CRUX OF FATE

Her giggle rises above the ocean's dull roar. His lips twitch in immediate response, exasperated fighting with genuine affection. He knows what that particular giggle means--now it's a matter of how disheveled she'll appear when she inevitably shows off her latest friend.

Before she even reaches for him he's turning toward her, an ocean tide drawn towards the moon. His attention lands squarely on the little red creature held so delicately in her cupped palms. The crab's shell reflects off the water droplets glittering along her skin.

Her skirt has also picked up a few friends. Bits of seaweed cling to the soaked fabric, though he considers it an achievement there's no tears.

Eyebrows raise underneath his hood. At least it's not a bird, this time. "Indeed he is," Leo agrees, appropriately in awe of the creature. It clicks its little pincers once, twice. "What is his name?"

And, sure, their hands are definitely put to better use back where they came from. Corrin knows as much, it's why they're even here, but when has stealing a few moments been a crime?

She'll make it up to them later, anyway.

"I don't know yet," her voice has turned thoughtful, eyes falling down to her hands. Suspicious or not, she has never been the type to question it. What kind of ulterior motive could he have, really, asking her what she is going to name a crab?

The crab, for its part, doesn't really seem to care. It scuttles across her palm, pauses, then scuttles back. It's about as much personality as one could ever expect of, well, a crab.

"Any suggestions?" She's looking at Leo again, expectant, thrusting her still-cupped hands towards him for further inspection. "He seems a proper gentleman, so we should name him accordingly. Something that really demands respect."

Corrin is well aware of the silliness of her request, but she handles it as though it is of the utmost importance. In part because it's fun to give the little thing a name and personality as though it is not an animal the size of her thumb, and in part because it's just as fun to coax Leo into playing along.

Because if one has dealt with the like of mad dragons in their past, should these not have been nothing more than mere child's play?!

“ Hrgh! ”  he grunts in the thick of it. Monster after monster descends upon him, a bold target with the big metallic shine of his steam suit, but he valiantly stands his ground, swinging his axe with bursts of flames to propel them followed by the firing of small projectiles that explode, hoping to keep as many of them at bay as he can. He's racking up a body count, but it would seem as if the creatures are at least aware of their tactical advantage in numbers and that he cannot clear his blind spots like this forever. Being on the constant move to ensure he's not an easier target is all well and good, but he cannot do this forever, taking on opponents from all directions including the sky.

“ Die already, won't you?! ”  Another splat. That one almost ripped the part of his Gullinbursti that fires his missiles off. He grits his teeth, becoming something not unlike a monster himself in his quest to survive.

As though to echo the thought, the ground shakes beneath her feet with another impact of… something. There’s smoke rising above the tree line, making an easy enough trail without the charred bark and flattened underbrush that she follows now.

It’s about then that the corpses start.

Bodies by the dozen, one shredded monster after the other. Crimson eyes dart from one strung limply across two jagged tree branches down to a second, still smoking where it lays in equal halves directly across her path. Nose wrinkles as she darts past it, forcing her gaze forward. It’s hard to believe with how many there are that there could possibly be more. 

It becomes easy enough, however, when she finds them. More living than there had been carcasses, each taking turns swarming a giant metal body. Corrin swears beneath her breath, ducking behind a tree as another explosion (now identifiable as having come from that weird armor) sends the ground trembling. Two of them are better odds than just one, but something tells her the difference won’t matter for very long.

“Hey!” Now’s as good a time as any, if she hesitates much longer it may well end up just being her out here anyway. “I’ll get them off of you, just don’t stop swinging!”

Of course, her cry has come at the cost of swiveling monster heads, at least twenty pairs of beady eyes trained on their newest toy. She’s appealing prey— small, nowhere near as guarded as their other snack. The distraction, at least, works out.

Yato’s blade clashes hard with a set of dagger-sharp claws, her elbow crashes into a gnarled muzzle. Being easier prey is, unfortunately, just as much a challenge as it is a convenience. 

everything's at odds and jumbled up in his head. it always kind of is when he thinks about her, about the great whole everything that only makes half-sense.

"i didn't say that," shiro corrects.

but, he didn't not say it either. "some things did. aunt sakura did." a pause, "your sister elise did." he thinks they'd be hard-pressed to find either of them could say anything otherwise about the two of them. he lightly taps the side of his wrist. he's never liked that part of his father either. never saying what he means. it's old-fashioned of him and that'd been the one thing that shiro told himself he'd never be. he sucks in a breath, straightens his back and meets her gaze. ruby to diamond.

clarity, sincerity and he tries to convey both to corrin without looking the part of the fool: "i don't know what you're thinking about." someone laughs. he thinks it could be a guard, or maybe he's just imagining it altogether.

And she knows the lengths taken to protect her younger sister for all of those reasons, lengths that could not be afforded to any other.

