betterthanaplan | Lucifer's mansion, Wednesday evening

You're viewing

betterthanaplan's journal
Create a Dreamwidth Account Learn More

Reload page in style: site light

betterthanaplan

It was Wednesday, and Duke had spent the day primarily at the mansion, talking to an architect and an engineer about were and how to get an indoor pool with plenty of natural light into the building's basement.

Now he was in the kitchen, cooking up a nice, simple shrimp scampi, dressed up with the inclusion of fresh pasta. It was one of his first forays into making his own pasta, and while the noodles were definitely a bit on the uneven side, he was pleased with the results.

Now all he needed was his boyfriend, and Date Night could get properly underway!

[for him as is mentioned]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

my_own_advocate

"Oooh, that smells excellent," Lucifer called, as he closed the front door behind him. "What's for dinner?"

From:

betterthanaplan

"Shrimp scampi," Duke said, turning down the heat on the stove so he could go greet Lucifer with a kiss. "With homemade linguini!"

From:

my_own_advocate

"Simple, but elegant," Lucifer judged, and then found himself briefly distracted by the effort of kissing Duke back appropriately. (A lot.)

From:

betterthanaplan

"Mmmm," Duke hummed into Lucifer's mouth. "I thought you'd appreciate it. How was your day?"

From:

my_own_advocate

"Dull," Lucifer muttered. "Had to do a touch of shouting at some suppliers for the Baltimore club."

He wrapped his arms around Duke's waist. "This is much better."

Going out for the day before date night with Duke was proving to be a winning strategy in terms of 'being extremely glad to be here every week'.

From:

betterthanaplan

"Ugh. That's the worst part of running a place. Well, that and the paperwork. The paperwork might be worse."

Duke shook his head.

"I talked to some people about the pool today. It sounds like they can get started after the new year."

From:

my_own_advocate

"Ooooh," Lucifer said, leaning back a touch. "Did they leave design documents? I do love design documents."

From:

betterthanaplan

"Not yet," Duke said. "I should get some in the next couple of days, though!"

From:

my_own_advocate

"Please do let me know when they arrive," Lucifer said gleefully. "That is the second best part."

Including getting annoyed with designers over getting very small things wrong.

From:

betterthanaplan

"Oh, absolutely. I'm hoping both you and Octavia will give feedback. I want all of us to love the thing."

From:

my_own_advocate

"Our own pool," Lucifer sighed. Happily. "With a chaise longue, so I can drape attractively as I watch you and Octavia skinny-dip while sipping my wine."

From:

betterthanaplan

"The most decadent, ridiculously luxurious chaise lounge ever to sit poolside," Duke agreed. "Ooo, maybe one of those giant circular bed ones, so we can all pile on it after we swim. . . ."

From:

my_own_advocate

"And have wet, but extremely enthusiastic, sex?"

Luce.

From:

betterthanaplan

"I mean. Would you object?" Duke teased.

From:

my_own_advocate

"The day I say no to sex with you is the day you may need to resuscitate a celestial," Lucifer said faux-grimly.

He pressed one more kiss to Duke's mouth. "Shall we eat?"

From:

betterthanaplan

"Let's," Duke agreed, once the kissing was done. He took Lucifer's hand to lead him back to the kitchen. "Can you grab the plates and things?"

From:

my_own_advocate

"As long as you make sure you don't set our kitchen on fire," Lucifer teased. He pressed a quick kiss to Duke's cheek, and then pulled away to go set the table.

From:

betterthanaplan

Duke let out a performatively insulted scoff. "I've never set a kitchen on fire! . . . As an adult."

From:

my_own_advocate

"And I would like you to keep that track record," Lucifer said, as he grabbed the plates and walked towards the table.

From:

betterthanaplan

"I thank you for your support," Duke said. He added the cooked pasta to the scampi and tossed it deftly with a couple flips of the pan, then brought it over to the table to dish it out. "I haven't picked out the wine for the night yet. What do you think, a chardonnay or pinot noir?"

From:

my_own_advocate

"Hm, I'd say chardonnay," Lucifer mused. He set the cutlery down on the table. "Red and seafood remains complicated for me."

