seaoftroubles: (Audrey - smirk)
seaoftroubles ([personal profile] seaoftroubles) wrote2015-09-12 01:23 pm

Season one catchup preplay

There'll be more detail in the OCD, but the basic shape is this:

As You Were: Duke and Octavia head back to Haven for Audrey's surprise birthday party (braced for troubles). They head out to a remote island off the coast where everyone's gathered at an old, closed down hotel. The proprietor turns out to be a shapeshifter that kills the people it turns into. Everyone wonders who the baddie really is. The ME dies, Lucifer sends up a demon to possess her body and yell at Duke for dragging Octavia back into his world's bullshit. Audrey is revealed to be the shapeshifter, but didn't die because She's Different. They all go back to the mainland, where Duke reveals that he's the kid in the Colorado Kid murder picture, and Audrey emotionally blackmails him into sticking around longer to answer some questions.

The Hand You're Dealt: Duke and Audrey hunt down and question a couple of the other people in the Colorado Kid photo. Meanwhile, Nathan and Audrey try to track down someone with a fire trouble. Duke's old babysitter turns out to have death visions when she touches people, and after getting blown up by the fire trouble, tells Duke how he's going to die right before she dies herself.

The Trial of Audrey Parker: Audrey talks Duke into hosting a poker game before leaving. Two of the other guests hijack the boat to try and get something Duke's smuggling for a client. Honestly there are a lot of holes in this thanks to the way things are shaping up with Fandom in the mix. Why would Octavia let Duke stick around when now they KNOW someone in Haven is going to kill him? Octavia isn't a good replacement for Julia, Julia's a ninny. Octavia would just beat the shit out of the baddies for being mean to Duke. And getting the boat cracked delays them too much in going back to Fandom. Maybe we should skip this one. It doesn't really add much to Duke's character development that hasn't kinda been covered by Fandom anyway.
betterthanaplan: (<:-O)

Re: As You Were - MOAR DEATH

[personal profile] betterthanaplan 2020-09-19 07:51 pm (UTC)(link)
"Wait. Years?" Duke said.

Just as a gunshot echoed from the next room.
Edited 2020-09-19 19:51 (UTC)
okteiviakom: ([neg] worried about you)

Re: As You Were - MOAR DEATH

[personal profile] okteiviakom 2020-09-19 08:08 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, Octavia had caught that part, too.

But then there was that sound, and she was already moving.
okteiviakom: ([neu blodreina] wait)

Re: As You Were - accusations part two

[personal profile] okteiviakom 2020-09-19 08:12 pm (UTC)(link)
Octavia wasn't sure what she'd expected to see when she rushed over from the next room, skittering to a stop in the doorway with her knife in hand, but she knew this was not it.

"Nathan," she said, half warning, half question.

... Mostly question, honestly.
okteiviakom: ([neg blodreina] wtf)

Re: As You Were - accusations part two

[personal profile] okteiviakom 2020-09-19 09:06 pm (UTC)(link)
"How can you be sure?"

Octavia felt this was something of a obvious question. Not to mention a necessary one.
okteiviakom: ([neu] considering)

Re: As You Were - accusations part two

[personal profile] okteiviakom 2020-09-19 09:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Now, that question Octavia had nothing to add to.

So she just stood there with her knife. You know. As encouragement.
betterthanaplan: (what the actual fuck)

Re: As You Were - accusations part two

[personal profile] betterthanaplan 2020-09-19 09:52 pm (UTC)(link)
There was blood on Nathan's fingers, blood on the floor where the chameleon lay. And suddenly it was all Duke could see.

The chameleon choked out something about a trunk. A broom closet.

Duke hardly heard it. There was a ringing like feedback in his ears. The shaking got worse as he stared, watching the growing puddle as a troubled killer bled out on the floor.
okteiviakom: ([neu] i had a dream once)

Re: As You Were - accusations part two

[personal profile] okteiviakom 2020-09-19 10:01 pm (UTC)(link)
It got noticeable enough for Octavia to see it from the corner of her eye, and she immediately cursed herself for not realizing sooner.

She freed one hand by finally setting the bottle aside, so she could grab for his hand. "Hey. Hey, stay with me."
betterthanaplan: (state of the artwork)

Re: As You Were - accusations part two

[personal profile] betterthanaplan 2020-09-19 10:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Duke sucked in a breath when her hand hit his and tore his gaze away. Just in time to see Nathan pause on his way past and frown at him.

Duke wondered what he would say if he ever learned what Duke really was.

"Broom closet," Nathan barked. "You going to help or not?"

