Nene Yashiro ([personal profile] mermaidcursed) wrote in [community profile] sticksandbones2025-01-22 09:05 pm

no longer you

Who: The resurrected and the escorts
What: You sure did die a week ago. Time to come home.
When: Forward dated to the end of the month
Where: The Garden
Warnings: death, mentions of mutilation, potential mentions of torture
kingincognito: (56)

[personal profile] kingincognito 2025-01-23 03:38 am (UTC)(link)
[ The trip to the garden is agonizingly long, just as this past week had been. But the entire trip, Joshua finds himself envigorated by a sudden burst of energy that he didn't have before. Clive is awake. Clive is alive. And though there's a feeling of dread in the pit of his stomach, about what he did, and what Clive is about to go through... all that matters is that his brother is back.

The dread briefly surges again as they approach the garden. The second that he sees Clive, though, it all drains away. He pauses, hesitating, throat tightening. ]


Clive...
aneikonic: (006)

[personal profile] aneikonic 2025-01-23 04:01 am (UTC)(link)
[ There he is. For a moment, Clive merely stares, his eyes darting quickly. Nothing looks missing. He looks... tired, paler than usual, but whole.

He drops the garland to climb to his feet, quickly closing the distance in several long strides to reach out and grab Joshua to pull him into a tight hug. ]


You're all right-!
kingincognito: (77)

[personal profile] kingincognito 2025-01-23 04:06 am (UTC)(link)
[ The few seconds between Clive standing and him being drawn into his brother's arms are at least enough to brace himself so that he isn't knocked over. It still stuns him for just a second, body sluggishly responding, and then--

And then his throat closes in a hard swallow, his eyes burn, and his arms move to return the hug, his fingers digging tightly into Clive's back. ]


I'm so... I'm so sorry--

[ It's barely choked out, soft and near a whisper but thin and watery and tight with the tears that begin to soak Clive's shoulder. ]
aneikonic: (007)

[personal profile] aneikonic 2025-01-23 04:20 am (UTC)(link)
No! No, Joshua.

[ His hold tightens, and he shakes his head, his own fingers curling in against Joshua's back. He's alive, he's whole, he's here. ]

I should have fought back. Should have tried harder. But it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter. Because we get another chance.

[ How many more do they get before their luck runs out, and one of them stays down forever? Clive won't think about it. He pulls back and much like that day however long ago, and grips his brothers face. Squeezes gently. ]

I'm alive. We're alive. It's all right.
kingincognito: (34)

[personal profile] kingincognito 2025-01-23 04:28 am (UTC)(link)
[ And much like that day, Joshua's face is streaked with tears when Clive presses his hands to his cheeks. Unlike that day, it isn't only tears - his breath comes in quick, hiccuping sobs for just a moment, until he can school himself into some semblance of control. ]

We are alive... but you still lose something. Because of me.

[ No longer given refuge in Clive's cloak, his hands ball into fists at his sides. ]

I shouldn't have primed. I should have stayed on the ground to help.
aneikonic: (104)

[personal profile] aneikonic 2025-01-23 04:37 am (UTC)(link)
[ He won't say whatever he loses is worth it, because he knows that will upset Joshua. Instead he just shakes his head and rubs the tears away for his brother. ]

We both did what we thought was right in the moment. We weren't doing enough damage, things were falling apart, we were both desperate.

[ He still doesn't know the Joshua he helped was false. ]

You can't blame yourself. You can't.
kingincognito: (61)

[personal profile] kingincognito 2025-01-23 11:45 am (UTC)(link)
[ Joshua knows. Joshua knows that he can't blame himself. Clive had even begged him, before the Phoenix ate Ifrit's heart, to promise that he wouldn't. He wasn't able to promise then, because he thought they could break free.

So, he doesn't argue anymore. Just takes in a shaky breath, closes his eyes - just for a moment, he wants to see his brother after all - and nods. ]


I... I couldn't figure out what you were doing. I saw you interacting with someone that I couldn't see. I shielded you, I called for you, but you acted as though you couldn't hear me. And then you primed, and I--

[ He grits his teeth, angling his eyes down. ]

He controlled me long after you were dead. Aurora had to drag me out of the temple to sever it.
aneikonic: (045)

[personal profile] aneikonic 2025-01-23 04:38 pm (UTC)(link)
[ An illusion...? Fuck, so the warning they had gotten before was right. But it was so real, he felt Joshua in his arms...

