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

Comments

[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?