notthislife | Sticks Inbox

[ Oh.

Joshua had not been prepared for that. Not the demeanor, but the voice. The voice. It's so, so familiar, identical even, sending an icy finger of recognition through him. He would know that voice anywhere. ]

Clive.

[ The name escapes his lips before he can stop himself, and he winces, hard. No, you fool. This isn't Clive. This man may look like him, may sound like him, but it isn't him. The scars aren't the same, the facial structure is different, his shoulders not quite as broad. He takes in a sharp breath, trying to will away the ache in his chest. It doesn't work. ]

I'm-- sorry. I thought you were...

[ He hesitates, then shakes his head. No. That isn't this man's problem. Pulling in a steadying breath, he focuses on sitting down, on the feel of the chair beneath his touch, on the scent of stew in the air. Anything to keep him tethered to the now, to keep the ache from winning. ]

You must have only just arrived. My apologies. My name is Joshua. I am... one of the local healers.

[The sad fact is, Verso knows that look. Not only has he seen it on other faces, but he's worn it himself. Intentionally or no, he's evoked a memory in the young man. If Verso had to guess, it was a bittersweet one. And while it might not have been his fault by any means, he still feels a twinge of guilt.]

You don't need to apologize.

[He reaches for his glass and downs it quickly. All at once, he understands the dirty looks and strange expressions. Whatever happened here, he's accidentally stumbled into it. The least he can do is back the hell away before anyone else gets too hurt.

Still, that doesn't keep him from giving a quick bob of his head by way of greeting.]

Verso. Local vagabond, it would seem. [He stands up, glass set aside.] Please, by all means, sit. I was just leaving.

[ Oh, no. No, he didn't mean to run the man off. Snapped from his state, Joshua inhales sharply, reaching out on reflex as Verso stands. ]

No, wait. Please. It was not my intention to--

[ Cutting himself off, he, too, stands. Deep breaths, Joshua. In, and out. Calm. Collected. ]

If you are intent on leaving, please. Let me walk with you. I would be glad to explain. Or, at the very least, help you gain your bearings.

[Verso does still at Joshua's command. He watches the man's face for a moment, then glances over his shoulder at the man behind the bar. The expression he wears is less intense, but it's still clear that he's not welcome in this specific spot. A flick of the eyes to the side comes before he angles his head toward another empty table.]

Compromise. Another spot, perhaps?

[He takes a step toward it, then another. He looks from the bartender to the young man, hoping that this is the right play. Some tension seems to ebb, but it remains to be seen if the blond will relax. To entice him all the further, he continues their conversation.]

A healer, yes? Quite the impressive title. Could have used you once upon a time. [He motions to the scar over his eye.]

[ It does do a great deal to make him relax, actually. It's less the movement from Clive's table - though that does hold some weight, separating the lookalike from the area - and more the agreement to remain. Perhaps it's a little selfish of him, but he isn't about to admit it.

But he does follow Verso to the new table, glancing at Luca as he goes in a silent affirmation. Clive's table is vacant once more, and perhaps his friend will stop glaring daggers at the new arrival. ]

Often, we are left without a healer when we need them most. Thus, I strive to be available, should those here be in need.

[ He offers Verso a smile, though it isn't as bright as it could be. But it's kind and warm all the same. ]

My apologies for the less than warm welcome you may have received. That table... was my brother's, before he disappeared. But you had no way of knowing - I do not hold it against you.

[Luca gives Joshua a nod. There will be much thanking to be done later. Thankfully, he's far enough away that he doesn't actually hear Verso's voice, otherwise he might have chased the man clean out of the bar.

But anyway, Verso waits for Joshua to take his seat, then settles across from him. It's a bit surprising, to be met with such warm emotion despite what he assumes is an awkward situation at best. But once Joshua confirms his predicament, Verso is outright impressed.]

It must be taking a lot out of you, being so kind after that kind of disrespect. [Verso cracks a half-smile, before sobering.] I'm no stranger to losing loved ones. Grief and mourning exist in strange ways.

[Granted, Alicia was different. Complicated in a way he doesn't dare explain. But the loss had been vivid all the same. To say nothing of the empathy he feels, being the lost sibling.]

I think your brother would be proud of you.

If it had been blatant disrespect, that would have been different. But, you were none the wiser. It would be remiss of me to be angry about that. And kindness is a far better use of my time and effort. There is too much cruelty in the world, no matter where you are - why wouldn't I choose kindness?

[ The smile is still there as he takes his seat. He has no drink to keep his hands occupied, so he simply folds them on the table for a lack of anything better to do.

But the compliment hits him hard, unexpectedly. In his brother's voice, no less, or at least a voice that is very, very similar. Closing his eyes, he huffs out a soft, bittersweet laugh. ]

He... He would be, yes. He has said as much, and I believe him.

[ After a moment, Joshua looks up again. The smile never truly reaches his eyes, but it's... softer, now. Warmer. ]

Forgive me if it seems strange, but you... sound so much like him. Even look similar, to an extent. And yet, I know you are not one in the same. But your presence does not bring me discomfort. Far from it.