Duke nodded and followed after him, tugging on Octavia's hand to bring her along.
okteiviakom: ([neu] accept that you're crap)

Re: As You Were - accusations part two

[personal profile] okteiviakom 2020-09-19 10:13 pm (UTC)(link)
Following him, Octavia held on tightly. Like an anchor.

For now.
betterthanaplan: (I think it means "not her")

Re: As You Were - accusations part two

[personal profile] betterthanaplan 2020-09-19 10:38 pm (UTC)(link)
The broom closet was in a crawl space, tucked under the stairs. The door stuck, swollen with the damp of the storm; it took Duke and Nathan together to finally yank it open.

"It's in here." Nathan rushed to the trunk, Duke just barely behind.

"Someone find the lights," Duke ordered.

Nathan yanked the trunk open. Duke landed on his knees at one end, where Audrey's head was revealed, and gently lifted her upright. Her head lolled bonelessly (he tried not to think about Ted) as he felt for a pulse. "She's alive."

"Parker?" Nathan called. He picked up her hand, squeezing it. "Parker! Julia, some help?"
okteiviakom: ([neu] list of demands)

Re: As You Were - accusations part two

[personal profile] okteiviakom 2020-09-19 11:01 pm (UTC)(link)
Octavia was the one to get the lights.

The time for fighting had passed, so it wasn't as if her particular skill set would be of much use to Audrey.
betterthanaplan: (are you kidding me?)

Re: As You Were - accusations part two

[personal profile] betterthanaplan 2020-09-19 11:28 pm (UTC)(link)
Nathan kept calling to her, kept patting her hand while Julia did a quick check of Audrey's pulse and pupils. Duke just cradled Audrey's head and tried to remember to breathe.

He'd lost too many people this summer. Whether they died or disappeared or just left. She wasn't allowed to be another one.

"Hand me that disinfectant," Julia ordered.

". . . I don't think she needs to be disinfected," Duke said.

"The ammonia will act as a smelling salt."
okteiviakom: ([neu] standing tall)

Re: As You Were - accusations part two

[personal profile] okteiviakom 2020-09-20 08:37 am (UTC)(link)
Octavia tossed Julie the disinfectant. And then just stood and watched, with the rest.

She could feel herself sliding towards something unfeeling, again. Blamed it on the adrenaline beginning to wear off.
Edited 2020-09-20 08:39 (UTC)
betterthanaplan: (checking in)

Re: As You Were - accusations part two

[personal profile] betterthanaplan 2020-09-20 02:53 pm (UTC)(link)
Julia soaked a tissue in the disinfectant and held it under Audrey's nose. "Audrey? Can you hear me?" She picked up Audrey's wrist. "Pulse is getting stronger. She's going to be okay."

Nathan let out a series of relieved breaths, rocking faintly as he stroked Audrey's hand, bringing it to his lips. "Parker. You're gonna be okay. You're gonna be okay."

Duke watched him, recognizing that look in Nathan's eyes. He glanced down at Audrey as she started to stir, a little flare of jealousy lighting up in his chest.

This was what Octavia felt every time Nathan was even around, wasn't it.

Audrey groaned softly. "Are you crying?" she murmured. And smiled. "'Cause crying will not be tolerated."

Duke laughed, recognizing his own words reflected back at him, then glanced back, looking for Octavia.

He'd put her through hell today. So he could spend time with other people he loved. When she was already going though a hell of her own.

Lucifer had been right to send Ted to yell. Duke had fucked this up hard.
okteiviakom: ([neu] second dawn sinner)

Re: As You Were - accusations part two

[personal profile] okteiviakom 2020-09-20 03:11 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, but Octavia's dislike of Nathan had always come from all the hurt - both physical and otherwise - that the man had repeatedly inflicted on Duke. It had never been about jealousy.

Until today, anyway.

When Duke looked back, she wasn't there anymore. As soon as she'd heard Audrey speak, she'd had enough confirmation that they were out of the woods with this one, and she'd turned on her heels and silently walked out of the room, then out of the house.

Let them celebrate Audrey's continued survival together. They didn't need her for that.
betterthanaplan: (concerned in profile)

Re: As You Were - accusations part two

[personal profile] betterthanaplan 2020-09-20 03:17 pm (UTC)(link)
That was . . . problematic.

Duke looked down, flashing Audrey a wobbly smile as he helped her sit up a little more, then slowly let her go.

"I'll, uh. I'm gonna go see if I can get that radio working. Call us a boat."

