Swimming With the Fishes, Tuesday, period 1

[betterthanaplan]

"Surfing," Duke said. The waves were back to normal this week. Which meant they existed, not that they were anything to really write home about. "We've got some nice beginner surf going on here, so lets give it a try. If you're not a beginner . . . well, there are sea turtles out here, too. Maybe they can show us a few tricks.

"There are boards here for everyone. Pick one out, and we'll get started."

Comments

Re: Talk to Duke

[okteiviakom]

"Before."

Who wanted to waste half their day waiting for an uncomfortable thing to happen? Not Octavia.

Re: Talk to Duke

[betterthanaplan]

"Then come to the diner after. I'll make you a treat."

Re: Talk to Duke

[okteiviakom]

Octavia almost told him 'no meat', like a reflex, but managed to stop herself. He knew. And not only did he know, but he also hadn't hassled her about why.

And she was thankful for that.

She nodded. "Okay," she said. "I might need it."

Re: Talk to Duke

[betterthanaplan]

"You might," Duke agreed. "I can't say mine was easy. But . . . it also wasn't bad. Claire's pretty funny when she wants to be."

Re: Talk to Duke

[okteiviakom]

Octavia gave him a dry look.

It was kind of half-hearted.

"I'm not in this for funny."

Re: Talk to Duke

[betterthanaplan]

"Of course not," Duke agreed. "But that doesn't mean you can't get some funny along the way. Humor can be healing."

Re: Talk to Duke

[okteiviakom]

He wasn't wrong, probably. Octavia still rolled her eyes.

(But that was good, too. Expressive.)

"Anyway," she drawled. "I'm probably heading to the preserve, now."

Re: Talk to Duke

[betterthanaplan]

"Need some time with the trees?" Duke asked. He reached over to brush some hair off her shoulder. Completely unnecessarily. "Check in on the furry fish?"

Re: Talk to Duke

[okteiviakom]

The ends of her hair were still a little wet, and kind of trying to stick to her shoulders. That made it completely necessary.

Octavia's voice ended up a murmur. "That first one, mostly."

Re: Talk to Duke

[betterthanaplan]

Duke nodded. "Sounds like fun. Text me photos?"

He wasn't going to suggest going along. He knew she needed her in-the-woods-alone time before, it didn't surprise him that she might need it now.

Re: Talk to Duke

[okteiviakom]

Yeah, Octavia needed this for herself.

"Maybe."

That also went with how this was a solo trip. Right now, she didn't feel like she'd be handling her phone all that much, out there. (But she would. The urge to reassure him she was still there, to hold his hand, would eventually get to her.)

She reached up to press a quick kiss to his cheek. "I'll be home later."

It was weird to say that so easily.

Re: Talk to Duke

[betterthanaplan]

"I'll be there," Duke said. And so would the boat. He was not going to run off on her again.

Re: Talk to Duke

[okteiviakom]

"Os, jaka."

One of these days, Octavia would get back to using the other nicknames, too. But for now, she'd say this one softly, like it encompassed all of them.

And then she went on her way.