I’d Like to Change My Reincarnation Subscription, Please - Chapter 173

By the time Lucas has finished fussing with his collar enough to make it stay popped upright for easier tie access, the recently arrived elevator’s doors have finished sliding open. The first to walk out of the elevator is Mark, followed by Miss Calculated, and then 23. Whereas both Mark and Miss Calculated are empty-handed, 23 is carrying an armload of boomerangs, two cloth masks, and, unsurprisingly, Mark’s phone.

Upon noticing them, Lucas raises up his left arm to wave enthusiastically at them. While doing so, he shouts out “Hey guys, over here!” to bring their attention to the little lounge area off to the side that he and Jonathan are occupying. He’s fast enough that he cuts off the leaving service bot before it could even begin to react to their presence.

Still in a good mood after his recent interactions with Jonathan, Lucas has a lazy, but genuinely sincere, half-smile. Intent on freeing himself from the tyranny of his tie, he uses his right hand to start tugging the knot loose, rolling his head and neck a little bit while doing so.

Lucas’s flailing about quickly catches the three new arrivals’ attention, and they head in his direction.

Miss Calculated, however, stops in place for a few moments once she gets a good look at him, staring at his languid tie removal process. Coming back to reality after this brief distraction, Miss Calculated hustles a bit for a few steps in order to close the gap that grew between Mark and herself.

23 had noticed her pause in movement, similarly stopping in place so as not to crowd her. However, due to their positioning, all it can see of Lucas was his arm when he waved, and therefore has no idea just why she stopped.

Likewise, the bot that previously updated Lucas on the requested articles’ status had turned its attention over to the fresh group, so it also saw Miss Calculated freeze momentarily. However, it has even less of an idea as to why she did so than 23 does. To be fair, it’s also less interested in understanding why, too.

As it has no particular reason to interact with the newcomers, the service bot merely nods to them and resumes its journey back over to the desk it was originally staffing.

Shortly after 23 had finished fully exiting the elevator, the doors slide shut, and it rises to a higher floor.

By the time Mark, Miss Calculated, and 23 have reached the Lynn occupied lounge location, Lucas has finished completely untangling his tie, leaving it hanging loosely open while draped around his still-popped collar.

[Incoming. Bzzt…]

Before they have even begun exchanging pleasantries, the other elevator chimes out its own arrival. After slowly opening, it reveals Miss Masher, Miss Chievous, Willy, and Mikah.

Considering what a challenge it would be to not notice the bedazzled titan which is Mark, let alone good ol’ 23 standing nearby, Lucas doesn’t even bother waving to get their attention. Besides, Mikah surely would have noticed the noise before long, even if they all somehow collectively went blind and didn’t see their congregation.

Before Mikah has even completely left the elevator, being the last of that group to do so, it has already begun sliding its doors shut. At least it’s slow enough that he’s comfortably past them without needing to pick up his pace. Once it is completely shut, it, too, begins rising to an upper floor.

While they are in transit to also join up with the larger party, Lucas catches a few words from their conversation. These discussion bits when put all together sound an awful lot like they’re discussing bra design.

However, Lucas is too busy being distracted by the legion of alarmingly large dust bunnies that are stuck between some of the various sequins of Mark’s dress to really care either which way about their chatter.

With everyone grouped up once more, Mikah ends up being the first to speak up, facing Mark as he does so.

“I’m surprised you two, er, three? Ahem, I’m surprised you’ve decided to come down to meet up with us here, as well.” When Mikah decides to include 23 in the count, Miss Calculated gains a small smile of approval.

Mark’s face falls into a scowl briefly; not that it is directed at anyone in particular, though.

“We didn’t want to spend a second longer than necessary up on 15, and I assume the other top floors are just as bad right now.” While Mark is saying this, he reaches down and plucks out a dust bunny roughly the size of a small coin from the bodice of his dress, reaching over and dropping it to the ground with a dissatisfied frown before elaborating further.

“So, we figured that we’d meet up with everyone here, instead of waiting for you up there. I’ll stick around at first in case you have any initial questions, Lucas, but I’m telling you now, don’t expect me to stay there for long.” Mark’s additional statement is met with a few mixed giggles.

While Mark had been speaking, the service bot has come back over once again, directly facing Lucas when it stops.

“Mr. Lynn, Miss Masher, your work attire has arrived. If you would please follow me, I will direct you to the appropriate changing areas.” While the service bot is saying this, the elevator which Mark, Miss Calculated, and 23 had arrived in chimes out its arrival once again. It opens and releases a service bot carrying a laundry basket containing some neatly folded clothing, as well as five human-approved cloth masks, and one doggy-designed one.

“Huh? Oh, sure, thanks.” Lucas says this while he is standing up. Once fully upright, his attention fixes on Miss Calculated for a moment.

“Oh, hold still fer a sec, Mary.” Stepping over towards her, Lucas leans forward as he reaches up with his right hand. She stays stock-still, her eyes following his hand as far as they can.

He pulls an over three-inch-long tendril of cobweb from out of her hair from behind her left ear, leaning back and chuckling while holding it up. Without even hesitating, he turns and holds it out towards Jonathan.

“Here ya go, kiddo, your favorite!” As Lucas proffers the remnants of filthy neglect out to Jonathan, Jonathan scoots back in his chair as far as he possibly can, his face scrunched up with clear disgust.

“There’s already too much at home!” Leave it to Jonathan’s hatred of all things dirty to reign in his nervous stutter.

Whether due to Lucas’s actions, Jonathan’s response, or even Jonathan’s vocal clarity, there is no small amount of laughter.

Although, Mikah is perhaps laughing for another reason as he glances at Miss Calculated.

—–

Lucas total kills: 7

Lucas total deaths: 11

Lucas total assists: 1

Lucas current GDV: 17.36 (+.01 net change)

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: 6.03

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 entire being is radiating his abhorrence for the offending offering. Poor little, er, not-so-little, cobweb, all it did was exist.

Willy, attempting to protect Jonathan from the fearsome filth: Bark bark!

Lucas, laughing as he shakes the cobweb back and forth a few times, but then finally just drops it, letting it slowly drift to the ground: Good job lettin’ Maria know jus’ how much ya hate dirt, Jon.

427, trying to ignore Lucas’s stupid antics by turning his attention to the others present: [‘…I kind of want to know why Mikah is laughing so much harder than everyone else..?’]

Author, looking away while covering their mouth with one hand: I’m so sorry Jon, you’re gonna hate the brief time you spend checking out your future HQ so, so much.

Mr. Quacks, back over in Concepts Anonymous’ office, discovering that Ji Soo really is living up to his word; he hasn’t eaten anything, and he has been making some excellent progress on the brotherhood’s potential site.. He even properly included a Mr. Quacks gallery, instead of following his impulse to omit the fowl onslaught: Quack!