Chapter 128 - Subconscious Flex

Once Jonathan has finally had his fill of swinging around the Viblade, he dutifully hands it off to Lucas. There was no way he didn't notice the way Lucas was staring at it.

'Oh, it really is lightweight. I wasn't sure what to expect, but this definitely wasn't it. No wonder Jon was playing with it so much, the balance is pretty nice too… I bet I could twirl it like a pen… Ha!'

[...You would have just cut yourself in three different locations if you didn't have enhanced endurance.]

'Shhh, it still looked cool.'

"That was sick! Do it again!" At least Miss Masher appreciates Lucas's twirling skills.

"Huh. Honestly, every other endurance supe we've ever met has been such a huge prick that we never really hung out with one before. Now that I think about it, it totally makes sense that you'd practice spinning a knife around like a pen. Hah, bet you won't do it while it's turned on, though!" The entire time Miss Chievous is saying this, her eyes have been fixed on Lucas's hands while he continues spinning the blade around each finger in turn.

"Tch, it was bad enough that I chugged my beer because of you, I'm not fallin' for anything else for nuttin' in return!" Even though Lucas claims he isn't going to do it for no reason, he has stopped twirling the Viblade around to instead hold it normally and finally power it on. "The fuck, it really is weird when it's on!"

[Hmm, interesting. I was focused on other aspects when Jonathan was operating it earlier, but Miss Calculated really outdid herself. The blade itself is made of a low-grade Vitzlite, greatly reducing its useful applications as it would not suffice for suppression cuffs or other similar devices. But it seems she found just the right voltage to run an electric current through it to make it vibrate at its resonant frequency, but instead of it being damaged by the process, it actually becomes stronger.]

'Uhh..?'

[...It's vibrating in such a way that it pushes right through whatever you try to cut with it. It would make for some particularly impressive polearms, as then you'd have far more battery capacity in the long handle. Speaking of battery capacity, you should shut it back off.]

With 427's reminder, Lucas promptly powers it down. Once it's shut off, he proceeds to resume twirling it between his fingers, gradually picking up speed as he becomes more familiar with it.

'Is that why it works through endurance too, or is it because of whatever you said it's made out of?'

[Hmm, I believe that both are in effect. It would perhaps even delay regeneration powers, as well.]

'Well damn. Wait, if she can make weapons like this, how could she possibly have money troubles?'

[Well, everyone has a line they won't cross, and she generally doesn't deal with overt weaponry. Also, while she would make money initially, it would quickly change the market for Vitzlite, and I wouldn't be surprised if she uses it for other things as well, ever since she made the discovery. Considering she made a small portable knife, I can almost guarantee that she has various power saws and drills using the same technology.]

'Eh, fair. And, it's not like she's the only int supe in the world, yeah? I'm sure once they catch a whiff of it they could figure it out too, and of course, they'd make their own stuff, maybe even somethin' worse. ...Oh, of course she doesn't deal with weaponry… Mash can keep her safe from most folks, but if you get in with small arms dealers…'

[Exactly. The ridiculous lairs that int supes tend to build may be a bit of a running joke, but it's not without reason. If someone decides they want to force an int supe to work on something for them, that supe is only as safe as their greatest invention, in most cases. Hmm, that may be an unintended hazard of them befriending you, on their part. They're known locally, but that's it, and considering your growing fame combined with the repeated instances of recorded association…]

'...It's in my best interests to befriend them for security, but the opposite is true for them?'

[Until it goes past a certain threshold where you are needed to provide additional security. Perhaps you should prepare in advance to dedicate some of the HQ for a safe workspace for Miss Calculated.]

'They've practically taken over the whole HQ already!'

[...You might be able to rent an additional floor of MF's should you need it in the future, considering they had an entire floor dedicated to simply storing trash. Or, rather, Miss Calculated could, after your introductions. Assuming she gets along well enough with Mark, I imagine he wouldn't be entirely opposed to an int supe turning all of MF's into a secure lair, and she surely has the abilities to keep the public-facing areas open without sacrificing security in the off-limits areas.]