From:

betterthanaplan

“Chardonnay it is,” Duke agreed easily, then grimaced faintly. “. . . I can’t remember if I should have known that about the red wine and seafood thing.”

From:

my_own_advocate

"You're fine, darling," Lucifer said, smiling up at him. "It goes perfectly well with salmon and some of the heavier fish you've made us."

From:

betterthanaplan

“Just want to make sure I’m not forgetting some wine trauma or something,” Duke said. He turned to get the Chardonnay he’d spotted earlier from the fridge. “I know I’ve been pretty self-centered, lately. Trying to work on that.”

From:

my_own_advocate

"And I do appreciate it," Lucifer said, as he settled into a chair at the table. "But in this particular case, no, it's merely preference. With shrimp."

From:

betterthanaplan

“Gotcha.” Duke set the wine on the table and looked for the opener. “Glad I went for options then.” Ah, the opener! He came back to the table to pop the cork.

“I am forgetting something though. What — glasses.”

A graceful turn to snag the two wine glasses he’d set aside earlier.

“There we go. Anything else?”

From:

my_own_advocate

"Your gorgeous arse in that chair," Lucifer said, amused. He gestured at said seat. "Please."

From:

betterthanaplan

Duke waggled his eyebrows at him. “Yes, sir.”

He sat.

From:

my_own_advocate

Lucifer chuckled. "So what were the contracters like?" he asked, as he scooped up his first bite with his fork.

From:

betterthanaplan

Duke shrugged. “Like contractors. Professional, knew their stuff, didn’t try to upsell me on anything. . . . Admittedly, with what I’m asking for, who needs upselling?”

From:

my_own_advocate

"They essentially have an unlimited amount of money to play with," Lucifer added. "I hope you didn't try to pin them down on a budget?"

From:

betterthanaplan

“Nah. They tried to get me pinned down on one but I just kept saying the money wasn’t the important part.”

From:

my_own_advocate

"Good," Lucifer said approvingly. "We need their wildest bloody ideas, not a prefab."

He took another few bites. It was good.

From:

betterthanaplan

“Even if their ideas involve nets?” Duke teased, digging into his own dinner. “Draped from the ceiling, climbing to the water slide. . . .”

From:

my_own_advocate

Lucifer paused. "What kind of contractors did you get?"

From:

betterthanaplan

Duke laughed. “Structural people,” he said. “I figured you’d want to oversee the design yourself.”

From:

my_own_advocate

"Well, obviously, curious as I am as to what you would come up with," Lucifer said. "I do draw the line at netting in our house."

From:

betterthanaplan

“I’m aware,” Duke said wryly. “I won’t ask for anything plaid, either. I was thinking of a little rocky waterfall on one end, though. . . .”

From:

my_own_advocate

"Oooh, that would be pretty," Lucifer mused. "... I suppose we couldn't convince Octavia to cosplay a mermaid."

From:

betterthanaplan

“Not easily,” Duke said. “But that doesn’t mean we couldn’t still maybe watch her play with it. Naked.”

From:

my_own_advocate

Lucifer made a happy noise at the mental image.

And then... remembered he'd made a promie to Octavia not too long ago, and reached for his wine. He took a sip.

"Speaking of Octavia naked," he said, "I heard the two of you had a conversation recently."

From:

betterthanaplan

Duke squeezed his eyes shut. “Oh god. Yeah, I screwed or up. I’m aware.”

From:

my_own_advocate

"I'm not bringing it up to yell at you, darling," Lucifer said gently. "Merely trying to see if I can help."

He scooped up a bite of food. "How do you feel about it?"

From:

betterthanaplan

“About just. Trying to rush her into a kink she’s not comfortable with with me? Oh, just awesome.”

Duke let out a sigh and leaned back in his chair.

“And then of course I got all defensive and just made it worse.”

From:

my_own_advocate

"You do have a tendency to do that," Lucifer allowed, sipping his wine. "I get the impression that perhaps you were excited about discovering something in yourself and wanted to include her?"

From:

betterthanaplan

“Without really giving her time to tell me she’s not into it,” Duke agreed. “If it helps, I talked to a therapist about this.”

A new one he was breaking in. Wheeeeeeeee.

From:

my_own_advocate

"And how did that go?"

Lucifer took another bite.

