Darling please, just give us some time, and I swear we'll be alright
There is a hypnotic comfort that falls over her as her hands rub and circle over the fine bone structure beneath Belial's fur. As rhythmic as stroking a lazy lapcat. It's like an adrenaline crash, or a hangover. In the wake of all the emotion they've both shared - bearing and trading burdens - Hotaru is tired. She can't say this is home. She isn't sure if that even exists right now, or if it's something she'll have to content herself with never having again. But at least she is safe; in a familiar place, with the man she loves and trusts most in the world at her side, Atlas watching over her. It's enough.
"No, I don't think it does. It makes sense - they'd be far more invested in collateral damage. Life will always continue on, even if all humans and their Ascended ilk were eradicated." Life in different forms perhaps, but still the sort that Frey would preside over. It's a relief in a way. Frey may not want Hotaru to be their chosen one, may even reject Attuning her, but at least she's confident in the certainty that the choice would not be so difficult to make as others who follow Safrin or Ludo. As such, it spirals easily into answering Deimos' next question, subdued though it may be.
"I think...those with power of any sort will not be able to escape having to make a choice." They'd talked about the inevitable accumulation of power the longer one lived in Caido. The growing levels of importance that falls upon those individuals. "Everyone else, they may be spared that fate. Maybe they'll be able to hunker down and ride out the storm. But even if the Gods do not make pawns of them, the people who lead each side will try." That is the inevitable nature of war. Had they not done the same in their ruling years? Tried to sway, ally, strengthen their brute numbers? Now it will merely be The Order against Wessex and her family. A race to secure more minds, if not more bodies. Even procuring a vow to stay away from the other side is a worthy enough endeavor to try and indoctrinate and convince bystanders. "But us? We're not going to be able to avoid it." Even Hotaru's dedication to Frey will not save her from involvement.
"No, I don't think it does. It makes sense - they'd be far more invested in collateral damage. Life will always continue on, even if all humans and their Ascended ilk were eradicated." Life in different forms perhaps, but still the sort that Frey would preside over. It's a relief in a way. Frey may not want Hotaru to be their chosen one, may even reject Attuning her, but at least she's confident in the certainty that the choice would not be so difficult to make as others who follow Safrin or Ludo. As such, it spirals easily into answering Deimos' next question, subdued though it may be.
"I think...those with power of any sort will not be able to escape having to make a choice." They'd talked about the inevitable accumulation of power the longer one lived in Caido. The growing levels of importance that falls upon those individuals. "Everyone else, they may be spared that fate. Maybe they'll be able to hunker down and ride out the storm. But even if the Gods do not make pawns of them, the people who lead each side will try." That is the inevitable nature of war. Had they not done the same in their ruling years? Tried to sway, ally, strengthen their brute numbers? Now it will merely be The Order against Wessex and her family. A race to secure more minds, if not more bodies. Even procuring a vow to stay away from the other side is a worthy enough endeavor to try and indoctrinate and convince bystanders. "But us? We're not going to be able to avoid it." Even Hotaru's dedication to Frey will not save her from involvement.
HOTARU
