[Midlandia] Just One Note

[gunslingerqueen]

[A series of events occurred which were incredibly important and ultimately life changing.

But frankly her attention span was always rather limited. What really mattered above all else was that she and Nathan were free, and it didn't require Vergil's scolding or leaving the country. They had been adopted into this pack with considerably minimal fuss. They had a roof, food, and a way to get to and from school. The best part was that there was no one to hit her anymore, no more getting thrown left and right into walls or furniture, and Nathan no longer had to hear all the yelling and insults. They could be living in a high class sewer and Nariko would still be happy.

And while she'd made her gratuity very clear to the Alpha she's been otherwise quite normal! Nariko had survived the state of things because she knew how to control herself, how to present properly. So ever since they'd been given their space she'd gone about meeting everyone she could, being both agreeable and fun, while Nathan clung to her side the whole time.

Lately, though, he's been feeling a little more like himself. On this particular day she's sprawled all over the couch while Nathan watches some movie directly in front of her. If she's supposed to give a single crap about her tiny shorts or tank top then ... Actually, no, why would she? It hasn't occurred to Nariko to dress or act differently, especially because there's so many women. Besides, she's kind of idly watching it with him or occasionally toying with her phone, and really she'd practically beg for something fun to do. Ugh.]

Comments

[generalflirt]

[ Masaomi wasn't sure what to make of their new packmates. It was weird to think of them like that too and not being some invaders of some sort, because so many of the people in the pack were wink and nod related. After all, outside of Basara-niichan there were only two older men in the pack as compared to a half dozen or more women, and even if one of those men (the one who wasn't his father) was the mate of the (female) alpha of the pack, it still meant that everyone, logically, was from one of their seeds.

... So basically, a woman being in their midst around the same age as him and Mikado and some of the others was weird. It was really intriguing, but it was really weird. The young man has his own tag along, a shy looking dark haired boy with sky blue eyes who seems to be in the young man's shadow. Still, walking into the room...

Oh come on, the TV was taken? Lame. But all the same, he decided today would be the day he'd- ]

Nari-nari-chan!! Are you alive!

[gunslingerqueen]

Masaomi!

[It's Nathan that answers, in truth, and his pronunciation is all weird, as if the name itself were two big pieces that were equally important to one another, Masa and then Omi, never put together. One day Nathan would get it right, but the female counterpart stays right as she is except for crossing her legs together, one ankle over the other. (Because that makes them look longer, right? Right. God, why is she so short ....)]

Obviously! You haven't been brought to your knees in despair because I'm still around!

[She sits up on her elbows a little to look at him and the other one - Mikado, right?] You're as difficult to miss as ever.

[generalflirt]

Are you saying that you're instantly seduced by my dulcet tones?! Or maybe it's the piecing gaze of my amber eyes! [ He says this with a skip, getting into the room with a flourish which is unbecoming of the lanky thirteen year old. Aside from being a little on the taller side for his age, he's not really that mature seeming. Physically, the dude's got a babayface which somehow only looks softer when he's next to his much more obviously babyfaced comrade/brother in arms.

Mikado grumbles something about Masaomi being ridiculous, but follows him into the room, waving for both Nariko and Nathan. He seems content to allow Masaomi to do the talking for now. ] I am prone to being the center of attention.

[ Despair for her still being around, huh? Now up in front of them, he taps Nathan on the head and asks, ] Wassup, slugger?

[ It seems he's social. Well, they already knew that, but he was giving talking to the two oddities a shot again. It's been a month, after all ]

[gunslingerqueen]

I almost think it has something to do with your volume rather than the substance itself! [She speaks kind of lightly so it's not a mean statement, but it might just a tad of bite to it around the edges. In truth she's only trying to get under his skin a little and see how he reacts, but if he gives up that easily then he's no fun anyway. She sort of smiles at Mikado's words, though, and Nathan is quick to beam for all the attention he's based.]

Nothin' really! Wanna watch with us? [He's so happy and quick to offer that it almost hurts to watch, but Nariko's quick to interrupt.]