From:

betterthanaplan

Duke shrugged. “Fine. Therapist had some suggestions about what kind of conversations Tavi and I could have.”

From:

my_own_advocate

"Well, if it helps," Lucifer said, studying his face, "I think 'not into it' may be a simplification that you jumped to."

From:

betterthanaplan

“I’m not — that was a paraphrase.” Duke tilted his head back, looking at the ceiling. “I complicated the situation ages ago. And . . . never got around to cleaning up that mess.”

From:

my_own_advocate

"It's therapeutic for her, too," Lucifer said. He picked up his glass of wine and gestured vaguely towards the stairs. "The kinky sex, I mean. It helps her open up and explore feelings she fears judgment about. And, well..."

He didn't really need to finish that thought, did he?

From:

betterthanaplan

“And I haven’t exactly been the least judgmental,” Duke said. “Yeah.”

He picked his head up. “Hey, I’m not — like, I don’t think I asked. You’re good with what you and I are doing, right? I’m not using you?”

Octavia saying that he had Lucifer who would do anything. . . . Duke’s intrusive thoughts had a hay day with that.

From:

my_own_advocate

... Well, that was a way to knock him off his stride. Lucifer blinked. "How on earth would you be using me?" he said.

From:

betterthanaplan

“I don’t know!” Duke said. “But I didn’t realize I was cutting what Octavia wanted out of the conversation either.”

From:

my_own_advocate

"There is a very large difference between a single conversation in which you got a touch too enthusiastic and Octavia told you to stop," Lucifer said, bringing his wine glass back to his mouth, "And my extremely enthusiastic consent over several date nights including suggestions and diagrams, love."

He took a sip.

"My therapeutic needs are all outside of the bedroom," he said. "Inside, I am very happy to be indulging your every desire."

Beat.

"As evidenced by all the erections."

What? It was a necessary addendum!

From:

betterthanaplan

“Okay.” Duke nodded firmly. “Okay! Good. I’m glad to hear it.”

He let out a somewhat shaky laugh.

“My brain is being dumb. Still. So . . . sometimes I gotta check.”

From:

my_own_advocate

"Checking is good," Lucifer said. "As is asking Octavia what she'd like to do, because I do think she wants to fix this, so we can be one big happy kinky family."

He drained the last of the wine from his glass and reached for the bottle.

"As for us, I am just very happy to be able to help you explore something that seems to leave you happy and unburdened. While naked."

From:

betterthanaplan

“I think — did she —“ Duke shook his head, pausing to try to get his words right. “Um. We kind of touched on some other stuff. About, um. Feeling safe. Did she talk about that at all?”

From:

my_own_advocate

"Not... specifically," Lucifer said, tilting his head.

From:

betterthanaplan

“I, uh. Don’t. Most of the time,” Duke said, not looking at Lucifer but into a middle distance. “I never really noticed before, because like. That was just how life was. But when we. When you have me tied up. I do. Feel safe I mean. In a way I haven’t felt before. I tried to explain that to her, the feeling safe thing. And she thought I was saying that she didn’t feel safe just being with me, which wasn’t what I meant. . . .”

From:

my_own_advocate

"Sounds like your average patented Cape Rouge crew conversational confusion," Lucifer said (not in small part because he just liked alliterating), but then he reached across the table, putting his hand down palm side up.

From:

betterthanaplan

Duke took it and gave it a squeeze.

“We are very good at talking around each other. Or . . . I am, anyway. You two seem to communicate fine.”

From:

my_own_advocate

"Well, Octavia and I are no longer being traumatized by our own lives twice a year," Lucifer said. "So we've had enough time to be properly therapized and processed."

He gave Duke's hand a squeeze.

"But you're making steps," he said. "And I am-- very-- glad I can make you feel safe."

From:

betterthanaplan

“I’m definitely trying,” Duke said. “I wanted to know what made her feel like that. I’m pretty sure I don’t, anymore. If I ever did.”

From:

my_own_advocate

Lucifer took a bite of food and swallowed, pondering how much he could say. How much he should say.

"When I am with her on our date nights, it usually comes down to power," he said finally. "Who has it. And who comes to heel."

