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

Duke frowned. ". . . You thought I'd do that? Either of that? I worry about that."

From:

okteiviakom

Octavia sighed, quietly. "No one here's gonna murder either of you."

Just in case they didn't know that.

(Throw someone out of a house, well...)

From:

my_own_advocate

"Not exactly that. Probably," Lucifer said, stretching - slowly, very slowly - to grab an oyster. "But weird things happen when you have conversations. One minute you're on top of the world, the next everyone you've ever known and loved wants to see you burn."

Beat.

"These oysters are delicious."

From:

betterthanaplan

Duke twisted a little so he could stare at him. "Nonononono. I mean, yes, the oysters are awesome. But I'm not gonna -- I wouldn't --"

He had kicked Octavia out, though, hadn't he.

From:

okteiviakom

Indeed he had.

Octavia was letting them hash this one out amongst themselves, only making a small noise at how Duke's twisting jostled her lean.

-- the next everyone you've ever known and loved wants to see you burn.

That, too.

From:

my_own_advocate

"It's fine, it's fine," Lucifer said, moving his hand down to pat Duke's leg, realizing just in time he still had an oyster in it, and lifting the oyster back up to eat it before he put the shell down.

"We had the conversation and nothing terrible happened, that's the point."

From:

betterthanaplan

"Okay." Duke settled back in, rubbing circles on Octavia again. "Good. Kinda want to go beat up the people who do that, though. You know, eventually."

From:

okteiviakom

Octavia...

Really just wanted the molly to kick in already. If it was even going to, with how much of a shroud there was hanging in front of everything.

She kept her eyes closed. Remembered about the berries still in her hand, and ate those.

From:

my_own_advocate

Lucifer did pat Duke's knee this time.

"Please don't," he said, "You'll get horribly murdered."

He kissed Duke.

He was too distractable to notice Octavia's sagging over there.

From:

betterthanaplan

Duke noticed she was quiet, but she was regularly quiet. And he didn't want to upset her by drawing attention to the quiet right now.

"Why does everything want to horribly murder me?" he asked idly. "Seems unfair."

From:

okteiviakom

... They really needed to go back to talking about facial hair.

Octavia inhaled, then slowly pulled away. And stood up.

From:

my_own_advocate

"I don't," Lucifer started, and then looked up and at Octavia. "What are you doing?"

From:

betterthanaplan

"No no." Duke reached for her. "I'm sorry, we'll talk about something else."

From:

okteiviakom

Octavia ignored them, and moved away. To where the stuffed shark was.

Picked it up.

Brought it back with her.

And took up her spot again, this time hugging the big plushie to her chest. All without saying a word, or even looking at them.

From:

my_own_advocate

Lucifer blinked at her.

For a moment.

And another moment.

Then: "Awww."

And: "We should hug her."

From:

betterthanaplan

Duke was grinning pretty doofily by the time she sat back down. "Agreed."

And then he turned to glomp onto her. Gently, in case she objected, but undeniably, his chin moving to rest on her shoulder.

From:

okteiviakom

Octavia didn't object. She probably wouldn't have said anything either way, but she wasn't stiffening up or pushing him away or anything.

It felt warm, his hugging. And the oversized plush in her arms was soft.

From:

my_own_advocate

Lucifer briefly considered just throwing himself on top of Duke, but that was too ridiculous even for him.

He rose carefully from his seat, stepped around the table, and sank down next to her.

And hugged her that way.

"You are," he said, very sincerely, "The best Octavia that I have."

From:

betterthanaplan

"The best ever," Duke agreed. "Accept no substitutes."

From:

okteiviakom

"The only Octavia either of you have," Octavia objected, now.

Oh.

It sounded a little wobbly.

From:

my_own_advocate

"You'd still be the best one if I had a hundred," Lucifer told her firmly. "Being the only one just makes you more important, because if you go away, I have none."

From:

betterthanaplan

Duke turned his face into the side of her neck. "Mmmhm."

Lucifer was better at the poetic stuff than he was, especially under the influence.

From:

okteiviakom

It was probably for the best that the single, errant tear ran down her cheek on his side of her face.

Guess who was finally feeling a little something? Go on, guess.

It was the same person currently biting on the inside of her bottom lip.