The Cape Rouge, Port of Fandom and out to sea, Thursday

[betterthanaplan]

Duke had never been one to sit on a good idea (much of late to Lucifer and Octavia's chagrin). So when Lucifer mentioned thinking that the three of them should take a trip out on his boat for a nice little vacation, Duke had immediately suggested doing it for the holiday. Christmas at sea with two of his favorite people? What better way was there to spend it?

He'd spent the day yesterday getting the Rouge ready for them. Doing laundry, buying extra fancy sheets for his bed, cleaning the galley within an inch of its life. Setting up the deck with some cozy seating and string lights, and a little outdoor heater. Then he whipped up some pumpkin apple bread for Octavia to munch on while she watched him and Lucifer attempted to share the kitchen.

There was alcohol galore. Hot toddies and buttered rum. Lots of fancy coffee to spike. Duke put on his nicest shlubby sweater and flannel shirt and pulled his hair up into a neat ponytail (if you ignored the locs that literally never stayed in place when he wore his hair up). Now all he needed were his dates for the long weekend.

[for the dates, and likely some epic SP!]

Comments

[my_own_advocate]

Duke wasn't the only one who had done some shopping. The bag Lucifer had thrown over one shoulder contained not just fresh scallops and ingredients for the requested mango fried rice, but fresh shrimp and a few other bits and bobs.

The other bag he was holding, well, that was a fresh suit. Or two. A Devil had to keep to his standards.

Did he still have his misgivings about this entire affair? Yes. Was he happy to continue to bury them by way of a long weekend on a boat? Also yes. This would probably end well. (At least in the short term.)

"You decorated," he called, as he stepped onto the ship.

[betterthanaplan]

"Figured we could use a palate cleanser from the island's fucked up version of holiday cheer," Duke said. He spread his arms with a grin. "Sauna's ready for a test drive, too. I considered adding shuffleboard for that full cruise feeling, but, uh. I'm not an 80 year old, so."

[my_own_advocate]

"You should have added the shuffleboard," Lucifer said, smirking at him. "Setting fire to it would've added ambiance."

[betterthanaplan]

"Well. I'm sure we can find something else to set fire to if we really try."

[my_own_advocate]

"Where there's a will," Lucifer said merrily. "I'll just drag this to the kitchen?" He lifted the grocery bag. "I threw in some shrimp as an appetizer. Also not frozen."

[betterthanaplan]

Duke waved him towards the hatch below-decks. "Go for it. Mi galley es su galley."

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer gave him a cheery salute and headed down.

Both to secure the suit bag (IT WAS IMPORTANT) and to neatly pack all the vegetables and the scallops and the shrimp into the fridge.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia didn't know how she really felt about this. This trip, or the entire... thing.

But she showed up not much later, walking across the gangplank with a bag over her shoulder and dressed in -- okay, nothing special, honestly. This wasn't a big deal, right?

(This felt like a big deal.)

[betterthanaplan]

This was a very big deal they were all trying to pretend was not a big deal.

"Ha yun, snogon," Duke greeted. "Luce is stashing some food below-decks."

[okteiviakom]

There wasn't anything nervous about the quick way Octavia moved up to him for hello kiss. Perish the thought.

"Well. Sounds like we're ready to take off, then."

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer stepped back onto the top deck with a grin. "Where are we going?" he asked. "And hello, miss Octavia."

[betterthanaplan]

“Other than ‘out to sea’?” Duke asked. “Weekend’s not quite long enough for Barbados, but we could probably hit up the Keys. . . .”

[okteiviakom]

"I don't know where either of those are," Octavia said, getting started on her likely refrain of 'I don't know (thing both of the others knew)' early.

Sounding only vaguely distracted. She was trying to decide whether she was going to kiss Lucifer hello, too.

[my_own_advocate]

"The Keys are south of Florida. America's dangly end," Lucifer said, still grinning as he approached both of them. "I say we have a go for them."

(He'd be less antsy about this if they had a target, and even he, on some level, knew he was going to have to relax and settle into this if it was going to work.)

[betterthanaplan]

Duke tossed him a sloppy salute. “Can do. I’ll go weigh anchor. You two . . . make yourselves at home.”

[okteiviakom]

"Sounds like a plan."

That sounded a little forced. She'd get there, hopefully.

[my_own_advocate]

"We'll do our best," Lucifer said, tossing Duke an easy smile.

He was reaching for Octavia after that, though.

... not for a kiss, but a hug.

[betterthanaplan]

Yeah, Duke paused at that tone, but Lucifer seemed to be on it, so he just flicked her a smile. “Be right back.”

And started up the ladder to the wheelhouse.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia let Lucifer pull her in, even if it took her a second to actually lean into it.

And another, before she muttered, "This is weird."

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer let out a soft huff of a laugh. "A bit," he agreed, his hand sliding up to settle against the back of her head. "But there are few other people I'd rather do weird with, so there's that."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia couldn't help the answering soft snort, but that was a good thing.

"That's fair," she mumbled. "And... me too."

It was no secret they were her two favorite people.

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer pressed a kiss against her cheek. "I'm going to pour us all some drinks sooner rather than later to smooth this over," he said. "But I just wanted you to know..."

He gave her a squeeze. It was an excuse not to talk for a few seconds.

"I missed you," he said, "and I'm looking forward to spending some time with you, regardless of the circumstances or what that lanky sailor of yours thinks."

[okteiviakom]

"He's hoping to be yours, too," Octavia said softly, because she couldn't help it. Not even when she followed it up with a quick kiss against his cheek, and an, "I missed you too."

A beat.

"And I could really use that drink. Or something else."

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer chuckled softly. "A woman after my own heart," he teased. "Hold on, I'll get us some wine."

He pulled away from her, though he took a moment to brush his fingers against her cheek before he went.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia's fingers stayed on the edge of his jacket until he stepped away.

Then she looked up towards the wheelhouse.