The Devil's Nest, Wednesday Evening

[okteiviakom]

The vibe at the Devil's Nest on this particular night was sleepy. Yes, it was kind of an off atmosphere for a night club. No, Octavia didn't really know what to do about it.

For the most part, she was just trying not to nod off behind the bar. It was a really persuasive sort of mood that had fallen upon the club, okay? She was doing her best.

Also, the specials board just read COFFEE.

[ooc: Open, somewhat method RP.]

Comments

[betterthanaplan]

That made it slightly easier for her snogon to surprise her, at least?

From a distance. He knew better than to sneak up on a sleepy Octavia anywhere, thanks.

"Hayun, gona," he greeted. "You look like you're ready for a nap."

[any necessary sp is, as always, just fine!]

[okteiviakom]

It was a well-executed surprise. Far enough not to startle her, but -- everything else enough to make her perk up a little bit from her half-slump against the bar.

"And you look... like you're here."

That hadn't happened in a while. If she'd been a little less tired, she might even have managed to keep the observation to herself.

"Ha yun, jaka."

[♥]

[betterthanaplan]

"Lobster emergency at the diner," Duke said. "Don't ask." He came over to lean across the bar and give her a kiss hello. "This is even my second day in a row coming into town. I'm proud of me."

[okteiviakom]

"I'm proud of you, too." There was no other choice. Her voice was low, private. "And happy to see you."

[betterthanaplan]

"Thought you might be," Duke said. "On both counts. Though fair warning, I might have to sleep for, like, a week after this."

Or at least hide. Maybe. He hadn't decided yet.

He just really wasn't used to peopling much anymore.

[okteiviakom]

It continued to be deeply disconcerting for Octavia, who had always seen herself as the vastly more antisocial one out of the two of them.

But, anyway. Instead of saying so, she made sure her lips curved into a lopsided, wry little something. "Well, we'll bring you snacks in the pillow room if it gets that bad."

[betterthanaplan]

Well. She was the one currently on medication, which helped. Duke was hopefully starting to see the other side of his current depressive slump, was all.

"Awww. You two take such good care of me." He ran his thumb along her jaw, then leaned his weight into his elbows on the bar. "So how's your day been?"

[okteiviakom]

Octavia swayed after the touch a little bit, but settled back into her own lean.

"Uneventful," she shrugged. "Thought I'd go see Shunsui at the store, but... didn't."

[betterthanaplan]

"He not around? Or you just didn't make it over that way?"

[okteiviakom]

Another shrug, though this one a little smaller, more vague. "I guess I just... didn't feel like it after all."

Was anything ever that simple?

[betterthanaplan]

"Fair enough." Duke shrugged back, giving her a little smile. "Not like I can blame anyone for not feeling like doing things, these days."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia straightened up from her lean. Trying not to be obvious about metaphorically shaking something off, while... shaking something off.

"Anyway. Did you want something to drink?"

[betterthanaplan]

"Sure. Anything in mind?"

[okteiviakom]

At that, Octavia just pointed to the specials board.

It had not gained anything other than the COFFEE in her handwriting, no.

"Unless you have an actual order."

[betterthanaplan]

Duke laughed. "A coffee would be great," he said. "Two coffees, one for each of us."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia nodded. "Coming right up."

There was even a fresh pot made, so that was where she was heading now.

[betterthanaplan]

Duke propped his chin on his hand, watching her go.

He needed to get out more just to do this. Watch her work. Even when she was just pouring coffee.

[okteiviakom]

Hey now, she was also getting two mugs and then pouring coffee!

And then bringing those two mugs back over, and setting one of them in front of him. "And done," she rasped, with something wry in her expression.

[betterthanaplan]

"Meizen," Duke said, sitting up so he could pick his mug up with both hands. He blew across the top of it gently. "Simply meizen."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia gave a soft snort. "It's coffee, Duke," she rasped - but couldn't really help the way her expression softened.

He had that effect on her.

[betterthanaplan]

"Mmmhm," Duke agreed. "Wasn't talking about the coffee, though."

[okteiviakom]

"Oh, of course you weren't," Octavia drawled, as the smile kept tugging at her lips. "You're smooth like that, jaka."

[betterthanaplan]

"The smoothest jaka you know," Duke agreed.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia chuckled a little bit despite herself, and did a very poor job of hiding it behind her mug right before taking a sip.

"So how has your day been? Apart from the smoothest."

[betterthanaplan]

Duke shrugged. "I met a creepy lady who's going to reopen the Fantasy Costco place that's been closed forever. She seems . . . self-assured."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia's head tilted a little.

"How so?"

[betterthanaplan]

"I dunno, she's just very confident even when she's asking things like 'what's a radio and can you tell me what an England is'."

[okteiviakom]

"Maybe that just means she's adjusting fast?"

Or faking it 'til she made it, but Octavia didn't know that phrase yet.

[betterthanaplan]

"Nah, I'm pretty sure she's just pretty used to owning -- or looking like she's ready to own -- whatever space she's in. Which, you know, more power to her, I guess. You might like her. She tried to offer me a fake skull."

That probably wasn't what she meant by 'construct', Duke.

[okteiviakom]

"... Why?" Octavia found herself asking.

[betterthanaplan]

"To buy," Duke clarified. "I think as, like, a decorative object?"

Probably not as a decorative object.

"This was right after she joked about setting up a trap for me if I wanted her to."

That probably wasn't a joke, either.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia's office in the bunker had had a skull in it.

And there was absolutely no need to talk about that.

"Well, I hope you told her if she sets up any unwanted traps for you, she'll be meeting me really soon."

[betterthanaplan]

“I . . . did not. But I will definitely mention it next time I see her.”

[okteiviakom]

Octavia gave a tiny shrug. "I might drop by before then, anyway."

She took another sip.

[betterthanaplan]

“Just in case?” Duke asked, gently teasing.

[okteiviakom]

"Just in case," Octavia agreed. Joking? Maybe.

Kind of.

"Don't want the newbies to get wrong ideas."