Paul Atreides (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
terriblepurpose) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
deernet2023-01-24 05:29 pm
terriblepurpose) wrote in deernet2023-01-24 05:29 pm
un: mouse | video
[ The feed opens on a young man seated cross-legged on an expanse of black scales, framed between two spiralling white horns against a backdrop of more black scales interspersed with charcoal dark feathers. His Hunter's armour is nearly of a shade to match, covering all of him but his vaguely familiar face.
He smiles warmly as he runs a soft cloth over a plain knife to clean it of the black blood all over its flat metal grey. ]
Good evening, fellow Sleepers.
[ The last light of the day catches in his dark curls and his blue-green eyes, on the pale mist of his breath in the cool winter air. ]
For those of you I haven't met, let me reintroduce myself. Paul Atreides, of House Atreides, also known as Paul Muad'Dib, which sounds more impressive than it is.
[ A tiny, smoke dark mouse appears on his shoulder, and he inclines his head towards her fondly. ]
It's been some time since I was here, at least from my perspective. I've certainly changed much more than anything else has. It's a peculiar position to be in, and I've been at all kinds of ends with myself, waiting for the reversion.
But while I am here, for however long that is - I've never been very good at being idle.
[ The knife cleaned, Paul flicks it deftly upward in a flashing spin, a gesture made for the joy of making it. He catches it and flips it on its side, balancing it on two fingers at precisely the axis of its gravity. His gaze focuses on it, still and tranquil. ]
Someone once told me that with great power comes great responsibility. [ The corner of his mouth quirks up, amusement brushed through with nostalgia. ] It was a joke, of course, although I didn't know that at the time.
Still. There's something to the principle, if taken seriously, or so I'd like to think.
[ He furrows his brow slightly, all of his intent honed in on his knife. In a mild, everyday sort of voice, he says: ]
This knife is as light as a feather.
[ He flicks it upward again, but this time, the blade that acted as metal before drifts as lightly as he's told it that it would. It floats gently down towards his opened palm, where he smiles at it with a faint sheen of accomplishment. ]
Which brings me to my purpose here.
As long as this is a stop along my path, I want to exercise my responsibility to my power - and my responsibility to you, as my friends and as my people.
I want to know what you want in this world, whatever it might be. I can't promise that I'll be able to grant your request, but I give you my word I'll do all that I am capable of to see your wishes manifested, so long as you don't ask me to be an agent of harm.
Be creative. Be selfish. No wish too small or too large. Let me see what I can do for you.
[ He flashes a bright grin, a trace of rueful self-deprecation turned inward on himself. ]
You'll be keeping me out of trouble.
[ ooc: replies will come fromunchoose ]
He smiles warmly as he runs a soft cloth over a plain knife to clean it of the black blood all over its flat metal grey. ]
Good evening, fellow Sleepers.
[ The last light of the day catches in his dark curls and his blue-green eyes, on the pale mist of his breath in the cool winter air. ]
For those of you I haven't met, let me reintroduce myself. Paul Atreides, of House Atreides, also known as Paul Muad'Dib, which sounds more impressive than it is.
[ A tiny, smoke dark mouse appears on his shoulder, and he inclines his head towards her fondly. ]
It's been some time since I was here, at least from my perspective. I've certainly changed much more than anything else has. It's a peculiar position to be in, and I've been at all kinds of ends with myself, waiting for the reversion.
But while I am here, for however long that is - I've never been very good at being idle.
[ The knife cleaned, Paul flicks it deftly upward in a flashing spin, a gesture made for the joy of making it. He catches it and flips it on its side, balancing it on two fingers at precisely the axis of its gravity. His gaze focuses on it, still and tranquil. ]
Someone once told me that with great power comes great responsibility. [ The corner of his mouth quirks up, amusement brushed through with nostalgia. ] It was a joke, of course, although I didn't know that at the time.
Still. There's something to the principle, if taken seriously, or so I'd like to think.
[ He furrows his brow slightly, all of his intent honed in on his knife. In a mild, everyday sort of voice, he says: ]
This knife is as light as a feather.
[ He flicks it upward again, but this time, the blade that acted as metal before drifts as lightly as he's told it that it would. It floats gently down towards his opened palm, where he smiles at it with a faint sheen of accomplishment. ]
Which brings me to my purpose here.
