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

[(Literally no one, bless those two)

Whatever it is, Ada's got Ariel and she looks up from the baby girl when Nathan comes in.]

Well, hello again.

[You can have all the stealthy tactics in the world and Ada will still be able to catch you, she's just that good. And also literally the ex/mate of a drug lord, a life which results in a fuckton of unexpected skills and abilities that accrue over time.]

You haven't met Joshua yet, have you?

[In her arms, Ariel waves her tiny arms towards Nathan.]

Nooo, no I have not. [ And he sees...

Joshua sitting in the chair he brought up. It's a nice armchair but not one he had in Rome, so ... he didn't pick that one out, so Masaomi and/or Nariko did. The burly man is sweating a little, and the fourteeen year old in the room had been fanning him, perhaps a little bit sarcastically. But when Nathan comes in the room, Olivia stood at attention, scooted back a step, and bit her lip.

Fucking fuck fuck fuck - why is that family so hot all the time? Fuck.

Joshua, though, smiles at Nathan, makes to stand, and only doesn't because Nathan waves a hand to push him down ] Don't worry. You're the one doing the lifting here, and I'm Nathan. It's nice to meet you, Joshua. [ He offers a hand with a smile, which the other takes, giving a firm grip back ]

Pleasure to meet you too, your sister's done the world for me until now, so it's the least I can do. [ He says this earnestly, and with a somewhat gruff voice.

Nathan looks over at Olivia and- ] Hello-

[ She interrupts ] Hello, I'm Olivia! It's nice to beat you too! -- Fuck, no, I meant meet you. Fuck me.

[ . . . Well. Nathan is about to say something before Joshua turns to her and gives her a scolding look ]

[Ada doesn't flinch at Olivia's little faux pas there, but Joshua does make her smile a bit. She'd been a little worried about how Joshua might feel about their Alpha's mate, but maybe some of her fears had been ridiculous.]

Is everything alright? You look worried.

[Rather, he looks nominally tenser than he did beforehand, so she feels comfortable taking a stab in the dark here. That and Nathan didn't need to mind Olivia too much, though Ada might make getting the poor child laid a priority at this rate. Nathan wasn't even that attractive.]

[ Olivia whispers something to the effect of "Well I didn't mean literally" to her father before going off to skulk in a corner, crossing her arms, but the whole time trying to shake her stick figure hips as if that'll accomplish anything. Nathan doesn't watch her, instead looking over at Ada and the baby, waving and giving Ariel a smile. He considers reaching out to her, but... nah. Joshua himself just runs a hand over his face.

Man that's... should he apologize? He should, right? Probably... ]

Veronica was feeling a little under the weather, and so I thought a strong smell might help. Usually it's supposed to be lemon, [ Based on what he read ] But I figured mint should work just as well. She thought you had some stronger mints on you.

Oh, I was hoping that would stop.

[It wasn't as if she hadn't noticed, but it hadn't seemed entirely right to go shoving remedies on a girl that didn't know that her mother was right there. So Ada had brought ... A number of things, actually. That Veronica knew about it all wasn't coincidence by any means.]

The first trimester is always awful. [She juggles Ariel on one hip while she finds her purse and digs through it, pulling out a handful of those ever popular red and white, hard mint candies.] She's probably going to feel like shit for the rest of the day and need a lot of water. Is Koji with her? Or Nariko? I would feel better if someone was with her.

[Take the mints, Nathan, there's enough to make you sound like shrink wrap when you walk.] I know we're not completely finished yet, but would you please tell her to stop for the rest of the day? She won't listen to anyone else.

[That's not true, Veronica would obey Koji in less than instant! But a mother doesn't want to think that an arrogant kid has more sway over her daughter than herself, so.]

Koji's with her, [ He assures the woman first, taking the mints in hand, jangling them, and thne puts him in his pocket. The clink against his own pill case he has yet to get rid of, but ... well, guys have deep pockets. Between only those two items in there and his wallet in his back pocket and the cell phone in the other pocket, it's not like he's in any danger of things falling out, just a bit of a weird bulging in the one with pills and mints ] He seemed uh... sweet.

[ On her? towards her? No matter which he means, he can't help but notice that Joshau bit back a snort at that. And Nathan's cheeks color, briefly looking confused before he shakes his head and nods ]

I told her to lay down, but I might get her some water too.

[ That said, he... Joshua steps in now, reaching out to try to take Ariel back from Ada as long as she's having the conversation and/or digging for more things. ] I'll hold my girl, come on.

Koji is about as sweet as a hungover porcupine if Veronica isn't around.

[Which makes sense, the kid's fifteen and very much his age, but Ada won't create any illusions about his behavior. She thanks Joshua and gives him an apologetic look since she's been holding Ariel so that he could rest.]

Thank you for being concerned with her [And this is how Nathan wins points.] water would be great. What would be better is if she goes home and takes a nap, but ... [She waves a hand and mutters the blood of my family is made up of stubbornness in Italian, which only Nathan is likely to understand given where he's been for the last few years. She doesn't even think about it.]

This, too. It sort of works like Vicks. [He's also handed a little vial of oil and that should be the last of Magical Things that come out of her purse.]

