1127/Visiting Awami Shrine

Visiting Awami Shrine
Date of Scene:	17 February 2024
Location:	Awami Shrine
Synopsis:	Coco gets Yuuto to come to a nearby shrine for the next date, and shares with him the origin of this goddess of marriage. The two then make an offering to ensure their love is protected forevermore.
Cast of Characters:	Coco Kiumi, Yuuto Shiraishi

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Coco Kiumi has posed:
Coco had anticipated to Yuuto earlier that she knows what to do for their next date, but hasn't told him much more than that (she did tell him to wear something casually nice since he had asked). As for her part, she is wearing a form-fitting pale green sweater dress with a nice orange scarf with fringes, accompanied by a red trench coat, her yellow purse and red thigh high boots, with a bit of foundation and berry red lipstick. Dangling from her neck is the shell locket that houses her pearl.

She has given Yuuto another message once she is in place, forwarding him her location and waiting for him there. She doesn't want him to look up what they are about to visit until he has the shrine in front of them, even if it means waiting a bit more. She is standing back to a wall, waiting with a smile the arrival of her boyfriend, already thinking ahead of how nice it will be to see the shrine together.

Yuuto Shiraishi has posed:
It's a simple, sad fact that Coco may discover. The outfit that she bought for Yuuto is the nicest one that he has. And that is what he is wearing today, though the jacket has been swapped out for a warmer and longer coat that is closed up. On his wrist is the watch that he wears at all times - and her ring is settled easily upon his finger.

Catching sight of Coco as he arrives at where they agreed to meet - and has realized that Coco is giving him progressively later and later meeting times to make sure she is the one that arrives first is not lost on him and it brings an amused smile.

"Coco!" he calls out to her as he gets closer, taking in his Princess' appearance and he finds himself wondering once again how he found himself so fortunate to end up with the beautiful mermaid of the South Pacific as his love and holder of his heart. "You look amazing." he manages, his eyes rising up and down her, drinking in every once of her beauty with his emerald eyes as he holds out his arms to his girlfriend for an affectionate greeting.

Coco Kiumi has posed:
Yuuto looked good at the dates prior to that one though, so he isn't really a lost case. And he hasn't tried wearing cargo trousers at their dates, so really there are much sadder situations than his supposedly single nice outfit. Nonetheless, Coco does find herself appreciating the sight of him approaching, both in the terms of her love being here and in the term of liking how he looks, and this is far from being a situation like beauty being in the eyes of the beholder, as Coco would insist. No, Yuuto objectively looks good himself.

Coco wouldn't intentionally sabotage their playful contests this way, but today it was an exception, since she wants him to discover what the place they are visiting once he is there with her, and not a moment sooner. Better to listen to her own tale than be told the one distorted by humans.

"Thank you!" Coco beams at Yuuto when she is told she looks amazing. Resulting pleasing to Yuuto's eyes was definitely, her goal and one that luckily paid off. "I am so happy you are here, Yuuto. We are about to visit Awami Shrine, and I even have a bit of a story to share with you. Also it's important that you have this", she adds, passing Yuuto a candle. Regarding the shrine, Yuuto may or may not have heard it is dedicated to a goddess of marriage, depending on how much attention he pays to shrines.

Yuuto Shiraishi has posed:
After closing the distance, Yuuto gives Coco's cheek a soft kiss of affection, enjoying being close to her as the pair of them reunite even after a short time apart. "And I'm glad you liked the statue." he offers to her, "It'll take a couple of days to dry and set and then it will be ready for display. I may even enter it in the next art show at the school." That last part, he doesn't sound entirely sure about, but he's trying to be more self-confident around her.

As she has him surprised, he did get no chance to truly research where they are. And now that they are there, there's no need to. He's got a feeling that Coco knows where they are and will be glad to share the details - and really, Yuuto couldn't ask for a better or more beautiful tour guide.

Though when she mentions the name, it takes a moment, but he understands it, as she hands over the candle. He accepts it, his hands resting over hers for a moment and she can see how the ring sparkles on his finger. "It is a shrine dedicated to a goddess of marriage, right?" Those last words causes Yuuto's cheeks to warm and tinge a light red.

Coco Kiumi has posed:
Coco happily gives back that kiss of affection onto his cheek, also squeezing his hand as she does so, enjoying the brief moment of closeness with him, before going back and letting go of his hand. "I really couldn't have not liked it with all the effort you put into it, Yuuto", she tells him, recalling all the minute details that the photo had showed her. "I can't wait to see it in person, even just the picture was enough to tell me that. And if you don't get acclaimed enough, that's how you know the whole thing is a sham." Yes, she already feels quite strongly about it.

