"Trying to scam another one, Bob?" The second male voice, a harsh growl to Bob Doe's slick tone, drew both people's attention to a man in a black suit, face hidden by a mask, "Not giving the client full details of what they will be in for can and will be considered negligent action by the Head Office. Not only that, you didn't give her your card in case she wants to contact you later. Another offense."

"Fuck you Thorn!" Bob's easy expression shifted into a snarl, "I get sales! I don't do that cherry-picking bullshit like you do!"

"I cherry-pick because I earned that right, Doe." 'Thorn' responded calmly, "But your sloppiness means that things always go bad. Not only that, you're trying to force a clearly traumatized teenage girl into making a life-changing decision without knowing all the details. Consenting adults who have time to think is one thing, teenagers who have been stuffed into a locker is another. And Head Office is not going to let that slide."

Thorn approached Taylor, "Miss, I'm sorry this happened, but Bob Doe here crossed a line and was about to commit a criminal act in order to make a fast sale." His hand lashed up and before Taylor could blink, Bob suddenly vanished in a burst of television static, "And the punishment for crossing the line is outlined in the employee handbook." Sighing as a black, ribbon-like tendril slithered back into his sleeve, Thorn turned to Taylor, "Sorry about this. You got involved in an internal investigation that unfortunately turned out like this. If you want, I can return yo-"

"NO!" Taylor shouted, "I mean, no, I don't want to go back into the locker. Couldn't you just put me outside?"

Thorn shook his head slightly, "Unfortunately, that's not something I can do...hmm, not unless you requested it as a sold service. No, I can't in good conscience do that after you nearly got scammed by Bob here." Thorn shrugged, "I'm sorry, but-"

"Give me the sales pitch." Taylor growled, "What he said before, those reason, are they true?"

"Making a difference? Desiring power? Wanting to be different? Yeah, all true. Some even do it because the standard of getting powers from us is an overall cosmetic improvement." Thorn shrugged, "You won't be a supermodel or porn star, not unless you request that kind of look, but most clients end up looking prettier in most aspects."

"Then give me the sales pitch." Taylor repeated, "The one that tells me what I'm going to be getting myself into. You must have some idea of what my life is like just from that locker alone-"

"Actually, we can pull up a file..." Thorn interrupted as he waved a hand to create a green window that began displaying text that while Taylor couldn't read, her photo appearing allowed her to guess what it was. Thorn then grimaced, "Geez, no wonder Bob went to you, a file like this...Okay, I can see why you'd want powers. So, I guess I'll take you as a potential client."

Thorn waved his hand and the screen vanished, "First thing's first. My card." A flick and a white card was in his outstretched hand, which Taylor took with a nod, "The card is special, but that's for after the pitch. This is first. I belong to a company that spans realities and dimensions which for your benefit will be called Head Office. As a commissioned salesman of Head Office, I am authorized to offer you the chance to gain superhuman abilities."

"So you can make me into a Parahuman?" Taylor asked but her expression became confused as Thorn shook his head.

"No. Parahumans possess the unique brain structures and...another quality that makes them what they are and is identifiable. The service I provide will give you powers that have no identifiable origin or make use of energies that cannot be duplicated. Within a certain limit, you will appear no different than you are now, expect maybe a bit prettier. Beyond a certain limit, you have to pay a Cost."

He cleared his throat, "But first, you need to know the Rules that we operate by," He spared a glance at the space behind him where Bob used to be standing, "Or should."

Thorn held up a finger, "Rule One: The Client, you, must give consent to receiving the sales pitch."

"Oh yeah, I give consent," Taylor said.

"Rule Two." Thorn continued without pause, "The Salesman, me, is required to give the full sales pitch in as much detail as possible, and to answer any questions to the best of their ability."

At Taylor's silence, Thorn help up another finger, "Rule Three: The Client, you, must understand that there is a Cost to having powers beyond a certain limit. Rule Four: The Salesman is required to explain the Cost and what it entails so that the Client can choose whether to continue their decision or rethink it."

Rolling his shoulders, Thorn flicked his hand as more tendrils created a seat for him, "And finally, Rule Five: The Client is allowed a grace period of 14 days to test out their powers and if need be adjust or replace them with new ones. They are also allowed to change their powers at the end of the grace period, but will not be allowed a new grace period."