I find that blatant disrespect only ever gets me into trouble, if you can believe it. [He winks, words smooth and tinged with mirth. Anything to ease the tension, to help the young man. He feels... He feels

... Ah. Something had already been stirring within Verso's chest, but those words? They'll be his undoing, if he's not careful. It's not dissimilar to the first time Maelle looked at him, let alone when she ever leaned on him or showed him any sort of sibling-like affection. Joshua was certainly older than her, though not by much in comparison.

He... probably shouldn't get so attached, not if he was planning on escaping this place. But he also shouldn't have gotten attached before. He might have a bit of a problem with that.]

Should I say you're welcome for the help? [He tries to add a tinge of humor, to keep from whatever is gnawing at the back of his mind. It comes out halfhearted at best.] Or would it be better for me to tell you that I will gladly leave, should it ever be too much.

I daresay I would believe it.

[ There's a little mirth to his voice this time, the comfort of hearing something so similar to Clive's voice coupled with Verso's overall demeanor doing wonders to help him relax. The ache is still there, but... less. He misses Clive terribly, of course, but this is someone else, someone deserving of merit on their own qualities, not on how much Joshua sees his brother in him. It isn't fair to compare.

But he shakes his head all the same at Verso's open offer, in jest or not. Joshua barely knows him - it's difficult to read the nuances of his tone, but the halfheartedness is difficult to ignore. And yet, he does so politely anyway. ]

It is quite all right. You do not need to leave. I enjoy the company.

[ And he truly means that. ]

And what of you? You stated before that you were a vagabond, but what are your talents?

Last chance? I'm going to get comfortable otherwise, and then I might never leave.

[He makes a show of shimmying in his chair, easy smile spreading across his lips. He shouldn't feel this relaxed right now, not when he's been so cruelly ripped from his goal. But he's here, and barring another painting opening itself up, there's not much that can be done.]

Varied, to say the least. [He glances up at the ceiling, brushing his hair from his face.] A bit of a wandering swordsman. Persistent do-gooder. Expeditioner, if you want an official title.

[Which he hopes Joshua doesn't want all of that. Trying to explain the details of what an Expedition is would only sour their conversation. He's only just started to get comfortable again.]

Then, by all means, get comfortable. I'm afraid you're in for a lengthy stay.

[ Joshua knows that he means temporarily. But Joshua can't help but mean permanently. The smile that accompanies the words is a bit sad, but in an apologetic way. He'd hate to be the bearer of bad news, but if Verso hasn't yet heard...

Though, he does listen with interest, because he is genuinely interested. A wandering swordsman... Out there freely adventuring and helping others, from the sound of it. Oh, Founder, does it remind him of Clive. Of himself a bit, too, but the comparison to Clive is inevitable. Joshua nods, leaning back in his seat and tucking himself in neatly like the bird he is, arms crossed and one slim knee over the other.

Expeditioner, thankfully, is taken to be an alternate title to adventurer, so he doesn't question. Not unless he's given reason to. ]

Then, we are much the same. Yourself, my brother, and I. Home isn't a place, and we go where we are needed. Is that right?

[There's no hiding the grimace at that. From what he's gathered, no one is exactly happy about their circumstances here, but he has serious doubts anyone shares a similar predicament as himself. He doesn't say as much to Joshua, however, merely gives a... sympathetic sort of nod.

If he has anything to say about it, it won't be long at all. But he isn't confident he does have a say in it.

Joshua's question does little to soothe his current mood, either. Home is a bit of a sticky, complicated subject for him. That said, he'd be remiss to shoot Joshua down or make him doubt his own words. A stiff smile is about all he can offer, though.]

More like... home is a place long lost. [He shrugs his shoulder loosely.] A tale far too many can relate to, especially here I imagine.

[ Verso doesn't say anything in response to it, so Joshua doesn't press the issue. He recalls what it felt like to be new. The hope that maybe their stay won't be so long. He doesn't want to dash that hope - it's important to hold on to.

So, instead, he waits and listens politely, assessing Verso as he thinks and eventually speaks. Something about the way the man responds... reminds him of himself. The way he chooses his words carefully.

Nothing wrong with that. Everyone is entitled their secrecy. As he mentions home being a place long lost, Joshua's smile both stiffens and saddens simultaneously. ]

I understand all too well. Though I have not been here long. My experience is back in my world.

[ And he'll leave it at that. Verso doesn't need to be burdened with that. ]

But the people here are kind. They work hard to make do with what we have. Though we have all lost our homes, the sense of community makes the loss feel a bit less. Not entirely, but a bit.

[And just as Joshua draws parallels with Verso, Verso does the same. He thinks back to his team, and then to his friends. Perhaps the group is closer to a full circle than he cares to admit. Either way, the community he's created has proven to be a great comfort.

Even if he was lying to half of them.]

I know quite a bit about that. Sometimes it's all that keeps you sane. [If it even managed to do that. It was hard to say with Verso.] Good that you've learned that young, though. It'll serve you well.

[Even if Verso hopes it doesn't. Joshua seems far too nice, too kind to have to shoulder the burdens he seems to imply that he has.]

