Hotaru
nothing's fair in love and war
Admittedly, she regrets the words as soon as they cross her lips, but there's no time or ability to take them back. Only wincing where he can't see as she watches the roll of his muscles, a clearer reaction that tells of his mental state than his face can provide her, so well-trained as it is in concealing how he feels. "Sorry, it was a silly thing to ask," she murmurs, even if it's too little too late. Silly isn't the right word - insensitive, perhaps, would be more fitting - but to use it would imply some sort of pity, and Hotaru never wants him to think she is belittling him. That he responds at all is a miracle unto itself. Hotaru keeps her tongue firmly clasped between her teeth, though she is already reluctant enough to let her stream of consciousness slip again. "I am immeasurably proud of you," she whispers instead as her hands move up to the bottoms of his shoulderblades. "So few can look inside themselves and strive to fix what they see there, instead of laying it in the hands of someone they hope to love." Hopefully it is a balm over the wound she has unintentionally opened. It will do nothing to staunch the flow of memories Hotaru may have prompted, but at least he will know without a doubt that she supports his efforts entirely, no matter how difficult they may be.
The last notion wrings a pained laugh from her, and she focuses on a troublesome knot in his shoulders to distract from the instinctive retort that comes to her tongue. "At what cost? Perhaps I should take the hint." It is a defeated sound, a hollow retreat echoing in each word. But she has already overstepped. Ruined the mirage of relaxation with her own tumultuous thoughts. So instead the Valkyrie dedicates her attention to his shoulders, expansive and equally tense as they are they present more than sufficient distraction to curb her tongue. "Do you do any stretches aside from your cool downs after training?" Hotaru suspects not, and perhaps she can change that. Arm him with new knowledge that will leave him more limber, will keep him away from her bench for longer - surely that will appeal to him. This, at least, is a change in conversation that can cover up her grievous mistake.
