[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

btw entirely possible I go to bed now if I do goodnight

[generalflirt]

Eeeeh. Well then I'll just take your place instead! Or Nate-kun or something.

[ He doesn't know what she expected him to say - please come meet my father? Wouldn't that be weird for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is what kid says that? Masaomi and Mikado eat in silence for a long moment, but it's Mikado that actually breaks the silence. ]>

S-so what's your favorite subject, Nariko? In school, I mean...?

[gunslingerqueen]

[Well, it stands to reason she feels a bit differently having lost her own father, and being entirely aware of the void in her life that's developed as a result. But then Masaomi doesn't know that about her, and even if he did it's only normal that most kids wouldn't make the connection unless they'd already gone through it.

That's probably what's got her down - she's supposed to be family to them now, right? But how does that even work? Wanting something and being scared by it at the same time is hard.]

Math. I used to like gym, too.

[But that was before her boobs grew in, sooo.]

[generalflirt]

Oh... I'm not really good with sports, myself.

Whiiich is to say he sucks at gym.

[ That gets a fry thrown at Masaomi's face, but showing off his dexterity, the young man catchs it and then opens the lid to his malt in order to dip it in there. He's laughing off here somewhat closer to Nariko, but Mikado is taking this moment to scoot up to her even as she's laying back.

He can work with this subject. ]

I'm pretty good with math though. My favorite subject's information technology... ah. Well, computer science ones? [ Sounding a little sheepish, he adjusts his glasses ]

[gunslingerqueen]

So that's to say Masa-Masa is really good at gym, then?

[There has to be some irony in that she probably falls somewhere in the middle, there. She looks up at Mikado as he comes a little closer though - so does this put her in the middle, or something? But she's digging this position, and is incredibly tempted to sort of doze off, it's got to be the food and the warmth of the day, it's turning her into a cat.]

I can see that for you, Mikado! I bet you're really great at it! I wanted to take some classes, too, but they were all extracurricular and I couldn't take a programming class and music, so I ended up picking music last semester!

[And it was totally worth it.]

[generalflirt]

Well naturally. [ Swirling another set of three fries in the malt, Masaomi theatrically answers this, grinning a little. ... Neither boy has connected that she liked it less because she got boobs, at least not yet. They're stupid, you should spell it out. Or nap, because really both are okay. Neither boy is leaning back nor laying down, but they do sort of have her in the middle as they mess around with more of their meals. ] You could say I'm a gifted sort in a lot of things! Like my last English exam? Well cherie, I'd have to say I was top of the class!

[ Mikado had been blushing from the compliment, but he chimes in, drily ] That's French.

Don't question it, man! Sweating the small stuff will make you blind and bald!

[ Mmmmrrrr. ] T-that's neat that you do music, though...

[gunslingerqueen]

[But if she naps then she has to decide who to use as a pillow, and that's an incredibly sizable mental debate to have with oneself!] ... That really was French, though.

[Just saying, Masaomi. But she also makes a face in general at English, which is one of her least favorite topics, next to History. Ugh. But they really have found a good topic, here because she smirks, looks a little more awake.]

I'm glad you think so! When I get a hold of the money and buy a new guitar you won't complain when I'm practicing, or when Nathan joins me!

[Thankfully she has enough sense to avoid doing it at three in the morning or something, but still! Maybe it'll annoy her new packmates or whatever.]

[generalflirt]

Oh non, non, has Nari-Nari turned on me?! [ and then his next part is in Japanese, causing Mikado to give him a baleful look ] < I'm in despair! >

[ Mikado, though, blinks and, ] Nate-kun plays the guitar too?

[ Also did she not take her old one with her? This topic really is good, discussing likes, dislikes, and hobbies. Both boys are grinning at it even as they dig in to what's left of the meal for them ]

[gunslingerqueen]

Three different languages in less than five minutes ... [He - He is actually going to start legitimately confusing her! But thank goodness for Mikado's question, it's normal and uncomplicated.] No, he plays the harmonica with me! If he's playing the violin or piano I'll sing instead, and if I'm playing piano he'll go for the violin. [They have a whole system!

But, no, because of how the entirety of the situation went down there was a lot that neither Nathan or Nariko were allowed to take from their homes.] Mom had him take a lot of musical classes, so it's kind of how we we spend time together.

[It's also one of the few ways that Nathan seems to maintain his calm, music is deliberate stress relief for him, but there's no need to get into that.]

[generalflirt]

Oh, there's a piano in the house already.