His brother's pain makes him pull him into a hug again, hold him tight, his hand going to his back to rub gently while the other just holds him in. Squeezes him in against his shoulder to let him just rest there. ]


I'm sorry. I should have focused on protecting you. He never would have had the chance if I had just-

[ Done his damned duty. Instead of throwing himself at this creature like it was something from back home. He should have seen through the illusion, known it wasn't his real brother. ]
kingincognito: (25)

[personal profile] kingincognito 2025-01-23 05:05 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Joshua allows himself to be pulled into the hug, wrapping his arms back around to grip at Clive's cloak once more, but resting his head on his brother's shoulder instead of his chin. He's so tired of this Fallen Sun, so angry for what he did, but it had nowhere to go. ]

No. He was very powerful - far more powerful than we could have anticipated. His illusions must have felt so real. If I'm not allowed to blame myself, you aren't, either.

[ He wants to tell his brother about the corruption. About what Affogato told him. But... for now, he wants them to just have this. Have this reunion, each other. The bad news can come later, back at the inn. ]

It's okay. We will pay him back. I know that we will.
aneikonic: (098)

[personal profile] aneikonic 2025-01-23 05:32 pm (UTC)(link)
[ There's something about his brother, of all people, uttering words of revenge. Deep down he knows they're two sides to the same coin, that his brother is just as fierce as he is. Even more so, if he thinks about it. But he doesn't like hearing it. His brother shouldn't have to think of things like that.

He tightens his grip as if he can take that pain away from him, but he won't deny his brother the chance to see this creature pay. Not just now for all the pain it's caused everyone else, but each other as well. ]


We will. We'll take him down. He won't be allowed to do this again to anyone else.

[ To them. They've lost each other enough times, no more. He sighs and pulls back again, offering Joshua a smile. ]

Come on, then. Let's not be the one's holding the caravan up. You ready to get out of here?

[ He asks, as if he's not the one whose been waiting. ]
kingincognito: (48)

[personal profile] kingincognito 2025-01-23 05:43 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Clive understands. It's like Ultima all over again, but Ultima never targeted anyone in specific. No one except for Clive, at any rate. The Fallen Sun is like a child pulling wings off of an insect just to see it suffer.

He nods against his brother's shoulder, pulling back when Clive pulls back. His brother's smile... He will do anything to make sure that Clive can continue to smile like that. ]


Yes. Let's go. Keep hold of my hand as we do. Should he take anything physical, I will do my best to heal you.
aneikonic: (038)

[personal profile] aneikonic 2025-01-23 06:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Only if you promise not to try and stop it.

[ He knows the rules here. He reaches up to gently ruffle Joshua's hair before reaching down to take his hand, squeezing it gently. Then they get to daisy chain with the others and he exhales. ]

All right...

[ The first step into the fog of the forest isn't so bad. He's tense, on the lookout for invisible monsters, his hand in Joshua's twitching a little with the desire to go for a sword that's not there in the scabbard. It's under rubble in the temple, not that he knows that.

The snag against his right arm almost makes him stop walking, and he glances towards it. There's nothing but his brother there, but he can feel something sink in. Then twist, and it-

-Ah. He knows that feeling. The burning pain as nerves begin to scream, molten like lava... like Suri's blood, honestly. He grits his teeth and keeps the grunt down, but Joshua will feel it. Feel the way his fingers twitch inside his gloves, then harden. Slowly but surely as stone creeps upwards from his fingertips. ]
kingincognito: (86)

[personal profile] kingincognito 2025-01-23 06:17 pm (UTC)(link)
... of course.

[ Leaving this place quite possibly beats out the dread of coming here in the first place, simply because he knows that he can't keep Clive safe from whatever is about to happen. As they walk on, his senses are on high alert, eyes darting here and there, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

It's funny, how subtle it is. He can hear the grunt from Clive, the twitch of his brother's fingers in his hand, but other than that he can't sense anything. Except that it suddenly feels as though he's holding stone rather than flesh. ]


... Clive?
aneikonic: (048)

[personal profile] aneikonic 2025-01-23 06:34 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm all right. Keep moving.

[ Living flesh gives way to stone, the weight dragging slightly and he shifts his stance to compensate. Like holding a sword he can't drop. And it continues to creep, past his fingers and his hand, stealing the pulse from his wrist as it eats away at him.

