BONUS ROUND 4 - PROMPT FUSION

[a1c0bb]

"Fusion is just a cheap trick to make weak prompts stronger!" - a quote from Steven Universe, probably

for this bonus round, it's all about combining two ideas. for example "high school AU" + "secret identity" or "soulmate au" + "mafia au"!

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

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

POINTS - BONUS ROUNDS
For prompts: 10 points each (maximum of 100 prompt points per team per round)
For fills:
First 4 fills by any member of your team: 100 points each
Fills 5-10: 50 points each
Fills 11-20: 40 points each
Fills 21-50: 30 points each
Fills 51+: 25 points each

Comments

FILL: VOTER

[miyukitty]

WC: 1k+
fire emblem fates, caeldori x soleil

“Soleil? You're staring at me and not saying anything,” Caeldori says, setting down her teacup. Her nervous fingers twist holes in her napkin, as she visibly resists the urge to check if her headband has slipped out of place. “Is there food on my face? Stuck between my teeth? You promised you'd tell me if there was.”

Soleil just cups her chin in her hands and smiles even wider. “Naw,” she shrugs. “I just keep getting distracted by how adorable you are! You're so cool in every way, Caeldori! You're gorgeous and brilliant and strong – maybe even as strong as me, kee hee! I can't look away!”

Caeldori flusters more with each simpering compliment, averting her gaze to study the vase of Nohrian dusk-blooming roses at the center of the table. The full force of Soleil's attention is difficult to weather. Some of her cheesy lines could have been lifted straight out of Caeldori's romance novels – except those were typically spoken by a prince courting his lady, a predictable cliché standard to any heteroromantic commercial fiction in Hoshido. There's safety in knowing the genre as well as she does, which is exactly what makes the fantasy a comfort she can retreat into.

Reality is... messier. Soleil is somehow both the dashing prince and the lovely lady rolled into one, and Caeldori...

Caeldori doesn't exactly have experience with girls. Not only in dating, but not even in friendship, to be blunt. Having her feelings reciprocated for the first time in her life is strangely humbling. She wishes there had been an instructional handbook she could have read beforehand to give her some idea of what she should expect, and how she should behave, so as to not make an utter embarrassment out of herself in her first relationship.

Soleil, on the other hand, is so casual with her affections that Caeldori is beginning to worry she's misinterpreted their situation. Soleil does talk to everyone like this, doesn't she? She's a flirtatious social butterfly, which basically makes her Caeldori's polar opposite. The waitresses at this Nohrian teahouse all know Soleil as one of their regulars. She's probably taken a hundred different girls out to tea here already. It's all a big game to Soleil, who never commits to anyone.

Maybe to Soleil, Caeldori is just a desperate, lovesick fool, a typical romance novel protagonist mooning after anyone who will pay her the slightest attention whatsoever. She should be ashamed of herself, letting her heart rule her head like this. She should be better than this. She spent so long in front of the mirror with her combs and oils trying to make her hair perfect today that she neglected her morning naginata drills, and will have to practice well into the night so that she doesn't fall behind in her fitness regimen.

She has to be better than this.

Caeldori flinches visibly when Soleil touches the back of her hand. “Heya,” Soleil calls, cocking her head to one side. “You okay, cutie? You had a real serious look on your face. I mean, you're always serious, but like... extra serious. Am I coming on too strong? I just can't help it, I really like you!”

“You like everyone,” Caeldori blurts before she can help herself. She straightens her posture and schools her expression into something calm and dignified, in an attempt to salvage her honor. “I, however, do not take this so lightly, and require a formal commitment. Please, communicate your expectations of me in a couple, and I shall endeavor to meet all of them. I, I may not have experience, but I promise to learn quickly to make up for my lack of skill, so–!”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Soleil sputters, throwing up her hands in surrender. “I already said I like you and I wanna go out with you, didn't I? I like you just the way you are, so you can relax already! You're trying wayyy too hard!”

Caeldori nods in stiff acknowledgment. “Relaxing may... also be an area I lack experience in.”

“I can see that,” Soleil chortles. “You sound just like Siegbert. It's okay, Caeldori. All I want is to have some fun together!”

“Sorry.” Caeldori wilts, just a little. “I... might not be the most fun person to go on dates with. You'll probably get bored of me before long.”

“Are you kidding?” Soleil snorts. She leans across the table to tuck a lock of Caeldori's hair behind one ear, before flashing her a reckless grin. “You're like, perfect. I'll never get bored of how beautiful and graceful you are with your naginata, soaring through the sky on the back of your pegasus, like an angel of war! You must spend forever practicing to make it look that good. Your elegance and talent take my breath away!”

“Do you... watch me often?” Caeldori glances up, a faint hope stirring in her breast. “I always pay careful attention to my appearance, so that I remain presentable at all times, even on the battlefield. And of course I practice flying maneuvers and naginata drills every day. Putting the effort in makes me feel better about myself,” she explains in a small voice. “You noticed?”

“Of course I noticed!” Soleil cheers, thumping her knee against the underside of the table in her enthusiasm and making their teacups rattle. “It's really distracting how pretty you are, hee hee! I almost got brained by a Vallite in our last battle because I was staring at you instead of them. But I don't just like you for your looks, y'know. I think you're a really, really cool person. I admire you a lot, Caeldori. I'd be proud to call myself your girlfriend, if you want to!”

Soleil utters such brazen words without a hint of embarrassment, not even as the waitress comes to collect their cold tea and overhears the whole thing. She is just as shameless as the rumors say.

Caeldori is still blushing when the cake arrives, one plate with two forks. And here is a whole new kind of challenge she must bravely navigate: a messy, unhygienic affair that threatens to leave buttercream frosting smeared on her face or crumbs sullying her white dress – a cardinal sin.

Caeldori steels her nerves, picks up her fork, and meets Soleil's eyes with blazing determination. Maybe she doesn't know how to relax and enjoy life the way Soleil does, but Caeldori has never been one to back down from a challenge.

She's never had a girlfriend before, but she's ready to learn.