บท 59: Mash Smash
After a few more minutes of tormenting Jonathan, Lucas's interest has finally started to fade in regards to his trolling. Still holding the phone up in the air, he reaches up with his other hand and gently presses down on the top of Jonathan's head to stop him from jumping around anymore.
"Okay, okay. Funs over, I promise I won't send it to anyone. Don't make me delete it though, it's hilarious." As Lucas soothes the pouting young teen, he slowly lowers his arm, making sure Jonathan isn't about to snatch the phone out of his hands.
"You... You better not! Jerk!" The sulking boy finally quits flailing around, crossing his arms over his chest to demonstrate his mopey cooperation.
Since his hand is already primed and ready, Lucas makes a point of messing up Jonathan's hair before finally letting go of the top of his head. Needless to say, he gets a "Hmph!" in response, followed by Jonathan reaching up and combing his overgrown hair with his fingers, undoing the bird's nest state that Lucas left it in.
Now that their antics have calmed down, the occasional passing pedestrian doesn't bother making any extra efforts to actively avoid them any longer. They still get a fair amount of stares though.
Jonathan sniffles one last time, blows his nose, then checks that he's in an acceptable state with his rear-facing camera.
Lucas, of course, reaches up and gives him bunny ears with two fingers.
[You are seriously an oversized child.]
'Hey, he's not crying anymore, right? All according to plan.'
427 just replicates the sound of a long sigh and doesn't bother responding any further.
Seeing that they're finally ready to go, Willy gets back up from his seated position on the sidewalk, runs a small, quick, circle around them, and leads the way over to the crosswalk.
Without them stirring up their own trouble, their journey across the street proves uneventful.
'Sooo... For everything we're doing, uh... We start with the MCAC, then I4 before finally actually going to the DVO?'
[That would be the most efficient order, yes. If you didn't have to be present for both parties, I'd say that Willy could get started on his fresh ID while Jonathan's familial status is updated. Knowing your luck, however, both would be ready and need your presence at the same time.]
'Oh, yeah, I guarantee it.'
Lucas leads the way over to the double-wide glass doors for the Municipal Clerk's Administrative Center and the trio proceeds with the established pattern of Willy first, Jonathan second, and Lucas last.
As Willy takes a few steps in, just past an elaborate Corinthian column a few feet inside, there's the sound of a soft "Aww" from out of view behind the column.
As Jonathan follows suit, this time the voice gives an inquisitive sounding "Hmm?" But Jonathan doesn't bother paying it any mind, continuing forward towards a check-in kiosk.
When it's Lucas's turn to head past, this time the voice lets out a long sharp whistle, rather similar to the one 427 makes when Lucas makes a kill that earns his appreciation.
Unlike Jonathan, Lucas can't ignore it. Turning towards the source of the sound, he sees a woman leaning against the side of the column furthest from the door, who is very clearly watching him.
If Lucas is showing off his power by being unafraid of showing off his wealth, then she is showing off her power in a much more straightforward manner.
Dressed in baggy green camouflage pants and a slim-fitted white tank, her clearly displayed lightly tanned biceps are each about the same size as one of Lucas's thighs. The overtaxed tank does little to conceal her six-pack abs, and there's a visible ripple of muscular movement when she straightens up from her lazy posture against the support column.
'Oh DAMN. Does she even need to be a supe like that?'
Before 427 begins his answer, an irritated woman's voice comes out from an enclosed service counter. The front of the counter is thick multi-layered glass, coated with a transparent reinforcing material as well, of course, with a circular pattern of tiny holes in front of her letting her voice through.
"Mash, NO. Stop picking fights every chance you get. That's the third one today alone." The exasperated pale woman reaches up to adjust her glasses, frowning at the muscular woman.
Lucas looks back and forth between them a few times. Between their dark brown hair being identical in shade and their vaguely similar facial features, it looks like they're probably related.
"You mean, Mash YES. Whatcha got boys, anything fun? You gotta know what yer doin', being all fancied up like that." The muscular woman takes a few leisurely steps towards Lucas, not bearing any malicious intent. The broad grin across her face that shows a gap where her top front left tooth should be definitely spells trouble, though.
[Ahem, as I was about to say, that's Miss Masher. She was originally only a grade 1 strength supe, but due to her... Diligent efforts, she should count as a grade 2 by their standards by now. And before you even ask, yes, you could beat her in a fight, thanks to you having the added bonus of enhanced endurance as well.]
With Lucas's ego being boosted as it is by 427's statement, he can't resist returning the mischievous grin.
Seeing his reaction, the two women respond within a few moments of each other, the one with glasses gives an exaggerated sigh while the muscular one starts chuckling.
"Oh you know, the kid's barely started, but..." Lucas holds his hand out for a high five, and a moment later Jonathan is in mid-air returning the gesture with a loud impact. He used his full strength and speed in the swing, but Lucas hasn't flinched in the least bit.
Miss Masher's already huge grin finds a way to widen further as she continues her approach.
"Now as for me, well..." Lucas is hamming it up to his fullest, reaching up to tug the lapels of his suit jacket and rolling his shoulders a bit while he smirks during his pause in speaking. "Nothing too fancy, just a touch of endurance and, you know, grade 2 strength."
[...Why are you like this? Or had you decided you were going to flirt with the first female supe that might be capable of relations with you?]
'Hey, hey! She's totally not my type! But I should actually practice fighting with other supes, yeah?'
[...Yes, this would be a good opportunity, in that regard. But if that truly is your only intent... Perhaps you should be a bit more cautious.]
Lucas can't hold back a snort of laughter just as Miss Masher has stopped an arms-length distance away from him. She too has rolled her shoulders a few times, and rotated her neck as well, with an audible crack.
"Ohoh, it is ON, pretty boy." She starts pulling her arm back to make a fist, but is promptly interrupted.
"NOT INSIDE!" As the woman in glasses yells with authority, Miss Masher flinches and stops her movements, hanging her head and turning towards the door.
"LET HIM DO WHATEVER HE CAME HERE FOR FIRST!" The woman in glasses shouts out again, causing Miss Masher to look comically dejected.
"What the hell, I'm not pretty!?" Lucas gives his own shout while Jonathan snorts and starts laughing hysterically behind him.
Willy does his best to be supportive and lets out a muffled bark in solidarity, his actively wagging tail fully displaying his amusement.
[Well, compared to her...]
'Dude, not cool. But, fair point.'
-----
Lucas kills this chapter: 0
Lucas total kills: 7
Lucas deaths this chapter: 0
Lucas total deaths: 10
Lucas current GDV: 8.9
Lucas's fame level: 2.5* (Mostly just local)
Lucas's hero suspicion level: 1* (Only highly paranoid people)
Jonathan kills this chapter: 0
Jonathan total kills: 5
Jonathan deaths this chapter: 0
Jonathan total deaths: 2
Jonathan current GDV: 1.92
Jonathan's fame level: 1.75* (Just local)
Jonathan's hero suspicion level: 1* (Only highly paranoid people)
-----
Little character theater:
Jonathan is too busy doubling over in laughter to give any comment.
Willy is once again enjoying the show, his tail wagging furiously.
Lucas, feeling weirdly self-conscious: No, seriously, I am NOT pretty! What the fuck?
427, unable to resist taunting Lucas: [While you are so painfully average that you could be used as a textbook example of it, you DO have a bit of a babyface.]
Author, grinning every bit as much as Miss Masher: Spoilers, Lucas is only good at flirting when he doesn't mean to be.
Mr. Quacks, confident in his own battle prowess: Quack!
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