Deck of the Cape Rouge, Friday Morning

[my_own_advocate]

Life appeared to have settled some on the Rouge - and in the mansion, where a great deal of conversations had taken place over the last few weeks. Lucifer, for his part, rather enjoyed the calm-- the heavy burden of foreboding and tension had lifted entirely from his shoulders.

It had been, he had to admit, quite a while since the last time he felt that way.

And so he found himself out on the deck surprisingly early, wrapped in an incredibly thick and clearly expensive blanket, sipping from a mug of hot chocolate, feeling all right with the world.

In fact, he might have even been humming one of the classics under his breath.

[[ expecting one, but open! ]]

Comments

[my_own_advocate]

"Just checking," Lucifer said, mouth curving. "I'd rather overcheck than undercheck, considering."

[okteiviakom]

"Considering what?"

[my_own_advocate]

"The frequent communication failures all of us have had?"

[okteiviakom]

"Fair," Octavia said, because what else could she say? There had been some spectacular ones recently. "And you've checked now. No prefix necessary."

[my_own_advocate]

"All right."

Lucifer smiled at her. "So how have you been?"

[okteiviakom]

"Since you last saw me in bed this morning?" Octavia rasped, in what passed as a light tease from her. "Fine. Making sure I have everything I need for going out was very uneventful."

[my_own_advocate]

"Mhm," Lucifer said, "Well, uneventful is good."

[okteiviakom]

"It's normal, if you can believe it," Octavia replied, and yes, there was that hint of a wry tone again.

Then she shrugged a little. "Anyway, it's... We have another date night, tonight. Me and Duke." Clearly, and yet she felt the need to clarify, as if there was any reason for Lucifer to think it could've been one of theirs. "And who knows how that will turn out."

[my_own_advocate]

"Are you worried?" Lucifer asked softly.

[okteiviakom]

"'Worried' is kind of a big word," Octavia replied, on a sigh.

Which... wasn't exactly a resounding no.

[my_own_advocate]

"So what's the right word?"

[okteiviakom]

"I don't know," Octavia admitted. "Whatever covers that I'm still looking forward to it, but that last time was a fucking disaster."

[my_own_advocate]

"Do you want to talk about it?" Lucifer asked, sipping his hot cocoa.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia glanced at him.

"I notice you didn't have to ask how it was a disaster."

She didn't sound surprised. They all talked, now. (Somewhat.) It was a good thing.

[my_own_advocate]

"I didn't want to get ahead of myself," Lucifer murmured.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia nodded.

"What did he tell you?"

[my_own_advocate]

"He said you got into it about words," Lucifer said lightly. "But that neither of you left, and he was proud of you both for working it out."

[okteiviakom]

"Good," Octavia replied. She settled her head against his shoulder again, watching the water rather than his face. "Sounds accurate enough. No one left, and we managed to... reel it back in again."

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer's arm hugged her tight against him. "What happened?" he murmured. "On your end?"

[okteiviakom]

"I got blindsided," Octavia muttered, leaning further into the hugging, "by something he'd probably been holding onto for who knows how long."

A tiny sigh.

"And I didn't take it well."

[my_own_advocate]

"Well, you care a great deal about your names for us," Lucifer said quietly, pressing a kiss into her hair.

[okteiviakom]

"I also don't want them to feel like a burden," Octavia muttered.

[my_own_advocate]

"I know." Lucifer lingered in place. "It's not a burden on me, for what it's worth."

[okteiviakom]

"I know, Octavia replied, like an echo.

She should've said more, probably.

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer reached up and slid his fingers through her hair.

He waited.