Impostor Amongus

The main reason Mike was drawn to these people was their intelligence and high IQ.

Anyone who wanted to be friends with these eccentric geniuses couldn't be a masochist.

As Mike entered, he greeted everyone with a friendly "Hi!" and asked how their day was.

"Not bad," came the general response.

Then Sheldon, the perpetually disgruntled one, piped up, "Very bad!" He glanced at Mike with a smug expression.

Mike muttered to himself, "This kid..." Taking a deep breath, he composed himself and prepared for Sheldon's daily display of random knowledge.

"Ah, the intricate art of eating Thai cuisine," Sheldon began, his voice filled with a sense of scholarly authority. "One must understand the importance of utilizing chopsticks in order to fully appreciate the delicate flavors and textures. The precision and control they offer are unparalleled, unlike the barbaric act of using utensils that lack finesse."

Howard couldn't help but roll his eyes, feeling a wave of second-hand embarrassment wash over him. "Sheldon, we're just having some Thai takeout. It's not a cultural immersion experience."

Sheldon, undeterred by Howard's remark, continued with unwavering enthusiasm, "But Howard, you fail to comprehend the significance of cultural authenticity in every aspect of our lives. From the food we consume to the traditions we uphold, it is our duty as intellectuals to immerse ourselves fully."

Howard sighed, realizing that Sheldon's monologues were an inescapable part of their shared existence.

He resigned himself to another awkward mealtime conversation, silently praying for the day when Sheldon's obsession with chopsticks would wane.

Mike couldn't help but admire the patience of the people around Sheldon, especially Leonard, who managed to tolerate him without losing his cool.

Even Howard and Rajesh were interesting characters to be friends with.

Just as the conversation was unfolding, the doorbell rang, and Leonard went to answer it. It was Penny, just getting off work from the cake factory. She and Leonard engaged in conversation, with Leonard eager to impress Penny. Sheldon's peculiar conversation topics often made him uncomfortable, but Penny was used to it.

As Penny was in the middle of speaking, four other individuals stepped out of the apartment.

Howard, adopting a playful Russian accent, greeted Penny, "Ah, my dear Penny! You grace us with your radiant presence once again. Truly, you are a sight to behold!"

Penny, flattered by the compliments, smiled and replied, "Thank you, Howard! Always a pleasure to see you too."

Rajesh, known for his timid nature, spoke softly and with a touch of hesitancy.

"Hello, Penny," Rajesh greeted, his voice gentle and slightly reserved.

Leonard, eager to join the conversation, chimed in with an upbeat tone, reflecting his enthusiasm and friendliness.

"Hey, Penny! It's great to see you. How's your day going?" Leonard asked, his voice filled with genuine interest.

Mike, being a new addition to the group, spoke in a friendly and approachable manner.

"Hey, Penny! Nice to meet you again." Mike greeted, his voice carrying an amicable tone.

Lastly, Sheldon, true to his eccentric nature, offered his greetings in a unique manner, his tone carrying a distinct air of intellectual curiosity and quirkiness.

"Penny, I must say, your presence in this hallway never ceases to pique my curiosity," Sheldon remarked, his voice reflecting his peculiar personality.

As the group engaged in conversation, their manner of speaking varied, ranging from playful and warm to soft-spoken and composed, with Sheldon's distinctive style adding an element of intellectual eccentricity to the mix.

"Hey, Leonard, I won't be home tomorrow when the furniture delivery arrives. Can you do me a favor and sign for it? And could you also hold onto the spare key for me?" Penny asked, her voice friendly and hopeful.

Leonard smiled and replied, "Of course, Penny. You can count on me. Consider it done. I'll make sure everything goes smoothly with the delivery and keep your key safe until you're back."

Penny expressed her gratitude, saying, "Thank you so much, Leonard. You're such a reliable neighbor and friend. I really appreciate your help."

With a reassuring tone, Leonard responded, "No problem at all, Penny. That's what neighbors are for, right? I'm always here to lend a hand."

Watching this scene unfold felt like witnessing a live-action version of "The Big Bang Theory," and Mike found himself amused by these scientists' antics.

At that moment, Mike approached Penny and suggested, "Let's eat together! Thai food."

Not one to be outdone, Leonard chimed in, "And we can watch a Superman movie too."

Suddenly, Sheldon couldn't resist interjecting with his signature arrogance, "Well, you do realize that the physics and reality behind Superman's abilities are completely implausible, right? It's all just a juvenile fantasy for feeble-minded individuals."

Penny's face turned red with annoyance, and she retorted, "Sheldon, can you please just let us enjoy our evening without your condescending remarks? Not everyone wants to dissect every little detail like you do. Some of us just want to have fun!"

Meanwhile, Leonard wore an expression of helplessness, torn between wanting to enjoy the evening with his friends and being caught in the crossfire of their arguments.

As the four of them made their way back to their apartment, they were met with an unexpected obstacle—the door was locked, leaving them momentarily stranded in the hallway.

Feeling puzzled and at a loss, Mike knocked on Penny's door. Penny answered and asked, "What's the matter?"

"We accidentally locked ourselves out. Can I borrow your balcony and see if I can climb over?" Mike requested.

"Of course," Penny replied.

"Phew! That was quite the adventure," Mike exclaimed, his voice tinged with a mix of excitement and relief. "I had to jump from one balcony to the other, and let me tell you, I almost slipped there for a second! Good thing my reflexes are on point."

Penny, impressed by Mike's agility, chuckled and remarked, "Mike, you really are full of surprises! I guess all those hours at the gym are paying off."

Mike grinned confidently and replied, "Well, you know me. I never shy away from a little challenge. But I have to admit, I might be getting a bit complacent with my training if I start taking risks like that."

