Hotaru
Our hearts we have sold
For diamonds and gold
For diamonds and gold
"Construct an elaborate lie about a partner living in the Grounds, unwilling to move, and enjoy the adrenaline of keeping your facts straight." The amusing notion only makes her smirk into her glass, draining the last bit and savoring the taste upon her tongue. It's an idea straight out of a romance novel, and she wonders if it would even work implemented in a daily situation.
Setting her glass aside, she leans slightly into the touch upon her shoulder, giving a bittersweet smile at their collective lack of convincing acting. "At least we have opposite problems. You lose out quite often when you are unwilling to lower your guard." Such has been her own vice to fight in her years. "But we all learn. Slowly, as we are quite stupid it seems." Learning to open up, or in Loren's case, to not dive in so quickly. She's not sure which she pities more.
At least the humor of his ascension to his role is enough to temporarily dispel those thoughts, and it startles a laugh from her when he bluntly admits to nepotism. "If the leverage is there, why not use it?" The curl of her lips is positively devilish, having done far more underhanded things to climb the ladder herself. "Though from what you've said of your family, perhaps it's not such a good thing." To be stuck in the Palace with them, having to perform his duties even when wanting an escape from their antagonism? Hotaru does not envy that.
"I imagine not," she agrees, voice far softer than it has any right to be. "I had a few, in my home land. Certainly out of everyone who knew me, I was the one most surprised by how happy motherhood made me." A wry laugh escapes here, folding her hands in her lap. She'd been certain that she'd turn out like her parents, distant and forgotten. Or perhaps that her own personality would be her downfall. And yet she had looked into the eyes of her first child and known that motherhood was perhaps the one thing she could succeed at in this world. "I lost them. All of them, when our world was destroyed. Two I had to watch die before my eyes, and the others...I never made it to the other side of the portal where they landed." There is a strangled grief to her words, and she sucks in a breath to chase away the stabbing pain that the reminder brings her, trying to compose herself as her hands idly wave away the topic as if in apology. "Sorry, that's likely more than you cared to hear." Nobody was a fan of moms going on and on about their kids anyway, and going on and on about their deaths was even harder to swallow.
At least she can help to weather the pain he displays at the mention of his partner's demise, having just admitted the agony of watching her children die firsthand as well. It's something she would not wish upon even her worst enemies, and she lets him thread their fingers together, squeezing and holding on as if they can drag each other out of this mire together somehow. "I'm so sorry," she whispers instead, because there's nothing else to say. And they sit like that for a moment, embroiled in their memories, silent and aching, until his arm comes to wrap around her. Hotaru leans into it, sliding just a little closer so that they can share what heat they manage to accumulate between them. "Ah, should I be the Grounds maiden in your story then? I can be quite convincing." Mirth plays weakly on her tongue, but it's all she can manage with how weighted their conversation has become. "Thank you. I didn't expect to find you here but...I'm glad I did." Which is already too forward and honest, makes her insides cramp with anxiety and warning bells, but it seems to be the theme of the evening.
Setting her glass aside, she leans slightly into the touch upon her shoulder, giving a bittersweet smile at their collective lack of convincing acting. "At least we have opposite problems. You lose out quite often when you are unwilling to lower your guard." Such has been her own vice to fight in her years. "But we all learn. Slowly, as we are quite stupid it seems." Learning to open up, or in Loren's case, to not dive in so quickly. She's not sure which she pities more.
At least the humor of his ascension to his role is enough to temporarily dispel those thoughts, and it startles a laugh from her when he bluntly admits to nepotism. "If the leverage is there, why not use it?" The curl of her lips is positively devilish, having done far more underhanded things to climb the ladder herself. "Though from what you've said of your family, perhaps it's not such a good thing." To be stuck in the Palace with them, having to perform his duties even when wanting an escape from their antagonism? Hotaru does not envy that.
"I imagine not," she agrees, voice far softer than it has any right to be. "I had a few, in my home land. Certainly out of everyone who knew me, I was the one most surprised by how happy motherhood made me." A wry laugh escapes here, folding her hands in her lap. She'd been certain that she'd turn out like her parents, distant and forgotten. Or perhaps that her own personality would be her downfall. And yet she had looked into the eyes of her first child and known that motherhood was perhaps the one thing she could succeed at in this world. "I lost them. All of them, when our world was destroyed. Two I had to watch die before my eyes, and the others...I never made it to the other side of the portal where they landed." There is a strangled grief to her words, and she sucks in a breath to chase away the stabbing pain that the reminder brings her, trying to compose herself as her hands idly wave away the topic as if in apology. "Sorry, that's likely more than you cared to hear." Nobody was a fan of moms going on and on about their kids anyway, and going on and on about their deaths was even harder to swallow.
At least she can help to weather the pain he displays at the mention of his partner's demise, having just admitted the agony of watching her children die firsthand as well. It's something she would not wish upon even her worst enemies, and she lets him thread their fingers together, squeezing and holding on as if they can drag each other out of this mire together somehow. "I'm so sorry," she whispers instead, because there's nothing else to say. And they sit like that for a moment, embroiled in their memories, silent and aching, until his arm comes to wrap around her. Hotaru leans into it, sliding just a little closer so that they can share what heat they manage to accumulate between them. "Ah, should I be the Grounds maiden in your story then? I can be quite convincing." Mirth plays weakly on her tongue, but it's all she can manage with how weighted their conversation has become. "Thank you. I didn't expect to find you here but...I'm glad I did." Which is already too forward and honest, makes her insides cramp with anxiety and warning bells, but it seems to be the theme of the evening.
But baby take a look
We have it all
We have it all
