1099/A Pool of Plants and Love

A Pool of Plants and Love
Date of Scene:	09 February 2024
Location:	Plot Room 1
Synopsis:	Yuuto and Coco have a lovely date exploring the mermaid's underwater garden. How to best conciliate teamwork between the Steam Sentinels is discussed too.
Cast of Characters:	Coco Kiumi, Yuuto Shiraishi

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Coco Kiumi has posed:
It is a good day for a date with her Yuuto, and today Coco is fulfilling a promise she made a few days prior: she invited Yuuto to her private underwater garden. This one didn't need them to teleport anywhere, unlike Yuuto's visit to her castle. It was in a Tokyo house she bought just for that purpose a few months ago, and that was enough time for the corals she cultivated to grow splendid and colourful.

She had given Yuuto the address via a message and she is waiting for him there with a surprise in mind: she left the door just slightly open and then hid inside the pool waiting for him to come in so she can greet him with a jump and a kiss.

Yuuto Shiraishi has posed:
Talking to Coco via text or on the phone is now a daily thing between the young couple. Yuuto had eagerly accepted the invitation that Coco sent to visit her at her place. At first he was surprised she could afford it, but was reminded that she is a Princess with access to an underwater treasury.

The learning curve for a possible Prince Consort is steep.

Arriving at the home, he rings the bell, but getting no answer and seeing the door slightly ajar, there's a moment of worry as he slides the door aside to make his way in. "Coco?" he asks gently.

She has the advantage of surprise and he is completely unaware of the fact that she's waiting on him, as he's still in his school uniform, but carrying his gym bag with his swimsuit and towel within.

Coco Kiumi has posed:
Coco is laying in wait for her amorous prey as she has her ears well trained on the sound of footsteps coming in. She is spending the time blowing a stream of bubbles onto some algae. Mentally, she is going over the the prospect of their upcoming date, a though that leaves her quite charged with enthusiasm. This will be lots of fun, she tells herself.

It is then she finally hears the expected sound. 'Here I go then, I hope he will enjoy this one', she thinks readying herself and kicking the water with tail, jumping upwards and then falling to Yuuto. "Welcome, Yuuto!", she exclaims, giving him a kiss once she reaches her target.

Yuuto Shiraishi has posed:
Just as Yuuto was starting to worry that there might be something wrong and growing concerned, the young man walks right into the trap of his romantic girlfriend and her passion play to get his attention. The water sparkles off of her as she goes high into the air, giving the young man a full view of her mermaid body before collapsing into him.

And then suddenly, Mermaid Pounce! With the blonde in his arms, he wraps his arms around the girl, nearly falling backwards as he supports her weight in his arms. "Coco!" he manages in full surprise before she claims his mouth in a kiss. He kisses her back firmly, far more affectionately than usual before he pulls back and laughs as he realizes that his clothes are totally soaked now.

"I'm glad I brought a bag with my swimtrunks and a towel, it'll give my clothes time to dry out." he offers with amusement as he noses against Coco for another kiss. "Hi." Not quite ready to let her go yet. But when they finally do seperate, he asks, "Is there a place for me to change?" he asks, almost shyly about the idea of changing his clothes in her home.

Coco Kiumi has posed:
Coco worries a little she overdid it when she notices him stumbling as she lands, but that worry passes once he becomes steady again, and then he kisses her back, leaving her focused on enjoying the affection from Yuuto she is giving just as strongly.

When they stop kissing, she smiles at him and says "Did you enjoy the surprise?", holding him strongly by his upper back and looking at him with eyes shining with happiness. She is very much content with how he went, despite the initial worry.

When he points out that luckily he has things to change into to dry out his clothes, she quips back with a smile "I sure hope you would have brought swimtrunks to a pool date", she smiles before the second kiss is initiated. When they separate from that one, the mermaid gets a question she promptly answers.

"You can use any of the doors you see. I don't really use the other rooms since I only needed a space for a pool. They are quite barren due to that", she replies before waiting to be lowered next to the side of the pool. Or tossed into it, that's the same thing in the end even if it will come as a surprise.

