All Colors Are Fading

Hotaru

I know they'll be coming to find me soon
But I fear I'm getting used to being held by you

Her glass shop had been little more than rubble when she had ventured across it, and though it had not saddened her greatly, it had unfortunately ruined her plans for the day. Unwilling to waste a journey so long due to a singular inconvenience, the Valkyrie instead took her hyperfixation item of the day and had flown her way to Jack Tar Landing, intent on finding a suitable replacement for her old shop to accomplish her goal.

Glass shaping requires incredibly hot flames and embers and the proper tools to handle it. With that in mind, the only other shop that can meet those requirements is a forge, and though the Landing forge is modest at best it is an undeniable necessity in the microcosm of the port. Hotaru can't conceive why they haven't expanded given all the ships and wagons that would otherwise be stranded without their services - and the premiums they could charge for rush work - but not everyone has the drive for power and acclaim that the Valkyrie does.

"No more than a few hours," she assures, firmly in the middle of sweet-talking the owner as she stands at the entrance of the forge, softly glowing and smiling fit to strike an angel from heaven. "I'm quite experienced, so you won't have to worry about injuries. I'll compensate you as well." It's of no consequence to her given she can obtain nearly anything from anywhere with a touch of personal effort or an exertion of a connection, and she doubts the man is greedy enough to ask for anything too frustrating. In her hand, wrapped loosely in black fabric, a strange rough shape draws the forge owner's eyes - but he will have to continue to wonder, because Hotaru certainly won't bargain this. "Do we have a deal?" Her eyes are captivating and her expression deceivingly hopeful, because any hesitance can be swiftly corrected with a touch of magic if he proves too willful.

I used to sing about being free
Oh, baby, look what you've done to me

Maea

Oh, when the world is burning

Back again. Home, Maea supposed as she made it off the ship, her weathered bag slung over her shoulder and the dark skirts kept out if the mud and slush of the docks. In the weeks she had been gone, most of the snow had disappeared save for the occasional drift sitting in shaded  nooks, and in the dull brown of plantations and lawns a hint of green could be spotted. But though the sights and sounds of Jack Tar Landing were familiar by now, she didn't feel much of anything about returning. Only a weight on her shoulders, a twinge of unease at the thought of running into Danta or, gods forbid, Asta.

The last thing she had expected was to hear the ring of a familiar voice when she passed by the forge. Doing a double take, Maea backtracked and poked her head inside in time to see the blacksmith extend a hand in gruff agreement with a short, radiant, exquisitely beautiful woman.

"Hotaru?" she breathed, eyes widening in delight. "It really is you!" Stepping inside with arms outstretched to beg a hug from her friend, she couldn't think of a more welcome sight to break up her tendency towards brooding.

Don't walk away

Hotaru

I know they'll be coming to find me soon
But I fear I'm getting used to being held by you

Hotaru beams the moment the man's hand finds hers, her free hand coming to wrap over his knuckles and raising their joined hands near her heart as if utterly affected by his acquiescence. "Thank you, you're so sweet and I appreciate it so much," she begins, pleased when the man's gruff expression goes slightly pink at the edges. She intends to smoothly transfer temporary ownership from there to hustle him out of his own forge but only manages to release his hands by the time they're interrupted.

Luckily he turns away to start packing up his more personal items as Hotaru turns, the tick of irritation in her jaw something to be felt instead of seen - and it washes away the moment she sets eyes on Maea, instead giving in to the surprise and delight that overtakes her. "Oh! Maea!" Her arms open readily as the Ancient's do, squeezing the woman firmly. "I sure hope it's me! Though if you know anyone I can be easily confused with, I need to meet them to establish my superiority," she titters humorously, as if it isn't a painfully true statement. Stepping back to quickly visually inspect the Loreseeker, the Valkyrie smiles warmly. "Are you staying long? I'm afraid I just bartered with this lovely fellow to use his forge to glassblow for a few hours, so I can't join you if you're shopping." Maea doesn't seem the type, but Alys hadn't either and that hadn't stopped Hotaru in the least - it's how she'd ensnared the woman as a friend.

I used to sing about being free
Oh, baby, look what you've done to me