[ Marching ever onwards to their doom is decidedly not the future that Clive wants for Joshua. What he wants for Joshua is freedom from the scrutiny of others, for him to be able to live without bounds and rules to tie him, to live without titles and assumptions that he's beholden to.
Clive wonders if he hasn't taken that away from Joshua by doing this－ if he hasn't assigned him to a lifetime of looking over his shoulder.
Still, Clive can only tell the truth when Joshua tells him that he's loved. His reply is as simple and earnest as the broad arc of a greatsword. ]
And I, you.
[ Forevermore, he thinks. A bit too on-the-nose; he keeps it to himself. ]
Our fates might not be written, [ in defiance of Ultima, who would have them believe that they're creatures fated to die out, ] but mine is linked, inextricably, to yours.
[ By choice. He smiles, then ruffles Joshua's hair. ]
Now go back to your reading, else I'll stay distracted the rest of the night.
[Joshua knows that's true. Whatever may come, however they live their lives, they will always be connected. Not only by their eikons - though the Phoenix and Ifrit are certainly intertwined in a way he doesn't truly understand yet - but by their own choice. They will fight together, now, though Joshua truly hopes they won't die together.
Either way, he doesn't intend to ever let Clive face Ultima alone.]
You see? I told you if you let me read in here I'd be distracting you all the time.
[He is smiling, teasing affectionately. This wasn't exactly what he'd been thinking, but it ends up the same, doesn't it? Clive, not doing his work, all because of him.
Honestly, Joshua's a bit pleased to be proven right. But then, he's pleased about a lot of things at the moment.]
Go get your work done. I'll try to behave.
[He might be able to actually read now - though he knows he'll still be stealing glances at Clive, marveling that this could have happened. Wondering if it's real, hoping that it remains so. But the book might get some of his attention, at least.]
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Clive wonders if he hasn't taken that away from Joshua by doing this－ if he hasn't assigned him to a lifetime of looking over his shoulder.
Still, Clive can only tell the truth when Joshua tells him that he's loved. His reply is as simple and earnest as the broad arc of a greatsword. ]
And I, you.
[ Forevermore, he thinks. A bit too on-the-nose; he keeps it to himself. ]
Our fates might not be written, [ in defiance of Ultima, who would have them believe that they're creatures fated to die out, ] but mine is linked, inextricably, to yours.
[ By choice. He smiles, then ruffles Joshua's hair. ]
Now go back to your reading, else I'll stay distracted the rest of the night.
no subject
Either way, he doesn't intend to ever let Clive face Ultima alone.]
You see? I told you if you let me read in here I'd be distracting you all the time.
[He is smiling, teasing affectionately. This wasn't exactly what he'd been thinking, but it ends up the same, doesn't it? Clive, not doing his work, all because of him.
Honestly, Joshua's a bit pleased to be proven right. But then, he's pleased about a lot of things at the moment.]
Go get your work done. I'll try to behave.
[He might be able to actually read now - though he knows he'll still be stealing glances at Clive, marveling that this could have happened. Wondering if it's real, hoping that it remains so. But the book might get some of his attention, at least.]