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

[grey matter]

"Sure, that's all fine and well... I'll just use Rapid-Fire Confession here as a test subject or something, or like... I dunno, something," Lucas said.

"Well, I cannot say no to my dearly detested," Lazarus replied.

"Was that-"

"Yes."

"Huh."

[the-nug-king]

"Great. Now, there's a secure classroom down that corridor," Three pointed. "Please go there before continuing to be sentimental."

[grey matter]

They walked off and soon enough, there was... slightly less angry shouting emitting from it, potentially in the formatting of song? It was... indistinct. And then there was a lot of clattering about. Just general sentimental rival chaos. The loudest, more distinguished shouts were those of Lucas yelling "EUREKA, YOU'RE A FOOL!" and Lazarus retorting with "TELL ME SOMETHING I DIDN'T KNOW!"

[the-nug-king]

((So like so far, I've avoided writing out any internal dialogue for Three, or showing anything that Lucas isn't present for. Would you rather I A) kept doing that and just have Three turn up later and tell Lucas and Lazarus their time is up, B) write out some of what Three's doing when Lucas isn't around, or C) do B but also go even further and occasionally get Secret Three Thoughts?))

[grey matter]

[[Whatever you think would be best for our roleplay experience! I just kinda roll[e] with whatever
Edit: though C might be fun in theory... if you like doing that stuff! Only if you do though.]]

[the-nug-king]

((So it turns out writing Three's internal stuff is difficult, bc if I do, Three goes "NOPE no emotions happening here, my only thoughts are about being a productive security guard, get lost" but we'll give it a try.))

Three stayed standing by the wall, gazing into the distance, as DarkBoard continued to quietly play organ music.

"Is there a reason you're still doing that?"

"You still require distraction, and you enjoy this piece."

"I require nothing."

"Then you shall be distracted because we wish it."

"...As you wish, then. Well. If you truly have no problems with the idea of distracting your security guard, Lazarus isn't due to leave the Academy for another 2 hours and he and Lucas seem somewhat preoccupied. I suppose we could play Five Dimensional Speed Chess?"

A helmet slid out of the slot beneath the nearest DarkBoard portal, somehow followed by a chair.

[grey matter]

[Lol, sounds like a Three thing to do...]

The shouting eventually toned down into one of the duo's slightly more civil conversations about classic literature... somehow.

"So we can both agree that Victor Frankenstein was a horrendous father?"

"Why wouldn't I agree? Do you take me, someone whose favorite classes have been language studies and literature studies since I enrolled in kindergarten, for someone who cannot analyze the fact that Frankenstein is absolutely the monster here? I'm a dark academic, for any variety of sakes! Anyways, back to the main point: why is the only book you've ever seemed to read is Frankenstein of all things? Seriously, get out of your niche and try something new!"
"Like what, your poems?"
"You could always try the material I ghostwrite for extra money."
"Wait, since when did you have a side gig?"
"I've had a side gig, Mr. Perception! Did I not mention it? Allude to it? Foreshadow it?"
"No...? I think I brought up mine once and that was it. So... we're just a robotic blueprint salesman and a ghostwriter, hanging out in a room, not doing anything of- Oh, wait, wait! This is the perfect opportunity to attempt to measure this True Love stuff!"
"...What if I have too much?"
"You don't. You don't act like you do, at least."
"Well, what if?"
"Then something happens. I don't know what."
"Great..."
"But, if we determine that you are within the allowed amounts... and that I am... we could probably actually attempt being a... couple, I guess."
"Great... except you have none of your science stuff on you. Judging by the fact that you didn't gently put down your deca-pocketer, there isn't anything in it."
"Okay, we improvise! On a scale from one to ten, how attracted are you to me?"
"Uh... Trick question."
"Oh, come on, you confess to me and- Hmph. I see how it is. Do I need to fight the answer out of you? Do we need to shout again? Do I... oh, I think I left the Capri-Suns outside."
"You. Bought. Capri. Suns? Monster..."
"They're objectively better!"
"OH, WILL YOU SHUT UP ABOUT YOUR JUICE POUCHES! Clearly, the Kool-Aid Bursts are superior due to their bottled form and their cool method of opening!"
"If you want to talk about cool openings, then you've better be thinking of... um... the thing with the carbonation marble."
"Ramune."
"Ramune, yes... that stuff is cool. And it's a glass bottle. A good weapon for if you need to stab someone whilst having a drink."
"I guess, but you can't get the marble out without breaking the glass!"
"Lazarus, the only thing stopping you from breaking the bottle is social conventions."
"Then I'm going to break one, someday. I'll email you the results."
"You better not stab your hand..."
"Maybe I will just to spite you."
"No."
"Fine."