And Coco is quite joyful at seeing the ring shine on Yuuto's finger, a fact that prompts her to give him a peck on the lips. "I am glad you enjoy my present", the mermaid says, her eyes expressing how fond she is of that. She really couldn't ask for a better blessing, to have her feelings returned so promptly.

"Yes, that's right", Coco confirms with a nod. The fact Yuuto knows that gives her a point to start her tale. "It is said that those who inscribe their names and that of their love onto a candle and offer it to the shrine will have their love met for the rest of their life. The family directing the shrine could tell you the tale of this goddess, if asked, but I know it too, since it's rather special to us", Coco explains, the inflection of the last word clearly delivering who she meant by "us".

Yuuto Shiraishi has posed:
"You're a little biased, my Princess." Yuuto points out in amusement as she speaks so strongly on his talent. He's sure there will be other strong entries, but they'll see. And that's when she comments on her present and he chuckles. "Was I supposed to take it off?" he asks her. "I only do so to clean up... I assumed what it's meaning is and what it would mean if I did not wear it." So she can correct him on that if he's wrong.

The kiss is return, warm and brief before he moves to be by Coco's side, his arm offered to her if she wishes to hold it and they start towards the shrine. He listens to her explain the story and when she makes the distinguishment between the shrine family's story and hers, he lifts a brow, and then nods.

"I would love to hear your version of it, then," he offers to her lightly. "And I will make sure I spell your name correctly when I inscribe my candle." he suggests to her teasingly.

Coco Kiumi has posed:
Coco disagrees on being biased, but they really aren't there to talk about that. Rather, when he asks if he was supposed to take the ring off, she playfully pats the hand with the ring and replies "Of course not, I am just really happy to see you wear it, even if it may have come natural to you. It means a lot to me", Coco pridefully grins at him while she delivers the explanation.

"There isn't really a difference", Coco starts by addressing the confusion. "Well, besides a difference of perspectives, maybe. We are narrating the same story from different points of view." And that may matter a lot in how the story is told.

"You see, the goddess of this shrine is actually one of us, from a long long time ago. She went to land often because that's where his love was, even as she did not dare to actually meet him, as a wrong move could be fatal, as you know."

She takes out a multi-use knife from her bag and another candle, starting to carve her whole name. "However one day her love went to sea just as a storm hit, and he was lost, not knowing what to do or where to do."

Once Coco is done, she repeats the process this time with Yuuto's name. "That's actually when the mermaid decided to risk it, and grabbing wood from nearby, she made a torch out of it, and keeping the fire away from the turbulent waters, she revealed herself to the man and started leading him to shore." Once she is done, Coco passes the knife to Yuuto.

"The man survived and had a family, who built this shrine to honour the event, turning the mermaid into a symbol of love and its protector. From then, the ritual of the candles was born, with the saying that she would use the flame to guide the lovers happily in life much as she did the man to shore."

Yuuto Shiraishi has posed:
When she tells him that the ring stays on, Yuuto offers Coco a warm smile. "I'm already getting used to it. I sleep with it on." he explains, so in a way, she's in bed with him every night already. But then she starts into the explanation.

While she goes through it all, he pays attention to how she carves her name in the wax, so that he can make sure he does it the same as well. "So he was how we were... if you had not told me your truth before you showed me what you were?" he asks her curiously. She had warned him what could have happened if he had fell in love with her without realizing she was a mermaid.

With the knife in his hands, he starts to work on the candle. She's seen him work with clay, and it seems that he is capable of handling wax just as easily as he starts to scribe their names into his candle.

"And what happened to the mermaid?" he asks her, his green eyes cast over to the young woman curiously as he finishes his scribing work and wipes the blade off on his jacket before closing it to pass it back to her.

Coco Kiumi has posed:
"Already getting used to the prospect of being Prince Consort?" Coco teases Yuuto with the question, even as her tone transmits all the fondness she has for Yuuto. Bringing a lover's ring with you everywhere, to bed even, is quite meaningful after all, and something he would naturally do after they marry.

And the mermaid princess nods as her prince inquires about the parallels between their situation and that of the story. "Yes, had Yuri not revealed me to you, you could have only known the me on land and the me in the ocean separately, and if by chance you met and fell in love with me in the ocean, I could have only watched you pine after the mysterious mermaid without being able to tell you I was right there." Coco sighs as she admits this.

