[ The question makes him smile a little down into his cup, swirling the liquid around a bit. ]
The you I know is my baby brother of ten years old. You weren't interested in books then. You were interested in sticking frogs you caught into your pockets when you were allowed outside, and sneaking them over to the sparring pen to show me. Rodney always used my inevitable distraction to knock me flat.
[ His smile fades away a little, and he sips his coffee. ]
And before that, you were but a babe, toddling in my wake whenever you escaped Mother or her cavalcade of ladies.
[ He finally glances up to Joshua, his gaze a little distance, as if he's seeing the ten year old boy in front of him again. ]
I know a Joshua whose just a child, with all the hopes of our people weighing his small shoulders down. I don't know the adult, much beyond I know you still dislike carrots.
no subject
The you I know is my baby brother of ten years old. You weren't interested in books then. You were interested in sticking frogs you caught into your pockets when you were allowed outside, and sneaking them over to the sparring pen to show me. Rodney always used my inevitable distraction to knock me flat.
[ His smile fades away a little, and he sips his coffee. ]
And before that, you were but a babe, toddling in my wake whenever you escaped Mother or her cavalcade of ladies.
[ He finally glances up to Joshua, his gaze a little distance, as if he's seeing the ten year old boy in front of him again. ]
I know a Joshua whose just a child, with all the hopes of our people weighing his small shoulders down. I don't know the adult, much beyond I know you still dislike carrots.