He picked up his glass of wine. "That involves some feelings of safety for her, I think. Very different ones, depending on the dynamic. Much like there are certain forms of safety she feels around you. Because, I can't believe that I'm saying this, but it isn't always about sex and how you have sex with her."

From:

betterthanaplan

“That . . . makes sense. She’s kind of a connoisseur of types of intimacy.”

From:

my_own_advocate

"She is," Lucifer agreed gently. "So perhaps a better question than 'what makes you feel safe when you're having sex' with the implied 'and how can I do that for you' is 'what does sex mean to you?' and, at some other point, 'in an ideal world, what would you want our sexual intimacy to feel like'."

His hand long since retrieved, he now made a gesture with it.

"Her answers may surprise you."

From:

betterthanaplan

“My therapist suggested having a needs, wants, and no-goes conversation,” Duke said. “Like, both of us make our lists and compare them, so we’re definitely on the same page.”

From:

my_own_advocate

"That... could... work," Lucifer said. Dubiously. "...Or she could find the lists a touch impersonal and pressuring."

He flashed Duke an apologetic smile. "In my not so expert opinion, I'd say the most important thing is both of you listening and nobody jumping in to fill things in for the other."

Edited Date: 2024-12-01 07:06 pm (UTC)

From:

betterthanaplan

“Not exactly one of my stronger skills lately,” Duke said wryly. “But it’s worth a shot.”

From:

my_own_advocate

Lucifer shot him a wry look of his own.

"It's Octavia," he said. "And trust me, I know it's incredibly hard to internalize this, but usually what she wants is just to be heard on her own terms."

From:

betterthanaplan

“It would help if she actually offered things without waiting for exactly the right phrasing first,” Duke said. “Or if I were better at finding that phrasing.”

From:

my_own_advocate

"It's not as hard as it seems, once you get the hang of it," Lucifer said, and then ate the last few bites of shrimp while he could. "You know how if you're trying to get an animal to like you, you have to sit there and wait for it to come to you?"

From:

betterthanaplan

Duke nodded slowly. “I can’t decide if she’d be flattered by that comparison or not.”

From:

my_own_advocate

Lucifer shrugged.

"Your problem is you get in your head, and the moment a situation seems to go pear-shaped, you want to fix it," he said, "and then instead of fixing it, you spook her, because you moved. If that... makes any sense."

From:

betterthanaplan

Duke grimaced. “Way too much. I know I can’t fix everything, and I’m trying not to try so hard. But then I’m trying hard in the other direction, and she asks why I’m so stiff and quiet.”

From:

my_own_advocate

"I suppose weed wouldn't be a solution," Lucifer mused out loud.

He sat back, watching Duke.

From:

betterthanaplan

“Not without talking that over with her first,” Duke said, shaking his head. “Nothing for it, babe. I’m just gonna have to get over myself.”

From:

my_own_advocate

Lucifer sighed, then flashed him a fond, only slightly exasperated smile.

"Just remember she will love you even if you do cock this up," he said. "We both will."

From:

betterthanaplan

"Yeah, I know," Duke assured him. "I just wonder sometimes if you two will always like me."

From:

my_own_advocate

"You are occasionally frustrating," Lucifer said. "But we have known that for years, and yet we still very much like you. Relax, you silly sod."

From:

betterthanaplan

"Yeah, well, everything I say doesn't seem to piss you off," Duke muttered, picking up his wine glass to take a hefty swig. "Sometimes, with her . . . I really wonder why she still puts up with me."

From:

my_own_advocate

"Because she finds you delightful a great deal of the time," Lucifer said, watching him. "You have good instincts with her. It's when you get too far into your own head about something that things go wrong, as far as I can tell."

From:

betterthanaplan

"So . . . less thinking, more drinking?" Duke asked wryly. "When did this all become so complicated?"

When you made it complicated, baby. That was his point.

From:

my_own_advocate

"When you started overcomplicating it," Lucifer said, agreeing with the narrative. "I remember how you worked to teach yourself her language. Not out of fear of losing her, but because you care to."

From:

betterthanaplan

"I like languages," Duke said, by way of agreement. "And she was easier, then. She hadn't -- that was before the bunker."

