a1c0bb: otter wearing a rilakuma hat (Default)
micah ([personal profile] a1c0bb) wrote in [community profile] yurishippingolympics2025-05-25 10:23 pm
Entry tags:

BONUS ROUND 1: THROWBACK PROMPTS

bonus round 1 prompt infographic, lists the themes of all old bonus rounds: fanmixes, mythology, genre fusion, prompt fusion, dialogue, flower language, historical fiction, competition In this round, we'll be using prompts from last year's bonus rounds! You can either come up with a prompt based on the previous themes, fill a prompt from previous bonus rounds, or fill a prompt that's been posted this year!

Here is the tag with all the previous bonus rounds!

Fills can be in any format, and you can fill your teammates prompts, but you cannot fill your own prompt.

You can post as many fills and as many prompts as you want!

for your prompt post title, please use the following format:

PROMPT: TEAM [TEAM NAME]

for your fill post title, please use the following format:

FILL: TEAM [TEAM NAME]

If you're filling from a 2023/2024 prompt, please link to their prompt in your post!

To participate, reply to this post!

artlyloser: Drawing of me in a chibi-like style. (Default)

FILL: TEAM SUPERHERO COMICS

[personal profile] artlyloser 2025-05-30 06:41 pm (UTC)(link)
KoriBabs for Flower Languages <3 - og post

images
saiditallbefore: (Cartoon Cass Cain)

Re: FILL: TEAM SUPERHERO COMICS

[personal profile] saiditallbefore 2025-05-30 06:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Oooh, this is super pretty!!! I love your art style here 💖
baradhiblue: portrait art of Ultraman Zero with a neutral expression looking at the viewer (Default)

FILL: TEAM TOKUSATSU

[personal profile] baradhiblue 2025-05-30 07:23 pm (UTC)(link)
For 2024 prompt:
Fighting for one's freedom


Fandom: Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX
Ship: Kycilia Zabi/Nyaan (manipulatively), background ShuMachuNyaan polycule
Words: 500




Nyaan’s priority has been the same since chemical weapons that could’ve been Zeon or could’ve been Federation razed her home at age eleven: survive; at any cost, survive. No amount of bribery or rosy promises would change that. For the chance of a continued future, she’d jump whatever hurdles were put in her path.

The hurdle, this time, is a little more complicated than the persecution and abandonment of being a refugee. Kindness, even if it’s clearly an adder under a flower, feels so much more despair-inducing than unveiled hostility. Machu and Shuji had been, at least, genuine in their nonsensical whiplash emotions and paint fume dreams, but Zeon is all smiles and warm food and poison and knives.

Being in Lady Kycilia’s employ is a gilded cage, a siren offering her safe passage, and Nyaan knows better than to trust her, but it’s hard to ignore the hole in her heart when she’s on her knees before this woman who is supposedly her Major General now, for little reason other than a display of condescending care. Acolyte, she calls her, but Nyaan knows she’s a sacrificial lamb. Lady Kycilia has no concern for her survival so long as Nyaan can give her access to a Zeknova.

A Zeknova took Shuji, burned to pieces the dream of escaping to Earth with him and Machu, somewhere they’d be truly safe and free. But is safety ever real in the world of Mobile Suits? It’s not real on Side 2, it’s not real on Side 6, and it certainly is not real in Zeon: Is it naive to think the Earth would be any different? That ever present danger is a curse of Spacenoids rather than a given of life?

Kycilia’s hand is cold as it pets Nyaan’s hair as if she is a kitten, a moment of alleged comfort before sending her to confront Machu and the GQuuuuuuX with the GFreD, which is Kycilia’s spitting image with the devil dancing in its Psycommu. And yet, whatever Diablo Miguel had wanted to keep Nyaan from becoming seems like it’s her only chance at staking out her claim on her own life.

What guarantees one’s survival is not power, it is not support, and it is not luck. It is skill, flexibility, the ability to slip through the hands of power like water.

For all that she’s had a cushy life, Machu has as much of this liquid quality as Nyaan herself, and it’s a double-edged knife that can either lead the two of them to true freedom or to an explosion not even air could escape.

