MCA #9, Saturday Noon

[okteiviakom]

Of course Octavia didn't have a key. What she did have were semi-rusty skills at picking locks. She'd practiced, down in the bunker, and taught it to Niylah in the early years, but it had been a while. Duke could've done it faster, but she insisted on doing it herself.

Took longer, but she did it, then straightened up with her hand against the door - and paused, instead off opening it, instead of marching right in.

This'd be just fine, right?

It was just an apartment.

[ooc: For that one guy, pls.]

Comments

[okteiviakom]

"He wasn't in the bunker."

A shuddery inhale.

"He didn't understand."

[betterthanaplan]

“Did he, uh. Did he blame you? For the people who didn’t make it?”

[okteiviakom]

These people are dead because of you.

Octavia didn't answer. She pressed her eyes tightly closed, and buried her face against his shoulder.

[betterthanaplan]

Yeah, Duke took that as a yes.

“I’m so sorry, Tavi.”

He rather wished he could punch Bell in the face right now.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia's voice was nothing but a mumble. And exhausted. "He's not Wonkru," she said, like that explained it, like that explained anything.

But neither was Duke.

[betterthanaplan]

“Wonkru. Bunker people?”

[okteiviakom]

"No more separate clans, down there," Octavia replied, on a sigh. "Just... one people."

[betterthanaplan]

“But then you came back out. And Bell was on the other side.”

[okteiviakom]

Something about Octavia's tone hardened a little. "With an entire ship's worth of other outsiders."

[betterthanaplan]

“Sounds like a party,” Duke said dryly. “And Big Brother expected you to be the same Octavia from before the bunker?”

[okteiviakom]

"Yeah."

And how.

"Not that we saw eye to eye before then, either."

[betterthanaplan]

Duke wanted to sit them both down, but was afraid she’d clam up again if they moved. Instead he just kept hanging on and stroking her hair. “Brothers are like that. Especially older ones. They like to pretend they’re in charge.”

[okteiviakom]

Even though Octavia's voice was quiet, there was a harsher edge to it.

A little more Blodreina.

"He kept choosing the wrong side."

[betterthanaplan]

That was a spooky tone of voice.

“What a dick.”

[okteiviakom]

She was a spooky sort of person, now.

But her tone mellowed down again. Became milder. "I'm not surprised he's not here."

Heartbroken, even after everything. But not really surprised.

[betterthanaplan]

Neither was Duke. Bellamy had barely been here when he was.

“I’m sorry anyway,” Duke said. “That he’s not. That he couldn’t handle you changing.”

[okteiviakom]

Octavia managed to finally let go of the sheet. Not that it went very far, half trapped between them.

"Only saw him for a few weeks out of the past six years, anyway," she mumbled. "It's fine."

Hah.

[betterthanaplan]

“I’m sorry anyway.” Duke pulled back a little, just to where he could look at her face. “Do you still want to throw things?”

[okteiviakom]

Octavia's cheeks had dried, but her eyes were red when she opened them again.

"Not really."

She kind of always wanted to throw things these days. It just wasn't as prominent a feeling as it had been a few moments ago.

[betterthanaplan]

"That's too bad." Duke gave her a little smile. "I was going to suggest going to the preserve to throw swords."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia looked past his shoulder, at the room.

At her things. Or what had once been her things and now felt like relics.

"Sure, whatever."

[betterthanaplan]

That wasn't quite the answer he'd been hoping for. He couldn't blame her for putting her walls back up, though.

"Or we can stay here a little longer? Whatever you need."

[okteiviakom]

"This is a grave and I need to not be here."

She was already pushing away from him, and for the door.

[betterthanaplan]

"It's not -- yeah, alright. Let's go." Duke bit back a sigh. He'd put in another month's rent on the lease to give her time to decide what to do with it all.

Or if she wanted to come back at all.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia very nearly closed her eyes when she had to pass through the living room again, but instead kept them fixed on the door until she was there.

She didn't breathe again before she was standing out in the hallway.