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[goldenambition]

Will hangs around the Inn, but if you wait long enough he'll probably come to you!

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[aneikonic]

I will. In a moment.

[ Give him this, his voice says. Let him have this for a brief moment. Clive isn't as affectionate as Joshua, Will won't get any forehead kisses, but Clive does conk their heads together. Squeezes Will tightly.

And like Joshua he takes a moment to simply breathe. Closes his eyes and sits there with them in his arms, soaking in the fact they're all there. His arm is back.

Joshua was healed just enough by handing the blessing back over.

They can beat this.

Finally he pulls back just enough to take a cup and sip from it, making a face as he realizes his mouth was far more dry than he thought. ]

[kingincognito]

[ It's only when Clive finally moves to pull back that Joshua follows suit, lifting one of his hands to scrub at the tear tracks on his cheeks. Oh, water sounds so good... His mouth tastes awful. ]

Thank you, Will.

[ It's said with such warmth, a gentle smile. He takes the other glass, sipping slowly. His stomach is still so tender... he doesn't want to overdo it. Hopefully, it will pass. And if it doesn't... he will deal with it, as he always does. ]

[goldenambition]

I swear, both of ya making a bloke feel all flustered. Not used to all these thank yous.

[He clearly doesn't MIND it, though. He hasn't tried to stop it after all]

[aneikonic]

Best get used to it.

[ The flustering reminds him of Gav when they first met. "I'm just doing my job." It makes him chuckle a little, sipping at his water. ]

How are you both feeling?

[kingincognito]

[ To the question, Joshua groans around the rim of his cup of water. ]

Like a chocobo ground me into the floorboards at Martha's. But, I'm fine otherwise.

[ "I'm fine", of course, meaning any number of things. But-- ]

My stomach feels a bit tender, but I'll manage.

[goldenambition]

Starving and still a bit tapped. But I've felt worse after a bender.

[aneikonic]

Sounds like I owe you both dinner.

[ Something light and easy for Joshua, oats maybe and something meaty for Will. Unlike his brother, he downs his drink because his stomach is fine.

And he wonders a little over his arm. Will really cured it. ]

[kingincognito]

[ Dinner-- Founder, what time is it? How long was he out? ]

I'll... eat something. I may want to go easy, though.

[ Like Clive, he's thinking something like oats or broth. ]

[goldenambition]

[ Will sees you eying that hand Clive, and pulls it over to check himself. Gentle fingertips- he can't ease pain right now so he has to be extra careful]

All that retching musta done a number on your guts, pally.

[aneikonic]

Oats for you. We can soak them in milk, I've seen them in the kitchen.

[ He lets his hand be taken and offers Will a lopsided smile, his voice soft as he says it's fine. And for once, it is. Their combined effort may have made it feel like he was stuffing it into an acid lizards bile sac earlier, but now it's just numb. No pain, even after all that time. ]

Will, if you let me, I'll cook you something. I'm not that half bad at it.

[kingincognito]

I would be surprised if it didn't.

[ He offers Will a weak smile. He wouldn't be surprised if the petrification is in his stomach now, but they'll figure that out eventually, and he's not going to say that out loud anyway.

Though, he turns to glance at his brother, eyebrows raised. ]

You can cook?

[ Huh. He never knew. Clive must have picked it up in the years they were separated... ]

[goldenambition]

'If I let you' as if Whippoor is gonna take a chance to not work.

[He laughs softly at Joshua]

Aye, I've seen him in there putterin' around.

[aneikonic]

[ Wow, Joshua, unintended sass. He gives his brother a look that says he's about to retaliate as he opens his mouth, only for Will to call him out.

He sighs. ]

I know enough to be decent. Mostly meats and vegetables.

[ Which Joshua is going to recognize as being all their meals... Especially with Wills call out. ]

Why don't you two continue to rest a bit more. Will, I know you can't do anything else, and if you try I will knock you out but could you look-

[ He glances to Joshua. ]

[kingincognito]

[ HE DIDN'T MEAN IT HE LEGITIMATELY DIDN'T KNOW--

But ah. Yes. That's... all of their meals. Not that he's tired of them, he likes them, they're good and they have never once contained carrots. But he'd just assumed Clive had been collecting them from someone else and making sure to remove the carrots beforehand... ]

Oh.

[ The look on his face shows that he is very, very touched. His brother has been cooking for him this whole time... ]

[goldenambition]

Yea, I can take a look.

[He's Worried too, even if he can't do shit about it right now.]

You fine lettin' me poke around while your brother manifests food from nothin'?

[Just a little teasing]

[aneikonic]

[ That gets him to laugh and he pats their heads - both of them - gently as he gets to his feet. And laundry will be collected as he makes his way out of the room, so he can get that started too. ]

Behave, both of you.

[kingincognito]

Ah? O-oh, yes. Of course.

[ The question and the head pat both serve to break Joshua from his semi-awestruck, semi-embarrassed fluster, and he shakes his head, turning to watch his brother go. Clive really is too good to him...

Until he speaks as he's leaving, which makes Joshua's head tilt with a mildly confused smile. Of course they'll behave, he doubts either of them has the energy or the need to use magic or... whatever Will's abilities might be considered. ]

Thank you, Clive. We will.

[ And once Clive has left, he turns back to Will.]

Well. Do you need me on the bed to do an examination?

[goldenambition]

Hey now, we're grown ass men!

[He huffs, tail twitching. With a sigh he turns to Joshua]

Nah, this shouldn' need to be as in-depth as last time. I just wanna see where the rocks are.

[kingincognito]

[ Well, that's good to know. Chilly as it is on the floor, now that he's not distracted by discussion and Clive is not here to contribute more body warmth, he doesn't feel like he can get up without feeling lightheaded anyway. More rest is certainly needed. ]

All right. Please do so at your leisure, then.

[ He will even lean back to give Will full access to his torso. He suspects he knows what his friend will find, but... ]

[goldenambition]

[Thankfully just sensing doesn't really use his own prana, though even just this makes him feel a little gross. he really needs that meal...

His ears slowly pin back and his brow furrows]

Shit.

[kingincognito]

[... ah. As he expected. He frowns, looking at those pinned back ears. ]

It... has spread, hasn't it.

[goldenambition]

[He nods]

Into your belly. Not far, but it's there. Probably what set off the vomitin'.

[kingincognito]

[ Joshua sighs. ]

That's what I thought. It's no wonder my stomach is tender...

[goldenambition]

Be glad it didn' go up into your throat like it did with Clive. Or your heart.

[Will shivers a bit, horrified by the imagery his mind is happy to provide. He's seen what curses and illnesses can do to the body]

[kingincognito]

It could have. Easily.

[ He takes a breath. This is his new normal. He'll learn to live around it, as he has with his lungs. ]

I panicked, and I put everything I had into my healing to help save Clive. It is no surprise that it has spread as it has, after that and after fighting against that thing in the temple.