So thank you, Lady Kycilia, for having faith in swaying the heart of a girl with nothing to her name through gifts and flattery. That is the naivete of those in power, that loyalty is something that can be bought. But feral cats are loyal to no one, and no promise of a home will tame them.

It is all about survival. It has always been.
static_prevails: A poorly drawn stick figure saying “girls.” (Default)

Prompt: Team OC

[personal profile] static_prevails 2025-05-31 02:21 am (UTC)(link)
Fanmix:

Speedway (Rodeo Boys)
True Trans Soul Rebel (Against Me!)
Spike the Punch (Alex Lahey)
rachelsquill: (Default)

FILL: TEAM OC

[personal profile] rachelsquill 2025-05-31 02:47 am (UTC)(link)
Prompt

Sally/Valentina OCs

(click for higher quality)
saiditallbefore: (Beatriz da Costa)

FILL: Team Superhero Comics

[personal profile] saiditallbefore 2025-05-31 03:27 am (UTC)(link)
Prompt: Snowdrop

Fill: Here
zombified_queer: (Default)

PROMPT: TEAM HORROR

[personal profile] zombified_queer 2025-05-31 05:11 am (UTC)(link)
Genre Fusion: Horror + Soulmates AU
zombified_queer: (Default)

PROMPT: TEAM HORROR

[personal profile] zombified_queer 2025-05-31 05:12 am (UTC)(link)
Flower Language: Moonflowers (mystery and magic)
zombified_queer: (Default)

PROMPT: TEAM HORROR

[personal profile] zombified_queer 2025-05-31 05:40 am (UTC)(link)
Fanmix time!

1. Homecoming - Ethel Cain
2. K. - Cigarettes After Sex
3. Angel - Massive Attack
4. You’re So Cool - Nicole Dollanganger
5. Pink Pony Club - Chappell Roan
avagames: (Default)

FILL: TEAM TOUHOU

[personal profile] avagames 2025-05-31 06:44 am (UTC)(link)
kannaa10y: (desmond sycamore 05/25)

PROMPT: Team Ace Attorney

[personal profile] kannaa10y 2025-05-31 07:04 am (UTC)(link)
for 2023's prompt fusion theme:

mythology + science fiction
esteicy: Comic version of Pietro Maximoff aka Quicksilver (Default)

FILL: TEAM OC

[personal profile] esteicy 2025-05-31 06:04 pm (UTC)(link)
realxeyez: (Default)

PROMPT: TEAM VISUAL NOVELS

[personal profile] realxeyez 2025-05-31 09:40 am (UTC)(link)
for dialogue:

"You're so reliable~."

"...I get it already, let go of my arm."
chocodaffodil: (Default)

FILL: TEAM VISUAL NOVELS

[personal profile] chocodaffodil 2025-06-01 04:37 am (UTC)(link)
Ship: Akira Mikado x Sae Inori from Hayate x Blade (Hayate Cross Blade)

I just sense yuri potential since the story takes place in an all-girls academy + swordbearers fight in pairs.
The main character often makes cute little mascot cat charms that come in pairs and gives them to friends and such.
The wiki apparently says that this pair in the drawing are the only ones who have mascot cats based on each other compared to others' mascots being based on themselves

PROMPT: Team Ace Attorney

[personal profile] sapphicenigma 2025-05-31 12:59 pm (UTC)(link)
For prompt fusion: stuck in elevator + enemies to lovers
baradhiblue: portrait art of Ultraman Zero with a neutral expression looking at the viewer (Default)

PROMPT: TEAM TOKUSATSU

[personal profile] baradhiblue 2025-05-31 03:24 pm (UTC)(link)
Location: Inside a character's head, but in a plurality sort of way
toffee7: (Default)

FILL: Team Murder Drones

[personal profile] toffee7 2025-05-31 11:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Original Prompt

J made sure to wait for Tessa to leave the room before she sighed, placing her head in her hands as she propped her elbows up on a nearby table, staring off into space dreamily.

"Oh, Tessa…" J breathed, smiling, enraptured in a daydream before she heard V speak.

