Lucifer's Mansion, Sunday Night

[okteiviakom]

It had been another weird week. But enough of the weird - both from this week, and the ones before it - had apparently passed for Octavia and Lucifer to meet up at the house again on this Sunday evening for another date night.

The previously unfurnished room on the second floor was no longer unfurnished. Octavia didn't know whether Lucifer had noticed yet, especially since she'd left the door closed after she'd been done with it. She didn't know whether it would come into play yet, anyway.

And either way, they were downstairs, sitting down properly at the dining table. A gesture towards things Lucifer liked. And Octavia had cooked, even if the main had been just a very simple salad, which they were just about finished with. The equally simple dessert was still waiting in the fridge.

"Maybe one of these weeks you could give me a lesson." A beat. "You know, for cooking. We could make a thing of it."

[ooc: For, you guessed it, that guy.]

Comments

[my_own_advocate]

"Ooh, what did you make?" Lucifer asked, perking up.

[okteiviakom]

"Just a fruit salad." Of course. "And then this... hazelnut and chocolate mousse thing, to put on top."

It was from an instant packet, yes. And also Octavia sounded like half those words didn't fit right in her mouth.

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer chuckled. "You've been experimenting," he said. "I'm curious."

[okteiviakom]

"I tried," Octavia shrugged, and pushed away from the table to get up.

[my_own_advocate]

"I appreciate the effort," Lucifer said, smiling. Watching her move. "And the dinner."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia brushed her hand over his shoulder as she moved past him, to go get the dessert.

"Good."

[my_own_advocate]

He hummed something lightly pleased, and continued to watch her, occasionally sipping from the wine glass in his hand.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia produced two little bowls from the fridge, then a little container of the mousse. She moved generous amount of the latter into both of the former, then brought those over to the table.

She set one down in front of him, along with a spoon.

"Here."

[my_own_advocate]

"Thank you," Lucifer said, and picked up the bowl. "Now, let's see..."

There was a bit of a tease in his voice, yes. He took a bite of mousse and fruit, lowered his spoon, and looked thoughtful.

"I'd say, as far as experiments go, this is a good one." Store-bought, obviously, but she'd picked a good one and she'd clearly paid attention to the fruit.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia watched him far too raptly all through that.

And yes, there some subtle sense of relief to her face when he came to the conclusion he had. "Okay," she breathed, "good."

[my_own_advocate]

"You did your research well," Lucifer said, fondness in his voice. "And the choice of fruit goes very well with the mousse."

[okteiviakom]

Did Octavia realize she was still hovering by his chair instead of going back over to hers? Doubtful.

"Mochof," she murmured.

[my_own_advocate]

Ah, well: at least that meant Lucifer could take the opportunity to take her hand, and give it a pleased squeeze. "You did well, love."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia's hand gave his a squeeze back. And her voice just went even softer.

"Good," she said. "I really wanted to."

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer knew. He'd learned about this side of her, over the years.

It had taken him a long time to learn how to treat it with the care it deserved.

"I appreciate that," he said softly.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia nodded. And brought his hand up to her lips so she could press a gentle kiss against his knuckles.

Then she let go, so she could finally make her way back to her own seat.

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer smiled, and turned back to his dessert. Something worthy of praise was also worthy of eating, of course, and so he took to that with gusto.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia finally dug into her own bowl. She'd tasted the combination before, of course, and it had worked for her, but...

Well, there was something to be said for how it tasted now that she had his approval, too.

[my_own_advocate]

It felt good. Getting this right, this time. Remembering to see this as her work, with everything that that meant, rather than just another dish presented to him.

Remembering to see the world a little bit more through her eyes.

Lucifer was smiling to himself as he finished his bowl. It reached all the way up to his eyes.

[okteiviakom]

It felt good to have her work acknowledged and appreciated, too. For what it was: an attempt that wasn't going to be perfect but still had value. And heart.

And Octavia, behind it.

It did not go unnoticed that he was smiling, even if Octavia seemed to be a little shy about her glances up at his face while she was working through her own bowl.

[my_own_advocate]

"Thank you," Lucifer said, as he set his - demonstrably empty - bowl aside. "For making dinner."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia nodded. Scraping some of the last onto her spoon.

"It was good."

Eating, yes, but -- giving it to him, too.

[my_own_advocate]

"Beginning to get a taste for cooking?" Lucifer asked.

[okteiviakom]

"When there's a point."

Or a goal.

[my_own_advocate]

"And I'm a point," Lucifer said softly.

Not teasing.