EDIT: Sadly, did not realise the 3rd element of the prompt, where the "I" is me in the supermarket, and ended up writing it from the point of view of the hero/villain.
It was a sunny afternoon, the leaves rustled under my feet as I walked through the park, just having beat up another of the Villains. I figured he was one of those insect types. His face was almost exactly like a disco ball texture covering the entirety of his cranial shape and he smelled like feces all the time whenever I encountered him. I also smelled filthy. Fighting in the sewers is my least favorite task. Anyhow, I continued my stroll until I reached The Skyscraper. It’s our office, we clock in and out here, but we never really leave our suits even off duty, we’re almost always on call, and I get paid very well for my overtime and on-call time so I can’t complain.
I walked in, scanned my ID on the elevator control panel and it took me to the changing rooms. There I took a very good steamy shower. I could feel myself becoming a clean man once again. In my element. At my most powerful. While I was at it, I got hungry. Fighting really tires me out and I need to eat afterwards. So after the shower, and after getting dressed in one of my pristinely clean back up suits. I was a happy soaper. Sparkling white and squeaky clean. So squeaky in fact, that I could feel it when I moved around.
I opened my locker to check my snacks and I found that there was absolutely nothing left. Just a few crumbs from the last time I had an emergency snack. I realized that I would have to go to the shops again. So I got out of the changing room and went to the office to clock out for a lunch break. As I walked I would relish in the fact that everything seemed to become much more squeaky and shiny from me walking past it. However, I noticed that something was off, I guess being hungry, reduces the effectiveness of this aura.
I went outside and walked to the nearest convenience store and walked past all of the fresh bagels and produce. I wanted a good bar of soap, and a nice detergent to wash it down with. I looked through the isles of soap and couldn’t decide if I wanted aloe vera or something more fruity, although all of those were the best tasting ones, those brown ugly soap bars were usually the most fulfilling. I guess it’s what the regular people compare tasty junk-food to something healthy they all seem to hate like asparagus or steamed bologna or something alike that they say tastes bad.
In my indecision, I settled on the classic old brown soap and waltzed on over to the detergent isle. There I deliberated for a while, I opened a few lids to check on the smells of some of the detergents. Mr. Proper window cleaner was very delicious, but I wanted something with a little bit more oomph today. I’d say Ajax would be perfect for that. With my bare necessities with me, I got in line at the cashier. I observed a few regular folks in line as I was walking, but once I reached the end of the line, I smelled it again. That same fecal smell from earlier in the day. It was him, the Flyman. Still smelling awfully. He was just a few people ahead of me, but unlike me he had changed into regular clothes. A hobos fit. Raggedy clothes, torn jeans, shoes with holes in them, and you could see his toes even. Nasty look if I’m being honest. I’ve never seen him outside his suit though, which looks pristine in comparison.
“Do they really pay you that shit?” I asked him.
“Oh no, not you again,” Flyman responded. “I’ve had enough janitor encounters for today man, can you guys just leave me alone?”
“Man, I’m just here to get a snack,” I replied as I showed him the bar of soap and Ajax in my hands.
“You eat that?” he said, “What kind of snack is that?”
“After our fight, I was taking a shower at the HQ, and I got a bit hungry, turned out that I ran out of my snacks while I was there. Clocked off for lunch.”
“Ah I see, yeah so did I, but I don’t actually eat shit for a living man. I might smell like crap, and live in the sewers, but this is just an off-the-clock look. I don’t mind it too much, my nose is used to it.” He replied as he gave the cashier his things and paid for them.
“But the rest of ours isn’t. Look, Flyman, I ain’t gonna do anything to you, but you really did get the crappiest job out of all of us,” I smirked. “Can’t believe the guy who had his head dunked into the toilet turned out to be the master of literal shit.” I said as I waited for my turn.
“Man, you don’t have to bring the ‘good old days’ into it. You fucking consume soap. The Authority conducted experiments on you and made you a soap junkie. Catch you later, you cleaning menace,” he said as he walked through the entrance backwards.
I thought to myself, well no matter these experiments, I have become the cleanest man there is on this planet. I knew that if I could wash off all of the crap of him, maybe I’d have the chance of having a promotion once I am done with that. Never liked the guy, in school, still don’t like him now. Although I was the one to dunk his face in that toilet, years ago. This filth was the one sleeping around with my girlfriend at the time.