And he is looking at her now, the weight of his gaze different than the expectation that she has come to be so familiar with. He is not looking for her to preform as some noble hero, he is not looking to find a saint in her. He is seeing her for what she is, perhaps, or for what she is revered for that she is not.

Pale hair falls across her cheek as she tilts her head, a betrayal of her curiosity as he speaks again. “I don’t know either,” she pauses. She likes him despite this tension between them, finds relief in his asking of such a simple question. Court formalities are a language she still feels foreign speaking in, playing guessing games at the true meaning to every word another speaks.

Thank you for the lovely letter, I was smiling all the time I was reading it. I feel like I have a better idea of who you are now, and I feel we’ll get along well. 

I must admit, I think I’ve been to the library maybe twice since I arrived here, and the first was when I was being toured around. But I’ll have to check it out on a sunny day, curl up with a mildly interesting book, my focus slipping as my eyes start to close… ah, I’m getting sleepy just thinking about it. Thank you for the suggestion. 

Just so we’re clear, sleep isn’t the only thing that’s important to me either. I think the key to keeping a good attitude is letting your body rest when it needs, even if your waking hours become peculiar. 

I like animals. I ride a horse. Well, when I’m here I don’t have a particular one I use, so I ride many horses. They’re such fascinating creatures, with a range of personalities, but they all love a good treat. 

I like riding through nature. Though I’m more interested in the plants I see, the wild animals are cute too, but often shy. It makes me happy to be in the Golden Deer - I’ve seen plenty of deer around here, but never an eagle or lion! 

You mention siblings, how many do you have? 

I have just one younger brother, I’ve been writing to him since I got here (as well as a few others from home). He’s a lovely guy, he’s always looked up to me as a knight but I feel he’s already surpassed me. I kinda raised him after our parents died, and sometimes I’m surprised by how well he turned out. 

Sorry, didn’t mean to get sad there. 

Hmm, what’s a good end question? Is there anything you’ve accomplished here that’s surprised you? For instance, picking up a skill you hadn’t tried before. Or maybe you’ve just done something really cool. 

Looking forward to hearing from you!

It fills me with joy to know I could bring a smile to your face! And you are most welcome, I do hope my little spot serves you well. Nothing does the body better than a good nap, I agree.

I hear so often of the importance that is the connection between a horse and a rider. I'm often envious of that, I think it is so sweet to have such a friendship! It makes me wonder, you say you ride many horses but do you have a favorite?

Oh, nature rides sound lovely... I must admit I am less fond of plants than animals, but they're still so lovely. Flowers, especially! Back home, flowers have a hard time growing in the conditions, so I've always cherished them.

( I can't say I've seen an eagle or lion either, honestly. )

And please don't apologize for getting sad, I don't mind. It's touching to hear such a thing, honestly. I know we're strangers, but I love to learn things about others. It really tells you a lot about a person, knowing what they've been through. Like this; it tells me that you're very noble and caring. Those are two very admirable things!

My own siblings... it's a little complicated. I was raised with an older brother and two sisters, but I learned later that they aren't really my siblings. Which is okay, I think, because love and blood aren't equal. I do have 'real' siblings, too. Four of them-- two brothers and two sisters-- but I've never really gotten to know them.

Ah, now I'm the one getting sad!

For your final question... I think I've learned a lot here, and tried a lot of new things, but the most impressive of them all has been the people I've met. It's silly, I know, but I've always been like this. People are just so interesting, you can learn so much about the world just by seeing it through the eyes of someone else. I grew up alone mostly, with no idea what was out there beyond my home, but getting to meet so many people from so many places... it has been so lovely.

Like you :)!

Anyway, how about you? I'm sure you have done plenty of cool things-- I'd love to hear about them!

"Well, I guess we better get moving then..." Though she doesn't look like she really wants to. It's just two beasts, and two people to handle them. Realistically, it should be no problem.

Her gaze darts to the pathetic leather lead rope in her hand, then to the single metal clasp attaching it to her assigned charge.

Really not the most reassuring thing she has ever seen.

"If we wait much longer, it'll be dark before we're back." Words spoken more to herself than her partner in this little task, followed closely by a determined sigh.

"Right, so... We're supposed to ride these things?" They hadn't really been provided saddles, or asked if they were qualified for such a task. "It'll take twice as long walking, but I don't know if these guys are really meant for that."

he lets her hand fall from his, lacing his fingers together behind his back.

the tendons in his wrist strain against his sunny skin. nails dig into his forearms.

he doesn't really know why she's nervous. no reason to be! he's in her court. in her country. what does she have to be afraid of? ( not all things that haunt the living are dead. ) something at the back of his head says that he should be happy that this is the reaction his presence invites, but another part that makes him feel guilty for thinking that. it's—"you look different than i expected," and it's not what he means to say or wants to say, but it's what comes out. "dad always said you looked gentle."