"Oh, wow," V blinked as she made herself known, "I uh… hi, J."

"V!" J spun her head around, "How… how long have you been here?"

"A while…" V shrugged, "Long enough to… see what you would be embarrassed by."

"Do not-" J hesitated, "Do not tell anyone about this."

"Okay, okay," V held her hands up, "Do you… wanna talk about it, though?"

"I…" J sighed, "She's just… so amazing. I've thought about using the rest of my life to make her happy. I can't think of anything better."

"Maybe… you should tell her that?" V suggested, raising an eyebrow.

J rolled her eyes before fixing her gaze on V, narrowing her eyes at her as she crossed her arms.

"Alright, alright," V held her hands up, "I'll uh… go sort out the library or something, but… you shouldn't be swallowing your feelings."

J stared at her as she left, her mind stewing. All those things she daydreamed about, did they have to stay daydreams?





Tessa yawned as she sat on her bed, stretching her arms out as she fell down on the bed, spreading out on the comforter.

"Welp, I'm beat," Tessa smiled, how 'bout you, Jaybird?"

"I still have a few tasks to finish up," J lied, "But I think I have enough time to tuck you in."

"You're too good to me, Jaybird," Tessa momentarily blushed, which, J thought, could mean nothing.

"What I do for you is nothing," J insisted, pulling up the blankets and moving to tuck Tessa into bed, "You deserve so much more…"

"J…" Tessa wrapped one of her hands around J's. "Don't go."

"Tessa… I…" J grimaced, not wanting to pull away, but at the same time, terrified that if she stayed any longer, she would cross some line, ruin the friendship she had with Tessa.

"J, please, sit with me?" Tessa offered, keeping her grip on J's hand. J considered bolting, but ultimately, she couldn't say no to the human she cared for so dearly.

So J sat down on the bed, taking care to make sure she didn't ruffle the sheets.

"J… I can tell you have something you need to share," Tessa said, "Please, I don't want you to keep secrets from me."

"It's… It's not that easy, I can't just…" J put her face in her hands, groaning, "It could change… a lot, between us."

"Nothing could make me stop caring about you," Tessa insisted, scooching closer to J and placing another hand on her shoulder.

"I really should learn how to say no to you," J sighed, "Tessa, I… I…" J squeezed her eyes shut before she spun around to face Tessa, "I love you!"

J didn't have any breath to hold, but if she did, she would've been all but suffocating. She stared at Tessa's face, trying to gauge her reaction. Tessa's mouth was slightly agape, her eyes having slightly widened, a blush slowly spreading across her cheeks. Which was good, right? Right?

"J, I—" Tessa started, being cut off by J as she abruptly stood up, staring down at the floor.

"I knew it!" J blurted out, "I— it's fine, it couldn't have—"

"J, could you please look at me?" Tessa asked gently, once again taking J's hand in hers.

J turned, painfully slowly, to face Tessa, staring at her once again. She was smiling, now.

"J… I love you, too," Tessa said, bringing one of her hands up to cup J's cheek. J leaned into the touch, unable to smile due to the sheer disbelief she felt.

J simply couldn't believe that this was happening; it was too good. What in the world did Tessa see in her, a random maid drone she'd fished out of a dump?

"Really?" J asked softly.

"Of course. Do you think I'd lie to you?" Tessa asked.

"No… I just… I can't believe it," J said, "It sounds too good to be true."

"Well, it's not," Tessa smiled, leaning forward, "May I…?"

"I-!" J squeaked, nodding eagerly as Tessa leaned forward, kissing her and cradling her head with one hand, rubbing her cheek softly.

After a few moments, the two pulled apart from each other. J raised her arms to hold Tessa, with her doing the same. The two spent a moment holding each other, simply savoring the moment, the intimacy.

"So, what now?" J asked simply.

Tessa took a step backward, leading J along with her as she made her way into the bed.

"How about we snuggle?" Tessa suggested.

"I… really?" J blinked, "That… are you sure?"

"Of course I am," Tessa said, pulling J fully onto the bed, "I bet you're a great snuggle buddy."