[ Man Mikado was about to say that. He's also looking at her in a new light. Masaomi might just be bowing to show his pride in the fact that he confused her there and was able to show off that he's bilingual (English and Japanese) as well as able to pull out some bullshit phrases from other languages. But Mikado... harmonica, singing, violin? Piano? That's all super impressive high class stuff, at least in his mind.

That's amazing. ]

It's true, there is. Both Maaka-san and Holly-san play, but it's in Maaka-san's room on the first floor. Linda said she was going to learn, but...

Well, she got bored in a week.

[ Yeah, that ]

[gunslingerqueen]

Really?! [Man, this is what she gets for nor exploring properly!] Nathan's going to love that! I hope they don't mind letting him practice. He had to take a lot of classes but I think that ended up being his favorite, he's pretty lazy about everything else but that, now that I think about it ....

[When she laughs it's not mean, if anything it's sympathetic towards Linda, this woman she hasn't even met yet] It's not exactly fun to learn, it takes way more thought than it should! I mean, guitar was easy because my dad played all the time so of course I was going to learn it from him!

[She's incredibly proud of that fact.]

[generalflirt]

Yeah! I'm sure Holly-san would let him in a heartbeat, but if you were to do it right... W-well I guess he'd have to talk to Maaka-san. But she likes kids, so I'm sure it'll be okay?

She'll probably only ask for a little blood.

She's not a vampire, Masaomi!

Have you ever seen her in the light?

[ Mikado goes silent at that, pouting, but Masami grins and turns to Nariko. Her father... huh. ] That's pretty badass though, that whole father-daughter thing.

[gunslingerqueen]

[Have either of them looked at her brother? The incredibly page, almost translucent skinned half Russian? Come on now. But they've obviously got their own running joke there, it's one that doesn't have a place for her. Hopefully the vague sensation that she's a sudden, almost useless transplant will eventually fade.]

I guess so! He was way better than I'll ever be, but I liked spending time with my dad!

[Nariko was the epitome of a Daddy's Girl, even after she'd been made very aware of his fault. Then she was just a Daddy's Girl that didn't make excuses for his behavior. But she does ask, and not because she doesn't want to talk about her dad (she really, really does, actually) but because she's genuinely curious:]

So, I guess you guys don't have to do a lot of extra stuff like that, right? A bunch of extra classes or whatever.

[generalflirt]

[ The joke with Elda Maaka is both that she's half Japanese half English... but also that she is a supreme nighthawk and probably looks even better for her age that Yori does. That said, the joke is a bit lost without the context of knowing the woman - there's a good chance Nariko was never even introduced to her even in passing. ]

Well...

[ Masaomi answers for him, ] Mikado here's been writing apps in his spare time and he's destined to be the student body president as soon as I write him in on the ticket. But as for me- no, no, I'm straight up going home club.

[ He brandishes a fry like a sword ] Can't say I ever picked up an instrument, miiight be something I regret eventually.

[gunslingerqueen]

[She reaches up to pat the top of Masaomi's head.]

We'll find something for you, I'm sure of it.

[He'll probably ... End up dragged this way and that with her. It sounds boring to just go to and from school, although maybe it's unfair to say that Masaomi doesn't have his own project. It's just an incredibly weird and ridiculous one, that's all.]

But whatever it is will have to work around whatever we're doing for this 'gang' set up.

[... She hasn't had time to tell Mikado about that, though. Did Masaomi already mention it?]

[generalflirt]

[ Masaomi's smile shifts from impish to straight up proud now, growing wider and wider as if he were some sort of comic book villain. Mikado looks at him incredibly skeptically, placated by way of being pat on the head, but also wondering... did something happen there? Not to mention that while he agreed to be a part of it, this whole gang thing was still a strange idea. ]

If Nari-Nari's driving me towards something, far be it from me to refuse.

[ He shrugs ] We can get in street fights on the weekends.

[gunslingerqueen]

I mean, there's always the 'lets fuck in weird places' club too, so maybe you shouldn't just leave it to me like that.

[As if Masaomi is really going to kick up a fuss about messing around at all. But the mention of fighting ... She tilts her head at him, eyes narrowing just a bit.]

You're seriously expecting me to fight?

[Why does he even want to get into fights in the first place? She's really not getting the motivation for a gang, but by now Nariko wouldn't expect to understand even if it could be explained.]

[generalflirt]

For that club, would I get to watch or participate!

[ Mikado... ] H-hey, Masaomi...

[ And the young man laughs at this, waving a hand so as to dismiss both Mikado's concerns and the second half of what Nariko said. He was being sarcastic to begin with anyway, so it's no problem. ]

[gunslingerqueen]

Well, clearly.

