Pearl absentmindedly hums a tune as she diced up some cucumber, white onion and tamatoes. It's been a long day, she and Marina are tired, and she wants to make a little something nice for her Wife. She's making lazy nachos. She finishes up chopping the ingredients, and places them in their separate bowls, and adorning each with a cute little spoon to scoop up the diced veggies with. She puts them on a tray, then waddled over the fridge to get the premade cheese dip and mayo, and placed them on the tray with the veggies.
She then walks over to their pantry, grabbing two bags of Mr. Chips, cheese flavoured corn chips that's shaped like nachos. Marina had asked for them, but Pearl decided to make it a little extra special. Pearl grabbed the tray and used one hand to hold it up from the bottom, so her other hand could hold the chips, a small content smile plastered on her lips as she made her way to their living room where Marina was.
The Octoling is on the couch, the lights dimmed, and the TV on. Marina is lying down on her side, facing the TV. Pearl quietly made her way to her Wife, she peers over the back of the couch and over Marina's shoulder.
"Ah... So that's why she didn't check why I took so long," She quietly thought out loud, seeing that Marina had fallen asleep while watching those cheesy and yucky romance series she likes, that Pearl is also forced to watch. She quietly placed the tray and chips down, wincing at the crinkle noise the bag of chips made, hoping that it doesn't wake her Wife up.
She glanced at Marina, she stirs a bit... But doesn't wake up. Pearl let out quiet sigh of relief.
"Mission success...!" She whispered and pumped a fist in the air. She decides to let Marina have her rest, so she pauses the show and rewinds it a bit. If Marina doesn't wake up in about... Thirty minutes, she'll just carry her to bed so she could continue sleeping and wake up in the morning, she'll clean up the snacks and get in bed as well... But how will she be able to do that when Marina has her largest tentacle coiled protectively around their babies, who are also asleep, snuggled together close against Marina's chest. "Hm..." Pearl hummed in thought, noticing something a little weird, her index coming up and absentmindedly tapping it against her chin.
"One, two..."
"..."
"Where's the littlest one...? Is she in there with you?" Pearl whispered now growing a little anxious and panicked, gently and cautiously trying to see below the other two if her youngest might be under them. Her babies reacted to her touch and moving them around, little tentacles uncoordinatedly wrapping around some of her fingers, their eyes slowly open one before the other, curious at what the reason their Mom is waking them up for. "Come on kiddos, don't wake Mama up now..." Pearl pleaded with her children, now squirming under her touch and trying go grab at her fingers, thinking that she's attempting to play.
Pearl grew more anxious and impatient, she decides to maybe try and lift one of the babies. Without waking Marina up, because she gets protective, easily irritated and grumpy whenever it's Pearl's turn to handle the babies. They've argued about it once or twice... Pearl always ends up sleeping on the couch. But, Marina had always come to softly wake her up with gentle kisses and an invitation to bed then she apologizes with more kisses. Pearl always understood the reason behind her Wife's protectiveness, if anything Pearl isn't even upset, she's just happy Marina loves their children so much.
Pearl has to move quick, with care and caution, she lifts up her oldest and largest out of the three, one currently missing. Ryuhei, Marina had named their eldest, and placed her on the couch. With the same care and caution, she scooped up her middle, Ryusei, and placed her with her older sister, watching Pearl with curious eyes.
"Oh there you are...!" Pearl exclaimed quietly when she finally laid eyes on the youngest, a tiny tentacle peeking out from under the thickest part of Marina's tentacle. "Oh you little rascal," Pearl cooed, she gently tickles the tiny tencle with her index. It squirmed and vanished, a second later and she poked her head out, sleepy eyes slowly looking up until they finally landed on her Mom. Her sleepy eyes grew delighted, she started crawling towards Pearl, her movements slow and uncoordinated. Ryohime, the youngest and littlest Houzuki-Iida, she resembles Pearl the most, Marina kept saying, Pearl could see it. Her swim form is cream coloured, while Ryusei's, the middle is turquoise, and Ryuhei, the oldest has teal coloured swim form.
She laid her hand out, so Ryohime could climb up. "Hi baby girl... You gave me a little scare there, don't you do that no more," Pearl cooed playfully, tickling the tiny blob of ink. "You gotta go back to Mama now, or else I'll be sleeping on the couch, it's cold tonight and I'm scared of the dark, even your Mama protects me from it," Pearl says, and gave her a little kiss before placing Ryohime back down, Marina's tentacle coming to protectively encase their baby, next comes the two, Ryuhei and Ryusei. Pearl gave them a soft kiss on their mantle before placing them down along with the youngest.
Ryusei went right back to sleep the moment Marina's tentacle gently wrapped around them tighter, Ryuhei looked up at Pearl for a second, as if saying goodnight before snuggling closer to her siblings and closing her eyes. Ryohime, just looks up at her Mom, Pearl couldn't resist but give her a little boop, making her squeak out in delight. "Oh carp..." Pearl bit her lip as Marina shuffles, a hand gently reaching up to where her babies are, gentle claws making contact with Ryohime, she snuzzles closer against her Mama's touch. Marina let out a content sigh, a smile forming on her lips as her eyes slowly open.
