Work Text:
Tatsumiya had always thought her type was men like the Great Sorcerer. Calm ones, wise ones, caring ones who treated everyone with respect. Ones you’d expect to be a loving husband and a father to your children, ones you could easily envision a happy life together with. Those were the type of men she attached to.
And then this jerk came along.
This orca, whose name she still hadn’t gotten, had fought off one shark for her (admittedly it was Old, who deserved to have a bite taken out of him) and suddenly she was swooning over him. He was arrogant and rude and his cigarettes smelled bad, and whenever she was in his presence her heart wouldn’t stop pounding and she tripped over every sentence.
Awful. Just awful. The sooner the orca continued on his ‘stroll’ and left the kingdom the better.
...She really, really wanted to know his name first.
When she crossed paths with him, she was usually with Pulmo or someone else, so finding him unaccompanied in the Sea of Stars was… new, and somewhat frightening. It was too late to back away and pretend she hadn’t noticed him when he spotted her and called, “Oh, if it isn’t miss oarfish?”
“Tatsumiya,” she said, taking a few nervous steps towards him. “I’ve told you before...”
“Did you? I’ve got no head for names,” he said with a chuckle.
“Is that why you never give yours?” she asked.
“One less unimportant detail for you to forget,” he replied.
As he took a drag off his cigarette, Tatsumiya frowned. “What if I don’t think it’s unimportant?”
The orca raised an eyebrow. “You like me that much?”
“W-well, I- I think names are important to address anyone, it’s not just you-” She stumbled over her words. “B-but I don’t dislike you, either!”
He chuckled and put out his cigarette, dropping it on the ground.
“You’re littering.” Thank goodness, something to focus on besides how her heart was pitter-pattering. “In this kingdom, there are rules against that.”
“I don’t see a trash can anywhere here.” The orca shrugged.
“There’s one around the next corner.” When the orca made no move to pick up his cigarette, Tatsumiya sighed and came closer, bending at the waist to pick it up for him. She was very much aware of where his gaze was fixed as she did so (namely, her behind), but resolved not to respond. Don’t let him get a rise out of you, Tatsumiya, she told herself.
“I’ll get rid of this for you,” she said, still red-faced. “But try not to do it again.” She took a step away.
“Leaving so soon?” he asked. “We just started talking.”
Make an excuse to leave, make an excuse to leave. “...W-well, what would you like to talk about?” Failed.
“Anything. I can talk to a beautiful woman all day.”
“B...Beautiful?” The flush in Tatsumiya’s face increased tenfold. “Ah… I, thank you… You’re also very handsome...” The last part was said in a near-whisper.
“That so?” The orca smirked. “Tatsumiya.”
“Yes?” A hundredfold now, or at least it felt that way.
“The name’s Idate,” he said.
“...It’s a very good name. It suits you,” she replied, a smile coming to her face. “Thank you, for telling me.”
“Since you wanted to know so much.” Idate reached to rub her arm softly, which she allowed. “Stick around and chat for a while. Sea’s beautiful in the summer, right?”
Trying to relax, Tatsumiya replied, “I can spare the time.”