((OOC; Planned. Tag, Kealey. November 7th. Sunday. 2010.))

It was another lazy Sunday. Kealey and Shin were watching a movie in her room. Normally, it would have been in his room, but, well... his laptop was in her room, and he wasn't going to ask her to give it back just yet. How would she live without it? He'd survive just fine on his own, checking things out while he spent time with her. Like he needed more reasons to spend time with her? Currently, he was checking his e-mail, laptop perched on a tray on his lap, while Con Air rolled in the background.

They'd wanted to watch this movie for a while now. Homestuck had gone from making fun of it to becoming a sort of shrine. Of course they had to watch the movie that John adored. It made sense.

Kealey was seated next to him. Shin's eyes were on the laptop screen as Kealey watched Cameron Poe. It was nice. Shin scrolled away. The arrow hit 'inbox'. His new messages popped up. An eyebrow arched. Shin clicked a new letter. His emotions changed from curiosity and mild surprise to something else. Something positive. He brushed a tear from the corner of his eye with a plaid hoodie sleeve. For something so positive, it had a funny way of making him cry. It was a strange mix of positive emotions. Relief, joy, thankfulness... sadness. He tried to push them away for the moment, clicking out of the browser. Shin folded the laptop over and put it in 'hibernate'. His eyes rose to the television screen. Shin rested the side of his head on Kealey's shoulder, smiling.

ConAir. It was something they’d meant to watch since it had become obvious how central it was to Homestuck. How could you not watch it after reading so much about it? There were things that Kealey already knew to expect. Nicholas Cage…with that hair. The bunny…in the box. She hadn’t exactly expected the language, or the violence, but this was Con-Air! The movie was…probably so much better because of Homestuck.

Kealey was enjoying herself though, she was watching the movie with Shin. It was really nice. He was on his laptop, and Kealey had to admit that she felt a little guilty. She’d had it since he’d let her borrow it to read Homestuck. That had been a while ago, and Kealey was definitely caught up. She was sharing though, and Shin didn’t seem to mind. He didn’t seem to mind a lot of things, she thought with a small smile.

The emotions were there, as always, and Kealey found herself thoroughly enjoying the mutual contentment of the situation. Shin was curious about something on the computer, though, and Kealey couldn’t help but be a little curious herself. Shin’s email was Shin’s business though and she kept her eyes carefully trained on the movie. If it was something she needed to know about, he’d tell her. The emotions started to change though, and Kealey’s eyebrows drew together at the intense poignancy that started to emanate from Shin as he sat next to her and looked at the screen. The emotions weren’t alarming, but they were very strong, and Kealey found herself tearing up as she continued to try and focus on the movie. Something was going on and she practically squirmed with the desire to ask. Was that eavesdropping though? She didn’t know.

Telling herself again that if she needed to know what was on the screen that produced such intense emotion, Shin would let her know, Kealey made her eyes stay on the TV. It was the bunny in the box scene, she should have been raptly paying attention. She wasn’t.

Shin shut the laptop, and Kealey watched with comingled despair and continued curiosity as he set it to the side and laid his head against her shoulder. She laid her head against his.

”Is everything okay?” the words were unbidden but spoken anyway and Kealey cursed herself silently. Oh well, there was no going back now. ”I didn’t mean to….eavesdrop…but….” she said quietly, lifting her head again and frowning slightly.

"Things are fine," Shin said softly, words slow and with a bit of thought. He didn't move from her shoulder. It was too nice of a head-rest. He'd resolved the moment he got the e-mail that if she asked, he'd tell her. It was hard putting words to it, though. Shin tried. "I just got an e-mail from my sister. She said... she said my dad's okay with me being a mutant now, and that I can come home whenever I'd like." There was a spike in his happiness level as the words left his mouth. He couldn't help but grin sheepishly. "She's been working them over for a while now, trying to get them to accept me. The e-mail said it has finally paid off... turns out my dad's a mutant. Who knew?"

There was something to the psychology of that, his father pushing away his son because of how he was like ol' dad. Shin didn't consider it, though. Instead, he snuggled closer to Kealey, snaking an arm around her side. "Sasami says I'm invited up for Christmas. I think you should come with me, to Japan."

