betterthanaplan | Lucifer's mansion, Friday evening and Saturday morning

Octavia	Octavia's efforts at learning how to cook more things had been sort of... repeatedly starting and stopping, over the past couple of years. But now, with twice the date nights in some of her weeks, some of the motivation had been seeping back in. So, she'd asked Duke to teach her a dish. To cook it with her, in the mansion's kitchen. And they were well on their way in doing just that. "And now I just cut these?" she asked, with a gesture towards the small array of vegetables she'd just rinsed. "Slice and dice?" Seemed simple enough. She was great with knives.
Duke	"That's right," Duke confirmed. "You want them to be about bite-size. Small enough to cook quick but big enough to still feel a little substantial."
Octavia	"Bite-size?" Octavia repeated with a wryly amused look over at him. "Doesn't that depend on the mouth taking the bites?"
Duke	"It's an approximation," Duke said with a playful eye roll. He finished rinsing off the fresh herbs and flicked a little water at her. "Like . . ." He held his hand up, fingers demonstrating the size he meant. ". . . that big."
Octavia	Octavia snorted at the flick of water, then raised her eyebrows some. "You sure you don't wanna show me how to do it?" Too bad she'd never seen ~~meta for~~ the movie Ghost. She could've been making a direct reference.
Duke	"Do you want me to show you how to do it?" Duke asked with a grin. "I believe in you."
Octavia	"Hey, if you don't want to take the excuse to get close to me," Octavia rasped, setting the cutting board where she needed it, and picking up the knife, "I'm not going to force you."
Duke	"Oh, is that what that was." Duke laughed. "That's good, I like it." He edged closer into her space. "You want me to maneuver your hands, too, or is this good?"
Octavia	"Maneuver, no," Octavia replied, "but guide, maybe?" A beat. "Or pretend to, because I don't actually need it." They'd had kind of an unsteady go at date nights. She was trying to bring in something a little more... playful, into things.
Duke	Duke was very glad to follow that lead. He looped one arm around her waist and rested the fingers of the other by the edge of the cutting board. “Guidance. I can do that.”
Octavia	"Thought you might," Octavia replied, and turned her head to steal a quick kiss against his cheek. Like he'd earned something by following her lead.
Duke	Duke wasn't going to complain about that. He was going to tease her mercilessly, though. "Okay, so first off, let's look at what you're cutting, not your handsome snogon."
Octavia	Octavia snorted, as she turned her attention back to the cutting board (where she'd kept the knife very safely against it, thank you) and reached for one of the vegetables. "Okay, any other helpful tips?"
Duke	Of course she had! That was what made his joke funny. "Mmm, let's see how you do," he said. "Ah, wait, hang on, there is this first." He kissed her cheek in return. "Now you're ready."
Octavia	"Ridiculous man," Octavia huffed, not selling any sort of offense even a little bit. She made her first cut, confident.
Duke	“I’m the tripiest,” Duke agreed. He leaned into just a little as he watched her work. He loved watching her work. Loved watching her do just about anything, really.
Octavia	Octavia had a lot of competence in her favor in doing a lot of things, and a big stubborn streak to make up for the things where she didn't. This was more the former, even if only a fraction of her knife skills had been developed cutting vegetables or fruit. She kept cutting the one at hand, not necessarily with practiced ease, but ease all the same. But then there was a part that was harder, an unfortunate surprise, and the blade slipped. Cut her finger. And not a little nick, but a gash. Which would've still been fine if she just hadn't moved. The blood would've stayed where it was. But impulse had her hiss and yank the hand back.
Duke	Duke reacted fast, pulling back and away the moment she hissed -- but it wasn't fast enough. A drop of blood hit the last knuckle on his index finger. He had just enough time to spot it before it soaked in -- And his body reacted. The rush wasn't the same as it had been before Mara pumped so much more aether into him. It wasn't a wave that rolled over and through him that he could ride out. It was a sledgehammer. A wrecking ball. A wall. He stiffened, trying desperately to control the urge to lunge for Octavia and that injured finger, to rip into her and devour the trouble he could sense inside her. He managed to croak out a single, agonized syllable before he couldn't fight it anymore. "Run."
