There was little to be done for it. It was the curse of those who'd stayed closer to human than those who'd descended into fiends. Maybe it was because of his fondness for justice and Kine. Maybe it was his love of arts. If anything, Joseph was more compassionate as Kindred who hadn't drawn breath in over a century has he'd been while he'd been alive.
What he was sensing was the desperate grief that came with the memories. It was because Joseph felt he had caused Matthew's suicide because their relationship. Jean-France's death had been even worse. He couldn't save him from the disease that was killing him, not even with the Embrace. The thing that his lover had awoken as the next night was not Kindred, just a mindless thing howling for blood. The only mercy he could grant him at that point was a swift final death.
Joseph had never forgiven himself for either of them. He wasn't certain he ever could. But he had to try again. Maybe this time he wouldn't make a fatal mess of it.
Rhys' embrace and kisses were a balm on the reopened words. A welcome distraction from the pain of the past with a reminder of the possibilities of here and now. That was exactly what he needed.
Releasing the handful of hair, he wrapped his arms around Rhys and deepened the kiss. Physical pleasure had always been his favorite escape from emotional pain.