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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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[ 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.

Mm... Perhaps when chocobos fly?

[ He laughs, softly, unaware of his brother's thoughts. Thus far, he hasn't met a carrot that he liked. He isn't keen to try his luck.

Picking up his mug, he watches his brother's reaction. And he... likes it! Joshua's eyes light up, and he takes a sip of his tea, then winces. In his excitement, he forgot to add the sugar. Ugh, time to fix that. ]

I'm glad that you like it. Just be careful - it didn't hit me until about an hour after I drank it.

You know, I've met a Moogle. I bet there is a flying Chocobo out there.

[ His grin is - in return - as delighted as Joshua's when he watches his brother grimace to the tea. Yeah, he had noticed someone had forgotten their sugar, but he had taken the Older Brother decision and said nothing. ]

What exactly were the effects of it?

[ So far it's just a hot drink. Good in a way that would have made it a hit in the Hideaway. Sort of soothing. ]

If there is, I wouldn't want to know about it.

[ Blech, carrots. No thank you. The spoon clinks against the edge of his mug as he stirs the sugar in, then tries the tea once more. Much better. ]

Well, I felt very... jittery. And my chest felt strange. And then, I thought I might die.

[ He glances up at Clive. Hopefully he was just oddly sensitive to it, and that won't happen to his brother. ]

[ To be fair he DID meet a Chocobo that could cast magic. Rather well, at that. He wished he had been able to tame the creature, calm it down. It would have made a fantastic friend for Joshua.

He pauses mid-gulp to his brother's comments. The die part he remembers, but the jittery and his chest felt strange thing makes him arch an eyebrow. Calmly he lowers his mug. ]

Joshua... perhaps these are things you should open with?

[ Clive's comment catches Joshua so off-guard that he pauses in lifting his mug back to his lips, eyebrows raising. But he... he had? He told Clive that the coffee made him feel like he might die, and Clive asked for it anyway. ]

Forgive me, brother, but... was my claim of feeling as though I might die not... enough?

[ It isn't sarcasm. He is genuinely curious. ]

"I feel like I was going to die" could mean anything for us! I say as such hungover!

[ And he's pretty sure he did once he became coherent enough after the night with Will. Well, close enough, it was "leave me to die". He huffs heavily, scowling at his dark drink. ]

Jittery and your chest aching...

[ It sounds vaguely alcohol, but Joshua isn't mentioning any mental obstructions. He glances up again. ]

Were your thoughts normal?

I can assure you, it is quite different from what I've heard of hangovers.

[ Hangovers are painful things, to his knowledge. Aching head, sensitivity to light, that sort of thing. This was not at all like that. ]

No, they were fine. Clear as day, actually. I... felt as though I could do anything, at least for a short while. The exhaustion was gone entirely.

It sounds like a potion.

[ He studies the liquid then shrugs and goes back to drinking it, because it's good, his brother made it, and he's not going to let it go to waste.

A potion combined with the Lionheart tonic, maybe. ]

I'll tell you how I feel after a bit. Promise. If what you say is true, it should kick in when the potatoes are done.

... perhaps. In a sense.

[ Now that Clive says it, it does seem that way, doesn't it? But a bit more potent than just a normal potion. At least his brother still wants to drink it, so he won't press too much. It's... a compliment? ]

If you start feeling odd, I could try to heal you. Whether it will help or not remains to be seen, but it would be a good test just in case.

You will not.

[ He says it evenly but it's obvious he's not going to take arguments for this. It's not worth a healing, unless he truly does begin to die, then he will allow it. But otherwise he will take the chest pain and jitters.

He moves to sit at one of the chairs that grace the kitchen, mostly used as catches for produce but enough empty ones that cookers can rest. Which he does. Thoughtful. ]

I'm realizing I barely know you anymore.

[ That's about what he expected to hear. Still, he doesn't argue it - his brother has already allowed him to heal him once today, and he isn't going to push it. Not unless it's direly necessary.

So, he nods, sipping his tea and letting the air between them fall into a comfortable silence. Until Clive speaks up, at any rate, which makes Joshua lift his head, eyebrows raising. ]

... hmm? What do you mean?

[ He's not that different... is he? ]

[ 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.

