The Marina, Cat Island, Friday Afternoon

[okteiviakom]

As most days this week (and the one before that, and the one before that...) Octavia had spent most of the early parts of her day working around the marina. There was always maintenance work to be done, things to fix, areas to tidy. She knew how to do most of the usual things by now, too, and had less of a need for the local workers to show her the ropes, whether literal or figurative. She could just be helpful. Just that, and not a burden or a hindrance.

It settled something in her. At least a little.

But by now, her tasks for the day were done. She'd cleaned all of the maintenance grime off of herself, and was now sitting near where the Fin & Tonic was docked. Watching the water, listening to whatever noise was coming from elsewhere in the marina.

Thinking about home.

[ooc: NFB, open for all the usual with likely SP.]

Comments

[my_own_advocate]

"Collect them and buy a snack a year from now?" Lucifer suggested.

[okteiviakom]

"I think I'll just live without any pennies at all," Octavia replied, on the tiniest huff.

And patted the dock beside her.

[my_own_advocate]

"Suppose that is a choice you could make," Lucifer said. He sank down, casting his legs over the edge of the dock. "Penny-poor, something something rich?"

[okteiviakom]

"I don't think I know that saying."

A beat.

"Not that you sound like you do, either."

[my_own_advocate]

"Wait, it's-- penny rich, pound poor, I think," Lucifer muttered. "Penny wise? A dumb proverb, either way."

[okteiviakom]

"Makes no sense," Octavia replied. She didn't seem particularly concerned about it, though.

She turned her gaze back to the water.

Shrugged.

"I was thinking about home."

[my_own_advocate]

"Fandom?" Lucifer said. He looked at her. "It's getting to be time, isn't it?"

She'd humored them for quite a while, after all.

[okteiviakom]

"Eric had some kind of ice... structure melting in the club."

Why was that worth mentioning now? Because of reasons.

[my_own_advocate]

... Lucifer sighed.

"Please tell me he's not trying to redecorate again."

[okteiviakom]

"Well, if he was, it's gone now," Octavia replied, shrugging. "I didn't see him, so I don't know what he was thinking."

As if talking to Eric tended to make things any clearer for her.

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer sighed. "Yes, we should probably return before it gets worse."

[okteiviakom]

"We don't have to rush," Octavia murmured. Which was surely a sign of growth from how their trip onto this island had played out a year ago. "But it has been most of a month."

[my_own_advocate]

"And I don't want to make you uncomfortable by overstaying our welcome," Lucifer murmured.

[okteiviakom]

"Thanks," Octavia muttered, looking over at him. "It's... been okay. Under the circumstances."

The circumstances being all the awkward with Duke.

[my_own_advocate]

"I'm glad," Lucifer said softly. "I appreciate the patience."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia shrugged one shoulder.

"I think both of you needed this."

[my_own_advocate]

"We did," Lucifer agreed. "I... Duke and I have found ourselves... settled."

[okteiviakom]

"I've noticed."

It was... enviable. But she was glad for them, genuinely.

[my_own_advocate]

"I didn't think we would," Lucifer admitted. "For... quite a long time."

[okteiviakom]

"Why not?" Octavia asked, quietly.

[my_own_advocate]

"Because it felt like whatever was broken between us was fundamental."

[okteiviakom]

"Why?"

[my_own_advocate]

"Because..." Lucifer sucked in a breath. "I... didn't think he wanted me to be. A partner."

[okteiviakom]

"But..." Octavia began, then trailed off, re-thinking. "Is that different from wanting to be with you? Because that always felt really clear."

[my_own_advocate]

"Yes," Lucifer said. He heaved a breath. "I thought he just wanted me to play... the pretty boyfriend. Rather than being an equal he could share things with."