ManBeast - Book 1: A Kingdom of Predators

Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

The first few of the days played out like a montage for Jules. To and fro, here, there, and then back again. These days, everything felt like a series of quick, chaotic shots that depicted a thoroughly overwhelmed new hire. Between the instruction, practice, and procedure that will be his life for the foreseeable future, a brief respite from the madness was lunchtime. Jules often could be found sitting on a bench outside, half eating lunch with a dazed expression. Sometimes playing music, other times staring at the sky, pensive.

Assisting the architects with graphic design and adding artist touches had proven to be challenging. Jules had prior experience in this arena before; his means for putting "bread on the table" was art and set design for use in themed parties, plays, banquets and the occasional wedding; he even once designed a backsplash for a prison talent show. Jules had a natural eye for bringing out a workspace for its potential, and allowed his imagination to be creatively exhibited each and every time.

In this endeavor however, the challenge wasn't just the odd personalities, or the state-of-the-art tech and ways of thinking; the greatest challenge was the pressure involved with being known as "Frankie's mutt." No one to date had spoken to Jules about it, nor said anything controversial to his face. But small acts such as "good mornings" and "let me get that for you"s were usually met with an "OH! Frankie was just talking about you!" or some iteration in kind. Frankie's daily emails did not help either; most were inspirational in nature, or tasked him with a daily chore. But by the end of his first week, it had been made clear to Jules that he had a lot to absorb, and still understood little of the man who was going to work alongside him.

Despite this, one night at the end of his first week, as the A & D crew were packing up and exiting the workspace, Jules remained behind. He intently scrolled through art designs and collages uploaded to the firm's shared drive; the drive was full of colorful displays and templates used in municipal lobbies, airports, and the like. Jules couldn't get enough of these amazing concepts; it was a great jump-off point for formulating his additions towards the center fountain design. Jules wanted that new fountain in the park to "pop", and he'd be damn sure to translate his inspirations through it. After browsing for a while, Jules then stood up, stretched, and walked out of the computer lab to grab a drink for the employee lounge. The concurrent yawns that haunted his walk convinced Jules that caffeine had to come into play.

"How's the Hybrid been doing here?" Jules heard a voice murmur. From his attentiveness at the noises within the lounge, at least two were in engaged in this conversation. Normally, Jules would have grabbed something, smiled and left without conversation; he didn't care much for small talk. The word "Hybrid" got him to stop at the doorway and listen. "He's alright, a guy from Art and Design said he was having some issues getting used to the updated "Easel-Tech" software we've been using, but overall I hear he's pretty chill. Marjorie and Frankie seem to have an interest in him; I know Marjorie does for sure," said the second voice. "Can you imagine that? Being a mix of two species, not really belonging anywhere?" the first voice interrupted. The second voice sharpened in tone: "How do you know he doesn't belong anywhere?" A stifled giggle returned as an answer: "Well, all I'm saying his Frankie is watching him like a hawk apparently. Maybe he's afraid he'll transform during a presentation or something, or outshine him as the new "office monster". If he wasn't a Hybrid, I'd try to talk to him. He's kinda sexy," giggled the first voice, following up with a pseudo-sexy growling sound. The second voice sucked their teeth and sounded as if they were finishing up whatever action they were enthralled in.

Jules reached into his pants pocket and fingered the smooth pill carrier he kept with him at all (well, almost all) times. This conversation was a shining example of something Jules had dealt with for the majority of his life, but he never entirely got used to. Being a Hybrid was an anomaly to most people; the concept of being half-human, and half-Beast-Man was something strange and novel to those who lacked any worldly view. While that designation of being a genetic mosaic didn't necessarily produce a being any outwardly different than "John Doe", most people also possessed an abundance of imagination as to what Hybrids do or look like; so much so, that anytime Jules introduced himself as such, be it casual with people or in similar formal settings, many seemed genuinely surprised.