betterthanaplan | Aboard the Fin & Tonic, Bahamas, Thursday

Duke had spent most of the last few days in the water. Not being able to decompress from the events in LA with a good swim had not done wonders for his headspace, and being here, sans cast, meant he felt more like himself than he had in ages. He'd even managed some light yoga this morning, being gentle with his wrist as he rebuilt the muscle tone, which had also done wonders for his sense of peace and calm.

And, yeah, okay, doing a bit of rescheduled therapy with Linda over the phone, to make up for the appointment he'd missed by being an entirely different version of himself over the weekend, had helped, too.

Now, he was just sitting at the boat's stern, feet dangling in the water as he soaked in the tropical sun, his head blessedly empty as he watched the light sparkle against the water.

[nfb due to distance. Expecting one, but open to both those here with him, and any phone calls or texts!]

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From:

okteiviakom

Octavia let that sit there for a moment. She needed that, to switch gears to something... less intense.

She did her best to give his hands a little squeeze.

And rasped, "That you don't intend to stay here indefinitely."

From:

betterthanaplan

"In the Bahamas?" Duke asked. "Or sitting in front of you holding your hands?"

From:

okteiviakom

Snort.

"Either."

From:

betterthanaplan

“Here in your arms, as long as you’ll let me,” he said, twisting his head to try to look up at her. “Here in the Bahamas? . . . I mean, it’s really tempting. . . .”

From:

okteiviakom

Octavia pressed a kiss to his temple before letting him actually see her face. Her smile was lopsided and a little on the faint side, but there.

"We can always come back pretty much whenever you want."

To either thing.

From:

betterthanaplan

“I know,” Duke said. He smiled back at her. “And I know Fandom is your home. So I’ll always go back with you.”

From:

okteiviakom

"My home is with you two," Octavia murmured.

But he wasn't wrong.

"But it's there, too. So, thank you."

From:

betterthanaplan

Duke nodded, closing his eyes again and just holding onto her, hands loose on top of hers. Savoring the moment, the sway of the boat, the knowledge that he hadn't yet fucked this conversation up.

From:

okteiviakom

He hadn't, no.

Octavia closed her eyes, too, as she rested her head against his. Breathed him in.

She felt more secure than she had in... she didn't even know since when.

From:

betterthanaplan

Duke enjoyed the quiet for a good long time — for him, anyway. Then, softly, so as not to startle:

“Do we actually have, like, elastic s or hair braiding supplies?”

From:

okteiviakom

Octavia gave a soft huff.

"Not right here, no," she said. "We don't."

From:

betterthanaplan

“That might make this a little difficult,” Duke said. And made no move to get up or let go.

From:

okteiviakom

"Mm-hmm," Octavia hummed.

And made no other move except to press another kiss against his temple.

From:

betterthanaplan

Duke laughed, leaning more firmly into her. “You can still play with my hair anyway. If you want.”

From:

okteiviakom

"Oh, I'm going to."

Please, nothing could stop her. She could put in some braids that weren't meant to last.

"In a moment."

From:

betterthanaplan

"Take your time," Duke said, squeezing her hands. "I'm not going anywhere."

From:

okteiviakom

Octavia pressed another kiss to his temple.

And then one against his cheek, and murmured, "I know." And just then, thought about how it warmed her that he'd actually said the words, about choosing her, choosing them. "Ai meizen jaka."

From:

betterthanaplan

Duke sucked in a slow breath, drinking in the words. Feeling, for once, like he actually got something right.

He tilted his head, stretching his neck and giving her plenty of space to add more kisses if she was in the mood to, letting out a happy little hum.

From:

okteiviakom

Not feeling like wasting an opportunity when it was offered to her, Octavia added more kisses, trailing them down his cheek, over his jaw, down to his neck.

"Ai snogon." A kiss. "Stanop." Another. "Bezer."

Someone had a surplus of Trig-based affection to give.

From:

betterthanaplan

Duke let go of one of her hands so he could wind his fingers into her hair. "I missed this. Missed Trig."

It felt like it had been ages.

From:

okteiviakom

Octavia's hair hung loose and wild and perfect for playing with.

"Ai don mema dison we, seintaim," she assured him in a murmur, against the curve of his neck. "Yumi en disha sleng. Komfi."