“Well, I feel that it isn’t entirely fair to say ‘fan’ as I have yet to attend a concert... Ah! Not that the ticket price isn’t worth it, just, well, I’m sure you know as well as anyone how fast they move even as the price keeps climbing… Ahem, regardless, I discovered long ago that having music playing in the background when I’m working on a project can be beneficial in a multitude of ways. However, lyrical music can sometimes be counterproductive, as it occasionally shifts into becoming a distraction instead. Also, the overall tone can certainly affect my mood, and therefore my thinking process as well.” While Miss Calculated is still only starting to warm up for her gushing, she and Josephine have begun walking away from the rest of the gathered group, with Josephine making an amused smile and occasionally nodding.

“And, after all, no matter how capable the musician, there are only so many alternate arrangements that can be performed from a limited pool of classics. So, considering how severely the heavily disproportionate death toll from that thrice-damned war wreaked havoc on the arts in general, it didn’t take very long before my searches through the limited pool of current musicians brought your work to my attention. And, after just a few pieces, well, let’s say I considered my search complete. I must say that for your latest album, I find the titular track ‘Swallowtail’s Sway’ particularly inspiring. The emotional range as well as the sheer complexity of it, while being performed by only a single instrument is just, well, beyond mere words. You are absolutely one of the greatest geniuses of our time.” Upon Miss Calculated pronouncing peak praise, Josephine proceeds to prevaricate such a potent plaudit.

Even though the distance between them and the rest of the group is growing, Mark could still hear her loud and clear, and he has gained a proud grin of agreement.

‘Hot DAMN that’s some high praise from a literal genius!’

“Ah, well, I… Thank you, but that’s a bit… bold, though. I’d say I certainly fall short when compared to, well, you.” Josephine’s body language is clearly self-conscious as she says this. She waves her free hand back and forth a few times in denial, as if she could somehow diffuse the high praise.

“No algorithm that I could ever hope to create could lead to something as profound as some of your compositions. Please, I don’t have a single artistic bone in my body, we’re simply in different fields, so to speak. If anything, your ability is more genuine. Not long before my powers began manifesting, Maria and I took an IQ test, and I only scored one single point more than her. Certainly, your sound manipulation abilities are related, but they aren’t what made you capable of such creations. It’s all you, thanks to your time spent honing your craft alongside a healthy dose of raw talent.” As Miss Calculated gushes further, Josephine is very obviously reticent to accept such accolades.

Miss Masher, who is currently being supported upside-down one-handed by Lucas, with her other hand on the back of the chair that 23 is sitting on, the bottom of which is being lifted up and supported by Lucas’s other hand, makes a loud snort and looks in the direction of the glasses-clad genius duo. Thanks to how snug of a fit her tank top is, it doesn’t hang any differently, even with her unusual inverted posture.

“Yer better off acceptin’ the compliments now, she’s only gonna get worse the harder she tries to convince ya. If ya think it’s uncomfortable now, hoo boy…” As Miss Masher passes on her advice, Miss Chievous nods repeatedly in clear agreement, and Mark begins laughing heartily.

Given how amused Mark is, this is probably a long-running issue, and perhaps he hopes that someone will finally accomplish some degree of progress against her impostor syndrome.

“We-well, regardless, I really do have limited time. I actually have an arrangement for Swallowtail’s Sway that I’ve been working on, and Mark never gives any useful feedback, so how about I start with that?” As Josephine successfully diverts Miss Calculated’s focus, Mark scoffs loudly before retorting, raising his voice enough to compensate for the distance between them.

“By the time you’re willing to play something in front of other people, it’s already a well-practiced masterpiece! What kind of feedback can anyone give other than saying it’s excellent!?” Once Mark is done yelling this he huffs, crosses his arms, and turns away from her, apparently feeling the need to be as dramatic as possible to somehow further prove his point.

Josephine hunches forward a bit, turning to look away from him in an obvious display of the fact that she has no intentions of acknowledging his statement.

Eager for the potential performance, Miss Calculated holds her hands out before her in an open invitation to hold the violin case for Josephine.

“That would be lovely, please do. I’ll offer the best critique I possibly can.” While Miss Calculated does manage a professional-grade smile as she says this, the tinge of amusement to her voice exposes her thoughts on the little lovers’ tiff.

