Pulse of the Imperium

It had begun as a rather exciting city break in Duncan's company. He had had plans to fly them out somewhere, to look for whales and such, but weather reports spoke of a storm so there had been a change of plans. They ended up seeking a good tavern in a port area.

And then, a runner from the castle arrived calling Duncan back. The big man wasn't happy but duty was duty and so Kiran and Laila ended up among a mixed lot enthusing thanks to or about local fish soup and regional rice wine. It was crowded as many sailors had decided to stay ashore because of the storm and spend time in each other's company.

Kiran had chosen something non-alcoholic, being somewhat careful with anything potentially addictive at the moment, crossing their legs and just listening to the crowd for now with a smile. "You know, it sucks that we can't go out to find whales, but a storm sounds nice, too."

"I mean... I'm just thrilled to be alive, so..."

Laila grinned.

She was also being a bit moderate, although not to the same extent- she'd opted for a cidrit from, where else, Burning Baliset Orchard.

"Here's to storms, whales, vineyards, fresh air, and all of the rest we get to see..."

All genders were tavern-goers on Caladan so they didn't stan out. If anyting, without Duncan, they enjoyed anonymity.

Laila Bridger wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 31, 2024 10:04 pm

"I mean... I'm just thrilled to be alive, so..."

Laila grinned.

She was also being a bit moderate, although not to the same extent- she'd opted for a cidrit from, where else, Burning Baliset Orchard.

"Here's to storms, whales, vineyards, fresh air, and all of the rest we get to see..."

"Indeed," Kiran said, raising their drink with a smile. "What are your plans from here?"

Kiran Alsahar wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 31, 2024 10:36 pm

"Indeed," Kiran said, raising their drink with a smile. "What are your plans from here?"

"Well. Short term, I'm going to crawl into bed with Hadrian and- how detailed do you want this to be?"

She grinned.

"Otherwise... try to find a little peace, figure out how to... make a future not just for myself, because there is not 'just myself,' not any more, not ever again, but for the people I care about."

Laila Bridger wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 31, 2024 10:43 pm

"Well. Short term, I'm going to crawl into bed with Hadrian and- how detailed do you want this to be?"

She grinned.

"Otherwise... try to find a little peace, figure out how to... make a future not just for myself, because there is not 'just myself,' not any more, not ever again, but for the people I care about."

They laughed at that, then smiled as she continued. "I think my plans are similar, just... on a broader scale."

Kiran Alsahar wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 31, 2024 11:12 pm

They laughed at that, then smiled as she continued. "I think my plans are similar, just... on a broader scale."

"Now look, I might be willing to share with a beloved sibling, , but if the scale gets much broader, we're gonna need a bigger bed, and Hadrian should get a vote..."

Laila Bridger wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 31, 2024 11:43 pm

"Now look, I might be willing to share with a , but if the scale gets much broader, we're gonna need a bigger bed, and Hadrian should get a vote..."

"I mean, speaking of broadness, Duncan would take up the whole bed on his own..." Kiran joked with a grin.

Kiran Alsahar wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 01, 2024 12:25 am

"I mean, speaking of broadness, Duncan would take up the whole bed on his own..." Kiran joked with a grin.

'... oh my."

Laila theatrically fanned herself with her free hand.

"That is a scheme that's got some potential..."

Laila Bridger wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 01, 2024 12:48 am

'... oh my."

Laila theatrically fanned herself with her free hand.

"That is a scheme that's got some potential..."

Kiran chuckled, then looked out the window. "Still... I think I'm gonna have to stick around here for a while."

Kiran Alsahar wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 01, 2024 2:10 am

Kiran chuckled, then looked out the window. "Still... I think I'm gonna have to stick around here for a while."

"Yeah? You mean Cala City in particular? I'll... well, hopefully, I'll be back near Cidrit Town. I... well. If I never see the flophouse I still have a room at again it'll be a thousand years too soon, but I'm..."

She set her glass down and... blushed, just a bit.

"I still need to, uh... meet his dad, so can't assume on being at the vineyard, you know?"

Laila Bridger wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 01, 2024 2:17 am

"Yeah? You mean Cala City in particular? I'll... well, hopefully, I'll be back near Cidrit Town. I... well. If I never see the flophouse I still have a room at again it'll be a thousand years too soon, but I'm..."

She set her glass down and... blushed, just a bit.

"I still need to, uh... meet his dad, so can't assume on being at the vineyard, you know?"

"Aww, that's cute! You're gonna meet his family!" They said with a warm smile. "I mean... around the Atreides specifically. Big things are happening, I think, and they're at the center of it. So I need to stay if I want a new path forward."

Kiran Alsahar wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 01, 2024 3:05 am

"Aww, that's cute! You're gonna meet his family!" They said with a warm smile. "I mean... around the Atreides specifically. Big things are happening, I think, and they're at the center of it. So I need to stay if I want a new path forward."

Laila sighed.

"Always something big around an aristocratic clan. I admit they're better than most, but... never forget what they are and what that forces them into, all right?"

Sip.

"That said, if I want a life on Caladan, then I'm mixed up with them too. I'm not putting on a uniform, though."

Laila Bridger wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 01, 2024 3:16 am

Laila sighed.

"Always something big around an aristocratic clan. I admit they're better than most, but... never forget what they are and what that forces them into, all right?"

Sip.

"That said, if I want a life on Caladan, then I'm mixed up with them too. I'm not putting on a uniform, though."

Kiran shook their head. "I'll always be cautious about anyone willing to use other people as cannon fodder, especially considering I'm no one to them."

Kiran Alsahar wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 01, 2024 3:30 am

Kiran shook their head. "I'll always be cautious about anyone willing to use other people as cannon fodder, especially considering I'm no one to them."

Laila nodded. Once.

"And you're someone to me, Sib, so watch your ass, hear me?"

Laila Bridger wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 01, 2024 3:40 am

Laila nodded. Once.

"And you're someone to me, Sib, so watch your ass, hear me?"

Kiran grinned. "I appreciate my big sister looking out for me. I'll watch my ass."

Kiran Alsahar wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 01, 2024 3:50 am

Kiran grinned. "I appreciate my big sister looking out for me. I'll watch my ass."

"You better."

Sip.

"I can't have Hadrian and Duncan being the only ones putting up with my bullshit."

At some point they realised there was a woman sitting quite next to them, alone, dressed like the locals and yet not, a cowl on dark hair, sipping something. Was she stood up?

Laila Bridger wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 01, 2024 4:02 am

"You better."

Sip.

"I can't have Hadrian and Duncan being the only ones putting up with my bullshit."

"Oh, the hard part will be getting rid of me," they replied with a grin, then noticed the woman beside them.

Kannon wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 01, 2024 4:09 am

At some point they realised there was a woman sitting quite next to them, alone, dressed like the locals and yet not, a cowl on dark hair, sipping something. Was she stood up?

"Oh! I apologize, I didn't see you come up. Welcome to the silly nonsense table. I'm Kiran and this is Laila."