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

[ Nathan as mostly just letting his eyes wander, not really having any objective to it other than to not look at Nariko. If he looked at her right now, in this context, it would no doubt make him... It would make him be irregular, make him be like that again, and he needed to control himself, repress that scent of his somehow. As such, he doesn't actually immediately connect who she's talking about.

They were talking about her kids, which was making him smile, and then that and... Well. In context, he thought she meant someone else. So he looks at her now with a mix of horror and embarrassment as he says, ] What?

[ Softly, but now with total eye contact ]

Emily. [Just in case it wasn't entirely clear.]

I'm not saying it has to be now or whatever. [Irina's nowhere to be found and that's pretty recent, so she isn't trying to imply anything it's just ... He can be around her, around their family, without it being awkward. It's unfair to use Emily as the symbol of that, but still.]

Just - it's possible.

[She would try to let go of him in the right way, since he so clearly didn't want her anymore, and this was an option.]

[ Oh. What the fuck was he even thinking? Of course she wouldn't have meant- (incest...) but on the other hand, he swallows, trying to repress both his twisted scent and his terror in the moment. She didn't want him to be abnormal, she rejected him for being abnormal.

But if she was this abnormal, if they were-

The man groans a little, but then regrets that he did it the moment after he did. He runs a hand down his face more to center himself than anything, and glances back outside. Emily's outside of view now, leaving Tom looking annoyed at the food but trying not to show it and Junko on her cell phone doing something in immediate sight. ]

I mean, you don't need to set me up or anything. [ He didn't mean to say that ] So - don't worry about it, right?

[ He didn't mean to say that either. ]

[...]

Fine, okay.

[Nariko reaches up to rub the back of her neck, run her fingers through her hair - whatever. It seems only right that she somehow lose the right to be his sister, too.]

Well, you're the guest of honor, so you probably shouldn't hide in here all night.

[ . . . He clearly just upset her.

He considers, for a moment, getting up and going out there. Or maybe just getting her husband - sorry, mate - to come in and help her out. Maybe he should go and snog Emily to try to make her feel better? All of those are dumb and irrationally though. So he shakes his head, swallows, and tries to be a good little brother.

( Little brother- ) ]

I'd rather be here with you, Nariko. And... [ He laughs, a bit forced, but, ] I'm the little brother here, so come on, you don't need to listen to me about what you need to do. So set up away, I'll see all the dates!

[ He looks down at his hand now, thinking about... ]

I mean, I'm single for now.

[ He hadn't spelled it out, but it's probably obvious ]

[None of that would really make her feel better thought. Not Emily or even Masaomi or Yamato. Nathan is an issue unto himself, one that precedes Masaomi, which is what makes a lot of this so difficult. She does smile at that little mention but it's pained, that thing which is a dig but isn't meant to be one - I'd rather be here with you. Right.]

I think half the problem was how demanding I was, so - like I said, it's fine. I just worry about you.

[It's more like it drives her completely fucking insane that he'd even think of a woman that isn't her, but. That's not what she's allowed to say.]

Come on.

[She's heading for the glass door because out of the two mates she's got one of them needs to hug her.]

[ > As if he ever thinks of anyone other than her

Nathan frowns to himself when she gets up, and he reaches out for her, as if he was going to grab her and... And what? He's not even sure what he intended, but he sighs all the same and stands, hanging his head just a bit. He doesn't like that he upset her, and he really doesn't want to see one of those other guys drape themselves all over her. He bites his lip, regrets it immediately because his facial hair got a little too long, and gets into step behind her. ]

I don't mind it - it's a little nostalgic, yeah?

[ . . . ]

That's implying that you enjoyed my constant hovering, you know.

[Because she had, even as he'd gotten older. Nariko had become so used to constantly worrying about how they were going to eat, when to get him to school, what extra activities to get him to and supply for, visits with his father, bed on time. Really, Nathan was the target for her overambitious, really very obsessive kind of love, and she knew it could be a bit much, to say the least.

Since she's missed the attempt to touch her Nariko goes ahead and opens the door to the backroom.]

[ Well then... Backyard ho! Tom straightens himself as he sees them coming out, giving a polite wave with a hand holding a fork in it still, but then retreats past them to go inside, whispering "bathroom" as he does. Honestly though, he might be a little annoyed Audrey left and that this guy might've caused it?

As for Nathan himself though...

