Lucifer's Mansion, Wednesday Night

[my_own_advocate]

They were back, and it was Duke and Lucifer's date night, and-- well. They had a pool room now. And a (second) sauna. If you think Lucifer hadn't moved some items down here just in case they got ideas in here...

"Please, make yourself comfortable," he told Duke, grinning. "I'll back with dinner in a moment."

And without waiting for a response, he swept back towards the stairs.

[[ for that guy ]]

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[my_own_advocate]

"What's the point of date night without a little spoiling, hm?" Lucifer asked, grinning.

(He also just felt the most comfortable doing so, but sh.)

[betterthanaplan]

"Well, thank you," Duke said, closing his eyes as he took a good whiff of the gouda. "I for one fully approve of your style."

[my_own_advocate]

"I also made us some mocktails," Lucifer added, picking up his drink. (He was undecided on whether he wanted to spike his own.) "Blue Ocean mojitos. Utilizing only the finest in non-alcoholic Blue Curaçao syrup."

[betterthanaplan]

"Of course they are," Duke said, picking up his own drink to take a sip. "You wouldn't use anything but the best non-alcoholic Blue Curaçao syrup."

[my_own_advocate]

"Nothing but the best for either of us," Lucifer chuckled, and smiled at him fondly.

"How was your day?"

[betterthanaplan]

Duke hummed happily, both in agreement to Lucifer's declaration, but also in enjoyment of the flavor of his drink.

"Good," he said, once he'd finished enjoying his sip. "I took the OceaNyx out around the island, just for the hell of it. It was cold, but gorgeous."

[my_own_advocate]

"Just for a tour?" Lucifer asked. "Or did you... linger?"

[betterthanaplan]

"I . . . took my time?" Duke said. "I feel like you're trying to make a joke about lingering that I am not quite getting."

[my_own_advocate]

"No, just trying to prompt more detailed sailing stories out of you," Lucifer admitted. "You do love it dearly."

[betterthanaplan]

"I do," Duke agreed. And as he put together another stack of food from the board, went into a description of the water and the wildlife he'd been able to spot in the preserve from the boat.

"Like I said: cold, but gorgeous."

[my_own_advocate]

"I think I'll prefer it when it's warmer," Lucifer chuckled. Creature of LA that he was. "But it certainly sounds like you enjoyed yourself."

He took a bite.

"I know you were hoping this would help."

[betterthanaplan]

"I did," Duke said. "And . . . I've been hoping everything would help. Do you mean the pool?"

[my_own_advocate]

"Taking more trips on the boat," Lucifer said lightly. "By yourself."

[betterthanaplan]

"Right, sorry." Duke shook his head with a small laugh at himself. "Yeah. It really seems like it is. I love you guys so much, but I really am used to spending way more time by myself, you know? It's nice to get out and away for a little while, here and there."

[my_own_advocate]

"Oh, I'm hardly going to guilt you about it," Lucifer said, raising a hand. "I'm just glad to hear you're finding ways to make life work for yourself."

[betterthanaplan]

Something in Duke unknotted. There'd been such drama about his sailing to the Bahamas on his own -- due in no small part to his usual barrelling ahead -- that he'd started to worry that he'd get the same reaction every time he wanted to set out on his own. Even when it just meant going out around the island on his boat.

He'd known that was silly. But he hadn't known it.

"Thank you," he said softly, tempted to lean in for another kiss, though his hands were full of charcuterie. "I am going to let you ravage me so hard tonight."

He would have anyway, yes.

[my_own_advocate]

"Well, I will do my best to live up to that," Lucifer said.

He sounded faintly surprised.

"Are you all right?"

[betterthanaplan]

Duke nodded, giving Lucifer a little smile. "I guess I was kind of . . . nervous. About how you guys would respond to me taking the boat out alone. It's silly, I know, but. . . . Brains are pretty silly, when you get right down to it."

[my_own_advocate]

"I just want you to be happy, love," Lucifer said, mouth curving faintly. "We already share our lives. I don't need to be joined at the hip with you every moment of every day."

[betterthanaplan]

"Right. And I know that, but. . . ." Duke shrugged. "Wouldn't be the first time lately that what I 'knew' turned out all wrong."

He would be working on trusting his own senses again when it came to what his partners wanted and meant for . . . well, probably a little while, yet.

[my_own_advocate]

"Fair enough," Lucifer said. He reached out to touch Duke, run his fingers along Duke's temple as he pretended to push his hair aside. "You belong on the water," he said. "I'm happy to see you indulge it."

[betterthanaplan]

Duke turned his head to try to catch Lucifer's hand with his lips. "You're right. And it feels good to get to do it."

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer's mouth curved at the feel of Duke's lips. "I thought we could take it slow tonight, ravaging or not," he said. "A skinny dip in the pool, to begin with."

[betterthanaplan]

"I never say no to a good skinny dip," Duke said. He leaned his head against Lucifer's hand for a moment longer, then turned it again to pop his latest stack of meat and cheese and bread into his mouth.

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer chuckled. "I know," he said, leaning back so he could enjoy his own food. "It's one of my many favorite things about you."