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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[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer looked up and grinned at her.

And... okay, his gaze dipped down her body for about five seconds, because he wasn't dead, and remembering to keep his eyes on her face was a bit harder now that the air of immediate trauma had lifted a bit. "Drinks?" he said, holding up her glass, looking back up.

[okteiviakom]

Under the reign of Duke's cooking, Octavia's figure had been filling out again. So, there was more to look at, and she wasn't deathly pale anymore.

He was welcome.

Also Octavia skipped her eyeroll in favor of just a very deliberate dip of her own gaze from his face to his chest, just to said she'd noticed his five seconds.

"Sure," she said then, reaching for the brandy, "thanks."

[my_own_advocate]

"You're welcome," Lucifer said, turning.

So he could get in the hot tub, and not anything else. "The onsen is fine, don't get me wrong, but I much prefer the view up here."

Even if it was only three stories, instead of Lux's tower.

[okteiviakom]

It was too bad any urge for ogling Octavia had had in the past was yet to really fill back in.

She took a sip from the glass before following him into the hot tub.

"I don't know, feels like too different a thing to even compare them."

[my_own_advocate]

Wasn't like Lucifer was in any rush, or had any expectations, or any qualms about taking his shirt off again later if the urge ever came back. Really, she just needed to ask.

"It's hot water in a tub either way," Lucifer pointed out. "This is just a smaller tub."

[okteiviakom]

"Because of the view," Octavia retorted in a particularly heavy drawl as she settled down.

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer rolled his eyes, mostly at her attitude, and reached for his wine. "I thought you might like seeing the woods from here."

[okteiviakom]

Hey, if he didn't want the attitude, he only needed to not misunderstand what she said to him! It was perfectly reasonable.

If you happened to be Octavia, that was.

Anyway, her gaze was almost immediately drawn to the treetops in the distance. "It's a new angle on them."

[my_own_advocate]

"Very observant," Lucifer teased.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia gave him a withering look.

... Okay, possibly exasperated fondness. Sue her.

[my_own_advocate]

"Oh, come on," Lucifer said, giving her a playful nudge with his foot, because he couldn't help himself. "Can I get at least five percent less glower?"

[okteiviakom]

Octavia glowered harder.

It looked... very fake, actually.

[my_own_advocate]

So fake it actually made Lucifer laugh, so congratulations. "Not quite."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia herself didn't laugh, of course. Or even smile.

But the corners of her lips twitched enough for her to bow her head a little, that old, old urge to hide bubbling up.

"Careful what you ask for," she rasped.

[my_own_advocate]

"I work with Eric," Lucifer sighed. "At least your glowering is slightly less dour and annoying."

[okteiviakom]

"Thanks."

Octavia took another sip, then looked up again. Towards the trees.

Thought for a quiet moment, and then said, "You know, I'm almost surprised Duke doesn't try to stop me from going there."

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer raised his eyebrows. "Oh?"

[okteiviakom]

Octavia gave a tiny shrug.

"I'd be wary if he kept going somewhere he'd disappeared before, too."

[my_own_advocate]

"It's not like the woods have a habit of grabbing people and dumping them elsewhere," Lucifer said. "And for some unfathomable reason they're rather important to you, as all of us can tell."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia glanced over at him. "It's the first place I was ever really free." And in retrospect, for far too short a time. "That's not so unfathomable, is it?"

[my_own_advocate]

"In the woods?" Lucifer said, frowning. "The rest of the island didn't work for you?"

[okteiviakom]

"Not these woods," Octavia replied, softer and quieter than before.

[my_own_advocate]

"Earth?" Lucifer guessed. "Your Earth."

[okteiviakom]

A tiny nod.

"We always called it the Ground."

First, from the perspective of being up in the sky. Then, underneath it.

[my_own_advocate]

"Middle ground between Heaven and Hell," Lucifer said lightly.