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“Are you excited? I know this is one of your favorite festivals.”
Your husband’s voice is calm, but the smile on his lips is audible as he comes into the room. You’ve been in the bedroom getting ready, apparently wanting to look nice for the Moonlight Jellies.
You huff a small laugh as you pull on your favorite pair of boots. Specifically, as you’d told Sebastian before, not the boots you wear to work on the farm. These are black and sleek, and most importantly—clean.
“What kind of question is that? Of course I’m excited. It’s like seeing a cat on the sidewalk. They’re so cute and mesmerizing and I just want to cuddle them all.”
“Well, don’t try to cuddle any of the jellyfish. You’ll scare them away. Also, I don’t want to have to see burnt tentacle marks on your skin.”
There’s a lot of banter back and forth as you continue to get all dolled up. You’re fixing your hair in the mirror when he comes up behind you, putting his arms around your waist. He rests his chin down on your shoulder, quiet for a few moments as he just watches you.
Eventually, he does speak.
“This jacket have your salts in the pockets?” he gently reminds.
It’s just such a normal thing for him. Your POTS, that is. You had been so nervous to be open about it at first, back when you two were just friends. But ever since he learned of it, he’s kept an eye out for you. He doesn’t ever make a big deal out of it, knowing you wouldn’t want that. So he has his quiet ways of taking care of you. Gentle reminders, always finding you a place to sit, etc. He’s even sat down with you in the middle of a store just because he didn’t want you to be embarrassed about needing a break.
In other words, he’s a quiet sweetheart.
You take a second to slip your hand in your pockets to feel for the familiar little salt packets. Finding none, you shake your head.
“None in this one. Will you grab some out of the cabinet?”
“Of course, hon. Then we have to get going or else we’ll be late,” he murmurs, pressing a kiss to your cheek before heading out of the bedroom.
You finish up the rest of what you need to do. Your hair is as good as it’s going to get, and your arms now smell like your favorite lotion. Sebastian comes back in just as you’re grabbing your bag.
He gets close to you, knowing it’ll make you a little blushy, and slips his hand into your jacket pocket. He puts several little salt packets inside, then retracts his hand. He smiles softly at you, unable to resist since your faces are so close.
He presses a gentle kiss to your lips, then your cheek, then pulls away. His hand slips into yours as he guides you out of the house.
Of course, he holds your hand all the way to the beach. It’s a little chilly outside, giving a preview of the autumn season approaching. Like the official goodbye to summer for the year.
Something that you love about him? The way he doesn’t hover. He glances over every so often as you walk, but that could just be wanting to look at you. You’ve caught him staring at you with a dorkish, loving smile before. It’s half checking to make sure you’re okay with the pace.
Eventually, you two make it to the beach. The string lights are wrapped around the poles and the top edges of Willy’s shop. Giving everything a bluish-green glow. Neighbors and friends are starting to take their spots either on the pier or at the edge of the sand.
Every year since you moved to the valley, you like to take the spot on the boardwalk just a few steps to the left of the shop.
Sebastian used to prefer to stay off to the side and watch from afar, but he can’t say no to you. He’ll push through the middle of the crowd if it means he gets to see your smile when the jellies appear.
And that’s exactly what he does.
He holds your hand tightly as he works his way through the groups starting to form. He offers murmured apologies to the few that he bumped into.
But it gets you right to your spot without hassle. He glances back at you and smiles.
“Here, sit down. Don’t put your feet in the water,” he says softly, tugging your hand to get you to sit down with him on the end of the pier. When you do, he wraps an arm around your shoulders and tugs your jacket on to be more snug.
“You think we’ll see that rare green one this year?” you ask as you settle into his side.
“I hope so. I’m sure you’ll talk about it all year if we do.”
“I’ll talk about it
every
year!”
Sebastian gives a soft chuckle, knowing what you’re saying is true. He loves the way you tend to get excited about stuff like that. It’s the opposite of his ways, but it’s so endearing to him. He lets out a content sigh as you rest your head on his shoulder.
The murmurs of everyone around you are excited and somewhat nostalgic. Reminiscent of the many years they’ve had this festival before, even back when a lot of them were small children. Already nostalgic for the summer just passed.
Couples, even longstanding ones, find this night romantic. There’s lots of hand-holding and hugging, sweet words easier to say.
You and Sebastian just enjoy each other’s quiet company until Mayor Lewis lights the lantern on its old little boat. It floats out into the water, attracting more of the jellies to swim up.
Most everyone is quiet as the jellies start to show, and give little exclamations when they get close.
You gently lean forward, only half registering the way Sebastian’s hand automatically goes to rest on your back. That support is always there, anyway.
You lean just a little bit over your crossed legs, smiling adoringly as some baby jellyfish swim right under you. When you look back at your husband to see if he’s seeing it, he smiles softly at you, giving a little nod.
Every year, like tradition, everyone sticks around even after most of the jellies disappear back into the ocean. Some will walk around or lean in, trying to catch a glimpse of the last ones to go.
Around midnight, it’s pretty much over. People are starting to head out, some yawning and rubbing their eyes, some still filled with excitement over something out of the norm.
Sebastian pats your back gently a couple times to get your attention as the water you’re staring at gets darker by the minute.
“Hon. You ready to go?”
It takes a second, but your eyes finally find his, and you offer a little nod.
Taking his hand, he helps you up to your feet. You’ve been sitting for so long that there’s a little dizziness in your mind as you stand. He, of course, notices, and keeps a gentle hand on the side of your arm.
He watches your face, being quiet and careful. Watching your expression to see if the little wave will pass or if you’ll have to sit again. Or worse, faint out here on the boardwalk. But he’s quiet, ready to handle whichever situation arises.
It takes almost a minute, but you eventually shake your head like shaking off the dizziness. Your eyes refocus on his, and you offer an embarrassed smile.
He smiles too, relieved to see you come back around.
“You okay? Let me know when you’re ready to walk.”
“I’m okay. We can go… slowly.”
Sebastian smiles as you add that last part. He gives a small laugh and nods, throwing his arm around your shoulder.
The two of you start off down the pier, then across the sand, and then into town.
Passing by the saloon, you slow down noticeably. Your hand goes out, placing against the bricks of the building. He immediately slows down with you, taking hold of your other hand.
“Hey. I know, I know. You’re up late, your body wants to rest. Do you want to sit? I’ll sit with you,” he murmurs, leaning down just a bit to try and get you to look at him.
You don’t answer verbally, but you just lower yourself to sit in the grass. He doesn’t hesitate to do the same.
He runs your arm as he stays sat beside you. It’s quiet, and a bit melancholic. Despite that, he doesn’t move. He’d sit here with you all night if you really needed it.
But, after a while, it’s really starting to get cold. He doesn’t want you to get sick on top of everything else, knowing it would exacerbate your condition. So he nudges your arm, then gently pats your cheek.
“Hon? You with me?”
You give a tired little affirmation.
“Okay. I can carry you home if you want me to. It’s getting cold. And I know you're going to want to wake up in our cozy bed and not in the grass.”
“…I’ll walk.”
“You sure?” he asks softly, pushing some of your messy hair back out of your face.
When you nod, he mirrors the motion, then gets up onto his feet. He bends down to guide you up by your shoulders, and makes sure you’re steady once you’re up.
It takes a bit, since the pace is comfortably slow, but you two eventually make it back home. Your cat greets you on the steps, and Sebastian bends down to pick the little guy up. He carries him in one arm, opening the door for you with the other.
Making it to the bedroom, he puts the cat down on the end of the bed and turns back to you.
“Here, let me take off your jacket. Kick off your shoes, and then you can sleep in that. Good thing you didn’t wear jeans tonight,” he murmurs, helping you through the motions.
He jogs to the kitchen and grabs two bottles of water for the nightstand, along with a couple bite sized chocolates.
When he gets back, he stops in the doorway. A soft smile graces his face when he finds you already in the bed. He’s quiet as he puts the items down on the bedside table, and kicks off his own shoes.
Pulling off his hoodie, he slips into the bed next to you. You had a good night. He knew that. A lot of your best nights ended with you absolutely exhausted, but you always woke up talking about how much fun you had. To you, it was worth it sometimes.
And it was always worth it to him, too, when he got to hear your excited rambles afterwards.
He pops his shoulders, then lays down. He throws his arm over your waist and lets his head hit the pillow, asleep less than a minute later.