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

[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.

[my_own_advocate]

"Very cruel," Lucifer told her.

[okteiviakom]

Snort. "You knew that when you got in this tub with me."

[my_own_advocate]

"Right, I suppose that does it," Lucifer sighed. "Out of the tub with you, now."

He underscored this point by sounding not particularly demanding at all, but also by sinking a little deeper into the water.

[okteiviakom]

"No." Octavia sank further down, too. "I like it here."

For more than one reason.

[my_own_advocate]

"Stubborn bloody woman," Lucifer said, flicking three drops of water in her direction.

[okteiviakom]

"And that's why you like me here," Octavia rasped.

And flicked some water back at him.

[my_own_advocate]

"Ah, ah. Presumptuous," Lucifer said, looking irritatingly fond.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia found nothing irritating about it.

"Then correct me."

[my_own_advocate]

Irritating to him. He had an image to uphold.

"Fishing for compliments?" he said.

[okteiviakom]

"No, asking for clarification."

It could probably be both.

[my_own_advocate]

"Well, it's presumptuous to assume I like you here," Lucifer said solemnly, "Even if it is true. And doubly so to assume it's because of your stubbornness, which is only one of a myriad of aggravating and yet oddly charming qualities you possess."

[okteiviakom]

"Better," Octavia decided.

With a tiny quirk of her lips.