[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]

Mmmm. As a man, I'm jealous. [ A beat ] Maybe even a little scared.

[ And he knows neither of those are things he ought to admit, given that he's proposed to impregnate at least two other women in this pack. Was his own situation really that much different from her own given that he warned her ahead of time? Given that he intended to impregnate her first as someone special and sacred?

He leans over the sink a bit, looking at both himself and her in the mirror.

She loves him no matter what... but he shouldn't be unfair to her, or to the kid ]

[gunslingerqueen]

What's there to be scared of?

[She keeps her palm still, but kisses the back of his shoulder. She isn't chiding him for the emotion, it's just a simple, basic question. If he's afraid of something then it's valid, but he'll just keep being afraid if it's not dealt with to some extent or the other.]

I can't say anything about the jealousy, though I can certainly offer my sympathies.

[It isn't as if she won't be jealous of Emily soon enough, and it's definitely not as if she isn't already incredibly jealous, even knowing how much it means to the other woman to be able to trust Masaomi with such a meaningful change.]

[generalflirt]

Honestly, I don't know. [ What was he scared of... ] It's not as if your uterus is a finite resource. ... That came out wrong, and I know it's not true, but you know what I mean.

[ He leans into her a little as he says this, humming and tilting his head to the other side. Why was he scared? He could make some lame jokes to brush past it? It could be better that way, rather than delve into his existential dread. Or maybe he could do that after a joke, and so he considers, ]

Maybe I'm afraid she'll lord over all of my babies.

[gunslingerqueen]

I do.

[Her other arm comes to wrap around him loosely, and she kinds the incredibly specific patch of skin on the curve of his neck that she likes most, kisses and runs her teeth over it. At least Nariko is a creature of habit, if nothing else.]

Do you think I'd let that happen?

[Another even tempered, honest question.]

[generalflirt]

[ Wow, don't ruin his jokes.

That said... ]

Mmm, probably not.

[ He inhales deeply though, that spot - he recognizes it and how she goes for it. ]

[gunslingerqueen]

[Don't use humor as a coping mechanism.]

There you go.

[She's not close enough. There's no way to be close enough and it's driving her a little nuts.]

You're still the king.

[There you go, a weird joke in return.]

[generalflirt]

Maybe, but it's not good for me to boss around babies.

[ He smiles at this, but it's a soft grin, as if he wasn't sure how much spirit to commit to it. He lingers there, looking at both of them in the mirror, and he reaches one hand out to caress the side of her body, not quite pulling her in, but showing his affection, and even touching her stomach ]

[gunslingerqueen]

[She kind of snort-laughs. No, bossing around babies is not a good thing, nor is it entirely possible. Babies tend to scream a lot when you present negative energy.]

My vote is for a bath. My ass hurts too much for anything else.

[He's free of the serious topic for now and she lets her smile show in the mirror. He doesn't have to acknowledge it so blatantly but it's ... Probably good that he does, and she appreciates it.]

[generalflirt]

I love you, and I'll love that girl too.

[ Somehow, it's a girl now, instead of an it. But still, Masaomi squeezes he and finally turns to fact her, wrapping his arms loosely around her. He leans in a little towards her, brushing his nose against her face ]

So the shower's out, huh?

[ He's not sure he can assure her that he won't... well, resent them. But he'll try. ]

[gunslingerqueen]

[It's kind of like him to think it's a girl, so she's hardly surprised. Of course Nariko hopes that he wouldn't resent a child for the actions of their parents, but she and Masaomi have very different parental instincts, and she has a vested interest in not seeing any aspect of her mother in her mate. That'd just be awful. ]

You might have to sell it a little.

[Or not even vaguely, since it's very likely she's just teasing.]

[generalflirt]

Mmm... nah. I'll draw the bath for us.

[ He kisses her, and then slides away to fiddle with the tub, testing the water a few times before just letting it start with it's fill of hot water. He sits up against the edge of it, and clarifies, ]

After all, resting your ass takes priority.

[ Mostly. Maybe. He smiles at her all the same - and it's totally a girl shut up ]

[gunslingerqueen]

[She wouldn't argue it too much! She wants another girl anyway.]

Right, as if you won't go right back to doing whatever you like when the mood strikes you.

[But if the possibility was really that awful she wouldn't sound so lighthearted, nor would she be tying her hair up to try and keep it out of the way.]

[generalflirt]

Well, it's not like you really mind all that much, don't you?

