Luke's, Thursday

[betterthanaplan]

Duke was feeling pretty okay, today. Sure, the pressure was already starting to build to let another trouble out, but it was still at that lingering, vague nausea stage where he could mostly ignore it and go about his day.

Not that most people were willing to let him do that.

"Have you seen the new wearable for people with chronic fatigue?" Ali asked him. "Maybe you need something like that!"

". . . I don't have chronic fatigue. I have a magical curse."

"Have you tried a FODMAP diet?" Greg asked. "My sister did that and it worked wonders for her food sensitivies."

"I don't have food sensitivities," Duke pointed out, exasperated. "I have a magical curse."

"Ooo, have you tried yoga?" Benny asked.

"Yeah, you're fired," said Duke.

Today's specials
Apricot kernels
Moon Juice
Not giving unsolicited advice, well-intentioned or not

Luke's was open.

Comments

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer stepped inside and, as had become habit, threw a look at the specials board to see what Duke's mood was today.

"... Unclear," he said, squinting.

[betterthanaplan]

"For the love of god, Steve, if you bring up celery juice one more time --" Duke was saying to one of the waitstaff. Then cut himself off to beam at Lucifer. "Babe. Save me."

[my_own_advocate]

"Clearer," Lucifer said, dragging his gaze down towards Duke. "Right. Booth in the back or upstairs?"

[betterthanaplan]

"Booth in the back, then upstairs?" Duke suggested.

[my_own_advocate]

"All right," Lucifer said, walking towards the kitchen. He held out a hand for Duke, his gaze darting past the man towards the staff. "Sorry, peons, but apparently you're misbehaving."

[betterthanaplan]

Duke accepted the hand and resisted the urge to stick his tongue out at his staff.

"They're not good listeners."

[my_own_advocate]

"Giving unsolicited advice, you wrote?" Lucifer said, tugging him towards the back.

[betterthanaplan]

"Apparently I can cure my magical curse with diet and exercise."

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer sat down, frowning. "...How would that even bloody work?"

[betterthanaplan]

"Through" Duke did jazz hands, complete with spirit fingers. "~*Wellness*~."

[my_own_advocate]

"They do know it's an actual magical curse you're trying to lose, not the six pounds you picked up over a 4th of July cookout, do they?" Lucifer asked. "... Also sit down, darling."

[betterthanaplan]

"You know, they've literally seen me let a trouble out and I'm still not sure," Duke said, sliding into the booth seat. "It's possible they think I have cancer."

[my_own_advocate]

"An affliction also not cured by diet or exercise," Lucifer said. "As far as I'm aware."

[betterthanaplan]

"Yeah . . . humans are real dumb sometimes," Duke said, shrugging.

[my_own_advocate]

"Well, I rather take offense to them being dumb to you in particular," Lucifer huffed.

[betterthanaplan]

“I know,” Duke said, leaning against him. “You’re my hero.”

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer chuckled. He pressed a kiss to Duke's cheek. "How are we doing on the trouble end today?"

[betterthanaplan]

"Not . . . terrible," Duke said, taking his time so Lucifer would know he was trying to be truthful and not downplay anything. "Like, I can feel them, but they're not really pushing too hard yet, I guess."

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer let out a breath. "Could be worse, then," he said. "Do we still have ice cream in the freezer upstairs?"

[betterthanaplan]

"Ooo, we might have finished it last time. WE definitely have some down here we can bring up there, though."

[my_own_advocate]

"Shall I go get it so you don't have to go through the Marianne Williamson hordes again?" Lucifer asked.

[betterthanaplan]

Duke gave him a kiss on the cheek. "You're too good to me."

That was a "yes".

[my_own_advocate]

"Head on upstairs, love," Lucifer said, sliding out of his seat. "I'll be there in a moment."

[betterthanaplan]

"Sounds good." Duke got up and stretched. "Chocolate and strawberry?"

[my_own_advocate]

"Oh, someone's feeling decadent," Lucifer laughed. "Chocolate and strawberry it is."

