[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]

[ 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. ]

[gunslingerqueen]

Audrey wasn't as dedicated as usual, but considering all the changes in her life it's not surprising. She finished with straight As. I know she made a whole big deal about that 'break' deal but I really do wonder if everyone should go a little easier on her. She's trying to go for a really impressive university, after all.

[Much closer than Junko's goal, but barely any less prestigious. That's a side detail though. Even thinking of Yamato in this context ... She gains an expression that can only be described as 'vexed'.]

I think Yamato is still at the stage where thinks I don't know how shitty it ended up. I mean, he passed but nosediving from As and Bs to Cs and Ds is just awful. He's smarter than that.

[generalflirt]

Mmm yeah. Even averaging where we were at around his age, it should be Bs.

[ ... Though that expression's interesting, like she couldn't think of him as a student? Or maybe- actually, no, he'll just ask, even if he's not sure she can answer. He slides into the bathtub opposite side form her, and when he does that he asks, ]

What's with the face?

[gunslingerqueen]

I don't know if it's exactly right of me to get on him about his grades.

[It's something she absolutely would have done as his mother, as someone looking out for his direct future, but now she's Yamato's mate. And while it's certainly true that she can get on Masaomi about certain things ('Please don't forget this debate for Junko we have to go to', 'Koji's soccer final', etc) but that was an Old Married Couple aspect of their relationship that had developed with time. Yamato was much younger, and it could be said they didn't exactly have that same atmosphere.]

It's not fair to leave it to Junko, she's younger than him, and it's not her responsibility to take on the things I'm having trouble figuring out.

[But goodness knew the girl would try, biting off more than she was ever meant to chew, just like her father.]

[generalflirt]

[ Mmm ] It's sad that my first instinct is to say "let's get Sully or Ada on it," but really, that's less to do with my being his dad than it is to do with not wanting to be a hypocrite. Like I said, other than languages, Yamato's probably a better student than I was at his age even now. After all, on top of all that he's got his tennis. One of the big regional qualifiers is sometime next month, right? He should have heard or being hearing about if he placed, based on all the small tournaments he's gone to before now...

[ And now he feels a growing sense of guilt, about if he should have been there for more of those. Of course it was impossible for the last month, when several of them would have been, but even so, he lets out a long exhale as he slides down in the tub, looking at her seriously and trying to confront this topic head on, Even if it is a little unfair.

So she really didn't think of him as a son anymore? That's so strange. ]