we are just bodies of the faithful stacked dozens by the roadside
She doesn’t appear as herself tonight. She can’t explain why. There’s a sick, roiling anger in her stomach that feels like grief and guilt, but she calls it by another name. Her hair is mousey brown and plain, dimming the inherent glow of her presence. Height and bone structure are beyond her power, but green eyes and freckles occlude what might otherwise be a familiar face.
She keeps her hood up, watching. Solitary. But not an uncommon state of being during a festival such as this.
The lanterns hung by her hand are ill-fitting - recreations were all she could manage to barter for on her way here from Torchline. The true lanterns still sit safely in King’s End. Her eyes move to Sunjata at the thought as if drawn by cosmic intent; his back is as familiar as her own heartbeat, even when retreating, and the paleness of his face is a glimpse at best. She steps instinctively toward him, then pauses.
Remi and Ronin are here. She knows they must be, though she hasn’t seen them. And though Hotaru has no idea what has transpired during her headlong flight to Torchline after hearing the transmission, there’s a very different reason she doesn’t want to catch their eyes. That same twisting, sickening feeling in her stomach from before strengthens in agreement, so Hotaru turns the other way and quietly departs.
- - -
Hotaru hangs lanterns for Ru’in, Enzo and Rexanna before immediately departing (so doesn’t need to be counted!)
She keeps her hood up, watching. Solitary. But not an uncommon state of being during a festival such as this.
The lanterns hung by her hand are ill-fitting - recreations were all she could manage to barter for on her way here from Torchline. The true lanterns still sit safely in King’s End. Her eyes move to Sunjata at the thought as if drawn by cosmic intent; his back is as familiar as her own heartbeat, even when retreating, and the paleness of his face is a glimpse at best. She steps instinctively toward him, then pauses.
Remi and Ronin are here. She knows they must be, though she hasn’t seen them. And though Hotaru has no idea what has transpired during her headlong flight to Torchline after hearing the transmission, there’s a very different reason she doesn’t want to catch their eyes. That same twisting, sickening feeling in her stomach from before strengthens in agreement, so Hotaru turns the other way and quietly departs.
- - -
Hotaru hangs lanterns for Ru’in, Enzo and Rexanna before immediately departing (so doesn’t need to be counted!)
HOTARU
