skies of rust || ❝ d'you breathe the name of your saviour in your hour of need. ❞

[spicetrance]

SKIES OF RUST

I hope to never fall, where enough is not the same it was before.

Come feed the rain
'Cause without your love my life
Ain't nothing but this carnival of rust CODE BY TESSISAMESS

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[spicetrance]

[ Her simple statement stays with him throughout the next day, echoing in the back of his mind. Then I love Muad'Dib as much as I love Paul. She says the words and phrases so easily, where his mind feels he must make it a decloration. It rumbles in his mind even as he watches the surprise subtly take her face.

He moves in front of her easily, the thin scarf shuffling at his feet. Paul leans down in front of her. Eyebrows raise slightly to make his point as he says it: ] Then, they should be prepared for Maud'dib to scourn them and refuse to aid them.

[ A hand raises to brush the strands of hair away from her face. Fingertips glide over her skin. ] He doesn't take lightly to the idea of his family being rebuked.

[ The statement and conversation would be more nuanced than the statement. Stilgar would not take kindly to the idea of Paul putting his foot down on this matter. However, Bastila is family, and always has been. They took him and his mother (and sister) in. If they won't respect the fact that another member of his family had done all she needed to in order to survive? Then, things may need to be evaluated.

His hand then cups the side of her face and he takes a step closer to her. A gentle smile is given. He plans to protect her as he protects his mother. As a family. He is Fremen... mostly. One challenge still remains, but, he is certain that will be placed second to the fact there is now someone who worked with the Harkonnens within their sietch. ]

I'm going to protect you, Basi. You don't need my help to fight--my mother made sure of that. But, it's my job as the leader of our house to protect those within it politically as best as I can.

[battlemeditation]

[ For her, the words come easily, but that does not mean she feels the significance behind them any less. Of course she loves Paul, and so, because of that, she loves Muad'Dib. To her, it is not blind devotion or anything fanatical, but simply the fact that she loves him and while circumstances may arise that see that love tested, she is confident in this moment that nothing will change how she feels.

But then Paul makes that statement and surprise shifts into something of worry. ]

Doing that would hardly aid you, Paul. You need the Fremen for your cause, because you need people with you to reach your aims. The last thing I intend is to be the reason your cause fails.

[ Of course she knows that Paul requires allies, and the Fremen are the ones he has chosen. Or was it the Fremen who chose him? Perhaps the path that Paul is on led him to the Fremen, so it was inevitable that they would work together.

If that is the case, that is even more reason for Bastila to not stand in the way. ]

I appreciate that, Paul, but if protecting me means jeopardizing your relations with the Fremen, then that is the last thing you should do. I understand your position as this house's leader, but there are things more important, aren't there?

[ Some things do trump familial connections, such as Paul's overarching goals. A part of Bastila would just as soon rely on Paul's protection, but the part of her that can recognize the importance of plans and allies recoils from that idea of simply letting Paul fulfill the role of protector, as to her, Paul's long term goals are of greater importance. ]

[spicetrance]

[ A complex and yet stoic expression passes his face at her statements. Not quite annoyance. The emotion would be more akin to something of resignation. A reminder that there is a path for him to follow. One he wishes to at least change ever so slightly to avoid a terrible conclusion. She would know nothing of those dreams, of course, but the reminder of politics and the grand scheme of the board simply brings that to the front of his mind again.

Politics.

The hand cupping the side of her face turns. Thumb brushes over her cheekbone.

There is still so much to tell you. ]

I'm not going to lose anymore of my family--or my court. We've lost enough. [ He will need to find a way to prove to the Fremen that she is on their side. Irreplaceable. That he sees her as valuable to their combined cause as he does his mother. Although, in respects, his mother had been forced and proved her place without him. ] They can at least understand that much. They've lost family to the Harkonnens too.

[ He pauses, pressing his lips together. Another step forward. His frame doesn't quite cover her nor does he tower above her. They are near the same height. His position, however, does make certain that any at the door could not see her. ]

Not that you'd really need my protection. [ A bit of a smile crosses his face for the briefest of moments. ] You're more skilled in fighting in Prana-bindu than I am.

[ He tilts his head down, merely a breath away from placing his forehead to hers. Nothing closer. She could easily twist him around and place him at a disadvantage if she feels forced or in a corner. She, out of everyone he has ever met, seems to be the one with the most choice afforded to her.

Why?

The shuffling of feet and moved sand behind them. Paul glances to the side with his eyebrows slightly raised. He knows the steps and to who they belong. A breath escapes him. She still finds a way to interrupt even unknowingly. ]

"Paul!" [ the familiar voice suddenly rings through the small stone cut quarters. ] "Stilgar says you are to ride your first worm within the upcoming days. Had you planned on telling me this?"

[ A familiar annoyed look crosses his face for Bastila to see. Eyes briefly move towards the ceiling. ] I had once Stil decided on when it would happen. Or, maybe I wouldn't have, if you decided to use the knowledge to push your agenda. [ Paul straightens and turns his head to their guest. His hand falls away from Bastila's face. ] We can discuss it later. We have a guest, mother.

