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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We'll do it for Valentine's Day.

[Chances are they're going to be busy for a lot of January as it is, so aside from it being a great day for sexual stuff anyway, it's also rather well timed. He really should see his family more often since - to Nariko's immediate knowledge - nothing had really forced Masaomi from his relatives. Aside from the usual disagreements and occasional stupid arguments it seemed they had only been separated by life and time (right?). There wasn't any reason for them to go so long without seeing each other.]

[ Life, time, and distance. He's met with some of them over the years on his own trips but not as often as he perhaps should have. But he was focusing on his immediate family and business and his pack, so he never thought about it until it was just too late. Well, not too late, but.. ]

Alright, deal.

[ He kisses her again, and wraps his arms around her shoulders, looking over her to see if Nathan's coming back ]

[Nathan is ... Lingering near them because good god they both smell and it's not a great idea for him to be near that. He does somewhat gently raise his voice to say:]

We're good! Everyone's left!

[So they're maybe thirty minutes early or something but that's not the end of the world and they apparently have a dinner to get to. ... Nariko doesn't stop kissing Masaomi just yet, though.]

[ Masaomi is used to just allowing her to kiss him, but that's usually around his neck and jaw. As long as it's still around his lips, he's trapped a bit. Still, he holds up a hand to give Nathan a thumbs up. ... Also he's the one with.

Oh wait none of them have a car, do they? Still, he just... Holds up a finger to tell Nathan to give them a minute ]

Seriously, guys?

[Did he really have to stand here and essentially watch them make out?

Apparently so, since at Nathan's vaguely irritated whine Nariko just kisses her mate that much harder, and with far more tongue. She takes a whole extra minute before finally detaching from him.] Okay, I'm ready!

[With her confidence restored she grabs a tiny sandwich and pops it in her mouth before taking Masaomi's hand. Off they go!!! To get a cab. They'd only needed the ride here and then Aaron was going to visit them all in Nathan's suite for the will reading, so it'd been silly to get a rental car when everything else would just be in normal walking distance.]

Haven't you heard all those songs? You can't help it when you're in love!

[ Masaomi says this cheekily to Nathan once they disengage. He also taps Nathan on the shoulder and considers offering him his other hand but thinks better of it. He just rolls his shoulders and to the cab indeed.

... Nariko tasted like cigarettes that was gross. He needs to wash his mouth and it shows on his face ]

So do we know where to?

[Oh, shit, that's why she'd been keeping her mouth closed that whole time!] Sorry! [Poor Masaomi. She should have toned it down just for his sake. Should they stop at a drug store first for a tiny thing of mouthwash? This was why she ended up quitting, the taste of smoke just isn't very appealing and she'd begun to hate it pretty quickly. You're getting a very apologetic look right now Masaomi.]

Yeah, yeah, let's go to Vernie's, you're not going to get a better meal than there.

[Nariko has no objections, there! As evidenced by her little shrug.]

I'll third it! ... And we can go to like CVS too!

[ . . . That was such a childish reaction and he knows it. But wow okay he doesn't like the taste of smoke and he never had! Even if his dad smoked. ]

[She said she was sorry!! But whatever. They leave, and Nathan gets them a cab which they can all pile into in order to make it to the nearest store and run in and get some mouthwash. Whenever Masaomi is done with it Nariko will end up asking to use it too just so it isn't a problem anymore.

The girl at the counter probably gave them the worst sort of funny look in the world.]

[ What's so funny about buying mouthwash huh! Or being dressed in a nice dress and a nice suit because you came from a funeral! ... And he accepted / accepts the apology but he still needed that clean. That was bad. ]

Phew, there we go.

[All of that is incredibly weird and so was there sense of urgency about buying mouthwash! But whatever, man, they don't pay cashier girl enough to care about why people want anything from the store. But, anyway, now his mouth is clean and soon Nariko's is, too since she plucks the bottle from him and gracelessly spits into a bush.]

Okay, clean slate.

[They can't go into fucking in a restaurant with gross mouths. So!! Back into the cab they go now, to the restaurant which isn't too far off but traffic's a slight bitch and it takes an extra fifteen minutes to get there and in the door to be seated.]

