okteiviakom | The Samsara, Port of Fandom, Monday Afternoon

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The Samsara, Port of Fandom, Monday Afternoon

Octavia had invited Duke over to her boat after class. It was not a big deal. Except it felt like one, since they were still in the process of -- well, getting Duke settled into the idea that the Samsara wasn't some sacred space he wasn't allowed in.

So Octavia was almost glad that she had something else to think about when they actually made it there. See, stumbling onto a class and joining them had been a good idea right up until the point where the class was done, and it was time to come out of the water, and realize you had not brought a change of clothes.

Thankfully, the weather was warm enough for walking to the docks in clothes that were still wet all over, but it hadn't been the best thing Octavia had ever experienced.

"I should have fruit if you want a snack," she told Duke, as she stepped down into the cabin. "I'm gonna change into something less... damp."

[ooc: For the snogon!]

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"That must feel good after surgery. Maybe help keep your head clear."

Octavia snorted softly.

"Might be because of therapy that I even feel that in the first place."

[thank you for pretending that said therapy >.<]

Duke didn't want to lift his head enough for a bob, so he made a small noise instead.

He still felt weird about therapy. Arla Cogan -- and not knowing exactly when Claire had stopped being Claire -- had done a number on his trust issues. But he would never try to tell her not to do it.

Octavia had already made up her own mind about it, anyway. It wasn't easy for her to trust her therapist, but she viewed her discomfort as the price to pay for trying to get better.

She knew how he felt, though.

Her fingertips rubbed the back of his neck gently. "I mean it more like... Like therapy is hard." That was not news, no. "It's being stuck in a room with all the shitty things that have happened." Her fingers moved, slid into his hair again. "And that street corner feels like freedom."

Basically it was what he'd said, just from her own angle.

"I'm glad," Duke said. "That you have that chance for freedom." He looked up at her. "Think you could show it to me some day?"

"Yeah," Octavia said, after a little pause. "I could take you with me sometime." She shrugged, and tried for a little wry curving of her lips. "I mean, you know how to entertain yourself for about an hour."

"In New York? Easy," Duke agreed.

Octavia huffed a breath out of her nose, and tried tucking that one stubborn strand of hair behind his ear.

"Exactly," she said. "Maybe you can scout us a good place to get lunch from."

"I can absolutely do that," Duke said. And probably find something random to get her as a present while he was at it!

But of course.

"Then you're invited," Octavia told him, that curve of her lips getting a little more pronounced. "Sometime."

Not yet tomorrow.

"Sometime," Duke agreed with a nod. "And meanwhile, maybe we'll go see our stream again."

"I'd like that too," Octavia said. And not just because -- No, actually, she should maybe say that part out loud. "And not just because I freaked out the last time I tried to go."

"Good. That's not the only reason why I want to go, either."

"Tell me your reasons," Octavia replied lightly, "and I'll tell you mine?"

"Because the fish have fur," Duke said easily. "And because they were the first things I remember that you were excited to show me."

Octavia ducked her head, hiding her soft ghost of a smile. Like she always used to, a long time ago.

She nodded.

"'Cause I thought you'd like them."

"And you were right. Ai briyon gona."

Octavia leaned over to press a quick kiss to his forehead, not even caring that she had to pretty much fold over in her seat to do it.

"Ai ste shanen."

“Yu ste,” Duke agreed, smiling.

Octavia gave a soft snort, then lingered to nuzzle at his hair a little, not caring that it was still a little damp. Not one bit. "Are you sure you remember what shanen means?"

"I was a minute ago," Duke said. "It doesn't mean 'shiny'?"

And now the nuzzling turned into the muffling of --

Octavia would not have called it a laugh. But it was the closest to one she'd gotten in a while.

"It means 'happy'."

"Yeah?" Duke kissed the side of her knee. "It's, uh. Been a little while."

"Don't get too excited," Octavia murmured, somewhat wryly. "It's just because you like the stupid fish."

"Too late," Duke said. "I will take that as a win no matter the reason."

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