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

But as long as everyone's helping me, I might as well at least make sure the furniture placement is cool. Not that Nariko wouldn't make sure it was great, but I don't want to have to rely on her like that or call people back over again when I notic something is out of whack. ]

You didn't spook that Tom guy too, much, did you?

[ . . . And there, Yamato finished it! ... Now he needs to savor his juice ]

Nah, I think he sees way worse than this.

[Audrey's sure he might be concerned, of course, but Tom's got a night job which seems to require a good bit of intimidation. That's not a dude who is going to have a fit over an overgrown, angry paper cut. But Yamato gets a kiss to his cheek very quickly.] Thanks, Yamato!

[Junko goes back to her seat, this time leaning on the island with both arms.] There's probably someone in every room about now, so it wouldn't hurt to go take a look.

[Make adjustments, asses things ... Take a break from the endless contact??]

[ Nathan looks at Junko curiously, and then glances at the two others in the room in turn, and then over at this bottle of pills. And then back at Junko.

Maybe he should set off to meet more of them. He's not met... Sullivan, Octavio, Joshua, Olivia, Tom, and only bare my Veronica of who was listed. (and Lana but she wasn't here, right? ) And of course, it wouldn't (probably wouldn't) kill him to confront Masaomi and... Nariko... as well as that last kid Koji. All in all, it's a fair suggestion and he half wonders if it's because the kids want privacy. Nathan makes a noise of assurance and nods ]

Yeah, probably not... After all, I'm the one playing host here! Well, mostly. [ That said he-

Meanwhile, Yamato blushes a bit at the kiss (of all things) because it shows him acknowledgement. He puts away what's left of the first aide kit, and then turns to his juice, finally just deciding to down it in one, acidic, gulp. After all, it's mostly cold now. And then he blinks and- ]

I've got to go back and help Nariko [ Nariko? ] so uh- see you guys later! Love you guys! Nice to see you Nathan? Uh... W-well. Later.

[ That was pretty much the worst outro ever. But he remembered that his mate wanted him to help with something, so naturally, he's going to run, waving and smiling in a sloppy way as he goes, leaving behind the mostly empty juice cup and the first aide kit. Nathan just stares at where the tall kid was for a long moment and then glances at Junko like "what the hell was that?" before realizing he did it. And then turns back to Audrey. ]

Anyway, Audrey, nice to meet you for real now, and thanks for the help moving me in.

[ And he offers her a hand shake because that seems polite ]

[Yamato probably should get back to his mate anyway since she's probably laid out on a floor and groaning at her own nausea. But Junko doesn't need privacy, it just seems like Nathan either really should greet everyone else or just admit he's not up to all this contact. Either way, she's the one to pick up Yamato's glass and begin to wash it out and she'll return the first aid kit to one of the bathrooms if she can't deduce which one he actually took it from.]

No problem! And don't worry about seeing everyone else, they're all very chill.

[... Okay, that's an awful description for Sully but, eh, whatever!]

Call us if you need anything. [And that's Junko, helpful as ever while she double checks Yamato's work.

So!!! Time to head off and meet people including maybe Veronica and Nariko? Or just heading off to Veronica, who will be there for the actual housewarming later since she isn't currently around!]

[ Well... that's urging him to leave if anything else, isn't it? And so, Nathan takes up the first aide kit so that he can move it back to where he's pretty sure this was taken from. It'll be the main bathroom, right? Or one or the other ones. This one was two bedrooms, three bathrooms, so it's not like there's a ton of options. As compared to the house they were used to, this was tiny, even if it it was somewhat bigger than the hotel suites he was used to.

And so he waves them off, and sets out.

En route to th first bathroom he meets Sullivan, and shakes the man's hand, has a quick chat, and moves past him. But no, the first aide kit is there in that bathroom, so onto the second floor one which isn't the master bathroom.. ]

[Yes, it is urging him to go and get it all over with in the hopes that it will help Nathan feel more comfortable. That, and Audrey's ovaries might need calming down.

In the second floor bedroom is one Veronica, who apparently abandoned her dining room post at one point or another, and is currently looking at her phone with an incredibly anxious expression. The chances that she felt incredibly sick and wanted to be away from all the noise that seems to come with moving boxes and furniture and even the littlest thing are incredibly high. When Nathan comes in, though, her big eyes are a little wet.]

Oh, hey!

[The cheerful greeting doesn't match her very worried expression.]

[ No... it does not. Not at all, really. Nathan wasn't fully ignorant. After all, he put the pills back in his pocket to slip them into the master bathroom when he gets there and right now he's carrying them in his pocket and the first aide kit in his left hand. Still, a crying girl? That's...

Not what he expected to see.

Not really at all, honestly. Caught in a strange and sickly crossroads, Nathan shifts his weight from one foot to the other, puts on a smile, and walks into the bathroom past her ] I was checking to see where the first aide kit goes and getting a sense for how it's all gone. [ A beat, and ] Veronica, right? I'm Nathan.