"I wouldn't know," J blushed.

"Well, let's find out," Tessa kissed her again and pulled her under the covers, snickering as she did.

J smiled as Tessa wrapped her arms around her. It seemed that she owed V a thank you, for once.
arsquare: (Default)

FILL: TEAM YELLOW TANABE

[personal profile] arsquare 2025-06-01 03:04 am (UTC)(link)
Fill for this dialogue prompt: "You abandoned me! You took her, and you abandoned me!"

Ship: Soi Fon/Yoruichi Shihoin (BLEACH)
Pages: 5



Read More
livicottle: (Default)

FILL: TEAM ACE ATTORNEY

[personal profile] livicottle 2025-06-01 01:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Pairing: Leonie Pinelli/Dorothea Arnault (Fire Emblem: Three Houses)
Word Count: 1317


“Welcome, one and all, to the grand finals of the Saint Fighter 3 Garreg Mach Open!” Dorothea called into the microphone, leading to whoops and cheers from the small assembled crowd. The “grandest” thing about these finals was the MC's voice - Dorothea had a flair for performance that made this college town bar feel like a stadium. Looking out across the audience from her position on the karaoke stage, Thea saw a lot of familiar faces. Most of them were students like her but some were old fighting game die-hards who had been playing here for decades. The scene here had undergone a real revitalization recently, and nearly everyone agreed that it was thanks to Dorothea. Tournament organizer, MC, a formidable player in her own right… to put it mildly, she wore many hats, and her fashionable taste made sure they all fit her quite well.

But there was one face in the crowd who Dorothea didn't know so well. In fact, she'd never seen the girl before tonight. And this newcomer was about to take the stage for the grand finals.

“Now, while we're setting up, I'd like to take a moment to invite to the stage a fresh face to our little fight club! You've probably already heard about her - and if you haven't, I might have to ask Shamir back there to cut you off!” The room burst into laughter, save for the person Dorothea was referring to. She, in contrast to those around her, seemed like she was putting on an air of stoicism to cover up her nerves. That’s cute, thought Dorothea. Hopefully she can handle this next part.

With a gesture, Dorothea invited the young woman up onto the small stage. She was only slightly shorter than Dorothea, and clearly athletic - her hair was a vibrant orange and her eyes matched it step for step. As she came up, she shielded her eyes from the lights and Dorothea called to the room. “Give a warm Garreg Mach welcome to Leonie!” And Leonie waved a little bit, her other arm holding onto the custom-built fightstick like it was a prized stuffed animal.

“Uh, hey, all,” she said, looking like a cat trying to acclimate to the presence of another.

“So, congrats on making it to the finals! I figured while we’re here, we might as well get to know our newest challenger. You’ve been playing Indech this whole time, right? What made you pick him up?” Dorothea prodded, then held the mic out to Leonie.

“Oh, uh… I’ve played Indech since SF2 Divine Edition,” Leo answered.

“SF2D? That game’s older than we are!” Dorothea quipped, drawing laughs from particularly the veteran players in the crowd. “You got your start in SF2D, huh? How’d that happen?”

“The arcade in my hometown had a cabinet. It was the only good machine in the place, so we always played the hell out of it. And when I was younger, this guy came through, and he played Indech, and I just…” Leonie scratched the back of her neck. “The way he played Indech was awesome. I had to pick him up. I practically begged the guy to teach me some stuff. And he did, but he was only in town for a week.”

“Wow… so somewhere out there, there’s a hidden village of SF2D pros? That’s kinda scary to think about… But I mean, the practice shows! You’ve been cooking some of our best and brightest.”

“It’s nothin’ that serious. They’ve been good matches. But I do have to say…” Leo’s gaze hardened slightly, and cast out across the crowd. “I could tell some of you weren’t taking it seriously. Next time we play, don’t give me that half-assed bullshit.”

“Wow, fighting words from the newbie!” Dorothea laughed. “Well, you won’t have to worry about that with your next opponent. You’re up against our reigning champ, you know, so don’t hold anything back.”