She is really glad that didn't happen. To be unable to be loved because the one you love is chasing after another you would have been horrible.

Coco looks unsure when asked about the mermaid's fate. "That's where the story gets uncertain, but the accepted version, and the happiest one, is that eventually the man found out the mermaid's identity on his own and they were able to be together." She squeezes Yuuto's hand as she adds "That's also the one I believe in."

Yuuto Shiraishi has posed:
"I could see myself next to you, Princess." Yuuto responds to her quietly, but affectionately. He's clearly growing more used to the idea of being the Princess' groom, as she teases him gently and lovingly.

Though her comment on things makes him chuckle. "And what of the mermaid, that's would be in love with the emerald eye'd boy, forever pining for him as she watched him make statue after statue of her, seeing how much he loved her, and yet unable to return that love." But they do not need to consider that as he kisses her cheek warmly and a soft admission of his love for her in her ear.

"Then that is the story I will accept as well." he agrees when she makes it known what the widely accepted story is. Because he knows that could have just as been that the mermaid guided him to land and it was her last act of love before she returned to the ocean. His hand squeezes hers in return.

"And maybe, someday..." he muses. "A little blonde hair girl will be telling a similar story on how her parents met." he offers teasingly. "Except in her story, they met in the heat of battle, and fell in love in a song."

Coco Kiumi has posed:
"I really hope so", Coco confides affectionately brushing his hair, imagining that scenario he outlined. "Because I want the future to become the present."

Coco looks at Yuuto uncertaintly as he asks as that question, wondering what about it makes him chuckles. "That mermaid would do her best to remain optimistic day after day always showing a smile on her face, never failing to believe that one day he will find out the truth and the dream of their love will become reality. But at the same time, that mermaid in her human form wouldn't be able to stop trying either, and there is no telling what the boy's reaction would be then."

"That's good", Coco smiles satisfied as Yuuto declares he will follow that version. It's always better than the ending where the mermaid can't bear her love anymore and reveals herself, becoming seafoam. "That ending means the family of the shrine has some mermaid blood in them, however diluted it is now", she observes.

"And then, the little blonde girl would narrate of how the mermaid brought her lover to stay at her side in her magical underwater palace, and they held for each other consummated love, a fortuitous event having decided that their love story would win over all obstacles", Coco joyfully continues the events imagined by Yuuto, then rubbing her nose against his."

Yuuto Shiraishi has posed:
"Thankfully, Coco, that mermaid and that young man have a different story to write. A story of love in a song, a relationship carved in stone. A consumation made in the waves, and happy life with a family that they make." Yuuto offers to her, a little push of his nose to hers and a kiss.

"We should concentrate on what we're here for." he teases softly. "Otherwise, we may be here the rest of the night talking our hopeful what ifs and making out." It's a soft tone, warm and affectionate. The time could not pass fast enough to be hers and only hers.

His attention turns to the shrine and he closes his eyes to the hair play. "Now come on, before you distract me further." he manages, a blush on his cheeks at the warmth that she brings about so easily within him.

Coco Kiumi has posed:
Yes, they don't have to worry about bad scenarios, because they live in the best possible moment ever and anything else is just a powerless shadow. "We are going to be a great family, I know", Coco smiles at Yuuto.

And then the happy reverie of the future ends when Yuuto reminds Coco of what they are here to do. "Sure, now that we have the carved the names, we only have to light out candles and leave *them there*", she explains, taking out a lighter and passing it to Yuuto for him to follow onto that.

"I can"t wait for thar day to come, where we will have our first child after our marriage", the mermaid confides with joy.

Yuuto Shiraishi has posed:
Best ever timeline, yep. When Coco speaks of family, Yuuto's hand tightens in hers, as they turn to head to where she indicated to set up their candles. As they do, she releases his hand so she can find the lighter and pass it over. He holds onto it as they head up to the shrine location, the two high schoolers pretty much insepertable at this point.

Then her soft little wish comes out and Yuuto grins aside to Coco. There's so much time, but he can see that future she's crafted for him. All but etched in the stone that he uses to make his sculptures. "I'm sure you have a name already in mind." he teases her softly, a light bump of his shoulder to hers as they arrive at their destination.

Coco Kiumi has posed:
After installing the candle, Coco just leans against Yuuto, lowering her head onto his shoulder slightly, watching the soft light of their candles shine among all the others placed there as she holds his hand. "You know, I wanted us both to do it, but most people who come here are those that seek their love assured rather than helped against adversities, so they typically only one candle." Looking around, the paired candles were indeed outnumbered by the single ones.

