betterthanaplan: (binge-drinking weather)
Duke Crocker ([personal profile] betterthanaplan) wrote2024-12-19 10:53 am

The galley of the Cape Rouge, Thursday evening

Duke had had some time since his last therapist appointment to start slowly processing what his therapist had said. Specifically what the man had said about what he believed was the foundation of Duke's issues. A diagnosis if you will.

Which Duke had finally made time to look up and read about after getting home from the diner. And mull over over a cup of tea.

Sure, it wasn't the first time someone had suggested that he had PTSD. He'd kind of just assumed he had that, by now. But C-PTSD. The complex version. The one most associated with survivors of hostage situations or child abuse.

He sipped his tea and stared into space. And wished it didn't make as much sense to him as it did. Wished he didn't check off quite as many of the usual symptoms as he did.

"Fuck."

[for the partners if they wanna]
my_own_advocate: (lucifer - lolly)

[personal profile] my_own_advocate 2024-12-21 11:56 am (UTC)(link)
Lucifer expelled a breath. "I'm sorry if I got a bit... shirty... along the way," he also offered.
my_own_advocate: (lucifer - lolly)

[personal profile] my_own_advocate 2024-12-21 12:19 pm (UTC)(link)
"You're not crazy, love," Lucifer said, watching him a touch longer. "We just... appear to be having different conversations. And I'm not sure what happened."

A pause.

"Can you walk me through what happened?"
my_own_advocate: (lucifer - really now?)

[personal profile] my_own_advocate 2024-12-21 06:12 pm (UTC)(link)
"Right," Lucifer said slowly. "But I didn't intend to say the things you heard me say, so I am trying to understand where this went wrong."
Edited 2024-12-21 18:25 (UTC)
my_own_advocate: (lucifer - lolly)

[personal profile] my_own_advocate 2024-12-21 06:47 pm (UTC)(link)
Lucifer wanted to point out that it felt like Duke kept making unforced errors, and that it seemed obvious why, and that he just wanted to explain it to Duke clearly enough so he'd stop hurting himself (and them) so frequently. But that clearly hadn't helped. So.

He didn't.

He just had no idea how to address this otherwise.

"Okay," he said. "I see. That was not my intention."
Edited 2024-12-21 18:48 (UTC)
my_own_advocate: (lucifer - intent)

[personal profile] my_own_advocate 2024-12-21 07:10 pm (UTC)(link)
Lucifer took a deep breath. He let it slip out of him slowly. (It hurt seeing Duke like this.)

"I'm sorry," he said. "I thought-- well. I thought we all already know how you feel, so let's make it better, I thought. Clearly not my greatest of calls."
my_own_advocate: (lucifer - really now?)

[personal profile] my_own_advocate 2024-12-21 07:46 pm (UTC)(link)
"I... Assumed," Lucifer said slowly, "That considering you used to do these things with her, and Octavia is so... Octavia, you would understand how complicated this is." He met Duke's gaze. "That isn't an accusation. It just didn't occur to me that you knew that little."
Edited 2024-12-21 19:47 (UTC)
my_own_advocate: (lucifer - intent)

[personal profile] my_own_advocate 2024-12-21 08:58 pm (UTC)(link)
"Now there," Lucifer said slowly, "Is a complicated question."

He looked up at the window.

"Octavia and I didn't develop shorthand in a day," he said. "In fact, we adopted the stoplight system to help deal with some of our communication failures."
my_own_advocate: (lucifer - fondness is in the eyes)

[personal profile] my_own_advocate 2024-12-21 09:07 pm (UTC)(link)
"We want you to be a part of this," Lucifer said quietly. "It's just-- do you know how the ropes make you feel? It's not just about sex, is it?"
my_own_advocate: (lucifer - crush)

[personal profile] my_own_advocate 2024-12-21 09:21 pm (UTC)(link)
"Well, I'm sorry about that."

Lucifer leaned back, trying to get to his initial point.

"On date nights, Octavia and I seek out that safe spot for her," he said. "It's rarely the same. Sometimes she craves control. Other times, to be humiliated. Or to be made... Small. We're always searching for the right... Vibe."

He looked at Duke. "Your needs, now we've found them, are delightfully uncomplicated in comparison," he said. "Not that I think Octavia's are a burden, but... It's... Fulfilling. For me. To know I can provide that."
my_own_advocate: (lucifer - really now?)

[personal profile] my_own_advocate 2024-12-21 09:32 pm (UTC)(link)
"She wants to talk to you, Duke," Lucifer said. Looking at his face again. "But unfortunately the one way you two are similar is that you need time to find the right words."
my_own_advocate: (lucifer - fondness is in the eyes)

[personal profile] my_own_advocate 2024-12-21 09:43 pm (UTC)(link)
"Do you want advice?" Lucifer asked. Still watching him.
my_own_advocate: (lucifer - really now?)

[personal profile] my_own_advocate 2024-12-21 09:51 pm (UTC)(link)
"Well, I'm here if you change your mind," Lucifer said easily. "I'm also here for questions, if you have them. I can't go too deeply into the weeds, but I can tell you more."

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