Bustle and Hustle(Open)

[Deleted]

It felt like ages since Oryan had set foot in this town. As he stepped off the bus that brought him into town, he adjusted the collar of his suit and the tie, appearing as though he belonged in the business district in his proper three piece suit. It was highly unlike him to wear such, but the corporation demanded it, at least for his first day back in town. He had a briefcase with him, too. It was black leather with steel trim and plating around it. It looked to carry something quite valuable. And, indeed, it did. A weapon that, as of this moment, only someone with Oryan's very specialized talents could wear without ripping themselves apart.

He took a deep breath and pulled out a cigar, clipping the end and lighting it as he glanced around the city block. The place hadn't changed at all. So much going on behind the scenes, but the folks here were too caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life to notice. The experiment just shook his head and sighed. He didn't have a plan...they just told him to test the suit against some supernatural entities. He knew not all of those creatures were evil like Axium believed, but they'd never accept that answer. They had him wired and tapped, too. They knew where he went, when he went, and as long as he had the suit, they'd hear everything that went on. At least...when the suit was active. Inside the briefcase they couldn't hear anything.


The ex-EMT took a draw from his cigar and sat down on a bench on the sidewalk, gazing out over the city with an uncertain stare. He didn't want to fight those he'd once called friend. But at the same time he had his new goals to think about. Perfecting this system, and then taking it from Axium...but those were long ways down the road. And there was the issue that Axium would still have the plans for the suit even after he took the first completed module. They couldn't have very many capable of using it, though. It took a certain serene grace that normal people, and even most experiments, didn't have.

[Deleted]

"Why are we here?" The dark voice moaned in Roger's head.

Because we can be, I'd like to look around for once. Roger thought back.

"Honestly, you're one of the strangest humans I've seen. And stuck with!"

Axium was a place he really shouldn't have discovered all those years ago, plus it was worse now. Sure he had managed to escape just not un-scarred in so many ways. His life wasn't anymore but just one he was trying to keep in secret. His wife and son were dead and no friends and family could he go to. He would just destroy their lives if he meet them. Who knows where Axium was or what would happen. Despite being human, his bandaged left arm wasn't not anymore. And there was always the risk of insanity taking over thanks to the demon and Axium's tortures.

Coming to the bench, Roger noticed someone there. Course that wasn't odd, nor was the briefcase on first glance. Sitting down would be nice and the man there was someone he didn't recognize. Even though Roger himself was a ex-police officer and the person on the bench was once a EMT. Oh well.

"Is it alright if I sit here?" Roger asked, there was the chance the person wanted to be left alone so that was why he asked.

[Deleted]

The cervine experimental human glanced over at the fellow who approached and asked to sit. Oryan just glanced off down the street and paused between draws from his cigar to reply, "It's a public bench. I don't mind in the slightest." His tone wasn't cold directly toward Roger, but there was a feel of ice and apathy to it, almost like this man smoking the cigar had forgotten something very important and he couldn't remember it. Roger might notice that the backs of Oryan's hands were covered in red tinted brown fur, and he had a rough, black tip on his nose. "You look troubled." Oryan knew that face well, which is why he spoke on the matter. Being an EMT, he'd seen the faces of worry, concern, and unease many times.

In truth, Oryan could feel a strange connection to this man. The way he looked and spoke...it belayed a certain scar on the soul that couldn't be hidden. The same sort of scar that the horrors of experimentation had placed on the man with the briefcase. "What happened to your arm?" It was a valid question. Seeing someone with their arm completely hidden in bandages wasn't too common for most people. Oryan often saw the things that lead to such bandages. He didn't mean anything by the question. Just curiosity and something to hold a conversation over, albeit an unpleasant conversation perhaps.

[Deleted]

Rather odd but then again, Roger was most likely more odder than this man was with brown fur on their hands and a black tipped nose. Roger's whole left arm and hand underneath the bandages was bigger than his right, the skin was hard and it was also a shade of red with claws at the end of his finger tips. Thankfully he had enough bandages to cover it to the spot under his shoulder that it was attached to.

"Just making sure, Sir." Roger replied as he took a seat, it felt nice to be off his feet. "Well....I wouldn't doubt that. Haven't been doing great in a long time."

When he had his wife and son, life was great. Sadly he was a fool and investigated something he shouldn't have. Now they were dead and he was pretty much not the same person. Plus Axium surely didn't help in what they did to him. Hearing the question, Roger reached his right hand and grabbed hold of his left arm under the shoulder. It always hurt, nothing he could do about that.

