Chapter 71 - Eh, Yeah, Sure

While the overall energy of the room makes it feel like someone is going to pull out a bottle of champagne any moment now while Jonathan should start giving an acceptance speech, Lucas suddenly claps twice to get everyone's attention.

"All right, enough of that. Those bastards don't deserve any more of our time, even for this." As Lucas cuts the celebratory atmosphere short, Jonathan's expression sobers up a bit, but he does nod repeatedly in agreement.

"Ri-right. It's great that it's done, bu-but it's not like it really changes anything..." As Jonathan backs Lucas up, he sinks into the cushy couch he is seated on, completely undoing the prim and proper upright posture he was temporarily maintaining. Having fallen back into a neutral expression, there are no remaining traces of the bright enthusiasm he had mere moments before.

'Oh, uh whoops. Didn't mean to be such a killjoy about it...'

[He doesn't necessarily seem upset, but that was certainly quite the rapid change in mood...]

Both Miss Masher and Miss Chievous stiffen awkwardly with the tonal shift, and Miss Calculated clears her throat before heading back over to her previous seat to resume sifting through all of the paperwork.

Willy, however, is of a differing opinion. Decisively making two rapid barks, he pulls himself partially upright, so only his rear is resting on the couch instead of his whole body being lazily reclined across the plush velveteen like he had been doing before.

Whereas the ladies in attendance give him curious looks, Lucas and Jonathan seem visibly confused.

"What..? But, it really doesn't though..?" As Jonathan reinforces his stance, Willy does similarly by barking twice in rapid succession once again, rearing up to stomp his front paws to further emphasize his point.

As everyone in attendance is overcome by the adorably endearing display of assertion, he even repeats these actions once again when Jonathan still seems to be hesitant to accept his declarations.

This second time around Miss Chievous is ready, managing to snap a picture as he's partially reared up, giggling over how cute he is while doing so.

"Hmm... Well, it was bothering you before, yeah? So I guess he means that you'll at least be happier now?" As Lucas voices his guess out loud, there is a single resounding bark, which seems a touch exasperated.

Jonathan's gazed had turned towards Lucas while he had been speaking, but as Willy gave his confirmation his focus went right back to him. Initially looking rather surprised, his brows furrow briefly as he gives it a moment of thought, finally starting to smile again, albeit much more shyly than before.

"Ye-yeah... I guess you're right. Eheh, it's gonna make me smile just thinking of it, who am I kidding?" Perking back up, Jonathan's smile brights up once again, just not as overly exultant as he had initially been.

'Phew, nice save Willy.'

[...At least you didn't try to steal credit.]

'Wha-hey! I wouldn't dare!'

[...Sure you wouldn't.]

'Tch, whatever.'

Fully understanding what Willy just intentionally did, Miss Calculated stealthily claims a few seconds to give him a good quality ear rub. He slowly melts under the affection, ending up lying down again, but this time leaning his head against the side of her leg.

Over the course of time it takes Miss Calculated to finish processing the next form, everyone's idle waiting proves to be largely uneventful.

The main thing of note is that Jonathan is too busy being amused by claiming the upper hand against his parents that he isn't as nervously fidgeting while waiting this time.

"There we are, Adoptions and Fostering, FR-087 is all in order. Ready to finalize and fingerprint?" With her finger hovering over the recording button on her tablet, Miss Calculated looks over at Lucas, who gives an affirmative hum, and then Jonathan, who nods once after freezing up for a second. Taking a deep breath to facilitate her upcoming narration, she decisively taps to begin the recording.

"Do you, Lucas Walter Lynn, as of today at the date of recording, officially declare your intent to formally adopt the orphan, Jonathan Julian Millard, and become his legal parent?" As Miss Calculated begins the verbose verbal consent agreement narration, Lucas has a significantly more relaxed posture than Jonathan's. Slouching back with his hands folded under the back of his head, he even kicks his feet up onto the coffee table while giving Miss Calculated a half-smile.

"Eh, yeah, sure." As Lucas somehow manages to be as blasé as physically possible, Jonathan lets slip a snort of nearly-repressed laughter, completely crushing his previous solemn countenance. Miss Calculated, somehow, fortunately, manages to remain completely deadpan and keeps her voice steady as she continues.

"And do you, Jonathan Julian Millard, formally accept becoming part of the Lynn family roster, and accept all familial relations and obligations as is attributed to this update in status?" Finally finished with her portion of narrating the finalization for this particular form, there is a trace of amusement on her face as she looks from the overly casual Lucas over to the incapable-of-feigning-serenity Jonathan.

"Yeah! Um, sure!" As Jonathan enthusiastically consents, Miss Calculated ends the recording and the room breaks out in laughter. "What the hell!? Bwahaha!" Jonathan can't even manage an admonishing look as he turns to Lucas and bursts out laughing, with Miss Chievous and Miss Masher serving as surround-sound stereo accompaniment to his laughter.

"Pfft, what? All it's gonna change is yer last name, brat." As Lucas defends his leisurely approach, he can't keep a straight face much longer before he joins in with the laughter as well. "You were too fuckin' serious looking! How could I go along with that!?" As the truth reveals itself, Miss Calculated can't hold off on joining in on the hysterics any longer as well.

Once she's taken a moment to compose herself a bit, she finally brings the tablet around for both of their prints, and with that, the second form is down.

-----

Lucas kills this chapter: 0

Lucas total kills: 7

Lucas deaths this chapter: 0

Lucas total deaths: 10

Lucas current GDV: 8.92 (+.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: 1.96

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

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

Supervillain social circle size: 9

-----

Little character theater:

Jonathan, having to redo the fingerprint since he was shaking too much from laughing the first time: Seriously, kind of reason is that!?

Willy, happily wagging his tail and almost patiently waiting his turn to acquire the new family name, as well: Bark!

Lucas at least manages his fingerprint in just one take, but he was definitely still laughing at Jonathan having flubbed his while he was doing it.

427, doing the best mental equivalent to a head-shake as he possibly can: [It really might not be in his best interests to have accepted.]

Author, throwing confetti: Welcome to the family, Jonathan Lynn!

Mr. Quacks, wondering why they didn't all take on his superior, glorious family name: Quack?