Lamia Ex Machina 9: Prep

The thread for this is here:
https://forum.questionablequesting.com/threads/lamia-ex-machina-formerly-untitled-mha.18800/

Please enjoy!

[center]Chapter 9: Prep

<<<Spirit/Himari>>>[/center]

Time was a funny thing. Just a few weeks before, Spirit had no concept of what a friend could be nor any desire to have one; but after meeting Monday and the others… It was nice. But it occasionally resulted in frustrations too.

“I am not making DragonRage pink,” She said in a deadpan to Mina, “And we’re coming up with a better name for it, I know, but ‘Deathclaw The Destroyernator’ is not a better name.”

Monday and Toru were just sitting there looking amused, at least according to thermal imaging Toru looked amused. Mina just pouted and crossed her arms, though the faint quirk of her lips and micro-expressions of amusement indicated that she wasn’t truly upset and was actually enjoying herself.

“So, my hearing is a lot better, I know, but… I think I missed something,” Monday drawled, “What exactly is Mina wanting? Pretty sure I saw a sex toy back in the states called Dragon-something.” She added looking at Mina and wiggling her eyebrows, “Does the pink alien want to confess anything?~”

“Dragon Rage is the codename for my attack platform’s replacement,” Spirit explained as Mina blushed and stammered.

“Ah, well how about just call it Dragon and leave it at that?” Monday offered as she grabbed come chips, “I know there are some cool translations for the word if you’re wanting a cool name.”

“Too generic, according to Mina,” She replied dryly.

“Generic huh?” Monday shrugged, “I’ll give her that one. Maybe Midnight would have some suggestions? I think she covers PR and Branding next year, wouldn’t hurt to ask.”

“Wait, how do you know?” Mina asked.

“I did my research, I mean… I turned down Xaiver’s University of Heroics to come here,” Monday said, “Like hell I’m going to come in blind.”

“The idea of her doing consistent research is concerning,” Spirit said, “She already scares me with some of her ideas.”

Monday just rolled her eyes, “Feeling the love Himiy,” She quipped, “Besides I’m not just a one-dimensional gremlin! I have all the dimensions!”

“I think you have the negative dimensions,” She retorted, “But it could be worse, how’s Larry doing?”

“Those too.” Monday said, “Oh I try not to linger too long, but whenever I spotted him he seems to be doing fine.”

“You haven’t gone back to him at all have you?” Mina asked with a smirk, “I wouldn’t either. Probably.”

“We’re waiting for full mental stability to be confirmed,” Spirit replied, “Until then, we’re staying away. I’ll also be joining her on the expedition.”

“Larry is also a perfect gentlespider!” Monday said, “And for this next time we’re there I’m going to see if I can find a timeline where you were a boy! And I’ll take a picture and show it to you!”

“... do standard cameras even work there?” She asked, “It didn’t seem to with your mother’s version.”

“... I don’t know but I hope…” Monday said, “Quirks evolve a little with each generation right? So it’s possible I suppose.”

“... Should we be concerned, Toru?” Mina asked her invisible friend.

“Nah, I mean… at least they’re waiting for Monday to get her head on straight. Right?” Toru replied with a shrug, though Spirit made an observation that due to her quirk Toru had developed a preference for colorful and ‘loud’ clothing that were attention drawing.

“I am also waiting for permission to open up her quirk a little more, making it stronger and more varied,” She explained, “Such could be the key for more mental stability.”

“... Or making it worse,” Mina noted, “Have you considered you might be a mad scientist?”

“Says the girl helping me develop a super acid thrower for a mobile weapons platform,” Came the retort, “Working with the girl that’s helping make an invisibility field for it.”

“She’s got you there Pinkie.” Monday quipped, “Face it girl… we’re all mad here!~” She added as her tail lazily waved through the air.

“You’re the mad one,” Toru replied, “We’re just your enablers.”

“That makes you the problem,” Spirit noted, “And you shall thus be put into quarantine, do not resist.”

“You’ll never take me alive!~” Monday cackled and… Spirit emulated a sigh as she completely disappeared from her sensors.

Not that it saved the other two from the airdropped heated and weighted blanket capturing them.”

“At least she’s having fun?”” Mina asked as she snuggled into the blanket with a smile.

“Honestly, ever since you did your mad science on her, Monday’s a lot more catlike beyond the ears and tail,” Toru added.

“Like you and Mina didn’t scratch her ears and tail until she was a puddle of complete relaxation and purrs,” Spirit deadpanned, “Also now her mother is shipping you both with her after I shared security footage of the moment,” She added with a faint smirk.

