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]

“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?”

[noburden]

"If I have you with me."

Walking through the surf becomes more challenging once it hits her knees, but she makes sure to pull him along until his are submerged, too.

[rosarianoath]

It occurs to him that he still hates swimming the instant the cold water creeps closer to his knees, but he’ll endure. Harder to get height here, too, and the waves are taller. His expression grows a little more serious.

“This next one, then?”

[noburden]

Oh, that face. Jill's still smiling, but she wishes he would, too.

"This next one. Ready?"

She doubts she'll be able to make it, but there's no harm in failing beyond saltwater and sand.

[rosarianoath]

“Ready,” he says, readying himself with a slight crouch, readying himself to lift her best he can with him.

When the wave comes, he surges up, his grip on her tight.

[noburden]

He's so serious. Too serious, by her measure, for someone playing in the water. So, when it's time to jump, she purposely jumps into him.

He can handle it.

[rosarianoath]

Clive is glad for his reflexes when the wave buffets her against him, or something — he rushes to catch her, but her hand is in his, so it’s clumsy.

“Jill!”

[noburden]

He calls her name like she's in mortal danger. It makes her laugh, and she releases his hands so he can grab her, if he must. The water colliding into her legs splashes up, soaking her. It's wonderful.

"You should have left your shirt on the sand!" Hoodie. Whatever.

[rosarianoath]

He’s going to be soaked, but that’s of least concern right now: he doesn’t just grab her, he sweeps her right off her feet and into his arms, well above the waves.

“I didn’t have any design to get wet!”

But at least he has an excuse to hold her.

[noburden]

Jill wraps her arms around his neck, a glimmer of mischief in her eyes before she steals a kiss, salt on her lips.

"Then you should have stayed home," she teases.

[rosarianoath]

Holding her above danger and with her lips on his, he’s almost glad he’s standing in cold water. He breathes in sharply, following her mouth even as she eases off.

“Does a terrible swimmer not deserve a day out?” he says, as light as he can be.

[noburden]

"With all the time we have now, a terrible swimmer should look into fixing that problem," she laughs. Not that she's any better, nor can she imagine anyone teaching Clive to swim.

[rosarianoath]

“I’d go right to the bottom before I managed,” he says, wading back towards the shallower water with her protectively in his arms. See, if she’s in danger, he gets to keep it together. “I think you just want to see me in smaller shorts.”