betterthanaplan | The Cape Rouge, Port of Fandom, Sunday evening

Duke wasn't usually one to put much stock into holidays like Valentine's Day. Last year's had very nearly been a disaster, for instance. But Octavia was clearly feeling a little extra in-the-dumps right now, and Lucifer had sent him an enormous, gorgeous, queer bouquet, and Duke felt inspired.

He spent the day setting it up. Went through his hold and pulled out all the plushest, richest fabrics he could find. Fuzzy blankets and brocade curtains and lots of soft Persian rugs. He draped his galley, transforming the usually cool, open space full of hard surfaces into something warm and exotic, like the interior of a Mongolian yurt. He lit the space with candles and oil lamps and paper lanterns, and set Lucifer's bouquet prominently on the coffee table. To eat, he had berries and chocolate and oysters rockefeller, with wine and absinthe and some other items to help them all relax and feel good. There were soft cushions everywhere (including the stuffed shark and sun and moon pillows from last year's pillow forts, with the inclusion of a little velvet star-shaped cushion he'd picked up on a whim), and even a few vintage furs.

It was, he felt, about as cozy and warm and romantic (and hopefully not too fish scented) as his boat was going to get. Now all he needed were his partners.

He sent Lucifer a text (come over, bring octavia), figuring Octavia wouldn't rouse easily on her own, then settled in to wait, and second guess every single choice he'd made in decorating, worrying it would come across as too much.

He distracted himself with his guitar to keep from trying to tear it all down again, and waited.

[for the guests!]

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From:

my_own_advocate

"I mean, it does look as if you bought every Moroccan rug in a thirty-mile radius."

It was Lucifer; he couldn't help it.

He was smiling, though. "But I like it."

From:

okteiviakom

"It's beautiful," Octavia murmured, and meant it.

Of course, her gaze had just now landed on the stuffed shark. So there was something squeezing her chest uncomfortably too, now.

From:

betterthanaplan

"Thanks." Duke rubbed the back of his neck. "Believe it or not, I actually already owned most of this. I figure we could just . . . get cozy and hang out. I've got wine, food, pot, some molly. . . ." Rolling had turned out to be a decent way to cheer Octavia up in the past, after all. "Take your pick. Or just -- chill. Totally up to you all."

From:

my_own_advocate

Lucifer grinned, idly stripping out of his dark blue jacket as he stepped further into the galley. “Well, you know how I feel about drugs and alcohol.”

From:

okteiviakom

Octavia didn't move just yet. She forced her eyes away from the shark (and the pillows, even though all of that had the weirdest sense of familiarity and yet not feeling familiar at all) and was trying to take the rest of it in.

She might not have actually listened to what Duke had been saying. Sorry about that.

From:

betterthanaplan

Duke was kind of babbling, so that was entirely fair.

"I have oysters! Fresh caught today. Drizzled in absinthe, a little panko. . . . And, uh. Plenty of berries. And chocolates. And the guitar and . . . I definitely over did it, didn't I."

From:

my_own_advocate

Lucifer snorted, putting his jacket down on a stack of pillows.

He crossed the rest of the distance to Duke, cupped his cheeks, and kissed them.

“Some molly might actually be good for her. Perk her up a bit.”

From:

okteiviakom

Octavia finally moved, drifting over to where the food was.

Picked up a berry to eat.

From:

betterthanaplan

Duke fisted his hand in Lucifer's shirt as he kissed back, then pulled back a little to watch her move.

"That's what I'm hoping, yeah. Thanks for going to get her."

From:

my_own_advocate

"Of course," Lucifer said, dropping one hand, but not the other. His mouth curved. "You did good, you bloody ridiculous pirate."

From:

okteiviakom

Octavia looked the rest of the food over, idly. Somewhat.

Picked up a couple more berries, instead of trying something else.

From:

betterthanaplan

Duke had put out plenty of berries, anticipating they might be the bulk of what she ate that night. The oysters were more for him and Lucifer.

"I hope so," he said softly, still watching her. "Our last Valentine's was . . . not great."

What with him pounding a rock to gravel to avoid trying to kill her and all.

From:

my_own_advocate

"Worst comes to worst, we put her to bed early and you and I will smoke some pot," Lucifer said, giving Duke's hair a gentle ruffle.

He raised his voice. "Octavia," he said, "How would you feel about doing some drugs?"

From:

okteiviakom

Judging by the expression on Octavia's face, the actual answer to that question was 'indifferent'.

"Which ones?"

From:

betterthanaplan

"Molly," Duke said. "And-or pot. I figure we could have a little, then chill. Maybe listen to music?"

From:

my_own_advocate

"I think molly might be a good idea," Lucifer offered, with a small shrug.

From:

okteiviakom

Octavia shrugged a little as she moved again. Drifted away from the food, this time, and more towards them.

"You're free to do whichever drugs you want."

From:

betterthanaplan

Ah. Yeah.

"Well, I think I'll go for the molly," he said, picking up the little baggy and holding it up. "And, uh. You can join in or not, as you like."

From:

my_own_advocate

Lucifer glanced from Octavia back to Duke. "I'll need at least two," he said.

He had a feeling this was mainly going to be his and Duke's party, tonight.

From:

okteiviakom

They were lucky she wasn't accusing them of angling for a (better) more fun version of her, at least.

Octavia shrugged again, even fainter this time, as she came to a stop. Hands sliding into the pocket at the front of her hoodie.

From:

betterthanaplan

All Duke wanted was to see her feel better. Unfortunately, as always, he felt like he was flailing around in the dark trying to do it.

He popped one of the pills in his mouth and passed the baggy to Lucifer. Then reached over to run his hand down her arm. "There anything you do want to do right now?"

From:

my_own_advocate

Lucifer almost took three, but then realized he'd probably want to - sigh - be closer to the terrible side of sober, just in case. So he tossed back two, and looked to Octavia.

"We could just sit and eat for a bit."

He questioned the use of asking her open-ended questions, at the moment.

From:

okteiviakom

Yeah, Octavia wasn't saying much of anything to either of those things right now.

Just pulled her hand back out on the side that Duke was touching, so she could try catching his hand in hers.

From:

betterthanaplan

Oh hey. A little bit of progress. Duke gave her hand a little squeeze, then just held it while he looked at Lucifer.

“Thanks for the flowers, by the way. Where’d you find the rainbow ones?”

From:

my_own_advocate

"There are a few places that sell them now," Lucifer said lightly, tucking the bag into his pocket.

Perhaps reaching for Octavia's free hand. "Thought you might enjoy them."

Totally didn't have an insecurity freakout about it.