It's been more than long enough to be nostalgic. They had barely, barely been in each other's lives (and in no small part because she severed their contact and had refused his attempts to reconcile) for fifteen years. Even if he didn't enjoy the hovering, it's more than long enough to remember it fondly. And so he laughs a little, and settling up next to her, he wraps one arm around her and replies, ]

Do you remember that time that I decided I actually wanted to stay up late?

[ He was never that rebellious to her, really, but there was one time he was just dedicated to it because he wanted to see the premiere of some show he doesn't even remember the name of now which came out at 1AM. He was about ten at the time ]

[Alright, so, that's ... New. To say the least. This is probably the most contact they've had since he got off the plane and everyone hugged. But it's fine, she'll just go ahead and move to sit at the outdoor table, where there's enough room for the both of them.]

Yes, you kept trying to hide it and I had to keep waking myself up to make sure you'd actually gone to sleep.

[She couldn't just let him watch the show and be tired the next day, let him learn his lesson on his own because she'd worried about him being cranky the next day - is he still an awful morning person? For some reason she doubts it, because once upon a time she was the taller and stronger one and now he completely dwarfs her.]

... You were always so good, though.

[For as much as she had hovered Nariko would have been completely lost without her brother, she wouldn't have had a reason to fight back.]

[ Honestly? Still not great at them. But that's something which can be pushed aside, because right now he needs to focus hard on keeping his side-hug thing for her chaste, ignoring how she feels, how she smells, how he can feel a brush of her breast again him. How he can hear her breathing...

The whole thing is weird, overwhelming.

He groans a bit as if it were at the response, and reaches a hand out to -- what does he intend to do? In the end, he pinches her nose a little, lets go of it, and sits down next to her ]

I wanted to be good for you.

[ And because their mom was abusive and he had to be good to survive and not get the shit beat out of him too (or so he saw it) but details, and he can romanticize it. The world is only the two of them here, even at the outside table. The fact that Octavio is sitting there with a beer and that Olivia is nearby, trying to pretend she's talking to Yamato is lost on him.

What anyone else is doing is lost on him ]

[Of course because he pinches it her nose scrunches up like an irritated rabbit, but she doesn't try to move away from him nor is she particularly upset at the gesture. It's a little weird to back up with his answer though, because it's painful and weirdly consoling to hear at once. Yes, Nathan had managed to slip by if he was abiding and 'good', while Nariko herself could never be 'good' enough.]

You're ... [What is she supposed to say?] You were good enough to keep me sane, so that's something.

[What an awkward response, she feels kind of stupid for it and therefore automatically looks at Yamato. Junko's discussing something with Emily nearby, and Ada's probably talking up Joshua, too, making sure to keep aware of her surroundings.

Nariko is, in contrast, completely aware of everything around her, but she's especially cognizant of how Nathan is touching her. Yeah, this is weird.]

[ Koji and Veronica were still inside in the master bedroom, and Masami was either with Joshua and Ada (until he's kicked out for third wheeling) or with Koji and Veronica to see how they are (and probably same there).

For his part, though, Nathan keeps his gaze fixed on her, but takes his hand back to himself. He smiles at her, trying to seem reassuring... but he fails at it. The fact is, it's hard to be reassuring when they are implicitly talking about their mutual trauma which that funeral should have buried, but apparently didn't. He traces Nariko's lips with his eyes, looks over her eyes, her hair... ]

Yeah. [ That said, he was more charismatic than this! He was, ] But, that's in the past now, right? And here we are, together again, the best siblings. Except for your three, of course. [ He laughs at this, glancing at the two who are visible around them and then focusing quick back on her. (Incest...) Not that he can know in her head it might be more like two than three. Well, other than the one in her uterus ]

[It's not something that's ever entirely buried, but it's ... Gently tucked away after the right amount of work and dedication. But it isn't right to talk about it at the moment and she's happy to move on to something else.]

Except for those two. [She hasn't realized her mistake this time, because for all of the difficulty when she isn't thinking about it Nariko doesn't feel unsafe or worried about being near Nathan - lying to him over and over again is a dedicated effort. So, yeah, two - Junko and Koji, who really were quite close to one another, and would never be torn apart in that way that all healthy siblings understood.

Apparently hearing some vague mention of herself Junko turns to look, and notices them there, she waves a bit excitedly, and Nariko does the same.]

I really do hope you'll spend time with them.

[They're both pretty grown so it'll be more difficult, but hardly impossible.]

