JGoB's, Thursday Afternoon

[my_own_advocate]

Well, it turned out that the message Lucifer had received a few weeks ago hadn't been a fluke. His phone had started lighting up sometime yesterday, hitting him with text messages from, apparently, months ago.

So here he was, sitting at JGoB's - home to the only acceptable God - with a plate loaded up with chocolate croissants, paging through said messages. Was he answering any of them?

... well, Miss Lopez was sending him a great deal of amusing gifs and videos, so he was honour-bound to respond in kind. Everything else, though, he was putting off.

While putting away another chocolate croissant.

"Heee. A sea... horse. Now I get it."

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[okteiviakom]

It was Thursday, which meant therapy, which - coupled with everything yesterday had managed to dredge back up - apparently meant Octavia turning up here at the bakery in search of something sweet.

Instead, the first things she found was Lucifer.

"Hey."

[my_own_advocate]

What, Lucifer wasn't sweet?

He looked up, his expression brightening a little. "Well if it isn't Miss Octavia. Come hunting sugar, are we?"

[okteiviakom]

Occasionally.

Like when he looked at her and his expression brightened. Octavia's softened a little, in response. "Something like that," she said. "Have the money for it now."

[my_own_advocate]

"As long as you're enjoying it," Lucifer said, grinning. "What's your poison today?"

[okteiviakom]

"Don't know yet." She glanced at the counter, then back at him. "Any suggestions?"

[my_own_advocate]

"Well, if you're in the mood for chocolate, an eclair always hits the spot," Lucifer said, faintly amused. "Though I saw they just got some little raspberry tartlets."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia weighed those possibilities, and then realized she did know what she wanted.

"I'll just take one of those," she said to the person behind the counter, pointing at the display in question. Where 'those' were just regular donuts with powdered sugar. "Thanks."

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer watched her do it and sighed.

"Has anyone ever told you you make an artform out of being contrarian?"

[okteiviakom]

"No, but I'm pretty sure you've implied it before," Octavia replied without missing a beat.

Or looking back, as she was in the process of paying for her plainest of treats.

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer snorted.

"Don't tell me you worked through that mess yesterday."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia's posture stiffened by only a fraction.

But her voice went much, much milder. And more dry, too. "It was over by the time I went to the club."

[my_own_advocate]

"Can't believe they thought it was a good idea to play a bloody mock war 'round here," Lucifer said, taking a bite of another croissant.

[okteiviakom]

"Yeah," said Octavia.

And asked for a coffee, too, just to keep from having to turn around just yet.

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer eyed her back.

Well, clearly that had gone wrong somewhere, so he was choosing to focus on his croissant for now.

[okteiviakom]

Sadly for Octavia, the coffee didn't take very long to get. And once she'd paid for that, too...

She got her things, and turned around, and made her way to Lucifer's table. "Any word on those classes?" she asked, grabbing at the first thing she could think of that had nothing to do with yesterday, as she took a seat.

[my_own_advocate]

"Found one on the mainland that starts in another week or two," Lucifer said, watching her. "I could get you in there, if you'd like."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia looked up, her expression bland because she could try and change the subject, but she could not shake the uncomfortable feeling in her gut quite as easily.

She shrugged. "Sure, why not."

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer eyed her. "Are you sure you don't want something with chocolate?" he said. "Or at least some Irish in your coffee?"

[okteiviakom]

Octavia's withering look was a little muted.

But she pushed her coffee cup closer to him.

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer took his flask out of his inner pocket and dutifully poured a little whiskey into her cup. "Was it really that bad?"

[okteiviakom]

Octavia pulled the cup back once he was done, and took a sip.

What, was she supposed to answer that in words? She didn't know which ones to use, for one thing. Even after talking to Duke and to Claire.

[my_own_advocate]

"What happened?" Lucifer said, taking a quick sip from the flask before he put it back.

[okteiviakom]

"Nothing, really," Octavia replied, looking down at her donut. Her drawl went more dry again. "Just tried to beat someone up, that's all."

[my_own_advocate]

"Definitely sounds like something," Lucifer said, picking up his croissant again.

His phone bleeped, but he ignored it.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia shrugged, again.

"Wasn't a good day."