eyes on fire, you are the unforecasted storm
Hotaru only turns her gaze when Petronella comes to join her, willing to face the void shadows once more if it means a moment of comfort. The jaguar is not her companion, but she brings peace that feels much the same as it once had with Atlas. The same kind of peace most animals bring her, with their simpler natures that call to her own. Her hand falls to the faint colors of the shapes in Petronella's fur to begin petting in slow strokes that likely comfort her more than the cat. Which is likely exactly the intention, shrewd thing. At least it serves the dual purpose of letting her avoid Sunjata's all-too-knowing gaze.
It feels easier to divert, to show one hand while hiding the other, but if she doesn't catch herself in the act - trying every day to be honest and vulnerable with him - the Flood surely will. Her charity is not untrue, but it reveals that she's nervous to ask Frey why they hadn't encouraged being cleansed. Just as asking about Frey at all had been a poor method of concealing the true hurdle of sending Flora's letter.
"Please," she murmurs, chin to her chest as she cradles Petronella in her lap. The firelight cuts strange shapes across her eyes as she watches the fold of dark fur beneath her fingertips and remembers caressing Flora's bright hair instead. It makes her feel cold in a way the burning logs and Petronella's warm weight can't chase away. "I'm afraid it's going to be too little too late. I've run away from her for so long now." And so much more has happened. But Hotaru hadn't felt like she could explain, or ask for forgiveness, or even be in her right mind for so long after Remi had plunged them both into the spring. She has always tried to be selfless for her children, so how will she stomach Flora's rightful condemnation when her selfishness had harmed her daughter of all people this time?
It feels easier to divert, to show one hand while hiding the other, but if she doesn't catch herself in the act - trying every day to be honest and vulnerable with him - the Flood surely will. Her charity is not untrue, but it reveals that she's nervous to ask Frey why they hadn't encouraged being cleansed. Just as asking about Frey at all had been a poor method of concealing the true hurdle of sending Flora's letter.
"Please," she murmurs, chin to her chest as she cradles Petronella in her lap. The firelight cuts strange shapes across her eyes as she watches the fold of dark fur beneath her fingertips and remembers caressing Flora's bright hair instead. It makes her feel cold in a way the burning logs and Petronella's warm weight can't chase away. "I'm afraid it's going to be too little too late. I've run away from her for so long now." And so much more has happened. But Hotaru hadn't felt like she could explain, or ask for forgiveness, or even be in her right mind for so long after Remi had plunged them both into the spring. She has always tried to be selfless for her children, so how will she stomach Flora's rightful condemnation when her selfishness had harmed her daughter of all people this time?
the Valkyrie