“She was doing that anyway,” Mina retorted, “You can’t scare me with that!”

“She has been bouncing wedding ideas, and wondering what styles would work best with you two.” Spirit replied, “Her father found it amusing as well, and is eager to meet his future daughter-in-laws.”

“... Her mother needs adderall or something,” Toru said, “No offense.”

“None taken,” Monday said as she lazily floated around, “It actually does help, but she has to not use her quirk because if she blinked from one place to another it would flush her system.”

“That’s annoying for her,” Mina said, “Does that mean caffeine also doesn’t help wake her up?”

“It does.” Monday said though she did pout that neither Mina or Toru jumped at her sudden appearance, “Quirks are weird like that, besides she’s the worst sort of person. A Morning person…” She added with a dramatic shudder getting a giggle from Mina and Toru.

“Yeah, my mom’s the same.” Mina said, “Sooo, what are we doing later girls? Oh! Maybe we could do each other's nails! I’ve done some part-time work at my mom’s spa and I learned how to do a mean pedicure!”

“I’m invisible Mina,” Toru commented, though Spirit detected minute traces of frustration.

… Had she not remembered that she could see her through her sensors? Just as Mina was about to respond, possibly to apologize for her thoughtless comment, Spirit interjected.

“I can do it,” She said, drawing everyone’s attention, “Toru, I can see you via magnetic, thermal, gravetic, and wifi sensors.”

“Yeah…” Monday commented to everyone’s surprise, “I mean… I can’t ‘see you’ see you but I can see a… shadow? Like, I see the curves, depth, and detail… but I don’t ‘see’ any color.”

“I think she’s pretty,” Spirit said, “Very shapely.” She detected a blush from the heating where Toru’s cheeks were.

“Prettiest in class I bet!” Monday added, “And I’ll fight anyone that disagrees with me!”

“Wow, way to make a girl feel insecure,~” Mina teased, but when Monday turned and looked at her… Mina knew she had made a tactical error.

“Is this what flirting is supposed to be like?” Spirit wondered as she watched Monday woo Mina, “I’ll have to ask Eliza…” She thought as she fired off another process to compose a message to Eliza before she researched it on the internet.

The girl was squeaking more than a little bit as Monday showered her in praise and cuddles.

“Izuku would probably combust if Monday did that to her,” She speculated internally before speaking up and saying, “I don’t think there is a point to comparing them all. There is far too much variety in the types of pretty they are to do so.”

“That’s true.” Monday said with a nod, “Like you’re kuudere hime pretty!” That caused Spirit to experience a… hiccup?

Whatever it was, it caught her off guard.

“... I think that I should have grenade launchers on the flanks, some of which should carry fire suppression foam and other riot suppression weapons, does anyone object to this?” She asked after she recovered.

“I don’t!” Monday said.

Toru nodded, though she didn’t say anything, possibly still trying to recover from Monday’s… herness. Mina nodded as well, her cheeks a vibrant purple as well.

“I wonder if this is related to her forcing her quirk, or if this is her natural personality?” Spirit wondered, absentmindedly adding that to the message to Eliza.

That message was getting rather long now, really.

A thread reported back in, another metallurgy simulation failed to bring the results she was after. It would improve her armor, but not nearly to the level she needed it to. The Nomu had been six-hundred percent stronger than her top end estimates for regenerator-type quirks and no metals she knew of nor had discovered was strong enough to deal with it.

That left her with a conundrum. She couldn’t rely on others all the time for such battles, All Might was powerful but he was growing weaker and slower over time. If things like the Nomu were going to become more common… she needed an ace in the hole, something to let her compete.

She could, perhaps, use a quirk derived organic metal substance, but the only known quirk of the kind was held by a villain in the United States. She’d need a blood sample from him so she could begin cloning it into shape and implementing strength and durability quirks into it.

Perhaps Radu could assist in that effort…

Something to add into the message.

She expected such would still have to wait for a time, perhaps for after the sleepover. Her calendar claimed that was the next day.

She’d have to bring something to avoid boredom. Maybe a toolbox to build something interesting.

[hr][/hr]

Momo smiled happily, “I’m glad that everyone has decided to join!” She said happily, “I’ve never had a sleepover before!”

“How can she be so pure?” Mina whispered to Toru who shrugged.

Spirit understood, or she felt she did, the genuine enthusiasm Momo was showing was pleasant and uncommon. Monday was… Spirit looked around, of course Monday slipped away… hopefully she wasn’t stirring up trouble with the staff.

“Hey, where is Monday? Kero,” Asui asked, putting a finger to her chin.