[ and for the record Nathan's been biting his lip this whole trip. Or well, by "biting his lip" we mean talking with Nariko about their memories of the restaurant in question to talk it up to Masaomi. ~~what's it like~~ because that is normal family shit. So much so that by the time they get there Masaomi is clearly a little bit excited for it.

... but he does step ahead of them both to get the table and such, looking cool for himself.

Nathan mutters to Nariko as they get seated ]

He's a pretty strange guy.

[Vernie's was an all around kind of place that, according to their inevitably shared memories, was once a normal little diner run by none other than Vernie, who had probably thrown both Nathan and Nariko free meals when their mother wouldn't give either money or food. It'd started out as a little place that everyone pretty much knew about, a nice secret, but then Vernie himself died and his kids took it over and expanded it. Now instead of a little hometown diner it was a good sized, casually upscaled restaurant that still kept a homey feel.

What that really means is that it's definitely one of the places where a good number of regulars might recognize both Nariko and Nathan, and seize an opportunity that might have been denied before.]

How so? [Look, she's been with this man so long that not only has he rubbed off on her some ways, she doesn't ever see much wrong with his perspective, so to say. She just feels differently on certain, specific issues.]

[ Some people actually do notice them even as they're going to their table, but no one has stepped up yet, instead whispering to see if that was actually the siblings. Some sort of self confirmation thing. Nathan smiles a little. He's been back here once or twice as an adult, so if he sees anyone he saw then he'll say hi.

... But - ] He just is... works at his own pace and not a lot of people are like that.

[ Masaomi either doesn't hear this or is ignoring it a few steps ahead of them ]

That's true, but that's one of his best points, Nathan. His isn't a bad pace to go along with. It's made me happy for nearly twenty years, now.

[And she wasn't just saying that because the man himself could likely hear her just fine.] If we're all going to spend time together and act as a family then it's only right to get to know him.

[Or at least tolerate each other.]

I didn't say he was bad, just... [ He worries? Why aren't they married? He's an idiot? ... Well, he'll decide eventually, he shrugs and - ] Getting to know him.

[ And with that! All three of them are at one table, and the menus are put down in front of them. The waitress recognizes Nathan at least, and tries to strike up a conversation with him, and recognizes Nariko when who she is is pointed out. ~~in the interest of not NPCing more that was off screen~~ but once she leaves to get their drink orders it's just them! ]

[Those are all good questions to ask Masaomi himself! When she's pointed out Nariko just smiles politely but, as a whole, she has no desire to reconnect with anyone here. This place isn't her home anymore, so it's a lot like pasting on a generic expression until people she doesn't care about leave her alone. But the girl in question is perceptive, the rest of their meal will be probably be fine.]

So, we're through the worst of it, there's just the will reading tomorrow and then we'll all be heading home.

[She looks at Masaomi briefly but then, to Nathan:] Are you going to head back until your last show and then come back to look for a house?

[It'd be nice to have him around for Christmas, but she'd understand if he'd rather hold off.]

[ Masaomi would have started the conversation, but he was hoping one or the others would, and he's pleased to have Nariko do it, expressing out an exaggerated sigh at the whole ... still the will. Man. Plus Nathan at least is a bit off-put or ... well more just biting his lip a little that a little bit of Nariko's scent is lingering here in the back of the restaurant. Or maybe he's just hallucinating it at this point.

Focus. ] I'd love to come by before then, but the last-last show's a New Years one, so I won't be there until January.

[ And from his expression, he really would love to be there Christmas. ... He should give them all presents this year. Shit. Like what... though, he doesn't know her kids ]

Oh. [Despite how hurt she'd been at his rejection she really is kind of upset to hear that. But then, maybe it would work out better for their kids, who might be incredibly shocked to have their surprise uncle show up for the holidays. She hums a little and then suggestions:]

Well, you'll need some time to get through finishing up and deciding what to do with your place, and then there's talking with Irina, too, and you guys must have had Christmas plans. [He's got a whole life there, after all. It's unreasonable to think it could be neatly tied up and packed away in a few days before a major holiday.]

