Then I suppose I'll have to find some other way of showing them I'm not a Harkonnen and I never was. Even though the Harkonnens thought they had me under their control, I wasn't. I couldn't.
[ Paul would be right in his suppositions; she did a lot of watching and listening while she was under the supervision of the Harkonnens. If it could be called supervision. Perhaps that should be something else they talk about: the things she learned while she was with them. ]
But do you like her? There are levels of liking and disliking. Perhaps you dislike what she reminds you of. What she represents. I know it is not as simple as not going south, but if you are against it, is that not your answer?
[ She is doing her best to follow where Paul goes with his words and with his revelations, but he is also right in that there are far too many pieces to this puzzle to sort out in a short amount of time. Still, she knows that if he wishes to tell her of his thoughts and observations and worries, she will listen. She will always listen.
They do have much to talk about, across many different topics. When she sees him smile, she feels herself relax for the first time in a long time. Carefully unwinding one hand from his, she reaches out to touch the side of his shoulder. With his stillsuit on, it is hard to really feel him, but her imagination can fill in the rest. For now, this is fine, but she wishes to remove his stillsuit so that it can just be them with nothing separating them: no layers, no obstructions. She wants to feel him. ]
I would not like that title, no, but if it was the only way, the only option... [ She shrugs as if to say she would simply resign herself to it. ] You need someone with connections, someone with leverage. Advantages. [ She has none of that, not even with what she has managed to learn from the Harkonnens. She knows that Paul will most likely need some sort of marriage that furthers his cause, his ambitions, whatever those may be. ]
I think your mother deserves better than the status she has.
[ She does not say it to be self-deprecating, but rather because she means it. ]
I have no use for a fiefdom or wealth or station or power. [ Logically, those things can and are useful, but romantically? Bastila has no desire for them. ] I have no use for titles or names. I- [ I just wish to be with Paul. ]
I am not sure it is an honor, or at least, not a great honor, but- yes. Yes. You may court me.
[ A million times, yes.
And then she smiles against the hand resting on her face, a wider smile, and a genuine one. ]
no subject
[ Paul would be right in his suppositions; she did a lot of watching and listening while she was under the supervision of the Harkonnens. If it could be called supervision. Perhaps that should be something else they talk about: the things she learned while she was with them. ]
But do you like her? There are levels of liking and disliking. Perhaps you dislike what she reminds you of. What she represents. I know it is not as simple as not going south, but if you are against it, is that not your answer?
[ She is doing her best to follow where Paul goes with his words and with his revelations, but he is also right in that there are far too many pieces to this puzzle to sort out in a short amount of time. Still, she knows that if he wishes to tell her of his thoughts and observations and worries, she will listen. She will always listen.
They do have much to talk about, across many different topics. When she sees him smile, she feels herself relax for the first time in a long time. Carefully unwinding one hand from his, she reaches out to touch the side of his shoulder. With his stillsuit on, it is hard to really feel him, but her imagination can fill in the rest. For now, this is fine, but she wishes to remove his stillsuit so that it can just be them with nothing separating them: no layers, no obstructions. She wants to feel him. ]
I would not like that title, no, but if it was the only way, the only option... [ She shrugs as if to say she would simply resign herself to it. ] You need someone with connections, someone with leverage. Advantages. [ She has none of that, not even with what she has managed to learn from the Harkonnens. She knows that Paul will most likely need some sort of marriage that furthers his cause, his ambitions, whatever those may be. ]
I think your mother deserves better than the status she has.
[ She does not say it to be self-deprecating, but rather because she means it. ]
I have no use for a fiefdom or wealth or station or power. [ Logically, those things can and are useful, but romantically? Bastila has no desire for them. ] I have no use for titles or names. I- [ I just wish to be with Paul. ]
I am not sure it is an honor, or at least, not a great honor, but- yes. Yes. You may court me.
[ A million times, yes.
And then she smiles against the hand resting on her face, a wider smile, and a genuine one. ]