He hopes it stops. He's already lost the ability to hold his sword proper - ah, he should have clenched his fingers proper before they froze - but if it stops he can at least still use that arm. Thankfully it doesn't seem to go too high, the pain lingering and aching mid-air and he sighs.

Tries to move his fingers but there's nothing. It's odd, he can feel them there still, in a hot angry painful way but- ]


Not surprised...
kingincognito: (18)

[personal profile] kingincognito 2025-01-23 06:41 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Joshua doesn't like this. Doesn't like the fact that his brother's hand is hard and unrelenting and turning cold beneath his touch. Even through both of their gloves, he can feel it.

He frowns, an uneasy feeling rising in his chest. It feels almost like... ]


What was it?

[ Nothing violently bloody, at least. A good thing, because he wouldn't want to risk Clive bleeding out before they can escape the forest. But he doesn't like the thought of what it feels like it might be. ]
aneikonic: (056)

[personal profile] aneikonic 2025-01-23 07:03 pm (UTC)(link)
[ The question makes him shake his head gently. ]

When we're out of here. I don't want to risk anything more.

[ Who knows what he may manifest by speaking it out loud. So he's stubbornly silent the rest of the way, until they reach the grove proper and they can release hands from everyone else. Only when they're able to move apart from the rest and return to the Inn and their room does he finally release the tension and silence he was holding on to.

It ... takes a bit to pry his hand loose from Joshua's, only because of the fact he was holding onto it as it begin to solidify. Even more of a struggle to get his gauntlet and glove off, unable to straighten his fingers proper to slide the metal off right.

He manages, somehow, and rolls his sleeve up after to see how far the grey stone goes. Mid-arm, thought so. His eyes lift from himself to his brother, shaking his head. ]


It could be worse...
kingincognito: (78)

[personal profile] kingincognito 2025-01-23 07:20 pm (UTC)(link)
[ It's... a long and concerning wait, to be sure. Especially since he knows what likely happened. But after what Affogato told him, about Suri watching... Maybe it is best to get Clive away from where something worse could happen.

Once they're back in their room at the inn, Joshua turns to watch as Clive struggles to remove his gear from his hand. And once he sees it, confirms what he suspected... ]


... oh, Clive.

[ No. This is bad. It could progress if Clive has to use magic or Ifrit again. Frowning, he steps forward, placing his hand on his brother's petrified arm. The Phoenix flame springs to life at the back of his hand, and he tries to heal it, pressing all the energy he can into the spell. If he targets the muscles, the tendons and ligaments--

But it doesn't work. Not even after several seconds of trying. He pulls his hand back, the flame extinguishing, and huffs out a breath of frustration. ]
aneikonic: (048)

[personal profile] aneikonic 2025-01-23 07:33 pm (UTC)(link)
[ The attempt at healing does ease the ache the rest of his arm feels at having to support the stone, and he will gladly take that, sighing a little as he drops his thumb to where the two fade into each other, rubbing lightly. ]

It's all right. It won't be easy getting around it, but I still have use of the arm.

[ He shifts his elbow, bending it back and forth. Thankfully no stiffness there, and he twists his shoulder as well. Full range. He can still fight, if he can figure out how to hold a sword with his fingers.

Might be worth it learning how to use his left arm better, however. ]


We'll... have to see if use of magic progresses it. It may be a one time thing.
kingincognito: (27)

[personal profile] kingincognito 2025-01-23 07:54 pm (UTC)(link)
[ It's good, at least, to see that Clive can use the rest of his arm without issue. But the thought of Clive using magic to test whether it progresses or not makes him frown. Reflexively, he wants to say no, but... how will they know if they don't try? ]

... so long as you are careful. If it is the curse, I would rather not risk it spreading.

[ And there's no cure for it, either. At least not back at home. Here, however...

Joshua turns, moving to clear away his brother's discarded blankets on the couch - not moved since Clive was last here, which says enough on its own - so that Clive can sit down and rest. But before he can clear much, there's a stuffy ticklish feeling in his chest. He coughs, just once, to try to clear it, but that turns out to be a mistake. That one cough is like the pebble that caused the landslide - he finds he can't stop after the first one, and he leans over, coughing wetly into his glove. ]
aneikonic: (097)

[personal profile] aneikonic 2025-01-23 08:04 pm (UTC)(link)
Joshua!