Yuuto Shiraishi has posed:
His hands settle on the small of her back, just where she transfers from human to mermaid, his fingers appreciating the feel and warmth of her under his hands. "It was a very good surprise." Yuuto responds with warm amusement somewhere between more kisses that are shared.

"What, I could have come to skinny dip." And she can see him warm in his cheeks, turning bright red. That is so an empty threat. "Alright, let me get you back in the pool and I'll go change."

And as amusing as it may be to throw Coco back into the pool, he is a boy of manners and he lowers to his knee to gently ease his Princess back into the water. They can play later. Right now, he's being her sweetheart.

And once he seperates from her, he moves to one of the empty rooms, closing the door so he can start to undress and change.

"How long have you had this place, Coco?" he asks her curiously. "I almost thought you'd have rooms for your friends here by now." There's a slight teasing tone in his voice as he goes through the changing process, hanging up his wet clothes to dry off as he digs out his clothes from the gym bag.

Coco Kiumi has posed:
"Fantastic, a surprise well done is always satisfying", Coco says before adding "it just wouldn't have been the same if only I would have enjoyed it", which is followed by a gentle caress of his hair.

"Count me surprised, I would have never imagined my boyfriend to be so brazen", she teases him a little over the empty threat. She resists the urge to playfully boop him as his cheek redden. It is a bit adorable seeing a threat backfire like that with any doing on her part. "You are so cute right now", she instead tells him.

And when he gently lowers her to the pool, she reaches up to caress the left side of his face and giving him one last kiss of thanks before he goes change.

"It wasn't that long, I have reached the surface during August last year, and it took me a few months to get everything settled", she tells him after he gets into the other room. "I bought it sometime in November, and I don't even live in here myself, so there would be no need to invite my friends to spend a few days here", the mermaid gives him a straightforward answer despite his teasing tone.

Yuuto Shiraishi has posed:
"I enjoy that your spontaneous, Coco." Yuuto responds with a small chuckle. "I mean, that's what our relationship has been so far, one spontaneous moment after another. And I look forward to see where it takes us next."

It takes a few minutes, and a bit more blushing before he opens the door.

And yeah, he's pretty demure at the moment. Dressed in the standard school swimsuit that goes down to just above his knees, she gets a good look at his runner's physique as he makes his way over to the pool. "Well?" he asks, waiting for her opinion of him, trying his best not to be any more red than he's ever been.

Making his way to the side of the pool, he lowers down to sit on the edge, his legs settling into the water to enjoy the feel of it. "That's fair." he responds to her comment about not living here. "But it's nice to have your own private getaway that's pretty close, as compared to having to teleport, hmm?" he asks her, his hands resting on either side of him.

Coco Kiumi has posed:
"I can already see where it will bring us from my point of view", she chuckles. "With you as my actual Prince, as opposed to just a term of endearment", she reminds him. She has no intention nor reason to back down from that as long as he doesn't.

"That will only change if you feel like it wouldn't be for you", she adds not to make it sound like something he doesn't have any input on. She will have to get over it if it does happen, but it would happen eventually.

"You look handsome no matter what you wear", she smiles at him as he asks for her opinion. "But that swimsuit does look good", she compliments his choice, waiting for him to come in. "You can take your time with getting used to it, but I want you to know you don't have anything to be nervous about."

"I think that this place is truly convenient because I can be alone to think here as opposed to what it would be like if I kept my garden at the South Pacific. Besides, it's very impractical to teleport my friends and boyfriend over all that distance every single day." She would get spent in an instant.

Yuuto Shiraishi has posed:
"I have been thinking on it." Finally, Yuuto slips into the water, moving closer to Coco so that he can slip his hands into hers. "I still have a lot to learn about you, your world, but if you're willing to be patient with me while I'm working my way through it?" he asks her, a warm smile that touches his eyes as he treads his feet to stay above the surface.

"That's what long engagements are for, right?" he asks her with a small, warm, affectionate smile.

