[Futurelandia] An Eventful Valentines and beyond (happy new year)

[generalflirt]

[ Nathan moved into tow and that was awkward, Yamato and Nariko probably have some sort of a relationship and that's awkward, Yamato's been trying to make new friends so that's interesting, and Masaomi and Nariko are hopefully solid as anything after that trip, Nathan and Yamato complications aside. There's a new pack member that Masaomi met at a party and Nariko met in class. It's been over a month since the new year began and the old one concluded.

A lot's changed and yet not a lot had at all.

And frankly, things were probably just going to change that much more in the coming days and weeks. this might be edited to something more poetic later once we conclude more stuff about that other log ]

Comments

[generalflirt]

I still do want to meet him, I'm not sure if he's right or wrong...

[ That said... ]

You don't need to though! Long term, as we get a new generation, it might be an idea... but I know you've been loving adapting to that school life. So there's no reason to drop out until the end of it all. [ He hums ] At least get some minor degree to show for it, worst comes to worst I can call Linda over to nanny.

[ Linda, his older sister who was the only one (except maybe Rin) who wasn't in a pack with some prominent position of her own to show for it. Well, Haruki only barely was. But still, technically she's got less going on ] Not to mention we can force Nathan into the labor.

[gunslingerqueen]

We can invite him over soon? We have a long weekend coming up.

[It's a bit surprising to hear that answer! Masaomi had seemed kind of ambivalent about her going to school and now he's encouraging her to not give up a third of the way through. There's something heartwarming about it.]

What are relatives for, if not doing us favors and getting to stay in our awesome house for free, in return?

[If they end up with a bunch of little kiddos and have multiple relatives stay over they might finally begin to fill the house up to it's obnoxious capacity.]

Thanks. [She's not assuming he has a whole lot of faith in her degree choice, but she does understand that Masaomi's probably trying to keep her happy and be considerate of her desires. What a good mate.]

[generalflirt]

Seriously! Seriously! I've got to meet this guy!

[ But as for everything else there... he snorts. No, he doesn't really "get" her degree, but it does suit her. Honestly, he's not gotten a degree of his own so maybe he's not in the right headspace for it. Still, he does want her to not have a useless college experience! It would be more fun for her that way, right? ]

But of course, though.

[ He's glad she didn't make a big deal out of Nathan there, he was trying to be casual about it all. ]

[gunslingerqueen]

[It's good timing, she can't handle anything serious concerning her brother so whether he meant it that way or not she had to let it go. When they finally make it inside she's happy to close the door behind them ...

... They did so well on their vacation, she doesn't want to ruin that, or have their entire mini-reunion here colored by her nerves.]

Masaomi, I have to tell you something.

[The guilt smacks into her like a tidal wave, and for a second she's tempted to cry. But she takes a deep breathe and puts her faith in him. It's only logical that he might be upset, but she has to trust that they'll get through it.]

I'm already - pregnant.

[It's not rocket science, there was no way it could be his, which meant someone else - Yamato, she'd bet, but that's not the point. He'd gotten so excited about this whole kids thing and this felt like some incredible betrayal.]

[generalflirt]

[ In all honesty - Alpha or not, especially right in front of his mate like this he is just a man - his immediate reaction might not actually help anything. Or at least, might not help that wave in her. Because as he stepped into the room, smiling still at his far flung idea and happy to let the more serious topics drop as they embrace their reunion, at least for three or four rounds before he then makes a game out of hearing the house gossip from her... she made him face her and she says that.

His expression first drops the smile and his brows knit together, as if running through a set of math to determine if it's possible it's his. When that's excluded his expression shifts to a half-open mouth as he tries to process who else it could be, until that's squashed just as quickly because it's obvious. She'd been ripped from one mate for a month because of his own bravado, it's only natural she would have the comfort of the other one, and no doubt...

That would run a pregnancy risk. The doubt comes to certainty, and while he doesn't look quite angry, he does keep that same expression like he's on the cusp of saying something and then redacting immediately what he might've said. And finally, he pushes out, ]

Oh.

[gunslingerqueen]

[It's not like she deserves to have the topic softened any, so it's fine. In fact, she expected something a lot worse, though it might just be on his way.]

Yeah.

[She wants to touch and hug him and make it better, and the only thing that stops her is compassion: If she heard that he'd run off and knocked someone up she'd be pissy as fuck all. But rather than standing there awkwardly she sits on the edge of their bed, quiet for a good, long moment.] ... You can't tell anyone what I'm about to say - not that I think you would, it's just - I know there's something difficult right now, but everyone's got their pride. You, me, him, everyone.

[That's not going to make her next words any more or less right. She's still going to be an awful person for feeling the way she does.] This is just bad timing. You know I wanted it to be you, even when I was scared of being a shitty mom again, I couldn't not imagine having your kids.

[She'd always wanted as many as possible, but after Koji a lot of shit started to come up, and she'd refused to deal with any of it.] ... So this is just bad timing, okay? That's it.

