[though she's across the campsite, bundled into her blankets in the tent she shares with ash, alia feels she can nearly hear his laughter -- a bright, bold thing, a flash of morning sun across a grey sky. it makes her smile again, twice in one day -- such a concept.]
Once held can be held again, if you would wish it. If you possess determination, I cannot imagine any would stop you, Gale. Do you wish to be as you were?
Could you? I would like to show you it. The palace, the sietch, the sands. Shai-hulud. You must promise not to fear, though. Fear is the mind-killer.
[ alia invokes the question that plagues him near nightly do you wish to be as you were? do you wish to be more? he thinks, perhaps, that she would advise him against ascension, with how she warmed when they played at normality. then again, he isn’t sure she would wish to be unexceptional if given a choice. ]
Perhaps a touch less egotistical.
[ Anyway — ]
If you share it with me first, I can make it for you. And I’ve a remarkable ability to be curious when I ought to be fearful, besides.
[there is a pause before the answer, a pause that could speak of nearly anything -- alia lets it pass, though, gently bemused by how gale chooses to respond, the gentle and glib and self-deprecating way. he has a courtly air, and not solely in a jesterly way -- he deflects, he obfuscates, he veils. she admires that.]
I could share with you now, but I would like to watch your face as you feel and see and smell Arrakis. I will not allow anything fearful to touch you, do not fret. It is my home, therefore it's teeth shall be gentle and it's embrace soft, when I show it to my friends.
[ The way she describes it — wild and utterly alive — reminds him of Faerûn’s coast. Whole Gale himself had a tame upbringing, he misses the adventures of the road — and the challenges of being Chosen. ]
Then I shall wait to visit at your side and experience your home as you know it best. An honour in true!
I imagine we’ll have the remains of the remembrance pool to ourselves, for the effort.
[homesickness, longing, nostalgia -- it feels like waves crashing, in gale, like saltsprayed air, like caladan. alia thinks of leto, imagines careful hands and broad shoulders and a tender heart.]
A remembrance at the remembrance pool. I think it will be happy to play host for us. Perhaps it will be reminded of it's kin on Arrakis, if I show it what it's cousins did for the Fremen, all these eons.
Those are the people of Arrakis, the trueborn nation. Myself and Paul are of Caladan and House Atreides, foster children of Dune. I could not show you Caladan from my own mind, though - I never left the planet.
Worlds within worlds. I am grateful for all I can learn of them — and you, daughter of Dune.
[ foster child or otherwise, she has no home but Arrakis — but Paul, who has forsaken her. ]
I can show you my tower in Waterdeep, the bustling streets of Baldur’s Gate, even the bioluminescent wonder of the Underdark. Then you’ll have left your planet thrice over.
[in the singing touch of mind against mind, alia's presence grows warm, affectionate, arms slung gracelessly and fond around gale's neck, cheek pillowed on his shoulder.]
All of it. I want to see it all, please.
[destined princess, spoiled duke's daughter, alia does not mind her manners most times, but -- for gale she will.]
Show me all your best beloved places, and I shall show you mine.
[ his arm wraps around her waist in turn, knuckles running up and down her sides. affectionate and easy. he thinks, maybe, this is what it would have been like if he had a sister — if he hadn’t been so lonely throughout his childhood, with only a goddess' whispers for company. ]
You have a deal, my dear. And we’ve a wonderful afternoon ahead of us.
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no subject
Once held can be held again, if you would wish it.
If you possess determination, I cannot imagine any would stop you, Gale. Do you wish to be as you were?
Could you? I would like to show you it. The palace, the sietch, the sands. Shai-hulud.
You must promise not to fear, though. Fear is the mind-killer.
no subject
Perhaps a touch less egotistical.
[ Anyway — ]
If you share it with me first, I can make it for you.
And I’ve a remarkable ability to be curious when I ought to be fearful, besides.
no subject
I could share with you now, but I would like to watch your face as you feel and see and smell Arrakis.
I will not allow anything fearful to touch you, do not fret. It is my home, therefore it's teeth shall be gentle and it's embrace soft, when I show it to my friends.
no subject
Then I shall wait to visit at your side and experience your home as you know it best. An honour in true!
I imagine we’ll have the remains of the remembrance pool to ourselves, for the effort.
no subject
A remembrance at the remembrance pool. I think it will be happy to play host for us. Perhaps it will be reminded of it's kin on Arrakis, if I show it what it's cousins did for the Fremen, all these eons.
Those are the people of Arrakis, the trueborn nation. Myself and Paul are of Caladan and House Atreides, foster children of Dune. I could not show you Caladan from my own mind, though - I never left the planet.
no subject
[ foster child or otherwise, she has no home but Arrakis — but Paul, who has forsaken her. ]
I can show you my tower in Waterdeep, the bustling streets of Baldur’s Gate, even the bioluminescent wonder of the Underdark. Then you’ll have left your planet thrice over.
no subject
All of it. I want to see it all, please.
[destined princess, spoiled duke's daughter, alia does not mind her manners most times, but -- for gale she will.]
Show me all your best beloved places, and I shall show you mine.
no subject
You have a deal, my dear.
And we’ve a wonderful afternoon ahead of us.