THE WAREHOUSE HOTLINE

|18|: You're Not A Chum

"Welcome to the Warehouse Hotline. How can I make your day even more evil?"

"Sapphire."

"Clarisse. Got your answers, that you were searching for?"

"Ho-how'd you figure that out?"

"Well, Clarisse. I'm not stupid."

"You're a villain. I know. You have these powers, blah blah."

"And yes I did get my answers."

"So, the reason you rang is?"

"To tell you that it was someone from your Hotline that did it."

"I also found out that the villains that run your Hotline do their own villain attacks. They don't have people to do it for them."

"Why do you like destroying the streets of Empire State City?"

"Surely, there is a reason why villains do this."

"I don't-."

"Please don't lie to me."

"Every villain is an individual. They do their own things. They go rogue. This hotline loves to promote their evilness. They're so discreet that you wouldn't be able to even trace the calls."

"High-tech?"

"Yeah. Beyond. The Warehouse Hotline improve, how do I say this? 'The villain's quality of life', if I should say."

"Sapphire."

"Yes, Clarisse?"

"What's your opinion on villains?

"I've never really asked you that question, before."

There was a strong silence that lingered in the air, Avery waited patiently wanting to hear Sapphire's answer.

"Some opinions can't be expressed through words."

"Why do you say that?"

"The question you asked me, well you've stumped me, I suppose. I've never really had a proper opinion on villains before."

"But?"

"Society label villains as the bad guys, probably because they are. But are they always? This hotline is actually decent, you get young prodigies wanting to learn villain 101 secrets, others just weep all day. Some call for household help."

"I know, I know."

"But, we do offer some pretty evil advice."

"I can tell."

"Want anymore sappy details?"

"Did you really ruin the moment, Sapphire."

"I don't have moments, Clarisse."

"Everyone does!"

"I don't."

"Everyone has a backstory."

Sapphire was awfully silent.

"Sapphire?"

"Still here, Clarisse."

"I'm assuming you have a strong backstory."

"Backstories are for chums."

"Chums? Really? Even me?"

"You're not a chum."

"Aww."

"You're a barnacle head."

"Wow. What a lovely person you are."

"Anyways, I was watching the news today and I saw on TV a superhero."

"This superhero looked too handsome. He goes by the name, Storm."

"Storm? Hm."

"Yeah, he's so dreamy."

"Teenagers."

"Hey, I'm sure you were one of those teenagers that used to dream about a certain celebrity crush."

"When I was a teenager I was too busy taking an adventure."

"That seems cool as well."

"Besides. You only saw him for the first time, on TV. What makes him your crush?"

"He saves so many lives and cares for the city. Plus he's got a bright smile."

"Stop with the affectionate talk. Please."

"Don't be jealous."

"Trust me, sweetheart, I wouldn't be jealous of a mortal and a superhero."

"Yeah, yeah."

"Did you notice that you didn't even say, 'hotline rules' once or even —."

The line went dead.

"-cut the call.