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

Thank you.

[She is certainly Nariko's daughter because that was a response that would have fit said woman at Junko's age, full of righteous indignation and a little bit of self-consciousness.] Do you mind if I eat some of this? I know it's early but I'm starving.

[You'd think that since she's never met her uncle Junko might be uncomfortable, but for her this is a benefit of pack life: She might not know him personally but he's designated as family so they'll figure it out.] How are you doing? All of this is kind of intense.

[Despite asking she's already spooning pasta salad into the one cup she can find because Junko is goddamn hungry.]

[ He's not sure if he should sit again or not... Oh well, the man sort of shifts from one foot to the other (jangle) and he frowns a little, looking down at his hands and then back at her. She's already eating stuff? He doesn't even think to stop her, instead looking a little bit amused as he takes a half-step back and shrugs ]

I'm dealing - like you said, it's intense. [ A beat ] Don't worry about it though, I won't tell you ate it.

[ If anyone cares.

Fuck him both of those answers were a little vague ]

Doesn't that actually mean you're not doing well at all?

[He does get an approving smile for not ratting her out. Audrey really would kind of throw a fit if she found out Junko ate before everyone else, though no one is trying to make anyone starve around here. Junko's just being a little lazy, ultimately.]

If you need space or whatever you have to say something. Everyone's really nice but we can be a suffocating lot. [Well, maybe that's just more Junko and Nariko??? Well, maybe Octavio, too ...]

Isn't that supposed to be a character flaw that suffocating people don't realize they have?

[ That's said with good humor, but he's actually thinking of his sister as he says it. He would never, never say a bad word against her. But at the same time, it's not like he wasn't aware of how overwhelming she could be, and that while ultimately it was his fault, he fell into that hole because of all the attention she paid him all their childhood. He takes a step forward and leans his elbows on the counter. ]

But no, no, you don't need to read into it that much [ (jangle) ] I can't just say "oh I need space" the minute I'm meeting my niece.

Generally, but there's a lot of self-awareness around here.

[Guiltless suffocating! And her mom is definitely on that list, she's well aware of how overbearing she can be and if it's justified there's no apology, but otherwise she makes an attempt to tone it down. Who knows if that'll be the case now that they're adults, though.]

I'm sorry uncle Nathan, but I read into everything. That's my character flaw. [Munch, much.] Well, if you're not going to say that, can I ask why you keep making noise when you move?

[Even car or house keys aren't usually that rattle-y.]

[ Uncle Nathan...

God it's gross how that phrase makes him shiver somewhere deep inside, and he's genuinely unable to identify if it's with pleasure or disgust or even some other emotion he wouldn't want to qualify. Why would he even feel disgust though? He wanted a family. He wants a family. He is so in love with the idea that he can have a real relationship with his nieces and nephews. The man smiles at her, as if to say "it's okay" and then rummages into his pocket to produce the pill bottle (which is not unmarked, but the marks on it show he's reusing a niquil container for something obviously not that and setting it on the counter. ]

Just these. I didn't really want to set them down anywhere and I've just been carrying them all day.

[ Not like she'll know what they are anyway, right? Right. ]

I see.

[She might recognize them if not for how deeply colored those containers were, but there's no sense of recognition in Junko's eyes when she looks at the bottle. In fact, she nods as if she totally gets it (and of course she doesn't).] Your main bathroom should be done soon, I think Audrey wanted help putting up the medicine cabinet, actually. It's probably easy to lose important stuff like that.

[Junko, trusting as she is when it comes to her family, figures he probably needs them for some reason or another and just doesn't want to lose them - it doesn't even occur to her to ask why he feels the need to carry those specific pills.]

So ... [She bites her lip a bit, considers how to word this:] I mean, mom said you were pretty excited to meet us all so, got any questions? Should we hug?

[Or something?]

Oh. [ He didn't necessarily want Nariko to see these but. But whatever, he's carrying them around as a sad monument both to his failed relationship and to his twisted libido. So he flicks the case once on the counter before turning to her with some surprise. Audrey was... the other one her age, right? Well, other than the one which looked a little like Ada. ] I'll go up and help her in a bit then.

[ He should be doing more anyway...

... Oh. Nariko said- he- ]

Not if you don't want to. [ A beat ] Your Uncle Nathan's a pretty hug-y sort of guy yeah but I was a teenager once and I know not everyone's all into that, particularly for adults they really just met.

