[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]

Aren't you objectifying me all the time?

[It should be mildly concerning that she's a little amazed at the idea that he wouldn't be objectifying it up 24/7.

And yes, she got completely lost in that daydream! There's nothing like summer and it'll probably be a lot more fun now that she and Nathan have a whole house to spend their free time with! It definitely beats being stuck in the house all day.]

[generalflirt]

Hey!

[ Well now Mikado gets to laugh at the blushing Masaomi. You did that one to yourself bro. Even if you were being sincere back there at all, you've tended to make yourself look stupid. Still, Mikado smiles a little and... ]

So Nate-kun can't swim yet?

[gunslingerqueen]

[Score~

Her gaze tilts to Mikado this time while Masaomi blushes out his feelings in privacy. He'll recover just fine, she's sure of it.]

No, he's really scared of drowning for some reason! I'm with him every single time he gets into water and I've tried to teach him, but he just clings to me or his inner tube the whole time! [She makes a mild groaning noise.] ... I'm not the best teacher, though, so that might not be too good? Still.

[She would never let anything bad happen to him!!]

[masabros]

[ Masaomi is still recovering. Rude, so rude... much rude... he's not really sure how to handle this (no, he actually) but still! Mikado can now take center stage, grinning a little as he does. That sounds cute! ]

Well I'm sure we can handle it! Or ... someone can? Or something, right?

[gunslingerqueen]

He might be okay with you, Mikado! I woke up to a dozen texts with questions I'm supposed to be asking you and stuff.

[Which she isn't going to do, thank you very much. This was her date, and Nathan had to learn to talk to people and be a little more confident anyway.] Do you guys do anything special for the seasons? Like summer and halloween and - oh, is Christmas a big deal?

[Please let Christmas be a big deal.]

[masabros]

Oh... you did? I'm -- I mean I guess I'm flattered?

[ An awkward laugh later, Mikado tries to come up with a good response to her - and he adjusts his glasses a little bit. Okay... so. So he'll shake his head a bit and he exhales. Let's answer that next part more dignified! ]

Well Haruki-nii's got this whole thing about Tanabata I don't really get... [ Which Masaomi, recovering over here, snorts at ] And Elda-san is really into a big Christmas dinner so there's a big thing about that. What else do we do that's big... um?

[gunslingerqueen]

[She was about to explain that it really wasn't anything weird or meant to be unsettling, rather that basically all of the relatives they got to spend some vague time with were more like Nariko - extroverted, loud, and overbearing. Mikado was the first person relatively near Nathan's age that was sort of like him.]

What's Tanabata?

[Obviously it's a Japanese thing but that's really not enough information to base an event on.]

You guys don't eat out at Christmas!!! Yes!!!

[Her excitement is a little ridiculous, it comes with an air pump and a little hop that she doesn't stick, and therefore stumbles on a bit! But she doesn't even care. NO MORE GOLDEN CORRAL FOR CHRISTMAS!]

[masabros]

Nope! But there is some toad in the hole in the morning, which... well, Masaomi and Haruki-nii like it a lot.

[ British food, man... Also her excitement was infectious, he couldn't help but be sucked into her place with a little smile. Which also sees a glance over at Masaomi, who is now hanging his head dramatically a few paces ahead of them. But he is grinning ]

But Tanabata's a summer festival which is sort of about wishes and... no one cares about it when there's not a festival. He tries to make it something though-- Oh! We also have New Years of course.

[gunslingerqueen]

Hey, that's the one thing I can cook! [Sort of - half the time? Or maybe like a third.

Mikado gets a huff at that, though!] How am I supposed to experience it if no one cares?! I want to try it! [Whether 'he' is Masaomi or some other pack member. She's very obviously not Japanese but, hell, she's already had to learn Russian stuff for Nathan, the multiculturalism might as well continue on! That, and it's fun learning stuff like that.

Though her ignorance also means that she's not comprehending the importance of New Years.]

I'd be worried if you guys didn't celebrate New Years! Everyone has to drink champagne and do the countdown!

[masabros]

You know what it is? [ That's Masaomi finally speaking up, an almost awed note in her voice. Who on earth knows what that weird mixture that Elda creates is. Sure he likes it, but at the same time he sort of knows it sounds gross in his head to a modern not-British sensibility?! Still, he sort of lets that hang in the air as he laughs at that next part, and h adds more for Mikado than anything, ] Haruki-nii'll beat you up for it, and Linda might too.

H-hey, no he won't! And Linda doesn't- care that much either! [ Huff. And he's ignoring that look Masaomi, focusing on new years. ] Mmmhm! And the little money we all get as kids, the mochi, and then a lot of the older people do a shrine visit early in the morning. Masaomi tends to join them.

[ Mikado isn't a morning person though. Plus that's just... he can do his Firsts elsewhere. ]

Hey, don't make me sound too superstitious, it's not like I'm ringing the bell 108 times!

[gunslingerqueen]

Yeah? My mom used to make it all the time before my dad died.

[Not for her, but just sort of in general, which also makes her vaguely worried they're talking about two different things. And now Mikado might as well be talking a whole different language. Shrines? Mochi? Bells???]

Uh ...