Taylor nodded, now looking far more at ease, "Okay, what's the pitch?"

"Actually, Bob gave you most of it." Thorn replied simply, shoulders shaking slightly as Taylor's eyes widened before she shot him a dirty look and he held up his hands, "Sorry, but the main gist of mine is the same. However, unlike Bob, I will tell you the main part of The Cost."

This time, Taylor felt as though the masked man was looking at her with deadly seriousness, "The Cost is an effect, a trade-off, for asking for power beyond a limit that the Salesman feels is necessary based on their assessment of the client. It's meant to act as a deterrent to thoughtless power-grabbing, usually by being either humiliating or having collateral consequences."

"Humiliating?" Taylor asked out loud and Thorn nodded.

"Well, it differs between salesmen. For me, I've found that sexualising the Cost has always proven effective. Most people aren't often willing to put up with, say, having visibly massive breasts or dick in exchange for an overpowered mind-control power because that Cost always means that people need to be looking at those parts." Taylor started giggling despite the serious tone and Thorn nodded, "Yup. You'd be surprised how easily some people reconsider when the price for power is constant exhibitionism, or a dramatically increased libido, or anything else. So long as they feel humiliated by the thought and reconsider, they usually make a better decision."

"What if they go through with it?" Taylor inquired.

Thorn shrugged, "Then they're not only sexy and sex-starved, but incredibly powerful and dangerous. A person who can cast aside personal dignity for power is not a person to take lightly." He offered a hand at Taylor, "So, knowing that any Cost I attach to powers I view as overpowered will often mean anything from porno tits to nymphomania, are you still willing to go through with this, Taylor Hebert?"

Taylor considered her options for a long, long moment, before looking up at Thorn and taking his hand.

"Let's get started."

* * *

Part 2: What The Customer Wants, They Get

"Let's begin first by showing you the Catalogue," Thorn started and a wave of the hand brought a thick book into existance, "This is the superpowers sale catalogue for the 32225 PF Financial Year, the largest and most comprehensive list of powers for general sale offered by Head Office." He handed the book to Taylor, "All powers have their attendant prices attached, so feel free to browse, we have plenty of time."

Taylor snorted as she accepted the catalogue, of course there was plenty of time when time literally wasn't going anywhere, "Thanks. Is there an index?"

"First page after the customer advisory," Thorn answered as he pulled out a small black device and began fiddling with it, "When you're ready, tell me your choices, or just ask me any questions you might have. I need to check some business emails and messages." As he leaned back on his ribbon-tendril chair, Taylor shrugged and opened up the catalogue to find the advisory in question.

WARNING TO CLIENTS: Do not be reckless about your power choices. All Salesmen have legal authority from the Absolute Trade Mandate to impose The Cost of their choice on power over a limit defined by the Salesman. Always be aware that as the Client, you have final say in accepting the powers and that you MUST give consent in all circumstances and are legally within your rights and obligations to ask for clarification on any topic.

"I'm guessing people don't read the warning?" Taylor asked, glancing up to see Thorn shrug in reply, "Right, of course they don't." Flipping the page, Taylor began reading through the extensive list of choices, before thumbing pages to flick to a specific power.

Weapon Creation: Create a single weapon, or multiple weapons, of the Client's choice from nothing.

Limit: As set by Salesman.

Cost: As set by Salesman.

Price: $4000 in local currency.

Taylor winced, four thousand dollars for the power to create weapons from nothing was pretty pricey but upon thinking about it, it seemed fairly manageable as she looked up, "What's the Limit for Weapon Creation?"

Thorn looked up from his phone and gave Taylor a glance before replying, "Multiple, permanent weapons of any kind. Unlimited ammunition of any kind goes over the Limit." He cocked his head slightly, "Right. The Cost from me is that you have a compulsion to basically do cheesecake posing."

Taylor blinked, "Cheesecake posing?"

Thorn shrugged, "In a nutshell? You have an urge to pose with your weapons in sexy and/or provocative positions with a noticeably minimal amount of clothing. Short skirts that flash your underwear, wearing tight or cleavage-revealing shirts, that sort of clothing. And the poses could range to bending over just far enough to let people peek to positioning your weapon in just the right place."

