The Deck of the Cape Rouge, Port of Fandom, Friday Afternoon

[okteiviakom]

Octavia knew there was a Parents Weekend thing happening in town right now. She was still undecided on whether she wanted to put in an appearance, because on one hand, last year's had led to some bad times for her. On the other... There was some small part of her that hoped, no matter how foolishly, that maybe Gloria would somehow show up.

(There was just so much she wanted to tell her. And so much fear that she would never get to.)

So far, for her trek through town after her usual Friday routine of therapy and swimming out in New York, she had steered clear of the park. She had a big bag from a shoe store to get home, anyway. See, there'd been some talk of those early days on the Ground in her session today, and then she'd taken a slightly different route from her usual in getting to the portal place, and she'd seen the boots in a store window, and, well. She'd never been able to resist a good symbol. Especially one as personal as this, appearing at just the right time for it to feel a little like something else than just pure coincidence.

(Even with how mired in complications that thought was for her, these days. For reasons she had still not discussed with Dr. Baker at all.)

And even as she stepped aboard the Rouge, she was still wondering whether she should've just taken her purchase on the Samsara instead, and buried them in her closet. The urge to share and the urge to keep it to herself felt equal.

Maybe she'd shove them in a closet here, instead.

[ooc: Open, though slow.]

Comments

[okteiviakom]

The thing he was doing with his chin on her head was nice, but Octavia shifted just slightly so she could tip her head back against his shoulder and at least sort-of see him.

"Well," she said wryly, "you're free to smell me every Tuesday and Friday."

He was free to smell her any damn day, actually. But, you know.

"And I know we're probably off to Barbados the second your cast is off, but in case we're not, you're free to come with me to the pool instead."

[betterthanaplan]

"Deal," Duke said. "And if we do go to the Barbados, maybe . . . I could join you at the pool after we get back, anyway?"

[okteiviakom]

"If you'd like that," Octavia told him, rubbing his arm a little, looking up at him, "then I'd like that."

[betterthanaplan]

"Then I would like that," Duke said. "So long as I'm not invading."

There. Confessing he felt something while still giving her space to establish her own boundaries!

[okteiviakom]

It was a valid concern. Octavia's expression turned a touch more wry. "Well, as long as you don't join me every time," she amended.

[betterthanaplan]

"Deal," Duke said. He straightened up slowly, hands still on her shoulders, and moved around so that he could sit next to her. "Only ten more days," he said, glaring at his cast. "Possibly the longest ten days ever."

[okteiviakom]

"I know, snogon," Octavia told him, leaning over to press a quick kiss to his cheek, now that he was there. "But then it'll be over."

[betterthanaplan]

Duke leaned into her kiss, then kept going to drop his head onto her shoulder.

"So. I guess it's family day or whatever up at the school."

[okteiviakom]

That was just a great excuse for Octavia to drop a kiss against his hair, too.

"Uh huh," she murmured. "They're in the park."

Not that she was hyper aware of that, or anything.

[betterthanaplan]

"I tried inviting Gloria again," Duke said. "But . . . still no answer. Haven's still cut off."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia's sigh sounded a little like she'd been holding her breath, somehow.

"I was hoping for her, too," she admitted quietly.

[betterthanaplan]

Duke let out a sigh of his own, then was quiet for a long moment, battling with himself before finally blurting out "I'm worried about here."

[okteiviakom]

It wasn't necessarily what Octavia had expected him to say.

She turned to look at him again.

[betterthanaplan]

“All of them,” Duke admitted, trying (and failing) not to over-analyze the look on her face. “Have been for, uh. A really long time.”

[okteiviakom]

Octavia's expression was settling into something a little sad.

"Mostly I though you just..."

She didn't know if she wanted to finish that. If she even should.

[betterthanaplan]

"Just . . . what?" Duke asked. "Forgot about them?"

[okteiviakom]

"No," Octavia said softly. "Just... focused on other people."

That was as diplomatic as she could put it.

[betterthanaplan]

"On you and Lucifer," Duke said. Her reaction hurt, thought he couldn't really say why. (He should've expected it, right? Because he didn't "advocate for his own issues".) "I can love you two and worry about them at the same time, Tavi."

[okteiviakom]

Would it hurt less or more once he figured out he'd deciphered her reaction wrong?

Let's find out.

A startled huff escaped Octavia. "Not us," she said. "Other people in Haven." This was what she got for trying to be diplomatic and not invoking Audrey's name.

[betterthanaplan]

Duke frowned. "I'm worried about everyone I love back in Haven."

Oh hey. Causally referencing loving multiple people there. Progress?

[okteiviakom]

"Never mind," Octavia muttered, shaking her head, dropping her gaze, "I shouldn't have said anything." Should've gone with that gut instinct. "I'm really sorry Haven's still locked up."

[betterthanaplan]

Maybe Duke should have been talking to Linda about Octavia instead of Lucifer.

"Right, so I've learned a thing or two, talking to Linda. Like that what you're doing right now is disengaging."

Look at him, throwing out therapy words like he'd internalized their meanings.

[okteiviakom]

"No shit," Octavia said mildly, with no heat or bite.

[betterthanaplan]

"I'm trying to tell you something, Tavi," Duke said softly. "And it's not easy. So I kind of need you not to do that right now." He took a breath. "If -- if you can."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia took a slow breath in. Then let it out.

Okay.

"What do you want to tell me?" she asked, looking up at him again, if through her lashes. That would help, right? Asking? To get them back on something resembling a track.