Admitting it out loud would make him feel awkward as hail, but hearing Hotaru's laughter again was worth a hundred zaps to the ass. Tal's scowl faded, then rippled to flustered concern as his attack made unexpected contact - or so he assumed from the sudden gasp that followed his stab. Before he could wonder if he'd been too reckless her voice rang out from the mist in bright reassurance and he straightened, letting out the breath he hadn't realized he'd held.
But one good turn deserved another, and this time there was no helpful spirit nearby to deflect the wind that ruffled hair and tousled clothing. Tal batted at the air uselessly and then dove towards the sound of her voice to get away from the mischievous zephyr, rolling across the frosty ground and fumbling to pull his Goggles back into place so he could see Hotaru through the fog. "Hey! Enough, enough!" There was laughter in his voice, too, though he was still trying to scowl. "Y'don't need to rub it in, geez!" Patting his hair back into place (more or... less. Mostly it just made it worse) with wounded pride he stole a glance at her from his Goggles and put his weapon away. "You should probably get that looked at. With magic, or somethin'," he mumbled, gesturing awkwardly to her cut and wishing his pride allowed him to ask her to fix the burn on his butt.
But one good turn deserved another, and this time there was no helpful spirit nearby to deflect the wind that ruffled hair and tousled clothing. Tal batted at the air uselessly and then dove towards the sound of her voice to get away from the mischievous zephyr, rolling across the frosty ground and fumbling to pull his Goggles back into place so he could see Hotaru through the fog. "Hey! Enough, enough!" There was laughter in his voice, too, though he was still trying to scowl. "Y'don't need to rub it in, geez!" Patting his hair back into place (more or... less. Mostly it just made it worse) with wounded pride he stole a glance at her from his Goggles and put his weapon away. "You should probably get that looked at. With magic, or somethin'," he mumbled, gesturing awkwardly to her cut and wishing his pride allowed him to ask her to fix the burn on his butt.