[the-nug-king]

Three and DarkBoard were having a slightly heavier conversation.

"You should kill Doctor Cerebrist," said DarkBoard, after the second round of chess.

"Is that an order?"

"He is too great a threat to you to allow to live."

"So you've said. And as I have said, I'm not going to end his life without a direct order."

"Our instructions cannot help you while you insist on punishing yourself for killing Maedryn. You may not value your life. But we do."

Three hesitated. "...Well then. I should give you a reason to value me and stop ignoring my security duties." They pulled their helmet off, quickly striding over to knock on the door of the classroom Lucas and Lazarus were in.

((In shocking news, Three continues to go, "NOPE no emotions happening here, my only thoughts are about being a productive security guard, get lost."))

[grey matter]

[[Totally no emotions! Sure, no emotions! All the emotions are nowhere! Actually, no, there're no emotions at all!]]

Their rapidly changing conversation had managed to dip into Lucas's Attempted Scientific Analysis.

"Wait, I wanna pick the music for while you ask me stuff!" Lazarus declared.

"Just keep it on the playlist..." Lucas sent the playlist to Lazarus's phone. "And do it with your phone so I can take notes..."

"...Your music taste... is very you. I approve. I should send you more songs. We could combine our playlists into one mess of tastes and concepts... Consider it."

"Once you leave. Now then... why on Earth are you attracted to me in the first place, if you can place a finger on it."

"Hm... Uh..." Lazarus trailed off for a moment. "Uhhh. You're... uh... very yes."

"Too dumbfounded by your attraction or do you just not know why?"

"Yes."

"Hmm... and, would you be attracted to me if we had never interacted?"

"Nope. Not really."

"Huh. Now, this is a specific one to you... Would you write poetry about me?"

"Well... uh... maybe I have already..."

"And... I feel like I'm not getting anywhere here. I have no clue about anything love related..."

"Then let me ask the questions! First, how would you rate your feelings? Because you at least have to care some to feel attraction!"

"Uh. Good question. I have... somewhat of a clue how I feel about you. You... fill me with energy like a flame and... I'm able to relax around you, in a strange way. I can be very... childish, when I'm with you. And I get my worst ideas when I'm around you. You're a horrible influence, by some standards, but I could honestly use it."

"Ah! So Lucas of you... Then, do I push you into ponderings of the world? Experiments of great proportions? Uh... cooking? Do I inspire creation?"

"...That's an odd question... but, hmm... I already told you, you give me horrible ideas... and I guess there are some good pieces in there, but still. But... I guess you push me toward my goals in evilness... you're someone I... trust enough to push the boundaries of."

"I see! So... do you even find me attractive? Like... on any level, really..."

"...Yes... You can be very... eloquent when you put yourself toward it... and... you're... quite cute..."

"Ah! A compliment! I'm touched!" Lazarus clapped his hand to his chest with a loud thump. "I'm very touched! Uh- anyways! Wait, wait, I have an unrelated question... How are the potatoes going... spudboy...?"

"Uh, well. And I've got new plans for new plans. Mad botany. That's what I'm making my title, for whenever we banter and whatnot. You always mention that you're the Lapis... whatever..."

"Poethief! And you're Untitled Scientist Game, as of now."

"But now I'm the Mad Botanist. Because I've had a poisonous plant epiphany. So... I might need you to be my lab rat for this, because I don't have anyone else I trust enough to get close to killing without being worried about ruining our relationship. How do you feel about being poisoned? For science?"

"Uh- Wait, serious...?"

"I'll let you watch me put the stuff in, or you can take it uncooked-"

"You're doing murder cooking? Okay, I want to taste that out of curiosity... this is how all those cats died though... but satisfaction did bring them back... I mean, well, if it's you... and... man, being a lab rat? For... you? You do realize this is a looooooot of trust I'm gonna have to put into you. Oh, oh, wait! I only wanna do this if I can poison you back!"

"Deal. Next challenge decided: poisonous cook-off."

"Well, I was hoping we could do karaoke next time, considering we just sang angrily at one another and it was very fun, but... speaking of that..." he popped on a song. "I forgot to do that."

[the-nug-king]

((Hey just checking in, do you want Three to come in here, or do you have more stuff to do with just Lucas and Lazarus?))