[ Again. ]

Right.

[To her credit she's very good about cleaning herself up, quickly wiping away any semblance of tears and getting up from the bed.] Sorry! I was winding myself up about stuff again and I just sort of ducked in here!

[As it turns out being knocked up is pretty fucking scary, but she isn't going to get into that just yet. She's doesn't say anything as he goes into the bathroom and, in fact, she only speaks again when she's sure he's put away the kit.] Hey Mr. Nathan, can I ask you a weird question?

[Maybe it's a little more right to ask her Alpha or Nathan or even Yamato but ...]

[ The kit, as it turns out, does belong in there. The pills do not because his master bedroom is one the first floor. He went into the main bathroom off the foyer first. Oh well, he'll go there next. But right now, the man looks somewhat surprised at her a moment and then gives her a soft smile, breaking the distance between them and, well...

Family, right? He puts a hand on her shoulder and, ]

Sure, let's hear it! I'll help if I can.

[She's immediately comforted despite the simple and very obvious fact that she doesn't know a single thing about Nathan and he doesn't know her either. But she had overheard a lot of the conversation before Emily and Ada left, so ...]

When did you ... Know that you really cared about family more than anything else?

[She wants to replace 'family' with 'having a baby' but it feels like too much.]

Is it always that way or does it happen over time or am I already supposed to feel like I can handle this or - [She's rambling again, which is a lot for anyone who isn't Koji, so Veronica stops and takes a deep breathe.]

[ How did he know that -- no, just when. He holds himself together by breathing in deeper, and wishes for the tenth time or so today that he had managed his facial hair better because he looks way too scruffy now. The taller man squeezes her shoulder without really noticing that he did that, and he smiles, ]

W-well, when I was like seven, honestly. But that's because... [ ... ] Nariko was really important to me, the best person in my life. Also, I happened to see a lot of Disney movies, so, you know. [ A shrug, and then somewhat more seriously, ]

But hey, it happens to everyone different, and handling something's often... well, a lot different than wanting it. [ Case and point, him.

... That said, Koji is wandering down the hall towards the room and hears Veronica's voice... ]

That makes sense.

[A lot of sense, actually because it means that she can be happy about being pregnant but not feel so awful about struggling with the reality of it. Veronica nods, sniffles and then takes a very deep breathe, cheering up nearly as quickly as she had fallen apart. You'd think that might be a hormone thing but it's a normal, Veronica thing.] Even though it's going to be really hard ... I'm still happy. I'm going to have a baby that's made up of Koji and I.

[Even saying it puts a smile on her face.] You have Nariko, and Koji has Junko and Yamato ... Everyone has all of these relationship that help them, and I've just always been alone.

[She'd been one of the younger teenagers in her pack, actually, most all of them were starting new careers.] I just don't want to be bad at it.

[ . . . Did Nariko or her husband - mate - know? ... Did anyone else? They had to, right? It's not like he would be the first to know this, right? Nathan thinks that immediately, and then blinks before despite the fact that she's so young, he starts to jump a little and get excited. A baby, huh? That always deserves to be excited! ]

Oh, that's great, congratulati--- oh!

[ And he was then shoved aside by Koji. ... Well, as much as a boy a foot shorter can shove a grown man. Koji looks hard at Veronica, and then wraps an arm around her with little warning, and before Nathan can do much more and collect himself to standing, the small boy who snuck in unexpectedly kisses her ]

[She's ready to smile through the congratulations, mostly because she suddenly realized he wouldn't know that everyone was aware of her pregnancy and no one had a problem with it. But then, uh, Koji ... Appears. Sort of like a very versatile Batman. Or maybe Damien Wayne.]

What -

[To Nathan's credit Veronica doesn't get out more than a word before she's being kissed and that seems like a good idea? So she goes with it, immediately relaxing against him even if that's not the best idea.

Sorry new uncle, you're okay though, right? Good.]

[ So like, he was just sidelined and shoved in his own house by a short kid? Junko did warn that Koji was different, though, so maybe it shouldn't be surprising. He crosses his arms and decides to let them just kiss for a moment - after all, they're having a baby, right? Even if they are way too young for it and he's not sure who else knows, it is sweet and warms his heart through whatever other worries he has.

But then it lasts a bit more... and a bit more...

And if he's meant to be the new Uncle, then he might as well - walks over to both of them, put a hand on both of their heads in the midst of the kiss, and ruffle both of their hair. And Koji, for his part, is interrupted from how he intended to brush his hand over her stomach to swat at the hand, and frowns a little at Nathan's teasing ]

Aww, look at you two lovebirds, that's adorable.

[Did you think Junko was kidding, dude? That's not how she operates.

This is definitely a kiss that's destined to have it's own life expectancy. For all of her talking Veronica's kind of relieved that she has an excuse not to do it, even if she is also a little concerned with how much Koji would have heard. She's already settled her arms around his middle, she gets out a little noise because her boobs are starting to feel bigger and more sensitive now but that head ruffling thing kind of ruins the vague hint of Jasmine that was building directly between them. Buuut she ignores it for a little while longer to continue making out.]