So, it wouldn't hurt to just focus on finishing out the year, and I can look at houses for you to move into in January?

Um, do we all forget that I work in real estate?!

[ That was Masaomi, who laughs a little and shake his head. He waves to both Nathan and Nariko, saying- ] I've got a few in mind back at the office, at least.

[ Still, Nathaniel smiles at Masaomi before turning to Nariko with a bigger one. ... He and Irina did have Christmas plans. And he hums a little before- ] I'd love for you to tour his picks for me.

Of course I remembered! I was going to demand your help either way! [Nariko didn't know a single thing about buying houses! She'd probably just pick something and go with the immediate price instead of haggling or taking value or any of that into consideration. She's going to end up in her mate's very capable hands for all of that.]

Good! Then you'll have to keep your phone near because I'm going to send you pictures and video! If anyone can find you the perfect house it's going to be Masaomi!

[And in that .... You can tell she's incredibly proud of her mate, that he does have a career he ended up being very good and that, as far as she understands, he doesn't regret in any way despite how he ended up with it.]

[ He doesn't. Masaomi didn't expect this gig and didn't have that much formal education going in, but combination of people skills, being self-taught, and taking some night classes saw him forge out an identity for himself. Now he gets people good prices, solid commissions, and owns more than a dozen properties he rents in the area as well. Not to mention ones he's sitting on for re-sale. All things considered, the man has a lot of pride in his job, and it shows on his face with the nod too.

... Nathan can't help but feel both jealous and thankful all at once. It's a strange feeling. He's got not issues with his career, he's very passionate, but seeing Nariko's trust just makes him feel a little bit - small. ]

Well if you have so much faith in him, I've got no doubt. [ That said - ] I'l be sure to see every picture. Even if I don't, Irina'll be sure to remind me.

[ She was his manager, after all. He could get caught up in things on the job ]

Ah, Masaomi, I told you about his girlfriend, right? The one whose also his manager! [She can't remember if she did or not! But now he'll know.

She looks to her mate and then her brother, and though she's determined to speak normally and such she also sidles a little closer to Masaomi. She can't help wanting to be close to him, especially when she still fully intends to be fucked at this table.] Are you worried, though? I mean, how long have you guys even been together? Will you be okay if she doesn't come over?!

[The more she thinks about it the more genuinely concerned Nariko becomes.]

I'd heard the name. [ Masaomi confirms this, at least.

But as for Nathan... he watches Nariko scoot, and sees Masaomi's hand reach over to brush at his mate's thigh in a gentle way. He frowns a little, but then puts the smile right back on his face and shakes his his head. Irina, they were talking about Irina. ... And he did love her. He did. He'd actually said as much to her a few months ago, before all of this. and before their mom died he'd actually briefly entertained the idea it was more than his sister, which this clearly this disproved and Irina had told him it would ahead of time.

... Ugh. ]

We've been together for five years professionally and three years personally. I'm a little worried because I'm also asking her to move in with me for the first time. [ Technically, anyway. He still lives alone in this Rome house even if on tours they basically always shared a bed ] So, I guess I can't help but getting jitters.

[ He says this like he's calm, but he honestly isn't. He's... well, he's not sure, but he thinks Irina would be excited to live together and not mind the proximity to his sister. It's more moving to the states. ]

[Of course she catches every little thing he tries to hide. Clearly some feelings have changed and shifted over time but she still knows how to read her brother. But he's going to have to deal with Masaomi touching her, she won't give up that comfort for anyone - not even her children.] Three years is a long time to be with someone, Yamato, and I can't imagine that it's easy to have a working relationship and a romantic one at the same time. Tell her how great it'll be here, there's a lot to do and become involved in, after all!

[And Nariko, as the sister, the Other Woman in one respect or a few, would be respectful. They'd be a couple and they would need space.]

Even if it does turn out a little badly, like you said, it's a test of dedication. We'll find you someone cute and ambitious and sweet if it really comes down to it!

[This is really just her way of being supportive, promise!]

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