Luke's, Thursday

[betterthanaplan]

"Boss!" Mickey flung himself at Duke the moment he walked into the diner, enveloping him in a surprisingly powerful hug. (He seemed like such a scrawny guy, usually!)

". . . Okay," Duke said, patting gently at the busboy's back. "I was only gone for like two weeks here," he pointed out. "Why are you reacting like I've just returned unexpectedly from the wars?"

Ali and Greg exchanged glances.

"You went to Haven," Greg said.

It was official: literally everyone thought Duke's hometown was trying to kill him.

Mickey hung on until Octavia hissed at him. Then he scooped Octavia up and gave her a hug, too.

Today's specials
CATCH OF THE DAY:
Shoyu ahi poke
Malasadas

Luke's was open. Don't mind the raccoon eating a poke bowl on the table in the back.

Comments

[betterthanaplan]

"What, comparing crazy homeworlds?" Duke said. "I mean, I know, magic curses and paramilitary groups trumps ridiculous terrorism. I'm never gonna say your world is normal, though."

[hatesparadise]

"Uh huh." He was onto you Mr. Let's Talk About Anything But My Drama.

[betterthanaplan]

They were having a perfectly nice conversation! A give and take! Sharing their lives!

Yes. Duke was absolutely avoiding talking about his issues.

"You want another beer?"

[hatesparadise]

"Please," he said, sitting back a little. "You having one too?"

So he could lull Duke into a false sense of security.

[betterthanaplan]

"Might as well." Duke hopped up to grab a couple more beers.

And set a plate of malasadas next to Octavia.

[hatesparadise]

Danny waited for Duke to be seated and ready before asking the question that had been on his mind since the start of the week. "The tattoo thing."

[betterthanaplan]

Duke gave him a nervous smile and sipped his beer. "What about it?"

[hatesparadise]

Danny shot him another one of those 'please stop trying to kid me' looks. He was good at very expressive looks.

[betterthanaplan]

"You know you haven't actually asked me a question yet, right?"

[hatesparadise]

"You know you're trying to bait me into an argument to avoid the subject," Danny replied dryly. "Right?"

Which meant it was important.

[betterthanaplan]

"I am honestly not sure what you want me to say. Nathan got the tattoo that's gonna be on the man who's going to kill me someday. The end."

[hatesparadise]

"The end," Danny repeated. "That's what you're going with here?"

[betterthanaplan]

"What else is there? He got it. I can't make him unget it."

[hatesparadise]

"You could have some feelings on the matter," Danny suggested.

[betterthanaplan]

"Obviously I have feelings about it," Duke said. "Still doesn't change the fact that he has it."

[hatesparadise]

"I didn't say they did," Danny countered easily.

[betterthanaplan]

“No, you just think they don’t count if I don’t name them or whatever.”

[hatesparadise]

"Look at you, getting it!"

Sorry not sorry, Duke.

[betterthanaplan]

“You can’t just trust that I’m feeling my feelings?”

[hatesparadise]

"Nah, because it looks more like repressin' them and ignoring things," Danny replied.

[betterthanaplan]

“Hey, a man should be allowed to repress his first love deciding to permanently alter his body in order to kill him if he wants to.”

[hatesparadise]

Danny made a face as he considered Duke's point before disregarding it. "I might grant you that if it wasn't, ya know, a whole thing with you."

[betterthanaplan]

“It is not. I was a wreck after Octavia disappeared.”

[hatesparadise]

"Because worrying about others is easier than worrying about yourself," Danny replied in a calm, even tone that spoke of knowing that one well.

[betterthanaplan]

“You can be really irritating sometimes, you know that, right?”