'Hell, he'd probably hand her a floor as payment for keeping everything's security up to date, considering how quick he was to offer a floor to me just to break things…'

[...Were you planning on just keeping the Viblade for yourself? Also, at this point, you're showing off your latest enhancement a bit too much. As soon as you did your first few passes to get a feel for it you've been doing that with unnerving accuracy, and I believe the only way you could possibly be going any faster would be with an enhancement. Your audience is openly staring.]

'Oh shit, I used to twirl pens all the time while I was bored or thinking at work, I honestly forgot I was even doing it.'

[...How do you manage to be such a show-off purely subconsciously?]

'Eheh.'

Finally ceasing his motions, Lucas loosely holds the dagger out in the general vicinity of where he thinks Miss Chievous is seated.

"Uhh, here, you can have it back, it's pretty cool. Now I just gotta convince Calc to make one for Jon too." While Lucas is holding the Viblade out, it suddenly disappears from view, and then a second later he feels the weight of it lift off of his hand.

"Hmm? And how were you planning on convincing me? Lorelei has all of the paperwork for the deed ready, by the way." Miss Calculated suddenly speaks up from her position of leaning against the wall at the edge of the dining area.

Lucas was far too occupied with his own thoughts to have noticed when she arrived.

'Woah, the fuck? How long has she been over there?'

[...Not too long, but long enough to see some of your subconscious twiddling.]

"Uhhh, by asking nicely and, uh, offering to pay you well? Pretty please?" Lucas starts giving long-range puppy-dog eyes after saying 'please' while standing up from his seat.

As he walks over to join Miss Calculated in heading to Lorelei's office, she has a genuine smile.

"I'll think about it. It wouldn't be fair if you're the only one getting fun new toys, anyway." Miss Calculated chuckles a few times after saying this, then turns to lead the way through the hallway.

From his seat at the table, Jonathan throws his hands up in the air and gives a cheerful "Yay!" which causes Miss Chievous and Miss Masher to break out laughing.

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Lucas total kills: 7

Lucas total deaths: 11

Lucas total assists: 1

Lucas current GDV: 12.42 (+.01 +.01 = +.02 net change)

Lucas's fame level: 4.50* (Beyond just local, viral meme tier. Local levels are extremely high.)

Lucas's hero suspicion level: 2.5* (More than just passing suspicion for some paranoid individuals, people are realizing he's an impulsive idiot)

Jonathan total kills: 6

Jonathan total deaths: 2

Jonathan current GDV: 4.01

Jonathan's fame level: 2.75* (Mostly just local)

Jonathan's hero suspicion level: 2.75* (A few paranoid individuals are suspicious)

Willy's fame level: 1.5* (Anonymous meme fame, local fame primarily as 'Xenoclast's dog', but some strangers know him as William/Willy now)

Supervillain social circle size: 11

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Little character theater:

Jonathan, turning to face Miss Masher again as soon as Lucas started walking away: So, um, d-did he actually give it back once you guys made him bleed, like he, uh, promised?

Willy watched Lucas as he walked away, but turned his attention to back over storytime once he's out of sight.

Lucas, a bit nervous: Uh, I hope that smile was because she's in a good mood, and not because she's planning on extorting me over the knife.

427, his mind focused on what kind of things Miss Calculated might set up in MF's to make it a proper lair: [Hmm? I doubt she'd push too hard, you're already proving rather lucrative for her. If she's just concerned with the money, I'm sure she's confident that keeping you happy would prove more profitable in the long run, rather than trying to push for extra on one specific thing, and risk damaging the continued partnership.]

Author, sighing softly: This little get-together for lunch really has turned out to be a wholeass story arc, goodness.

Mr.. Quacks, busy scorning the inferior two-armed service bot #4 that is currently cleaning up the remains from dessert at the Thieves of Elsewhere table: Quack.