The Perk, Sunday morning

[future_sandworm]

Having woken up and no longer feeling unable to stop himself from approaching the nearest attractive person, Leto's mood had significantly improved. So, in order to celebrate, he had taken a walk into town and ordered a large coffee and an accompanying cake at the Perk and found himself a nice window table, from which he could watch people walk past. He sipped his coffee, smiling to himself.

[Someone will show up for Leto, but very open]

Comments

[irulan-atreides.livejournal.com]

Irulan entered The Perk, she had woken early and decided a stroll would do her good and now she was hungry. She smiled to herself. Fandom is so, so much different than Arrakeen.

[future_sandworm]

Leto stirred his coffee, then looked up. His eyes widened, and it was only the Bene Gesserit training that made it possible for him to hide his surprise. "Step-mother?"

[irulan-atreides.livejournal.com]

Irulan turned at the sound of a very familiar voice. It was Leto. A much younger Leto.

She covered her surprise although she was sure Leto noticed as she had noticed her stepson's surprise.

"Leto," Irulan said and smiled.

[future_sandworm]

He rose from his chair. "You are here?" Was this Irulan as he knew her, or Irulan from some other time or universe. At least she knew him.

"It is good to see you." It was. Irulan had been there for him and Ghaniman all their lives. But he knew his stepmother, and he did have a feeling her presence could make his life here a little more complicated.

[irulan-atreides.livejournal.com]

She smiled at him, amused. "I appear to be so. And it is good to see you too, Leto." Irulan approached him. "I knew I sent you to Fandom but I didn't realize you were in this time period." Her smile turned self-deprecating. "I should have known time would play havoc here."

[future_sandworm]

He smiled back. "It seems to do that." So, she was 'his' Irulan, only older, it seemed.

"Will you join me?" He gestured at the seat opposite his own, and sat down again. Yes, it was good to see Irulan, although odd in this environment.

[irulan-atreides.livejournal.com]

Irulan sat opposite Leto but not before she had her own coffee in hand.

"So, stepson," she began, "what mischief have you been up to?"

It was without preamble but she had raised and while she might not know his mind as well as Ghani knew his Irulan was confident she knew enough of her step son.

[future_sandworm]

He raised an eyebrow. "Irulan! What makes you say that?" Oh, she knew him well enough, but he knew to play games with her.

[irulan-atreides.livejournal.com]

If she were another person she would have snorted instead she answered with a smile.

"You were purposefully vague in your letters but I know something about Fandom and, most of all, I know you! You and Ghanima would run head long into a desert whirlwind if you could."

[future_sandworm]

He grinned, then took a sip from his coffee before answering. "And, given that, what makes you think I would be likely to answer your question?"

[irulan-atreides.livejournal.com]

Irulan laughed, a truly genuine laugh. It a side of herself she only showed to the twins but now she was back in Fandom.

"There was no harm in trying," she said and took a sip from her coffee. "It is very good to see you, Leto."

Happy and not burdened.

"You do like it here?" She asked, peering at Leto.

[future_sandworm]

"I do," he said, "In a strange way." He paused. "I miss the desert. But the future seems less... fixed, even if I know it's not. But tell me, when did you arrive? Have you seen Ghani? And how long are you planning to stay?"

[irulan-atreides.livejournal.com]

Irulan was glad to hear this, to know that she had made the right choice.

"I arrived yesterday," she told him, "and my visit to Fandom is indefinite. In fact I have bought a house here although I'm currently residing in the Arms Hotel."

"I don't remember sending Ghani-- you mean to say Ghanima was sent in this time period too?"

Her head was beginning to hurt.

[cutsthestrings.livejournal.com]

Fiona had intended to look for him for one reason today and found herself searching him out for another entirely. When she saw him through the window of the shop, she slipped in. The smell of cakes and sweets and coffee was annoying, but it was well worth it.

"Leto?"

She was rather out of sorts, the ringlets of her hair curled almost like the snakes of the Medusa. She was angry, desperately angry, but it was just as obvious that the anger wasn't directed at him. For him, she gave a short, tired smile.

[future_sandworm]

He noticed her mood immediately. "Good morning, Fiona," he said. "Will you join me?"

[cutsthestrings.livejournal.com]

She nodded almost too quickly before taking a seat across from him.

"How're you?" she asked, and while her concern for him was genuine, it was just as obvious that she needed something to say.

[future_sandworm]

"Better than I've been for the past few days," he replied, smiling, as his hand reached for hers. "And then I just found out that my stepmother has arrived in Fandom, intent on setting up a hat shop." He paused, studying her. "And you?"

[cutsthestrings.livejournal.com]

She let her hand slip into his easily enough. She was, however, shaking just the tiniest bit.

"I've been better," was all she said. That seemed too short, so she added a moment later: "I'm glad things have improved for you."

[future_sandworm]

He squeezed her fingers lightly. "Will you tell me what is the matter?"

[cutsthestrings.livejournal.com]

"I don't--" she swallowed.

"In a minute," she finally said.

"Tell me about your days? I haven't seen you since Wednesday, I don't think."

[future_sandworm]

"I have kept to my room as much as possible, seeking solitude," he replied. "It seemed like a wise thing to do considering the circumstances. I met Alice in Wednesday, went to classes and then taught Karla knife fighting on Friday." He gave her a concerned look.

[cutsthestrings.livejournal.com]

"You're teaching Karla?" she asked curiously. Anything to keep from discussing her own troubles. It wasn't that she didn't want to so much that she wasn't sure how to and she felt like a fool quite enough already.

[future_sandworm]

He nodded. "She asked me."

Leto tried meeting her eyes, wondering what was bothering her.

[cutsthestrings.livejournal.com]

Her hand in his curled into itself, into a fist, before she managed to relax again.

"I'm all right," she assured him, though it was just as obvious that she wasn't, "I just hate feeling like such an idiot."

[future_sandworm]

"What makes you say that?" he asked. "What makes you feel like that?"