They land on Pearl, stupidly standing there, looking nervous. "Pearlie, hi..." Marina greeted softly as her eyes closes once more but the smile never left her face. "Hey Baby," Pearl softly greeted back, she sits and settles down on the carpeted floor, her back against the seat of the couch. "You wanna put the babies back in their cradle and go to bed? You're tired Hon'" Pearl suggest, putting hand on Marina's arm and lovingly carressing and massaging her there. "Mm..." Marina hums contently, deeply appreciating what Pearl is doing with her hand. "You wanna put them to bed, Pearlie?" The Octoling suggested softly. "Me?" Pearl asked, she just had to make sure. "Mhm, yeah Baby..." Marina replied, her voice soft and affectionate. "Really? You won't be mad at me?" Pearl inquired, she just had to be really sure.
The sleepy Octoling nodded, opening her tired eyes to look at Pearl. "I trust you, Honey," And that was all Pearl really needed, she let Marina rest and got to scooping up their babies, with extra care and caution than last time. Pearl makes her way to the nursery, and gently placed her kids' down one by one. Hei and Sei are still asleep, Ryohime is awake but Pearl could see that sleep is getting to her with how she's fighting to keep her cute little eyes open. She's looking up at Pearl expectantly, waiting for something.
"Oh right, sorry Sweetheart" Pearl said before placing a gentle kiss on Ryo's mantle, next comes Sei, then Hei. With that, her youngest seems satisfied, she snuggled closer to her siblings and yawned she gives Pearl one last look before closing her eyes. "Goodnight you three, love you..." Pearl wished her daughters' goodnight and went to turn on their nightlight. And with the baby monitor set up, Pearl turned off the light, she peeks from the door and lingers for a few moments, lovingly gazing at her beautiful children huddled together as they slept. Now content and satisfied that her kids are safe and sound, she shuts the door quietly.
Pearl makes her way to the living room, expecting to find Marina there, but the Octoling is nowhere to be found. The TV is off and the snacks are put away. "Hey you," Pearl heard her Wife's voice from behind her, she whips around to see Marina, arms folded, leaning her shoulder against corner of the hallway that leads to the bedrooms. "Hi sweetheart, I'm not in trouble am I?" Pearl asked, acting cool even though she's actually starting to get nervous. Marina giggles, but something about it seems intimidating to Pearl, it made her fiddle with her fingers anxiously. "You will be," Marina says in a dangerous voice that made Pearl shrink in place.
"If you won't come with me to bed, that is" Marina's tone shifts to being playful, she beckons Pearl with a claw to come follow, before turning on her heels and walking away towards their bedroom. Pearl is stunned, just standing there stupidly, her face a dark shade of pink, she shakes her head, realizing that she shouldn't keep her waiting, she quickly scrambles after her Wife. When she gets to their room, Marina is already in bed, awaiting her arrival.
Marina is sat in the middle of their king sized bed, she opened her arms invitingly, and of course Pearl would never decline. She slowly crawls on the bed towards her Wife's open arms, Pearl melts immediately against Marina. "You're acting like I haven't hugged you in years, Baby, you're adorable..." Marina says inbetween the kisses she places on the side of Pearl's face. "Well, we've been busy with the kiddos, and you've been grumpy. like, it's almost a daily occurance, me pissing you off, I mean" Pearl replied, lying against Marina and enjoying the attention she's getting. "I have been, haven't I? I'm sorry Pearlie..." Marina admitted and apologized, a sad pout in her voice. "Come on Rina, you don't apologize for that, I understand why you get that way. You're the Mother of our kids, you know best and you wanna keep 'em safe, and I love that..." Pearl voiced out how she genuinely felt, pressing herself closer against her Wife.
Marina released a shuddering breath, her Wife's words are getting to her and making her a little emotional. Pearl felt her shudder and pulled away from her slightly, enough to be able to look at her. "Oh Baby..." Pearl cooed sweetly, her hand coming to carress Marina's cheek. "Don't worry, I'm not crying, just happy and teary eyed," Marina said with a giggle, followed by sniffles. "I'm glad I make you happy..." Pearl tells her, that cute and loving smile on her handsome face. "I love you, Marina Iida..." Pearl declares, love and devotion echoes from her voice. And that does it.
"I love you too, Pearl Houzuki..." Slowly, Marina leans forward just slightly, Pearl notices and she moves forward and places her lips against her Wife's, their kiss soft and tender, it makes them crave for more. Marina gently tugs Pearl close as she reclines, Pearl follows her after, crawling up and not breaking away from her kiss. An idea made it's way to Marina's mind, she's feeling a little cheeky, why not surprise Pearl a little? With swift movements, Marina switched their positions. Pearl let out a surpised yelp, and Marina giggles from above her.
"Woah girl, that- wow! I can't even speak," Pearl tried to express what Marina's action did to her before giving up, a hand flying to her head, her face all flustered and red.
"I've been mean, haven't I, Pearlie?" Marina asked with a small pout, a tracing Pearl's jaw.
"Hm? Oh nah, it's totally cool Babe, don't worry about" Pearl reassured the Octoling looming above her.
"Let me... Make up for it?~" Marina says soft, sweet and suggesting.
"Oh nah, please! Quit troublin' yourself over nothi- Wait, are you flirting with me, right now?"
"Yes, Pearl."
"Did I ruin the mood...?"
"No, you're adorable... Take off your clothes"
"Yes Ma'am"