Octavia	Octavia felt him pull back, and immediately realized what had happened. What she'd done. (Stupid, careless --) Instinct took over immediately and she ducked away from him before whipping around - which was when she saw his eyes. Black, not silver. Not his usual trouble, something worse, something Mara. He managed his one strained syllable right as she bolted for the door.
Duke	At least they were on the same page! Though unfortunately the best Duke could do to control this latest horrifying iteration of Haven fuckery was restrain himself to a stalk as he went after her. He could sense the trouble in her; could feel how it differed from the unusual resistance to radiation that used to set him off. He could specifically sense the aether. And he -- or the lizard brain part of him now fully under the sway of his own aether -- wanted it.
Octavia	This was definitely different. He'd been able to contain it, before, especially with what had had to have been barely a drop of blood. He hadn't come after her like this. Octavia didn't look back. She rushed out into the hallway, nearly stumbling on the way, catching the door frame just in time. All she had to do right now was get out of the house. That was all that mattered, she couldn't let herself get trapped.
Duke	Duke kept himself from rushing, but that didn't help his long legs from eating up the distance as she ran. He didn't stumble. He didn't pause. (He tried to, oh god, he tried!) He just. Kept. Coming.
Octavia	Yeah. Yeah, he did. Octavia couldn't let herself think about how terrifying that was. But he was still in there. Right? He was. "I'm gonna fix this!" She skittered to the front door. She'd just have to get it open. That was all. Then she'd be able to run down the street. Open space.
Duke	Duke managed another strangled syllable. "How?" Oh god, he wanted. He always wanted her, but now, he wanted what was in her. All his darker impulses were roaring for it, along with a force he only barely understood. He wasn't full of troubles anymore. And something inside him needed them. And would get them at any cost.
Octavia	Octavia got to the door, unwilling to look back, much too aware he was right at her heels. The distances inside the house were too short. "Lucifer." She tore the door open, and bolted out.
Duke	A little seed of hope sprouted in Duke's chest. The rest of him was still on her heels, grabbing for her just as she got the door open, fingers brushing the fabric of her sleeve before she was out of reach. He didn't stop. Didn't curse. He just. Kept. Stalking.
Octavia	Something in Octavia felt pure terror at feeling Duke's hand graze her sleeve, but she didn't allow herself to think about it. She sprinted, with all the power she had in her body, trying to put more distance between them as she also tried to fumble her phone out of her pocket. She'd achieved one goal (get out), she could achieve another (tell Lucifer).
Duke	It took everything Duke had not to break into a run after her. She was getting away. The trouble inside her was getting away! His jaw was clenched so tight it sent shockwaves of pain through his neck. His hands were clenched so hard at his sides his fingernails drew blood. But he kept that same steady pace, long even strides. Like the killer in a slasher movie, always there, following.
Octavia	The little bit of extra distance was all Octavia needed. It wasn't going to be something she could keep up forever, but hopefully she wouldn't have to. More fumbling with the phone. Then she clasped it to her ear. Pick up, Lucifer, pick up.
Lucifer	Of course Lucifer picked up. He always picked up. Though he did sound a tad bit confused. "Yes, darling?"
Octavia	Octavia sounded breathless, and not in a good way. "It's Duke, his trouble -- he's after me, hurry!"
Lucifer	"But--" --that wasn't how Duke managed his-- "I'm on my way," Lucifer said, as the panic in her voice hit him like a brick. He was out the door in moments.
Octavia	And Octavia kept running, down along Griffin Way, towards the port. A glance back confirmed what she already knew: Duke was still coming. But she had hope, now.
Duke	Duke was still there. Still after her. Starting to despair that this reaction was ever going to wear off. (But he was so hungry, and what he craved was in her veins, one taste wasn’t enough. . . .)
Lucifer	And there he was. And there she was. And there was-- "Duke!" Lucifer snarled, landing between them with his wings still outstretched. "Stop."
Octavia	Octavia heard wings, and then Lucifer's voice. She skittered to a stop, almost falling over, lungs and legs burning. Turned around, eyes wide.
Duke	Duke reared back, the force driving his body flinching instinctively from those wings. He tried to wrench back control, steering into the swerve as it were, and turn around at least, but instead he was darting sideways, picking up speed to try and veer around him.
Lucifer	Duke wasn't stopping. Something wasn't right. Lucifer's reflexes kicked in without a second thought, and he reached aside, his hand clamping down on Duke's arm as he yanked the man out of his path. "Duke," he snapped a second time.
