[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

[gunslingerqueen]

[She finds the bacon bacon and ... Does a very good job of looking as bothered as she feels about some of this. Why does anyone need to be concerned with what she and Nathan are like? Ms. Yori had probably spoken with Vergil, right? How else would she have ended up here if he didn't talk to the person who was actually in charge? So why is some total stranger trying to scope her out?

It almost goes without saying that Nariko really, really doesn't comprehend group environments very well, and her mindset is still that of a single family household, and she has yet to stop thinking of herself and Nathan as extended guests of a sort.]

If he feels the need to ask something about Nathan then it's not difficult to talk to me. I already said it to Ms. Yori, but if Vergil isn't already giving her something for keeping us here then I'll be happy to pay her back. It's expensive to keep two kids around.

[She unwraps her burger, and puts on a big smile:] Either way! I'm glad no one is mad! [Brb eatin' now.]

[generalflirt]

[ Mikado opens his eyes a little wider, looking confused at her...

But it's Masaomi, taking his mouth off the straw that speaks up. ]

Oi, Nari-Nari. You agreed to join the pack and swore loyalty to the old lady, didn't you?

[gunslingerqueen]

Yup.

[She covers her mouth while she answers that because she's not going to stop chewing, but she also isn't going to be rude. That whole swearing loyalty thing did happen and she did mean it! So his question is a little confusing, but it's Masaomi so he's probably got a running point here. She can keep eating until he makes it.]

She's really pretty, by the way, I don't think she's even really that old ...

[generalflirt]

[ Yori is in her late fifties. She looks really good by the standards of someone who was that age, but to a fourteen year old who may or may not be her son, that just feels old enough to be the bride of solomon. He was being unfair to her and Mikado and him both knew it to some extent ]

So why on earth would she need to be paid off? You're family in that case.

[ And clearly, he's entirely sincere in how he flatly says this ]

[gunslingerqueen]

[She very pointedly chooses to take another big bite rather than answer that. Just ... Just give her a second because her initial response would make the situation even worse, and she knows it.

If being family ever stopped horrible shit from happening then she wouldn't be in this situation. She can't rely on just 'family', thank you very much.]

Ahh, I guess that is how it works.

[Let's be frank, there isn't a smooth way to answer or diffuse this so she owns up to how stilted it is.] Sorry, some of this is difficult to get used to.

[generalflirt]

[ Masaomi is about to say something else, right up until Mikado says it first, but in a different way, cutting him off. They both don't know all of her circumstances or anything else. They grew up in this pack, and to imagine outside of that framework was hard. ]

W-well I don't think anyone meant to be insulting or anything. No-not Basara-nii of Nariko-san, right? Right...

[ Masaomi closes his yes, and then he reaches out to get the chicken sandwich, unwrapping it as he whistles out the cords of a familiar pop song ]

Maah, mah. Aren't you taking this too seriously, Miiiiikado? Seriously, san?

[gunslingerqueen]

Mm. [She sips at her shake, nods when she pulls off from it.] You're right, it'd be kind of weird for someone to dislike me or whatever before I've even properly irritated them!

[Maybe it'll be worth it to just go say 'hi' to the dude? If he's shy or whatever then she can just let herself talk at him.]

Ahh, maybe Masa-Masa is right and he's got a crush and he wants to blow you both out of the water!

[She doesn't know the difference between '-san' or '-chan'! Nathan does, though, which is ironic in some form or fashion.]

[generalflirt]

More like he actually wants you to blow him. Careful, you might dislocate your jaw.

[ Ignore that Basara is like... thirty. Give or take ]

Masaomi, seriously!! Stop that already!

[ Masaomi bursts out laughing at that, whatever serious mood the young man just had dispelled, and he takes a long sip from his drink in order to cover it up, not sure if he wants to go for the sandwich yet or not. Probably should. ]

But really, Nariko--- [ Slightly awkward pause (and a snicker from Masaomi) ] Did you get a chance to meet everyone yet?

[gunslingerqueen]

It's no fun if he's not completely enamored, but I guess I could do that, too. It just never lasts very long so it's sort of boring.

[It's her turn to smirk at Masaomi.] Ahh, does that mean you've seen it, then? Any information you could relay would be helpful!

