The Cape Rouge, Port of Fandom, Sunday evening

[betterthanaplan]

Duke wasn't usually one to put much stock into holidays like Valentine's Day. Last year's had very nearly been a disaster, for instance. But Octavia was clearly feeling a little extra in-the-dumps right now, and Lucifer had sent him an enormous, gorgeous, queer bouquet, and Duke felt inspired.

He spent the day setting it up. Went through his hold and pulled out all the plushest, richest fabrics he could find. Fuzzy blankets and brocade curtains and lots of soft Persian rugs. He draped his galley, transforming the usually cool, open space full of hard surfaces into something warm and exotic, like the interior of a Mongolian yurt. He lit the space with candles and oil lamps and paper lanterns, and set Lucifer's bouquet prominently on the coffee table. To eat, he had berries and chocolate and oysters rockefeller, with wine and absinthe and some other items to help them all relax and feel good. There were soft cushions everywhere (including the stuffed shark and sun and moon pillows from last year's pillow forts, with the inclusion of a little velvet star-shaped cushion he'd picked up on a whim), and even a few vintage furs.

It was, he felt, about as cozy and warm and romantic (and hopefully not too fish scented) as his boat was going to get. Now all he needed were his partners.

He sent Lucifer a text (come over, bring octavia), figuring Octavia wouldn't rouse easily on her own, then settled in to wait, and second guess every single choice he'd made in decorating, worrying it would come across as too much.

He distracted himself with his guitar to keep from trying to tear it all down again, and waited.

[for the guests!]

Comments

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer hadn't really expected to do anything today. Not with Octavia in the state she was in. But, well-- after everything last week, he wasn't about to stand Duke up.

He stopped by the Samsara first, to convince Octavia to come; they made their way to the Rouge together, Lucifer locking his arm through hers in some attempt to give her-- something-- to hold on to.

He stopped a step or so into the galley.

"Well," he said. "Someone's redecorated..."

It was gorgeous, in a shisha lounge sort of way. A good aesthetic.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia hadn't remembered this holiday existed before all the -- things showed up this morning. Hadn't expected anything beyond that, either. Hadn't even thought too expect anything.

And when Lucifer had shown up, maybe she'd only agreed to come because it was something else to do than looping thoughts to decide how she felt about the actual roses that had shown up. The metal ones were easier to deal with.

She was tired. Looked it, too.

But her eyes still went a little wider when they entered the room.

[betterthanaplan]

Duke spread his arms over his guitar and gave them a slightly sheepish grin. "Surprise? I, uh. Might've over done it."

[my_own_advocate]

"I mean, it does look as if you bought every Moroccan rug in a thirty-mile radius."

It was Lucifer; he couldn't help it.

He was smiling, though. "But I like it."

[okteiviakom]

"It's beautiful," Octavia murmured, and meant it.

Of course, her gaze had just now landed on the stuffed shark. So there was something squeezing her chest uncomfortably too, now.

[betterthanaplan]

"Thanks." Duke rubbed the back of his neck. "Believe it or not, I actually already owned most of this. I figure we could just . . . get cozy and hang out. I've got wine, food, pot, some molly. . . ." Rolling had turned out to be a decent way to cheer Octavia up in the past, after all. "Take your pick. Or just -- chill. Totally up to you all."

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer grinned, idly stripping out of his dark blue jacket as he stepped further into the galley. “Well, you know how I feel about drugs and alcohol.”

[okteiviakom]

Octavia didn't move just yet. She forced her eyes away from the shark (and the pillows, even though all of that had the weirdest sense of familiarity and yet not feeling familiar at all) and was trying to take the rest of it in.

She might not have actually listened to what Duke had been saying. Sorry about that.

[betterthanaplan]

Duke was kind of babbling, so that was entirely fair.

"I have oysters! Fresh caught today. Drizzled in absinthe, a little panko. . . . And, uh. Plenty of berries. And chocolates. And the guitar and . . . I definitely over did it, didn't I."

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer snorted, putting his jacket down on a stack of pillows.

He crossed the rest of the distance to Duke, cupped his cheeks, and kissed them.

“Some molly might actually be good for her. Perk her up a bit.”

[okteiviakom]

Octavia finally moved, drifting over to where the food was.

Picked up a berry to eat.

[betterthanaplan]

Duke fisted his hand in Lucifer's shirt as he kissed back, then pulled back a little to watch her move.

"That's what I'm hoping, yeah. Thanks for going to get her."

[my_own_advocate]

"Of course," Lucifer said, dropping one hand, but not the other. His mouth curved. "You did good, you bloody ridiculous pirate."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia looked the rest of the food over, idly. Somewhat.

Picked up a couple more berries, instead of trying something else.

[betterthanaplan]

Duke had put out plenty of berries, anticipating they might be the bulk of what she ate that night. The oysters were more for him and Lucifer.

"I hope so," he said softly, still watching her. "Our last Valentine's was . . . not great."

What with him pounding a rock to gravel to avoid trying to kill her and all.

[my_own_advocate]

"Worst comes to worst, we put her to bed early and you and I will smoke some pot," Lucifer said, giving Duke's hair a gentle ruffle.

He raised his voice. "Octavia," he said, "How would you feel about doing some drugs?"

[okteiviakom]

Judging by the expression on Octavia's face, the actual answer to that question was 'indifferent'.

"Which ones?"

[betterthanaplan]

"Molly," Duke said. "And-or pot. I figure we could have a little, then chill. Maybe listen to music?"

[my_own_advocate]

"I think molly might be a good idea," Lucifer offered, with a small shrug.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia shrugged a little as she moved again. Drifted away from the food, this time, and more towards them.

"You're free to do whichever drugs you want."

[betterthanaplan]

Ah. Yeah.

"Well, I think I'll go for the molly," he said, picking up the little baggy and holding it up. "And, uh. You can join in or not, as you like."

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer glanced from Octavia back to Duke. "I'll need at least two," he said.

He had a feeling this was mainly going to be his and Duke's party, tonight.

[okteiviakom]

They were lucky she wasn't accusing them of angling for a (better) more fun version of her, at least.

Octavia shrugged again, even fainter this time, as she came to a stop. Hands sliding into the pocket at the front of her hoodie.

[betterthanaplan]

All Duke wanted was to see her feel better. Unfortunately, as always, he felt like he was flailing around in the dark trying to do it.

He popped one of the pills in his mouth and passed the baggy to Lucifer. Then reached over to run his hand down her arm. "There anything you do want to do right now?"

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer almost took three, but then realized he'd probably want to - sigh - be closer to the terrible side of sober, just in case. So he tossed back two, and looked to Octavia.

"We could just sit and eat for a bit."

He questioned the use of asking her open-ended questions, at the moment.