The Devil's Nest, Friday Night

[my_own_advocate]

"How hard can it be to park a bloody boat?" Lucifer said, for the fifth time tonight. "Six hours! Just to get off, walk to Taste of Thai, get back on, and leave again. Who does that?"

Tiny made vaguely understanding noises. He was busy building a small boat out of toothpicks and olives, so he didn't really care.

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[suitably_heroic]

Atton arrived sometime halfway into that diatribe. He cast Lucifer a look, and, well. Decided pretty quickly he didn't want to get in the middle of that.

He took a seat in the corner.

[okteiviakom]

Did even Octavia want to get in the middle of that? Who knew, but here she was either way.

She felt like having a drink tonight.

"Hey."

[my_own_advocate]

"Octavia!"

It was, at least, a night on which Lucifer was willing to let himself be distracted. "Welcome."

[okteiviakom]

Something about being greeted with enthusiasm never seemed to get old. Yes, even from a partner of some years, now. And one she'd last seen barely hours ago.

Octavia didn't smile, but it felt like something.

She lifted her hand in a little wave. "Hi."

[my_own_advocate]

"Hi," Lucifer said, walking towards her. "What may I get you?"

[okteiviakom]

"A Jack Rose?" Octavia replied, not quite a question, but... similar to one. "But, light on the brandy."

[my_own_advocate]

"Why, Octavia, do you have something to celebrate tonight?" Lucifer teased, holding out his hand for hers as he turned towards the bar.

[okteiviakom]

"Is that what that cocktail's for?"

She took his hand. Greedily, sort of.

[my_own_advocate]

"You don't often ask for alcohol," Lucifer pointed out, unnecessarily, and tugged her along to the bar.

[okteiviakom]

"No, because I can get it myself," Octavia retorted. As if she did that all that often, either.

[my_own_advocate]

"That's not quite the reason, is it?" Lucifer laughed.

[okteiviakom]

"Isn't it?"

No.

But she was swinging their hands a bit. Or maybe... swaying.

[my_own_advocate]

"No," Lucifer said.

They had reached the bar, and he dipped behind the counter - without letting go of her hand - to grab the brandy.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia probably wouldn't have let him let go, anyway. Though maybe she would in second, once it got too obvious.

"Okay."

[my_own_advocate]

"That didn't take much effort," Lucifer teased.

Ah, grenadine. And... limes.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia gave a tiny shrug. "I don't really feel like arguing."

Especially over something silly.

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer paused mid-opening up a bottle. "I love you too, darling."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia blinked at him.

Just that.

... And, okay, this: "What?"

[my_own_advocate]

"You're choosing not to argue," Lucifer said merrily, "I'm taking that as an 'I love you'."

[okteiviakom]

"That's what it takes?"

No, this was not actually as foreign a concept to her as she was making it seem. (And not working very hard to conceal it, by the little twitch of the corners of her mouth.)

[my_own_advocate]

"Yes," Lucifer said, as he finally let go of her hand so he could work on her cocktail. "I know it's very hard for you, so I won't expect it every day."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia let both her hands settle on the bar as she leaned against it.

"Am I really that bad?"

[my_own_advocate]

"At times," Lucifer said, smiling. "You certainly never let anyone walk all over you. Frankly it's an attractive quality."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia shrugged again. "I mean... Nothing good comes from people walking all over me."

Had that ever actually happened, or was she just guessing?

[my_own_advocate]

"True," Lucifer said, giving the concoction he'd just made a good shake.