Deck of the Cape Rouge, Sunday Afternoon

[my_own_advocate]

This certainly had been an emotionally eventful week, hadn't it? For the first time since Duke... exploded... Lucifer found himself in a decent mood, sleeping in to just about noon before cooking himself up a ridiculous breakfast.

Then there was coffee, and a still-somewhat-asleep Devil wandering onto the deck with a large mug that read 'Nail Satan' and a blanket slung over his shoulder. He sat down, facing the boardwalk, and stretched his legs out.

Sigh. A content one, for once. Not entirely without underlying strain, still, but close enough.

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Comments

[okteiviakom]

"It's not a competition," Octavia objected, obviously not to argue with him but to say she knew that. "I just.. thought maybe I got replaced, I know, it's stupid and I don't know why."

She said the back half of that very fast, with her voice getting a little strained towards the end.

Like she was sorry.

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer nodded slowly.

His fingers kept moving through her hair.

"I understand," he said. "... What happened, I mean. Why is a mystery to me, as well."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia did not offer up any of her theories out loud.

She just squeezed her eyes shut and drew in another big breath.

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer waited a moment longer.

Then, when no theories were forthcoming: "I'll take that as a 'yes' to date night tonight."

[okteiviakom]

"Yeah," Octavia breathed. "I think I need it."

And was still in an emotionally fragile enough of a headspace to admit it.

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer filed away the 'I showed Duke the frame room' discussion for a less-fraught moment, close as it was to his mind.

"Anything, darling," he said softly.

[okteiviakom]

Another breath.

"Right now," Octavia said, "I think I need to... cool down for a while."

Clean up her face, probably, too.

[my_own_advocate]

"Cool down how?" Lucifer asked. "Unless you mean a shower."

[okteiviakom]

"Emotionally," Octavia said, and managed the slightest hint of something wry.

[my_own_advocate]

"Ah," Lucifer said. Definitely wry. "I'd suggest a walk, but you've already had one."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia shrugged. Let her head rest against his shoulder again, not intending to linger.

"Maybe I'll read for a bit or something," she said. "You're still at breakfast. There's time before... date night."

[my_own_advocate]

"There is," Lucifer said.

He turned his head and pressed a kiss against her temple. "Take as much time as you need."

[okteiviakom]

"Chof," Octavia murmured. She lingered, just for a few more breaths, then began to pull away. "Right, I'll go."

Her eyes were still kind of red, her face a little puffy. That was going to be the first order of business.

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer nodded. Though he didn't let her run off without kissing her forehead at least once.

Then he dropped his hands.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia let her hand brush along his side as she pulled back. She picked up her cup, then got up.

Then gave him one last look.

"Keep the dinner simple?"

[my_own_advocate]

Something in Lucifer's breath relaxed, and it ended in a long breath.

"As you wish."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia flicked him a ghost of a smile, and a little nod. Thanks, maybe?

And then, she went and vanished below decks in the hopes of righting her mind a little more.

[my_own_advocate]

And Lucifer... slid his phone out of his pocket and started browsing through recipes. Simple-- a curry, perhaps?