"I'm sure a tail would look better." he offers as a counterpoint to the swimsuit, apparently trying to flirt with her in return, even if he is nowhere near as skilled.

"I do like the idea that we can just come here and relax and spend time together without you feeling tired." he offers in agreement as he moves his hands to settle on her sides.

"We have a little time before we have to worry about the Fade, after all." he points out to her.

Coco Kiumi has posed:
Coco doesn't waste time in approaching Yuuto when he gets in, squeezing his right hand when he slips his in hers. "Of course, you don't have feel like it's something looming over you, you have all the time you need. I'd much rather you saw it as something nice that can be there in the distance future", she suggests.

"That's true yes, but I thought we were still at the boyfriend and girlfriend", and her eyes twinkle mischievously as she adds "Not that I mind already being engaged."

"It would yes, but it would just be a final flourish on you, not something that is a deal breaker. As long as it's you, nothing else matters", she says, smiling softly and gently curling her tail around his leg.

When his hands settle on her sides, she rest a hand around where his shoulder is and says "It's really convenient, yes, and here, you can get around without having to be confined to the interior of my castle."

The mention of the Fade makes Coco furrow her brow. "I wasn't addressing it when I said that. Frankly, that's really unsettling, a ticking time bomb over our heads as you have only so much time to learn how to lucid dream before your memories are gone", she confesses her worries.

Yuuto Shiraishi has posed:
"I know. Which is why I was saying yes to it. We can look at it as a way of getting to know each other better." Yuuto suggests in response as his emerald eyes search her gold ones, his filled with affection for the mermaid princess.

And he feels her tail curl around him, pulling him closer to her embrace, which he accepts eagerly.

"It's going to be me. No matter what else happens, Coco." he promises to her. "I'm here. And I want to be here. Either in your pool, your castle, right next to you. I'll help when you want me there." he promises her, before he notices the brow pinch and he lets out a breath.

"I know. And I do not want to wake up one morning and realize that I let the one I want to be with slip through my fingers because I did not reach out to grasp her when I had the chance." He presses his forehead to hers as he moves around in the water with her. "I'll figure out how to start learning, Coco." comes his words as he presses another light kiss to her, trying to ausage her fears.

Coco Kiumi has posed:
Coco stares back at those eyes filled with affection, those mesmerising emerald pools that radiate love she can feel and once more she slowly and tenderly kisses his lips. "You are just unique. How did I luck out to be with you?", she whispers to him lovingly.

And as she listens to his promise, she breathes with cosy satisfaction, softly booping at his nose with a smile. "I ask for nothing better than that, Yuuto. That is already a great miracle."

She reaches closer, turning around and resting against his said, the end of her tail, still curled against him. "When the Fade claims others' memories, people still remember being friend, they just forget the magical things they did together. But so much of me is magic. How do we know you will remember me at all?"

Coco shakes her head. "Sorry, that's not exactly date talk", the mermaid points out with a smile on her lips. "I invited you to see my garden and I am just making you worry." She moves away from his side. "So! Ready to take a breath and dive a bit?" she suggests energetically.

Yuuto Shiraishi has posed:
"I'm unique? I'm just a guy that likes to play with rocks. If anything, I'm the lucky one to have a mermaid Princess decide that I'm special enough to give a moment of her time and heart to." Yuuto responds with a snicker as she boops his nose and he wrinkles it in response as she leans in against him, taking in the warm of her, the feel of her breath on his skin causing small goose-pimples.

"That is no great miracle. It is just a small one that two people in love make every day." he points out to her, before she makes he's good and wrapped up against her.

"Then we will find a way that I will never forget you, Coco." he promises her. "Either as your Prince Consort... or we'll find a way." He's confident in her that they will figure it out. Their love will find a way. "Your magic isn't just that you're a mermaid, my sweet Coco. You're magic is how you just know exactly what to say, what to touch, just to know how best to make my heart skip."