['Dislocate her jaw' hah. She could probably stuff a whole burger in her mouth and just swallow it, dicks aren't really all that different, except for the 'absolutely don't bite' thing. But once her playful streak calms down a bit she looks at Mikado:]

Not really. We did a really quick introduction to a lot of people at once, basically, but I've only sat down and talked to Ms. Yori and you two.

[So like 90% of the pack or so is still a complete mystery to her.]

[generalflirt]

Well... I could introduce you to everyone else, or at least tell you about them... Nate-kun is probably hanging out with Rin about now, right...

[ And this is where Masaomi chimes in, smirking a little to interrupt that chain of thought with, ]

I went to the Y with him a few times and I'm pretty sure it's as thick as my arm.

[ He says, giving an arm motion again to an airplane flying off and laughing, prompting a blush from Mikado ]

[gunslingerqueen]

[Nariko sets her milkshake down so that she can grab his waving hand, bringing it closer so that she can take the tip of his forefinger into her mouth and then very steadily take the entire thing into her mouth. Then she widens her lips a little as if she might really try to go further but ... Instead she pulls his hand back, nips the tip of his finger.]

I could totally do it.

[He's free, now! She offers him a napkin while looking at Mikado.]

I'd appreciate that, Mikado! I think it might be less intimidating if I'm not alone. [She tries to think.] Rin is the young one, right?

[generalflirt]

[ Holy shit. Well that more than shut him up. He's pretty sure that his fingertips just brushed the back of her thought or something. How does a fourteen year old girl know how to do that? Holy shit. He takes his hand back to himself, stunned, and then starts to wipe himself.

Mikado, for his part, blushes furiously at that and threatens to become an awkward mess, but covers for it by taking off his glasses to rub his eyes and then eating four fries he dipped in cheese all at once ]

Y-yeah. He's only like five now, so he's younger than Nate-kun, but I imagine he'll try to befriend him because we're the next youngest after him.

[gunslingerqueen]

[She could not be anymore smug as she makes her way through her food and answers Mikado as if nothing has happened - which is bullshit, of course, she's practically glowing and something about getting the exact reaction she wanted is kind of hot.]

He's good with kids, he'll probably try to look after Rin the same way I have to for Nathan. [Which'll be cute, and infinitely less depressing than the reality of the situation.] He really likes you, Mikado, I don't know how your guys' school works but he'll probably try to follow you around.

[Of course Nathan's just barely getting out of middle school, which is why the actual structuring is important - although there might not be so many places left that combine the middle school years with the high school ones.]

[generalflirt]

Nate-kun's... ten or so, right? So he'd be in the early part of middle school, so he actually won't be in the same place as us. Too bad, Mikado.

[ That was Masaomi, trying to recover. But yeah, ten versus fourteen? They aren't going to match up all that much in terms of being in the same school ever ]

Yeah it's... too bad.

[ He's not sure if he is guilty or not but he's for sure a bit embarrassed ]

[gunslingerqueen]

That's depressing. The elementary building was just across the street so I could always go visit him ...

[But that was a private school, one with incredibly small class sizes, uppity and all, so it was easier for all of them to be clustered together like that. A public school would be different, it's what she was kind of afraid of.] Ahh, well, he'll just do it while we're at home, either way. He's quiet, though, so watch out.

[That little fucker really knows how to sneak up on people.]

So, what about everyone else?

[There's Rin, Ms. Yori, Basara, Mikado, and Masaomi so far! She finishes her burger off in one incredibly ridiculous bite and crumples up the paper.]

[generalflirt]

Well to begin with, there's five off us brothers overall. So you've got me, Mikado, Basara-nii, Rin...

[ Mikado interrupts here, gesturing with a fry ]

Basara-nii's the oldest at like thirty, but then there's also Haruki-nii, who's nineteen.The only other younger person [ By which he means "younger than about forty five" ] Is Linda, who's twenty-three?

[ Masaomi chimes in here, swallowing a bite, ] Hey, don't tell her that, Linda's still telling people she's eighteen.

[gunslingerqueen]

[She tilts her head.]

There's another girl? [Actually, it sounds like Nariko and Linda are the only two semi-young individuals at all which is still crazy odds, but she hadn't noticed another woman in the house! Maybe she was just out or something.] Twenty-three is still a hot age, though.

