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 ]]

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[okteiviakom]

"It was nice," Octavia offered with another shrug.

Also, understatement.

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer grinned at her, splashing her again. Not by much.

"And then you kept seeing Duke," he said, getting them back on track. Talking dirty about past threesomes in a hot tub was maybe getting a bit close to the line.

[okteiviakom]

If Octavia was honest, she wasn't even really thinking about the actual dirty side. There was a lot to be said about being that close to someone, let alone more than one person at a time.

Not that that had anything to do with getting back on track. (Though she did wrinkle her nose, faintly, when a few droplets hit her face.) "I think there was one of those school picnics, not too long after," she said, on a little sigh. "He came to talk to me again. That's... when he first learned some Trig."

[my_own_advocate]

Yes, well. If they went there, they'd go near 'why that night had left Lucifer particularly oddly at peace for a little while', and he might have to cop to the fact sometimes sex was more than 'lol fun times' even when it didn't involve feeling anything romantic, and just no.

"That quickly?" he said. "You must have grabbed him as well."

[okteiviakom]

"Don't know about that," Octavia said. She was looking out towards the distant trees again. "But he asked to hear what it sounded like, and I told him a few things, and he..."

Her voice got softer again. And just a little quieter.

"He figured out what they meant, and he put together a new thing to say to me."

And, well. Lucifer knew there wasn't exactly an abundance of Trig speakers on the island.

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer leaned back, a small smile on his face. "That bloody charmer," he teased.

[okteiviakom]

"I don't think he knew what he was doing," she murmured. How could he have? "He probably thought he was just flirting."

[my_own_advocate]

"Flirting in the exact right way for you," Lucifer said, "With genuine interest and a willingness to reach out. Like I said, he's a bloody charmer when he doesn't know what he's doing.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia shook her head. "That's not what I meant."

Though that part had certainly helped.

[my_own_advocate]

"So what did you mean," Lucifer asked, taking another sip of his wine.

He'd have to refresh it soon, but he didn't want to move yet.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia's voice went quieter still. And -- smaller. It seemed so silly to admit now, but...

"He sounded like home, Lucifer."

[my_own_advocate]

The small smile on Lucifer's face said he didn't find it silly in the slightest.

He didn't say anything, though.

[okteiviakom]

"And he thought he was just calling me pretty."

Meizen had been like his favorite word for the next while.

[my_own_advocate]

"I said he's charming," Lucifer said wryly, "I would never say he's always the brightest crayon in the box."

[okteiviakom]

"How could he have known, anyway?" Octavia murmured. "I didn't even know I wanted to hear it, before I did."

[my_own_advocate]

"Some people get rather good at reading others after some time," Lucifer said, "Even before they read themselves."

He brought his glass of wine back in. "Probably for the best that he isn't one of them."

[okteiviakom]

"I like him better this way."

[my_own_advocate]

"I hadn't noticed," Lucifer said, the laugh etched plainly into his face even if he didn't voice it.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia glanced over only so that he could really see the full extent of her eye roll.

"Funny."

(If you didn't want this reaction, Tavi, maybe you shouldn't have been out here exposing how long you'd been in love with this guy? Just a thought.)

[my_own_advocate]

"Oh, come on, don't take yourself too seriously," Lucifer said, amused. "You're young and in love."

[okteiviakom]

"Well, I'm one of those things," Octavia rasped, looking away again.

Just guess which one she thought applied.

[my_own_advocate]

"Remember who you're talking to," Lucifer said, still amused. "I am many billions of years your senior. Don't mind my eternally youthful, irresistible looks."

[okteiviakom]

"Guess I'll just have to use all my old man jokes on you, instead," Octavia drawled. "Now that Duke's only five, six years older than me."

[my_own_advocate]

"My attitude is young," Lucifer said primly, and took a sip of his wine. "And I have older brothers."

By a smidge.

[okteiviakom]

"Unless it's also by billions of years, it doesn't count," Octavia decided.