before he got a look around the room they had entered.
“...a forest” Louis muttered, looking around at the scenery.
It was obvious to Louis that the area around him was not a real forest, if only by size, but the room had been made to look like a small opening in a ring of trees. There was even real grass beneath Louis' one real foot and the walls that could be seen where painted to look like a clear blue sky.
“It's nice” Louis said, already relieved as he saw multiple other deer idly chatting to one another around the main ring of trees.
“So is this it? Some kind of... communing with nature thing?” Louis asked, as he looked back at the central area, spotting a large white ring marking some sort of central area.
“Hmm, you can interpret it that way. Quick question actually, when did you last shed?” Aki asked.
Louis, a little taken aback by the question replied “... I shed my antlers about 5 months ago. Why is that important?”
“Well you see-” Aki began, before spotted one particular deer and him over. “Yammat, good to see you”
The deer, much broader and heavily built then Aki turned from the conversation he was having and grinned.“Aki. And I see you brought an 8 th . That's perfect. Been waiting around for a hour” His reply was just as soft spoken as Aki's.
8 th ? Louis thought
“Ok, close it up” One of the other deer said as another walked to some button on one of the walls.
“Turns on a light above the door outside” Aki said, directing his attention back to Louis. “To say we reached capacity. Anyway, it would be easier if I just showed you then explain.”
“Ok...” Louis said, hesitantly.
“Alright, time to get started” Yammat said happily, looking over the 7 other deer around him. “Now then....” And with that, in one quick yank, practically tore off his suit and shirt, leaving him bear chested. “WHICH ONE OF YOU ****ERS WANTS A PIECE!!!”
….........................what? Louis thought.
“Well I said I would show this fine young man here the ropes before he had a go” Aki said, replying in the same civil tone as before, as if the person infront of him hadn't just vocally assaulted him. “So I guess...” And in the same brutal manner, threw down his tie, suit, shirt and glasses to the ground before yelling “I'LL TAKE A PIECE YOU **** SON OF A *****!”
… Oh God. Oh God, whats going on, Louis thought desperately as suddenly the very nature of not just Aki and Yammat, but every other deer around him turned from polite civility to... well.
“YEAH, RIP HIM TO PIECES YAMMAT!” One other deer screamed
“HIS BEEN IN TOP PLACE FOR TOO LONG AKI, TAKE HIM DOWN!!” screamed another
“... what's going on. Is this a cult?” Louis said in a small, almost scared voice as he turned from one insane deer to another.
“This is just something we do to get the blood boiling” Aki said, his voice coming over hoarse and deeper, as he continued to strip down, until he was left only in his underwear. “oh do me a favour, can you tie up my arms?”
Louis felt like his brain was shutting down. Starring at this adult aged deer, mostly naked and casually asking Louis to perform some basic bondage on him.
“Is there a gas leak or something?!” Louis asked, turning from deer to deer hoping someone had retained some level of sanity.
“Eh, dont worry about it. I'll do it” One other deer said, coming over and taking some the white strips he had on his person and started to bind Aki's arms behind his back. It took only a few seconds before the other deer asked “That good for you?”
“Yeah, perfect” Aki, said, standing tall, his arms tightly held behind his back as he stepped into the white ring area “OK THEN LETS GET STARTED. YOU READY!?” He voice once again bellowing.
“RIGHT, EVERYONE, GIVES US A TIMER!” Yammat said standing opposite Aki.
Louis, just standing awkwardly next to the other rioting deer, remained silent and lost as all around him counted down from five.
Four!
Threee!!
TWOOOOOO!!!
OOOONNNNNNNEEEEEE!!!!!!
And then they charged. Aki and Yammat in a mad rush, both bent down, rammed into one another, both their antlers giving off a dull thud as they connected and then locked into one another.
“... its wrestling” Louis said, finally clocking on to what the hell he was watching.
“Of course!” One young buck cried next to Louis. “What did you think it was?!”
Louis made a tiny glance to the pile of clothes that Aki had discarded before mumbling “Nothing worth mentioning in polite company...”
“Fair enough” The buck said before turning back to the fight. “Come on. Cheer for your favourite. Thats the second best part! Next to going in there anyway!”
Louis titled his head away from the buck, annoyed at the raw volume from him, but finding no salvation to the other side. The deer there were screaming just as obnoxiously, shouting out cheers and obscenities with abandon.
Instead of cheer, Louis just decided to watch the match to get an idea for the rules. And it seemed the rules were simple.... in the fact that there were no apparent rules.