[Though, to her, it makes Basara's weird staring even more curious. Does he not want to go for the twenty-three year old or is the basically sixteen-year-old just more appealing? Or maybe it was just basic curiosity on his end. She'll really have to find out.]

Does Ms. Yori have a husband or something?

[generalflirt]

Yeah, just the one - well, other then the en older ladies, but only five of them live with us now; of course there's Yori-san, but also Maaka-san, [ He lists them off on his fingers, ] Hojo-san, Miwa-san, and Holly-san.

[ He nods sagely at this, and waves for Mikado to take over, letting the boy in the glasses cough before he finishes with, ]

And there's also Masaomi's father, Atsushi-san, and then Rin's father, Fujimoto-san.

[ Almost all of those except for Holly, Atsushi, and Yori are last names ]

But no, she doesn't have a mate - or if she does, she's really been cagey about the whole thing. She treats dad and Shiro in equal esteem.

Oh no ... is Masaomi's dad still going to die really young ...

[gunslingerqueen]

Do I get to meet your dad?!

[The excitement she's displaying at this possibility might feel completely disproportionate and with good reason. What sort of teenager is excited to meet the father of a guy that's not even her boyfriend? Or even her lover, officially?]

In any case there's a lot more people than I realized. Everything happened so quickly when we got there that I think I blocked a lot of it out.

[Some of the names are vaguely familiar but she can't recall faces or voices.]

rofl I'm undecided. I also changed the number of brothers to add Linda so shrugs

[generalflirt]

[ . . . Huh. That's.

Weird.

But then ]

Ah, and for the record, Mikado and I are fourteen! [ That was random and he knows it. But he just realized he just assumed she was their age and therefore in their class but he didn't confirm that for sure. also ignore the first thread they aged a year clearly because I like fourteen more in this one so whatever

Mikado snorts, eating more of his fries in silence. He couldn't add more there if he tried. ]

he should just for all the painful suffering and comforting that can occur!!!!!

[gunslingerqueen]

[Hey!! It's completely rude to just completely ignore the question! At first she's pissy but that quickly devolves into an awkward shifting. She swirls a fry in some ketchup.]

I kind of figured. [They're all fourteen/fifteen and Nathan's ten not 12 like I thought he was for whatever godawful reason fff.] I think we should still be in the same class, though. My birthday is at a weird time, and I ended up having to start school later than everyone else, so ...

[The result of being purposely held back in order to make sure she could do well in an English speaking environment, and having a birthday which falls near the start of a school year.]

Yeah that does seem like a pretty good idea tbh.

[generalflirt]

[ AGES? well he could be like 12 too ideak. ]

Eeeeh, so you're a little older than us?

[ Mikado, for his part though, ] There's no reason you can't meet anyone though, including Atsushi-san.

[ Masami looks put out by that, but the boy with glasses reaches over to get some of his own vanilla milkshske now before it melts ]

[gunslingerqueen]

Not much.

[It's usually that she's born in the same year as people but depending on how the birthdays fall she's either a little younger or older, actually. Still, Nariko makes sure she's as crumb free as possible, and then leans back on their picnic blanket/mat to look up at the sky. Are they isolated, or pretty much out in the open?]

I mean, I think it's good to meet everyone concretely, that's only polite! But it doesn't have to be anything more than that.

[If you don't want her to really meet him, Masaomi, then she won't!]

[generalflirt]

Don't overthink it, Nari-Nari. I'm good for whoever and whenever you wanna meet. You wanna make out with Linda, I'm game for it!

[ That wasn't what she asked and both her and Mikado know it too, and so the both with the glasses huffs at his friend being stupid and takes another fry.

They're on a little hillside overlooking the sidewalk. It's not quite secluded, but they're the only people actively on the hill even if some are on the sidewalk now and again, jogging past . ]

[gunslingerqueen]

Hmm ... That'd be way more for your benefit than mine, I think.

[That's definitely not what she asked, but Nariko doesn't seem particularly bothered by the comeback, though she also seems to brush it off a little too easily. Instead she leans back on her elbows, looking up. It's a really nice day, the second in a new neighborhood with a bunch of new people. Everything happened so quickly. ... She's family, huh?

Nariko falls onto her back, eyes closed with an indulgent kind of sigh. She's been the one asking questions up to this point, now it's someone else's turn. She's got to shake off this dragging sense of unease in her before trying to open another topic.]