Lucifer's Mansion, Wednesday Afternoon

[my_own_advocate]

That whole awkward mess yesterday had ended in Lucifer inviting Octavia over because, well. Because he felt horrifically guilty, and having long emotional chats wasn't really something he was good at when he wasn't in the middle of his own (Eric's) bloody club.

Also, generally, spending time with people went down more smoothly when there were hot tubs involved.

Either way, he was awake and upright. Hadn't bothered to pull on a suit jacket or anything else over his crisp black shirt because, well, this wasn't exactly a formal occasion.

... which hadn't stopped him from getting snacks delivered and breaking out the brandy, mind you. Either way. He was home.

[[ for her ]]

Comments

[my_own_advocate]

"Haven't done anything particularly crazy in the past few weeks," Lucifer said. "I think that's cause for celebration, if nothing else."

[okteiviakom]

"Something not being severe enough to be obvious doesn't mean it's not there."

But that was what the therapy was for, right?

[my_own_advocate]

"Fairly sure it's progress," Lucifer pointed out.

[okteiviakom]

"Doesn't feel like it," Octavia muttered. Possibly because it was hard to see from the inside.

And also because she chronically asked too much of herself.

[my_own_advocate]

"And yet that's what it looks like from here," Lucifer said, smiling at her. "Cut yourself a little bit of slack, dear Octavia."

[okteiviakom]

"You know I can't."

She was physically incapable, almost.

[my_own_advocate]

"You absolutely can," Lucifer said, reaching for his wine again. "Come on. Just say 'today I managed to sleep, eat, and soak in a hot tub without any incident whatsoever'."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia snorted. "That's just asking for an incident."

[my_own_advocate]

"Don't be so pessimistic," said Lucifer.

Who, with his characteristic lack of a sense of self-preservation, actually leaned forward to try and boop her nose.

[okteiviakom]

Considering Octavia still had her eyes closed and didn't know he was going for it? Yeah, he'd probably had brighter ideas. Made him successful, though!

But then her eyes were wide open as her hand shot up from the water to grab at his wrist, purely on reflex.

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer grinned at her.

"Boop," he said.

[okteiviakom]

The look he got in return as Octavia shoved his hand away was considerably colder.

Her expression was tight and annoyed, for the second or two before she reached for her brandy.

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer dropped his hand and repressed a sigh. Right. Clearly done something wrong there.

[okteiviakom]

Was this one of those moments where Octavia was supposed to use her words? Probably.

She'd get to that in a second. First, she needed this hearty swig of brandy to try and distract her from the adrenaline spike.

[my_own_advocate]

"So apparently that was ill-advised," Lucifer said, after a moment.

[okteiviakom]

"You shouldn't surprise me," Octavia muttered.

Into her glass.

Look, she wasn't proud of her reaction.

[my_own_advocate]

"Sorry," Lucifer said, face earnest for a change.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia sank further down again. She was looking straight ahead, and her little sigh sounded frustrated. "It's fine."

That word really needed to get banned again.

[my_own_advocate]

"Don't people only ever use that word when they don't mean it?" Lucifer asked.

Genuine question!

[okteiviakom]

Octavia's voice had gone very mild again.

"Think I told Duke not to say it, at one point."

[my_own_advocate]

"Bit hypocritical to toss it to me, then, isn't it?" Lucifer said.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia shrugged.

"Think I get now why he kept using it."

[my_own_advocate]

"And why's that?"

[okteiviakom]

"Because it's easier."

[my_own_advocate]

"It's also a lie," Lucifer said.