Don't do it, all they do is talk.

[Aaaand cue the little brother pouting.] People talk in politics!! It requires thought and subtlety!

[And Nariko only sighs, dragging herself up properly.] And normal ten year olds don't even know what half those words really mean!

[generalflirt]

[ Masaomi gives Nathan a little noogie to match Mikado's movement, pulling the small boy into a headlock of sorts which lasts only a moment. It's perhaps - no, it's definitely - overly familiar, but with all the male bonding he's had over his life, it feels natural to the thirteen year old. Sure, he's forcing it a bit to be with someone he doesn't know like this, but it's all he can do to try ]

Well, if they're all talk, then my main man Mikado would fit right in!

[ And the blue eyed boy pouts at that, throwing his hands down and responding, ] Masaomi! That's mean!

[ And Masaomi snorts ] The truth hurts, just as much as the lie brushes right off a man's armor!

[ It's clearly addressing the volume over substance thing Nairko said, and he dusts off his top, as if he were brushing off arrows or some such nonsense ]

[gunslingerqueen]

[Nathan gives a little shout, and Nariko jolts before - he's just messing around, and she has to breathe through that instinct. Everything's fine. Nathan, for his part, goes along with it well enough, though he does continue to pout and then kind of sticks his tongue out at Masaomi, but he's not particularly upset one way or the other. Rather, he focuses on Mikado.]

It's really cool! There's this space empire and a king and -

[And off Nathan goes, giving no shit to whether anyone actually wants to hear him ramble. But Nariko doesn't say a word, and she's busy rolling her eyes.]

Where did you even get that from? [It had to be a book quote or something, right?]

[generalflirt]

Off the top of my head, obviously! I am he most artful person you know!

[ Except not really. Still, Masaomi grins and waves his hand at Nariko, taking a step closer to her. Maybe it was just that his options were limited, but she was really hot. It's probably just her tits? Probably just the tits. And the shorts. Both. He goes bold, giving away his scent a little bit out towards her and the room at large. Which Mikado squirms at, trying to listen to both Nathan and his bro ]

[gunslingerqueen]

That's actually impressive!

[But she sounds impressed to be impressed by him! So maybe it's not too much of a compliment in the end. But wow is this guy kind of difficult to get at. To his wave she just smiles a little in a way that Nathan and probably Mikado will miss completely. That look falls away a bit when she catches his scent and - oh. Is that why he's here?

... How is she even supposed to feel about it? She doesn't really know him but, hey, he's cute. And she'd been so busy with Nathan and this new environment that she hadn't even had time to feel herself up, let alone have anyone else do it. So she answers him a little in responding, letting herself think about touching her, which is always the answer to making guys weird around her, so ...]

Is coming up with imaginary stuff all you're good at, though? [She's going to talk normally for now, though.]

[generalflirt]

[ It might have been, at least on some level. He wanted to know what she smelled like, and where he place in this house was. What he spot on the totem poll ways. And that smile that she fives him, he can't help but feel his heart leap, because this girl was really cute, even if he was shooting at least a little out of his league by confronting her like this. and leaving Mikado in the cold listening to Nathan's ramble as he breaks the distance between them. Sorry bro.

...

Mikado, incidentally, is trying to pay attention to both things here and failing, so he'll just. Sit next to Nathan. He's a small boy for his age, Nathan's not that much bigger than him ]

Imagination can lend itself to a great many talents, you know, Nari-Nari-chan.

[masabros]

[ What did a three person date even look like? What were they now if they were doing this? And perhaps most importantly, why are they doing this including that insane explicit promise of a gift that Masaomi had brought up the other day ... and not having a gift picked out among the two boys? Hell, he'd barely gotten a chance to talk with Nariko, and Masaomi had been mouthing off all morning about her sleeping in his bed.

Mikado was...

Not quite jealous, but he was a little bit annoyed and a little bit put out.

