Luke's, Thursday

[betterthanaplan]

"What the hell is that?" Duke asked, watching Benny carry a jiggling, dripping bag across the kitchen.

"Today's special!" He beamed. "I caught it myself!"

"Please tell me it's not a blobfish."

"It's not a blobfish," everyone said obediently.

". . . Right. You know what? Carry on. I . . . am going to go keep working on paperwork."

Today's specials
CATCH OF THE DAY!
Spicy jellyfish salad
(Secret to GOOD SKIN!)

Luke's was open.

Comments

[my_own_advocate]

"Secret to good skin," Lucifer echoed as he stepped inside. "What is this, the 1400s?"

[betterthanaplan]

"I try not to ask," Duke said, smiling tiredly at Lucifer. "How's it going, babe?"

[my_own_advocate]

"Very few complaints," Lucifer said, choosing to walk towards him. "Now you look like you've had a day."

[betterthanaplan]

"It's always a day around here," Duke said.

The fact that he was still low-key depressed and hadn't spoken to his therapist in ages didn't help.

"I'm just glad they managed to catch an actually edible jellyfish and not, like, a Portuguese man-of-war or something."

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer sighed. "Do you need to be here today?" he asked, studying Duke's face. "Because you can do paperwork anywhere."

[betterthanaplan]

"I guess not?" Duke said. "I'm just so behind on all of this. I feel like a terrible boss."

[my_own_advocate]

"They'll work things out no matter what you do," Lucifer pointed out.

He was beginning to be worried, lately.

[betterthanaplan]

Duke rubbed his hand down his face. "I guess you're right -- does that make me a better boss or a worse one?"

[my_own_advocate]

"Does it really matter?" Lucifer asked. "Everyone walks away happy."

[betterthanaplan]

"Maybe? I do like being good at things. . . ." Duke leaned back in his seat and shrugged, then reached over to pull Lucifer closer to him. "Should I take it you have something fun to suggest we do instead?"

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer sighed, and settled against him. "I was thinking it might do you some good to get out of here for a bit," he said. "Pick up some non-jellyfish food somewhere, take a walk to the beach, and then... whatever we'd like."

[betterthanaplan]

Duke leaned against him in return, closing his eyes for a moment.

"That does sound nice," he said. ". . . Fuck it. I played hooky all the time as a kid. I can totally do it as an adult sometimes too, right?"

[my_own_advocate]

"Exactly. What's the point of being a business owner if you can't step out every now and again?"

Lucifer reached an arm around him, holding him close. "I won't even tell anyone if you decide you'd rather walk to the pillow room for a massage and a nap, instead."

[betterthanaplan]

"You. . . ." Duke shook his head with a little smile. He kind of wanted to call Lucifer a temptress, but that seemed . . . ill-advised. "You have the best ideas," he said instead. "We're totally walking along the beach, though."

[my_own_advocate]

"Of course you want to, bloody pirate," Lucifer sighed, and kissed his cheek. "The beach it is."

[betterthanaplan]

“Don’t pretend you hate the beach,” Duke teased, getting up and starting towards the door.

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer laughed. "I don't," he said, following suit. "But you know how I feel about you and the pillow room."