Octavia	Octavia was still trying to gasp breaths in (braced for the possibility of having to take off again), but she managed a strained, "He hasn't been able to stop."
Duke	Duke lunged, yanking against Lucifer’s grip as he grabbed for her with his free hand. Her trouble was so close. He could feel it, tantalizingly close but out of reach. He let out a roar, a blend of frustration and terror that lent credence to her words.
Lucifer	"Shit," Lucifer said. Succinctly. What could he--? Wait. His own blood. It could-- he threw a glance over his shoulder at Octavia. "Darling, I'm going to need you to scratch me in a second." Then he gripped Duke by the throat, lifting him high up into the air, so he could stretch his other arm out towards Octavia.
Octavia	Octavia had startled further back at Duke's lunging, but -- He couldn't get to her now. She was also trying not to let this image burn into her memory as she moved forward again. One goal, again. Just one task. She grabbed Lucifer's arm, smearing some of her own blood into his sleeve as she pushed it back. (She wished she'd had one of her knives. She usually armed herself for almost everything, out of habit, but it'd been date night.) She pressed two nails against Lucifer's skin, and dragged them down as hard as she dared. They weren't sharp, but she used enough force - and let go as soon as she saw blood.
Duke	You might think being lifted by the throat would be a distraction. But Duke’s hands kept grabbing for her even as he gagged. This was so much worse than his old trouble.
Lucifer	Lucifer ignored his lunging and his grabbing. As soon as he felt that pinch of pain-- as soon as he saw blood-- he moved, slapping his bleeding arm against the side of Duke's neck. (Please let this work as well as it had, before...)
Duke	The sound that erupted from Duke’s throat could best be described as unheimlich. A noise close to a human scream but not; the uncanny valley of sound. Then his eyes rolled back and he slumped, boneless, in Lucifer’s grip.
Octavia	Octavia shuddered like she'd been hit with something. Duke hadn't been loud enough for her ears to be ringing, and yet. She stared at them, frozen, like maybe if she moved she'd somehow undo what Lucifer had just done.
Lucifer	Lucifer let go of a breath he'd only just been made aware he was holding. He lowered Duke. "We need to lock him up in the house," he said, looking to Octavia. She was stunned, he could see that, but they couldn't afford that right now. "In case he's still--" Still. Yes.
Octavia	Less stunned and more in dire need of an indication that Lucifer had a handle on things, and that Duke wasn't about to spring back into action. Both of which Octavia had now, so she could shake something off at least. Still a little wild around the eyes, but that couldn't be helped. She nodded, then gestured back in the direction she'd come running from. "Quick."
Lucifer	Lucifer nodded. He let his wings fold back into his body, and slung Duke over his shoulder like a rag doll, Then, he began moving towards the house with fast steps.
Octavia	Octavia took off after him, but... keeping a distance. She wasn't going to get swiped at again. No matter how clearly unconscious Duke was right now.
Lucifer	"Can you open the door?" Lucifer asked, as they approached the mansion. He stepped aside, leaving her room to pass.
Octavia	Octavia still gave them a wide berth as she darted past. The door hadn't closed properly after them, no surprise. She yanked it open - with the hand that wasn't still bleeding - and stepped aside.
Lucifer	Lucifer waited until she was far enough away before entering. He carried Duke to one of the first floor bedrooms - one of the ones with a lock on the door. He lowered Duke gently onto the bed, making sure his head was on the pillow. Pulled up the blankets. And then backed out, to grab the key and lock the door behind him.
Octavia	Octavia remained near the front door. She watched Lucifer go up the stairs, then listened, running through things in her head. She thought she heard the door close, and then a key against the lock. "That's only gonna slow him down," she muttered, to herself. If he was still --
Lucifer	Lucifer reappeared at the top of the stairs. He ran a hand through his hair. "We may have to sleep on your boat tonight, darling."
Octavia	Octavia looked up, and immediately shook her head. "You should stay with him."
Lucifer	There was a flash of alarm in Lucifer's face. "Octavia," he said, "I am not leaving you alone tonight."
Octavia	"I'm not giving you a choice," Octavia replied, much firmer than anyone here had likely been expecting, stepping up to the bottom of the stairs. "He is not waking up alone in an empty house if he's back to himself, and if he's not, you're not letting him roam free on the island."
