Arrakeen, Friday morning

[future_sandworm]

The family's private quarters of the palace were quieter and less grand, but this was still obviously a palace. Warm yellow light from the Arrakis sun filtered through curtains moved softly by the wind. The room was comfortably furnished with cushioned couches and a few small tables. On one of them Leto had arranged for refeshments to be placed

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[myownface]

"You know," Sparkle said, smiling at Leto and then looking thoughtfully toward the curtains, "one of the planets the island stopped on had three suns? Three. It was, like, never dark, there. The desert here is practically refreshing, compared to that."

Hey, it was a conversation starter, while Sparkle settled in.

[myownface]

Sparkle exhaled a sigh, and leaned his face against Leto's hand, and closed his eyes.

"We were going to die, and then it was dark, and then it was just bodies and screaming and that... lightsaber sound. Over and over until it was quiet."

And he hadn't been of any use for any of it.

[future_sandworm]

There was really nothing Leto could say in response to that, so he let scooted closer, let go of Sparkle's hand and pulled him into a hug, provided that Sparkle didn't object.

[myownface]

Sparkle was never going to object to a hug. Not when he could be leaning against Leto and feeling... protected. Safe. He was well past the point of crying into Leto's shoulder or anything, at this point, but that didn't mean he wasn't going to cling for dear life for a while, either.

"I felt like a little kid," he muttered, finally. "Just scared and trapped and useless."

... These weren't the greatest things to associate with feeling like a kid in the first place, granted.

[future_sandworm]

Leto let Sparkle cling as much as he wanted, expecting that to be more comforting than words. He considered repeating the narrative observing that being a child could be associated by quite different things, but that would be adding more pain.

[myownface]

Sparkle gave a totally dignified, absolutely adult sort of sniffle as he finally, eventually eased back to sit up again, and then huffed out a bitter little laugh.

"God," he muttered, "I guess I"m not exactly covering myself in glory right now, either, huh?"

[future_sandworm]

"I asked because I care about you, not because I wanted you to pretend." He gently let go of Sparkle, offering half a smile. "Would you like to hear what I had planned for your visit?"

[myownface]

Sparkle inhaled, and then exhaled slowly, and then smiled faintly.

"Yeah," he said, nodding a little. "I'm all curious what you've got in mind for while I'm here."

He could use the distraction.

[future_sandworm]

"I had planned a dinner with my family tonight," he said, "And then a trip to Sietch Tabr tomorrow morning. I couldn't have you visit without showing you the desert, could I?"

At this point Leto was interrupted by a girl, who, unbothered that she was possibly interfering, strode into the room, wearing a hat that was a little too large.

"You have to see a sandworm," she announced.

Leto looked at her, an eyebrow raised. "Sparkle, please meet Hania, my daughter, who clearly has forgotten her manners."

[myownface]

"Oh my gosh." Sparkle's eyes went wide at the girl who had entered the room. "And she has a butterfly hat!"

... Sparkle was sometimes easily distracted.

"Girl, you look fabulous."

[future_sandworm]

Hania slumped down on one of the couches, looking pleased. "It's my favorite," she said. "You must be Sparkle."

"I told her that you were coming to visit," Leto said, looking at Sparkle. He shifted his gaze to Hania. "And I didn't tell you you could burst in anytime you liked." He didn't sound particularly cross though.

[myownface]

Sparkle was grinning faintly.

"Hey, I don't mind. Good to meet you, Hania." He had a soft spot for children. He couldn't help it. "Where does a guy have to go to get a hat even half as amazing as that one, huh?"

[future_sandworm]

"You'll have to ask my grandmother Irulan," Hania replied, taking the question seriously. "I'm sure she'll tell you. I had prepared a welcome reception for you, but father said no."

"We don't have those for our friends," Leto pointed out. "I'm sure you will find use for the riddles some other time." Preferably with people he didn't like.

[myownface]

Sparkle laughed faintly, and shook his head, still grinning.

"Welcome receptions involve riddles now, do they? Man, Earth receptions must be way different than the stuff you do here, huh?"

[future_sandworm]

"They can be quite boring here," Hania confessed. "That's why I began to arrange my own. Mother is very good at such things. We had a holiday last month where everyone was forces to change hats with each other. Well, that's not a reception, but I help arranging them too."

In case Sparkle now wondered if the Atreides were quite insane, Leto thought he should clarify: "It can be useful politically to keep people on their toes."

"The one's who have no sense of humour at least," Hania added cheerfully.

[myownface]

Hey, if the whole family was insane, at least Sparkle was in good company!

"Oh, they must love when you help plan things," he laughed. "Are there party games? All good receptions for people with no sense of humour need to have party games."

New rule that Sparkle just made up.