[ To all of that, Joshua simply nods. He and Verso are on the same page, then. ]

I have always been in the company of others. Even in the worst moments, there have been people by my side. I would not have come as far as I have today without them.

[ The Undying, the people of the Hideaway. Clive, Jill. Dion. All of them are treasures in their own right. The people here, too.

Taking a breath, he smiles at Verso, leaning back in just the tiniest bit toward the table. ]

How long have you been here, then? Long enough to get the grand tour?

Keep them close, or as close as you can. [He presses his lips together.] Never mind, that's terrible advice considering what you just told me.

[He shakes his head, a little rueful.]

If by receiving the tour, you mean giving it to myself, that's correct. I'm not one to sit idle. [He laughs to himself once, mostly without humor.] In fact, I made to cut through the trees themselves before being warned that it wasn't a good idea.

[ Terrible advice or not, Joshua shakes his head. ]

Though I would prefer they weren't in this situation, I will keep them close regardless, for I'd rather fondly remember our time together than not have it at all.

[ Maybe it's a little selfish of him. But he spent so many years evading his brother all for the sake of Clive's safety, and where did it get him in the end? He wishes he could have had that time back.

But Verso's admission breaks him from that train of thought enough that his smile slips into surprise, eyes widening just a little. ]

By the Founder, you would have been lucky to simply get lost in that forest. Full glad am I that you were stopped, then... It is best if you remain where the fog cannot touch.

All you can do, really.

[Judging by Joshua's reaction, he really was about two seconds from getting himself killed earlier. Gnosis had implied as much, but the man could have just as easily been hysterical. Better to get a broader feel, even if the sentiment wound up ultimately being the same.]

I do have a habit of getting lost. [He shrugs loosely, seemingly unbothered despite what he continues to learn. If anything, he manages a bit of a pout. It lasts only two seconds before he grins it away.] And you seem to be underestimating me. We've only just met. Give me a little time before you start doubting me. It hurts my feelings otherwise.

[ Oh, what has he stumbled upon? Verso seems... well, he's interesting, but he's underestimating the situation. Or overestimating himself in the context of this place. Or both.

Joshua pulls in a slow, deep breath, frowning down at the table. ]

It isn't that I'm underestimating you. Far from it. My apologies, it was not my intention to be perceived as such. It's just that...

[ He pauses for a moment, his hands clenching gently into fists. ]

Something evil and cruel commands those woods. The fog is his domain. If you enter it, you risk becoming lost and disoriented, or worse, attacked and corrupted. He lives off of our pain and suffering, and our deaths only serve to strengthen him.

Many of us in this place are skilled warriors and mages, and we attempted to attack him while he slept. We were barely a nuisance to him. He batted us around like a coeurl with a mouse.

[Every little detail that Joshua speaks, Verso files away. In many ways, the picture that Joshua paints isn't entirely dissimilar to that of both the Curator and the Paintress. Every death served as a way to either return Chroma to the Paintress, or seal that power away from her. The only difference seemed to be the perverse pleasure that seemed to be derived by the beast within the woods. At least Renoir had at least regretted the suffering, even as he deemed it necessary.

Verso shakes his head slightly, trying to clear the thoughts from it. Getting lost in his own memories was only going to blind him to what needed to be done here.]

In my experience, every defense can be pierced. Every monster can be slain. [He'd thought the Axons an impossible trial, but Expedition 33 had fooled him there.] Sometimes you just need the right hand to do it. A really stupid hand that doesn't listen to when someone is telling him otherwise.

[He can tell Joshua is none too happy with this topic, and so tries to add a touch of brevity.]

Chin up. This wouldn't be the first time someone told me I couldn't do something. I love proving people wrong.

[ It's... heartening to hear all of that. Particularly when coming from a voice that still sounds so much like Clive's. If he closed his eyes, he could almost pretend that it was his brother sitting across from him, reassuring him.

But it's not, and it would be an act of self-cruelty to entertain such a notion. Joshua pulls together a smile, albeit a weak one, and glances up to his companion. ]

So long as you're careful. Should you end up in a clinic bed after my warning, I will be very cross.

[ He won't. Probably. He's answering with levity, for all the heaviness of their conversation topic. Every little bit helps. ]

Everything has a weakness. We haven't yet found his, but we are trying. And one day, we will.

Well, lucky for you, you have the most stubborn man in Lumiere on your side now.

[He gives a mock bow, or his best approximation of one considering the fact that he's still seated.]

No need to worry about me winding up anywhere. Most injuries tend not to stick long. Was swallowed by a snake once and none the worse for wear.

Physically at least. I'll admit there are occasional nightmares.

[ Well! Joshua had been about to play along with the lighter tone their conversation has taken, but that little tidbit of information pulls hard on the brakes. ]

I'm... sorry? You were swallowed by a snake?

[ Nightmares are understandable, given the situation. But no injuries whatsoever? ]

Oh, yeah. Probably the least strange thing to happen to me, honestly.

[He shrugs it off as if it truly meant absolutely nothing. Wild.]

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