I’d Like to Change My Reincarnation Subscription, Please - Chapter 170

After making a few assumptions based on Miss Masher’s hesitant tone, but not having the normal additional info from hearing her thoughts directly, for once, Mikah seems particularly amused while guesstimating her train of thought.

“Ha! No, no, not at all. Short of it being an insultingly poor design, we are intentionally fairly lax on those kinds of requirements for in-house designs. This is in order to encourage them to be a bit more creative, instead of always sticking to what they’re confident will meet with general approval. I don’t think we have any sort of clothing competition going on right now, so they shouldn’t be too busy.” With Mikah’s clarification, Miss Masher makes another relieved sigh. After a slight pause, Mikah continues speaking whilst wearing a thoughtful expression.

“Besides, sometimes having a little inspiration helps get their creative juices flowing, so to speak. Some of them will surely be happy to have the creative challenge of designing for a bodybuilder-type frame, while some others may be equally enthusiastic over another opportunity to work on clothing for an actual woman, considering how rarely it happens, normally. When Josephine initially asked for some new outfit ideas for her performance that she gave yesterday, the entire design studio was an absolute madhouse. Given how her petite build is a whole different niche than your robustly athletic one, I wouldn’t be surprised if there is a fresh wave of full-blown mania all over again.” Once Mikah finishes talking, he has a mixed expression of equal parts amusement and fondness while recalling the crafting craze. Given his matter-of-fact tone, there doesn’t seem to be even a hint of maliciousness behind talking about how decidedly un-petite she is. If anything, there was a tinge of approval.

Regardless of whether Miss Chievous’s attention is drawn in by Mikah’s choice of words, or just the actual content itself, she makes a clearly curious hum.

“Now I kinda want to know just what it was that managed to win out of that frenzy?” While Miss Chievous is asking this, Jonathan has a thoughtful expression. After a few moments, he apparently remembers what Josephine was wearing, going by the shifts in his facial expression.

“Oh, yeah! She d-did have on a really pretty, um, suit y-yesterday, d-didn’t she?” Once Jonathan says this, Lucas’s face scrunches up a bit as he tries to remember.

“Eh? Oh, yeah. It was kinda fancy, but like, not too fancy, yeah? Had those long-ass pointed tails, ah, whatsit called, in a swallowtail style, yeah? Oh, son of a bitch, that was on purpose wasn’t it? ‘Cuz of her song?” When Lucas makes the connection and says it out loud, Jonathan slaps his leg with a similar look of enlightenment as Lucas gained partway through, whereas Mikah just breaks out laughing.

“Pfft, yes, it was entirely on purpose. The winning designer had actually thought to ask to listen to her setlist in advance for inspiration, and had made that rather obvious design choice after hearing the title. She had been pretty precise in her initial instructions too, it was something along the lines of; absolutely no excess weight or ruffles around her wrists, neckline, or shoulders, since it could potentially interfere with her movements or the hold on her instrument. It couldn’t be too ostentatious, but also, not too plain, either. It had to compliment her petite frame enough that without anything serving as a height comparison nearby, her, ah, lacking stature isn’t all that obvious. And, last but not least, it needed high enough body coverage to provide sizable enhanced protection, but also not so much so that the stage lights would cause her to overheat too much, hence the glossy satin finish.” When Mikah finishes up with his explanations, Miss Chievous groans loudly.

“Well, if you’re gonna keep talking about how perfect it is, at least tell us which one it is so we can see it, too!” Upon Miss Chievous voicing her complaints, Mikah chuckles while wearing a soft smile, which shortly after shifts into a thoughtful expression while he tries to recall its style ID.

“Heh, sorry, sorry. Ah, I believe that the final version number was, uhh, 152B? You know, I can see how the sleeves would be an important feature for Mary’s mechanical work, and the two of you do have a fairly petite build, like Josephine. You’re just not as, ah, vertically challenged, as she is. I’d still opt for trouser pants though, instead of the pencil skirt, if it’s going to be your only suit, and the main goal is enhanced protection. Personally, I don’t care how much they insist the enhanced pantyhose is ‘good enough’, I’d never trust it as much as a thicker, proper, fabric.” When Mikah finally actually said the model number, Miss Chievous snorted, somehow managing to convey ‘took you long enough’ with that one simple action.

