PL >-I just told you! Im looking for supplies-<
Y/N Okay. What kind of supplies?
Y/N Parts? A specific item?
Pluto glares at you, as if you had asked him something unreasonable.
PL >-What do you want?-<
Y/N Huh?
PL >-Trying to interfere, get intel-<
PL >-What, did you follow me here too? Was this all a set-up?-<
PL >-I knew I was being watched. I knew it was all too-<
Y/N No. Pluto, that isn't it.
Y/N Listen, I'll be honest. I came to get a gift for someone I like.
Y/N So, I don't have any other motive besides helping you.
PL >-...-<
That seems to have calmed him down. You knew his mind could go a mile a minute, but you didn't think he was this paranoid. Is he used to being in danger all the time?
PL >-A gift-<
PL >-So, I see the significance of the day has not passed you by either-<
Y/N No. That's the only reason why I...
Y/N Either? Did you say either?
The sigh he releases is much more melodramatic than it needs to be.
PL >-Yes, I admit it. Theyve completely overwhelmed my heart-<
PL >-And Ive tried! Believe me, Ive tried!-<
PL >-Ive offered them so much! The world, the future, and more!-<
PL >-So, Ive sunk to the lowest low... the wares of the common man-<
PL >-To see if theres something, anything, they could like that I cant provide-<
Y/N I didn't know you could be -
PL >-Dont say it! I know its pathetic!-<
Y/N No, it's sweet. I think it's sweet.
He sniffs, though he perks up a little, too.
PL >-As long as I dont owe you anything in return-<
PL >-You may assist me-<
PL >-Mayhaps a civilians hand is what I need to get through to them-<
Y/N Probably.
Y/N Viktoria seems like a practical person. She'd want something with utility.
PL >-Yes, unfortunately she never thinks outside of the-<
He nearly falls over with shock.
PL >-WH-WHAT?! WHY WOULD YOU BRING \HER\ UP?-<
PL >-DONT BE ABSURD!!-<
Y/N Oh, sorry, is it not her?
Y/N Weird. Well, you can always have other prospects, I guess.
You start to look around the shelves again when he grabs you by the collar and brings you close, a manic nervousness in his eyes.
PL >-Who told you?-<
PL >-Who gave you the idea? The \notion\? The... the \concept\?-<
PL >-Was it a reporter? Eaah, they can never stop prying...!-<
Y/N Pluto. You told me.
Y/N You tell everyone. You make it so obvious.
PL >-E-eh?-<
Y/N Did... you not realize it, until now?
Pluto's villainous plans always go the same way. He brings out some kind of technological monster onto Sepia City, chalks its eventual destruction as 'innovation', and receives the blunt end of a heroic fist as a result. The battles end with him getting taken away by police, but he always ends up finding a way out. Now that it's been a couple of years since he's been established as a main-stay supervillain, the routine is all-to-familiar to residents as well as anyone who tunes in to the city reports.
Even though Pluto thrives on the attention, he always seeks out the same opponent. He's thrown tantrums when another Super shows up to deal with him, because they aren't her. And when she does show up, everything about him becomes magnified tenfold.
PL >-Whats there to realize?-<
PL >-Clearly, I deeply respect her as an established Super-<
PL >-Who doesnt? Her track record is incredible-<
Y/N And what does that make yours, because you lose to her all the time?
He scoffs, though you're not sure if he's more defensive of himself or her.
PL >-You dont get it-<
PL >-The intricacies of the Hero-Villain dynamic-<
PL >-The highs and lows, the epic trials and tribulations of it all-<
PL >-If I \won\ more matches, then thatd be a testament to her inferiority!-<
PL >-Why would I lower myself to the level of a hero who cant even best me?-<
PL >-Her victories solidify her as my equal! Someone worthy of my efforts!-<
You're tempted to ask him if he's someone worthy of her efforts, but you hold your tongue.
Y/N Okay. I'm hearing you.
Y/N And all this to say... this isn't for her.
Y/N This is for someone different.
He nods, expression solemn.