“I do not know,” She replied through Himari, “This concerns me, but there is nothing I can do.”

Eventually Momo led everyone into a large viewing room, which truly looked more like a movie theater more than anything. Spirit of course was aware of the level of wealth Momo had access to, but she still found herself taken by surprise at this display.

The only reason Ochaco wasn’t floating away was because Izuku was keeping her grounded, quite literally in fact. The greennette was actually holding a floating Ochaco like a balloon.

“They’re kinda cute, ain’t they?” Monday asked, making Asui jump in surprise.

Himari shifted her toolbox under her arm and said, “We’re all happy to be here, Momo. Thank you for inviting us.” And then bowed. “I hope you do not mind if I tinker overnight as everyone sleeps, I do not do such and I think your parents would be… uncomfortable with finding what appears like a dead body in their house otherwise.”

“Dead bod- ah, your drone, correct?” Momo asked.

“Yes, without sensory input from it it would be very similar to one,” She agreed, “As funny as the aftermath would assuredly be, I do not think it would be worth it.”

Momo giggled, “You’re quite right. My father doesn’t have much of a sense of humor and my mother is… well… strict.” She said.

“Bet it was like pulling teeth to let you apply to UA wasn’t it?” Monday asked as she floated in their direction.

“Ah, quite,” Momo said, “I’m… fairly sure you didn’t have those ears and tail at the hospital…”

Himari found it amusing how distracted Momo was by the fluffy appendages, and she knew without a doubt that Monday was going to get many pets and ear scratches throughout the evening. 

Not that Monday would complain. Her local storage might though, the footage would take quite a lot of space. “So… where would a good place be to put this?” She asked, raising her box.

“Oh, in the garage,” Momo replied, “It’s just down that way, take a left and it’s the last door on your left.”

“Thank you, Momo,” She replied, bowing again and starting her walk. “Let’s see, what would a good gift for her be?” She asked herself, “What do you think, Monday?”

“Hmm, well… that’s a head scratcher right there,” Monday admitted, “What do you get for someone hilariously rich?”

“The internet has reliably informed me that something homemade works best,” She replied with a shrug, “Which everything I make is, by definition.”

“Yeah, that sounds about right.” Monday admitted, “Maybe something that doesn’t necessarily have a purpose? Like… something that shows you appreciate her friendship? It’s pretty clear the girl has never had any actual friends before. Hell, maybe a picture or something like ‘Momo’s First Sleepover’ or something,” She added with a shrug.

“Mm, maybe. Oh, I had an idea!” Himari grinned, “A hologram emitter that will show any pictures she puts inside as a three dimensional image! It’s useful, unique, and sentimental.”

“Oh that’s nice!” Monday said with a nod.

“Thank you for the idea, Monday,” She replied with a hug. She was finding she liked those, not an expected result. She needed to improve her sensory intake to better enjoy them.

Monday just purred, and not for the first time Himari wondered if she brought too much cat mutation out. Probably not, but still it was odd to hear a human purring like a giant house cat.

Giving her friend a scratch of the ears, Himari turned and pulled brownies out of her tool box. “This is a secret tool that will help us now. A payment for hosting us.”

“Nice,” Monday said.

“... It does not have drugs inside,” She added after a moment, “Shall we deliver them?”

“Sounds like a plan,” Monday said with a hum, “So, you’re not going to spend the whole sleepover tinkering are you? Or are you just going to do it when everyone’s asleep?”

“The second,” She replied, “I wish to observe what a sleepover actually is, the internet was… rather unhelpful in this case. Very unrealistic, Momo doesn’t have enough pillows for fortresses to be created. She can make them herself, of course, but I’ve not had the time to create pillow launchers.”

“Figured as much,” Monday then giggled, “And that’s the internet for you…”

“... Chances that Momo doesn’t know what to do either?” Spirit asked after they shared a laugh.

“One hundred percent!” Monday announced with a wide smile, “But Mina and I know what to do, so don’t worry, we’ll have fun. Promise.”

Spirit considered for a moment. “Your idea of fun worries me, however I have little choice in this matter at this point and, thus, will follow regardless.”

“That’s the Spirit!” Monday cackled out, earning an internal electronic sigh from Spirit herself. She wondered, idly, how long Monday had waited for a chance to use that pun before cutting the thought off.

She really didn’t want to know.

Still, no point in putting things off so she followed Monday as she talked about little things, explained her plans for the evening, and was overall… just nice to be around.

Slowly, Spirit relaxed into the rhythm of passive enjoyment.

[hr][/hr][hr][/hr]