It's obviously a plot behind the human race's back

“Do you know who I am? Do you still recognize me?” asks Super Mario. The Plumber walks into the living room. She waters the plants. When she turns around, water gushes from the watering can.

“You didn’t realize it was me, do you?” says the Superhero. “To be honest, it cost me a lot of sweat too. When you dress up, you have to do it right. There’s no middle ground. Either it’s perfect. Beautiful. Fantastic. Or it’s nothing at all. Worthless. Rubbish.”

The woman straightens her dress. She looks at the dried-up golden palm, the Swiss cheese plant, the ficus. They beg for water.

“I’ve been thinking about it for a long time,” says Super Mario. “To take this step. To become someone I admire. For so long I have felt like I am nothing. That I am a shadow, a black hole. People always look right through me. Nobody seems to notice me.”

The Plumber stands in front of her and doesn’t seem to be giving up for the time being. The watering can is getting heavier in her hand. Should she continue with her household chores? Or does she want to be polite, respectful, well behaved and start a conversation with this disguised figure? She decides to do the latter.

“It seems so unfairly divided in the world,” says the Superhero. “Only a small part of humanity gets all the attention. The media is all about them. But the rest of the population on our sympathetic planet? They are never listened to. They exist. But for what? They are not rich, they have no influence, no status, no reputation.”

What does a character in a video game drink, the woman thinks as she stands in the kitchen. Tea? Coffee? Lemonade? Spirits? Kryptonite? Or just water? Does she dare ask? She looks at the Plumber, but he is so withdrawn she decides to offer him a beer.

"So, you can do two things when you are insignificant," says the Comic Character. "Either you accept your fate and go through life as a silent bird, a deaf mole, a blind cockroach. Or you don't take it anymore. You don't accept it. You decide to change, to alter."

The woman hands the Disguised Man a cold beer. Then she spots that the mouth on the mask is sewn on. How is he supposed to eat or drink? Or don't superheroes do something so vulgar?

"I know it's exciting," says Super Mario. "I know that not everyone will get used to the idea. That's just the way it is. I accept that. But do I have to be a pipsqueak because everyone expects me to be?"

The Plumber stands there with the bottle of Heineken in his hand. As if it were a welcome gift. The woman has poured herself a glass of water. They are both lingering next to the aquarium. The guppies, veiltails and moonfish swim around in the glass tank like their existence is meaningful, clear and preordained.

“Now that I am someone else,” the Superhero say, “now that I will go through life as a famous person, someone with special powers, now I can start over. I no longer have a past. I no longer have to be ashamed, to apologize. Like I have a stigma, a stain.”

She notices the dust on the piano. She detects how dirty the windows are, how many crumbs there are on the carpet. To be honest, she would like to be a superhero too. But there is so much to do. The housework, the finances, the groceries, the garden.

“I already feel a great man, a hero,” says the Comic Character. “I am now someone who can make a difference. Justice is done to me. People are going to see me. No one can get around me. I'm finally taking what's rightfully mine. Status, prestige, influence."

What are we going to eat tonight, the woman thinks. Rice, potatoes, pasta? Meat? Vegetarian? Yesterday we had pizza. It's wise to eat vegetables today. But what kind of vegetables. Kale? Sauerkraut?

"Common life is far too ordinary, far too trivial, too boring," says the Disguised Man. “Fortunately, I dared to take this leap. I'm glad I have the courage to step out of the rut. To fight myself free from the prevailing norm. I think this will work. This time, the environment has to adapt to me. For years I did what was expected of me. Now it's my turn. Now I will finally lead the way."

"I don't know," she says. "As your wife, I still have my doubts.”