[ The Lady Jessica freezes in an instant at the tone her son uses. She stands straighter. Hands fold together in practiced and trained posture. Blue tinged eyes fall to who the figure behind the young man she had raised. Except, all composure fails her the moment that Paul steps away to reveal the once ward of House Atreides. The tattoos and wrapping that dress her head and face may have changed how the lady looks, but she is still very much the once concubine of Duke Leto Atreides. ]

[battlemeditation]

[ Paul's reactions tell her all she needs to know about how she needs to approach this situation and what she needs to do. All of this is moves and counter moves, a strange dance of politics and alliances and seeking to use what benefits people bring to the table.

It is not a dance Bastila wishes to be a part of, but fate or destiny or both has decided she is part of it, along with Paul and Jessica. ]

We are not going to lose you, either. [ They can hardly afford to lose any of them, and as far as she is concerned, they all survive together or not at all. And if Paul goes, well, she imagines Jessica may not be long in following him, although in some ways, Jessica is the strongest of them all. ] We'll survive together, or make the Harkonnens regret thinking they could best House Atreides.

[ Because, really, that is who their enemy is at the moment. The Fremen are not an enemy, just a group of people who does not seem to trust strangers, and Bastila can hardly fault them for that.

Her gaze zeroes in on his when he steps forward. She knows what she wants to do, now before they are interrupted by anyone. Who knows when they will have a moment alone together? Even if another moment presents itself, there is something she wants to do right now, and she won't be stopped from doing it. ]

Maybe not, and you can hold your own as well, but that does not mean we can't protect each other. Watch each other's backs. [ She had no intention of doing anything different, anyway. ] And I would not downplay your own abilities in combat. Gurney and Duncan taught you well. Combine that with Prana-bindu and no one is going to take you by surprise.

[ He is even closer now, and she could kiss him if she wanted to. She wants to, and driven by that want, she leans forward slightly, hands moving to curl around him, when... at the last second, a voice cuts through the relative silence.

Jessica.

Bastila straightens up, but she does not pull back too far from Paul, turning slightly as Jessica approaches them both. This is one of those moments where she wishes she could simply slide out of view down a hallway and leave Paul and Jessica to talk or argue or whatever it is they are about to do.

But here, there is no room to do that, and so she stays where she is but tries to appear as though she is not listening or eavesdropping. That is, until Paul brings attention to the fact that Bastila is there.

At first, she finds herself startled not only by the blue eyes but the tattoos that were not there the last time that Bastila saw Paul's mother. Clearly she has changed considerably since then, but even with the changes, she is unmistakably the Lady Jessica.

Bastila is quick to dip into a brief curtsy of respect, but before she does so, she scoots forward just slightly and brushes a light kiss against Paul's cheek. It is not the deep gesture she meant to give, but with Jessica's arrival, adjustments had to be made. With that done, then she moves to show proper respect to Paul's mother, concealing a slight smile as she does so. ]

[spicetrance]

[ A faint smile traces his mouth at her declaration. He wonders who it is that Paul Atreides can't be lost as--which one of the roles he plays. Himself? Maud'dib? The unwilling grand scheme he was born to be? Maybe none of them. Maybe all of them.

He would have met her in that kiss if not for his mother. The woman who seems to have a singular talent in making certain he and Bastila never crossed certain lines. Lines he fully intends to cross now that the politics and machinations have put him at the forefront of the board. One that seems ready to cross as her lips brush against his cheek. His attention focuses entirely on her the moment she does. All his attention--including where his mind might seem ready to wander the moment spice enters his body.

His mother had always said Bastila had the capability of capturing him instantly.

Lady Jessica drops her hands at her side at the formal show of respect. Within a moment, she is in front of Bastila. All pretenses of manners and customs by court and Bene Gesserits are dropped. She gently cups Bastila's face in her hands before pulling her into a firm embrace. Firm, but loose, as the signs of her pregnancy are apparent for all to see. ]

"You're alive," [ Jessica breathes a sound of relief and also pride. A hand rests on the back of her would be daughter's head. ] "I had always told the Reverend Mother that you were capable of using your witts to survive. Even if you are covered head to toe in Harkonnen dress..."

[ Paul feels a scowl tug at his face at the mention of the Supreme Reverend Mother.

Jessica pulls back to take Bastila's hands in her own. Then, she glances down at her signs of pregnancy. Blue-in-blue eyes land on Bastila's in the familiar mentorship and yet motherly way. ]

"She's also glad that you've survived. That something of our family remains a family."

[ Paul shakes his head and begins to pull his scarf and gloves off. He should see to getting things arranged for Bastila while the women talk. ]

[battlemeditation]

[ As much as she loves Paul and wants nothing more than to be close to him, she respects Jessica too much to simply ignore her in favor of going after what she wants. Of course, she may not always agree with her, and she may not always think her decisions are the best, but in light of recent events, she is too important to simply put to one side.

The moment that Jessica steps in front of her, all of Bastila's formalities drop to the side as well. There is no need for them, not among family. If they were being observed by others not in the family, of course she would hold onto the customs and expectations, but there is no need to now.

Once Jessica is closer, Bastila looks at her closely too, as if seeing her for the first time. She might not appear different in a physical sense, at least not yet, but there still is something about her that has changed. ]

I had to survive, because- because I just felt like there was more I still could do.

[ She looks down at the Harkonnen attire she still wears, and she glares at it as if it offends her to see it. But then Jessica continues speaking as she takes hold of her hands, and she looks back at her with a question in her eyes. ]

You're not- are you talking about... How are you able to talk to her before she's even here?