Hang your kisses on all my branches, please
Whether it's because she's pleased her miniature ploy worked to inspire the woman to help her, or the stranger's calming smile that is far too experienced works its magic, Hotaru does indeed settle. "Thank you," she responds coyly, and intentionally looks up between golden lashes as she kneels to help pick the apples off the ground to deposit them back in the basket. Lovely ladies in the woods (herself aside) are a rare pleasure after all.
It's admittedly surprising to hear Raelyn has not moved away from the Grounds as seemingly every other soul in existence has, but Hotaru merely tucks that information away labeled under 'has bad taste' and says nothing. Which is perhaps unfair - during her flight she had seen countless changes in the land she'd once lived in, so maybe things have improved environmentally if nothing else. "Halo. I run the Arcane Academy there - these apples are actually for my students." Hotaru was never the type to conceal her abilities even here where the anti-Abandoned sentiment had been so strong in her experience.
It's admittedly surprising to hear Raelyn has not moved away from the Grounds as seemingly every other soul in existence has, but Hotaru merely tucks that information away labeled under 'has bad taste' and says nothing. Which is perhaps unfair - during her flight she had seen countless changes in the land she'd once lived in, so maybe things have improved environmentally if nothing else. "Halo. I run the Arcane Academy there - these apples are actually for my students." Hotaru was never the type to conceal her abilities even here where the anti-Abandoned sentiment had been so strong in her experience.
Sink your fingers into the darkness of my fur
Valkyrie
