masanari | [Futurelandia] The Thanksgiving and Early December Post

[Futurelandia] The Thanksgiving and Early December Post

[ It's been around a month since everything started to change. And frankly, a damn sure more things have changed even in that month. There's simplistic ones, such as Masaomi getting a vasectomy which even if he tried to keep it on the downlow, everyone found out about because of what a whiner he was for his week of medical abstinence and everyone felt after that for how he proceeded to fuck every relevant woman in the house and who would sleep with him out of the house into submission for the next two or three days. Everyone sort of had a rude awakening there.

But then, some changes were bigger and more serious. A new member joined there pack (Veroncia) not all that long ago, and it was much to everyone except some of the adult's surprise. Everyone had to learn their new pecking order and where she fit in with the rest of them. Masaomi and Nariko continued their rituals and continued their seeing other people, to mixed results from both. Audrey was hanging around the house more, though she hadn't had the recommended Talk with Masaomi about joining, despite making this something of a second home for her. And of course, Junko's training continued despite the week long hiatus from it.

Everyone was changing, and everyone was adapting. Yamato even had a sexy car now. And at the culmination of everything, a sort of milestone in the midst of everything, there was Thanksgiving, the lead up to it, and the follow up after it leading into December. A time when a lot of people hung out in one house, and then things got weirdly tense for a variety of reasons. God bess us, every one. ]

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Just stand kinda close to the entrance and I'll find you.

[It's not like she doesn't know how to look for her brother, after all. When he's not slouching to hell and back he sticks out like an overgrown weed at times. She darts through the food court to make the correct turn and ... There's the bookstore.

If Yamato is looking for her she probably won't be hard to spot. She's getting more than enough looks for half the men that pass her, though she doesn't notice.

'Cause, y'know, Yamato.]

[ Junko stop being in love with your brother.

But it's true, he does look unassuming himself even if she was easy to spot. He was slouching - slouching and sort of leaning against the pillar nearest to the book store entrance with three bags under his arms, one of which is from said bookstore. He's just in some overcoat over a loose polo. So really, not that off from how his normal attire goes. Some combination of not standing out for his clothing choices and the positioning he had made him not get as many looks ]

[She's not in love with her goddamn brother shut the fuck up gosh.

Why does he dress like a confused homeless individual who had yet to realize that he actually had a home? But she's too cold to fuss with that, and instead walks right up to him.] Hey, sorry it took me a little while.

[She waves a little and then motions to what he's already got.] Okay, who've you already bought for?

[Might as well get right to it.]

[ Oh thank God Junko's here. Yamato all but lurches over to her, clasping her hand in his and holding it up to him like she's his lifeline. She is right now, honestly. So - ]

Ada, you - obviously - and Octavio. I think I have something for Veronica too? But I'm not sure what she really likes.

[ Might as well go right to business here-- oh wait- ] And h-hi. Thanks for -- coming. I mean.

What, did you think I wouldn't?

[She holds his hand, and uses her other to pat his.] Come on, if we move quickly we can probably be done in a few hours. We'll get Veronica some cute stationary and pens, I saw the set she brought with her when she moved in and she's running low. [So if nothing else it'd work for the time being.] We'll get Sullivan a dumb, funny mug, and Tom a manly but discreet watch.

[She gives him one more squeeze but then lets go of him and begins to head towards the nearest store. They need to get moving.] You haven't gotten anything for Koji and mom and dad?

[Their dad might be the worst to try and buy for but if he hadn't figured something out it was better to let her mull over it as soon as possible.]

I dunno, you might've messed with me.

[ Oh. Oh- ] Man then I'm way off base. The thing I figured for her was this. [ And rummages in one of the bags, producing...! A set of Christmas cookie cutters. Which if, of course, a really dumb gift to give when Christmas is Ending. But he doesn't recognize it because he's a horrible gift-giver. He puts it back in the bag anyway, and then jumps a little because he realizes Junko's gift is in one of these. He "slyly" slips the book bag into another bag. ]

Come on, you know dad's impossible to shop for. And as for mom... [ ... How does he put this. Um, - ] I wanted to get her something impressive.

[ Still, he falls into her pace easily. Those suggestions are pretty good as far as he's concerned. So let's get to the store ]

Edited 2015-12-29 08:10 (UTC)

[Well that's a little insulting but the worst he gets is a dour look. Thank you for your faith in her reliability, Yamato.