Duke	Duke, meanwhile, was blinking his eyes open. Everything hurt. Everything. It felt like he might have managed to pull his eyelid muscles trying to fight the compulsion. Which, thankfully, was gone. “Fuck,” he groaned. Then started to take stock. He was in one of the bedrooms in the mansion. The light out the window was about what it had been before — everything. And he was alone. “Fuck,” he said again with feeling. Then shouted it. “Fuck!”
Lucifer	"Oct--" Duke's shout cut straight through whatever Lucifer had been about to say, and he spun around, towards the stairs. "Duke?!"
Octavia	Octavia started up the stairs, on an unchecked reflex, but stopped before she even made it up halfway. Duke didn't quite sound like he had, but what if?
Duke	“Yeah,” Duke said, hoarse but not strangled. He sat up with a faint groan and rubbed his forehead. “I’m . . . me. Is she okay?”
Lucifer	Lucifer approached the door. Slowly. Carefully. He held an arm outstretched behind him, as if to keep a barrier between Octavia and Duke. "She's okay," he said, staring at the door. "Are you... you?"
Octavia	From further away, Duke's voice was a lot more muffled now that he wasn't shouting anymore. Octavia crept up a few more steps. He sounded... better, from what she could tell. But she was holding her breath all the same.
Duke	He was using multiple syllables at a time! Decided improvement. “Yeah,” he said again. “I’m me. And we are never doing that again.”
Lucifer	Lucifer glanced over his shoulder at Octavia. "Keep your distance," he said quietly. He put the key back in the lock. "I'm coming back in," he announced. Turned it.
Octavia	Octavia was looking down at her hand. Her finger had just about stopped bleeding, but there was dried blood all over her skin. She had absolutely no intention of following Lucifer.
Duke	The door had been locked. They’d had to lock him in. Oh good. Duke leaned his elbows on his knees and watched. Bracing himself in case the fucking poison inside him decided to react again. Maybe they should just keep him locked away from now on.
Lucifer	There was still a smear of Octavia's blood on Lucifer's sleeve, too. He noticed it as he pressed his hand to the door to open it. "Right, just a second," he muttered, shrugging quickly out of the jacket, casting it far behind him. Then he opened the door in full. "Duke?"
Duke	Duke’s lip quirked into a tired, ironic smile. “Hail the conquering hero.” He didn’t bother looking for Octavia. She’d be hovering well out of arm’s reach for a bit. “She’s really okay?”
Lucifer	"She is," Lucifer confirmed. After a moment's thought, he... closed the door behind him. "Besides the fright you gave her."
Octavia	Octavia had been about to call out something reassuring, about how she was just right out here, just couldn't come in -- And then she heard the door closing. And, well. Nothing much she dared to do past that.
Duke	Duke nodded. “Yeah. Can’t really blame her there.” He was also terrified. “Fuck, man. Just — fuck. The hell are we going to do?”
Lucifer	"I don't know." Lucifer took a few... cautious steps towards him. Until he stood at the foot of the bed, and he could get a good look at him. "Look me right in the eye for a moment, will you?" he asked.
Duke	Duke did. “What color are they?” Could they change colors, even when he wasn’t feeling the effect? Would he build up a tolerance to it, like an alcoholic, and stop noticing when it was controlling him?
Lucifer	For a moment, there was something in the air-- something heavy and demanding, as if Lucifer was five seconds from speaking What is it that you truly desire? into the ether again, for the first time in years. But he didn't. After a moment, his shoulders sagged. "Your regular color," he said, relief and concern in his voice in equal measure. He took a few steps back. Reached for the door handle again.
Duke	“Great. We just need to knock me out to reset me now.” Duke rubbed his face again as Lucifer opened the door. “I cannot do that again. What the fuck are we going to do?”
Octavia	There wasn't anything or anyone behind the door to answer that question. Octavia had set aside her feelings of failure when it came to immediately reassuring Duke about what had happened, as well as the feelings of untamed hurt that had rolled in with getting shut out of the situation altogether (or feeling as if she had been, anyway), and had grabbed onto things she could actually do. So she'd retreated all the way down the stairs, and back into the kitchen. Was rinsing off the knife that had started this whole ordeal, then washing her hands, thinking about where to find a first aid kit in the house. She was pretty sure she'd brought in one of the survival kits she'd made, once upon a time, but where it had ended up was a different question entirely. She was listening for any noises from upstairs, but with the distance and the water, she wasn't expecting to be able to make out much.