Shin said everything was fine, and Kealey nodded her head, even if he couldn’t see the motion. She really hadn’t meant to ask, but then again, Shin didn’t seem to mind answering. Sure, he was thinking out his answers, and sure that made Kealey a little nervous, but he didn’t seem to…wait.

She tilted her head slightly, eyebrows still drawn together as Shin smiled. He was so happy. But what he’d said…”They weren’t okay with it before?” Kealey felt sheepish suddenly, she’d never really asked much about Shin’s family, or how he‘d ended up in America. And wait…he could go home…home to Japan? Japan was a long ways away…Kealey ignored that for the moment and kept listening.

His sister had been working on his parents for a while…his dad was a mutant…Shin hadn’t known his dad was a mutant. All this family stuff, it was a lot for Kealey to take in. He was invited up for Christmas. He thought she should go. To Japan.

Kealey blinked and wrapped an answering arm around Shin, trying to process everything she’d just been told. ”That’s great news!” she said through her slightly confused haze of emotions. It was hard to be anything other than happy with how happy Shin was but still…

”I’m not sure I understand everything though…and you want me to go? Really?”

>>”They weren’t okay with it before?”

"Not since I told them," Shin replied casually. Normally, that would have made him a bit sad, but not today. The e-mail had made things better. It was easier to admit to things now. He'd never stopped loving his parents, even when they'd disowned him. They were owning up to him now. That was amazing. And he was even invited up for the holidays. Thank goodness for his sister.

He didn't notice the slight confusion in Kealey's voice. He wasn't being very perceptive. It was great news, though! Kealey wanted to know if he really wanted her to go with him. He nuzzled her shoulder happily. "Yup." Shin smiled, watching the movie. They might have to rewind it a bit now, to catch up with what he'd missed. Shin didn't stop looking at the television screen as he added simply. "I want you to meet my parents."

Why wouldn't he? He loved her. Her shoulder was very warm.

They’d never really been okay since he told them. And he was happy now? Kealey was so confused, and getting moreso by the moment. Apparently there had been problems when Shin had found out he was a mutant. Kealey didn’t want to be a buzz-kill, but there were so many different pieces that didn’t fit into place with what was going on.

Kealey’s hand crept up to worry in her hair as she tried to sort through all these things. Shin confirmed that he wanted her to meet his parents. Kealey was happy about that…but he hadn’t seen them since when? And for Christmas? Oh man.

”Shin…Maybe I’m dense, but I’m so confused.” she said candidly as he went back to watching the movie.

”All this time…your parents haven’t talked to you, been okay with who you are, and now they’re okay because your sister has been working on them? And we’re going to Japan for Christmas? That’s a long way away…I’m glad you’re happy, but I think I need a little background.”

She didn’t say the other thing on her mind. It didn’t need said. They’d kind of had this conversation once before, after they’d watched GARO. But this wasn’t going somewhere silly because of school…this was a chance to go home…to be with family.

Background would help. She’d definitely feel better after some background. Why hadn’t she asked this before?

She was... confused? That surprised him a little. Shin lifted his head up off of her shoulder and pulled away from Kealey. He looked at her. Why was she confused? It all seemed pretty simple to him.

Maybe things were simpler inside his head.

He listened to her concerns quietly, thoughtfully. She had a couple. Kealey didn't understand all that had happened. She needed to know more.

Shin understood.

Okay. He might not have understood every single thing she was thinking. For now, he'd handle the surface questions. They were easy enough.

"A short time ago, I went to Japan to visit family. While I was there, my cousin Kokoro's powers activated for the very first time. I spoke with her family and everyone decided to take her here, to America, to this school. She told her parents she was a mutant. They were okay with that. I'd already been living in America all this time. I moved here for a foreign exchange student program, and just sort of stuck around... got my card and all that. I didn't find out I was a mutant until after I moved here... and I never told them." He looked Kealey seriously in the eye, hoping she'd understand the complicated backstory. "Seeing how Kokoro's family took the news made me decide to tell my own parents. I thought they'd be understanding. They weren't." He shook his bowed head. His eyes rose again. They were more hopeful now. "My sister's e-mail says they're alright with it now, though. I'm no longer disowned. So... I want to talk with my father, Kealey, before he changes his mind. And I think you should come with me. Because the timing is right, and I want you to meet my parents, and it's pretty simple, and..." He was rambling a little, but not out of worry. Alright, maybe there was a little worry. He stopped. His voice urged her. "Please." Shin donned a small smile. "For me?"

