Outside The Grey Gull, Haven, Sunday Afternoon

[okteiviakom]

Jennifer	The Grey Gull was hopping, the lot filled with cars of various makes in various states of repair. Music could be heard from the end of the driveway, and the little outdoor seating area was bustling. "Huh," Jennifer said. "I thought Duke said this place would be closed."
Octavia	"He's got employees," Octavia replied, eying the Gull. "Probably kept the place up and running." Look, she had a Fandomite's understanding of business. And anyway, she sounded distracted. Because it was weird, being back here. As if, with all the drama, it hadn't even fully sank in until now that she was here, and that aside from the usual drama, all the places she'd visited before were all still here, too. ... And the people. Her hand went to pat her pockets, until she found her phone.
Jennifer	"Well, hopefully they have food," Jennifer said, picking up the pace a bit as she headed for the bar. "I need to take my meds." Now that she was surrounded by people in something that read a bit more normal than Haven had proven so far, she was much more comfortable.
Octavia	Octavia trailed a few paces after her, but most of her attention was now on her phone, and navigating to her very short list of contacts. Her heart was in her throat. "Sure they do," she muttered. "Duke wouldn't have it any other way."
Jennifer	"He's got a cute bartender, too," Jennifer noted, and wandered away, leaving Octavia to her phone call.
Octavia	Octavia had been about to tell her she'd be right here out front for a while, but... Guess that went without saying, now. Now that Octavia was staring at one name in the list, anyway. Gloria. She tapped the screen to make a call, and tried not to feel as if she was about to start trembling as she brought the phone to her ear.
Gloria	"Hello?" Gloria answered after a couple rings. She sounded faintly distracted.
Octavia	Meanwhile, Octavia's voice immediately sounded far too soft. "Hi, Gloria." Far too small. "It's --" Oh. How long had it been, now? Octavia was suddenly struck with just how much she didn't want to say 'it's me' only to find herself faced with a 'who?' "It's Octavia."
Gloria	She wouldn't have gotten a "who" anyway. "Wildcat!" Gloria was no longer distracted. "It's been ages! How have you been?"
Octavia	Octavia's little huff at hearing 'wildcat' sounded nothing like it was half-sob, how dare you. "I --" -- was fully unprepared for actually having this conversation. As was evident from how words seemed to be failing to materialize.
Gloria	"Sweetheart?" Gloria's voice turned concerned. "You alright? Has something happened?" There was a bit of muffled crackling as she shifted the phone. "Lincoln, honey, come take Aaron for a bit! I've got to talk to someone."
Octavia	"... You have someone named Lincoln?" Octavia was going to get a hold on how strained her voice sounded sometime soon. Honest.
Gloria	"That's right, my boyfriend," Gloria said fondly. "Goddammit, I don't think he heard me." She let out a gravelly sigh, hang on just a moment, Wildcat." There was another crackle, and then a distant thwack. "That got his attention. Can you take the grandbaby, honey? Thank you! Now. Tell me everything, sweetheart."
Octavia	God, Gloria, how Octavia had missed you. "We're -- in Haven." That seemed like something to start with. Or at least it was the first thing she managed to grab onto. "Duke, and me, and Lucifer." A beat. "Did he -- did he tell you about Lucifer?"
Gloria	"Your all's beau who happens to be the actual Devil? Sure he did." Gloria smiled. "This mean I might get to actually meet the guy? Figured I'd have to wait till I was dead to do that. . . ."
Octavia	"Probably?" Octavia replied. Just... ignore that hopeful note in her voice. (It just suddenly felt like it was important to her.) "I know I want to see you before we go." Whenever that would happen.
Gloria	"You'd better," Gloria said, and started to sound a bit choked up. "Does -- does this mean Duke's alright? I've been hearing rumors, and feared the worst. . . ."
Octavia	"'Alright' is relative," Octavia said, because she couldn't help herself. "But we... took an anniversary trip not long ago, and..." Oh. She was babbling. Just get to the point, Tavi. "He's alive, Gloria. He's fine, and he's here."
Gloria	"Thank god," Gloria breathed. "When I heard -- and of course I could get a hold of either of you. Guess I know how you felt when you two couldn't reach anyone here." She cleared her throat, and her voice steadied again. "Anyway, I'm retired, Wildcat, so I've got nothing but time. So long as you don't mind maybe having a baby riding along, we can meet up whenever you like. I'd love to see you."
Octavia	"I don't mind babies," Octavia murmured. "At least ones that don't mind if I don't talk English to them." She'd been with Duke and Lucifer for far too long already if the urge to lighten the mood with half a joke came this easily.
Gloria	"Nah. Aaron's not even a year old yet. He wouldn't know what you're saying either way." Gloria shifted, sounds of her moving things about clear over the phone line. "Where are you now, Wildcat? I could come meet you, maybe."
