It had been a few months since the El Macho situation had resolved, during which time the only real change to life at the Gru residence was Lucy's more frequent presence...and her staying over a time or two...dozen. However, despite the Minions jokes along those lines, nothing seemed to happen between Gru and Lucy beyond cuddling: Tempest would have noticed the scent if it had. She wasn't sure if it was because they knew that, they were both worried about that aspect of the relationship, or they were both traditional in that regard, but they seemed to be in no rush.
Lucy had attempted being motherly with the girls a few times. It had been...awkward but genuine, much like the first few attempts on Gru's part to be genuinely fatherly, according to Margo. This augured well for relationships all around, and was taken as a good sign.
The rate of progress in that regard startled Tempest, however, when she found Gru and Lucy sitting at the table one morning poring over wedding catalogues. "Already?" she asked in surprise. "I didn't think things were moving that fast."
"Oh, they aren't," Lucy allowed with a smile. "While we're both pretty certain of ourselves in our relationship, setting things like this up takes anywhere from three to six months even with the best of plans and intentions."
"And since we both feel we're three to six months away from being ready to get married, now seemed like a good time to get the planning in motion," Gru allowed with a wide grin.
Tempest tilted her head, more than a little confused. "I...thought that was what the engagement period was for," she allowed thoughtfully. "Did...did we miss you proposing, Gru?"
"And funnel my villainous gains into either the monstrous activities of conflict diamonds or the despicable economic practices of the 'honorable' corporations with their artificial shortages?" Gru declared in disgust. "As if!"
"Trust me on this, I've had assignments there while working in the O.G.A. before I became a full-fledged member of the A.V.L.," Lucy explained readily. "The last thing I want is a diamond ring from either of those sources."
"Besides, the tradition is a certain number of months wages, and I own my business, so I don't have a wage," Gru explained readily. "Rather hard to calculate that."
"So...no proposal but you...are engaged?" Tempest pressed, now even more confused.
"What's the difference between exclusive dating where you're treated as part of the family and being engaged?" Lucy asked curiously. "I mean, I've stayed over a few times, I've helped Margo with her homework a time or two, taught Edith a few combat tricks, and done some sewing for Agnes. Where's the line?"
Tempest blinked as she worked her mouth, trying to make sense of that. She tried turning to the Overthought for answers-
Error: Information regarding human courtship rituals does not compute.
-but the Minions didn't understand human behavior any better than she did. She turned desperately to Gru.
"What makes you think I know what normal social customs are supposed to be?" Gru responded with a smirk.
Tempest let that turn over in her mind for a time, letting it bounce around the Overthought as well. "...okay, fair enough," she allowed as she hopped up to the table to look at what they were examining. "So, picking venues? Dress patterns? Best Man?"
"Well, what venue or dress pattern we decide on will really depend on when we decide to hold the wedding," Lucy pointed out thoughtfully. "So we're looking at a few options."
"As for Best Man, it's supposed to be a very close, long time friend who can fill the toast with all sorts of embarrassing and heart warming stories," Gru continued thoughtfully. "Obviously, it's Nefario-"
"Actually, I feel like it would be best if I passed on that," Nefario said as he brought coffee from the kitchen and a mug of hot chocolate for Tempest. "I'm not the best at speeches. I tend to get tongue tied speaking in public. It's why I prefer being the technical expert in villainous activity. I get to sit in the background and tinker. Maybe one of the Minions would be better?"
"I'm not sure it's a good idea having someone with a direct mental connection to your underage daughter anywhere near planning your bachelor party is a good idea," Lucy pointed out thoughtfully, smiling apologetically at Tempest. "While you certainly can't and shouldn't stop them from attending, that they can easily partition off until she's old enough to see as individual memories and experiences. Planning would involve a lot of back and forth communication that would have to go through her, though."
"An excellent point," Gru agreed. "So...not Nefario, not any of the Minions...but someone I consider a close friend who could make the occasion really memorable and not afraid of public speaking. Someone who can make a real...presentation..." His thoughtful gaze suddenly turned to one of wonder. "Liiiiiight~bulb!"
"I do so love it when he says that!" Nefario confessed to Lucy and Tempest. "So what is it? Want me to build a Best Bot?"
Gru blinked in surprise. "Let's call that Plan B," Gru allowed as he pulled out his phone and started scrolling through his contacts. "There's someone who I think would work quite well, and won't freak out too much over Tempest."
"Oh?" Lucy asked in surprise. "Someone you know from your villain days?"
"Indeed," Gru confirmed happily. "Though we were never really in competition. I did big heists where I couldn't be tracked. He went in for direct confrontations with a super hero. Still, we got along well whenever he wasn't in jail but hadn't put his next plan into action yet. Quite fun...and I hear he's gone straight recently. I'm curious how that's going...though we'll have to talk about all that in person." He pressed a contact and selected 'Call'.
"If we're going to meet him in person, why are you calling him?" Tempest asked curiously.
"Because it's good etiquette among villains - former or otherwise - to alert someone with an established territory if you'll be visiting or passing through," Gru explained happily as he held the phone to his ear. "Avoids a lot of accidental clashes."
Tempest wanted to say more, but she paused as she heard someone pick up on the other end. Her ears twitched as she heard a somewhat cultured - if playful - voice speak a single word from wherever Gru had called.
"Olo?"
<crosses fingers> Please be Megamind. Please be Megamind. Please be Megamind.
Hello Megamind!
Is this person Megamind by any chance?
