Lucifer's (et al) mansion, Wednesday night

[betterthanaplan]

The post-resurrection high Duke had apparently been riding since they'd gotten back from Haven had faded, though he still felt physically better than he had in a long time. Possibly ever.

He was doing his best to maintain that physical wellbeing, even if his emotional wellbeing was slightly rockier again, and as such, very nearly ended up late to his planned date night with Lucifer, having spent longer swimming easy laps in the pool than he'd intended.

He was pretty sure Lucifer wasn't going to knock him too much for still being damp from a post-swim shower as he set the table and carefully plated the Egyptian-style fish sandwiches he'd put together for them for dinner.

The fact that he was wearing one of his favorite worn-soft old flannel shirts open over his bare chest might help, too. ;D

[for him!]

Comments

[betterthanaplan]

“So are the stories true? Was he ‘Russia’s greatest live machine’?”

[my_own_advocate]

"When he wasn't passed out in a backstreet of Saint Petersburg, high as a kite," Lucifer said, sipping his wine. "I'd say a good half of his reputation is misattributed. I let him take the credit for far too much, frankly."

[betterthanaplan]

“You are sort of automatically the greatest lover of wherever you happen to be,” Duke noted. “Tell me you didn’t grow one of those beards.”

[my_own_advocate]

"Please," Lucifer said. "I do try to fit in, but there's a limit." He rubbed at his jaw. "Sexy scruff works in any era."

[betterthanaplan]

“Sure as fuck does on you, at any rate,” Duke agreed.

[my_own_advocate]

"Oh, it's working for you?" Lucifer asked innocently, as he leaned back in his seat and brought his wine glass back up to his mouth.

Smirking.

[betterthanaplan]

“Absurdly,” Duke said, picking up his own wine glass and leaning forward. “It’s like Cindy Crawford’s mole.”

[my_own_advocate]

And just like that, Lucifer groaned. "You will not let that go, will you?"

[betterthanaplan]

“I’ve brought it up exactly twice. We are definitely not in groaning territory on it yet.”

[my_own_advocate]

"It was terrible enough the first time to justify the groaning," Lucifer told him. "The look on Octavia's face!"

[betterthanaplan]

“Was the same as how she looks at half of what we say,” Duke said. “And anyway, I stand by it. Your scruff is just part of what makes you truly shine, even though it’s technically’unkempt’.”

[my_own_advocate]

"Only very technically," Lucifer said, tapping at his jaw. "I put a great deal of thought into it."

[betterthanaplan]

“Of course you did. You put thought into your whole appearance. And you knew that that ‘imperfection’ just makes you more attractive.” Duke shook his head. “I really don’t get why this is upsetting you.”

[my_own_advocate]

"... Well, I wouldn't say I'm upset," Lucifer said.

[betterthanaplan]

“Okay,” Duke said. “You’re just pushing back on it kinda hard is all.”

[my_own_advocate]

"I honestly thought we had already moved on to my scruff," Lucifer said slowly. "My only issue with the Cindy Crawford comments, besides your usual denial about your terrible fashion sense, is that I think it made Octavia feel left out the first time around."

[betterthanaplan]

“I was including the scruff,” Duke said. “And, well . . . yeah, that’s a good point.”

[my_own_advocate]

"Why do you think I'm upset about the scruff?" Lucifer asked.

His face was, at this point, all confusion.

[betterthanaplan]

“I don’t know, man, you seemed kind of offended. Like I was . . . insulting you or something by calling it ‘imperfect’.”

[my_own_advocate]

"Oh, no," Lucifer said, rubbing at his scruff again. "Merely commenting on the difficulty of maintaining this level of outward imperfection."

[betterthanaplan]

Duke nodded, though his brow was still furrowed.

He’d done something similar with Octavia too, reading more into her reactions than she said was there. He didn’t like it; it felt like he wasn’t connecting properly with reality.

Which was supposed to jot happen anymore, now he wasn’t full up on aether. Though maybe that was wishful thinking. . . .

[my_own_advocate]

"... Penny for your thoughts?" Lucifer prompted, after a moment.

[betterthanaplan]

That startled Duke into looking up. Lucifer used that with Octavia all the time, but it was the first time Duke had heard it.

“Just.” He shook his head. “It’s stupid. Don’t worry about it.”

[my_own_advocate]

"If you're sure," Lucifer said, eyebrows crawling up.

[betterthanaplan]

“Yeah,” Duke decided. “Nothing to worry about.” He raised his glass. “Here’s to your gloriously deliberate scruff.”