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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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[ Joshua can't help but laugh. Of course Clive worries more about him. He worries more about Clive. This is just how they are. ]

Oh, I'll be all right.

[ As per usual. He allows Clive to pull back, lifting a hand to fix his hair purely on reflex, and then looks at the aforementioned arm. ]

Clive, if you use your arm as a shield and it breaks, we won't be able to fix it at all. Besides, you already have a shield.

[ It's him. And his shields. He's here to protect his brother from himself.

But he wrinkles his nose, just briefly, turning his head to try to hide it. There's a tickle starting in his throat already. Just from a healing spell... ]

True, I do.

[ His voice is soft, but warm. As much as he's Joshua's shield, sworn on everything he holds dear, his brother has protected him far more many times than he can count. To deny him that title would be a cruel disservice.

Though he frowns, hard, when Joshua turns his head. He knows that movement. ]

You'll be all right, will you?

[ He moves over to Joshua's bag and picks out a vial of medicine. They're getting low, and though Pure- uh, Truthless Recluse? has contacted them about making headway it's slow. The plants are difficult to come by, and "aether" doesn't exist here as they know it. So finding plants rich in it... He sighs, holds the vial out to Joshua. ]

No more on me, all right? I can't ask you to not heal others, I know that's not you, but not me. If you are to be my shield, you must find another way.

[ Ugh, Flames, the medicine. Joshua frowns as Clive goes for his bag, and doesn't immediately take the vial as it's held out to him. ]

We don't have much left. I'm fine.

[ His voice sounds strained, like he's holding back from coughing. He clears his throat, tries again. It helps, just a little. ]

It would serve us better to conserve what we have.

[ Just. Not going to answer Clive's plea. They both know that if Clive is injured enough, he will be healed, promise or no. ]

Joshua.

[ He hears the strain in his voice. If he's straining already, then the coughing is soon. His tone drops, deepens, heads into that we're not arguing about this you will take it! category. ]

Don't think I won't pour it down your throat. I mean my threats, and I already said as much.

[ ... oh. Oh, he wouldn't. Clive surely wouldn't. And really, they have such a limited supply, and there hasn't been enough progress yet to expect the supply to pick back up. What they have is precious. ]

I'll be fine, Clive, I just need some wa--

[ --aaaand there's the coughing. He's not fine. ]

[ You know? Clive was about to let it go. Sometimes it doesn't happen, true, but more often then not it does. But they are low on supply and if Joshua doesn't cough it would be a waste-

And then his brother begins to cough.

With a snarl that sounds more like when he was yelling at their Mother, he approaches Joshua quickly. He pops the vial into his mouth to clench it before his teeth to hold it, careful not to break it, then quickly reaches out to grab Joshua's arm. In the next instance he spins him, lifting his arm as he does to trap both his and his brother's against Joshua's chest.

Only when he has it secured under his arm does he let go to raise his hand, gripping his brothers jaw. He's shockingly gentle as he works his fingers against his cheeks, just enough to make him open. Then he can lean his head in enough to take the vial with two fingers, teeth yanking the cork as he does, so he can tip it into his brother's mouth.

He warned him. He warned him he would Torgal medicate him!! ]

[ Joshua may have been warned, but Joshua was also coughing, which means that the sudden flurry of movement comes at him while he's distracted. Before he can really, truly register what's going on, Clive is spinning him and pinning his arm. ]

Cli--

[ But he gets no chance to fully finish even speaking his brother's name, because Clive's fingers are digging in to make his mouth stay open, and shortly after, the medicine gets poured into his mouth. All he can do is reflexively swallow it - it's that or choking - but once he does, he lifts his free hand to swat at his brother. ]

Clive, let me go!

[ And Joshua's swats hurt, because despite his lanky weight, there is some muscle to his brother. Clive grunts as he's caught a good few times, but only when Joshua says to let go does he, because that means the medicine has been swallowed.

