A Bluff, Haven, Thursday

[my_own_advocate]

Nathan & Lexie?? & Jordan	Nathan and Lexie, a woman with long, tousled hair, messier than Audrey ever wore it, and tight black clothes, heavy eyeliner, and piercings, slowly stood. "Your name is Lexie?" Nathan demanded. "I guess you were expecting someone else?" Lexie asked. Jordan yanked a shotgun out of the hands of one of her Guardsmen. "Shoot him!" "I'm not shooting anyone!" Lexie said. "Who are you people?!"
Lucifer	"Drama queens!" Lucifer hollered. He hadn't actually vacated the premises. He'd just moved off to the side, where he was currently making his way through the contents of his flask like a champ.
Octavia	Octavia was still rooted in place, looking a lot more steady than she felt. All of this felt very likely to go sideways very fast.
Havenites	Lucifer had barely even seen drama yet. And yes, it was definitely about to go very sideways, Octavia. Duke, thinking fast, headed towards Jordan, only to stop when one of the other Guardsmen turned their gun on him. "Jordan, if she's not Audrey anymore, then her killing Nathan isn't gonna end the troubles. It only works if she loves him." Jordan didn't look back at him, still staring down Nathan as though she could bore holes in his skull with her eyes alone. "Then I might as well shoot him myself!" "Vince!" Dave shouted. "Get your people under control!" "Jordan!" Vince tried. Jordan wasn't listening. She cocked her gun. Duke threw a desperate punch at the nearest Guardsman, bloodying the guy's nose and setting off his own trouble. His order for Nathan and Lexie to "Run!" came out as a growl.
Octavia	Octavia caught a flash of silver. His eyes. It was the last thing she'd wanted to see today. (Especially after the way she'd seen it in her nightmares all night long.) She forced herself not to yell out for him. But, her knives were out again, now.
Lucifer	"Oh for all that is-- Duke!" Lucifer barely took five seconds to shove his flask back into his pocket before he threw himself back into the mess he'd just distanced himself from, shoving himself between Duke and the Guardsman. He was absolutely not allowing Duke to get himself killed.
Havenites	"Forget Crocker!" Jordan roared. "Get Wuornos!" Nathan had followed Duke's orders and bolted down the hill, back towards the road. The Guardsmen poured after him, shouting the whole way. Duke started after them, determined to put himself between the guns and ex. "Where am I?" Lexie asked. "Maine," Jennifer said, flicking her a little smile. "Don't worry, after awhile you kind of get used to it!"
Octavia	It was kind of sad how fast she'd gotten to the point where she could say that. Octavia left dealing with Duke to Lucifer because she didn't really have any other choice while his trouble was active. So instead, she went with her second instinct of shielding Jennifer, although none of the Guardsmen seemed interested in her at all. Or Audrey-who-wasn't-Audrey, which Octavia supposed showed just how single-minded they were being.
Lucifer	Dealing with Duke who was running after multiple armed people he had no hopes of stopping even with his magical trouble powers? Sure. Lucifer could handle that. If by 'handling' you meant his heart leaped up into his bloody throat, and he rushed forward with unnatural speed to grab Duke by his shirt. "Don't be a bloody idiot," he hissed. It took less than the fwump of his unfurling wings to drag Duke upwards, into the sky.
Lexie & Jennifer & Duke	"Am I hallucinating or does that guy have wings?" Lexie hissed at Jennifer. "You get used to that too," Jennifer assured her. "Luce -- dammit, put me down!" Duke yelled. His trouble had worn off already, but he could see Nathan down below, tripping over his own numb damned feet. "They're going to kill him!"
Lucifer	"And what, pray tell, do you think you'll be able to do to stop multiple people with guns?!" Lucifer snarled. "If you want to save him, come up with a saner plan!"
Duke	He had a point. And Duke absolutely hated it. Nathan was determined to get himself killed. If he couldn't do it by talking the woman he loved into sacrificing him. . . . "Shit," he muttered. "Okay, I have another plan." If it was saner or not was debatable.
Lucifer	"Talk to me," Lucifer urged him, his gaze flicking back towards the others. Well. Primarily Octavia, if he was honest.
Octavia	Octavia was staring up at them. ... Right up until she realized there was movement behind her, and she turned, only to see Lexie heading for the trees, with Jennifer in tow. She took off after them. "You don't want to go there!"
Havenites	"I'm sorry Nathan," Vince was saying -- and then Lexie fired Nathan's gun into the air. "Jesus fuck!" Duke said, pulling his legs up to his chest, though thankfully the bullet didn't come anywhere near them. "Not while we're flying up here!" "Okay, listen up, you lunatics!" she was shouting. "Move a muscle, lose your head. I know it doesn't seem like I know how to use this thing, but I do!" Duke looked up at Lucifer. "No time. Trust me?"
Lucifer	Oh for-- Lucifer pulled a face. "If I see you bolting towards them again I'm taking you back up," he snapped. But he did trust Duke. Mostly. Maybe. When Audrey wasn't involved. He set Duke down on the ground gently regardless.
Havenites	Duke edged over carefully, watching the crowd, his hands up to show he was unarmed. And un . . . bloodied. "What do you want, Lexie?" Vince asked. "Ideally?" Lexie asked, aiming her gun at him. "A stiff drink and a reason why y'all are trying to blow away 'cheekbones' here." "I'll take care of her," Jordan growled. Lexie turned on her. "Listen, I know you're angry, honey, but I'm hoping you're not stupid too." "Excuse me, Lexie!" Duke called, putting his hands up a bit higher as he got close. "Hi. My name is Duke. And, uh, I would actually prefer that they didn't shoot 'cheekbones' here either. Now, I think I can clear this whole thing up if I could just talk to this gentleman right over here." He gestured to Vince. "The, uh the big one." Lexie looked from him to Vince with a frown, then nodded. "Okay." "There's nothing more to say, Duke," Vince said. Duke gave him a sharp look, keeping his hands up. Well aware that Lucifer was ready to swoop in again if he looked at all like he might be throwing himself into danger. "Really, Vince?" he asked. "Because everybody here still wants the troubles to end. And I think I know how."
