[Saiunkoku Challenge 21] The Worst Kind of Fool

[runiclore]

The Worst Kind of Fool
Author: Amber Michelle
Rating: K
Genre: introspective
Warnings: spoilers for book 13.
AU/Canon: canon.
Pairing/Characters: Reishin
Words: 300

Prompt: fool (300 words max)
Notes: n/a



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Alone in the carriage at least, Reshin let his head rest on the wall after it jolted into motion. The gap between the curtains revealed the blank white of the manor wall as they passed, then the plum trees planted down the center of the street, and then storefronts with their colorful awnings and shutters. Morning was breaking, and the streets were still empty, quiet, except for the clatter of carriage wheels and hooves, and the jingle of harnesses.

His servants, all hand-picked, had stayed behind because Kouyuu and Yuri did. There was no point in taking his staff back to the province; Kurou employed a full compliment of servants already. Some of them might even be trustworthy.

He leaned over and twitched the curtains closed. Yuri was right; Kurou should have been the one to take the exam. He could imagine his brother at court - in Finance, or Civil Administration, or even Justice. And he imagined Kurou would put his best effort forth, and perhaps even care as to the outcome of his work; he took everything seriously, from paper-cutting to clan administration.

Reishin didn't want his post back, but he would have liked to leave with more dignity, instead of fleeing at dawn like a thief. He'd have liked to find a reason to stay, but how could he, when even speaking to Kouyuu directly had his stomach in knots? If he'd acted sooner--

But he hadn't. He couldn't withdraw his decision gracefully; he would not apologize. You're the worst kind of stubborn, Yuri said the night before he left. Don't be an idiot. Just talk to him.

He never managed to find the right time.

Perhaps dwelling on it only made him another kind of fool.


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Comments

[spiralhollow.livejournal.com]

Neat little piece. Do you have the word in mind (fool in this case) and then craft a story around it? I tend to do that a lot. Funny to think others might do it too.

[runiclore.livejournal.com]

In the case of these challenge communities, they present a prompt for the day or week, and it's free-interpretation. Sometimes it can be really inspiring, and sometimes I'll go weeks without using one because they just don't hit the right note for me.

I find word limits more helpful, actually, when I decide to constrain my writing. It's said constraints will help with the process (it forces your creative muscles to work harder, I guess), and since I can go on and on and on and let a fic get away from me otherwise, it's helpful to be told I can't have more than three hundred words sometimes.

Anyway, I watch a ton of prompt communities for the purpose you were talking about. It's good for making you hit deadlines, too.