Hotaru
we're not lovers, we're just strangers
with the same damn hunger
with the same damn hunger
The saying that implores not to assume malice where incompetence can explain isn’t far off from what causes Hotaru’s unintentional silence. Though it’s less idiocy and more self-absorption. Most days she is simply trying to keep her head above water, make heads and tails of her emotions and all that has caused them. Days slip away from her - distracted by yet more of them with unexpected visits from Noah, spending time with her children, trying to figure out where she fits in Torchline.
But in truth, yes. Part of her dreads seeing Deimos. Knows he will struggle between comfort and unsurprised judgment - something she can’t fault him for, but which will sting like salt in wounds that are so deep they haven’t even begun to clot yet.
So of course fate decides to deliver her to him without any preparation.
It’s Andraste’s fault - Ru doesn’t let herself muse over how all of this is - given he attracts her attention as one of the only souls near the Pool. Hotaru follows her at a slow pace, wandering up and down the coastline and all its familiar avenues. “Don’t bother people, Andraste,” she calls primly, voice subdued but still capable of carrying clearly down the beach. Andraste turns her luminescent gaze toward the Valkyrie, gliding back toward her. But as Ru moves to apologize briefly and continue on, her eyes settle on Deimos and she knows instantly who he is. Her heart jumps swiftly into her throat - instinct dictating an emotional response that contextual dread could never hope to stifle.
“Dei,” she chokes, already running, needing to close the distance now that he’s actually here and not just a memory in her fogged head.
But in truth, yes. Part of her dreads seeing Deimos. Knows he will struggle between comfort and unsurprised judgment - something she can’t fault him for, but which will sting like salt in wounds that are so deep they haven’t even begun to clot yet.
So of course fate decides to deliver her to him without any preparation.
It’s Andraste’s fault - Ru doesn’t let herself muse over how all of this is - given he attracts her attention as one of the only souls near the Pool. Hotaru follows her at a slow pace, wandering up and down the coastline and all its familiar avenues. “Don’t bother people, Andraste,” she calls primly, voice subdued but still capable of carrying clearly down the beach. Andraste turns her luminescent gaze toward the Valkyrie, gliding back toward her. But as Ru moves to apologize briefly and continue on, her eyes settle on Deimos and she knows instantly who he is. Her heart jumps swiftly into her throat - instinct dictating an emotional response that contextual dread could never hope to stifle.
“Dei,” she chokes, already running, needing to close the distance now that he’s actually here and not just a memory in her fogged head.
to be touched, to be loved
to feel anything at all
to feel anything at all
