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[noburden]

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Date night 💃🕺

[rosarianoath]

Plans on Thursday evening. He’d told her so she’d keep her schedule clear, and to make arrangements around Joshua having his own plans, in the name of not missing a family dinner. He hadn’t told her where, or what kind of food, or what to wear, but he figures it should be casual. This is dating, or so his rough understanding of it tells him: you spend time together, get to know each other, keep chaste and low-pressure. All things sorely needed for them right now, if he’s being honest, and he’s very much trying to be.

He tromps halfway up the stairs, just far enough that he can see in her bedroom doorway, so he doesn’t have to yell. He just calls: “Should I call a car, if you’re nearly ready?”

He’s picked a little place on the pier. It should be plenty casual. And safe, right? No tension.

[noburden]

Jill's putting in the last few pins into her hair, pinning braids to the back of her skull to keep all that hair from sticking to the back of her neck. It's so hot these days that, even if she has no idea where they're going, she knows she'll sweat herself mad if she doesn't make an effort to tame all of that length.

"I'm almost done," she tells him. "Go ahead."

Her voice is calm despite feeling oddly nervous. She agonized over what to wear--setting on something casual, but not too much. She doesn't want him to think she doesn't care about this date of theirs. It's a cute dress, light blue and airy, exposing her shoulders and stopping right above her knee. Friendly. Casual. Prepared for a good time. Rebuilding trust.

She leans over to peer at him through the doorway.

"Do I get to know where we're going?"

[rosarianoath]

Clive finds himself looking at her bare calves for a beat too long before he looks up at her face, his hands on both bannisters and his whole body leant forward comfortably. He’s wearing jeans and a black t-shirt with a V-neck so low it nearly touches the top of his ribs.

“The pier,” he says. “I found a little place. It has unlimited bread.”

[noburden]

"Unlimited bread?" He gets a genuine smile out of her, something that comes easier with so much time away from the events of That Night. "Are you prepared to roll me home?"

[rosarianoath]

It’s so good to see that smile.

“It will be a long trek home, but I am strong of arm and perseverance.”

[noburden]

She turns her attention back to her mirror as she resists remarking she knows very well the strength of his arm. As does Dion's nose.

A comment like that won't help anyone. Jill tucks in one more pin before deciding herself done.

"So you say now. If the bread comes with the good butter, we may both be in trouble."

[rosarianoath]

Clive breathes out through his nose, amused.

“I’ll carry you no matter how much bread you wish to indulge in.”

[noburden]

Her hero. She huffs out another soft laugh, stepping out if the bedroom and towards him where he waits.

"Sounds like a challenge," she teases, reaching out a hand so that he can lead her down the stairs. She doesn't need the assistance, but she knows he likes to do it.

[rosarianoath]

Clive’s gaze moves from her ankles to her eyes as politely as he can muster, straightening up to take her hand.

“I know no other who can win such a challenge,” he says. “You look beautiful, Jill.”

[noburden]

If Jill can claim to be good at anything, it's putting bread away. She won't argue that.

"Thank you," she tells him, hold on his hand light. "You look handsome."

He always does.

[rosarianoath]

He leads her down, casting his gaze away like he’s embarrassed.

“We make a good pair, then. I’m sorry I didn’t pick someplace finer.”

[noburden]

"I don't need finer. The point is to spend time together. It doesn't matter much where we are," she reassures him. "I'm happy we're doing this."

If only her heartbeat settled down. For all she's gotten up to with Clive, she shouldn't be nervous about a date.

[rosarianoath]

“I know,” he says. He knows, he has to know. But how to satisfy someone he has so thoroughly disappointed? “I’m happy too. And I hope tonight is fine.”

Every word out of his mouth feels embarrassing.

[noburden]

"Don't worry," she tells him, giving a squeeze of his fingers. The night will be wonderful as long as neither of them talk about Dion. Jill's been in better spirits since talking to him, but she hasn't forgotten the sight of him on the cottage floor.

"I'm both hungry and easily pleased." It's true. And if it's not, she's very good at not complaining.

[rosarianoath]

“I’m pleased to know you haven’t become spoiled in the past few weeks.” Her squeeze gets one in turn, and he takes her out the front door and locks up behind them without letting go of her hand. “Soon, then, you’ll have a full belly at the very least.”

[noburden]

"It will take years before I allow myself to become spoiled," she replies. As much as she loves the life here, with its bright lights and convenience, a part of her does feel guilty for indulging. Every day, personal conflicts and the occasional strange encounter aside, life is easy.

[rosarianoath]

“But when it hits you, you’ll sink into it luxuriously, I’m sure,” he says.

Good timing: the taxi pulls up out front, and Clive opens the door for her.

[noburden]

Sliding into the taxi, Jill waits for Clive to join her in the back. If she didn't still have marks on her skin from that tumble the other night, she'd tease and ask if he wouldn't prefer her bike instead.

She leaves her hand on the open space between them, should he wish to take it.

[rosarianoath]

Clive closes the door behind her and rounds the back of the car, sliding into the other side. He does not buckle himself up; he just glances at the hand left in the middle, and he takes it once more.

He’s not sure what else to say. He just asks the driver to go to the pier and looks out the window.

[noburden]

That makes two of them. This has been the kindest exchange between just the two of them in a month. She doesn't want to ruin it.

Her thumb brushes over the back of his hand and she looks out her own window.

"... I've been looking forward to tonight," she says after a while. A chance to figure things out between them once more.

[rosarianoath]

He looks back at her when she speaks, a little too quickly to not have been hoping for it.

“I have too,” he says. “Any time I can spend with you alone is something I can look forward to…”

[noburden]

She looks to him and smiles, glad.

"It's difficult to fight the urge to invite Joshua everywhere, isn't it?"

[rosarianoath]

“Near impossible,” he says. “I want to see him experience everything, see and try new things… I could watch forever, but I am sure he wants to have his own life, too.”

[noburden]

"Of course," Jill agrees. Some of her greatest joy of late has been watching Joshua's eyes light up at something she's grown accustomed to over the last year. It's a reminder of how far removed from Valisthea they are.

"Perhaps we take him out tomorrow night, if he has no other plans."

[rosarianoath]

Watching Joshua do anything feels more potent than any spirit or liquor, more intense than any close call with a blade. Sometimes he thinks about standing in Joshua’s doorway just to watch him sleep, or pet his hair when passing him by in the kitchen. Who couldn’t love Joshua, every moment in his presence, every opportunity to hold him?

“He would like that,” Clive says. “Another film, perhaps? Or a stroll through the city…”