seaoftroubles

Octavia	Octavia had been uneasy all evening long, but had miraculously fallen asleep pretty quickly once they'd retreated back to their cramped bed on the Sanguine Moon. That was about where her luck had ended, though. Uneasy dreams was right, because tonight, she found herself somewhere she hadn't been in a long time. She was always here. Watching over the pit as its floor got splattered in fresh streaks of crimson. Watching him as he tore apart everyone that had once been her people, who would hope to once be hers again, who would never be because there was no match for him. And when there was no one left, when it was just him, covered, drenched in blood, he looked up towards her on her throne, his eyes glowing silver -- And she was down in the pit with him, face to face. The silver dimmed. He fell to his knees, and she stepped up, cradling his face. Bloodying her hands - then painting his forehead in red, with her mark, her warpaint. Sending him collapsing to the floor, shaking, convulsing -- Octavia woke up with a start, a gasp, and found herself trembling.
Duke	The gasp and tremble were enough to shake Duke's own sleep -- thought not quite enough to wake him entirely. So while he rolled over to face her and wrap his arms around her, he didn't really open his eyes or register exactly why he suddenly had the urge to hang onto her.
Lucifer	Duke was moving, and Lucifer-- had reached that part of his sleep where he drifted closely near waking, if not close enough to wake up. Until Duke was moving, at least. He mumbled something indecipherable to himself and pressed his eyes shut even harder, in the hopes of going back to sleep.
Octavia	Oh, well. Now Octavia was trapped. She tried to be very still. But she couldn't help her gasp for breath, which seemed far too loud in her ears for the quiet of the boat.
Duke	It was loud enough, certainly, considering how close her snogon was cuddling. He blearily blinked open his eyes, going still, trying to work out what had woken him up. And noticed how tense the person in his arms was. "Tavi?"
Lucifer	"Oh, we're awake," Lucifer mumbled. Damn it.
Octavia	"Everything's fine," Octavia said, as if on a reflex, but the tight quality of her whisper didn't really support her claim. (Neither did the tension Duke had already noticed.) "Go back to sleep." In the dark of the boat, she was still trying to push the image of the pit from her mind.
Duke	"Uh huh," Duke said, thoroughly awake now. "I'll go back to sleep when you do." If he didn't get away with saying things were fine, neither did she.
Lucifer	"If everything were fine you'd be sleepier," Lucifer sighed. He tried to half-roll onto his back and perhaps stretch, but his hand immediately hit the wall. This boat was too bloody small.
Octavia	Octavia considered arguing more. But instead she just... sighed. And then slowly sat up (trying not to jostle Duke's embrace too much), rubbing her hands over her face. Like maybe that would help. (It involved closing her eyes, so it did not.)
Duke	Duke loosened her grip to let her move, then settled his arms around her again, his head against her hip, when she was done. (It was too small in here, especially with three of them. But it made for a good excuse to stay very close and handsy.) "You want me to sing?"
Lucifer	It wasn't like Lucifer could exactly move away from them either, so he shifted until he was sitting up as well, pressed firmly against Duke's side. He wisely didn't comment on Duke's singing. He looked at Octavia's face, instead.
Octavia	Octavia was staring across the cabin, just because she wasn't sure she could look at them right now and not see blood. On at least one of their faces, anyway. "Sure," she muttered. It couldn't hurt.
Duke	Duke nodded against her, then started, soft and easy. "Ia ora te natura E mea arofa teie ao nei. . . ."
Lucifer	There was a time Lucifer would once again bemoan being with two people for whom that was a moving touchstone. But this wasn't it. He was watching Octavia, still. Watching her not watch them. His hand snuck over to hers.
Octavia	Octavia kept not looking at them. She was trying to focus on Duke's voice, the familiar melody, the words. Couldn't make herself try and hum along, though. No real response to Lucifer's hand, either. Not immediately, anyway.
Duke	Sorry for your partners' musical tastes, Lucifer. Duke kept singing, soft and easy, watching from below as she didn't look at either of them. He hoped this would still worm its way under her fear. It worked in Fandom, but -- well, in Fandom she didn't just have to deal with a sentient puddle of blood, did she.
Lucifer	Lucifer wondered if he should pull it away from her. Then he... didn't, if only because he could feel a hint of Duke just under his arm, steady and trying. He gave her hand a squeeze, instead.