“Ingrid, right?” Leonie asked. “I’ve heard the name. Plays Seiros? I’ll be the first to admit that’s a tough matchup for me, but that only means I’ve got one more way to prove myself.”

“You’re pretty bold, Leonie! I like that in a girl.” Dorothea winked, and Leonie wrote it off as showmanship - that is, until she noticed Dorothea’s back was turned to the audience for that moment. It was only for Leonie. Suddenly, her heart skipped. She’d been trying to focus, but Dorothea was throwing her off majorly. By the time Leonie was able to refocus, Dorothea had turned back around and was speaking to the crowd once more.

“...you know what that means, folks! This final’s gonna be some good old fashioned girl on girl!” Dorothea waited out the laughter and cheers, and then looked to Leonie. “You ready, newbie?”

If there was one way to snap Leonie out of her gay stupor, it was competition.

“...Hell yeah.”



“Ingrid’s not letting Leonie have any time to breathe! Our newcomer just can’t get out of the corner! This could be her last chance to reset the bracket! This pressure is incredible!” Dorothea called out as the match played out on the screen. Leonie was sweating bullets - she was a solid player with extraordinary fundamentals, but she had to admit Dorothea was right. Ingrid’s advance and pressure game was extremely strong, and for a well-rounded, honest sort of player like Leonie, it was often very easy to get trapped in the whirlwind of blockstrings and mixups. It was all she could do to block Ingrid’s assault and tech the few grabs that her opponent worked into the mix to throw her off. She could feel how deeply in her head Ingrid was - and the worst part was, knowing that didn’t help her in the slightest. Was she really going to come this far just to lose like this?

“COME ON, LEONIE!” Dorothea’s voice rang out over the loudspeakers. It was the least MC-like tone she’d taken all night, a stark cry of support for the underdog. The shout shocked Leonie’s system back into alignment like a cold splash of water, and she knew in that moment she needed something bold to win. Watching Ingrid’s character move in, Leonie decided to go for broke - either this would work and she would have a chance, or she would eat shit and lose. And she knew Ingrid wouldn’t be expecting it - after all, who would ever spend all the meter they’d built up on Indech’s EX Pavis Parry?

So when the digital Seiros’ sword made contact with Indech’s outstretched dragon claw and the loud metal clashing sound indicating a successful parry played out over the room, the crowd exploded. And like she’d done a thousand times before, Leonie moved Indech in and unleashed a brutal combo - completely meterless, but practiced thousands of times to maximize her damage. By the time she’d worked Ingrid back to the other side of the screen, her meter was flashing once more - just barely having built a level 1 super, she unleashed it to secure the round and the match.

Leaping from her chair, Leonie let out a primal “FUCK YEAAAAAH” shout, before planting her feet and pivoting to point an outstretched finger at Dorothea at the commentary table. This time, it was Thea’s turn to turn bright red, and she was momentarily thankful the lights weren’t on her. She saw the way Leonie’s lips curled into a smirk, a silent declaration of ‘how’d you like that?’ And she picked up the mic, looking Leonie in the eyes across the crowd.

“...Don’t get comfortable yet, Leonie!” the MC declared, a grin breaking out over her face. “You’re not out of the woods yet!”

As the crowd continued their uproar, Dorothea let the mic fall away from her mouth, and only one thought was on her mind.

Goddess, I want to play her.

PROMPT: TEAM HONKAI STAR RAIL

[personal profile] ai_sana 2025-06-01 02:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Historical fiction: Love in the Republican era in China

PROMPT: TEAM HONKAI STAR RAIL

[personal profile] ai_sana 2025-06-01 02:17 pm (UTC)(link)
Competition: Gay chicken, but with girls

PROMPT: TEAM HONKAI STAR RAIL

[personal profile] ai_sana 2025-06-01 02:30 pm (UTC)(link)
Flower language:

Hyacinth: Jealousy/envy, rebirth, deep love, beauty, sorrow and mourning.