He's not smug about it, lifting the vial back to his mouth to push the cork back in, and doesn't move back in case Joshua wants to slug him again.

He knows he's earned it. ]

[ HE IS... not going to slug Clive, actually, because honestly that one was all his fault. His brother did warn him, and Clive only looks out for his best interests.

So, instead, he sighs, rubbing his face with both hands. ]

I'm-- I'm sorry. You were right. I should have taken it on my own. Thank you.

[ He is just. Very concerned about the supply. ]

[ The lack of return attack makes him relax a little with a sigh, and he puts the empty vial into the medicine pouch, staring at what's left.

There's so few... ]

I'm sorry, too. I know we're low, but-

[ He clenches his fist against the pouch before turning back to Joshua. ]

If the healers cannot make more, I will find a way to get you more. I promise you, Joshua, I won't let you be without it, I won't let you...

[ Get so bad he's coughing up giant splatters of blood again. The fact he's NOT, despite what damage Ultima must have done to him, is a miracle.

He turns Joshua's words around on him. ]

I won't lose you. I refuse. I've lost you for eighteen years already. Never again.

[ Joshua knows. He knows that Clive would do everything in his power to make sure that he's all right. He always has. ]

I know. And thank you, truly. You are the best Shield that a brother could ask for.

[ ... though, since the theme of the evening is coming clean... Joshua frowns, eyes locked on the bag of medicine, and lets out a sigh. ]

I... do fear that mine has become worse of late. After our battle at the temple, after Aurora pulled me out to safety, I coughed up so much blood...

[ And fell unconscious, to boot. Whether that was related, or it was physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion and trauma, he can't really say.]

Pure Vanilla Cookie has not been... himself, since we got back, so I haven't had it looked into. I'm not even certain where to start. And if Will wasn't able to remedy it...

[ Silence as Joshua comes clean about how much blood he coughed up. Fuck. He hasn't seen Joshua coughing up blood since but they haven't exactly been in each other's shadows all the time. Has he been hiding it? Is it far worse than he thought? ]

Joshua...

[ His voice is strained. It's not anger, just severe worry. His can be stopped right here and now, he merely needs to stop using magic and Ifrit. But the more it rips at Joshua's lungs, the less likely his brother will ever recover.

Until he's dead from it.

And Will couldn't remedy it, but that's not shocking because- ]

Because you have no aether.

[ He remembers what Will and Joshua told him about the attempt and how it had just 'flowed back out'. He stares down at his hand briefly, then back up at Joshua, brows knitting together. ]

... I have plenty of it, though. I am not just Ifrit, after all.

[ Shiva, Bahamut, Ramuh... even Ultima, the alien feeling of it pressing into his skull always. ]

Can I try something?

[ Admittedly, he hasn't coughed up much, if any at all, since then. He's been good! He hasn't needed to expend much aether at all since Clive came back.

But he knows that that could change at any time. He's been warned away from using his own magic for his safety, but the second that an emergency hits, and his healing or the Phoenix is needed...

Clive speaks up again, and the tone in his voice sounds as though a thought has just occurred to him. Joshua tips his head aside, curiosity clear in his expression. Clive's aether...? ]

Try what?

[ If it has a chance at advancing his brother's curse, he wants nothing to do with it. ]

Both you and Odin have been able to relinquish your Eikon to me.

[ Much against his will he might add but he won't say that to save his brother the knowledge that the situation had become so bad he had to force Clive to take it. He flexes his hand, studying his brother, frowning. ]

I do not know whether - permission granted - Ifrit drank of it or not, but if one can willing hand it over... I may be able to hand back the blessing you gave to me.

[ The aether Joshua gave to him, that let's him call upon the Phoenix's flames as if they were his own. He just has to figure out a way to get his body to let go of it, as it wasn't made to pour out what was stored in it.

But where there's a will, there is always a way. ]

What say you?

[ That's... not what Joshua was expecting to hear, but then again, he isn't sure he knew what to expect, really. His eyes widen for a moment, then dart down to skim the floor as he thinks.

