[Day 11 - Late Afternoon] Face-Off

[Bayushi Hotaru]

Hotaru drifted her gaze elsewhere as if to look at the yurt around her and notice that there was still much packing to be done before she could leave. She had been putting off doing that, considering everything that was on her mind on the day before. In the end, she couldn't help but feel defeated, again. She didn't have who she wanted, by decision, and she couldn't have Butaj. Perhaps, that's how the foundation of most marriages was built. She couldn't be entirely sure, as she only had one shot at this. There were many reasons that a Scorpion only married once.

"It's not my intent to make this match one forged out of carelessness. I hope some day down the line, we can make sense of it all. What is blurry now can come into focus later, surely with some hard work and hope" Her knowledge in divination seemed to give her some hope that not everything was ever truly static. Everything had working parts around them.

She gave a shake of her head. "No, I think you've given me much to think about for the next few month. Thank you. We only have the rest of our lives to address more things."

[Moto Butaj]

"Then I'll take my leave." He says sharply, to cut his own strange urge to stay and seek an even better, more secure accommodation between them, even though that may not be possible right now, if ever. With her wandering gaze the bond of minimal empathy is broken anyway, and she is mostly alien to him again, distant, inscrutable and possibly malevolent. Maybe this whole talk was only to lull him and break him by moving against Yuki? He will learn soon enough. His first instinct was to wish her to stay safe but he rolled back his tongue realizing in some blackened corner of his soul that if something happened to her, an accident, this all could still be averted. He is ashamed of this thought but somehow cannot overcome it. Without her gaze on him her impeccable cuteness, petiteness, straight hair, excessive dress... make her look like a doll. He would have no part in it, but if she breaks... He shakes his head. "Some day, down the line. Goodbye, Hotaru." He lifts himself to depart.

[Bayushi Hotaru]

While she was a seer, she wasn't a mind reader. However, she could imagine that it was an unkind place for someone like her after the turmoil Butaj had to go through. Surely, the man had some decorum and what she was subjected were only the necessities he could muster. She nodded in acceptance when he announced he would be leaving and rose from her seat, bowing deeply. Knowing better, she didn't wish the Fortunes on his side, seeing as they didn't honour his wishes by her doing. "Farewell, Butaj."

[Moto Butaj]

He would scoff at the flamboyant courtesy in most other situations but he realises it is in no small part that decorum that has allowed them to seal their painful prenup. So he returns the bow to the extent he is able, then turns away and leaves without looking back, a dangling flap remaining in his wake.

/exit

[Bayushi Hotaru]

Hotaru quietly watched him leave and some relief set in her heart, although the feeling of a closing vice remained. It was perhaps the sensation of new weight added to her right wrist, or so she'd like to excuse. Mamoru quietly padded up beside her and brushed himself against her foot He had awoken earlier from his slumber during her talk with Butaj, but felt enough unwelcoming emotions in the yurt to keep his profile low and quiet.

She smiled faintly and crouched down to give his furred mane an affectionate ruffle with her hands. "Don't worry, Mamoru-kun." She assured him, but that intended message was really more for herself.

/scene