The Cape Rouge, Port of Fandom, Thursday morning

[betterthanaplan]

Their anniversary vacation had been amazing. A little rough sometimes -- they all still had plenty of issues to accidentally trip over here and there -- but amazing. Exactly what they'd all needed.

But all good things must end, and so Duke, Octavia, and Lucifer arrived back in Fandom on a bright, sunny, and -- compared to Norway at least -- pleasant Thursday morning.

"Whelp," Duke said, looking out over the town from the deck of the Rouge. "Doesn't look like anything exploded while we were gone. Or if it did, they rebuilt it nice and fast."

Which was so much nicer than the alternative.

[for thems as came with him, and also open!]

Comments

[my_own_advocate]

"And even if it did explode, it didn't touch the Rouge," Lucifer noted. "... Though now I wonder if you should park it a bit off the coast next time we leave, just in case."

[betterthanaplan]

"That'd just risk it sinking for mundane reasons," Duke said. "There's a reason why we park ships in ports whenever possible."

[my_own_advocate]

"Elsewhere in another port in the bay?" Lucifer proposed, tilting his head.

[betterthanaplan]

"That has potential."

Assuming Duke didn't freak out that Haven would snatch him up the moment he left Fandom's waters.

[my_own_advocate]

"Just a suggestion," Lucifer said. "I'd rather not lose the Rouge in some kind of freak sea-monster incident."

[betterthanaplan]

"The sea monster has turned out to be very chill," Duke said. "I only saw it the one time."

[my_own_advocate]

"Did you now."

[betterthanaplan]

"Right after I first got here. Went swimming around the preserve side of the island and got quite a shock."

[my_own_advocate]

"Huh," Lucifer said. He glanced at Duke. "What did it look like, then?"

[betterthanaplan]

"You ever seen meta for Clash of the Titans?"

[my_own_advocate]

"Original or remake?"

[okteiviakom]

Octavia was looking towards her own boat. Because priorities.

"Samsara's still there."

Look, maybe she lowkey worried about leaving it on its own.

[betterthanaplan]

"She is," Duke agreed, slinging his arm over her shoulder. "Looking forward to some alone time in your safe space?"

[okteiviakom]

Octavia snorted softly, winding her arm around his waist. "Maybe." Probably without using either of those terms, but still. "Looking forward to asking you to come visit, too."

[betterthanaplan]

"And I definitely look forward to visiting," Duke said, leaning in to give her a kiss on the temple.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia's lips curved further. "We should make time for a date night." Yes, even though they'd just returned from a trip that had basically been a weeks-long string of date nights. "Just you and me."

That was key.

"Maybe we can even take her out to Baltimore."

[betterthanaplan]

"I would love that," Duke said, grinning. "Seeing you sailing your own boat. Being your first mate. . . ."

[okteiviakom]

"Dirty."

Sorry, that was the vacation talking.

She smiled up at him. "Where should we go?"

[betterthanaplan]

"Anywhere and everywhere," Duke said. ". . . But maybe just a small harbor to start with. Jonestown is cute."

[okteiviakom]

"Never been." Quelle surprise. "I'll look it up. We can make a day of it."