staff litter 2020 - princess of mt ledang / princess kaguya

[zoosea]

Watching ^^’

[captain dude]

94C4D678-94F1-44AF-9698-02D23773AC4E.jpeg (158.07 KiB) Viewed 113 times

username: DewFromJupiter
name: Ginkgo
gender: Female
prompt:

The day that Daika arrived in my village, asking for my hand in marriage, I felt trapped. I wasn’t ready for marriage and I knew it. Despite my family’s proddings, I didn’t even know that I loved him. He was passionate about me, though. “I’ll give you the sun at your head and the moon at your feet!”

“It’s good for trade partnerships.” My father said. “His wealthy city will supply us with all the yarn, pearls, and silk we need. And besides, think of the spices! We’ll be drowning in gold!”

“He’s respected,” My mother said. “He will bring you happiness and status even into your old age.”

“And he’s handsome too!” Added my little sister.

But no one ever asked me what I wanted. He just wasn’t for me. I never felt that connection. It killed me because I pitied him. To love myself meant to break his heart. But so be it. I was always given reasons why I should marry him, but never allowed what I wanted.

My father reminded me that night that it was customary to ask a suitor for proof of his love. “Ask for the trade partnership!” He urged. But I had another idea.

Just then, the knock came at the door. Him.

“I’ve thought about what I want more than anything in the world, the way for you to prove your love. I want the sun from the sky and the moon from the stars.”

The next day, I found him gone. I didn’t see him again for a month, when he came back, haggard yet victorious.

And to this day, I keep the sun in my eyes and the moon on my fur, a reminder that if you ask someone to move Heaven and Earth, they just may do it. [300/300]

extra (1 piece of art/extra 200 words):. The winner gets my art! C:

[FluffyBirdie]

username: FluffyBirdie
name: Arlyn
gender: female
prompt: Her suitors would go to the ends of the earth for her, and it was clear why: being her husband would grant them more power than anyone else. They were willing to sacrifice everything, just for this chance, as once King they can gain back everything they lost, and more. Above mouths that uttered flowery praises were eyes of greed, and minds of selfishness. Arlyn would not wed these crude suitors.

Yet as Queen she cannot answer with rudeness unbecoming of her position. So what was she to do? Arlyn first thought of what she wanted in a partner: a wise mind, one loyal to the nation, not to wealth. Her territory was large, and hence prone to attacks along their long borders. An idea came to her, and she couldn't help the smile that spread across her face as she called for messengers. Her suitors were sons of noble families, heirs to a fortune built from trade. Asking them to enlist in the army would scare away a few, and in time, the rest would quit after a week, perhaps two, of grueling work and training. To the noble house of knights and even the hardworking farmers, it was a reasonable task. Yet to these suitors, she knew, it was one that they could not achieve. They may be willing to go to the ends of the earth, but that is with servants and hired merchants, not physically with their own person.

And if there were a noble son willing and determined to become a proper soldier, then she would test him in a real battle, in a skirmish along one of the furthest points in her land. If victorious, Arlyn could concede that he had some merit, and gods willing, consider him a genuine suitor.

[297 words]

[Broccoli_Bento]

.

username: Broccoli_Bento
name: Chiyoko Hara
gender: female
prompt:

"I saved you a seat!" I waved from the bar counter.
Chiyoko walked over, dragging her feet with each step.
"Rough day?"
She deeply sighed before saying with a low tone "yeah, a really rough day..."

The stress she was under was emitting from her as she pressed her forehead against the counter.
"Can I order you anything?"
She tilted her head at me before glaring, because I had asked a stupid question.
"Can I get a usual for Chiyo here?"

I watched as she glided her finger around the edge of her glass, in a mood worse than usual.
She took a sip of her drink before turning towards me.
"Y'know how I told you I was from a rich family? Well, I didn't tell you that I'm from an elite one"
"What's that supposed to mean? Wait, you don't mean like in those dramas?!"

She went on and told me about how her grandparents, her gaurdians, were pestering her about accepting marriage offers from other elite families, and perhaps taking on the family business.

She then said, "I told them that if they could find me a man who can craft me one million paper cranes with his own hands, then I would consider."
I chuckled at her bargaining request, before Googling how long it would take to accomplish that.
"It would take someone five years, if they were consistent, to do that!"
"Exactly!" She pointed with pure delight.

"Can you imagine a million origami cranes instead of a ring, like kneeling before me like 'Chiyoko will you marry me?', hahaha!"
It made her night a little more bearable, as she laughed on about the thought of someone doing that.