[She'd thought that kind of went without saying! Though he might just be trying to kid around again.]

Mm, but then what are we going to do? Tool around the mall or something?

[She doesn't ... Actually care one way or the other, but it'd be good to know ahead of time.]

[generalflirt]

Oooh, we'll see, we'll see.

[ He's only barely thought that far ahead, honestly, so he tries to sweep it under the rug. Mikado looks between both of them, sighs, and then reaches out to get one of the spare burgers, the last of the five not eaten. This all is just silly... Why are they having this discussion? Both of them, actually, it's pretty embarrassing ]

But back to the club at hand here, NariNari! We need to make a list for that sort of thing! Maybe even a bingo card!

[gunslingerqueen]

[...... He has absolutely no idea and that's what she ends up internally scoffing at. Well, whatever, Nariko got the better deal out of it then, because she'll hold Masaomi to his promise even if he doesn't make her participate in anything.]

This, coming from the guy who doesn't know where to start.

[She really hadn't expected him to be interested in the idea of clubs! Go figure! But with most of her energy restored Nariko sits back up and yawns, covering her mouth briefly. She should be a little more active and cognizant.] You guys know more about what they offer, though. Maybe I should try drama this time ...

[Oh, but if there's a movie club then that would be cool, too! Or debate! Or Math!!!! ... She'll get bored of all of them within months but that's not really the point.]

[generalflirt]

[ He actually meant that heaving sex in a weird place "club" she mentioned but at the same time, joining everything in the school alongside her? That... that actually could be pretty fun. So fun that Masaomi looks to Mikado, who sighs and then replies, ]

There's a drama club... Actually, I could tell you what a lot of them are?

[ Masaomi considers letting that conversation sit there and steered in that direction. He could let her do it, and he really doesn't mind it being at her pace, particularly if she's sitting up now (and that yawn was kind of funny) so...

He decides to be cheeky ]

And I can suggest places to have sex.

[gunslingerqueen]

[She is painfully, painfully dense at times, so it's probably good that Masaomi steered them back to that, otherwise the topic really would have been lost for good! ]

As long as none of those suggestions get us arrested. [That's her only real caveat! And it's not even a complicated one. But she looks to Mikado, because both of these topics are pretty interesting (how awfully fitting for a girl on a date with two different guys) and she doesn't want to not hear about the clubs.]

If you don't mind! Nathan will probably want to look into it so I should be prepared.

[generalflirt]

Alright, so check it!

[ What happens next might be confusing, particularly if her focus is split. Namely, Masaomi starts to list off a number of strange suggestions while Mikado starts to talk about clubs. Both of them are going to some effort to talk over each other, but Mikado is speaking a little louder, largely because the other boy knows that his topic is altogeter more pertinent at the moment. But either way, in relative unison: ]

At the school after school, in a pool, in the park, on a street corner, behind the pizza place, in the pizza place, in a public bathroom, n a ferris wheel, in your room, my room, his room, Yori-san's room...

Well... We dod have a strong IT club which has tried to get me to join before, and Masaomi was almost recruited by a Social Gatherings group... which is to say something like a party and dance planning committee. There's all sorts of other standard ones ... ah. I don't really know what Nat-kun would be looking for?

[gunslingerqueen]

[What in the world.

The initial confusion has more to do with why they're both talking at the same time rather than splitting her attention. It's a little easier to pay more attention to Mikado but sort of tune into Masaomi every other second, but this can't be some weird competition thing, since they're both so chill about the three way arrangement anyway soooo.

Apparently Masaomi's just being obnoxious and Mikado's talking over him, and therefore also being semi obnoxious.]

Okay, first of all, if anyone's having sex in Ms. Yori's room it's not going to involve me. [That's just rude, after all.]

Also, first, but technically said second: [So basically, responding to Mikado now.]

Nathan would like chess or something incredibly strategic like that. And why haven't you already joined the IT club?

[generalflirt]

[ Masaomi snorts and laughs at this, because yes, he was being obnoxious but good on her for even following a lot of that. He lefts Mikado start off, graciously giving a little hand motion to the guy and cutting off the list which might have turned into nonsense if he kept going. ]

I... Well I just don't know if I'd fit into their scene, really? Plus someone needs to keep--

[ And Masaomi interrupts with, ] Eeeeeh?! But think of the adventu---ow! [ And Mikado hits him in the stomach, lightly. ]

-- this guy in check.

Rude!

[ Masaomi crosses his arms, putting on a mock-pout as he leans back from them. But Mikado goes on, unabated. ] There is a tabletop club, so there's a lot of that... uhm. Strategy...