From:

my_own_advocate

"It was before you went to Haven, got depressed, and let your worries get the best of you, as well," Lucifer pointed out gently. "Octavia and I get along now because I got out of my head and focused on working out what was going on in hers, instead."

From:

betterthanaplan

Duke nodded. "That's --" He cut himself off with a sigh, melting back in his seat a little and taking another long sip of wine. "I'm glad. I am just. I'm really glad you two are okay, that you have each other when I'm flailing around like this." He gave Lucifer a small smile. "At least I don't instinctively feel like I need to try to fix your relationship, too."

From:

my_own_advocate

Lucifer matched his smile with a similar one of his own.

"We have all had our periods of flailing," he said. "She and I earnestly want to help you get past yours. Not just for our own sake, either."

From:

betterthanaplan

Duke thought about that and gave a little huff.

"This is your version of refusing to leave when I declare myself incapable of love, huh."

From:

my_own_advocate

"Seems only fair," Lucifer said, smile widening.

From:

betterthanaplan

Duke laughed. "Well. Alright then." He held out his glass towards Lucifer. "Cheers to that."

From:

my_own_advocate

"Cheers," Lucifer said, clinking it with his own.

He took a sip.

Then slid out of his chair to make his way to Duke.

From:

betterthanaplan

Duke sipped his own wine again -- it was running low -- and watched Lucifer move curiously.

From:

my_own_advocate

Lucifer held out a hand for him. "Now," he said, "Are you going to let me spoil you with minimal overthinking?"

From:

betterthanaplan

Duke grinned, set his wine down, and took Lucifer's hand.

"I think that's part of why I like the ropes," he admitted. "I don't have to think at all. Let alone overthink."

From:

my_own_advocate

"You and Octavia are alike in that way," Lucifer observed. "Though she prefers more metaphorical bondage."

He pulled Duke to his feet.

From:

betterthanaplan

Duke let out another huff, letting himself be pulled.

"Yeah, I've had plenty of metaphorical bondage in my time. I very much prefer the literal kind."

And maybe that had been part of the issue with Octavia, back in the day. He'd have to talk it over with his therapist, sometime.

From:

my_own_advocate

"She did ask recently what I would do if I had both of you at my mercy at once," Lucifer said, tugging him towards the stairs. "It's an interesting thought exercise."

From:

betterthanaplan

"Oh yeah?" Duke asked, happy to let himself be led. "I always pictured it more her having both of us at her mercy -- but that way sounds fun, too. What'd you decide?"

From:

my_own_advocate

"Oh, I had a lot of ideas," Lucifer said merrily. "Though I think the one with the most merit on a relatively short timescale is tying you up and making her service you..."

From:

betterthanaplan

The noise that came involuntarily from the back of Duke's throat said it all about what he thought of that.

(He liked it. Very clearly.)

"We should definitely work our way to that if she's up to it," he said. "Holy shit."

From:

my_own_advocate

"She rather liked it too," Lucifer said, smirking. "... Which doesn't mean you should talk to her about it immediately, but she did seem amenable to the thought of working her way up." Beat. "Or down, so to speak."

This pun wasn't inspired by them heading up the stairs right now. Much.

From:

betterthanaplan

Of course not!

Duke chuckled. "Oh yeah, I am not bringing up any sex stuff until she does first," he said. "Just going to kind of . . . let her take the lead for a bit."

From:

my_own_advocate

"Seems like the right tactic," Lucifer laughed. He had a twinkle in his eye as they found themselves on the bedroom floor landing. "Now, let's cast aside all the difficult conversations and see how many knots we can get on you this time, hm?"

From:

betterthanaplan

"Oooo, yes please," Duke said, leaning in to steal a kiss. "I'm your canvas, babe. Do with me what you will."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Profile

Duke Crocker

June 2025

S	M	T	W	T	F	S
1	2	3	4	5	6	7
8	9	10	11	12	13	14
15	16	17	18	19	20	21
22	23	24	25	26	27	28
29	30

Most Popular Tags

Page Summary

my_own_advocate - (no subject)

Active Entries

Style Credit

Style: Black Hill for Bannering by branchandroot
Resources: pinepig

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags

Page generated Jun. 22nd, 2025 05:33 am

Powered by Dreamwidth Studios

	
		OSZAR »