As long as this is a stop along my path, I want to exercise my responsibility to my power - and my responsibility to you, as my friends and as my people.
I want to know what you want in this world, whatever it might be. I can't promise that I'll be able to grant your request, but I give you my word I'll do all that I am capable of to see your wishes manifested, so long as you don't ask me to be an agent of harm.
Be creative. Be selfish. No wish too small or too large. Let me see what I can do for you.
[ He flashes a bright grin, a trace of rueful self-deprecation turned inward on himself. ]
You'll be keeping me out of trouble.
[ ooc: replies will come from
unchoose ]
no subject
2/2
Seriously, though. You said you weren't a prince, so why are you acting like a king?
no subject
[ Paul asks, mildly, brows arching. ]
You know much more helpful kings than I do.
no subject
[Oscar leaned back, arms crossed over his chest while he watched and learned-- and a part of him still fearing Chara's knife.]
People don't just do that for no reason. What's going on?
no subject
[ Paul laughs, raising his hands in defence, feather-light knife pinned to his palm by one thumb. ]
You caught me. I have an ulterior motive. Two of them, in fact.
For the first, I'm curious to see what I can do, and I know how good you all are at surprising me with things I would never have thought of - for the second, Oscar, it shames me to admit it - I'm restless. I'm used to having much more occupying my attention, and although the leave of absence has been pleasant, I don't think I'm made to be still.
Be merciful in your judgment. I am but a humble man of the desert.
no subject
[Vacuo. He meant Vacuo, and the thought of potentially seeing a world without RWBY scared him. Still, that was a worry for later-- he tried to crack a small smile. ]
I've heard there's giant monsters in the desert that's waiting for me. I wonder if any are worms?
[...
IT'S A JOKE. ]
Okay, okay. If you need a project, I'll give you one.
[With that, Oscar paused long enough to dig his much neglected Scroll out of his nightstand. It still held a charge, and he clicked it awake for Paul to see the holographic screen. ]
See if you can find a way to keep this charged? There's pictures on here of people I haven't seen in a long time, and I'll be sad if it dies on me.
no subject
[ He's joking too, as deadpan as it is. When Oscar produces the scroll he tilts his head to one side, an unmistakably Paul gesture. ]
I should be able to do that. What's the usual power source?
no subject
I dunno. I've heard that people in Vacuo eat the monsters. I wonder what worms taste like?
[A shrug. It was rhetorical, please don't tell him the answer. In regards to the question, Oscar offered a cheeky grin. ]
Uh... Usually it's Dust. But, we don't have any besides what came with our stuff.
no subject
[ His smile is slender and teasing. ]
I don't think I could guarantee you Dust in any great quantity, but perhaps the device can be adapted. Send it by my address and I'll get to work on it.
no subject
Where are you at right now?
no subject
[ He doesn't say it unkindly, but he is direct. ]
It'll be a few hours before I'm back in the city. If you're awake, I'll come by your doorway.
no subject
If you're really the Paul that helped me last summer, then you should remember that my sleep schedule is a little different from most people.
[He's a literal night owl. Odds were that he would be awake.]
no subject
[ A prospect most people might not be so sanguine about, but he's always been able to handle himself. ]
And you know, Oscar, when you talk like that, I almost think you doubt me.
[ A beat, then, with a soft chuckle: ]
I'm proud of you. Do you want to put me to the test? I'm game for it.
no subject
[Having a little bit of suspicion had largely served him well in recent years. Oscar wanted to trust people... But he wasn't going to do so blindly any longer. ]
.... How do you know I'm not already testing you? You're doing fine so far.
Just don't be too long. I've seen enough people get eaten by monsters.
no subject
[ As easy as that, without hesitation. ]
I don't except you to reciprocate. But nothing's changed for me, even if it's changed for you.
We'll talk soon. Take care until then, Oscar.
no subject
[Because he did trust the version of Paul that he knew, but it looked as if twenty years had elapsed between. Twenty years of probable war and the certainty of needing to drive complex motions forward...
Anyone would emerge from such struggles as a different person.]
You know where I'm at, Paul.
See you soon.
no subject
He has time. ]
No expectations.
[ That's as much a goodbye for now as anything. Paul ends the feed. ]