#apply to favorite non-lethal character three times a day or as necessary

[damoselcastel]

Off Call

Chapter 10 - Series Finale summary: Hinoka and her friends watch her favorite show's season finale, and more than one shock's in store.

It was here, the grand finale of Hinoka's current favorite show series: Ribald Tales of the Faith Wars. She wasn't the only one either, most of her co-workers and friends also watched. So when Hinoka's day off just happened to coincide with the airing, she took the opportunity to invite some friends over for a viewing party. Only a couple had been able to make it, but she felt better not watching alone and the suggestion to have not only popcorn but also wine was an inspired suggestion.

Orochi had brought the wine, a bottle decent vintage rather than boxed stuff, while Setsuna had brought her popcorn popper and the necessary kernels; Hinoka was happy to provide the wine glasses and popcorn bowls. She hadn't had a casual get-together like this in a long while, let alone with her little brother's former babysitter and college dorm mate— both had unique outlooks on life so she anticipated fun commentary. The older woman had already downed half a glass by the time kernels had finished popping, the butter and salt was applied, and Hinoka was able to get settled on the couch.

After a long sip, Orochi dramatically announced, "If this episode is anything like what they did to Pinkie and her hubby in the last one, I swear I'll riot."

Said characters had been her friend's favorite so Hinoka understood why she was sore about them being killed off. Hinoka had honestly found it to be a ballsy move by the show's writers, since none of the main cast had suffered beyond emotions and non-lethal wounds. Though the way they'd taken out the lion-themed knight who seemed like a shoe-in to join the protagonist should've been a clue.

As the familiar intro began on the TV screen, Hinoka teased, "How could they do worse than cold-blooded murder and kidnapping?"

Forty-five minutes later the writers for Ribald Tales of the Faith Wars proved they could indeed do much worse than waylaying a young couple in the desert and having their killer adopt the orphan. The last-minute betrayal and massacre came with a display of excellent pyrotechnics and burning body special effects. As the credits rolled, Hinoka couldn't keep silent any longer.

"THAT RAT BASTARD!"

"...you mean 'dastard'," Setsuna corrected.

"My vocabulary's not limited by age rating!" Hinoka threw one of the couch pillows across the room and it hit the wall with a thud before falling to the carpet. "I can't believe they killed off everyone."

"Just all the dudes." Orochi said through a mouth full of half-chewed popcorn. "I think most of the female characters got away, with all those couple's asides and more than one being obviously preggers."

Hinoka scoffed, "So what, you think this'll turn into a fantasy epic about single moms and their infants?"

Orochi shrugged. "Hard to say where they'll go now. The hero's way dead, like barbecue bricket dead, but we know the next season's coming out later this year."

"I just hope they don't let the villain get away with this." Hinoka fell back against the couch, picking up another pillow to squeeze in frustration. "Uuuurg, I hate how it feels like that guy's trickery and backstabbing won."

"...isn't he your favorite character?" Setsuna cocked her head to the side.

Hinoka felt the blush rising in her cheeks. "It's just his hair that I love!"

Orochi nodded sagely. "Makes sense, same color as yours but curly like Marx's. I bet your kid will have hair like that." She gasped, abruptly leaving into her space. "Hey, why don't you name your kid Arv-"

"DON'T finish that thought!" Hinoka shoved a pillow to silence her friend. "No babies of mine will be named after a two-faced murderer."

"What's this about babies?"

The three of them turned to find a confused-looking Marx standing in the apartment's doorway, having paused in the action of removing his shoes. Hinoka's blush intensified when his gaze honed in on her and then the wine glasses on the living room table.

Unfazed by his judgemental gaze, Setsuna told Marx, "...Hinoka likes curly hair. Your kid should have curly hair."

It had Hinoka blurting loudly, "I'm not pregnant!"

"But once you are, feel free to call anytime you need me to watch your rugrat." Orochi grinned. "I promise to keep them away from matches."

#FE14 #fanfiction #Off Call #xanoka #Hinoka #Marx #Xander #setsuna #orochi #FE4 spoilers #my fic #Dame writes