[Video]

[mysteryhero]

[Upon his arrival, Mysterio was in full costume, looking like Thor, Dr Strange and Iron Man rolled into one. Now he appears on the network in regular clothing - a brown sweater and tan trousers - looking elegantly casual.]

Hello again.

I have had some time to to explore and familiarize myself with this world and I'm impressed with the technology here - at least in Nova City. It's far beyond what I've seen before yet it's also lacking. That's why I am going to work for and with Aster Technologies and we can combine our knowledge to do great things.

Now, I know, I introduced myself as Mysterio when I first arrived and that is indeed a name I am known by but let's have a proper introduction now, shall we?

My name is Quentin Beck.

Comments

[made_up_names]

Yeah. Yeah, they are.

[mysteryhero]

I've told you this before but I'll repeat it because I want you to really hear it.

You're a good kid.

You do the right thing, even if that means putting yourself in danger. It's brave and it's selfless and it's rare.

I also fight for what I believe in and believe in you, Peter.

[How much of that is really sincere? It sounds convincing either way.]

You know I'll always be here for you when you want to talk.

[made_up_names]

[ God, he hates how convincing this is. Even knowing for a fact at least part of this is bullshit isn't enough to drown out the rest. (Beck fights for what he believes in, sure. Himself, not Peter.)

He has to take a breath for a moment and school his face. ]

That sounds real nice. But I'm just a normal high school kid. My greatest achievement is building a LEGO Death Star in three hours.

[mysteryhero]

[That twist on reality and half-truths just make it sound more like the actual truth. But he does think Peter has admirable traits, even if he is also thinks he's a bit gullible.]

Modest too, huh?

[made_up_names]

Look, man, I don't know what you want from me. I'm a normal kid. Who mostly likes robots and dumb movies.

[ Hint, Beck. If you trash his secret identity a second time this is gonna get real bad real fast. ]

[mysteryhero]

[He eyes Peter through the screen as if truly internally debating and deciding some things. What to say. What not to say. Words could be powerful. As could information. They both had things that they didn't want the other to reveal.]

I get it, kid. You want to live your life. I've always wanted that for you, for you to have a normal life.

[made_up_names]

[ He's probably handing Beck a weapon without realizing it. If Peter exposes Beck's secret, then Beck can hit him back just as hard. ]

Well great, because that's what I've got. I think I'm gonna try finishing high school.

[mysteryhero]

You have a lot of opportunities here. A lot of chances to make things right - for yourself.

[made_up_names]

[ Does he want that? Really want that? It's honestly a good question. He makes a face. ]

And you'll take care of the supervillains, huh?

[mysteryhero]

Of course. After all, I'm the greatest superhero here, right?

[There's partially real ego talking there and partially a sly tease, almost a dare for Peter to contradict that.]

[made_up_names]

[ Asshole. It takes all of Peter's willpower to keep from contradicting that. And he still makes such a face. ]

Only one I've met so far.

[mysteryhero]

You'll tell me if you run into any others, OK?

Maybe I can put together a team: The New Avengers!

[And still that smug smile in return.]

[made_up_names]

[ Are you trying to make him hate you, Beck. Because you're doing a fantastic job. ]

How are you gonna do that? Put up a job posting?

[mysteryhero]

[He's just reveling in the fact that he could be one of the only superheroes around - at least one of the most visible and soon-to-be-well-known. And what can Peter even do about it if he wants to keep his own secrets? And for Beck to keep his mouth shut where and when it counts.]

I don't have time for that.

[Besides, a team would take away attention from just him. It was fine with the team he had - they were all behind the scenes and he could be the showman. Real heroes would attract a real spotlight.]

I have other work to do. I have many plans, Peter. Most are in their infancy, but they're all up here.

[He taps the side of his head.]

[made_up_names]

[ He's got his suit. He ... doesn't really want to pull it out and use it though - he was serious about maybe going back to high school and trying to live a normal life. Or getting a job and trying to live a normal life. Either way. ]

If they're big enough plans, they're gonna attract attention. Maybe you'll run into someone by accident.

[mysteryhero]

[Meanwhile, Beck has plans of upgrading his own suit and making his tech even more powerful.]

Oh, they'll attract attention. That's the point.

[made_up_names]

That sounds suspiciously like showing off.

[mysteryhero]

I just call it being the best.

[made_up_names]

I mean, I guess you're gonna find out. If you attract enough attention and other superheroes show up to prove you wrong.

[mysteryhero]

Prove me wrong, how? Are you trying to say they'll be stronger? Faster? More heroic?

[made_up_names]

[ He hates you so much. Also he can't actually bring himself to claim he'll be better given ... uh, everything that's happened recently. ]

I dunno, it's just a comic book thing, right? Rivalries and stuff.

[mysteryhero]

[Of course Peter has more and better super powers but Beck has his own talents, which work pretty well. At least, up to a point.]

Team rivalries?

It's a shame the Avengers were so very unavailable when I was on Earth-616. Maybe I could have found out for myself.

[made_up_names]

Yeah, well, they were all mostly dead. Or busy.

[mysteryhero]

Too busy to save the world.

Such a shame...

Which is why Earth only had me to save it.

[made_up_names]

[ He grits his teeth, choking back a knee jerk reaction. ]

Busy with important things. Or dead because they gave their lives undoing something that killed almost four billion people.