[ ... ah. It's a fact that hurts, just a little, but... Clive is right. Similarly, Joshua only knows the man that Clive has become from the short time they've been together, and the insights he was able to obtain from the Undying's observations.

He offers his brother a soft smile. Somewhat melancholic. ]

I do not feel as though I've changed much. But I understand the sentiment all the same.

[ He considers his tea for a moment, tapping his fingers against the side of the mug. ]

The years have been stolen from us, but we can make up for lost time. I would like to know you, as you would like to know me. If there are any questions you want to ask, I will gladly answer them.

[ The smile is matched with one of his own. Joshua isn't a stranger, he's his brother, but- ]

Hah... I don't even know where to begin. Is the flower you like still the same? Is there any music you like? Do you read only for research or leisure as well?

[ There's so many questions to ask. What's his favorite color now, where has he gone, what has he seen, what does he want to do when they get home and they have their entire future ahead of them. ]

[ There is a lot to cover. Joshua doesn't really know where to start, either. But he smiles, taking a breath, putting down his mug. ]

It is still my favorite, yes. I don't listen to much in the way of music, but I have a soft spot for tavern bards and the tales they tell.

[ The last question makes him pause though. When was the last time he read something for leisure...? ]

Well, I suppose I read Will's book for-- Hmm. Was that research or leisure?

[ He finds research... fun? ]

[ Joshua pausing makes Clive tilt his head, curious, and then listens as his brother admits he doesn't know if it's research or leisure. That makes him smile a little, soft. ]

My brother, the scholar. I'm surprised I didn't see you more often in the Archives.

[ It's said so warmly.

He finishes off his coffee and sets it aside, then leans forward, his elbows on his knees as he folds his hand around his wrist to hold it like that. ]

Are there any hobbies you wish to pick up?

[ Joshua.exe has encountered an error. Classification unknown. Maybe research and leisure can coexist... ]

You would be surprised. The times that you were away, I would often slip out of Tarja's grasp to keep Harpocrates company.

[ He chuckles softly, rubbing the handle of his mug with his thumb. Hobbies... He had wanted to work toward abolishing the slavery that Bearers have been pushed into. At the very least in Rosaria, if they had been able to revive it, if not the rest of the world. But with what Clive has told him, that doesn't seem to be a possible future. ]

... I'd like to write, I think. I'm not certain that I have the imagination for fictional endeavors, but it is important to chronicle the truth of events, lest they be written by those who would see history buried.

[ Aha, so he was right, but to be fair he had Cid things to do so he's not surprised it escaped his notice. Which also makes him a little sad. What else did he not notice?

He's quiet as he listens to his brother say writing, which makes him smile actually. He thinks he remembers something about Jote or Cyrus or one of them saying they were gathering the chronicles of the Phoenix and now he wonders how much of it is written by Joshua. ]

What is myth but fact with some fancy additions. I'm sure if you try your hand, you will be writing odes as well as any bard.

[ He pauses a little, then smiles. ]

I'd like to read it when you do.

[ Clive would be right, in that he has had a hand in writing it. All of it, in fact, in a series of journals. His entire journey, from the moment that he awakened, beginning from as early as he can remember.

A great deal of it includes Clive. abut those journals aren't here.

His brother believes in him, though. He always has. And his words now make Joshua smile, a confidence swelling in his chest. ]

I could certainly try. Particularly if you are looking so forward to it.

[ But now, it's his turn. He lifts his mug again, to finish the small bit of tea left in it. ]

And what of you, brother? Do you have any hobbies?

[ And like Joshua before him, Clive stalls. Silence fills the air between them, as Clive furrows his brow and stares at the floor for a moment or two. ]

Ah... Does sword-fighting count?

[ He can't say he particularly enjoys it but he's good at it, and it helps focus his mind when he needs it, plus keeps him in shape. He's really racking his brain here.

Does he actually enjoy anything? It's such a bizarre concept now. ]

[ ... Founder, they are both so good at this. Joshua chuckles, politely, behind one hand. ]

Aren't we a pair. Perhaps we both should try to find something to keep us entertained.

[ Though, he doesn't know what. Maybe this place has games. He knows he heard something about... video games? At Mizuki's place. He doesn't know what that is, but it's worth a look, maybe. ]

Or I could join you in swordfighting? I would be happy to spar with you any day, so long as you don't go easy on me.

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