He had given Clive that gift so long ago... Before he'd awakened to Ifrit. It's-- It's possible that it could work, and it isn't like Clive can't call upon his own fire nowadays. But he knows that his power allows Clive to heal himself to some extent, even if it is a small one, and he knows that no other Eikon has the ability to heal.

His lips draw into a thin line. He... isn't sure about this. ]

... taking it back means that you no longer have a means to heal yourself if necessary.

[ He looks up. Worried. Concerned. ]

I don't know, Clive. Is that... safe? To risk that?

[ Safe? Probably not. Especially in this world, where things go wrong so often but Clive merely responds by thinning in his own lips in return. ]

It's worth it, to risk it. I don't think it will hurt me any.

[ Might hurt, he has no idea, but it may also feel like just handing back something that ... belongs already to someone else.

He holds his hand out to his brother, tilting his head gently. ]

It's worth a shot, Joshua...

Edited 2025-02-10 15:27 (UTC)

[ ... nngh. Joshua hates this. Hates that they have to tiptoe around Clive's health like this, worrying that any little thing is going to make the Curse worse.

Suri is going to pay for this. He clenches his fist, just for a moment.

But Clive is holding out his hand, and it's impossible for him to deny it. So he reaches out, taking his brother's hand in his own. ]

All right. But if it begins to hurt you, please stop.

Same to you, tell me.

[ Because he knows you, Joshua. He squeezes his brother's hand, then closes his eyes briefly. It's not hard to call the Phoenix, it's far more easier to him than calling Ifrit even. The warm fire of healing and love.

Now... how does he return it. Taking is easier. His body is meant to take and store. In fact, he can feel the Phoenixs aether in Joshua as he prods the connection. The Dominant has to be weakened or willing, so a pull would do nothing but what if he pushed?

He imagines it like tilting a jug, full, and Joshua is the cup that waits. And he feels the flow, the blessing, moving with his urging towards the connection. But he can't guide it, he can't feel it or see it. So without guidance it just sets back, Clive grunting in annoyance.

Not pain, just annoyance. Frustration. ]

Edited 2025-02-10 17:02 (UTC)

All right.

[ Clive certainly does know him. But he knows Clive, too. He's going to be looking out for any telltale signs.

Following Clive's lead, he closes his eyes as well. It's... so strange, feeling the Phoenix's power rise up in someone that isn't himself. It's been there for years, but it's still like his own, it hasn't changed at all. Can Clive feel it, he wonders? Like he can feel the Eikons he's taken?

But when Clive tries to return it... nothing happens. It's just his aether, on the other side of an insurmountable barrier. He can hear Clive's grunt of frustration, and he opens his eyes, giving his brother's hand a squeeze. ]

Hey. It's okay. We tried.

It's there.

[ The squeeze mollifies some of the frustration, and he relaxes a little, opening his eyes to glare at his own hand like somehow it's that's fault. The blessing is there, he can direct it somewhat, but he can't pass it over. Joshua says it's okay but-

He sighs and squeezes Joshua's hand tightly in return, then lets it go. ]

I will think of some other way. I will get Aether into you.

[ It wouldn't be his brother if he didn't try. Joshua smiles, letting their hands separate. ]

I know you will.

[ For now... they should rest, probably. Clive is hurting, and he's spent a bit of his aether trying to soothe those hurts. Joshua shifts, moving to remove his boots - he'd forgotten, in his concern. ]

Let's not push ourselves too much. We should rest - and when you're feeling up to it, we can ask Will to give you a once-over.

All right.

[ For once Clive doesn't argue, his disappointment palpable. He had the chance to help, finally, to fix Joshua and he can't get past the block. He moves over to the couch to flop himself down onto it, leaning over to tug the laces of his boots apart so he can push them off, then lean back and close his eyes as he rests his head on the couch cushions.

Scowling like Ultima himself showed up to mock him, but his mind is racing with possibilities. Will might be able to help... ]

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