“Wha- Well, I’ll just fucking do it then! You better fucking hire me if you like the proposal once I put it together! I won’t eat until it’s done! Just you wait!” While Ji Soo is full of arrogance and hot-headed steam while initially shouting this, he immediately drops into a far more timid voice when changing his intended audience. “Um, M-miss Calculated, h-how would you like to have your donations account handled?”
‘OH MY GOD, YOU ARE SUCH A FUCKING SIMP!’
[...I'm not even going to ask, I can guess more than a few implied derogatory meanings.]
“Hmm? I’ll go create a business receivings account tomorrow morning as I submit my proposed forms for 23 and Willy’s benefit. Ah
Jonathan darts over to walk alongside Lucas’s left side, finally rejoining the party. After a mix of greetings, they collectively resume their journey towards their intended destination.It doesn’t take Lucas very long to notice the small gas can that Jonathan is carrying in his left hand, raising an eyebrow as soon as he sees it.“Seems you’ve been busy, yeah? Got any fun stories after goofin’ around this time?” As Lucas’s curiosity gets the better of him, he can’t help bringing attention to the unusual contraband. Additionally, in the department of things he can’t resist, he also reaches over and messes up Jonathan’s hair while he asks his questions. [...You said something about three rules previously, I take it there are notable differences? ...I suppose it’s a good thing you’re starting to realize more truths of this world without it needing to kill you first.]‘...Yeah… I just, I dunno. I shouldn’t be surprised, but it still bothers me. The Three Laws from all the sci-fi stuff where I’m from says that very first thing, robots shouldn’t hurt people. Then second they gotta listen to orders and then finally protect itself… The more I think about it, the more the six whatevers make sense here, but, fuck.’[If you were to assign that ruleset to 23, its safety would be jeopardized as soon as people realized it wouldn’t retaliate. .I'd Like to Change My Reincarnation Subscription, Please Ch141 - Pupper Pressure
After a few more moments of this high-speed information exchange, the bot turns back around to return to the kiosk, while 23 proceeds to rejoin the group on their way to the employee-only elevator.[Remember, Jonathan covertly informed you that he saw Mikah notice all of you.]‘Oh, right, I should call to tell ‘em we’re here.’When they’ve nearly reached the doors to the elevator, Lucas pulls out his phone, leisurely scrolling through his contacts in pursuit of ‘MARK’. Poor Mikah has staggered a few steps away from the group, leaning against the wall next to the elevators with one hand. His other hand is resting on his knee, and he is doubled over in hysterical, full-body-trembling laughter. It’s so intense that his eyes are watering, and he’s starting to have difficulty breathing. As funny as everything said out loud was, he is definitely privy to even more additional amusements.Though, to be fair, everyone else’s hysterics aren’t all that far behind his, in regards to their intensity. That is, apart from Miss Chievous, who is, somehow, still staring at Mark with a serious expression.The rich baritone of Mark’s laughter stands out from amongst the crowd. Upon Mark noticing how earnestly Miss Chievous is wI'd Like to Change My Reincarnation Subscription, Please Ch143 - Jo’s Here
Upon noticing Dan and Sylph’s arrival, Lucas immediately begins frantically waving at them, as if there existed some possible timeline in which they wouldn’t notice the large crowd of conspicuous people milling about. And going about it all rather noisily, to boot.Lucas works his way over to the edge of the group, continuing a few steps past its periphery. As Dan walks over towards the gathering, Lucas holds his hands up in front of him, cupped together, fervently awaiting her majesty’s glorious audience. The simultaneously hopeful and questioning look on his face, combined with this posture, is all the clues that Dan needs to guess what his heart’s true desire is. "As I imagine you have numerous decisions to make before we can finalize any details, would you perhaps like to exchange contact information... And how would you prefer I address you, Mind Flare? Well, what names would everyone else prefer, as well, while we're on the subject?" After Miss Calculated tenuously requests everyone’s desired supervillain nomenclature, Mark dismissively waves a hand back and forth."Oh please, there's no need to be so formal. Do you really think I would bother trying to act like you don't already know what my real name is? If anything, I should be the one asking you, Miss Calculated. Besides, if we'll be working together, there's really no need to be so stiff."Ah, right, Mikah mentioned that he didn't have the pleasure of making your acquI'd Like to Change My Reincarnation Subscription, Please Ch145 - Dan Da-Dan Dan Dan
