The Cape Rouge, Friday morning

[betterthanaplan]

Duke had spent most of the week working on the boats, making sure they were weathering the cold well enough, and had managed to miss the drama of Wednesday's truth telling.

He felt a little bad for that, honestly, and now that he'd confirmed that everything was properly shipshape, he set about making himself at least feel a bit better by fussing around in the galley to make breakfast.

Waffles were an obvious choice, but instead this time Duke went with toutons, made in butter rather than pork fat, with molasses and apple butter to go with them. For protein, he soft-boiled some eggs. He had water boiling for coffee, and batter prepared for hot buttered rum if Lucifer decided he'd rather have that this morning.

The result? A steamy, spice-scented galley was waiting for his partners when they decided to join him.

[for the partners]

Comments

[okteiviakom]

Octavia was drawn in by the scent as soon as it wafted to her because -- well, who wouldn't be?

"What are you making?"

[betterthanaplan]

"Toutons," Duke said proudly. "Classic Newfoundland breakfast. I figure it should be nice and warming, you know?"

He gave her a grin and offered her the hand not currently wielding a spatula. "Good morning."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia took it and gave it a little squeeze as she stepped closer to him. Just to survey all that he had going on, breakfastwise, and with no ulterior motive.

Stealing a quick kiss clearly didn't count. "Morning, jaka."

[betterthanaplan]

Clearly! Duke kissed back, just as quick. There was hot oil here, so distractions had to be kept to a minimum.

"How'd you sleep?"

[okteiviakom]

Octavia made a vague noise, then said, "I've had worse."

She'd has unpleasant dreams both of the previous two nights, but sadly that didn't render what she said inaccurate.

"You?"

[betterthanaplan]

"Pretty good," Duke said, turning part of his attention back to the toutons. "Mostly dreamed about the ocean."

He'd dreamed he was a literal otter, and had been somewhat disappointed when he woke up.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia swayed their hands a little, then let go before he'd have to do it first. She stayed close, though, watching. "Good," she murmured. "If maybe a little predictable."

Teasing.

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer, predictably, was the last one out of the bedroom this morning.

"Do I smell dessert for breakfast?" he called.

[betterthanaplan]

"Nope!" Duke said cheerfully, after giving Octavia a wink for the "predictability" comment. "No, wait, dessert for breakfast -- yes. There is definitely enough sugar involved for this to count."

He grinned over Octavia's head at Lucifer.

"Toutons with molasses and apple butter, soft boiled eggs, and I've got batter for hot buttered rum if you're in the mood for it."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia glanced back over her shoulder, too. "So what's the mood?" she asked, with a tiny crooked smile.

Needlessly, but let a girl participate.

[my_own_advocate]

"I absolutely need hot buttered rum, darling," Lucifer said, strolling into the galley. "You read my mind."

[betterthanaplan]

"Or I just know you pretty well," Duke teased. He finished the touton he was working on and moved it from the pan, then looked at Octavia. "Want to grab a mug for him? And one for yourself if you want. We can skip the rum in yours and it should still taste great."

[okteiviakom]

"Well, that seems like an enticing promise to me," Octavia drawled, as she pulled away and happily got two mugs out.

[my_own_advocate]

"Thank you," Lucifer said, slipping in to take Octavia's place - so he could drop a kiss square on Duke's cheek. "You always do know how to make a morning magical."

[betterthanaplan]

"I try," Duke said, leaning into the kiss before dropping the next touton into the pan. "Especially when I know Fandom screwed with you two earlier in the week."

[okteiviakom]

"I don't need a special breakfast for that," Octavia said, lightly although maybe a bit milder than before.

She set the mugs down where they seemed most convenient.

[my_own_advocate]

"We're all right," Lucifer agreed. He pulled away from Duke - though not before giving his arse a playful swat. "But you know how I feel about you being domestic."

[betterthanaplan]

Duke laughed. "You know I do." He air-kissed in Octavia's directly. "And who said anything about 'need'? This is a want breakfast. And I --"

Suddenly vanished. Leaving a little pile of clothing on the floor by the stove.

[okteiviakom]

Now, they didn't have the best previous experiences with Duke just vanishing like that, so at least for Octavia, the alarm was immediate.

She stared. "Duke? Duke!"

... Although, that one time in Haven, his clothes had vanished with him...

[my_own_advocate]

"... What on Earth--?"

Lucifer spun back around.

And stared at the pile of clothes.

Okay, not so much 'stared' as 'nudged it with his foot'.

[betterthanaplan]

The clothes pile let out an annoyed squawk and squirmed on the floor.

A moment later, a furry head peered out.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia stared down at it. Him?

"Is that an... otter?" she asked, slowly.

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer leaned over to study it.

"... Apparently," he said.

[betterthanaplan]

The otter studied him in return.

It had a little bracelet wrapped around its front leg. With a little silver set of otters on it.

It squirmed the rest of the way out of the clothing pile and made a beeline for the door.

[okteiviakom]

Oh, of course it did.

Octavia darted after the animal. "Oh come on, Duke!"