Josephine takes a moment to compose herself, drawing in a deep breath and slowly exhaling it before handing over the case to Miss Calculated. As she’s opening it and pulling out the violin paired with its bow, the photoshoot gang has decided to bring the dogs back into the picture again.

Right now Lucas is serving as the base, holding Miss Masher’s ankles steady as she stands on his shoulders once again. She, in turn, is holding up 23 by its waist, and on one side, two of its arms are holding one of the chairs supporting Willy, and on the other side, its other two arms are holding the second chair supporting Franz. Both canines are sitting upright in an identical pose, their tails curled around their bodies in a mirrored pose from one another, managing this in no small part thanks to Dan’s translations of the instructions for Franz.

‘Okay, I can actually tell this is starting to get a little heavy, heh. ...Just how much does 23 weigh, anyway?’

Once Jonathan gives a thumbs up to indicate he got a few decent shots, they carefully lower all involved parties back down onto the ground. As they’re contemplating what idiocy to pursue next, Josephine has begun playing.

“Oh! Now that there’s music, we gotta dance, yeah? Come on, anyone other than Maria?” As Lucas seeks partnership, Miss Chievous glares at him while there’s a mix of chuckles from the others present.

“What the hell!? Like I’d want to dance with you anyway! Jon! Come on!” When Miss Chievous tries to drag Jonathan into the mix, he shakes his head as well as both hands from side to side so fast they’re a blur.

“No, no, I, um, I can’t, I can’t dance. I-I’ll just t-take the pictures…” As Jonathan barely stammers out a coherent response, she merely snorts and crosses her arms, standing off to the side.

As Lucas turns his gaze over the others present, Miss Masher does a similar gesture as Jonathan, just at, you know, normal speed.

Mark, however, grins and steps forward.

“Well then, I am well versed in quite a few styles, actually. Daniel adamantly refused any and all lessons, and Mikah somehow has two left feet. So, shall we?” At first, while Mark says this as he is approaching Lucas, Lucas laughs and smiles. However, once Mark is directly in front of him, Lucas swears a few times before extending his arms for a starting hold.

“You’re too goddamn tall! It should be illegal for you to wear heels! Is this what short people feel like all the time!? Fuck!” Once Lucas realized that Mark could casually rest his chin on top of his head by simply leaning forward, Lucas isn’t shy about voicing his complaints, earning quite a bit of laughter at his expense.

-----

Lucas total kills: 7

Lucas total deaths: 11

Lucas total assists: 1

Lucas current GDV: 17.18

Lucas's fame level: 5.0* (Already beginning to receive authentic global attention. His local levels are effectively maxed.)

Lucas's hero suspicion level: 2.5* (More than just passing suspicion for many paranoid individuals, numerous people have realized he's an impulsive idiot.)

Jonathan total kills: 7

Jonathan total deaths: 2

Jonathan current GDV: 5.96

Jonathan's fame level: 2.75* (What fame he does have is predominantly local.)

Jonathan's hero suspicion level: 3.0* (More than just overly-paranoid people are suspicious at this point.)

Willy's fame level: 1.5* (Anonymous meme fame, local fame primarily as 'Xenoclast's dog', but some strangers know him as William/Willy now.)

Supervillain social circle size: 15

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Little character theater:

Jonathan had sighed with obvious relief when Miss Chievous didn’t insist further. After turning to snap a few shots of Miss Calculated’s rapt attention to Josephine’s performance, he turns back to focus on Lucas and Mark’s performance: Hehe, you really do seem short in comparison.

Both Willy and Franz seem to have determined they’ve had enough fun for now, and are snuggled up for a nap off to the side, enjoying the music as it lulls them to sleep. Before long, Sylph even goes over to join them. Needless to say, this scene is captured by Jonathan as well.

427 is abusing the mute function as he cackles over how uncomfortable Lucas is from this perceived slight against his masculinity.

Author, smiling directly at the audience: Since I know only a few of you have looked at the character sheet that includes everyone’s height; Lucas is 5’10, Jon is 5’4, and Mark is a whopping 6’7 without the heels. Poor little Josephine is 5’1, so yeah, there’s a 2-foot difference between them a lot of the time, considering the shoes Mark likes to wear.

Mr. Quacks, still inside the violin case, using its padded lining as a comfortable roosting spot as he enjoys Josephine’s performance: Quack!