[ His arm forgotten, he steps forward to reach up, then switch hands to grab his brother's upper arm with his left instead. It's awkward, unused to using it, but he makes do. The wet sound tells him everything he needs to know. ]

Damnit, Joshua...

[ His voice is soft despite the words and he moves his brother onto the couch instead. It may be his left hand but his grip is strong enough to tell him not to argue, before letting go to move to his medicines. ]

You haven't been taking care of yourself.

[ Invoke Tarja AND the disappointment of an older brother. Well, no, not really disappointed. Worried. He brings his brother a vial, kneeling down in front of him and using his teeth to pull the stopper out, spitting it off somewhere. ]

Can you grab it?

[ As if Joshua is the one with the dead arm, but the last thing he needs is Joshua to cough while holding onto the vial and spilling it everywhere. ]
kingincognito: (41)

[personal profile] kingincognito 2025-01-23 08:27 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Clive easily moves him into sitting, partially because Joshua is in no position to argue anyway, but the coughing doesn't leave him much room for it regardless.

As Clive gets up to retrieve his medicine, he pulls his hand back from his mouth, looking at it. Blood on his glove... and leaves, again. Tiny things, but they're there, just as they have been since he came back.

He curls his hand, keeping them hidden for now.

The coughing fit has at least worn down to nothing by the time Clive returns with the medicine vial, so it makes it easier when Joshua reaches out to take it with his other hand. No coughing, no shaking. ]


I'm all right.

[ Look, he doesn't even complain about the medicine. Down it goes. ]
aneikonic: (085)

[personal profile] aneikonic 2025-01-23 08:48 pm (UTC)(link)
[ That gets Clive to sigh heavily and give Joshua a look that clearly states he thinks his brother is full of it. Then it softens into a little smile. ]

The Rosfield Anthem. We missed an opportunity having that on our livery.

[ He reaches up - damnit, switches hands - and grips his brothers chin lightly. Shakes his head softly. ]

No more missing your medication. Tarja might not be here, but I'm sure I can convince Pure Vanilla Cookie to lock you in the clinic. Or his wife, she seems far less likely to be swayed by your pleas for mercy.

[ Don't make him lose you. Not again. Not for something as preventable as this. He moves his hand to rest it lightly on the back of Joshua's head to just gently hold him so he can bonk their foreheads together, then stands slowly. ]

I bet you haven't eaten either, have you?
kingincognito: (32)

[personal profile] kingincognito 2025-01-23 09:46 pm (UTC)(link)
[ There's a soft snort to that. Honestly, for how often they both say it...

But he leans easily into that touch of foreheads, closing his eyes and focusing on breathing without triggering the cough. ]


No more missing. I promise.

[ He's been scattered this week, understandably.

Clive pulls away, and Joshua sits back against the couch cushions, resting his head and keeping his eyes closed. Speaking of things he's been missing... ]


Or slept much, for that matter. It hasn't come easily.

[ He's silent for a second, gently clenching his closed hand into a fist, then lets out a soft sigh. ]

But before any of that, there is... something I should tell you about.
aneikonic: (056)

[personal profile] aneikonic 2025-01-23 10:12 pm (UTC)(link)
Thought as much.

[ Joshua looks tired. Running on adrenaline and little else. Clive understands it all too well, but he's not going to let it continue. He vowed to protect his brother, and that includes from himself if he can help it. So while Joshua rests on the couch, Clive moves to the bed to begin doing it up for him. He can tell it hasn't been touched, so it doesn't take much to pull the covers back.

Only to pause to those ominous words, his heart clenching. Founder, let it be good. By the flames themselves, let it be good. He turns back towards Joshua and sits on the end of the bed, facing him, his hand holding his arm instead of clasping his other hand. ]


... All right, let's hear it.
kingincognito: (28)

[personal profile] kingincognito 2025-01-23 10:21 pm (UTC)(link)
[ There's another second of silence before Joshua begins. He doesn't need the moment to organize his thoughts. He needs it to settle his throat, so he doesn't cough more.

But before he says anything, he holds out his hand, the one he'd coughed into. A splatter of blood on his glove.

And small leaves, almost like ivy. ]


I've been coughing these up since we-- I returned from the temple. One of the Cookies, Affogato, found marks on me that looked like the vines that the Fallen Sun used to bind and control me.

Affogato Cookie said that I'd been corrupted.

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