Even though Mikah’s expression is every bit as sour as everyone else’s, he takes a moment to compose himself with a deep breath and forces a smile. Considering how smoothly he does it, and with such a convincing end result, this is clearly a well-practiced mask.Walking back over close with the group once more, quietly clearing his throat as he does so, he speaks up when he’s nearby, although perhaps a touch louder than is entirely necessary.“Now now, it doesn’t do us any good to stew over it right now. Even if we knew who it was and where this lab is, it’s not like we should run over and burn down half the city right this very moment.” As Mikah says this, Miss Calculated is one of the first of the gathered throng to snap out of her violent reverie. “Ah, c-certainly. It will take some time to analyze everything that is already in place and to come up with effective-” As Miss Calculated is winding up her response, not entirely able to hide her nervousness, Mark holds his hand up once again, this time around at least attempting to hold back his laughter.“Now, now, don’t worry. I understand it can’t be done overnight. And, of course, I’ll cover the costs of everything. First things first though, figure out what safety measures you’ll need in place so you can begin work on that reactor in earnest. “As a prototype, I’m sure you’ll only want to work on just the one at first, but I am very eager to see when you’re satisfied enough to install multiple units wI'd Like to Change My Reincarnation Subscription, Please Ch147 - 23’s Initiative
Lucas and Jonathan—dressed decently but nowhere near as fancy as yesterday—are most of the way to Cat’s Paw Cafe, pointedly not utilizing the stinky subway station to get there.‘Ya know, it’s been surprisingly peaceful, yeah? Though, not havin’ people gawk as much as yesterday is kinda nice. All that attention was gettin’ old fast.’[Ahem, well, fortunately, Boss System approved my long-term task priority filtering proposal.]‘Oh? Whassat?’[Compared to before, now it requires an opt-in before being bombarded with every single task in range. Before receiving alerts—and therefore penalties for ignoring them—we’ll run the calculations of the tasks’ estimated impact vs. potential unwanted attention. This effectively weeds out a majority of minor tasks—plus some moderate ones—by accounting for how suspicious it would be for you to know the event was taking place, let alone be believably compelled to interfere. I knew there was no need to ask if you were interested in activating it immedi
Once the allotted thirty minutes have passed—precisely down to the second—427 tentatively undeafens Lucas. At first, all he can hear is a booklet’s pages being flipped through, followed by Lucas grumbling.Hesitantly removing the remaining sensory suppressions one at a time, 427 nearly sighs with relief upon discovering that Lucas is standing in the kitchenette by the new automatic drip coffee maker—thankfully dressed—in the midst of poorly attempting to demystify its instruction manual.‘How the hell is this so complicated?’[Ah, making good on your promise to Jonathan?]‘Oh, thank fuck; yer back. Took ya long enough.’[…Hello, again, to you, too.]‘Yeah, yeah, yeah. Welcome back. So, anywho, can ya scan through this or somethin’ and tell me how to use it?’[…I already looked up the instructions from everything’s model numbers earlier. First, measure out—]427 guides Lucas through measuring and grinding a serving’s worth of coffee beans and setting it up in the machine with such in-d
For a few peaceful minutes, Lucas delights in demolishing the delicious delicatessen delivery. As Jonathan reaches for his coffee cup to gauge if it’s cool enough for a sane person to drink, he ends up cutting himself off with a yawn, earning a side-eye from Lucas.“Hey, ya barely got any sleep, yeah? Instead of havin’ caffeine, shouldn’t ya go take a nap?” Upon Lucas’s question, Jonathan pauses, looking at the contents of his mug with an obvious longing. “I’ll make ya a fresh one in like half an hour; I’m sure 427 can figure out howta use whatever newfangled machine ya got,” Lucas continues, his eyes also fixed on the beverage.[…I suppose I appreciate your vote of confidence.]Jonathan’s gaze lingers on the coveted coffee for a moment before he sets it back on the table. As soon as he lets go of it, Lucas lays his claim upon it.“Um, o-okay, yeah. I just, um, sh-should take a shower first,” Jonathan stammers as he stands.Lucas hums an agreement around a mouthful of coffee.[Did y
Thankfully, there are no further interruptions during the rest of this round of deliveries. Or even during the next one, either.Once Jonathan finally has the fourth and final load of freight, he makes a detour to a delicatessen. More specifically, the one where he previously purchased yesterday’s breakfast.After equally uneventfully acquiring milk, third breakfast for himself, and first breakfast for Lucas—since he’d totally only eat sugary baked goods if real food wasn’t conveniently available—he makes his way home.With his back to the recently re-locked front door, Jonathan reclaims the last armload of supplies as he looks at Lucas’s still-shut bedroom door.‘…Our food will still be too hot to eat for a little while; I’ll make some coffee first.’Jonathan may or may not be making up excuses to keep putting off waking up Lucas in the hopes that he’ll do so on his own, knowing full well that he probably won’t.While taking longer than necessary to decide which appliance to christen
