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[rosarianoath]

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[noburden]

Her heart swells. She can't remember the last time they simply had fun chatting with one another.

"Perhaps. But they deserve to see the sun, too."

Not just his chest. Jill grins.

[rosarianoath]

“Then I suppose you have another thing to look forward to when we go to the beach, if I can find something suitable to wear.”

He was absolutely not planning to get anywhere near the water.

[noburden]

"Lucky for you, there are a number of shops by the beach with swimwear."

She remembers peering in through the glass at the boutiques closed for the year, the tiny little triangles on mannequins. Surely there's something that covers more.

[rosarianoath]

Clive raises a brow at her as he stands up.

“Me? Swimming?”

[noburden]

"You mean to at least stand in the water at some point, don't you?" Can't do that in skinny jeans unless you want to be sealed into them.

[rosarianoath]

“I suppose it couldn’t hurt.”

It’s an earnest attempt at being game.

[noburden]

"If I do it, you must."

Childhood logic? Childhood logic. She smiles at Clive as they head to the door.

[rosarianoath]

“I should be there to protect you if some fiend lunges out,” he says, picking up his keys off the entrance table.

Where is Leviathan when u need him

[noburden]

A very real possibility.

"If that gets you out there, so be it."

Jill waits for Clive to lock the door behind them before glancing up at him and reaching for his elbow. She doesn't hold on tightly, the look on her face quietly questioning. Is this okay?

[rosarianoath]

He glances at the hand on his elbow and then at her, but he doesn’t pull loose. In fact, he lays his hand over hers briefly and squeezes.

“No crying wolf at the beach,” he says.

[noburden]

Jill smiles and relaxes, holding his arm more comfortably. A gamble won.

"What if I think I see something in the water?" That doesn't count.

[rosarianoath]

“Perhaps we just stay on land for your safety,” he says, leading her down the steps.

[noburden]

She laughs softly.

"That's not fair. I've been looking forward to it."

[rosarianoath]

"You can enjoy the water without going into it," he says. "Isn't it nice, to sit by a river and watch the stream move by?"

[noburden]

"But nicer to put your feet in. I've seen the look on your face after a long day's trek on a warm day."

Don't deprive her, Clive.

"Do you think I've forgotten how to defend myself from monsters?"

[rosarianoath]

True.

“Of course not,” he says, fixing her with a mild look. “But it has been some time.”

[noburden]

"Then you'd best come with me into the water. Just in case."

She wins.

[rosarianoath]

“We’ll see what it’s like when we get there,” he says, but it’s something of a concession. There are at least a few months until then, he figures.

[noburden]

She'll take it. Jill is quick to keep the conversation going.

"What about you, Clive? Is there anything you're looking forward to?"

[rosarianoath]

The question makes him pause, even though there’s nothing to think about. He has no plans.

“Warmer weather, I suppose.”

It’s something.

[noburden]

"Longer days," Jill agrees. "We can spend more time in the yard that will, hopefully, have some beautiful flowers to look at."

[rosarianoath]

“That would be nice,” he agrees. He reaches for her hand to squeeze it again. “Whatever you choose will be beautiful.”

[noburden]

"You're helping me choose," she reminds him with a soft smile. "It's our home. I want you to leave more of a mark on it than the basement, Clive."

And whatever damage done when he hauled that sewing machine up the stairs.

[rosarianoath]

It’s odd to hear her refer to it as their home, no matter how many times she says it. For a long while he’d felt he’d manipulated her into it, between Torgal and his risk of injury and whatever lingering feelings she had. Now, for the first time, he realizes he believes it.

“Red gazanias, perhaps?”

[noburden]

Like home. One home, at least. Jill's smile widens at his suggestion.

She prays they have them here.

"That would be perfect, Clive."