HOTARU
I know when you were little girls
You dreamt of being in my world
You dreamt of being in my world
They arrive in droves, and though their eyes are wary and their words sharp, Hotaru is undaunted. She is proud of these people, proud to have been one of them for so long before this chance to lead. Their trust is something she will have to earn, but Noah’s calloused hand around her own proves it’s not an impossibility. The Valkyrie has faced worse odds.
As for the Ascended, even Kiada’s presence cannot - will not - stray her from her conviction. She addresses them in turn, starting with Sah: “No. We will not permit violence against any Halovians, the few Ascended included. Any attempts will be punished accordingly - however, because of our stance and the majority of non-Ascended Halovians, the protections we seek might conflict with those individuals’ ideals and feelings. If that is the case, it will be their own decision whether they desire to leave.” With Neron’s banishment that left only Kiada. Would she turn away from them entirely, and seek the rest of her new family in the Grounds? Or would she continue to attempt to straddle the line until the very end, as all the citizens before her seemed intent on doing?
Aino seems to veer halfway over the line herself, which is disappointing to say the least. Hotaru had hoped…but no. “If you do not care to be favored by them, then why care at all? We are not forcing you to a shrine to submit yourself to the Gods individually. Protections of any kind of magical nature must come from somewhere - or would you have us not defend Halo at all?” Her logic is inconsistent, squalling and crying for the sake of it, hateful of change but providing no alternative. “The Old Gods made Halo. Made you. So where do the lines of your patriotism lie? You will distrust an Outlander as a native, but not respect those who made the land you were born in?” The question is posed to all, even if Aino’s words had prompted the initial response. “Do not be mistaken; individuals are not being conscripted into war by us. We will not expect any of you to join the fight when it comes, but we will strive to place defenses that match those of bordering lands so that Halo is not used as a pawn, or leverage. We cannot remain neutral while achieving those defenses, because they must come from somewhere. And the Old Gods can deny us for any dawdling, or childish bids to ‘stay out of things’ - and that would leave only The Voice’s power to call upon, which would align us anyway, no?” So what would they prefer? No defenses at all, or alignment with Gods that had lived millennia longer than The Voice, that had created Halo and all her people? Even those on the fence surely had to see the logic on not betting an entire country of innocents on a singular, untested goddess whether she was trustworthy or not. Against a pantheon? As a leader, regardless of allegiance, the answer was obvious to Hotaru.
“Neutrality is a farce - war is coming whether we like it or not, and has been confirmed to come in eight seasons. We are not of the mind to bet Halo and her citizens on a new, untested, and questionable god. As I said before - nobody will be driven from their homes, but if your ideals cannot bear the thought of this change, you will not be stopped from leaving either.” Turning her eyes to the crowd, her last words ring clear. “If you leave, it will be your own choice. Not ours. But we will do what it takes to defend Halo.”
And their complaints will not slow Hotaru in her efforts to keep them - all of them, even the dissenters - safe. They are her people now. And Hotaru always protects what’s hers.
As for the Ascended, even Kiada’s presence cannot - will not - stray her from her conviction. She addresses them in turn, starting with Sah: “No. We will not permit violence against any Halovians, the few Ascended included. Any attempts will be punished accordingly - however, because of our stance and the majority of non-Ascended Halovians, the protections we seek might conflict with those individuals’ ideals and feelings. If that is the case, it will be their own decision whether they desire to leave.” With Neron’s banishment that left only Kiada. Would she turn away from them entirely, and seek the rest of her new family in the Grounds? Or would she continue to attempt to straddle the line until the very end, as all the citizens before her seemed intent on doing?
Aino seems to veer halfway over the line herself, which is disappointing to say the least. Hotaru had hoped…but no. “If you do not care to be favored by them, then why care at all? We are not forcing you to a shrine to submit yourself to the Gods individually. Protections of any kind of magical nature must come from somewhere - or would you have us not defend Halo at all?” Her logic is inconsistent, squalling and crying for the sake of it, hateful of change but providing no alternative. “The Old Gods made Halo. Made you. So where do the lines of your patriotism lie? You will distrust an Outlander as a native, but not respect those who made the land you were born in?” The question is posed to all, even if Aino’s words had prompted the initial response. “Do not be mistaken; individuals are not being conscripted into war by us. We will not expect any of you to join the fight when it comes, but we will strive to place defenses that match those of bordering lands so that Halo is not used as a pawn, or leverage. We cannot remain neutral while achieving those defenses, because they must come from somewhere. And the Old Gods can deny us for any dawdling, or childish bids to ‘stay out of things’ - and that would leave only The Voice’s power to call upon, which would align us anyway, no?” So what would they prefer? No defenses at all, or alignment with Gods that had lived millennia longer than The Voice, that had created Halo and all her people? Even those on the fence surely had to see the logic on not betting an entire country of innocents on a singular, untested goddess whether she was trustworthy or not. Against a pantheon? As a leader, regardless of allegiance, the answer was obvious to Hotaru.
“Neutrality is a farce - war is coming whether we like it or not, and has been confirmed to come in eight seasons. We are not of the mind to bet Halo and her citizens on a new, untested, and questionable god. As I said before - nobody will be driven from their homes, but if your ideals cannot bear the thought of this change, you will not be stopped from leaving either.” Turning her eyes to the crowd, her last words ring clear. “If you leave, it will be your own choice. Not ours. But we will do what it takes to defend Halo.”
And their complaints will not slow Hotaru in her efforts to keep them - all of them, even the dissenters - safe. They are her people now. And Hotaru always protects what’s hers.
Don't forget it, don't forget it
respect that and bow down bitches
respect that and bow down bitches
