Voicemail

[betterthanaplan]

"Buddha says 'All good things come to those who wait.' With that in mind, leave me a message."

*beep*

Comments

[betterthanaplan]

"There you go, then," Duke said. "And -- I mean, as long as Lucifer doesn't go around telling people he hates us or something, he can call it what he likes, too."

Yes, Duke had absolutely had partners in the past who'd claimed to hate him when talking to other people. Not just Nathan, either. It was practically a theme of his love life, before Evi.

(It probably explained some things about his relationship with Evi, really. She gloried in calling him her husband, after all.)

[okteiviakom]

All these years, and Octavia still wanted to punch every last one of his exes.

"And Lucifer doesn't lie," she said, "so he's not going to do that."

He was definitely going to be telling people they were unnecessarily complicated, though.

[betterthanaplan]

Well, they were human. Being complicated was basically a genetic predisposition.

"That's true. He does like to spend a lot of his time making fun of me, though."

[okteiviakom]

"Well, that's different."

[betterthanaplan]

"Dr. Linda says it's from a place of love."

[okteiviakom]

"I think she might be right." They all had their love languages, after all. "Anyway... There's something you and me didn't talk about, which we maybe should."

[betterthanaplan]

"Alright. You want to do it on the phone now? Or maybe come over?"

[okteiviakom]

"It's not a huge deal," Octavia said, because she felt like she should. Before she worried him, or anything.

And no, that wasn't actually answer to his question. Also, what was that noise in the background? Just something she was realizing she could and should have done earlier in this conversation.

[betterthanaplan]

“I’m glad to hear that,” Duke said. “Question still stands, though.”

He really wasn’t sure about that noise, either.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia sighed. Not -- actually at him, though.

"That was me trying to get the porgs to get out of my way so I can leave."

[betterthanaplan]

"You're coming over," Duke guessed. He got up and headed towards the galley. "I guess that is an answer to my question."

[okteiviakom]

"I'm coming over," Octavia confirmed. There was an indistinct bit of Trig after that, followed by an indignant squawk in the background.

And then there was no background noise once her boots hit the dock. "Not because this needs a face-to-face. I just want to see you."

[betterthanaplan]

"Well. I'm not going to argue with that. You want some coffee or something? Or I could maybe start up some ingredients for a hot toddy. . . ."

[okteiviakom]

"If you want."

She didn't really have a very strong opinion either way.

[betterthanaplan]

"Hot toddy it is," Duke decided. "Or maybe I'll start a batch of spiced butter for hot buttered rum. It'll be nice to have on hand for the holiday."

[okteiviakom]

"Jaka, I'm going to be there in like a minute," Octavia pointed out, faintly amused - and almost to the Rouge, now. "Dunno how much you're getting done."

[betterthanaplan]

"I'm thinking out loud," Duke said with small laugh. "You think I can't spice some butter while we talk?"

[okteiviakom]

"I honestly don't know," Octavia replied. "But I'm almost h-- almost there, so I'm hanging up now."

And she did.

And then she crossed the gangplank. And then it wasn't long at all before she appeared in the galley.

Even with the sleeves rolled some of the way up, the sweater she'd stolen from him several weeks ago hung far too big on her.

"Ha yun, jaka."

[betterthanaplan]

Duke looked her over. "I was wondering where that went," he said, giving her a smile. "Ha yun, gona."

[okteiviakom]

"Stole it," Octavia said, stepping closer and reaching up for a quick kiss hello. "Sorry."

She wasn't. She'd been wearing it a lot when she was by herself.

[betterthanaplan]

“Looks better on you,” Duke said, reaching for her waist. “Keep it.”

[okteiviakom]

Octavia's hands ended up on his shoulders.

"I might still make you wear it sometimes," she said, quietly.

It was part of the appeal, shh.

[betterthanaplan]

"Oh, you're going to make me do it, are you?" Duke said with a grin. "Well. I'll look forward to that."

Assuming what he'd learned about her time in the bunker didn't make their little power play games turn suddenly spooky.

[okteiviakom]

There was a definite risk of that. But him talking about it with a grin on his face might help alleviate that some.

Octavia leaned against him a little more.

"We had something to talk about."

Well, she had. She was just changing topics gently.

[betterthanaplan]

"True," Duke said, dramatically changing his expression to something serious on a dime. "What's up?"