The competitors arms were bound beforehand and thrown into the ring. And once in, both men seemed fine to either enter a reverse tug of war with their antlers locked together or change tactic and knee or kick the opponent. Nothing they weren't already restricted from seemed to be against the rules.
Aki was doing his best, but the raw muscles of Yammat seemed to put the fight on his side. That was until Aki, horns still locked with Yammats, titled his entire body upwards in an attempt to raise both his and Yammats posture. Despite the ground he lost doing it, just before he was about to be pushed out the white circle, Aki viscously kicked the side of one of Yammat's legs, toppling him.
Disengaging the antler tug match, Aki kicked Yammat in the chest and a second time in the side of his ribs, downing the bigger deer.
At this point the fight was over. It turned out getting to your feet with you hands tied behind you back was not easy. A task made near impossible when someone stood above you kicking out at you without a shred of sympathy.
“Alright. Alright. I'm done!” Shouted Yammat on the ground, wheezing as he said it.
Aki, mid kick, stopped. A cheer went up through the crowd as Aki stood tall, grinning broadly to everyone outside the ring before turning to Louis and walking over.
“And...there you have it...” Aki said, having to stop every few words to catch his breath.
“...Right” Louis said, again at a slight loss for words before simply saying “... well done”
“Thanks” Aki said, turning away from an approaching deer who was both congratulating him and removing the arm restraints. “Now.... your turn”
Louis froze “...no” Was all he said, not a drop of uncertainty in his voice.
“Come on, get it over with. If you lose you won't need to take part in any other rounds. Its knockout tournament rules.
“But... I can't fight. I DON'T fight!” Louis said, for once the volume of his voice matching that of the other maniacs in the room.
“Why not? This is the whole point. Have a go and see if it lights a fire in you. Come one” Aki said encouragingly.
“I can't fight. I only have one leg” Louis said, raising the hem of his jeans to show his artificial leg. As he was about to defend him coming there, saying he had made it clear he didn't know what was going to happen, Aki simply cut in saying “Oh, neat”
“... yes. And in a match like you had, I would say a good reason not to get in the ring” Louis said, now sounding like he was talking to a toddler.
Aki, unphased just looked down at the leg and back up to Louis' gaze. “Well, if you say so. I don't see a problem”
Louis felt his mouth hang open. He tried to close it and reply but nothing came out as he just felt at a true loss for words.
Finally, after a good five seconds silence Louis finally said “... this really won't be a problem?”
“No. You could probably use it in the fight” Aki said, rubbing his chin.
“How?” Louis asked.
“I dunno. Any way you can release it? Maybe shoot it out at the opponent in a surprise?” Aki said sounding more exited as Louis just felt more lost. “It could be your signature attack. You could call it “The Louis Leg Launch”. How does that sound?”
Before Louis could formulate something sarcastic and irate (something he was having a much harder time with things so out of his control at the moment), another deer walked up. He looked roughly Louis' age.
“Ok. I'm good for the next match. How about you?” He asked Louis.
Louis, looking from the eager deer, to the other grinning expectant deer around him and finally back to Aki, with a sigh of defeat said “... fine”
Cut to an hour later,
Within the top floor of Bstrike, the baths were separated into many different areas. Most were sectioned off to the various species the floors of this Bstrike catered to. But to one small area was a mixed species bathing area. Not commonly used, Legosi and the boys all waited in the shared bath, soaking, chatting and relaxing.
“I still can't believe Voss caught that last ball” Callot said glancing over to the tiny Fennec Fox “That thing sent you flying.”
“Still got it in in time” Voss said triumphantly
“Only after Legosi picked you up and threw you and the ball to the machine” Jack said, causing a ripple of laughter out from the gang.
“Sorry about that Voss” Legosi murmured. “Got over excited”
“All good. Teamwork baby!” Voss shouted out, the chant repeated by the others a second later.
Legosi, slummed inside the bath and giving off a satisfied sigh suddenly started sniffing at the air. “Oh Louis is coming” He said, raising slightly from the bath to look at where he smelled his deer friend from.
Spotting him Legosi started “Oh Louis. We are over-”
“YOU SONS OF *****S, THERE YOU ALL ARE!”
Every piece of canine chatter ended in a second as all turned, wide eyed, slack jawed and brain shut down, at the approaching figure of Louis.
The silence, almost as deafening as Louis' booming introduction, was broken from the thud and click of Louis's real and metal foot as he approached Legosi.
Legosi, who liked to think he knew Louis much better then the others at the pool seemed infinity more shocked at the deer before him. Not only due to the volume Louis had used to shatter the serenity of the pool, or even the profanity (which to Legosi's memory he could not recall Louis ever using a word more vulgar then darn). It was the state he was in. He looked...
