Day 4 | Night | To the Cliff and Back

[Kannon]

They were in flight, chasing a clearing between storms that was like a starlit stairway amid murmuring darkness.

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"Sorry I grabbed you like this without warning. New storm will hit us tomorrow, and it wouldn't be great to renege on my promise." Duncan was handling the thopter intuitively. "Not sure about the whales in this weather though."

[Kiran Alsahar]

They chuckled, smiling toward him. "Well, they have to breathe, so there's always a chance." They turned their attention to the view outside. "It's a view worth seeing even if they hide. A path of stars between the chaotic darkness of the storm."

[Kannon]

"I like finding those. We kind of did, in that cave."

[Kiran Alsahar]

They smiled warmly. "Yeah. I don't remember much, but we did. I can't help but feel..." They turned red as it occurred to them what they were about to say immediately before it fell out of their mouth. "... closer to you, after."

Their gaze was now solidly on the beautiful view ahead, not that it was a hardship.

[Kannon]

Duncan nodded, returned the smile reflexively, then puffed, deciding to come clear with what was bugging him.

"That drug certainly did something to all of us. I hate drugs so I hate to say it but not all of that feels bad now. I can't remember anything from when I was stoned, but right now it feels like I've known you for a long time. And we had never met each other before that cave. It's still weird, frankly, as I am used to making important things happen in real life, with memories to fall back on. I get you are spiritual one, Kiran. Perhaps you can make sense of it for me."

[Kiran Alsahar]

"Like I've known you for a long time and will know you for longer yet," they said with a nod, falling into a contemplative mood. "In the proper dosage, connection is what ailar is for. Connecting to others, to the world, to memories. I don't particularly like drugs myself, but it's normally taken rarely, at much lower doses, under ritual circumstances. Given how ailar normally works... it's likely we all shared something of ourselves or our experiences."

[Kannon]

"I have a feeling you're no stranger to my more casual nightmares then. Sorry for that." He sighed. "Who knew we have had this thing growing on Caladan all the time. The Duke was genuinely caught unaware when the ailar thing came up in the Imperium. And all it had ever taken was to ask a smart Muadh like you. After our jungle affair, I think at least Paul is going to have a better grasp of how to tap into strengths of his people."

[Kiran Alsahar]

They shook their head with a smile. "I wouldn't make a different choice if I had it to do again rather know you than not know you, even if it wasn't a sunny day's walk."

They turned red at thedescription. "Normally it's so low key that it probably doesn't seem like much on the scale people on his level deal with, I imagine. But the medicine makers always liked to say that the dose makes the poison."

"Hopefully it'll also give him a broader grasp of what 'his people' entail."

[Kannon]

"Really?" He looked at them with a wandering grin. "I try to be a sunny day's walk when I'm awake. But what was this about people entailing?"

[Kiran Alsahar]

"Yeah, really, " they said with a warm smile. "Whatever we experienced, I came away liking you. I appreciate your sense of loyalty and how much you care about and look after the people around you. I didn't really know what to expect from outsiders when I volunteered for this trip, so... yeah."

"Well, we fall under Atreides authority, right? And as much as some of us don't want to be disturbed, there's a lot those of us who don't can contribute. A fresh perspective, at the least."

[Kannon]

"Is this when you lean over for a kiss? Because I have to stay at controls and I feel we're riding on a moment here."

He gave them a brow-raised, keen glance. He could say his piece about the latter issue later.

[Kiran Alsahar]

Kiran barked a laugh at that and grinned. "You're lucky you're cute," they said, then leaned over, meeting his lips with theirs. It's not a kiss for the ages -they didn't want to stay too long in the way while he was flying - but it is soft, sweet, and gentle.

[Kannon]

"I know I abuse it." He grinned happily after the connection, ebullience dancing in his eyes. "But we don't have all the time in the world. Just sweet moments like this between one calamity and another."

He tried their taste some more by rubbing his lips together afterwards, figuring out why he had really liked it.

"Because, there's a follow-up, starting tomorrow. Not me this time, Hawat got me grounded. I have to stay put and hold the fort. Some other Duke's good men you know are going though. Say, speaking of untapped potential of the Muadh, are you versed in Buddhislamic doctrines and all? I know a bit about the place they're going and things may not turn out well without someone who knows how that religion works... Though even suggesting it to you I feel like a jerk, because it's a risky thing overall..."

"...Melon. You taste like it." He finally concluded.

[Kiran Alsahar]

"True," They agreed as they listened. "We've probably all evolved a bit in our beliefs, but we're still Buddhislam. I don't mind... I can't learn more and get where I want to be by just staying here. Plus if I'm throwing my lot in with the Atreides, it's a chance to show that."

At the comment about them tasting like melon they promptly turned as red as their hair. "I, um... hope you enjoy melon, then."

Oh god save me, that was not meant to sound like that.

[Kannon]

"God, I love melon. Paradan is my absolute favourite. Will eat them until I can't move my mouth anymore."

Duncan didn't hold back, probably aware and cavalier about any double entendre.

"I am happy to have you with us. Hawat is setting up an infiltration team. It's going to be rough, but if it works the Atreides will be in much better place than they are now."

[Kiran Alsahar]

"Well, when we land, you'll at least have as much of the flavor as you want handy," they teased woth a smile, leaning into the entendre as they got a little for confident and playful.

"I'm glad. I'll do my best. I helped us connect with the southern Muadh this time, and the diplomatic aspect went as smoothlyas it could have, so I feel confident in that role."

[Kannon]

"Sure you can keep that promise? Don't make me land on the water."

Duncan grinned, but moved smoothly to the other matter.

"Perhaps you could succeed Archvicar Torono at some point. The Duke could use a vassal like you in that position, with better outlook and more agency. He's a good man, but before we got to the crux of the matter with the prior ailar crisis those months ago, he was sometimes like a sheep lost in the woods, to the point the Duke came to thinking he was stalling and thus complicit. Sorry for the frank opinion if you're related."

[Kiran Alsahar]

"Well, I intend to do my best," they replied with a grin."I don't have a lot of experience to draw on to be sure of much besides my own effort and willingness. There's plenty of that."

"Maybe. Yeah, the Archvicar... I don't know. You're in that position long enough and people get the idea into their head that it's not okay to not know something."

[Kannon]

"Really? I would peg you as a one confident in what you want, and how."

He made an innocent face.

"Duke Leto Atreides is the best lord to have in the whole fucking Imperium. I wouldn't drop the ball on becoming his advisor just because the last guy who could has made no heads nor tails of the opportunity."

[Kiran Alsahar]

"You're correct. That's why I don't have much experience, " they said, sitting back and waving a hand, looking amused. "I'm picky."

They listened. "I don't know much about the other lords of the Imperium, but I believe you. Wait, advisor?"