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[noburden]

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[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…”

[noburden]

"Both, if we start early enough," she says. Why not? "I daresay he's happiest when sitting between us on the sofa."

Or at least it seems as much. She is.

[rosarianoath]

“If not the happiest, then certainly the most content.” Now, especially. “We should do it.”

It’s more time with Jill, too.

[noburden]

Her hand tightens around his, and she nods.

"We'll tell him in the morning. It's been too long since we all had a day together."

A month or so, really. Jill can hardly recall what she's done in that time aside from be miserable and stay out of everyone's way.

[rosarianoath]

“Too long,” he repeats, a little sober, and he runs his thumb alongside the side of her hand. He looks outside again. “Who knows how late we will return home, anyway.”

[noburden]

Just a subtle touch makes her feel a little jolt of electricity up her arm. He's always painfully gentle with her. She looks at their hands, turning her fingers so she can lace them with his.

"Planning on keeping me up past my bedtime?"

[rosarianoath]

“Hopefully not,” he says, looking at their hands, the pale pink of her nails and fairness of her skin. “But I’d hoped we could see the stars from the pier.”

[noburden]

"In that case... I'll allow you to keep me out late."

As if she has a curfew or anyone to mind. The person that might have any real interest in her late night activities is right here beside her.

"I'm in no hurry to get home."

[rosarianoath]

He finds himself smiling, his gaze drifting to the windshield again.

“And I don’t even need to sneak you in past your governess.”

[noburden]

"Just Torgal."

A harder task, but he's easier to bribe.

"You might have to hoist me in through the window if we're trying to avoid him."

[rosarianoath]

“I suppose if we get caught, he’ll huff at us for leaving him behind tonight.”