#firevow

He was convinced that it was the opposite. When it came to survival, Clive was only alive thanks to Joshua. Indirectly and even directly, he kept the man going for as long as it did -- whether he was misguided or having a bigger, better purpose. It was always thanks to Joshua's spirit, Joshua's presence in his life. If Joshua was standing now, it was because of himself rather than the Shield that failed to protect him.

"You fail to see just how great you truly are -- how great you have always been. Joshua, you are the force driving me, always." He turns to his little brother, sky-blues covered in self-conscious uncertainty. What did his brother think of his failure, he wondered. Did he know how much he regretted that fateful day? Did he know just how hard it was to talk to him without trying desperately to beg for forgiveness?

As if the inner storm was not raging inside him, he places a firm hand over Joshua's shoulder, he has no need for crouching down now... My, Joshua had truly grown... Thank the flames.

"You made it because of who you are. You made it because you're Joshua Rosfield, our protector and savior -- the flame that brightens our road everlasting. Don't ever forget it" His hand releases the shoulder. Of course, he couldn't help but mention such insecurity, after all. "You always were a much better protector than your Shield. It seems some things never change, right?"

@firevow asked: 😳!!!! cue in joshua putting a little flower in her hair for EXTRA prettiness! | accepting

His actions are oh so... PRECIOUS. Jill can't help but lean forward to press a quick kiss to his forehead! It's a little difficult since he's so much taller than her now!

P R O M P T S - F O R - W O U N D S

It was almost like a whisper; the soft plea which slipped from his younger brother’s lips. He nearly thought he had imagined it at first. Gingerly, he turned with a curious and expecting gaze, gently resting upon his brother’s tiny frame. He observed Joshua’s demeanor and was able to detail the feelings whirling inside of him from one look alone. With his shoulders hunched, his head bowed in shame and his eyes fixated upon the ground – it was clear that his brother hated being so vulnerable in front of the one he admired most. Given his young age and the unfair social pressures that chisel away at his innocence – Clive was aware at how heavy a burden those tiny shoulders carried on a daily basis.

If the Founder would have it, Clive would take it all away without a moment’s hesitation. But alas, easing his young brother’s concerns at night was all he could offer aside from his sword. Clive turned his gaze out the open window, admiring the full moon and its iridescence that dispelled the shadows within his brother’s chambers. A light snicker hummed at the back of his throat before he turned on his heel and took a few steps towards Joshua.

With a firm hand, he gripped the other’s shoulders, lightly shaking him as he said, “What’s this? Suddenly embarrassed to make requests of me brother?” He joked, hoping to clear the tension in the air. It wasn’t like Clive could dismiss his concerns by telling him monsters didn't exist.  Being the Dominant of Fire has painted a precariously large target on his head. It was this harsh reality that robbed him of his youth and gave birth to the embers of his constant distress.

While Joshua hid it well; there were times when he’d let his façade down, only for Clive of course.  It was this honor that made Clive eager to do anything at all to help him. A sigh slipped through his rose colored lips, the smile which had been etched across his features dipped. “Did Father’s tales and warnings scare you, Joshua?” He asked earnestly, reflecting on the very words the Duke had shared with Joshua and the 1st shield of Rosaria in the early afternoon.

With the Iron kingdom being a constant threat, their father thought it a good idea to remind Joshua that he was incapable of living like most normal boys – that his life would always be in danger. He warned HIM sternly to never leave Clive’s side. It was one of the only times the Duke had been strict with Joshua.

Clive placed a gentle hand at his back and urged him towards the bed.  “Come, let’s get to bed Joshua.” He pulled out a chair from his desk, turned it and sat, leaning his chest against the wooden backings of its frame.

Again, he smiled softly as the two now locked eyes. For a moment he allowed the silence to linger before he finally said,

“Tell me, what’s on your mind brother?”