Lucifer	"Octavia?" Lucifer called over his shoulder. "It's safe!" Where had she gone? ... It was an easier question to answer than Duke's.
Duke	“She’s avoiding me,” Duke said blandly. “She’s not still bleeding, is she?”
Octavia	Exactly the sort of thinking Octavia had been hoping to nip in the bud. (Or... maybe some other metaphor that was less relevant to other things she'd been facing lately.) Before Lucifer really had a chance to reply, Octavia's voice could be heard faintly from downstairs. She'd thought she'd heard something, and now the water was off, and she was leaning out the kitchen doorway. "Lucifer?"
Lucifer	"She's trying to stay out of your way in case you were still black-eyed and murderous," Lucifer retorted. " Which you no longer are." He stepped out onto the landing. "He's himself," he bellowed. "How are you?"
Octavia	"Where's the first aid kit?" Octavia called back. There were more important and pressing questions than 'how are you?'
Duke	“That’s what I meant,” Duke said. Then: “Black-eyed?” It made sense. It was also terrifying. “Fuck.”
Lucifer	"Third cabinet from the left, above," Luciffer hollered down the stairs. He looked to Duke. "'Fuck' would be my description, as well."
Octavia	Octavia nodded to herself, and went to the third cabinet from the left. Faster she got this done, faster she'd be able to join them upstairs.
Duke	“I can’t do this,” Duke said lowly. “I won’t. She cut her finger and I tried to tear her apart. I’m not doing this!”
Lucifer	Lucifer's attention had drifted back to the stairs. Now his gaze snapped to Duke. "Do what?"
Duke	“Living this way.” Duke wanted to scream, but he was trying hard to keep at least a little chill. “I’m tired of it. Aren’t you tired of it?”
Lucifer	"Extremely," Lucifer agreed, warily. "But what's the alternative?"
Duke	“I don’t know yet. But there’s got to be something. This — letting my body just get hijacked by trouble after trouble. I’m not just letting it happen anymore.”
Octavia	Octavia had bandaged up her finger probably much too thoroughly - but she didn't want even the slightest possibility of anything bleeding through. And now she was finally coming up the stairs, checking her hands for any blood she might have missed, and trying to make out what they were saying.
Lucifer	"Then what?" Lucifer asked, his brows knitting together in a heavy frown. "Go back to Haven, shake people until they find a solution?"
Duke	“Maybe?” Duke admitted. “It’s not my favorite, but it beats having to tiptoe around my snogon or risk needing to be taken out by my boyfriend on a regular basis.”
Octavia	Oh. Lucifer was still on the landing. Octavia came to a stop at the top of the stairs.
Lucifer	And Lucifer-- paused, looking over his shoulder. "Octavia," he said plaintatively, "He's-- we're-- having terrible ideas."
Duke	“If you have a better one, I’m all ears,” Duke said. He tried to peer past Lucifer without getting up. “Tavi. I’m so sorry. This is not how date night was supposed to go.”
Octavia	Octavia stepped onto the landing - and then rounded past Lucifer, and into the room, towards the bed. Reaching for Duke with the uninjured hand, keeping the other one and its bandages behind herself.
Lucifer	Lucifer watched them for a moment, still a touch-- nervous. But he didn't want his fussing to get between them right now. "It's a bloody disaster," he muttered.
Duke	“You’re okay,” Duke said, confirming rather than asking. He took her hand and tugged it to pull her into a hug. “I don’t ever want to do that again.”
Octavia	Octavia kept her injured hand away from him, but otherwise didn't hesitate at all in sinking down to sit next to him and hugging him back with the other arm. "Ai get daun in," she murmured. And, "Moba." (She'd been the one who'd insisted he should get close to her, and the one who'd cut herself, and the one who'd spilled it on him.)
Lucifer	Lucifer ran his fingers through his hair, taking a moment to finally find-- some kind of calm. He entered the room after a moment, keeping his eyes on them. Saying nothing. Thinking.