Octavia	This better be a good idea, Crocker. And by 'good', Octavia meant something that wouldn't put him at direct risk of anything. She was watching this just as sharply as Lucifer was.
Lucifer	"Well, get on with it," Lucifer said, as his feet touched the ground.
Duke & Vince	"Forgive me for making sure no one starts shooting first," Duke grumbled. He'd made his way across to Vince. "Look. Okay. So we know that Audrey killing Nathan would end the troubles, because she loves him, right?" "Yes?" Vince said, sounding impatient. Duke gestured to Lexie with his head and lowered his voice. "So. We get her to fall in love with him and. . . ?" Vince's expression cleared. "Of course. Do you think she will, though?" Duke was not at all sure. He was stalling as hard as he possibly could while he figured out some other way out of all of this. "Nathan's a lovable guy." Nathan, still on the ground where he'd fallen, glared around at everyone. Duke resisted the urge to kick him. Couldn't the man just play along for a hot minute?
Octavia	Octavia was doing that thing where she was squinting towards Duke and Vince, as if that would help her hear better. It was to no avail - but she was standing right by Lexie, so maybe that was for the best. Her eyes darted to Lucifer, with a question. He was closer and could probably hear them better, so, did he think it was something dumb and dangerous?
Lucifer	The expression that made its way across Lucifer's face likely wouldn't be much help; 'peculiar' was the word for it. "Excuse me," he hissed, stepping closer. "Are you saying we should-- orchestrate some kind of love connection for the greater good?"
Duke & Vince	And the look Duke gave him in return was wide, begging for Lucifer to just roll with it right now. "To end the troubles," he said, "yes." "Everyone stand down," Vince ordered. "You had best be right about this, Duke. Or the Guard won't just be here for Nathan." "Oh trust me, Vince, I am well aware."
Octavia	None of the expressions Octavia was catching were particularly encouraging. So all of this was boding well.
Lucifer	Lucifer said nothing else. His eye, on the other hand, had developed a familiar, tell-tale twitch.
Vince & Duke	"Get Wuornos and the girl secured," Vince ordered. "Duke, come with me. We have business to discuss." "Goody," Duke said with a sigh. He flicked his partners a faint, apologetic smile. "This all just. Keeps getting better, doesn't it." Maybe, if they were very lucky, some meteors would fall again and wipe them all out.
Lucifer	"Duke," Lucifer said, and paused, and then added, "And Octavia, a moment, please?"
Octavia	Octavia gave Lexie a sideways glance as she stepped past her, to go join Lucifer and Duke. She was done waving the gun around, right?
Duke & Vince	Lexie was happy to stop waving the gun around, so long as no one else was going to wave theirs around, either. She shot the brunette a little smirk and waved her off. Duke nodded and started towards him. Vince grabbed his arm. "Duke," he hissed. "Relax, big guy," Duke assured him. "If I try to run, shoot me." Vince harrumphed and let go. Duke headed for Lucifer again.
Lucifer	Lucifer waited exactly as long as Duke needed to get within hissing earshot. "Are you bloody mad?" he-- hissed, yes. "You're going to manipulate that poor empty-headed vessel into falling in love with that charisma-void of a man? What, do you think she comes pre-programmed to fall for his unique combination of bricklike face with a complete lack of a personality?"
Octavia	Octavia blinked. "... That's the plan?"
Duke	"Are you kidding me?" Duke hissed back. "Of course it's not a plan, it's a stalling tactic." He shot a glance over his shoulder and flicked Vince a smile and a wave, then leaned back in. "I don't know if you've noticed but this entire group has lost their damned minds! I'm trying not to get anyone killed!"
Lucifer	"I'm not going to be party to mashing two people together like fated Barbie dolls, Duke," Lucifer snapped. "That sounds like something my Father would enjoy!"
Octavia	"I'm not sure this should even be our problem anymore," Octavia said, mostly to Duke, although she reached to the side to put her hand on Lucifer's arm. "She's... back, now. Sort of."
Duke	Duke stared at her. ". . . She's really not, though." He shook his head, shoving his hands through his hair. "Look. Just -- Luce, go check on Dan or something, okay? Tavi, can you look after Jennifer? I'll make sure Lexie can at least, I don't know, look at a trouble without exploding, and then we'll talk about maybe bailing." Wade was still here, and Audrey basically wasn't. Duke wasn't going anywhere, yet.
Lucifer	Lucifer rubbed his forehead. "I want to get out of here and not get caught up in any grandiose plans to save the universe," he said. The whole situation felt a bit too close to home. "But fine. You settle your last issues here, I'll see how Dan is doing."
Octavia	"Fine," Octavia said, for her part. It came out sounding more than a little bit tense. (She just really hated being here, okay?)
Duke	Duke's shoulders slumped. "Thank you," he told both of them. He really hoped their relationship didn't end up another casualty of Haven.
Lucifer	Haven would have to try a bit harder, if that's what it wanted. Not that Lucifer's annoyed huff would be enough to dispell the fear. "I'll see you soon, then," he said, stretching his wings back out.

[[ follows this and preplayed with the excellent betterthanaplan and okteiviakom. based on Haven 4x05, 'The New Girl'. ]]