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INVENTORY
· His canon clothing.
· His canon sword, The Burning Thorn.
· His half of The Founder's Grasp, a pair of bracelets of which Clive possesses the twin.
    NOTE: Ydalir has enchanted this bracelet, allowing Joshua to assume the form of a small,
    cockatiel-sized Phoenix.
· His copy of the Journal of Moss.
· A photographed family portrait of his own family, in fine (but not royal) clothing and
    appearing happy.
· A stock of medicine for his coughing, supplied by Pure Vanilla Cookie.
· An ear cuff, custom made by Sesa and gifted to him by Dion.
    NOTE: Ydalir has enchanted this ear cuff, allowing Joshua to create a small ball of light
    similar to Dion's that fires three quick laser blasts before disappearing.
· A small stolas, requested from home. Her name is Willowisp, and she coos a lot and
    accepts snacks.
    NOTE: Pure Vanilla Cookie has now linked her as Joshua's familiar.

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Don't- No. I didn't mean to-

[ So it was them at the Caer Norvent. He had thought so, after learning his brother was alive, but they had never spoken about it. He pushes away from the counter to reach out, grip his brother's shoulder gently, squeeze it. ]

I'm sorry. I know you couldn't. I didn't mean to accuse you.

[ He lifts his hand to rest it on Joshua's head instead, between his horns, lightly petting the soft mixture of feather and hair. ]

I have you now, and that's all that matters. Tell me of your time with the Un-

[ The spikes on his tail flare aggressively to the oven deciding to buzz at that moment, the sound brief but loud and obnoxious. ]

Founder I hate that. As I was saying, tell me of your time with the Undying while we put these potatoes in?

[ He steps back to open the Oven door, then hand his brother an oven mitt. They're not immune to fire like this, after all. ]

[ As Clive pushes away from the counter, Joshua turns his attention back to him, expression shifting from withdrawn to mild surprise. The hand on his shoulder is so gentle, though, that it melts away any reservation. ]

I-- I know you didn't. I'm sorry.

[ He has to stop apologizing. It's getting him nowhere. Joshua takes a deep breath, turning his eyes back to his brother's, and smiles.

And then promptly startles at the buzz, his wings flinging out behind him as the mugs he'd found go clattering to the floor. ]

Oh, Founder.

[ At the exact same time that Clive says it, in fact. But it makes him laugh, and he shakes his head, taking the oven mitt as he tucks his wings back in and smooths his feathers out. ]

Of course. Do we just rest the potatoes inside, then?

[ He will never get over his brother's laugh, it's adorable. Whether it's the hidden in his hand one or this one. Startled and real.

He hopes those mugs are all right.

He smiles and nods, handing his brother a potato. And he doesn't bother putting on a mitt himself. The best thing about a stone hand. He just balances the potato in it. ]

We could also place it on a platter but it's best on the rack. Let's the heat cook it evenly.

[ Carefully, so he doesn't touch his bare skin to the rake, he uses his stone fingers to pull it out a bit and then plops the potato onto it. And gestures for Joshua to do the same. And you best put your mitten on, SIR. ]

[ He is putting the mitt on! He isn't about to try sticking his hand in a hot oven unprotected. He takes his own potato, watching as Clive places his, then following suit and trying to be so careful with the exposed parts of his arm. No burns today, thank you.

With the potato deposited, Joshua removes the mitt, sets it down, then looks about for the mugs. ]

As for my time with the Undying... I was in a comatose state for the first five years I was in their care. But they took care of me diligently, and when I finally awoke, they assisted me in returning to full strength. Even that took around three years or so, but I spent the time studying and practicing with the sword that Father gifted me.

[ Ah, there they are. No worse for wear, it seems - though one seems to have a small chip in the rim, and he honestly can't remember if it was there before or not. ]

But the moment I was awake, I had them searching for you. Searching for clues as to the other Dominant of Fire. I didn't discover that you were still alive until I was twenty. Didn't discover the first clue about Ultima until I was twenty-two.

[ Clive is careful to push the rack back in and close the oven, then set the dial til it reads the one. He falters on pressing start though to his brother's words, turning to look at him with growing dismay.

Five years. He had injured his brother so badly that he was comatose for five years. The Phoenix's healing had obviously kept him alive but-

His heart aches hard, twists in his chest. He had caused Joshua so much pain. Five years asleep, three on the mend. Eight years before his brother could move around again. Eight years lost because of him. At least Clive had been awake, alive, able to experience life as rough as it was.