He walked into the kitchen, waving at the peons to skitter off.

[betterthanaplan]

Duke watched him go for a minute, just . . . soaking in the grandness and beauty of his partner.

Magical curse or no, just now he felt damn lucky.

Then he headed for the door to the back stairs.

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer did like to offer a view.

Once he procured the asked-for ice cream a few moments later (and tossed the peons another firm, stop doing that), he followed, tubs in hand. Opened the door, and let himself in.

[betterthanaplan]

Duke was sprawled on the futon in the living room.

“What are we thinking? Sexy times or just snuggling?”

[my_own_advocate]

... Well.

Lucifer came to a full stop.

"You do realize it's very unfair to ask me that while you are lounging like that," he said.

Stupid sexy Duke.

[betterthanaplan]

“. . . I do now,” Duke said. “And I’m really torn on whether to sit up or lounge even harder.”

[my_own_advocate]

"I believe that makes 'cuddle or sex' your decision," Lucifer said.

Still gripping his two ice cream containers.

[betterthanaplan]

Duke pursed his lips thoughtfully. He looked at Lucifer. Thought about his current energy levels. And the ice cream.

He sat up and stretched out a hand. “Ice cream and snuggles. Then sex.”

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer chuckled. "As you wish," he said, holding out the chocolate ice cream container. "I put a spoon under the lid."

[[ sorry, completely missed this notif ]]

[betterthanaplan]

“That’s my Luce. Always thinking ahead.” Duke accepted the ice cream happily and nodded to the space beside him on the futon. “Come. Lounge with me.”

[my_own_advocate]

'Always thinking ahead'. Quite a few people laughing right now without knowing why.

But happily oblivious to any of that, Lucifer moved in to sit with him, pushing the lid off of the strawberry container before he leaned in against Duke. "Large quantities of sugar and cream won't fix your troubles, but it's certainly more enjoyable than swallowing large quantities of kurkuma or whatever it is they were advocating."

[betterthanaplan]

“Sometimes we must care for mental health too,” Duke said primly, setting his lid aside and leaning against Lucifer. “Thankfully, I haven’t let out any troubles triggered by enjoying food.”

[my_own_advocate]

"Now wouldn't that be a nightmare," Lucifer said, taking his own spoon and digging out some ice cream from his container. "Though so far we haven't retriggered any of the ones you let out, have we?"

[betterthanaplan]

Duke frowned faintly into his ice cream, drawing a small pattern in the top with the scrape of his spoon.

He’d mentioned this — briefly — to Octavia when she was freaking out about the last trouble being too easy. He wasn’t sure if she’d really noticed.

He hadn’t planned to bring it up again. Not because he was keeping it secret; he just didn’t want them to be even more on egg-shells with him.

“I haven’t let it,” he said. Quiet and matter of fact. No denial. No guilt. No defensiveness. “I’ve been careful.”

It was actually stupid, just how good Duke could be at fending off — walling off — his emotions when it meant not getting them on anybody else.

[my_own_advocate]

One could argue that was another form of denial, and should hence set something off. But Lucifer wasn't thinking about that right now.

"Ah," he said instead. "That-- has to be terrible."

[betterthanaplan]

Troubles weren’t that subtle. And Duke was pairing it with a lot of self-talk from therapy. It was probably confusing the aether.

“It’s — yep. ‘Terrible’ covers it.”

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer sighed. "Would you like to talk about it?" he said. "Or would you prefer we focus on the ice cream and the cuddles?"

[betterthanaplan]

“I think — ice cream and snuggles. We can do the hard talk later.”

[my_own_advocate]

"All right," Lucifer said. He pressed a kiss against Duke's cheek. "You've been harrassed quite enough about all that today as is."

[betterthanaplan]

“Thank you.” Duke turned his head to catch Lucifer’s lips. “I love you.”

And that, that more than anything was how he held everything else at bay.

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer kissed him back, firm and fond, his free hand sliding up to cup Duke's cheek. "Then eat your bloody ice cream, Crocker."

It certainly sounded like 'I love you too'.