"Car accident many years ago....it got banged up pretty badly and hasn't really healed." Roger answered. "Doubt it ever will but oh well."

Partially true. When the accident happened, his left arm was mangled and broken. Axium doctors did try to save it for a little while but eventually they just thought 'screw it', chopped it off, and sewed a demon's arm onto him. Just to see what would happen. Well at least they did one good thing by doing that, he used it to escape. That was the only good thing that came from it.

"So, what are you doing here? With that briefcase you look like you've got a meeting of sorts to go to." Roger asked, merely trying to make converse.

[Deleted]

Oryan couldn't afford to get attached to anyone. Especially anyone that might force him to fight. This man didn't know it, but if Oryan found out of his association to Axium and the experiments they'd performed on him, the deer would have to field test the prototype he had with him and face Roger in battle. Thankfully, though, the deer was keeping his interest in the man to a minimal for both of their sakes. "It sounds like that must have been quite a car wreck to do that sort of long term tissue damage. If I still had my contacts I'd be able to recommend a highly skilled dermatologist for you, but I haven't had a phone or a computer to use for myself in over a year. It's likely that he's got a new number or is working in a new location."

The deer experiment sighed and glanced away from the other man again, adjusting the collar of his suit as he took another draw from his cigar. He raised an eyebrow as this fellow asked why he was here. He turned back to glance at him with a smirk, "I'm here waiting for someone. I've got a long, important business conference to have, but I won't know when or where until they arrive. So I'm waiting..." A bit ominous and mysterious in his words, Oryan just tried to give him some truth without outright saying that he was waiting for a supernatural entity to approach him so he could put on the 3PA that was in the briefcase and fight it to field test the prototype.

"What about you? It might not be a good idea to be out and about with those bandages if it starts raining. The last thing you want is for that arm to get infected...Road rash to the degree that you've probably had it takes a long time to heal, and if your arm gets infected at this stage, you might lose the whole thing."

[Deleted]

"Oh no even if you could I....I don't have the sort of money to pay for anything like that." Roger started, surprised at the offer. "Yeah well...these things happen I guess. Besides I...I'm somewhat used to it."

"Oh you are? Since when?" the demon slightly mocked.

You want him to know? No, I don't think so. Roger thought back.

"Chicken."

Trying to ignore the comment in his head, Roger turned his focused back to Oryan. The question was a harmless one in Roger's opinion. And honestly there was nothing he could do about the answer anyway. Even if a fight started, Roger would try to avoid it. Course if the insanity took over then it would be near impossible to stay out of the fight.

"Ah, well hope they get here soon for ya then." Roger answered. "I'm just wandering about. I haven't been in this city since the accident so....just wanted to see how it all ways."

Hearing the comment about losing the arm caused his grip to increase under the bandaged shoulder. Those words just caused that reaction cause truthfully...he already lost it.

"Yeah....well it's partially useless anyway so...cutting it off might be a good thing or not. I don't know." Roger added with a bit of a nervous smile.

"DON'T YOU DARE!!!!" the demon roared, causing Roger to wince as he looked away and put the larger hand against his head.

Headache....very strong headache now...

[Deleted]

The suited man's gaze moved down to that arm as it gripped at the bench and then up to Roger's face as he winced. Something was very off about this scenario. Oryan had felt a strange presence since this man arrived, but he wasn't in tune with his magical side enough to say whether it was anxiousness about the fight or just the fact that he hadn't eaten in a few hours. He took a deep breath and looked up at the sky, "Do you believe in destiny? Or fate, as some call it?" Another cryptic comment from the deer man, this time in the form of a question.

Oryan knew he would have to fight. This man didn't seem like the right one, but if something did happen and he got out of hand, Oryan would have no choice. His injury wasn't everything that he let on. In fact, Oryan wondered if the bandages weren't hiding something. Still, he did look to be in pain...a debilitating amount of pain. So Oryan didn't push that topic any further. After a few moments he asked another, more relevant question, "I've got some painkillers in my pocket if you want them. I have heavily light sensitive eyes, so I get headaches easily during the daytime. You look like you're in some serious discomfort, so if you think it'll help I could give you some."

[Deleted]

"Not sure....I believe one's life can go in any direction out of hundreds but...not quite sure if it's fate or destiny." Roger answered.

He wasn't really sure on that. What was his fate? Was he doomed from the beginning to ruin and cut short his son and wife's lives? No. He didn't want that. That would just add to his guilt. Moving the larger hand away from his head, he leaned back against the bench. Though he shook his head to Oryan's offer.

