The Cape Rouge, Port of Fandom, Christmas Eve

[betterthanaplan]

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!]

Comments

Re: On deck

[betterthanaplan]

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

Re: On deck

[okteiviakom]

"Just slightly?"

That was largely rhetorical.

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

Re: On deck

[betterthanaplan]

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

Re: On deck

[okteiviakom]

There was another one of those amused huffs.

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

Re: On deck

[betterthanaplan]

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

Sure.

Re: On deck

[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."

Re: On deck

[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."

Re: On deck

[okteiviakom]

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

She just thought he deserved better, in general.

Re: On deck

[betterthanaplan]

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

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

Re: On deck

[okteiviakom]

Octavia just watched him quietly for a long moment.

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

Re: On deck

[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."

Re: On deck

[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."

Re: On deck

[betterthanaplan]

"Really." Duke grinned. "Have plans for my boat, do you?"

He was pretty sure he'd be very happy with said plans.

Re: On deck

[okteiviakom]

"Mostly you," Octavia replied, with her tiny crooked smile. "But anything that happens after we get the witness off the boat is less a part of a scheme, and more just... us."

Re: On deck

[betterthanaplan]

"True. Though calling her 'the witness' makes it sound delightfully scandalous."

Re: On deck

[okteiviakom]

The lopsided tilt of her lips turned into more of a smirk.

"Yeah, that was on purpose."

Re: On deck

[betterthanaplan]

"Glad to hear it. More people should be scandalous on purpose."

Re: On deck

[okteiviakom]

"I was born scandalous," Octavia quipped. Although it was actually true. She shrugged. "Anyway, that's my scheme. Good enough for the journal?"

Re: On deck

[betterthanaplan]

"Oh, totally. Once it's an actual scheme and not just, like, an outline."

Re: On deck

[okteiviakom]

Snort. "That may take a while." She was a scheming beginner! "But it's good to have goals, right?"

Re: On deck

[betterthanaplan]

Everyone had to start somewhere!

"It is. It's also helpful to have an experienced scheming partner."

Re: On deck

[okteiviakom]

"Right," Octavia replied, as she reached out slowly, to put her hand on his arm. Fingers curling into his sleeve.

She'd felt torn between the public-feeling situation and her tiny personal urges for a few moments. Now, the latter were seeping out a little bit.

"Well, lucky me, think I have one of those."

Re: On deck

[betterthanaplan]

Duke considered teasingly asking who, but decided that might be too much. "You do," he said instead. "I hear he's pretty good, too."

Re: On deck

[okteiviakom]

"Yeah," Octavia replied, with one of her tiny nods. "I don't think I'd scheme with anyone else."

Re: On deck

[betterthanaplan]

That caught Duke a little unawares. He blinked, expression falling open for just a second before he pulled his more customary smirk back in place.

"You sure about that? That's quite the commitment. To scheming."