The Cape Rouge, Port of Fandom, Saturday morning

[betterthanaplan]

Duke and Octavia had managed to find some amount of peace, between their talk on Monday and getting sucked into Lucifer's past on Wednesday. Octavia was still staying on her own boat for the time being, which had Duke somehow both twitchy and relieved. He hated sleeping alone now, but he hated having the people he was sleeping with flee in a panic the moment they woke up even more.

He was funny that way.

It made him even more prone to hanging out on his deck than he normally was, since from there he could look over and see the Samsara, and know that Octavia hadn't gone sailing off overnight. Not that he expected her to, but he also wouldn't have expected Lucifer to freak out and kick the two of them out first thing in the morning, either. Frankly, he wasn't much looking to take anything for granted, these days.

So he was up on deck, nursing a cup of unspiked coffee, watching the porgs play around on the various crates. And reminding himself that, right now at least, everything was fine.

They'd see how long that lasted.

[expecting a couple, but also open!]

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[my_own_advocate]

The drive back from Los Angeles had been long and unadventurous, but it had suited Lucifer just fine this time. He'd put the memories the weekend had kicked up to rest, and he was ready to get back to... whatever it was he did on the island.

Bringing food to boat people?

Well, this time it was take-out, because he'd only gotten back early that morning and he'd had half a mind to just tip over in bed and have a nap, until he'd remembered mimosas existed. (And had then added weed to the bag, just in case Duke was serious about that less-alcohol thing.)

The whole expelling-the-boat-people-from-bed episode was already long forgotten, on his part, as he sauntered up to the Rouge with a bag slung over his shoulder. "Morning, feathery vermin," he told the few porgs that got in his way.

[betterthanaplan]

"Holy shit," Duke breathed. "Look who it is."

Why was he even surprised? Of course Lucifer just came sauntering back up like nothing weird had happened. He was Lucifer.

"Hey, man," he called. "Have a good . . . week?"

[my_own_advocate]

"Boring, useless, and completely frustrating," Lucifer called cheerfully. He held up the bag. "I brought sandwiches," he added, "and mimosas or weed, gentleman's choice."

[betterthanaplan]

Duke waved him up. "Is the gentleman allowed to choose both?" He could do one mimosa. He wasn't in AA or anything here. "I'll text Tavi, let her know you're here."

It seemed nicer than shouting across to the Samsara.

[my_own_advocate]

"Sounds like something you would choose," Lucifer said merrily, stepping on board. "And of course. I did bring a few vegetarian options."

[betterthanaplan]

"Glad to hear it." Duke looked around the boat like he was going to pull something more suiting Lucifer's aesthetic out to lay the food out on.

Spoiler alert, he wasn't.

"So, uh. Where've you been?"

[my_own_advocate]

Nobody who saw what kind of denim monstrosity you were currently wearing would expect you to have anything appropriate to Lucifer's aesthetic on board, Duke.

"Took a roadtrip to Reno to see an old friend," Lucifer said, "Then I figured I might as well go the rest of the way to Los Angeles, since that didn't quite pan out."

He sat down, and set the bag down next to him, digging around for the prosecco and the orange juice.

[betterthanaplan]

"Yeah? Say hi to Miss Lopez?"

She seemed like a more neutral subject than most other people in LA would be.

[my_own_advocate]

"Only my brother, unfortunately," Lucifer said. "Turned out I accidentally found myself in October rather than November."

He poured a sizable amount of prosecco into two cups he'd brought, and proceeded to add probably less orange juice than that amount really required.

"As I said, a deeply useless trip."

Bar his success at the whole issues, box and magma situation.

[okteiviakom]

It took a while after Duke's texts before Octavia actually emerged from the Samsara, and made her way over to the Rouge

The wait had not actually helped her shake off the sense of apprehension she was feeling. But at least it wasn't too plain on her face when she made her way across the gangplank.

"Ha yun."

[my_own_advocate]

"I brought food," Lucifer called merrily.

He was already waving a wrapped sandwich at her, because. Well. Lucifer.

[okteiviakom]

Yeah, they were definitely on the 'nothing at all happened' train already. Octavia suppressed a sigh.

"I heard."

[my_own_advocate]

They were most definitely on the 'nothing at all happened' train. Lucifer was an expert conductor of that train, in fact, with many, many years of experience.

Was there anything to be concerned about, really?

"I got you an excellent caprese," he said. "And a more boring grilled vegetable one."

[okteiviakom]

"I don't know what that first one is," Octavia drawled, mildly, as she made it to him and the sandwiches. "Either's fine."

[my_own_advocate]

"It's mozzarella cheese, basil and tomato," Lucifer said, handing it to her. "Try it."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia gave him a faintly wary look that had nothing to do with the sandwich.

Which she took, yes.

[my_own_advocate]

Odd look.

"Have I ever steered you wrong on sandwiches?"

[okteiviakom]

Octavia took a bite, but she was still watching him. So yeah, that odd look wasn't going anywhere.

"This isn't going to work with me, Lucifer."

[betterthanaplan]

"Hey." Duke offered her a broad smile. "Glad you could join us."

[okteiviakom]

It seemed Octavia was opting for just generally looking a little wary, today.

She lifted her sandwich a little, in greeting. While they'd been below decks, she'd grabbed the vegetable one Lucifer had deemed 'boring', as well as a glass of orange juice. (No mimosas necessary.)

"Hey."

[betterthanaplan]

Duke's smile went a bit smaller, but that just meant it was a bit less manic.

"Decided you were hungry after all, huh?"

[okteiviakom]

Octavia shrugged. "Guess so."

She wanted to ask how their talk had gone, what they'd talked about. But that wasn't really her business, was it?

(Even though she'd definitely made it her business.)

[betterthanaplan]

"You should ask for a joint, too," Duke said. He was still pleasantly buzzing from his joint. "Man brings the good stuff when he wants to apologize."

Did Lucifer know that Duke had decided the pot was an apology present?

[okteiviakom]

"I think I'm good without, thanks," Octavia drawled, although her tone was already subtly softer. Even before her head tilted a little. "Did that work?"

[betterthanaplan]

"The weed?" Duke asked. "It's working great. You telling him I had a panic attack because he kicked us out? . . . Maybe could have done without that part."