But his gift really isn't that bad. Veronica had made that intricate cake at Thanksgiving, and she talked about cooking and baking a lot. So he was on the right track, just slightly off the mark.] We'll exchange those and try to find her some unique ones that can be used year round.

[If he got them at the mall then she knows where to go and they'll probably have something else fun and he won't have wasted any money! She's a genius of efficiency.]

How impressive are you talking, though? Mom's kind of expensive. [She tried to hide it from most people but anyone who had a vague understanding of clothes or even jewelry would figure it out kind of quickly. And for their dad:] Get him a book of lame dad jokes so he can torture the rest of us until next Christmas. Easy.

[Their father was notoriously difficult to shop for in that while their mother was expensive their father was really kind of cheap in his own way. He didn't skimp on things that were necessary or mattered, but he wasn't exactly a man of excess, either.] Or you could go half with me on the tablet I was going to get him.

[ Hey that's got nothing to do with her reliability, it has to do with her playing a mean prank on him. Which yes, isn't necessarily in her character but he knows his bungling of gifts makes him an easy target. It always does. He swallows a little, shaking his head. Okay, so that's not the right gift but... he was close? Good. He knew he saw her baking around thanksgiving and even if Koji ate most of that cake and got a stomach ache, it was good, the piece of it he got.

Nod. He did indeed get them at the mall - all of his gifts except Ada's he's actually picked in the last few hours. ]

Man you're a lifesaver. [ He mutters that out first before he shakes his head. Expensive... yeah, mom probably was a little bit ritzy at her core ] I just... I mean. [ How does he... say this... he- ] I mean. [ He itches his nose and... ] I wanted to get a gift for you and Nari-- mom and Audrey which is all "thanks for the sex I really love you guys." And... like that. You know. One that- ... you know.

[ How the fuck would she know (what he's trying to say is a gift which'll make them so thankful that they get hot under the collar). But he groans a little, both from the stress and the ida of giving their dad more joke ammo but- ] Oh god. Half on the tablet. please. We'll both save money. [ . . . Okay he wouldn't, but he would save sanity ]

[She raises a brow at him because she does know what he's trying to say, she just doesn't really understand why she's on the list for that.] There's a really nice journal that Audrey's wanted at an antique shop, you can give that to her. [... Junko had already bought it and planned to give it to her friend, but Yamato can have it.] And I know what'll be perfect for mom, it's just going to burn holes in your pants. If you want to go full on 'thanks for the sex, I love you' that's one thing. But 'thanks for the sex and you're going to remember me for this' is another thing entirely, so pick which one you'd rather go with.

[Obviously the latter is going to be more expensive, but. If he really wanted to win himself a new plane of love ... You can't put a price on that, or sanity, as the case may be with either parent. ... God the mall is so fucking crowded! This is why he's not supposed to wait until Christmas Eve to go shopping! Augh. First they are getting Veronica's stationary, and then returning the cookie cutters to get new ones.]

[ Because Junko ushered him into this world of sex and right now while he might have fooled around with one or two other people basically all of his sex right now was with Audrey or Nariko or Junko, even if that last one had sort of trailed off as the month went on. Still, to have Junko point that out...

God.

He blushes something awful, and he itches his cheek as - ] I can't go with that one for Audrey. [ Because... it's her gift idea. It's Junko's gift for her friend, to take that wouldn't be right. He sounds surprisingly firm in saying that, because he can be such a stick about the most random things. ... Also wait are they getting her stationary and cookie cutters? Shit, he might need to get more for Octavio then. He's pretty confident in his Junko one. He'll just need to stay up all night too. ]

I've been working a part time job this last month. Think anyone noticed? I was trying to be all covert.

[ (that's where he got his money. . . ) Nariko, he can't know, has assumed he was out joy riding and banging bitches in his new car during that time. He doesn't know what anyone else assumed. Still... this mall is crowded. The taller brother slides into place next to Junko, getting into a space where he can protectively push people aside for her if needed. ]

[She looks up at him for that but ... Well, if Yamato can actually sound firm about something then there's no use in arguing with him. He'll stick to his idea no matter what happens. And yes, they're getting Veronica two things because she's new and needed to feel welcome. Octavio would be fine without getting just as much. But, what in the world -]

When did you even get a job? [It feels like she should have noticed that, but she'd been dedicated to studying and trying to fit in Ethan so, really, it makes sense that she wouldn't have really figured it out. It makes her feel like a bad sister, a horrible one as he (thankfully, since she's easily pushed around like this) helps shield her from all these people.] If I didn't notice I doubt anyone else did. Maybe dad.

