Octavia Blake (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
okteiviakom) wrote2019-10-16 01:10 pm
okteiviakom) wrote2019-10-16 01:10 pm
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BEEP.
BEEP.
At some point on Wednesday, a parcel would be delivered to Octavia. Delivered, especially in light of the conversation she and Shunsui had had on her birthday.
Inside the parcel, one would find another box with half a dozen sakura cupcakes. There were also two books, both authored by none other than Shunsui Kyōraku himself: one was a surprisingly long and not at all surprisingly purple-prosey Edo-era style epic romance with about a million twists and turns and even more dropping kimonos entitled The Rose-Colored Path, the other was part "autobiography," part poetry book entitled My Kittens are So Shy, in which the titular kittens were both in reference to the drawn out story about Shunsui and his brother (whom he didn't get along with) finding a box of kittens in the cold by the stream on their estate and taking them in and caring for them and learning life lessons from them, but also the multitude of young women he pursued while studying and training (not a whole lot of either of those in the text, but they did receive a few honorable mentions) at the Shin'ō Reijutsu Academy, as well as a young man named Jūshirō Ukitake, with whom he cultivated a close friendship. The story of Shunsui's early life would end with his training, and the formation of Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's Seireitei and the Gotei 13. After that, the book is all poetry. Really, really bad poetry, mostly about flowers, birds, beautiful women (although he should really get some points for creativity in comparrisons at times) and sake flowing like wine.
Inside the pages of The Rose-Colored Path, Octavia would also find a dove pendant on a delicate chain laid out like a bookmark, and the Japanese characters 悲しみの鳩 etched on the other side. The pages where the necklace can be found are building up to a very sensuous sort of scene, though this is probably purely coincidental, as the book is mostly composed of very sensuous scenes, and not at all intentionally chosen for any deep meaning.
There was also a small scroll of parchment, rolled with a pink ribbon, on which Shunsui had written a new poem dedicated to Octavia and comparing her (and her beauty, of course) to the calm, quiet surface of a lonely pond, where one simple movement could create the most lovely ripples, and how there was no way of knowing just how deep the pond might go just from looking at it.
And there was, of course, also a very fine bottle of sake, which Shunsui felt both of them would agree was easily the best part of the entire present.
Over all, it probably wasn't much of an Octavia present, at the end of the day, but it was, undeniably, unabashedly a Shunsui one.
Inside the parcel, one would find another box with half a dozen sakura cupcakes. There were also two books, both authored by none other than Shunsui Kyōraku himself: one was a surprisingly long and not at all surprisingly purple-prosey Edo-era style epic romance with about a million twists and turns and even more dropping kimonos entitled The Rose-Colored Path, the other was part "autobiography," part poetry book entitled My Kittens are So Shy, in which the titular kittens were both in reference to the drawn out story about Shunsui and his brother (whom he didn't get along with) finding a box of kittens in the cold by the stream on their estate and taking them in and caring for them and learning life lessons from them, but also the multitude of young women he pursued while studying and training (not a whole lot of either of those in the text, but they did receive a few honorable mentions) at the Shin'ō Reijutsu Academy, as well as a young man named Jūshirō Ukitake, with whom he cultivated a close friendship. The story of Shunsui's early life would end with his training, and the formation of Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's Seireitei and the Gotei 13. After that, the book is all poetry. Really, really bad poetry, mostly about flowers, birds, beautiful women (although he should really get some points for creativity in comparrisons at times) and sake flowing like wine.
Inside the pages of The Rose-Colored Path, Octavia would also find a dove pendant on a delicate chain laid out like a bookmark, and the Japanese characters 悲しみの鳩 etched on the other side. The pages where the necklace can be found are building up to a very sensuous sort of scene, though this is probably purely coincidental, as the book is mostly composed of very sensuous scenes, and not at all intentionally chosen for any deep meaning.
There was also a small scroll of parchment, rolled with a pink ribbon, on which Shunsui had written a new poem dedicated to Octavia and comparing her (and her beauty, of course) to the calm, quiet surface of a lonely pond, where one simple movement could create the most lovely ripples, and how there was no way of knowing just how deep the pond might go just from looking at it.
And there was, of course, also a very fine bottle of sake, which Shunsui felt both of them would agree was easily the best part of the entire present.
Over all, it probably wasn't much of an Octavia present, at the end of the day, but it was, undeniably, unabashedly a Shunsui one.
Rey had promised updates, which were late, but she texted. She sent a picture of a porg looking up at her from its spot in the pilot's seat of the Falcon, which was going to both Duke and Octavia (or at least to her brother's phone).
Everything's fine, should be back Tuesday with no problem.
Everything's fine, should be back Tuesday with no problem.
Weirdly, the porg picture actually felt more reassuring than the words would've by themselves. Maybe porgs just sold 'fine' better than humans did?
Octavia's reply came from a different number.
Good, in time for yoga?
There was a delay before another message came in. Because, oh right:
This is octavia, i have my own phone now.
Octavia's reply came from a different number.
Good, in time for yoga?
There was a delay before another message came in. Because, oh right:
This is octavia, i have my own phone now.
"Hey Tavi. How have we not covered 'hello' in Trig yet? Anyway. Got a last minute invite to Thanksgiving with some buddies up north, so I'm shipping out for a few days. I've handwavily got Larceny set up at the hotel and showed her how to order room service on my tab, so . . . that should keep her happy for awhile, I think.
"Anyway, I should be back on Monday. Probably with at least one story about someone burning their eyebrows off deep-frying a turkey. Hope the flower people don't demand, like, a giant turkey made out of carnations or something. Pester your brother for me; it's a holiday tradition.
"Um. Yeah. Bye."
"Anyway, I should be back on Monday. Probably with at least one story about someone burning their eyebrows off deep-frying a turkey. Hope the flower people don't demand, like, a giant turkey made out of carnations or something. Pester your brother for me; it's a holiday tradition.
"Um. Yeah. Bye."
I got called back home for a few days. It doesn't sound like anything big, I should be back in a few days. I'll get porg pictures.
It wasn't long between Rey getting back and her sending a text to both Duke and Octavia that contained a picture of the warehouse door with the lightsaber scorches on it, like it was proof that she was here.
Back safe.
Better?
Back safe.
Better?
Just outside the Blakes' door on Christmas morning, Octavia would find a potted plant addressed to her with a tag in Liam's handwriting, along with a description of its' medicinal uses, delivered thanks to the young woman who managed the Post Office.
Not long after heading through the portal with Rey, Octavia got a text. It was a photo through the Millennium Falcon’s view port, filled with long white streaks.
those are stars. That’s how fast we’re going. Holy fuck
those are stars. That’s how fast we’re going. Holy fuck
So, on one hand... Octavia was a space-born person.
On the other hand, her experience with actual space travel was limited to a single dropship ride from a space station to Earth.
So the lines were actually kind of disconcerting ever for her.
Don't let rey crash into anything
She was fantastic at being reassuring.
On the other hand, her experience with actual space travel was limited to a single dropship ride from a space station to Earth.
So the lines were actually kind of disconcerting ever for her.
Don't let rey crash into anything
She was fantastic at being reassuring.
The next time Octavia's phone found service, it would receive several texts of adorable baby goats. Including more than one selfie of Duke with a goat on his back, shoulders, and/or head.
UNGULATE yoga. the moose did it again
UNGULATE yoga. the moose did it again
Oh, and some sent Wednesday morning:
7:00 am: did u get my texts yesterday?
7:05 am: GOATS AT YOGA!
8:53 am: not trying to rain on your brotherly bonding time parade, but kinda starting to freak out
10:04 am: [devil emoji] actually volunteered to go into the preserve
10:05 am: TO LOOK FOR YOU
10:31 am: a blurry photo of a porg throwing up a rock
10:42 am: just text when you get this okay? or call
10:58 am: please be ok
7:00 am: did u get my texts yesterday?
7:05 am: GOATS AT YOGA!
8:53 am: not trying to rain on your brotherly bonding time parade, but kinda starting to freak out
10:04 am: [devil emoji] actually volunteered to go into the preserve
10:05 am: TO LOOK FOR YOU
10:31 am: a blurry photo of a porg throwing up a rock
10:42 am: just text when you get this okay? or call
10:58 am: please be ok
"Look, if this is some kind of attempt to punish Duke for something, I approve and it's clearly very effective, but I am rather getting sick of watching him moping and flailing. So if you don't mind, I think it's time to come out of hiding."
End of message.
End of message.
im back
He maybe could have said more, but honestly, it took him 20 minutes just to get up the courage to text that much.
He maybe could have said more, but honestly, it took him 20 minutes just to get up the courage to text that much.
Need to portal home for a couple days, Duke texted. Geoff and Bill's restaurant is opening. Should I book it for two?
Octavia was out in the preserve with her knives again. But as soon as Duke's text came in, she was packing them up and putting her target away.
Wasnt that supposed to be next week? she sent back.
She was going to focus on that, and not any of the feelings that him calling Haven 'home' might have tried to bring on.
Wasnt that supposed to be next week? she sent back.
She was going to focus on that, and not any of the feelings that him calling Haven 'home' might have tried to bring on.
Duke kept his promise through Friday night and Saturday, texting her images and commentary as he helped the McShaws get ready for the big event.
Then, sometime around mid-afternoon Saturday, things started to get a little weird. For one thing, the photo he sent of the Second Chance in full, grand opening glory, was taken after dark, though it was only maybe 3 pm in Fandom. Then, only moments later, he was telling her he was going to have to miss his portal and stay another night.
Half an hour after that -- or the next morning, Haven time -- came another message:
looks like I'll be here a couple more days
Geoff is dead
And then Duke's phone would stop connecting with Fandom's interdimensional network at all.
Then, sometime around mid-afternoon Saturday, things started to get a little weird. For one thing, the photo he sent of the Second Chance in full, grand opening glory, was taken after dark, though it was only maybe 3 pm in Fandom. Then, only moments later, he was telling her he was going to have to miss his portal and stay another night.
Half an hour after that -- or the next morning, Haven time -- came another message:
looks like I'll be here a couple more days
Geoff is dead
And then Duke's phone would stop connecting with Fandom's interdimensional network at all.
Octavia had been spending her afternoon over on the Samsara, trying to put her restless, twitchy energy to good use by actually making it look a little more hers on the inside. Not that she had a whole lot of her own stuff to put there.
She'd grabbed her phone to take a picture of the little shelf she'd put the two butterfly sculptures on when she saw a couple of texts had come in since she'd last looked at it. The picture of the Second Chance earned a mild frown. The second text made it deepen.
And then just as she was about to text him back, the last two came in, both practically at the same time. Wait, what happened? she sent back. Stared at the screen for a moment, then typed another text.
Call me when you can, okay? Ill come over if you need it
Sent that, too.
And then time kept passing, and she kept getting no answer. As she worked distractedly on some more things on her boat, no answer.
Duke?
When she returned to the Rouge to scrounge herself up some dinner, no answer.
Duke, this isn't funny
When it was late enough that she should have been getting ready for bed... No answer.
You better be home in a couple of days
It was going to be a long night.
She'd grabbed her phone to take a picture of the little shelf she'd put the two butterfly sculptures on when she saw a couple of texts had come in since she'd last looked at it. The picture of the Second Chance earned a mild frown. The second text made it deepen.
And then just as she was about to text him back, the last two came in, both practically at the same time. Wait, what happened? she sent back. Stared at the screen for a moment, then typed another text.
Call me when you can, okay? Ill come over if you need it
Sent that, too.
And then time kept passing, and she kept getting no answer. As she worked distractedly on some more things on her boat, no answer.
Duke?
When she returned to the Rouge to scrounge herself up some dinner, no answer.
Duke, this isn't funny
When it was late enough that she should have been getting ready for bed... No answer.
You better be home in a couple of days
It was going to be a long night.
You've got Wednesdays at the Nest. Congratulations. Practice your glaring.
The text came in the middle of the night.
i don't want to be a monster
He knew she was likely to be asleep. That he might not even get an answer after that.
It just took him a while to realize there was someone else he could call.
i don't want to be a monster
He knew she was likely to be asleep. That he might not even get an answer after that.
It just took him a while to realize there was someone else he could call.
Yeah, Octavia didn't see it before morning. And once she had, she stared at it for a long moment.
Then, sent back, You're not one.
Then, sent back, You're not one.
Lucifer had texted Duke back for all of one second before he was scrambling to get to another number on his phone.
so I heard you've rejoined the world of the opposable thumbs, he texted.
Right, where were his trousers? It was too early to get up, but if Octavia was back...
so I heard you've rejoined the world of the opposable thumbs, he texted.
