The sounds of clacking keys and muffled phone calls seeped into my office as the day commenced and Summit Financial Services took its first breath of the day fulfilling its necessary role in today's world. With its first breath a stack of freshly printed loan applications appeared in the organiser on my desk, and in truth this was no magic but the effisentcy of our wonderful administrative assistant Nix.
Each a sign of her incredible professionalism and work ethic as they never failed to be neatly and properly separated into the most common reasons: weapon upgrades/creation, lair improvement/purchase, experimentation/lab funding, vehicle down payment, and the ever-enigmatic Misc. Section.
That girl is the best thing that's ever happened to this place. Most speedsters join the guild, so they can be like my favorite reason loan payments fail to come in on time, Velocity, That woman has caused more issues than the dunces in loan processing. But enough about that; don't want to ruin a good day. After all, today the 'misc' section is barren. It is always unnecessarily difficult to determine if world domination, parallel universe invasion, or start-up loans are good investments, as the market for such business is typically turbulent and unforgiving.
So with affairs in order and a happy swirl to my form I logged into the company computer and got to work.
However, within the first twenty minutes I was already rereading the details of a weapons loan for the third time when a stuttering knock brought my attention to the doorway of my office.
Jax our office floater stood in the doorway, his trademark dark eyes and ragged appearance making him look like he hadn't slept in a month and was running on double espresso, with anyone else I would have had to speak up about professional business attire as I believe people should have some class and be presentable when they leave their homes.
However, Jax's appearance was mainly due to his mutation, which kept him in a constant caffeinated state so I could excuse his behavior.
"Alastor, the boss wants to see you, asap," Jaxs spoke without energy or purpose, he was a hard worker and no one in this office could say outherwises, but he always sounded more like a marenet delivering some pupeters scripte than any actual person.
“Alright I will be up in a moment, just need to finish the paperwork to deny Bearlord’s ‘honey cannon’, I swear the loan consultants are getting lazier and lazier Jax, it seems like they just hand loans over to every middling wannabe with a mask that walks in.” I could feel my form squirm as the strands of green smog shifted and swirled in responce to my own agitation.
"Yeah, I wouldn't make him wait, Alastor. He seemed really peeved,"
"Peeved?"
"Yeah, he was all but crushing his desk with the grip he had on it."
"I see, In that case I will head up now then."
Locking my computer I stood strands of green smog wafting out from the gap between my black leather glove and my shirt sleeve as I performed the motion, “Thank you jax.” I said, checking to make sure my shirt was tucked in, my tie was straight, and attempeted to sweep the creases out of my pants.
As I worked to correct thesis rinkels the escaped waft of green smog that had escaped reluctantly slithered back between the gap of my glove and sleeve like an insurance company finally paying out a check.
always so chaotic
Once presentable, I took my fedora off the hook by the door sliping it on as I stepped out of my office.
The constant and repeating hallways of offices and cubabcles was… calming, and without anything to pull my attention from my thoughts they began taking center stage.
Why would the boss want to see me? I always fill out my paperwork, and I always check the financial state and credibility of every client to the best of my ability, so whatever he's mad at, it shouldn't be me. As far as I know, business is good other than the guild's annoying attempts to slow business, but that’s nothing new.
A lurch brought me back as I found myself standing alone, the number eighty glowing with a golden air and the typial tastlest music played as the doors remained motionless, so taking a moment I steadied myself, foucusing on my weave, my form solidifying, strands weaving together, then as my perception returned the elevator rang and the doors seperated.
I stepped out into a sparkling reception area covered in marble busts and rich decor.
A lavish-looking rug led to a large rounded desk in the middle of the room, behind which a behemoth pretending to be a set of dark wooden doors loomed.
"Mr. Lamont?"
Jumping back I focusing on the desk and came face to face with a sharp feitured petite woman her violet hair and matching glowing eyes looking directly ahead, as though looking straight through me rather than at me “Yes.”.
Her hand lifted seeming to float or bob in the air rather than rise of her own volition, her fingers pulling in such a slight movement I almost thought I had imagined it to form a gesture that could be considered pointing if at its most basic, "Please have a seat, Mr. Lamont, and he will see you soon,"
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
Nodding, I made my way over to a set of chairs surrounding a glass-top coffee table and sat down, doing my best to keep my mutation contained. I didn't want it mucking about warping things uncontrolled.
When that happened to my office chair, it was fine as long as it didn't try to tear my suit, cause damage to the office, or attack my coworkers. I would just leave it alone until the company replaced it and sent me the bill for the new chair. However, I doubted I made enough to replace these.
My thoughts were interrupted by a sharp snip of a voice "Mr. Lamont, he is ready to see you now."
Looked toward the woman with the violet eye, who still remained staring straight forward as though she had never spoken, almost felt like it had been my imagination, still I had definitely heard her so, doing my best to get away without being rude, I headed for the towering doors as they drifted open.
Mr.Jones sat behind such a large desk that any normally proportions person to sit behind, it would look like a dining room table had been modified for an office environment however his massive frame of pale thick skin made the mahogany monster seem proportional.
His massive hands taped a slow rhythm with what looked like a miniature pen as he continued reading thru whatever papers were sitting in front of him.
His office itself looked much like the reception area, but his personal touch truly gave the room a foreboding atmosphere, trophies from his victories against the alleged heroes from Seattle's branch of the Guardians Guild.