Though we don't work in the same department, whenever I have worked alongside her, it's been my favorite.

[300/300]

extra (1 piece of art/extra 200 words):

Yes I have a huge crush on miss Chiyoko Hara.
She is one of the finest detectives I've had the privilege of working with.

After that night my gears were turning as I thought about crafting those cranes for her.
It would take me a long time, probably longer than estimated with my work schedule, but she's a stubborn girl, and I think that it would take a million cranes to convince her that she is worth the effort.

After the first thousand I crafted I went to her department and waited for her, so that I could hand her the mass of stringed origami like it was a massive bouquet of roses.

The look on her face was of pure amazement turned to flattery as she received the paper birds.
I then proceeded to say to her without stumbling, "I'm still working on the rest of them, slowly but surely, but I was hoping that a thousand would be enough to ask you out on a date."

To tell you the reaction she had to hearing that would be an understatement.
I for the first time turned that strong independent woman into a shy and speechless girl.

[198/200]

[nermal1999]

username: nermal1999
name: Suki
gender: Female
prompt:
Bringing honor to one's family, is any girl's dream.

A young girl, who marries into a fine noble family, will bestow honor to her family line.
But for Suki, she fears to tell the words of truth, that she isn't ready for marriage, there's still so much that her heart yearns for.

Would they even understand? Or would they be ashamed?
Would saying such things bring dishonor to her name, and to her family?

Would there really be no escape from this fate.
Would she truly be forced into this role that she was born into without choice?
There was so much that Suki wanted to see, so much she wanted to know, she didn't want to spend her life sitting, beside a man, who she'll feel nothing for.


There had to be a way to escape this line of duty.
Luckily for her, there was this old tradition, one in which the young maiden was allowed one request, a request for her suitors.
Something challenging, to find which was the most noble.

But what if she was to go for a real challenge, something so challenging it would be almost impossible.
It would be the perfect plan, if she could think of something so impossible, but realistic, then she could escape marriage, and prevent bringing dishonor to her family

After some deep thought, she finally knew what it was that she wanted.

She would wed a man who could craft her a thousand paper stars.
But these stars had to be crafted under certain rules, two to be precise.

1: there cannot be duplicate colors, different shades are fine as long as they don't match.
2: only one star can be crafted per day, no more, no less.

A man who can do this, will be whom she marries.

[300/300]

extra (1 piece of art/extra 200 words):

Suki is a girl who comes from an old traditional Japanese family.

[Amplify]

username: amplify
name: ashoka
gender: female
prompt:

The only things that the young princess Ashoka wanted from a partner were their love and companionship. She had no need for their money, caring more for a life well lived than a life filled with wealth. Their resources were similarly unimportant, as resources were something she and her kingdom had aplenty. Their appearance, though she had preferences for the well-kempt, was never what drew her in first. If they did not have kindness in their hearts, and a curiosity to their mind, then they would never have her heart.

It was therefore immensely disheartening to find that each suitor who came to her secluded castle, whether from distant lands or within her very kingdom, only wanted those pieces of her. Her wealth, a sum she amassed from her writings, with an inheritance yet to come. Her resources, from her connections, to her lands, to the many odds and ends within her castle. Her beauty, the ideal trophy wife; something to showcase and flaunt, made to be an object herself.

For this reason, to each suitor she offered a meal over which they would converse, before requiring them to solve a riddle and meet a single demand. Each time they dined she asked questions on seemingly random topics. From flowers to roadways to politics and more, each person was required to describe their thoughts and knowledge on a random topic. And then she would deliver a riddle, which they must answer.

Both were designed in such a way to determine her suitors’ true intentions, as by the end she would always know if it was her they wanted, or some piece of her that they deemed worth the trouble. To those looking for wealth, they were required to find a great treasure to impress her, from the teardrop jewels of the moon to the resurrection stone. For those who sought her resources, they had to build a farm from the ground up and seek the favor of every member of her family without bribery or deceit. And to those who wanted her for her beauty, they would need to compliment a thousand common people on their appearance with genuine intention and write a book for her on what true beauty is.

For those who seemed to genuinely care for her, however, she offered a special task. Convince her beloved pet fox, Deirdre, to give them the bell from her collar, whose chime was unduplicable, each day for a month straight. Miss one day, and you were through. They could try for hours but never catch her, and many lost by the end of the first day. But eventually came someone who took a different, friendlier approach. Talking to Dierdre in the evenings after conversing with Ashoka throughout the day, offering her shiny trinkets and the like in exchange for the bell.