[generalflirt]

[ He can't tell anyone...? What did she say which was even so bad there? Ah, wait, it's the fact that he is (also) her mate. She was (also) his mate? Mates aren't meant to be shared... mates are not meant to shared. His mind is repeating thought processes should he? No, he needs to narrow himself, he needs to collect himself. What should he even feel about this - is it crueler to rage or be despondent? He's still not sure he's wholly over or wholly understanding about what's happened to her biochemistry and how that flies in the face of his worldview.

Still... ]

That's still your mate's child. If that bond's true, there's no way you aren't euphoric.

[ Even if she does feel bad to him... no, he shouldn't speak for her emotions, but he says it a little distantly, clearly still trying to process it himself, given his head tilts to the side ]

[gunslingerqueen]

Mm, you think so?

[She trails her eyes to her knees, trying to think of the right way to say it. Since Masaomi's been gone for so long she's had a lot of time to think about how this actually works in real time. So while she really had avoided him while he was healing because of their insane chemistry it had served an experimental purpose as well: What would happen to her if she spent more time with Yamato and gave him more attention? What would happen to her chemistry? A mateship was a biological phenomena, after all, one way or another it would change under various forms of stress.]

I'm happy, but I'm not euphoric.

[And there's something wrong with that because she was overjoyed for the first three kids. Stupid and giddy with the pure, undeniable reality that she was pregnant with her mates child. Hell, her desire to nest and practically shower people with unending affection had only increased.] I feel like I've skipped a step, and I wouldn't want to avoid this one either, but it just ... Feels like you should have come first. That's the only way I can describe it.

[It's an incredibly specific emotion: Still being happy to have Yamato's child, while also still feeling as if her first mate should have gotten it first (even though he already had. Three times over.).]

PS is that nursing thread done?

[generalflirt]

I do - I even have evidence as well, what with how you handled your first three.

[ A part of him wonders if she had her head wrapped around there being three, and not two. He's not really sure its his place to question that, but a part of him is now academically curious to talk about the changes to her biochemistry. How it worked now. But if he became academic, indulged in that, he would work past the whole emotional core of this issue. And that wouldn't be right at all, either for discussing this or for the fact both of them wanted to fuck a lot.

He took a step closer to her, his head rolling to the other side. ]

I'm sorry that's the case then.

[ For her... and really, honestly, for him. ]

Nah I just can't handle where junko would inevitably take it rn so - tomorrow? If that's ok

[gunslingerqueen]

[They've never hidden anything from each other before, this whole affair, completely fucking weird as it is, shouldn't change that. Besides, she'd actually feel a lot better if he asked question, made it feel a little more open and easy to approach. But his comment makes her shake her head.]

It's not really that bad, it's just different. [And it's not that she isn't happy! She's incredibly happy about it! Just in a very different way, and it's not any less valuable or meaningful just because it's deviating from the established norm.]

... But I did want you to hear it from me.

[And not Yamato or Tom or Sully or anyone, really, who might have assumed Masaomi knew and said it thoughtlessly.]

No it's fine I was just feeling out if we should figure out a new third! We're all good

[generalflirt]

[ Inhale... exhale...

Huh. ]

So everyone else knows?

[ He takes another step closer, and then realizing that he had been doing that? He decides to nod and slide his way over towards Nariko. He gets into sitting down next to her on the bed, his arms crossed together at his waist. There's more to say - should he say it? She seems... well she doesn't seem comfortable, but at the same time, this isn't as as uncomfortable as it could be. There's no reason he needs to approach this as an Alpha.

... How often had he been thinking that lately? He thinks of his daughter, and exhales ]

okay thank you for the understanding it is deeply appreciated

[gunslingerqueen]

No, just you and me and him.

[To be fair Masaomi doesn't seem like a bundle of fluffy pillows either, but yeah, it's the beast they could hope for. When he sits next to her she's oddly still for a moment but then leans into him a little bit, reestablishing contact, that kind of thing.]

... I have a doctors appointment and I'm not looking forward to it.

[Her irrational fear that her child will somehow be horribly deformed or otherwise given a shitty lot continues on, a full seventeen goddamn years later. At least some things never change.] Are you upset?

[At all of it, with her, with Yamato?]

Hey hey you don't need to thank me for that it's cool

[generalflirt]

Ah, yeah, naturally he would know first. He must be excited.

[ He needs to stop talking like that. Like he's not even sure how he feels in this moment. Even if was... But that isn't good for either of them. When she leans against him, he smiles, his scent pulling up out of him and curling around the room. He didn't mean to for that, but it was her. How could he not be into her? No matter what. He would offer to go with her to it but...

It's not his.

Mmm. ]

I don't think I am, but do you mind me going a bit ... mm. Odd?

[gunslingerqueen]

[She knows it's not a concerted effort on his part, but it's nice to know all the same, and she doesn't need anything more than a slight indication of positivity to unravel her own arms and put them around him. No matter what's going on in her oven or with her other mate she can't help wanting to be with Masaomi right now, and she doesn't stop herself from answering him either, swelling the room up with happy warmth.

It does stutter a bit as he asks that, mostly because she can't possibly know what he's getting at just yet.]

I'm sure I'll be able to handle it one way or another.