[ Two? ... Was she discounting Koji for some reason? He didn't think she would ever do that, so he looks very confused at her until Junko waves, at which point Nathan turns to the younger woman and the redhead who was across from her, smiled, and waves back at the two of them. They're close enough to hear them, and so he says directly to her ]

I'm looking forward to taking you out somewhere.

[ Or something. He turns back to Nariko. ]

Of course I will! I wanted a family the whole time you know!

Didn't I tell you not to do stuff like that?

[Junko was very obviously joking, though she hadn't meant to encourage anyone spending money on her, it kind of seemed like a losing battle for her. Seeing her daughters enthusiasm gets a smile out of Nariko.]

Don't listen to her, she likes being spoiled, just like me.

[It was an awful trait to have passed on, but she can't bring herself to feel guilty and jealous at the same time.]

Just be careful with her.

[Mostly because Junko was her only daughter and not even her brother would be safe if he hurt her on purpose.]

I'll be on my best behavior! Don't worry!

[ He raises his hands in mock surrender, but also winks over in the direction of Junko and Emily before focusing back on Nariko. He doesn't notice the jealousy because why would she be jealous? That's just... silly... right? He keeps his lips turned up a little. ]

Good.

[She manages to avoid bristling when Junko gives him a little smile back.]

And while you're at it don't forget I'm here, too.

[Because she can be jealous over anything, thank you very much! She pushes his knee with hers under the table, light and playful except possibly not because, well, don't forget her!]

What, no, you're still here?!

[ . . . That was an attempt at a joke, but his voice did sort of jump to a lightly higher pitch when their legs brushed! He was so surprised at her reaction he might've even let out a small bit of his scent before he controlled himself and pushed it back down, trying to give her a smile.

He didn't even notice anyone else where until she pointed it out ]

Nathan!

[To the credit of her acting skills Nariko sounds genuinely upset when she cries his name, so much that Emily looks up, a bit alarmed until she figures if it were serious, fists would be thrown. No, Nariko really is just being dramatic, even piling on a fake pout and wide eyes with a deeply hurt expression!

If he keeps driving his scent up and down she really will get pissy with him, though. It's hard enough to remain calm when her hormones are already difficult to manage.]

[ He laughs it off, as if this were all harmless teasing and not him being put in such a bad spot to be in during a party right in the middle of everyone. Because it's pretty bad, all things considered. He shakes his head, and then looks Nariko of again, this time taking in what tattoo(s) or piercings are visible right now. Not many, of course ]

I'm paying attention to you most of all Nariko. [ To give her a new topic, though ] So how's the winter been here?

[Not many, she's covered the ones on her hips even underneath her clothes, but the ones on her arm and chest are there.]

Really? It didn't seem like it. [Fine, fine, they'll move on to something else.]

Freezing cold, but it tapered off quicker than usual this time. By the time we get to November it's blistering, so look forward to that.

[It felt like such an odd comment to make in the late stages of Spring (??? right??) but it was best to let him know.]

[ ( It's probably like April or some shit? March? Close enough she's not showing but who even knows at this point we need more timeskips )

That said, Nathan frowns, more like pouts a little at her snipe there, not sure how to respond to it now that they're both adults and it was like fifteen plus years later. Hell, more. But all the same, he shifts a bit in his seat and looks around. ]

Real temperate then, I'll have to stock up.

[ But all the same... ]

[(April is easy to remember we'll go with that.)]

It's why I voted for the house with the fireplace, you're going to love that thing for your first winter.

[Seriously where is Masaomi is he banging Veronica with Koji because ... That'd be exactly like him, actually.]

The lake freezes over and everyone goes skating, there's tons of stuff to do right before Christmas when the kids are out of school. Hell, there's a lot to do at any point of the year, actually! We've got a lot of museums and -

[She turns to him very suddenly and takes his hand in both of hers.] There's a fashion exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts on Thursday!

[So basically go with her, Nathan.]

[ Masaomi is not banging Veronica ~~because that first time should be on screen~~ he's just innocently talking to the both of them! And he ran into Tom in the hall and they're walking back outside now. Octavio got up from next to them at the table, leaving room for Junko and/or Emily to sit down next to them if they want. Olivia, for her matter, has gone off to bother her dad and Ada over on the far side of the backyard.

For Nathan though, there's only Nariko. He smiles a little more at her descriptions, and he blinks at her to have his hand taken. He hesitates for just a moment, and then he smiles wider and with a charm that he hopes that he's built up over the last several years, ]

Then, it's a date. If you think that mate of yours won't mind.

[ He squeezes her hand back ]

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