Leonard, with a hint of concern in his voice, chimed in, "Just be careful, Mike. We wouldn't want any injuries jeopardizing our Thai food and movie night."

Mike nodded his demeanor a mix of determination and humility. "Don't worry, Leonard. I'll make sure to stay sharp and not let my guard down. Safety first!"

With their temporary obstacle overcome, the group entered the apartment, grateful for Mike's daring feat and eager to continue their evening of food, entertainment, and laughter.

At that moment, Mike noticed Sheldon giving him a peculiar look and thought, 'Does Sheldon have a system too?'

After pondering for a moment, he asked, "How many points are on your blacklist?"

"Goodness gracious, young man! You must exercise utmost caution in your endeavors. As per my meticulous record-keeping system, you currently stand at a precarious fifty points on my meticulously crafted one-hundred-point blacklist. It appears your risky balcony antics have earned you quite the reprimand!" Sheldon exclaimed with a touch of seriousness in his voice, emphasizing the significance of his blacklist.

Mike, taken aback by Sheldon's statement, raised an eyebrow and replied, "Wait a hundred-point blacklist? What's that all about, Sheldon?"

Sheldon, his tone brimming with superiority, explained, "Ah, you see, I maintain a meticulously detailed registry of infractions, ranking them on a scale from zero to one hundred based on their severity and potential for endangering our harmonious living conditions. Your recent stunt has managed to earn you fifty points, Mr. Risk-Taker!"

Mike chuckled, not fully grasping the seriousness of Sheldon's list. "Well, I'll be sure to tread carefully in the future, Sheldon. I wouldn't want my actions to disrupt the delicate balance of our lives."

Sheldon nodded approvingly, satisfied with Mike's response. "That's the spirit! We must always strive for order and adherence to the established norms. Now, let us resume our Thai food and movie night, but remember one false move, and your score may inch closer to the dreaded century mark!"

With Sheldon's warning still lingering in the air, the group resumed their evening, albeit with a heightened awareness of Sheldon's unique code of conduct and the consequences of crossing his meticulously crafted boundaries.

"Alright," Mike replied helplessly.

After spending some time together, Mike eventually bid farewell and made plans to help with the move the following day.

As Mike left, he looked at the favorability system in his hand and said to himself, "We still have work to do!"

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Current Favorability Ratings:

(The Big Bang Theory)

Sheldon: -50

Leonard: 0

Howard: -20

Penny: 90

Rajesh: -10

(The Fast and the Furious)

Vince: +10

Dominic Toretto: +40

Mia Toretto: +60

John Wick: +32

--------------------------------------

Surprisingly, Penny's favorability had reached 90. Mike couldn't understand why her favorability had grown so rapidly, as he hadn't even done much to help her this time. He was puzzled by the sudden increase when he received a call from Chrome Dome Dom.

"That guy named Brian is acting really strange," Dommy informed him.

Curious, Mike asked, "What's so strange?"

"I suspect he's a spy. I followed him today and discovered his connections with the police and FBI," Domilicious revealed.

"First, don't act impulsively. Let's gather more information. Wait for me!" Mike advised.

Mike felt a sense of urgency, not wanting to disrupt the plot. If Brian were to disappear, what would happen next? He had given the Baldy a casual warning, not expecting Chrome Dome Dom to uncover so much.

Lost in his thoughts, Mike arrived at the location Domster mentioned—a racing venue in Los Angeles.

The crowd of enthusiastic young people and their flashy attire gave the place an energetic atmosphere.

As Mike scanned the area, he spotted the bald-headed Dommy in the distance, who then called both Brian and Mike to a corner.

"Dom, hold on!" Mike interjected, his voice firm but composed. "Violence won't solve anything. Brian, explain yourself before we jump to conclusions."

Brian, taking a step back to regain his composure, nodded in agreement. "You're right, Mike. I need to come clean. Yes, I am an undercover agent, but I haven't informed my superiors about this specific situation yet. I assure you, my loyalty lies with the truth and justice, not with any hidden agenda."

Chrome Dome Dom, still tense but listening, demanded, "Why should we trust you, Brian? How do we know you're not just playing both sides?"

Brian met Dom's gaze, his tone earnest. "I understand your skepticism, Dom. But I'm here to earn your trust, not betray it. My mission is to expose a dangerous criminal network that has caused immense harm. By keeping my superiors out of the loop for now, I wanted to assess the situation and ensure that the right people are involved, people I can trust."

Mike, thoughtful and discerning, spoke up. "If what Brian says is true, Dom, then we're all after the same thing—bringing down this criminal organization. It might be in our best interest to keep Brian on our side, where we can keep an eye on him and use his knowledge to our advantage. We're stronger together."

Brian nodded, his expression is sincere. "Mike is right, Dom. Trust is something that can be built over time through actions and dedication. I'm here to work with you, not against you, to bring these criminals to justice and protect innocent lives."

Chrome Dome Dom, though still cautious, slowly relaxed his stance. "Alright, Brian. But one wrong move, and you'll regret it."

Mike nodded, a glimmer of trust forming in his eyes. "Let's proceed with caution, keeping our eyes open and our goals clear. Together, we can uncover the truth and make a difference."

Chrome Dome Dom lowered his head and pondered, realizing that he had no desire to be wary of the FBI. He looked at Brian and said, "You can continue, but don't bother my sister anymore."

Brian reluctantly agreed, as his affection for Mia outweighed any underlying motives.

"Why?" Mike asked.

"Because you're the police, and we're the thieves," Brian replied, leaving with Mike.

In that moment, Mike felt a wave of panic. What was happening now? Their group had disbanded, so what should they do next?

Just as he was anxious about the situation, the favorability system rang.

<ding>

After parting ways with Chrome Dome Dom, Mike hurried home, wanting to understand the situation with the system. Whose favorability had reached 80 again?