[ Oh he's still resting if he's with good company. Besides, he is sitting now and a somewhat excited but ultimately just lightly cooing baby isn't a real problem. Ariel still glances over at Nathan and Ada, mostly because they are still making noises, but when her father sticks his tongue out at her and makes a blowing noise through the beard, she focuses on him, making curious baby sounds.

Nathan, though, laughs a little at the Koji quip and, ] Still probably good for a father to be sweet on the mother. Could just be me talking there. [ That said... yes, he does speak Italian fluently and follows what she says there, narrowing his eyes slightly with an obvious moment of recognition, but choosing not to comment on it. But he does tak up the little vial of oil and...

Puts that in a pocket too. Man, his pants are going to sag like this. He should really just carry them, but what are pockets for if not to hold things? He grabs his belt slightly as if that'll make it tighter (or it need to be) and nods ]

See now I just feel bad to have been responsible for her being out here in the first place. Well, sort of - that's a passing the buck on my part but a host can't help but feel a little guilt.

[ Joshua speaks up to this, over the baby, ]

Naw, we volunteered.

[... He has a point there, as much as Ada doesn't want to admit it. Of course she doesn't know the entirety of the story but if Koji is specifically looking out for Veronica then that's - A good sign. But while Ada wrestles with that she zips her purse back she capitalizes on what Joshua has said.]

He's right. And like he said, Nariko's done a lot for everyone in this house, helping a part of her is the most natural response.

[She shakes her head.] Besides, I should have convinced her to stay home, but I suppose she's too helpful for her own good.

[So very much like her, before everything went to shit.]

Well honestly, if everyone else came here, it might be a bit more lonely at home. I'm only two blocks away here, but if you're feeling bad and dehydrated, then two blocks feels like a lifetime's march. Not that I assume to know anything about pregnancy. Just. I used to have worse asthma so I'm projecting.

[ A beat. ] I never liked being lonely, and I don't think anyone does.

[ Olivia and Joshua are both silent at that, having their own reaction to it, and the sincere way Nathan said it. Olivia might still be sulking in a corner, but Joshua is thinking of his estranged ... mate. ]

[.... Alright, she can bring herself to like Nathan.]

Well, she won't be alone. Even if Koji won't go with her then I'm sure Audrey or Junko will.

[She sounds far more composed than she actually is. Ada could do just fine on her own but she couldn't be alone - not many people could manage that.]

You know, it really is good that you moved. There's so many of us that you'll never have time to feel lonely. [She chuckles.] Especially since Emily was giving you the eye and you've barely met each other.

[Not ... That she's one to talk but, you know. There's no harm in going after it, right? ... Right.]

[ Nathan's face distorts in a strange way here, as if he's not sure if he's glad to hear that, nonplused to hear that, or uncomfortable with that. He's never been against the pack life, not really, and like her told Masaomi all sorts of people find meaning in all sorts of ways of life, so who could hold anyone's choices against each other as long as they were finding the love everyone was looking for. Plus, Emily was attractive, and he was still a man, so... there's that.

But somewhere in the back of his mind, he does the summersault that is thinking of Nariko and how he ought to be hers, feeling guilty about that, denying that he does feel that or the aforementioned guilt related to it, and then deciding that it's that it's too soon after his failed engagement. Or because they're "family" now. Or both.

... Olivia whines in the back of the room. ]

Yeah? I guess that's the real benefit of family -- or, one of them anyway. [ A sheepish look and he corrects himself to respond to her. ] That's good to hear I'm making an impression though, I was a little worried about it all.

I'm sure you'll be fine once you relax.

[He's made up of tension and nerves and something else that Ada wouldn't be able to name without having a real heart-to-heart with him, which she has no real desire for right now. It wouldn't do any good. In a greater sense Ada also knows that even if Emily is his type the dude's not going to go for it, he just doesn't have that air about him. Which is kind of shame but: oh well.]

For now, if you could take those to Veronica ...? I think we're going to be here a while.

[They still had a few more pieces of furniture to arrange so if Nathan wanted to come back and hang out around with her and Joshua and Olivia then, well, it was just fine! But since Ada can't push it with Veronica she does still need all of that delivered.]

[ Relax, huh...

Well, that'd be the day. He really wants to get to the master bedroom below him, but she's right in that these take priority. So he nods and smiles at her ]

I'll get right on that. It's been nice meeting you all and - try to have fun yourselves. [ He isn't sure, but he's pretty sure there's something in how Joshua kind of kept glancing at Ada through most of his and Ada's chat, when he wasn't looking at his baby. Maybe he imagined it...? But he wouldn't mind hanging with them more.

Probably.

Either way, to the guest bedroom where he left Veronica and Koji! ]

[Ada waves, though she might be less friendly if she kew Nathan had realized something that's escaped her attention. She really does hope that he comes back, though. The kid seems like he needs some kind of a support network, frankly.

But in another part of the house Veronica has definitely sidled herself up to Koji on the guest bed. It's a lot easier to lie down, it helps relax some of her nausea and general grossness, but she doesn't want to let go of him anytime soon - it's a weird, baseless fear of being left alone. So while Koji has at least unsurprisingly joined her on the bed she's probably draped all over him, uncaring to the rest of the world, and still residually horny.

