betterthanaplan | 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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From:

betterthanaplan

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

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

From:

okteiviakom

"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.

From:

betterthanaplan

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

From:

okteiviakom

"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?"

From:

betterthanaplan

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

From:

okteiviakom

"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.

From:

betterthanaplan

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

From:

okteiviakom

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

Sure.

From:

betterthanaplan

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

From:

okteiviakom

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?"

From:

betterthanaplan

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

He wasn't looking at her bracelet.

From:

okteiviakom

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."

From:

betterthanaplan

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

From:

okteiviakom

"Just slightly?"

That was largely rhetorical.

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

From:

betterthanaplan

"Absolutely. It's not my fault no one else understands the elegance in sword throwing."

From:

okteiviakom

There was another one of those amused huffs.

"Well, my sword's grateful for your unique point of view, I guess."

From:

betterthanaplan

"I'm glad I could cheer it up."

Sure.

From:

okteiviakom

"You're ridiculous."

That was an entirely fair statement to make after making this to be about the sword first. Especially while looking down and running a fingertip over the shark.

Then she looked up again. "Anyway. Schemes, right? Guess they can't be about charm since you've already done all that."

From:

betterthanaplan

"That is the nicest way anyone's ever called me that," Duke said. "And they could, but it'd just be a little redundant."

From:

okteiviakom

"I should not be managing to do anything 'the nicest' for you."

She just thought he deserved better, in general.

From:

betterthanaplan

"And yet," Duke said, tilting his head in a little shrug.

There'd never been a lot of nice in his life.

From:

okteiviakom

Octavia just watched him quietly for a long moment.

Then, she said, "I think I actually have an idea for a scheme."

From:

betterthanaplan

"Oh yeah?" Duke hadn't exactly dimmed a moment ago, but he definitely brightened a bit to be back on the subject of scheming, instead of anything that hinted at his crappy life. "Let's hear it."

From:

okteiviakom

"It's bare-bones, and nothing big," Octavia warned him, as if there'd been any danger of him assuming she'd come up with some grand scale masterplan all of a sudden. "But it involves enticing Lucy off the Rouge for a night."