“...were you attacked?” Legosi asked, his voice a flat tone as he took in every cut, patch of missing fur and marks that he knew would all turn into bright bruises soon. He had gotten out of the bath after fetching and tying a towel around his waste before meeting to intercept Louis.
Louis though only smiled wider... which was in its own way quite horrifying to Legosi. He had seen Louis smile before, but never so... toothy and broad. “Yep! Don't worry, beat the **** out of him far more!” He said, settling down his volume slightly, but still...
The voice Louis was putting on was.... just not his voice. At least not to Legosi. It wasn't the calm measure tones he usually used but something more akin to a live sports combinator would use, or someone trying to be overheard a few meters from a tower of speakers at a rock concert.
This was unimportant however. “Wait, you were in a fight?!” Legosi shouted in horror, grabbed Louis by the shoulders and looking him up and down.
“How on earth did you get into a fight here?” Jack said in mirrored shock.
Voss however added into the new silence “Are we just going to gloss over the fact he called us sons of -”
“Later” Collot said, cutting off the small Fennick Fox
Louis, seeming surprised at everyones reactions turned to look Legosi eye to eye. “What's the problem. As I said I won. The little **** nearly had me but after I used my Louis Leg Launch I-”
“Hold that thought” Legosi said calmly, holding up a finger to Louis as he let him go and walked over to one of the bath house walls. He spotted one of the washing tubs used to rinse off shampoo once outside the soaking tub, and filled it quickly with some water from a shower head on the wall.
He then calmly walked back over to Louis who had been continuing the commentary with Jack, who looked unable to come back with any sort of sensible response.
“Hey Louis” Legosi asked calmly
“Yes mate, what is it-” Louis began before Legosi lifted the tiny tub in his hands above Louis' head and tipped the freezing cold water over him.
In a sense at least part of Louis seemed back to normal as the boisterous attitude was replaced first with understandable shock to a form of anger that Legosi atleast recognised from the deer.
“You stupid mutt!” Louis spat back, holding up his wet towel to maintain his modesty as he glared up to Legosi. “What the hell do you... think...... you.........are.......”
Eyes widening as Louis looked from the worried wolf infront of him and then to the pack, also looking concerned.
“...oh.... oh no” Louis said staring now off into nothing.
“What happened Louis?” Legosi asked, again taking Louis's shoulders to voice him to meet him eye to eye.
“.... I think I joined the cult”
Some time later, with a mortally embarrassed Louis having joined the canines in the pool and recounting the story to them, had slowly caused the worry on the others to turn to a mixture of interest and amusement.
“I don't know when it happened.” Louis said, holding his hands over his eyes, mostly so he wouldn't have to meet anyone's gaze. “At one point, even whilst in the ring, trying to just survive the fight I was in I was thinking the whole thing was some testosterone fuelled drug trip I alone was immune to... then.... then I just started getting into the spirit of it.”
“That really doesn't sound like your sort of thing” Legosi said mildly.
“I KNOW!” Louis shouted back to the wolf. The statement was not said in anger but more loud agreement. “Before the match started I was an a-typical deer in the headlights amongst those lunatics, and after the match-”
“Congrats on winning” Voss added in.
“Thanks” Louis shot in before continuing “I was right there next to them, shouting, swearing, cheering like a lunatic over anything even slightly violent.”
“... I am sorry Louis” Legosi said, ears flat and voice heavy with self recrimination.
It would be so easy to stay angry at Legosi. I'm usually so good at that... but , Louis thought
“It's not your fault, you big dumb wolf. You couldn't have know. I didn't know... I just do not like the idea of that persona being a part of me.”
A few uncomfortable seconds followed before it was broken by Voss adding “Still.... who knew deer were such badasses behind closed doors”
“Voss!” The other canines reprimanded as Voss held up two tiny arms up saying “It is! It sounds epic as hell in there. Also, if all the men beat the hell out of each other, what do the women do. They don't have antlers for this weird wrestling thing”
Louis looked rather bemused at this. “I remember asking that and being told, flatly that they have a first aid station for the male fights if things get rough, and an emergency ambulance reserved and on call for the females for the same reason.”
“Oh god that's hot” Voss muttered
With a sigh and a look over to the large clock on the central wall Jack added“We better get out. Our time us up soon”
All mumbled their agreement, Louis more then the others as he winced leaving the tub. The bruises were not up yet, but the pain behind them had decided to call early whilst Louis was in the bath.