Being knocked is incredibly fucking weird and someone was supposed to tell her that.]

[ Koji, for the moment...

Is staring up at nothing in particular. He loves Veronica draping himself all over him and he loves being close to her, but the context is a little different right now and he's actually mildly afraid of releasing his scent now, even if she was horny herself, for fear of her like barfing on him or something. It's that gentleness he always treats her with swooping back over him.

And when Nathan walks in he almost feels like he walked in on something, but- he comes out and shakes the box to declare! ]

Hey, I come baring mint!

[That's an issue unto itself that needs to be worked out, but she figured that Nathan would come back and she was obviously right, so they couldn't exactly talk about it right then and there. She sits up, notably slow about the action, and gets in a smile.]

Thank you!

[She leans over Koji a little bit to take them, immediately working to get one out so it can go into her mouth and hopefully work instantaneously.]

Hey, Nathan - [No, wait, give her a second, this mint tastes unnaturally good right now.] - Was Ada worried?

[ What the fuck is he in the middle of right now? He's not even sure, but Nathan nods, reaching into his other pocker for the oil. ]

She was, just a little - and I'm going to go get you some water too.

[ Koji sits up now, even if he expects Veronica to stop him, he somewhat childishly proclaims, ]

Or I could.

[Well, he's in the middle of a few things at once so Nathan might need to be a little more specific. His answer surprises her, but ultimately it's not a big deal. Whether Ada showed the reaction or not it didn't take away from the overall argument. But Koji kind of fucked himself over with that, because she's a little salty that for once he isn't trying to touch or fuck her! The one time she really needs him to be sexual and he's. Staring at the ceiling.

So when he gives her the opening she doesn't even think twice about taking it.]

Oh, no, it's okay! I want Nathan to get it for me!

[And it's here that she throws the far older man a warm smile while very freely letting out her scent in all of it's incredibly needy glory while she takes the little vial of oil, making sure to create overly long hand contact there.

Should have felt her up, Koji.]

[ Well Koji just didn't want to have her puke everywhere or something because he was having sex with her or being rough. After all, most people don't like to have sex when they feel sick, right? And when Veronica moves like that--

Koji's actually a little annoyed - he had expected her to hold onto him and keep him there if he intended to go and she didn't want her to. But all the same, he should have seen that coming.

Nathan...

Nathan is weak right now, and he didn't see that coming and she's a kid and he doesn't recoil or anything, but... ]

I think everyone's a little concerned about you, and Ada was too. So she gave me this oil too - and... And I'll get you the water.

[Honestly, the guy doesn't even want to pretend at playing ball! What a shame. It's not like Veronica would have actually gone and done anything serious! Nathan is about as off limits as Yamato is, after all, but it would have been much more fun if he at least tried to flirt back a little or gave some non-verbal sign of approval. She's apparently striking out a bit today.]

Alright.

[Fine, fine, she'll be good and lie back down next to Koji while she rolls the candy around in her mouth. If being pregnant keeps people from touching her then this is going to be an awful seven months to get through.]

[ Hey, he -- ... Well, she was young, okay, so he was actively trying not to flirt with her, even if he did get excited by the smell of Jasmine. Koji, for his part, huffs a little and pulls her in closer to him as Nathan makes to walk outside the door. He's both surprised and relieved she didn't try to lay it on more thick.

He's going to at least kiss her several times more here. And he should probably make it clear he was worried about her being sick than anything else. If he remembers to say it... Oh well...

Still, Nathan is out to... the kitchen! Let's go get some water... ]

[You should probably, absolutely do that, Koji, especially since while she is feeling a little nauseous it's really not the extent that she'd be sick! Now, this morning? That would have been the case! But not right now, and especially not with the mint. Bless older people's knowledge of these things.

So while they're up there making out and such, Nathan goes downstairs!

Audrey isn't exactly lingering around the kitchen but we're going to say there's some piece of art or another that needs to be guided into Nathan's home, and Audrey is currently staring at it. She likely sees him on his way back.]

Hey, when you get a second Tom needs to know where to put this!

[ hey, he was worried okay. Barfing on someone isn't sexy for anyone and he's going to make out but probably not suck on tits because Nathan will be right back and she at least would be embarrassed maybe? He's really so soft on her.

But still, now that they are going to the kitchen--

Audrey! Junko must've gone off somewhere else and- Oh. He blinks and is now holding a glass making good for the water and, ]

That... would be - Actually, let me manage this water and I'll be right back, okay? Promise.

[ As he turns the tap ]

[Veronica would probably not even be vaguely embarrassed right now. It's her own fault for being too prideful to admit that she wants to go home and doesn't want to bother with a stupid party or unpacking things or boxes or packing bubbles! She wants to be in Koji's room with his bed and the wind chime she bought for the place since his room has a bigger window than her own!

Ugh.

But in another space, Audrey nods easily though she's a little curious as to why he's getting water for someone other than himself! But if someone was seriously harmed she'd probably know about it.]

No problem, I'll be right here.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

family celebrations and sleep finally replies now

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject