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]

"You'll be with me. You and Luce. The whole time."

He tried to sound more confident about that than he was.

[okteiviakom]

"The whole time," Octavia agreed with a nod, even though she knew she couldn't promise that. Not when they lived between the pull of Haven and Los Angeles and the rest of the multiverse. "You have us."

[betterthanaplan]

Well, that was kind of like Duke protesting that they couldn't prepare for everything. It didn't have to be precise to be accurate in spirit.

He tugged her in tight against his side and kissed her hair.

"Mochof."

[okteiviakom]

"De nada."

She gave him a little squeeze.

"We just want good things for you."

[betterthanaplan]

"It's sad that there's still a part of me that thinks that's weird, isn't it."

[okteiviakom]

"A little," Octavia admitted freely. "But all three of us are like that, so..."

[betterthanaplan]

"We are very well-matched," Duke said, nodding. He grinned, trying to lighten the mood. "You know, other than the whole 'Lucifer doesn't like camping' thing."

[okteiviakom]

"I mean, there's other things, too." She paused for a beat. "Just not many that are as glaringly obvious as that one."

She was willing to go along with his lightened mood now, yes.

[betterthanaplan]

“At least not when we’re standing at a campsite,” Duke agreed. “So.” He turned in her grip to face her properly. “What should we do first?”

[okteiviakom]

"Have some more very serious conversations?"

That was not a serious suggestion, she just thought she was funny.

[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."