[ Questions? Oh, he's got them. He doesn't even know how he should stand with her, so he pushes off the counter and walks over to right in front of her, grinning ]

[They've probably got it and Nathan shouldn't worry about it but Junko decides against saying so. It's a bit surprising when he just comes right on over but she wouldn't have offered it wasn't okay, so her cup of salad gets set down and she shakes her head.]

That's more Koji's perspective, and Yamato just has to feel comfortable first. [But Junko actually really likes hugs and obnoxious amounts of cuddling - especially since Rin. So her arms open easily - bring it in, Nathan.

But also know you're hug skills and decorum are being judged.]

[ Hey come on, he's classy.

... But right now, he's being welcomed by her. And sure, it's abrupt, and sure it might even be a little bit artificial, but he can't help but smile, a little softer, at the fluttering feeling he gets in his heart. The man smiles, wishing that he had shaved a little bit better a day or two ago before getting on the plane and takes a step forward, wrapping his arms around her. He tries to do this firm, crouching a little to account for their height difference (he almost half a foot taller than her dad, who in turn had almost half a foot on her) and breathes in deep as he does.

He feels a little better ]

Ohh, I've always wanted to meet you guys.

[It does seem like a very classy hug, she immediately gives him a baseline B-, it goes up a little more when he tries to deal with their height difference. Junko squeezes gently, and if she tucks her head in right it's sort of like she fits, which is usually the result given her height and the petite frame, giant knockers aside. Yes, this is a good hug.]

And now we're here.

[It lasts for an appropriate amount of time, of course. When she knows him a little better it'll be less creepy to keep going. For now Junko just naturally half steps away, though her arms are still a little loose around him.]

You'll like Yamato, he's awkward and socially aware and fun. Koji seems like the usual teenage asshole, but he's actually really perceptive and aware.

[ Honestly he was ready - for her, not him! - to break the contact entirely. He's mildly surprised when she wants to remain in the loose embrace. It's enough that-- oh fuck man come on, he can't start to cry now. Not for any sort of macho reason, but that the whole being overwhelmed by a somewhat forced hug is so not a great second impression after being drunk coming off a plane, even if he had been able to walk start and speak without slurring. And so he steps back too, smiling down at her as he set his own arms for her shoulders, lightly, and stood up straight again. ]

I know I'm going to love all you guys. I mean just look at you, listen to you. It's... it's really great to be here, I'm so happy for it.

[His hands feel kind of big, whether that's because they are or Junko's just that small in comparison is up for debate.]

Mom was right, you really are nice. [Because even if he doesn't actually cry and even though Junko is not psychic and has no indication of that specific action he has that ... Feeling. It was a gesture that impacted him in some way even though it was so simple and so completely easy for her to give. Yamato used to be like that.]

I'm glad. Sometimes I thought she had nostalgia glasses on.

[ Nariko called him nice. Nariko called him nice and has nostalgia for him which was positive. At the funeral, he'd ... well, he's confirmed that. Putting aside the situation and her "mate" they had gotten along... more or less. But if she's spreading these positive messages to her packmates, to her children, then that's something else entirely. To hear it out of the mouth of someone else was a strange sort of validation that Nathan never really expected to have, and the whole "don't cry" thing ends up being violated as his fingers sort of dig into the fabric on her top and he finds himself choking down a little sob and sniffle.

Yeah, yeah.

His eyes totally teared up at that, man. ]

I'm so glad I'm here now.

[Man, she has to wonder how Yamato is going to take this dude because he really is a bit sensitive, isn't he? It's not bad, but it's a surprise from someone so tall, a guy who seems physically capable enough. Junko has to stand up on her tiptoes to manage it but she traces her thumb just under the curve of his eye.]

Good! Because we're glad you're here too!

[He's really much better off just letting his feelings out at this rate, right?]

[ That's...

That's...

Deep breath in, deep breath out. ]

Thank you, thank you...

[ Okay, good, he's not going to freeze up, but she was seriously wiping his tears on top of everything? Man that was a bad first impression, wasn't it? Second? Second impression. He pulls his hands off her shoulders, even if he's regretful to not touch her anymore and uses his sleeve to finish wiping his eyes,. But then he looks down at her and, ]

So what do you like to do, Junko? Promise to spoil you as best I can.

[It's a fine enough impression! He's a sensitive dude whose probably incredibly stressed by the move and other shit that might be going on in his life! She's half convinced he's probably a power bottom or something like that but hey, everyone can be what makes them happy! Junko isn't a prude anymore! But he looks like he wants to let it go, so they do! And she goes back to the food.]

I started learning how to embroider, which is boring for everyone but me. [And she knows it is, although Audrey got a kick out of her 'You're a Bitch' embroidered pillow! So that was nice.] I like antiquing, cute clothes, watches, and indie video games. [And that's why no one expects her to play generic shooters with her brother.]

