BONUS ROUND 1: THROWBACK PROMPTS

[a1c0bb]

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!

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PROMPT: TEAM HONKAI STAR RAIL

[ai_sana]

Prompt fusion:

Forced proximity + detective/criminal AU

FILL: TEAM HONKAI STAR RAIL

[hsr_alt]

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.