“Ah! Um…” Jonathan’s face scrunches up a bit as he looks over his pending purchases.‘Can we at least turn off tasks while my hands are full? I really don’t want to drop everything and have it get broken or stolen by the time I get back to it… It will be annoying enough having to run back and forth a bunch.’[Requesting temporary task suppression… Permission granted; disregarding minor tasks for one hour at no penalty, effective immediately.]Jonathan barely represses his urge to sigh with relief.Before Ji Soo works up the nerve to express concern over Jonathan’s vacant stare at the wall behind the service bot, Jonathan’s attention returns to reality and redirects to said bot.“Um, c-could you hold some of it for a few minutes once I’m done paying? I-I won’t take long… Like, five minutes?” Before fidgety Jonathan even finishes asking his question, the bot is already nodding.“Certainly. Do you wish to use a private scanning kiosk to complete your order?”‘I’m surprised it’s even an
Jonathan, however, doesn’t hear the utterance of recognition. Unaware, he continues his quest for a coffee maker.A short time later, Jonathan stands--while quietly grumbling--before a row of two-in-one coffee/espresso machines.Behind him is a sea of drip coffee machines, with cold press equipment further off to the side. Alongside the arrangement of two-in-ones sits a selection of espresso machines, both automatic and semi-automatic.‘How are there so many!? What even are the differences? Wait, no, don’t answer that. The technical details will probably just be even more confusing.’[Understood.]Although Jonathan notices movement in his peripheral vision, he doesn’t outwardly react to the recent arrival at the end of the aisle. Instead, he pulls out one of the two-in-one machines set at eye level, rotating it so he can read the back of the box.“Ah! Don’t get one of those! That entire line is overpriced trash,” the newcomer blurts out, muffled by the layers of carbon-filter fabric f
After the harrowing--see also; totally normal--experience of getting his hair professionally cut, Jonathan blinks a few times as he looks himself over in the mirror. ‘Oh, wow. That’s way better.’ He’s now sporting a long-top, backswept, tapered hairstyle with a rounded back. Given how clearly tense he was throughout the entire cutting process, a trendy skin fade would have fairly obviously been too much for his liking. After giving Jonathan a few moments to make his mental evaluations, one of the hairdresser’s dreadlocks uses a soft-bristle brush to clear away the loose hair clippings around the collar of the barber cape. A few other coils of his hair organize the various tools he used, setting them aside for cleaning. Meanwhile, he quickly sweeps aside the bulk of the rogue tufts of hair on the ground in a much more conventional hands-on-broom method as he uses the mirror to make eye contact with Jonathan again. “Lookin’ good, mon. Well? Whaddya tink?” His question pulls Jonath
Once Jonathan is finally en route to the hairdresser...[Safe distance from Mikah’s power detected. Alert; you have exceeded 10 GDV. You have one enhancement available.]‘Oh! Um, you said before that rank three vision should be good enough to see through Maria’s powers, right?’[Correct, rank three should be sufficient as long as her target is in motion. Rank four would be necessary to see anything stationary, given the current strength of her powers. Please be aware that going beyond rank three for any individual enhancement has additional requirements.]‘Three should be good enough to avoid most of her pranks... Use my upgrade on vision.’[Please confirm that you would like rank two vision.]‘Yeah.’[Understood. Please close your eyes during calibrations to avoid nausea.]Jonathan slows from running at enhanced speed into a normal-paced jog for a few steps, then stops and shuts his eyes.[Bzzt... Calibrations complete.]He opens his eyes and looks around, blinking several times.‘Wo
The duo’s fiery funnel further forces the growing multi-car pile-up towards the middle of the street for a few seconds longer. Finally, the flames falter and fade. After a short delay, the wind wanes as well.‘Oh, I shouldn’t give them any extra reasons to think I’m a threat.’Jonathan swiftly shuts and pockets his switchblade as he follows the sidewalk. While doing so, his attention flicks between the ongoing chaos in the street and the front door of Howling Cartographer’s HQ lobby.Ashley steps through the door with Jason right behind her. They both take a moment to appreciate their destructive handiwork with smug expressions. Considering that Jonathan is conspicuously the only person still in the immediate vicinity, they quickly focus on him.Before either of them manage anything beyond a glare, Jonathan raises both hands in a submissive gesture, showing that he isn't wielding a weapon. "I-I just wanted his gun!"Ashley's exposed eye squints with amusement, the not hair-hidden cor