Taylor tapped her chin, so far it didn't sound too bad, "Doesn't seem too bad so far. Especially with what you said about cosmetic enhancement."

Thorn shrugged, "Well, the effect does get stronger when you're in public or being photographed." He tapped his phone, "Also, you'll have a preference for big weapons, particularly for posing."

"Why would I need big weapons?" Taylor questioned, and Thorn stared at her with his blank mask before it clicked and she flushed, "Oh."

"Yeah, 'oh'. At least you'll be able to carry and use them without getting thrown about by the recoil." Thorn replied as he returned his attention to his phone, "At least you'll be a hit with the gun lobbyists." He chuckled at Taylor's sour look before she went back to browsing.

Checking the index again, Taylor thumbed through the catalogue to another page and one of the powers listed that had caught her attention. This one seemed interesting to her eyes as she read through the details.

Wide-Range Control Field: Creates a 20-foot field that passively alerts the power bearer to living beings and provides details on their mood, current actions, line of sight and hearing range. Active usage allows bearer to take total control of specific people within range with unlimited multi-tasking.

Limit: Set by Salesman

Cost: Set by Salesman

Price: $15,000 in local currency

Taylor winced; the price was perfectly fine when taken in context with such a powerful ability, but it was still pricey as hell. Even so, Taylor felt strangely drawn to having such an ability, she didn't know why but it felt right for her to have that kind of power. Maybe it was just her repressed sense of vengeance wanting her to use it to put the Trio through even worse shit than what they did to her?

Shrugging, Taylor made a mental note before her eyes went lower and she felt a grin creep onto her face.

Active Mental Rewriting/Compulsion: Requires eye contact, but allows user to completely rewrite memories and personalities or simply browse through the victim's mind at will. Will cause mental trauma when used.

Her eyes skipped over the Limit and Cost to look at the price. It was cheaper than the wide-range control power but only just; $11,500 in local currency. But by now Taylor's mind was thinking of the two powers being used in tandem, and while she knew that she'd prefer to use her powers for good, Taylor was also sorely tempted by the opportunities for revenge now that she had a chance to really calm down and think about her situation.

If she could rewrite those three to leave her alone and encourage others to stop for perhaps some simple reason like boredom, Taylor could hopefully start to get her life back. Didn't she deserve to have a life? One that didn't involve mauled books, juice and soda dumpings or getting stuffed inside her fucking locker with garbage?

Nodding to herself, dark thoughts clouding her mood, Taylor dog-eared the page to go along with the weapon creation power before flicking back to the index and browsing the list again before her eyes fell on another power and she immediately went to the page that had it, her smile now much wider as she read the description.

Powered Projection Creation: Create a projection, human or otherwise, possessing either single powers or a limited library of powers. Unlimited number of projections allowed with attendant unlimited multi-tasking. Unlimited range.

Her eyes skipped down to the price.

Price: $16,000,000 in local currency.

A sixteen-million-dollar power, and there were similar ones there, but Taylor was already imagining what she could do with that kind of power. She could make an army of capes, ones that could help with anything from rescuing people to fighting Endbringers! She could give them powers like the Siberian and take down the Slaughterhouse 9, or maybe create her own duplicates of the Triumvirate with modifications, this would be perfect!

And then Taylor's mind considered the catalogue in her hands as her eyes flicked to the 'limited library' part of the description. Could she? Thorn had pretty much told her what he would set as a Cost for powers over his Limit, and if she did what she was thinking of, what would he set down? A compulsive addiction to masturbation? Exhibitionism? Turn her into a cock-hungry slut?

And there was the price to consider. Sixteen million was not spare change, and Taylor was not looking forward to potentially using her power for crime before she could use it but at the same time there was the fact she could just raid the gangs for money since they seemed to have all of it anyway. But the gangs all had their own Capes as well...

Taylor quickly flicked back to the index and then to another page, smiling as she saw 'Power Copier' and 'Power Modifier' on the page. And for a comparative bargain at a few thousand dollars each. If she had that go with her...Taylor shook her head slightly, was she really going to go through with this?