And sex. But, y'know [A hand wave that's meant to say teenager.] Also, school.

[She'd tell him to not spoil her but there's not a lot Junko can be spoiled with.]

Get out of here, you're telling me you like school?

[ He thought that was his deal! Nariko... well Nariko was always smart and she had some friends which pushed her for school. But when she discovered sex she just had no time for it all. Both of them enjoyed being out of the house, but it's still not something he's sure his sister would have listed on a list of likes when she was Junko's age. Sex was, but she might not have said it to an adult. The combination of both makes him blink, but he leans back up against the counter as he processes the list.

Video games...

He never got into those. He suspects, ultimately, it's his mother's influence. Cute clothes and watches? Well, he can try ]

You really are making it hard on the spoil front here, kiddo.

[ He shouldn't try to project an age difference on her. There was on, a fairly significant one, but she was a teenager and probably a legal adult. ]

My goal in life is to cure awful diseases. Liking school is a basic prerequisite to such a big goal.

[Junko's love for school is a mirror of what Nariko would have likely felt if she'd, y'know, been in a stable home. Of course Nariko would have wanted to do something in Mathematics where Junko is pure Science, but still. It's a similarity that Junko unwittingly shares in a broad sense.]

You shouldn't spoil me anyway, so I can't complain about that too much.

[This is not true, she actually loves shopping sprees but is not selfish enough to admit it. And, anyway, isn't Nathan near her mom and dad's age? Junko will be a legal adult in a small while but Nathan's still got more general life experience so there's no need to feel insulted.]

[ Well he is Nariko's younger brother. If anything, he's closer to Rin's age. Or well, a midpoint between those two age brackets at more or less thirty-five. That said, he nods along with her. ]

Oh, that's pretty badass. Makes sense too, doesn't it? [ Nathan looks somewhat nostalgically around his kitchen, the one he's only barely familiar with, but which he sees through into a time when Nariko was young, and he looked up at her ]

But come on, I'm Mr. Estranged Uncle, it's pretty much my job to spoil you and your brothers are least for a year.

[Anyone above 34 is old enough to qualify for egregious life experience, mostly because Junko will be the type of woman who gets to 30 and thinks her life is falling apart, so. There's that.]

Please don't spoil Koji, there's a reason we call him a little shit as it is. He'll try to take complete advantage and you shouldn't let him! Yamato should be fine, though.

[At the very least she can trust that if her older brother does make a request it'll probably be reasonable. Of course the chances of him doing that as Nariko's mate, to the brother whom she loved so thoroughly that it didn't seem at all platonic ... Well.]

If you're still looking to spoil someone by the time you've figured out everything with your job, I'm sure I can have something put together by then.

[And it'll be awful, like asking for ten thousand mechanical pencils.]

Hey, you don't need to worry about me and my job and money, let me worry about that. [ Honestly, he still has a huge inheritance from the funeral, one he's done very little with other than pick up this house and the associated furniture, which dented it, but not severely. Unlike Nariko, he didn't split it several ways, so his is ... substantial.

No ned to play that up though, he hasn't thus far. ]

But I'll take you up on that regardless. [ A beat ] But come on, I came over to meet him too!

I always worry.

[It's like when the Hulk said he was always angry, except less cool.]

And, I know, but I'm just trying to warn you ahead of time! My brothers are unique people.

[That's the best way to put it. Speaking of which, where were those two anyway???]

[ Way less cool. And it makes him worry a little, worry enough that he brushes the top of her head with a smile, trying to assure her that there's no need to worry! None at all! ]

Isn't everyone supposed to be unique?

[ Koji and Yamato were involved with the moving - Yamato himself was helping with the heavy lifting as someone who is pretty tall, and Koji... was trying to avoid doing anything. Case and point, having been dismissed from his post of "vaguely near Joshua" he now is walking into the kitchen with his hands in his pockets.

Hoping neither of them notice him.

He was here for a drink, they had juice or something in here right? ]

[Everyone is unique but Koji and Yamato are unique. And really if Koji doesn't want to do anything he should linger around Veronica, she's literally just unpacking kitchen stuff and doing it as slowly as possible because ... She doesn't want to do anything more than that ....

But how can Junko not notice her brother? He's too fucking tall and he sort of skulks in and goes for the fridge without even saying hi to her!]

Hello to you, too.

[You doomed yourself by trying to be innocuous, bro.]

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So I rolled a dice to see who would show up.

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