While Alley Cat and Miss Calculated are both happily laughing together through the phone call, Miss Masher and Miss Chievous are both mostly unresponsive, seeming not only uninterested, but also unsurprised.

"Well, to answer your question, I have been considering expanding my soup kitchen recently, maybe add a few more other services as well. It just so happens that that big ol' apartment complex next door that the owners wanted to try running an insurance scam through was declared condemned before he got the chance, so he abandoned the project completely. Since he didn't actually have any plans for it once it was gutted, he even said he'd sell it for less than it's worth, since he doesn't want to even bother clearing it up to do something with it. But, with as much fun as I've been having with being altruistic, I'm a bit limited in terms of liquid assets for the time being, which I assume is where your friend comes in. What I'm curious about is; why are they even interested in investing?" As Alley Cat shares their tale of their recent plans and events, Jonathan's look of confusion has cleared up, unlike Lucas.

'That's... Some serious coincidences. Did they arrange for it to get condemned or something?'

[Ooh, you're so close.]

'What?'

427 just laughs a few times as Lucas grows more frustrated with him.

'Fine, whatever, I don't really care what their power is, anyway!'

427, of course, only laughs harder.

"Ah, actually, he has had his own share of good fortune when it comes to helping strays. His sidekick as well as his rather exceptional dog are proof of it, and he was actually contemplating an orphan intern project, but I'm sure you know full well how much money and effort that would take to start up from scratch. Anyway, Xenoclast, this is Alley Cat, and Alley Cat, this is Xenoclast, ah, and his sidekick Jackknife." After Miss Calculated answers on Lucas's behalf, and even finally does a name introduction, Alley Cat makes a surprised hum after hearing their supe names.

"Oh, that new local strength supe, right? I saw that news segment of yours last night, I couldn't help laughing at how much fun you seemed to have during it, if only more people could enjoy their powers like that. Hmm, my lunch plans for tomorrow recently cleared up, would you perhaps like to meet up then, and we can discuss things in more detail? I'm sure I'll get a few potential blueprints for the plot next door by then." As Alley Cat proposes potential plans, Lucas pauses for a moment, a bit surprised by the continued chain of coincidences.

'Okay seriously, that's too much. It's related to their power, yeah? Are they just... That lucky?'

[Oh, you finally got it. Took you long enough.]

'...What the hell kind of power is that!?'

[An extremely useful one, judging by how well it works out for them.]

'Does it even really count as a power though..? Isn't luck just... Sorta it's own thing?'

[Trust me, in their case, it's most definitely a superpower.]

'Huh... Then... Does it help people they're friends with too?'

[...The fact that you now want to be friends because of their power probably means they'll need your strength sometime soon. Perhaps you and Miss Masher will be destroying more than just MF's garbage during the next few days.]

'...You didn't say no.'

[Hmm, if you become friends on the basis of borrowing their luck, and they have their own uses for you, then yes, chances are you'll benefit.]

'Sweet, sounds like I have a new best friend.'

[…]

As his intent on friendship is determined, Lucas subconsciously leans toward the phone a bit more, a smile sprawled across his face.

"Sure thing, though if we're going to be working together for a while there's no need to be so formal and use our supe names, yeah? Though, I guess Calc was just bein' nice an' not making any assumptions. Anywho, I'm Lucas, and the kid's name is Jon, er, Jonathan." As Lucas tries to dial up the friendliness gauge up to 11, Jonathan stifles a laugh before simply giving a polite greeting to the other party on the phone.

Alley Cat, on the other hand, doesn't bother holding back their small round of soft laughter.

"Hah, very well then. I look forward to working with you, Lucas and Jonathan. My name's Lakshmi. Go ahead and get my number from Miss Calculated and shoot me a text later, I'll work out details on meeting up with you either tonight or tomorrow morning, once I have more details. I recommend putting together a list of what you would like out of the partnership in advance, this may all get into motion much faster than you'd expect. If you'll excuse me, I believe I have a busy day ahead of me, ta-ta for now. Oh, and thank you, Miss Calculated, I'm sure I'll see you tomorrow as well." As Lakshmi wraps up the call and everyone expresses their farewells, Lucas sinks back into the plush sofa with a slightly irritated expression writ upon his face.

'Ah damnit, is that a male or female name!? I'm still not sure what they are!'

[...It can be either.]

'Bah! What good are you?'

[...I'm not going to tell you what's in their pants, weirdo.]

'That's not what I meant either! You're the weirdo!'

-----

Lucas kills this chapter: 0

Lucas total kills: 7

Lucas deaths this chapter: 0

Lucas total deaths: 10

Lucas current GDV: 8.94 (+.01 net change)

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: 1.96

Jonathan's fame level: 1.75* (Just local)

Jonathan's hero suspicion level: 1* (Only highly paranoid people)

Supervillain social circle size: 10 (+Lakshmi)

-----

Little character theater:

Jonathan, blissfully unaware of Lucas and 427's conversation: At least it sounds like we'll get to benefit too?

Willy, quietly sitting next to Miss Calculated, doing that cute little puppy head tilt while looking at the phone resting on the coffee table, having listened to Alley Cat and not having much better luck guessing their gender than Lucas has had: Bark... Bark, bark?

Lucas, finally giving up: Whatever, I'll find out tomorrow!

427, suppressing laughter: [Good luck with that.]

Author, smiling: The joys of pronouns.

Mr. Quacks, planning menu requests for the soup kitchen, that may or may not involve chicken nuggets: Quack...