A Nice and Secluded Bit of the Preserve, Saturday

[okteiviakom]

The preserve was a fair bit more popular these days than it had been when Octavia had first began roaming around in it years and years ago, but she and Duke had still managed to find a nice spot for their little camping trip that people were unlikely to randomly stumble upon. There was a clearing, along a sort of a little cove.

Between the water and the trees, it was perfect.

Octavia had taken on the task of getting the tent set up, while she'd entrusted the hammock to Duke. (Would they even need both? Remained to be seen, but it was nice to have them.) And right now? She straightened up from hammering the last tent peg into the ground.

"Just needs the twinkly lights, I think."

[ooc: For that guyyy.]

Comments

[betterthanaplan]

“But then what will we do in the middle of the night when we can’t sleep?” Duke asked innocently.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia had a little more mischief in her expression.

"Have sex, obviously."

[betterthanaplan]

"Between those times."

[okteiviakom]

"We're supposed to have serious talks in between sex?"

Oh like that didn't already happen with you all the time, Tavi.

[betterthanaplan]

"You say that like we've never done it before."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia gave a tiny snort, but didn't try to argue. He clearly already got her, there.

"Maybe we need more serious talks about sex, for a change."

[betterthanaplan]

Duke nodded very seriously. "I think those can be arranged." He tilted his head. "Now, or should we save them for between the sexy times later?"

[okteiviakom]

The lightness of Octavia's expression faltered a little. Turned more into something like she was... thinking about something.

"I mean..." she said, with a little hesitation. "How open are you to having one right now? Just a tiny one."

[betterthanaplan]

Duke's brows furrowed faintly. "If there's something you need to talk about. . . . Yeah. Let's talk."

[okteiviakom]

"I promise it's not a big thing," Octavia felt compelled to say, don't ask her why. Maybe just in case? Her hands ran up his chest, until she could slide her arms over his shoulders. "Just... kind of a request?"

[betterthanaplan]

Duke nodded. "Sure."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia hesitated a little bit, anyway.

Found herself sounding almost apologetic. "I... would like it if I didn't get any more power games sprung up on me."

[betterthanaplan]

Duke's mouth opened and closed a few times. "I -- oh. Yeah, no, that's -- of course not."

It was going to take him a moment to work out what exactly she was referring to. But once he did figure it out, he was going to feel awful.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia was going to do her best not to let that happen.

"Obviously you don't do that when it's just you and me, anyway." Because he didn't want to do that with her anymore, because he wouldn't be able to handle it, because she was a -- Anyway. "I just, I never thought to make it clear that I can't really be there for... when it's between you two, either."

She gave a tiny shrug. Rubbed the back of his neck.

"There's just no space for me. And I want it to be good for you. Fun."

[betterthanaplan]

For when it was the two of them -- recognition sparked, and Duke's face fell.

"Shit, I'm sorry. I didn't even think. I was just -- it was for Luce, and he was going there, and -- we should have checked in. I'm so sorry."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia's fingers rubbing at his neck didn't falter. Helped that she'd already had a version of this conversation with Lucifer.

"I know," she murmured. "I'm just asking you not to go there again. Not if we haven't talked about it before."

[betterthanaplan]

Duke wrinkled his nose, scowling at himself, and pressed his forehead against hers.

"I can do that," he promised. "I'm so sorry. Thanks for telling me."

He was a little frustrated that she hadn't said anything in the moment, but -- well. Like that was anything new? She always needed a little while to process things. He reminded himself he was glad she'd told him at all.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia gave a tiny sigh. "Would've said something sooner, but..."

Well.

"I didn't wanna ruin it for everyone."

[betterthanaplan]

"You just let it be ruined for you," Duke murmured, running his thumb over her cheek. "Pretty sure you'd have something to say about it if I tried that."

[okteiviakom]

"Yeah, well, it's different when it's not me," Octavia muttered. There was something in her tone that suggested she knew that was not the smartest.

Her face tilted a little bit into the touch.

[betterthanaplan]

"Uh huh. I know that feeling." He cupped her jaw, tilting her face up a little so he could give her a gentle kiss. "Speaking of being well-matched."

[okteiviakom]

He found no resistance. Just something soft and small.

"I know it was dumb," Octavia whispered. "I just didn't know what else to do."

[betterthanaplan]

“Sounds to me like we need a safe word,” Duke said, a hint of tease in his tone, for all that he meant it 100%. “Something you can say to just. Pause. And let us all reset without judgement or hurting the moment.”

[okteiviakom]

"Lucifer and I have one," Octavia murmured. "He would tell you I've had trouble using it. Because I always feel like it's gonna be a... screeching halt."

[betterthanaplan]

“Have you practiced it?” Duke asked. “Tested it out when it didn’t matter as much?”