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[betterthanaplan]

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

*beep*

Comments

[okteiviakom]

"Defined from the outside," Octavia pointed out. "That's included in that. But no, this isn't my culture. Which makes it worse somehow, because that means it's a word that means more to the people on the outside than it does to me."

[betterthanaplan]

It meant something to Duke too, though. But all he said was "Alright, then. Thanks for telling me."

[okteiviakom]

There was a short silence.

Then: "That's all?"

[betterthanaplan]

Duke wasn't sure what else she wanted him to say.

"I get it," he said. "I'm not going to wholeheartedly agree, but I respect it. We won't use that word."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia sounded a little taken aback.

"I just thought you might want to --" Talk to her. "-- tell me what your thoughts are."

[betterthanaplan]

Duke honestly had been sure if she'd care. He hadn't consciously thought about it, but -- well, she always just kind of barreled ahead with her own opinions, and let him follow along.

"I think it's just a word," he said slowly. "One that means spending time together romantically. I mean, it doesn't even have to mean being sexual or exclusive, just -- getting together with the full intention of being romantic about it."

[okteiviakom]

And Octavia was trying to be better about not letting him let her do that.

(It was like the one relationship skill she was consciously trying to learn. Bringing her toolkit up to a total of... maybe two and a half skills.)

"And does it matter to you?" she asked, voice just a little quieter.

[betterthanaplan]

"No," Duke said, with a small smile that tinged his tone. "You know the words we use have never mattered to me as much as what we're actually doing."

She wanted to put her own labels on things. Words like snogon, which meant as much as "boyfriend" ever had, just in her own language.

"It's not like you're pretending it isn't happening, right?"

[okteiviakom]

"Of course not," Octavia said, with a small hint of relief. "I've never told anyone you and me are dating, but that doesn't mean I haven't made sure they know we're together."

[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."