Voicemail

[betterthanaplan]

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

*beep*

Comments

[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?"

[okteiviakom]

"Nothing that needs that big a change," Octavia replied, reaching up to tap a finger against his nose, with a soft snort.

But then her own expression softened again.

"It's about you and me and Lucifer." He'd probably already gotten that part, though. "And sex."

[betterthanaplan]

"You and me and Lucifer and sex and it's not serious or bad," Duke said. He smiled. "I think I might like this conversation."

[okteiviakom]

"It's a request," Octavia said, watching him. Trying not to suddenly feel like this should make her nervous to do. (Trying not to feel like it was making her nervous.) "That you don't sleep with him before we do. I mean, before we all do. Together."

Tiny shrug.

Vulnerable.

"Just feels like... a step we should take together, if we're going to."

[betterthanaplan]

Duke leaned in to give her a soft kiss on the forehead.

"Okay. I won't."

[okteiviakom]

"Mochof," Octavia murmured, eyes fluttering closed. "Feels dumb to ask, but..."

Seemed like something to be honest and open about.

[betterthanaplan]

"I was a little hurt when you talked to him without telling me first. Did you really think I wouldn't understand wanting to wait until the three of us are together to have sex again?"

[okteiviakom]

"It's not that I didn't think you'd understand," Octavia said, as her eyes opened again. "I'm just figuring out how to stay on the same page with you."

[betterthanaplan]

"Well, good," Duke said, and leaned in to kiss her again, this time on the lips. "And I appreciate you making that effort."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia reached up to meet him.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you."

[betterthanaplan]

"Nah," Duke said. "I didn't tell you not to. I'm assuming kissing is okay?"

[okteiviakom]

Octavia nodded. "Kissing is okay." Wait, what had Lucifer called it? Her lips tilted into something wry. "First base, apparently."

[betterthanaplan]

"Ah yes," Duke said, grinning. "I prefer the four Fs. Which base are we allowed to get to?"