He turns his head away and clenches his fist together before shakily unwinding a finger to push the start button. His voice is heavy, rough with grief. ]

I'm so sorry, Joshua... I took so much of your life away from you.

[ Joshua's head turns at that, the mugs being settled on the table now forgotten. Oh, no. No, no, he doesn't want that. He'd worried that Clive might do this, had hoped that he wouldn't--

He turns, moving to his brother's side. Offers a hand on his shoulder, as Clive just did for him. ]

No. Clive. It's all right. I promise you, I have never held any ill will towards you for it. Not even before I knew it was you.

[ He knows, now, from seeing how Clive handles being Ifrit. Knows that his brother had been out of control that day. ]

Please do not punish yourself for something out of your control. It was not by your hand. Just as your death here was not by mine.

[ He sighs hard to the hand on his shoulder, bowing his head. Don't let it eat you up, he had told his brother in the temple. Don't let it chase into your dreams. He reaches up to squeeze Joshua's hand in return before looking up, nodding.

Then he laughs a little, shaking his head. ]

You're right.

[ He turns to Joshua, his expression softening. ]

But from now on? No more wallowing, for either of us. Not for the things we can't control. No more apologies. We face what we're dealt together and we deal with it. We can grieve, but we won't let it destroy us any longer.

[ He raises his fist and gently knocks it against Joshua's chest. ]

Deal?

[ Clive's overall response is heartening. Joshua had been worried that he would descend into anguish again, even if just for a moment, but seeing him lift himself back up to the light... Joshua smiles, nodding.

The bump of his brother's fist to his chest brightens that smile, and Joshua turns, returning the gesture to Clive's chest. ]

Deal.

[ They have each other. They're together. And together, they are stronger. They can overcome whatever obstacles life might throw at them. ]

I'll hold you to that, you know. We have to break you of this brooding habit somehow.

[ The return bump makes his own smile widen, before he blinks gently, his brow furrowing. ]

I don't brood.

[ A pause as he contemplates, looking all the world like he's brooding, his arms going across his chest. Which he catches himself doing, his expression smoothing. ]

It's not brooding.

[ He can see that, sir. He is trying not to laugh. ]

It is too brooding. It is absolutely, one hundred percent brooding. Ask anyone in the Hideaway.

[ Not that they can. But it's the thought that counts. ]

It's contemplating. I am contemplating, Joshua. Deep, serious, contemplating.

[ He turns his head away like he's offended, his tail lashing behind him and knocking on cabinets, scrapping along the floor, but at least he doesn't send anything tumbling off into the wilds this time. He awkwardly unfolds his arms, then tries to figure out what to do with them, before scoffing and refolding them. ]

And it's a comfortable position to rest in!

[ Clive can argue all he wants, but the display of trying and failing to keep his arms unfolded is what tips Joshua into the realm of giggles. Honest to god giggles. ]

I'm sorry-- I don't mean to laugh--

[ He just can't help it! ]

I think you're not sorry at all.

[ But the giggles are sweet, and Clives expression lightens again before he rolls his eyes. ]

Your water is probably boiling.

[ But he's smiling his soft lopsided smile. His brother's giggles, his laughter. What he finds funny. He's learning so much about him as an adult. ]

I am, truly.

[ Joshua lifts a hand, wiping a tear from his eye with his thumb. He really doesn't mean to laugh at his brother, but if his brother is taking it in as good spirits as he seems to be... well. Maybe he isn't sorry, just a little.

But oh, the water. His eyes move to the kettle, and he takes a step over toward it. Yes, he can hear the water simmering away. Good enough. He removes it from the flame, carrying it over to the table, where he sets upon putting leaves in each mug and then filling each with hot water. ]

This will take only a moment... Do you see the sugar anywhere?

Hm.

[ And indeed, Clive is taking it gently, with a smile. He knows his brother is... being his brother. Teasing him. And it feels good.

The question makes reach for a cupboard where the spices are, pulling a jar labeled sugar down, setting it beside his brother, nodding. ]

Spice cabinet. Sugar should always be there.

[ A couple drawers opened. ]

Cutlery.

[ As Clive sets down the sugar container, Joshua takes it, peering into the spice cabinet. Oh, that's... a variety. He's curious as to what this world has.

Clive indicates the cutlery, and Joshua reaches over his brother to take a spoon. ]

Do you want sugar in yours?

[ He suspects not, but he's asking all the same. ]

No, plain, and strong.