MostED13 t1_j64y8ee wrote
Reply to [WP] In your world, Superheroics/villainy is Just a Job (even relegated to shift work) monitored and regulated by The Authority. Therefore, it isn't odd to see Heroes & Villains in costume, shopping beside each other, at the local supermarket where you work. by Slaywraith
EDIT: Sadly, did not realise the 3rd element of the prompt, where the "I" is me in the supermarket, and ended up writing it from the point of view of the hero/villain.
It was a sunny afternoon, the leaves rustled under my feet as I walked through the park, just having beat up another of the Villains. I figured he was one of those insect types. His face was almost exactly like a disco ball texture covering the entirety of his cranial shape and he smelled like feces all the time whenever I encountered him. I also smelled filthy. Fighting in the sewers is my least favorite task. Anyhow, I continued my stroll until I reached The Skyscraper. It’s our office, we clock in and out here, but we never really leave our suits even off duty, we’re almost always on call, and I get paid very well for my overtime and on-call time so I can’t complain.
I walked in, scanned my ID on the elevator control panel and it took me to the changing rooms. There I took a very good steamy shower. I could feel myself becoming a clean man once again. In my element. At my most powerful. While I was at it, I got hungry. Fighting really tires me out and I need to eat afterwards. So after the shower, and after getting dressed in one of my pristinely clean back up suits. I was a happy soaper. Sparkling white and squeaky clean. So squeaky in fact, that I could feel it when I moved around.
I opened my locker to check my snacks and I found that there was absolutely nothing left. Just a few crumbs from the last time I had an emergency snack. I realized that I would have to go to the shops again. So I got out of the changing room and went to the office to clock out for a lunch break. As I walked I would relish in the fact that everything seemed to become much more squeaky and shiny from me walking past it. However, I noticed that something was off, I guess being hungry, reduces the effectiveness of this aura.
I went outside and walked to the nearest convenience store and walked past all of the fresh bagels and produce. I wanted a good bar of soap, and a nice detergent to wash it down with. I looked through the isles of soap and couldn’t decide if I wanted aloe vera or something more fruity, although all of those were the best tasting ones, those brown ugly soap bars were usually the most fulfilling. I guess it’s what the regular people compare tasty junk-food to something healthy they all seem to hate like asparagus or steamed bologna or something alike that they say tastes bad.
In my indecision, I settled on the classic old brown soap and waltzed on over to the detergent isle. There I deliberated for a while, I opened a few lids to check on the smells of some of the detergents. Mr. Proper window cleaner was very delicious, but I wanted something with a little bit more oomph today. I’d say Ajax would be perfect for that. With my bare necessities with me, I got in line at the cashier. I observed a few regular folks in line as I was walking, but once I reached the end of the line, I smelled it again. That same fecal smell from earlier in the day. It was him, the Flyman. Still smelling awfully. He was just a few people ahead of me, but unlike me he had changed into regular clothes. A hobos fit. Raggedy clothes, torn jeans, shoes with holes in them, and you could see his toes even. Nasty look if I’m being honest. I’ve never seen him outside his suit though, which looks pristine in comparison.
“Do they really pay you that shit?” I asked him.
“Oh no, not you again,” Flyman responded. “I’ve had enough janitor encounters for today man, can you guys just leave me alone?”
“Man, I’m just here to get a snack,” I replied as I showed him the bar of soap and Ajax in my hands.
“You eat that?” he said, “What kind of snack is that?”
“After our fight, I was taking a shower at the HQ, and I got a bit hungry, turned out that I ran out of my snacks while I was there. Clocked off for lunch.”
“Ah I see, yeah so did I, but I don’t actually eat shit for a living man. I might smell like crap, and live in the sewers, but this is just an off-the-clock look. I don’t mind it too much, my nose is used to it.” He replied as he gave the cashier his things and paid for them.
“But the rest of ours isn’t. Look, Flyman, I ain’t gonna do anything to you, but you really did get the crappiest job out of all of us,” I smirked. “Can’t believe the guy who had his head dunked into the toilet turned out to be the master of literal shit.” I said as I waited for my turn.
“Man, you don’t have to bring the ‘good old days’ into it. You fucking consume soap. The Authority conducted experiments on you and made you a soap junkie. Catch you later, you cleaning menace,” he said as he walked through the entrance backwards.
I thought to myself, well no matter these experiments, I have become the cleanest man there is on this planet. I knew that if I could wash off all of the crap of him, maybe I’d have the chance of having a promotion once I am done with that. Never liked the guy, in school, still don’t like him now. Although I was the one to dunk his face in that toilet, years ago. This filth was the one sleeping around with my girlfriend at the time.