[Go for it, man.]

[generalflirt]

I know you can.

[ That said... okay. Don't react too much to her scent. Or don't - he can't help it, he swirls around a little more as his scent pumps in the room. It's a gentle mix, but he licks his lips and tries to go and ...

Let's do it. ]

How many kids have you had so far?

[ It's a bit underhanded to start with that, but... oh well ]

[gunslingerqueen]

[What in the world.]

Two.

[Junko and Koji --] Three!

[Goddammit.] Three. [... After a full month, she has to forcefully remind herself.]

[generalflirt]

[ And in spite of himself, he grins a little bit wider now, a bit impish, a bit more successful. ]

Haaah. It's okay, it's okay. But I guess he really is your mate, huh?

[gunslingerqueen]

[She pouts, not because there's anything wrong with him or even the question he asked, but because it sort of feels like she's being teased, somehow!]

Yes.

[Nariko can't parse out what the long term is, though she has a greater idea now than she did before, but it's an undeniable fact.]

[generalflirt]

[ He tilts his head again, almost bushing his head against her own. Brushing against her hair. But... hm ]

So did you learn anything about that in the last month? Knowing you, you had to figure out something, right?

[ So he might as well ask about her math brain scientific findings. Not that she was as like that as Junko, but even so. ]

[gunslingerqueen]

[He can do whatever he wants as long as he doesn't ask her to stop touching him. Thankfully it doesn't distract her from answering, if anything it seems to help her relax even more.]

Mm, there's a lot of small things that happen. I can't say 'your father' or anything like that, not unless it's something incredibly serious, which isn't too often. It's just 'Masaomi' a lot of the time.

[Which, given her emphasis on titles and familial structure ...] And I don't take anything from either of you, but I can't ever say anything disparaging about one or the other. It's like if someone tries to insult you, I can't handle it very well and I get upset. [With every day people that might mean they get punched in the goddamn face for so much as talking shit about Masaomi. With Yamato she just kind of steers away from it entirely.]

Now that I think about it, there aren't a lot of hiccups. We fall into it without thinking in private, but even when you're still in the house I'm violently aware of both of you all the time. It's actually kind of stressful.

[Which is totally great for a pregnant woman.]

[generalflirt]

[ This is a strange moment where his ideals, his beliefs and everything he holds so sacred about mateship and why he's been so disparaging about marriages and the limitations of that "bond" is now called into question against his self-interest. Because... well... ]

That doesn't sound too pleasant for him or for you all things considered. Someone shouldn't only be connected to their mate in private.

[ But at the same time, he was the Alpha here. He wanted to be in control of the house and the situation and, frankly, her at all times. It's something he's always loved and always valued. And that's...

He bites his lip, and then licks his lips when he notices he did that ] But are you saying that boy of mine's talked shit about his Alpha?

[gunslingerqueen]

No, if anything he still worships you to a near concerning extent.

[Granted, if Yamato really had talked honest to goodness shit, Nariko may not have admitted it without being forced. But she'd have also dealt with Yamato herself. She can't exactly help her instinct to protect them both from nearly everything, and that's one aspect of the situation that does get complicated and will continue to in the future. Nariko kicks her legs out softly, though, tilting her head in towards his neck a bit so she can inhale softly.]

First, though, the matter of privacy is related to the fact that he doesn't want to upset your pack. [... But Yamato was certainly growing into a need for his own, which was a whole other thing.]

Second ... You're looking at it through your lens, and I haven't written a book that'll explain mine correctly.

[Nariko isn't that verbose nor talented, and she can't even use English as her second language as an excuse! Which is just low-key awful. She's just bad at writing, and even speaking her feelings half the time ... Should she try to explain it somehow, though? Nariko moves away to look up at him, asking the question without words.]

[generalflirt]

Mmm. If anything, when I was young I benefited from the fact that Yori-san was already a bit older then. I don't think she minded the signs and as Alphas go, as a kid, I didn't think of her as being so dominant.

[ Which... maybe she was, and maybe she wasn't. He's not really sure either way at this point, though he suspects the likes of Basara could explain it a little better. Or the aforementioned Linda. For his part though, the book.. man, he's glad he did that for many reasons, but it's still a little bit embarrassing. ] It wasn't even that well written.

[ That said, he makes a little hand motion as if encouraging her to try, if she wants. ]

[gunslingerqueen]

[They've been together for the length of a human's life and he still gets embarrassed like that. Amazing. For his troubles, Masaomi has earned a kiss to one cheek.]

It was beautifully written, thank you very much, and I'll love it nearly as much as I love you. [She is not making it any less embarrassing, oops!] Besides, it's something that helped me understand you in the right, fundamental way. If you hadn't written it I think we'd still be a mess, and I'd still think you'd be just fine if I died in a corner somewhere.

[Anyway.]

You remember when I mentioned getting a separate house, right? And there was a whole image and series of things connected to that?

[generalflirt]

[ He is actually more than a little bit offended that she could ever think that, and almost says as much, but he's glad she kisses him, and he tries to focus on the question at hand.

Okay. ]

I do, I do.