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

[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."

[okteiviakom]

"But he's convinced you now?" Octavia asked. "Knows how to share?"

Not that that resonated with anything in her.

[my_own_advocate]

"Yes," Lucifer said quietly.

[okteiviakom]

"I'm glad," Octavia replied. Just as quietly.

After a second, she reached out, to run her fingertips down along the side of his face.

"You should never have to feel like that."

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer exhaled. "He had his own... similar hangup with me," he admitted. "At least, that is the sense I have. But... yes. I think it's all been settled."

[okteiviakom]

"Good," Octavia murmured, as her hand settled onto his shoulder. "I know it had to be hard."

[my_own_advocate]

"It's hard," Lucifer agreed softly. "To feel like you're not allowed to be a whole person to someone you love."

[okteiviakom]

"Yeah."

What more was there to say to that, except a single softly muttered word?

(Plenty, probably.)

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer leaned in to kiss her cheek. "Anyway," he said, "I'm sorry for being depressing."

[okteiviakom]

"I do it often enough," Octavia muttered.

He had nothing to be sorry for.

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer let out a soft huff. "Wouldn't characterize it like that," he said. "But... yes. Let's move on to cheerier topics, shall we? Like how much you'll enjoy being home again."

[okteiviakom]

"Mm," Octavia hummed, noncommittal for no other reason except that she'd had enough depressing thoughts of her own just now that disengaging from them was going to take a moment. "Weather was much cooler, back there."