[ He pauses, thinking a bit, before turning to his brother. Curiosity is obvious on his face. ]

Do you remember how to make coffee?

[ He wants to try it. ]

[ Joshua nods, smiling. Just as he thought.

Though, coffee isn't what he's expecting. Joshua blinks, peering at the cabinets.]

I... think so. It's similar to tea, but you can't leave the. Ah. Grounds? Inside the cup, like you can with tea leaves.

[ He doesn't quite recall how Ezell did it. Something to hold the grounds in. Ah, like the bags of tea that he and Luca had used. ]

Is there anything in the cabinet that says coffee? Or any sort of... soft paper?

Uh...

[ He takes a moment to begin going through the cabinets, finding one jar that says coffee. Oh... it's really black. Curiously he opens the top to sniff.

Oh he likes that. It smells really good. His tail thuds up against the floor gently as he sets the jar aside, then begins to look for... paper? Something to strain the grounds because they can't leave it in?

It takes him a moment to find something that resembles what Joshua is talking about. Something that will hold the grounds. He hands his brother the cone shaped paper, frowning. ]

This?

[ While Clive looks, Joshua will set to preparing his tea. It's mostly so that he can focus on Clive's coffee, if they can find it. His tea will need a minute to steep anyway.

And it's a good thing that he did, because there it is! Joshua's eyes light up, and he nods, taking the jar and the paper. ]

Perfect. All right, let me see if I can recall...

[ How had he seen it done... Grounds inside the paper, and then simply pouring the hot water over it and letting the water trickle down into the cup? He thinks? But you can't just hold the paper. Looking around the kitchen, he scans for any sort of mesh strainer-- Aha. There's one by the stove. He takes it, placing the paper inside of it and spreading it as much as he can, then scooping out some grounds with the spoon.

He doesn't know if too much is a bad thing, but he does two big heaping spoonfuls, just in case. The strainer then gets placed over top of the mug, and he turns to retrieve the kettle again. ]

I believe the way you do it is, you simply pour the hot water in and let it drain down.

[ As a demonstration, he lifts the strainer in one hand, the kettle in the other. The hot water gets poured over it... and sure enough, slowly but surely, a brown liquid drains down.

Joshua looks very proud of himself. ]

When I had it, Ezell served it with milk in it. But I'm sure you'll probably want to take it without, won't you?

[ Clive watches with interest. It's very much like straining tea leaves, only if they were ground fine instead. The smell is nice, thick and aromatic. He hums, smiling to Joshua's pride. ]

Right, let me try it without. We'll see after if I need anything with it.

[ He moves to lean against the counter again, watching the coffee drip with interest before glancing to his brother with a smile. ]

Look at you. Tea, coffee, and potatoes. We'll have you a Cook yet.

[ Though the coffee hadn't been particularly kind to him, Joshua does enjoy the smell of it. It's a rich, dark scent, not like the light, herbal scent of tea. It reminds him of the difference between Clive and himself, in a way.

Maybe coffee will suit Clive better.

The compliment makes him huff out a laugh, and he peers into the mug to check the level of coffee inside of it. Still about halfway to go, he thinks. ]

Don't go asking me to prepare a royal feast. One would think that someone with fire spells would be better at this sort of thing.

Fire doesn't make a cook.

[ He looks amused, moving his hands to the counter to rest them there instead of crossing them over his chest. Maybe a little self-conscious now, thanks, brother. ]

I'm sure you would be a good one, however. You have the patience to learn it. Far beyond meat and vegetables.

[ Nevermind it's both their favorite things... ]

But it certainly helps.

[ He can't help but chuckle at his brother's new stance. He's sure that he'll go back to folding his arms eventually, at least. ]

I would make dishes without carrots in them, and my patrons would complain about it.

[ It's good-natured ribbing of himself, and he's smiling all the while. But the mug seems to be nearly full, so he pulls the strainer away. ]

Here you are. One mug of coffee. Hopefully it doesn't treat you the way it treated me.

Someday we're going to find you a carrot recipe you like.

[ Maybe buttered? Like he's going to show Joshua to do with the potato? He takes the mug with a soft thanks, raising it to his nose to sniff it first. It's stronger like this, and he brings it to his lips after to take a cautious sip.

Oh, it's strong. Bitter. But in an oddly rich way. His eyes light up in delight, and he takes a larger gulp. Then coughs cause oogh hot. ]

I much prefer this to tea.

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