[ He puts a hand on his hip, giving her a little wave of his hand, smirking. He waves her over, even if it'll be a bit until the bath fills up. That said, he sits down on the edge here, smiling and...

Wait, no, he should probably keep playing the stupid game. ]

Emily or Sullivan?

[gunslingerqueen]

Not at all.

[The stinging in her lower back and the ache of her skin is inconsequential, though apparently not enough that she isn't a little concerned that he might be waving her over to sit on his lap or something ridiculous like that. She does come over to him, finishing with her hair.

And that one gets another snort-laugh.]

Emily.

[generalflirt]

Oh wow, really?

[ With an arched eyebrow, questioning her a little! Not to say he doubts it but, still, poor Sully. He doesn't urge her into his lap, just that they'll get in when it fills. Or they could get in before it fills and have it go in around them ]

[gunslingerqueen]

It's really that surprising?

[Going in before is tempting, but she holds off a bit.] It's like if you had to pick between her and Ada, you'd go with Ada, but not because you like Emily any less, per se.

[generalflirt]

Hey, you don't know that.

[ . . .

. . .

. . .

. . . . .. . . .

Yes she does ]

[gunslingerqueen]

[Here, Masaomi, have the most dead panning, deadpan look to ever dead pan in the entire universal history of all coupled (monogamous or mated) women to ever dead pan at their mate/husband/whatever.

It's the Look you deserve right now.]

[generalflirt]

[ He tries to hold her gaze.

He tries to look back flatly.

... But he coils back, defeated. and so, he tries a hail mary ]

Can you blame me?

[ After all, Ada is their oldest packmate and friend! They both love Ada even if Audrey said they were arguing, right?! ... Right... ]

[gunslingerqueen]

[The Look is greatly toned down, it even falls below half of its normal strength, but she can't ... Answer that. It's a lose-lose equation so the only third option is to try and hold out and hope he changes the question. This is the one serious topic she doesn't want to talk about (not that it means she doesn't need to, for a lot of reasons) so sue her if she's trying to passively brush it under the rug right now.

Also, forgive her Masaomi, but Ada is so, so not Nariko's type anymore than Lana is, thank you. She doesn't get the appeal.]

[generalflirt]

[ Honestly even he's not sure where he stands on Lana. Nariko what do you even want in a woman, geez.

That said, he's at an awkward crossroads now, because it's something he might need to arbitrate, but he's also not sure if falls under-- ... No, no. It's his house. It's his pack. It's definitely his business. But does he do it now? No, he won't. At least, not directly. He'll look at the water and- ]

So anything up with everyone else?

[gunslingerqueen]

[Considering that she's 91% heterosexual? Not a whole lot. But if she had to pick a woman it would definitely be one like Emily, or along the lines of what Audrey will inevitably be once she hits her mid-twenties/early thirties. Her typeset is just incredibly different than his.

But then, whether she much likes it or not they've fallen into yet another back and forth game. He'd have probably been better off just asking her about it directly.]

Everyone has their ups and downs, the first part of the year is always chaotic, people get stressed.

[generalflirt]

[ He would have, but that would be smart. ... Also he likes Audrey too! ... Well.

Either way, he shakes his head and then waves a finger in the air ]

Yeah, but I've been off the pulse for a month, I ought to figure out what I'm stepping into.

[ So he's hoping to hear what insights she might have, at least in what he needs to address ]

[gunslingerqueen]

It wouldn't hurt to check on Joshua and Olivia. They're very grateful but he'll feel better for having met you officially.

[Look, she can somewhat play along here while delicately getting herself into the bath, which is only a third of the way full.] Tom and Octavio seem just fine last I talked to them, but I'd say always stop in and check on Sullivan. He probably tells you things that he won't tell me.

[Nariko settles herself over the edge nearest him.] Emily's excited to have a baby, but it's gone on long enough that she's also a little scared. Lana's fine too, just waiting for the talk, Junko's made valedictorian again, and Koji is having the time of his life with Veronica.

[Really, if not for one sizable hiccup their lives would be incredibly idyllic and well balanced.]

[generalflirt]

I thought they announced that after -- [ . . . Oh wait, it was February, wasn't it? The semester would be over by now. And so he blinks and then doesn't ask what he means to ask, but instead something related but not really any less urgent . ]

Yamato and Audrey, did they pull through the exams?

[ Junko was worried about them, after all. ]