Each rested inside glass cases suspended or held up by nearly invisible wires as news clippings acting as their backdrops, however, it was clear that he had a favorite, the bronze steampunk-looking vest with one massive indentation shaped like a human fist still scarring the sides from the hero's crushing defeat as the news clipping hanging behind it put it, was hanging behind the desk and above the wall of windows behind him.
"Do you like my trophies, Mr. Lamont?" his deep voice boomed from the other side of the large office.
"Yes, sir, they are quite impressive, from what I understand,"
"Yes, each was in their prime when we battled back in the good old days before this soft generation” bitterness entered his voice with such fervor that I feared he was about to take it out on me.
"Well, sir, while I mean no disrespect, but I quite enjoy going about my day not having to worry about some wannabe vigilante with a gun."
He huffed not even bothering to look me in the eye as he spoke judgment watering his tone. "Well, to each their own, I suppose. Now have a seat, Mr. Lamont." He pointed at an expensive-looking, high-backed leather chair in front of his desk that despite its high quality and size, seemed to sit low in comparison to the massive desk and man behind it.
"I apologize, sir, but I must decline. As I have trouble controlling the mutation and it tends to act up,"........
"Very well," he said agitation taking its place as his undertone shifted "I prefer to stand anyway." He said rising from his chair like some monster breaking the surface of a lake
He gestured for me to follow him over to the glass wall behind his desk where the quiet pattering of rain joined the near silence of the office.
So I took my place, his massive figure reflecting of the glass beside me as the patering of rain begane voicing its own opinion and drenching the street outside, umbrellas bloomed from pedestrians below like flowers as it grew louder.
"As I am sure you are aware,” he growled, “the guild has been targeting known employees and subsidiaries of this bank in an attempt to slow the rise of new 'villains' as they put it."
This was no surprise despite management's best attempts; it was an open secret at this point. So I just nodded, no point in pretending otherwise after all.
"Well most of the targets are employees who have trouble or can't hide their abilities or traits.” the weave started to wriggle despite any attempts to calm it as he paused as tho waiting for me to to perceive his words.
“So in order to minimize the amount of employees and business lost due to their actions, the higher-ups have decided to terminate the employment and replace individuals who meet that description." lines along the weave titghend and the rain seemed to still. "You are one such individual, Mr. Lamont."
With those words strands of the weave broke and the gaseous mutation escaped my control, the smog that made up my form leaking from the small openings that had appeared all over my body their frayed ends turning into smog and joining the clouds flowing from me, even as I began closing the tears the carpet around my feet changed into slime that gathered itself together and began to ooze away perfectly camouflaging to the untainted carpet as the glass near me changed into some kind of fruit skin in my own shape like a thick pink shadow on the glass.
"fired? But sir, I have worked here for almost seven years and never once approved a loan that didn't turn out to be a good investment for this firm." Finding a job as an xeno is nearly impossible unless you are one of the guild members.
"I am aware Mr. Lamont, which is why I have been approved to give you a full month's pay, minus the cost to fix my office, and an offer if you’re interested. One that will keep you out of the office and keep you employed here." he never once looked at me or shifted his towering form."An offer, sir?" My body seemed to grow heavier, more solid, steadier despite the healing weave and tremors they echod thru me like ripples in water.
"However, Lamont, it is a field assignment and a high-risk high reward opportunity where you will either fly high or crash hard." He turned his thick neck for the first time since I entered his office, his gaze seeming to be made of hot steel as it bore into me.
“Understood, sir but nonetheless I am interested in any opportunity that is available to me.”
He didn't speak as one of his meaty hands was placed on my back, his palm alone covering my shoulder blades.
“After all the EverCrest case has been an issue for the company for some time”
Those few words nearly allowed my form to escape my hold on it again.
“The details along with any personal belongings from your office will be delivered to your apartment if you decide to take the job you leave tomorrow. If not I can offer you till the end of the month after which you will be removed from our on-site employee apartments.”
His tone never changed, never faltered almost as though he had said this a hundred times before or like he was reading a script rather than caring about a conversation.
He turned to me, one massive hand outstretched the other still consuming my back “Welcome to Assets Management, Alastor.”
That evening, I sat on my bed in my small apartment, staring at the envelope that had been sitting on my nightstand when I got home. A small box lay beside me with the few items I had left at my office.
I looked around the apartment I had called home for almost seven years. Now the closet clean but still as empty as the day I was moved in by the bank the cabinets and fridge exactly like they had been when I had arrived this place was a refuge after my mutation in the years following New York's collapses after all no one trusts a strange xeno anymore, at least not one without a colorful costume.
Now I'm leaving it, I don't really have a choice if I still want a refuge of any kind. So sitting on my bed I faced my future sealed in an envelope in front of me, and there was no point in stalling so with great care I opened the top of the manilla messenger that held my fate and pulled out the document my form swirling and loosening with my panic as I saw witch case I was assigned to.
to: Alastor Lamont
New assignment: Asset management and acquisition of Evercrest Manor
Previous owner: Alexander Evercrest
Current tenant/caretaker: Alexander Evercrest
Loan type: Lair improvement/creation
Amount owed: 7,000,000
Address: 4975 Hunts Point Rd