She's moving to change the subject though, and he nods. "This is far more serious than date talk." he teases. It's more like forever talk. "So yes. I've been practicing holding my breath!" he teases, but, there's one more squeeze, bringing them close together in a warm embrace. "Ready when you are!"

Coco Kiumi has posed:
"Should we try counting the number of guys who have won over my heart?" she rhetorically suggests to Yuuto. "It won't take long, in fact here is how we are going to do it, only use your hands and keep 9 of your fingers closed", she remarks.

"Point is, you are unique, Yuuto. And really, mermaids are dime a dozen where I come from, and even if you restrict it to princesses, there are 6 more still. So, don't ever think like demeaning yourself again. That's so far from you", she stares at him, the impression of a burning aura on her skin.

"I love you, you are enthusiastic, attentive, kind, fun to be around, and you know some great catchphrases", she says, her appreciative tone tinged by slight amusement over the last thing.

"Those are all magics you have too" Coco retorts smiling to her boyfriend. Since she is trying to change the subject, she is not going to stress the fact that saying her magic is more than being a mermaid doesn't change the fact the Fade may very well make her existence crumble since it and magic almost completely overlap.

"Let's go then!" Coco enthusiastically declares diving below the water and waiting for Yuuto to reach her there, floating next to the colourful coral looking upwards.

Yuuto Shiraishi has posed:
How does she know exactly what to say and when to say it? Yuuto swears that she must have gone to some special school to know how to wrap him around her little finger as easily as her tail wraps around him in that affectionate embrace.

"I apologize." he offers honestly to Coco. "It's unbecoming for me to sell myself short of what you see in my, Coco." he admits quietly, his eyes searching hers. "You're my first real relationship and... it's more than I could ever imagine, so I'm getting used to it all. And I love you too." he admits, before she makes sure the subject is changed and Coco starts her dive.

Drawing in a few quick breaths, Yuuto takes one more deeper one and then dives down after her, his feet kicking, arms to his side as he moves to follow her down to the colorful coral.

As he gets close, he stays near Coco, his eyes opening to take in the wildlife she has cultured, and how wonderfully she stands out amongst it.

Coco Kiumi has posed:
'Why not try to fix this 'unbecoming' way of thinking too?' Coco is tempted to tell him. She don't want Yuuto to look at this whole matter as something that isn't proper for him to do, but instead that it's important to recognise that his worth is something independent of what she sees. Because it actually is there, she is just recognising it out.

However, she says nothing of the sort for now, because she doesn't want to give him the feeling she is just going to nag him with every little thing, or worse, turn his low self-esteem around and making Yuuto think there are an endless list of things that are bad about himself. The important thing is Yuuto has taken a step forward on the way to acknowledge his own greatness.

The mermaid kicks her tail and nuzzles happily against him as Yuuto looks at the fruit of her hard work. "This is what I have been doing with it, so thanks a lot for being here and appreciating it", she tells the diving Yuuto, reading his approval of her efforts in those beautiful emerald eyes of his. "And now, I have brought the crowning achievement of my garden here, and I didn't actually do anything to contribute. That was that existed something long before than this garden was put together."

She kisses Yuuto underwater, just the minimal time allowed not to disrupt his focus over his breathing. She then just brushes her fin against him, letting him feel the velvety texture as a way to make an extra soft embrace.

Yuuto Shiraishi has posed:
Yuuto can use the little nudges every once in a while. She has caught on that as much as he lifts everyone else up, he seems to be the hardest on himself. And her little encouragements are starting to work as he focuses on holding his breath as he watches Coco swirl around and entice him.

His emerald eyes are affectionate as he nods to her, not yet attempting to speak underwater, unsure if this is similar to her castle, where he could communicate with her freely and breathe.

When she kisses him, Yuuto closes his eyes, leaning into the return kiss, letting the Princess know exactly how much he feels for her. The light caress of her fin on his skin almost makes him laugh with as soft as it is, his hands caressing along her tail as she passes by as he shares in those light and affectionate touches.

His attention turns to the coral and plants, reaching out, but not touching - he had been doing his research since he started dating Coco and learned that coral does not like human touch, so he's careful not to disturb.