Octavia	Octavia's hand moved against his, eventually. Just a little. Everyone here was trying. She squeezed her eyes shut, and bowed her head. Okay, just breathe, Octavia. None of the dream had been real. (But some of it had been a little too close to truth.)
Duke	Duke cycled between the Tahitian chorus and extemporaneous versus about an imaginary tropical harbor based loosely on the one Lucifer had bought for him. He’d keep going until she told him he could stop, though his verses likely made less and less sense.
Lucifer	What else was there to do but hold on to her and hope she came back to reality? This wasn't the first time they'd found her like this. And yet Lucifer still felt distinctly helpless, his hand on hers. Watching her. (Ignoring the nonsense coming out of Duke's mouth.)
Octavia	It may have been nonsense, but Octavia wasn't really listening to the words, anyway. Duke's voice in itself was a grounding thing. Meant he wasn't on the floor of a bloody pit. And neither was she. (Even though a part of her always was. Always would be.) Eventually, still keeping her eyes closed, she began to sink back down. Still holding on to Lucifer's hand, she curled up into Duke's arms. Trying to make herself small.
Duke	Duke shifted to accomodate her, flicking a look back towards Lucifer as he did. As far as he knew, just hanging on was all they could do until she was ready to open up about what had upset her. So he did. And kept singing.
Lucifer	Lucifer caught Duke's gaze with his own for just a quick, but noticable moment. As Octavia relaxed and sank back into the mattress, he slowly followed, tucking himself against Duke's back. Without letting go of her hand.
Octavia	Well, Octavia was not quite relaxing. She'd just calmed down enough that she felt like hiding, now. And Duke's chest seemed to fit that bill. But finally, she hummed along to Duke's singing. Just for a little bit.
Duke	That was promising! Duke started to rub her back, slow and gentle.
Octavia	Octavia pressed closer. Held Lucifer's hand tightly. And finally spoke again, quiet and tired, "Can we just go back to sleep?"
Duke	Duke didn't want to just go back to sleep. But he'd already pushed things with her the night before, so he didn't really feel like he had room to do it now. "We can try?"
Lucifer	"I'm all right with that," Lucifer murmured. "Nothing good happens at-- whatever this time is." Beat. "Besides sex, and this isn't quite the mood."
Octavia	Octavia fell quiet again. No, this wasn't a sex mood. And no, it wasn't likely that she would tell them what had freaked her out.
Duke	Duke closed his eyes, still rubbing her back. “You want to stretch out?”
Lucifer	Lucifer sighed. "Let's just go to sleep," he muttered.
Octavia	Octavia wasn't moving. Or saying anything. So guess that meant she wasn't looking to stretch out, no. She was just... holding herself together, like this. Doubting her ability to actually sleep again.
Duke	Duke bit back a sigh, turning it into a soft, tuneless hum. He didn’t expect to sleep again either.
Lucifer	They all needed a good big glass of something strong, if you asked Lucifer. But no one had, and he wasn't sure what else to do besides lay there with his eyes closed. He'd sleep fine, if he wanted to. But with both of them so clearly-- still tense and awake, it felt wrong to.
Octavia	Octavia wanted the two of them to just go back to sleep. At least then she wouldn't have had to worry about screwing up their night as well as her own. But here they all were. Goddammit.
Duke	Duke's sleep hadn't exactly been great already anyway -- it hadn't been since before they'd gotten back to Haven. It just hadn't involved dreams terrible enough to wake him up or linger the way hers were. If Lucifer suggested a drink out loud, Duke wasn't going to turn him down.
Lucifer	Lucifer was trying not to resort to vices as a fix-it for everything. So he held on. For at least ten minutes. But no one was asleep yet, were they? "Right, I'm getting some scotch," he mumbled. "Anyone else?"
Octavia	Octavia said nothing. Her grip on Lucifer's hand had softened over the past... however long it had been. Now she let go entirely. Releasing him, for his scotch.
Duke	"Yeah," Duke said softly. "That'd probably be good."
Lucifer	Lucifer slipped quietly out of bed. He turned around, dipping down to press a kiss against Duke's cheek, to run his fingers along Octavia's arm. Then he left the tiny bedroom cabin and went for the kitchen.
Octavia	And Octavia... Rolled onto her back with a sigh. In case Duke wanted to move, too. Maybe get up? She didn't know.
Duke	Duke let her move, but stayed on his side, watching her. "The bunker?" he asked softly.
Octavia	Of course he had to ask. Octavia rubbed a hand over her face again. "Let it go," she muttered. Sounding exhausted. "Please?"
