betterthanaplan | Haven, Maine, over the weekend

The last time Octavia had been to Haven, she'd gotten arrested and Gloria had had to go yell at the Chief of police.

The last time Duke had been to Haven, he'd gotten arrested and Gloria had had to go yell at the Chief of police.

They could both be forgiven for being a little nervous pulling into the harbor now, even without the "let's go meet our mutual therapist in person" part of the deal.

[for one! NFB due to distance]

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From:

betterthanaplan

"It's not," Audrey said cheerfully.

"Mr. Crocker," Nathan said dryly. "Your vessel has been randomly selected for a security search."

"Really." Duke raised an eyebrow at Audrey. "You're going to let him get away with that? This is clearly harassment."

From:

okteiviakom

Octavia didn't really move anywhere to block any anticipated attempt at boarding the ship.

She did shift calmly and quietly in that direction, though. Just a bit.

From:

seaoftroubles

Duke shot her a small glance and a smile.

Audrey noted the shift and raised an eyebrow. Her amusement didn't falter.

"I don't know, Duke. I'm still new at this whole small town cop thing."

"You handled the cats just fine," Nathan said blandly.

"I did, didn't I."

"That sounds like a story," Duke said. "You two should go talk about it. Somewhere else."

From:

okteiviakom

Octavia didn't say anything. Just stayed where she was, observing.

Waiting.

From:

betterthanaplan

There was a lot of that happening.

"So," Duke said, once it was clear that they wouldn't be leaving. "You're working with Nathan now, huh?"

"I am," Audrey said. "You have a problem with that?"

"Me? No." He looked at Nathan. "Does she know all about your . . . thing?"

Nathan's face went, somehow, even stonier. Audrey looked between them, getting more and more amused.

"Yeah, Nathan," she said. "Do I know all about your 'thing'?"

From:

okteiviakom

Octavia kept watching.

Specifically, she was watching Audrey, now. Not in an intense way, just... taking note of several things about how she carried herself, how she was reacting to this.

Getting to know this stranger, in her own way.

From:

seaoftroubles

Audrey was watching her and taking note right back. As well as taking all sorts of notes about Nathan and Duke.

Before Nathan could respond to her question, his radio crackled to life.

"Nathan, are you there, hon?"

Nathan growled, then pulled the radio off his belt. "Go ahead, Laverne."

"Got a call about a disturbance up at the Freddy."

"We're on our way." Nathan set the radio back on his belt. "We're not done, Duke."

"Looking forward to it." Duke wiggled his fingers at him. "Byyyye."

Nathan gestured Audrey back towards his car with a jerk of his head and headed off. Audrey shot Octavia a smile. "It was nice to meet you, Ms. . . ?"

From:

okteiviakom

"Ask him," Octavia rasped, nodding after Nathan. "It's in the arrest records, somewhere."

She was pretty sure she remembered the records did not actually have her down as Octavia Blake.

From:

betterthanaplan

No. No it was not.

Audrey shot an amused eyebrow at Duke again and nodded. "I'll do that." She headed after Nathan. "What's a Freddy?!"

Duke sagged a little once they were gone and rubbed his hand over his hair. "She stuck around." He shook his head. "I can't believe we managed not to get boarded."

From:

okteiviakom

The shift in Octavia's demeanor was more subtle, but it was still like shedding some traces of Blodreina and becoming... well, whoever it was she was these days, again.

"Maybe this trip will go better," she said with a little sigh.

She didn't believe it.

From:

betterthanaplan

"Sure. This is a place where weird shit tends to happen." He pulled out his phone. "I'm thinking Gloria first. How about you?"

From:

okteiviakom

Octavia gave him a tiny nod.

"A friendly face could be nice."

Even though it kind of terrified her. Hostile was easier than nice, sometimes.

From:

betterthanaplan

It was a whole lot easier to maintain an angry shield, for one.

Duke made sure the Bronco was nowhere to be seen, then headed down the gangplank, making a quick call.

"She said she'll meet us here. Maybe we can do lunch somewhere."

From:

okteiviakom

Octavia nodded again.

And then shook her head, but that was clearly for a different thought. She'd been looking around while he'd been on the phone, and... "It's so weird to be back here."

From:

betterthanaplan

"Yeah, that's how I usually feel coming back here, too." Duke shrugged. "It's a little easier with you around, though."

From:

okteiviakom

Octavia finally made her way over the gangplank.

All so that she could reach for his hand. "Well, at least your last visit was only a little while ago."

From:

betterthanaplan

"True. Though I wouldn't exactly call it a good trip." He spotted Gloria's car pulling in. "She must've been waiting for us." He gave Octavia's hand a squeeze. "Come on. Let's say 'hi'."

From:

okteiviakom

Octavia gave his hand a squeeze back - and then let go. It was an involuntary reflex, to try and hide the soft, regardless of her feelings about Gloria.

She was looking toward the car, though, and then already taking her first tentative steps towards it.

From:

seaoftroubles

Gloria gave her a small smile. "Nice to see you, wildcat. Here you've been having a time of it."

Duke stayed where he was, hands slipped into his pockets, and smiled at Gloria. "Hey, old bird."

"Boy, I oughta smack you."

From:

okteiviakom

If Haven itself had felt like something out of a dream, seeing Gloria felt at least doubly so. All Octavia could do was weakly raise her hand in the semblance of a wave, and breathe, "Hi."

... God, she was staring, wasn't she?

From:

seaoftroubles

"C'mere and give me a hug, kiddo," Gloria said. "You look like you could use one."

From:

okteiviakom

Octavia dropped her hand, slowly, and for a moment it looked like she wasn't going to go for it.

But then she did, stepping up to Gloria and practically throwing her arms around her. Not tight enough to hurt but - surprisingly tight, all the same.

From:

seaoftroubles

And Gloria hugged back just as tight, rubbing little circles on Octavia's back.

Duke ducked his head, turning slightly away and rubbing his head as he tried to hide his relief. Gloria eyed him.

"You're next, kitten. Don't think you're not."

From:

okteiviakom

Octavia choked out a sound that was a little like a startled laugh. Just, a lot rough.

And a little wet, though she'd pretend it wasn't.

It'd take her a moment to pull herself together.

From:

seaoftroubles

That was fine. Gloria was retired, she had no other plans for today.

"You missed Nathan," Duke said.

"And neither of you got arrested by him this time? Good job."