one foot in front of the other, one foot back to counter it

[goldenpathredux.livejournal.com]

Who: Leto Atreides 2 (goldenpathredux), Meryl Strife (bernardelli), OPEN to anyone who might be at the ruins
What: mutual angst about missing their deserts
When: Friday, late afternoon
Where: the desert ruins
Summary: Leto's taken an interest in the "power plants" from Meryl's homeworld. Meryl's come out to the desert to inform him and recover from her cold
Rating: PG13
The place reminded Leto of Jacurutu. Embedded in the walls were circular patterns, a code even his considerable religous expertise could not puzzle out, ancient oil lamps long since burnt out and the thick scent of secrets. It was an eerie place, undoubtedly, but Leto felt more at home here than anywhere else inside the Malnosso's bubble.
He sat crosslegged on the second floor of the steps, in meditation, trying to puzzle out the secrets of this place. The dry desert wind played over him, rejuvenating him. He could almost forget what the Malnosso had done to him the other day. Almost.

Comments

[bernardelli.livejournal.com]

She looked the arrow over. In truth, it wasn't often you'd see an arrow like that on Gunsmoke. People generally didn't man crossbows for weapons. She was a bit intrigued, now that the initial shock had passed.

"I don't know what's out here when it gets dark, do you?"

[goldenpathredux.livejournal.com]

Leto sighed almost imperceptibly. "Nothing." He thought of men and women moving quiet and rythmless over the sands, under Dune's three moons, flashing blue eyes the only thing visible about them. His people. He missed the sea-without-water, the way it scoured away detritus from the mind and soul. He missed the simple community of the sietch. Ghafla, he even missed the Palace and Alia's simpering sycophants. He twirled the arrow between his fingers.

He looked out at the dunes through the main door. It as nothing but a patch, a playground to keep people like him and Meryl happy.

"...Which means it would be safe if you wanted to leave." He wasn't shooing her out. He just doubted she'd want to spend the night in the temple or among the Malnosso's bleeping machinery outside in the tents.

[bernardelli.livejournal.com]

She looked at him a moment, then shrugged her shoulders. She didn't feel she was at a point where she should ask too many questions. People tended to get touchy if you asked too many of them.

She folded her hands and glanced out at the expanse of the desert as well. She could hear that old song in her head and it made a smile grow on her face. She remembered that day on the cliff, and it made her feel more at ease.

"Don't get me wrong, I'd like to stay, but I have to go back. I told Ciel I wouldn't be gone too long."

She paused, thought, and nodded to him. "I'll come and visit again, soon, though."

[goldenpathredux.livejournal.com]

Leto leaned against the doorway. He grinned, almost boyish and mischevious. "I would enjoy that."

This had been fun and they'd accomplished something. He held the arrow out to her. "A souvenir."

The sun was setting, turning the dunes pink so the world looked like the frosting on some enormous cake.