BONUS ROUND 3 - GENRE FICTION

[a1c0bb]

this round is about writing prompts inspired by genre fiction, aka fantasy, crime, romance, horror, or sci-fi!

to submit a prompt or fill, reply to this post!

Fills can be in any format, and you can fill any prompt (even if it's your own or your teammates)!

for your prompt post title, please use the following format:
PROMPT: TEAM [TEAM NAME]
if you are participating as a vote-only member, use this format:
PROMPT: VOTER

for your fill  post title, please use the following format:
FILL: TEAM [TEAM NAME]
if you are participating as a vote-only member, use this format:
FILL: VOTER

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PROMPT: TEAM MIDZEL

[kywm]

falling in love with someone who's taken

FILL: VOTER

[miyukitty]

WC: 846
fire emblem fates, hinoka x orochi (references an obscure japan-only DLC conversation lol)

Hinoka perches with her knees drawn up to her chest, sitting on the base of one of the several stone dragon statues that guard over the center square of Shirasagi Castle Town. The streets are deserted at this late hour. The night sky stretches vast and dark overhead, leading her wandering gaze from star to star as she broods in the silence.

Hinoka has much to mull over after her conversation with Orochi at the festival. It's undeniably true that Setsuna and Azama can both be frustrating, but they're reliable retainers, in their own way. It doesn't matter if the rest of Hoshido disapproves of their less-than-traditional attitudes. Hinoka trusts them both with her life.

Finally Hinoka groans, drumming her fists against her forehead. “I can't believe I asked Orochi that,” she mutters under her breath. “What would I have done if she said yes?”

Azama rescued her from certain death when she was just a girl. Even if his attitude is acerbic, or downright arrogant for a monk, Hinoka feels secure having someone so unafraid to speak their mind and challenge her when her heated emotions overtake her reasoning. And Setsuna can be difficult to motivate outside of battle, given how she's always adrift in apathy and oblivious to her surroundings, but – that single-minded focus of hers makes Setsuna a terrifyingly persistent sniper, numbed to all distractions until her target goes down.

No matter how disrespectful or troublesome they both can be, Hinoka has no plans to replace either of her retainers, and it would break royal tradition to designate more than two. So why can't Hinoka stop thinking about Orochi?

“I knew I'd find you out here by your lonesome, Lady Hinoka,” a familiar voice calls. “I read it in the cards.”

Hinoka's head snaps up to find Orochi leaning casually against the centermost statue, watching her.

The destruction from the explosive battle that unfolded in the town square has long been repaired, but small memorial shrines and flowers for the late queen still dot the plaza. Orochi lingers near a fresh bouquet. Hinoka can't think it mere coincidence.

“I'm still not sleeping well, I'm afraid,” Hinoka admits sheepishly, rubbing the back of her neck. “I used to sneak out and visit town more when I was younger. I don't come here much anymore. Maybe I thought I could find answers here, but... I'm still thinking in circles.”

Orochi glides over to where Hinoka is sitting, her playful smile washed silver in the starlight. She leans her elbows on the stone base and cups her chin in her hands, gazing up at Hinoka. Hinoka's heart skips a beat, then stutters into double time, beating quick and fierce like the wings of her pegasus.

“I can answer any questions you have, any time you like,” Orochi offers sincerely. “My family has long served as diviners at the royal palace. Even if I am Lady Mikoto's first, I am beholden to all of her kin.”

Something clicks into place at that, a realization that Hinoka might have been better off not knowing.

Guilt sours in Hinoka's stomach. She frowns, glancing away from Orochi. “No fortunes tonight, please,” she murmurs. “I don't think my heart could bear another rejection from you.”

Orochi lets out a startled laugh. “Who says it's going to be a rejection?” she teases, tilting her head coyly. “Maybe I want you to ask, so I can tell you how I really feel.”

She must know already. Orochi knows everything, whether through divination, observation, or intuition. She probably saw it at the festival, before Hinoka even knew herself. And that must be why Orochi reacted the way she did.

Hinoka straightens her shoulders and slides off the statue, landing on her feet beside Orochi. She's taller than Orochi now, although she wasn't always. Orochi used to babysit Takumi and Sakura when they were still young enough to play with dolls together, back when Hinoka still had long hair and was just starting out as a sky knight. She remembers attending the official ceremony at Ryoma's side, witnessing Orochi named as her mother's attendant, despite being so young herself. Their fates were always tangled up with one another.

Where those threads of sentiment will lead them in the future, Hinoka cannot say with certainty, but: Orochi is a part of her life Hinoka refuses to let go of.

“You already told me,” Hinoka says. “You are Lady Mikoto's first. You still want to belong to her, not me.”

The mischief drops from Orochi's sobering face. “Lady Hinoka, I...”

“It's alright,” Hinoka assures her, clapping one hand on her shoulder. “I will ask for your hand one day, Orochi, when we're both ready to move forward. I'm sure the cards will tell you when that day comes.”

Orochi blinks slowly at her, then nods. She doesn't look surprised in the least. Rather, she's gazing at Hinoka with an oddly solemn expression, out of place on her normally jovial features.

“I'm looking forward to it,” Orochi promises, and this time, Hinoka knows it to be true.