I’d Like to Change My Reincarnation Subscription, Please - Chapter 197

After Miss Masher steers the misshapen steel sphere out to the lobby area by the elevators, she absentmindedly shoves it aside without holding back her strength, which results in it sliding moreso than rolling. It eventually comes to a stop after its collision with an out-of-the-way wall, leaving a dent in said wall thanks to the force behind its impact.

As the elevator still has some time to go before its pending arrival, Lucas can’t resist his urge to run over and play with the new shiny distraction.

‘That looks pretty solid, yeah? Heheh, wonder if I can walk on it like one of those circus performers.’

[…It should be dense enough, yes. And, with your proprioception, it should be reasonably easy to maintain your balance, I suppose. But, is it really such a good idea to do that in front of Miss Masher?]

‘Pfft, you’re such a worrywart.’

[…]

Miss Masher immediately notices his march over to the malformed mass of metal, merry in her mirth as he makes his move to mount it.

Its inconsistent shape provides some stability in his efforts as he scales its sides, and he’s assisted by the nearest wall serving as additional support whilst doing so.

Once upon its silvery summit, he securely stands atop it, though he still has a single hand resting against the wall for balance. Satisfied that he’s staying stationary, he retracts his supporting hand, then takes his cellphone out for some birds-eye selfies.

Whereas Lucas and Miss Masher’s amusement is apparent, given their mutual boisterous laughter, 427 is simply speechless from his stupid antics.

As the recently arrived elevator’s doors start sliding apart, Miss Masher takes out her own phone, snapping a few shots as well.

“Hey, time to go. Uh, do ya need any help gettin’ down? Though, I guess that’s the easy part. It’s gettin’ down nicely that’d really be hard.” After Miss Masher finishes saying this, Lucas briefly has an uncharacteristically serious expression as he looks down.

[…Don’t forget that she is already wary of your previous acrobatics, and I doubt the fact that you’re standing steady is lowering her guard any.]

“Uhh… I got this… I think. Fuckit, what good is havin’ endurance if ya never use it!?” Shortly after saying this, Lucas goes to start trying to step down, but the shift in his balance causes the uneven orb to slide backwards beneath him, leading to him rather inelegantly falling forward.

He at least keeps his legs under him, managing a shaky three-point landing after stumbling in some of the ambient trash scattered across the ground.

While all of this was happening, Miss Masher is laughing at him as she actively photographs the chain of events.

[…Why do I have a feeling that that wasn’t even remotely how you intended for it to play out?]

‘Because it wasn’t at all! That would have fuckin’ sucked if it wasn’t for my enhancements!’

[…Well, at least it being genuine made things far more convincing for her, I’m sure.]

‘I sure fuckin’ hope so! That should have broken a leg!’

[…At least you’re aware of that fact.]

Lucas stands up, dusting himself off while trying to play it off as if he isn’t anywhere near as internally shaken as he actually is.

Considering Miss Masher has already turned to go to the elevator and wasn’t even looking at him, he is effectively successful. As she’s on her way over, she crouches down briefly to pick up the black messenger bag that was sitting on the ground next to George’s feet, then slings the strap over her shoulder as she heads inside the elevator.

She had to scoot around a bit to make it in, though, as a service bot with an empty box was inside.

Once she has made her way around it, it steps out to deposit the empty box off to the side, picks up a much fuller one, then returns to the elevator, hitting the button for the 1st floor once it is inside again.

After doing so, it retreats to the furthest corner of the elevator, making room for the two spa-bound supes. With it out of the way, Miss Masher goes over to hit the button for the 8th floor, then presses the hold door button until Lucas is close by.

Considering how slow the doors are, it was fairly unnecessary. But, it was still a nice gesture, at least.

Miss Masher settles in place, casually leaning against one of the walls of the elevator while facing the accompanying service bot with her phone still in one hand. After a slight delay, she then addresses her fellow elevator occupant.

“Oh, even if ya can move it, don’t throw out that big metal ball. I’ll come pick it up later.” Considering Miss Masher and the service bot were still the only two in the elevator, the bot doesn’t take long to realize she was addressing it.

“Understood.” With the short and direct acknowledgment on the bot’s part, Miss Masher smiles and nods once.