PROMPT: TEAM HONKAI STAR RAIL

[personal profile] ai_sana 2025-06-01 02:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Flower language:

Night-Blooming Cereus: Transient beauty.
realxeyez: (Default)

FILL: TEAM VISUAL NOVELS

[personal profile] realxeyez 2025-06-01 04:00 pm (UTC)(link)
Ship: Amane Sachika/Liselle Želudac (Kamen Rider Gavv)
Prompt: "Dialogue: We could live without each other, but it won't be as much fun."

Framed by the dark ocean and silver moon, Lizel almost disappears into the night. 

From her spot on the shore, Sachika watches Lizel splash about in silence. Boots long abandoned, she runs about the shoreline with gleeful laughter as waves nip at her ankles and splash up at her. Her hair catches in the moonlight as it trails behind her. 

Like this, Lizel seems ethereal. Untouchable. Nothing like the girl she's been living with for the past three months. Smile on her face as she runs through the tides, you wouldn't know the level of cruelty she can be capable of. Even Sachika, who has seen her at her worst, can't help but admire her.

As if noticing her staring, Lizel ends her mindless splashing and comes skipping back to shore.  Seemingly unperturbed by the sand sticking to her feet and clothing, she drops to Sachika's side with an over-exaggerated sigh. It seems so odd for a girl who had once nearly beheaded a waiter over accidentally spilling water on her dress. 

"Human beaches really are the best!" Lizel exclaims one she settles, letting her head loll onto Sachika's shoulder. "There's nothing like this back home. It's all rocky."

Sachika doesn't tell her that plenty of human beaches are similarly rocky, just that she'd found the nicest one around to take Lizel to. How Lizel reacts to kindness is a coin flip, and the mood is too nice to chance it.

"They are pretty good, aren't they?" She says instead, because Lizel likes it when people agree with her and take compliments graciously. Lizel lifts her head, and in the silvery lowlight, Sachika almost makes out a smile. 

"Tell me, are all human beaches this nice?"

Ah, she's been seen through. "I haven't seen all of them, so I can't really say for sure. This is one of the nicer ones I've been too, though."

"So there are better beaches, and you didn't think to take me to one?"

"This is the best one I know! What if I accidentally took you to an awful one? You'd-" Sachika doesn't finish that sentence. What would Lizel do, anyway? 

"I'd feed you to the fishes," Lizel says in a bright voice, because it's a line she'd seen in a movie the other day and found it an impossibly cute method of murder, "but you wouldn't take me anywhere awful, would you? You little humans are far too kind for that."

It's not a compliment. Kindness is a weakness to people like Lizel, who use their money and power to take advantage of the weak. But if someone so cruel views her as kind, Sachika still takes it to heart. It means that her efforts have been recognised, as roundabout as it is. 

"I'll take you to all the best beaches, then. I've heard Italy has some real beautiful ones." 

Lizel hums, the sound sweet and syrupy in the quiet night. "We shall set off for this 'Italy' in the morning, then."

Perhaps she should have expected an answer like that. It's very Lizel-esque. "I do have work, you know. I'd love to take an impromptu vacation but I can't just drop everything to go to Italy."

"Haven't I told you that there's no need to work when you're with me? Aren't I more important than your measly little job?" Lizel scoffs. 

"C'mon, I know I said I'd take you but it's not like you need me there. Can't your butler-"

"Of course I don't need you!" Lizel spits, like she's offended at the very notion and turns her face towards the sea. Like this, Sachika can't make out her expression when she speaks next. "...I want you there. We could live without each other, but it wouldn't be as much fun."

It's an ambiguous statement, subject to change at the drop of a hat. Lizel views the world in black and white: things are either entertaining, or not worth her time. Sachika thinks she should consider herself lucky to exist within the former, but what beyond that? What happens when that luck runs out? When Lizel gets sick of her, of humanity, of playing house with her fancy new toys? Where does that leave Sachika, an existence only deemed necessary by a girl who has never been told 'no'?

"...Mhm. I like being with you too, Lizcchi."

It leaves her at Lizel's side, as long as she'll have Sachika, it seems. She's always been the type to take pity on stray cats, even ones who bite the hand that feeds them.

