villainy commenced [[1x1 w/ the-nug-king & hexspecs!]]

[grey matter]

"Uh, yeah. Just put us both in time-out, basically. We will probably deserve it. Anyways, it's time I get my hands on some juice pouches, so... prep time. I will take a break around lunch if you feel like talking."

[sorry Lucas you can't play cooking mama right now. Anyways, time skip to two days from now? I don't have much Lucas prep ideas except for him mad cackling and getting all giddy over the duel and his bad plans. But Lazarus... he's such dumdum too.]

[the-nug-king]

"I have things to attend to, I'm afraid." Three wasn't around over the next couple of days, although several of their clones were present, performing their maintenance and janitorial duties.

The day of the duel, Three made their way to the teleportation room, just before Lazarus was scheduled to arrive.

[grey matter]

Lazarus popped into the teleportation room, almost falling over when he teleported in. "I can never get used to that... Oh. Ahem..." He repositioned himself to where his very large scarf draped over his shoulders in a less disoriented fashion, and his mask to where it wasn't crooked. "Lazarus Xanthos, teleporting in. If you've had contact with the nerd- er, uh... Lucas, don't tell him I'm here. Please don't tell him I'm here. I have something organized with him..." he looked down at his shoes for a moment, not really sure what he was supposed to say, but then he looked back up at Three. "...Say... Do you happen to know Lucas? I... I could've swore he described someone like you in a recent email or something... maybe? No? I dunno. But uh, just, uh... Don't tell him I'm here... I was gonna do that."

[[I have doodled a cover for my lazucas mix that I'll link here once it's done and ready]

[the-nug-king]

"...You are aware that Lucas already knows you're here, yes? You did, after all, send him an email, arranging a time and place to meet. And obviously I know him. What, precisely, did he say about me?"

[grey matter]

"Oh, just some description of a cool friend who was doing security stuff and that's how you guys met. I assume that's you? You seem like Security Friend... I never did get a name though. I was gonna ask- wait, wait, back to your first point! He does know WHEN but I usually leave him a message once I'm ready to let him know he has only a bit more time before he forfeits... I like to feel ominous."

[the bois]

[the-nug-king]

"But he knows what time you're meeting anyway. So there's no actual point." They sighed. "I don't suppose you'd mind telling me precisely why you're doing this?"

((GOOD))

[grey matter]

"...Well, I've gone this far... I cannot stop now. I'd let both of us down. Besides, I'm also having too much fun to stop! And I'm sure Lucas is enjoying our bantering and games too... and... I have a few other reasons but really, they're... dumb reasons." He adjusted his mask again. "Very dumb reasons."
[THANK.]

[the-nug-king]

"Hmm. Are they that you're attracted to him, but prefer putting on ridiculous displays to clear communication?"

[grey matter]

He lifted his finger as if about to answer but it curved downward in stunned shock. "I- um- maybe? I- originally it wasn't that, I just wanted to force someone into interacting with me and he seemed like he needed someone to interact with but now I think he- he- um, yeah..." he blushed, but it was mostly masked by his, well, mask, though he did want to bury his face in his scarf right about now.

[the-nug-king]

"You're right. That is a very dumb reason. Your relationship is ridiculous."