Stan was up late that night with a few books (sneaked out of the library once Ford was sufficiently distracted) on various human-related subjects, scrawling out a few notes in between stitching up the rips in his suit. He also borrowed Ford's journal, and made some notes for himself on a few different species.
And Ma used ta say that men can't multitask.
The next morning, he slipped his brass knuckles into his pockets, along with a few extra protective charms and both his switchblades, and put on his newly-patented "Mr. Mystery" smile for the crowd that showed up.
And to his surprise, having to do nerd research the night before actually worked.
He was able to answer most of the questions posed to him by different monsters, and even anticipate what they were gonna ask about based on their species and what kind of area they were from.
Of course, he continued to give things his usual flare, referring to televisions as Idiot Boxes that controlled people's minds and making himself larger than life and all that, but it was a better-informed flare than it had been.
He also kept an eye peeled for Darlene, or maybe any giant spider people who might show up trying to seek revenge because he'd been defending himself from being eaten by one of their own, but the day passed without him seeing anything with unusual amounts of legs except for that one giant sentient centipede (try saying that three times fast).
It was a very smugly satisfied Stan Pines who drove home at the end of the day, thinking that he couldn't wait to see Ford's face when he saw how much profit he'd brought home today…
...Only for his jaw to drop when, after pouring everything into their respective barrels, he saw that Ford was on an equal level with him now.
It was Ford's turn to smirk at him, and give a little shrug at his stuttered "H-how-how did you-" before saying, "Sometimes, Stanley, it pays to actually do your research." And he strode for the stairs.
For a moment Stan just stood there numbly, staring at the equal piles of money and samples. Then his cheeks flooded with red, and his trembling hands closed themselves into fists, and flames practically started burning in the centers of his pupils.
If Ford thinks he can step up and take this away from me, he's got another thing comin'.
I'll 'it pays to actually do your research' you, you condescending, stuck-up son-of-a-
...Yeah, no way THIS could possibly backfire big-time at all.
Because it's not like these boys ever make horrible decisions when Ford's feeling prideful and Stan's feeling p_ssed off, right?
...Right?