Coco Kiumi has posed:
Coco musically hums when she feels his gentle caresses on her tail, the touch pleasantly serene. This is a much better date than when she was bringing the mood down earlier. And Yuuto can get all the positive encouragement he needs, because that's one thing Coco will never run out of, when all she has to do is speak out on those feelings she has erupting from under the skin.

She does solve the unspoken question for him when she addresses the situation. "I wish I could have gotten this place enchanted just like people did with my palace, then I could hear you talk and you wouldn't have to strain yourself.

She look at him intensely with the strength of those feelings before saying "There is nothing about you I would ever want to cut off. You are my perfect prince."

She leans wholly into the soft caresses on her tail as she keeps nuzzling against him and pointing out a few beautiful colours. "What do you think about those vivid red algae over there? Do you like them?"

Yuuto Shiraishi has posed:
After several moments, Yuuto jerks his thumb up. Not being enchanted has a drawback. And while he can hold his breath longer than most of his peers due to his training, even he needs to surface - which is what he is gesturing to when he rises up and breaks the surface to draw in several deep breaths. "Remind me to bring a rebreather next time!" he comments to Coco, which is a promise there will be a next time.

Her words went right to his heart and he feels it deep down, inspired by her words and thoughts, encouraged to make sure he can reciprocate it all in kind. Just give him a moment to catch his next lungful of air.

But in the meantime, it gives him a chance to answer questions and make comments. The first he already did, so he can make sure to spend more time under the surface with her.

"You are as perfect for me as well, Coco. I could see being your Prince for the rest of your life." he admits to her quietly as she comes in close to him again and nuzzles and he shares in the affectionate caress, his hand drawn along her side when she passes by. "They are bright. I love the use of all the colors you have going, Coco. It is almost as lovely as you are."

Coco Kiumi has posed:
Not that either of them know it, but next time Yuuto isn't going to get a rebreather, since Coco would have gotten back the Sealing Key made by Aqua Regina. But for now she nods towards Yuuto. "You can count on it."

"Thank you, Yuuto, you are definitely the best part of what you see here, today's visit to my garden just wouldn't mean anything without you." She kisses deeply with Yuuto, taking advantage of the fact that he has reemerged to go ahead without causing him discomfort.

"Yuuto, what is it that you want to do to help things going forward, both in our normal life and against your enemies? I realise we talk often about how to help you get into being my Prince Consort, but never the other way around. So if there is something you want me to help with directly, please tell me now."

Yuuto Shiraishi has posed:
There was about to be said something said, but when Coco presses to him in a deeper kiss, his arms wrap around the mermaid, pressing the kiss back to her for several moments, before she seperates from him, and presents him with the thoughts on her mind.

"I am happy to visit here anytime you want me to, Coco. And I'm honored to be invited into such a part of your life."

And when she presents her question, he gives it thought, and breathes out. "I just discovered there are others." he admits. "Tinker told me there were, but I had never met them. And now there are two more. I want to find them and talk to them. The Cogs, their Dark Generals, the whole thing... we have to stop them from turning the world intio soulless automations. That's the important part." he admits.

"As for how you can help me now? Just... be with me. When I talk to them, if you can? I'm not the greatest at making new connections, but I'm going to try my best and hopefully Blaze and Fours will see me as a friend."

Coco Kiumi has posed:
"Having allies is a good thing", she nods at Yuuto. "Especially those that live through the exact same things as you. So you want to connect with Blaze and Fours? We can definitely find a way to." Getting a cohesive group going is an essential part of any defense you want to get going.

Coco has found that here in Radiant Heart, it's a surprisingly common event that you won't know where your allies will be from. A lot of times it makes her wonder what their manager or leader or anyway, entity spearheading the fight against evil is like.

"If you find them, I can help you hold them some sort of team building party, so that you can chat over good food and the likes. That's probably a good way to instaurate a friendship, I believe. Do you agree? Or do you have your own ideas?" she suggests, placing her hands on his back and curling her tail one more around his for a full body hug, hopefully something Yuuto finds comforting.