Duke	Duke hadn't been trying to cause any trouble. He swallowed and shifted onto his back as well. "Yeah. Sorry."
Octavia	And Octavia was trying to protect him. In a way. (And just saying that would've been letting him too close.) "I just want to try and sleep."
Duke	He was definitely getting that she didn’t want him close. He hummed a soft affirmative. Wondered how long it’d take Lucifer to get that drink.
Lucifer	Not too long, thankfully. Lucifer swept back into the room with two glasses - one scotch, one bourbon. "Here," he said softly, offering the latter to Duke as his gaze flicked swiftly towards Octavia.
Duke	Duke scooted back so he could prop his head on the headboard and accepted the drink. "Thanks, babe." Things were totally fine in here, Luce, don't worry!
Octavia	Octavia had her arm slung across her eyes, now. As if she could just hide her way through the awkward of this all.
Lucifer	"Darling," Lucifer said, glancing back up at Octavia, "Would you like something non-alcoholic to hide behind? Some tea, perhaps? It's much more effective."
Octavia	But did he know what really made hiding effective? When people actually let her do it. Octavia made a frustrated noise, and sat up again, abruptly. And immediately started looking for her clothes. Maybe she needed air.
Lucifer	He'd just been trying to help. "No?" Lucifer asked, sipping his drink as he watched her move about.
Duke	Duke could have told Lucifer that trying to help was often exactly what she didn't want -- but he could never help it, either. He was watching her too, carefully silent, cradling the scotch in front of his mouth.
Octavia	Octavia located her sweater, and slid off the bed, pulling it on. Then went straight for the pants. It was fumbly, but determined.
Lucifer	Lucifer let out a little sigh, and... sat down on the edge of the bed, by Duke's side. Sipped his drink.
Duke	Duke shifted, slipping an arm around his waist. Still didn’t comment. Made sure not to watch Octavia as she dressed.
Octavia	Octavia made sure not to look at either of them. And as soon as she was dressed (enough, anyway), she was out. Out of the cabin, and then right on out into fresh, cool night air. Maybe it would settle her down. (And maybe some distance would help them not ask questions.)
Lucifer	"It would be nice if, at some point or another, she would handle these issues in a fashion that doesn't make me wonder if something is somehow ruined," Lucifer said quietly, and flung his legs onto the bed, so he could scoot closer to Duke.
Duke	"Speaking. To the. Choir." Duke let out a long sigh, leaning into him. "It's my fault. I couldn't help asking just one question."
Lucifer	Lucifer took a final sip of his scotch and set it down on the night stand. "We were likely doomed from the moment we had the temerity to wake up," he said, sliding his newly-freed arm around Duke's shoulders.
Duke	“I know she’d rather we just ignore it, but. I hate seeing her like that. I can’t help but want to help.”
Lucifer	"I know," Lucifer sighed. "But she is still a bit like a trapped animal, some days." He pressed his face into the crook of Duke's neck. "I'm sorry," he added, softer.
Duke	Duke tilted his head onto Lucifer’s. “Yeah. Me too.” He heaved a sigh. “Especially since I’m pretty sure it was my little trick with the blood that set her off.”
Lucifer	"Quite a bit of complicated history in that, I fear," Lucifer agreed. Though he didn't particularly want to get into it, for fear of setting off Duke's own complex about it. "I'm also sorry for worsening the strain on you earlier."
Duke	Duke frowned. “What do you mean?” Oddly, their argument at the Gull was not forefront in his mind.
Lucifer	"The argument," Lucifer said. "It can't have made the mood any better tonight."
Duke	Duke sighed. “Yeah, probably. That was as much on me as you though. I can’t keep expecting you guys to change your minds about Audrey.” He kept hoping though. She was important to him. He hated that they couldn’t see her how he did.
Lucifer	Lucifer pressed a gentle kiss against his jaw. "And I shouldn't have lapsed back into anger and trying to change yours," he said. "It was unfair, and I apologize."
Duke	Duke closed his eyes, softly humming and giving Lucifer an extra squeeze in thanks for the apology. After a moment, he sighed again. “She’s kind of the elephant in the room, huh. Haven and I want her back so bad, but you and Tavi would be just as happy if she stayed gone.”
Lucifer	"We're just worried for you, Duke," Lucifer said, voice quiet.
Duke	"Audrey's not going to hurt me," Duke told him in return. "Not again."
Lucifer	Lucifer tilted his head away, mostly so he could rub at his closed eyes. "If there's a first time," he said, "There will be an 'again'."
