IT'S A BEACH PARTY

[noburden]

Jill finally gets her day at the beach with her boys.

Did she pack far too much food? Possibly, but the cooler and basket(s) fill up some of the space on the massive blanket set out on the sand, an umbrella shading a corner of it. Someone will eat it at some point. She opted to forego the alcohol (no beer cans), but there's sparkling lemonades and apple cider and plain ol' water. Torgal even has his own bowls filled with water and some easily transportable mushy meat stuff. It's downwind, don't worry!

And it's hot. The sand stings before the flesh can adjust to being slightly cooked, like being on many tiny coals. Jill's been slathering sunscreen on herself and whoever dares look a little rosy. It's important. She's not tolerating any burns.

Today is going to be fun, peaceful, and without incident.

Pushing anyone into the waves doesn't count.

Comments

[rosarianoath]

He just shifts in towards her, notching his chin to the top of her head. With the faintest trace of humour:

"Dion doesn't like me that much."

[noburden]

Jill laughs into his neck, scruff scratching her nose. No harm in pressing a kiss to his skin while she's here. Just a quick thing.

"Maybe if he got to push you into the water."

[rosarianoath]

"I wouldn't mind a little friendly brawl," he says. His closes his eyes. Her mouth is nice. The waves sound nice. If he lets his mind drift even a little, it could be the coasts off Rosaria.

[noburden]

"The only rule is no blood," she murmurs, slipping her hands beneath his hoodie. The breeze is just enough to chill her fingers.

[rosarianoath]

"That can be arranged."

What can also be arranged is more space for her in his hoodie: he pulls the edges of it out and around them, bundling her in it with him.

[noburden]

She's fairly certain they're rapidly approaching more PDA than he's comfortable with (tolerance lowered further by the amount of skin on display), so she enjoys the moment, snuggling in against his warm skin.

"It's a good day, isn't it?"

Generally speaking.

[rosarianoath]

They are, but the longer he keeps his back to the beach, the longer he can shut out the thought and just enjoy this moment.

“I think so. I’m glad you put it together. Especially for Joshua.”

[noburden]

"Especially for you," she corrects. "You need to have more fun in your life, Clive."

They can afford it.

[rosarianoath]

“I’m enjoying myself plenty,” he assures her, nose against her scalp. “I suppose I just don’t show it enough.”

[noburden]

"It only means I must put more effort towards making you laugh. I've never been particularly funny..." she trails off, humor in her voice. "You're too clever for any joke I might make."

[rosarianoath]

He chuckles into her hair.

“Me? Too clever for jokes? That is funny.”

[noburden]

"Oh? Whenever I hear you and Joshua laughing over something, I can only assume..."

Her smart boys.

[rosarianoath]

“I’m bettered by his company,” he says, and he gives her a squeeze.

Then a bunch of teenagers run by, splashing, and he eases off.

[noburden]

Jill can feel water hit the back of her head. Chilly, but only because her body hasn't adjusted to the temperature of anything that isn't Clive.

"Come. Let's play with the waves," she says, leaning her weight back, as if she could pull him along if he didn't want to go.

[rosarianoath]

“Play with them?” he repeats, like a tragic dog that has never had a ball thrown for it. For her, he’ll try, allowing himself to be pulled in.

[noburden]

"Play with them," she confirms. Very helpful. As a wave rolls in, she times an elegant hop over it, still grasping Clive's hands.

"Let's see how high you can jump."

[rosarianoath]

He doesn’t jump with her, the waves crashing against his calves. It feels childish, but seeing her play puts a warmth in his heart, and when the next wave comes, he matches her with an awkward hop.

“You know how high I can jump.”

[noburden]

He looks silly. She adores him all the more for it. Jill laughs and gives their hands a swing.

"But how often do I get to see it in the waves?"

[rosarianoath]

“Never,” he admits, and though entirely unsure why she’d care to see such a thing, he lets her swing his arm anyway. “I should try again, shouldn’t I?”

[noburden]

"Let's both try and jump at the same time. Here," she says, pulling him so that they're parallel to the waves. "We have to time it correctly, Clive."

[rosarianoath]

“Alright.”

Easy enough to lazily clear it, he figures, though it’s entirely unappealing to touch back down.

“Three…”

[noburden]

"Two..."

She squeezes his hands. Wonderful to play, as if they're children again, but there's an additional freedom here. There's no Anabella, watching from a window, or finding any reason to cut Clive down.

"One... jump!"

[rosarianoath]

And jump he does, clearing the wave and landing once more with a splash. It’s hardly the highest he could go, but it wouldn’t do to jostle her. Not with that smile of her face. It puts a small one on his.

“Was that high enough?”

[noburden]

She jumps too, not quite as high as him--she's suddenly reminded that it's been quite some time since she's really had to use any muscle. Still, she laughs, and nods.

"Yes. You showed that wave," she smiles, swinging his hands in hers again. "Let's see if you can do it a little deeper."

[rosarianoath]

Ridiculous, how praise over something so silly still feels as mighty as praise for something great. Either his ears are going pink or he’s sunburnt.

“I can do deeper,” he assures her. “You as well?”