The Cape Rouge, Sunday Evening

[my_own_advocate]

It had been a restful few weeks in Chile, but all things had to come to an end - at least for now. And so, blissfully unaware of any children running around, Lucifer, Octavia and Duke returned to the island.

Lucifer ambled up along the dock, bearing his luggage-- and then came to a stop, blinking up at the Rouge.

"Did I order a hundred kilos worth of candy?" he said, gesturing to the massive pile on the deck. "Or is the island developing a sweet tooth?"

[[ open. expecting them who live here ]]

Comments

[my_own_advocate]

"I did have a fair few edibles the other day," Lucifer said, jogging after Duke.

[betterthanaplan]

"This is a very stoned kind of order," Duke acknowledged. Then stopped as he stepped onto the deck. He bent down, frowning, and pulled out a plastic water pistol. ". . . Did you buy a bunch of toys too?"

[okteiviakom]

Octavia was lagging behind them a bit (not just to take in the full sight of the ship like it was breathing something into her, but... that, too), but she could still see the definitely not-real pistol.

"Kids on the island," she blurted out. "I mean. That's my guess."

Well, the island had turned her sword into a plastic one at least once.

[my_own_advocate]

"... that would make sense, unfortunately," Lucifer allowed.

A face, he pulled.

[betterthanaplan]

“Not too late to flee,” Duke said, tone teasing. He tucked the water pistol away again. “Or we could hide in bed for a few days, wait for this to blow over.”

[okteiviakom]

"I could work with that," Octavia said, finally catching up to them.

She leaned down to pick up some of the candy.

"Assuming none of the kids are for us."

[my_own_advocate]

"Isn't it the wrong time of year for that?" Lucifer asked, frowning.

[betterthanaplan]

"That's usually in the spring," Duke agreed. ". . . This might be, like . . . if we'd come back earlier Tavi and I would be eight."

He had strong memories of being at the top of one of the masts waving a plastic sword.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia also had some very bittersweet childhood memories of freedom on the island. But that wasn't really what she was thinking about right now.

(There were other kinds of blade she found herself thinking back to.)

"Yeah, probably," she muttered, looking at the candy in her hand.

[my_own_advocate]

"Suppose we missed that one this year," Lucifer said, turning 'round to look at Octavia. "Can't say I'm terribly sad."

[betterthanaplan]

"I appreciate not thinking everyone's trying to recruit me into a cult."

He'd been a weird kid.

[okteiviakom]

He'd been a kid with a very specific background and past.

Octavia shoved the candy in her pocket. "Lucifer's just glad he doesn't have to babysit," she said, instead of saying anything about what she'd been thinking about.

[my_own_advocate]

"I will admit that does play a role," Lucifer agreed, fishing some candy off of a crate. "Though I'd like to think I would have survived it."

[betterthanaplan]

“Of course you would have,” Duke said. He’d found more toy weapons and was now swinging a foam axe around. “And then teased us about our younger selves for ages.”

[okteiviakom]

"Something like that, anyway," Octavia said, faintly. She gave the pile of candy and toys a little nudge. "What are we going to do about all this?"

[my_own_advocate]

"Gather up what we want to keep and eat it for a month?"

[betterthanaplan]

“That’s a hell of a sugar high,” Duke said with a snort. He flipped the plastic axe from hand to hand. “Guess we should make sure nothing else has been . . . changed.”

[okteiviakom]

Octavia looked up at him. "What else would?"

[my_own_advocate]

"The island's likely turned all of his guns into toys," Lucifer mused, popping another piece of candy into his mouth.

[betterthanaplan]

“I don’t like the idea that it messed with my ship,” Duke muttered, setting the axe aside and heading for the hatch leading below-deck.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia glanced up at Lucifer. They should follow, right?

She moved to do just that.

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer gave her an easy shrug, and promptly followed suit. "I'm sure it's fine," he called.

[betterthanaplan]

“And I’m double checking,” Duke called back.

He started digging through the galley.

Every one of his hidden weapons was now a toy.

[okteiviakom]

"They'll all be back eventually," Octavia offered, landing in the galley, watching him.

[my_own_advocate]

"And it's unlikely you'll have to shoot anyone today," Lucifer added.