บท 17: Planning
After they've finished cleaning up post-meal, Jonathan sheepishly admits he'd prefer for Lucas to stay home while he naps and wait for him to go out shopping. He expresses how it would be too awkward for him to wake up alone in someone else's apartment, in far too many nervous words. Consenting to his request, Lucas ends up lounging on the sofa, doing some research on his laptop computer while Jonathan burrows into his bed and immediately passes out like the sleep-deprived child he is.
Leaving a few tabs open with a couple of different recipes for dishes he's considering making for dinner tonight, Lucas ends up sifting through 2-3 bedroom apartment listings in the general vicinity.
'I know I try to be easygoing when I can get away with it, but getting this comfortable with the idea of living with a complete stranger so quickly is a bit odd even for me..? Whatever, if I'm gonna have this much money to burn, having a few different apartments spread throughout the city is a good idea. He seems like a good enough kid, and he probably can't legally sign any paperwork to rent a place himself even if he did have the money for it. I'll just let him pick wherever he likes, I won't feel the difference financially as long as he keeps it reasonable. Why do I get the sneaking suspicion he'd rather not be alone though...'
Lucas leaves about a dozen different tabs with apartment listings open before shifting his attention to making an itinerary for the next few days.
'No way there's enough time in just one afternoon to get everything, so I guess a quick pass for a few outfits, go get a few essentials, then the grocery store? Can worry about more in-depth tomorrow, sign a few leases and then fill 'em with furniture... Bah. Didn't have anyone I wanted to keep in contact with so I didn't bother replacing this body's original owner's busted phone. Guess I should get a pair now though, if I'm gonna pay for everything for the kid the least he can do is keep in touch. Hmm, I guess you're still ignoring me 427?'
[...I can hear you whether I like it or not.]
Lucas is greatly amused by this discovery, mentally noting it for future trolling. There will probably be singing involved.
'Hah! Feeling a bit better now? I really am sorry though, I didn't think it was even possible for you to get that mad.'
[…I'm still mad at you. But, apology accepted, I suppose.]
'Good good. So, what were you up to, anyway? I doubt you were just quietly sulking the whole time.'
Closing the lid on his laptop, Lucas slides it back onto the coffee table and gets comfy on the sofa, attention fully directed at the conversation in his head.
[Well, I don't exactly have much to do when there are no GDV tasks in the area and you're enjoying leisure time... So I was working on my promise from this morning.]
'Eh? Oh! My villain name! Heheh, mad at me but still thinking about me, who's the tsundere here?'
[Don't you dare.]
'Fine fine, I'll behave, for now at least. So? Any good ideas? I've been too distracted and completely forgot...'
[Mmm, my personal preference so far has been Xenoclast. You're an outsider from the normal inhabitants of this world, also, enhanced strength is often attributed with stone, metal, and such.]
'OH! I love it! I'll run it by Jon later and see what he thinks too.'
[...You really have gotten acclimated to having him around surprisingly quickly. I take it you've decided to take him on as your sidekick then?]
'!!! Good idea! Wait, would dragging him around for GDV tasks be weird, it'd have to raise his suspicions eventually right?'
[You seriously didn't even think about it!? You really were just prepared to raise him as a GDV printing factory? Also, to be fair, he seems to have already determined you're a good person given how quickly he decided to completely trust you.]
'Oh. Um. Yeah. I could probably just straight up tell him I'm a hero instead of a villain and it's not like he'd turn me in to anyone if I keep up spoiling him. I probably shouldn't just casually hand him blackmail material like that though, huh. Wait, do villains even have sidekicks? Don't they just have like... Henchmen or minions or something? Hah, interns?'
[Wouldn't one of the main incentives of being a villain be doing whatever you want anyway? How long are you gonna let him sleep anyway, you're gonna have a busy enough day as it is and I'm sure he's not going to wake up on his own anytime soon?]
Furrowing his brows, Lucas tries to remember at what time the nap protocols were engaged. Turning his attention over to the digital clock on his cable box, he quickly gets up off the sofa.
'Oh, it's been a bit over an hour, hasn't it? Ah, before I head out, is it really okay for me to spend all that money as I see fit? Boss System isn't gonna suddenly change its mind and want to take it back or something right?'
427 stifles a laugh at the poor Superhero Enhancement System's nickname which seems to be sticking.
[Yes, it's really all yours. Before you go burning it casually, do keep in mind you should probably start up your own organization rather than working freelance so to speak. Particularly so as you already aren't going to be working solo. Also, a personally motivated charitable non-profit wouldn't stand out even as a villain, you wouldn't be the only one. Considering how quickly you took the first homeless supe you came across under wing, you could start an orphanage for supes, calling it a screening process for interns if that's what you wish to call them.]
Freezing in place while mid-step towards his bedroom, Lucas's face lights up with understanding and excitement.
'So THAT is why I'm getting so much funding!? Oh oh, this is actually pretty cool? Heheh, if I'm gonna front as an ineffective villain, setting myself up as a rich second generation with weird hobbies is perfect. And! We can set up schooling for the orphanage as a training program, and figure out a way of encouraging them to not just be complete assholes! This is way better than just being some vanilla-ass normal hero, I'm kinda looking forward to it all now.'
[...As long as you're happy. Even without actively going out to do tasks in person, setting up an orphanage with a school will probably generate a continuous amount of GDV. Of course, regularly completing tasks is highly advised.]
'Yeah yeah yeah. We can worry about that later. Time to go harass Jon out of bed and waste some money!'
Barging into his bedroom, Lucas throws the door wide open. The handle slams into the wall leaving a dent, as the doorstop can't handle the force applied and breaks, taking a small portion of the bottom of the door with it.
"RISE AND SHINE BRAT!" Lucas's shout proves even louder than the sound of the door slamming into the poor innocent wall.
Jonathan sits up slowly, blinking at Lucas a few times before yawning and stretching.
'...How did he survive this long?'
[...A question for the ages.]
-----
Lucas kills this chapter: 0
Lucas total kills: 4
Lucas deaths this chapter: 0
Lucas total deaths: 4
Lucas current GDV: 4.2
Jonathan current GDV: .63
-----
Little character theater:
Jonathan, bearer of bedhead: Oh, time to get up already?
Lucas, torn between laughing and crying yet again: Just how much do you trust me?
427, mostly calmed down: [Maybe we shouldn't bother trying to get him to work as your sidekick.]
Author, openly grinning: Don't worry Lucas, you'll wish he'd go back into lazy mode again before long. At least he won't be hyperactive forever.
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