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Who: Leto Atreides the II
Broadcast: Video
Action: Hospitality Deck, Marsiva
When: Feb 4th

[ The video activates itself to reveal a young man staring into space. His eyes are probably the most startling thing about him. Bright, eerily blue eyes that seem to pierce the fabric of reality. You may also see brown flecks of creatures embedded into his skin, near the neck and face.

And suddenly his gaze snaps back to the camera and he is all smiles and good intentions, as if a switch had been turned on. He sits on one of the many beds on the Marsiva Deck and kicks his legs, caught between the impression of a boy and a man.

( or something much older and far more dangerous ) ]

I do not need the spiel and I'm sure you are all quite thankful for that, but I am curious to know what qualifies as entertainment for our most benevolent hosts?

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I can tell you that it certainly isn't pitching a fit, because that was my first act and I went right into some sort of month-long sleep. The causal relationship may not be as direct as I'm imagining, but it's interesting, isn't it?

[Considering the story she has to tell, she certainly sounds careless and offhand about it, her English accent only adding to the dry delivery. It's something she's piecing back together, her ability to appear unruffled by any circumstance, even if it's a bit late given - well, the fit she pitched when she got here.]

Rather a long trip to the corner until I'm ready to behave, but considering - everything about this, you'll pardon me if I'm more prone to paranoia than usual.

You're excused.

[ He kicks his legs lightly - a childish gesture, imitative of someone else in his past. Leto is a patchwork quilt, with borrowed elements. ]

A month long? Then this all must still be disorientating to you.

Terribly. I only just woke up yesterday morning, with no more idea what to make of things than I had when I arrived.

[But she's calmer, at least. That much is probably evident even without having seen her initial reaction, just by how she's described it.]

Have you ever seen reality television, though? I haven't seen much of it myself, but arrogant prats picking fights everywhere and spouting off about how they haven't come to make friends always seem to be more popular than they deserve. It's a start, if you can stomach it.

I have never seen such things.

[ It is . . . partly true. He's sure somewhere deep down his genealogical tree, there would have been someone but he's reluctant to delve so deep into his ancestor's memories. ]

So it is a popularity contest?

Yes, in the purest form. "Reality" television is a massive misnomer where I come from, because it's still heavily scripted for all that it's random people thrown into a house or a deserted island or whatever the case may be and filmed going about their business, but this seems like they've made it even purer. At least, no one's told me how I should be doing things or pulled me aside for an interview. I think they really are just filming whatever we decide to do for other peoples' kicks.

[She pauses, chewing on her bottom lip for a second before offering a small smile.]

Sorry. Disorienting, as you said. I'm still piecing it all together myself. But that's the gist of it - at least with most programs, either the least popular are voted off or the most popular are advanced. It all depends on whether the premise means that you want to stay or you're gagging to leave.

Perhaps we can work on it together. Piece by piece. There's no need to rush these things.

[ Leto foresees there will be a lot of time - and a lot of questions on their hands. ]

[She quirks a tiny, crooked grin at that, one that takes a moment to reach her dark eyes and warm them, but eventually does. Together. The instant camaraderie this situation inspires in people is brand new to her, different from the sort of openness that came with Eudio, but she's learning not to let it set her on edge. Not quite trust it implicitly, but give it a chance.]

When I hear that my entire life is going to be entertainment for some mystery audience but not exactly how I'm meant to earn my way out of it, my first reaction is to want to suss things out immediately. But perhaps you're right - rushing may not even be an option, considering how many people I've spoken to that have been here for ages and still don't understand most of it.

[She still hasn't acknowledged that offer, has she? Maybe a bit of lingering distrust.]

Together, piece by piece. Two heads are better than one, isn't that what they say? I'm Celeste Blackwell.

I am known as Leto.

[ Any other titles would be meaningless to give. ]

And I'm sure some answers will come into the light at the right time.

[ Fate always has a way. ]

You really are remarkably patient, Leto, and further past calm than anyone I've seen arrive here so far. Serene, one could say. Maybe even zen.

[She breathes out a small sigh, grinning to herself.]

Well, what of it. Someone has to be, after all. Is that really your only question, though? I don't know very much yet, but so far I've had enough pop culture knowledge to help you along a bit.

[ It's easy to be patient when you know you're going to survive until you're five hundred. Not to mention his mental age far surpasses others easily. ]

I'm sure other questions will arise, in due time. Though, perhaps I'm not used to asking questions because I'm used to having the answers.

Isn't that a mysterious thing to say.

[She gives him a searching look, maybe lingering a bit too long on his eyes - they really are remarkable, not only because they're so luminous.]

You've got a lot of education, then?

[ He meets her gaze, coolly, with hints of mischief dancing in his eyes. He seems like someone who is enjoying a long joke, at someone's expense. ]

In a way. I never went to a school, like most do and I never needed a teacher.

Now you're just taking the piss. [Her own face falls into a bit of a sulk, but it's still mostly playful.] Or having me on one way or another. I can think of a few ways that'd be possible, but is this really to be 20 questions?

Who is asking? Me? You?

[ He shrugs. ]

Why would I care?

Wh - me, of course, you're the one dropping all sorts of intriguing hints about yourself.

Although your lack of curiosity on my part truly does wound me. [No it doesn't, and her tone makes that obvious.]

[ He chuckles. ]

Why be curious over what I already know?

[That's the first thing he's said that rings as almost ominous. Coming as she does from a (brief time at a) school of psionics, she narrows her eyes, everything in her expression and tone making it clear that she's treading more carefully. The time for banter has, at least, been put on hold.]

For example?

Why?

[ Must he really prove it? How droll. But how typical of humans. ]

Well, I do think I've a right to know if someone has an all-access pass to my mind. It's hardly anything new to me, I went to a school for psionics, but - my usual safeguard doesn't function quite so well in these sorts of places.

[She's vulnerable, in other words, vulnerable where she used to be tightly guarded. Her defensiveness probably makes more sense in that context.]

[ His smile deepens with amusement, though for once, it doesn't seem like he's laughing at her expense. ]

I don't ferret out the mind. Nor can I delve in there. I can read body language, read lies in skin, words in bones but your mind is - and has always been your own. I am no telepath and for that, I am grateful.

I do, however, possess the ability to view all timelines. All possible futures. And all our futures are intrinsically linked to our pasts. I can trace them, follow them, see them as a tourist might.

But I cannot ever see them through your eyes. Though I can make some deeply educated guesses.

[Her lips press together tightly as she listens. To someone else, it might not sound all that different, but her knowledge of psionic powers allows her to see the line in the sand. Small comfort, but a comfort nonetheless.]

I'd prefer if you skipped over the educated guesses and asked me directly, should something ever come up. But otherwise... I understand. And I apologise if I came on rather aggressively about it.

You're not the first. But I shall let it slide, so to speak.

Yes, well. Most people may fear what they don't understand, but sometimes understanding a thing makes it all the worse.

I appreciate that, though.

You are welcome.

[ He doesn't expect much in terms of understanding. Those who can, can, and those who cannot . . well, he's hardly going to fault them for it. ]

It is a tenuous line we walk. Well. They. I'm not really part of mankind anymore.

So you've never had to ask questions because every eventuality was already in your head. Along with the reasons for it.

[She thinks about that for a moment, then lets out a sigh.]

This is probably such an ignorant thing to say that you'll laugh in my face, and I'll deserve it, but that sounds horribly dull. As much as I'd rather have seen some of the more negative outcomes of my choices before I made them, I don't see how you'd find very much adventure in your life with that gift.

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precedented - 2016-02-24 09:14 (UTC) - Expand

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