you are such a soft and messy thing
nobody knows how to take care of you
The night beckons her out into its arms, whispering her name in a tone long lost, a Goddess who is scattered to the stars she had once reigned over. She slips from the warmth of her bed, still dressed in her sleeping gown, and pulls a long cardigan on as she slips silently out the door to heed the call of the restless and roaming. The brisk air greets her, sweeping against her bare legs and curling in the crevices of her collarbones like a lover's touch. The chill of the embrace does not bother her. She is a daughter of ice and snow, and though her bare skin is more fragile than she is used to, some things simply cannot be changed.She walks aimlessly, letting the light of the moon guide her, and when the trees fall away and the rubble softens to fresh spongey earth, she digs her bare toes in and gives a soft pleased sigh. When her gaze lifts from the earth she turns it to the gleaming surface of the lake, and makes an intrigued sound when she sees a distant figure cutting easily through the water. Watches for a moment, a little stunned by the boldness of swimming in such chill waters. She may have been spoiled by hotsprings, but it's impressive nonetheless.
And because Hotaru simply can't keep her nose out of things, she wanders closer, crickets and frogs accompanying the rhythmic splashing of the brave soul in the water. And then the mystery figure climbs the bank, pale skin awash in moonlight, and Hotaru can't help her voraciously wandering eyes as she approaches. Enjoying every dip and valley, the contrast of softness and the rigidity of muscle, the deep shadows playfully withholding more from view. "Should I thank you for the invigorating show?" Her voice is soft and teasing, though she's not any more modest in her silken gown and cardigan.
