metaheroes | VOICE | ALL | ALL | LOCKED TO NEW ARRIVALS

[ your phone has been thoroughly hijacked. The screen has gone dark, the only light across it being the bouncing soundwave, jumping in time with the vaguely digitized male voice. ]

My apologies for the extremely belated welcome! Usually we’re more on top of this. As it is, I’m still not stateside yet. So please forgive this little teleconference.

My name is Mechanima and I’m what you might call a villain. Please forgive the lack of dramatic flair to that reveal, my monologuing days are long behind me.

I’m certain Atom already gave you his recruitment pitch: powers are a gift to be shared, great power and responsibility, the strong protect the weak, I’m an overgrown boyscout, blah, blah, blah.

[ the screen flickers from a soundwave to a set of pixelated eyes rolling ]

I’m sure there’s already a number of you who have decided that’s not for you. I know I certainly did. Which is why I’m here to offer you the alternative.

To those of you who will inevitably reject what the Alliance offers you, consider this your formal invitation to the Society of Villainous Reformation. We of the Society believe that our powers are best used to further our own lives and goals, rather than be spent in service to anyone else. And so long as abide by our Code of conduct, we don’t really care how you do it. If you want to mind control your way into a better life, go for it. Our goal is simply to keep villainy in check, not to reform villains into law-abiding citizens.

The code is attached and I’m sure you’ll find it very straightforward. If you're considering accepting this invitation, I advise you to commit it to memory.

Ah! One last note.

The Alliance and the Society have secured housing within the four cities with the densest population of metahumans. We'll be handing out teleport tokens so you can tour the cities and houses at the start of February, and they'll be ready to move into by the middle of the month. A hotel isn't much of a home. And for those of you who have opted to reject membership to both sides in favor of a more normal life, we'll allow you to stay at the Diadem until the middle of March to get your bearings - but then you're on your own.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Why are you calling yourselves villains? Not exactly a spectacular pitch.

I've found it's better to embrace and redefine the title than to waste time trying to rebrand.

I see you'll assist with housing. Any other perks of joining up?

We'll assist with crafting you a civilian identity, jobs, and anything else you might need to get started.

You don't care how we conduct ourselves... So long as we do so via the most palatable methods available. With dues paid to your collective. And our actions sanctioned your guild. That sounds a lot more like caring than not.

[ the digitized voice sounds faintly amused. ]

I'd hardly call the conduct of our members palatable. I assure you, villains are free to be villains so long as they are sensible about it, and the code keeps some of the more senseless among us alive.

What your code does is indicates your Society's scope and its limits. That in itself is valuable information.

It also helps us root out who among the newly powered are going to be a problem.

[ again, the faint amusement. ]

Do you intend to be a problem?

Perish the thought. I only intend to cause problems for those who position themselves as my enemies. And I'm sure our aspirations won't converge in a manner that will make that an issue.

Do we get henchmen?

[Asking the important questions!]

Once you've got enough clout to earn them.

And how we treat them is our own business, provided they sign a waiver or somesuch, I'd assume. You know, if they die or whatever we're not held accountable.

Thank you. That's very good to know.

Precisely. It's a rough business and any reputable henchman knows what they're getting into.

[ He isn't responding but he is ~~creeping~~ watching. ]

( well, this is fascinating. )

What happens if we fail to pay our dues?

Something unpleasant.

[ his voice remains upbeat, but there's a sharp edge to it. ]

But rest assured, we ask only for a reasonable cut of heists and robberies. This goes towards providing protections to you and all other members of the guild.

If you claim the name villain, what do you call those who refuse to abide by your checks and balances in their wrongdoing?

[He's not impressed by the association name. And this coming from someone who would have considered "the brotherhood of evil mutants" to be an A+ choice under different circumstances.]

Monsters.

[ a pause, as if he considers whether that bears elaboration. ].

Usually those who refuse to fall in line want only wanton destruction. At best, they're headstrong and want to roam free. At worst, they're out to destroy all life. The Code keeps both ends of the spectrum from wreaking unnecessary havoc.

Forgive me if I don't see anything wrong with freedom.

[This code seems reasonable on its face, but the word "usually" is doing a lot of heavy lifting here.]

Nor do I.

Yet you yourself see the overly headstrong as out of line.

I consider there to be a difference between a villain and a monster. A villain does things because they are free, a monster does things because they seek nothing but blood and destruction.

That, and I would rather things not return to the wild west it used to be.

I will admit, your sales pitch does provide a great deal more benefits in comparison to the alternative, but I do find the assumption of villainy as the opposition to heroism to be an interesting concession for you to make.

The guild was merely founded on the belief that we should be allowed more freedoms with our powers than the law typically allows. Villainy is not the word I would I would use to describe what we do, however public opiniontends to disagree.

Your public relations team must have a large working budget.

[Because they must deal with a lot of trouble daily.]

But what are the specifics of this invitation? I have a standard of living I will be hoping to maintain, but paying dues without initial income does create a situation all its own.

It does.

[ you should see the paychecks their lawyers take home. ]

Ah, let me clarify. We ask only for a modest cut of all your future profits, all to go towards legal protections.

Ah, I see. [Now that sounds a lot more palatable to him.]

So if I were to look into continuing my career as a financial advisor for those with unique interests, you'd assist me in gaining a catalog of potential clientele and I'd pay you a percentage. A commission fee, if you will.

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