Lobster Hut, Thursday evening

[future_sandworm]

Leto was quite certain that Triela would show up, despite her obvious nervousness about this dinner. She was too proud not to. He also suspected that she had suggested seafood to make him a little uneasy, but it didn't quite work. The Fremen did keep fish to protect their water reserves, after all, even if they tasted differently than those from the sea.

Lobsters, however. Leto wrinkled his nose a little as he looked through the menu, waiting for Triela.

[For one, obviously.]

Comments

[future_sandworm]

"It's a matter of taste, I guess," he replied. "You would have to try for yourself."

That raise of an eyebrow might be a challenge.

[sorella-vecchia.livejournal.com]

Leto knew quite well how Triela took challenges. She shot him a tolerant smirk and awkwardly twisted off her lobster's head (stupid arm, she couldn't wait until it got replaced). She eyed the meat as she pulled it out, shrugged, and took a small bite.

"Huh."

[future_sandworm]

He certainly did. "And?"

[bedtime!]

[sorella-vecchia.livejournal.com]

"Eh. It's okay," she decided. "I think I'd skip it next time, though."

[Sleep weeeelll!]

[future_sandworm]

"Now we've truly been adventurous," he laughed.

[sorella-vecchia.livejournal.com]

"You have other peoples' memories in your head and this is adventurous?" Triela rolled her eyes in amusement.

[future_sandworm]

"Have you ever heard of the concept of irony, Triela?" Leto replied, smiling.

[sorella-vecchia.livejournal.com]

"Of what?" Triela tried to feign innocence, eyes wide and confused-looking. She was actually kind of good at it.

Unless you knew her.

[future_sandworm]

Also, Leto was generally good at knowing when people spoke the truth. "You can't play that game with me," he replied, amused.

[sorella-vecchia.livejournal.com]

"Why not?" she asked, eyes still wide, voice kind of breathy.

[future_sandworm]

He leaned closer to her across the table and whispered: "Because I know when you're not telling the truth, Triela."

There was laughter in his eyes.

[sorella-vecchia.livejournal.com]

Triela leaned forward herself, eyes narrowing in a weird cross between challenge and amusement. "Do you now?"

[future_sandworm]

Leaning back again, he laughed. "You don't believe me?"

[sorella-vecchia.livejournal.com]

"Unless you're a telepath and never told me, no." Because Triela was such a good liar.

Oh. Wait.

[future_sandworm]

"There are other ways to know if a person is lying," Leto pointed out.

[sorella-vecchia.livejournal.com]

"And you're an expert in them? You know when anyone is lying?"

[future_sandworm]

"Some of my ancestors were among the best Truthsayers in the Imperium," he replied.

[sorella-vecchia.livejournal.com]

"So you think you're pretty good, huh?" She was willing to believe that he wasn't bad, but as good as he claimed? That seemed unlikely to Triela.

[future_sandworm]

"I do." This conversation was amusing.

[sorella-vecchia.livejournal.com]

"We'll have to put that to the test sometime, then."

[future_sandworm]

"What about now?" Leto offered.

[sorella-vecchia.livejournal.com]

"Fine," Triela smirked. "Now works for me."

[future_sandworm]

He gave her a challenging look while smiling. "So, tell me something."

[sorella-vecchia.livejournal.com]

Triela sat forward slightly, propping her chin in her good hand. "I'm seventeen years old." She tried to keep her breathing and expression even, working hard to allow nothing to indicate her state of mind to show.

Which was what it said in her file, even though know one was really sure since even the Agency hadn't been able to track down where she'd come from before they found her.

[future_sandworm]

He watched Triela, his mind open to the tau of the Reverend Mother Mohiam. She wasn't lying but... "You're not sure?"