[But only maybe since both their parents had been a little nonexistent.]

Well -- I mean, I started working three days after I actually got the car, so I guess it would have been December second. You're looking at the best ice cream sever at the Cold Stone over at Joliet you've ever seen.

[ He says this incredibly sheepishly. ] So come on, you keep that one for Audrey, because that was-- you know. your idea. But let's hear what the gift for Nariko would burn me.

[ He says it with a smile down at her. He had some money! He'd earned it himself! ... But he actually feels a little proud he managed to keep that a secret despite everything. But then, Junko didn't actually ask him to drive her around as much as he expected. Koji sure did and he drove Audrey and Veroncia places now but it wasn't that hard to work around it ]

Okay, okay. [It's sweet of her to let him keep it but. Now she really does have to think about what else he could get Audrey that she might really fawn over. Audrey hated jewelry, and she wasn't actually that big on Christmas as a whole, so surprising her wasn't the simplest thing in the world to do. Most of the time she was happy if someone gave her gift cards and alcohol. But Junko will think of something before they've left for the day.]

The cheap one is about one hundred fifty dollars, not counting tax. The more expensive one, the one that'll probably keep you in bed with her until New Years Day [Because their parents did something for that, right?] is eight hundred fifty. [She sighs at that number because, really, why does she have to be so expensive ...] You have a credit card, right?

[Junko does and it's the only way she manages to pay for everything during Christmas, and it's just paid off in increments over the year so she can do it all over again come November. Something absolutely horrible occurs to her but they're alone, so she feels like she can say it:] And, come on, you'd be giving her a ring before dad. You can't even comprehend what that's going to mean for her.

Edited 2015-12-29 17:32 (UTC)

[ Oh but that's... ]

You... think so, huh? I mean, would that just be cool and impressive for her and not cause any problems?

[ His parents had been so weird about each other the last month, but they actually had been better in the scant days since they came back from that funeral for their grandmother. At the very least, his mom had been home a lot more and he had smelled them fucking at nights more often than before. Still, he couldn't help but worry at some primal level about showing up his Alpha, even if--

Even if, if Junko can see his eyes, they are sparkling. Some part of him is relishing the idea of it. And yes, he does have a credit card - mom got him one the same time Junko got one, and she (Junko) was the one who negotiated for both of them. Oh, there's the stationary store. ]

[... He's so ridiculous. He's worried about it but he still wants to kind of show up their dad. Not for the first time Junko is more than sure that the only reason he hasn't actually challenged their father is because he's ... Well, their father.] Where would the problem lie? It's not like you're getting her an engagement ring. It's tasteful and it fits her. If dad has a problem with it he can figure out how he wants to respond. If you want to give it to her then you should do it.

[In other words! She's doing her best to convince him to just go for it as they step into the stationary store.] Seriously, it's worth it.

[She stops in front of some tasteful but cute options, trying to consider what Veronica might like best.] I never thought about it before but I can't help wondering if ...

[Never mind. She picks a tasteful fleur de lies pattern and a set of pens with cute sayings on them. Veronica: Check.]

[ The reason's probably half that - that he is their father, and all that entails - and that he is himself. Yamato might have come a long way in two months towards being at all comfortable in his own skin, but he also wasn't ready to think of himself as being Alpha material. Who knows if he would ever be, even if that idea of challenging authority and challenging him made... something excited in him.

Where would the problem lie? It's probably that he's doing it before dad and it's so expensive. He swallows, and then nods ]

I'd have to up my game for yours then. Just... a little bit. Just a little.

[ Yamato for the most part hovers over her during this part. Junko is a busybody and this isn't the first year she's effectively picked out half his christmas gifts ] What're you wondering?

Edited 2015-12-30 05:05 (UTC)

Oh, just get me a corgi, nothing else matters.

[She'd wanted one since she was little but it had never really happened, by now she was convinced that everyone thought she was messing around. Yamato probably would too, but it really was what she wanted. No amount of jewelry or fanciful crap would compare to a puppy. But with Veronica's stationary picked out they're heading for the registers, and thankfully there's only one other person in line.]

You know aside from that there's really nothing that I want this year. If you really want to give me a 'thanks for the sex' gift then just figure out your future and buy me a snickerdoodle cookie.

[They're her favorite, and she's not kidding about this part at all - for whatever reason she's ... Excited about Christmas but there was nothing specific she really wanted. Usually she's not so difficult, she had enough interests that it could be easy to pick things out for her, after all.

