A wry grin, bitter-tinged and empathetic, is a quiet preface to her response. "We don't have any other option than to move forward." Lingering on hurt feelings was a useless pastime, and though she felt badly for the man and his self-proclaimed troubles, there was never any place to go but up. Struggling, scraping, clawing upward at times, but upward nonetheless. Hotaru doesn't deign to respond to his following comment, merely nodding her head subtly at the implied compliment. Hotaru was not one to be self-conscious or to doubt why she was somewhere. It was merely a waste of energy when she could work on establishing herself immediately. But her friends, her children, her followers had not always been so bold. In this way she understands him, and though she does not go so far as to pity him - an insult she'd never bear herself in his shoes - a part of her softens in sympathy.
Despite the fact that he knows Rexanna and her companion, she holds tight to her stance that words are merely sounds, and in no way endear him to her. The safety of her family is more important to the woman than how paranoid she may come off to Loren. But she concedes partially, if only because she is curious, and because he deigns to call her sister a friend. "She's doing very well. I've never seen her happier than with her husband, and it gives her an enviable strength." It is spoken with warmth and affection, eyes a tad distant as she recalls Rexanna's radiant joy and how comfortable and solid she was in this land. It was a gift, to see her sister so much happier here than in their homeland. "I don't doubt it's because we lost many people in the portals. Sometimes it's easier not to speak the names of those we don't expect to ever have returned to us." Hotaru is not offended that her name had never slipped off Rexanna's tongue. It is easier to mourn when you don't have to explain the past you had with the dead to someone who will never know them as you did.
They were not so clearly related as to explain that their bond was more affection than blood, but the woman assumes he is smart enough to not comment on it. As if blood has ever mattered to her.
A huff of laughter escapes her and she turns her gaze to Loren, amused. "You and me both. We can start a club: Deity Doubters." Once upon a time she had been a faithful servant to her Goddess. For the entirety of her life, actually. But her Goddess was dead and gone, giving her life to ensure they all made it safely out of their crumbling home world. And with her, Hotaru's faith had died as well. As if it needed any help, considering that same Goddess had also killed her parents.
Semantics.
"Yes, and newly made at that," she says with a bright smile. "Don't worry, the ties get easier the more you hang around our little ragtag group." Here she winks and grins, well aware that her family is quite the convoluted mess. But she wouldn't have it any other way. "And you? Can't leave me all alone out here answering your questions," Hotaru teases. "Do you have any interesting family ties?"
Despite the fact that he knows Rexanna and her companion, she holds tight to her stance that words are merely sounds, and in no way endear him to her. The safety of her family is more important to the woman than how paranoid she may come off to Loren. But she concedes partially, if only because she is curious, and because he deigns to call her sister a friend. "She's doing very well. I've never seen her happier than with her husband, and it gives her an enviable strength." It is spoken with warmth and affection, eyes a tad distant as she recalls Rexanna's radiant joy and how comfortable and solid she was in this land. It was a gift, to see her sister so much happier here than in their homeland. "I don't doubt it's because we lost many people in the portals. Sometimes it's easier not to speak the names of those we don't expect to ever have returned to us." Hotaru is not offended that her name had never slipped off Rexanna's tongue. It is easier to mourn when you don't have to explain the past you had with the dead to someone who will never know them as you did.
They were not so clearly related as to explain that their bond was more affection than blood, but the woman assumes he is smart enough to not comment on it. As if blood has ever mattered to her.
A huff of laughter escapes her and she turns her gaze to Loren, amused. "You and me both. We can start a club: Deity Doubters." Once upon a time she had been a faithful servant to her Goddess. For the entirety of her life, actually. But her Goddess was dead and gone, giving her life to ensure they all made it safely out of their crumbling home world. And with her, Hotaru's faith had died as well. As if it needed any help, considering that same Goddess had also killed her parents.
Semantics.
"Yes, and newly made at that," she says with a bright smile. "Don't worry, the ties get easier the more you hang around our little ragtag group." Here she winks and grins, well aware that her family is quite the convoluted mess. But she wouldn't have it any other way. "And you? Can't leave me all alone out here answering your questions," Hotaru teases. "Do you have any interesting family ties?"
the horror you have seen is not who you are
