He can feel the hawkish studying gaze of his mother on him. Looking for a tell or sign that he is lying. Why bother when we both know I am lying?
There remains little point in him sharing his dreams now. At least, not with his mother, and not to the other member of their small breakfast who has yet to join them. ]
"Paul..."
I'm fine, mom. [ Another bite. A glance at the cups of water on the table. ] Could you--
"--If you want it? Command me. Use the Voice."
Mom. I just woke up.
[ Raised eyebrows and a sip from the cup tell him all that he needs to know. Breakfast isn't only breakfast that morning. A test, an evaluation. His fork stills and he stares at the food in front of him. Suddenly, he feels a lack of appetite. The expectation remains for him to perform. Prove how far he has come in training.
A frown and breathless sigh.
Paul Atreides, ducal heir to the Great House Atreides, raises his gaze at his mother. An even stare. His vocal cords relax. Then, they contract in an unnatural way. A belowing voice comes from his mouth: ] Give me the water.
[ The Lady Jessica, concubine to the Duke of House Atreides stares evenly at her son. He must be ready. The test is the upcoming night. A test she has yet to tell him--cannot tell him. Commanded by her superiors of the sisterhood she hails from. Her eyes close as an image floods her mind. Her hand raises and slides the cup to Paul. Her hand flexes at the compulsion.
Yet, she resists.
A sigh leaves Jessica before she pointedly looks at him. ] "Close. You're getting better."
Mmmm. [ Paul reaches over and takes the cup in front of her. He takes a drink. ]
"It takes years to perfect these skills, Paul."
[ A silence fills the room as Paul turns back to his dish without answering. He knows he lags behind the other child his mother has raised. The ward his family took upon them to quell in uprising. One who is like a daughter to the Duke Leto Atreides and Lady Jessica. It's no secret she has excelled in her training underneath his mother.
"This training is not given to men." His mother once said. "You've no reason in rushing. You're progressing, that's enough for now."
The doors to the small hall open.
Paul raises his eyes and Jessica sits up a tad straighter. The ward has arrived, still dressed in her own attire for sleep. The morning light shines on her chestnut hair and her face seems to glow. He knows he stares whenever she enters a room. His attention is consumed fully by her person. Nothing has changed since they were little in that regard. Except for finding himself always taken back how eye-catching she is even in the morning attire.
Jessica glances at Paul. ] "Good morning, Bastila. You overslept Paul this morning. That is something rare."
Basi didn't over sleep, I woke up early. [ Paul finally pulls his gaze from the young woman of his age. He locks gaze with his mother before focusing on simply moving his breakfast around. ]
"Bastila," [ Jessica corrects her son with the full name of their ward. ] "Is usually up hours before you, Paul. You'd do well to live by the example. Especially after today. Arrakis is nothing like Caladan." [ The concubine to the Duke turns her attention back to their newcomer. ] "It is good the pair of you are up so early. Leto has requested full dress for all of us today."
—「 moon over caladan. 」
[ A lengthy pause.
Images flash in his mind. ]
No. [ Then, he takes another bite of breakfast.
He can feel the hawkish studying gaze of his mother on him. Looking for a tell or sign that he is lying. Why bother when we both know I am lying?
There remains little point in him sharing his dreams now. At least, not with his mother, and not to the other member of their small breakfast who has yet to join them. ]
"Paul..."
I'm fine, mom. [ Another bite. A glance at the cups of water on the table. ] Could you--
"--If you want it? Command me. Use the Voice."
Mom. I just woke up.
[ Raised eyebrows and a sip from the cup tell him all that he needs to know. Breakfast isn't only breakfast that morning. A test, an evaluation. His fork stills and he stares at the food in front of him. Suddenly, he feels a lack of appetite. The expectation remains for him to perform. Prove how far he has come in training.
A frown and breathless sigh.
Paul Atreides, ducal heir to the Great House Atreides, raises his gaze at his mother. An even stare. His vocal cords relax. Then, they contract in an unnatural way. A belowing voice comes from his mouth: ] Give me the water.
[ The Lady Jessica, concubine to the Duke of House Atreides stares evenly at her son. He must be ready. The test is the upcoming night. A test she has yet to tell him--cannot tell him. Commanded by her superiors of the sisterhood she hails from. Her eyes close as an image floods her mind. Her hand raises and slides the cup to Paul. Her hand flexes at the compulsion.
Yet, she resists.
A sigh leaves Jessica before she pointedly looks at him. ] "Close. You're getting better."
Mmmm. [ Paul reaches over and takes the cup in front of her. He takes a drink. ]
"It takes years to perfect these skills, Paul."
[ A silence fills the room as Paul turns back to his dish without answering. He knows he lags behind the other child his mother has raised. The ward his family took upon them to quell in uprising. One who is like a daughter to the Duke Leto Atreides and Lady Jessica. It's no secret she has excelled in her training underneath his mother.
"This training is not given to men." His mother once said. "You've no reason in rushing. You're progressing, that's enough for now."
The doors to the small hall open.
Paul raises his eyes and Jessica sits up a tad straighter. The ward has arrived, still dressed in her own attire for sleep. The morning light shines on her chestnut hair and her face seems to glow. He knows he stares whenever she enters a room. His attention is consumed fully by her person. Nothing has changed since they were little in that regard. Except for finding himself always taken back how eye-catching she is even in the morning attire.
Jessica glances at Paul. ] "Good morning, Bastila. You overslept Paul this morning. That is something rare."
Basi didn't over sleep, I woke up early. [ Paul finally pulls his gaze from the young woman of his age. He locks gaze with his mother before focusing on simply moving his breakfast around. ]
"Bastila," [ Jessica corrects her son with the full name of their ward. ] "Is usually up hours before you, Paul. You'd do well to live by the example. Especially after today. Arrakis is nothing like Caladan." [ The concubine to the Duke turns her attention back to their newcomer. ] "It is good the pair of you are up so early. Leto has requested full dress for all of us today."