[SE] Breathe deep

Flora had helped to make the Bubblestream that they took to reach the Underwater City, but Hadama had been surprised to learn that she hadn't spent much time there. A tour, he'd proposed with a twinkle in his eye. To see the other half of our people. And what they were working to protect with their most recent regional quest.

The water was chilly but that just meant close-fitting shirts and jackets of fish leather or kelp fiber sweaters were in abundance below the waves. Hadama had brought one of the soft, tightly-knit sweaters for Flora to wear to keep her warm before leading the way through the Stream and down to the City of the Mer. His manta lower half propelled him with a slow, easy strength through the water and his ring left trails of stars in their wake, his co-ruler's hand held firmly in his own to provide a tow. Her own air crystal would keep her safe if they were separated, but the ring was a point of quiet pride with the Tidebreaker, and he appreciated the chance to show it off.

A way for non-Attuned to communicate had not yet been solved, but as a certain octopus mermaid had once pointed out: the importance of body language was not to be underestimated. Even if he couldn't describe the details, Hadama could still point out landmarks of interest among the spiraling buildings of shell and coral and stone as they swam by above the hustle and bustle of the City itself, silently proud to show off his people's artistry and culture to his friend who was also Torchline's queen.

never be so kind you forget to be clever

Flora, who had utterly no idea what she was meant to wear when visiting the Underwater City - all of her bathing suits were certainly far too revealing for one, and would do little to protect her against the cold chill of the ocean for another - so it was a blessing to find that her co-leader had already picked out an outfit for her, so to speak. Perhaps while they were below he might help her expand her closet in order to facilitate more frequent trips below the surface?

With Hadama's hand firmly in her own, Flora let herself be towed through the streets as the pair settles into their own game of charades. For the most part the queen did a good deal of gawking, communicating with various gestures and facial expressions just how impressed she was with their underwater architecture.

Tugging to call the Tiebreaker to a halt, Flora mimed out confusion and looking for something, before placing her hands on invisible bars and giving them a shake.

Before they went under he was very pleased to agree to show Flora the Spiral Marketplace, either on this trip or a later one. It was only one of many areas he was looking forward to sharing with his friend and co-ruler, and the Doubletake knew how to make the Mer feel pleased to have her visiting, with her clear and candid admiration and excitement for the soaring, delicate buildings and aquaculture.

When she tugged at his hand, Hadama turned to watch her gestures inquisitively. Whatever he had been expecting her to ask for directions to - food, merchants, the old palace - her miming of being inside a jail cell had not been it. His brow creased thoughtfully for a moment and then he raised his hands as if holding an invisible bottle and mimed taking a drink from it before looking back at her enquiringly to see if he was on the right track.

never be so kind you forget to be clever

Considering for a moment, the queen gave her head a shake. Making a talking gesture with one hand before pointing up towards the surface with the other—we can talk about it later—she kicked her feet in an effort to bring herself before the merking so that she could tug him onwards with her.

Keeping an eye out to see how far the void infestation had spread beneath the waves—was the coral glowing purple, or was that just a trick of the light?—the Doubletake kept close to the Tidebreaker. Short of pressing her compass and finding herself in the middle of the city, Flora was almost entirely vulnerable beneath the waves. Perhaps later she'd see if Hadama could help her train her knives beneath the surface, if only so that she had some sort of estimation of what she could and couldn't do.

For now, though, she once again tugged against Hadama's hand to get his attention. This time she indicated that she was looking for some sort of container or jar, with a lid, before pointing down at the sand beneath their feet.

If Hadama was disappointed that their game of charades hadn't been successful he didn't show it. He nodded agreement to her decision to talk when they were on the surface again and allowed himself to be tugged along as they took a curving path along the outside of the City. There was more evidence of infected fish and coral there, though the merfolk guards were doing their best to root out and destroy corrupted creatures and plants when they encroached too close to habitations.

The Tidebreaker did reveal a rare frown, more relaxed in Flora's company, as they passed a section of coral that was not supposed to be purple; its vivid red antlers were now a rich violet instead, and the shadows of small black fish seemed to dart around it, hard to see directly.

The tug on his hand drew his attention back to his co-ruler and he tilted his head in a moment's thought before a twinkle came back into his eyes. He nodded slowly and indicated that she should wait while he reached into a pouch on his belt. He pulled out something that glittered and passed it to Flora to hold with feigned casualness while he continued searching for a jar they could use.

The filigree tiara was a pale gold that would gleam against Flora's hair and had been set with several polished cabochons of sea glass and sapphires to set off her eyes. It had been carefully crafted and, should she set it on her head, would be a perfect fit for Torchline's Queen.

A few moments later Hadama produced an empty bottle that had previously held Healing Fountain water before he'd offered it to Remi at Aumakua. He swam down to scoop up some sand in it before capping it and offering that to Flora, too with an inquisitive lift of a brow to see if she needed anything else while they were down in the deep.

never be so kind you forget to be clever

Unable to do anything more than frown right alongside her co-ruler as they swam by the void coral, Flora gave Hadama's hand a supportive squeeze. Once LongNight was over, they'd be in a position to throw themselves back into completing their Regional Quest which would hopefully take care of whatever was trying to infiltrate the underwater city.

Releasing the king's hand, Flora glanced around at the mer as they came and went on route to their daily activities. With all the bioluminescence beneath the surface, the glimmer of the tiara didn't immediately catch the queen's gaze until it was nearly thrust into her hand. Lips parting—of course she didn't want to assume it was for here—had they been above the surface she'd have dramatically gasped at its impeccable construction. Given that Hadama was far too much of a gentleman to trick her, still, she pointed at the crown and tilted her head in a question.

Reaching out for the small vial, the Doubletake grinned brightly and theatrically, before offering the Tidebreaker a thumbs-up.

Emerald eyes turned to Flora gratefully for her reassurance and he drew a deep pull of water through his gills, bracing himself for continuing the fight to protect their home from the Void.

All of their home.

And he was lucky indeed to have a partner in his co-ruler. They might not always swim the same currents, but that just meant that they each had separate strengths to bring to Torchline, making their leadership stronger for it. There was quiet pleasure in his eyes to be able to gift the Doubletake a physical token of his feelings on the matter, when his words were not always sufficient to convey his gratitude. Her tilted head earned a deep nod from the King, and a small smile before he dove down to fetch the sand for her.

Handing it over, he folded her fingers gently around the tiara to ensure his meaning could not be misconstrued - this was hers. Then he led the way back towards the Bubblestream so they could surface near Kaiholo to talk.

never be so kind you forget to be clever

If she could have, Flora would have laughed her joy and delight at such a thoughtful gift. instead, all she could do was allow herself to flow into the king's arms (whether he liked it or not, such was the queen's way), and wrap her own around his neck. That he was much taller than she was meaningless beneath the water where a kick of her feet brought them to eye to eye. if she thought fluttering kisses across his cheeks wouldn't have had the opposite effect of what she would have intended, Hadama would have found his lips coral with her lipstick. Alas, as Flora pulled back, she simply placed the tiara upon her head and struck a little pose for him to critique or approve as he saw fit.

With her fingers curled against his once again that he might ferry her back towards the bubblesteam sot hat she could thank him with her words.

~FIN