Kealey was confused, now Shin was a little confused, but at least he wasn’t mad or impatient. Kealey hadn’t expected either of those emotions, but there was always the chance. Shin pulled back and looked at her, and Kealey looked back, serious but not frowning. He explained.

The more Shin talked, the worse Kealey felt. Why was she always finding these things out so late? Shin knew practically everything about her…and she never asked. Man, that was going to have to change. What must he think sometimes?

He’d been home to visit…after living in the US for quite some time and his cousin’s powers had manifested. It had felt like a good time to admit his own. It hadn’t worked out. Kealey still frowned at that, but Shin wasn’t bitter or angry…he was hopeful. She loved him even more for it. He was probably better than she would have been in that situation.

He wanted to talk to his father…before he changed his mind. Kealey was mad at his parents for him, but then realized she’d never known how her parents felt about her mutation. Maybe they’d have reacted similarly. She pushed her own bias aside. Shin was happy, she’d be happy for him.

His next statement made her smile and squeeze with the arm she’d wrapped around him earlier. He really wanted her to go. To go to Japan with him and meet his parents. ”Of course I’ll go with you. I never meant to make you think I’d stay behind. You’ll have to warn them about your ditzy, blond, Irish girlfriend though.” A thought struck Kealey and she frowned slightly.

”Shin. I don’t speak a word of Japanese.”

>>”Shin. I don’t speak a word of Japanese.”

"Hai," He smiled. "Yes. Something will have to be done about that." The way he said it was almost comical. "I can teach you. We've got time to help you learn a few words. I'm sure there are books at Full Circle you could get, too, and Ghost speaks a bit. It could be fun teaching you." He was getting more excited by the minute. "There's all sorts of phrases and symbols and rules. Watching Japanese shows could help. We can redouble our television-watching efforts! ... So much as my schedule permits. Kealey," Shin cut off, excitement lessening to a faint background hum. Shin leaned to the side and planted a playful kiss on her cheek. "Thank you," he said gratefully. "Christmas is going to be amazing."

The rest of Kealey’s concerns went unspoken, and unanswered. How could she bring something like that up when Shin was so happy? It was a silly concern anyway. They’d been over all of this. It wasn’t like Shin was asking her to stay behind and wait while he went and sorted things out with his family. No, he’d asked her to go along, wanted her to meet his parents. He said the timing was right. Kealey trusted him, but still couldn’t squash that tiny bit of trepidation welling up inside. She wouldn’t dignify it with attention either, though. Things would be just fine.

Shin agreed that her lack of prowess in the Japanese language was a bit of a problem. He also seemed to think they could give her enough of a crash course that she could learn the basics. Oh man…Kealey hadn’t ever really learned another language. She’d basically learned Gaelic and English at the same time.

Shin said they’d have to redouble their TV watching efforts and Kealey grinned. More TV meant more time together. ”As much as your schedule allows.” she said, then grinned.

”And I promise I’ll be the best student.” she joked.

He thanked her and Kealey actually blushed a little bit, she hadn’t done anything. ”I should be the one thanking you for wanting to take me along.” she said, ”And wanting to teach me.” she squeezed him again.

”As long as you’re there, Christmas will be perfect.”

>>”As long as you’re there, Christmas will be perfect.”

"Heck yeah, it will be," Shin grinned. He kissed her again and snuggled close, turning his head back towards the television. A hand reached out to snag the remote. The movie ran in reverse, back to the last scene he'd been paying attention to. Shin hit play.

"Don't move, or the bunny gets it!" The television proclaimed.

"This is a really good movie," Shin decided. Because he was watching it with her.

((OOC: Thread end.))