Louis
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Description
At what appears to a full height of 160cm (5'3") and with a weight of around 53kg (116 lbs) is a red deer. This stag sees to be on the scrawny side, yet his body is toned from regular exercise and physical activity. His form is covered in a pelt of a tawny beige coloration presenting a slightly lighter variation of appearance than other harts of his kind. His rack tends to grow in a symmetrical eight points, four per antler, providing some added sense of height to his otherwise diminutive body (for his species).
Large expressive eyes, light brown in hue, lead the way in body language. Youthful and without apparent physical marring about the face, this stag often wears business formal or business casual for most occasions. A crisp button-down shirt, a form fitting waistcoat, a defining suit coat, a tasteful tie, and well-pressed pants paint the image of an epic businessman, yet the deer wears a varied array of loose-fitting clothing when not working. While a nice pair of shoes are necessary for any outfit for plantigrade feet and legs, his right ankle shines with metal where his left is covered in the fabric of a sock.
From just below the knee down, his right leg is entirely prosthetic. Top of the line, it offers functionality and mobility over pretense of normality.
Background
Shi (Number Four) was born of unknown parents as part of the Black Market's livestock breeding and sales where he spent the first five years of his life. Not knowing how to read or write or even speak, his only companions and friends were a lop-eared rabbit, Kyuu (Number 9), and an alpaca, San (Number Three). They spoke their own language and became aware from a very young age that they were meant to die as food. Shi was rescued from this fate by Oguma, the CEO and Owner of Horns Conglomerate, by purchasing the young deer and then formally adopting him. This was in secret, though; Oguma's infertility was hidden from public knowledge and the young deer was introduced as his biological heir. Very very few knew otherwise.
Named Louis by his eccentric and enigmatic father, he spent most of his upbringing learning only the best and given every opportunity to grow, but there was always his father's shadow and great expectation heaped upon him. His father and the CEO of a partner company arranged for their children to be married when they become old enough to better secure the future of both businesses. Louis had little difficulty getting accepted into Cherryton Academy where his natural charisma and celebrity status quickly made him the most popular guy in school. Head Student of the Drama Department, focused only on his own gain and image, he and the other students were forced to deal with the murder of fellow drama student Tem, an alpaca, at the hands of a mysterious carnivore that ate him. Hurt by the memories of what happened to San, his grief was private but his showing of respect to the fallen was loyal.
The later kidnapping of his then current love interest, Haru, by a mysterious group only known as the Shishigumi left him desperate, but the Mayor of Denko, also a lion, refused to let the story hit the press by responding to the crime with force. Threatening Louis with the blackmail of exposing his history, the deer had no choice but to let it go and told fellow underclassman Legosi to leave it be. Legosi, however, managed to track down the Shishigumi and assault their base to rescue Haru. Louis secretly followed along. Legosi decided to leave Chief Lion, the Shishigumi boss, alive in his escape which nearly cost him his life. Louis stepped in, though, and murdered the boss with his pistol only to be cornered by the remaining Shishigumi. He knew it would happen, though, and was ready for this act of suicide on his terms. He hated everything about himself anyway.
Louis lived. Leading member Ibuki decided to make Louis the active boss for the gang. It worked far too well. The Shishigumi flourished, but on Louis' terms. Ibuki became a close father figure and Louis discovered that Ibuki himself was originally meant to be sold as parts on the Black Market. This lasted until he was approached by Legosi twice, once to let him know he knew who killed Tem and again, in disguise, to rally Louis' aid in the upcoming duel. Realizing the importance of his growing friendship with Legosi, Louis decided that he had to join Legosi for his duel and leave the Shishigumi. This resulted in Ibuki driving him there and giving him a gun with the chance to shoot and kill; otherwise, Ibuki was going to eat Louis alive for leaving the gang. Unable to do so, Ibuki began to attack but was shot dead by fellow loyal gang member Free.
Louis met with Legosi mid-duel only to discover that the wolf was faring poorly against the superior-in-strength bear, Riz, and offered Legosi the chance to eat him, to use that power to change and become something better. Louis lost half of his right leg but no more to Legosi and the duel continued until such a point that Riz surrendered and the cops took him into custody. Louis was given a prosthetic leg by his father and some time was spent in therapy learning to walk fully again while also graduating from Cherryton Academy and enrolling in Galdona University. During this time, the Shishigumi gained a new leader: a leopard and gazelle hybrid, Melon. Wanting to help the Shishigumi but not knowing how, Louis was at a loss until bad news struck: his father had been in a car accident and was now on his deathbed.
Fully realizing how much he loved his father and how much Oguma loved him, they were able to make peace before Oguma's passing. With his acceptance as the new CEO only days away, he meets up with Legosi to help him prepare for a massive four-gang turf war in the Black Market that Legosi is using to capture Melon. Now understanding just how much Legosi truly means to him, too, Louis inspires Legosi's efforts with a pact to fight the good fight together and gives much of his blood to mix with the wolf's in what is needed for his mixed-blood torch: a beacon of Carnivores and Herbivores joined together.
Late for the live broadcast of his inaugural ceremony and speech due to being hospitalized for anemia after giving blood for 'philanthropy', Louis hijacks the subject of the gathering to address the Black Market and the unspoken nature of Carnivores needing meat, using knowledge gained from the Shishigumi to call out specific cases to prove a point, which throws the people of Denko into a riot and Louis is carried away to be locked up in a room while he screams that the press needs to focus on the Black Market -now- because his friend is going to die. His behavior is blamed on the grief from his father's death. The Shishigumi witness the broadcast and leave their boss, Melon, behind to fight Legosi and break into the building, overpower security, and free Louis to take him back to the Black Market so that he can join Legosi in the conflict. However, all but Free give up to the police in their chase in order to allow Louis to make it. Free turns himself in afterward. Louis shows up to support his best friend, the rioting public unite to storm the Black Market, and Melon is eventually caught and carried off to jail.
Louis helps to push for the demolishing of the Black Market to make new homes and funded places to support the education, care, and social integration of hybrid animals. He and Azuki, now bound in a political loveless marriage, oversee the future of Horns Conglomerate. He also makes an expensive effort to release the former Shishigumi members and they, under legal probation, are hired on as personal bodyguards so that they can serve their remaining sentencing time through their service to Louis while he takes the forefront in pushing for peace and equality and total integration wherever it is needed.
Logs
- 2021-11-14 - Stunning Tricks and Quiet Whispers
- 2021-11-22 - What Darkness Lurks
- 2021-11-30 - An Honest Chat
- 2021-12-12 - Some Memories Need Healing
- 2022-01-04 Of Malls and Meetings
- 2022-02-24 - A Visit to the Louis Estate
- 2022-03-02 - It's Tutor Tamamoru!
- 2022-03-08 Business is War
- 2022-03-29 - Birthday Surprises
- 2022-03-29 - Birthday Surprises (Epilogue)
- 2022-08-21 - Oh Deer, A Surprise Announcement
- 2024-09-02 - Awake and Somehow Still Alive