Here we go!
My favorite part of a Tatsurou fic: where we really start to go off script.
Yes. This is the best thing. Your story has gained a level.
Toook me a second. Mega mind
And once again, thing-that-I-never-thought-of becomes obvious in hindsight. This works very well indeed.
YES! MEGA MIND!!!
Yes i love megamind. You are the most creative individual yet.
*Blink* I did not see that coming.
WELL DONE!
are you bringing megamind into this? this story just got INTERESTING! I cant wait to see the weird interactions between gru and megamind as well as minion and the minions
I had about a milisecond of confusion before I realized it. That's gonna be a super best man! Hopefully he makes a grand entrance.
ABSOLUTELY PERFECT BEST MAN!!!! Do it, please.
9582415
*seconds the chant*
Looks like someone watched the episode where Adam ruins weddings.
Dis gonna b gud.
YES .... megamind .... thinking on it they both have talking non human allies/companions ... and if he brings roxanne lucy will have a fellow female for the bachelorette party.
Hymn ... truth be told i hope the writer includes hal/tighten having him steal megaminds superpower gun while hes away and have him run into the ursabot at the wedding. A giant sentient robot running on magic versus a superpower villian you could record it put on a dvd sell it ..the weddings practically paid for. Damn tempest could start a whole knew competition with villians pitting their creations against each other for bragging rights
Oh, the last line had me sold.
9582421 And expand the already good crossover with another good thing
9582489 It's a good show, really.
Next thing you know, Tatsurou will bring in Edna Mode to design the wedding dresses.
9582504
And we shall call it.
Robot Wars.
With such names as Sir Killalot and Psycho.
Tempest hasnt picked up that the catalogs are a distraction from the actual timing, especially because she doesnt have experience in such situations?
Actually, lets make Tempest a Mega Mech Transformer. Call it Eighty Eight?
Megamind! I see hijinx ensuing.
You didn't. You bloody didn't you absolute madman. Haha! Oh, this is why I love these! You're the best Tatsurou.
It is love darling, It does not need to make sense.
Yes, I am looking forward to new ability Tempest might gain from this crossover. Really, if they both share the same universe, then it might be one of the safer ones.
As soon as you said he had gone straight I was thinking oh no he is going to do it. Then the Olo line had me. Now we get Megamind, Minion, and Roxanne. This party is going to be epic.
YES! MEGAMIND!
One trip to Met-rocity coming up!
Oh no. This is not going to end well. I can't wait!
9582415
9582486
*thirds the chant*
What can I say that everyone else hasn't already said? I'll just go with. "Squeeeeee"
Yay! Megamind, I hope Minion is along for the ride as well.
The crossover we didn't know we needed/wanted, but I am all for this!
"Minion! Get my BEST SUIT READY!"
"I'll get right on it, sir! ... ER. Is that the best suit that menaces of spikes, or the one with the white cape?"
Sounds like a trip to Metrocity -I mean, Metro City- is in order.
9582554
Some evil guys might use biological monsters some might even graft tech on them and make them multiple stories tall. Maybe get a kaiju monster league going on.
Mega Mind!!! Oh god its Mega Mind!!!
9582471
When has he ever not made an entrance?
The instant he talked about the villain going straight after mentioning how he preferred fighting a superhero I hoped and prayed it was MegaMind. ALL MY YES! TATS! YOU'VE DONE IT AGAIN! AND I LOVE IT!
9582771
April fools day. Every. Damn. Time.
I knew who he was talking about as soon as he said "presentation"
YES MEGAMIND OH SO MUCH YES!
9582520
you read my reading needs and my mind. Edna as designer with Megamind as Best Man... if there's anyway to make this more epic, I have no idea.
I like this turn of events!
Y... YOU FIEND...! We don't involve Megamind into stuff! He's too flashy to be trusted...
Now go back to write D-Fibers... I would love to see how Satsuki's torture of Rias goes on...
Megamind... he's actually calling Megamind.
Megamind and his fishdude.
Megamind...yyyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeessssss
Welcome to the jungle flashes in my head as I write this
I didn't get it as easily but the olo was the thing I needed to connect the dots, it didn't help that Ive only seen the movie in Spanish but megamind ?
My dear author, you make crazy bets but always win somehow
That resting time really does wonders with you
...it’s official, Tats. You’re trying to fry our brains with the potential aweumorous (awesome-humorous) adorability of these stories, and have chosen to make this one truly stand among the greats. I’ve only ever seen the source of, “Olo,” once, and then only in bits and pieces, but with your brilliant brain at the helm...
...it’s gonna blow the (Mega)mind.
9582733
Just imagine if the Overmind manage to work out that Tempests Magic is an example of Special L-Space Theory, Dark Energy, and then from that work out General L-Space Theory, which they know is sucessfull because Pinkie offers them cupcakes. Then use That to make...
The Combot.
I got the idea from working out one reasonable line of explanation for PERN Dragons abilities is that they use cold fusion for the power source in their bone matrices. Iron Mans ARC reactor is cold fusion, but it looks more to be based on Darpas colliding beam design using constrained antirotating plasma torii variation.
Fun fact: Megamind came out only about 4 months after the first Despicable Me movie, when Minions hype was still in full swing. This would be why Megamind didn't do as well as it could have. (DM's total earnings were about 2/3 more than MM's.)
Also, due to that overshadowing, I had never seen Megamind until just a couple years ago. I'd also only seen it once, so I didn't immediately get the reference.