PROMPT: TEAM HONKAI STAR RAIL

[personal profile] ai_sana 2025-06-01 07:27 pm (UTC)(link)
Mythology: Icarus and her lover

PROMPT: TEAM HONKAI STAR RAIL

[personal profile] ai_sana 2025-06-01 07:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Dialogue:

"Yeah? Go on! What are you waiting for? You've hated me for ages, haven't you? This is your golden opportunity to get back at me. Hehe, don't tell me you're hesitating now, loser!"
"...Are you TRYING to die?"

PROMPT: TEAM HONKAI STAR RAIL

[personal profile] ai_sana 2025-06-01 07:34 pm (UTC)(link)
Genre fusion:

Mythology + Time-Travelling

PROMPT: TEAM HONKAI STAR RAIL

[personal profile] ai_sana 2025-06-01 07:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Prompt fusion:

Forced proximity + detective/criminal AU

FILL: TEAM HONKAI STAR RAIL

[personal profile] hsr_alt 2025-06-02 02:04 am (UTC)(link)

dear ai_sana this feels targeted


"Why did you take on this case?"

Sparkle spins around so fast that her own hair almost hits her in the face. "Robin! Why, I thought you'd become mute forevermore! I would have mourned, you know. Penacony's prettiest singing voice…"

"I asked you a question, Masked Fool," Robin says. The aforementioned prettiest singing voice is still hoarse from all those days without water. Sparkle likes it better this way, actually — a little rasp gives her more character.

"Obviously I did it for the sake of the Family," Sparkle says, batting her eyelashes. "I've been very helpful, wouldn't you agree?"

Robin smiles at her, annoyed. All of Robin's expressions are smiles. They have that in common, if nothing else. "Please, be honest with me. We're going to be together for another month at the least. I'd rather we were able to get along."

She is disgustingly optimistic. Sparkle laughs out of sheer hilarity. "Alright then, sweet Robin. But fair's fair: you'll have to answer my question, too."

"I'm not—"

"Oh, don't worry, I wouldn't ask about that." Sparkle waves her hand dismissively. "What's the fun in that?"

"…………Then I agree to your terms."

Sparkle leans forward. From the holding cell cot on which Penacony's idol sits, Robin's eyes glint at her like emeralds, solemn. Does she take everything so seriously? How does she cope?

"I became a detective because I wanted to figure out how people worked," Sparkle tells her. "And everything I see in this job — it's like taking the concept of a person to its extreme, isn't it? Criminals are so interesting for just that reason. They want something so, so terribly that they would do anything for it, but that's also the exact reason they have to hide their real selves.

"Not that you would know anything about that. Would you, lovely Robin?"

A pause.

"You said you wouldn't ask," Robin murmurs.

"I never ask. I imply."

Robin shuts her eyes briefly. When they reopen, there's something darker in their shine. "What do you think I want, Masked Fool?"

"Ah-ah-ah," Sparkle chides. "My turn for a question."

"Oh. Apologies." Robin startles, sits back. It's really very amusing how polite she is; she even says Masked Fool like it's a title instead of an insult. "Please go ahead. I don't have anything to hide, truly."

And she really doesn't, is the thing. Sparkle knows Robin's type: she's a protagonist, virtue all the more nauseating for its authenticity, friend of the Family and the public and probably the wildlife too. The easiest archetype there is. Most of the time Sparkle wouldn't give her a second glance.

But she could be a murderer. She could.

And Sparkle could swear she sees something in those eyes —

"Why do you sing?"

Robin blinks. "I… thought you already knew. Did you not see my interview?"

"A little self-centered, are we?"

Robin flushes. "Well, considering you're investigating me, it was a fair assumption—"

"You're right, I'm just messing with you," Sparkle admits easily. "But maybe I want to hear it from you."

"…For investigation purposes?"

Sparkle bats her eyelashes again. "No, pretty Robin, it's because I like you — yes, for investigation purposes."

Robin goes even redder. She coughs into her hand. "Ahem. Well. To answer your question. When I was a child, my mother…"

Sparkle listens, chin propped on her hand, watches the brightness in Robin's eyes wax and wane like the cosmos's most brilliant pulsar; and she is investigating, truly, it's not her fault that Robin's voice is so very lovely.

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