Isla San Pedro, Chile, Thursday Evening

[my_own_advocate]

As always, the weather in Isla San Pedro improved markedly when the trio arrived, not too long before sunset. Lucifer didn't notice the change, happy as he was to return here. Especially with Duke's recent state of mind, a place to rest with few to no responsibilities seemed--

Well, perfect.

Shortly after arrival, he made good on his promise to Octavia: he set up a little campfire on the beach, brought out some pillows for everyone to sit on, and fish and vegetables to roast over the fire.

"I also brought some Turkish tea for us to heat up," he announced, flopping down on a pillow whilst brandishing a box.

[[ for them ]]

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[betterthanaplan]

As tempted as Duke was to head right into the water, he remembered how much that had freaked his partners out in the past. So he stuck around for dinner first, shucking only his shirt and shoes for the time being before curling up on one of the pillows.

"Sounds fantastic, babe. Thank you."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia was sporting a Hooters top. Look, it was warm out here, it worked! Also last night had refreshed some old memories of club girls, and maybe part of her wanted to cling to those a little.

She plopped herself down on a pillow of her own with a muted 'oof'.

"What's so special about the tea?"

[my_own_advocate]

"It's sweet and fruity," Lucifer said, taking the pot he'd already brought over out of the sand. "But really, you'd have to taste it to find out. Unless Duke has a better explanation."

[betterthanaplan]

"'Sweet and fruity' sounds about right," Duke said. "I'd say it also describes our host this evening."

He gave Lucifer a bright smile.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia just snorted. That was clearly for Lucifer to deal with.

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer preened. "It does," he agreed. He opened up a bottle of water and poured its contents into the pot. "Either way, a happy welcome-back to all of us, I'd say."

[betterthanaplan]

"Here, here," Duke agreed. "I, for one, am very happy to be here."

Seriously, a fair amount of tension had fled his shoulders the minute they stepped through the portal. It'd be back way too soon, because a vacation wasn't actually a total cure for depression, but for now, he was feeling okay.

[okteiviakom]

And right now, it looked good on him.

Yes, of course Octavia was watching. And smiled a tiny bit.

[my_own_advocate]

No one expected it to be a cure. Lucifer just hoped their presence here could... lighten the load a touch, make things easier on Duke.

"I'm very glad to hear it," he said, as he hoisted the pot onto the little metal hoop above the fire. "Here's to at least a solid week, week and a half of lazing about, eating good food and drinking good drinks and enjoying ourselves and each other, naked or otherwise."

[betterthanaplan]

"Sounds like a solid plan," Duke said.

And if he spent at least some of that time stoned as well, well. At least he wouldn't be drunk?

[okteiviakom]

Baby steps, or something.

Octavia's attention had already slid towards the food waiting to be roasted. (Or she was not looking to state any of her potentially complicated feelings.) "So what've you got?"

[my_own_advocate]

When didn't she have potentially complicated feelings about simple things?

"I figured I'd get some fresh fish, so I had the trout brought in from the mainland," Lucifer said, pointing at the fish sitting on plates not far from them. "The idea is to put them on sticks and hold them over the fire. Otherwise, well, I have a spread of vegetables, and ingredients for s'mores... and I brought a selection of special brownies, but we don't need to partake tonight."

[betterthanaplan]

"Maybe we can do some of our own fishing in the next few days," Duke said, reaching for a stick so he could get a fish started. "Or . . . I guess I can. I know you're not into that, Luce."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia couldn't help her tiny snort. "So I'm not even in the running?"

[my_own_advocate]

"I enjoy sitting with you while you fish," Lucifer added. "Especially if Octavia's also there."

[betterthanaplan]

“I didn’t want to assume,” Duke told her. “I know more about Luce’s feelings on the subject than yours.”

[okteiviakom]

"I'm the one who's fished with you before. But maybe that wasn't clear enough?"

Just soft teasing.

[my_own_advocate]

"Really, I should be more offended," Lucifer added. "I've volunteered to come sit with you while you fished. Repeatedly."

[betterthanaplan]

“So . . . I offended you both,” Duke said with a wry sigh. “Right on schedule.”

[okteiviakom]

"Wrong," Octavia replied, putting all her effort into not sighing in response. Or showing what she might have been thinking about hin landing on that takeaway from this in any other way, either. "What you've done is secure everyone's company for fishing."

[my_own_advocate]

"What she said," Lucifer agreed. "Now you're stuck with us on your next fishing adventure."

[betterthanaplan]

“Ah! So my evil plan worked, then!”

He was laying it on a touch thick, yes, but he was trying to keep the mood up.

Especially his own.

[okteiviakom]

"Well, it's not your first scheme."

Would that help? Referring back to very old things.

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer raised his eyebrows - and then turned his attention to the bowl, which was beginning to steam nicely.

[betterthanaplan]

“That’s right, I’m an experienced schemer. Like ai gona.”