Not to mention he was the shortest of them, albeit not by much with Nariko. But who knows, girls grew a little more even at her age, right? He might still be.

Still, it's he who, wearing a nice button up shirt which looked almost ill fitting on a fourteen year old and adjusting his glasses made his way to Nariko so he might escort her out on this last weekend before she started on their school. Masaomi was already ahead of them, having run out with some grand secret plan, leaving him with one on one time at least for a bit ]

Nari..ko?

[ He still wasn't sure what to call her, but he knocks on the bathroom ]

Are you ready?

[gunslingerqueen]

[What did one wear on their first date with ... Two different boys? She'd prepared for five million different scenarios as she grew into stuff like this and none of them had involved more than one guy. Not the PG-13 thoughts, anyway. And if you didn't know what to wear then how were you going to know how to do your hair or your accessories or the other five hundred minute details that, before any first event, feel terribly vital to a young girl.

Basically none of it matters in the long run because they'll probably notice her boobs before anything else because, y'know. Boys.]

Hey, Mikado! [She opens the door a little suddenly,] Sorry! I forgot to open it again. Just a second!

[Nariko's already dressed and she's finished her hair, too! She's just stuffing ... a package of tissues, a spot cleaning pen, and her travel size hair spray. Once all that is dumped into her white purse she rests it over her shoulder to face him properly.]

How do I look!

[This is a trick question: You always say a girl looks good. But she's picked a sleeveless white dress that hugs her nicely (mostly because she's outgrowing it in the chest department ... But happy accidents) and has a neat, soft watercolor design along the hem. Since she's in flats she and Mikado are still basically the same height, aside from the vague inch she might have on him. Her ridiculously thick hair has been curled at the ends, and she's taken great care with her earrings and other jewelry. It's not like she knows what any of this means either, but it is a date, so you've got to put up or shut up!]

[masabros]

[ In all honesty, it made him feel a little under-dressed for a long moment before he recalls he's hardy slouching with his button up and nice khakis as well as a sporty but nice pair of tennis shows. Coupled with is glasses, it's as close to nerd cique as a small fourteen year old can be. But all the same...

Well. ]

Amazing. [ That feels really shallow, even if it's the right answer. He tilted his head down until he realized breaking eye contact would be awful, and he instead steels himself to keep in her gaze ] Like you're ready to show both of us up, or at least get us lost with you.

[gunslingerqueen]

O-Oh!

[It was the right answer but she was surprised that he actually said it! And even meant it!] Thank you! Although I don't actually want to show either of you up ...

[Wait, no, lying is bad.] That's a lie. I'll totally show up Masaomi!

[She takes his hand, though, all smiles.] We look cute, though! Almost matching!

[Which is a sort of convoluted way of saying you look good too, Mikado! Don't worry so much.]

[masabros]

[ Matching... The sheer idea of that, as well as the force of both her personality and her appearance makes the boy blush more. She's only his age, he needs to remind himself again. So much of her seemed older even if some other parts of her seemed childish. Not to mention this body that was out of this world. He squeezes her hand more to reassure himself than anyone, and he pulls her along so they might leave the bathroom and, from there, the house. ]

Thanks. I'm sure you'll show up whatever he's got on for this, don't worry.

[ Let's focus on them and not the we... for now. Maybe. ]

[gunslingerqueen]

[It almost goes without saying that she follows, and rather happily at that.]

He's not outside?

[What kind of guy isn't here for his own date? Rude. But maybe it'll end up serving a good purpose.]

Wait, so you know where he is and how long it'll take to get from here to there, right? [She doesn't even wait.] Can we go a little slowly? I wanted to talk about something.

[There hadn't been an opportunity between the night before and this morning, after all.]

[masabros]

[ He nodded and started to answer how long it would take before he's once again a little blindsided. He adjusts his glasses, perhaps a little unnecessarily, and nods. ]

It won't take long to get where he is, but we can go slow.

[gunslingerqueen]

Good.

