The Cape Rouge, Port of Fandom, Sunday morning (or maybe afternoon)

[betterthanaplan]

Duke had at least had the good sense as a raccoon to make his way back to the Rouge last night. He had not had the good sense as a raccoon to actually go inside the Rouge last night, which explained him waking up Sunday curled up under a pile of crates on his deck, absolutely surrounded by trash.

Funny, all those crumpled snack bags and things had seemed so much more valuable when he was small and furry and hungry.

He sat up cautiously, pulling a cheeto out of his bangs.

". . . I hate this island."

[open!]

Comments

[okteiviakom]

Octavia was curled up against his side.

Or, she had been curled up there, anyway, until he moved and so rudely woke her up. Good, all the snacks and treasures were still there --

But her new raccoon friend was not. She made concerned chittery noises as she went around Duke, sniffing to see if she could tell where he'd gone.

[betterthanaplan]

There was something else moving in this mass of crates.

"Ah," Duke said. "You're still a raccoon then, huh."

[okteiviakom]

Still a raccoon!

And one that may or may not have now been making sad raccoon noises in his general direction.

[betterthanaplan]

This was the squirrel in Sword in the Stone all over again, wasn't it.

"Sorry, snogon," Duke said. "I guess I only got raccoonified for the night." He looked at the cheeto in his hand, then offered it to her. "Breakfast?"

[okteiviakom]

Octavia was acting downright mournful for a raccoon.

Just, not so much so that she would have skipped snatching the cheeto from him almost as soon as he offered it to her.

[betterthanaplan]

Well sure. She was sad, but she wasn't stupid.

"Hopefully soon you'll be a people again," Duke said, watching her eat. "I don't know what'll happen then, but -- well, at least you'll be able to talk."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia chittered at him. The cheeto was gone, and she was already on the lookout for something else, poking at the snack wrappers and general carnage around them.

He was going to miss this lack of talking eventually.

[betterthanaplan]

He really was. And then he’d feel terrible about missing it.

“We might have eaten it all last night,” Duke said. Only to find a half-eaten peanut butter cup with his foot.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia immediately darted for it.

She very much did not care it had been near his foot, no.

[betterthanaplan]

"Nice to know some things don't change," Duke said, watching her. "Ohhh what even is my life?"

[okteiviakom]

An endless adventure, clearly.

Octavia clutched the peanut butter cup between her paws as she ate it. It was cute as heck, of course.

If you ignored the foot factor.

[betterthanaplan]

Duke took a picture. Because clearly Lucifer had to share in this adorable moment with them.

Including the foot factor.

[okteiviakom]

As soon as the treat was gone, Octavia was already poking around at all the crinkly wrappers and assorted other trash, looking for something else.

The peanut butter cup had only momentarily lifted her spirits, it seemed. Her chittering had turned more mournful again.

Sharing hadn't been the best, but she'd liked having another raccoon around.

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer had plans for today, and most of them rather pointedly involved spending no energy thinking about Duke at all, but, well, it was noon now and he was soon to leave, so--

Are you still furry or did that wear off?

Just checking in.

[betterthanaplan]

He was all heart.

not furry. I think Tavi’s disappointed

[my_own_advocate]

Suppose she has been a lone raccoon on the prowl for some time.

Did you really want more heart, Duke? Because that would just get weird.

[betterthanaplan]

guess so. I gave her your handkerchief thing

[my_own_advocate]

might as well burn it. It has raccoon hands all over it.

A few moments later,

no offense

[betterthanaplan]

not a raccoon anymore. not offended

Duke watched Octavia for a few moments, then sent Lucifer a picture of her eating a peanut butter cup.

pretty sure I stepped on that right before she ate it

[my_own_advocate]

are you still letting her sleep in your bed bc i'm fairly certain she'd be just as happy making a nest out of one of your ugly sweaters. much more hygienic

Lucifer, meanwhile, was combing through his massive closet in search of something to wear.

[betterthanaplan]

she sleeps where she wants to, man

Such as in a pile of crates. Like he apparently had last night.

[my_own_advocate]

you have a door, Lucifer kindly reminded him.

[betterthanaplan]

she's WILY

[my_own_advocate]

are you letting a raccoon outsmart you?

Yes, Lucifer was snickering, thank you.

[betterthanaplan]

YOU YOURSELF SAID SHE WAS WILY!

Also his boat was full of secret passages and they weren't exactly built to keep small mammals out.