[Maybe start from the beginning!]

[masabros]

[ She's not Japanese... Mikado bows his head a little apologetically, and he grins a bit as he goes to explain, waving a hand ]

We're a pretty Japanese-oriented pack, which I-- I'm sure you noticed. So we imported a lot of Nw Years customs here and there. It kinda lasts New Years day and a bit after. Yori-san even happens to like some of those year washing away parties.

[gunslingerqueen]

[The name is damning but she really isn't Japanese in the slightest. There's undeniable proof to show for it.

And sorry Mikado but that explanation was only somewhat helpful because what the fuck is a washing away party? Does everyone wash each other? Is it ritualistic cleaning of the home??

Why isn't there a starter book that she can read.]

Are we supposed to know how to do all of that or is it going to be okay if we don't?

[It's going to be weird to know everyone is celebrating while they just stand off to the side.]

[masabros]

Maaka-san apparently didn't back when she joined either... but no, there's no way anyone would hold it against.

[ Masaomi, ahead of them, spins her finger in the air and grins a bit ]

Pluuuus, it's not like you can't learn or try to add or create you own little additions. I'll accept them.

[ But all the same, are they overwhelming her? they might be? Should he simplify that... ]

[gunslingerqueen]

[Th-they are but she doesn't want to admit it. It's nice to hear Mikado talk so openly, and she doesn't want to look stupid in front of them either.]

Ah, you're the holiday judge, now? What a brutal critic.

[Of course she'll try to learn, though she's not a big morning person either so maybe that shrine thing won't happen anytime soon.]

[masabros]

No, he's just an idiot.

[ To which Masaomi huffs, and Mikado, showing more confidence than he had in a while, grins as they make a turn onto the street proper ] Anyway, I hope Nate-kun is having fun at home now, and he can make more friends than just me.

[ Was he dismissing the holiday talk? no, not really. But he was giving it a side-step if she wanted to take it, because he was genuinely a little concerned about Nathan, who was as much out of water as she was, but he was a little bit younger too. ]

[gunslingerqueen]

I'm sure he's alright, and I'm hoping for the same! He's so quiet and he lets himself blend into the background a lot. I understand why, but he'd be so much better off if he was a little more out there ...

[That's the extrovert making demands of the extreme introvert, though, and it's wrong of her whether Nariko knows it or not. Still, if Mikado wanted to win points then talking about her brother is the way to do it, because even as she's worried she smiles.]

Oh, that reminds me! Are there museums around here, too?

[Nariko has no idea how to cure her own confusion and displacement, but Nathan would feel better if she could make come up with some fun outing kind of day - and he loves museums.]

[masabros]

I'm sure one of the extroverted people could drag him along somewhere... like Linda or Haruki-nii or... Masaomi.

Hey, hey, don't make me sound like the bad guy here!

[ But Mikado also knows that Nathan should move at his own pace, particularly because f how young he is. Still, he does find himself secretly hoping he's not alone at that big house right now, that one of their siblings or one of the adults was looking after him, playing with him right now. It's a silly wish to have on a debate, but he has it all the same. He smiles a little. Museums...? ]

There's uh... two. No, three. But the third one's kind of silly, really...

[gunslingerqueen]

[He wasn't alone when Nariko checked on him this morning! He'd been reading a book and had a whole plan for the day, apparently, so it was probably all just fine. Which isn't to say that Nariko isn't concerned in her own way, more that if she thinks about it too much she'll just insist on going back home.

Thankfully, she's distracted again.]

How is there such a thing as a silly museum?

[masabros]

It's a uh, it's a, it's ... a toilet. Museum. About the history of toilets.

[ He doesn't get it either. It's small and weird and run by one 93 year old man. And it makes Masami laugh, clapping at Mikado needing to explain that ]

[gunslingerqueen]

[...]

... You're joking.

[Even though Masaomi is laughing and Mikado is as straightforward as any real human being could be she just ... Can't comprehend that he might be telling the absolute truth.]

[masabros]

I'm not! No, there's a natural history museum, and then there's a small art museum, and then there's... the toilet one.

[ But called on it like this his cheeks are growing more and more read because Masaomi is apparently steadfastly refusing to save him socially here, not giving him the least bit of credibility here which is rude ]

[gunslingerqueen]

What has the world come to.

[If it makes Mikado feel any better she's in so much dumbstruck awe that she's not even paying attention to his mild humiliation here.]

Why in the world?! Who needs that! Who asked for it!

[She's actually just talking to herself here, but they can interject if they'd like!]

[masabros]

A ninety three year old man named Chek!

[ Which was Masaomi finally answering it between snickering at this whole thing. They're very nearly there, and Mikado is grumbling to himself a little at this pint. Rude. Rudest ever. But at least Masaomi wasn't making lame jokes or strange insinuations or... whatever. ]

[gunslingerqueen]

I'm so disturbed by this.

[But ... Mikado seems a little down now, so she reaches over to take his arm, tugging him a little closer even as they keep going.] Come on, though! You can still tell me about the others! Where's the natural history one? And you should already expect to take me to the art one!

[She looks at Masaomi in a sort of 'you'd better help me' kind of way.]