[She'll have to try and condense herself a bit, so ... Wish her luck. But she at least waits until they're out of the house before starting in on anything.]

Mikado, I like you. [Starting off strong.] You're really sweet and smart and I'm pretty sure that if I even slip up once you're gonna notice. But then you also seem like the kind of guy where, like, if something was really embarrassing you'd be polite enough to not say anything because you don't want to make anyone feel bad!

[This is the condensed version.]

Which is why I want you to know - if you don't like me or anything you don't have to act like it's a real date! I mean, we just met, right? And while it'd be insanely cool to say I met my soulmate at such a young age that's not how real life happens ... So I don't want you to stress! Let's have fun.

[She squeezes his hand.] If something else happens then it'll be for the right reasons!

[masabros]

[ Aside from the two older men who had progeny in the pack, Basara was the oldest man around at somewhere in his mid to late twenties. He as tall, muscular, and had a beard that he sometimes tried to keep in order and often didn't. He worked out all the time, and when that wasn't the case he was trying to look out for everyone else or searching for a job on top of the schooling he was doing. He felt bad about blowing time with said schooling. Still, the big man did relax sometimes, and this was one of those times.

But it wasn't involving TV or reading or video games or whatever.

No, he was meditating on the floor of the living room, legs crossed and eyes closed, just sort of zoning out. What do ]

you picked a pb that is p much exactly her type I'm awful laughing over here

[gunslingerqueen]

[This pack is so weird that a dude sitting in the middle of the living room doesn't even bother her anymore. She drops her school bag somewhere nearby before coming over, doing absolutely nothing to mask her presence. Right, this is Basara, one of the older ones. Mr. McStare.

Well, it's about time to return the favor! Nariko doesn't so much as greet the man, she drops onto the floor in front of him, one knee pulled up so she can lean on it and stare at him.

So, yeah, hey, Basara.]

I SEARCHED SO MANY BEARDY GUYS assume he looks a little more asian tbh

[masabros]

[ Girl he's meditating, he's one with the universe and all that shit. So he's not staring at you now, rather, he's still got his eyes closed and is doing controlled breathing. He keeps himself centered and he is still keeping it up even if she's there or not. He doesn't seem to acknowledge her. ]

Your search was just and ultimately successful!! And consider it assumed

[gunslingerqueen]

[Not now, but was before! Nariko endures this, though, saying nothing either because she expects him to or because she doesn't know how to start. Maybe it's both in equal parts. She'd been wanting to talk to him for a while, but school had started, Masaomi and Mikado and Nathan keep her busy ...

HM.

... She leans forward, braces on her arms in order to lift up enough and kiss his cheek.

Did the universe tell you to expect that, Basara?]

okay awesome

[masabros]

[ It did not.

... But he was able to keep his zen and not really react much at first, but the physical contact did make him stir some, and he opens one eye and asks, ]

Did you need something?

[ he didn't sound gruff or sarcastic, just sort of genuinely asking in a really sort of direct way ]

[gunslingerqueen]

[Oh, he's direct! No messing around like with Masaomi, no light-footedness, like with Mikado! She already likes this guy.]

When I first got here, after I had sex with both of them, you sat there and stared. It keeps bothering me, so could you tell me why?

[Now she definitely gets the impression that he just thinks a lot, that Basara is a serious type who is maybe capable of being light, but often isn't.

Either way, if he's going to be direct, she'll return the favor.]

[masabros]

I was surprised that you got along with them so fast. Plus I wasn't really staring, just watching you guys before dinner.

[ He answers her evenly, sincere in his answer. There's no real deeper meaning in it unless you want to read into his surprise at the fact they were fast friends. Or maybe you wanted to to question if he was looking at her. But all the same, he does open the other eye so he can make eye contact proper with her. His meditation was broken anyway. ]

[gunslingerqueen]

Six to one dozen and the other.

[Basically: Same thing.]

Maybe it's kind of depressing that you weren't looking at me.

[She's messing around now - he's got nice eyes, so why not? He's not even mad that she kissed him!]