Lucifer's Mansion, Sunday Night

[okteiviakom]

Octavia had been feeling kind of... restless, this week. But keeping it to herself, because Duke had been having a rougher time, and anyway, it was fine. This feeling came and went, and Octavia was used to it.

(Though it really would have been great if Dr. Baker had been able to squeeze her in during some other time this week, after the regular Tuesday session got cancelled.)

It was Sunday now, anyway. Food and cider and hopefully a good time? Octavia had even channeled some of her twitchiness into prepping dessert, earlier. "The fruit's all ready in the fridge," she said, as she got up to clear away the dinner plates. "The white chocolate on them should have set by now."

Spoken like she actually knew anything and hadn't just grabbed the instructions from Google this morning.

[ooc: For the guy.]

Comments

[my_own_advocate]

"Can you turn around for me, at least?" Lucifer asked, soft. "I miss your face."

[okteiviakom]

So Octavia turned.

Her expression looked worn down.

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer cupped her cheek and slid his arm back around her waist. He fought the urge to apologize again.

"There you are," he said instead, still soft.

[okteiviakom]

It wasn't really his to apologize for, anyway.

At least she looked up at him. Turned her head just enough for her skin to press more against his hand.

[my_own_advocate]

That made something in the corner of his mouth curve with deep affection.

Lucifer ran his thumb gently along her cheekbone.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia exhaled a very quiet sigh.

The movement was slow, but her hands ended up on his hips eventually.

[my_own_advocate]

"Or we can stay here all evening," Lucifer murmured. "I don't mind, as long as you're there with me."

[okteiviakom]

"You should at least stop trying to solve me," Octavia replied quietly, not unkindly. "Whatever will happen... will happen."

[my_own_advocate]

"Not trying to solve you," Lucifer replied. "Just trying to make the night... comfortable. But," he added, before she could try to correct him again, "... note taken. No more questions."

[okteiviakom]

"It feels like solving."

Tiny shrug.

"Or maybe I just feel like a problem."

[my_own_advocate]

Well. Lucifer had said 'no more questions' and now he was a bit stuck with that.

So he didn't ask the question on his mind, and instead moved his hand, so he could pull her into a proper embrace.

[okteiviakom]

That was what he got for trying to get ahead of her.

She went willingly into the embrace, though. Just sank right in.

[my_own_advocate]

Oh, good. Moments like this, Lucifer was always worried his instincts would fail him.

But this was good. She fit perfectly into his arms, as always.

[okteiviakom]

Tucking her head under his chin and everything, yes. Winding her own arms tight around his waist.

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer took a deep breath, and then relaxed into it himself, closing his eyes.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia breathed him in. For a good, long moment. Letting his warmth seep to her through layers of fabric.

Then she murmured, "Sometimes I just feel worse." A little pause for thought, for the right words. "Like everything comes back sharper and stronger."

[my_own_advocate]

"Like just now," Lucifer murmured.

He was trying to keep the question mark out of his voice.

[okteiviakom]

"Like for the past two weeks."

They hadn't triggered anything new here.

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer nodded. Very gently. It wasn't like she couldn't feel him doing it. "And then your therapy appointment was cancelled."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia's own nod was similar.

"And the previous session was rough."

And had led to her showing up at the club, and, well.

[my_own_advocate]

"I'm sorry," Lucifer murmured. "That can't be easy."

And he just kept stepping in it.

[okteiviakom]

"No," Octavia agreed, "it's not."

Another sigh, almost something frustrated about it.

"I can put more years between myself and it, but there's a six-year black hole in my life and I don't think I will ever be far enough from it that it can't all just come... rushing back."

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer's hand slid up, running over her hair. Trying to soothe, like this little thing might help just a little both.

[okteiviakom]

It didn't, really, but it was a good effort.

"Eventually I always remember I'm a monster."

She said it like a fact, in the same tone she might have stated that she had green eyes.

[my_own_advocate]

"You did monstrous things," Lucifer said quietly. "That isn't the same."