He hesitated at her reassurance, cautious still at the comparison but taking comfort in knowing that she had meant it well. It was not in Kel's nature to assume that one as beautiful and experienced as Hotaru could ever feel romantic attachment to one such as him; her kindness was more than he would have dared to ask, and her friendship was all the gift he dared hope to earn, knowing so little of each other as they did yet. He gave a small shake of his head, thumb moving beneath her fingers to tentatively brush against them where they rested on his hand. "No, I... you give me too much honor. I misunderstood..." He shrugged a little helplessly, not liking to put into words that it was easier to believe the worst of himself at times. It wasn't an attractive personality trait, and there were times when he was able to bury it, confident in himself and his own worth in spite of his mixed heritage.
Confidence had been in short supply since arriving on Caido, though, and doubts had risen and redoubled in the wake of losing friends and family and all things familiar to him. The timidity that had plagued Kel as a child had returned in force, and he wished he could show Hotaru a better side of himself.
Those doubts went hand-in-hand with wariness and a mistrust that others only wished to use and discard him. It had happened already within Kaiholo, his ignorance of the local customs making him easy prey to hucksters, con men, and thieves. He should have been more guarded even now, but Hotaru's regal beauty and gentle empathy had soothed his fears and calmed his heart more than any other he had met in this strange world, and he ached for a connection to make the place a little less lonely.
The water didn't bother him, though he feared for his companion's beautiful clothing. Amber eyes glanced worriedly from the slowly thinning strand to Hotaru, but she seemed calm and willing to stay and so he relaxed beside her once more, glad to stay as long as she was willing. His lips quirked at her teasing, but she offered more detail and he drank in every word. "Where did you learn to make glass?" An eager question, curious as to how a queen had learned such a craft. The mention of her guild being a secret gave him pause, but only for a moment. Jiao had been similarly skittish about her ship and crew, and he had no right to either woman's secrets, so he simply nodded acceptance.
Though he did wonder at the smirk, a peek behind the angelic facade to the warrior who had protected her people on another world.
He had not had as much luck with kind people as she had, but given the current company he found he could nod, smile returning - along with a bit of blush as she mentioned meeting him among the list of enjoyable things. "If anyone can do it, you can," he encouraged warmly, believing in her strength. It took a strong heart to be as compassionate as Hotaru had been with him, and he didn't doubt her ability to build her kingdom anew, even if it was a far smaller and cozier demesne than her previous realm.
Confidence had been in short supply since arriving on Caido, though, and doubts had risen and redoubled in the wake of losing friends and family and all things familiar to him. The timidity that had plagued Kel as a child had returned in force, and he wished he could show Hotaru a better side of himself.
Those doubts went hand-in-hand with wariness and a mistrust that others only wished to use and discard him. It had happened already within Kaiholo, his ignorance of the local customs making him easy prey to hucksters, con men, and thieves. He should have been more guarded even now, but Hotaru's regal beauty and gentle empathy had soothed his fears and calmed his heart more than any other he had met in this strange world, and he ached for a connection to make the place a little less lonely.
The water didn't bother him, though he feared for his companion's beautiful clothing. Amber eyes glanced worriedly from the slowly thinning strand to Hotaru, but she seemed calm and willing to stay and so he relaxed beside her once more, glad to stay as long as she was willing. His lips quirked at her teasing, but she offered more detail and he drank in every word. "Where did you learn to make glass?" An eager question, curious as to how a queen had learned such a craft. The mention of her guild being a secret gave him pause, but only for a moment. Jiao had been similarly skittish about her ship and crew, and he had no right to either woman's secrets, so he simply nodded acceptance.
Though he did wonder at the smirk, a peek behind the angelic facade to the warrior who had protected her people on another world.
He had not had as much luck with kind people as she had, but given the current company he found he could nod, smile returning - along with a bit of blush as she mentioned meeting him among the list of enjoyable things. "If anyone can do it, you can," he encouraged warmly, believing in her strength. It took a strong heart to be as compassionate as Hotaru had been with him, and he didn't doubt her ability to build her kingdom anew, even if it was a far smaller and cozier demesne than her previous realm.
