you are such a soft and messy thing, nobody knows how to take care of you
It's not the appendages themselves that concern her, but she bites her tongue when he straightens and some of them begin to vanish, not wanting to overshadow her initial query. His smile is a good sign - especially once she thoroughly examines it for any hint of deceit and comes up empty. Not deceit against her, necessarily, but against himself. With the ripple of reassurance down the bond, Hotaru wades deeper and closer to his side, needing to propel herself at some points when the natural bedrock drops away beneath her feet until she is holding onto the side with one hand to get close enough to touch.
The revelation is honestly surprising, though she tries not to let it show too plainly on her face. He moves on before she can gather her thoughts though he must know she will not let the subject die; Hotaru watches the display of magic all the same, and lets her own rise in a whisp of air that curls around his neck and shoulders, dispelling some of the heat before doing the same to herself.
Perhaps if she were a better person she would ask, first, if he wanted to talk about this. But given he'd already opened up it seems unnecessary to her. So she merely touches his hand as she settles her back against the rock, keeping her head turned so he never leaves her sight. "I'm sorry, Sunny." Because she is; confused, too, but also regretful for him. "Why did she leave? You both seemed so close." Best friends if not more considering how Hotaru had misinterpreted their relationship from the start.
The revelation is honestly surprising, though she tries not to let it show too plainly on her face. He moves on before she can gather her thoughts though he must know she will not let the subject die; Hotaru watches the display of magic all the same, and lets her own rise in a whisp of air that curls around his neck and shoulders, dispelling some of the heat before doing the same to herself.
Perhaps if she were a better person she would ask, first, if he wanted to talk about this. But given he'd already opened up it seems unnecessary to her. So she merely touches his hand as she settles her back against the rock, keeping her head turned so he never leaves her sight. "I'm sorry, Sunny." Because she is; confused, too, but also regretful for him. "Why did she leave? You both seemed so close." Best friends if not more considering how Hotaru had misinterpreted their relationship from the start.
