The Fin & Tonic, Sunday Night

[my_own_advocate]

Out here, the days were spent in the sun, enjoying the beach, drinks, a good swim or five; and then there were the evening hours, after they'd had dinner at the diner on the porch, where Lucifer searched valiantly for other ways to relax.

No, not just that. Perverts.

Tonight, he'd found himself on the Fin & Tonic's quite luxurious sofa, with a large bucket of popcorn. He paged through Netflix, searching for just. The right. Terrible action movie. Having found it, he leaned forward to grab a refill from his massive pitcher of margarita.

Should he call over Octavia or Duke? Ah, they'd find him if they wanted to join him, surely.

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[my_own_advocate]

"Well, it's not entirely him, is it?" Lucifer tried. Gently.

[okteiviakom]

Long silence.

And then, "No."

[my_own_advocate]

"So what's going on in your head?"

[okteiviakom]

"About which part?"

[my_own_advocate]

"Evolving thoughts about what's happening?" Lucifer inquired. "

[okteiviakom]

"What do you think the likelihood is that anything in me is evolving?" Octavia muttered.

It was helpless grousing, if anything.

[my_own_advocate]

"Well, I try to be an optimist," Lucifer said wryly.

Seemed like they needed one around here.

[okteiviakom]

"I guess someone has to be," Octavia echoed his narrative, unknowingly.

She leaned against him yet more heavily.

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer kissed her cheek. "All this arguing about procedure can't be for nothing," he murmured.

[okteiviakom]

"Is that all it sounds like?" Octavia asked.

Very, very quietly.

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer rubbed her thigh soothingly. "No," he said, "But it does sound like you two need to learn how to argue productively before you can resolve any of the other things."

[okteiviakom]

"It's impossible to get anywhere if... we don't fight right first?"

[my_own_advocate]

Whyfor the skepticism? "Exactly," Lucifer said.

[okteiviakom]

There were other reasons to ask for clarification than skepticism.

"I guess I'll bring it up with Dr. Baker," Octavia muttered.

[my_own_advocate]

"When was the last time you spoke with her?"

[okteiviakom]

"A couple of weeks ago," Octavia said, not much louder than she'd been saying most things. "She's on a... holiday break."

[my_own_advocate]

"Ah," Lucifer said quietly. "That's unfortunate."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia shrugged, vaguely.

"It is what it is."

At least this break in sessions wasn't her doing.

[my_own_advocate]

"Well, hopefully this next session will help you," Lucifer said, quieter.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia probably shouldn't just keep shrugging.

She didn't. "We'll see," she said, in a tone that wasn't necessarily much better. "I'm not expecting immediate miracles."

[my_own_advocate]

"Father never did like handing those out without an agenda," Lucifer muttered.

[okteiviakom]

"I want to involve your father in as little as possible," Octavia muttered back, "anyway."

[my_own_advocate]

"Either way," Lucifer said, "I... do think you need to learn how to deescalate in fights. Or at least stop escalating."

[okteiviakom]

"Do you think I do it on purpose?"

It was another mutter. And at least half a genuine question.

"Escalate."

[my_own_advocate]

"No," Lucifer said, looking at her. "I think sometimes it's all you know how to do."