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:

betterthanaplan

“Mmhmmmm,” Duke hummed. “You two should be too.” Then he grimaced, and rubbed his head against Octavia’s. “But you don’t have to.”

He was trying very hard not to make her feel pressured to do anything tonight.

From:

my_own_advocate

"For Father's sake, Duke, relax," Lucifer said. That came out a sigh. Some chemical somewhere was doing something. "She'll do as she wishes, you don't need to tell her that."

Edited Date: 2021-02-15 05:21 pm (UTC)

From:

okteiviakom

"'S true," Octavia muttered, leaning against Duke a little more.

From:

betterthanaplan

"Sorry," Duke said, and he was, much more so than the situation required. "I just -- I know 'happy' isn't in the cards, but I want you to be comfortable."

From:

my_own_advocate

Lucifer sighed, and gave Octavia's hand a little squeeze, moving aside just a bit to lean against her more, himself.

From:

okteiviakom

"And I want you to focus on something else."

Feeling things just enough to feel bad about not feeling good enough to keep him happy... was not really where she wanted this evening to keep veering towards.

From:

betterthanaplan

Duke let out a little rueful laugh and nodded. (And then kept moving his head, because did he mention her hair felt really nice?) "Sha, gona. So, uh. Why's Egyptian cotton so nice, anyway?"

From:

my_own_advocate

Well, that saved Lucifer from having to smack Duke upside the head. "You'd think a smuggler would know," he said, amused. "Much longer threads and higher thread count than regular cotton. And it's heavily regulated to make sure it's extra soft."

He pressed a kiss against Octavia's shoulder.

From:

okteiviakom

"Is it durable?"

Let's face it, Octavia's ability to contribute to the conversation was half relief that Duke was striving to talk about something other than her, and half being a seamstress's daughter.

One brought the motivation, the other something to actually say.

From:

betterthanaplan

"Mmmm," Duke said. He grinned and tugged on Lucifer's sleeve. "Yah, Luce, is it durable?"

From:

my_own_advocate

"Very," Lucifer said, and dropped his hand on Duke's knee so he could fondle the fabric all he liked. "It's those long threads. Very sturdy."

From:

okteiviakom

Octavia quieted down again.

Just watched them, and tried to relax further into the closeness of it all.

From:

betterthanaplan

Duke was just going to fondle away at his leisure, yes.

"I just move the merchandise," he said idly. "Don't really worry about why it's good, so long as it is."

From:

my_own_advocate

"You're not telling me you've never spent your ill-begotten gains on some nice sheets, I hope," Lucifer sighed, relaxing noticeably against Octavia.

The fabric-fondling was nice, what.

From:

okteiviakom

And Octavia...

Was barely listening. Her gaze had drifted to the table. To the tiny bag.

From:

betterthanaplan

"Dude," Duke said, letting out a delighted laugh. "You have slept on my nice sheets."

OPf course he had them! See also, them surrounded by middle eastern opulence.

From:

my_own_advocate

"I know, I know, but your lack of knowledge about Egyptian cotton absolutely demands that I check," Lucifer said, laughing with him. It made sense to.

"Mm, I should get oysters while I can still get up."

He was not getting up.

Edited Date: 2021-02-15 06:51 pm (UTC)

From:

okteiviakom

Octavia gave him a subtle nudge. Maybe to encourage him to get up?

Or maybe she was just getting more comfortable, and it didn't mean anything at all.

From:

betterthanaplan

"Mmm, oysters." Duke rubbed his cheek against Octavia's hair again, then patted Lucifer's arm. "Good plan."

From:

my_own_advocate

Lucifer sighed loudly, like this wasn't his own plan, he'd been forced to do this, and lifted himself off the bench. "Very good plan," he said, ambling towards the food.

From:

okteiviakom

Well, that was one of Octavia's hands free. Maybe that was the real deciding factor here, rather than any real decision on her part.

Now she just needed a little distraction.

"Close your eyes, jaka," she murmured.

From:

betterthanaplan

Duke made a little questioning noise, but did as she asked.

Made it easier to concentrate on how nice everything felt right now, anyway.

From:

my_own_advocate

Don't mind Lucifer, folks. He was rummaging around for a plate, and then snagging a whole bunch of oysters to put on it with very deliberate care.

From:

okteiviakom

Octavia straightened up from her lean, and pulled her hand away from Duke's. But, it found its way up to pet his hair. Kind of figured that'd keep his attention for a moment - while she leaned for the table, and snagged the bag. And called, to Lucifer, "Should probably bring back more than just oysters."

(He seemed to be occupying himself just fine, but it didn't hurt to add to that.)

And while she kept up her petting, she fished one of the pills out of the bag, then set the baggy back down.

From:

betterthanaplan

Duke heart the rustling, and might have stolen a peek — but she’d made a good call on the petting. He leaned into it with a delighted sigh.

“Wish it was long enough to braid again.”