Legosi made an effort not to say anything to Louis, but did make a point of sitting down, near the edge of the tub to at least offer a shoulder to help Louis out.
From both pain and with only one usable leg, Louis sucked in his pride and did take a hold of the wolfs shoulder to give him purchase getting up. After tying the towl around his waste he did give a genuine thanks to his friend for the silent help.
Legosi was left smiling as his tail smacked back and forth against the bath wall.
It was a few minutes later as the group changed in separate parts of the locked room did Louis, still trying to repress the days events, spotted Jack approaching from the side, putting on his shirt.
“Louis” He said, obviously trying to start a conversation as he approached.
“Hello Jack” Louis replied blandly, trying to give off the air of someone not in the mood for a talk. It wasn't his old coldness to anyone that wasn't.... well, anyone. But more Louis deciding his quota for social interactions for the day was filled.
“Hi” Jack repeated, grinning broadly, missing or ignoring the hint. “I wanted to thank you by the way. You coming here, with us”
Louis shrugged “It's not problem”
“Well that's a lie.” Jack said happily before continuing. “But I'm serious. Its a great time saver on research.”
Louis, dumbfounded turned, full attention on Jack. “What?”
“Research. We are both doing a degree Multi Race Social Studios. I'm planning on doing a dissertation on Bstrike. Or atleast starting with that as a premise to show how social pressures keeps the various sections of Bstrike financially successful”
“Thats.... well. That is interesting” Louis said, a drop of uncertainty in his voice.
“Well there is a lot of subtext and social history behind each room. The fact I know deers use the rooms to vent repressed aggression makes perfect sense.”
“How so?” Louis asked, halting on changing and giving Jack his full attention.
“Ok, first lets take the canine area. You know what we do in there, right?” Jack asked, sitting down opposite Louis.
“Yes” Louis replied with a grin.
“Yes, go ahead and smirk. But tell me, honestly, why do you think that room satisfies us. And don't give a 'Dogs and Wolfs are weird' answer”
Louis sighed, crossed his arms and tried to give it some real thought. Eventually he had to shrug and turn back to Jack. “No idea”
“Bstrike is an institution around 60 years old. When the owner first opened, all the rooms where roughly the same. Just big play areas people could 'Go Wild' in. And it was vaguely successful but no where near the empire it is today. So the owner, Nick Strike, hired a profession social anthropologist to find out what each room could contain if tailor made for each beast genus.”
“Ok” Louis said, now openly interested.
“Guys, you coming?” Collot asked from one side of the changing room.
“We will catch up” Jack said before continueing. “He both asked other people in his field but each belonging to various races. The canine anthropologist, a wolf, when asked, designed a room not for violence or anything physically agressive but, as he put it “Something to help fight off the BBW effect”
“BBW?” Louis asked.
“Before I answer, hypherphetical question.... if you had kids, and wanted to teach them of the dangers of preditors, how would you do it?” Jack asked
“What?!” Louis shot back in shock at the sudden change in topic.
“It is related, it is related” Jack repeated, holding his hands up defensively. “Studies show most parents dont just tell their children about what canivors can do directly. Instead, along with generic advice like 'dont talk to strangers' they use childrens stories. Like folktales. Can you think of any old childrens stories that invole a carnivor eating a herbivor”
Louis, unsure about this turn in the conversation muttered to himself before replying “Little Red Riding Hood”
“Yes, perfect. Any others?”
“Urm.... The Three Pigs?” Louis added
“Yep. And... ok, the boy who cried wolf.”
“Yes” Louis conceed.
“Ok... any other childrens stories that don't involve a wolf being the villian?” Jack asked
Louis opened his mouth to reply. And then stopped. And then he thought.
“....no” He said finally.
“No” Jack agreed. “Wolfs are almost exclusively used as the carnivore bad guy in herbivore child stories. When they were making these stories they never used big cats, like lions and tigers. Because, due to some reason lost to history, people usually look at big cats with a sense of nobility”
“King of the jungle. Kind of the savanna...” Louis added.
“Yep. And other big carnivores get lumped into other groups. People long ago just decided that wolfs should be the big bad guy when a story needed a scary meat eating villian. A BBW”
Louis paused before realisation struck and guessed “Big Bad Wolf?”
“Exactly. And that biased is reflected in sociaty. And dogs and other canines are not excluded from it.”
Louis paused. He had no reason to argue with Jack on this. Both because he was a dog and had first hand expericne with this but also because, in his second year of Social Studies, he remembered hearing some figures that reflected Jack's theory.