On the final day however, she was nowhere to be seen. Instead, in her place stood Ashoka who offered them the final bell and her hand in marriage.

[499/500] [300+200 for the extra]

[aeth]

hey yall <3
as requested, this comp will be extended to

5th January 2021 12:00a.m., following CS rollover time.

loving every entry so far!
thank you everyone sm for participating

[astral.]

Mark 💕

[wishbone!]

username: plantfood
name: Megumi
gender: woman, she/her

prompt:
You are shaking as you fumble for a match. Your throat is tight and you are heaving for breath to creep past your dry tongue and fill your lungs. Where is the incense? You have to light it to speak with her, you need to speak with her.

A flame crackles to life and a wisp of smoke begins its aimless journey.

Please, please, please. You sit on the floor, shoulders hunched and knee bouncing. "My Lady, I must see you! I've done something terrible." Patience is currently the farthest thing from your grasp.

The soft rustle of fabric makes everything else silent.

She takes your hands into her own and holds your quivering fingers still within her gentle touch. It takes a few moments to calm your heart before you can meet her eyes. Her peach-sweet gaze keeps you anchored away from the waves of anxiety that surge uncontrollably at your senses. The alarm of fear in your head subsides from the cacophonous clanging of a fallen pot to its subtle, echoing din. Megumi's thumb grazes over your knuckles, successfully capturing the remnants your attention.

"The past is immovable. You cannot spend the future dreading what has already transpired."

Your thoughts dip briefly back to what just happened and your heart hammers, just once before she cups your cheek.

"I have only one favor to ask, going forward. Can you do that for me?"

Somewhere beneath the surface of your shimmering consciousness there is the dark, turbulent rushing of too many feelings and memories. Hesitantly you nod, trusting Megumi to keep you from slipping into the bloody torrent.

"Forgive yourself."

The final wisp of smoke curls effortlessly away from crumbling ash, her presence fading inevitably with it.

How desperately you wish it could be that simple for you too.


[300/300 words]

[Ucanthandleme]

username: Ucanthandleme
name: Elysian
gender: Male
prompt:

“Find the treasure I hold dearest and I will bless you with a priceless gift”

Down on their knees, foreheads kissing the floor, they knelt before him, subservient, weak. Their fast inhalations and exhalations conveyed the fear in their hearts. Just like an ancient god he gently sat there on the throne; with a flick of his sleeves their heads would be served on a platter. Yet despite their indescribable fear they could not help but worship his magnificent visage. A silken robe draped over his body, his long pure white hair intertwined with the layers of fabric causing a languid aura to surround him. But the moment you looked into his eyes; phoenix eyes with peach blossom pupils you couldn't help but hold your breath. Unrestrained and deadly this man before them was, yet because of this even more captivating.

They watched as his porcelain white hand sloshed a cup of crimson liquid back and forth, seemingly enjoying the show of them kneeling before him, no mention of letting them rise. Their breathes echoed in the room before the sound of liquid hitting the floor was heard. The red beverage was poured over their heads yet they didn’t make a peep, only lowering further in fear of angering the one above. A sneer was heard, the beautiful man stood up his embroidered shoes becoming dyed by the crimson colour on the floor. Tap, tap, tap, he made his way until he stood before them. A low mellow voice was heard, “This was all you could bring me?” Their shoulders shook violently, they could hear the anger tinged in his tone.

Stuttering one of them spoke, “We searched everywhere in the kingdom for your dearest treasure, each of us bringing the finest object worthy of your affection.” He disdainfully swept his eyes across the mountains of objects. Kings and queens would beg for even one of the objects before him, yet he just looked upon them with disdain. They could not help but shiver when his eyes finally lay on their bodies, cold and harsh, they could feel his stare burning a hole through their heads. “Take them away,” he murmured as he looked into the sky. They struggled briefly before they were taken away. Giving a sigh Elysian made his way back to the throne, draping his robe to the side as he sat back down.

He held his hand over his face and in the silence of the empty throne room he began to laugh. It bubbled from his throat in a great torrent, an impossible task he gave them, they could never bring the treasure he held dearest. After a while his laughter died down and his hand picked up a small mirror that lay constantly by his throne. If one was smart enough, observed enough, they would see he bought a mirror everywhere. The treasure he held dearest? Holding up the mirror to his face, he thought to himself, what could be more precious than himself?

(500/500) (300+200 for the extra)