| Since he figured this was going to be a little while, Josh would order something himself as well, seeing as he hadn't eaten at all during the trip here. It was funny though... Josh's tendencies weren't really all that violent, despite what Nex thought. It wasn't his fault that when they'd met, Josh had been forced to save Nex's hide. I mean, sure, he could have just left Nex to rot there and be eaten. But that wasn't exactly something Josh did. But that was a matter of two years, maybe three years ago... But still, it seemed, he only looked to the young man as a barbarian. Regardless, while Josh doubted Nex cared much for him to begin with, even if he wasn't aware of his "barbarian" opinion of him, Josh held no ill will toward Nex, even if he probably wouldn't trust him with his life.
He let Nex speak, chuckling a tad at his first statement, though frowning when he would remark that his mother dying was "better this way".
"I guess we know where your near-inability to see reason from way back when comes from" He managed to joke, with a small smile, trying to brighten the mood at least a bit despite the somber turn it had taken. But he still did say what he had on his mind. "I wouldn't say it's better this way though... I suppose it's too late now, but... I mean, there's always a chance, right? Anyone can change. Anyone can learn to see reason given time and patience... It just seems to differ, in the amount needed, from person to person. Although I suppose some might see it as impossible for some... And in many cases, yeah... It's almost impossible. Almost."
Josh took a breath, scratching his head for a moment as he then decided to tell a little story.
"There was a girl I met, back in town... A good two and a half years ago. She was a thief, didn't really mesh well with my being a guard and all, and it only got worse then I became Guard Captain. But... I don't know, there was something different about her. Something about her that told me there was something inside of her that while she loved the thrills of her lifestyle, wanted something different. Something away from the risks of spending her life locked up. It was after seeing the misery she endured in a cell, after a large scale robbery on her end landed her there, that I saw it. It was there that I did everything I could to make her see reason. At first, it was merely part of the job. You know, getting criminals off the street and all that, cleaning up the streets, making my job easier and all that. But the more we interacted, the more I saw of her real personality, the more it became more then that."
Josh would look over as his order arrived, paying the fee before turning his head back to Nex.
"The moment that it truly set in my reasons, was when she pulled me from the brink, in my darkest hour. That was when I realized I didn't just want to help her see reason, convince her to find a better life instead of risking spending life in jail, just because it made my job easier. I found myself wanting to make her life better. Wanting to help her. I saw her as a friend, instead of as the thief she was, and I wanted more then anything to help her find a line of work that made her happy, without the risk that the criminal path had. I couldn't bear to think that one bad slip up like before, and she'd be imprisoned in her biggest fear, for the rest of her life.
But I tried... I tried, and I tried and I tried. She refused to see reason. But I could tell it wasn't impossible. I still don't think it is."
Sadly, it was. But not because of her being stubborn...
"I left her a letter, before I left town. I couldn't find her to tell her personally. It was my only regret, in leaving, that I wasn't able to complete that mission of mine. But, well... The town just wasn't mine anymore, in my eyes, if that makes sense, and I wanted to leave. Maude wanted to leave as well. So I left her a letter. Told her I'd recommended a mercenary team who were on a certain job that required skills akin to the ones she held, toward her, and that they'd probably contact her shortly for a good paying job. Figured it'd help set her on the path, you know? It was her choice whether to take it or not, it was up to her. But I doubt even she'd leave money on the table like that. And that was my intention. Wanted her to at least experience the idea of honest work, and help her see reason through that. Taking that path of course, was her decision. I couldn't force her. I didn't want to force her. Her life was hers, all I wanted to do was help her escape the risk of losing it all and living in her worst nightmares. She wouldn't see reason, but I still didn't give up on her.
I told her that I believed in her, to end the letter, and wished her the best. And I meant every word."
Josh took a sip of the drink he'd ordered, to cleanse his throat after speaking for a good period.
"And despite her near-impossibility to see reason... I really do hope that wherever she is now, she's found her happiness as I've found mine. I never did get a letter back, but then again, I didn't leave a return address and didn't indicate to her where I was going. I've been tempted here and there to check the offices, see if there's anything sent to me in my archives, but I never found time. I should check sometime though..."
He'd smile then.
"But I still believe in her. And I'm sure wherever she is, she found hers. I believe in her, after all."
It was a travesty, really... He'd never know that he spoke these words to her killer.
Still, the point was there. Why give up on someone, when there was always hope? Though for Nex's mother.... And for Rinley... It was a little too late.
Changing track, he would quirk a brow after the topic had changed to Nex's new position. "Head of your house, huh?" Josh would remark, chuckling lightly between swallows of his food, which he'd dug into after finishing his little story. "Look at you, all grown up. Next you're going to tell me you're King of the Zoras" Josh would joke, grinning cheekily.
A chuckle escaped him at his quip about him being a farmboy and it fitting him. "Aye, Maude and I have been working the land a few years now. Put my sword down for a little while, Hyrule doesn't need me in that manner."
"As for it fitting..." He began, and smirked in turn. "You can take the farmboy from the farm, but you can't take the farm out of the farmboy. It was inevitable I'd go back eventually. A dream of mine before was to own a ranch in our old home area, but... Something drove me away, I suppose. Maybe it was a desire to see somewhere new? Or perhaps just my disdain at how quick people are to forget when you risk your neck over and over for them, when the new, shiny thing comes along and forgets to mention your part... Even I'm not sure. But either way, I am where I am now, and I knew one day I'd end up where I am.
Was just a matter of time."
He chewed his food for a good while as he stopped to stew over all this, as well as give Nex time to give all the quips and almost condescending remarks he felt like. He knew they were coming after all, no point in trying to stop him.
OOC: He said as he shared stories and playful barbs with his friend's killer. Tags: @nex |