Yuuto Shiraishi has posed:
As she wraps around him, he feels comfortable, loved. Yuuto laughs lightly. "I wonder what it will be like when we tangle tails together. Does that mean something special?" he asks her curiously, before he nods. "Any help I can get with that, it would be helpful." comes his thoughts on the matter. His own hands caress her back in return.

"I mean, I came across them both in the library. Blaze seemed almost... scared to be one, and I don't know about Fours." He lets out a breath. "I hope I can inspire them. At least you know, let them know they aren't alone." A small shrug of his shoulders in thought, a motion she will feel against her body.

"Which only reminds me how fortunate I am that I have you."

Coco Kiumi has posed:
"Tangling tails together?" she smiles. "It's certainly nothing you do with any random merfolk you meet outside. It's not necessarily romantic, but it's a bond so deep that you only see the closest of siblings, friends, and of course lovers do it. It's saying that to you they are a person that enrich your life so much that it would be dull without them." Which has certainly made it plenty popular in romantic novels.

"You don't initiate that unless you are very very sure the other person likes you that well, and misjudging a situation can be very bad." Coco winces here. "But I believe that's something you would have felt appropriate." She doesn't retract her tail at all during the explanation.

The fact Blaze seemed scared leaves Coco pondering. "So, was it like a sink or swim situation for her at the time? That would explain why she was like that. Maybe it would be well to chat her up for some training sessions so she can build her confidence. At least, that's the course of action I would choose. Try to suggest that, maybe." Coco caresses Yuuto's head in reaction to the shrug. He had nothing to worry about, just the way he had taken it to heart was only meant to show he is doing well as a teammate already."

"I am so glad I have you too. I will start organising the catering, and let you know how it goes", she smiles, rubbing her nose against his.

Yuuto Shiraishi has posed:
"Oh, so this is something that you only do with the most loving of intentions." Yuuto responds, feeling the warmth of his cheeks that matches the warmth that he feels with her around him. When she explains it further, there's a light kiss to the side of her neck, just below her ear. "My life would be much duller without you, my Princess." he admits softly.

And there's no need for her to retract her tail. He's accepted her. And she initated, and he folds up his legs to capture the bottom of her tail in an attempt to reciprocate the gesture of affection. "And yes, very much appropriate for us."

"Tinker said that her mahou had been trying for a while to convince her to put on her henshin device." comes his response as he nods. "I was going to try to track them both down, figure out what it is we all do and how we can work best together." he offers in agreement. As she caresses him further, he closes his eyes, just enjoying the feel of his girlfriend against him so warmly, appreciating her love and support.

The nose rub makes him chuckle though, bringing him back and a light kiss to her mouth. "Such a Princess, with the catering and support and all. No wonder I love you." he teases lightly.

Coco Kiumi has posed:
"Yes, exactly. I felt secure doing this with you, because we have been discussing our lives and how we see our future together so much that I knew it was right to do. So, I took this chance", she beams at him a smile full of affection and trust, and those same feelings can be read in her eyes.

When he tries to reciprocate the concept despite their differences, a joyful noise escapes escapes her lips and she whispers to him "That's so adorable. Thank you so much, for being that special, Yuuto."

"That seems like the right thing to do", she agrees. "I hope you can find them together. The sooner the better. And I am glad I found you on my part", she laughs lovingly.

Yuuto Shiraishi has posed:
"I can easily see my future with you, Coco." Yuuto responds and then laughs with a hint of a blush. "And our three children." he teases her, a return to a previous conversation that they had together. The gentle tangle continues for a moment longer, before he unfurls just a little.

"You are that amazing to me, Princess." he admits to her quietly, a loving kiss on her lips before he nods. "I'll do my best to find them soon. But for now? My time is yours. I think I can go back under to explore your garden some more?" he suggests, leading to an evening of diving, Coco introducing more of her world to Yuuto and the growing affection of the Princess and the Steam Sentinel deepening.