Turning her attention back to her phone, she proceeds to send all of the photos she just took of Lucas to him. She splits them into several small batches instead of one giant message, but as she reaches some of the action shots of his graceless departure from on high, she inadvertently directs them to the sender of a newly received message.

After a few seconds, she gets another message comprised of a question mark followed by a bunch of all caps laughter from Miss Chievous.

Realizing the error, Miss Masher scrolls back to see the message, which was Miss Chievous pointing out that their other sister finally remembered that time was, in fact, still flowing, and had asked her to inquire if they were still rolling around on the filthy particulate-filled trash floor.

After answering that they just finished up and were on their way to wash up, she resumes unloading the last of the images in Lucas’s direction.

By this point he is also in the elevator, leaning against one of the other walls and scrolling through, laughing at the shots she sent him, and the elevator doors are nearly done closing.

Once she’s finished firing off the last of the bunch, she then sends one of the shots from when he was on top of the rounded wreckage to Natalie, accompanied by the caption, “My rival is a giant dork.”

After a bit of a delay, Natalie sends back, “Giiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiirl I need the deets! If you’re not too far you should come overrr Sarah got waaay too much pizza!! This new stuffss so good I got a suppressor ooooonnnnnnnnnnn like omggg she won’t stop giggling at the BAS pix you sentt”

Miss Masher has an amused smile as she reads the message, then has some back and forth with her sisters, ultimately deciding she will go to Floralanche, but he Miss Calculated and Miss Chievous will just go home, having their leftovers for dinner.

While Miss Chievous was more than a little interested in also partaking; Miss Calculated has too much work to do and she doesn’t want her wanding off home alone, particularly while she’d most likely be distracted by thinking things over in-transit. Also, she’d want to go home with Miss Calculated in no small part to make sure she actually eats, instead of going straight to theory-crafting.

Upon Miss Masher informing Natalie that she’ll be coming over in roughly half an hour, she gets a “Yesssssssss” in response, making her chuckle.

Meanwhile, Lucas had sent the same ball-balancing image to Jonathan, but his included message was, “Look at what Marsha made lol we’re done now omw to shower now”

After only a short delay, Jonathan shoots back, “Oh, she’s collecting scrap metal??? See you soon, I have something to show you too!!!”

‘Uh, didn’t he go take a bath and then a nap? What could he have to show me from that?’

[…Isn’t that the same situation he acquired Mr. Quacks in?]

‘OMG did he get another rubber ducky!?’

—–

Lucas’s total kills: 7

Lucas’s total deaths: 11

Lucas’s total assists: 1

Lucas’s current GDV: 17.43

Lucas’s fame level: 6.0* (Local fame is completely maxed, he’s creeping up on minor celebrity status even on a global scale. Thanks, internet.)

Lucas’s hero suspicion level: 2.0*

Jonathan’s total kills: 7

Jonathan’s total deaths: 2

Jonathan’s current GDV: 6.09

Jonathan’s fame level: 4.0* (Local fame is near-max, but everyone thinks of him via his affiliation with Lucas, and not often just for him, alone.)

Jonathan’s hero suspicion level: 2.5*

Willy’s fame level: 4.75* (Recently increased thanks to a new wave of memes featuring him and Mr. Quacks.)

Mr. Quacks’s fame level: 5.25* (Recently increased thanks to a new wave of memes featuring him and Willy.)

Supervillain social circle size: 15

—–

Little character theater:

Jonathan briefly glances at the pair of rubber duckies on guard duty on the arm of his armchair, smiles, then goes back to his latest phone game.

Willy has some deep-sleep leg movements going on. Get that dream-squirrel, you can do it!

Lucas, grinning after finally taking his mask off and unceremoniously shoving it into the overalls pouch along with his phone: Oh man, does Mr. Quacks have an evil twin!?

427, briefly distracted by contemplating the morality of rubber ducks: [You… Sound rather excited by the prospect?]

Author, carrying a paper plate with two slices of pepperoni pizza on it from Floralanche: What? I don’t need to wait till Josephine’s ready to eat, and Nat said there was too much!

Mr. Quacks, glancing at his ladyfriend alongside him, then back at the soon-arriving elevator, eager to introduce her to the head of the Lynn family: Quack!