"No I...I really don't think it will do any good. Besides...I'm having a hard enough time getting food, I really don't need to worry about pills as well." Roger answered. "Thank you for the offer though."

[Deleted]

Oryan nodded to his response about the pills and he took a deep breath, putting them back in his pocket. The man then shook his head, "Fate and Destiny do exist, but not in the concrete format that so many believe, or so I think. We are all destined to pay for the sins we have committed, and we are all fated to die. All things must meet an end eventually...even people. But, the path that we take to reach that destiny is what matters. The journey is just as important as the beginning and the end, for it is the journey that defines how those starting and finishing points are judged. If a man is born into wealth, steps on every person he meets to get more wealth, and dies alone, then he is pitied. He had tremendous potential to do good due to being born into wealth, but his selfish path made many suffer, and at his death, he was hated and forgotten. We all have a beginning and an end. Our destiny is how we deal with what life throws at us. It's easier for some than others, because of how or where they were born, or who their family is. But in the end, we are remembered for what we do, not who we were when we began."

He realized he'd been rambling philosophically, and he just took the last draw from his cigar before snuffing it out on the arm of the bench and tossing it into a nearby trash can once the embers had died. He took another deep breath and glanced back to Roger. "So as long as we are still alive and able to move forward, our destiny has not been set in stone."

[Deleted]

Well...this certainly wasn't helping. It was his fault that his family was dead since he investigated Axium somewhat. But Axium made the choice to try and kill him even when Roger had quite the force and dropped the matter. Course....it was a sin of his that he couldn't do anything to save him.

"Well then...you must have one messed up destiny!" the demon laughed.

"Yes well...we all have miserable parts in the lives we have now don't we?" Roger replied as he glanced away.

Grip tightening on the part of his bandage arm, he really didn't know what to do now. Should he just go? Heck the demon's constant remarks added onto what Oryan said about fate and destiny didn't really set well with Roger. It didn't make him mad it just had him upset and sort of adding to his own guilt.

"I guess." Roger replied

Hard to move forward from most things that happen though if you truly cared. Roger thought.

[Deleted]

Oryan didn't know what was holding him back now. He glanced over to the man and spoke sternly, directly at him, "I don't know your name, or where your from, or where you're going. But as I can see it right now, if you keep hesitating you don't have a destiny. And the suffering you've endured thus far will be in vain...it will all be for nothing. Even if you don't know the right direction to go, sitting here and doing nothing isn't a direction at all...you'll just stew in your own misery for the rest of your life. Remember that."

The man then took the briefcase and stood up, turning away from Roger and starting to walk casually down the street. He hoped his pep talk helped this stranger, or at least gave him some insight into what Oryan was really about. He was a vagabond searching for his own destiny now, and he couldn't really change anyone else's destiny until he defined his own. And so he walked away for now, not wanting to define his destiny by his battle with a man with a wounded heart. "If we should meet again, I hope you will have found a new direction for your path, so that your destiny may be discovered with your own hands."

[Deleted]

The man's words weren't helping him. The demon was enjoying this, laughing his head off; if he had one in Roger's head. This wasn't what he needed. Not at all. So when Oryan rose and started to walk off, Roger might've reacted.....poorly. Getting quickly, he went after the man and once close enough. He reached out with the demon's hand under the bandages, attempted to grab hold of Oryan's shoulder to stop him. If Roger succeed in this, then he'd pull back and try to get Oryan to be standing behind him somewhat.

If that worked, Roger would turn round to face the man. A serious glare was given.

"Just like that huh?! I'm suppose to cast the memories of my dead wife and five year old son to the side?! Just for some destiny that isn't important?" Roger snapped. "Everything happens for a reason huh? I used to be a cop! A good one, I followed every law, every rule and did my job honestly to protect and service the people of this town and you know what I got for doing that job?!"

"Um....Roger.....I thought you didn't..." the demon started confused but silenced himself as Roger reached for the bandage and yanked it off.

Holding the left arm up so Oryan could see it, the bigger size was much more visible. The skin was dark red, rough and coarse and claws at the end of his finger tips. The serious expression was now on the rest of his face as he stared at Oryan.

"THIS IS WHAT I GET FOR IT?!" Roger snapped. "My wife and son dead, I get taken by the very people I was investigating to stop, they chop off my real arm, and sew a demon's arm to the stub! Somehow, part of the demon's mind is still in the arm and now I've been stuck with it in my head for years! I'm starving, I know I can't get a job because of this and the fact that the demon messes with my head and makes me go insane without warning! So you honestly expect me, to have some sort direction to go in?! OR any belief in anything other than it's my fault my family is dead and I'm TECHNICALLY also dead?!!"