Duke	Duke shook his head at Octavia. “It was an accident. It shouldn’t have been anything. That’s why we need to fix this.” He looked up at Lucifer. “Even if it means going to Haven. All of us. To get rid of these troubles, mine and Tavi’s, once and for all.”
Octavia	Octavia pulled back enough to look at Duke. Eyes a little wider, now. Eyebrows raised, cautious. "You want to go back to Haven?"
Lucifer	"It is an insane idea," Lucifer said, reaching up to pinch the bridge of his nose. And yet there he was, not protesting too loudly.
Duke	“I don’t want to,” Duke said firmly. “I just can’t think of anything else that’s better. If we track Mara down she’ll just figure out a way to make this even worse.”
Octavia	Octavia could've made a comment about semantics, but didn't. Instead, she looked to Lucifer, with something like a question in her eyes.
Lucifer	And Lucifer caught her eye. He looked-- frustrated. Helpless. "I don't know," he said finally. "We can't wrap you up forever, love."
Duke	“We can’t ignore this. And we can’t run and hide.” Duke looked from one of them to the other. “I think we should fight it. And I think the answers about how are in Haven.”
Octavia	"I think we should... think about it," Octavia said, slowly. And openly wary.
Lucifer	"You hope the answers are in Haven," Lucifer agreed, looking from one to the other. "And it is Haven. It will get worse before it gets better, if it does."
Duke	“Give me a better idea,” Duke said. “Seriously. I would love not to put us all through Haven again.” He looked between them hopefully.
Octavia	For historical reasons, Octavia really hated ending up in situations where someone was asking for a better idea. (There isn't one, Jaha had said. Indra, too. And Kane.) "We're not gonna be able to come up with one right now," she said, "after all of that... just happened."
Lucifer	"We should... probably sleep on it," Lucifer agreed slowly.
Duke	"It's cute how you think I'm going to sleep," Duke said dryly. He let go of Octavia with one hand so he could run it down his face. "Okay." It was at least half sigh. "But I'm not waiting long here, guys. I'm tired of waiting. I want all this to be over so we can just live our damn lives already."
Octavia	"If we're talking about going to Haven by choice," Octavia said, straightening up further, her voice taking on that mild-but-definite tone she sometimes got, "then I need it to be an actual choice, not some blindly panicked flail." Or Duke choosing to act because he was tired, like they weren't all tired.
Lucifer	"I'm... willing to consider it, and you know that's not easy for me to say," Lucifer said. He was firmly looking at Duke now. "But... I also agree with her."
Duke	Duke nodded. He couldn't exactly claim to be surprised. (Well. He was a little surprised that Lucifer was even considering it. He was also a touch annoyed at the implication that he was flailing, when he was pretty sure this was the most rationally he'd thought about any of this in a long time.) "If I attack again, take me out. I know that's what you did, I'm just -- I don't want to hurt either of you. For all we know, we woke something up. I'm not, like, hankering for blood right now or anything, but. . . ." But who knew.
Octavia	He might not have been flailing. Octavia had been talking about them collectively, however. And all she really wanted was at least the tiniest bit of distance between their latest trauma and whatever their new game plan would be. (And maybe to take her finger by the clinic.) "We know how to keep an eye on things now."
Lucifer	"Exactly," Lucifer said, nodding slowly. "And... we're at the house. We may as well stay here, no? If any blood cravings kick back in, I can just lock you back in."
Duke	“Maybe you should now,” Duke said. “I can crash in here while you two stay in the master bedroom or something Just in case.”
Octavia	"I don't want you to be left alone," Octavia said, shaking her head. It was a little less vehement now than it had been while he'd still been out cold, however.
Lucifer	"There's a sofa in the master bedroom," Lucifer said. Feeling a touch stuck between the both of them, again. "He could sleep there?"
Duke	"You can't lock me in on a sofa," Duke pointed out. "I'll be fine by myself," he told Octavia. "I'm more worried about you."
Octavia	"Well, I'm not," Octavia retorted, raising her eyebrows. "And if somehow you do end up... reactivating again at random, a lock is not going to hold you."
Lucifer	"Honestly, if I just sleep on the end between the sofa and Octavia, it'd be nigh impossible for you to try anything without waking me up," Lucifer sighed. Loudly.
Duke	Duke threw his hand in the air. "Fine. Sofa. Though I'd still argue a locked door would slow me down plenty, if not actually stop me."
