Of course. [ He nods, perhaps his heart beating the slightest bit faster at their closeness, perhaps not. But Joshua pushes it aside to focus on the task at hand.
He rows in unison with Dion, allowing the prince to set the pace because of his condition. It's still an effort, but much less so going slow and with the both of them rather than by himself. ]
Indeed. It is far different than I had imagined... [ There's a soft lilt of another chuckle in his voice, coupled with an ounce of sadness. He can't say he could've ever imagined having to rescue an escapee prince who injured himself in the process and now together rowing back to the Hideaway.
But in truth, how could Joshua have seen any of this coming, have seen it turning out like this when he first met with Dion near Ark? He'd tried, hoped, to stay one step ahead of Ultima despite not knowing much about him, such as saving Clive from Ultima at Drake's Head and trying to warn Dion of Ultima's involvement in the empire. In some few ways he'd succeeded, but in other's, he could only see but a portion of Ultima's plans at the time, not all of it... like with Olivier.
There's still a constant what if that plays in his mind, the guilt of not having spoken to Dion sooner, a what if of maybe if he had, he could've prevented everything Dion went through, saved the empire...
But he doesn't regret reaching out to Dion that day near Ark, doesn't regret seeking out him as an ally, because though he wishes things had gone differently, at least he was there to help save Dion when he needed it most. ]
...But, we are allied still. Though I wish the events that had occurred had been different, I am truly grateful that you are still yet with us. That is, if... you would still lend us your strength once you've recovered?
[ Joshua wouldn't blame Dion if he didn't want to, if he wanted to return to Twinside first as he'd attempted today. He'd far more than understand. ]
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He rows in unison with Dion, allowing the prince to set the pace because of his condition. It's still an effort, but much less so going slow and with the both of them rather than by himself. ]
Indeed. It is far different than I had imagined... [ There's a soft lilt of another chuckle in his voice, coupled with an ounce of sadness. He can't say he could've ever imagined having to rescue an escapee prince who injured himself in the process and now together rowing back to the Hideaway.
But in truth, how could Joshua have seen any of this coming, have seen it turning out like this when he first met with Dion near Ark? He'd tried, hoped, to stay one step ahead of Ultima despite not knowing much about him, such as saving Clive from Ultima at Drake's Head and trying to warn Dion of Ultima's involvement in the empire. In some few ways he'd succeeded, but in other's, he could only see but a portion of Ultima's plans at the time, not all of it... like with Olivier.
There's still a constant what if that plays in his mind, the guilt of not having spoken to Dion sooner, a what if of maybe if he had, he could've prevented everything Dion went through, saved the empire...
But he doesn't regret reaching out to Dion that day near Ark, doesn't regret seeking out him as an ally, because though he wishes things had gone differently, at least he was there to help save Dion when he needed it most. ]
...But, we are allied still. Though I wish the events that had occurred had been different, I am truly grateful that you are still yet with us. That is, if... you would still lend us your strength once you've recovered?
[ Joshua wouldn't blame Dion if he didn't want to, if he wanted to return to Twinside first as he'd attempted today. He'd far more than understand. ]