Right, where were his trousers? It was too early to get up, but if Octavia was back...
Octavia couldn't help feeling wary when her phone buzzed on the cafe table next to her breakfast.
Neither could she help the sense of relief, swiftly followed by guilt, that came when she saw who'd texted her. Not that that made it any easier to decide how to respond.
Yeah, she settled on.
Neither could she help the sense of relief, swiftly followed by guilt, that came when she saw who'd texted her. Not that that made it any easier to decide how to respond.
Yeah, she settled on.
Octavia looked at the message for a long moment. Trying to will more information into it, a tone, anything. Something she could've gleaned more from.
But there was nothing but a simple statement of fact.
Tell him i say hi?
But there was nothing but a simple statement of fact.
Tell him i say hi?
Sometime around when her therapy appointment would be ending, Octavia received a text. It was a photo, slightly blurry, of a porg with a go-pro camera strapped to its chest.
secret life of porgs y/n?
It seemed the least potentially inflammatory way of reaching out.
secret life of porgs y/n?
It seemed the least potentially inflammatory way of reaching out.
Okay cleaning Caritas was going to take a while and Kitty was just going to text through it.
There's even Jello behind the dartboard, how did that even happen?
There's even Jello behind the dartboard, how did that even happen?
Woof, that was a weird text to receive from your girlfriend so early in the morning.
Angry and bossy is kind of my thing? Do you have that weird gem stone in your stomach again?
Angry and bossy is kind of my thing? Do you have that weird gem stone in your stomach again?
You should miss my face. It's extremely attractive face. I thought you had a boyfriend, though? Is that negotiable?
Just a very normal text to send an employee.
Just a very normal text to send an employee.
Did Ghanima know what today was? Absolutely.
Of COURSE she was going to participate. This was too good a chance to prank people to pass up!
"Your confusion regarding my age is understandable, but I assure you, Spring Break is not the only time to cause a little bit of fun-trouble. I'm sure we could have a good time."
Of COURSE she was going to participate. This was too good a chance to prank people to pass up!
"Your confusion regarding my age is understandable, but I assure you, Spring Break is not the only time to cause a little bit of fun-trouble. I'm sure we could have a good time."
Did someone give out his comm frequency at a bar or something?
That's good? That's also very kind if confusing of you to say? I'm very glad to not have done anything wrong, though.
That's good? That's also very kind if confusing of you to say? I'm very glad to not have done anything wrong, though.
Edited 2021-04-01 18:21 (UTC)
Duke's having a not-handling-the-island-well moment and I assume you're not a fan, so do you have any objections to us moving this to a 🏘️ in Baltimore for the week? I can get you your own room.
Octavia stared at the text for a long while.
(Okay, a lot of that was specifically squinting at whatever that house emoji was supposed to be. Why couldn't you use words, Lucifer?)
Don't know, she settled on.
Because yeah, she was antsy and uncomfortable in her skin. Had half figured she'd go out on the preserve today, dig up her target and get some much-needed practice in to tire her body out.
But that wasn't the same as wanting to flee the island.
(Okay, a lot of that was specifically squinting at whatever that house emoji was supposed to be. Why couldn't you use words, Lucifer?)
Don't know, she settled on.
Because yeah, she was antsy and uncomfortable in her skin. Had half figured she'd go out on the preserve today, dig up her target and get some much-needed practice in to tire her body out.
But that wasn't the same as wanting to flee the island.
I heard you womanned the bar last night, did everything go all right?
It'd been over a day since they'd last spoken, and Lucifer felt slightly weird about it, so... a text about something inane it was.
It'd been over a day since they'd last spoken, and Lucifer felt slightly weird about it, so... a text about something inane it was.
Octavia's heart jumped when her phone buzzed for the first time in two days. She was very quick to pick the phone up.
And then stared at the inanity of it for a long moment. Because she could still see his previous text looming right above it.
She had to force herself to text him back, Tiny cant keep anything to himself huh
Not that it was a secret. She just... kind of, in her heart of hearts, had assumed Lucifer wouldn't care.
And then stared at the inanity of it for a long moment. Because she could still see his previous text looming right above it.
She had to force herself to text him back, Tiny cant keep anything to himself huh
Not that it was a secret. She just... kind of, in her heart of hearts, had assumed Lucifer wouldn't care.
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