Y/N Can you tell me who?
He groans and clutches his head with both hands.
PL >-Of course not!-<
PL >-You could use it against me! A weakness to exploit!-<
Y/N Oh, is it like a secret identity thing?
Y/N The more you know about the regular human side, the riskier it is?
PL >-Yes! Precisely!-<
PL >-We are talking about a \completely\ anonymous person, here-<
Y/N I can't know anything about them?
PL >-No-<
Y/N So, how am I going to know what they like? What they'd want to get?
PL >-Ill - Ill tell you what you need to know!-<
PL >-Its a process! Trust the process!-<
The process consists of him describing someone strong, admirable, so beautiful in how her burnished locks peek outside of her helmet, so cool how she insists on wearing a cape like Heros from comics in the 20th century. You try to direct the conversation back to his ultimate goal, but he seems to relish this particular topic.
Y/N Do you ever get to talk about this with anyone else?
PL >-Eh?-<
Y/N Because, uh, it's really great how much you like this person!
Y/N It'd be a shame to keep it all to yourself, you know?
He frowns. It can be difficult to discern his expression behind those massive visors, but his gaze seems to drop downwards.
PL >-Its not something I can just \bring up\-<
PL >-Im kept... busy most of the time-<
PL >-Even when Im not coming up with brilliant inventions-<
Y/N Oh, you have a job outside of the supervillain life?
PL >-How do you think I can afford any of this?-<
Y/N I don't know. Nepotism?
PL >-Th-that is one of many potential situations-<
PL >-My backstory is richer than you could ever comprehend-<
PL >-Rich in lore! I mean rich in lore!-<
PL >-I earned this! Pluto is a man of merit!!-<
Y/N Okay. I get it.
PL >-No, you dont! Nobody gets it!-<
PL >-This is something I made with my bare hands!-<
PL >-No one else did it for me. No one else \wanted\ to be a part of this!-<
PL >-I \had\ to do it all myself! Its all I have for myself!-<
He goes on like this until a store employee comes over and gently requests that the two of you leave the premises. This causes the self-proclaimed genius to argue about how much value his presence must be adding to the store, which leads to both of you getting forcefully escorted outside by security.
As you stand outside of the department store, still a little rattled, Pluto is pacing back-and-forth on the sidewalk.
PL >-Great. Just great-<
PL >-Now what do I do when I unleash the bot later today?-<
PL >-Meet her empty-handed? Eah!-<
Y/N Wait. You were going to do your villain thing, then give it to her?
PL >-What?-<
PL >-Its the call to action. Theres nothing else she responds to-<
A villain is nothing without the recognition of a hero, they say. You wonder if, inadvertently, Viktoria had been conditioning him to expect her attention only through one of his outlandish schemes.
Y/N What if you just... called her?
PL >-Eh? Call her what?-<
Y/N No, I mean, call for her. Ask her to meet you.
Y/N In the hypothetical situation that this person is a hero,
Y/N And they do patrols and check in on people all the time, make sure nothing's being destroyed...
You glance at Pluto cautiously. He's nodding.
Y/N In that case, they'd come if you just... wanted them for something, right?
You've never seen him so deep in thought. The silence spans long enough that you wonder if he hasn't been listening and simply formulating a completely different plan.
PL >-What if I wanted to get ice cream with her?-<
Y/N ...ice cream?
PL >-It doesnt have to be ice cream! What about, I dont know, a soda!-<
PL >-Or boba. I admit, I havent tried the stuff. But its very popular-<
Y/N Well, for that, I think it'd depend on how much time she can afford.
His face falls.
Y/N But you should at least consider it!
Y/N You won't know unless you try.
Y/N And this... person... seems like they could use a break.
PL >-...-<
He sniffs and holds his nose high, as if remembering he should've been looking down on you this entire time.
PL >-Consider your proposition...-<
PL >-Considered-<
Then, he looks out, walks forward, and vanishes in a blast of iridescent energy.
THE END
(Ending 8/20: I Need a Super Hero)
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