Roger stood there, gasping from snapping at Oryan and a sigh left him as he calmed down. Lowering the arm and letting it fall to his side. Honestly....what destiny could he have?

[Deleted]

Oryan stopped calmly, listening to what the man had to say. He didn't turn to face him, or even look at the arm. Suddenly everything...the way he'd acted, the way her talked...it all made sense. He was running from a part of himself...and no matter how far or how fast he ran, he couldn't get away. Oryan had given up his family. He didn't have a wife or a son, but he had siblings, a mother, and a father that he'd left behind...to protect them. He threw away his old identity, and took up the name of another for the sake of hiding the truth. Oryan glanced down at the briefcase and shook his head. He then turned to face Roger, his eyes locking on Roger's eyes. Not once did he acknowledge the presence of the demon. He raised a hand, the one without the briefcase, and pointed a finger at Roger, and then raised that hand to the sun. "Just because the storm clouds blot out the sun, and the rain washed away everything you knew, does not mean that your light is any less bright. You have the strength inside of you to overcome all of this, yet you don't see it. It's this very passion that fuels your anger right now that will grant you freedom from the suffering you've endured. The parasite on your side...cannot choose your path for you. Your conviction is stronger than he. I know because you and I are not so different. I am fighting my demons right now."

He then slowly stepped forward, getting close enough so that he didn't have to talk too loud, as he didn't want others hearing what else he had to say...

He held up the briefcase and tapped it, "They know I'm here. And if they knew I was talking to you, they'd want me to bring you back. You know who I'm talking about. But I'm not going to let my demon control me, and you shouldn't either. Your demon may plague you, but it also gives you strength." He tapped his briefcase again and then pulled up his jacket sleeve to show him the fur on his arm. "I may not have a demon attached to my shoulder, but I've got the genetics of another creature entirely, integrated into my entire being. There are things in this town that you don't know about. They changed me to fit their needs, and I ran from it for a while, but the whole reason experiments like me exist is to fight the supernatural. We're experimental soldiers. I don't agree with Axium's methods, or its choices, but I do agree that anything that's a threat to humanity needs to be punished."

[Deleted]

"Please stop speaking like your some saint or message giver....the philosophic, metaphoric speaking isn't helping." Roger requested.

"Are you....done?" the demon asked.

Shut up...please....please just leave me alone and shut up. Roger thought back.

It really wasn't helping. If anything it was annoying him further. Just a result of what he went though. Oh well. Raising a eyebrow at Oryan's words of the demon giving him strength, he didn't think exactly like that. Yeah it gave him strength in terms of brute strength but it gave him misery. Hearing Oryan speak that they were pretty much soldiers, Roger wasn't thrilled.

"I know that there are things here that aren't human. But why should that matter?" Roger requested. "Sure some of the bad but not all, you realize Axium kidnaps children?! Turning them into these soldiers that you seem to be fine with being? Some of these creatures are just young and lost, unable to control what they can do yet. So you'd be fine with punishing them? And what is this punishment you speak? Death? To be put in a cage and experimented on?"

Roger shook his head as he started to wrap it around his hand to try and hide it. This guy was with Axium for too long to believe that this was right.

"If it was a child, a innocent child who caused a accident all because their power they inherited went berserk. Would you punish that child the way that Axium would tell you to?" Roger requested. "No. Axium is wrong in every shape and form, they have no right to experiment on people and no right to act like they're some sort of police force with Judge and jury combimed in."

[Deleted]

He turned away from Roger and began to walk away now. "No, I'm not a saint, or a messenger, or a philosopher. I'm man, not even fully a man, because of what's happened to me. I'm pieces that are held together with a single, driving goal in mind. My path is all I have left. Forgive me for being unable to understand your burdens. Don't think less of me because I focus on what I can and ignore what I can't. I'm still human, somewhere deep down, and the last sliver of light within me is fighting every day...to hold on so that some day, my destiny won't be dark and forgotten."

He took a moment to breath and continued speaking, "Neither of us wants the result of the path you're walking down right now. We don't need anymore suffering, especially not from those similar to ourselves. Axium as a corporation is evil, but Axium is full of human beings, who have morals, make mistakes, and have varied opinions. You can't demonize the individual parts because the whole is corrupted. You of all people should understand that example."