Day 4 | Night | Pillow Talk

[Laila Bridger]

"I don't know where Kiran learned, but... I think they're better at this stuff than I am. At least, they seem less... terrified about it. I think anything they had to do with the Muadh might have been a very long time ago."

To his second set of questions, she leaned in to kiss him first.

"I have to learn from them, I have to understand some- any!- of the things in my head, and I don't know all of what that's going to call for. But I'm me. I'm the girl with the melting blue dress. I'm the woman that Tleilaxu bastard shot full of ailar, and I'm the woman who spoke that oath this morning. I'm yours. And I don't see any of that changing."

[Hadrian Martikova]

He accepted the kiss, but his face is definitely conflicted. He really doesn't understand. What's more it feels like she's not telling him everything and he's frustrated by that.

"But why? The Bene Gesserit are dangerous. They use others, manipulate whole planets if the rumors are to be believed." He clenched his jaw, "Can't you just... take what they've already given you and, I don't know, forget the rest?"

He winced.

"Maybe if you tell me what's in your head, I can try to help you make sense of it? Starting with these... visions you mentioned."

[Laila Bridger]

"I don't think they'll let me go just like that."

Her eyes were welling up.

"Since right now, all they've given me are questions and riddles. But I can't just forget it, I wish it could be that easy."

She took a breath. Centered herself.

Was that getting easier to do? It seemed so.

"I don't really remember fine details of the visions. I just know that Kiran, Duncan, Xard and I were... linked. Like it was bleeding over betweenall of our minds. I just know that most of the visions were... violent. Blood on the snow, in the first one, I recall that. And a sense of responsibility to one another. Like we were in it together. The second one... violent again. And..."

She shivered.

"My death, I think? A death? I know I woke up screaming. The third was... I don't really... something inhuman. A horrible, overpowering smell, and... purpose? The last one was... violence again, but since we woke up to the cave shaking from the attack you guys launched to save us. And... purpose there, too, but more personal."

She kept her gaze fixed on his.

"That's all I actually remember with anything like clarity."

[Hadrian Martikova]

With the shiver he pulled her and the covers in tighter. Ran his hands along her body trying to warm her up comfortingly. All the while internally wrestling with everything. He recognized that she was at least trying to tell him. But he still didn't understand and it frustrated the hell out of him.

"Okay..." he sighed, "... I-, full disclosure, I'm afraid of them taking you from me. So just, please be careful with all of this. While, I suppose anything is possible. I can think of many rational reasons why you guys might think you have shared dreams." He frowned, "Ailar opens the mind up like any narcotic right? I worry that, ya know, maybe they were experimenting with suggestion planting. Maybe the Tleilax are planning on creating a sleeper agent to infiltrate the Gesserit."

I hate drugs...

"I... I don't know. And I don't trust any organization with Bene in it. They never mean well."

[Laila Bridger]

"I..."

I can't tell him the oath. If he ever says it, they'd come looking, and then we would be done, and it'd be my fault.

"... they will almost certainly disapprove of me for plenty of reasons, Hadrian. I think what they try to do with me will be based on how far I go. How deep I have to get with them. And like I just said... I'm still me. I didn't climb out of that goddamn cave with any intention of losing you."

She spoke, very softly then.

"If we have to run, would you come with me? Between the Sisterhood and the old spider, it wouldn't be easy..."

[Hadrian Martikova]

He cupped her face and kissed her tenderly before pulling her into him.

"Oh Laila... of course I would. Honestly it's a contingency I've been entertaining since he sprung this on us."

He turned to her again. "I'd rather avoid it if I can. Caladan is my home after all, and I'd rather stay here until the end of my days. But..."

There's a deep breath.

"If I put the family in danger I'd never forgive myself." He pushed a stray lock of hair aside and smiled. "So I've been thinking about that, making quiet plans. And either way it'd have to come after I finished this gig."

We'd need money, we'd need a new identity, and we'd need to 'die'. That's the only way we'd even be able to get a head start.

[Laila Bridger]

She... chuckled.

"A man of many talents. I sure can pick 'em. And I'd be following a Bene Gesserit credo, too..."

She held up an index finger.

"'In a universe of chaos, we must constantly adapt.' Their words, not mine."

She paused, really... considering the words.

"So that's a plan. What are our other options? We do this job, that's decided. I need more clarity on what they'll demand of me, but if I make myself valuable to Hawat... maybe that's a measure of protection, if I need it..."

[Hadrian Martikova]

"Look here you," He patted her butt playfully. "If you're gonna seduce me don't do it like one of them. That's not the kind of dirty I like to feel."

Kiss.

"But anyway, Hawat isn't loyal to his people, he's loyal to the Atreides." Hadrian thought about it some before deciding he's too tired to think tonight. "And one thing you don't want that man to discover is your ties to the Bene Gesserit. Assuming that he doesn't already know. Info like that would be invaluable to him."

If I was in his shoes it'd be invaluable to me, he thought.

"And I'll be damned if I trust the Bene Gesserit. So my plan is simple. Let's be loyal to the Atreides." He shrugged, "So long as they're leaving us be, leaving the people be... there are worse houses out there."

[Laila Bridger]

"Not my first choice, but... when confronted with a selection of bad ones..."

She traced a finger down his sternum.

"... the one that leaves us the best chance of raising a family together does have its appeal."

She paused.

"Uh. Hope that's not too... uhm. Anyway."

[Hadrian Martikova]

A part of her would know immediately what his thoughts on the matter are. And then of course there's the lip biting and the grin.

"Nah, I don't think so. But i do want to know how big a family you're thinking?"

[Laila Bridger]

"Well."

She seemed to be warming to the subject. Maybe it was the physical cue.

"We have to balance how much fun we have trying for 'em against the absolute hell we each seem to have put our parents through at one time or another. And kids are expensive, especially when they destroy dresses or get stung by bees... And see how much you enjoy it when I'm the size of a house and my feet hurt... but at least three. Maybe more, depending how we turn out as parents. What'd you have in mind, numberwise?"

[Hadrian Martikova]

And see how much you enjoy it when I'm the size of a house and my feet hurt

His grin became a warm smile with a genuine laugh.

"You underestimate my foot rubs?"

What'd you have in mind, numberwise?

"Ohhh you know... there's a reason I have so many siblings. More hands had, means less hands hired." He shrugged, "I think I'd cap out at eight. But you have more say than I in that regard." A pause, "Then again..." then his hands wandered amorously, "... I am known to be quite convincing."

[Laila Bridger]

His grin became a warm smile with a genuine laugh.

"You underestimate my foot rubs?"

"I dunno. Never gotten one and never had a kid, so I'm going off of what I saw back on Ecaz... if I'm anything like Mom was, you might want some body armor before you try a foot rub seven months in..."

"Ohhh you know... there's a reason I have so many siblings. More hands had, means less hands hired." He shrugged, "I think I'd cap out at eight. But you have more say than I in that regard." A pause, "Then again..." then his hands wandered amorously, "... I am known to be quite convincing."

"Hm. Well. Three to eight. Always options if I need to draw a line..."

She smiled and writhed against him a bit, biting her lip.

"But by all means, I'd appreciate a demonstration..."

[Hadrian Martikova]

"I suppose I can indulge you." He said, dexterously placing her on her back. "After all-"

Kiss on the lips

"-this is-"

Kiss on the neck

"-only a small taste-"

And then lower, and lower.

"-of our future."


/Fade to one helluva foot rub

[Laila Bridger]

Neither one got much sleep that night.

Neither one minded.

[/Scene, methinks]