The Cape Rouge, Port of Fandom, Sunday Noon

[okteiviakom]

Octavia had been back for two days. In those two days, she'd done little more than sleep. (And eat, although that one was more at Duke's insistence than it was her body's will.) She definitely hadn't even considered leaving the boat. She wasn't considering it now, either.

She knew Duke had texted some of her -- some people to let them know she'd returned, and so she knew there were people in town who would probably want to see her. But as long as she didn't go out there, none of that was real, and she wouldn't have to find out how she felt about any of them now.

And they wouldn't have to find out how they felt about her.

But at least she was on the deck, now. Leaning against the gunwale and looking towards open water. It had not been many days since she'd seen this same ocean be nothing but a wasteland of sand. She kept trying to put the last two weeks together with where she was now, and failing, and feeling almost dizzy with the dissonance.

She didn't even realize her knuckles were white with how tightly she was gripping the railing.

[ooc: Ooopen, if you want to try your luck.]

Comments

[okteiviakom]

And Octavia just watched him, practically frozen in place.

Sure, he was only the second person, but already she was sure she would never get used to them looking exactly the same. She'd done the math countless times and always come to the conclusion that they'd all be elderly if she ever made it back.

(Because how was she supposed to have known the time difference would suddenly not be the same as it had been when she'd been yanked back to the Ground?)

[magnusrushesin]

Was the fact that he had his arms out for a hug also making her freeze up? Because that was what he was doing. Sorry not sorry, Octavia.

[okteiviakom]

Oh, no.

Once he was close enough, that actually made her take a very deliberate step back, complete with a look that suggested he really should reconsider that.

[magnusrushesin]

"Okay, back-peddling on the hugs," Magnus said slowly. "How about a high-five?"

[okteiviakom]

"No."

Sorry, Magnus.

She was looking him up and down now, though. Just -- trying to comprehend.

[magnusrushesin]

He gave himself that high-five, nodding along with her weird assessment. "So, you're back!"

[okteiviakom]

Octavia's gaze returned to his face. Slowly, but it did.

"Guess so."

Her mild drawl still sounded the same. Likewise, the rigid way she stood, although the bandaged feet were new.

[magnusrushesin]

"You wanna talk about it?" he asked slowly like he was talking to a wounded animal that needed to be calmed.

[okteiviakom]

Well. He wasn't entirely wrong about that.

That also felt like an extremely Magnus question to ask, even after all these years. Octavia half wanted to snort, but couldn't make herself do it. "Not really."

[magnusrushesin]

He was gonna Magnus no matter what, really.

"Wanna hit each other with swords about it?"

[okteiviakom]

"No."

Not today, anyway. The time for that would come later, probably. Duke still had her old sword, but she hadn't felt like even touching it yet.

... She should probably have said more than that.

[magnusrushesin]

"Okay, now I know something is wrong," Magnus informed her with a huff.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia tensed even further. It was quite an achievement, really.

"Magnus, I've been away for seven years."

She found herself really wishing Duke had told people that.

[magnusrushesin]

"Ohhh," Magnus said. "Well, you're not a stranger, even with that. You're still my buddy even if I gotta work at that again for your side."

[okteiviakom]

Well, if Octavia had still been unsure about whether this was real or not, that right there might have been enough proof. She couldn't have imagined Magnus being himself to the fullest extent. The incomprehensible things that made no sense to anyone but him, yes, but not... this.

But she didn't know how she felt about it.

"Right," she said mildly. "Good luck with that."

[magnusrushesin]

"Luck, schmuck," he said, waving her off. "I'm stubborn as heck."

Also, found family was what kept him going in life and you found yourself in that mix, Octavia.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia didn't say anything to that. Either because she felt there was no point, or because she was fully out of words.

Probably both, honestly. And he should probably get used to that.

She turned to lean against the gunwale again.

[magnusrushesin]

"Back to bein' non-verbal. That's cool, I can chill with you as long as you need me to," Magnus said. "Well. I'll need to go home to sleep at some point, but I'll come back. Oh, and sometimes I'll need to eat or pee. You don't need to be around for that."

[okteiviakom]

Maybe he ought to have divvied up some shifts with Duke.

Octavia's eyes were on the water again, and she didn't look over at him. "I don't need it."

Not wanting it and not needing it were not the same thing, Octavia.

[magnusrushesin]

DON'T THINK HE WOULDN'T.

"Agree to disagree," Magnus said promptly.

[okteiviakom]

"Doesn't work like that."

That was as dry as the deserts she now had personal experience with.

[magnusrushesin]

"What doesn't?"

[okteiviakom]

For a split second, Octavia considered clarifying.

Then she shook her head.

"I'm not doing this with you."

[magnusrushesin]

"Okay, how about I come back and we can try again? I'll even bring food. It'll be great!" He was just gonna keep coming back to try again, Octavia. He didn't know the meaning of quit.

[okteiviakom]

Slowly, she looked over at him. "Does that mean you'll leave me alone now?"

That was the most important question.

[magnusrushesin]

"For now."

[okteiviakom]

"Good enough," Octavia drawled.

Wasn't it good to have her back, Magnus?

[magnusrushesin]

SUPER GOOD.

"Okay, I love you!" he called stubbornly.

[okteiviakom]

People here said that so easily.

Octavia said nothing, just watched him leave.