Octavia	"I'm..." She looked up, at the building, as if her surroundings had just come back to her. "At Duke's place? Uh, I'm at the Gull."
Gloria	"Of course you are. I'll be there in a jiff. Don't let that boy of yours do anything stupid in the meantime."
Octavia	"He's already at the police station." So, you know. No promises. "But I'll be here."
Gloria	". . . Please tell me he didn't already get his ass arrested."
Octavia	Octavia managed something wry. "No. You can tell he didn't by how I'm not there too, right now." Either also arrested, or tearing the whole place down. Your pick. "It's a -- I'll tell you when you get here."
Gloria	"Alright, good. I don't know the new chief well enough yet to tear him a proper new one." Gloria chuckled. "I'll see you in a few, Wildcat. Lincoln! You got the car seat ready?!" The call ended there, but Gloria was as good as her word. It'd only take a few minutes for her to get to the Gull.
Octavia	Octavia peered into the Gull just enough to see Jennifer safe and sound, talking to the bartender. Good. But Octavia herself wasn't feeling up to being in a room full of strangers, so she stayed out front. And did her best not to pace. It was strange to feel nervous, right? So she just wouldn't.
Gloria	Gloria let out a little laugh when she saw Octavia hovering outside the bar instead of inside. She lifted the hand not lugging baby Aaron in his carrier, then gestured with her head to the bench. "Should we sit?"
Octavia	"Gloria." Okay, Octavia, get it together. No reason to sound like you were about to cry. She inhaled, and cleared her throat, and nodded. "Yeah," she said, "yeah, we should."
Gloria	Oh. Oh Octavia, you did an old woman's heart good. She set Aaron down carefully and held her arms out. "C'mere first, Wildcat. It's been too long."
Octavia	Octavia was there without even a second thought. Clinging to Gloria, fiercely. The same way she had that first time, when she'd been young and Gloria had just helped her get out of jail.
Gloria	Gloria remembered. It wasn't nearly so long ago for her as it was for Octavia. "Oh Wildcat. I've missed you."
Octavia	"I've missed you, too," Octavia mumbled into her shoulder. "A lot."
Gloria	Gloria sniffled just a bit, then pulled back to look Octavia over from arm's length. "You look good. You know, for anyone stuck back in this little armpit in the depths of the troubles."
Octavia	"I've been good." Why did that sound so much like a kid making a promise? Octavia cleared her throat again. Shot for something a little more wry. "Meds, and therapy twice a week." A small pause. "And two partners who love me."
Gloria	Gloria nodded, pleased. "That's a good combination," she said. "Keeps any one thing from having to do all the work."
Octavia	"Had all of them for about a year, now," Octavia said, soft and quiet. (She'd let go any second now, really.) "Took a while before they started working."
Gloria	"Mm, now I doubt that," Gloria said gently. "I suspect they had enough work to do that it took awhile for you to notice the difference."
Octavia	Octavia huffed out a tiny laugh, a little unsteady. She ducked her head. "Yeah, probably," she admitted. "It's been -- it's a lot."
Gloria	"Life gets that way," Gloria said, reaching up to brush Octavia's hair behind her ear. "But if you keep going long enough, it usually evens out in the end. And if not . . . that's what gin is for."
Octavia	Octavia's head tilted into the touch, because she couldn't help it. She looked up through her lashes. "I... haven't really been doing that since I got the meds."
Gloria	Gloria hummed non-committally. "Well. You've got to do what works best for you." For her, it was definitely gin.
Octavia	"I miss it sometimes." Was working her way back to it - or at least the occasional drink or two. But they didn't really need to get into it. Octavia looked aside. Saw the baby in his carrier again, and her lips tilted into a small smile. "And who's this?"
Gloria	Gloria followed her gaze and her eyes lit up, like she hadn't spent much of the day dealing with the baby's fussing and dirty diapers. "This handsome gentleman," she said, lifting the carrier and setting it gently onto the bench, "is my grandson, Aaron. Aaron, this is one of my favorite miscreants, Octavia." Aaron blew a spit bubble.
Octavia	Octavia didn't mind. She crouched down a little, to be a little more level with the carrier. "Meika's slak, Aaron," she said, softly. "Yu vout in laik ogeda dei chichplei ste kikoda?" It was a reflex.
Gloria	Aaron stared up at her, wide-eyed, and waggled his hands in the air. "Think he likes you," Gloria said. She didn't bother to ask what Octavia was saying to the kid.
Octavia	The gentle tone probably said enough, anyway. The actual meaning was secondary. Octavia let out a tiny chuckle that sounded a little choked off, and wiggled her fingers at the baby. "You think so?"
Gloria	"Of course! My grandson has a very good eye for character."
Octavia	Octavia could not help her little snort, or the very wry look she cast up at Gloria. "Okay." She was happier, these days. She still didn't think she was particularly good. (But it still felt good to hear, and maybe she needed it right now.)

[ooc: NFB due to distance, preplayed with the wonderful betterthanaplan. Takes place during Haven S04E01 Fallout.]