(Untitled)

[depthundersands]

[The journal is lay open, with a full view of a kitchen. Who knows what old dead grandfather turned the thing on but, you can see Alia moving around the kitchen humming to herself as she wrapped up the last basket of cookies, so they could be delivered to a certain little boy he knew.}Next time I start to think baking is a wonderful idea you had

Comments

[goldenpathredux]

[Hello aunt! Your nephew has been attracted by your cooking actually. It smells strange to him...Like offworlder food with fremen ingredients. He doesn't fail to notice that you're talking to yourself and he is perfectly prepared to take your water if grandpa gaybo takes control again, but he's going to wave it off and pretend he doesn't notice. How long until you notice him snatching up the most burnt, dried up cookies?]

[depthundersands]

[not noticing Leto yet, she steps back from her grandfather's arms and smiled calmly.]

I'm going to go take these to this little blonde boy- No you cannot-

[Just as she was swinging her cloak over her wings, folding them in, she turned and see Leto and stops short.]

Nephew! I did not hear you arrive- Do you come to talk to me, or simply steal a sweet little boy's cookies?

[goldenpathredux]

They will call me Shaitan, Aunt. Stealing a child's sweets would not be a bad start. However...

[He opens his palm to reveal the mistakes: The blackened and burnt.]

...These are all I wish for.

[depthundersands]

[Alia made a 'ha-rumff' noise and unclasp her cloak, taking it back of, fluttering her wings a little.]

Have all you like, nephew. I can always

[sigh]

make more.

Yes, not my greatest achievement ever. But it did make an upset little boy quite pleased, regardless of how many where wasted.

[depthundersands]

[his response made all the hope that was building in her chest, escape as if she had been punched in the gut. She now knew what she would have to do once she was alone, the Baron knew too, so instead of going on, when Leto swatted at him and smiled deviously and the faded away, for the moment. Alia was shocked speechless.]

Leto...

[In a moment of weakness, she held his hand tighter and bowed her head.]

I lost my brother, so you could live. Do not leave me alone for my own sake... I beg you.

[goldenpathredux]

Sweet aunt...[In a moment of mercy, he squeezed her hand back. A small part of him holds out hope that even if he is dead or incapacitated, she can pass her trial of abomination this time.] I am a rock in the qanat*. I can only divert the stream, not stop it. When...if the time comes...And even I don't know when that is...You will only have to make your way to the desert to find me. A pearl of myself will remain within each maker**.

Which is why I want you to make more friends. [Especially the ones I have researched, who can detect an abomination...]

[OOC:

*aquaduct or canal carrying water

**sandworm]

[depthundersands]

[oh, to be as others were- blind in that safest of all blindness, living only the hypnoidal half-life into which birth-shock precipitated most human. But no! She had been worn an Atreides, victim of the eons-deep awareness inflicted by her mother's spice affliction.
Now she was given the choice, the choice to live half blind. To Give up the power, to live the life the she chose for herself, instead of the life Paul had left her.
And all at the sacrifice of his son.]

Leto I-

[Alia let's go of Leto's hand, and stand up. The soft fabric of her long skirt rustling drying. Walking away, she rubbed her temple with her finger- the way her brother had for years. In her mind a million shouts of a million different lives where swarming, calling out to her, trying to give advice, or get her to choose the path they wanted.
Instead of the Baron, she heard her mother's voice, calm and clear, as she had in the womb. There where no words, only love. Alia screamed and threw her arms up as is she where being attacked.]No! No! These are my choice to

[goldenpathredux]

[And there her internal struggle came to the fore. To tell the truth, he wanted to give her a hug and steady her. That, however, wouldn't be helpful in the long term. If he made her dependant on him, the next time they would come back stronger, and she would be the weaker. Leto was conscious of the crysknife he'd reclaimed which sat at his waist. He sat abruptly into the lotus position.]

You are a reverend mother, are you not? [He summons up as much of the voice of command as he knows. It was enough at least to match grandmother.]

Sit down!

Now review your basics. I must not fear. Fear is the mind killer. Fear is the thousand little deaths that bring total obliteration. I will face my fear, I will let it pass through me. I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where it was, only I will remain.