Chapter 63 - Priorities

[Honestly, at this point she's already pretty suspicious, you might as well just admit how lazy you are. I wouldn't offer up claiming to be a late bloomer for your powers, but if she brings it up, don't bother denying it.]

'Wha- Hey! I'm not that out of shape!'

[Round is a shape. I'm pretty sure the only reason you aren't overweight is purely because of your metabolism, you're going to be in trouble the moment it slows down.]

'HEY!'

[I'm a little impressed the original lived as long as they did without being a supe.]

'You're having way too much fun with this now.'

[And I will continue to do so until you at least attempt to cover up why you're the only strength supe in the entire world that couldn't be bothered to exercise.]

'…'

While Lucas makes an effort to compose himself before speaking up, he leans back, sinking into the plush couch. Leaving his left foot resting on the ground to brace his leg, he folds his right leg up so his ankle is resting on top of his left knee, leaning some of his weight into his left elbow that is sunk into the sumptuous velvet armrest. After tapping his right knee with his right index finger a half dozen times, he finally takes one last deep breath before fessing up.

"Okay, fine, so I'm just really lazy. I've always figured being a little stronger wouldn't matter much since I don't really use it to the fullest as it is. I'd rather stay home eating donuts than hit the gym. Happy now!?" Lucas has switched from tapping to holding a firm grip on his knee over the course of speaking.

Jonathan has managed to get his laughing under control and subconsciously started holding his breath while waiting for Miss Masher's reaction.

Willy, of course, has no reason to consider how serious the consequences could be if she can't accept this reasoning. Instead, he's merely amused by Lucas's declaration of his favorite sin, sloth, with a touch of gluttony on the side.

Miss Masher's expression started off as being a touch confused, almost as if he had suddenly started speaking in another language she could barely understand. As he kept going, the look upon her face would make it seem he suddenly sprouted a second head, which is the one that continued the conversation, in yet another language.

"Wait... Wait, you seriously actually felt that yer strong enough and just... Don't care enough to bother trying for more!? Just how fuckin' strong are you!?" As Miss Masher's mind struggles to comprehend the concept of NOT trying to be as strong as possible, the door to the room starts to open.

Miss Calculated is just in time to hear the tail end of Miss Masher's question and see her subconsciously start to stand up. She steps into the room carrying the clipboard with the folder full of documents, as well as her tablet and pen. For some reason, she seems to have lost her glasses in the process of coming here.

"Mash! Not inside!" As she immediately scolds Miss Masher in a stern voice, it seems a bit off, as if she's struggling not to laugh.

She comes into the room with a slightly hurried pace and rushes over to lean forward and set the clipboard down on the corner of the coffee table between Jonathan and Lucas. She then sets the pen and tablet next to said clipboard, followed by immediately getting down on her knees next to Willy to start giving him belly rubs.

"Ahem, I'm sure you don't need me to read everything out to you, be sure to look everything over and ensure you fully understand all of it. If there's anything you don't get at first, I'm sure it will be explained in detail later on in the document." While Miss Calculated absentmindedly says this, all of her attention is on the fuzzy belly stretched out before her.

Miss Masher snorts and sits back down on the couch she had claimed, folding her arms again and staring at Lucas.

Rather than looking mad, it's more like she's extremely curious. His strength must be impressive indeed for him to not feel the need to be any stronger than he already is, and there couldn't possibly be any other explanation.

"I um, I guess I should... Read them in order..?" As Jonathan hesitates to grab the thick stack of paperwork, Lucas just shrugs at him.

"Yeah sure, might as well. Oh, by the way, Mash, I do have to admit that the last time I actually REALLY used my strength was pretty fuckin' fun. Hang on, I might be able to find the video." As Lucas shunts the responsibility of paperwork over to Jonathan, he pulls out his shiny new phone to see if he can find the clip that was played on the news last night.

With her curiosity burning even brighter, Miss Masher sits properly upright, unfolding her arms to grip the right armrest of the luxurious couch she's seated on.

While Jonathan is diligently plodding his way through the outrageously wordy documents, Lucas has succeeded in finding his target in a fairly short amount of time. Eager to show off, Lucas gets up and walks around the vigorous petting session to heavily plop down on the couch directly next to Miss Masher, holding over his phone with the video ready.

As the video plays, her clear delight over ripping the pole up out of the ground and using it as a bat makes it fairly evident that she has every intention of doing similarly in the near future, just for funsies.

'Sorry whoever turns into collateral damage while she plays.'

[You don't seem particularly sincere.]

'...I hope I get to see it, it must be fun to watch too. Besides, it'll be free GDV to save whoever she terrorizes.'

While 427 replicates an exaggerated sigh, the door opens once again. In walks... Miss Calculated?

This newly arrived version has her glasses on as usual and is carrying a large platter covered in a wide spread of meats, cheeses, and crackers. Taking a look around the room, she witnesses Jonathan being the only remotely serious person. Lucas and Miss Masher are both hunched over Lucas's phone, their heads practically leaning against each other, cheering like they're watching some sort of sports game and their team is in the lead. Last but not least, her look-alike is lying on the ground playing with Willy, without a care in the world.

"Chi! I knew you took it! Bah, at least you actually gave it to them instead of just hiding it somewhere. What in the world are you two wat... Oh, a ZXM-9001, I guess they finalized mass production?" As she sets the charcuterie board down on the coffee table, she heads over towards Lucas and Miss Masher, not-so-gently kicking her look-alike in the process. While they're still focused on the contents, she's more interested in the device itself.

'!!!'

[Hmm? You're that surprised it was the third sister, Miss Chievous, instead of Miss Calculated herself, given how differently she was acting?]

'A little, but that's not it... IT'S OVER NINE-THOUSAND!'

[What in the actual... Your world was really really odd. I simultaneously do and do not want to find out more about it. I can't help but wonder if you're just making some of these references up to confuse me, considering how... Strange they tend to be.]

'Oh come on, there's gotta be memes here, yeah?'

[…]

'Oh fuck, I've got work to do later. Man, an entire world's worth, why didn't I check them out sooner?'

[…Why couldn't you be this enthusiastic about something reasonable?]

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Lucas kills this chapter: 0

Lucas total kills: 7

Lucas deaths this chapter: 0

Lucas total deaths: 10

Lucas current GDV: 8.90 (-.01 net change)

Lucas's fame level: 2.5* (Mostly just local)

Lucas's hero suspicion level: 1* (Only highly paranoid people)

Jonathan kills this chapter: 0

Jonathan total kills: 5

Jonathan deaths this chapter: 0

Jonathan total deaths: 2

Jonathan current GDV: 1.94 (+.01 net change)

Jonathan's fame level: 1.75* (Just local)

Jonathan's hero suspicion level: 1* (Only highly paranoid people)

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Little character theater:

Jonathan, head swimming from all of the convoluted legalese: Why is this so complicated?

Willy, not caring which of the sisters he's playing with at the moment: Bark!

Lucas is just as enthralled by the video this time around as he was the first time. Miss Masher's reactions are just encouraging him even further.

427, relieved that Miss Masher seems to have had her suspicions diverted, but now starting to worry that they'll be seeing a lot of all three sisters in the future: [Lucas, you probably should be a bit more careful...]

Author, smirking: Everyone could have reacted more strongly to Chi's reveal, but nah. What are you gonna do, make her unpet Willy?

Mr. Quacks, full attention on the elegant, meticulously prepared charcuterie board: Quack!