Also she's ignoring his question.]

My future? What's that got to do with it?

[ That distracted him from both the question she ignored, which he was still a little curious about, and the rest of that. Which probably does need addressing, even if he doesn't think to take the corgi thing seriously. At least not now. He laughs, a little bit incredulous. ]

[No one ever takes her seriously. Ethan would probably get her a puppy if she mentioned it to him.]

Because I worry about you and I need you to be okay by the time you graduate.

[It would be around the time that he might be making decisions in regards to college and such, what path he might really want to take his life on.] There are going to be times I'm not there to help you, Yamato. [She can't help thinking about the night their parents told them about their newly opened relationship. How Yamato had freaked out, how easy it had been to ease him back into focusing, how automatic it was to respond.]

I just want you to succeed, that's all.

[It was all she ever wanted, and helping someone towards that was one of the ways she expressed her love.]

[ His memory of that night was a little bit different, he remembered that night with some amount of pride, that he had managed to hold it together, at least a little, and help out his younger siblings... at least a little. But it's true then and it's true now that he's depended on Junko. In reality, he sort of always did from the moment she became more independent and more smart than him the moment he started high school. But he-- okay, he swallows and then answers her directly. Let's try to do this without studying- ]

Right now I've been -- working really hard at Tennis. If I can get good enough to place high in a regional within the next two years I've got -- you know. A real shot at going pro. But if I can't do it in that time, before I get that much closer to graduating [ So more or less around the same time he'd take the SAT, or at least the school mandated one ] I'll figure the rest of it out.

[ . . . ] A-and. And. I don't just want to get you a thanks for the sex gift I-- I wanted to get one which'll really impress you.

[ He smiles a little ] I'll work it out.

[The first thing that stands out to her is that he isn't planning for anything else in the meantime. He'd need complete dedication to his practice if he wanted to make regionals but if he wasted all the time not spend practicing then he'd get to the end and have to start all over again. To Junko that's the definition of inefficient but she knows to calm herself.]

Okay. [It's in that moment that she realizes she'd worry about him even if he was a million dollar pro with a bunch of sponsorships. He's her brother, she loves him, and it's impossible to not keep him in her thoughts. It'll be that way when she goes off to college, and when she leaves their pack.]

I just told you that you don't need to do any of that, though.

[What's the point in trying to impress her, really? Augh. Veronica's gift is paid for and she hooks the bag on her elbow. They're now off to handle Tom, Emily, and Sullivan all in one go.]

[ He proves he really and truly is his father's son in this moment, even if so much of his attitude is all his mom's. Because his answer to that is a really simply one, taking her hand as well when he answers, ]

But I want to.

[ And that's that. It's that weird sense of selfness which defined their father, and sometimes made him hard to live with.

With her hand held, he actually takes the lead into them going wherever they are going for the next few people. Are the returning these cookie cutters? ]

Edited 2015-12-30 06:05 (UTC)

[It's not fair when they resemble each other so much.

In part because she doesn't know what to say to that, and the only thing she can really do is hold his hand back and sigh. It's so loud that it would be understandable if he didn't hear or catch the gesture on her part at all. But, no, they're not going to return the cookie cutters just yet because the longer they spend in line without buying stuff the more they lose their chance to get what they need. This is a battle against other people as much as it is a battle against time.

They can walk in general, comfortable silence for a little while.]

[ It was a comfortable silence... which is good. Sure he'd been working and practicing obsessively (and doing poorly on his exams...) but he felt like he wasn't really around her all that much these last few weeks. Marching through the mall like this and holding her hand just felt good for him. Yamato's lips curl up into a smile as he shuffles through the mall.

But the time they get closer to the destination, he's - ]

Thanks for helping me, by the way. What're we getting for Sullivan?

[They really hadn't seen much of each other, no. If anything Junko had been spending the most time with Emily, she was a great study partner, and Junko's SAT/ACT exam was already set, she needed to be ready for it above nearly anything else. It is nice to spend time with him but for whatever reason, it also reminds her of how utterly screwy things are with Ethan, and how for as weird and unsettling as that guy might be she's enabled him the whole way.

Now might be a good time to share but she keeps her mouth shut.]

I think you already said thank you for it, though. [He'll say it again when he buys her dinner, so he really doesn't need to be so over-appreciative.]

New cufflinks because his are worn to hell and back.

I did too so it all worked out just fine.

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