"But just seeing our two flames just flickering together, I hadn't realised how powerful it would have been. It really makes me feel that we will be together forever, and I don't want to let go of your hand more than ever, because that's really how I want us to be, appreciating the warmth of each other's vicinity more than ever."

Coco squeezes his hand just a little bit tighter at his question. "I do. I have started considering alternatives ever since meeting you, and I really want our first to be either Katarina or Eileen."

Yuuto Shiraishi has posed:
After she sets her candle, Yuuto sets his. The wick is lit, and the pair of candles are joined together, their flames flicking against each other in a dance. Little touches, burns. As if sharing intimate touches and kisses much the same way that the pair that placed them do. As Coco lays out her logic on what the flames mean and that she was offering a double blessing for their relationship.

"Maybe, because she's part of your family, she will also see a brighter flame, like the one that she set for her love, and know that is one that is strong and true and will offer it extra power." he comments to her softly, being an utter romantic about it as his hand is firmly in hers and he twines his fingers between hers to squeeze. She can feel the metal of his engagement ring against her fingers. And then she starts to speak on names, and he gets a fond little smile.

And when he speaks, it's a tone of warm amusement and affection. "Those are fine names, Princess..." and a wink. "But what if it's a boy?" But of course, she's a mermaid Princess, he probably should realize that they are going to be a family of girls. And he'll love them all.

Coco Kiumi has posed:
"We are both mermaids, that's where our connection to each other starts and ends", Coco whispers to him, keeping her nature to his ears only. "But I guess that's a lot more than most people here." They both have a human lover they hold dear to their heart, in that way, that's a story that countlessly repeats with mermaids, connecting them all.

"Mermen are quite rare for our kind", Coco says, softly poking his cheek at his amused tone. "If we do get a boy, then we can easily find some proper names, but we can pretty much expect that all three of our children will be girls. I hope that's not a deal breaker to you", she quips playfully, reaching for the same cheek she poked with a kiss. Not to speak of the rarity of those that behave like clownfish.

"What about you? Do you have any name preferences?", Coco asks as she goes back to lowering her head.

Yuuto Shiraishi has posed:
"Just as we will both be merfolk if things play out right." Yuuto reminds her, a snicker as she pokes at his cheek. It's warm and still carrying some baby fat to it, but will probably be gone in the next couple of years. "I'm a hopeless romantic, Coco. You're going to have to put up with me imagining that the world wants this to work." he whispers as he turns to kiss her lightly.

"It is not a deal breaker, in the least, I hope that you may realize that I might want more than three too." he teases her back, considering the options that she's laid out before him, he thinks.

"Maybe Miharu or Kanami?" he asks, reaching into his native roots. They'll figure out the names when it's time. But he can respect Coco wanting to keep the names more in line with the Princess line, if that's what she's aiming for.

Coco Kiumi has posed:
"I would love you either way", Coco reminds him in response. "This is how I met you after all, and the Fade is really the only thing that is forcing our hand." She does not want him to believe that she is only accepting him before of a promise to change.

"Still, I appreciate you wanting to accomodate our future so much, so the fact you are actively imagining that future? That's no problem at all, and I am doing the same, so..." she points out to him with a grin, pressing back with her lips when she is kissed, a gesture that takes away her time.

Yeah, Coco hadn't considered that he might want to a more numerous family, and raises an eyebrow in amused surprise. "Oh? My future husband wants me to carry more than three children? And how many would he want? I am sure we can work things out", Coco offers, instinctively cuddling against Yuuto a bit more, as if mirroring the intimacy of the talk.

The mermaid isn't really aiming for anything, she is just selecting names that sound good, and she definitely appreciates Yuuto's own input. "Miharu is a very nice name, and I am not against Kanami either."

Yuuto Shiraishi has posed:
"We're going to figure it out, and be together for a very long time, my Princess." Yuuto promises as he slips his arms around her waist, holding her close to him. The kiss is sweet and lingering, and then they part again. "I mean, it's just an idea. Let's get to three and we'll see..." he offers to her diplomatically. "I figure we'll know when we're ready to stop." comes the suggestion.

"Then it sounds like we have four names." he points out, however. So maybe four children? She's cuddling and he's enjoying every bit of her warmth against him as he gives her a quick snuggle. "Want to grab a bite to eat? I'm pretty sure our prayers have definetly been answered."