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

[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 ]

[So that means that Yamato might be one of the only people left in the backyard with them, and it's really difficult to keep from looking at him in that moment.]

He'll be busy, and I don't want to go alone.

[Nariko could ask any of her school friends or acquaintances but going with family is just better! Almost compulsively she smiles when he does, a bit relieved that it was so easy to invite him.]

And it'll be a good way to show you the city!

[She hasn't let go of him yet.]

[ He is. In fact, the other boy is sort of hanging out near them, eating some sushi. He's looking around for Audrey, given Junko is busy and Koji isn't here and Olivia ditched him. Apparently no one put him in the loop Audrey went home. He'll soon probably crash on Nariko and Nathan...

But for right now, Nathan smiles ]

Oh, that does sound great. I'm looking forward to it already actually, because anyone whose lived here this long has to know all sorts of fun places.

[ He shouldn't have implied she needed to get her mates permission ]

Exactly. Of course, you'll have to tell me what you like these days that isn't music, but I'm sure there's a lot you can get involved in around here! Charlotte manages to find tons of stuff to do.

[And then she perks up all over again.]

Oh, you have to meet her! She's like sunshine in a person! You'll love her.

One of your friends, I take it?

[ He always had mixed impressions of her friends, but the idea of it makes him smile all the same, his hand still held between hers. He's starting to feel warm and he's becoming very aware of that - perhaps overly aware of it ]

Arguably my best friend.

[Was it strange to be best friends with the woman who had apparently gone a little nuts for your mate/son, that you also occasionally finger and tease if the mood strikes you? It's hard to tell, and life is very complicated, so Nathan gets the simplest answer that Nariko can hope to provide.]

She's the definition of a southern belle, and she's got all the hidden fire of one, too.

Up here?

[ He thought that the south and the north of this country were pretty far apart, in more ways than one! He can't help but be surprised by it, but he laughs it off immediately afterwards. He shakes his head, and he runs a hand down his face - the one not being held by hers ]

This place really is multicultural.

[ But then, well...

Yamato sticks his foot in it. The tall boy sits down next to Nariko and obliviously says ]

Oh, are we talking about Charlotte?

[Well, they are! Which is what makes Charlotte's presence all that more defined.

Somewhat more importantly when Yamato sits next to her she lets go of Nathan, not because she's nervous or concerned, but because her mate is with her now, and even though she's still trying to hide it, she responds to him all the same.]

Yes, your new favorite.

[She's teasing, of course. Their relationship doesn't actually bother her.]

[ His new favorite? Yamato seems to consider that for a moment and then shakes his head a little because while there's some truth to that, the Alpha's response is measured as he says, ] She's still earning her place there.

[ Because Charlotte did say she wanted it! And Charlotte had started her plan to ingratiate herself by way of becoming his manager. Yamato was beginning to rely on her and, of course, there was some fun domination to be had there. Either way, He scoots his chair closer to Nariko and affectionately puts an arm around her.

... and of course, all of this is really weird to Nathan ]

Favorite?

[ Yamato blushes a bit when someone who wasn't his mate called him out on it, but - ] Uh-- well. ... I mean. It's a thing?

[WHOOPS that was not the right comment for this particular moment! She wants to give Yamato an apologetic look, but that'll have to wait. She can't really stand to not lean into Yamato, though. By now they probably, absolutely don't look like a mother and son anymore. They don't have that air, they don't touch each other that way, a lot can change in a few months.]

Yamato is friend's with Charlotte's son, Fred, so he's had a thing for his best friend's mom, that's all.

[The lie is so unbearably smooth that it doesn't even feel entirely wrong as she says it.]

And I'm - y'know [It's actually difficult for her to say now, but:] the actual mom, so I just tease him about it.

[ Actual mom? Yamato looks confused for a moment and then straight up turns his head to look incredulous at her. That's not true? ... Oh wait, it is. But it's not on more than one level! The teenager is almost offended, but then looks over at Nathan with just as much confusion.

And the bearded man narrows his eyes a little.

And then Yamato is about to say something authoritative or dumb, so this is your once chance to try to silence him, Nariko. Even as you're leaning all over each other ]

[Nariko tilts her head to Yamato a little, somewhat successfully hiding her face from Nathan: she gives her mate a very desperate look, willing him to please, please not say anything, she would make up for it later, really! Just not in front of her brother when he already seems ready to have some kind of mental breakdown and she can't even figure out why.

When did life become so fucking complicated.

What she says is:]

Yamato, when's your next match? Nathan should see you play.

[ . . . What the hell is going on here? Yamato looks confused at her, maybe even somewhat annoyed, and unfortunately from this angle Nathan can see his face. Nathan narrows his eyes more, and the whole thing seems to have gotten really messed up here???

Yamato... though. He answers, slowly, ]

Well... the next big tournament is next month. [ A beat ] But I've got an exhibition match... well... more like - uh... I'd need to call Charlotte?

[ He's gotten so lazy.

... Nathan now looks more suspicious ]

[All these tall people, making expressions above her head! It's unfair! Yamato's upset and Nathan clearly knows and-]

Uncle Nate!

[Junko had wandered off at some point to get a drink, but now she's come back and taken up Nathan's other side, wrapping both arms around one of his.] Hey, so, you have to tell me what mom was like at my age! Ignore Yamato being weird.

[Bless the universe for her daughter. Nariko worked herself out of her seat, taking Yamato's hand with her.]

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So apparently this is happening we can do either one of them if you like