After a few clicking sounds from 11 getting to work, followed by a slight delay filled with silence, Miss Masher loudly sucks in a surprised gasp.

“It’s beautiful! You and Mary definitely gotta get that one! Oh, maybe not with all the fancy embroidery on all the hems though, she’ll probably insist that it’s too much. But still! You gotta!” Not that the guys’ side of the phone call is aware of this particular detail, but Miss Masher is rocking Miss Chievous back and forth while excitedly saying this to her.

Miss Chievous had made a soft “Wow.” at first when seeing the images for the suit, and it takes her a few moments to finally respond to her sister.

“I, yeah, that’d be great. Ahem, so yeah, one each of that kinda suit jacket for both Mary and I. I guess it’s just the one… vent? Because of how its back is done? Uhh, the same matte black like Marsha got, yeah that one, same buttons too. Uhh, some sorta skinny straight leg on the pants..? Just make a designer decide on one! Same style each for both of us! And make them design a bunch of shirts for us too! We’ll worry about the matching doubles for the final ones that we pick to get enhanced, though. Oh, right, um, thanks, guys. You were a big help.” Shortly after Miss Chievous finishes saying this, she unceremoniously hangs up the phone call.

The unexpectedly abrupt ending to their communications causes both Lucas and Mikah to break out laughing. Meanwhile, Jonathan just stares at the phone displaying a ‘call ended’ message with a ‘WTF?’ expression writ across his face. If any facial expression could be considered ‘loud’, then it’s his, right now.

—–

Lucas total kills: 7

Lucas total deaths: 11

Lucas total assists: 1

Lucas current GDV: 17.32

Lucas’s fame level: 5.0* (Already beginning to receive authentic global attention. His local levels are effectively maxed.)

Lucas’s hero suspicion level: 2.5* (More than just passing suspicion for many paranoid individuals, numerous people have realized he’s an impulsive idiot.)

Jonathan total kills: 7

Jonathan total deaths: 2

Jonathan current GDV: 6.00

Jonathan’s fame level: 2.75* (What fame he does have is predominantly local.)

Jonathan’s hero suspicion level: 3.0* (More than just overly-paranoid people are suspicious at this point.)

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: 15

—–

Little character theater:

Jonathan’s rendered speechless, even holding his hands up while hunching forward a bit as he continues staring at the phone.

Willy is back on the ground again, gathering up his super-toys, and then leading the way to the elevator with his tail happily wagging. Meanwhile, the pair of sisters are contemplating looking at shoes now, or later after seeing what kinds of shirts they’re going to end up with.

Lucas, eventually getting his laughter under control, but then looking at Jonathan and busting out laughing again. Eventually, he at least manages to calm down enough to reclaim his phone.

427, after running a few calculations: ‘Hmm, it rather does seem that anything that would concern Josephine over potentially impeding her ability to perform does effectively carry over to Miss Calculated’s needs when doing precise technical work. Also, vice versa, of course. …Miss Calculated just doesn’t have to worry about the fashion aspects, while I somehow doubt Mind Flare would let Josephine out in public while wearing something unflattering.’

Author, nodding repeatedly: You’re absolutely right 427, even though they aren’t public about their personal relationship, he never abides anyone he associates with wearing anything beneath his high aesthetic standards. Lucas will prove quite problematic, in this regard. You’ll have to pry his oversized tropical-theme-pattern printed shirts, paired with loose-fitting cargo shorts, off of his cold, dead, body.

Mr.. Quacks, strategically placing bolts of rubber-ducky printed fabric in every one of MF’s designers’ workspaces, in an attempt to subconsciously influence them into making the right choice in their upcoming designs: Quack.