Is it cruel of him to use his brother's clear attachment to him in his favour? Certainly, but they have no time to waste and everything to lose the longer they linger here together. Pressed to his brother's front Joshua cannot help but sigh, inhaling his scent. Even if his own heat isn't here yet, suppressed by the disgusting tinctures Jote forced him to swallow, it did not mean he was unaffected. It was hard not to be when he'd be bitten and Clive had forced himself upon him.
But, he reasons and rationalizes, it wasn't Clive's fault. If anything it was his own...and now he would do what he could to set things right.
Gingerly he pushes away from his brother, opting to take his hand in one of his own and extinguish the flames of the fire with his other. Clive has whatever he needs to bring on his person already...and so they are off to follow the path to Northreach.
The trek is a tiresomeone, not because it is particularly long and hard, but because Clive is barely able to focus. Joshua does his best to redirect his attention, promising himself in full to his brother once they have a suitable space to do so...but once or twice he cannot help but fear that Clive will find himself unable to wait and take him against a tree or the forest floor. Eventually the gates of the town come into view and Joshua peels his hand from Clive's grasp, ordering him to stay silent as he pulls up his hood to speak with the guards.
The Veil, he says. He need use of it for his bearer, so he can be functional once more. They cast glances of disgust Clive's way but move aside, not paying either of them much attention at all and Joshua is ever grateful for it.
"If their directions are correct it should be down this street and to the left. We are almost there, Clive."
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2025-12-17 03:39 am (UTC)Is it cruel of him to use his brother's clear attachment to him in his favour? Certainly, but they have no time to waste and everything to lose the longer they linger here together. Pressed to his brother's front Joshua cannot help but sigh, inhaling his scent. Even if his own heat isn't here yet, suppressed by the disgusting tinctures Jote forced him to swallow, it did not mean he was unaffected. It was hard not to be when he'd be bitten and Clive had forced himself upon him.
But, he reasons and rationalizes, it wasn't Clive's fault. If anything it was his own...and now he would do what he could to set things right.
Gingerly he pushes away from his brother, opting to take his hand in one of his own and extinguish the flames of the fire with his other. Clive has whatever he needs to bring on his person already...and so they are off to follow the path to Northreach.
The trek is a tiresomeone, not because it is particularly long and hard, but because Clive is barely able to focus. Joshua does his best to redirect his attention, promising himself in full to his brother once they have a suitable space to do so...but once or twice he cannot help but fear that Clive will find himself unable to wait and take him against a tree or the forest floor. Eventually the gates of the town come into view and Joshua peels his hand from Clive's grasp, ordering him to stay silent as he pulls up his hood to speak with the guards.
The Veil, he says. He need use of it for his bearer, so he can be functional once more. They cast glances of disgust Clive's way but move aside, not paying either of them much attention at all and Joshua is ever grateful for it.
"If their directions are correct it should be down this street and to the left. We are almost there, Clive."