Corrin watches him, does her best not to look uncomfortable in the quiet that settles momentarily between them. Always this internal war between girl too young and sheltered to understand war and princess strong enough to win it.

And when his voice once more breaks the silence, she finds it is the girl who flinches and not the ruler.

Gentle, yes. She has heard that. Not from him, however, and it is strange to hear it now echoed in another's voice. It is not necessarily that being such has ever mattered to her, it is the implication that she is not and what truth lies beneath it.

please specify if sender or receiver is doing the action, when sending in the prompt !

Dear penpal, 

It’s strange, writing to someone I’ve never met before. There’s so much I could tell you about myself, but I don’t know what you’d be interested in hearing yet. How about a story to start? 

The other day, I went to the fish pond. It was a lovely sunny day, and although I was fishing, I wasn’t catching anything. So I decided I’d tie the fishing pole to myself, and take a nap. I thought, surely if something tugs the line, I’ll feel it and wake up! 

Well, a fish sure did tug the line. So hard in fact, that it dragged me right in! I woke up surrounded by fish, as my bucket of bait had fallen in with me. I was fine, dragged myself out and had a good laugh. 

That’s who I am, basically. Nice to meet you. 

(Incidentally if you were there to witness that… pretend you didn’t. We are meant to stay anonymous after all.)

Anyway, to get to know you better: do you know any better nap spots around campus? Or is that not something you think about? What’s important to you on a regular day here? 

Hope to hear from you soon! 

From, your penpal

Strange, yes, but fun just as well! I used to write to my siblings when I was younger, but it's been so long since then... Feels like being a kid again!

Oh! And you are a delightful storyteller. A nap by the water sounds so nice... Without the fish part, anyway. Though a nap in the water might not even be all that bad! Er... as long as you can float.

But here I go getting distracted. It's nice to meet you too! Or, well, if that's what this is. I guess so? I've never met anyone by letter before. There's a first time for everything!

(Oh, and don't worry, I haven't seen anyone get dragged into the pond recently. Or ever, really.)

In other news, I'd wager you and I are kindred spirits! I actually think about good nap spots all the time. Nothing beats just the right amount of sun to curl up in after lunch. Naps are always the nicest when warm! Where I come from, it's nighttime all the time, so I try and get the most out of the sun while I'm here.

Most often, I really favor the west side of the library. There are some super cozy chairs by the far windows that catch just the most perfect rays in the afternoons. Though I'm pretty sure it's frowned upon to sleep there... oops.

Not that that's the only thing important to me! I like to keep busy just as much as I like to curl up and sleep. It balances out pretty well, I'd say!

Let me think... Oh, like lately! I've been spending a lot of my time sneaking the horses treats while they're being switched out between classes. I don't ride much myself, but they're such sweet creatures... It's hard to resist!

Ack, I'm running out of room here... Um... Are you an animal person too?

He'd always promised her they'd eventually see the world. Lands full of sunshine, of fresh air, of flora and fauna described in the books lining Castle Krakenburg's shelves.

Those dreams did not include the caveat of working while exploring said new land, though when did life turn out exactly as their younger selves had wished?

She's happy, and that's enough for him.

Leo adjusts the hood of his cloak as he claims a seat on a stretch of rock separating two tide pools. Half a sea star is visible along one edge of the leftmost pool, blue arm stark against the beige rocks. Silver scales flash underneath the clear water.

The ocean roars dully some feet in front of him. Small waves lap against the rocky shoreline. It is peaceful, even with the sun bearing mercilessly down upon him.

He rolls his right shoulder, left hand coming up to massage the sore muscle. A few of the work horses had broken free of their harnesses that morning, resulting in a frantic hour of chasing them down and ensuring such an accident wouldn't happen again. Leo had caught one of the horses, though not before it nearly yanked the arm he'd wrapped around the reins halfway out of its socket.

Silver head swivels only to be greeted by her husband's back, far enough away to feign ignorance still even after his words register. An hour? That's hardly enough time to investigate all of these pools, and she really doesn't want to skip any.

Attention snaps back to the one she's standing in now, a flash of red along the rocks. An eager hand unfurls from where it had been holding her skirts out of the water, reaching to snatch the little creature before it can get too far. She lifts it for proper inspection.

"Hello there," a giggle, to which the crab has no reaction. Careful to hold away from its little pincers, Corrin decides it worthy enough evidence for her case.

She picks her way back through the pools to Leo, one hand still in her skirts and the other carefully carrying her new friend, eyes trained intently on the ground beneath her so as to avoid stepping on any other potential friends. Though there's really not much reason to bother with her skirts anymore, considering where seaweed has already begun to clung to their wet hems, she's at least trying to look like she cares.

When she comes to a stop at last it is beside him, where she forfeits one hand to tap his shoulder before sinking to her knees.

So much for pretending to care about her skirts.