I'm sorry.

[Whenever they do part that's all she says, and it's pretty much just for Koji. She'll be polite to Nathan in a second, dude's gotta wait when her mate is here.]

[ That hint of Jasmine, the subtle shifts in her body and how she moves, how she sounds. Koji can pick all of them up easily, and even if he was distinctly more distracted by the brush on his head by his tall uncle (jerk) he swats the hand and focuses right back on Veronica. The boy briefly feels stupid, not being sure what she's apologizing for, but then brushes it aside. Even if he doesn't, he'll just figure it out later, who cares?

Instead, he brings the swatting hand down her sides and rests it over her belly, the other around her upper waist and shoulders ]

You feel hot.

[ Was that physical or metaphorical? Who knows.

... Nathan sure doesn't. As he takes his hands back to himself. ]

Really? [She doesn't actually sound surprised to hear it.] I don't feel well.

[But on top of that she's also verging on awkwardly horny and actually has been all day. It's entirely possible that the strain of remaining composed at entirely devoid of any signs of arousal hasn't been helping morning-turned-afternoon sickness or the endless fatigue. Yay, more than eight weeks in!!

But that's what she was apologizing for: Not feeling well, not saying anything, and getting so wound up.]

[ . . . Well. Nathan is third wheel here, but, he chimes in, ]

It's important to stay hydrated, and it's also likely that smelling something fresh should help. Like, you could look for the scent of lemons. I don't think I have any in my fridge, but it's not like someone couldn't run out and get something.

[ Koji...

Ignores him... And he snorts, brushing her stomach again and knocking his lips against her own. ]

Suck your tits later, babe.

[ Nathan mouths "or that." ]

Thank you.

[She puts her hand over his on her stomach and smiles, looks a little lighter and less bothered.] Do you think Emily would get me something with mint in it?

[Veronica looks up at Nathan as if apologizing for a trait he can't help, but,] I don't like lemons, but mint is alright. That should work, right? I'm sorry I'm being such an awful houseguest, I finished the silverware, though!

[She has no idea why Koji is totally ignoring his uncle but Veronica doesn't want to be rude in someone else's house.]

[ Koji was only ignoring him because you were! Focusing hard on you. But when she deigns to acknowledge the other, while he keeps a hand over her stomach and remains close to her, maybe even loosely in her arms, he focuses hard on his uncle, giving a little wave and... ]

I'm sorry to ask so much of a pregnant woman. Besides, you guys are the one helping me out, and family or not, it's still... you know, something. It's something that you guys are helping me and Koji, right? I'm your uncle.

[ Koji hums a bit and- ] Hey - nice to meet you.

[ . . . ]

I'm sure Emily will get some mint.

No, it's okay! I wanted to help, and I didn't think it would be such a big deal, this is only a few months in! [Veronica was under some misunderstanding that the first four months didn't really count and you were able to do everything normally until the fifth!] I have to keep doing stuff normally, right? [.... No.] And I wanted to meet you too, but it does seem like I might have pushed it.

[Which leads right into her next point:] Do you mind if I lie down? I think Ada has mints in her bag but I don't know where she is.

[And Koji isn't allowed to leave her side. If he tries she'll pretty much dig her claws right in.]

[ This is the guest room. And even if it wasn't... well. ]

No, no, please feel free. I'll even go find Ada for you.

[ So first Emily was buying mints, and now he was finding Ada's mints for them. He watches as Koji seems to slide closer to Veronica even as he answers. He's surprised at how this is his introduction to the boy.

Oh well. ]

If you're pregnant, you really should take it easy anyway.

[Veronica is more than happy to sidle right up to Koji with zero intention of ever letting go, she's ... Probably going to get on the bed and whine until Koji joins her or something. Not that it would take much, if at all at this rate.]

Thank you so much, seriously! You're the sweetest.

[And when he mentions her activity level, well, Veronica has the sense to look a bit guilty.] I think you're right, I guess I just thought I could do a little more. I'll be careful from now on.

[No she will not be, but not for lack of trying. This will be the first time in her life that she's been forced to slow down for a very serious reason which might yield awful consequences that her stubbornness won't be able to solve. But ultimately that's her own problem and maybe Koji's problem.]

Right. I'll be right back though, and you watch her for now, Slugger.

[ That was directed at Koji, and grinning, Nathan gives the kid a wink, and one more little brush at the top of his head... and he's pretty sure he saw the small kid mouth "what the fuck" at him before turning back towards his mate and giving her a squeeze.

Nathan though...

Even if he can hear the pills in his pocket, he feels good to have a mission, even if it's a minor one. Okay, so Ada or Emily - Ada would be more obvious if she really has them, but he could just go get mints himse-- oh wait, he doesn't have a car. Oh well, he'll go find Ada or Emily, whichever comes first ]

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oh my god Koji

He's kind of like that

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