“So, this anthropologist designed a place where other canines could go and well, be told that they were appreciated. That some innocent task once completed would be rewarded with a heartfelt (even if not real) thank you. And it has to come from something that isn't necessarliy another canine. Thats important.”
“Why?” Louis asked.
“Because it isn't about another dog or wolf coming over and doing it. It has to be someone outside of the pack, the species that says 'Hey, you did a great job. Thank you'. The fact that room exists and has dogs and wolves and other canines flocking to should give you an idea of the sort of passive distrust Canines naturally get in society compared with other beats.”
“I'm... well, I'm very sorry to hear this” Louis said, not sure what else he could say.
Jack waved him off. “I didn't say all this to get a pity party started. Most canines can generate and get positive reinforment from eachother fine. We're pack animals. This was just one snippet on the history and social reflection on just one room. I dont think any of the rooms are as straight forward as just 'hey, I bet deer in secret are all violent psyciopaths'”
Louis grinned. “Thank you for that.... lets get going. The others are still probably waiting near the entrance.”
“Yeah” Jack agreed as he picked up his shoes to put on. “Thanks for hearing me out”
“No, thank you” Louis replied genuinly. “That was... very interesting”
Jack just grinned, his tale flicking back and forth like crazy. Spotting this and Jack spotting Louis' mild surprise looked embrassed. “Sorry. You said thanks. I still have a bit of a buzz from the fetch room”
Finding himself back in a good mood, something he would thank Jack for later, finished changing and walked out with Jack.
“Can I tell you something Jack” Louis offered, decided to open up a bit in offering for Jack's talk.
“Go ahead” Jack asked.
“I think I know what really first set me off. It wasn't the fighting, really. Or the vulgar nature sucking me in.... I think it was when I first mentioned my leg”
Jack, confused, short a look down at Louis' artificial leg before looking back to meet the deers face “How so?”
“Well, when I first mentioned my leg, it was as a crutch. A reason not to take part. And I expected the sort of reaction I usually first get when I have to show someone my leg. A vague discomfort and mild coddling.”
“That happens often?” Jack asked.
“In some form or another yes. Even if it is just mild concern about whether it hurts or something. Reasonable reactions and sometimes justfied. But in there... nothing”
“Nothing? As in they weren't bothered by it?” Jack offered.
“Precisly. All them gave off the air that, within those walls, there was no judgement, negative or positive. Even when someone lost of won, people stopped caring as soon as they were out. No pecking order or social structure. The fact that we were fighting just felt like a... well, like a focal point for it.”
Jack grinned broadly. “Thats the sort of thing I was talking about. Thank you Louis.”
“No problem” He said.
Spotting that they had walked on auto pilot to near the inside entrance to Bstrike, Louis spotted the others to the side of the doors chatting, in a small waiting room full of pictures.
“Nice you could join us” Voss called from Legosi's shoulder, befond the wolfs giant hand gently clamped down on the fox's jaw. “Be nice Voss”.
“Ok, well that was a good days out.... and one we won't be blabbing about to others, will we” Collot said.
As one they all said “Nope”, except for Louis.
“Go ahead” He said easily.
“What, really?” Legosi said in surprise
Louis smirked. A couple years ago he probaly would have tried to bribe or threaten the pack in some way to keep their silence, just like how he tried to paid off Haru when he antlers fell out or threatened Bill with a gun when he found out about his upbringing. Now though... it just seemed unimportant.
“I remember clearly making fun of the Canine Room at some points in my past. Seems only fair you all get the same chance”
All members of the pack grinned at this and as one, started to walk out.
As Louis mused on the events of the day, reflecting on how might have reacted if he had come to this odd building at a younger age, he stopped as Legosi placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Urm... whilst we were waiting here... I spotted something” he said, for some reason seeming embrassed.
“Whats that” Louis asked, bemused at the wolfs expression.
Legosi, now silent and still standing in the picture room to the side of the entrance, pointed over to a section of frames
Louis looking around finally, taking in the area. It was a wall of fame. Basically dedicated to those who had done something for Bstrike, most likely financially sponsered or invested in it. Looking at the area and walking towards it he saw a small assortment or various people. Some he recognised as movie and TV stars. A musician. And a...
.... Louis felt his body halt in mid motion as he looked directly at the picture Legosi had indicated, of a broad shoulded Deer, grinning wildly forward, one of his antlers half cracked and one swollen eye visble behind his glasses.
...Even with the injureis, Louis could easily resognise the face of his adoptive father looking right back at him, with an alarmingly wide grin plasted on his face.