Octavia	Did he want Octavia to point out she'd seen him pulverize a rock, before, back when his original trouble had at least been something he'd had a shred of control over? Because Octavia didn't want to go there. Her jaw tightened, with her inhale. But: "Sofa's fine. Whatever." They weren't going to find better solutions tonight, for anything.

Octavia	It was morning. Once all of the adrenaline had faded, Octavia had slept like a rock - for some hours, anyway. It was still early when she found herself standing on the balcony, her hands against the top of the railing, looking out over the town. Cursing Haven in her mind. Cursing what she pretty much already knew she was going to do, too.
Lucifer	There had been no rude awakenings, at least. So why did Lucifer still feel tired, waking up as he did? He wasn't sure. But he saw Octavia on the balcony, and pushed himself out of bed. Took a moment, just to get into his bathrobe, because mornings could be cold and he wasn't a fool. "I'd offer a penny for your thoughts," Lucifer said, as he finally made it onto the balcony, "But I suspect I can guess."
Octavia	Octavia gave one of her noncommittal hums without looking over. "That we're about to do something stupid?" She'd tried to figure out another way forward. She hadn't found one.
Lucifer	"Incredibly, terrifyingly dumb, yes," Lucifer agreed. His hand slid up, almost automatically, to touch the middle of her back.
Octavia	With her slight forward lean against the railing, Octavia couldn't really lean back into the touch. But she didn't pull away from it, either. "We have to go to Haven," she muttered, "with no leads. And no Mara."
Lucifer	"That last one might be a boon more than a handicap," Lucifer muttered.
Octavia	"Well, at least she can't make anything worse, anymore," Octavia replied, heavy on the rasp, but quiet. "But if she put all of this in him..."
Lucifer	"I don't think she's the type of person you can trust to take it back out of him," Lucifer said. A little flat, though it wasn't really focused on her.
Octavia	Octavia wasn't going to waste her breath pointing out Mara pretending to fix Duke had been the last thing they'd ever seen her do, so he might as well have saved his, too. "Worried we're thinking about subjecting ourselves to Haven for nothing," she said, instead.
Lucifer	"Yes." The word was a sigh. Lucifer stared out at Selkie Peak. "But I don't think we'll be able to convince him that we can manage his trouble here, either."
Octavia	Octavia let her head fall forward a little, squeezing her eyes shut. Frustration all over her expression and her posture. "If I could've just not cut my hand..." It didn't seem fair, how little had happened to set all this off.
Lucifer	"Then it may have been something or someone else," Lucifer said. He looked at her, properly, or as much as he could. "This is not your fault."
Octavia	"I know," Octavia muttered, "but we could've had more time." She wasn't sure what they would've done with it, but... They could've had it.
Lucifer	"It was an accident," Lucifer said softly. "We're walking into something potentially terrible, darling. Be easy on yourself."
Octavia	"I wanted more time." Didn't really matter whose the blame was. "But we don't have it, do we?" she added. "Like you said. We can't convince him otherwise."
Lucifer	Lucifer let out a breath. "No," he said. "It was so nice to have him back, but I suppose this is as much time as we get before... whatever the next shitshow is."
Octavia	"So we go back in," Octavia drawled, opening her eyes but looking over the view again, "and risk losing him entirely."
Lucifer	"Or get him back for good," Lucifer said quietly. "Whole, and happy." He shook his head. "Do you even remember how long it's been?"
Octavia	"No," Octavia replied, simply.
Lucifer	"And yet, there was a time when we were... relatively unburdened," Lucifer said. "When he was unburdened."
Octavia	Octavia wondered just how relative that 'relatively' was. Then she finally straightened up from her lean, almost like a decision had been made. With the quietest little sigh.
Lucifer	"It would be nice," Lucifer said, wistful. His hand still hovering over her back. "To see him unburdened again."
Octavia	"Lots of things would be nice," Octavia rasped in reply, turning towards him, finally. "But we'll take whatever we get."
Lucifer	Lucifer looked at her. He sighed. "Yes." And hopefully she would take the hug he was leaning into, as well.
Octavia	Octavia did. It came off tired, but the way her arms slid around him was firm. (She wouldn't allow for it to be outright clingy. The time for that would be much, much later.)