They'd all had just about enough of Carpenter's Knot.
betterthanaplan: (very serious and three-quarters)

Re: As You Were - epilogue

[personal profile] betterthanaplan 2020-09-20 03:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Duke had done his best to balance being there for Octavia and giving her her space on the boat back to the mainland, and was pretty sure he'd failed at doing both. He wanted nothing more than to get them back to Fandom, where things at least felt a little simpler, but there was one last thing he needed to do first.

He flicked Octavia a quick smile. "I'll be right back, and then we'll head out, okay? I gotta give Audrey her present."
okteiviakom: ([neg] cold cold heart)

Re: As You Were - accusations part two

[personal profile] okteiviakom 2020-09-20 03:29 pm (UTC)(link)
And Octavia?

She sat out on the front steps, breathing in the night air, letting the rain soak through her clothes. Stared at nothing.

And waited to go home.

(Whatever the hell that even meant.)
okteiviakom: ([neu] get out of my way)

Re: As You Were - epilogue

[personal profile] okteiviakom 2020-09-20 03:34 pm (UTC)(link)
Octavia had been stony the entire way over. It was the only way, surrounded by strangers, and she hadn't seemed to care much whether Duke was near her or far away, because she hadn't seemed to care much about anything..

And now they were off the boat, and not much seemed to have changed. She nodded, but only barely.

"Sure."
betterthanaplan: (things are looking up)

Re: As You Were - epilogue

[personal profile] betterthanaplan 2020-09-20 03:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Ah, but Duke knew better than to trust how she seemed. He reached for her hand to give it a quick, hopefully reassuring squeeze. "Book us a portal?"
okteiviakom: ([neu] at least it's quiet)

Re: As You Were - epilogue

[personal profile] okteiviakom 2020-09-20 03:49 pm (UTC)(link)
It wasn't that easy to switch off this particular mode of self-protection she'd been stuck in since the hotel. Octavia was still waiting to feel okay with letting her guard down.

She didn't pull her hand away, though. At least there was that, even if nothing in her expression changed, and she was as monosyllabic as she had been for a while, here.

"Okay."
betterthanaplan: (let's think this through)

Re: As You Were - epilogue

[personal profile] betterthanaplan 2020-09-20 04:04 pm (UTC)(link)
"Okay." Duke flashed her one last smile, gave her hand one last squeeze, then headed off down the dock.

Audrey glanced back at Octavia as Duke caught up with her and Nathan. "How's she doing?"

Duke looked back as well and shrugged. "She's pissed, mostly. I kinda promised her a fun night away from it all and -- well."

Nathan looked like he wanted to make some snide remark about Duke and promises, but instead just shook his head and headed over to talk to his dad. Audrey headed for her car, and Duke hopped a little as he fell in place beside her.

"Hey." He held out a little box with a big red bow on it. "Happy birthday."

Audrey grinned. "You're kidding me."

"Ah, just because you got body snatched doesn't mean you don't get a present on your birthday." He leaned against her car and watched her face closely as she opened it.

Under the ribbon was a intricately carved wooden box, inside of which sat a silver locket. Audrey looked from it to Duke, surprise and faint concern on every line of her face.

"Wow, this is beautiful." Even her customary smirk fell off her face as she picked it up. She had no idea how to react to something this fancy from a man she saw only as a friend. "Thank you."

"Look closer," Duke said. "At the engraving."

Audrey flipped the locket over. "L.R.?"

"Lucy Ripley," Duke said.

Audrey's eyes went wide. "How -- where did you get this?"

Duke didn't answer for a long moment. He was starting to realize that he'd fucked up here, too. Audrey wasn't reacting at all how he'd imagined. He'd let himself forget how intensely she pursued everything associated with the woman who might be her mother.

"Lucy gave it to me."

Audrey could only stare at him, her thoughts racing.

"The boy," Duke said slowly. He hated even thinking about this. "Standing next to Lucy in the Colorado Kid photo. That's me."

Audrey's expression wandered through more emotions than either of them could name, before landing on anger.

"Are you kidding me?!"
okteiviakom: ([neu] look down)

Re: As You Were - epilogue

[personal profile] okteiviakom 2020-09-20 04:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Octavia did not watch them. Her eyes lingered on Nathan and the Chief for a brief moment, as they walked away. Then she turned her attention onto her phone, pulling up Portalocity and scrolling to the earliest possible portal. And once that was done, she slid the phone into her bag - where her hand met something very soft.

The thin, simple knit blanket she'd brought to give to Audrey.

She pulled her hand out of the bag, and heaved it a little further up her shoulder as she turned her gaze towards the water. All she wanted was to get out of here.

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