Duke	Duke tossed back the rest of his drink. “Don’t suppose pointing out that she kept me from magically drowning like. The next day is going to help here?”
Lucifer	"Do you really want to have this conversation again?" Lucifer asked gently.
Duke	“No,” Duke said. “It’d be great to find a way to talk about her without having it. Since she’s basically why we’re here in the first place.”
Lucifer	"She's why you're here in the first place," Lucifer said, looking up at him. "Octavia and I are here because she's important to you." He hesitated, for a moment, and... "We've made no attempt to stop you," he said slowly. "And we don't intend to. Please also remember that."
Duke	Duke pulled away slowly, shifting to the edge of the bed so he could set his glass down, then running his hands down his face. “Maybe it’s better if you guys go back to Fandom,” he said, almost a whisper. “If we end up — breaking — because of all this, I don’t know if I can handle that.”
Lucifer	Lucifer let out a soft huff of a breath, his expression gentle, somehow. "You didn't leave me over Chloe, despite the strain I put you through," he said quietly. "I can't speak for Octavia, but I have no intention of doing any less for you."
Duke	“It hurts,” Duke admitted, a faint tightness in his voice. “The way you guys talk about her. And I get why you do and I know you don’t trust her — but — I guess — it feels like you can’t trust me either.”
Lucifer	"I trust you." That much had to be said. "But I know what it is like to chase after the approval of someone who has plans for you," Lucifer said slowly. "Someone you raise up on a pedestal."
Duke	“I’ve never had to chase her approval,” Duke said. “Nathan’s but not hers. She’s always seen the good in me.”
Lucifer	Lucifer bit down on his bottom lip. He didn't want to say it, but. But. "If she did, she would have simply asked you to do it, and trusted that you'd make the right decision," he said. "As you did today."
Duke	“That was a mistake,” Duke said, tone hardening again. “She knows it was. And she knows I won’t put up with it again. I do actually know how to see when someone’s using me.” He admittedly wasn’t always great at then avoiding being used.
Lucifer	"But will you stop her next time?" Lucifer said. Duke sounded harder. He sounded... quieter. "Or will you just come up with another way to say 'she won't do it again'?"
Duke	“I’ll do what I have to,” Duke said. He pushed to his feet. The boat wasn’t large, but he could probably find a spot to get some air that wouldn’t intrude on Octavia’s. “Like I always do.”
Lucifer	So much for at least having each other amidst Storm Octavia. He felt lonelier already. Lucifer rubbed at his face as he let Duke get up. "You deserve better," he said. "But you'll never get it in this town if you keep settling like this."
Duke	“I’ll never get anything in this town,” Duke said. “I never have.” And he headed out.
Lucifer	Lucifer watched him go, feeling... numb? He wasn't actually sure. He'd expected to feel more distraught, or deeply lonely and insecure, but-- apparently he was past that. There was a melancholy, though. And so after another minute or two, he got up out of bed, and took his scotch, and wandered into the kitchen, Where he pulled out his phone, and rang the Detective. Just to see.
Octavia	Somehow, it seemed wrong to Octavia, sitting on the little deck of the boat, that the night sky looked about the same here as it did back in Fandom. Looking up at it had still calmed her down a little. Enough that she was starting to feel like eventually she'd be okay to go back inside. Maybe say sorry, and ask for the middle spot, give them something to do with their compulsive need to be helpful. Or, she thought, maybe she'd get lucky and they would've gone back to sleep already. But of course, then she heard movement from inside.
Duke	Duke stepped out on the deck, gave her a quick, apologetic smile, then headed for the other end of the boat. He could sit on the dock. He'd done plenty of brooding on this dock in his time here.
Octavia	Octavia could have just let him go. But she was worried, now. So. "What happened?" she asked, her voice a little hoarse, as if she hadn't expected to be talking.
Duke	Duke paused, turning his head but not quite looking back at her. “Nothing,” he said softly. “Just the usual argument.” He hopped down onto the dock.
Octavia	Octavia watched him not look at her, and keep going. Then she rubbed her hands over her face again. "You were supposed to sleep," she muttered to herself. Maybe in more ways than one.

S	M	T	W	T	F	S
						1
2	3	4	5	6	7	8
9	10	11	12	13	14	15
16	17	18	19	20	21	22
23	24	25	26	27	28	29
30	31

Tavi's nightmare preplay text

Tavi's nightmare preplay text

Profile

March 2025

Most Popular Tags

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags