I suppose not, because how could anyone understand that when they have yet to experience it? Still, I suppose meeting her will be an experience.
[ She has some knowledge of situations such as this, but that is all it is: the barest of facts, and she knows that facts do not always reflect reality. Paul's sister could turn out to be quite different indeed, and so Bastila resolves to not have any expectations for how she will behave or what she will be like.
For now, however, her focus and her concern is on Paul. To her eyes, he does not appear well. The spice surely is affecting him, but there is more to it than that. She knows now that he can see things; he can view events that may or may not come to pass. She can only guess at what he might be seeing now.
But he could be having a vision of the most mundane thing, and she would still hold his hand and touch his shoulder and call his name, doing whatever she had to in order to call him back.
She does not intend to be vain enough to believe that she is the only one who can bring him back from his visions, but at the present, she is the only one in the tent with him, and so for now, the responsibility falls to her. ]
That is what they want, but it is not what you want, so why should you do it? If you do not think it is the right thing, then you should find what the right thing is for you.
[ She shakes her head. ] I do not want all of those paths, those futures. I want a future with you, in which I can meet you in an alcove if that is what we decide... in which I can grab you by the collar and shake you if it seems that is necessary.
[ Her mouth twitches to one side as if in something like amusement. She might not be so bold in front of others, but when it is only them? She sees no reason to hide that. ]
Are you still with me? [ She can see that he is trying to pull himself out of whatever it is that he has been seeing, and in an attempt to guide him back, she moves her free hand to touch the side of his face in return, mirroring how his hand is brushing against her cheek. ]
Yes, you. [ She continues to look at him with a growing intensity in her gaze. ] I would have you lie down next to me. [ Then she smiles a smile that is warm and inviting, but not enticing, not in that way. Now is not the time for them to lose themselves entirely, not when there is an entire group of people not very far from them. ] Lie down next to me and let me hold you.
And if now is not the time, then later when there is time. And don't say that there isn't, because we will make time, Paul Atreides.
no subject
[ She has some knowledge of situations such as this, but that is all it is: the barest of facts, and she knows that facts do not always reflect reality. Paul's sister could turn out to be quite different indeed, and so Bastila resolves to not have any expectations for how she will behave or what she will be like.
For now, however, her focus and her concern is on Paul. To her eyes, he does not appear well. The spice surely is affecting him, but there is more to it than that. She knows now that he can see things; he can view events that may or may not come to pass. She can only guess at what he might be seeing now.
But he could be having a vision of the most mundane thing, and she would still hold his hand and touch his shoulder and call his name, doing whatever she had to in order to call him back.
She does not intend to be vain enough to believe that she is the only one who can bring him back from his visions, but at the present, she is the only one in the tent with him, and so for now, the responsibility falls to her. ]
That is what they want, but it is not what you want, so why should you do it? If you do not think it is the right thing, then you should find what the right thing is for you.
[ She shakes her head. ] I do not want all of those paths, those futures. I want a future with you, in which I can meet you in an alcove if that is what we decide... in which I can grab you by the collar and shake you if it seems that is necessary.
[ Her mouth twitches to one side as if in something like amusement. She might not be so bold in front of others, but when it is only them? She sees no reason to hide that. ]
Are you still with me? [ She can see that he is trying to pull himself out of whatever it is that he has been seeing, and in an attempt to guide him back, she moves her free hand to touch the side of his face in return, mirroring how his hand is brushing against her cheek. ]
Yes, you. [ She continues to look at him with a growing intensity in her gaze. ] I would have you lie down next to me. [ Then she smiles a smile that is warm and inviting, but not enticing, not in that way. Now is not the time for them to lose themselves entirely, not when there is an entire group of people not very far from them. ] Lie down next to me and let me hold you.
And if now is not the time, then later when there is time. And don't say that there isn't, because we will make time, Paul Atreides.