HOTARU
She's in a long black coat tonight
Waiting for me in the downpour outside
Waiting for me in the downpour outside
They both react in far more conspicuous and painful ways than she had wanted, but not unexpectedly. Hotaru is glad that Nate is there to help Sunjata away from the brink, from sinking back into himself in the way he does best. All she has is the hand that squeezes his, as they always seem to do. Reaching across vast spaces and dark pasts to hold onto one another. This is no different, though her own placid expression becomes a bit sad at Sunjata consistently taking the blame upon his own shoulders. Hotaru is sure that Nate must, at best, feel uncomfortable with her own confession. So his touch is relatively unexpected, though she relaxes quickly and spares him a soft smile.
It helps a little that Sunjata admits to wanting to try again, at some point. But what worth is it? It didn't happen, and she won't allow herself to dwell on it. She can't. She won't hang her hat on a hook that was never by the door, she won't cling and beg for love like she used to as a naive young girl. He has moved on, and so she must as well. That is the nature of things. "Unlike you, I don't place an exaggerated amount of blame upon your shoulders." He is given a slightly exasperated glance at this before she turns back to Nate. "Something like that. I know it wasn't what you expected to hear, we don't have to speak of it further." What else can really be said anyway? Hotaru has spoken her piece.
The forced levity has her giving a humming laugh of her own to try and embolden it. Needing it just as much as the doctor does. "No, nothing out of malice. And I'm happy, for whatever you two have found together. You -" her voice falters and fails her, and her free hand clenches so hard that she has to set down her glass to try and conceal it, as if she's merely gathering her thoughts instead, "- you both deserve so much. I gain my own happiness from knowing you've finally found something worth staying for." Even if it still hurts that it hadn't been her. For either of them.
It helps a little that Sunjata admits to wanting to try again, at some point. But what worth is it? It didn't happen, and she won't allow herself to dwell on it. She can't. She won't hang her hat on a hook that was never by the door, she won't cling and beg for love like she used to as a naive young girl. He has moved on, and so she must as well. That is the nature of things. "Unlike you, I don't place an exaggerated amount of blame upon your shoulders." He is given a slightly exasperated glance at this before she turns back to Nate. "Something like that. I know it wasn't what you expected to hear, we don't have to speak of it further." What else can really be said anyway? Hotaru has spoken her piece.
The forced levity has her giving a humming laugh of her own to try and embolden it. Needing it just as much as the doctor does. "No, nothing out of malice. And I'm happy, for whatever you two have found together. You -" her voice falters and fails her, and her free hand clenches so hard that she has to set down her glass to try and conceal it, as if she's merely gathering her thoughts instead, "- you both deserve so much. I gain my own happiness from knowing you've finally found something worth staying for." Even if it still hurts that it hadn't been her. For either of them.
singing "Baby come home" in a melody of tears
While the rhythm of the rain keeps time
While the rhythm of the rain keeps time