@stellarisen / ( @firevow )

WITH ARMS BEHIND HIS BACK, clive feigns ignorance. scrunches his nose slightly and furrows his brow, as though contemplating joshua's words. he shifts a little on the spot, as though he's itchy & trying not to scratch. ( it has nothing to do with the pup restlessly wriggling about in his hands. ) he's about as inconscpicuous as a moogle in a crowd of chocobo, but maintains his charade for a tad while longer. with a bemused smile, clive shakes his head.

" sorry joshua, but it seems torgal has gone missing... " he clears his throat, but the quiet excited 'yips' from behind him are still very well audible. raising an eyebrow, the young boy turns his gaze to his brother / with a mock seriousness about him, continues. " but i think i might know where to find him ⸻ and i can tell you, on one condition. " he is careful as he crouches down, settling the pup on the ground at his heel and leaning in, as though to tell a secret.

" he was telling me that someone has been trying to feed him carrots again... i believe he went in search of the fiend responsible to enact justice. " easing back a little, clive turns his head & looks about, as though checking for eavesdroppers ( or, perhaps... the fearsome beast itself ). " perhaps if you come clean now... i can help protect you before he... " he pauses. turns his head, and speaks with a theatrical dread, " ⸻ by the flames, i think it's too late ! "

as though on cue, he releases the pup that had practically been digging the ground beneath his feet to get free. the little bundle of fur and energy immediately sprints for the younger of the two, attempting to jump up onto his lap but failing quite spectacularly. clive smiles and reaches out, pretending to hold torgal back as the pup jumps up / paws at joshua's legs in an attempt to climb up and enact vengeance upon the evil carrot-giving fiend.

Clive thought himself good at hiding the excruciating pain he felt whenever his mother threw her venom at him. He thought himself armored in the coldest steel; a deadpan expression, courteous gestures, stiffened muscles -- he thought maybe Joshua didn't notice. He hoped Joshua had never noticed... And yet, now, as his mother turned away and he kept his glance placed upon the footprints her shoes left behind, he felt the warmth of a hand on his own.

It brought him back to reality, he had been zoning out for a good chunk of the exchange between the lady and her children. Words like daggers, delivered quietly like the thorns of a rose, had caused him to shed enough blood to travel into a far-away world. A Wonderland of questions that always resulted in a pained; why, why, why... It was the warmth of the Phoenix and his flames that made him realize his expression had sunken further into a darkness he himself had not known of.

Had he scared his brother, enough to cause him to try and tug him back with the quietest of gestures?

"Joshua," he can't face him yet. If he showed himself, would he notice the creases of his eyes, adorned with Leviathan's hopes and dreams? He should not see, Joshua could not see. "Forgive me, did you... say something?"

Closed starter for @firevow

She had lost count of how many days it's been since she deserted her post, abandoned her shining dragoon armor to replace with hardened leather and a simple lance. A part of her still yearned for her home, another urged her to return and beg for mercy at the feet of her commander. The rational part of her knew if she returned, she would have less than what she has now.

No, the life of a wandering mercenary would be better than life as a branded. She couldn't even imagine if word got out she was the dominant of a lost eikon. She sat down on a large rock, taking out her waterskin to find it empty. With a flick of her wrist, a large ball of water formed in her hand as she carefully filled the container before taking a long drink. The bounty flyer said a large pack of wolves had made a home nearby and yet she hadn't seen hide nor hair of the beasts.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a loud howl nearby, followed by a chorus of howls in response. Sounds like the pack found themselves a meal. The perfect time to strike. Quickly tucking away her waterskin, she grabbed her lance and leap into a tree, using her skills as a dragoon to easily jump through the branches until she found the pack surrounding a young man in red.

"Well shit." She thought they might have found a deer or something, not a person. It wasn't hard to recognize the fighting style of a dragoon, armor or not. If she revealed herself, she risked getting recognized. But, she couldn't let the poor man die. Even after deserting, she still held her honor as a knight to protect the people.

Before she could continue her thoughts, the largest wolf of the group, more than likely the pack leader, had leapt at the man. Without thinking, she leapt out of the tree, flipping once before diving down and slamming her lance into the skull of the wolf. As she landed, a ring of water spread out in a protective circle around herself and the man, sweeping away the wolves.