betterthanaplan | The Cape Rouge, Port of Fandom, Christmas Eve

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The Cape Rouge, Port of Fandom, Christmas Eve

As a rule, he didn't tend to do much for the winter holidays -- unless you counted "go somewhere it's not winter" -- but some combination of Fandom's festivities and the cold weather had actually put him into something of a Christmas-y mood this year, so the Rouge's deck was -- well. Decked. There were string lights and garlands all over the open deck area, especially around the table holding the big thermos of hot, buttered rum. He'd set up a little fire pit on the metal cargo-bay doors, and the door to the galley and lounge below-decks was propped open with a now-dormant loaf of yesterday's fruitcake, in case people preferred to go in where it was warmer.

As discussed, Duke had only mentioned the party to a few people since planning it with Rey. It was Christmas, though, so if people decided to wander up and say hi, he wouldn't turn them away.

[up early and ready for all the slowplay. A few people in the know expected, but as it says in the narrative, it's open for wandering in if you want, too!]

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Octavia looked down at his hand, then back up at him.

And shrouded anything pleased about her expression under a tiny smirk. (Though, okay, maybe that looked pleased in itself, too.)

"That seems suspiciously convenient, Duke."

“I have no idea what you mean,” Duke said, handing her the package. Inside she’d find a bracelet.

Octavia gave him a look full of gentle 'bitch, please', before all of her attention went to carefully unwrapping the gift.

Her expression softened immediately as soon as she figured out what it was.

"Finrona," she murmured. "Thank you."

“On paracord. So it’s useful in an emergency, too.”

Octavia had noted the lack of a chain pretty much immediately, and that just made it better.

She looked up, and --

Screw it, he was getting a hug.

Duke grinned. “I take it that means you like it.”

Octavia sounded like she was smiling, too.

"Em ste badas." That was pretty self-explanatory, right? "Yes, I like it. Mochof."

“How do you say ‘you’re welcome’?”

Octavia pulled back enough to look at him.

"It's just 'pro'."

“Then pro. And mochof, Tavi.”

"Pro, seintaim, Duke kom Floukru."

Octavia smiled up at him for a second, then pulled back, this time fully because she needed both her hands free.

The bracelet was going on her left wrist, so she pushed up her sleeve some to let her get started on doing just that.

Meanwhile, Duke flipped open the notebook, digging through his pocket for a pen.

"What's a good first scheme, do you think?"

"Luring people into liking you more with clever gifts?" Octavia suggested.

She hoped she'd made it abundantly clear by now that she was at very high levels of liking him regardless of gifts, so that was a joke.

"I already did that, though," Duke said, not missing a beat. "This should be a new scheme."

"And I'm supposed to tell you about my ideas for fresh ones?" Octavia retorted, glancing up from wrapping the bracelet around her wrist. "What if I want to keep them to myself?"

"Oh?" Duke said, all feigned innocence. "Are you going to start scheming now?"

"Start?" Octavia asked, just as innocently.

It was really too bad batting her lashes didn't even occur to her. It would've really added to the effect.

"It's alright," Duke told her. "It's good to try new things."

"Oh, no, it's just sweet of you to assume I haven't already been scheming."

Sure.

"Well, if you have you've either been very good at it or very bad."

Octavia snorted. "I'll never tell."

But, scheming or no scheming (and it was definitely 'no scheming'), the bracelet had found its place, and so Octavia showed him her wrist with a tiny, lopsided smile.

"How's it look?"

"Meizen," Duke said, reaching to take her hand and give it a kiss. "Badas."

He wasn't looking at her bracelet.

Octavia noticed. It was impossible not to.

There it was again, that thrill running down her spine, familiar and unfamiliar all at once.

"I don't know much about jewelry," she said, her tone light but her voice quiet. Because they weren't actually talking about the shark on her wrist. "Guess I'll just have to trust your judgment."

"I might be slightly biased," Duke said with a little shrug. "It suits you. Practical, a little dark, but still elegant."

"Just slightly?"

That was largely rhetorical.

"Also, elegant? That's a new one."

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