sticksandbones | our house! in the middle of our house!

[ It was about time, honestly, especially now with Dion there with them. Clive had finally negotiated with Heimr and picked a spot in the Northern part of the Grove, and now there was a modest sized house waiting for them. It definitely looked like it needed some work - the windows were smashed in and there was only basic furniture, though Heimr assured him the windows would repair themselves soon - but it was theirs.

He walks into their Inn room afterwards, whistling sharply at his brother to get his attention, then tossing the keyring to him with the keys on it. ]

Pack up, we're moving. Torgal, fetch Dion?

[ Torgal's tail immediately begins to go as the wolf stands, climbs off the couch, and takes off out the door. Clive turns to his ... haphazard gathering of stuff, and begins to gather it. ]

[ Joshua is used to Clive going in and out at this point, so the door opening just gets a slight cant of his head in the direction of it. His eyes are locked on a book in his lap, so he doesn't immediately notice the keys in Clive's hand.

Not until Clive whistles at him, making him look up and then flinch on reflex as he grabs at the keyring flying at him. What-- ]

I'm sorry, what? Moving?

[ And Torgal is just trotting off without question. Joshua looks like a deer in headlights for a moment, turning his eyes down to the keys in his hand instead of standing to follow Clive's example. ]

To where?

Northern part of the Grove. It's about time we move out of the inn, don't you think?

[ He pauses, actually rather glad he doesn't have many things to gather, looking over to his brother. ]

It's not glamorous, but it's ours. Enough rooms for everyone. I made sure of it. It'll need more things bought for it.

[ He goes over to the dresser for his 'clothes' to pull out the little pouch containing the rings he found on him waking up here, tucking them away on his body. He doesn't know if they're his, or if he had a memory or someone elses past life, but he's not leaving them. ]

Decent sized.

[ It takes a moment for the words to truly register. But when they do, Joshua huffs out a soft, disbelieving laugh. A house. ]

You bought a house.

[ It isn't that he doesn't enjoy Clive rooming with him. It's been nice, having his brother here with them. But if there are enough rooms for everyone, that means Clive has a bed and will actually use it.

Probably.

But it's enough to get Joshua on his feet. Founder, he doesn't know where to start. They haven't been here any absurdly long amount of time, but he's still accumulated things, and he's sort of left them scattered about. ]

We don't need anything glamorous. The Hideaway certainly isn't. But it's ours, indeed. Have you been inside it yet?

[ Maybe.

He smiles as he watches his brother begin to move, joining him to help him find his things to get them packed up. ]

Not yet, I wanted the first walk through to be with you and Dion. The widows are broken, but Heimr said they'd be fixed by this time tomorrow. Extra furniture can be bought, and he'll get them up as he did the house.

[ Seeing his brother excited is the exact reason why he did this. Yes, it moves them away from the middle of the Grove somewhat, but his brother deserves his own space.

And not just from his brother camping on the couch all the time... ]

[ Oh, thank you, Clive. Help is appreciated. Oh, maybe they should find a box. Or boxes. ]

The windows are broken? Is Heimr fixing them?

[ Come to think of it, he isn't sure how buildings are... well, built. Logic tells him they're built as anything else would be, but clearly this building was either crafted by magic with broken windows, or the building has existed a while. He's curious to know which it is. ]

[ Boxes. There's Joshua's medicines, the books Pure Vanilla has loaned him, clothing. ]

No. He said they would repair themselves. Not entirely sure why they're broken to begin with. We'll need to buy our own sheets...

[ He doubts they can simply make off with the Inn's... She might not be there anymore but he's certain Tingyun would have his head if he didn't. ]

[... huh. That's... strange. Joshua frowns thoughtfully at the stack of books he is gathering together. ]

Was the building already there? Or was it magicked?

[ He's leaning toward magicked, if they're going to repair themselves. But why would they be broken from the start, if that's the case...? ]

Hmm. Sheets, likely towels as well. If the windows are broken, it may be a cold night, if we are to spend the night there tonight. We should borrow towels to pin over the windows, just until they are repaired, and then we could bring them back.

Magicked.

[ But.. Joshua will see it when they get there. The way the house just seems to fit, like it's been standing there this entire time. Like it was snatched directly from the past.

The comments make him smirk a little - look at him, being a little Commander! - and he shakes his head gently. ]

It might be worth moving our things over there today but staying one more night here. Once the place has fixed itself, then we can properly move in.

[ He knew it. It was too odd a situation not to be magicked.

But Clive's completely, entirely reasonable plan makes sense. Still, Joshua lifts his head to look at his brother, having fully accepted already that they would be staying the night there tonight. But that's right - they don't have to.

Perhaps he's a bit excited. ]

Oh. Yes. Of course. That would be the smart thing to do. The less we have to carry over with us, the better.

[ He clears his throat. You saw nothing. ]

Sheets and towels, then. And... what furniture is there? Ah, we may also need dishes. And cookware?

[ Mental lists are forming. ]

[Somehow, some way, Luca eventually learns of the new house in the Grove. It's only polite to offer a housewarming gift, especially given the fact that two people he considers incredibly dear to him live there. Thankfully, Renovan tradition is simple enough. He just has to hope it's a welcome offer.

The easiest stuff is gotten out of the way first. A covered platter of steak cooked to varying degrees of doneness (he won't assume anyone's tasted), a number of baked potatoes, and a healthy helping of vegetables (but no carrots) is set on whatever counter has free space. They've likely been working hard making repairs, moving items, and getting settled, so a hearty meal seems a good idea. And of course, Luca also bakes an apple pie, too.

There's also a platter labeled specifically for Joshua? He didn't make a habit of eavesdropping on Clive and his conversations, but it had been hard to miss the words "Joshua" and "sugar beet" when Dion and Clive had been speaking a few weeks prior.

Finally, there are three bottles of wine laid out. It's not necessarily one for each of them, but rather an attempt to cover all of his bases. There is a deep red, a dry white, and a sweet rose, all on offer. All three are adorned with the same label, indicating that they were grown and bottled at Aurelius Vineyards. A special gift, from his home to heirs.

Food and drink, however, isn't the only offering Luca has. One way or another, Luca winds up carefully sprinkling ash across the entry way, then at the doors of all three rooms. He pulls from a little satchel, which itself had been sourced from the hearth in the bar. Nothing weird or cremated here!]

It should stay for few hours. Then I will sweep it up, I promise.

[ Of course Luca is greeted warmly, Clives expression lighting up as he comes to visit. He will help him set everything into the kitchen, and then when his hands are empty, bend down to kiss him lightly, his voice soft. ]

You didn't have to.

[ He doesn't really break the kiss as he speaks, instead mouthing the words softly against Luca's lips, his smile soft afterwards as he straightens up. ]

Sorry it's not much to look at yet.

[ Like every other house, it's very bare bones right now. Cobwebs are being swept out, the furniture that came with has been moved out for deeper cleaning. But there's the tone of a house that was once a home in the walls, in the faded flooring. A warmth that lingers despite the horrors that happened. ]

I wanted to.

[Like Clive, Luca doesn't pull back from the other man's lips. He keeps steady, eyes half-lidded and locked on his partner. He dusts the ash from his palms, pats them against his thighs once, then loops his arms around those broad shoulders.]

We venerate new beginnings in Renova, and what better beginning is there than this?

[He huffs at the way Clive puts the home down, nipping his lip once in response, before soothing it with a second kiss.]

It works out, anyway. There... are some things I have put off talking to you about. What better way to motivate myself?

our house! in the middle of our house!

A house?!

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Housewarming

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